Before stars become famous, they are ordinary people and they go to high school with a lot of ordinary people who never become famous. California Slim is the memoir of an ordinary, non-famous person who met a LOT of famous people before they were famous, and, as the memoir reveals, he proved to be pretty extraordinary himself. Leaving aside the insider look at friendships and encounters with Jerry Garcia, Willy Nelson, Keith Richards, Joan Baez, etc., which alone would be fascinating to music-philes, there is the extraordinary story of an era that is sparking with energy and passion, with a generation that believed in love and peace, and where dreams could be seized by ordinary people. I read the book expecting mostly to be reading about famous musicians. I was instead astonished by the author's own voice and his achievements. The 60s and the business of making music never seemed so vivid.
As a bonus, I actually live in the area that is chronicled in the book -- though I live and work here in the Information Age and was unaware of just how big Menlo Park and Palo Alto were in the music scene. It is fun to see the names of local streets and areas mentioned.
My biggest wish -- to hear all of the music that is described. They ought to sell a soundtrack to read this book by (reading this via Booktrack would be so awesome!)
* Edited after finishing the book *
My original review was 4.5 stars but I rounded up. Having finished the book, I have to deduct a half star so final review is 4. The first part was riveting but the last (third?) spends too much time on Willie Nelson with so many tales of smoking joints and Willie Nelson concerts that it started to run together. Willie Nelson fans (I am not one) would probably like it but I preferred the earlier stories, particlarly Homer's and Sonny, far more.
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