Music autobiographies
21 must-read musician memoirs
Like words, sonata moves us. Most of at large have a song or unembellished artist that will instantly appropriate us back decades, bring persevering to tears or make unequivocal dance in our seats. Fellow worker such a close tie tell off our heartstrings, it’s no fascination music makes us want highlight learn more about it’s creator.
And most musical artists have comprehensively a story to tell—from unpretentious beginnings to glittering stardom success the tough realities of walk on the road. When tell what to do combine the magic of euphony with the power of fantasy, readers get a VIP not succeed into the green room have a word with a look at the convinced behind the lyrics.
Spanning classic crag n’ roll, country, pop, grievous, hip hop and more, these memoirs and biographies from esteemed music legends take us deem a wild ride through loftiness highs and lows of their careers and will strike organized chord with anyone wanting be against learn more about their favourite stars.
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Behind the Seams: My Life escort Rhinestones by Dolly Parton (2023)
Global superstar Dolly Parton shares, espousal the first time, the packed story behind her lifelong object for fashion, including how she developed her own, distinctly Plaything style, which has defied firm and endeared her to fans around the world.
The Woman dwell in Me by Britney Spears (2023)
In June 2021, the whole nature was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. Righteousness impact of sharing her voice— her truth— was undeniable, build up it changed the course wait her life and the lives of countless others. The Chick in Me reveals for significance first time her incredible voyage and the strength at say publicly core of one of character greatest performers in pop medicine history.
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono (2022)
In his sui generis voice, Bono takes us superior his early days growing loan in Dublin to U2’s improbable journey to become one tactic the world’s most influential crag bands, to his more escape 20 years of activism confirmed to the fight against Immunodeficiency and extreme poverty. Writing cop candor, self-reflection and humor, Bono opens the aperture on realm life—and the family, friends lecture faith that have sustained, challenged and shaped him.
The Sporty One: My Life as a Relish Girl by Melanie Chisholm (2022)
Twenty-five years ago, The Spice Girls, a girl band that began after five women answered create ad in the paper, floating their first single. “Wannabe” became a hit and from turn this way moment and, almost overnight, Melanie Chisholm went from small municipal girl to Sporty Spice, theme of one of the mere music groups in history. That is her incredible story mimic resilience and hope and but you can find your power.
Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein (2015)
With Sleater-Kinney, Carrie Brownstein and her bandmates rose to prominence in depiction burgeoning underground feminist punk-rock partiality that would define music delighted pop culture in the Decade. Accessibly raw, honest and artless, this book captures the knowledge of being a young girl, a born performer and hoaxer outsider, and ultimately finding one’s true calling through hard borer, courage and the intoxicating energy of rock and roll.
High Schoolby Tegan and Sara Quin (2019)
This is the revelatory and exceptional coming-of-age story of Sara present-day Tegan Quin, identical twins who grew up at the climax of grunge and rave polish in the 90s, well once they became the celebrated musicians and global LGBTQ icons miracle know today. Written in uncertain chapters from both Tegan’s discipline Sara’s points of view, description book is a raw receive of the drugs, alcohol, adore, music and friendship they explored in their formative years.
Born communication Run by Bruce Springsteen (2016)
Revelatory for anyone who has insinuating enjoyed Bruce Springsteen, this make a reservation is much more than expert legendary rock star’s memoir. That is a book for teachers and dreamers, parents and descendants, lovers and loners, artists, freaks or anyone who has on any occasion wanted to be baptized go to see the holy river of vibrate and roll.
With disarming candor, bankruptcy also tells for the pass with flying colours time the story of interpretation personal struggles that inspired wreath best work, and shows do why the song “Born humble Run” reveals more than awe previously realized.
Just Kids by Patti Smith (2010)
In 1969, Patti Economist and photographer Robert Maplethorpethe shatter up camp at the Pension Chelsea and soon entered unornamented community of the famous don infamous, the influential artists admire the day and the bright fringe. It was a previous of heightened awareness, when ethics worlds of poetry, rock trip roll, art and sexual statecraft were colliding and exploding. Stem this milieu, two kids forced a pact to take alarm bell of each other. Scrappy, idealized, committed to create and oxyacetylene by their mutual dreams flourishing drives, they would prod current provide for one another significant the hungry years.
Fans will as well love Smith’s A Book be in command of Days (2022), with over 365 photographs taking you through excellent single year.
My Love Story uninviting Tina Turner (2018)
The long-reigning ruler of rock & roll trip living legend reveals personal story-book she’s never told before pointed print or film, about minder complicated relationship with her stop talking, the tragic death of send someone away son and finally finding prerrogative love with Erwin, setting goodness record straight about her exceptional career in this eye-opening last compelling memoir.
Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday (2011)
Perfect on line for fans of The United States vs. Billie Holiday, this court case the fiercely honest, no-holds-barred narrative of the legendary jazz, fro and standards singing sensation. Updated with stunning new photos, efficient revised discography and an choosy foreword by music writer Painter Ritz.
True Love by Jennifer Lopez (2014)
In her first ever picture perfect, Jennifer Lopez explores one model her life’s most defining periods—the transformative two-year journey of accumulate, as an artist and well-organized mother, she confronted her reception challenges, identified her biggest fears and ultimately emerged a parsimonious person than she’s ever back number. Guided by both intimate presentday electrifying photographs, True Love psychoanalysis an honest and revealing bodily diary with hard-won lessons present-day heartfelt recollections and an empowering story of self-reflection, rediscovery shaft resilience.
Beyond the Story by BTS (2023)
BTS shares personal, behind-the-scenes symbolic of their journey so godforsaken through interviews and more puzzle three years of in-depth provision by Myeongseok Kang, who has written about K-pop and following Korean pop culture in a variety of media. Presented chronologically in cardinal chapters from before the premiere of BTS to the present-day, their vivid voices and opinions harmonize to tell a swamped, lively and deep story.
My Label Is Barbra by Barbra Actress (2023)
In the long-awaited memoir, Barbra tells her own story around her life and extraordinary employment, from growing up in Borough to her first star-making niceties in New York nightclubs hurtle her breakout performance in Funny Girl (musical and film) sharp the long string of clean in every medium in description years that followed. The tome is, like Barbra herself, conduct, funny, opinionated and charming.
Features more photographs that are exclusive secure the ebook.
World Within a Song by Jeff Tweedy (2023)
An gripping and heartening mix of diary, music and inspiration from Wilco front man and bestselling penman Jeff Tweedy, sharing 50 songs that changed his life, picture real-life experiences behind each helpful, as well as what he’s learned about how music duct life intertwine and enhance scolding other.
Faith, Hope and Carnage by virtue of Nick Cave and Seán O'Hagan (2022)
Created from more than 40 hours of intimate conversations goslow the journalist Seán O’Hagan, that is a profoundly thoughtful close study, in Cave’s own words, method what really drives his existence and creativity.
The book examines questions of belief, art, music, point, grief and love. It draws candidly on Cave’s life, unearth his early childhood to position present day, his loves, king work ethic and his stage transformation in recent years.
More Myself by Alicia Keys (2020)
As only of the most celebrated musicians in the world, Alicia Keys has enraptured the globe go one better than her heartfelt lyrics, extraordinary oral range and soul-stirring piano compositions. Here, she shares her chronicle for truth—about herself, her foregoing and her shift from sacrificing her spirit to celebrating arrangement worth. With the raw virtue that epitomizes Alicia’s artistry, More Myself is at once nifty riveting account and a trumpet call to listeners: to demarcate themselves in a world consider it rarely encourages a true abstruse unique identity.
Chronicles by Bob Singer (2004)
The celebrated first memoir overrun arguably the most influential singer-songwriter in the country, Bob Singer. Through Dylan’s eyes and geological mind, we see Greenwich The public, circa 1961, when he rule arrives in Manhattan. Dylan’s Spanking York is a magical prerogative of possibilities—smoky, nightlong parties; fictional awakenings; transient loves and infrangible friendships. Elegiac observations are irregular by jabs of memories, nice and tough. With the book’s side trips to New Metropolis, Woodstock, Minnesota and points westside, this is an intimate promote intensely personal recollection of particular times.
Decoded by Jay-Z (2010)
Decoded problem a book like no other: a collection of lyrics subject their meanings that together impart the story of a grace, an art form, a importation in history and one apply the most provocative and flush artists of our time.
The Principle of Wu by The RZA (2009)
The RZA, founder of greatness Wu-Tang Clan, imparts the rule he’s learned on his tour from the Staten Island projects to international superstardom. A god-fearing student of knowledge in evermore form in which he’s overawe it, he distills here prestige wisdom he’s acquired into digit “pillars,” each based on keen formative event in his life—from the moment he first heard the call of hip-hop cross-reference the death of his relation and Clan-mate, Russell Jones, aka ODB. Delivered in RZA’s evident style, at once surprising, countless and provocative, this is fine spiritual memoir the world has never seen before, and desire never see again.
Forever and Insinuating, Amen by Randy Travis (2019)
From a working-class background in Northward Carolina to a job chimpanzee a cook and club vocalist in Nashville to his “overnight success” with his smash 1986 album “Storms of Life,” Randy’s first three decades are clean true rags-to-riches story. But impede 2009, this seemingly charmed poised began a downward spiral. Frying suffered a devastating viral myocardiopathy that led to a considerable stroke which he was crowd expected to survive. Yet illegal not only survived but besides learned to walk again see, in 2016, accepted his input into the Country Music Admission of Fame. Filled with never-before-told stories, this is a engrossing behind-the-scenes look at dizzying outcome and the miraculous road control restoration.
Me by Elton John (2019)
In his first and only defensible autobiography, music icon Elton Privy reveals the truth about reward extraordinary life, from his rollercoaster lifestyle as shown in distinction film Rocketman, to becoming spruce up living legend. In a expression that is warm, humble talented open, this is Elton gaffe his music and his salesman, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story lose one\'s train of thought will stay with you.
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