Antonio Stradivari (1644—1737) was a perfectionist whosesingle-minded pursuit of excellence changed the world of music. Inthe course of his long career in the northern Italian city ofCremona, he created more than a thousand stringed instruments;approximately six hundred survive, their quality unequalled by anysubsequent violin-maker. In this fascinating book, Toby Fabertraces the rich, multilayered stories of six of these peerlesscreations–five violins and a cello–and the one towering artist whobrought them into being. Blending history, biography, meticulousdetective work, and an abiding passion for music, Faber takes usfrom the salons of Vienna to the concert halls of New York, andfrom the breakthroughs of Beethoven’s last quartets to the firstphonographic recordings. This magnificent narrative invites us toshare the life, the intrigue, and the incomparable beauty of theworld’s most marvelous stringed instruments.
This is the first ever biography of New Orleans rock 'n' rolllegend, Fats Domino by a writer who obtained exclusive access tothe reclusive singer. Rock 'n' roll defined the last half of thetwentieth century, and while many think of Elvis Presley as thegenre's driving force, the truth is that Fats Domino, whose recordshave sold more than 100 million copies, was the first to put it onthe map with such hits as "Ain't That a Shame" and "BlueberryHill". In "Blue Monday", acclaimed R B scholar Rick Colemandraws on a multitude of new interviews with Fats Domino and manyother early musical legends, including Lloyd Price, Charles Brownof "The Clovers", and members of Buddy Holly's group, "TheCrickets", to create a definitive biography of not just anextraordinary man but also a unique time and place - New Orleans atthe birth of rock 'n' roll. Coleman's groundbreaking research makesfor an immense cultural biography, the first to thoroughly explorethe black roots of rock 'n' roll and its impact on civil rights inA
The Ultimate Guitar Book is a comprehensive, lavishlyillustrated guide to guitars, from early acoustics to the latestelectrics. No book has ever brought together so many guitars insuch keen detail and rich portrayal, featuring speciallycommissioned photographs of over 450 famous, rare and vintageguitars. It is packed with construction and design informationwhich brings each instrument to life. In addition, it containsprofiles of great guitar designers and their pioneering innovativeworkshops. The Ultimate Guitar Book is quite simply the mostbeautiful book on the guitar ever produced: its opulentillustration is complemented by extensive factual narrative. Thebook is certain to become a definitive reference work on thesubject, and makes immensely pleasurable browsing for guitarplayers and collectors alike, from beginner to professional. 9inch. x 11 inch..
The tragedy of Tupac is that his untimely passing isrepresentative of too many young black men in this country....If wehad lost Oprah Winfrey at 25, we would have lost a relativelyunknown, local market TV anchorwoman. If we had lost Malcolm X at25, we would have lost a hustler nicknamed Detroit Red. And if Ihad left the world at 25, we would have lost a big-band trumpetplayer and aspiring composer--just a sliver of my eventual lifepotential. From the Foreword by Quincy Jones The real story of Tupac's murder may not ever emerge. This maybe the only lasting testament to the many faces of Tupac Shakur--ofa life lived fast and hard, of a man cloaked in contradictions. Ayoung man who was just starting to come into his own. "I believe that everything you do bad comes back to you. Soeverything that I do that's bad, I'm going to suffer for it. But inmy heart, I believe what I'm doing is right. So I feel like I'mgoing to heaven." Tupac Shakur, June 1996
Designed as a celebration of the film, this lavishlyillustrated paperback edition is an exclusive behind-the-scenesguide featuring full-colour photos of the cast, locations and sets,as well as storyboards, interviews, details of the special effectsand much more.
