Rolling stone in this, the definitive biography of an american legend, robert hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical superstar. Cash was always at its best when he was authentic, which is why i love the american recordings albums so much. Nov 07, 20 robert hilburns new biography of johnny cash starts with cash as a young boy in rural arkansas, walking along a gravel road at night and singing to himself. Author robert hilburn and the cover of his book, johnny cash.
The national bestseller celebrated as the ultimate johnny cash biographyrock writer great robert hilburn goes deep. Robert hilburn balances vice and virtue in johnny cash. Official site for robert hilburn, rock music writer. Hilburn presents an unvarnished yet heroic tale of one of americas most outstanding artists. Paul simon by robert hilburn, 9781501112126, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Johnny cashs extraordinary career stretched from his days at sun records with elvis presley and jerry lee lewis to the remarkable creative last hurrah, at age 69, that resulted in the brave, moving hurt video. Jeff baker, the oregonian i listened to that stark unrelenting country as a kid. Those of us who write about books are used to receiving press releases from publishers pointing out that the writer of the book being pitched has been working on said book for what seems like an unduly long time. But what i appreciated most about this book is that hilburn continually focused on cashs music, quoting cashs lyrics at key junctures and letting cash explain why he wrote and played certain songs. Through all the pain and redemption, johnny cash was a good man, author robert hilburn tells nprs david greene. He met and married his first wife here in the early 1950s. Johnny cash on the day of his folsom prison concert, january 1968 photo. But as robert hilburns definitive biography vividly chronicles. Biographer robert hilburn, in his 20 book johnny cash.
Paul simon book by robert hilburn official publisher page. Former times critic robert hilburn on writing about. Robert hilburn s new biography of johnny cash starts with cash as a young boy in rural arkansas, walking along a gravel road at night and singing to himself. Oct 29, 20 through all the pain and redemption, johnny cash was a good man, author robert hilburn tells nprs david greene.
The two had talked many times over the years, and after reading hilburn s book johnny cash. Robert hilburn audio books, best sellers, author bio. The story of johnny cash is so intriguing, and hilburn manages to include so much detail, so much colour, yet it never gets boring, you just want to keep on reading. Hilburn was there that day to the unlikely, celebrated records cash made with the. Johnny cash s extraordinary career stretched from his days at sun records with elvis presley and jerry lee lewis to the remarkable creative last hurrah, at. Dec 02, 20 robert hilburns new biography, johnny cash.
Jan 03, 2014 robert hilburns biography of johnny cash is the definitive book on the dark life of the man in black. The definitive, intimate, noholdsbarred biography of johnny cash. Its a gripping testimony to cash s career and to the magnitude of his stature both as an artist and a man. While there is informed critique of the music, the story of the person is like a reference book. The life, which michiko kakutani of the new york times selected as one of her top ten books of 20, hilburn has reported extensively on most of pop musics giants, including bob dylan, john lennon, joni mitchell, leonard cohen, michael. Finally, simon has opened upfor more than one hundred hours of interviewsto robert hilburn, whose biography of johnny cash was named by michiko kakutani of the new york times as one of her ten favorite books of 20. Former times critic robert hilburn on writing about paul. Hilburn s new biography of the late country singer is titled johnny cash. The national bestseller celebrated as the ultimate johnny cash biogra. Almost everyone who was close to johnny cash 19322003 wrote their memoir his two wives, his son john, his daughter roseanne, and his bass player of twentyfive years, marshall grant who once wondered aloud how someone could be so talented, so inspirational, and so screwed up. Although the narrative of this book bogs down a little midway through. Dec 05, 20 johnny cash rode a boyhood dream and three chords to country music stardom. The life, gives us a thorough and thoughtful portrait of the man in black and a deep appreciation of. Johnny cash the national bestseller celebrated as the ultimate johnny cash biography.
The life, simon agreed to an authorized biography, notably. It is like you are there, or watching the movie of the book. The author of the bestselling memoir cornflakes with john lennon, hilburn has reported extensively on most of pop musics legends, including bob dylan, john lennon, elton john, michael jackson, bruce springsteen, u2, and johnny cash. The life, gives us a thorough and thoughtful portrait of the man in black and a deep appreciation of his artistry, tracing the wellknown. The life, robert hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical icon, whose colourful career stretched from. Johnny cash covers cashs monumental highs and bottomless lows in unprecedented detail. Johnny cashs extraordinary career stretched from his days at sun records with elvis presley and jerry lee the national bestseller celebrated as the ultimate johnny cash biographyrock writer great robert hilburn goes deep. On the contrary, hilburn writes, it was columbia that presented cash with the song, which cash who had previously scored major chart hits with comedic. Bono robert hilburn displays a deeply felt affinity with his subject, illuminating johnny cash as the moral compass of country music. But as robert hilburn s definitive biography vividly chronicles, that dream spawned a.
That story and much more is told with cleareyed, riveting detail in robert hilburns new book, johnny cash. Hilburn has since written a memoir and bestselling biographies of johnny cash and paul simon. The life is the big biography cashs fans have been waiting for since the singers death in 2003 and hilburn doesnt let them down. Oct 25, 20 author robert hilburn and the cover of his book, johnny cash. Discover book depositorys huge selection of robert hilburn books online. Paul simon gave robert hilburn free access to his life and associates and told him. Robert hilburn born september 25, 1939 is an american pop music critic, author, and radio host. The national bestseller celebrated as the ultimate johnny cash biography. Oct 29, 20 in this, the definitive biography of an american legend, robert hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical superstar. Robert hilburns new biography of the man in black, johnny cash. Robert hilburn bono robert hilburn displays a deeply felt affinity with his subject, illuminating johnny cash as the moral compass of country music patti smith. But as robert hilburns definitive biography vividly chronicles, that dream spawned a sizable brood of nightmares. Rolling stone hilburns writing is simple, egofree and casually magisterial.
Along the way, it graphically demonstrates his elevation to worldwide icon. The cover photo of robert hilburns exhaustive biography is a. Nov 20, 20 johnny cash s ties to san antonio are strong ones. Johnny cash is a mount rushmore figure in country music, with a voice as ancient as the wellspring from which his folk and country heritage sprang, and the. Jun 29, 2018 author robert hilburn shares stories and revelations inside paul simon. Author robert hilburn shares stories and revelations inside. He brings insight to cashs deep and abiding interest in singing, writing, family, relationships, underdogs, and gospel. The result is a thorough documentation of simons career.
The result is a landmark book that will take its place as the defining biography of one of americas greatest artists. But no one has told the man in blacks full story, until now. Johnny cash was a man both extraordinary and ordinary. People dont just listen to johnny cash they believe in him. The next book was a biography of johnny cash, johnny cash. Robert hilburn has a way of writing that takes you away to an era, to a life of one of the most wonderful singers ever. I met him, finally, in a john at the waldorf astoria. Author robert hilburn shares stories and revelations. I had to take many breaks while reading this book to assimilate all the stories i knew, but had never put in a narrative context, being claustrophobically close to not. Every man could relate to him, no man could be him, and only one man could get inside his head like robert hilburn. The life, which michiko kakutani of the new york times selected as one of her top ten books of 20, hilburn has reported extensively on most of pop musics giants, including bob dylan, john lennon, joni mitchell, leonard cohen, michael jackson.
Paul simon book by robert hilburn official publisher. The life, a definitive look at the man who struggled through various addictions in his personal life but devoted his music to trying to lift the spirits and aspirations of his audience. Johnny cash rode a boyhood dream and three chords to country music stardom. May 06, 2018 author and the times former pop music critic robert hilburn discusses his latest book, a biography on veteran singersongwriter paul simon, with staff writer randy lewis. The book is stuffed with wartsandall revelations that might surprise you. Robert hilburn book touches on johnny cashs time in s. Oct 29, 20 robert hilburn has a way of writing that takes you away to an era, to a life of one of the most wonderful singers ever. In this, the definitive biography of an american legend, robert hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical superstar. The life, disputes the claim made that cash chose to record an intentionally poor song in protest of columbias treatment of him. The more than 600 pages that follow cover everything from the famed concert in folsom prison mr. Every man could relate to him, no man could be him, and only one man could get inside his head. Although part of his life has been told on film, there are many compelling layers to his story that have remained hidden.