Most Popular Books by Holly George-Warren

Longlisted for the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence This blazingly intimate biography of Janis Joplin establishes the Queen of Rock & Roll as the rule-breaking musical trailblazer and complicated, gender-bending rebel she was. Janis Joplin’s first transgressive act was to be a white girl who gained an early sense of the power of the blues, music you could only find on obscure records and in roadhouses along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. But even before that, she stood out in her conservative oil town. She was a tomboy who was also intellectually curious and artistic. By the time she reached high school, she had drawn the scorn of her peers for her embrace of the Beats and her racially progressive views. Her parents doted on her in many ways, but were ultimately put off by her repeated acts of defiance. Janis Joplin has passed into legend as a brash, impassioned soul doomed by the pain that produced one of the most extraordinary voices in rock history. But in these pages, Holly George-Warren provides a revelatory and deeply satisfying portrait of a woman who wasn’t all about suffering. Janis was a perfectionist: a passionate, erudite musician who was born with talent but also worked exceptionally hard to develop it. She was a woman who pushed the boundaries of gender and sexuality long before it was socially acceptable. She was a sensitive seeker who wanted to marry and settle down—but couldn’t, or wouldn’t. She was a Texan who yearned to flee Texas but could never quite get away—even after becoming a countercultural icon in San Francisco. Written by one of the most highly regarded chroniclers of American music history, and based on unprecedented access to Janis Joplin’s family, friends, band mates, archives, and long-lost interviews, Janis is a complex, rewarding portrait of a remarkable artist finally getting her due.

The only performer to earn 5 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Gene Autry was the singing cowboy king of American entertainment. Now, in Public Cowboy No.1, Holly George-Warren offers the first serious biography of this singular individual, in a fascinating narrative that traces Autry''s climb from small-town farm boy to multimillionaire. Here for the first time Autry the legend becomes a flesh-and-blood man--with all the passions, triumphs, and tragedies of a flawed icon. George-Warren recounts stories never before told, including revelations about Autry''s impoverished boyhood, his adventures as an up-and-coming singer, and the impact his unbelievable success had on his personal life. The book provides equally colorful details of Autry''s lengthy radio and recording career, which included such classics as "Back in the Saddle Again" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"; his movie career, where he breathed new life into the Western genre; and his role in early television. And along the way, we see how he invested shrewdly in radio, real-estate, and television, becoming the only entertainer listed among 1990''s Fortune 400. Based on exclusive access to Gene Autry''s personal papers, as well as interviews with more than 100 relatives, employees, colleagues, and friends, this engaging biography brings to life a major Hollywood star--a man who, more than anyone else, put Western music and style on the American cultural map.

From Bill Haley and His Comets to James Brown and his Famous Flames, this fun and fact-filled introduction to the pioneers of rock they influenced a generation of teenagers and inspired many of today''s most important musicians.

The 1840s ushered in the beginning of the largest migration in US history. People in crowded Eastern cities and Missouri River towns were feeling the pull of the Western frontier. It was the dawn of a new era of expansion, and over the next few decades, the making of a new kind of pioneer. It was the birth of the cowgirl! Welcome to the world of nimble equestriennes, hawkeyed sharpshooters, sly outlaws, eloquent legislators, expert wranglers and talented performers who made eyes pop and jaws drop with their skills, savvy and bravery. In this fascinating account of an ever-evolving American icon, Holly George-Warren invites readers to saddle up with a host of these trailblazers who helped settle the West and define the cowgirl spirit.

A vivid profile of the legendary jam band celebrates decades in the history of the Grateful Dead, from their 1965 birth in the heart of San Francisco''s hippie counterculture to the twenty-first century, with a compilation of intimate portraits, candid backstage shots, and iconic performance images, in a volume that includes a tribute to the late founding member, Jerry Garcia.

The first biography of the artist who “essentially invented indie and alternative rock” (Spin) A brilliant and influential songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist, the charismatic Alex Chilton was more than a rock star—he was a true cult icon. Awardwinning music writer Holly George-Warren’s A Man Called Destruction is the first biography of this enigmatic artist, who died in 2010. Covering Chilton’s life from his early work with the charttopping Box Tops and the seminal power-pop band Big Star to his experiments with punk and roots music and his sprawling solo career, A Man Called Destruction is the story of a musical icon and a richly detailed chronicle of pop music’s evolution, from the mid-1960s through today’s indie rock.

Discover the surprising beginnings and humble origins of the charismatic pioneers who helped shape the country-and-western scene into the influential musical empire it is today. Included among this collection of legends are Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, and more unforgettable people who changed the face of music forever!

In John Varvatos, the legendary designer reveals his perspective on how rock & roll music and style have influenced his own designs and fashion worldwide. Varvatos’s personally curated collection of more than 250 images are some of the most provocative ever shot by top rock photographers from the late 1960s to today, from the Rolling Stones to the Kings of Leon. The featured photographers are among the world’s finest, including Mick Rock, Bob Gruen, Elliott Landy, Danny Clinch, Lynn Goldsmith, and more. Also included are select images from Varvatos’s own advertising campaigns, featuring artists such as Slash, Iggy Pop, Scott Weiland, and Miles Kane. Varvatos’s captions and incisive commentary on the artist and his or her look accompany each image. Every chapter also contains numerous quotes from the musicians themselves, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Iggy Pop, Jack White, Pete Townshend, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, and Patti Smith. An extraordinary anthology of some of the finest images in rock & roll and the most influential rock looks in fashion and popular culture, this volume will delight music lovers, and fans of music photography, fashion, and fashion history.

Featuring The Real West, Camfire melodies, Matinee idols, Four legged friends, Cowgirls & Lone guns.

The definitive account of the most famous music festival of all time: Woodstock. “[A] vivid and lively account of those hectic and historic three days….The best fly-on-the-wall account, tantamount to having had a backstage pass to an iconic event.” —New York Post The Woodstock music festival of 1969 is an American cultural touchstone, and no book captures the sights, sounds, and behind-the-scenes machinations of the historic gathering better than Michael Lang’s New York Times bestseller, The Road to Woodstock. USA Today calls this fascinating, entertaining, and blissfully nostalgic look back, “Invaluable.” In The Road to Woodstock, Michael Lang recaptures the magic for the generation that was there…and for the generations that followed. Just in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock festival, this definitive volume tells you everything you need to know about the most famous three days in music history.

A companion book to the PBS documentary series exploring the history of the blues and its contribution to American culture and music worldwide. A companion to the groundbreaking documentary series, this volume is a unique and timeless celebration of the blues, from writers and artists as esteemed and revered as the music that moved them. Included in this stunning collection are: Essays by David Halberstam, Hilton Als, Suzan-Lori Parks, Elmore Leonard, Luc Sante, John Edgar Wideman, and many others Timeless archival pieces by writers such as Stanley Booth, Paul Oliver, and Mack McCormick Evocative color illustrations and rare vintage photography Illuminating and in-depth conversations and portraits of musicians, ranging from Robert Johnson and Bessie Smith to John Lee Hooker and Eric Clapton Lyrics of legendary blues compositions Personal essays by the series directors Martin Scorsese, Charles Burnett, Richard Pearce, Wim Wenders, Marc Levin, Mike Figgis, and Clint Eastwood Excerpts from literary masters James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Eudora Welty, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and William Faulkner Tracing the art form’s path from juke joints, house parties, and recording studios to musicians such as Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles, Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues proves, in the words of Willie Dixon, “The blues are the roots; every-thing else is the fruits.” Praise for Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues “Richly detailed . . . the book has a wealth of material with a lot of riffs and personal takes by talented writers.” —USA Today “A must-read for any blues fans.” —Chicago Tribune “Essential . . . for anyone who cares about American history, black culture, and current music.” —Miami Herald “Even if you’re a blues hound with hundreds of discs in your collection, this book is a learning experience, and richly enjoyable.” —Kansas City Star

Play It Loud celebrates the musical instruments that gave rock and roll its signature sound. Seven engrossing essays by veteran music journalists and scholars discuss the technical developments that fostered rock’s seductive riffs and driving rhythms; the evolution of the classic lineup of two guitars, bass, and drums; the thrilling innovations and expanded instrumentation musicians have explored to achieve unique effects; the powerful visual impact instruments have had; and the essential role they have played in the most memorable moments of rock and roll history. Abundant photographs depict rock’s most iconic instruments—including Jerry Lee Lewis’s baby grand piano, Chuck Berry’s Gibson ES-350T guitar, John Lennon’s twelve-string Rickenbacker 325, Keith Moon’s drum set, and the white Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock—both in performance and as works of art in their own right. Produced in collaboration with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this astounding book goes behind the music to offer a rare, in-depth look at the instruments that inspired the musicians and made possible the songs we know and love.

Sie war der größte Star der Rockmusik in den 60er-Jahren, bis heute sind ihre Stimme und ihre Auftritte beim Monterey Festival oder in Woodstock unvergessen: Janis Joplin. Die renommierte Musik-Historikerin Holly George-Warren zeichnet in dieser großartigen Biografie das Porträt einer Frau, die nicht nur Musik-Geschichte schrieb, sondern mit ihren Songs die Welt veränderte. Janis Joplin ist ein Rock-Idol. Sie verkörperte die Revolution der 60er-Jahre, den Stil, den Sound, den Spirit der jungen Menschen weltweit. Schnell erlangte sie einen Status, der sonst nur Männern vorbehalten war, und sollte später die weiblichen Rockstars der kommenden Generationen prägen. Schon als Studentin scherte sich Janis Joplin nicht um Konventionen, verkehrte mit Schwarzen und sang voller Leidenschaft zu ihrer Musik. Mitte der 1960er-Jahre lockte die aufblühende Hippiekultur sie nach San Francisco, wo sie in die bunte Szene von Haight-Ashbury eintauchte und sich bald der Band Big Brother and the Holding Company anschloss. Mit Hits wie "Ball and Chain", "Summertime" und "Piece of My Heart" stieg sie kometenhaft zum Weltstar auf. Der enorme Erfolg und die Rastlosigkeit des Musik-Business gingen einher mit ihrer unstillbaren Sucht nach Alkohol und Drogen. Während der Studioaufnahmen für ihre LP Pearl verstarb sie am 4. Oktober 1970 in einem Motel. Sie wurde nur 27 Jahre alt. Die renommierte Musikhistorikerin Holly George-Warren erzählt die künstlerische Entwicklung und das kompromisslose Leben des Rockstars in all seinen Facetten. Dazu erhielt sie exklusiven Zugang zu persönlichen Zeugnissen von Janis Joplin und ihrer Familie, sprach mit Freunden, Musikern und Weggefährten. Dies ist die große, autorisierte Janis-Joplin-Biografie – mit vielen bislang unbekannten Einblicken in die spektakuläre, doch viel zu kurze Karriere der größten Rock-Ikone der 1960er-Jahre.

From an award-winning writer and producer comes the latest edition in the 365 series. The most provocative photography documents the performances, looks, and attitudes of the punk movement that exploded onto the music scene more than 30 years ago.

Janis Joplin ha pasado a la historia como un alma impulsiva y apasionada, un ser con un destino sentenciado por el dolor que generaba una de las voces más extraordinarias que ha dado la historia del rock. La célebre autora y biógrafa Holly George-Warren fue elegida expresamente por el Janis Joplin Estate para escribir el libro definitivo sobre su vida y su música, un complejo retrato revelador y profundo de una artista extraordinaria. Así, los hermanos de Joplin, Laura y Michael Joplin, proporcionaron a George-Warren acceso exclusivo y privilegiado a miles de archivos, documentos, incluidas transcripciones, correspondencias, fotografías, entrevistas perdidas y recuerdos, así como el acceso directo a la familia, compañeros de banda y amigos de la cantante. Joplin fue una leyenda del rock, una perfeccionista, una música erudita y apasionada que poseía un talento innato, pero su música no había sido aún examinada a fondo en biografías anteriores. Su estilo vocal llenó la brecha entre el blues tradicional y el hard rock, y sus actuaciones mostraron que su estilo podía ser sensual y romper a la vez los roles tradicionales de género. Cuando produjo su último álbum, Pearl, Joplin estaba explorando una variedad de géneros que había absorbido en su Texas natal, incluyendo folk, country, blues, jazz, pop y gospel, así como los diferentes estilos de rock, psicodelia, soul y funk. Desde su colorido guardarropa hasta sus comentarios ingeniosos y extraordinariamente abiertos a los medios, Janis Joplin se convirtió en un ícono en sus propios términos. Sin embargo, su impacto en la música y la cultura popular sigue siendo extrañamente subestimado en los libros sobre la historia del rock. Esta biografía corrige por fin esta distorsión.

In How the West Was Worn, Holly George-Warren and Michelle Freedman offer a sartorial history of the American West. From the pre-20th-century origins of western style to Hollywood westerns, rodeo stars, cowboy crooners, ranchers and businessmen, good old boys from the Tetons to Dallas are presented in all their tooled, embroidered, sequined, fringed, 10-galloned, gun-toting finery.

From Bill Haley & His Comets to James Brown & his Famous Flames, this fun & fact-filled introduction to the pioneers of rock & roll will have you dancing in the aisles. These are 14 original stars who created a brand-new sound almost 50 years ago -- they influenced a generation of teenagers & inspired many of today¿s most important musicians: Bill Haley, James, Brown, Fats Domino, LaVern Baker, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Bo Diddley, Carl Perkins, The Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Wanda Jackson, & Richie Valens. Music critic Holly George-Warren & fine artist Laura Levine have created a unique, hip, & lively book for readers of all ages. Primarily juvenile audiences.

Profiles Hall of Fame inductees, and discusses the development of music scenes and genres in this companion to the awards ceremony.

Profiles Hall of Fame inductees, and discusses the development of music scenes and genres in this companion to the awards ceremony.