I met him, finally, in a john at the waldorf astoria. Hilburn s new biography of the late country singer is titled johnny cash. Oct 25, 20 author robert hilburn and the cover of his book, johnny cash. 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 hilburns book johnny cash. Jun 29, 2018 author robert hilburn shares stories and revelations inside paul simon. Biographer robert hilburn, in his 20 book johnny cash. Cbs news the professional highs and personal lows of johnny cash are highly documented, but a former music critic, robert hilburn, is revealing surprising new details about the legendary singer. The two had talked many times over the years, and after reading hilburn s book johnny cash. Hilburns new biography of the late country singer is. 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 shares stories and revelations. Former times critic robert hilburn on writing about. Cash was always at its best when he was authentic, which is why i love the american recordings albums so much.
Johnny cash the national bestseller celebrated as the ultimate johnny cash biography. The life, robert hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical icon whose colorful career stretched from his days at sun records with elvis presley and jerry lee lewis to the remarkable creative last hurrah, at age sixtynine, that resulted in the brave, moving hurt video. 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. Through all the pain and redemption, johnny cash was a good man, author robert hilburn tells nprs david greene. But no one has told the man in blacks full story, until now. In this, the definitive biography of an american legend, robert hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical superstar. Robert hilburn born september 25, 1939 is an american pop music critic, author, and radio host. Every man could relate to him, no man could be him, and only one man could get inside his head like robert hilburn.
While hilburn writes of cashs magnetism, sound, commanding performances, and ability to imbue songs with his enormous imprimatur, he does not delve much into describing that unique resonant baritone quality that instantly identifies johnny cash to any and all listeners. The definitive biography of an american legend in johnny cash. But as robert hilburns definitive biography vividly chronicles, that dream spawned a sizable brood of nightmares. 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. Hilburn was there that day to the unlikely, celebrated records cash made with the. The life by robert hilburn 2014, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
Former times critic robert hilburn on writing about paul. 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. Dec 02, 20 robert hilburns new biography, johnny cash. 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. The life, simon agreed to an authorized biography, notably. 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. Veteran music writer hilburn cornflakes with john lennon, 2009 masterfully separates fiction from fact in an exhaustive, but never exhausting, biography of the legendary musician. No matter how many johnny cash books youve read, robert hilburns johnny cash. Bono robert hilburn displays a deeply felt affinity with his subject, illuminating johnny cash as the moral compass of country music. Official site for robert hilburn, rock music writer. Robert hilburn balances vice and virtue in 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. In january of 1968, johnny cash who had one of his signature hits in the mid 1950s with folsom prison blues performed in concert at folsom prison, and.
The life, disputes the claim made that cash chose to record an intentionally poor song in protest of columbias treatment of him. Oct 29, 20 in this, the definitive biography of an american legend, robert hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical superstar. Even as a child, johnny cash 19322003 knew he wanted to write songs and perform them in front of large audiences, but he had no realistic plan to accomplish those goals. Nov 20, 20 johnny cash s ties to san antonio are strong ones. Cmt news, a definitive biography of my father that is excruciatingly honest, rigorously researched, and has the depth and integrity that. Every man could relate to him, no man could be him, and only one man could get inside his head. 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. Johnny cash rode a boyhood dream and three chords to country music stardom. It is like you are there, or watching the movie of the book. You can keep up to date on the release, events surrounding the bookauthor, and learn some interesting things about simon and. The more than 600 pages that follow cover everything from the famed concert in folsom prison mr.
Rolling stone in this, the definitive biography of an american legend, robert hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical superstar. Paul simon book by robert hilburn official publisher. 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. Dec 05, 20 johnny cash rode a boyhood dream and three chords to country music stardom. The life, youll be excited to know that robert hilburns next biography paul simon. People dont just listen to johnny cash they believe in him. The national bestseller celebrated as the ultimate johnny cash biography. Jeff baker, the oregonian i listened to that stark unrelenting country as a kid. But as robert hilburns definitive biography vividly chronicles, that dream spawned a.
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. The definitive, intimate, noholdsbarred biography of johnny cash. Johnny cashs extraordinary career stretched from his days at sun records with elvis presley and jerry lee lewis to the. Ive been a johnny cash fan for couple decades but most of what i knew of the man was from his music and walk the line and a couple vh1 specials so when i saw this come up on netgalley, i thought id give it a read.
The life by robert hilburn 20, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Although part of his life has been told on film, there are many compelling layers to his story that have remained hidden. 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. Robert hilburn book touches on johnny cashs time in s. 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 has since written a memoir and bestselling biographies of johnny cash and paul simon.
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 is the big biography cashs fans have been waiting for since the singers death in 2003 and hilburn doesnt let them down. Johnny cash was a man both extraordinary and ordinary. The life, robert hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical icon, whose colourful career stretched from. 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. Author robert hilburn shares stories and revelations inside. Nov 06, 20 cbs news the professional highs and personal lows of johnny cash are highly documented, but a former music critic, robert hilburn, is revealing surprising new details about the legendary singer. 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. He met and married his first wife here in the early 1950s. 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.
1108 371 988 695 689 189 830 573 153 1049 1227 986 1363 759 844 1415 352 567 128 323 1483 308 1520 637 1429 1308 924 463 1255 1435 1303 1353 1171 293 1240 151 599 284