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Music & Musicians

Explore the fascinating world of music and the lives of the musicians who shaped it. This list offers a variety of memoirs, biographies, and explorations into the heart and soul of music.

User from Barrie Public Library

20 items

  • Before Elvis

    the African American Musicians Who Made the King

    Lauterbach, Preston
    Before Elvis examines the lives, music, legacies, and interactions with Elvis Presley of the four innovative Black artists who created a style that would come to be known as Rock 'n' Roll: Little Junior Parker, Big Mama Thornton, Arthur 'Big Boy'…
    Book, 2025New York : Grand Central, 2025. — 782.421660922 Lau 2025
  • One Foot on the Platform

    a Rock 'n' Roll Journey : Writings on Music

    Goddard, Peter
    One Foot on the Platform is a posthumous collection of essays and writings by acclaimed music critic Peter Goddard, reflecting on over 50 years of covering rock, blues, jazz, and more. Featuring new pieces on iconic artists like Bob Dylan, David…
    Book, 2025[Toronto] : House of Anansi Press Inc., 2025. — 782.421660922 Godda 2025
  • Song So Wild and Blue

    a Life With the Music of Joni Mitchell

    Lisicky, Paul
    From the celebrated novelist and memoirist, a gorgeous account of how Joni Mitchell's work has shaped his writing throughout his life.
    Book, 2025New York : HarperOne, 2025. — 782.42164092 Mitch-L 2025
  • John & Paul

    a Love Story in Songs

    Leslie, Ian, 1972-
    John & Paul is a revealing biography of the complex, often turbulent relationship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Spanning their 23-year connection, acclaimed writer Ian Leslie explores how their deep bond shaped The Beatles' music and…
    Book, 2025New York : Celadon Books, 2025. — 782.421660922 Les 2025
  • Fahrenheit-182 is Mark Hoppus’s candid, humorous memoir about growing up in the 1980s amid family turmoil, identity shifts, and a love for punk rock and skate culture. Tracing his journey from an anxious, misfit kid to co-founder of blink-182, the…
    Book, 2025New York, NY : Dey St., an imprint of William Morrow, 2025. — 787.87166092 Hoppu 2025
  • Heartbreak Is the National Anthem

    How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music

    Sheffield, Rob
    An intimate look at the life and music of modern pop's most legendary figure, Taylor Swift, from leading music journalist Rob Sheffield.
    Book, 2024New York, NY : Dey St., 2024. — 782.42164092 Swift-S 2024
  • Never

    the Autobiography

    Astley, Rick, 1966-
    This memoir traces Rick Astley’s unexpected rise to global fame with “Never Gonna Give You Up,” his whirlwind pop career, and his decision to leave it all behind after six years to prioritize family and personal well-being. Reflecting on fame, media…
    Book, 2024London : Macmillan, 2024. — 782.42164092 Astle 2024
  • Bright Lights Dark Shadows is the definitive biography of ABBA, charting their rise to global fame after winning Eurovision in 1974, their breakup, and their remarkable resurgence. This updated edition covers the groundbreaking ABBA Voyage concert…
    Book, 2024London : Omnibus Press, 2024. — 782.421640922 ABBA-P 2024
  • In her raw and revealing memoir, singer JoJo shares her journey from child star to young woman navigating fame, addiction, and identity. Discovered at 12 and catapulted to fame with her hit “Leave (Get Out),” JoJo recounts growing up in a troubled…
    Book, 2024New York, NY : Hachette Books, 2024. — 782.42164092 JoJo 2024
  • Lollapalooza

    the Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival

    Bienstock, Richard
    The definitive, no-holds-barred oral history of 1990s alt-rock festival Lollapalooza---told by the musicians, roadies, and industry insiders who lived it.
    Book, 2025New York : St. Martin's Press, 2025. — 781.66078 Bie 2025
  • Neuroscientist and author of This Is Your Brain on Music Daniel J. Levitin reveals how the deep connections between music and the human brain can be harnessed for healing.
    Book, 2024[Toronto] : Allen Lane, 2024. — 781.11 Lev 2024
  • This is the story of Nina Simone -- a gifted pianist, powerful singer, and fearless civil rights activist. Born into poverty and segregation, she rose to fame through talent and determination, becoming a trailblazing artist and enduring inspiration…
    Graphic Novel, 2024New York : NBM Graphic Novels, 2024. — 782.42164092 Simon-A 2024
  • Rush at 50 presents an authoritative and illustrated retrospective of one of rock's most beloved acts, as told through 50 landmark releases, career pivots, and professional associations.
    Book, 2024Beverly, MA : Motorbooks, 2024. — 782.421660922 Rush-B 2024
  • How Women Made Music

    a Revolutionary History From NPR Music

    Based on the NPR series "Turning the Tables" this chronicle of the transformative impact of female artists on music history features insights from icons like Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, Patti Smith and Nina Simone.
    Book, 2024New York, NY : HarperOne, 2024. — 780.82 How 2024
  • The Piano Player of Budapest

    a True Story of Hope, Survival, and Music

    De Bastion, Roxanne
    After inheriting a century-old family piano, singer-songwriter Roxanne de Bastion uncovers the remarkable story of her grandfather Stephen -- a famed musician who survived WWII concentration camps. Through recordings, letters, and memoirs, she…
    Book, 2024New York : Pegasus Books, 2024. — 940.5318092 DeBas 2024
  • So Tell Me What You Want

    My Story of Making It in the Mad, Bad and Fab Pop Music Industry

    Chapman, Nicki
    In this memoir, Nicki Chapman shares her journey from overlooked assistant to influential music industry figure and Pop Idol judge. Swapping a planned trip to Australia for a career in London’s male-dominated music scene, she rose through the ranks…
    Book, 2024London : Little, Brown Book Group Limited, 2024. — 791.45028092 Chapm 2024
  • A comprehensive fifty-year history of the hip-hop genre, from renowned artist and author of Music is history, Questlove.
    Book, 2024New York : AUWA Books / MCD / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024. — 782.421649 Que 2024
  • Blues legend Buddy Guy shares his story of growing up in rural Louisiana, making his way to Chicago, and becoming one of the most influential blues guitarists in history.
    Book, 2012Boston : Da Capo Press, 2012. — 787.871643092 Guy
  • Laura Tunbridge's Beethoven offers a fresh perspective on the composer's life, focusing on key moments, his music, and new insights into his personality. The book explores Beethoven's self-promotion, influences, and how contemporaries perceived his…
    Book, 2020London : Viking, 2020. — 780.924 Beeth-T 2020
  • A love letter to the influential hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, mixing personal reflections, cultural commentary, and history to explore the group’s legacy.
    Book, 2019Austin : University of Texas Press, 2019. — 782.4216490922 Tribe -W 2019