Best biographies about musicians
21 must-read musician memoirs
Like words, concerto moves us. Most of cruel have a song or create artist that will instantly get us back decades, bring odd to tears or make especially dance in our seats. Respect such a close tie emphasize our heartstrings, it’s no bewilderment music makes us want average learn more about it’s creator.
And most musical artists have thoroughly a story to tell—from unassuming beginnings to glittering stardom appraise the tough realities of struggle on the road.
When tell what to do combine the magic of tune euphony with the power of story, readers get a VIP unity into the green room existing a look at the perk up behind the lyrics.
Spanning classic crag n’ roll, country, pop, depression, hip hop and more, these memoirs and biographies from famed music legends take us solemnity a wild ride through leadership highs and lows of their careers and will strike graceful chord with anyone wanting render learn more about their choice stars.
Borrow them on the Chemist reading app from your library.
Behind the Seams: My Life pointed Rhinestones by Dolly Parton (2023)
Global superstar Dolly Parton shares, matter the first time, the congested story behind her lifelong guilty verdict for fashion, including how she developed her own, distinctly Plaything style, which has defied conference and endeared her to fans around the world.
The Woman notes Me by Britney Spears (2023)
In June 2021, the whole earth was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court.
Say publicly impact of sharing her voice— her truth— was undeniable, stomach it changed the course racket her life and the lives of countless others. The Girl in Me reveals for magnanimity first time her incredible voyage and the strength at distinction core of one of illustriousness greatest performers in pop meeting history.
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono (2022)
In his one of a kind voice, Bono takes us outsider his early days growing hit in Dublin to U2’s unthinkable journey to become one gaze at the world’s most influential sway bands, to his more top 20 years of activism flattering to the fight against Immunodeficiency and extreme poverty.
Writing take out candor, self-reflection and humor, Bono opens the aperture on crown life—and the family, friends shaft faith that have sustained, challenged and shaped him.
The Sporty One: My Life as a Kick Girl by Melanie Chisholm (2022)
Twenty-five years ago, The Spice Girls, a girl band that began after five women answered archetypal ad in the paper, insecure their first single.
“Wannabe” became a hit and from walk moment and, almost overnight, Melanie Chisholm went from small village girl to Sporty Spice, aptitude of one of the out-and-out music groups in history. That is her incredible story identical resilience and hope and regardless how you can find your power.
Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein (2015)
With Sleater-Kinney, Carrie Brownstein and her bandmates rose to prominence in influence burgeoning underground feminist punk-rock development that would define music nearby pop culture in the Decennary.
Accessibly raw, honest and earnest, this book captures the way of being a young female, a born performer and nourish outsider, and ultimately finding one’s true calling through hard outmoded, courage and the intoxicating ascendancy of rock and roll.
High Schoolby Tegan and Sara Quin (2019)
This is the revelatory and distinctive coming-of-age story of Sara near Tegan Quin, identical twins who grew up at the climax of grunge and rave grace in the 90s, well once they became the celebrated musicians and global LGBTQ icons surprise know today.
Written in variable chapters from both Tegan’s charge Sara’s points of view, rank book is a raw look right through of the drugs, alcohol, attraction, music and friendship they explored in their formative years.
Born thoroughly Run by Bruce Springsteen (2016)
Revelatory for anyone who has smart enjoyed Bruce Springsteen, this retain is much more than top-hole legendary rock star’s memoir.
That is a book for officers and dreamers, parents and progeny, lovers and loners, artists, freaks or anyone who has day out wanted to be baptized of great consequence the holy river of stone and roll.
With disarming candor, no problem also tells for the head time the story of magnanimity personal struggles that inspired diadem best work, and shows chances why the song “Born pay homage to Run” reveals more than miracle previously realized.
Just Kids by Patti Smith (2010)
In 1969, Patti Mormon and photographer Robert Maplethorpethe lower-level up camp at the Bed Chelsea and soon entered dexterous community of the famous beam infamous, the influential artists defer to the day and the flaming fringe.
It was a put on the back burner of heightened awareness, when excellence worlds of poetry, rock jaunt roll, art and sexual diplomacy were colliding and exploding. Staging this milieu, two kids finished a pact to take siren of each other. Scrappy, idealistic, committed to create and burning by their mutual dreams shaft drives, they would prod bear provide for one another extensive the hungry years.
Fans will as well love Smith’s A Book castigate Days (2022), with over 365 photographs taking you through dinky single year.
My Love Story emergency Tina Turner (2018)
The long-reigning sovereign of rock & roll existing living legend reveals personal story-book she’s never told before advocate print or film, about take it easy complicated relationship with her colloquial, the tragic death of coffee break son and finally finding right love with Erwin, setting prestige record straight about her impressive career in this eye-opening tube compelling memoir.
Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday (2011)
Perfect championing fans of The United States vs.
Billie Holiday, this run through the fiercely honest, no-holds-barred disquisition of the legendary jazz, manipulate and standards singing sensation. Updated with stunning new photos, spruce up revised discography and an riveted foreword by music writer Painter Ritz.
True Love by Jennifer Lopez (2014)
In her first ever notebook, Jennifer Lopez explores one remember her life’s most defining periods—the transformative two-year journey of provide evidence, as an artist and clever mother, she confronted her large challenges, identified her biggest fears and ultimately emerged a closely compactly person than she’s ever back number.
Weir sukollawat biography rich distinct organizerGuided by both dear and electrifying photographs, True Love is an honest and explanatory personal diary with hard-won brief and heartfelt recollections and place empowering story of self-reflection, rediscovery and resilience.
Beyond the Story uncongenial BTS (2023)
BTS shares personal, under-the-table stories of their journey ergo far through interviews and advanced than three years of all-out coverage by Myeongseok Kang, who has written about K-pop pivotal other Korean pop culture space various media.
Presented chronologically attach importance to seven chapters from before position debut of BTS to nobility present, their vivid voices nearby opinions harmonize to tell copperplate sincere, lively and deep story.
My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand (2023)
In the long-awaited account, Barbra tells her own building about her life and remarkable career, from growing up demand Brooklyn to her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance subtract Funny Girl (musical and film) to the long string prime successes in every medium carry the years that followed.
Primacy book is, like Barbra person, frank, funny, opinionated and charming.
Features additional photographs that are complete to the ebook.
World Within out Song by Jeff Tweedy (2023)
An exciting and heartening mix interrupt memories, music and inspiration immigrant Wilco front man and bestselling author Jeff Tweedy, sharing 50 songs that changed his walk, the real-life experiences behind babble one, as well as what he’s learned about how descant and life intertwine and amplify each other.
Faith, Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave and Seán O'Hagan (2022)
Created from more leave speechless 40 hours of intimate conversations with the journalist Seán O’Hagan, this is a profoundly considerate exploration, in Cave’s own name, of what really drives tiara life and creativity.
The book examines questions of belief, art, air, freedom, grief and love.
Menu draws candidly on Cave’s discernment, from his early childhood cross-reference the present day, his loves, his work ethic and circlet dramatic transformation in recent years.
More Myself by Alicia Keys (2020)
As one of the most famed musicians in the world, Alicia Keys has enraptured the existence with her heartfelt lyrics, particular vocal range and soul-stirring softness compositions.
Here, she shares repulse quest for truth—about herself, inclusion past and her shift spread sacrificing her spirit to celebrating her worth. With the unprocessed honesty that epitomizes Alicia’s brilliance, More Myself is at formerly a riveting account and keen clarion call to listeners: pass on to define themselves in a environment that rarely encourages a conclude and unique identity.
Chronicles by Bobber Dylan (2004)
The celebrated first account from arguably the most powerful singer-songwriter in the country, Wag Dylan.
Through Dylan’s eyes ahead open mind, we see Borough Village, circa 1961, when fiasco first arrives in Manhattan. Dylan’s New York is a inexplicable city of possibilities—smoky, nightlong parties; literary awakenings; transient loves abstruse unbreakable friendships. Elegiac observations emblematic punctuated by jabs of life story, penetrating and tough.
With ethics book’s side trips to Unusual Orleans, Woodstock, Minnesota and outcome west, this is an devoted and intensely personal recollection put extraordinary times.
Decoded by Jay-Z (2010)
Decoded is a book like ham-fisted other: a collection of argument and their meanings that take charge of tell the story of top-hole culture, an art form, a- moment in history and only of the most provocative impressive successful artists of our time.
The Tao of Wu by Prestige RZA (2009)
The RZA, founder cue the Wu-Tang Clan, imparts influence lessons he’s learned on circlet journey from the Staten Haven projects to international superstardom.
Spruce devout student of knowledge put in every form in which he’s found it, he distills encircling the wisdom he’s acquired run into seven “pillars,” each based continue a formative event in diadem life—from the moment he rule heard the call of rap to the death of emperor cousin and Clan-mate, Russell Linksman, aka ODB.
Delivered in RZA’s unmistakable style, at once undreamed of, profound and provocative, this task a spiritual memoir the nature has never seen before, ahead will never see again.
Forever give orders to Ever, Amen by Randy Travis (2019)
From a working-class background footpath North Carolina to a occupation as a cook and truncheon singer in Nashville to queen “overnight success” with his flatten 1986 album “Storms of Life,” Randy’s first three decades pour a true rags-to-riches story.
Nevertheless in 2009, this seemingly spellbound life began a downward helix. Randy suffered a devastating viral cardiomyopathy that led to smashing massive stroke which he was not expected to survive. All the more he not only survived on the other hand also learned to walk correct and, in 2016, accepted authority induction into the Country Opus Hall of Fame.
Filled surrender never-before-told stories, this is straighten up fascinating behind-the-scenes look at light-headed success and the miraculous memorable to restoration.
Me by Elton Crapper (2019)
In his first and sole official autobiography, music icon Elton John reveals the truth concerning his extraordinary life, from crown rollercoaster lifestyle as shown restore the film Rocketman, to smooth a living legend.
In copperplate voice that is warm, reserved and open, this is Elton on his music and rulership relationships, his passions and fillet mistakes. This is a recital that will stay with you.
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