A brilliant new biography of the extraordinary; outrageous performer who helped open the floodgates of Rock n Roll. In June; 2007; Little Richards 1955 Specialty Records single; "Tutti Frutti;" topped Mojo magazines list of "100 Records That Changed the World." But back in the early 1950s; nobody gave Little Richard a second glance. It was a time in America where the black and white worlds had co-existed separately for nearly two centuries. After "Tutti Frutti;" Little Richard began garnering fans from both sides of the civil rights divide. He brought black and white youngsters together on the dance floor and even helped to transform race relations.Little Richard: The Birth of Rock n Roll begins by grounding the reader in the fertile soil from which Little Richards music sprang. In Macon; Georgia; David Kirby interviews relatives and local characters; who knew Little Richard way back when; citing church and family as his true inspiration. His antics began as early as grade school; performing for his classmates every time the teacher would leave the room; connecting to an age-old American show biz tradition of charade and flummery. On the road; Little Richard faced competition from his peers; honing his stage show and making it; too; an act that could not be counterfeited.Kirby sees Little Richard as a foxy warrior; fighting with skill and cunning to take his place among the greats. In the words of Keith Richards (on hearing "Tutti Frutti" for the first time); "it was as though the world changed suddenly from monochrome to Technicolor." Those sentiments have consistently been echoed by the music-listening world; and the time is ripe for a reassessment of Little Richards genius and legacy.
#4439365 in eBooks 2010-04-15 2010-04-15File Name: B00LFETBVE
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. indispensable!By bookclubfanReally liked it! Woodhams writing is clear and interesting; drawing in the "lay person" without making it banal for the art expert or the art professional. I liked especially Woodhams lively; real-life examples to illustrate how the art market works and how it has evolved over time. The book identifies the key players; explains why the art market is still much narrower than some other markets/asset classes; like stocks or bonds or Real Estate; points to where inefficiencies may lie; and suggests what potential investors and collectors have to be most careful about. Especially how to avoid some of the heavy "fluff" that hits every art "newcomer" head-on. Woodhams book hints at how this market would (should?) evolve if more "analytical" approaches found their way more into it. It is an excellent introduction for new collectors and casual observers; and an even better reminder for those who took the plunge a while ago but now should come up for air before diving into it again. And all that; without taking away the fun of loving art! Good read!"1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Buy this book if you are an artist or collector!!!By TONY GRIDERAfter visiting the Dallas Art Fair and catching Doug Woodham on a panel discussion; I immediately purchased his book and found it to be very insightful for the new artist and collector like myself. His chapters on ldquo;Best Time to be an Artistrdquo;; and ldquo;Putting a Price on an Artworkrdquo; are well worth the price of this book alone! For an artist like me; it is a wonderful reminder that potential art buyers from all over the world are wanting to purchase art work. For buyers or sellers of art from family estates; galleries; or auction houses; this book is invaluable!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A helpful roadmap of the contemporary art world and art marketBy DamstraDoug Woodham provides an incredibly helpful roadmap of the network of museums; galleries and auction houses which make up the art world and how they have changed the way people buy; sell and experience art over the past couple decades. The writing style is engaging and the book is a fun read - which is not to say that it is light on substance - Doug introduces some complicated issues; like how cultural property laws affect the art market in different countries; I have picked the book up several times since finishing it to refer to a specific topic. The many examples of artists; buyers and sellers are very informative as are tips for novice collectors to purchase art wisely. I would strongly recommend the book to anyone looking for an introduction to the art world; or people who are interested in collecting art and are looking for some advice on how to start an art collection or to learn more about collecting strategies and habits.
