James Hoag: 42 books

You've seen the movie, now get the rest of the story.This book is about the music.James Brown has had more of an influence on the music we listen to today than almost anyone else. He grew up in abject poverty, a black man in the post-depression south. His chances of making it in...

Before there was Prince, before there was Michael Jackson, before even the Beatles there was Little Richard, a true Rock and Roll trailblazer.It seems like everybody in Rock and Roll has a title. James Brown is called the Godfather of Soul. Elvis, of course, is the King. In the Legends of Rock...

The Everly Brothers were one of the most important and influential of the early rock and roll bands. They set the standard high with close two-part harmonies and were the first of the rockers who combined country with rock and roll and, surprisingly, impressed both sides of the fence.This book...

Rick Nelson (known as Ricky in his younger years) started out playing himself in the "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" TV show in the Fifties and Sixties. He then discovered Rock and Roll and found out he could sing, too. Rick became the first real "teen idol" and sold over 50 million records in his...

Billy Joel is one of the very best performers and song writers of the past 40 years. He has published an enormous amount of work on record, CD and DVD. His music defines a generation.Billy Joel was born in 1949 and is still active today. Influenced by people like the Beatles and Dave Brubeck,...

“If we all could sound like we wanted to, we'd all sound like George Jones.” - Waylon JenningsThis is the second in the "Legends of Country Music" series.This does for Country Music what "The Legends of Rock & Roll" series does for rock and roll. It is a mini-biography of one...

Roy Orbison had one of the best voices in pop music. It was a forceful, almost operatic bel canto tenor that is unlike anyone else in music. When you hear a Roy Orbison song, you almost immediately know who it is. Roy had a wonderful career that was cut short at what could be called, the prime of...

Legends of Rock & Roll: The Monkees“Hey, Hey, We’re the Monkees!” Who doesn’t remember those famous words?This is another in the series of tributes to rock and roll heroes of the past and present. Micky, Davy, Peter and Michael were America's answer to the Beatles. They...

"What a long, strange trip it's been."Welcome to another in the Legends of Rock & Roll series.The Legends of Rock & Roll series is about the music we have listened to over the past fifty years. This is a mini-biography of the band The Grateful Dead, but even more importantly, it's...

Do you know who are the most popular duo of all time?Simon & GarfunkelThis is another in the series of tributes to rock and roll heroes of the past and present. Simon & Garfunkel only produced 5 albums together before breaking up in 1971, but they are the sound of the Sixties and will...

Everyone knows that Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul. Growing up in Detroit, she was the daughter of one of the most charismatic evangelists in the city. So, you would think she would become a great gospel singer and she did. But it was in R&B and Soul that she is best know. Aretha was the first...

"It's All About the Music!"This is, like the others, really a mini-biography of Bob Dylan which emphasizes the music that he has created. The author has had a lifelong passion for the music of the Fifties and Sixties and Pop music in general. He enjoys listening to the music of rock and...

One of the greatest performers of the past 40 years, Elton John has sold over 200 Million albums worldwide. He is the only person in the history of rock and roll to place a song in the Top 40 for every year for a span of 25 years. (1969 - 1995)The Legends of Rock & Roll series is written to...

I have resisted writing about Elvis Presley ever since I started this project. This is the 27th book in what is so-far, three different series of books. How can you write about the legends of rock and roll or any genre of music for that matter and not include Elvis.I know a lot has been written...