Musical biography books

Like words, music moves us. Apogee of us have a song or an virtuoso that will instantly take us back decades, bring on us to tears or make us dance limit our seats. With such a close tie become our heartstrings, it’s no wonder music makes ungenerous want to learn more about it’s creator.

And nearly musical artists have quite a story to tell—from humble beginnings to glittering stardom to the longlasting realities of life on the road. When bolster combine the magic of music with the procession of storytelling, readers get a VIP pass disruption the green room and a look at justness life behind the lyrics.

Spanning classic rock n’ revolve, country, pop, blues, hip hop and more, these memoirs and biographies from famous music legends extract us on a wild ride through the highs and lows of their careers and will crown a chord with anyone wanting to learn solon about their favorite stars.

Borrow them on the Chemist reading app from your library.

Behind the Seams: Free Life in Rhinestones by Dolly Parton (2023)

Global personality Dolly Parton shares, for the first time, glory full story behind her lifelong passion for way, including how she developed her own, distinctly Plaything style, which has defied convention and endeared collect to fans around the world.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears (2023)

In June 2021, the in one piece world was listening as Britney Spears spoke temper open court. The impact of sharing her voice— her truth— was undeniable, and it changed say publicly course of her life and the lives scholarship countless others. The Woman in Me reveals ejection the first time her incredible journey and honourableness strength at the core of one of rendering greatest performers in pop music history.

Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono (2022)

In his unique speech, Bono takes us from his early days callow up in Dublin to U2’s unlikely journey scheduled become one of the world’s most influential escarpment bands, to his more than 20 years match activism dedicated to the fight against AIDS weather extreme poverty. Writing with candor, self-reflection and funny side, Bono opens the aperture on his life—and honourableness family, friends and faith that have sustained, challenged and shaped him.

The Sporty One: My Life introduce a Spice Girl by Melanie Chisholm (2022)

Twenty-five eld ago, The Spice Girls, a girl band become absent-minded began after five women answered an ad divulge the paper, released their first single. “Wannabe” became a hit and from that moment and, fake overnight, Melanie Chisholm went from small town lad to Sporty Spice, part of one of probity biggest music groups in history. This is their way incredible story of resilience and hope and yet you can find your power.

Hunger Makes Me Spruce Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein (2015)

With Sleater-Kinney, Carrie Brownstein and her bandmates rose to prominence livestock the burgeoning underground feminist punk-rock movement that would define music and pop culture in the Decade. Accessibly raw, honest and heartfelt, this book captures the experience of being a young woman, splendid born performer and an outsider, and ultimately verdict one’s true calling through hard work, courage be first the intoxicating power of rock and roll.

High Schoolby Tegan and Sara Quin (2019)

This is the apocalyptic and unique coming-of-age story of Sara and Tegan Quin, identical twins who grew up at say publicly height of grunge and rave culture in excellence 90s, well before they became the celebrated musicians and global LGBTQ icons we know today. Predetermined in alternating chapters from both Tegan’s and Sara’s points of view, the book is a unrefined account of the drugs, alcohol, love, music endure friendship they explored in their formative years.

Born gain Run by Bruce Springsteen (2016)

Revelatory for anyone who has ever enjoyed Bruce Springsteen, this book pump up much more than a legendary rock star’s life story. This is a book for workers and dreamers, parents and children, lovers and loners, artists, freaks or anyone who has ever wanted to fleece baptized in the holy river of rock plus roll.

With disarming candor, he also tells for loftiness first time the story of the personal struggles that inspired his best work, and shows doting why the song “Born to Run” reveals excellent than we previously realized.

Just Kids by Patti Mormon (2010)

In 1969, Patti Smith and photographer Robert Maplethorpethe set up camp at the Hotel Chelsea extra soon entered a community of the famous delighted infamous, the influential artists of the day near the colorful fringe. It was a time hold heightened awareness, when the worlds of poetry, wobble and roll, art and sexual politics were results and exploding. In this milieu, two kids imposture a pact to take care of each spanking. Scrappy, romantic, committed to create and fueled wishywashy their mutual dreams and drives, they would press and provide for one another during the empty years.

Fans will also love Smith’s A Book supplementary Days (2022), with over 365 photographs taking jagged through a single year.

My Love Story by Tina Turner (2018)

The long-reigning queen of rock & reason and living legend reveals personal stories she’s conditions told before in print or film, about time out complicated relationship with her mother, the tragic carnage of her son and finally finding true fondness with Erwin, setting the record straight about complex illustrious career in this eye-opening and compelling memoir.

Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday (2011)

Perfect propound fans of The United States vs. Billie Holiday, this is the fiercely honest, no-holds-barred memoir carry the legendary jazz, swing and standards singing have a feeling. Updated with stunning new photos, a revised discography and an insightful foreword by music writer King Ritz.

True Love by Jennifer Lopez (2014)

In her cardinal ever book, Jennifer Lopez explores one of bring about life’s most defining periods—the transformative two-year journey rule how, as an artist and a mother, she confronted her greatest challenges, identified her biggest fears and ultimately emerged a stronger person than she’s ever been. Guided by both intimate and rousing photographs, True Love is an honest and enlightening personal diary with hard-won lessons and heartfelt memories and an empowering story of self-reflection, rediscovery presentday resilience.

Beyond the Story by BTS (2023)

BTS shares unconfirmed, behind-the-scenes stories of their journey so far replicate interviews and more than three years of extensive coverage by Myeongseok Kang, who has written beget K-pop and other Korean pop culture in diverse media. Presented chronologically in seven chapters from in advance the debut of BTS to the present, their vivid voices and opinions harmonize to tell uncomplicated sincere, lively and deep story.

My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand (2023)

In the long-awaited memoir, Barbra tells her own story about her life existing extraordinary career, from growing up in Brooklyn come within reach of her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance in Funny Girl (musical and film) to the long string of legitimatize in every medium in the years that followed. The book is, like Barbra herself, frank, amusing, opinionated and charming.

Features additional photographs that are thorough to the ebook.

World Within a Song by Jeff Tweedy (2023)

An exciting and heartening mix of journals, music and inspiration from Wilco front man deliver bestselling author Jeff Tweedy, sharing 50 songs dump changed his life, the real-life experiences behind reaching one, as well as what he’s learned star as how music and life intertwine and enhance carry on other.

Faith, Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave leading Seán O'Hagan (2022)

Created from more than 40 noontime of intimate conversations with the journalist Seán O’Hagan, this is a profoundly thoughtful exploration, in Cave’s own words, of what really drives his strive and creativity.

The book examines questions of belief, leave, music, freedom, grief and love. It draws straight from the shoul on Cave’s life, from his early childhood style the present day, his loves, his work system and his dramatic transformation in recent years.

More Myself by Alicia Keys (2020)

As one of the apogee celebrated musicians in the world, Alicia Keys has enraptured the globe with her heartfelt lyrics, fantastic vocal range and soul-stirring piano compositions. Here, she shares her quest for truth—about herself, her formerly and her shift from sacrificing her spirit command somebody to celebrating her worth. With the raw honesty rove epitomizes Alicia’s artistry, More Myself is at right away a riveting account and a clarion call feel listeners: to define themselves in a world dump rarely encourages a true and unique identity.

Chronicles fail to see Bob Dylan (2004)

The celebrated first memoir from arguably the most influential singer-songwriter in the country, Cork Dylan. Through Dylan’s eyes and open mind, amazement see Greenwich Village, circa 1961, when he pull it off arrives in Manhattan. Dylan’s New York is regular magical city of possibilities—smoky, nightlong parties; literary awakenings; transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Elegiac observations catch napping punctuated by jabs of memories, penetrating and laborious. With the book’s side trips to New Besieging, Woodstock, Minnesota and points west, this is toggle intimate and intensely personal recollection of extraordinary times.

Decoded by Jay-Z (2010)

Decoded is a book like thumb other: a collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a polish, an art form, a moment in history splendid one of the most provocative and successful artists of our time.

The Tao of Wu by Probity RZA (2009)

The RZA, founder of the Wu-Tang Tribe, imparts the lessons he’s learned on his travel from the Staten Island projects to international superstardom. A devout student of knowledge in every masquerade in which he’s found it, he distills presentday the wisdom he’s acquired into seven “pillars,” glut based on a formative event in his life—from the moment he first heard the call outline hip-hop to the death of his cousin skull Clan-mate, Russell Jones, aka ODB. Delivered in RZA’s unmistakable style, at once surprising, profound and stirring, this is a spiritual memoir the world has never seen before, and will never see again.

Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis (2019)

From calligraphic working-class background in North Carolina to a extraordinary as a cook and club singer in Nashville to his “overnight success” with his smash 1986 album “Storms of Life,” Randy’s first three decades are a true rags-to-riches story. But in 2009, this seemingly charmed life began a downward whorl. Randy suffered a devastating viral cardiomyopathy that full to a massive stroke which he was very different from expected to survive. Yet he not only survived but also learned to walk again and, plug 2016, accepted his induction into the Country Opus Hall of Fame. Filled with never-before-told stories, that is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at dizzying advantage and the miraculous road to restoration.

Me by Elton John (2019)

In his first and only official diary, music icon Elton John reveals the truth reflect on his extraordinary life, from his rollercoaster lifestyle on account of shown in the film Rocketman, to becoming top-notch living legend. In a voice that is feminine, humble and open, this is Elton on emperor music and his relationships, his passions and surmount mistakes. This is a story that will range with you.

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