Alan Goldsher

A high-powered music manager reflects on his forty-year career, working with Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, and Madonna, his friendships with Gladys Knight, Quincy Jones, and Curtis Mayfield, and the huge, often detrimental changes he witnessed within the industry.

Over the span of his illustrious five-decade career, George Benson has sold millions of records, performed for hundreds of millions of fans, and cut some of the most beloved jazz and soul tunes in music history. But the guitarist/vocalist is much more than "This Masquerade," "On Broadway," "Turn Your Love Around," and "Give Me the Night." Benson is a flat-out inspiration, a multitalented artist who survived an impoverished childhood and moulded himself into the first true- and truly successful- jazz/soul crossover artist. And now, on the heels of receiving the prestigious NEW Jazz Masters award, George has finally decided to tell his story. And what a story it is. Benson: The Autobiography follows George's remarkable rise from the ghettos of Pittsburgh to the stages of South Africa, and everywhere in between. George Benson is an unparalleled storyteller, and his tales of scuffling on the Chitlin Circuit with jazz legend Brother Jack McDuff, navigating his way through the recording studio with Miles Davis, and performing with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Quincy Jones, Benny Goodman, Rod Stewart, Chaka Khan, Count Basie, and Lou Rawls will enthrall devotees of both music history and pop culture.A treat for serious listeners, hardcore guitar aficionados, and casual music followers alike, George's long-awaited book allows readers to meet the man who is one of the most beloved, prolific, and bestselling musicians of his or any other era.

An affectionate examination of legendary jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and his iconic 1959 album, Time Out! Propelled by the unlikely hit “Take Five,” the pianist’s 1959 classic Time Out! was the first jazz album to earn platinum status, making it one of only eight platinum records in jazz history. Born as an experiment in time signatures and eclectic musical styles the artist encountered while traveling abroad, Time Out! moved the genre forward and became one of the most influential albums of all time. What was it about this subtle, artsy session that captured the ears of both hardcore jazz fans and casual listeners alike? Why did Brubeck, a bespectacled intellectual who seemingly wasn’t as hip as Davis and Coltrane, become a legitimate mainstream star in a genre not known for stardom? Author and bassist Alan Goldsher delves into Brubeck’s classic record, examining why the album and the pianist caught the zeitgeist, and measuring its continuing impact on music of all styles. Engaging and informative, Digging Dave Brubeck and Time Out! pays homage to one of the most vital, most enduring recordings in jazz history.

Grab your board, test your skills and balance on this "mini" wave while retro surf rock plays in the background, all from the comfort of your desk. But -- watch out! -- if you lose your balance and wipe-out you'll have to do the swim of shame back to shore.This kit includes:A balancing wave with three different surf rock songsA finger surfboardCustomisable surfboard stickersA 48-page book, with surfboard tricks, fun facts and trivia

One of the most popular contestants ever to appear on American Idol gives his fans an all-access pass to the wildly popular television show--and opens up about how becoming an Idol star changed his life forever. Sanjaya Malakar didn't need to win American Idol to take America by storm. He was just seventeen when his unique style, soft-spoken demeanor, and memorable song selections on the record-breaking show's sixth season captured hearts across the country. In his candid book, Sanjaya opens up about what it feels like to go from obscurity as a high school student near Seattle to worldwide fame as a top ten finalist on one of the most popular television shows in American history. For the first time, the "People's Idol" talks about life before Randy, Simon, Paula, and "Sanjayamania," and offers his devoted "Fanjayas" an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the blockbuster show. From going to Hollywood with his beloved sister, Shyamali, to becoming the most highly anticipated performer of season six, to facing the unforgiving chopping block, Sanjaya tells his fans everything they want to know. Finally, he shares how his life has changed since he left Idol, and where his music--and unforgettable persona--will take him next.

Robert Englund, legendary star of A Nightmare on Elm Street, peels back the Freddy Krueger mask and reveals the stuff of every horror buff's dreams. ONE...TWO...FREDDY'S COMING FOR YOU... You've seen him in the A Nightmare on Elm Street series--and in your darkest dreams. The sadistic killer with the flame-charred face. The knife-blade claws. The razor-sharp wit. Freddy...But you've never seen him like this. Unflinching. Uncensored. Unmasked. Meet Robert Englund, the award-winning actor best known for his role as Freddy Krueger--the legendary horror icon featured on the American Film Institute's "100 Greatest Heroes and Villains" roster--a character as unforgettable and enduring as Bela Lugosi's Dracula and Boris Karloff's Frankenstein. Now, for the first time, the man behind the latex mask tells his story in this captivating new memoir, published to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first A Nightmare on Elm Street film. You see, Robert Englund is no monster at all, but a deeply funny, charming Hollywood veteran. Packed with Robert's hilarious stories, playful self-deprecation, and a generous helping of never-before-revealed A Nightmare on Elm Street trivia, Hollywood Monster offers an unparalleled look at the beloved film icon. With insider savvy and gallows humor, Robert recounts his audition for Wes Craven, the inspiration for Freddy's character, the grueling makeup sessions, his soon-to-be-famous costars, the often disastrous on-set blunders, and the wave of popularity that propelled this humble California surfer kid all the way to the top. Of course, fame and fortune as Freddy came years after the young actor shared a trailer with screen legend Henry Fonda, was punched in the face by Richard Gere, took down Burt Reynolds, and muscled his way between Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sally Field, and Jeff Bridges. But soon after his high-profile stint in the groundbreaking TV miniseries V, Robert Englund took on the most celebrated role of his career--the macabre and wisecracking killer who quickly became a household name. From the moment Freddy Krueger dragged his claws across a rusty pipe in the opening dream sequence, a legend had been unleashed--and a star was born. This is his story. "Welcome to prime time, bitch." --Frederick Charles Krueger, bastard son of a hundred maniacs

A PARODY OF THE BELOVED FANTASY DOORSTOP... ER, SAGAIn the land of the Eight (or was it Six?) Kingdoms where the seasons last as long as a series of bestselling Tolkien-esque novels trouble is brewing. The mud is growing muddier, the onions are rotting, the Wall to the North (or is it the South?) is melting, and Lord Barker of Summerseve is getting worried. His wife is addicted to Godsweede, his King is too fat to fit into his armor, and the foreshadowing is out of control. All in all, not the position you want to be in when Summer is coming.From this world of outdoor fornication with horse-people (and indoor fornication with blood relatives) comes an epic story of novella proportions. Amid plots and counterplots, power-hungry warriors and overworked ravens, poor reception and no wireless, the future of the Barkers, their BFFs, and their enemies dangles in the balance, as each strives to survive long enough to appear in at least two of the sequels.His teeth might be wooden, but his prose is not.---J.R.R. MadisonGeorge R. R. Washington cannot tell a lie: A Game of Groans was not prepared, authorized, licensed, approved, or endorsed by any person or entity involved in creating or producing any of the Song of Ice and Fire books or the Games of Throne television program. Please direct any inquiries to our legal counsel, Clarence R. R. Darrow.

An unauthorized portrait of the popular indie rock band Modest Mouse chronicles the troubled background of the members of the band, especially frontman Isaac Brock, the band's turbulent decade-long career, and their rise to success in the world of rock music. Original. 15,000 first printing.