Thomas M. Kitts

Ray Davies: Not Like Everybody Else is a critical biography of Ray Davies, with a focus on his music and his times. The book studies Davies’ work from the Kinks’ first singles through his 2006 solo album, from his rock musicals in the early 1970s to his one-man stage show in the 1990s, and from his films to his autobiography. Based on interviews with his closest associates, as well as studies of the recordings themselves, this book creates the most thorough picture of Davies’ work to date. Kitts situates Davies’ work in the context of the British Invasion and the growth of rock in the '60s and '70s, and in the larger context of English cultural history. For fans of rock music and the music of the Kinks, this book is a must have. It will finally place this legendary innovator in the pantheon of the great rock artists of the past half-century.Thomas M. Kitts, Professor of English and Chair of the Division of English/Speech at St. John’s University, NY, is the co-editor of Living on a Thin Line: Crossing Aesthetic Borders with The Kinks, the author of The Theatrical Life of George Henry Boker, articles on American literature and popular culture, reviews of books, CDs, and performances, and a play Gypsies. He is the book review editor of Popular Music and Society and the editor of The Mid-Atlantic Almanack.

This is the first critical biography to explore John Fogerty's life and his music. When inducting Creedence Clearwater Revival into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, Bruce Springsteen referred to the "music’s power and its simplicity… [its] beauty and poetry and a sense of the darkness of events and of history, of an American tradition shot through with pride, fear, and paranoia." This book investigates those aspects and more of Fogerty’s songs and life: his Americanism, his determined individualism, and unyielding musical vision which led to conflicts with his band, isolation from his family, constant legal battles, and some of the greatest songs of the 20th century.

This is the first critical biography to explore John Fogerty's life and his music. When inducting Creedence Clearwater Revival into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, Bruce Springsteen referred to the "music’s power and its simplicity… [its] beauty and poetry and a sense of the darkness of events and of history, of an American tradition shot through with pride, fear, and paranoia." This book investigates those aspects and more of Fogerty’s songs and life: his Americanism, his determined individualism, and unyielding musical vision which led to conflicts with his band, isolation from his family, constant legal battles, and some of the greatest songs of the 20th century.

Ray Davies: Not Like Everybody Else is a critical biography of Ray Davies, with a focus on his music and his times. The book studies Davies’ work from the Kinks’ first singles through his 2006 solo album, from his rock musicals in the early 1970s to his one-man stage show in the 1990s, and from his films to his autobiography. Based on interviews with his closest associates, as well as studies of the recordings themselves, this book creates the most thorough picture of Davies’ work to date. Kitts situates Davies’ work in the context of the British Invasion and the growth of rock in the '60s and '70s, and in the larger context of English cultural history. For fans of rock music and the music of the Kinks, this book is a must have. It will finally place this legendary innovator in the pantheon of the great rock artists of the past half-century.Thomas M. Kitts, Professor of English and Chair of the Division of English/Speech at St. John’s University, NY, is the co-editor of Living on a Thin Line: Crossing Aesthetic Borders with The Kinks, the author of The Theatrical Life of George Henry Boker, articles on American literature and popular culture, reviews of books, CDs, and performances, and a play Gypsies. He is the book review editor of Popular Music and Society and the editor of The Mid-Atlantic Almanack.

The music, performances, and cultural impact of some of the most enduring figures in popular music are explored in Rock Music Icons: Musical and Cultural Impacts. This collection investigates authenticity, identity, and the power of the voices and images of widely circulated and shared artists that have become the soundtrack of our lives.

One of America’s great rock and roll pioneers, Richie Furay played alongside Neil Young and Stephen Stills in Buffalo Springfield, producing some of the signature sounds of American folk rock. He went on to form Poco, one of the bands that founded California country rock, and then Souther-Hillman-Furay.After declaring himself a Christian in 1974, Furay released four solo albums before taking up the ministry in 1983. He began recording again in 1997, and over the next twenty-five years he released two Christian and five secular albums.In this biography of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Richie Furay, Thomas Kitts provides an intimate look at Furay’s life and music. Kitts chronicles the musician’s upbringing, his musical career, and his Christianity, drawing on interviews with Furay and others close to him. In documenting Furay’s extraordinary talent as a songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist, Kitts argues that although he never attained the level of stardom of many of his bandmates, Furay is a pivotal figure in American popular music.Fans of Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and country-rock music will enjoy this quintessentially American story of a young man on a quest to fulfill his rock-and-roll dreams.

The music, image, performances, and cultural impact of some of the most enduring figures in popular music are explored in Rock Music Icons: Musical and Cultural Impacts. A rock music icon is readily recognizable—but intriguing and little-known stories lie behind the public’s enchantment. Readers of Rock Music Icons will encounter new perspectives on notable recording artists ranging from Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Bob Marley to Elton John, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, and Kurt Cobain. One meets Pink Floyd upon the fall of the Berlin Wall, the drama of Freddie Mercury, Ozzy Osborne, and Madonna, and the musical craft of Billy Joel. Rock Music Icons investigates authenticity, identity, and the power of the voices and images of these widely circulated and shared artists that have become the soundtrack of our lives. Rock Music Icons brings a reader an inside look into the creativity of some of the most prominent rock stars of our time.