The Grand Tour: The Life and Music of George Jones [Large Print]

Description

In the vein of the classic Johnny Cash: The Life, this groundbreaking work explores the wild life and extraordinary musical career of "the definitive country singer of the last half century" (New York Times), who influenced, among others, Bob Dylan, Buck Owens, Emmylou Harris, John Fogerty, George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Garth Brooks. In a masterful biography laden with new revelations, veteran country music journalist/historian Rich Kienzle offers a definitive, full-bodied portrait of legendary country singer George Jones and the music that remains his legacy. Kienzle meticulously sifted through archival material, government records, recollections by colleagues and admirers, interviewing many involved in Jones's life and career. The result: an evocative portrait of this enormously gifted, tragically tormented icon called "the Keith Richards of country." Kienzle chronicles Jones's impoverished East Texas childhood as the youngest son of a deeply religious mother and alcoholic, often-abusive father. He examines his three troubled marriages including his union with superstar Tammy Wynette and looks unsparingly at Jones's demons. Alcohol and later cocaine nearly killed him until fourth wife Nancy helped him learn to love himself. Kienzle also details Jones's remarkable musical journey from singing in violent Texas honky tonks to Grand Ole Opry star, hitmaker and master vocalist whose raw, emotionally powerful delivery remains the Gold Standard for country singers. The George Jones of this heartfelt biography lived hard before finding contentment until he died at eighty-one-a story filled with whiskey, women and drugs but always the saving grace of music. Illustrated with eight pages of photos.

A well-known and internationally recognized writer on country and western, RICH KIENZLE has been a music critic since 1975. He has been writing specifically about George Jones for decades and of course interviewed the artist himself (along with every other country great, from Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell to Dwight Yoakam and Ricky Skaggs). In addition to many national magazine articles about Jones, Kienzle wrote the liner notes to "The Essential George Jones" as well as all three of the artist's comprehensive box sets. Kienzle is a former editor/columnist (for more than 25 years) at Country Music Magazine and columnist for Request magazine

"The Grand Tour...doesn't shy away from shining light into the dark corners or giving the highlights of the late George Jones' life a close, critical look." -- Winnipeg Free Press "This unflinching new biography explains the significance of Jones' music while vividly capturing his wild and wooly life." -- Wall Street Journal Kienzle conducts a dazzling, somber, but always candid tour of the legendary life and award-winning music of George Jones...a cracking good story of the singer...This moving biography keeps Jones's voice alive and underscores his central role in American music history. -- Publishers Weekly "[The Grand Tour] is perhaps the most honest portrayal of one of music's most controversial figures." -- Library Journal "Refreshingly written." -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Rich Kienzle's comprehensive bio of George Jones is a great read and a dispassionate chronicle of his drive-in movie of a life." -- Vintage Guitar Review