A go-getting, red-headed college kid eager to break into the music business, Phil Gernhard produced a handful of singles for South Carolina doo-wop group Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. One of these songs, "Stay," reached number one on the charts in 1960. Gernhard was just 19 years old. Phil Gernhard, Record Man is the story of a self-made music mogul who created nearly fifty years' worth of chart-topping songs. From a tiny office and studio in Florida, he co-wrote the Royal Guardsmen's "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron," America's fastest-selling single of 1966. He revived the career of singer Dion DiMucci with the ballad "Abraham, Martin and John"--a million seller. He discovered and produced hit records for Lobo, Jim Stafford, and the Bellamy Brothers. Through a long collaboration with music business icon Mike Curb, he launched to fame many others, including country superstars Tim McGraw and Rodney Atkins. In Nashville and Los Angeles, Phil Gernhard was a legend. Yet Gernhard's private life was crumbling. He battled physical and emotional demons that he simply couldn't overcome, struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, and a bad past with his father. He filed for his fourth divorce just months before taking his own life in 2008. Through interviews with Gernhard's musicians, business partners, family members, and ex-wives, Bill DeYoung offers an intimate portrait of a brilliant yet troubled man who channeled his talent, ego, and ambition into the success of others. A true "record man," Gernhard did it all. He lived to make records into gold, to make unknowns into stars, and above all, to make music.

A go-getting, red-headed college kid eager to break into the music business, Phil Gernhard produced a handful of singles for South Carolina doo-wop group Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. One of these songs, "Stay," reached number one on the charts in 1960. Gernhard was just 19 years old. Phil Gernhard, Record Man is the story of a self-made music mogul who created nearly fifty years' worth of chart-topping songs. From a tiny office and studio in Florida, he co-wrote the Royal Guardsmen's "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron," America's fastest-selling single of 1966. He revived the career of singer Dion DiMucci with the ballad "Abraham, Martin and John"--a million seller. He discovered and produced hit records for Lobo, Jim Stafford, and the Bellamy Brothers. Through a long collaboration with music business icon Mike Curb, he launched to fame many others, including country superstars Tim McGraw and Rodney Atkins. In Nashville and Los Angeles, Phil Gernhard was a legend. Yet Gernhard's private life was crumbling. He battled physical and emotional demons that he simply couldn't overcome, struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, and a bad past with his father. He filed for his fourth divorce just months before taking his own life in 2008. Through interviews with Gernhard's musicians, business partners, family members, and ex-wives, Bill DeYoung offers an intimate portrait of a brilliant yet troubled man who channeled his talent, ego, and ambition into the success of others. A true "record man," Gernhard did it all. He lived to make records into gold, to make unknowns into stars, and above all, to make music.

'He's the world's fittest man - it's official.' - The GuardianHe's gone 110 rounds with 10 opponents to win the World Kumite Karate Boxing Championships.He's got the world record for the number of press-ups done in a year, he did over 1.5 million - that's over 4,000 a day!He's got the fastest time for running a marathon with a 50lb backpack. There's nobody as tough as Paddy Doyle!As a young man he was a hell-raiser. He would pick fights and get in trouble with the law. His competitive nature combined with a terrible rebellious streak threatened to tip Paddy over the edge.A chance purchase of The Guinness Book of Records spurred Paddy into action: he knew immediately that he could beat, hands down, many of the records listed.Paddy's alter ego 'Iron Man' was born. He channelled all of his destructive energy into becoming a winner. His record of achievement is awesome. To date, Paddy Doyle holds 125 national, European and world fitness and martial arts records. Some of the toughest records he has smashed are: 1303 back-of-hands press ups in one hour; a 50 mile run wearing a 40 lb back pack in 11 hours and 58 minutes and an incredible 5,000 sit ups with a 50 lb plate in five hours.This is the story of a man who is a true champion in both heart and mind, whose mental and physical determination to succeed have taken him from the back-streets of Birmingham to the brilliance of a world champion.

"SINS OF THE FATHER," Part One Featuring the show-stopping talents of SPAWN series artist JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER and the writer behind such hit shows as Wutang: An American Saga, MarvelÕs Runaways, and Starz's American Gods RODNEY BARNES. When a small-town beat cop comes home to bury his murdered fatherÑthe revered Philadelphia detective James Sangster Sr.Ñhe begins to unravel a mystery that leads him down a path of horrors that will shake his beliefs to their core. The city that was once the symbol of liberty and freedom has fallen prey to corruption, poverty, unemployment, brutality and vampires. Welcome to KILLADELPHIA.

Includes section "Book reviews".