"Steely Dan was a somewhat unusual band that still inspires unusually strong devotion in its fans. Formed in the late '60s in New York, they released seven albums between 1971 and 1981, two of which were nominated for a Grammy. Part of what's unusual about them is that each of those albums was made by a different group of musicians--founding members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen had no issues swapping players from record to record in order to get the sound they wanted. The band stopped touring in 1974, so the recording studio was the only place they needed their collaborators. Those recordings are legendary, especially among vinyl enthusiasts, for their exquisite production. The precision was necessary, in part, because Steely Dan played with form more than most bands, mixing elements of other genres--especially jazz--with pop and rock. And the lyrics are also distinctive. As the authors put it in their proposal, Steely Dan's songs are "exercises in fictional world-building. Each song features its own cast of rogues and heroes and creeps and schmucks, lovers and dreamers and cold-blooded operators, all tempest-tossed by the ill winds of the '70s." This book consists of sixty-some essays, each devoted to one character, and each essay is accompanied by a painting of the particular character that serves as a jumping-off point for the piece, with additional spot illustrations scattered throughout"--

If your kid has caught the acting bug and you want to help pave their way to stardom, then keep reading… Does your child enjoy performing in front of an audience – be it at family gatherings or at friends’ parties? Have you lost count of the number of school plays or local theater productions your young one has starred in? Are people constantly amazed when they watch your kid act out scenes from popular movies like a pro? You may have only realized it recently, but you could be the proud parent of the next big child star. Naturally, you’d want to support their dreams and help them put their acting prowess to work. But first, a reality check: even if your kid has plenty of talent, finding success in the entertainment industry can be quite challenging. For one, just think about how stiff the competition is out there – after all, your child is not the only one hoping to be thrust into the spotlight. In fact, according to HBO’s documentary, Showbiz Kids, there are over 20,000 child actors who audition for roles in Hollywood every year… and a whopping 95% of them don’t book a single job. This is a sad reality that Makeda Tene’ Ekakitie, a “momager” of a successful child actor, knows all too well. Her son, Innocent Onanovie Ekakitie, is, fortunately, part of the 5% of young talents who have booked projects left and right with no signs of stopping. However, her son’s success was not exactly a walk in the park – it took years of hard work, plenty of patience, and numerous mistakes-turned-to-learnings before they finally found his rightful place in the industry. The good news is, your child’s journey to fame does not have to be difficult. Makeda – an actress, writer, and musician herself – has created an in-depth guide to help you make your kid’s acting dream a reality. Inside, here is just a small fraction of what you will discover: How to expertly navigate through an audition process without making costly mistakes Fool-proof tips to secure the necessary work permits – don’t let life-changing opportunities get away just because of technicalities! 5+ ways to get the winning headshot – the most crucial marketing tool your kid needs to start booking jobs The one thing you should never put in your kid’s resume… unless you want to kiss their acting dream goodbye How successful child actors build their “dream team” – discover ways to connect with the right agents and reps A step-by-step guide to getting your child booked for their breakout role What’s a “self-tape” and why is it a must-have to ensure your kid’s success in showbusiness Time-tested techniques to protect your child’s earnings… and why you should learn from the actor who played Uncle Fester in Addams Family And much more. In this book, several years of first-hand experience have been conveniently summed up in simple, practical, and easy-to-digest ways to help you and your child make it in the biz… and stay there for a long time. The road to your child’s stardom may be tricky and treacherous, but with the right tools and information, it will be a sweet and successful ride. If you want to support your child and help them reach their full acting potential, then scroll up and click “Add to Cart” right now.

A dual biography of entertainment legends Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson that explores their individual careers and personal lives leading up to and including their 25-year friendship.

This is the ultimate show-biz how-to guide for aspiring kids and their parents, written by Hollywood’s number-one kid-talent expert and executive producer for Disney, ABC, and the WB, Irene Dreayer (“the Dray”). As a thirty-year veteran of discovering kid stars and producing hit TV shows such as the Disney Channel’s The Suite Life on Deck and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, as well as several TV movies, Dreayer has seen hundreds of kids try to make it in show business. Most parents and kids don’t understand the steps or how to navigate the ins and outs of the industry. Most make critical mistakes. As Hollywood’s only trusted career coach for kid talent, Irene Dreayer developed the Dray Way (www.thedrayway.com) as her proven method for guiding show-biz kids and their parents on how to audition correctly, how to handle the business side, and how to deal with issues such as image and rejection. The Dray Way is her method for working with kids and training parents on how to pursue this business we call show in a strategic manner, the right way. This book is designed as a workbook for parents and kids to do together. Every chapter explains, informs, and delivers the honest truth about specific aspects of the entertainment business and outlines the crucial information kids and parents need to learn as a family. Some chapters are designed exclusively for parents, but most are a family affair. The exercises in each chapter are to be completed by parents and kids in order to learn the skills required to be a better actor, singer, or dancer. Mom! I Want to Be a Star is entertaining, fun to read, and a wonderful opportunity for families to explore together their child’s dream and desire to become a star.

The author of Welcome to the New World and Bad Paper discusses America’s obsession with celebrity in this 2007 investigation. Why do more people watch American Idol than the nightly news? What is it about Paris Hilton’s dating life that lures us so? Why do teenage girls—when given the option of “pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful” —predominantly opt for fame? In this entertaining and enlightening book, Jake Halpern explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America’s obsession with fame. He travels to a Hollywood home for aspiring child actors and enrolls in a program that trains celebrity assistants. He visits the offices of Us Weekly and a laboratory where monkeys give up food to stare at pictures of dominant members of their group. The book culminates in Halpern’s encounter with Rod Stewart’s biggest fan, a woman from Pittsburgh who nominated the singer for Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Fame Junkies reveals how psychology, technology, and even evolution conspire to make the world of red carpets and velvet ropes so enthralling to all of us on the outside looking in. Praise for Fame Junkies “An astute look at the mighty vortex of fame, which this author believes will only get more powerful.” —Kirkus Reviews “Halpern displays an evocative, insiderish style reminiscent . . . of Tom Wolfe’s when he peered into 1960s celebrity culture.” —Wall Street Journal “A critical look at Americans’ infatuation with fame and determines that fame is elusive, desirable—and also possibly addictive . . . . [An] engaging study.” —Publishers Weekly