Broken Record is the first book ever written about the intriguing, checkered, and often hilarious history of the Grammys. In 1958, a group of record executives, alarmed by the explosive success of rock 'n' roll - and the threat rock posed to "quality" pop - launched the Grammy Awards. Their aim: to cultivate a higher standard of popular taste. From the start, the Grammys have been at odds with and often scornful of not only rock but every other wave of rebellious, street-bred music, from R&B to Woodstock, new wave, and rap. Conservative Grammy voting has led to a long list of follies. Many, if not most, of the best recordings of the last thirty years have failed to win a Grammy, including seminal records by Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, Bruce Springsteen, John Coltrane, Merle Haggard, and many, many others. Grammy voters, meanwhile, have lavished awards on the likes of Glen Campbell, Toto, Christopher Cross, and Milli Vanilli. In 1965, the Beatles lost to the Anita Kerr Singers for the Best Pop Vocal Prize. Of course, there have been some shining moments as well - moments which this book recounts: stirring performances, deserving winners, poignant acceptance speeches. Here, after more than three decades of Grammys, Broken Record presents a complete history, with year-to-year highlights, backstage drama, and profiles of dozens of artists. Includes a complete listing of all the Grammy winners.

Over the past 50 years, the Grammy Awards have become so much more than an annual TV event celebrating the best in music. Grammy is the premier music award, the universal code that indicates an album, a song, or artist is the best of the best. This book chronicles the first half-century of the Grammy Awards through revealing text and a rich collection of more than 300 color and vintage black-and-white photos. Wild tells the story not just of the birth and growth of the globe¿s definitive music awards show, but simultaneously details the development of popular music -- and, of course, popular music¿s stars -- while highlighting those special moments that have made the Grammy Awards a TV landmark. Includes an interactive trivia Grammy DVD.

Stripped down to my boxers and undershirt, like a carcass... I laid barefoot face down on the side of the highway. Like a slave my hands were tied behind my back in handcuffs. Blood gushed from my head, my face and knees were scrapped of skin by the tussle I gave to save my last breath. I slowly lost consciousness... Ryan Prophet is a Multi Award-Winning recording Hip-Hop Artist, he takes us into the soul of a legend. In this book; from Grams to Grammys, Prophet, narrates as only he can, the plight of black male in diaspora. The experiences of social injustice, substance abuse and mental health issues that affect minorities and those trapped in abject poverty; Prophet has a message of hope. Having risen to the top of his game, determined never to fail, give up or give in, he holds nothing back. He unveils the blueprint on how to navigate the streets of Urban America to Hollywood, how to dine with the crew in the Projects to hanging out with the Elite and Power Brokers. This book gives us Hope; the name his mother gave him, Ryan Hope; that we all have this Hope; we are born with a purpose. There are no guarantees that life will be easy; Success is not for the faint of heart. From Grams to Grammys is a journey of struggles, challenges and most importantly hope. Ryan Prophet is an American rapper born in Oakland, California. Formerly a member of the rap group Nappy Roots. Their hit Album nominations and Awards; R&B Hip-Hop charts, Billboard 200 Charts. Nominated for MTV Music Video Awards, American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards and Grammy Awards. Ryan is a Board Member of Muhammad Ali Center.

As the producer of the Grammy Awards show, author Ken Ehrlich has seen it all. From Barbra Streisand to Bono, he has dealt with every major super-talent in music, making key decisions, solving problems, and putting on the most spectacular awards ceremonies in the history of television. For the first time he tells his story - the best and the worst of the rock stars, the divas, and the flash in the pans; the tear-jerkers and heartbreakers; the near-disasters; and of course the wild successes that are all part of Music's Biggest Night.

Confessions of a Serial Songwriter is an amusing and poignant memoir about songwriter Shelly Peiken's journey from young girl falling under the spell of magical songs to working professional songwriter writing hits of her own. It's about growing up, the creative process – the highs and the lows, the conflicts that arise between motherhood and career success, the divas and schemers, but also the talented and remarkable people she's found along the way. It's filled with stories and step-by-step advice about the songwriting process, especially collaboration. And it's about the challenge of staying relevant in a rapidly changing and youth-driven world. As Shelly so eloquently states in Confessions of a Serial Songwriter: “If I had to come up with one X factor that I could cite as a characteristic most hit songs have in common (and this excludes hit songs that are put forth by an already well-oiled machine...that is, a recording artist who has so much notoriety and momentum that just about anything he or she releases, as long as it's 'pretty good ' will have a decent shot at succeeding), I would say it would be: A universal sentiment in a unique frame.” Peiken has tapped the universal sentiment again and again; her songs have been recorded by such artists as Christina Aguilera, Natalie Cole, Selena Gomez, Celine Dion, the Pretenders, and others. In Confessions of a Serial Songwriter, she pulls the curtain back on the music business from the perspective of a behind-the-scenes hit creator and shares invaluable insight into the craft of songwriting.

Book store nation, in the history of mankind there has never been a greater country than America. You could say we're the #1 nation at being the best at greatness. But as perfect as America is in every single way, America is broken! And we can't exchange it because we're 236 years past the 30-day return window. Look around--we don't make anything anymore, we've mortgaged our future to China, and the Apologist-in-Chief goes on world tours just to bow before foreign leaders. Worse, the L.A. Four Seasons Hotel doesn't even have a dedicated phone button for the Spa. You have to dial an extension! Where did we lose our way?! It's high time we restored America to the greatness it never lost! Luckily, America Again will singlebookedly pull this country back from the brink. It features everything from chapters, to page numbers, to fonts. Covering subject's ranging from healthcare ("I shudder to think where we'd be without the wide variety of prescription drugs to treat our maladies, such as think-shuddering") to the economy ("Life is giving us lemons, and we're shipping them to the Chinese to make our lemon-flavored leadonade") to food ("Feel free to deep fry this book-it's a rich source of fiber"), Stephen gives America the dose of truth it needs to get back on track.

In this powerful and personal New York Times bestseller, President Jimmy Carter contemplates how faith has sustained him in happiness and disappointment and considers how we may find it in our own lives. All his life, President Jimmy Carter has been a courageous exemplar of faith. Now he shares the lessons he learned. He writes, “The issue of faith arises in almost every area of human existence, so it is important to understand its multiple meanings. In this book, my primary goal is to explore the broader meaning of faith, its far-reaching effect on our lives, and its relationship to past, present, and future events in America and around the world. The religious aspects of faith are also covered, since this is how the word is most often used, and I have included a description of the ways my faith has guided and sustained me, as well as how it has challenged and driven me to seek a closer and better relationship with people and with God.” Quoting eminent Protestant theologians, in Faith President Carter describes his belief in religious freedom, moral politics, and the place of prayer in his daily life. He examines faith’s many meanings, he describes how to accept it, live it, how to doubt and find faith again. This is a serious and moving reflection from one of America’s most admired and respected citizens.