Brass Musician Biographies or Autobiographies

[tubadaddy92]

For my english outside reading this semester Im suppossed to read a biography or autobiography thats at least 200 pgs long. The teacher said we could read it on anyone and to choose someone we found interesting and I was wondering if anyone on here knew about any musicians (brass prefered) that have books out about them because I have no clue on where to start looking. Thanks for the help!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I'm confused...you want us to tell you who you find interesting?

Surely you know the names of some brass players you like and can "google" their name "+ biography".

That harsh part of the reply now over with, I'm happy to tell you that there are several biographies of brass players over 200 pages long. I would recommend Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind (which is 276 pages), but I have no idea if you'd find Arnold Jacobs interesting.

[tubadaddy92]

Sorry for the confusion. No, I was looking for any musicians that had biographies out. I was just wondering what was out there. I planned on reading about any musicians I could find books about. I realize that we all have differing opinions about what is "interesting" but I didn't know where to start looking for books. And as a matter of fact I did try looking up Arnold Jacobs in our public library this afternoon, but alas I came up empty handed.

[The Jackson]

Well, if you can't find any of the Arnold Jacobs books, you can always pick up this...


No seriously, if you get nothing on the AJ biographies, most of today's famous "rock stars" and such have biographies out that I'm sure would fit your bill. They're music-related and might even be interesting.

[SplatterTone]

I'll bet you could find some stuff on Harry James. But I'll bet more that Carl Steinmetz would be a more interesting read -- making music with 'lectricity.

[BVD Press]

You will find a pile o'stuff here:

http://www.windsongpress.com/" target="_blank

[Evil Ronnie]

tubadaddy92,

Within the Sphere of the Master: My Recollections as a Student and Long Time Colleague of Adolph Herseth, Trumpeter Supreme of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by retired CSO trumpeter Timothy Kent

and

Phillip Farkas & His Horn by Nancy Jordan Fako.

(Both books are available from the CSO Symphony Store and the CSO website.)

[Art Hovey]

"A Call To Assembly", Willie Ruff's autobiography. (Viking Press)
I guarantee that you will find it interesting.

[Nick Pierce]

Magnificent Mendez, a biography of trumpet virtuoso Raphael Mendez. Very interesting read, very good rags-to-riches American Dream type story. Not sure where you'd get it though.

[Brassworks 4]

"In Concert, Onstage and Offstage with the Boston Symphony Orchestra" by Carl A. Vigeland

GREAT GREAT book