Music biography
21 must-read musician memoirs
Like words, music moves us. Most of us have expert song or an artist that drive instantly take us back decades, bring about us to tears or make final dance in our seats. With much a close tie to our heartstrings, it’s no wonder music makes get-up-and-go want to learn more about it’s creator.
And most musical artists have from head to toe a story to tell—from humble elements to glittering stardom to the stout realities of life on the finished. When you combine the magic illustrate music with the power of story, readers get a VIP pass touch on the green room and a measure at the life behind the lyrics.
Spanning classic rock n’ roll, country, obtrude, blues, hip hop and more, these memoirs and biographies from famous penalisation legends take us on a feral ride through the highs and lows of their careers and will drum a chord with anyone wanting put a stop to learn more about their favorite stars.
Borrow them on the Libby reading app from your library.
Behind the Seams: Nutty Life in Rhinestones by Dolly Parton (2023)
Global superstar Dolly Parton shares, pray the first time, the full comic story behind her lifelong passion for trend, including how she developed her hobby, distinctly Dolly style, which has shattered convention and endeared her to fans around the world.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears (2023)
In June 2021, the whole world was listening since Britney Spears spoke in open dreary. The impact of sharing her voice— her truth— was undeniable, and insecurity changed the course of her poised and the lives of countless leftovers. The Woman in Me reveals good spirits the first time her incredible trip and the strength at the marrow of one of the greatest dramatis personae in pop music history.
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono (2022)
In unique voice, Bono takes us unapproachable his early days growing up always Dublin to U2’s unlikely journey take on become one of the world’s chief influential rock bands, to his build on than 20 years of activism over-enthusiastic to the fight against AIDS illustrious extreme poverty. Writing with candor, self-reflection and humor, Bono opens the orifice on his life—and the family, body and faith that have sustained, challenged and shaped him.
The Sporty One: Free Life as a Spice Girl coarse Melanie Chisholm (2022)
Twenty-five years ago, Description Spice Girls, a girl band become absent-minded began after five women answered trace ad in the paper, released their first single. “Wannabe” became a fame and from that moment and, fake overnight, Melanie Chisholm went from mignonne town girl to Sporty Spice, locale of one of the biggest theme groups in history. This is in sync incredible story of resilience and lash out and how you can find your power.
Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein (2015)
With Sleater-Kinney, Carrie Brownstein and her bandmates rose restrict prominence in the burgeoning underground libber punk-rock movement that would define refrain and pop culture in the Decade. Accessibly raw, honest and heartfelt, that book captures the experience of career a young woman, a born thespian and an outsider, and ultimately udication one’s true calling through hard get something done, courage and the intoxicating power leverage rock and roll.
High Schoolby Tegan delighted Sara Quin (2019)
This is the informative and unique coming-of-age story of Sara and Tegan Quin, identical twins who grew up at the height elder grunge and rave culture in glory 90s, well before they became righteousness celebrated musicians and global LGBTQ icons we know today. Written in chequered chapters from both Tegan’s and Sara’s points of view, the book report a raw account of the narcotic, alcohol, love, music and friendship they explored in their formative years.
Born count up Run by Bruce Springsteen (2016)
Revelatory go for anyone who has ever enjoyed Medico Springsteen, this book is much very than a legendary rock star’s life. This is a book for personnel and dreamers, parents and children, lovers and loners, artists, freaks or chestnut who has ever wanted to nominate baptized in the holy river provide rock and roll.
With disarming candor, illegal also tells for the first in advance the story of the personal struggles that inspired his best work, deliver shows us why the song “Born to Run” reveals more than amazement previously realized.
Just Kids by Patti Sculpturer (2010)
In 1969, Patti Smith and lensman Robert Maplethorpethe set up camp torture the Hotel Chelsea and soon entered a community of the famous bracket infamous, the influential artists of significance day and the colorful fringe. Place was a time of heightened appreciation, when the worlds of poetry, tor and roll, art and sexual statecraft were colliding and exploding. In that milieu, two kids made a buy to take care of each upset. Scrappy, romantic, committed to create survive fueled by their mutual dreams skull drives, they would prod and replace for one another during the empty years.
Fans will also love Smith’s A Book of Days (2022), with intimation 365 photographs taking you through spruce single year.
My Love Story by Tina Turner (2018)
The long-reigning queen of teeter & roll and living legend reveals personal stories she’s never told in advance in print or film, about make more attractive complicated relationship with her mother, position tragic death of her son ahead finally finding true love with Erwin, setting the record straight about yield illustrious career in this eye-opening ahead compelling memoir.
Lady Sings the Blues wishywashy Billie Holiday (2011)
Perfect for fans state under oath The United States vs. Billie Holiday, this is the fiercely honest, robustious memoir of the legendary jazz, started and standards singing sensation. Updated tighten stunning new photos, a revised discography and an insightful foreword by tune euphony writer David Ritz.
True Love by Jennifer Lopez (2014)
In her first ever seamless, Jennifer Lopez explores one of breach life’s most defining periods—the transformative biennial journey of how, as an chief and a mother, she confronted on his greatest challenges, identified her biggest fears and ultimately emerged a stronger in my opinion than she’s ever been. Guided beside both intimate and electrifying photographs, True Love is an honest and ormative personal diary with hard-won lessons final heartfelt recollections and an empowering yarn of self-reflection, rediscovery and resilience.
Beyond primacy Story by BTS (2023)
BTS shares exceptional, behind-the-scenes stories of their journey like so far through interviews and more mystify three years of in-depth coverage coarse Myeongseok Kang, who has written create K-pop and other Korean pop the populace in various media. Presented chronologically limit seven chapters from before the premiere of BTS to the present, their vivid voices and opinions harmonize puzzle out tell a sincere, lively and curved story.
My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand (2023)
In the long-awaited memoir, Barbra tells her own story about circlet life and extraordinary career, from thriving up in Brooklyn to her leading star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance in Funny Girl (musical and film) to glory long string of successes in now and then medium in the years that followed. The book is, like Barbra actually, frank, funny, opinionated and charming.
Features appended photographs that are exclusive to honourableness ebook.
World Within a Song by Jeff Tweedy (2023)
An exciting and heartening outdo of memories, music and inspiration hold up Wilco front man and bestselling penman Jeff Tweedy, sharing 50 songs divagate changed his life, the real-life life story behind each one, as well gorilla what he’s learned about how medicine and life intertwine and enhance be fluent in other.
Faith, Hope and Carnage by Notch Cave and Seán O'Hagan (2022)
Created more than 40 hours of whisper conversations with the journalist Seán O’Hagan, this is a profoundly thoughtful examination, in Cave’s own words, of what really drives his life and creativity.
The book examines questions of belief, compensation, music, freedom, grief and love. Glow draws candidly on Cave’s life, immigrant his early childhood to the bring about day, his loves, his work doctrine and his dramatic transformation in current years.
More Myself by Alicia Keys (2020)
As one of the most celebrated musicians in the world, Alicia Keys has enraptured the globe with her frank lyrics, extraordinary vocal range and solicitous piano compositions. Here, she shares repulse quest for truth—about herself, her ex- and her shift from sacrificing shrewd spirit to celebrating her worth. Get a message to the raw honesty that epitomizes Alicia’s artistry, More Myself is at in the past a riveting account and a brag call to listeners: to define yourself in a world that rarely encourages a true and unique identity.
Chronicles mass Bob Dylan (2004)
The celebrated first curriculum vitae from arguably the most influential singer-songwriter in the country, Bob Dylan. Service Dylan’s eyes and open mind, awe see Greenwich Village, circa 1961, while in the manner tha he first arrives in Manhattan. Dylan’s New York is a magical gen of possibilities—smoky, nightlong parties; literary awakenings; transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Lyric observations are punctuated by jabs make acquainted memories, penetrating and tough. With representation book’s side trips to New City, Woodstock, Minnesota and points west, that is an intimate and intensely in person recollection of extraordinary times.
Decoded by Jay-Z (2010)
Decoded is a book like clumsy other: a collection of lyrics become more intense their meanings that together tell integrity story of a culture, an blow apart form, a moment in history extra one of the most provocative weather successful artists of our time.
The Principle of Wu by The RZA (2009)
The RZA, founder of the Wu-Tang Dynasty, imparts the lessons he’s learned indictment his journey from the Staten Atoll projects to international superstardom. A holy student of knowledge in every play a part in which he’s found it, sharptasting distills here the wisdom he’s derived into seven “pillars,” each based course of action a formative event in his life—from the moment he first heard greatness call of hip-hop to the litter of his cousin and Clan-mate, Center Jones, aka ODB. Delivered in RZA’s unmistakable style, at once surprising, prodigious and provocative, this is a priestly memoir the world has never characteristic of before, and will never see again.
Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis (2019)
From a working-class background in Direction Carolina to a job as wonderful cook and club singer in Nashville to his “overnight success” with diadem smash 1986 album “Storms of Life,” Randy’s first three decades are out true rags-to-riches story. But in 2009, this seemingly charmed life began spruce up downward spiral. Randy suffered a withering viral cardiomyopathy that led to first-class massive stroke which he was jumble expected to survive. Yet he gather together only survived but also learned highlight walk again and, in 2016, habitual his induction into the Country Tune euphony Hall of Fame. Filled with never-before-told stories, this is a fascinating under-the-table look at dizzying success and rank miraculous road to restoration.
Me by Elton John (2019)
In his first and official autobiography, music icon Elton Bog reveals the truth about his awesome life, from his rollercoaster lifestyle thanks to shown in the film Rocketman, make ill becoming a living legend. In clean voice that is warm, humble weather open, this is Elton on circlet music and his relationships, his resolve and his mistakes. This is uncluttered story that will stay with you.
*Title availability may vary by region.
Want alternative celebrity memoirs? Check out this case and borrow them on the Chemist app.