Bøker av Spencer Leigh

Published to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Elvis' death. With exclusive interviews with fellow musicians, promoters and those who knew them, and with much unique material, this is one of the most comprehensive accounts of Elvis Presley and his career.

This is the definitive, fully illustrated account of the Beatles' concerts and controversies, and of how the United States dominated their lives in so many ways. Written by one of the acknowledged experts on the Fab Four, Liverpool's own Spencer Leigh, this volume includes interviews with fellow musicians, promoters, and audience members, together with rare photographs and memorabilia. Early in 1964, with Beatlemania raging in the UK, the Beatles topped the US charts with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and became a sensation on American TV with The Ed Sullivan Show--on which they appeared no fewer than three occasions, on consecutive Sundays in February 1964. In April 1964, they held all Top Five positions on the Billboard Hot 100 and were playing such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and Shea Stadium. As Epstein predicted, they had become bigger than Elvis--after their first appearances of 1964 (at Carnegie Hall and in Washington, DC), the band went on to do a full North American tour in 1964, a shorter tour in 1965, and a final, 13-date tour in 1966 (each of which is covered in detail), transforming them into global superstars--but when John Lennon commented that the band was "bigger than Jesus," things turned sour, and there were public burnings of their records. The final chapter and epilogue of the book take the story of "the Beatles in America" up to the band's breakup and beyond, including John and Yoko's June 1, 1969, "Bed-In" in Montreal and the release of the couple's single "Give Peace a Chance."

Born Richard Wayne Penniman, Little Richard said he invented rock 'n' roll. Spencer Leigh claims he didn't, but the world would have been very different without 'Tutti Frutti', two minutes of wild exhibitionism, recorded in 1955. It transformed American music and world culture. There still would have been the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Prince without Little Richard but their careers would have been different.Little Richard: Send Me Some Lovin' is a fun-packed biography about an influential and charismatic man who lived his life as though he were continually on stage.

Frank Sinatra: An Extraordinary Life is a definitive account of Frank Sinatra's life and career. With unique material and exclusive interviews with fellow musicians, promoters and friends, the acclaimed author Spencer Leigh has written a compelling biography of one of the world's biggest stars. With remarkable stories about Sinatra on every page.

Bob Dylan: Outlaw Blues is a major new biography, a story of the life of a man that intrigues his audience - both young and old. Bob Dylan's past and present is comprehensively detailed in this new book which will be published in July 2020, that is, in Bob Dylan's eightieth year.

3 February 1959. The 60th anniversary of Buddy Holly's death in 2019. He was 22 years old when he died. Don McLean called that fatal day `The Day the Music Died'. But, his music hasn't died, as he left us a wonderful legacy. Spencer Leigh's new BIOGRAPHY Buddy Holly: Learning the Game is the most definitive account of Holly and his career.

Journalist and Beatles authority Spencer Leigh analyses the Beatles back catalogue drawing upon his extensive interviews with contributions from Mike Batt, Pete Best, Dave Clark through to Ken Dodd, Hunter Davies, Adam Faith, Georgie Fame, Alan Freeman, Steve Harley, Graham Nash and Barry Norman to name just a few.

Liverpool's The Cavern Club is the most famous club in the world giving rise to The Beatles and Merseybeat.

This intriguing book examines the greatest Beatles mystery, which has caused endless speculation over the years - why was Pete Best sacked just as the Beatles stood on the threshold of stardom?