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14 Fine-Tuned Books for Post-Grammy Harmony

From this year’s Beach Boys reunion to live performances by Foster the People and Maroon 5, the Grammy Awards tend to be a one-night check-in on the music industry: Who’s on top, who’s not, who’s on their way up and, overall, what the kids are listening to these days – and it’s not all necessarily music to our ears. This year’s nominees turned out to be an odd and eclectic blend of acts including, among many, Bon Iver, Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, and from the great beyond, Amy Winehouse. Where the night might go could be anyone’s guess.

Luckily, the Grammys aren’t the only way to tap into the deeper realms of the music world. In celebration of the awards, in this world where Susan Boyle is up against Barbra Streisand for a gilded gramophone, here are fourteen books diving into the corners of the world of music that we at Everyday eBook find particularly melodic.

Sweet Judy Blue Eyes, by Judy Collins
The 1960s brought us into a new musical era, and one of that era’s most iconic women – Judy Collins. In her memoir, Collins offers us a bird’s-eye view into the years that defined an entire musical generation.

Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter, by Loretta Lynn
Grammy-winning country music star Loretta Lynn dons her memoirist hat with an autobiography that takes us on the journey from her poverty-stricken upbringing in Kentucky, to marriage at the age of thirteen, to her first No. 1 hit and beyond.

Everybody Loves Our Town, by Mark Yarm
Mark Yarm, former editor of Blender magazine, conducted more than 250 interviews with members of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and more to create this definitive look at the history of grunge.

Frank: The Voice, by James Kaplan
Frank Sinatra, or Ol’ Blue Eyes as he was often called, may have defined a musical era and reached the masses with his public persona, but the man behind the voice remained a source of mystery and intrigue. Get to know this man, finally, in a biography by James Kaplan that was named one of the New York Times’ Michiko Kakutani’s top ten books of 2010.

My Song: A Memoir, by Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte may be best-known for “The Banana Boat Song,” but his life extends well beyond the familiar refrain of “Day-o.” Belafonte shares his story of family and music, as well as his remembrances of friendships with Eleanor Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Marlon Brando, and myriad others in his electrifying autobiography.

Musicophilia, by Oliver Sacks
In Musicophilia, neurologist and psychiatrist Dr. Oliver Sacks explores the connection between music and our brains and discovers that it’s so much more than just auditory.

Decoded, by Jay-Z
Grammy-winning rapper Jay-Z, husband of Beyoncé and father to Blue Ivy Carter, is without a doubt a lyrical genius. Given his way with words, it’s no wonder that Decoded – part memoir, part hip-hop homage, part essay collection and part lyric guide – is entirely mesmerizing.

Bob Dylan in America, by Sean Wilentz
Princeton University professor Sean Wilentz revisits his youth-born passion for the music of Bob Dylan with the eye of an historian and the touch of a true fan.

Broken Music, by Sting
England-born Grammy-winning musician Sting recounts his early years, leading from his childhood in Northumberland to the eve of his success with The Police. Here is an intimate look at the icon’s life – in his own words.

Lady Blue Eyes, by Barbara Sinatra
On July 11, 1976, Barbara Marx married the legend himself, Frank Sinatra, and began a marriage that would be his fourth and final, lasting twenty-plus years until his death. Here Barbara shares the story of her own life lived fully, as well as the story of the love between her and Frank.

Clapton, by Eric Clapton
Though the side of Eric Clapton we’ve come to know best is the side that sings sweet lyrics, there is a much darker side to the musician: a side that fell toward bad choices, alcoholism, and the like. It’s this side that Clapton reveals in his stunning story of survival and success.

Wonderful Tonight, by Pattie Boyd
What must it feel like to be one of rock and roll’s greatest muses? Ask Pattie Boyd. She’s the inspiration behind George Harrison’s “Something” and Eric Clapton’s “Layla,” and lived to tell the tale in this honest and touching memoir.

Q, by Quincy Jones
Musical Renaissance Man Quincy Jones took an early love of music and turned it into a way of life, a career, a success story. In his autobiography, pulling in testimony from those who have witnessed his journey, Jones enlightens, inspires, and entertains.

The Memory of All That, by Katharine Weber
Katharine Weber’s grandmother, Kay Swift, led a life steeped in music. She composed the score to the hit Broadway show, “Fine and Dandy” – and also carried on a ten-year love affair with composer George Gershwin. In her memoir, Weber shares the story of her eccentric family through the generations.