Bassist Biography worth reading - suggestions please

[Stranger Danger]

 

[Tom Kinter]

I second this one. But as it is a coffee table book, it doesn't travel light

That's true. I don't fly anymore, so I wasn't thinking it through. The spoken stuff however weighs nothing, and the man tells a great story, so might be just right for the flight...
There's another cut on the album with a conversation between Milt and Danny Barker that's excellent.

 

[31HZ]

Definitely, definitely. Great read.
Of note to the OP, though, not a travel read. 90% of the book is sheet music and you'll be done with the "story" before the wheels are up.



Thought 4: Ghosts and Ballyhoo was a great airplane read.
https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Ballyhoo-Memoirs-L-Journalist/dp/0764343386
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from: Interviewing bassist stories

I forgot about Thomas Wictor's "In Cold Sweat" which is a great read, particularly (for me) the interview with Scott Thunes.

In Cold Sweat: Interviews with Really Scary Musicians by Thomas Wictor

 

[brocket]

Not a bassist biography, but still music related- if you like the band Wilco, Jeff Tweedy's book Let's Go (So We Can Get Back) is really enjoyable. He has a section on creativity (chapter 4 I think) that struck me as particularly insightful.

 

[Oddly]

While Soul Fingers, the Duck Dunn book is essential material if you're into his playing, it's mainly a study book of his best work, with some biography thrown in, which you'd easily read in one short sitting.

 

[Izzy Crosby]

I had trouble getting completely through it. The idea of the mysterious visitor appearing out of the blue with wisdom share was enjoyable enough. It’s a charming, and well tested literary conceit that goes back to the earliest Zen stories and Chinese fairy tales. But it got tiring for me after awhile. Maybe it’s because I already figured out where he was going with a given section after a few paragraphs, and then had to slog through a thousand additional words before the big reveal took place. So while the actual information Mr. Wooten presented was solid, I found myself starting to skim ahead because I was getting bored with the framing storyline. Maybe in the hands of a better storyteller I might have liked his narrative approach a little better.

That was my take on the Wooton book. I viewed the”stranger” as Victor beating around the bush. I didn’t have the patience to sit through it. I’m not saying it’s not a good book - just not for me.

 

[Jv-d]

Geddy's Big Beautiful Book of Bass is not a biography but, as you may know, based on his ginormous collection of basses and is first a photobook of that collection. BUT there numerous sidebars where he visits with various bassists and discusses their faves, too. You don't have to be a Ged fan to enjoy it, just a fan of basses mostly associated with R&R.

Just re 'd it as a B-D gift... Absolutely brilliant book! Truly, a wonderful result of a lot of hard work...
But, at about 8 lbs, its not a book to stick in your bag/luggage and slog around!!

Just finishing up Mike Rutherford autobio, next is John Illsley of Dire Sraits, Keith Richatds ' book is quite a great read, somebody mentioned Duff's books... of course Vix Wooten, just bought again after seeing him Sunday, few days ago --stellar show w/ Bailey...first book was gift to nephew, this time I bought it for me ( and his 2nd too)
That's a lot out there fortunately, a more n more bass players are writing down their stories!!!