My First 90 Years Plus 3
by Ken Nelson
This is the autobiography of Ken Nelson, the unabashed history of 90 years plus 3 of his life. The autobiography of a man who lived a rich, full life, a man who grew up in an America that has now vanished and who became an icon in that most American of businesses, the country and western music industry. When Ken Nelson was born America was about to plunge into World War I. He grew up and faced the hard times of the Great Depression. His story lets us relive that time of national gloom and shows that even in those grim days those with the moxie could take on the world and win.
Ken Nelson started singing and playing his tenor banjo in the days when radio still relied on live performers. Ever adaptable, when the acetate record arrived Ken parlayed his knowledge of the business into a job as a radio announcer and then into becoming a producer. As the recording industry grew, Ken grew with it. A natural talent for spotting winners led him into the country and western field. He did much to build this genre, and produced many of the artists who are remembered as giants in the field. He served two terms as President of the Country Music Association and was a member of the Board of Directors for many years. He eventually retired as vice-president in charge of country and western at Capital Records. Ken was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
After retiring Ken did not rest on his laurels but spent his time travelling the globe, first with his lovely wife, June, and after her untimely death, with his daughter Claudia. He has friends throughout the industry and around the world. He is a fanatic philatelist and numismatist, but nowadays his main solace is his family.
(2007, hardcover, 360 pages)
This is the autobiography of Ken Nelson, the unabashed history of 90 years plus 3 of his life. The autobiography of a man who lived a rich, full life, a man who grew up in an America that has now vanished and who became an icon in that most American of businesses, the country and western music industry. When Ken Nelson was born America was about to plunge into World War I. He grew up and faced the hard times of the Great Depression. His story lets us relive that time of national gloom and shows that even in those grim days those with the moxie could take on the world and win.
Ken Nelson started singing and playing his tenor banjo in the days when radio still relied on live performers. Ever adaptable, when the acetate record arrived Ken parlayed his knowledge of the business into a job as a radio announcer and then into becoming a producer. As the recording industry grew, Ken grew with it. A natural talent for spotting winners led him into the country and western field. He did much to build this genre, and produced many of the artists who are remembered as giants in the field. He served two terms as President of the Country Music Association and was a member of the Board of Directors for many years. He eventually retired as vice-president in charge of country and western at Capital Records. Ken was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
After retiring Ken did not rest on his laurels but spent his time travelling the globe, first with his lovely wife, June, and after her untimely death, with his daughter Claudia. He has friends throughout the industry and around the world. He is a fanatic philatelist and numismatist, but nowadays his main solace is his family.
(2007, hardcover, 360 pages)
Accessories
This book is also available for download as an E-Book in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. Get the same great book to read on your computer or PDA! It's less expensive and it saves paper! NOTE: In order to view this e-book, your computer will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. Many computers are sold with the program already installed, but if you don't have it, you can download it for free: CLICK HERE $24.00 | When Ken Nelson needs cheering up, he sings a 60-year-old song to himself: “You’ve got to accentuate the positive/Eliminate the negative/Latch on to the affirmative/Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.” It’s an appropriate choice for three reasons: One, it lifts his spirits; two, it connects Nelson, who turned 96 in January, to the years when he was a young man; and three, “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” lyricist Johnny Mercer was one of three co-founders of Capitol Records, the place where Nelson built the legacy that got him enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. “My book is practically a history of the music business,” he said. “I saw radio come in, I saw TV.” And he saw the changes wrought by the rock era. In fact, his own glory years as a producer came during the 1960s... - - Los Angeles Chronicle, Tom Roland, May 4, 2007 CMA Close Up News Service/Country Music Association, Inc. |
