THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES -SERIES ONE: AWARD WINNING BOOK FEATURING THE GREATEST MUSIC LEGENDS THE WORLD WILL EVER KNOW BY RAY SHASHO

Buy now at bookbaby.com

and amazon.com

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES 
BOOK TRAILER

Overview

I refused to simply write about the music and artists that influenced countless generations and millions upon millions of music fans worldwide, that would be way too easy, and its already been done a gazillion times over the years, instead, I brought the actual music legend to the reader. From January 2010 through the present day, I've conducted over 1000 candid interviews with some of the greatest music legends of our time. After reading each interview, it will seem as you're the one chatting with your favorite rock hero. Even though their music lives on … the artists are vanishing and will soon be gone forever! These recent and candid interviews include … life changing events, band feuds that have lasted for decades, love affairs with bandmates, drug induced stories, spirituality, metaphysical beliefs, Woodstock memories, Joplin and Hendrix tidbits, mafia owned record companies, untold stories about The Beatles, royalties issues, management and record company thieving and conniving, political views, conspiracy theories, humorous and tragic anecdotes, transitioning to Christianity and suicide.

Description

WHERE HAVE ALL THE ROCK STARS GONE? Rock and Roll, the Blues, and Jazz are America's contribution to the arts, so why are we not fighting to preserve our own musical legacy and culture? Rooted from the early blues pioneers, the longevity of rock and roll is second to none. But strangely enough those legendary rock heroes that we were so accustomed to hearing every time we turned on our radios had mysteriously vanished from the mainstream. The music of the 1960's, 70's and even the 80's was an important juncture in all of our lives. So many of us timeline life's precious moments with the music we remember, when the music was so great, when the music mattered. The baby-boomer generation is financially imperative yet many of its entertainment standards have been renounced. One day, the plug was pulled on those legendary music artists. Hackers began stealing music across the internet. Online music stores popularized cheap digital singles and neglected to promote full-length albums. Radio stations changed formats to accommodate talk show radio jocks while rappers and electronic dance music menaced the airwaves. Notorious record companies began folding in droves. Record companies and radio stations that were once owned and operated by visionaries were now run by accountants and lawyers and the music world began promoting untalented wannabes. The economy plummeted, and radio stations became more concerned about how many consecutive commercials they could run instead of providing quality radio programming and entertainment value. Radio stations became corporate machines leaving no room for innovation. Throughout the 2000s, recording studios and live performances began using an audio processor called "Auto-Tune" to disguise off-key inaccuracies in vocal tracks. The device allowed virtually anyone without music skills to become a singer and new waves of mainstream radio stars were instantly fabricated. The business of music became stronger and more important than the art of music. For more than a decade, I've been on a rock and roll pilgrimage to help promote and save the greatest music the world has ever known. Before the internet and Napster, virtuoso musicians traditionally introduced their music by way of mainstream radio stations while anxious music enthusiasts hurried to their favorite record stores and purchased a copy of the artist's latest release. Talk radio wasn't popular because there was way too much great music to play over the airwaves. Advertisers didn't rule the airwaves, the music did. Rock legends toured the world to promote their latest albums and prices of concert tickets were extremely affordable. Proficient musicians, singers, and songwriters are what made the music so great.

About The Author

Ray Shasho published his first novel entitled Check the Gs, a comical and awe-inspiring novel about growing up in the family business. Shasho subsequently released a second edition entitled, Wacky Shenanigans on F Street -Proud to be Politically-Incorrect in Washington D.C. Shasho became a classic rock music journalist. It started out as a fun gig to help promote his book but something very extraordinary transformed. Shasho began covering concerts and music events around the Tampa Bay area and decided to take a crack at interviewing some of the rock music legends that he idolized all of his life. Ray quickly became one of the top music journalists in the country. His online music publications are read by thousands of music enthusiasts daily and Shasho's in-depth interviews, album and concert reviews are featured on artist websites around the globe. More than a million visitors have read Ray's interviews online. Currently, Ray is the director of The Publicity Works Agency, a public relations firm specializing in publicity plans for musicians and authors. Ray is also the host of Interviewing the Legends a very popular show on BBS radio that spotlights exclusive interviews with legendary music artists, authors and celebrities.

BOOK REVIEW

GOLD STAR WINNER

-By Literary Titan 

(5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan.

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives.

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.
I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner

Ray Shasho's Rock Star Chronicles is a fantastic journey through the history of the world's most influential music, and the artists who lived it. Ray's superior knowledge of the era, the players, studios, and the great music that came to be, are all brought to life in this fantastic book! I definitely recommend this for all serious readers of the genre, makes an excellent gift for the "Classic Rock" historian, and is a great way to relive the moments in music by those who created them!

Book Review
-By Trace Keane
Music Journalist
Publicist to Classic Rock Legends

THE 
ROCK STAR
 CHRONICLES 

Featuring intimate conversations with 
these legendary music artists ...

CHRIS SQUIRE

Y  E  S
SQUACKETT

DR. JOHN

"THE NIGHT TRIPPER"

GREG LAKE

KING CRIMSON

ASIA

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER
RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND 

HENRY McCULLOUGH

JOE COCKER GREASE BAND

SPOOKY TOOTH

PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS

JACK BRUCE

CREAM

WEST, BRUCE & LAING

ROBIN TROWER

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND 

JOE LALA

BLUES IMAGE

STEPHEN STILLS & MANASSAS

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG

THE BEE GEES

JOE WALSH

FIREFALL

JOHNNY WINTER

KEITH EMERSON

THE NICE

EMERSON,LAKE & PALMER

PAUL KANTNER

THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE

JEFFERSON STARSHIP

RAY THOMAS

THE MOODY BLUES

RONNIE MONTROSE

THE EDGAR WINTER GROUP

MONTROSE

GAMMA

VAN MORRISON

TONY JOE WHITE

Best known for his 1969 hits"Polk Salad Annie" and 
 "Rainy Night in Georgia"

DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS
BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS

MIKE LOVE

THE BEACH BOYS

TOMMY ROE

Best-remembered for his hits "Sheila" (1962),
1966's "Sweet Pea"

"Hooray for Hazel" and "Dizzy" (1969)

BARRY HAY

GOLDEN EARRING

CHRIS THOMPSON

MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND 

JESSE COLIN YOUNG

THE YOUNGBLOODS 

JOHN KAY

STEPPENWOLF

JULIAN LENNON

Beatles John's son

MARK LINDSAY

PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS 

MICKY DOLENZ

THE MONKEES

PETER RIVERA

RARE EARTH

TOMMY JAMES

THE SHONDELLS

TODD RUNDGREN

THE NAZZ

UTOPIA

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND 

DAVE MASON

TRAFFIC

DELANEY & BONNIE

EDGAR WINTER

EDGAR WINTER GROUP

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND 

FRANK MARINO

MAHOGANY RUSH

GREGG ROLIE

SANTANA 

JOURNEY

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND 

IAN ANDERSON

JETHRO TULL

JIM "DANDY" MANGRUM

BLACK OAK ARKANSAS

JON ANDERSON

Y E S

LOU GRAMM

FOREIGNER

MICK BOX

URIAH HEEP 

RANDY BACHMAN

THE GUESS WHO

BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND 

BACHMAN CUMMINGS

ROBIN TROWER

PROCOL HARUM

ROBIN TROWER BAND

ROGER FISHER

HEART

STEVE HACKETT

GENESIS

GTR

SQUACKETT 

ANNIE HASLAM

RENAISSANCE

"MELANIE" SAFKA

MELANIE 

PETULA CLARK 

SUZI QUATRO 

COLIN BLUNSTONE

THE ZOMBIES

DAVE DAVIES

THE KINKS 

JIM McCARTY

THE YARDBIRDS

PETE BEST

THE BEATLES

PETE BEST BAND

 New Post on LITERARY TITAN

Ray Shasho Author Interview

The Rock Star Chronicles uses your interviews with rock legends to humanize them and preserve their contribution to the genre. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I was fortunate to have lived through two of the greatest decades for music. It was a time when radio played incredible music and rock concerts were a bargain and a happening thing to do. Rock groups featured incredibly talented musicians with guitarists and lead singers in the spotlight. There has never been a generation to match that period of music expertise and staying power. I wanted the reader to understand and realize how great a talent they really were and still are. Especially to wannabe musicians and the young. Many of the artists I have interviewed have passed on and others nearing retirement. It was important to me to tell their stories at a vulnerable period in their lives and be recognized as the greatest music legends the world will ever know.

What is one interview in this book that stands out as the most exciting one you had?

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull has always been a rock hero to me. He has written and performed complex music and always had an incredible stage presence. Going to a Tull concert back in the day was a huge event. I will admit the first time I interviewed Ian Anderson I was quite nervous. I remember when the phone rang for the interview, I thought, that’s Jethro Tull calling me! During the second interview I got him to chat about politics, religion, ancestry, and world events. I tried not to ask the same mundane music questions that have been asked of him many hundreds of times. He was intellectual and I was on my best game that day.

What do you think is one thing modern musicians have to learn from the icons of the rock and roll genre?

Bands must perform live. All the legends started performing at school dances, bars, clubs, and anywhere they could be seen by an audience big or small. If they are talented eventually someone will give them a break, but it will not be easy. Having a You Tube video with a lot of page views is a start, but it will never have the impact of playing in front of live audiences.

What do you find is a common misconception people have about music?

People that pay big money to watch an artist lip sync on stage and still call it a great show. Music lovers who go see a legendary rock band and there are no original members in the band. Ringo Starr would never bill himself as The Beatles, instead he created an All-Starr band. All generations need to do a little homework before purchasing expensive tickets to concerts nowadays. My book will certainly help identify who the real legends are.

Music is a universal language that we all share and cherish.