Smith is also the author of Bluegrass: An Informal Guide and is a regular reviewer for Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. Smith expertly depicts the life of the brilliant and complex man universally known as the “Father of Bluegrass” in Can’t You Hear Me Callin’. Through a multitude of in-depth interviews with Bill Monroe’s surviving friends and colleagues, second place author and veteran bluegrass journalist Richard D. A longtime columnist for New York’s Village Voice, Giddins has also written biographies on Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker. From Crosby’s early beginnings in Spokane, Washington as a young law student to his rise to the top of the entertainment world, Giddins delivers the definitive biography of one of the world’s most beloved entertainers. Giddins, who won second place in 1999 for his book Visions of Jazz, chronicles the extraordinary life of an American cultural icon in his book, Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams. The ceremony also honored the late Bob Rolontz, founder and chairman of the awards, who sadly lost his long battle with Parkinson’s disease last year. Founded in 1989 to honor the best books about contemporary music and musicians, the awards are named for San Francisco music critic and Rolling Stone co-founder Ralph J. The awards were presented on Friday, September 21 during an invitation-only cocktail reception at New York’s Sony Club. Seen here are: Gleason committee member Holly George Warren who presented third place award to author David Ritz Ritz BMI President and CEO Frances Preston who presented second place to author Richard Smith Smith first place winner Gary Giddins and Spin magazine editor and Gleason committee member Alan Light who presented the top award to Giddins. Gleason Book Award winners gather after the presentation to show off their certificates.
Both Giddins and Ritz are previous Gleason Award winners.
for the second time in the history of the awards (1995). All three books are published by Little, Brown & Co. Smith’s biography of Bill Monroe, Can’t You Hear Me Callin’: The Life of Bill Monroe, The Father of Bluegrass, was awarded second place and The Brothers, an autobiography by Art, Aaron, Charles & Cyril Neville and David Ritz won third place. Gleason Music Book Awards, sponsored by Rolling Stone, BMI and New York University.
Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams, The Early Years 1903-1940 by Gary Giddins was awarded first place at the 12th annual Ralph J.
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