A white rock ‘n’ roll guitarist on stage with the Godfather of Soul.
In this unvarnished account of toiling under one of popular music’s most notorious bosses, Damon Wood details his six years spent playing guitar for James Brown’s Soul Generals.
In a memoir certain to fascinate Mr Dynamite’s millions of fans, as well as musicians and industry insiders, Wood recalls how a chance encounter with James Brown led him to embrace soul and funk music under the tutelage of its greatest progenitor. Numerous interviews with bandmates provide multiple perspectives on James Brown’s complex character, his leadership of his band, the nature of soul and funk and insights and sometimes harsh lessons learned along the way.
This is a sideman’s story of the gritty reality of working close to the spotlight but rarely in it. Damon Wood describes life on the road - often on James Brown’s infamous tour bus - with one guitar, a change of clothes and two dozen comrades-in-arms as they brought the funk to clubs, theaters and the biggest music festivals on earth. Working for James Brown could be fear-inducing, inspiring, exhilarating and exasperating - all in the space of a single performance.
‘Wood and Carson smoothly explain the intricacies of being a guitarist, detailing but never dwelling on minutiae such as Brown’s hand signals or tuning on the fly. Readers will come away with a deep respect for the skill and resilience needed to be a professional touring musician, especially one traveling and playing with a mercurial star.’ - Publishers Weekly
‘An insider’s account that will delight both Brown fans and those interested in what it’s like working fro such a dedicated showman. Kudos to Wood for delivering the inside scoop on a demanding performer with exacting standards who brought it, every night.’ - Library Journal
‘An absorbing inside look at the not always glamorous life of working for one of the most famous and unpredictable bosses in popular music.’ - Booklist Online
‘This is a musician’s tale, albeit one working within what was essentially a corporation by the time he joined, and Damon has written an essential backstory to one of the greatest live shows on Earth. Warts and all.’ - All Music Books
