Michael Lydon
AUTHOR

Michael Lydon

Arts & Entertainment
Tap the gear icon above to manage new release emails.
Hi, I'm Michael Lydon! I started out as a writer in college at the Yale Daily News, wrote about the Beatles in '64 when they first came to America, that summer covered the Mississippi civil rights struggle for the Boston Globe. Newsweek hired me after graduation and sent me to "Swinging London" where I interviewed John (caustic and smart) and Paul (charming but bland), then got transferred to San Francisco just as hippie rock was busting out, interviewed Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, and more, and was a founding editor of Rolling Stone. Went freelance in 68, traveled on the road with BB King, Johnny Cash, the Grateful Dead, and the Rolling Stones on the way to Altamont. Much of that became my first book, Rock Folk. My second book, Boogie Lightning, showed how African-American musicians combined music and electricity. In the 70s I started playing the guitar and performing myself, often with my partner Ellen Mandel. We moved to New York, joining all the young hopefuls trying to get ahead in show biz. That led to my books How to Write Songs for Fun (and maybe) Profit and How to Play Classic Jazz guitar. In the 90s I wrote the definitive biography of Ray Charles, and I began writing about writing in my books Writing and Life and Real Writing. I love writing, I love music, I love performing and getting people to sing along. If you also love music and good books, we have a lot in common!!
Read more Read less
You're getting a free audiobook


You're getting a free audiobook.

$14.95 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Try for $0.00

Good Old Grateful Dead

Most popular
View Details

Best Sellers

Product List
  • Good Old Grateful Dead Audiobook By Michael Lydon cover art

    Regular price: $2.99 or 1 credit

    Sale price: $2.99 or 1 credit

    Included in Plus membership
    Try for $0.00
  • The Rolling Stones Discover America Audiobook By Michael Lydon cover art

    Regular price: $11.69 or 1 credit

    Sale price: $11.69 or 1 credit

    Try for $0.00
  • Every Moment She Is What She Feels Audiobook By Michael Lydon cover art

    Regular price: $2.99 or 1 credit

    Sale price: $2.99 or 1 credit

    Included in Plus membership
    Try for $0.00

Are you an author?

Help us improve our Author Pages by updating your bibliography and submitting a new or current image and biography.
Visit Amazon Author Central