Diary of a Player
How My Musical Heroes Made a Guitar Man Out of Me
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4.6 • 159 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Country music star Brad Paisley salutes others in the music world in this funny, personal, and fascinating portrait of what it’s like to be country’s leading guitar hero.
The Story of a Life with Strings Attached
Brad Paisley is one of country music’s leading men—admired as a recording artist, a performer, a songwriter, and a guitar slinger. This was not always so. In Diary of a Player, Paisley for the first time fully retraces his entire musical and personal journey to date. And it all began with a loving grandfather who gave eight-year-old Brad Douglas Paisley a Sears Danelectro guitar—the Christmas gift that would alter Brad’s life forever. In Brad’s own words, we read his emotional tribute to his late great “Papaw,” Warren Jarvis, who sparked his dream come true:
When I was eight I got a gift from my grandpa. No coincidence that around that time I also got an identity. See, no matter how I have changed, learned, and evolved as a person, the guitar has been a major part of it, and really the only constant. A crutch, a shrink, a friend, love interest, parachute, flying machine, soapbox, canvas, liability, investment, jackpot, tease, a sage, a gateway, an addiction, a recovery, a temptress, a church, a voice, veil, armor, and lifeline. My grandpa knew it could be many of these things for me, but mostly he just wanted me to never be alone. He said if I learned to play, anything would be manageable, and life would be richer. You can get through some real tough moments with that guitar on your knee. When life gets intense, there are people who drink, who seek counseling, eat, or watch TV, pray, cry, sleep, and so on. I play.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In his first book, Grammy Award-winning country star Paisley pays tribute to the legendary musicians who helped him along the way. Any guitar aficionado will love this tale of extraordinary musicians gladly guiding a talented youngster a journey that began at the tender age of eight when Paisley's grandfather gave him his first guitar. With the collaboration of Wild, who is steeped in the country music scene, Paisley offers a story accessible even to country novices. In junior high, Paisley and his "modernly mature band members," a generous group of older mentors, the C-Notes, were sometimes referred to as Brad Paisley and the Seniles. As he confides: "all those days and nights when I was so busy not doing my homework I was growing the deep musical roots that have put me where I am today." His respect for his Nashville colleagues lends warmth to his presentation: "The art of our town comes from painting an honest picture in living color." Paisley certainly entertains in this charming story of his road to success.
Customer Reviews
Outstanding
I've never written a review before, but I loved this book so much that I had to let everyone know! This book was well written and entertaining to read. I cried a little and laughed a whole lot. Once, I picked this book up. I just couldn't put it down. I wanted to know more and more on what made Brad the "player" he is today.
Thank you, Papaw Jarvis for that wonderful gift you gave to Brad as a child. We all appreciate it.
Best book
It's the greatest book in the world
Good Stuff, even for non-fans
Let me start by saying that, although I am from Texas, I couldn't name a single song by Brad Paisley or pick him out of a line-up for that matter. I am the same age as he is and grew up playing guitar leaning more toward Pantera, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and ZZ Top. My ventures into country stop at Willie, Waylon, and the Boys along with David Allen Coe and (nearly) The Eagles.
Having said that I saw an interview where Brad was talking about being a guitar player. I listened and thought it would be worth the read.
I can tell you that this was much more satisfying than listening to Keith Richards recount another incident that landed him in jail. Or yet another overdose for Slash. Or read Ozzy's incoherent banter and think that my 2nd grader may have proof-read this for him. Sammy Hagar's story was uplifting in how music was his job and he took it, his family, and his fans seriously. Miles Davis' biography is a fascinating tale of a successful black man in pre-civil right USA- not to mention the fact that that Miles Davis changed music like 5 or 6 times in his career.
But this little gem of a read spoke to me as a guitar-player, as a son, as a father, as a friend. I think this is just the type of dude I'd like to hang out and chew through some old standards while emptying a couple cold ones from the refrigerator in the garage! (Not the fridge with last year's dear meat, the one with the Budweiser,)
I have little patience for the pop-country industry where it seems like 10 guys write everyone's songs and all of the titles have a double meaning. But this dude seems like the full meal deal as a player and as a person. It's obvious he loves music and how he describes his relationship with his guitar is something that even a cadual player will feel.
I'll have to check out some of his tunes now...