Have a Little Faith

"Have a Little Faith is not merely a fan's notes; this is a riveting book that tells the stories of one of our greatest roots musicians and the tenacity that's grown out of his enduring passion for music." — No Depression
A journey through an artist's quest for success, deep dive into substance abuse, family tragedy, and ultimate triumph

By the mid-1980s, singer-songwriter John Hiatt had been dropped from three record labels, burned through two marriages, and had fallen deep into substance abuse.


 


It took a stint in rehab and a new marriage to inspire him, then a producer and an A&R man to have a little faith. By February 1987, he was back in the studio on a shoestring budget with a hand-picked supergroup consisting of Ry Cooder on guitar, Nick Lowe on bass, and Jim Keltner on drums, recording what would become his masterpiece, Bring the Family.


 


Based on author Michael Elliott's multiple extensive and deeply personal interviews with Hiatt as well as his collaborators and contemporaries, including Rosanne Cash, Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, and many others, Have a Little Faithis the journey through the musical landscape of the 1960s through today that places Hiatt's long career in context with the glossy pop, college-alternative, mainstream country, and heartland rock of the last half-century.

Hiatt's life both pre- and post-Family will be revealed, as well as the music loved by critics, fellow musicians, and fans alike.