If you're like me, you know that summertime presents great opportunities to go to outdoor music concerts in this beautiful city. Since I'm a little long in the tooth now, I prefer sitting in the pavilion area as opposed to kicking back with a blanket on the grass, but the overall experience of an outdoor concert still gives me the same rush it did back in my youth. From the mellow vibe of Ravinia to the frenetic rhythms of Lollapalooza - you can find it all right here, practically in your own backyard. Some really great artists will be performing at various venues this summer so why not read up on them either before or after seeing the concert. So break out your lighter (or cell phone these days) and sway to the music all while dazzling your friends with your encyclopedic knowledge of your favorite entertainer.
Paul McCartney: A Life by Peter Carlin details McCartney's early days as the "cute Beatle" to his days with Wings and finally his solo career. The definitive biography of this living legend.
Billy Joel: The Biography by Mark Bego takes an in-depth look a the "piano man" - his battles with substance abuse, failed marriages and incredible professional success.
Eminem: The Real Slim Shady by Marcia Dawkins gives a fresh perspective on the compelling, multi-faceted rap artist Eminem.
When I Left Home: My Story by Buddy Guy is Blues legend Buddy's Guys autobiography from his beginnings in the cotton fields of Louisiana to the mean streets of Chicago.
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock by Gene Odom chronicles the history of the band from their early days establishing themselves as the premier southern rock band to the plane crash that took the lives of three of its members to their triumphant rebirth.
Kicking & Dreaming: A story of Heart, Soul and Rock and Roll by Ann and Nancy Wilson is the story of the Wilson sisters, better known as the musical group Heart. A female perspective of the rock and roll lifestyle.
Add a comment to: Musician biographies