A Few Words in Defense of Our Country: The Biography of Randy Newman

“Randy Newman is our great master of American song and storytelling."—Bruce Springsteen “At last, the biography that Randy Newman has long deserved. The emotional precision, the humor and sweep, the truths and secrets behind his remarkable body of work . . . it’s all here in Robert Hilburn’s heartfelt and indispensable account of America’s finest songwriter. Leave it to Hilburn to pull back the curtain on the incredible life of Newman, a shy genius who clearly trusted him enough to point him in all the right directions. It’s more than a great read, it’s an invitation to re-visit Randy Newman’s work with renewed appreciation for the man who uniquely defined the American Experience just when we needed it most.”—Cameron Crowe "[A] penetrating biography. . . . While the book posits Newman as a writer of sociopolitical import, its emotional narrative is driven by the more personal aspects of his story: a... The definitive biography of songwriter Randy Newman, told with his full cooperation, by acclaimed biographer and longtimeLos Angeles Timesmusic critic, Robert Hilburn Randy Newman is widely hailed as one of Americas all-time greatest songwriters, equally skilled in the sophisticated melodies and lyrics of the Gershwin-Porter era and the cultural commentary of his own generation, with Bob Dylan and Paul Simon among his most ardent admirers. While tens of millions around the world can hum Youve Got a Friend in Me, his disarming centerpiece forToy Story, most of them would be astonished to learn that the heart of Newmans legacy is in the dozens of brilliant songs that detail the injustices, from racism to class inequality, that have contributed to division of our nation. Decades apart,Rolling StoneandThe Atlanticboth declared that a single Newman song, Sail Away, tells us more about America than The Star-Spangled Banner. And yet, his legacy remains largely undocumented in book formuntil now. InA FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY, veteran music journalist Robert Hilburn presents the definitive portrait of an American legend. Hilburn has known Newman since his club debut at the Troubadour in 1970, and the two have maintained a strong connection in the decades since, conversing over the course of times good and bad. Though Newman has long refused to talk with potential biographers, he now gives Hilburn unprecedented access not only to himself but also to his archives, as well as his family, friends, collaborators, and famous fans, including Neil Young, John Williams, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Public Enemys Chuck D, James Taylor, andNew York TimesPulitzer-winning columnists, Thomas Friedman and Wesley Morris, among others. In addition to exploring Newmans prolific career and the evolution of his songwriting,A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRYalso dives into his childhood and early influences, his musical family, the relationships that have provided inspiration for his songs, and so much more. As thought-provoking and thorough as it is tender, this book is a long overdue tribute to the legendary songwriter whose music has long reflected, challenged, and shaped the America we know today.