Author Description
"A Terrific Novel! The best insiders guide to Nashville and country music that I have ever read." -Pat Conroy, author of Beach Music and Prince of TidesNASHVILLE 1968. John Ryan Stone, ex-army officer, ex-teacher, ex-husband and wannabe songwriter has been pushing his music for three years with no success. Down and out, his luck changes when he is invited to audition his songs for Don Hendrickson, one of Nashville's top producers. Although he is a reluctant performer, the raw earthiness of his voice and his sensual lyrics suggest a new direction in country music.Stone is suddenly catapulted into a whirlwind of cutting demos, and making career plans that he has little say in. Soon he is flying to New York to sign a contract with Trayhorn International, a recording giant making its first foray into Nashville music. At Trayhorn he meets Kate Belden, a beautiful and focused promotion manager who is assigned to direct his career. What he doesn't know is that Trayhorn is infused with members of the Tedesco Crime Family, which is trying to take over the company and targets the rising star as the key to that end. All too soon, John Ryan and Kate find themselves enmeshed in the dark side of the music business involving bribery, threats, counterfeit records, cut-out schemes, and murder.Carl T. Smith's first novel seamlessly moves from the recording studios of Nashville to the underworlds of New York and Philadelphia. Through a variety of colorful, romantic and dangerous characters, he skillfully weaves a tale of rising stardom, suspense, new-found love and innovation in the music industry. This book is sure to appeal to the country music fan and readers of suspense alike.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
A struggling songwriter finds his path to fame blocked by the lethal reach of organized crime. John Ryan Stone, a former army officer and teacher, attempts to break into the Nashville music scene after years of failure. His sudden success attracts the attention of a major record label, but he soon discovers that the company is a front for the Tedesco Crime Family. As he navigates the industry, he must contend with the machinations of a criminal syndicate that views his rising career as a tool for their own illicit gains.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Setting in the 1968 Nashville country music scene
- Exploration of the intersection between corporate music and organized crime
- Romantic subplot involving a promotion manager
- Portrayal of the recording studio environment and demo production
- Narrative shift between Nashville, New York, and Philadelphia
- Inclusion of criminal activities such as bribery and counterfeit schemes
- Focus on the personal evolution of a reluctant performer
- High-stakes conflict involving threats and murder
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers frequently highlight the authentic atmosphere of the late 1960s music industry as a primary strength of the narrative. Discussion often centers on the balance between the technical details of songwriting and the high-tension suspense elements introduced by the crime syndicate. Critics note that the author effectively contrasts the creative aspirations of the protagonist with the gritty reality of the underworld. The pacing is generally described as steady, moving from the intimate setting of recording studios to the broader, more dangerous landscape of organized crime. Readers appreciate how the book manages to appeal to both country music enthusiasts and fans of traditional suspense thrillers.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1999-01-01
Publisher:
Summerhouse Pr
ISBN-10:
0188714472
ISBN-13:
9780188714470
Suspense
Crime
Music
Fiction
Artists and architects
Historical
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