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Hooked on a Horn: Memoirs of a Recovered Musician

by Gene Hull

261 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #05-1632; ISBN 1-4120-6721-9; US$22.00, C$25.30, EUR18.07, £12.65

A poignant and humorous retrospective of a young musician's struggle to maintain a career in music. It exposes the hidden motives that sometimes impel performing artists to succeed.

About the Book

At the height of the Swing Era, a ten-year old boy reluctantly attends a live stage show with his parents. The impact of the famous Benny Goodman Band astounds him. From the very first note he is irrevocably smitten. Gene Hull paints a poignant picture of passing through this era and on to the turbulent 60's, 70's and 80's.

Hooked on a Horn: Memoirs of a Recovered Musician recounts the musical journey of a young man of high ambition and determination and the quest that nearly consumes him. It is a personal retrospective filled with humor, pathos and adventure - a memoir in which the author invites the voice of conscience to monitor the writing.

Behind the scenes, as a traveling musician, you'll meet Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Elvis Presley, Dave Brubeck, Katherine Hepburn, Woddy Herman, Vic Damone and many others.

Hooked on a Horn: Memoirs of a Recovered Musician is a natural pleaser for nostalgia buffs, music lovers and those who enjoy a human-interest memoir with an historical perspective and an ironic twist.

About the Author

Gene Hull is a former big band saxophonist, symphony clarinetist, and jazz flutist. He was musical director for many celebrity performers, leader of the Jazz Giants, The Lettermen- while at the University of Notre Dame, Free Spirit, GH-3 and Music Maximus. After a lengthy music career, he became the entertainment producer for the Royal Caribbean Cruises' award winning production shows.

Gene graduated from Fairfield College Prepatory School in Connecticut, attended Julliard School, graduated from the University of Notre Dame, and studied creative writing at Florida International University.

He has written collections of poems including the book Going to Court: A Tribute to Tennis Hackers. His short stories have been published in magazines and an anthology.

He resides on Florida's Treasure Coast with his wife, Beverly and their mini schnauzer, Coda. He can be reached at genehull@msn.com

Excerpts