Every musician has had career disappointments, challenges, and even failures. Often, when faced with discouraging experiences, musicians may feel that their career is over—or is never going to start. How do musicians overcome these challenges to find success? In this publication, a diversity of successful musicians relate a variety of situations that seemed devastating at the time, but that they overcame, learned from, and triumphed over. The stories are powerful, motivational, and truly inspiring.

Featuring Interviews with:

• Kenny Aronoff
• Eddie Bayers
• John Beasley
• John H. Beck
• Charlie Bisharat
• Gregg Bissonette
• Hal Blaine
• Terry Bozzio
• Michael Burritt
• Gary Burton
• Danny Cochran
• Anna Détári
• Peter Erskine
• Rob Franzblau
• David Friedman
• Danny Gottlieb
• Russell Hartenberger
• Fred Hersch
• Ralph Humphrey
• Elvin Jones
• Jim Keltner
• David Kish
• John LaBarbera
• Pat LaBarbera
• Tony Levin
• Christian McBride
• Gretchen McNamera
• Bob Mintzer
• Rod Morgenstein
• Andy Newmark
• Jake Odmark
• Austin Pancner
• Jeff Porcaro
• Layne Redmond
• Emil Richards
• John Riley
• Dave Samuels
• Nan Schwartz
• Leigh Howard Stevens
• Charles West
• Jiggs Whigham
• Brian Willson
• Darin Workman
• Nancy Zeltsman

This excellent new book by Rick Mattingly should be read by everyone. . . . This book should be on everyone’s bookshelf.

—Josh Armstrong
    Percussive Notes, April 2023