New Chet Baker Bio

[Dave James]

Not sure to what extent the market can absorb another Chet Baker biography, but a new one by Matthew Ruddick is now available.

http://www.funnyvalentine.org/funnyvalentine.org/Funny_Valentine.html

[fasstrack]

I hope it's good-and worthy. I'm a huge fan. Chet seems to be the constant subject of bios and film for the wrong reasons, namely to perpetuate or trade on this myth of golden boy turned noir-junkie-monster. James Gavin's book I had such a bad reaction to I damn near gave up reading (see above). The Dutch author (Jerome de Voek? Hope I didn't mangle it) I thought dealt with the music very well w/o sidestepping the human frailties. He just didn't turn it into a circus.

[J.A.W.]

I hope it's good-and worthy. I'm a huge fan. Chet seems to be the constant subject of bios and film for the wrong reasons, namely to perpetuate or trade on this myth of golden boy turned noir-junkie-monster. James Gavin's book I had such a bad reaction to I damn near gave up reading (see above). The Dutch author (Jerome de Voek? Hope I didn't mangle it) I thought dealt with the music very well w/o sidestepping the human frailties. He just didn't turn it into a circus.

The Dutch author's name is Jeroen de Valk (Valk is Dutch for falcon).

Edited October 14, 2012 by J.A.W.

[fasstrack]

I hope it's good-and worthy. I'm a huge fan. Chet seems to be the constant subject of bios and film for the wrong reasons, namely to perpetuate or trade on this myth of golden boy turned noir-junkie-monster. James Gavin's book I had such a bad reaction to I damn near gave up reading (see above). The Dutch author (Jerome de Voek? Hope I didn't mangle it) I thought dealt with the music very well w/o sidestepping the human frailties. He just didn't turn it into a circus.

The Dutch author's name is Jeroen de Valk (Valk is Dutch for falcon).

Thanks. And I hope the word 'Dutch' isn't inappropriate or an insult to the Netherlands. I lived in Den Haag twice and loved it. Just using shorthand.

[J.A.W.]

And I hope the word 'Dutch' isn't inappropriate or an insult to the Netherlands.

In this case it isn't

[Gheorghe]

Yeah, good for bios.

Got three of them:

1) As Though I Had Wings-The Lost Memoir

2) The mentioned Jerome de Valk, really great.

3) Lothar Lewien "Chet Baker Blue Notes". That´s in german only, but I love it. That´s the story of a young sensible jazz enthusiast, who actually met Chet Baker a few times.

Maybe I should purchase that new bio too.

[J.A.W.]

2) The mentioned Jerome de Valk, really great.

For those who are looking for his Chet Baker bio: the author's name is Jeroen de Valk - see my post #3.

Edited October 15, 2012 by J.A.W.