Overview

“The most well-rounded, clear-eyed portrait of the trumpeter ever put to paper. . . . The definitive bio of Baker.” —Christopher Porter, JazzTimes

From his emergence in the 1950s as an uncannily beautiful young Oklahoman who became the prince of “cool” jazz seemingly overnight to his violent, drug-related death in Amsterdam in 1988, Chet Baker lived a life that has become an American myth. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and previously untapped sources, this first major biography of one of the most romanticized icons in jazz gives a thrilling account of the trumpeter’s dark journey. Author James Gavin delves deeply into Baker’s tormented childhood, the origins of his melancholic trumpet playing, and even reveals the long-unsolved riddle of Baker’s demise. Baker’s otherworldly personal aura struck a note of menace and mystery that catapulted him to fame in the staid 1950s but as time wore on, his romance with drugs became highly publicized. Gavin narrates the harrowing spiral of dependency down which Baker tumbled and illustrates how those who dared to get close were dragged down with him. This is the portrait of a musician whose singular artistry and mystique has never lost the power to enchant and seduce.

Reviews

“A landmark in entertainment biography.” —Tony Gieske, Hollywood Reporter

“Definitive … a haunting prose poem that’s every bit as affecting as one of Baker’s solos.” —Entertainment Weekly – “A” rating

“Superb … unerring … a stark, troubling portrait of both the artist and his times.” —Publisher’s Weekly

“Splendid, fascinatingly thorough … a book that remains a page-turner long after it’s obvious what’s coming next.” —K. Leander Williams, Time Out New York

“So thorough, gripping and well-written that once the pages start to turn, you’re hooked … a journalistic gem.” —Jason Koransky, Down Beat

“Savagely honest … impeccably researched, elegantly written.” —Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle

“Harrowing … chilling.” —Richard Sudhalter, Baltimore Sun

“Cringingly fine … a really scary story.” —Kirkus Reviews

Author Biography

James Gavin is the author of Intimate Nights: The Golden Age of New York Cabaret and Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne. His journalistic work has appeared in the Huffington Post, the New York Times, Time Out New York, and Vanity Fair. He has been interviewed on Australia’s ABC Network, the BBC, and NPR radio as well as Good Morning America, PBS NewsHour, and the Today show. He lives in New York City.