Tunesmith : Inside the Art of Songwriting

Tunesmith : Inside the Art of Songwriting
ISBN: 9780786884889
Publication Date: 22 September 1999

The wunderkind of pop music, Jimmy Webb became the hottest songwriter around when, starting at age twenty-one, he wrote a string of hits recorded by Glen Campbell ("By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Galveston"), the Fifth Dimension ("Up, Up and Away"), and Donna Summer ("MacArthur Park"). The most successful and respected songwriter of his generation, Webb is the only artist ever to receive Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration.

Now Webb presents the ultimate guide for aspiring songwriters -- the first ever with such a celebrity's insider knowledge, experience, and star power. In a combination of anecdotes, meditations, and advice, Webb breaks down the creative process from beginning to end, from coping with writer's block, to song construction, chords, and even self-promotion.

Webb also gives readers a glimpse into the inner circle of the professional music world, sharing tales from his personal experiences with friends and close associates, including Art Garfunkel, Joe Cocker, Glen Campbell, and Judy Collins. From the legendary American songwriter Time recently called "our best revealer of the blind spots of the heart", Tunesmith is destined to become the new bible of songwriting.