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In My Own Key: My Life in Love and Music
Exotic venues, sold-out concerts, and the companionship of the world’s most powerful people have given Liona Boyd a lifestyle that, like her music, is one in a million.
Exotic venues, sold-out concerts, and the companionship of the world’s most powerful people have given Liona Boyd a lifestyle that, like her music, is one in a million. The internationally acclaimed classical guitarist has crossed numerous boundaries, both musically and romantically.
In this colourful memoir covering her life up to 1998, she serves up a rich and fascinating childhood with her progressive parents in England, Canada, and Mexico, exacting music studies in Toronto, down-and-out years in London and Paris, her eight-year romance with Canadian prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, drug experimentation in a Mexican artists’ colony, and whirlwind trips around the globe to eminent concert stages.
It all makes for a rousing, feisty, passionate tale, as compelling and entrancing as the music of her Ramírez guitar.
Exotic venues, sold-out concerts, and the companionship of the world’s most powerful people have given Liona Boyd a lifestyle that, like her music, is one in a million. The internationally acclaimed classical guitarist has crossed numerous boundaries, both musically and romantically.
In this colourful memoir covering her life up to 1998, she serves up a rich and fascinating childhood with her progressive parents in England, Canada, and Mexico, exacting music studies in Toronto, down-and-out years in London and Paris, her eight-year romance with Canadian prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, drug experimentation in a Mexican artists’ colony, and whirlwind trips around the globe to eminent concert stages.
It all makes for a rousing, feisty, passionate tale, as compelling and entrancing as the music of her Ramírez guitar.
344 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2017
About the author
Liona Boyd
17 booksLiona Boyd has introduced millions around the world to the art of classical guitar through her concerts, television specials, and twenty seven recordings. Her talents have resulted in five gold and three platinum albums, plus five Juno awards, the Order of Canada, five honorary doctorates and over 4 million YouTube views.
Her first autobiography, In My Own Key...My Life in Love and Music was a best seller in Canada selling over 30,000 copies with two print runs. A sequel to this book, No Remedy for Love, along with an audio book read by Liona herself, will be released in the fall of 2017 by Dundurn Press and is expected to generate considerable media attention.
Canada's “First Lady of the Guitar" has performed extensively throughout Canada, the USA, and 44 other countries. She has had the opportunity to play for dozens of world leaders such as the British Royal Family, the King and Queen of Spain, Presidents of the USA, Mexico and Cuba, the prime ministers of Canada, France and Britain, to name a few. She has recorded with Sir Andrew Davis and the English Chamber Orchestra, Yo Yo Ma, Georges Zamfir and Michael Kamen. Breaking with classical tradition she toured with Gordon Lightfoot and Tracy Chapman, and recorded with Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Al Di Meola, André Gagnon, Roger Whittaker, Olivia Newton-John, Daniel Lavoie, Dan Hill and Jesse Cooke.
Her new show, features original songs from her fall of 2017 album release No Remedy For Love, and favourites from previous ones. Her songs blend elements of folk music, romantic Spanish stylings and popular Latin rhythms. The addition of her new musical partner, Andrew Dolson, brings a youthful energy and vigour to their duo. In 2016, they played to sold-out crowds and standing ovations during their Christmas concerts in concert venues from southern Ontario to Alberta and British Columbia.
Her first autobiography, In My Own Key...My Life in Love and Music was a best seller in Canada selling over 30,000 copies with two print runs. A sequel to this book, No Remedy for Love, along with an audio book read by Liona herself, will be released in the fall of 2017 by Dundurn Press and is expected to generate considerable media attention.
Canada's “First Lady of the Guitar" has performed extensively throughout Canada, the USA, and 44 other countries. She has had the opportunity to play for dozens of world leaders such as the British Royal Family, the King and Queen of Spain, Presidents of the USA, Mexico and Cuba, the prime ministers of Canada, France and Britain, to name a few. She has recorded with Sir Andrew Davis and the English Chamber Orchestra, Yo Yo Ma, Georges Zamfir and Michael Kamen. Breaking with classical tradition she toured with Gordon Lightfoot and Tracy Chapman, and recorded with Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Al Di Meola, André Gagnon, Roger Whittaker, Olivia Newton-John, Daniel Lavoie, Dan Hill and Jesse Cooke.
Her new show, features original songs from her fall of 2017 album release No Remedy For Love, and favourites from previous ones. Her songs blend elements of folk music, romantic Spanish stylings and popular Latin rhythms. The addition of her new musical partner, Andrew Dolson, brings a youthful energy and vigour to their duo. In 2016, they played to sold-out crowds and standing ovations during their Christmas concerts in concert venues from southern Ontario to Alberta and British Columbia.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 4, 2018
She used to make great music. Now she's mostly a hippy fruit-loop that gets offended when Canadian radio stations won't play her New self-obsessed politically socially conscious poetic dribble. She's still fun though.
I used to admire her greatly, last time I went to her concert I walked out halfway through (she started doing Native Indian folkish tunes. No thanks). Now she sounds like an electronic Peter Paul and Mary doing tributes to Zamfir and Kenny G.
Thankfully she chats about working with Steve Morse, and even attempting a Deep Purple concert ---- she walked out... so we're even.
She has lived a charmed life. And her chats with Prince Phillip are hilarious. Apparently he and I are alike politically and scientifically. Whereas Liona is a liberal Rich Hippy with unrealistic expectations.
An amusing read. Especially her accounts of moving all over the U.S..
I used to admire her greatly, last time I went to her concert I walked out halfway through (she started doing Native Indian folkish tunes. No thanks). Now she sounds like an electronic Peter Paul and Mary doing tributes to Zamfir and Kenny G.
Thankfully she chats about working with Steve Morse, and even attempting a Deep Purple concert ---- she walked out... so we're even.
She has lived a charmed life. And her chats with Prince Phillip are hilarious. Apparently he and I are alike politically and scientifically. Whereas Liona is a liberal Rich Hippy with unrealistic expectations.
An amusing read. Especially her accounts of moving all over the U.S..
June 4, 2019
I first heard Liona Boyd play back in 1976/1977 when she was touring with Gordon Lightfoot and was my first introduction to classical guitar music--which I now go out of my way to listen to if offered in my area. I enjoyed the first section of the book about her childhood and growing interest in music. But I have to say, I found a lot of the book to be a disappointment. Too much of it felt like I was reading the old Hollywood reporters like Hedda Hopper, gushing about who she saw, talked to, sat next to, etc. In other words, a lot of name dropping of famous people, and in my opinion not enough about the music except sort of in passing and as the reason she could name drop. Quite different from Bruce Springsteen's memoir which really was all about the music even though I am sure he could name drop with the best of them!
Appreciate my local library for getting this through interlibrary loan though.
Appreciate my local library for getting this through interlibrary loan though.
March 23, 2017
I love the lady , i very enjoy this book,all the peoples she meet .
the place and adventure .
the place and adventure .
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews