What do you think?
Rate this book
Music Lessons: A Musical Memoir
From Amazon.com:
IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1957, and 15-year-old Norbert Putnam was hunkered down with his father behind their garage in Florence, Alabama. Norbert had started playing bass in a local band and his father was dead set against it so he had pulled his young son aside to reveal a dark secret from his past - he had once played that damned old bass in the Beale Street bars of Memphis. He recalled the shootings, gambling, wild women, reefer heads, dirty hotel rooms, lack of pay . . . all recited with tremendous gusto, in an effort to frighten young Norbert. He wanted to convince him to pursue the path to college and a normal, happy life. The young man tried to remain still in an effort to withhold his excitement as visions of Memphis and music danced in his head. In spite of his father's intentions, at that moment an opposite decision was made. Norbert Putnam vowed, then and there, to devote his life to the pursuit of music.
Fast forward almost 50 years, and Norbert Putnam, after a sterling career, is still immersed in the business of music. He resides, once again, in Florence, Alabama with his lovely wife of 27 years, Sheryl, and their beautiful and devoted poodles, Sophie and Gracie.
With the release this year of his first memoir, Music Lessons he looks back on a career unrivaled in its diversity. As a studio musician, he was one of the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section players, helping creating the famous Muscle Shoals sound and putting this small Alabama town on the map with the 1962 Arthur Alexander hit, You Better Move On. Backing up Tommy Roe, The Righteous Brothers and four other American acts, they opened for The Beatles when the lads played their first American concert on February 11, 1964 in Washington, DC. After moving to Nashville in 1965 Norbert played bass on over 9,000 tracks with the likes of Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Henry Mancini, Al Hirt, Linda Ronstadt, JJ Cale, Tony Joe White, The Monkees, and many others.
He began his production career in 1970 and over the next 15 years produced more than 70 albums including multiplatinum productions for Jimmy Buffet, Joan Baez, and Dan Fogelberg. He, along with old pal David Briggs, also built the famous Quadrafonic Studios and developed Danor Music destined to become one of Nashville s most successful music publishing firms. In 1980 Putnam and Briggs ended their partnership and Putnam developed the 1875 Bennett House Studio in beautiful Franklin, Tennessee. A few years later, Putnam developed Digital Recorders and Georgetown Masters, some of the most respected "state of the art" recording studios in Tennessee. His prodigious projects broadened Nashville s scope and paved the way for musicians of all genres to record in Music City.
Told with Norbert Putnam s affable storytelling style, Music Lessons is at once a warm and laugh-out-loud funny romp through music history, packed with stories about some of the greatest musicians in the business. Hopefully, his father would be proud.
IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1957, and 15-year-old Norbert Putnam was hunkered down with his father behind their garage in Florence, Alabama. Norbert had started playing bass in a local band and his father was dead set against it so he had pulled his young son aside to reveal a dark secret from his past - he had once played that damned old bass in the Beale Street bars of Memphis. He recalled the shootings, gambling, wild women, reefer heads, dirty hotel rooms, lack of pay . . . all recited with tremendous gusto, in an effort to frighten young Norbert. He wanted to convince him to pursue the path to college and a normal, happy life. The young man tried to remain still in an effort to withhold his excitement as visions of Memphis and music danced in his head. In spite of his father's intentions, at that moment an opposite decision was made. Norbert Putnam vowed, then and there, to devote his life to the pursuit of music.
Fast forward almost 50 years, and Norbert Putnam, after a sterling career, is still immersed in the business of music. He resides, once again, in Florence, Alabama with his lovely wife of 27 years, Sheryl, and their beautiful and devoted poodles, Sophie and Gracie.
With the release this year of his first memoir, Music Lessons he looks back on a career unrivaled in its diversity. As a studio musician, he was one of the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section players, helping creating the famous Muscle Shoals sound and putting this small Alabama town on the map with the 1962 Arthur Alexander hit, You Better Move On. Backing up Tommy Roe, The Righteous Brothers and four other American acts, they opened for The Beatles when the lads played their first American concert on February 11, 1964 in Washington, DC. After moving to Nashville in 1965 Norbert played bass on over 9,000 tracks with the likes of Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Henry Mancini, Al Hirt, Linda Ronstadt, JJ Cale, Tony Joe White, The Monkees, and many others.
He began his production career in 1970 and over the next 15 years produced more than 70 albums including multiplatinum productions for Jimmy Buffet, Joan Baez, and Dan Fogelberg. He, along with old pal David Briggs, also built the famous Quadrafonic Studios and developed Danor Music destined to become one of Nashville s most successful music publishing firms. In 1980 Putnam and Briggs ended their partnership and Putnam developed the 1875 Bennett House Studio in beautiful Franklin, Tennessee. A few years later, Putnam developed Digital Recorders and Georgetown Masters, some of the most respected "state of the art" recording studios in Tennessee. His prodigious projects broadened Nashville s scope and paved the way for musicians of all genres to record in Music City.
Told with Norbert Putnam s affable storytelling style, Music Lessons is at once a warm and laugh-out-loud funny romp through music history, packed with stories about some of the greatest musicians in the business. Hopefully, his father would be proud.
282 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 26, 2017
I first "met" Norbert Putnam as the bassist for my favorite Elvis Presley album, ELVIS COUNTRY. I've always appreciated the respect he gave Elvis as a musician and producer (as well as others) in interviews I've seen on YouTube and other places, so I was pleased to "get to know him" through this book.
I didn't realize before reading how far-reaching his career was, spanning Muscle Schoals R & B, Nashville Country, Rock, Folk, and more. I loved this as he didn't just talk about the big names he worked with (though those are certainly included) be even relatively unheard of artists. That means I've been introduced to a whole new array of music I would never have thought about before - particularly Area Code 615 a "supergroup" of Nashville Musicians who recorded two albums int '69 & '70 - a blend of Country, Bluegrass, Rock, and Funk!
A really interesting thing that he includes are QR Codes to YouTube videos of some of the songs he played on, produced, and / or were simply meaningful to him.
Of course, I can only critique his writing about Elvis in terms of timeline, but that is occasionally skewed. For instance, he conflates recording sessions from 1970 and 1971 into one session. So, I wonder what other details may have been lost over the years (and he keeps reminding the reader that he really loves fine wine), but I still find him insightful even if some of the details may be off from time-to-time.
Overall, though, I really recommend the book to you.
I didn't realize before reading how far-reaching his career was, spanning Muscle Schoals R & B, Nashville Country, Rock, Folk, and more. I loved this as he didn't just talk about the big names he worked with (though those are certainly included) be even relatively unheard of artists. That means I've been introduced to a whole new array of music I would never have thought about before - particularly Area Code 615 a "supergroup" of Nashville Musicians who recorded two albums int '69 & '70 - a blend of Country, Bluegrass, Rock, and Funk!
A really interesting thing that he includes are QR Codes to YouTube videos of some of the songs he played on, produced, and / or were simply meaningful to him.
Of course, I can only critique his writing about Elvis in terms of timeline, but that is occasionally skewed. For instance, he conflates recording sessions from 1970 and 1971 into one session. So, I wonder what other details may have been lost over the years (and he keeps reminding the reader that he really loves fine wine), but I still find him insightful even if some of the details may be off from time-to-time.
Overall, though, I really recommend the book to you.
June 22, 2019
I first met Norbert when he stepped in to play Bass for the TCB band around 2011 to 2012, like the other members of the band I found out his music was not all about Elvis and as with the others getting to know him took me on a new musical adventure, through this book you can discover the musical trip as well Norbert makes it easy for you there are YouTube links to hear the songs he is reminiscing about and the part they played in his life. I also discover Norbert was not just a Bass Player either but much more and when read and discover his deeper talent in the world of music you will find why his fellow musicians have such great respect for him. I look forward to Vol 2 as I’m sure you will after reading Vol 1.
August 17, 2018
Because music is a big part of my life, I like to read up on musicians who are responsible for some of the music I love. I had no idea when I bought this book how much that Norbert Putman has contributed to the music industry. As a bass player and producer, he’s helped make so many classic pieces of music!
And here is his story. Very readable, very humbly told and filled with wonderful tidbits of recording sessions and music making. The end of each chapter (which he calls “music lesson one, two”, etc.) usually has a You Tube link to a song that he was a part of.
This guy played in a venue with the Beatles, and played bass for Elvis Presley! It’s an excellent book for a music fan.
And here is his story. Very readable, very humbly told and filled with wonderful tidbits of recording sessions and music making. The end of each chapter (which he calls “music lesson one, two”, etc.) usually has a You Tube link to a song that he was a part of.
This guy played in a venue with the Beatles, and played bass for Elvis Presley! It’s an excellent book for a music fan.
November 8, 2017
A very engaging read - gives you the feeling of being in the back seat and overhearing historical moments in the world of music - a great insider's perspective
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews