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Three Chords for Beauty's Sake: The Life of Artie Shaw
For his centennial, an indispensable biography of Artie Shaw, the legendary big-band leader, virtuoso clarinetist, and renegade in music and romance. During America’s Swing Era, no musician was more successful or controversial than Artie Shaw: the charismatic and opinionated clarinetist-bandleader whose dozens of hits became anthems for “the greatest generation.” But some of his most beautiful recordings were not issued until decades after he’d left the scene. He broke racial barriers by hiring African American musicians. His frequent “retirements” earned him a reputation as the Hamlet of jazz. And he quit playing for good at the height of his powers. The handsome Shaw had seven wives (including Lana Turner and Ava Gardner). Inveterate reader and author of three books, he befriended the best-known writers of his time.
Tom Nolan, who interviewed Shaw between 1990 and his death in 2004 and spoke with one hundred of his colleagues and contemporaries, captures Shaw and his era with candor and sympathy, bringing the master to vivid life and restoring him to his rightful place in jazz history. 8 pages of black-and-white photographs
Tom Nolan, who interviewed Shaw between 1990 and his death in 2004 and spoke with one hundred of his colleagues and contemporaries, captures Shaw and his era with candor and sympathy, bringing the master to vivid life and restoring him to his rightful place in jazz history. 8 pages of black-and-white photographs
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
58 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Tom Nolan
46 books12 followersTom Nolan reviews mystery fiction forThe Wall Street Journal and has been a contributing editor for California and Los Angeles magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 23, 2023
Man was this book a slog to get through but the end. If you want to know an overview of Shaw’s life, then I can’t imagine you’ll find a better book. I particularly liked the look into his time with the Navy, which I am currently researching. But what a terrible guy. Everyone tolerated this jerk for some unknown reason…his talent or something. Another story of why having a father around is so important.
May 9, 2011
At first found the whole tone a bit abrasive and overly exaggerated, but once I realized this was essentially a projection of the way Artie Shaw spoke and acted, I was pulled along by just how interesting this man was. Largely a compilation of quotes and dialogue from Artie and those who knew him, well and not so well, and I liked that because it wasn't just one side of the story, it was the story from all angles, near, far, close-up, and in the overlaps you developed a sense of what the essence was. A bit too many italics, just made the dialogue seem cartoony in a way, and not all necessary. Felt it could have been condensed to a shorter, more concentrated work. But the overall novel was very insightful, with humorous anecdotes, glimpses at the 'dark side'. A thorough, detailed summation of this sensational clarinetist and human being.
January 7, 2021
I've been a life-long fan of Artie Shaw. I am much younger than Orrin Keepnews who maintained that to live through the Swing Era necessitated choosing between Artie & Benny Goodman...but growing up in the 1980s with grandparents who came of age during WW2, I had the luxury of listening to and loving both.
My long-time assessment is that Benny swung more and Artie had the more beautiful tone. I resonate with the dissatisfaction Shaw had with mediocrity and appreciate the mastery and heart he had as he played. This book, far from deifying him, presents him as flawed and maybe sometimes agreeable, but still as he was: a perfectionist who took his self-hatred out on everyone. When he did it as he played, he seemed to relax just a little...and in those moments, he was at his best.
My long-time assessment is that Benny swung more and Artie had the more beautiful tone. I resonate with the dissatisfaction Shaw had with mediocrity and appreciate the mastery and heart he had as he played. This book, far from deifying him, presents him as flawed and maybe sometimes agreeable, but still as he was: a perfectionist who took his self-hatred out on everyone. When he did it as he played, he seemed to relax just a little...and in those moments, he was at his best.
February 18, 2020
I admire Artie Shaw, the musician, more than ever after reading Nolan's book. Shaw mastered the clarinet to an extent few others have. Nolan highlights Shaw's best recorded moments, and his descriptions sent me back to the recordings to hear them again with a new ear.
Unfortunately Artie Shaw, the person, was not as easy to admire; he was difficult and self-centered. His years of therapy helped him understand the reasons for his behavior, but he was seemingly incapable of change.
I generally prefer a more neutral tone in a biography - Nolan uses a slightly ironic style. But it seems to fit the subject, and didn't bother me in the least. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Shaw.
Unfortunately Artie Shaw, the person, was not as easy to admire; he was difficult and self-centered. His years of therapy helped him understand the reasons for his behavior, but he was seemingly incapable of change.
I generally prefer a more neutral tone in a biography - Nolan uses a slightly ironic style. But it seems to fit the subject, and didn't bother me in the least. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Shaw.
November 16, 2013
Great book! Comprehensive. Well done. As a self-styled expert on Artie Shaw, I learned a great deal and added to my knowledge of Shaw. A great musician, self-taught, but a person with many flaws. My favorite musician and band leader,
July 11, 2023
This biography of Artie Shaw was a real labor of love. It was very well-researched and extremely detailed and informative. As a clarinet player myself, I found the book to be deeply inspirational because it really got into Shawn’s genius as a musician. I followed along with some of the tunes that were mentioned. I had never listened to Artie Shaw before and I have to say, I was so taken with his work. I also know how difficult it is to play as he did. He was incredible . The stories of the swing area and his life were also really interesting. I’m so happy I read this book.
June 29, 2018
One of the best biographies of a musician I've ever read. A perfect portrait of this complex genius, who always seemed to be his own worst enemy. The book perfectly balances the musician and the man. Recommended!
November 10, 2022
No ordinary band leader
Argue Shaw was a really difficult person to get close too or to understand. He had God given talent in music and was a terrific bandleader. I wish that was able to love and be loved.
Argue Shaw was a really difficult person to get close too or to understand. He had God given talent in music and was a terrific bandleader. I wish that was able to love and be loved.
May 19, 2019
3.5 stars
December 14, 2020
A vivid portrayal of the clarinet star's raucous life. Read while listening to his remarkable recordings.
May 11, 2010
Good bio of a fascinating personality. Artie Shaw was a musician's musician. A virtuoso. A man of very high intellect. A legendary woman's man who was married eight times. Among his wives were Lana Turner and Ava Gardner. WOW! I heard interviews with him on WKCR-FM several times in the ten or fifteen years before his death. The subject was always music and I always came away impressed by what he said and how he said it.
This bio does a good job of bringing that personality to the reader, including the flaws that in the final analysis impeded his enjoyment of life.
This bio does a good job of bringing that personality to the reader, including the flaws that in the final analysis impeded his enjoyment of life.
May 8, 2011
A remarkable biography of a remarkably unpleasant genius (well, OK, I guess unpleasantness in a genius is not really all that remarkable), made even more fun by swapping annotations with my jazz-loving son-in-law.
August 7, 2011
A jazz aficianado's text book. The life of the greatest clarinet player that ever lived (sorry Benny you weren't even close..) An in depth look at the great sidemen who played with him, and the Eight wives that had to put up with him.
Want to read
May 1, 2010just the other day i was thinking about "the trouble with cinderella" and now comes news of a new shaw biography. this makes me more excited than it probably should.
July 27, 2010
I learned some thingd. Much was previous knowledge but in greater detail.
March 24, 2013
Difficult man, fascinating character. Decent biography.
August 9, 2016
A nice portrait of a music man.
April 30, 2017
There is no doubt that Artie Shaw was larger than life.
The self-made musical giant of the 30's-40's big band era, Artie Shaw rose from humble beginnings to become arguably the greatest clarinetist to ever live...then inexplicably walked away from it all at age 40.
I enjoyed reading Tom Nolan's biography of Shaw. It was a well-researched endeavor featuring various archived print sources and interviews from many of Shaw's former associates, employees, wives, and even Shaw himself. The author takes the reader literally from cradle to grave doing all he can to get inside the mind of his subject, but unfortunately, Artie Shaw was a master of protecting his public image. Drawing from his good friend Judy Garland's most famous movie, he wanted people to see his public Artie Shaw as "the Great and Powerful Oz," but never the "man behind the curtain."
The first half of the book was a joy to read owing to the excitement of the big band era and his involvement with such musical greats as Benny Goodman (lifelong rivalry), Billie Holliday, Lena Horne, and even Frank Sinatra (interesting story there!) The second half of the book focused on his life after walking away from his band and the music he'd grown rich and famous playing. He moved to Spain for awhile, wrote some books, produced several movies, and then became a regular on talk shows for his outspokenness on various topics.
What came as both a surprise and disappointment though, was the fact that while Artie Shaw lived to be 94 years old, he became a curmudgeonly, litigious old man always embroiled in lawsuits that ultimately took up much of his time and resources...and perhaps happiness too, although I never got the impression that he was ever a truly happy man despite his enormous musical success and marriages to some of Hollywood's most beautiful women.
Ultimately, after reading this book, I can say I will always admire Artie Shaw for his beautiful clarinet playing and for giving us such wonderful recordings as 'Begin the Beguine' and 'Stardust.' All these years after they were recorded they can still give me a nostalgic twinge in my heart on the right day, and I love that.
The self-made musical giant of the 30's-40's big band era, Artie Shaw rose from humble beginnings to become arguably the greatest clarinetist to ever live...then inexplicably walked away from it all at age 40.
I enjoyed reading Tom Nolan's biography of Shaw. It was a well-researched endeavor featuring various archived print sources and interviews from many of Shaw's former associates, employees, wives, and even Shaw himself. The author takes the reader literally from cradle to grave doing all he can to get inside the mind of his subject, but unfortunately, Artie Shaw was a master of protecting his public image. Drawing from his good friend Judy Garland's most famous movie, he wanted people to see his public Artie Shaw as "the Great and Powerful Oz," but never the "man behind the curtain."
The first half of the book was a joy to read owing to the excitement of the big band era and his involvement with such musical greats as Benny Goodman (lifelong rivalry), Billie Holliday, Lena Horne, and even Frank Sinatra (interesting story there!) The second half of the book focused on his life after walking away from his band and the music he'd grown rich and famous playing. He moved to Spain for awhile, wrote some books, produced several movies, and then became a regular on talk shows for his outspokenness on various topics.
What came as both a surprise and disappointment though, was the fact that while Artie Shaw lived to be 94 years old, he became a curmudgeonly, litigious old man always embroiled in lawsuits that ultimately took up much of his time and resources...and perhaps happiness too, although I never got the impression that he was ever a truly happy man despite his enormous musical success and marriages to some of Hollywood's most beautiful women.
Ultimately, after reading this book, I can say I will always admire Artie Shaw for his beautiful clarinet playing and for giving us such wonderful recordings as 'Begin the Beguine' and 'Stardust.' All these years after they were recorded they can still give me a nostalgic twinge in my heart on the right day, and I love that.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews