Don't Shoot! I'm the Guitar Man: The Remarkable True Story of the Musician Who Set Out to Change Lives, Note by Note

by Buzzy Martin

This is the story of lifelong musician Buzzy Martin, music teacher to the hardened criminals inside the walls of San Quentin Prison-and what he learned, note by incredible note.

Genres: Memoir, Music, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Buzzy taught himself to play the guitar and piano at the age of 13. At the age of 15, he performed with his first band as the lead singer, playing guitar and keyboards. Buzzy has been making his dream real, one step at a time. After graduating from high school there were the traveling cover bands, steadily touring the Midwest from Michigan to Florida. In 1979, he moved to northern California, had a stint as a solo street performer at the world famous San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf while wood shedding his composing skills, Buzzy became the much-in-demand host of a series of coffee house Open Mike nights, where his knowledgeable musicianship, sunny personality and non-stop encouragement helped the caffeine scene thrive. In 1980 he began to play with many local bands and musicians as a featured artist. In early 1981, he was hired as the mainstay guitar player for an Elvis Presley impersonator and became responsible for the direction and stage presence of the band. This became a highly enjoyable group to work with and afforded him the opportunity to travel the West Coast circuit. In 1984, Buzzy started his own Top 40-style band, which quickly became recognized by club owners as a moneymaker.

His ambition has always been to compose popular-style music that fits the audience definition of "what they wanted to hear" given to him by so many fans. Buzzy affectionately calls this music "Baby Boomer Rock'n'Roll". This has led to a new generation of Buzzy Martin music that has been immediately and enthusiastically received. Buzzy's many fans, always eager to attend concerts or shows specifically because he has been placed on the bill.

For over thirty-five years, performer Buzzy has been perfecting his technique. Through hundreds of engagements with many types of bands and ensembles in a variety of venues, Buzzy has grown to be equally comfortable as bandleader or side-player. As a highly valued sideman, Buzzy has worked with a wide variety of acts including featured singers and instrumentalists. He also performs frequently as a stand-up single on acoustic and electric instruments.
Buzzy is an entertainer in every sense of the word. He can make you want to dance in the aisles, or bring tears to your eyes with a heartfelt ballad. As a songwriter, he has the talent to truly capture your feelings in words and music. As a musician, he is a true professional. As a singer, he keenly interprets other writer's material as well as powerfully delivering his own songs. His naturally buoyant personality and quick-witted commentary have made him a favorite with audiences throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. From county fairs to concert halls, Buzzy has entertained countless thousands in a way that always leaves them smiling.
Buzzy's engaging brand of "Baby Boomer Rock'n'Roll" has won widespread approval in both band gigs and solo dates that include opening act slots for Sammy Kershaw, Leon Russell, Maria Muldaur, the Smokin' Armadillos, and Pam Tillis. He has performed with members of the Doobie Brothers, Pablo Cruise, Journey, Santana, Les Claypool of Primus, and Huey Lewis and the News. And sales of Buzzy's poignant musical response to the kidnapping of Polly Klaas, "Please Come Home," earned nearly $10,000 for the Polly Klaas Foundation as well as considerable regional airplay. Other offstage acts of selfless citizenship such as teaching music programs to at-risk youth in juvenile halls and inmates at San Quentin Prison have earned him official civic recognition.

An established professional who loves the music he shares, Buzzy Martin is living proof of the rewards of following one's childhood dreams and is now the author of “Don’t Shoot! I’m the Guitar Man.

Reviews

[East Bay J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t remember if I was on my way to or from Portland but I saw Don’t Shoot! I’m The Guitar Man! at the airport and immediately wanted to read it. The idea of a musician teaching at risk kids and cons how to play guitar is a story after my own heart. Suffice to say, it wasn’t long before I tracked the book down and gave it a go.

That Buzzy Martin went to San Quentin weekly (when there weren’t riots, executions or gang fights) is incredible. Martin clearly cares about helping others through the gift of music and there is no better proof than submitting oneself to the prison system, even a few hours at a time. It’s so moving, this story of giving convicts the gift of music in spite of their crimes. I can’t imagine instructing a rapist to play guitar. Raping a rapist with a guitar is more my speed. Martin put his life in danger both so he could help the cons and so he could bring stories from the inside back to his students.

My only complaint is Martin’s writing. It’s too straightforward, too no frills. It’s like Rollins without the intensity. Martin’s observations are fairly repetitive after a while. He’s scared, he can’t wait to get back and tell the kids how bad prison is, he can’t believe he’s in “the Q,”etc. It’s a bit much.

Still, this does nothing to take away from what Martin did, what he does and the kind of person he is. It’s a beautiful thing, what he did for those San Quentin convicts and what he does for at risk kids. And it doesn’t take away from the story.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have great respect for the author's pursuit to heal through music, but this book was a huge disappointment for me. There is no substance. We never get to know any of the inmates. We don't know whether any of them were helped or healed in any way, or whether the music classes were nothing more than a fun escape from prison drudgery. Martin tells us over and over that he works with at-risk kids and can't wait to take everything he learns at and about the prison back to them. Yet, we don't go there with him. We don't see how the kids react to his stories, or whether any of them learn a single thing.

The book reads like a journal, with each entry taking us on his trip to and from the prison. We go through the gates and walk the grounds over and over. The first time was interesting. After that, it was needless repetition. At one point Martin gets trapped in a prison lockdown, but I never felt the urgency. In the next paragraph, it's over and he's heading home.

Several times, Martin refers to the inmates as wild dogs. He doesn't seem to have the slightest respect for any of them. He may indeed have much respect, though what came across in the writing was a condescending and fearful attitude. The ending is abrupt and, I thought, came on a sour note. Martin was startled and horrified that an inmate had found out where he lived. Well, he used his real name. They're inmates, not idiots. What did he expect?

Again, I respect the author's goal. This book, though, would have greatly benefited from the input of a good editor.

[Ronn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Buzzy Martin did a brave and wonderful thing. He went inside the walls of one of America's most notorious prisons to teach guitar and music to inmates who are among the country's most hard-care and violent. Having done some student teaching [music history] at a federal penitentiary in the 70s [although not at one nearly as infamous], I have a lot of appreciation for what he did. Everything he did there was commendable in the highest degree.
Then he went and wrote an unimaginably boring, repetitive, snooze-inducing book about it. Truly unbelievable just how bad this book is. The cover says that this is "soon to be a major motion picture". I dont know if it ever got made or not, but if it was, I sure hope the screenwriters did not follow the book too closely.
The two stars are for the man himself and the work he did. None are for the book.

[Aggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our youth of today should really have the opprotunity to read this book! Buzzy gives a straight forward account of what life holds for those who feel violence, drugs and crime is the way to go for a better future. I commend Buzzy for devoting part of his life to taking the time in writing his experiences while at the Q. This book can really open the eyes to our youth who are at the beginning of their careers of being part of the maddnes that those prisoners now live and wish they would have had better guidance as kids/youth.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Don't Shoot! I'm the Guitar Man a year or so again...Love the book. I met Buzzy through a freind and he told me about the book...I bought it from him on the spot, started to read it that night and didn't put it down until I was done. He's an amazaing guy - working with the kids and at San Quentin like he did. It's a great read!

[Howard Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone reading this book with learn of the healing power of music. They will learn of the power of music to a child and to the man. They would also learn about a man with a heart bigger than they can imagine.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting view into a world most would avoid. Martin merges a refreshing no-frills honesty with a relentless curiosity and compassion. The result is a moving read which educates as much as it entertains.

[Darla · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was just impossible to read. While the message is great, the delivery suffers from lackluster (to be generous) copy editing.

[Clifton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of a musician teaching hard-core felons guitar at San Quentin prison near San Francisco. An easy read presented in a diary style. Check it out!

[Kurt Basham]

Pretty good read from a Grand Rapidian who spent a number of years teaching music to inmates in San Quentin.

[Newly Wardell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boy did I hate every page of this self congratulatory pos. This book proves that everyone has a story to tell. This is not about ANYTHING. It doesn't explain how a self taught musician convinced the state of California that he should be allowed to teach music to kids. It is 188 pages of how everyone is blessing the balls he has for teaching music in jail. He goes our of his way to prove how bad ass he is for going to what he calls hell on earth. Like he didnt paid massive amounts to take stories of prison rape to lil kids. I gave it 2 stars for gall but had to take away one for the obvious adrenaline junky getting off on the suffering of others. If you know somebody thinking if starting a music career give them this book. It will motivate them to do more for music than this guy. He just needs a captive audience.

[Rcarlyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a Godwin Heights Alumni!

[Eric Storm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great idea for a story to tell, but lacked substance and was very anticlimactic.

[Heavensent1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't Shoot! I'm The Guitar Man is a true story account of one musicians journey to bring music to those imprisoned in the San Quentin State Penitentiary. Written in a journal-like format, Buzzy Martin, takes you week by week thru his 3 1/2 years as music teacher at one of the United States worst criminal prison systems. With many thoughtful and sometimes, comical insights, Buzzy takes you on a ride thru his psyche and his struggles to teach those less fortunate by bringing a little music to their souls.

Initially consigned to do a 12 week program, he quickly gains the trust of the inmates which takes him on a three year freak ride. From the lock downs, to the hostage situations, sexual advances and prison officers being beating up, Buzzy writes of what life is like on the inside of the Q. Buzzy talks of the "pecking" order of things and warns the children in his outreach programs about the dangerous and soul-sucking madness that goes on behind the walls of the prison. He explains much about prison life and backs it up with statistics and historical references. He talks about the different wards or blocks in prison and the character of the people who are incarcerated there. I quite enjoyed reading this book and cannot wait to see it in a motion picture. It was a quick and easy read with mild to moderate expletives and many sexual references.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author sounds like a great guy, and I'm glad he took so much time to work with prisoners and at risk youth. Having said that, however, I was disappointed in this book – it seemed like the author really only have enough material for an article, but he tried to write a book about his experiences, and it was very repetitive. Again and again we hear about him driving to the prison walking through security and teaching the prisoners, and it's all really the same. The whole book and been condensed into one long article and it would've been a lot better, because I just found the whole thing tedious after a while. The author just keeps repeating himself. There were some good insights, I learned that many juvenile delinquents actually look forward to prison and think that it's a cool place, and I learned about the way that "fish" or new prisoners are scoped out for sexual dominance, and I learned about what different areas of San Quentin are like, so there was a lot of good information, it's just that it was buried in a lot of repetition. So I'm only giving this book 3 stars – in terms of the 3, because like I said there was an interesting information, but it's not higher because the book was just repeating the same information over and over again after a while.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The chronicles of an amazing experience, by an amazingly self-sacrificing man! I do recommend it to everyone who appreciates the therapeutic potential of music. I agree with other reviewers' criticism of the copy-editing of this book-- very poor. The first half of the book is monotonous; repetitive diary entries that serve the purpose of emotional catharsis for the author, maybe, but make for tortured reading. (and as I write that, I acknowledge that prison life IS tortured, repetitive, monotonous... Groundhog Day-- but if that was an intentional literary device, it was not well-developed) On page 144 Martin considers, "I should write a book about teaching a music class inside of San Quentin. I wonder if anyone would read it." And it is at about that point Martin begins to write for an audience. The final pages were exhilharating for me to read--so, please, if you're wading through the beginning of this story, stick with it to the end!

[Angela Shaeffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting autobiography of a musician who teaches guitar classes to kids in juvenile hall and then agrees to teach classes to inmates in San Quentin Prison. Quick read but quite repetitive. Might have been better as a magazine article than full-length novel. Still, fascinating perspective and worth the read.

[Nini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay well this wasn't exactly the most exciting book I ever read and it got kinda boring cause a lot of things were repeated again and again.. but still I liked it because tbh Buzzy Martin is a hero to me. the world needs more people like him, honestly I gained so much respect for him while reading this book..

[Ilse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an eye-opening book that takes the reader on a journey inside the prison walls. The author writes this book as journal entries and while this makes for a realistic retelling of the author's life, unfortunately some of the entries seem to be cut short and very repetitive.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read and interesting...but, it was very repetitive as many have noted. but also lacking depth. Buzzy was told not to get too friendly with the inmates and consequently he can't tell you much of their story. Nonetheless, kudos to him for putting in the time to try to make a difference.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a literary work of art, but a great story by a local hero. I had lunch with him the day he sold the movie rights, so I'm looking forward to seeing how Buzzy translates to the big screen.

[Cathy]

still reading

[Jocelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Prisoners find music to be healing. There you go, that's the entire book. Could've used some heavy editing.