Peter Silverton – författare

From That’s All Right to Way Down via Heartbreak Hotel, Jailhouse Rock, Mystery Train, Little Sister and American Trilogy among many others, Essential Elvis cuts through the myth and mess of the life and career of the 20th-century’s first and greatest rock ‘n’ roll star.Peter Silverton investigates and celebrates the stories and the people behind the greatest recordings of Elvis’ career. Part biography, part personal history and full of hip-shaking thrills, Essential Elvis will have you reaching for the music, the original sound of rock ‘n’ roll.

Here is the tale of how two popular songs from two different cultures, each with different meaning, and seemingly so different, represent two sides of a similar story. In telling the tale of each, the book touches on musical history, movies, nostalgia, mythmaking, family, crime, war, art, infidelity, and propaganda.Taking as its starting point the fact that The Clash’s “London Calling” and Frank Sinatra’s “Theme from New York New York” were recorded days apart in 1979, Peter criss-crosses the Atlantic over many decades, examining the almost biological connection between the cities, the songs, and their creators. Featuring a stellar cast of characters, including Peter’s old school pal Joe Strummer, Kander & Ebb, Martin Scorsese, Noel Coward, Frank Sinatra, and a supporting cast of adopted kids, lost parents, storied musicians, London chancers, and New York dancers.