12/18/2010

The Tombstone Tourist : Musicians [Paperback] Review

The Tombstone Tourist : Musicians [Paperback]Several years ago, my daughter and I went searching for Jimi Hendricks grave while we had some time to kill in Seattle waiting for a plane.I had discovered the name of the cemetery in a book I had read, but it still took us about an hour poking around before we found the actual grave.We left a couple of coins and a note that just said "Thanks Jimi". The experience was quite incredible.We both walked away feeling we had done something worthwhile.We had given something back to the music, and to the memory of a great musician.I was hooked.Since then I have made a point of looking for the graves of people who have left their mark on our culture.Last year I had two major disappointments.I spent a couple of hours early one Sunday morning searching in vain for the grave of Muddy Waters in a suburban Chicago cemetery.A few weeks ago, I spent another two hours in a cemetery in L.A.looking for Frank Zappa and Roy Orbison without success.Two nights ago Amazon.com delivered me Scott Stanton's "The Tombstone Tourist". Within ten minutes, the book had paid for itself.I discovered where all three were precisely located, and why I was unable to find Frank and Roy.They are both buried in unmarked graves, about twenty five feet apart.The book is very tastefully written. It is obvious that Scott has a great deal of respect for all the artists he has taken considerable effort to find.There are excellent bios and an incredible wealth of information and trivia on each of the hundreds of artists presented.The only error I have found is that Chet Baker died in a fall from a Paris hotel room. Actually it was Amsterdam. Close enough.I have not found a better reference book on popular culture than "The Tombstone Tourist". Those of you who feel that looking for dead celebrities is a little macabre should get the book and go out to find someone whose work you admire. You will find it a tremendously rewarding experience.Don't forget to take flowers, or an appropriate gift to leave at the grave.

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