From his emergence in the 1950s - when an uncannily beautiful young man from Oklahoma appeared in the West Coast and became, seemingly overnight, the prince of 'cool' jazz - until his violent, drug-related death in Amsterdam in 1988, Chet Baker lived a life that has become an American myth. At once sexy and forbidding, the so-called 'James Dean of Jazz' struck a note of menace in the staid fifties.

In this first major biography, the story of Baker's demise is finally revealed. So is the truth behind his tormented childhood. Behind Baker's icy facade lay something ominous, unspoken. The mystery drove both sexes crazy. But his only real romance, apart from music, was with drugs. Gavin brilliantly recreates the life of a man whose journey from golden promise to eventual destruction mirrored America's fall from post-war innocence - but whose music has never lost the power to enchant and seduce us.

'The definitive biography' Mail on Sunday

About the Author
James Gavin is the author of Intimate Nights: The Golden Age of New York Cabaret and a frequent contributor to the New York Times and other publications. He lives in New York.

Reviews
Much of Baker's work was unique and remains haunting. All the more haunting after reading this book * Sunday Independent *
Detailed and perceptive * Economist *
It reads like true life... Gavin is very good * Time Out *
Detailed... Critically assured and never allows the cool of the icon to occlude the venality of the individual * Scotland on Sunday *
Baker's impact lives on even now - sexy, angelic, needy, icy and enigmatic... Gavin's book captures Baker's journey from the golden promise of his youth to his seedy end in Amsterdam in mesmerising detail * Irish Independent *



Book Information
ISBN 9780099590514
Author James Gavin
Format Paperback
Page Count 464
Imprint Vintage
Publisher Vintage Publishing
Weight(grams) 319g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 27mm