The Greatest Music Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from Music History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy

• The ballet that sparked a riot?
• The rock star who became an astrophysicist?
• The song that saved Wheaties?
• The man killed by his own conducting?
• The controversy behind "Mary Had a Little Lamb"?

Prepare to be astonished, bewildered, and stupefied by the tantalizing tidbits of music history collected here: amazing stories about jazz, classical, country, rock 'n' roll, hip-hop, show tunes, composers, band names, song lyrics, instruments, technology, controversies, and more.

Learn how the FBI spent years trying to decode the lyrics of one rock song. Discover how Watergate provided the inspiration for A Chorus Line. Find out how one megahit was born in a history class, while another was dashed off in a fit of anger at actor Robert De Niro. Meet the monk behind solfège, the aviation pioneer who created Muzak, and the prisoner who literally sang himself out of jail. Then there's the most important person in rock 'n' roll history—chances are you've never heard of him!

Continuing the successful Greatest Stories Never Told series, Rick Beyer has delivered another classic volume for history and music buffs alike.

The author of the highly successful History Channel series The Greatest Stories Never Told is back with fascinating new anecdotes about the world of music. The Greatest Music Stories Never Told is full of little-known tales that will astound and delight everyone from accomplished professionals to enthusiastic shower-singers.

Rick Beyer recounts quirky yet meaningful stories that illuminate the origins of instruments, musical styles and technological advances, as well as little known facts about our favorite composers. These stories didn't come from the concert hall or Music History 101, but are guaranteed to enhance any student's understanding and appreciation of music.

Rick Beyer is an award-winning documentary producer and a long-time history enthusiast. He has produced numerous documentaries for The History Channel and currently operates his own documentary production company, Plate of Peas Productions. His creative efforts have won numerous awards, including multiple gold medals from the New York Film and TV Festivals, several Telly awards, and four Emmy(R) awards. He lives in Lexington, Mass.

Full of tasty morsels. A delightful book to arm one for the next dull cocktail party." --Chicago Tribune

Rick Beyer, author of the highly successful History Channel series The Greatest Stories Never Told returns with new historic tales from the world of music--ennobling, entrancing and inevitably surprising stories of soaring genius, tantalizing scandal, nefarious intrigue, and, above all, unbridled passion for music. Perfect for fans of The Mental Floss History of the United States or Bill Bryson's Made in America, Beyer's Greatest Music Stories Never Told is "history like you've never read it before. (The Tennessean)

RickBeyer, author of the highly successful History Channel series The GreatestStories Never Told returns with new historic tales from the world ofmusic—ennobling, entrancing and inevitably surprising stories of soaringgenius, tantalizing scandal, nefarious intrigue, and, above all, unbridledpassion for music. Perfect for fans of The Mental Floss History of theUnited States or Bill Brysons Made in America, Beyers GreatestMusic Stories Never Told is “history like you've never read itbefore." (The Tennessean)