I bought this book for my grandmother, who loves country music and who has visited Branson, for her birthday. She absolutely loved it! The pictures in the book are really colorful and fun to look at. I recommend this book for hard-to-shop-for friends and relatives, especially country music lovers.

Indicates trends, Branson has re-invented itself,doesnt want to lose to Myrtle Beach

Being neither a Col. Parker fan nor an Elvis fan, I was apprehensive about tackling this book...Much to my amazement, I found this biography to be a riveting and compelling psychological profile/investigation of the "puppetmaster" behind the scenes. The meticulous research into the Colonel's mysterious past, in conjunction with the complex dynamics of the relationship between the two men, creates a portrait of interest to anyone fascinated by an intensive exploration of human relationships. A "must read!" for anyone intrigued by exploring in depth insights into the multifaceted interactions of the world behind the show biz scene. To dismiss this book as yet another Elvis/Parker volume would be a grave mistake. There are so many dimensions of this story that will appeal to a broader audience on a variety of levels. Any reader will be simply be awed by this groundbreaking work that can appeal to fans as well as those readers who simply appreciate a fascinating story and psychological investigation! Much like a detective novel, this book instantly hooks the reader and evolves into a true page turner! Don't miss [it!!!]

Published in 1988, this biography is relatively well written and compelling, but by no means a classic. The slowest part of the book is the beginning, as author Alanna Nash went to great pains to detail the Savitch family tree. Although not terribly exciting, the early chapters paint a crucial portrait of Jessica Savitch as a youngster--hopelessly spoiled by wealthy, snobbish grandparents, yet seemingly ignored by her mother while developing a very close relationship with her father. Savitch's father died in his mid-thirties of a terminal illness, leaving his oldest daughter at age twelve. Time and again, the author illustrates Jessica's need for relationships throughout her short life which would replace the loss of her father. For this reader, something just doesn't add up--there isn't quite enough explanation as to the bond shared by father and daughter to justify a lifetime of self-destructive behavior resulting from his death. At any rate, interesting observations about the mother's coldness toward Savitch surface throughout the book--and Savitch's life. It's indeed a mystery why comprehensive family counseling wasn't sought after the man's death, and that question isn't answered satisfactorily, either.

Savitch, of course, deserves a huge tip of the cap for her role in breaking down barriers which stood in the late 1960's and early 1970's as she broke into broadcasting. The author effectively captures Savitch's delight as she realized what she wanted to do with her life, and her obsession as she pursued her dreams. Likewise, Nash makes clear early on (certainly by her college years) that Savitch's self-esteem and well-being became increasingly dependent on her professional success.

The most interesting sections of the book deal with Savitch's groundbreaking years at network affiliates in Houston and Philadelphia. Nash makes it clear that Savitch got those jobs through nothing more than looks and sheer persistence, then learned the ropes and built her qualifications to the point where she was ready to move to the next level. Along the way, a fascinating look at these markets--especially Houston--is provided. Even casual news viewers will enjoy comparing today's news departments to what Houston, Texas was like a generation ago.

By the late 1970's, Jessica Savitch was a rising star in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her eye was clearly on becoming a star at the network level as well, and becoming the first female to anchor a weekly nightly news broadcast on a major network. By then a serious drug problem was developing as well, to which Nash devotes quite a bit of time. Also by then, Savitch began to think of herself as a star, much to the detriment of her career and personal life. Long-time friends and colleagues are quoted repeatedly throughout the book, making quite clear that the effort and desire which got her to the brink of network stardom disappeared once she expected everyone to treat her like a big deal.

Distressingly, Nash does a poor job of covering Savitch's five years at NBC. It is clear that her escalating drug use and personal instability hampered her, as did upper management's mixed emotions about when and how to use her. There were also huge divisions as to how talented she really was, and if it was worth putting up with the headaches of dealing with her. But my complaint in these chapters is that while Nash made very clear the highs and lows in Houston and Philadelphia, only a few highs and lows during the NBC tenure are hit. Maybe that's because so much space is devoted to her personal life at that juncture. The drug use was hopelessly out of control, and Savitch's disastrous marriages (two of them, in a remarkably short period of time), are covered from top to bottom.

This book reminds me a great deal of Bob Woodward's "Wired," the biography of John Belushi. Ironically, it's mentioned that a close friend of Savitch spoke to her about the comedian's death due to drug use and urged her to get help. Savitch, of course, hurtled toward death in much the same way Belushi did. But Nash takes an almost matter-of-fact approach to Savitch's disastrous moment on NBC in October, 1983--the night that Savitch slurred and stumbled her way through a sixty-second live update during prime-time will forever be her legacy. True, Savitch's drug use likely caught up to her that fateful night. But Nash doesn't even make clear if that was Savitch's last night on the network--she had just signed a one-year contract extension, and nothing is said about whether she would be kept after the incident. There's virtually nothing in the way of comment from executives about the incident, either--Nash seems to have taken the approach that it was a moot point since Savitch died three weeks later.

Savitch's death remains curious to this day. She died of asphyxiation due to drowning when the car she was a passenger in plunged into a small creek, but it's eerily pointed out that she covered a crash in the same creek outside the same restaurant while reporting for the Philadelphia station eight years before. This book is like that in many ways--heavy on details which provide fascinating illumination, and mysteriously short in other areas of coverage. There's no doubt, though, that it's easily the most comprehensive work regarding the short, turbulent life of Jessica Savitch. Recommended, despite the complaints.

I could barely recall who Jessica Savitch was, but I love biographies so I read it. It was a breathtaking journey into a young girl turned celebrity's life. I read this book in one day and I couldn't get her out of my head for weeks afterward.

In high anticipation, I watched the movie "Up Close & Personal" which was supposedly based on this book. Even though the movie was good, it really had very few similarities to the book. I was dissapointed.

I strongly recommend this book.

Alanna Nash's biography of Jessica Savitch is a fine work, richly detailed and competently researched. In reading the story of this gifted, tragic woman one recalls the old Greek dictum, "Those whom the gods wish to destory they first make mad." I recall witnessing that now famous Sunday evening news broadcast, many years ago, when Jessica appeared in a foggy, bewildered state. I was busy with a young family at mealtime but stopped to watch as she seemed to self-destruct on the air.

Jessica Savitch led a charmed life, was blessed by the gods at first. Beautiful, intelligent, and charismatic, she found all doors opening to her. She entered television journalism with expectations on all sides of great success. She died at an early age after suffering through miserable relationships and becoming addicted to drugs. This modern-day morality tale makes somber reading, but is worth your time. Recommended.

If you never read another "Elvis" book,read this one!It is a monumental work.I read it in two days,while on vacation.The paperback version is over 900 pages.It is so riveting,one simply can't put it down.The book isn't written in typical biographical style.It is based on interviews with three members of the "Memphis Mafia." The reader feels as if he were in the room with them,as they reminisce about their lives with the King.I have gone back to the book,many times.This is without a doubt,the definitive book,on Elvis Aaron Presley!If you don't have it,get it.I guarantee,you will not be disappointed.This reader has read more than his share of Elvis tomes,and this one is the penultimate!

It's one of those book that you need to have even so Elvis Presley don't have all your attention. That phenomeon of the history of America is view by his relatives friends that everybody call the "Memphis Mafia". You can see by this book all the life of the Idol from his childhood to his raising career, his weeding, the Vegas years, the sad moment, the dependance on prescriptions the family he have, the stage routine, the place where he live, the feeling he share, his philosophy of life in general...ANYTHING that Elvis Presley truly was is in that book. As Elvis fan, American citizen, people on the earth, you must have to know who the true person Elvis Aaron Presley was. TCB Take Care of that book!

WOW! What I have been yearning for years to learn about the personal side of Elvis, I learned in this book. This is one of those rare books that you pick up and can not put down until you finish. Although it is over 900 pages, I read it in just four days because each page was a new adventure. After reading this book, you will discover that there is a very unique bond between the Memphis Mafia and Elvis. I think it was a friendship that we all want to have at one time throughout our life. The only downfall to this book is that it makes you want to have MORE of it! Hopefully they will write another book and tell more stories.

So what is Dolly really like? And is she really that big? Those looking for such titillating tidbits should turn elsewhere. This collection of interviews with some of country's biggest names (Wynette, Judd, Jones, McEntire, Acuff, Pearl, Monroe) focuses more on the "real" side of the perfomer and person ... in other words, there's more talk of music and radio play than wigs and full figures and rhinestone cowboys. Nash, a veteran country music journalist, uses her comfortable, conversational style to get the people to open up. This reissue (the tome was first unleashed in 1988) doesn't offer anything we don't already know, but it's handy to keep on the shelf just in case you really want to know Emmylou's take on overdubs.

The shelf of good books on country music is a small one. However, this is one of the best. It contains thoughtful, often amusing interviews with a number of country and western entertainers, some famous, a few not so famous.Most of the interviews are excellent and highly informative. There are only a few "clinkers" for example, she takes David Allan Coes intermittently amusing messianic rant a little too seriously. However, that is the exception. Most of the conversations, especially with women , offer real insights. For example, the interview with Lacy J. Dalton tells the reader much about the life, and the beliefs, of that sadly neglected talent, while the interview with Loretta Lynn possesses an odd poignancy.