{"title":"Ray Connolly","description":"\u003cp\u003eRay Connolly is a celebrated British author and journalist renowned for his insightful biographies and memoirs that delve into the lives of some of the most iconic figures in music history. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of cultural landscapes, Connolly brings to life the captivating stories behind legendary musicians.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong Connolly's notable works are \"\u003cem\u003eBeing Elvis\u003c\/em\u003e\" and \"\u003cem\u003eBeing John Lennon\u003c\/em\u003e,\" which explore the fascinating journeys of two of music's most influential personalities. In \"\u003cem\u003eBeing Elvis\u003c\/em\u003e,\" Connolly unravels the myth and reality of Elvis Presley, offering readers a comprehensive look at the life of the King of Rock and Roll. Meanwhile, \"\u003cem\u003eBeing John Lennon\u003c\/em\u003e\" provides an intimate portrait of the Beatles' enigmatic frontman, delving into his personal and creative life with unmatched authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRay Connolly's books are a must-read for music enthusiasts and those interested in the intricacies of fame and artistry. His engaging writing style and thorough research make these biographies both educational and entertaining, offering readers a window into the extraordinary lives of musical legends.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"being-elvis-by-ray-connolly-9781474604574","title":"Being Elvis","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat was it like to be Elvis Presley? What did it feel like when impossible fame made him its prisoner? As the world's first rock star, there was no one to tell him what to expect, no one with whom he could share the burden of being himself – of being Elvis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn the outside, he was all charm and sex appeal, outrageously confident on stage and stunningly gifted in the recording studio. To his fans, he seemed to have it all. He was Elvis. With his voice and style influencing succeeding generations of musicians, he should have been free to sing any song he liked, to star in any film he was offered, and to tour in any country he chose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut he wasn't free. The circumstances of his poor beginnings in the American South, which, as he blended gospel music with black rhythm and blues and white country songs, helped him create rock and roll, had left him with a lifelong vulnerability. Made rich and famous beyond his wildest imaginings when he mortgaged his talent to the machinations of his manager, 'Colonel' Tom Parker, there would be an inevitable price to pay. Though he daydreamed of becoming a serious film actor, instead, he grew to despise his own movies and many of the songs he had to sing in them. He could have rebelled. But he didn't. Why?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the Seventies, as the hits rolled in again, and millions of fans saw him in a second career as he sang his way across America, he talked of wanting to tour the world. But he never did. What was stopping him?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBeing Elvis\u003c\/i\u003e takes a clear-eyed look at one of the most-loved entertainers ever and finds an unusual boy with a dazzling talent who grew up to change popular culture; a man who sold a billion records and had more hits than any other singer, but who became trapped by his own frailties in the loneliness of fame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46798786003180,"sku":"9781474604574","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/97473482713.jpg?v=1757216449"},{"product_id":"being-john-lennon-by-ray-connolly-9781474606820","title":"Being John Lennon","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Lennon was a rock star, a school clown, a writer, a wit, an iconoclast, a sometime peace activist and finally an eccentric millionaire. He was also a Beatle—his plain-speaking and impudent rejection of authority catching, and eloquently articulating, the group's moment in history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChronicling a famously troubled life, \u003ci\u003eBeing John Lennon\u003c\/i\u003e analyses the contradictions in the singer-songwriter's creative and destructive personality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on many interviews and conversations with Lennon, his first wife Cynthia and second Yoko Ono, as well as his girlfriend May Pang and song-writing partner Paul McCartney, Ray Connolly unsparingly reassesses the chameleon nature of the perpetually dissatisfied star who just couldn't stop reinventing himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46798799274220,"sku":"9781474606820","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/119933482713.jpg?v=1757216595"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/ray-connolly.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}