THE SPREE OF '83 - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDDY POWERS

Freddy Powers · Catherine Powers · Jake Brown

May 2021 · SCB Distributors

About this ebook

Goodreads.com has declared that "eavesdropping on these personal reflections is entertaining, enlightening, and just plain fun to read," and indeed, throughout THE SPREE OF '83, Freddy recounts first-hand the highly-entertaining and emotionally-touching story behind his decades-long roller-coaster ride through the music business, and multiple trips to the top of the charts. He's equally open about his inspiring struggle in the years before his death in 2016 battling Parkinson's disease, all while his legacy endured, gaining new generations of fans over the Millennium. Hailed by Rolling Stone Country as "a freewheeling, often poignant oral history of one of the unsung heroes of Country Music," the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame inductee has been to the top of the Charts as both a producer (Willie Nelson's Grammy-winning Over the Rainbow LP) and songwriter, penning many # 1 hits with sidekick and fellow legend Merle Haggard, who declared "Freddy Powers is one of my favorite people in the world," while Willie Nelson adds personally that "Freddy's strongest suit, I always thought, was his rhythm guitar playing. He was a great rhythm guitar player, and he wrote some great songs with and for Merle." Joining Nelson and Haggard, who both contribute extensive exclusive commentary, are fellow legendary country songwriters/stars like Sonny Throckmorton, Paul Buskirk, Floyd Tillman, Tanya Tucker, Big & Rich, Larry Gatlin, producer Frank Liddell, Mary Sarah, and many more! While fans read along, they can stream live on all digital platforms a dynamic collection of new music, including a 60-Song 2-disc studio/live collection of 6 decades of Freddy Powers' best-known hits, featuring musical duets and collaborations with many of the aforementioned music stars! Along with the Official Book Soundtrack, fans of Freddy's Dixieland Jazz and legendary Comedy routines are given a front-row seat with Freddy Powers & The Powerhouse IV: LIVE IN VEGAS – '75! and Freddy Powers & The Powerhouse IV: LIVE IN RENO! Critical Praise: "(Freddy has) demonstrated a dedication to broadening the perimeters of country & western, particularly in creating a fusion of country honky tonk and swing jazz. This interest runs throughout Powers' career." – Country Music Television (CMT) "I think he's one of the least-recognized of the great country songwriters. His music will be great in any era, no matter what year it is, you'll still want to hear a Freddy Powers song." - Tanya Tucker

About the author

Freddy Powers is a legendary country music singer-songwriter and guitar player credited for bringing Dixieland Jazz into the Nashville mainstream for the first time, co-writing many # 1 hits with Merle Haggard including "Natural High," "Let's Chase Each Other Around the Room Tonight," "I Always Get Lucky With You," producing Willie Nelson's Grammy-Winning Over the Rainbow LP, and battling through Parkinson's Disease through the Millennium as he mentored a new generation of stars like The Voice's Mary Sarah and Pauline Reese among many more!

Catherine Powers is Freddy Powers' wife and co-pilot for 35 years through a dazzling love story and career that took the couple around the world touring even as Freddy's Parkinson's worsened, Catherine became his manager, nurse, co-producer, ambassador, spokesperson and care-taker of his legacy after he could no longer speak for himself due to the disease. Catherine candidly recounts she and Freddy's wild times co-producing a TV show together, co-founding the Freddy Powers Parkinson's Foundation, and forthcoming film adaptation of their life story!

Award-winning music biographer Jake Brown has 50 published books in 9 countries around the world, including authorized collaborations with legendary artists including HEART, MOTORHEAD, JOE SATRIANI, FREDDY POWERS & MERLE HAGGARD, the NASHVILLE SONGWRITER book series, the BEHIND THE BOARDS series, IN THE STUDIO series, host of the streaming TV show ABOUT THE AUTHORS TV. Brown is co-writer of the forthcoming screenplay adaption of Freddy Powers' life story, THE SPREE OF 83, and co-producer of an Official Book Soundtrack, available now on Spotify and all digital platforms! www.jakebrownbooks.com