Brian T. Atkinson has recently submitted How Will You Shine: The Kevin Russell Story to Texas A&M University Press. How Will You Shine – an expansive volume tracking Russell's ascent from early groups the Picket Line Coyotes and the Grackles through iconic rapscallions the Gourds and his wildly popular Shinyribs – is scheduled for release in Fall 2027. More details on How Will You Shine coming soon!
Brian T. Atkinson's East Nashville Skyline: The Songwriting Legacy of Todd Snider is available now! The book includes forewords by legendary country singer Loretta Lynn, Woody Guthrie disciple Ramblin' Jack Elliott and iconic comedian Richard Lewis and interviews with friends (Elizabeth Cook, Joe Ely, Jack Ingram) and followers (Hayes Carll, Jason Isbell, Bob Schneider) as well as jam band buddies (Black Crowes' Chris Robinson, Tedeschi Trucks Band's Susan Tedeschi, Yonder Mountain String Band's Ben Kaufmann). Characters from Snider's songs such as Kingsmen guitarist Mike Mitchell and Sleepy John Sandidge as well as Bob and Tom's Bob Kevoian and legendary groupie and writer Pamela Des Barres also appear in this revealing book about the late, great traveling troubadour.
Brian T. Atkinson's Love at the Five and Dime: The Songwriting Legacy of Nanci Griffith (Texas A&M University Press) opens with a foreword by the Indigo Girls, Lyle Lovett and Kathy Mattea and includes more than one hundred thirty interviews with songwriter friends (Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Don McLean) and followers (Elizabeth Cook, Adam Duritz, Todd Snider) as well as players (steel guitar legend Lloyd Green, the London Symphony Orchestra's Tom Norris) and producers (Tony Brown, Peter Collins, Jim Rooney). "Nanci was a completely singular singer, songwriter and song finder," Atkinson says. "She loved singing her favorite songs like Townes Van Zandt's 'Tecumseh Valley' as much as her own classics like 'Gulf Coast Highway.'"
Brian T. Atkinson's True Love Cast Out All Evil: The Songwriting Legacy of Roky Erickson spotlights the legendary horror rocker's vibrant and vital yet vastly overlooked solo career following his tenure fronting the psychedelic rock pioneers 13th Floor Elevators. The book features forewords from Credence Clearwater Revival's Stu Cook and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons as well as interviews with grunge greats (Screaming Trees' Mark Lanegan, Meat Puppets' Curt Kirkwood, Butthole Surfers' King Coffey) and today's alt-rock icons (Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite, Spaceman 3's Pete Kember, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard's Ambrose Kenny-Smith) focusing on the ways high watermarks such as The Evil One, Don't Slander Me and True Love Cast Out All Evil influenced their own singing, songwriting and careers.
Brian T. Atkinson's Looks Like Rain: The Songwriting Legacy of Mickey Newbury spotlights the Houston-born singer's singular career as Nashville's most successful songwriter and his creative arc after leaving Music City behind for a quieter life in rural Oregon. Newbury was known as a true songwriter's songwriter, penning classics like "I Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, "San Francisco Mabel Joy" for Waylon Jennings, "She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye" for Jerry Lee Lewis and "American Trilogy" for Elvis Presley. Newbury's famous songwriter friends (Larry Gatlin, Mickey Gilley, Dallas Frazier) testify along with the next generation (Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Jennifer Warnes), younger songwriting heroes (Bonnie Prince Billy's Will Oldham, Bill Callahan, Charlie Worsham) and family (Susan Newbury Oakley, Chris Newbury).
Brian T. Atkinson's The Messenger: The Songwriting Legacy of Ray Wylie Hubbard chronicles the legendary singer-songwriter's rise from Outlaw Country clown to modern day spiritual sage through interviews with contemporaries (Bobby Bare, Kinky Friedman, Michael Martin Murphey) and the shooting stars he has influenced (Eric Church, Brooks & Dunn's Ronnie Dunn, Black Crowes' Chris Robinson) as well as rapidly rising songwriters (Aaron Lee Tasjan, Scott H. Biram, Jonathan Tyler). Jerry Jeff Walker and Hayes Carll provide forewords for the book. Additionally, acclaimed music veteran Jenni Finlay and Atkinson produced an accompanying Hubbard tribute album that features performances by Bobby Bare, Rodney Crowell, Charlie Musselwhite, James McMurtry, Tom Russell, Terri Hendrix, Ray Benson, Shinyribs and several more.
Brian T. Atkinson's first book I'll Be Here the Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt contains interviews with Outlaw Country peers (Guy Clark, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Billy Joe Shaver) and younger songwriter fans (My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Avett Brothers' Scott Avett, Josh Ritter) celebrating the ultimate songwriter's songwriter. Atkinson is currently working on an expanded edition of I'll Be Here in the Morning featuring new forewords by legendary Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty and iconic country star Don Williams as well as more than thirty new interviews spanning Van Zandt's worldwide influence (Norah Jones, Mark Lanegan, Shakey Graves, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Tindersticks singer Stuart Staples).