James Hoag: 42 books

Some people call them “the greatest band in America.” Are they the greatest? Only you can decide that. For me, they truly are a great band. They’ve also been known as “the bad boys from Boston.” Read Legends of Rock & Roll - Aerosmith to find out just how bad. Also called the American Stones...

Donna Summer seemingly rose from nowhere to become the Queen of Disco in the Seventies. She recorded the sexy song that could only be played after midnight, "Love to Love You, Baby" and became an overnight success. There was a smoldering sexuality about Donna Summer that the record companies constantly...

"It's All About the Music!"Welcome to another in the Legends of Rock & Roll series.This is, like the others, a mini-biography of one the greatest of American bands, The Doors.The Doors were one of most intense and radical rock groups of the Sixties and their legacy can still...

Ann and Nancy Wilson were among the first to show us that women could rock as well as men. There have been other women rockers, but no one like the Wilson sisters. Their band Heart has been at the top of the album charts for over 40 yearsThey have sold more than 35 million albums throughout...

They called Michael Jackson the "King of Pop". He outsold Elvis and every other performer of the past fifty years. His story is one of success, heartbreak and loneliness: extreme highs and terrible lows. He was accused of being a child pedophile. He was called every name the press could think of....

The Jackson family started out in a humble four room home in Gary, Indiana. But, due to the persistence and drive of their father, a group of singers known as the Jackson Five became the leading performers in this country.The five brothers were Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, Marlon and, of course,...

Bobby Darin was one of the great performers of the Fifties and Sixties. He started as a rock and roller and ended up on the same level as greats like Frank Sinatra. He married one of the heart throbs of the Fifties, Sandra Dee. His life was full of great successes and a lot of heartache. He had health...

“Before rock and roll, there was country” – Johnny Cash.This is the first in the "Legends of Country Music" series.This is, like the "Legends of Rock & Roll" series, a mini-biography of one the great performers from Country Music, Johnny Cash.I have always loved every genre...

This is a love letter. I love the music of the Fifties. Actually, I love the music of the Sixties and Seventies, etc. as well, but the Fifties have always been my favorite. I hope that love comes through as I discuss one of the greats of that era, Fats Domino.The first musician to become a...

Garth Brooks has been certified one of the bestselling artists in history. In the United States, he is third, only behind Elvis Presley and The Beatles. That includes all types of music, not just country. The Legends of Country Music explores the life of Garth Brooks, but more importantly, it considers...

"It's All About the Music!"Welcome to another in the Legends of Rock & Roll series.This is, like the others, a mini-biography of one the greatest performers in the music world. This is the second of a series within a series covering the four members of, arguably, the greatest group...

Welcome to Volume 2 in the Legends of Soul series.If you have read any of The Legends of Rock & Roll series, this is similar, except I am spotlighting artists who perform primarily in the genre of Soulmusic.This is really a mini-biography of Ray Charles which emphasizes the music that...

Connie Francis is the biggest selling female performer of them all. Having sold in excess of 100 million albums and who knows how many singles, she made her mark on the music of the Fifties and of the Sixties. This is the fourth in a series of tributes to the rock and roll legends of the Fifties.Find...

“At the end of the day, it was and still is about the music.” - Don HenleyWelcome to another in the Legends of Rock & Roll series.The Legends of Rock & Roll series is about the music we have listened to over the past fifty years. This is a mini-biography of the band Eagles, but even...