Soho Teen to Release I'M GLAD I DID by Cynthia Weil, 1/27
By: BWW News Desk Dec. 10, 2014
A Multi-Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame member, Cynthia Weil is the writer of some of the most iconic songs of the 20th century-including "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," the most played song on the radio, ever. Her life as a pioneer of rock and roll, along with her friend Carole King, is currently the subject of the Tony-winning Broadway musical Beautiful (apropos, since another of Weil's hits is "On Broadway").
To write her debut novel, Weil channeled her years writing music at the epicenter of New York's music publishing scene, with her long-time writing partner and husband Barry Mann. The immersion in the pop culture, music, slang, fashion, and food of the summer of 1963-a pivotal year in U.S. history-couldn't be more complete.I'm Glad I Did captures perfectly the excitement, fear, confusion, and bravery of that fateful summer, with all the authority of someone who lived it.
It's the summer of 1963 and JJ Green is a born songwriter-which is a major problem, considering that her family thinks the music business is a cesspool of lowlifes and hustlers. Defying them, she takes an internship at the Brill Building, the epicenter of a new sound called rock and roll. JJ is finally living her dream. She even finds herself a writing partner in Luke Silver, a boy with mesmerizing green eyes who seems to connect instantly with her music. Best of all, they'll be cutting their first demo with legendary singer Dulcie Brown. Though Dulcie is now a custodian in the Brill Building and has fallen on hard times, JJ is convinced that she can shine again.
But Dulcie's past is a tangle of secrets, and when events take a dark turn, JJ must navigate a web of hidden identities and shattered lives-before it snares her, too.
Cynthia Weil is a member of the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame, as well as the multi-Grammy winning songwriter of classic songs like "On Broadway," "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" (the most performed song of the 20th century), and "Somewhere Out There," which was a double Grammy winner and Oscar nominee. She has lived in Southern California for many years with her husband and writing partner, Barry Mann. I'm Glad I Did is her first novel.
To write her debut novel, Weil channeled her years writing music at the epicenter of New York's music publishing scene, with her long-time writing partner and husband Barry Mann. The immersion in the pop culture, music, slang, fashion, and food of the summer of 1963-a pivotal year in U.S. history-couldn't be more complete.I'm Glad I Did captures perfectly the excitement, fear, confusion, and bravery of that fateful summer, with all the authority of someone who lived it.
About the Book
It's the summer of 1963 and JJ Green is a born songwriter-which is a major problem, considering that her family thinks the music business is a cesspool of lowlifes and hustlers. Defying them, she takes an internship at the Brill Building, the epicenter of a new sound called rock and roll. JJ is finally living her dream. She even finds herself a writing partner in Luke Silver, a boy with mesmerizing green eyes who seems to connect instantly with her music. Best of all, they'll be cutting their first demo with legendary singer Dulcie Brown. Though Dulcie is now a custodian in the Brill Building and has fallen on hard times, JJ is convinced that she can shine again.
About the Author
Cynthia Weil is a member of the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame, as well as the multi-Grammy winning songwriter of classic songs like "On Broadway," "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" (the most performed song of the 20th century), and "Somewhere Out There," which was a double Grammy winner and Oscar nominee. She has lived in Southern California for many years with her husband and writing partner, Barry Mann. I'm Glad I Did is her first novel.
Videos
