The Grand Tour: The Life and Music of George Jones Audiobook (Free)

In the vein of the classic Johnny Cash: The Life, this groundbreaking function explores the wild life and extraordinary musical career of “the definitive country singer from the last half century” (NY Times), who influenced, among others, Bob Dylan, Buck Owens, Emmylou Harris, John Fogerty, George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Garth Brooks.

Inside a masterful biography laden with new revelations, veteran country music journalist/historian Rich Kienzle offers a definitive, full-bodied portrait of about The Grand Tour: THE LIFE SPAN and Music of George Jones legendary country singer George Jones as well as the music that continues to be his legacy. Kienzle meticulously sifted through archival materials, government information, recollections by co-workers and admirers, interviewing many involved in Jones’s life and career. The effect: an evocative family portrait of this enormously gifted, tragically tormented icon called “the Keith Richards of country.”

Kienzle chronicles Jones’s impoverished East Tx childhood while the youngest child of a deeply religious mom and alcoholic, often-abusive father. He examines his three troubled relationships including his union with superstar Tammy Wynette and looks unsparingly at Jones’s demons. Alcoholic beverages and afterwards cocaine nearly wiped out him until fourth wife Nancy helped him figure out how to love himself. Kienzle also details Jones’s exceptional musical journey from performing in violent Texas honky tonks to Grand Ole Opry superstar, hitmaker and get better at vocalist whose raw, emotionally powerful delivery continues to be the Gold Standard for country performers.

The George Jones of the heartfelt biography lived hard before finding contentment until he died at eighty-one-a story filled up with whiskey, women and medicines but always the savior of music.

Illustrated with eight web pages of photos.