The Garth Factor: The Career Behind Country's Big Boom Review

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(More customer reviews)In The Garth Factor, Patsi Bale Cox chronicles the highs and lows in
Garth Brooks roller coaster ride to becoming the biggest selling
recording artist of all time. In the process she sets straight many
misconceptions that have plagued Garth for much of his career. Through
interviews with many of the musicians, songwriters and executives
integral to Garth's success, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how
his music was recorded and marketed. You'll also learn the stories
behind your favorite Garth Brooks songs. Long-time fans who've
followed Garth's career closely may think they know all there is to
know about the major confrontations that Garth had with various music
row executives and other industry insiders, but I can guarantee that
they will be surprised by the perspective Bale Cox offers on these
major controversies. Fans will feel that they understand Garth better
both professionally and personally after they've finished this book.
The author not only offers the reader an in-depth analysis of Brooks
career, she also places it in the context of everything going on along
music row at the time, discussing both artists who influenced Garth,
as well as the careers of many of his "Class of '89" contemporaries,
and also the next generation of performers who have risen to
prominence in the wake of his retirement. In short, she paints a
comprehensive picture of Country Music in the '90's. It's this aspect
of The Garth Factor that elevates it above the realm of mere Biography
and makes it a work of serious scholarship. This book is essential
reading for every serious student of the genre, and even casual fans
of Garth, or those who came of age listening to Country Music in the
last two decades will find much to enjoy.

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Garth Brooks is certified by the RIAA as the #1 selling solo artist in US history. Since his debut in 1990, he has sold over 128 million albums. But success rarely comes without controversy, and Garth has had more than a share. Is he a media and market manipulator, a country music poseur, and a megalomaniac, or is he simply a brilliant businessman and marketing strategist?Industry insider Patsi Bale Cox, who generated all label material on Brooks throughout his career, examines the meteoric rise of the country star. Examining his career within the context of country music history, she takes readers behind closed doors at the labels, and delves into the inner sanctum of the Nashville music community. THE GARTH FACTOR will paint a portrait of how Brooks's friendship with Trisha Yearwood developed into love and marriage, explore the truth behind his "alter-ego" Chris Gaines, and update readers on what he has been up to since retirement.