Bio : Peter Guralnick

Peter Guralnick has been called “a national resource” by critic Nat Hentoff for work that has argued passionately and persuasively for the vitality of this country’s intertwined black and white musical traditions. His books include the prize-winning two-volume biography of Elvis Presley, 'Last Train to Memphis' and 'Careless Love'. Of the first, Bob Dylan wrote, “Elvis steps from the pages. You can feel him breathe. This book cancels out all others.”

Guralnick's first work in a decade is 'Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll,' the biography of the famed record producer who founded Sun Records and discovered Elvis, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Cash, Ike Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and more.  It is to be released November 10, 2015.  Previously, Guralnick wrote and co-produced a documentary of the same name.

Guralnick's other works include an acclaimed trilogy on American roots music, 'Sweet Soul Music', 'Lost Highway', and 'Feel Like Going Home'; the biographical inquiry 'Searching for Robert Johnson'; and the novel, 'Nighthawk Blues'. His most recent book, 2005's 'Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke', was hailed as “monumental, panoramic, an epic tale told against a backdrop of brilliant, shimmering music, intense personal melodrama, and vast social changes.”  He won a Grammy for his liner notes for 'Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club' and wrote the scripts for the Grammy-winning documentary 'Sam Cooke/Legend' and Martin Scorsese’s blues documentary 'Feel Like Going Home'. In 2010, Guralnick was inducted in the Blues Hall of Fame.