Bill Haley ä the man who brought rock 'n' roll into the mainstream. His song Crazy Man Crazy was the first rock 'n' roll song to break the ÊBillboardÊ Top 20 in 1953 and was followed by his evergreen We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock the first song of its kind to hit #1. His success made him an idol not only in the US but throughout the world from Canada to the UK Europe Australia Japan New Zealand and beyond. Yet Haley is often overlooked in the story of rock 'n' roll overshadowed by others who followed him from sex symbol Elvis Presley to wild man Jerry Lee Lewis and forever-young Buddy Holly.ÞBut Haley's lack of visibility was in part his own doing: he had conflicted feelings about fame was extremely private suffered chronic alcoholism and troubled relationships with multiple wives which yielded ten children who he struggled to support. Though he managed to carry on a successful touring career his demons eventually eroded his health and in 1981 at the age of only 55 he passed away.ÞThis book is written by esteemed biographer Peter Benjaminson and Bill Haley Jr. Haley's son a musician himself who tours the world paying tribute to his father's music. Culled from interviews with insiders ä from ex-wives to the Comets recorded conversations with Haley Sr. official documents diaries and more this book not only charts the happenings of Haley's career but gives insight into the Haley behind the curtain and some of the other trials he faced from the dark side of the music business to ties with Mafia. Featuring a collection of rare photographs this book is a must-have for any serious rock 'n' roll fan.

Tim Parks's best seller, "Italian Neighbors," offered a sparkling, witty, and acutely observed account of an expatriate's life in a small village outside of Verona. Now in "An Italian Education," Parks continues his chronicle of adapting to Italian society and culture, while raising his Italian-born children. With the exquisite eye for detail, character, and intrigue that has brought him acclaim as a novelist, Parks creates an enchanting portrait of Italian parenthood and family life at home, in the classroom, and at church. Shifting from hilarity to despair in the time it takes to sing a lullaby, Parks learns that to be a true Italian, one must live by the motto "All days are one."

Although Amazon.com is now selling more than 3,000 commercial products bearing Betty Boop's image, including calendars, tote bags, coffee mugs, and books about how young women can be more like Betty, no one has ever published a book about Betty herself. The first biography of a major American cultural symbol ever written, Betty Boop: The Most Popular Female Comic Strip and Cartoon Character of All Time describes Betty Boop's incredibly active romantic and family life as revealed in her numerous comic strips, comic books, cartoons, and movies since 1930. Award-winning author Peter Benjaminson details the creation of Betty Boop, based on two African American female entertainers who were the human models for Betty's character. He explores the many alterations of Betty's appearance, attitudes, and behavior over the years. Benjaminson also reveals the stories of the women who provided her with a speaking and singing voice, along with the backgrounds, intentions, and careers of Betty's numerous creators and animators. Betty Boop indulges in the controversies surrounding the character, including her adventures with Felix the Cat (a four-year daily comic strip production). Benjaminson illuminates social trends that have kept Betty popular for nearly a century, including her recent transition from a helpless sex object to a feminist icon and her massive popularity with young American women.