Country Music Broke My Brain is a Behind-the-Microphone Peek at Nashville’s Famous and Fabulous Stars by Gerry House. Gerry tells his story – from growing up listening to the radio to hosting “Gerry House & The Foundation” radio show. This book is really interesting because it tells the story of some Country musicians from a bit of a different perspective – which is the other side of the microphone – from him working in radio and being somewhat in the inner circle.
I knew I was going to enjoy this book when the glossary was not at the beginning of the book, not at the end of the book, but somewhere around chapter 5. I think that’s to make sure you really give it a good look so that you can follow along as you read through the rest of the book. I’m not really familiar with Gerry at all – or well, I wasn’t before reading this book – but I really enjoyed it and thought it was really well written and a great look into the country music scene. Great stories, funny stories. I’m “not a country fan” (or so I keep saying. But I’m not sure how true it is anymore) and still found this book to be very enjoyable even though I might not have been familiar with all the artists mentioned.
Oh and did I mention there were also quizzes throughout the book? They’re multiple choice and if you don’t know the answer – you will – because it’ll be explained in the next chapter. I found this to be an nice touch to kind of pique your interest before getting into the chapter. Also pretty funny are the band names that aren’t yet taken that he has posted in one of the chapters. “Trailer Swift”? Ha.
A great read for any music fan.
I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.
About the Book
Nashville is filled with stars and lovers and writers and dreamers. Nashville is also teeming with lunatics and grifters and dip wads and moochers. Gerry House fits easily into at least half of those categories. Someone would probably have to be brain-damaged or really damn talented to try to entertain professional entertainers over a decades-long radio show in Music City, USA.
Fortunately, House is little of both.
Host of the nationally syndicated, top-rated morning show, “Gerry House & The Foundation” for 25 years, he has won virtually every broadcasting award there is including a place in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Gerry also spent that time deep inside the songwriting and recording world in Nashville.
In Country Music Broke My Brain, Gerry tells his stories from the other side of the microphone. He reveals never-aired, never-before published conversations with country music’s biggest names—Johnny Cash, Brad Paisley, and Reba McEntire to name a few—and leaves you with his own crazy antics that will either have you laughing or shaking your head in disbelief.
With exclusive celebrity stories, humorous trivia and anecdotes, and broadcasting wisdom, this book is a treat for country music fans or for anyone who wants a good laugh.