The Chetboard

"The Project" being the book on Paul Yandell and the life of a sideman in the twentieth century I've been working on...

Getting close, I think... I've had several people helping me weed out the typos and boners and making sure it tends to make sense (most of the time).

Still hoping for people to chime in with personal stories about Paul and Chet

This is a chapter list as it currently stands. Remember...this is a work in progress so it could change anytime...

I Foreword
II A Preface to Paul Yandell, Second to the Best, … a Sideman’s Chronicle.
III A Prologue

Chapter 1 Down On The Farm
Chapter 2 Tuning Up
Chapter 3 The Louvin Brothers
Chapter 4 Professional Musicianship
Chapter 5 Kitty, The Bus and The Road
Chapter 6 Jerry Reed
Chapter 7 The Business of Recording
Chapter 8 Product Endorsement. On and Off the Record
Chapter 9 The Genius of Paul Bigsby
Chapter 10 The D’Angelico
Chapter 11 The Mid Fifties. A Period of Vast Innovatiom
Chapter 12 The Legendary ‘59
Chapter 13 Three iconic amplifiers
Chapter 14 Working With Chet… Seconding to Mister Guitar
Chapter 15 Recording With Chet
Chapter 16 On the road with Chet
Chapter 17 Showtime!
Chapter 18 The CGP Award
Chapter 19 Lenny Breau
Chapter 20 Research and Development
Chapter 21 Pssst… Want Some Action?
Chapter 22 Paul’s Workshop
Chapter 23 Oddnotes and Advice
Chapter 24 Paul has a bone to pick…
Chapter 25 Presidents and Pundits
Chapter 26 The Best of Times…The Worst of Times…

Looks great Norm! I'm really looking forward to reading it! Thanks for the update.

Minor change in the chapter list


Chapter 10 The D’Angelico
Chapter 11 A Split Pickup and a Solid Top
Chapter 12 The Legendary ‘59

Prior to this Chapter 11 was called “The Mid Fifties. A Period of Vast Innovatiom”

The chapter is mainly about the prototype Paul based the CGP guitar design. The "red top" "Finger Style Guitar" instrument.

Listing it this way makes more sense…

With those chapter headings its a 'must-have' read for any Chet/Paul fan. Put me down for a copy.

Regards

Peter Clifton

Just a heads-up

I'm carefully crafting my Proposal so I can make a run at some publishers. There is still time if any of you have an anecote about Paul you think might be nice or fun to include.

I can't wait to read this, Norm. I sounds like it'll be a great book.
Ray

I'll tell ya there's more to writing than "all ya gotta do is..."

I'm trying to get my acknowlegements written and what will be probably the most critical part, The Proposal.

That's where you write to an editor and try to convince them that they should look at your bit of business instead of the other proposals that came in that day. And they aren't fooling! You have to convince them!

You can almost see them... leaning back in thier chair, arms crossed, peering at your crummy letter over their half lens reading glasses (no doubt glasses with those neck chain things).

I feel like the Cowardly Lion going to see Oz the Great and Powerful!

Hey Norm..what about the Brothers that did "Me and my Guitars", for Chet, and the Les Paul book. maybe they would have an interest. What you have sounds damn good. Best of luck.
Ron Vejvoda

Russ Cochran is pretty ill I've heard. I sent him a couple of inquirys about photos and such and never got an answer which is kinda sad because years ago he and I used to exchange emails fairly regularly.

Since he published through Hal Leonard his particiapation might be locked by contract or something. I did send a Proposal to Hal Leonard but I don't have much hope for it. They even tell you in thier "how to submit a proposal" that they may not respond to you. In other words they won't even take the time to send a rejection slip.

My next target is University of Illinois. They just did a biography of Josh Graves (Flatt and Scruggs dobro player) and their roster, while not as vast as Hal Leonard's, has a section that seems more suitable. I'm taking more time getting this Proposal ready. I may have jumped the gun with Hal Leonard but if I don't get a response from U of I I may give them another run.

In any case, right now I want to make the best proposal I can because I think most publishers will require the same outlines and answers.

GREAT that you are doing this, Norm!