What do you think?
Rate this book
One Long Tune: The Life and Music of Lenny Breau
Chet Atkins called Lenny Breau (1941–1984) “the greatest guitarist who ever walked the face of the earth.” Breau began playing the instrument at age seven, and went on to master many styles, especially jazz. Between 1968 and 1983 he made a series of recordings that are among the most influential guitar albums of the century.
Breau’s astonishing virtuosity influenced countless performers, but unfortunately it came at the expense of his personal relationships. Despite Breau’s fascinating life story and his musical importance, no full-length biography has been published until now. Forbes-Roberts has interviewed more than 175 people and closely analyzed Breau’s recordings to reveal an enormously gifted man and the inner workings of his music.
Breau’s astonishing virtuosity influenced countless performers, but unfortunately it came at the expense of his personal relationships. Despite Breau’s fascinating life story and his musical importance, no full-length biography has been published until now. Forbes-Roberts has interviewed more than 175 people and closely analyzed Breau’s recordings to reveal an enormously gifted man and the inner workings of his music.
- GenresMusicJazzNonfiction
344 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2006
3 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 28, 2022
The 325 page book covers Breau’s career from the days of being a child prodigy to his untimely death. Each of the 10 chapters is devoted a specific time period in Lenny’s life.
To his credit, Forbes-Roberts reached out to a wide range of individuals and was able to garner a great deal of information, much of which may surprise many of Lenny’s fans. Some of these interviews were conducted via the phone and interestingly the dates of the interviews are included, thus providing an additional perspective on the individuals recollection of things.
Some of the luminaries interviewed: Ted Greene, Ed Bickert, Larry Coryell, Phil DeGruy, Carol Kaye, John Knowles, John Patitucci and Phil Upchurch.
The first chapter of the book is devoted to providing a background on his parents and early childhood memories of Lenny. Perhaps the most interesting event is when Lenny, then three years old, sang a harmony part of a third, to the music that his parents were singing. It was clear at this point that he had a gift for music.
The chapter then highlights his other musical endeavors as a child, including playing a washboard, accordion and eventually guitar. Insight is also provided on his early onstage presence with his parent’s musical act, as well as his initial foray into playing guitar and his learning experience/influences.
It is here that we can start to see the rise and decline of Lone Pine (Lenny’s dad), and the rising star in Lenny. I can’t help but think that many of Lenny’s personal problems were in their embryotic stage at this point - a son looking for the attention/acceptance of his father.
It is also during this time that we see that Lenny’s childhood was not a “standard” one, and his being on the road, as well as his prowess on the guitar, led to deficiencies that would follow him throughout his life.
We also catch our first glimpses of him constantly practicing. His obsession with the guitar was apparent from the start and it’s fascinating to see how he pursued doing his own thing. Although he was still musically growing at this point, it becomes clear that a special musician was beginning to emerge.
My favorite aspects of the book are those sections pertaining to Lenny’s Albums. Forbes does a great job of surrounding all of the recording sessions with an ample amount of backstory so that we are aware of Lenny’s personal life and surroundings, both of which would greatly influence the recording process. These sections might be of most interest for “casual” Lenny Breau” fans, as it deals with the artist and his works - though it is hard to separate his personal life from his recordings.
One can’t help but marvel at the efforts put forth by Chet Atkins on Lenny’s behalf. He truly was a father figure to Lenny and it is clear that Chet’s assistance would carry Lenny through difficult times, even to the point of Lenny’s dental and rent being paid for by Chet at various points in his life.
Unfortunately, one can’t discuss the book without the mentioning of Lenny’s prolific drug use. His drug usage is covered without sugarcoating his usage or effects. At one point it is mentioned that he would take FIFTEEN hits of Acid and still be able to take the stage. Tragic, and heartbreaking, it is tough to read the various sections and not feel profound sadness at what was happening.
The book contains an eleven page section devoted to photos of Lenny at various points in his life. The one photo that really caught my attention was Lenny playing with Bill Evans in Toronto in 1971 - two geniuses, one stage - that must have been something!
The back of the book contains an excellent discography covering all known appearances by Lenny, either as a leader, collaborator or sideman. It also features a list of the musicians he played with on the material.
I finished reading this book a month ago… and I just couldn’t seem to organize my thoughts for a review. It was heartbreaking to read - especially considering that the book ends with his murder. It was an emotional roller coaster, and touched upon a wide range of emotions.
Ron Forbes-Roberts should be commended for writing such an excellent book. He covers a lot of material and provides a fascinating insight into Lenny’s life and tribulations. The photos added a lot to the ambience of the book, showing Lenny at various stages of his life, which helped support each chapters narrative with photos.
Besides writing about Lenny’s prowess on the guitar, the author was able to share Lenny’s humor and his more “naive” side. One can’t help but be drawn to Lenny’s personality and I’m sure that he was an interesting and very likable personality, especially when not under the influence of drugs. However, even his drug use provides us a glimpse into the intense manner in which he approached life in general.
Although the book was satisfying as a whole, it left me wanting to know even more about Lenny. I will be certainly re-reading this book again, soon!
I would highly recommend this book to all musicians! I also believe that this book would prove to be interesting to non-musicians, as Lenny lived an interesting life and there’s much to learn from reading about it. Not many people ever reach the pinnacle of their field, as they are unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary in order to do so. But, Lenny did and we are left with the recordings of a true genius of the guitar. He is greatly missed and we are all at a loss for it…
To his credit, Forbes-Roberts reached out to a wide range of individuals and was able to garner a great deal of information, much of which may surprise many of Lenny’s fans. Some of these interviews were conducted via the phone and interestingly the dates of the interviews are included, thus providing an additional perspective on the individuals recollection of things.
Some of the luminaries interviewed: Ted Greene, Ed Bickert, Larry Coryell, Phil DeGruy, Carol Kaye, John Knowles, John Patitucci and Phil Upchurch.
The first chapter of the book is devoted to providing a background on his parents and early childhood memories of Lenny. Perhaps the most interesting event is when Lenny, then three years old, sang a harmony part of a third, to the music that his parents were singing. It was clear at this point that he had a gift for music.
The chapter then highlights his other musical endeavors as a child, including playing a washboard, accordion and eventually guitar. Insight is also provided on his early onstage presence with his parent’s musical act, as well as his initial foray into playing guitar and his learning experience/influences.
It is here that we can start to see the rise and decline of Lone Pine (Lenny’s dad), and the rising star in Lenny. I can’t help but think that many of Lenny’s personal problems were in their embryotic stage at this point - a son looking for the attention/acceptance of his father.
It is also during this time that we see that Lenny’s childhood was not a “standard” one, and his being on the road, as well as his prowess on the guitar, led to deficiencies that would follow him throughout his life.
We also catch our first glimpses of him constantly practicing. His obsession with the guitar was apparent from the start and it’s fascinating to see how he pursued doing his own thing. Although he was still musically growing at this point, it becomes clear that a special musician was beginning to emerge.
My favorite aspects of the book are those sections pertaining to Lenny’s Albums. Forbes does a great job of surrounding all of the recording sessions with an ample amount of backstory so that we are aware of Lenny’s personal life and surroundings, both of which would greatly influence the recording process. These sections might be of most interest for “casual” Lenny Breau” fans, as it deals with the artist and his works - though it is hard to separate his personal life from his recordings.
One can’t help but marvel at the efforts put forth by Chet Atkins on Lenny’s behalf. He truly was a father figure to Lenny and it is clear that Chet’s assistance would carry Lenny through difficult times, even to the point of Lenny’s dental and rent being paid for by Chet at various points in his life.
Unfortunately, one can’t discuss the book without the mentioning of Lenny’s prolific drug use. His drug usage is covered without sugarcoating his usage or effects. At one point it is mentioned that he would take FIFTEEN hits of Acid and still be able to take the stage. Tragic, and heartbreaking, it is tough to read the various sections and not feel profound sadness at what was happening.
The book contains an eleven page section devoted to photos of Lenny at various points in his life. The one photo that really caught my attention was Lenny playing with Bill Evans in Toronto in 1971 - two geniuses, one stage - that must have been something!
The back of the book contains an excellent discography covering all known appearances by Lenny, either as a leader, collaborator or sideman. It also features a list of the musicians he played with on the material.
I finished reading this book a month ago… and I just couldn’t seem to organize my thoughts for a review. It was heartbreaking to read - especially considering that the book ends with his murder. It was an emotional roller coaster, and touched upon a wide range of emotions.
Ron Forbes-Roberts should be commended for writing such an excellent book. He covers a lot of material and provides a fascinating insight into Lenny’s life and tribulations. The photos added a lot to the ambience of the book, showing Lenny at various stages of his life, which helped support each chapters narrative with photos.
Besides writing about Lenny’s prowess on the guitar, the author was able to share Lenny’s humor and his more “naive” side. One can’t help but be drawn to Lenny’s personality and I’m sure that he was an interesting and very likable personality, especially when not under the influence of drugs. However, even his drug use provides us a glimpse into the intense manner in which he approached life in general.
Although the book was satisfying as a whole, it left me wanting to know even more about Lenny. I will be certainly re-reading this book again, soon!
I would highly recommend this book to all musicians! I also believe that this book would prove to be interesting to non-musicians, as Lenny lived an interesting life and there’s much to learn from reading about it. Not many people ever reach the pinnacle of their field, as they are unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary in order to do so. But, Lenny did and we are left with the recordings of a true genius of the guitar. He is greatly missed and we are all at a loss for it…
November 4, 2018
Excellent biography of one of the greatest guitarists ever. It's a shame that some of Breau's best recordings are out of print costing big bucks on the collector's market. (For example, a used vinyl copy of "The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau - Live!" on Amazon is $199). On the other hand, there is a rich selection of both audio and video available on YouTube. Please go and listen to some Lenny Breau!
February 18, 2015
One Long Tune: The Life and Music of Lenny Breau is a haunting biography of Lenny Breau a Canadian/American guitarist. The book is amazingly detailed and the author must be recommended for his investigational skills. The book states that he interviewed over 170 people - and it really shows!
Previously, I've read a couple articles about Lenny, and viewed a some of his lessons, but reading the book was an eye opener.
I haven't really known how soon he developed his amazing technique of playing melody and chords at the same time. In my mind that should have taken years to learn yet he begins his jazz career having fully mastered it. On the other hand I was surprised how long it took for Lenny to learn sight reading.
I've heard that Lenny Breau had drug and alcohol problems, but I wasn't aware how such a dependency can lay waste to one's life. The descriptions of his addiction was physically painful for me to read, and living through his relapses made me gasp more then once.
Nevertheless the book was an interesting one to read. The first chapters tell of Lenny's development as a musician, how he expanded his vocabulary and his approach to music. For me those chapters were the most interesting ones. The latter parts dragged for me too much, especially the descriptions of solos on particular albums - the book could work as well without them.
The non-musical parts of the books - those detailing Lenny's personal life - are a testament to the destructive ability of drugs and alcohol. Seeing Lenny spiral down again, and down again made for a very poignant read.
The book ends with Lenny's death, an end even more bitter due to the possibly of him having finally succeeded over his addiction and turning his life around.
I'd recommend this book to any Lenny Breau fan or guitarist interested in Jazz. Other people might be bored by the technical details of Lenny's playing or the intricate descriptions of each and every song from his album.
Previously, I've read a couple articles about Lenny, and viewed a some of his lessons, but reading the book was an eye opener.
I haven't really known how soon he developed his amazing technique of playing melody and chords at the same time. In my mind that should have taken years to learn yet he begins his jazz career having fully mastered it. On the other hand I was surprised how long it took for Lenny to learn sight reading.
I've heard that Lenny Breau had drug and alcohol problems, but I wasn't aware how such a dependency can lay waste to one's life. The descriptions of his addiction was physically painful for me to read, and living through his relapses made me gasp more then once.
Nevertheless the book was an interesting one to read. The first chapters tell of Lenny's development as a musician, how he expanded his vocabulary and his approach to music. For me those chapters were the most interesting ones. The latter parts dragged for me too much, especially the descriptions of solos on particular albums - the book could work as well without them.
The non-musical parts of the books - those detailing Lenny's personal life - are a testament to the destructive ability of drugs and alcohol. Seeing Lenny spiral down again, and down again made for a very poignant read.
The book ends with Lenny's death, an end even more bitter due to the possibly of him having finally succeeded over his addiction and turning his life around.
I'd recommend this book to any Lenny Breau fan or guitarist interested in Jazz. Other people might be bored by the technical details of Lenny's playing or the intricate descriptions of each and every song from his album.
June 14, 2009
I saw Lenny Breau perform on a good day in the mid 1970s. It was something I can still remember clearly. He was a genius; one of the those rare combinations of artistry, technique, and skill that propelled him to heights that really haven't been matched since. His genius also took him down that dark road. Forbes-Roberts brings us the full range of Breau's life - the ups and the downs, the great moments, and some of the reasons why he was never able to transcend his personal difficulties. Reading the book has prompted me to go out and get copies of his recordings, many of which I left behind when I unloaded boxes of vinyl records years ago. If you play the guitar, you should read this book. If you love jazz, you should, too. Lenny was one of the greatest.
October 14, 2010
A great book for Lenny fans and guitar players but it's so sad. it focuses on the music rather than drama, but the tragedy of his murder left me with such a sick feeling. RIP Lenny
August 12, 2011
GREAT READ , ABOUT A GREAT GUITAR PLAYER......WE MISS YOU LENNY !!
May 10, 2012
This is the best music biography I've ever read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews