Cerphe's Up: A Musical Life with Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, CSNY, and Many More

(Hardback)

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Description

Cerphes Up is an incisive musical memoir by Cerphe Colwell, a renowned rock radio broadcaster for more than forty-five years in Washington, DC. Cerphe shares his life as a rock radio insider in rich detail and previously unpublished photographs. His story includes promotion and friendship with a young unknown Bruce Springsteen; his years at radio station WHFS 102.3 as it blossomed in a new freeform format; candid interviews with Little Feats Lowell George, Tom Waits, Nils Lofgren, Stevie Nicks, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Steven Van Zandt, Robert Plant, Danny Kortchmar, Seldom Scenes John Duffey, and many others; hanging out with George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, John Entwistle, Jackson Browne, and many more; testifying on Capitol Hill with friend Frank Zappa during the Porn Rock hearings; and managing the radio syndication of both G. Gordon Liddy and Howard Stern. Player listings and selected performances at legendary DC music clubs Childe Harold and Cellar Door are also chronicled.

Cerphes Up is both historically significant and a fun, revealing ride with some of the greatest rock-and-roll highfliers of the twentieth century. Cerphes Up belongs on the reading list of every rock fan, musician, and serious music scholar.

Reviews

Colwells memoir is pure fun and, for many, a joyful trip down musical memory lane. Booklist

Colwells memoir provides the distinctive perspective of a rock personality. . . . When he puts himself into the story, as when he discusses the introductions he used to do for Bruce Springsteen at live shows or his time at D.C. radio station WHFS 102.3, the narrative comes alive. --Publishers Weekly

"Like his voice, Cerphes book, written with Stephen Moore, is smooth and inviting." --John Kelly, Washington Post

Somewhere in the 1960s, someone said Lets put some rock and roll music on FM. So there werent that many people listening, so not much pressure. The FM stations became very creative. You could play what you wanted and you could create an art form out of your own broadcast. Cerphe was involved in this. Frank Zappa

I've been a fan of Cerphe for decades, as a friend and a musician. He's always searched for and shared great music with his radio listeners. I always appreciated Cerphes sharing my own music, too. I've enjoyed many colorful discussions with Cerphe through the years about the wonders of all types of inspired music, and believe we share a common belief that music is truly our planet's sacred weapon. I recommend his book to all music fans. --Nils Lofgren, solo musician, member of the Rock Hall of Fame with the E Street Band
Colwells memoir is pure fun and, for many, a joyful trip down musical memory lane. Booklist

Colwells memoir provides the distinctive perspective of a rock personality. . . . When he puts himself into the story, as when he discusses the introductions he used to do for Bruce Springsteen at live shows or his time at D.C. radio station WHFS 102.3, the narrative comes alive. --Publishers Weekly

"Like his voice, Cerphes book, written with Stephen Moore, is smooth and inviting." --John Kelly, Washington Post

Somewhere in the 1960s, someone said Lets put some rock and roll music on FM. So there werent that many people listening, so not much pressure. The FM stations became very creative. You could play what you wanted and you could create an art form out of your own broadcast. Cerphe was involved in this. Frank Zappa

I've been a fan of Cerphe for decades, as a friend and a musician. He's always searched for and shared great music with his radio listeners. I always appreciated Cerphes sharing my own music, too. I've enjoyed many colorful discussions with Cerphe through the years about the wonders of all types of inspired music, and believe we share a common belief that music is truly our planet's sacred weapon. I recommend his book to all music fans. --Nils Lofgren, solo musician, member of the Rock Hall of Fame with the E Street Band

Author Bio

Cerphe Colwell began his career on WHFS 102.3 radio, one of the first freeform stations in the United States. Cerphe (pronounced Surf) helped promote the early careers of Bruce Springsteen, Lowell George, Tom Waits, Frank Zappa, and many other rock luminaries. Cerphes radio resume includes WAVA, DC101, WJFK, and current station Music Planet Radio. Cerphe lives in Leesburg, Virginia.

Stephen Moore has coauthored three books, Johnny Holliday: From Rock to Jock, Helen Hayes: A Bio-Bibliography, and Hoop Tales: Maryland Terrapins Mens Basketball. A research technologist at Georgetown University, he plays in the Bethesda, Maryland, rock cover band The Razors.