"Mr. Guitar" 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.


"Lenny Breau was, and will always be, a great treasure. We need 
him today more than ever."—Mundell Lowe, jazz guitarist

"In his brilliantly written and exhaustively researched biography, 
Forbes-Roberts gets to the essence of the creative process itself 
and the meaning of what it is to be an underappreciated genius."
—Bill Milkowski, author of Jaco: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life 
of Jaco Pastorius

"[A] thorough and fascinating biography, which includes a 
discography and analysis of Breau's recordings."—Toronto Globe 
and Mail

"Forbes-Roberts does a credible job of depicting the variables that 
fostered Breau's total devotion to his instrument and subsequent 
descent into heroin addiction. Where Forbes-Roberts does his best 
work, though, is in his technical explanations of Breau's unique 
guitar system and his comprehensive critical analyses of the artist's 
recording sessions."—All About Jazz

_________________________________________________________

RON FORBES-ROBERTS is an award-winning journalist and a 
contributing editor to Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He is a career 
musician with a degree in classical guitar and lives in Vancouver, 
British Columbia. GENE LEES has written many important books 
on jazz, including Cats of Any Color: Jazz Black and White.



What people are saying about this book

"Forbes-Roberts walks the line between adulation and research, music 
nerd and general interest reporter, with aplomb, and most importantly 
delivers a very readable account of a personality most readers should 
find endearing (if heartbreaking)."—Boston Phoenix

"The author has delivered a comprehensive, well-written book that 
evokes both sympathy and admiration for [Breau], with painstaking 
documentation of his technical approach."—The Toronto Star