Jimmy Webb's "THE CAKE AND THE RAIN"

Jimmy Webb’s name is synonymous with American songwriting. He has written numerous multi-platinum selling songs including “Up, Up, and Away,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” and “MacArthur Park.” His hits span genres from country to pop to disco to hip-hop. Webb holds a rare position in the world of popular music – both composer and lyricist for all of his works, he is the only artist to have won Grammy Awards in music, lyrics, and orchestration and the youngest person ever to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Webb’s musical collaborations are as varied as his songs and include Glen Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Art Garfunkel, The 5th Dimension, Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand, Nina Simone and Kanye West. In his memoir, THE CAKE AND THE RAIN (St. Martin’s Press: On sale: April 18, 2017) Webb delivers a snapshot of his early life, catapulting from Oklahoma farm boy to Hollywood cover boy. With lyrical and intimate prose, Webb reveals his deep and abiding storytelling ability on every page about the lifestyle he shared with many bold-faced names – in some cases offering insight into the moments that inspired his biggest selling songs. THE CAKE AND THE RAIN is hailed by Kirkus as “An insider’s view of the star-maker machinery and a treat for Webb’s many fans.” On May 3rd, there will be a tribute concert celebrating Webb and his music at Carnegie Hall with an impressive lineup of friends and musicians. Full details below.

THE CAKE AND THE RAIN is an immersive and fascinating memoir full of stories about larger than life characters. From a chance encounter with Louis Armstrong to being recognized from the stage by Sinatra, to making an album with Art Garfunkel to run-ins with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and John Lennon, Webb has lived a rarefied life in the musical world.

Born in Oklahoma in 1946, Webb dutifully learned how to play piano at his mother’s insistence and developed a talent for improvisation while playing music in his father’s church services. Jimmy found himself on his own when he was only 17 and knew he had to make his way in the music industry to survive and fulfill his destiny. Success came quickly—“Up, Up, and Away” won the Grammy for Song of the Year in 1967. A solid musical identity and sense of direction proved to be more elusive. An early experimenter incorporating technology and music, and using classical arrangements in pop songs, Webb’s songs for Glen Campbell, Johnny Rivers, and Frank Sinatra brought both fame and money, but placed him distinctly musically apart from the artists he admired like Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell and Harry Nilsson. In THE CAKE AND THE RAIN Webb describes, in his emotion-packed lyrical style, the road traveled to find himself as an artist all the while giving readers an experiential ride of the hedonistic 60s and early 70s: backstage with Elvis in Las Vegas; at his outdoor naked chamber music concert; in the room where the first Monterey Pop Festival was born; cavorting in Venice; in the recording studio with the Beatles in London; driving outrageously tricked out sports cars and flying a motor-less airplane—Webb was living fast and furious, until the demon of drug addiction took away almost everything—including the music.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JIMMY WEBB, “America’s Songwriter,” is the author of the musician’s “bible,” Tunesmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting. Webb’s songs with their complex chord structure have been recorded or performed by artists from Frank Sinatra to Carly Simon, to R.E.M. He tours extensively performing his music and telling his stories in the United States and around the world. He was the youngest man ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 2016 was named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the top fifty songwriters of all time. A father of six and grandfather of one, Webb lives with his wife, Laura Savini, in New York.

"Bernie & Sid"

Bernard J. McGuirk is the executive producer of the Imus in the Morning radio program. He was born and raised in the South Bronx, New York, where he worked in his younger years as a taxi driver.

Sid Rosenberg is a radio personality and the former morning host of WMEN-640 AM.  Rosenberg is known for his controversial and sarcastic humor as a host on many radio stations including, WAXY "790 The Ticket" in Miami, where he hosted his own morning show.  He originally was paired with O.J. McDuffie, formerly a wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins; McDuffie resigned his position with the station in the summer of 2006.

Rosenberg's self-given jokingly middle name "Arthur" is a reference to former baseball player Dave Kingman. When Hall of Fame sportscaster Bob Murphy gave the lineups for the New York Mets, he would always give Kingman's name as "David Arthur Kingman"; Rosenberg continues this running gag on the Sports Guys by using Arthur as everybody's middle name.

His radio career started in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he hosted the syndicated sports radio program The Drive on Sports Fan Radio Network in the late 1990s, after starting as an Internet broadcast. In 2000, he moved to New York City to co-host WNEW-FM's turbulent morning show, the Sports Guys. A year later, he joined the Imus in the Morning program. He shared the sports broadcasting duties with Warner Wolf before becoming the full-time sports reporter. He engaged in heated half-mock, half-serious disputes with the other members of the Imus cast, leading for example to an actual boxing bout with producer Bernard McGuirk.  Several months after joining the Imus show, he became the co-host of the midday show on Imus' flagship station, WFAN. Here, his strong knowledge of sports and distinctive, high-pitched Brooklyn accent served him well. He would hold both broadcasting positions until 2005. For several years, he also hosted the radio pre-game shows for New York Giants home games.

Robert Kennedy Jr.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR.'s reputation as a resolute defender of the environment stems from a litany of successful legal actions.  Mr. Kennedy was named one of Time magazine's “Heroes for the Planet” for his success helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. The group's achievement helped spawn 300 Waterkeeper organizations across the globe.

Mr. Kennedy serves as Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, Chief Prosecuting Attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and President of Waterkeeper Alliance.  He is also a Clinical Professor and Supervising Attorney at Pace University School of Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic and is of counsel to Morgan & Morgan, a nationwide personal injury practice.  He is co-host of Ring of Fire on Air America Radio.  Earlier in his career he served as Assistant District Attorney in New York City. 

He has worked on environmental issues across the Americas and has assisted several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands.  He is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City's water supply.  The New York City watershed agreement, which he negotiated on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers, is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development.

Among Mr. Kennedy's published books are the New York Times’ bestseller Crimes Against Nature (2004), The Riverkeepers (1997), and Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr:  A Biography (1977) and two children’s books St Francis of Assisi (2005), American Heroes:  Joshua Chamberlain and the American Civil War and Robert Smalls:  The Boat Thief (2008). His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Atlantic Monthly, Esquire, The Nation, Outside Magazine, The Village Voice, and many other publications.  His award winning articles have been included in anthologies of America’s Best Crime Writing, Best Political Writing and Best Science Writing. 

Mr. Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University.  He studied at the London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School.  Following graduation he attended Pace University School of Law, where he was awarded a Masters Degree in Environmental Law.

He is a licensed master falconer, and as often as possible he pursues a life-long enthusiasm for white-water paddling.  He has organized and led several expeditions in Canada and Latin America, including first descents on three little known rivers in Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Jocko Wollink

JOCKO WILLINK is a decorated retired Navy SEAL officer, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, host of the top-rated Jocko Podcast, and co-founder of Echelon Front, where he is a leadership instructor, speaker, and executive coach. Jocko spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising through the ranks to become a SEAL officer. As commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the battle of Ramadi, he orchestrated SEAL operations that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the US Army’s First Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city. Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the Iraq War. Jocko returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams. There, he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders who have continued to perform with great success on the battlefield. During his career, Jocko was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and numerous other personal and unit awards. In 2010, Jocko retired from the Navy and launched Echelon Front where he teaches the leadership principles he learned on the battlefield to help others lead and win. Clients include individuals, teams, companies, and organizations across a wide-range of industries and fields.

"Vinnie From Queens"

"Vinnie From Queens" with Connell McShane, Tony Powell, Michael "Gunz" Gunzelman and Lou Rufino.