Terri Hendrix
“Cry Till You Laugh: The Part That Ain’t Art” (Book)
Five Stars
Part autobiography; part performer “guide book” by the original DIY singer-songwriter
Posted May 24, 2011
By Steve Ramm/”Anything Phonographic”
First off, I admit I LOVE Terri Hendrix! Any guy who saw her in person would flip over her good looks but, for me, it’s more than that. From the first time I heard her sing at a folk festival, with her long time singing and playing partner, producer Lloyd Maines, I was grabbed by her insightful lyrics and stage presence. Hendrix is the “real deal”. I followed up with her CDs – all on her own Wilory Records label – and began to see that she evokes the DIY (do it yourself) artist. She writes her own songs, records them and issues them on her own label and acts as her own management and booking agent. And she does all of these well. Now she’s an author too with this most unusual book.
Part autobiography, poetry book, photo album, songster and a “how to make it as a performing artist” guidebook, this 184-page paperback is a joy to read. No, I’m not a performer (someone has to sit on the other side and listen), so the sections on how to set up your home recording studio or how to get yourself booked into a venue were periphery for me. But if you are a budding musician, Hendrix will set you on the right path. (She’s been there; done that!). Her many years battling epilepsy make her courageous too and she doesn’t shy away from talking about that either. And then there are the lyrics that often stand out even more when away from music that accompanies them on her CDs.
If you know Hendrix’s CDs then I think you’d really like this book. If she’s new to you, check out some samples on her web page or Amazon and you’ll probably get drawn in like I did. Then, when you want to know more about the artist, buy this book.
I wish she’d come east more to perform. Until then, I have albums and this book to remind me of what a wonderful and caring person she is!
