Time between My life as a Byrd, Burrito Brother, and beyond

Hillman, a founding member of the Byrds, shares his passion for making music in this poignant but underwhelming memoir. Born and raised in rural Southern California, Hillman had an idyllic 1950s childhood that later inspired him to develop the mixture of country, rock, and folk music the Byrds pioneered. The narrative trudges dutifully from one phase of his life to the next as Hillman describes how his love of folk and bluegrass led him to a spot in his first band, the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers. Then, in the mid-1960s, he joined forces with Jim McGuinn, Gene Clark, and David Crosby to form the Byrds. He and Gram Parsons, a musician who had flitted through the Byrds for one album, started the Burrito Brothers in 1968, cowriting classics such as "Sin City." Finally, in 1998, after surviving kidney failure, Hillman wrote his first solo album, which Tom Petty produced in 2017. Readers looking for gossip or an inside scoop may be disappointed, as the narrative is a broad chronological overview without any dramatic reveals. Though Hillman's fans will love his book, this memoir's appeal will not extend far outside of that circle. (Nov.)

An eyewitness account of the advent of folk rock and the foundations of country rock. As one of the original members of the Byrds and a co-founder of the Flying Burrito Brothers, Hillman was often considered a team player overshadowed by more colorful and often erratic frontmen. In a memoir refreshingly devoid of either bragging or score-settling, the author reminds us about his significant contributions as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, and he offers a straightforward perspective on tumultuous times, as band mates contended with substance abuse and other personal demons. Hillman shows just how much the Byrds owed to the Beatles (and to a viewing of A Hard Day's Night in particular) and explains how that band fell apart and then made various attempts at reuniting. He also examines his fraught relationship with the late Gram Parsons in both the Byrds and the Burrito Brothers, showing how an artist who has been deified became so maddening to work with that Hillman fired him from the latter band. Where others crashed and burned, Hillman has enjoyed a consistently productive career after returning to his roots in country and bluegrass, and he credits his strong Christian faith and a long, loving marriage for his stability. In recent years, he worked with the late Tom Petty as producer on his finest solo album and toured with former Byrds and country acolytes on a 50th anniversary celebration of the pivotal Sweetheart of the Rodeo album. Hillman also pays tribute to the many musicians close to him who have died. As he notes of himself as the last living Burrito Brother, "I've tried my best to keep the legacy alive and to keep it honest." He does both in a manner that is never flashy but always steady. A cleareyed, evenhanded tale from a pivotal figure in the development of country rock. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.