“There are a lot of elegant, sophisticated men in the world. And, God knows, there are plenty of talented musicians out there. You want handsome men? A dime a dozen. Surprisingly, there’s also an abundance of courtly gentlemen walking among us. But if you want to read the autobiography of a courtly, handsome, urbane, gifted piano player, only one comes to mind and this is his story.”
—Alec Baldwin, actor, filmmaker, and New York Times bestselling author of Nevertheless
“It was a glorious wedding day in Waterford, Virginia. The prop jet carrying the orchestra could not land in the fog. Suddenly, on the hilltop, a miracle! The bandleader, Peter Duchin, flanked by his orchestra appeared in the mist like The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. They wore snappy tuxedos, their bowties loose like lariats. Duchin had his jacket slung over his shoulder on the crook of his finger. Face the Music is a memoir by the maestro who accompanied Sinatra, played Capote’s Black and White Ball, and entertained presidents. An outsider with a gift for inclusion, Duchin is equally at ease chatting with royalty or taking a meal in the hotel kitchen with the staff. Wherever he played, Duchin owned the joint. This is the story of how a stroke temporarily stopped the music, a broken heart led to a redeemed one, and the colorful characters that make his life a shimmering work of art also helped him heal. Written with the gifted Patricia Beard, this is a book for anyone who seeks strength, redemption and wisdom. Candor and wit are the ebony and ivory of this splendid read. Duchin never gives up because there’s always the next gig. Hallelujah!”
—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Shoemaker’s Wife
“There are so many reasons to admire Peter Duchin and his moving memoir. It’s a victorious celebration of life filled with marquee names and stories, radioactive in their resonance. He knows how to live!”
—Michael Feinstein, singer, pianist and founder, The Great American Songbook Foundation
“Peter Duchin’s eloquent meditation on his remarkable life hits all the right notes. A bewitching combination of wit and wisdom, heart and soul, and a story that touches and entertains, the book is captivating from start to finish. I didn’t want it to end!”
—Deborah Davis, author of Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball
“In person, Peter Duchin lights up a room. His book is similarly luminous. Recounted with his signature charm, Face the Music thrums with humor, brio and intelligence.”
—Peter Godwin, author of Mukiwa, and When A Crocodile Eats the Sun
“Inspiring and beautifully written. A journey through the highs and lows of a brilliant career, twice interrupted by life-threatening illnesses, which he overcame to return to the bandstand. What perils and triumphs! What a life!”
—Philip K. Howard, New York Times bestselling author of The Death of Common Sense
“Infusing the meandering retrospective is an elegy to an older style of ‘society’ entertainment, with its debutante balls and chic nightclubs…The result is a beguiling homage to jazz bands and the glamorous lifestyle they adorned.”
—Publishers Weekly
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