Few Words in Defense of Our Country

Randy Newman will never write a book. At least not on his own.

Fortunately, his friend of almost 50 years, Robert Hilburn will, with Randy's full attention and cooperation. Through extensive interviews with Randy, his family, friends and closest confidants as well as the musicians he's worked with and the ones who worship him, Bob is crafting the definitive book on Randy Newman, his profound American voice and his incredibly unique career.

Randy is a novelist disguised as a songwriter and piano player. He is a historian of the American character, a harsh critic the country's failings and a loving celebrator of the its successes. He is interested in characters and never writes in the first person and he never writes love songs. How many living artists do the likes of Bob Dylan and Neil Young genuflect for? Not many . . . perhaps only the bespectacled one we consider here.