"Have a Little Faith is not merely a fan's notes; this is a riveting
book that tells the stories of one of our greatest roots musicians and
the tenacity that's grown out of his enduring passion for music." --
No Depression
A journey through an artist's quest for success, deep dive into
substance abuse, family tragedy, and ultimate triumph
By the mid-1980s, singer-songwriter John Hiatt had been dropped from
three record labels, burned through two marriages, and had fallen deep
into substance abuse.
It took a stint in rehab and a new marriage to inspire him, then a
producer and an A&R man to have a little faith. By February 1987, he was
back in the studio on a shoestring budget with a hand-picked supergroup
consisting of Ry Cooder on guitar, Nick Lowe on bass, and Jim Keltner on
drums, recording what would become his masterpiece, Bring the Family.
Based on author Michael Elliott's multiple extensive and deeply personal
interviews with Hiatt as well as his collaborators and contemporaries,
including Rosanne Cash, Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, and many others, Have
a Little Faithis the journey through the musical landscape of the 1960s
through today that places Hiatt's long career in context with the glossy
pop, college-alternative, mainstream country, and heartland rock of the
last half-century.
Hiatt's life both pre- and post-Family will be revealed, as well as
the music loved by critics, fellow musicians, and fans alike.
