In 'The Cake and the Rain', Jimmy Webb recounts his life from humble beginnings in rural Oklahoma to the heights of fame in Los Angeles. The book spans from 1955 to 1973, including his early days as a preacher's son, his rise as a songwriter with hits like 'Up, Up and Away', 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix', and 'MacArthur Park', and his experiences with the excesses of the music industry. The narrative is presented in a non-linear fashion, alternating between his childhood and his peak years in the music industry. Webb candidly discusses his relationships, drug use, and the challenges he faced, including a near-fatal drug overdose in 1973[3][4][5].
Singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb on how growing up as the child of an Oklahoma preacher opened up a door to music, and inspired his songwriting (R)
Jimmy Webb grew up poor in Oklahoma, where his mother encouraged him to play the piano, revealing a prodigious musical talent.
After moving to Los Angeles, Jimmy wrote his first hit for the Fifth Dimension: Up, Up And Away.
Shortly after, he met Glen Campbell, who had already recorded Jimmy's song By the Time I Get to Phoenix.
Glen asked Jimmy to write a song especially for him - Wichita Lineman, which became another huge hit for Campbell.
Jimmy's many other famous songs, including MacArthur Park, Adios, and The Highwayman, have been recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Isaac Hayes, Barbra Streisand, Art Garfunkel and Donna Summer.
While he's best known as a songwriter, Jimmy is a renowned performer in his own right.
This episode of Conversations explores music history, rock music, Americana, Hollywood, the recording industry, the Mid-west, middle America, religion, origin stories, personal stories, celebrity culture, country music, rock n roll, songwriting, yacht rock.
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