Growing Bolder Community

In September 1957, Jack Kerouac's most famous book, "On the Road," made him a national sensation. Fans of his work might imagine him living in cultural bastions such as San Francisco's North Beach or Greenwich Village in New York City. In truth, Kerouac was living in a stifling hot back porch apartment with his mother in northwest Orlando. Yes, pre-Disney, pre-theme park capital...

Ever since his early death, the legend of Florida’s Cosmic Cowboy, country rock pioneer Gram Parsons, has overshadowed his considerable talent and musical legacy. Parsons left his mark across the Sunshine State, from his boyhood home in Winter Haven to his college stopping-off point in Winter Park to his two stints at the prestigious Bolles school in Jacksonville and to his performances...

Ever since his early death, the legend of Florida’s Cosmic Cowboy, country rock pioneer Gram Parsons, has overshadowed his considerable talent and musical legacy. Parsons left his mark across the Sunshine State, from his boyhood home in Winter Haven to his college stopping-off point in Winter Park to his two stints at the prestigious Bolles school in Jacksonville and to his performances...

Growing Bolder insider Dan Beach was kind enough to send a reply to my story on Gram Parsons' Orlando connections and recommend David Meyer's outstanding new Gram Parsons bio Twenty Thousand Roads. I couldn't put it down. It's the definitive, best documented and most thoroughly researched Parsons book to date. It's a hefty read but worth it. Right now I'm reading Yan Wenner's oral biography of...

Greetings Growing Bolder! I'm happy to tell you I just finished optioning my Kerouac in Florida book to Urban Myth productions in London. They're hoping to produce in to a film a screenplay based on it.. Basically an option means they pay you to take the rights to the work off the market for a year or two while they try to produce it. The Urban Myth team is sending the project to Matt Dillon...

Hello Again Growing Bolder Faithful, I just finished Don Felder's highly entertaining new book about the Eagles, Heaven and Hell. There are some gems for central Florida music history buffs. Felder had some early friendships with "Tommy" Petty, Duane Allman, and Stephen Stills long before they were stars. Some of it's sour grapes, but the back stories of the Eagles are pretty tasty. Check it...