Lynn Wasson of Entertainment Fort Smith Magazine conducted an interview with me about "Face The Music" and my previous careers in Ft. Smith, published in the December 2011 Christmas issue.
It is aptly titled "Audio Radiance for the Radio Audience: Bob Ketchum Rocks On".
To read this article in Adobe .PDF format, click HERE.
IT'S ALL HERE!
THE BANDS! THE SEX! THE DRUGS! THE ROCK AND ROLL!
THE OZARK'S TOM SAWYER DISCOVERS MILITARY SCHOOL!
'CUDAS & COMETS! TEENAGE ALCOHOLICS! DRAG RACING!
BEATING THE DRAFT! THE CURSE OF THE MUSE!
LAKE SURFING & BOAT WEIRDOS! DRIVING JEEPS OFF CLIFFS!
GETTING SHOT AT A GIG! EX-WIVES & PAST LIVES!
THE GOLDEN YEARS OF RADIO! EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY!
THE ARCHIVES! THE PROJECTS! THE JAMS & THE SLAMS!
SESSIONS FROM HELL! BRUSHES WITH FAME AND FORTUNE!
DESTINY! KARMA! WEIRD WISDOM! MIRACLES & BAD SPELLS!
REDEMPTION THROUGH A CHILD'S EYES! UFO'S AND MORE!
LIVE & DIRECT….. IT'S THE HIGH TECH REDNECK!
This memoir will take the reader through the life and career of a man who spent his childhood in rural Arkansas but graduated from a prestigious naval military school, then became a musician and public personality during the golden age of rock and roll. It is an inside look at the personal trials and tribulations of pursuing a vocation fraught with uncertainty, rejection, and disillusionment, not to mention a string of failed marriages and amazing stories of bizarre accidents and freaky Karma. Along the way there are also hilarious personal accounts and unbelievable tales of life in the music business. Against all odds he manages to overcome his demons, realize his dreams, and is given a second chance half way through his life.
55 CHAPTERS - 500 IMAGES - 75 SONGS IN MP3 FORMAT
THIS CD-ROM ALSO INCLUDES THE ENTIRE "New Tricks From An Old Dog" CD
PURCHASE "FACE THE MUSIC" RIGHT NOW ONLINE
USING PAYPAL OR YOUR CREDIT CARD
This story of the life and times of the self proclaimed "HiTek Redneck" is now available in eBook form.
Beginning with the pre-story of his parents and earlier family backgrounds, the book takes the reader
through his parents decision to move to the Ozarks and enter into the resort business in the early years immediately following
the creation and empoundment of Lake Norfork in north central Arkansas. Pre-teen Bob grows up in the woods and then is
suddenly thrust into an upscale military school in Florida, a thousand of miles from his home in the hills. For five years
he struggles with the complete culture shock of going from being alone to being surrounded by hundreds of boys from all walks of life
and all corners of the globe. Later, college life bores the young man freed at last from the confines of military discipline, his
father passes away suddenly, the money runs out, and he must find a way to establish some sort of life for himself. Inheriting his
mother's musicial genes, Bob explores the music business while becoming a radio broadcaster in the "Golden Age of Rock and Roll".
Along the way he dabbles in concert promotion and finds his real love for audio engineering at a recording studio. After a fateful
gig in Tulsa where he is accidently shot he moves back to his family home in the Ozark hills and builds his own recording studio.
From there he makes his way through a progression of marriages, jobs, careers, and escapades until finally he gets a chance to
make things right in his life.
The book is enhanced by the addition of 500 images taken from the family photo archives, giving visual form to the rich stories within.
Audio clips are also included, from personal and studio recording made through the years. Readers can listen to selected songs and recordings
made during the timeline set in chronoligical order for the reader. 75 clips in MP3 format have been included on this CD-ROM, all catalogged
in a manner which makes selection and identification simple. This release also includes the entire "New Tricks From An Old Dog" album, Bob's solo album project.
Each song is dissected and explained and the reader can listen to each song as they read about the making of the album. Musicians and anyone
interested in the music or recording business will find this book indespensible. Anyone who enjoys reading real life stories told in an engaging
and entertaining way will get more than their moneys worth, featuring 55 Chapters filled with exciting and sometime hilarious accounts of life as told
by the man who lived every day of it. Into each life a little rain must fall, so there are also sad accounts of life altering bittersweet memories and
just plain bad luck or poor choices made along life's path.
In the end the reader will get an amazing story of how one man's life can wind through so many turns in life's road and still keep his sanity.
Bob touches on how and why his glass is always half full and how his life has always been guided by a (not so) mysterious hand. Along the
way he gives his opinions on drugs, religion, life, technology, music and the dreaded "business of music", the Muse, love and marriage, children, and Karma.
For many this book could be considered inspirational. In it, Bob always has a glimmer of Hope even during the worst of times.
PREFACE
by Bob Ketchum
This book is dedicated to my mother, Ann Baker Ketchum. She always said that I should write a book about my experiences, and I would probably never have done it without her prompting.
From the time I was sixteen I understood that I was born into a privileged life but had no conception of what "being rich" was until I started going to military school. I learned there that there are different levels of "rich", and I certainly wasn't even near the top of the scale. I carry no guilt for being blessed with such a great life. There were plenty of times it wasn't such a great life. I have omitted some subjects and experiences in this book not because they are painful or embarrassing but because it would make for a depressing read. I seem to have made a habit of embarrassing myself a lot so there are plenty of juicy tidbits here. So consider this a "tell some" book instead of a "tell all" book.
There have been many great bands, artists, and songwriters that I have been fortunate enough to work with, and I left many of these people out of the book. I realized I could write an entirely separate book just about the amazing adventures I had recording all these bands. Each session has its own little story to tell, but I knew I could not weigh down my memoirs with all these tales so I made the decision to concentrate on the bands and artists that had a major impact on my life. For my friends and associates who were omitted from this book, my most sincere apologies. Remind me to add you in the next book.
Bob Ketchum
PURCHASE "FACE THE MUSIC" RIGHT NOW ONLINE
USING PAYPAL OR YOUR CREDIT CARD
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Many people have inquired if this book can be enjoyed using their Kindle. "Face The Music" is delivered on a CD-ROM data disk. The actually document
is in Adobe's .PDF format. The music files included with the book are in MP3 format. Research on the Internet has revealed:
How to copy PDF documents to your Kindle
You can copy documents in supported formats to your Kindle following these easy steps:
1. Connect your Kindle to your computer via USB cable. After drivers are installed, you can see your Kindle device as a disk drive.
2. Navigate to “documents” folder on your Kindle device.
3. Copy your PDF files there.
4. Safely eject the device.
Your documents should now be visible along with your other eBooks in the home screen.
Use Kindle as an MP3 player
There are two ways to achieve this. You can either copy MP3 files into \music or \audible folder on your Kindle via the USB cable. If the folder doesn’t exist, you need to create it. Depending on where you put your files they will be accessible in two different ways:
Files in “music” folder can be played as background music while reading to a book. To start/stop audio press Alt-Space. To advance to the next track – press Alt-F. There are no controls beyond that, no way to select a specific track other than iterating over them one by one, no way to fast forward or rewind. However files will play continuously.
Files in “audible” folder will be treated as audiobooks. You can select any specific file from your Kindle homescreen, pause and resume, fast-forward and rewind. This comes at a price of not being able to play multiple files in sequence and read books while the file is playing.
RECENT ENDORSEMENTS FROM READERS
I thought I might finish 'Face The Music' last night but...it just keeps going on & on! LOL Up to page 800 & somethin. I cant say how much I've enjoyed the read. So I wont even try. I highly recommend it to anyone with a connection to Fort Smith, playing in local bands, having a wife, having kids, having...LIFE! I could go on & on. Thanks for it.
-- Chuck Collins via Facebook
Here's an endorsement that may surprise lots of you. I didn't grow up listening to Bob on the radio, did not know him personally and don't know any of his family. But I really enjoy "Face the Music." It is a tremendous effort and I think it is interesting both as an autobiography AND as a chronicle of the 60s and 70s. Any musician (I'm only a fan) can relate to the third foundation of this book beyond Bob's life and times – he is a passionate musician who cared not just for his own art but for the music of others. This book is a true one-off.
-- Lynn Wasson via Facebook
One of the best purchases I ever made...and a great read, too...plus, Bob autographed it! -- Roger Dicks via Facebook
Ive laughed & Ive cried...Thanks Bob...It was a good trip back in my mind too...Remember lots esp the Krokus & Huberts days...& so much more. I enjoyed the hell out of it... -- Rodney Kimmer via Facebook
I am proud to announce that after 885 pages of hilarity, heartbreak, fun and mischief and 70 odd MP3 files, some listened to several times, I have officially finished "The Book"! I thoroughly enjoyed the read and it brought back so many memories. I laughed and I cried. But mostly I was thankful that I managed to make something of myself besides a struggling sound guy! For those out there that haven't bought it yet....whatcha waitin for? -- Dwight Hopkins via Facebook
Thank you for Face the Music..........it was very interesting and well written but also sad.........sad in that a man could struggle all those years to try and reach a certain level in his career.....and never quite make it. It made me feel bad for you. Of course, when Bear died, I cried. But I'm betting I won't be the only one to do that! Truly folks, the book is GOOD! I read it and enjoyed every page. Many interesting things have happened to this guy........you don't know what you are missing! ..........it brings back lots of memories for me! -- Bonnie Parsons via Facebook
Bob....Please allow me to recommend "Face the Music" as a stellar literary achievement, and so much more. I was so pleased to see the completed project contained so many pictures and incredible music, fleshing out the entire endeavor. This is not the ordinary "tell all" biography about rock and roll exploits. The human interest angle is so well developed that one cannot help being moved by the love story that is Ann and "Bottles" Ketchum. I fell in love with little Bobby as he struggled to please his "larger than life" father. We follow Bobby through the rigors of military school to see him emerge as a well educated, disciplined young man. A man who never stopped reaching for the brass ring in the most unforgiving business there is. What a riveting account of inspiring musical achievements countered with crushing disappointments. Carving out a lifelong career in music from the unlikely locale of the Ozark Mountains, would seem like achievement enough. But, giving up has never been an option, and it is all laid out in vivid detail. A lesser man might have been crushed under the wheels of the machine, but through powerful storytelling, we come to feel the fire that burns in a musicians soul. The story comes full circle and we learn that Bob Ketchum is "larger than life" in his own right. What an amazing story. -- Marie Lynn Mitchell via Facebook
Actually, I'm on my second read of it...........it's worth reading at least twice......you know, you always miss something the first time through. -- El Crawford via Facebook
Of all my stateside facebook friends, Bob Ketchum is probably the guy I can identify with the most. We have had parallel paths as drummers, audio engineer/producers, video producers, radio "pronounskers" and rural codgers. This is a cool executive summary of his colorful life. -- Joe Cunningham via Facebook
Bob is a dear life long friend, who, I think has seen and done it all. This is a "must have", great story, great music, and great person. -- Sandy Dyce Stromberg via Facebook
If anyone wants to be inspired, I recommend you buy Bob's Book. You will be mesmerized. It put me into a different World. (WOW). Folks, the 1st 2 chapters is a Book worth reading in itself. But don't stop there. Hit the link above, and you will have that prize very soon, like I did. -- Dale Morris via Facebook
Just got my copy of Bob Ketchum's e-book, "Face the Music", the story of his life from his childhood, leading through his days in radio to his recording studio. Lots of pics and mp3's....can't wait to hunker down to some good reading and listening!!! -- Jeff Coley via Facebook
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