On Friday, legendary blues musician Cornbread Harris will join music journalist and The Current’s former Local Show host Andrea Swensson for the launch her new book, Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris. The sold-out event will be at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, and Cornbread Harris will be there playing music and talking with Swensson about his life and the new biography. His son, Jimmy Jam Harris, will also join in for the duo of Cornbread and Jam.

The book tells Harris’ story and shines a light on a piece of Minnesota music history. It got us thinking about music-related books and how they tell an often overlooked story about our favorite musicians. Let’s celebrate these rock reads with music!

So, for today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what music-related biography or memoir would you like to suggest? Let us know, and we’ll play a song by that artist.

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs Played

The Beatles- I Me Mine
The Pretenders- Tattooed Love Boys
The Beach Boys- In My Room
Neko Case- Bad Luck
Ramones- Rock 'N' Roll High School
Sonic Youth- My Friend Goo
Throwing Muses- Counting Backwards
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Wolf (Bonus)

Books Referenced

I, Me, Mine by George Harrison
Reckless: My Life as a Pretender by Chrissie Hynde
I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir by Ben Greenman and Brian Wilson
The Harder I Fight the More I Love You by Neko Case
Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone by Marky Ramone and Richard Herschlag
Girl in a Band: A Memoir by Kim Gordon
Rat Girl: A Memoir by Kristin Hersh
Meet Me in the Bathroom by Lizzy Goodman (Bonus)