Ken Sharp

Ken Sharp is a music journalist, author, and musician known for his extensive writing about power pop and rock music history. His work has appeared in publications including Billboard, Rolling Stone, and Classic Rock Magazine. Sharp has authored or co-authored over fifteen books focused on music, including detailed accounts of KISS, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Cheap Trick. His most notable works include "Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy" and "Play On!: Power Pop Heroes." Through extensive interviews and research, Sharp has documented important periods in rock history, particularly the power pop genre of the 1970s and early 1980s. His writing style combines historical detail with firsthand accounts from musicians and industry figures. As a musician himself, Sharp has released several power pop albums including "Happy Accidents" and "New Mourning," while continuing his work as a music historian and journalist.

Readers praise Sharp's deep research and ability to uncover new details through extensive interviews with musicians and industry insiders. His books receive consistent recognition for documenting previously untold stories and behind-the-scenes accounts in rock history. What readers liked: - Thorough interview work that reveals new perspectives - Detailed chronologies of events - Focus on under-documented music scenes and genres - Technical knowledge of music and recording What readers disliked: - Some find the writing style dry and overly focused on minutiae - Books can feel like compiled interviews rather than cohesive narratives - Limited analysis beyond documenting facts and quotes Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.3/5 average across books Goodreads: 3.9/5 average Reader comment examples: "Sharp asks questions other journalists miss" - Amazon review "Great primary sources but needed more narrative flow" - Goodreads review "The definitive account of power pop's key players" - Power Pop blog review

Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon's Double Fantasy An account of John Lennon's final album through interviews with the musicians, producers, and others involved in its creation.

Power Pop: Conversations with the Power Pop Elite A collection of interviews with musicians from the power pop genre, including members of Cheap Trick, The Knack, and The Raspberries.

Play On!: Power Pop Heroes A multi-volume series documenting the history of power pop music through extensive interviews with artists and industry figures.

Overnight Sensation: The Story of the Raspberries A biographical account of the band The Raspberries, featuring interviews with band members and associates.

Small Talk: The Story of KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park A detailed examination of the making of KISS's 1978 TV movie through interviews with cast and crew members.

Cheap Trick: When the Lights Are Out A biography of the rock band Cheap Trick covering their career from formation through the late 1990s.

KISS: Behind the Mask A chronicle of KISS's history featuring interviews with band members, producers, and associates from throughout their career.

Elvis: Vegas '69 A documentation of Elvis Presley's 1969 Las Vegas engagement at the International Hotel through firsthand accounts and photographs.

Greg Kot writes about power pop and rock history with deep research and first-hand interviews. His books on Wilco and Mavis Staples cover similar ground as Sharp's artist profiles.

Martin Popoff focuses on hard rock and metal artist biographies with extensive source material and historical context. His detailed accounts of bands like Cheap Trick align with Sharp's documentation style.

Paul Myers produces musician biographies centered on the 1970s and power pop scenes. His works on Todd Rundgren and Badfinger cover artists and eras that intersect with Sharp's focus areas.

Paul Zollo specializes in songwriter interviews and creative process stories using direct source material. His collections of artist conversations mirror Sharp's interview-based approach to music journalism.

Rob Sheffield writes personal narratives about pop music history and artist stories from first-hand experience. His books about specific time periods in rock connect to Sharp's historical music coverage.