Dust: More Lives of the Poets (with Guitars)

by Ray Robertson

Overview

“Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life—and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic.”—Blues Blast Magazine

In Dust: More Lives of the Poets (with Guitars), Ray Robertson digs deep, offering up an eclectic gathering of a dozen biographical and critical portraits of some of the twentieth century’s most innovative, influential, and fascinating musicians. From rock to folk, blues to gospel, country to the unclassifiable; from the famous, to the forgotten, to the barely known, Ray Robertson combines a novelist’s eye for dramatic detail with an unapologetic fanboy’s obsession with the lives and lasting artistic achievements of twelve of his musical heroes.

FEATURING: Alex Chilton • James Booker • Nico • The Staple Singers • Captain Beefheart • Handsome Ned • Duane Allman • Lee Mavers • Duster Bennett • Danny Kirwan • Nick Drake • Muddy Waters

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771966559
Publisher:	Biblioasis
Publication date:	11/11/2025
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Ray Robertson is the author of nine novels, six collections of non-fiction, and a book of poetry. His work has been translated into several languages. He contributed liner notes to three Grateful Dead archival releases: Dave’s Picks #45, the Here Comes Sunshine 1973 boxed set, and the From the Mars Hotel 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. Born and raised in Chatham, Ontario, he lives in Toronto.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Live of the Poets (with Guitars)

“One part of Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson’s gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock ‘n’ roll writers into the hacks they really are.”
—Beat Route

“There’s much to like about this book, but its real strength is in Robertson’s voice, which bobs and weaves throughout each essay. . . Robertson’s irreverent voice, his character-driven storytelling abilities, and his personal indebtedness to the lucky thirteen make the collection work. This isn’t a history lesson tethered to research—it’s a novelist’s exploration of pioneers and the high drama of their lives.”
—The Alt

“Although Robertson may not be as well-known to American music fans as most of the cult favorites he celebrates here, he brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows

“For all the talk about The Grateful Dead being primarily a band you need to hear live . . . the fact that there has not been a truly great book chronicling the band’s live shows is surprising. That is until now . . . Ray Robertson’s All the Years Combine tells the story of 50 of some of the best Grateful Dead concerts, chronicled in order from 1966 to 1995. But Robertson’s book is really more than just that . . . All the Years Combine, much like the music it heralds, transcends.”
—Under the Radar

“Robertson—writing at full, heart-exploding tilt—charts the course of the greatest American band (yes, I said it), from their humble start to their humbling end through capsule reviews of 50 shows. This is a glorious book, full of setlists and anecdotes and clear-eyed love.”
—Toronto Star

“All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows is delightfully genre-fluid—part critique, part review, part biography, part journalism.”
—Palo Alto Weekly

From the Publisher