Young Neil: The Sugar Mountain Years

by Sharry Wilson

Overview

“A supremely compelling chronicle of Young’s first 20 years.” — Rolling Stone

“This is a book written by a true fan for true fans.” — Publishers Weekly

Includes many previously unseen photos and set lists

Exploring a time in this Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s life that has yet to be documented with such depth of research, Young Neil is an exhaustive document of his “Sugar Mountain” years, from 1945 to 1966. From his birth in Toronto through his school years in Florida, Ontario, and Manitoba, the book examines the development of Young’s unique talent against a backdrop of shifting postwar values, a turbulent family history, and a musical revolution in the making.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781770411869
Publisher:	ECW Press
Publication date:	10/01/2014
Pages:	472
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Sharry Wilson was born in Toronto and still resides just north of the city with her husband. A lifelong Neil Young fan, Sharry has contributed numerous articles to Broken Arrow, the quarterly magazine of the Neil Young Appreciation Society. Young Neil is an expansion of her two-part article, “A Shakey Education.” Young Neil is Sharry’s first book.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Born in Ontario

1 In the Beginning… 3

2 Omemiee and Beyond 21

3 An Uneasy Time in Toronto 60

4 Brock Road: A Rural Idyll 71

5 Sad Movies 110

6 It Might Have Been 126

Part 2 Winnipeg…Field of Opportunity

7 Earl Grey Junior High School: The Jades, The Esquires 153

8 Kelvin High School (Year One): The Stardusters/Twilighters/Teen Tones (and Others) 194

9 Kelvin High School (Year Two): The Classics, The Squires 232

10 Kelvin High School (Year Three): The Squires (Continued) 274

11 Get Gone 324

Part 3 Leaving Sugar Mountain

12 Oh Canada 347

Appendixes 375

End Notes 389

Bibliography 441

Other Sources 447

Index 448

Acknowledgements 467

Editorial Reviews

10/20/2014
Wilson's debut work chronicles the formative years of 1945 to 1966 of Toronto-born guitarist singer/songwriter Neil Young. Using first-hand accounts from Young's family and friends, she meticulously recounts Young's childhood and teen years, focusing on the people and events that influenced his musical growth. Readers meet Young's father, Scott, a journalist and author, and his mother Rassy, and get an intimate view of their rocky marriage and eventual divorce. Wilson details Young's parents' struggles to get their son to apply himself to schoolwork, which ended when he dropped out of high school to become a musician. The book examines musical influences right from Young's father, who introduced him to his first instrument (a ukulele), to the music he listened to on his transistor radio, to the bands and guitarists that he encountered. Wilson also traces Young's beginnings with various bands and the path that led him to Fort William, Ont., where he met Stephen Stills, his soon-to-be bandmate in Buffalo Springfield. Enriched with more than 100 photos, this is a book written by a true fan for true fans. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

A supremely compelling chronicle of Young’s first 20 years.” — Rolling Stone

“A terrific study of Neil’s early life.” — Broken Arrow

“This is a book written by a true fan for true fans.” — Publishers Weekly

“The narrative is written in an unadorned style that makes for a leisurely read and reflects the uncomplicated authenticity of Young’s legacy. With a multitude of historic sources at her disposal, the author has borne essential reading for heavy duty fans who want—nay, need—to know why it’s so important to keep on rocking in the free world.” — Alibi

“A compelling look at the first 20 years of Neil Young’s life as he sets out on his journey to find a heart of gold. Sharry Wilson not only takes us on Neil’s voyage but also uncovers life in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s in Ontario and Manitoba. A wonderful study of one the world’s great artists written with passion and an obvious love for her subject.” —Bernie Finkelstein, founder of True North Records and author of True North: A Life In The Music Business

From the Publisher