Chris Hillman’s Acclaimed Memoir, ‘Time Between,’ Heads Into Second Printing

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chris Hillman’s memoir, “Time Between: My Life as a Byrd, Burrito Brother and Beyond,” first published November 17, 2020, by BMG Books, has gone into its second printing and will be available at retail on February 23, 2021, according to a news release from Conqueroo today, which follows:

Hillman is arguably the primary architect of what’s come to be known as country-rock. After playing the Southern California folk and bluegrass circuit, he joined Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Gene Clark, and Michael Clarke as an original member of The Byrds. He went on to partner with Gram Parsons to launch The Flying Burrito Brothers, recording a handful of albums that have become touchstones of the Americana genre.

Hillman then embarked on a prolific recording career as a member of Stephen Stills’ Manassas, as a solo artist, and as a member of several groups that he insists sound more like law firms than bands: Souther-Hillman-Furay with acclaimed songwriter J.D. Souther and former Buffalo Springfield and Poco member Richie Furay; McGuinn, Clark & Hillman with two of his fellow former Byrds; and Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen with legendary bluegrass musicians Tony Rice, Larry Rice, and longtime collaborator and duo partner Herb Pedersen.

As a songwriter, Hillman appeared on the Billboard singles charts in four consecutive decades, and his songs have been recorded by a diverse range of artists, from Steve Earle to Patti Smith to Roy Rogers. In the 1980s, Hillman launched a successful mainstream country group when he formed The Desert Rose Band with Pedersen and John Jorgenson, scoring eight Billboard Top 10 country hits.

In the midst of his country success, Hillman was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame along with the other original members of The Byrds. He has since released a number of solo efforts, including 2017’s highly acclaimed “Bidin’ My Time,” which was the final album produced by Tom Petty with executive producer Pedersen.

Hillman remains active on the interview circuit. On March 3 he will be featured at Far West Folk Alliance’s virtual conference, “Best of the West & Beyond,” interviewed by journalist Randy Lewis. He will appear on the Signature Sounds Interview series on March 7.

Four tours have been postponed due to the pandemic: The East Coast shows will move to spring 2022. Midwest dates will move to September, Florida shows to October, and Texas shows to November of this year.

In the memoir, Hillman takes readers behind the curtain of his quintessentially Southern Californian experience. Raised in San Diego County’s then-rural Rancho Santa Fe, Chris grew up in an idyllic 1950s environment that was filled with TV cowboys, horseback riding, exploring the outdoors, surfing, discovering girls, and falling in love with music.

When his older sister came home from college with a stack of records by folk artists such as Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly, Chris was hooked. He soon fell in love with the bluegrass music of Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and The Stanley Brothers, spending hours mastering the guitar and mandolin.

Once the Beatles invaded America, the various aspects of Hillman’s musical DNA came together that would eventually lead to him become a pioneering founding father of country-rock.

According to Hillman: “I never anticipated such an incredible response to my book, ‘Time Between,’ and to already be in the second printing is just phenomenal. I’m grateful to the many people who have embraced it.”

“BMG has been so pleased with the reaction to Chris’s book,” said Scott B. Bomar, Publisher and Senior Director of the company’s growing Books department. “We knew it was great, which is why we signed it, but even we were surprised by how swiftly we needed another printing. Nearly the entire first print run was accounted for by the time it hit the market, and we had to scramble to get another print run initiated during the busy holiday season. That’s a good problem to have. The critics and, more importantly, the fans have really resonated with Chris’s direct and honest style. We’re thrilled to be a part of helping him tell his story.”

The book won press accolades upon publication. “It’s fascinating to read about his view from slightly out of the spotlight as countless memorable characters drift in and out of his life,” noted Variety.

Forbes echoed: “To say that musician Chris Hillman had an interesting musical career would be a definite understatement. In the 1960s, Hillman was a member of two pioneering bands … So it only makes sense that Hillman, who continues to record as a solo artist, pen a memoir about his time with those bands.”

Singer-songwriter Wesley Stace, reviewing in The Wall Street Journal, wrote: “Mr. Hillman, a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer with four Grammy nominations to his name, has a solid claim as anyone — though he modestly does not make it — to have invented the entire genre of country-rock … The cutthroat mentality of a band on the make is tactfully told. Mr. Hillman, a longtime Christian who understands that it’s all about motes and beams, is as discreet about other people’s bad choices as he is about his own, and Time Between gives him a chance to reflect, make amends and give thanks.”

No Depression summed it up: “Chris, who is still an active musician, has written a concise memoir that’s narrated in an easy-going conversational manner … it’s hard to put down.”

“Chris Hillman has been a well-kept secret in the history of rock. Yeah, we all know how great he was in The Byrds, but his contributions go well beyond that. Chris was a true innovator — the man who invented country-rock. Every time the Eagles board their private jet Chris at least paid for the fuel.” —Tom Petty

“Chris Hillman is a bona fide pioneering godfather to generations of musical souls who’ve sought inspiration at that divine crossroads where rock ‘n’ roll, country, bluegrass, folk, honky-tonk, and gospel music intersect and harmonize. He’s a national treasure, truly a statesman.”  —Marty Stuart

For more information about Chris Hillman, and to order an autographed copy of “Time Between,” visit:

* www.chrishillman.com
* www.rounder.com (label)
* www.skylineonline.com (for booking)

See Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen on SCVTV/Santa Clarita’s WAVE-nominated “House Blend with Stephen K. Peeples” on May 21, 2011.

Grammy nominee Stephen K. Peeples wrote the liner notes for the “McGuinn, Clark & Hillman” album (Capitol, 1979). He was raised by career newspaper journalists and music-lovers in Miami and Los Angeles. His Grammy nomination was for co-producing the “Monterey International Pop Festival” box set with Geoff Gans and exec producer Lou Adler (Rhino/MIPF, 1992). • Peeples was the original, award-winning producer of “The Lost Lennon Tapes” radio series for Westwood One from 1988-1990, and writer/producer of hundreds of WW1 programs in the preceding five years. • His first music industry gig was as an Associate Editor at Cash Box magazine in Hollywood in 1975. He went on to be a Media Relations-PR executive for Capitol Records (1977-1980), Elektra/Asylum Records (1980-1983) and Rhino Entertainment (1992-1998). • Moving online, he was Rhino’s first web editor (1996-1998), then elevated to content editor of Warner Music Group websites (1998-2001). • Based in the Santa Clarita Valley just north of L.A., Peeples was the award-winning Online Editor for The Signal newspaper’s website from 2007-2011, and wrote-hosted-co-produced SCVTV’s WAVE-nominated “House Blend” local music TV show from 2010-2015 (archived online and still airing in reruns). • The Santa Clarita journalist was most recently a News Editor at SCVTV’s SCVNews.com and SVP/New Media for Rare Cool Stuff Unltd. He retired from his 46-year media career in 2021. • For more info and original stories, visit https://stephenkpeeples.com/. For exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews, subscribe to Peeples’ YouTube channel.

Article: Chris Hillman’s Acclaimed Memoir, ‘Time Between,’ Heads Into Second Printing
Author: Stephen K. Peeples
Category: News and Reviews
Article Source: StephenKPeeples.com