J. Brian

still livin' the dream...

Grant Avenue Studio - Hamilton - 1977 - We Are All Poets Sessions

Still Livin' the Dream - Reader Reviews

"A must-read for the independent
entertainer/musician/singer/songwriter.
A well crafted inspiring piece of work
from this talented and transparent visual storyteller."

"Who doesn't love a good book about music? Not only the
songs, but the man behind such passionate and soulful words."

"If you could imagine taking a long road trip with J. and asking
him to tell you his amazing life story, his one-on-one reply
would mirror this book."

"J. Brian has been part of the soundtrack of my life. Give this a
read, you won't be disappointed."

"I was once told that most people tell stories, but only a few are
storytellers. You, my friend, are a true storyteller!"

"Your life journey has been incredible. Reading your book made
me feel like I was right beside you through it all."

"Your story as an artist is made that much more meaningful when
we all note your current sense of accomplishment, strength of
conviction, and relentless enthusiasm."

"I could feel myself with him on his artistic journey. A powerful,
moving and inspiring piece of work."

"Absolutely loved it. I laughed and I cried..."

"I am drinking your story like a particularly yummy red wine.
It's so good, you simply can't rush it. What a wonderful read..."

J.'s Memoirs

SOLD OUT

Foreword - Still Livin' the Dream

From the first time I saw J. at one of his gigs, I knew he had something special going on. He had all of the qualities of a first-class act. His voice was strong and clear and every song he sang was mind-blowing. His original songs were well written and his stage presence was outstanding due to his interaction with his audience.

That was 1989 and it wasn’t long before this stranger was a fan and then a friend. As a fan, I attended as many of his gigs as possible. It wasn’t long before I had many friends and coworkers attending his shows. Our friendship has grown over the years and been nurtured by our mutual love and exploration of music and its contributing players.

Time marched on and I saw J. doing the same bar circuit even though he had so much more to offer. How could this be that he wasn’t signed to a major contract? Without a manager and big-time PR firm, getting noticed is difficult at best. Still, he continued with his gigs and songwriting and remained enthusiastic about both his stage and studio work.

As for this book J. is more than qualified to write about his career on the road and in the studio. He has spent 50 years performing on stage and travelling the country, at the same time writing and recording songs that have stood the test of time.

At several stages he could have turned bitter and cynical but he stayed positive and continued to perform and write in constancy of living the dream. On stage you would never see a subpar performance. As the man said: “You never know who’s in the audience.”

This book is the half-century experience of an independent unsigned singer-songwriter who never got an opportunity from the big labels to be discovered and make it 'BIG'. Here he shares first-hand accounts of his storied career and the inspiration for many of his songs.

Anyone who knows J. or just loves the singer/songwriter genre will find this to be a great read. Music lovers rejoice!

The book along with the music is pure genius, a true Canadian treasure. Although not making it 'Big' in the eyes of the public, J. is a giant to his Same Old Faces.

"I arrive at this place in comfort after cause
At the end of the day having done it my way
Having lived a life looking forward to looking back
I shall end in summation to say…"

...and I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from reading this book.

Eric Green
Music Lover, Enthusiast & Jail Chapter Same Old Face