The musician BRANDEN JAMES may seem a tad young to be writing a memoir but having packed a lot into his life so far gets to add author to his list of talents as he has just releasing his memoir “LYRICS OF MY LIFE”.
It covers his growing up in California to evangelical Christian parents with four children and always facing financial troubles. And it takes us to his life now touring around the world with his husband the Australian cellist James Clark.
The book makes foR a great read as there were lots of bumps along the way of course like anyone coming to grips with their own sexuality mixed with family and religion and the struggles that come from putting these all together. In dealing with these, there are times of self-inflicted shame, drugs and alcohol, eventually becoming HIV+, and figuring oneself out. But always surrounded with music as the thread that keeps him altogether.
In his career there were as many ups and downs as there were in his personal life but through perseverance Branden made the big time by becoming a finalist on AMERiCA’S GOT TALENT. That experience is what leads to his finally becoming the performer he is now and no longer just a member of a chorus. Then meetingJames his future husband and musical partner gave him the real sense of purpose he had been looking for.
This book is very well written, funny, introspective, and a very easy read as you go through each phase of Branden’s life and career. It is obvious that he has maintained journals throughout his life as he is able to effectively remember things that were said and very specific details of events throughout his life.
This book will hopefully be inspirational to young LGBTQ adults struggling to find their way to adulthood and show them some of the missteps that anyone can encounter. The fact that he has so successfully combined his lOve for music with that of his husband gives his story a perfect happy ever after ending.
The QueerGuru Team have had the pleasure of doing live interviews with the musical duo Branden & James on two occasions and seeing their latest live production of The Lady Gaga Songbook this summer in Provincetown during Covid-19. They are unquestionably a disarmingly charming couple, and their many fans will love to learn more about them both
Lyrics of My Life My Journey with Family, HIV, and Reality TV By Branden James publisher Simon & Schuster
Review by Dan Desjardins
Dan is one member of the Queerguru Team that is not often seen as he is our Videographer. However after meeting the Author on a couple of occasions he insisted on reviewing this book. He currently lives in Fort Lauderdale and Provincetown and asked that we point out he is currently single
P.S. You may also like to watch this :
https:// queerguru.com/branden-james-are-back-in-ptown-making-magical-music/
Labels: 2020, book review, Branden & James, Dan Desjardins
