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Robert Hilburn

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Robert Hilburn
Hilburn in front of his personal library in 2010
Born (1939-09-25) September 25, 1939 (age 85)
Natchitoches, Louisiana, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materCalifornia State University, Northridge
OccupationJournalist
Years active1966–present
Spouses
  • Ruthann Snijders
  • Kathi Hilburn[1]
ChildrenKathy and Robert Hilburn[1]
Websitewww.roberthilburnonline.com

Robert Hilburn (born September 25, 1939) is an American pop music critic, author, and radio host. A music critic and editor at the Los Angeles Times from 1970 to 2005, his reviews, essays, and profiles have appeared in publications worldwide. He has written five books, including biographies of Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, and Randy Newman, and a memoir, Corn Flakes with John Lennon.

Early life and education

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Hilburn was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and lived there until he was five, mostly on his grandfather’s cotton farm in nearby Campti. During those years, and when visiting his grandparents in later summers, he was exposed to the blues and country music styles that eventually gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll. After a few years in Dallas, Texas, he moved with his family to Southern California, where he graduated from Reseda High School in 1957 and California State University, Northridge (journalism degree) in 1961. He worked as a news reporter on a suburban Los Angeles newspaper (the Valley Times TODAY) for two years, but tired of journalism and became a public information officer for the Los Angeles Unified School District in the mid-1960s. While there he began to miss writing around the same time he fell in love with the work of Bob Dylan and the Beatles. Eager to write about music, Hilburn did a series of freelance pieces on such figures as Johnny Cash and Janis Joplin for the Los Angeles Times before being hired full-time by the paper.[2]

Career

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1966-2005: Los Angeles Times, Springsteen

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Hilburn began writing at the Los Angeles Times in 1966,[3] replacing Pete Johnson as rock critic in 1970.[4] While at the Times, Hilburn accompanied several artists on landmark tours, including Johnny Cash for his celebrated Folsom Prison concert, John's inaugural visit to Russia, Paul Simon's Graceland tour stop in Zimbabwe, and Bob Dylan's first concerts in Israel. [5] He spent a week on the road with the Sex Pistols during the British band's first U.S. tour. [6] He wrote about rap, techno, punk and musical culture.

In addition to writing extensively about Dylan, Springsteen, David Bowie and U2, Hilburn was an early champion of artists including John Prine, Patti Smith, The Eagles, Tom Petty, Prince, Elvis Costello, Guns N' Roses, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Ice Cube, Public Enemy, Eminem, The White Stripes, Arcade Fire, and X.[7] His 1970 review of Elton John's first Los Angeles show helped to launch John's career.[8] In 1985, Hilburn published a biography of Bruce Springsteen as one in a series of Rolling Stone Press books. [9]

2006-present: Memoir, Dylan, Simon, and Newman biographies, KSCN

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In 2009, he published Corn Flakes with John Lennon, which focuses on the work and influence of John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Phil Spector, Michael Jackson, U2, Kurt Cobain and N.W.A.[10]

In 2013, Hilburn published a biography of Cash titled Johnny Cash: The Life.[11][12] Michiko Kakutani, the chief book critic of the New York Times, named the biography as one of her ten favorite books of the year.[13] Kirkus called it, "an instant-classic music biography with something to offer all generations of listeners."[14]

Five years later, Hilburn published a biography of Paul Simon titled Paul Simon: The Life.[15] Author Stephen King praised the book as one of the few works that offered insight into "the creative development of a gifted artist." Rolling Stone declared the book "epic" and "definitive".

Hilburn hosts a weekly Tuesday evening music program, Rock 'n' Roll Times, on KCSN, a public broadcasting radio station in the Los Angeles area.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hilburn, Robert (May 28, 2019). Paul Simon: The Life. Simon and Schuster. p. 395. ISBN 9781501112133.
  2. ^ "CORN FLAKES WITH JOHN LENNON AND OTHER TALES FROM A ROCK 'N' ROLL LIFE". Kirkus Reviews. September 15, 2009.
  3. ^ Camacho, Natalie L. (September 26, 2017). "Music Critic Thanks CSUN for Helping Him Land "The Best Job in the World"". CSUN TODAY.
  4. ^ Robert Christgau. "A History of Rock Criticism" (PDF). p. 140. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  5. ^ Fong-Torres, Ben (March 28, 1974). "Bob Dylan Bids a Restful Farewell to Tour '74". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Marchese, David (October 23, 2013). "Johnny Cash Turned Down 'The Gambler,' and Other Revelations from His New Bio". Spin. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Bemis, Alec Hanley. "What's happened to Robert Hilburn's rock'n'roll heroes?". Arcade.
  8. ^ "Elton John: 'It's vital that music venues stay open'". August 26, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  9. ^ Morse, S. (1985, Nov 30). A NEW BIOGRAPHY OF THE BOSS: [THIRD EDITION]. Boston Globe (Pre-1997 Fulltext)
  10. ^ Boucher, Geoff (October 11, 2009). "Who is Robert Hilburn? A champion and an advocate". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^ Hilburn, Robert (2013). Johnny Cash: The Life (Deckle Edge). New York, New York: Little Brown and Company. ISBN 978-0-316-19475-4.
  12. ^ "Biography Doesn't Hold Back On Darkest Years Of 'The Man In Black'". Morning Edition. NPR. October 29, 2013.
  13. ^ Kakutani, Michiko (December 19, 2013). "Michiko Kakutani's 10 Favorite Books of 2013". New York Times.
  14. ^ "JOHNNY CASH - THE LIFE". Kirkus Reviews.
  15. ^ Greene, Andy (May 8, 2018). "Inside Paul Simon's Definitive New Biography". RollingStone.
  16. ^ "Rock 'n' Roll Times". KCSN.
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