Let's Take it From the Top

Let's Take it From the Top: A Musical Life Odyssey by Peter Jansen spans an amazing career, from childhood performances in the British Jazz and Skiffle scene of the '50s, through the colourful "Swinging London" of the '60s. A first "pro" band, which later had a young David Bowie as lead singer, plus tours in Europe, sometimes backing big names, followed by years in Bermuda, where Peter joined with partner and future wife Mary Kingsley for a stellar career.

Cruising was next, then extensive residencies at Canada's premier resorts, before heading into theatre and cabaret venues across Canada, the U.S., and U.K., now with comedy, ventriloquism and often magic as part of the show. Many thousands of events, for young and old, including performing for AIDS orphans in Kenya, running Canada's largest Earth Day Festival, organizing concerts in aid of the Canadian Hunger Foundation's overseas work, and performing "in character" for Living History parks; this is a remarkable story which continues to this day.

Evocative, witty, and revealing, this memoir will appeal not only to musicians of many genres, but also to those normally in front of the stage curtains, who would like a peek at life on the other side. A great read for musicians or other performers, containing timeless advice and more than a few laughs, gleaned from living in a truly magical era of show business.

This version contains black and white photographs.