In his new book, For the Record: Confessions of a Vinyl-Soundtrack Junkie, Bruce K. Hanson explores his life-long obsession with collecting movie soundtracks and Broadway cast recordings by connecting them with anecdotes about growing up gay in the late sixties and early seventies, performing on stage, teaching theatre and visual arts, and coping with the little challenges that life offers on a regular basis. Bruce's narrative manages to be honest, accessible, and engaging, making him immensely likable while the humor helps keep the narrative moving. Readers who have seen the films or heard the tunes will enjoy being reminded of them, those who haven't may find themselves curious enough to seek them out, and other collectors will no doubt love finding a kindred spirit.
With chapter titles such as "Me and Juliet," "Those Glorious MGM Musicals," "Pillow Talk," "From Russia with Love," and "Cinderella," Bruce leaves no stone unturned as he warmly recalls stories about being a gay adolescent, a father, a teacher, and above all, a collector of vinyl. His knowledge about different recordings is impressive and nicely paired with a personal, relatable tone. The vivid imagery he conveys is absurdly wonderful: acting out The Wizard of Oz in front of his sixth grade class, falling asleep with a cherished record next to his pillow, buying records in a dirty rundown gas station.
Whether describing amusingly embarrassing moments in life or being delightfully naughty, Bruce provides escapist fare for anyone who has ever loved a movie musical, a Broadway musical comedy, or has just been in love.
About the Author: An artist, writer and teacher, Bruce K. Hanson enjoys creating art that relates to what he teaches and visa-versa. Trained as an actor and artist in NYC, Bruce received an MFA in sculpture and pottery from C.C.N.Y. in 1979. His first book, The Peter Pan Chronicles was published in 1993 with a much expanded second edition published as Peter Pan on Stage and Screen in 2011. He has written plays on autism, vampires, and prejudice and recently completed the illustrations for his first children's book, Can I Keep Them, a story about a small boy whose two fathers teach him about the responsibilities of owning a pet. In 2004 Bruce was recognized by DisneyHand as one of the best 100 teachers in the USA and he became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2010. More recently, Bruce was voted Teacher of the Year twice in a six-year period at his school while also winning an Inspiration award from his school district. The author resides in Petersburg, Virginia, where he lives with his partner, Dale, and his pet duck, hens, and cats.
