Memoir Gifter Testimonial – Ana Gracey

Barbara Thompson MBE, the jazz legend, penned her life story with LifeBook

Earlier this summer, LifeBook completed work on the autobiography of a world-renowned jazz saxophonist, Barbara Thompson. It was a pleasure for everyone involved to work on Journey to a Destination Unknown, a moving, fascinating and engaging book.

Ana Gracey, Barbara Thompson’s daughter and a musician, played an integral part in writing Barbara’s autobiography.

LifeBook - Barbara Thompson Autobiography signing 3a

For jazz lovers around the world, Barbara is a household name. She collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber on his iconic musicals Cats and Starlight Express, she performed extensively with Paraphernalia and Colosseum and she played the title music for A Touch of Frost. On the British jazz scene, Barbara is a bona fide legend.

In 1981, Jon and I, together with Rod Argent and John Mole, spent a few weeks rehearsing with Andrew on his new musical Cats. We opened with the show at the New London Theatre and stayed on for two weeks to record the London cast album at Olympic Studios. Andrew Lloyd Webber was already a huge success but even so, we had no idea of the long-lasting appeal of this musical – which has now been made into a feature film.

Barbara’s story is one that needed to be recorded, and the team at LifeBook is grateful to Barbara and her family for letting us be a part of the journey. Barbara’s autobiography will be published in a slightly different format by a publisher later this year. Stay tuned.

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