The Answer to Life (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781494243647)

James A. Fragale got his start with a column for Billboard, "Music on Campus" later spun-off as a supplement. Then, four covers (Richard Gere, * Hart Bochner, Christopher Reeve, Ryan O'Neal); a general interest column for GQ; as well as an article on Las Vegas. After that, he wrote songs with Angelo ("Blue Velvet," "Twin Peaks") Badalamenti. Next, Fragale produced Tony Award Winner Melba ("Purlie") Moore's first two record albums. Moore recorded ten of his songs. He created commercial jingles: Valerie Simpson on vocals; hit-making arranger Charlie Calello at the baton. Then, two-years as A&R man for Columbia Records. In People, stories on actress Susan Dey and Beatle Auction. Next, a profile on writer-actor Buck Henry in Writer's Digest, followed by "How to Write a Hit Song." Then profiles on WV born, personality Ada "Bricktop" Smith for both Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune that ran simultaneously with cross-country Smithsonian Jazz Age touring exhibition. After that, two-parter on actor Montgomery Clift in now-defunct Blue Boy. Soon he won John Truby Student Screenwriting Awards two years in a row. Jim's "Who Is Syd Field and Why Does Everyone Own His Books?" in Creative Screenwriting garnered a big reprint. He assisted Liz Smith in syndicated column and leg-man about-New York. (Good gams run in the family). More recently, his essay on humblest of coins, the penny, appeared in Newsweek. The work failed to save Newsweek got thousands of reprints and hundreds of online hits. Jim produced Rock CD "Oil and Coal," with singer Joe Lutton of nine original songs. His three "Huffington Post" blogs still get hits: "Save the Music, Music, Music;" "Books You Hold in Your Hand" and "Old! We Hate Old!" Good legs continued, Jim's niece Kaitlin Gates was "Miss West Virginia" in Miss American 2013. We'd like to add weekly "Hillbilly in Manhattan" outing in The WV Hillbilly. *Controversial Richard Gere cover story is considered best ever in 50-year history by current editor-in-chief James Nelson, so he said in New York Daily News. Some wags disliked Gere holding a cigarette cover). Producer and lyrics for CD "Oil and Coal" with singer Joe Lutton. Born in Clarksburg, WV, studied journalism at the University of Miami and got a BA in English, Salem College, Salem, WV