Hope to Die A Memoir of Jazz and Justice

by Woodward, Verdi Woody

• ISBN13: 9780971059849
• ISBN10: 0971059845
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-06-28
• Publisher: Schaffner Press, Inc.

Summary

"Verdi Woodward knows every sound of the three basic time warps of our eraheroin, prison and jazz. His book gets them down cold with prose flights springing from the throat of a saxophone." Charles Bowden, author,Down by the RiverandA Shadow in the City The harrowing life of a heroin junkie, and the life changes that accompanied addiction, are succinctly captured in this gripping memoir of Verdi "Woody" Woodward. A professional saxophonist in the 1950s and a fixture on the Los Angeles jazz scene, Woody lost his way, became a "hope to die" drug addict and armed robber on the run, and spent a decade of running from the law before being captured. During incarceration Woody found the strength to renounce not only drugs, but also the violence and brutality fostered by the prison system.

Author Biography

Verdi Woodward is a fully recovered addict who counsels other recovering addicts, alcoholics, and prisoners. He lives in Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Prologue	1	(3)
PART I: THE GORILLA	4	(76)
PART II: FLIGHT	80	(72)
PART III: THE GROWLER	152	(47)
PART IV: THE JOINT	199	(83)
PART V: FREEDOM	282	(51)
Epilogue	333	(3)
Acknowledgements	336