Stu Levitan welcomes Madison’s own Harvey Briggs, co-author of a book that, frankly, may be just a little outside the traditional interests and experiences of the average WORT listener. The book is Rolls-Royce Motor Cars: Making A Legend, a richly illustrated up-close and personal look at the most prestigious motor car in the world, published today by ACC Art Books.

John Lennon had a Rolls-Royce, a 1965 Phantom V Touring Limousine which he had painted a bright yellow floral design around the time of Sgt Pepper. It’s now valued at about $7 million. Jennifer Lopez owns a silver Ghost, as does Justin Beiber. Jay Z and Beyonce own a Phantom 8 and Silver Cloud 3 respectively. Well, you get the idea.

But it’s not who owns a Rolls-Royce that interests Harvey Briggs – it’s who builds them, and how they go about it. Those are the stories he tells in his first book, written with British author Simon Van Booy.

Harvey Briggs is an Emmy Award-winning writer and editor, former name partner in the Madison advertising agency of Lindsay, Stone and Briggs. A native of Detroit Michigan, he comes by his interest in automobiles organically, as the great-grandson of Walter Briggs Sr., manufacturer of automobile bodies, owner of the Detroit Tigers and namesake of Briggs Stadium. Harvey is currently the VP of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and since 2016, the editor/publisher of the website RidesAndDrives.

Two disclosures before we start. First, Harvey and I have been friends for about 20 years or so and used to collaborate on the scripts for the musical comedy Nakoma neighborhood puts on every year. More recently, I have been the music editor for the aforementioned rides and drives website. That position is unpaid, but has given me the opportunity to drive some nice cars while attending concerts and festivals around the country. And after I am properly vaccinated, I hope to do so again.

It is a pleasure to welcome to Madison BookBeat, my friend Harvey Briggs.

Airdate - Dec. 7, 2020