The Yin and the Yang of It All

Rock'n'Roll Memories from the Cusp as Told by a Mixed-Up, Mixed-Race Kid

By: John Kim Faye

Narrated by: John Kim Faye

Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1966—the Year of the Horse, not to mention Revolver and Pet Sounds—John Kim Faye was born out of wedlock to a 40-year-old Korean mother and a 62-year-old Irish father. Faye grew up in the state of Delaware, where laws forbidding interracial marriage were still on the books until 1967.

As the lead singer and primary songwriter of the Caulfields, Faye was one of the only mixed-race Asian American frontman to sign a major record contract in the alternative rock heyday of the 1990s. In an era that preceded K-Pop—and even the rise of the internet—Faye’s personal journey did not lead to superstardom. Instead, The Yin and The Yang of it All is a memoir about the discovery of a voice, a tribe, and a musical ethnicity that runs far deeper than his Korean/Irish roots.

Bookended by the loss of this father against the backdrop of his tumultuous childhood in the post-Vietnam 70s and his mother’s tragic passing in 2012, Faye’s story weaves a tapestry of revealing moments as told from his unique perspective on the cusps of identity, race, and fame.

©2023 John Kim Faye (P)2023 Advantage Media Group, Inc.

Brilliant Narration, Poignant and Funny as Hell

I have well over 100 books in my Audible Library and this is one of the very best I've come across. So many things about this book are remarkable, but you have to start with John's narration. It reminds me so much of Matthew McConaughey's narration in Green Lights - every single line was treated as performance, not a casual read. John Faye has a different voice for damn near every character that appears in the book, and there is the perfect amount of musical performance sprinkled throughout (both instrumental and John's acappella renderings). This book is seriously funny both in its description of events and also John's perception of the world. John bares his soul in this book and presents himself to the world as a flawed, evolving individual. I give this one my highest recommendation for sure.

What a great listen!

I loved this authors “voice”, not just him reading his book, but that mark of a good book that pulls you in and makes you glad to listen ( or read if it’s not the audio book ) as it unfolds. I loved the Caufields in the 90’s and this book helped me discover how wonderful a songwriter and performer Mr Faye is in the years since they disbanded.
Thanks to the author for taking us on this journey with him, you sir, do indeed rock.

A Moving Tale for Rock'n'Roll Believers Everywhere

If you're the sort of music fan who really wants to know what it's like to chase the dream of success in the music industry, this book is anything but a name-dropping linear tale of the good, bad and ugly gigs in a storied touring history. No - there are plenty of great rock'n'roll road warrior stories to be enjoyed here, but they are only one small part of the soul-searching self-exploration of a life contained within these pages. John Faye really lets readers into his personal life here, a path of self-discovery full of emotional ups and downs to which any listener can relate.

As a narrator, Faye delivers the audio version of his book with occasional song lyrics, sung in his own voice, and his story-telling is made all the more entertaining by his ability to employ character voices as effortlessly as he generates song ideas.

If you've never written a song, you may nevertheless understand a great deal more about where they come from after listening to this book, and if you've never heard any music by John Faye, these stories may compel you to seek some out as soon as possible. This was a memorable and moving book which I enjoyed completely. Highly recommended!

Powerful

Can’t recommend this book enough. If you’re a music fan or not, there is something about this book that will speak to your soul.

Insightful, Gorgeous, Hilarious

John Faye’s eloquence is unmatched. Strap in and enjoy the poignancy, incisiveness, and thoughtfulness — this man has a really important story to tell.