CAREY: GENESIS OF THE SONG | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

In 1970, Joni and Carey met in Matala, Crete, fell in love, and lived in a cave by the Mediterranean. For his twenty-fourth birthday present Joni wrote him the song, "Carey."

All this is public knowledge; however, Carey: Genesis of the Song delves beneath superficial fan-facts found in biographies of Joni. Carey's back story reveals how powerful life-forces, awakening and dark-night experiences, and travel adventures imprint into his character. The memoir traces Joni and Carey's interlaced paths from Crete to Hollywood, to the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, London and New York with Joni and James Taylor, and back to California, when in 1971, Reprise Records releases the Blue album.

In this year-in-the-life story while Joni was composing Blue, a mutual quest for authenticity, beauty and independence bonded them. As the memoir draws to a close, Cary fast-forwards from 1971 to fifteen years later at a dinner party in his New York apartment, where Joni is a guest. Cary ponders the meaning of the songs on Blue and the effect the album has had on his life.

Cary Raditz is joining us on the Busboys stage to share his memoir, and his experience with Joni Mitchell and her music. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Raditz will be signing following the program.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 5:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of CARY: GENESIS OF THE SONG will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is IN PERSON and will NOT be livestreamed.

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books

Cary Raditz lives in a corner of the Northwest Branch Park in Maryland, foraging for mushrooms along forest trails that lead from his writing room, a treehouse he built when the world was new. When people ask, “Where did you grow up?” he replies, “I never did.”

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Busboys and Poets - Takoma, 235 Carroll Ave NW, Washington, United States