Two time Grammy award-winning musician and New Orleans local Rickie Lee Jones is releasing her memoir, Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American Troubadour, on Tuesday, April 6. In honor of its release, The Garden District Book Shop is hosting a lively and in-depth conversation with Jones and WWOZ host Jamie Dell’Apa from 6 to 8 p.m. in the courtyard at Preservation Hall. They will discuss Jones’ remarkable life and career and share excerpts from the memoir.

Jones’ debut literary work is a no-holds-barred account of her life as one of rock’s hardest working women. Jones takes readers through the journey of her life from her nomadic childhood as the granddaughter of vaudevillian performers to her father’s abandonment of the family and her years as a teenage runaway. She recounts her beginnings at the Troubadour club in Los Angeles to her tumultuous relationship with Tom Waits, her battle with drugs, and her longevity as a woman in rock and roll.  At its core, Last Chance Texaco is the story of a woman who beat all odds and grew up to become one of the most legendary artists of her time, turning adversity and hopelessness into timeless music.

Tickets for the in-person event are $40 and can be found in limited quantity on Eventbrite. In-person tickets include a signed copy of Jones’ memoir, a seat for the discussion, an opportunity to have a copy personalized by Jones and beverages provided by The Garden District Book Shop in partnership with Martin Wine Cellar. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this event has limited capacity and the event will adhere to all CDC guidelines. Virtual tickets are also available for purchase.

Read more about Jones’ move to New Orleans in this article from the June 2020 edition of OffBeat.