A Globe 100 Book of the Year for 2010.

“A layered, rambling, deceptively casual mixture of music history, coming-of-age inarrative and reflection on mortality.” Globe and Mail

To read all the reviews and praise for Cigar Box Banjo, follow this link.

An award-winning author, musician, and screenwriter, Paul Quarrington was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer in summer 2009. Looking death in the face, he decided to go out singing, throwing everything he had into his work and demonstrating a creative energy that belied his illness. He was recognized with the Matt Cohen Award for his distinguished body of work, performed with his band, Porkbelly Futures, and recorded two new albums.

He also finished Cigar Box Banjo, his bestselling and highly regarded memoir—reflections on his music, life, and death. The biographical documentary film Paul Quarrington: Life In Music, following the themes in Cigar Box Banjo, aired in spring 2010 on CTV Bravo.

“A joy to read . . . Cigar Box Banjo is the perfect testament to the man, and to his work. He will be missed.” Georgia Straight

“It’s doubtful we will see a better memoir this year than Paul Quarrington’s Cigar Box Banjo . . . He doesn’t shy away from exploring in detail his own dark journey toward death, but the path is illuminated with humour, courage, [and] generosity.” Waterloo Region Record