According to George he was first named…………. jokingly at first……… 'Ambassador Of Country Music' in 1974 by the BBC's, Bob Powell and David Allen and since then, the title has stuck. There is no doubting that George has since, well earned that title having been just about everywhere there is to go with Country Music, including behind the iron curtain on a visit to Moscow University in that same year.

I first met George in Manchester in 1994, when I interviewed him following a performance in 'Patsy Cline The Musical.' Having previously heard so many good reports from other people about his genuine friendliness, I can honestly say, it is all true! He came across as one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet and was prepared to sit for as long as I needed to do the interview.

Paul Davis is a long time friend of George and as George states in the 'Foreword,' he considers writing this biography to be a labour of love for him. In turn, Paul states that he considers George a man who 'walked that talk' and was always prepared to go the extra mile in helping him compile research for this book, a book that starts out by telling of George's trip to Warsaw, Poland in 1982, in order to take part in a Country Music television special and the terrible injustices he witnessed there. There's also an in depth explanation of the Hamilton ancestry and his strong Christian upbringing, although as is to be expected, the book tells much about the religious side of George Hamilton IV, it doesn't go on too much about it and still has plenty to interest the Country Music fan.

It also tells about the friendship he struck up with Chet Atkins after making the trip to Nashville on his own at the age of 12 and his meeting up with Ernest Tubb, who gave the young hopeful his first big break by first inviting him to play on the Midnight Jamboree and then at a T.V. recorded charity show. On the latter, George was so nervous, he forgot his words, but was helped out by guitarist legend, Billy Byrd who covered for him with the longest instrumental break he had ever heard. Feeling he had let down E.T, and fearing a good dressing down, he was surprised to get nothing but compassion and encouragement from the star.

There's George forming his first Country band and his determination to stay with Country Music even though he was being encouraged to follow the pop route. There's also the story of how George met his wife 'Tinky,' (her real name is Adelaide, but she has always been called Tinky, after Tinkerbell in Peter Pan since childhood) and the difficulties of raising a family while trying to forward his career as an international artist.

The book is filled with interesting stories about the many personalities and stars that George has come across and made friends with during his many years in the business, as well as stories about his extensive travels. There's even a chapter dedicated to his U.K. links, of which there are many, from his friendship with Bob Powell and David Allen to his association with Mervyn Conn and the Wembley festivals. There's his tour's with top Liverpool band 'The Hillsiders,' and the strong friendship formed with the band, especially founder members Joe Butler and Kenny Johnson. There's also the mutual admiration George and Liverpool born singer/songwriter Charlie Landsborough have for each other, with Charlie giving George much credit for giving him a helping hand when he was starting out, by recording some of his songs and recommending him and his songs everywhere he went. Then there was "Patsy Cline The Musical" of course and the strong friendship he struck up with Sandy Kelly and her family as they toured extensively together from 1993 to 1998 in the highly successful Mervyn Conn production. George goes over to Ireland regularly to visit and perform with them.

It's also well known of course that George has a very strong love of Canada and it's people. In the interview I did with him, I remember his reference as; "Cold weather, warm hearts." George also has a strong interest in Canadian Folk/Country music and has even recorded a full album of all Canadian songs, written by such luminaries as Gordon Lightfoot, Ian & Sylvia Tyson and Leonard Cohen. This is also mentioned in a full chapter given over to his experiences in that country.

Knowing the amount of work George has done and the many miles he has travelled for his beloved Country Music, I was eagerly looking forward to reading this book about his life. I wasn't to be disappointed. This is an excellent account of the life of Country Music's finest ambassador, put together and told exceptionally well by journalist, record producer and tour organiser Paul Davis. 'George Hamilton IV - Ambassador Of Country Music' is compulsive reading. I guarantee, once you start reading it, you won't want to put it down. This definitely counts as one of the best biography's I have read in a long while and I have no hesitation whatsoever in highly recommending it!