Mark Knopfler, El Sultan del Swing

Did you know that the first radio broadcast of 'Sultans of Swing' got a major label executive out of the shower and made the representatives of two other labels park on the side of the road looking for a phone booth? Do you know the origin of iconic songs like 'Telegraph Road'? Have you heard of The Notting Hillbillies, the band of friends that Mark Knopfler founded to detox from the huge success of 'Brothers In Arms'? Few musicians have as many followers across the globe as Knopfler, whose talent as a composer and personal style as a guitarist - an unmistakable hallmark that launched him to fame in the 80s as the frontman of Dire Straits - is admired and revered without reservation. Tracks like 'Money for Nothing' and 'Tunnel of Love' are part of rock history thanks to Knopfler's ability to compose pieces with a sound unlike any of the bands of the time. Mark, who worked as an English teacher and journalist in his youth, set his destiny as a musician when he formed Dire Straits with his brother David, Pick Withers and John Illsley, in 1977. A year later their first album would be released and they would achieve success in the Anglo-Saxon market. His prodigious ability with the six strings has led numerous illustrious names to count on him in recordings and live performances. He has collaborated with Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, among others, and has composed the soundtrack for films such as The Princess Bride, Local Hero and The Smokescreen. His extensive career has earned him numerous awards, including Brit Awards and Grammys. In 1999, the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, recognized his merits by naming him a member of the Order of the British Empire. This book unravels the longings and vicissitudes of a figure who has inspired a whole legion of musicians and fans. 'Peter Redwhite has the mind of a writer and the heart of a rocker.' Elliott Murphy 'Redwhite reveals what goes on in the brain that invented the Sultans of Swing riff'. Héctor G. Barnés.