(Contact: JERRYGRILLO1960@GMAIL.COM)

Jerry Grillo has been making stories since he learned that crayons, though they look delicious, were best used for writing and drawing. A cartoonist in college, he shifted gears when drawing proved too difficult and became a sports writer. For almost 30 years he worked as a staff editor, writer (occasional photographer and designer) for newspapers and magazines in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, South Carolina, and Georgia, where he learned to write about himself in the third person. He left that scene to join the mad scientist beat at Georgia Tech. He also writes on a variety of topics for a variety of publications as a freelancer.

The Music and Mythocracy of Col. Bruce Hampton is his first book. Col. Bruce was often called the godfather of the jam band scene. The truth is, he was one of the most influential performing artists in Southern alternative music, a master builder of great bands and a facilitator of genius who surrounded himself with free-range talent and let it run slightly wild. Bruce created a controlled sonic frenzy that resulted in some of the best music ever played in America. He was an icon of the Atlanta music world and a mentor for many artists.

Jerry’s second book is Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize. Published by the University of Nebraska Press, this book is the only complete biography of the quiet giant of the Northeast Georgia mountains, a complex character who came from humble beginnings to become one of the best hitters in the history of baseball. Stay tuned for a documentary film based on Big Cat, coming in Spring 2026!

Johnny Mize as a Rochester Red Wing.

Music and Mythocracy: What They’ve Said:

“Jerry Grillo completely loves and understands the magic, the talent, and the importance of Col. Bruce Hampton, Ret. You’ll disappear into Bruce’s world in this book and you may not want to come out.”

Billy Bob Thornton (Oscar-winning screenwriter, Oscar-nominated actor)

“The stories here are humorous and blessed reminders that after leaving this Earth, Bruce lives on in the hearts and lives of others – so many others.”

John Bell (Widespread Panic)

“No matter what you think you may know about Col. Bruce Hampton, there are treasures here to unfold. This book is a true gift.“

Jeff Mosier (Blueground Undergrass, Aquarium Rescue Unit)

“Thank you so much for telling the whole story! Great read!”

Jimmy Herring, (Widespread Panic, Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Dead, Allman Brothers Band)