Latest news with #Kerouac
Epoch Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Country Singer Zach Bryan Buys Historic Massachusetts Church to Honor American Novelist
Country singer Zach Bryan has bought a historic church in Lowell, Massachusetts, to honor the legacy of the late Jack Kerouac, a novelist and poet who was born and raised in the New England community. Bryan, 29, briefly shared the news with his Instagram followers on Tuesday while reflecting on his recent road trip across the country. 'Coast to coast in eleven days, approximately one church bought,' he The Grammy Award-winning artist acquired the former St. Jean Baptiste Church from TMI Property Management & Development's owner, Brian McGowan, for nearly $3.5 million, The Lowell Sun The deal was made in partnership with the Jack Kerouac Estate, who plan to convert the more than 20,000-square-foot building into the Jack Kerouac Center, a cultural hub for live music, various exhibits, and community events. 'Bryan's involvement marks a turning point, bringing vital funding and renewed energy to the years-old project, initially stalled amid funding issues,' the estate shared in a Related Stories 10/18/2024 5/12/2025 'The collaboration between Bryan and the Jack Kerouac Estate marks a significant step toward honoring the legacy of one of America's most iconic writers while fostering creativity in the heart of Kerouac's hometown.' Built in 1890, St. Jean Baptiste Church was a landmark in the city of Lowell, which lies about 30 miles northwest of Boston. Growing up, Kerouac served as an altar boy in the church, where his funeral service was held decades ago. The author died in October 1969 at the age of 47 from an internal hemorrhage caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Kerouac was best known for his 1957 book 'On the Road,' which was the inspiration for Bryan's 2022 single 'Burn, Burn, Burn.' In a statement, Sylvia Cunha, a marketing and business leader with the Jack Kerouac Estate, said the deal had been in the works for several months. 'Zach reached out in October, and right from the start, it was clear he shared our passion for honoring Jack's legacy while also creating a dynamic, creative space,' Cunha shared. 'He stepped up and delivered in a big way, showing incredible generosity. 'Our immediate focus is to bring the building up to code so we can start using the space for music and other events while forming new partnerships to help us bring this vision to life and ensure its lasting success.'
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Country star Zach Bryan just bought an old church in Massachusetts. Here's why.
Country music star Zach Bryan is buying an old church in Lowell to honor the legacy of famous American novelist and Massachusetts native Jack Kerouac. The Grammy-winner has bought the historic former Saint Jean Baptiste Church. The building was announced years ago as the home of the future "Jack Kerouac Center," but funding issues have delayed the project. Bryan's purchase ensures that the former church, which was the site of Kerouac's funeral mass in 1969, will be transformed into a "vibrant cultural hub," Kerouac's estate said. Once complete, the 20,439 square-foot space will host exhibits, live music, public readings and other community events. The country singer reached out last October about buying the church, Kerouac's estate said. The former Saint Jean Baptiste Church building in Lowell. Marte Media Jack Kerouac Center in Lowell "The Jack Kerouac Center will stand as a lasting symbol of inspiration, forever linking Jack and Zach," Jim Sampras, the literary executor of the estate, said in a statement. "[Bryan's Investment] is a significant addition to the cultural fabric of Lowell and beyond, drawing visitors from all over the world." Bryan has said his 2022 single "Burn, Burn, Burn" was inspired by Jack Kerouac's novel "On The Road." Kerouac, who was born in Lowell in 1922, was one of the defining authors of the "Beat Generation." The estate said more details will be announced in the coming months, but right now the work is focused on bringing the building up to code so it can start hosting live music and other events. An annual festival in Lowell celebrating Kerouac is scheduled this fall from Oct. 9 to Oct. 13.
Boston Globe
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
A major country star stepped in to help buy a space for a Jack Kerouac center in Lowell
Advertisement After Sylvia Cunha, head of marketing and business development for the Kerouac Estate, posted about plans for the center being put on hold, Bryan reached out. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'How can I help?' he wrote. 27zachbryan FOXBOROUGH, MA - 6/26/2024. Zach Bryan performs during his concert at Gillette Stadium. Kayla Bartkowski For The Boston Globe 27zachbryan Kayla Bartkowski For The Boston Today, the Kerouac Estate is announcing Bryan's purchase of the church for an undisclosed sum from TMI Property Management and Development, which bought the building from the Archdiocese of Boston in 2006. Kerouac grew up near the Byzantine Romanesque Revival-style church, where he served as an altar boy. When he died in 1969, his funeral Mass took place at the church. Earlier this week, Bryan Advertisement Bryan, a former active member of the US Navy who was born and raised in Oklahoma, has been on a dizzying trajectory. He released his self-produced debut album, 'DeAnn,' named for his late mother, in 2019. In 2022 his triple album 'American Heartbreak' marked his major-label debut. Last summer, Bryan opened his self-titled 2023 album with a spoken-word piece that sounded like Kerouac incarnate: 'I'd say I've seen some beautiful days, I've walked countless coastlines, awoken on mountaintops.' 'He's 29,' Cunha said of Bryan, 'but he's an old soul. Kerouac is part of the reason he got into songwriting, he told me.' Bryan's commitment to Kerouac's legacy should go a long way toward ensuring that younger generations engage with the writer's work, said Jim Sampas, the estate's literary executor. 'I think what's really important about both these artists is the genuineness,' Sampas said. 'In the same way that Jack Kerouac's 'spontaneous prose' touched so many people — he's probably the most influential writer ever for musicians and artists — if you listen to Zach's music, it's so heartfelt and true.' In 2023, Sampas and Cunha co-edited a collection of Kerouac quotes titled 'Truth and Beautiful Meaningful Lies,' part of the estate's ongoing efforts to sustain the writer's legacy. 'We're hoping that more people will discover Jack,' said Cunha. 'That's the whole point.' Bryan's investment in the proposed Jack Kerouac Center, Cunha said, makes his admiration for Kerouac official: 'Now they're intertwined forever.' Advertisement James Sullivan can be reached at .
New York Times
27-04-2025
- New York Times
The Church of the Open Road
As part of 'Believing,' The New York Times asked several writers to explore a significant moment in their religious or spiritual lives. I was on the road to nowhere. On the map, I kept to the blue highways. At night, I slept in a tent. I thought of myself as an apprentice Kerouac. Gone, Ireland. Gone, the strictures of Catholicism. Twenty-one years old, the deepest faith I had was in what might appear around the next corner. For the first half of the journey — which is almost four decades ago now — I traveled with a friend. Tracey had been raised in a conservative Christian family in Massachusetts and, though only 19, she knew a thing or two about American churches, so we weren't shy about crossing the threshold. Believing The New York Times is exploring how people believe now. We look at Americans' relationship to religion, moments that shape faith and why God can be hard to talk about. In the South, we grew to like Sunday mornings. The churches were open even for sinners of a Catholic persuasion. I was a hungry lad, putting miles underneath my wheels. The picnic tables at the backs of the churches were nearly always full. Pan-fried chicken. Brisket. Collard greens. Cornbread. Iced tea. Sweet potato pie. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
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The Independent
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Aspiring artist' accused of faking Hollywood career to swindle movie investors out of $500k
When 23-year-old investor Nicholas Mugalli decided to open an office in Riyadh in 2023, he was eager to cozy up to the Saudi government to boost his chance of success. So when self-described filmmaker Beau Kerouac approached the New York City resident with an opportunity to invest in a documentary showcasing the people and places of the kingdom in the best possible light, he jumped at the chance. It seemed like a safe bet. Kerouac boasted of projects in the works starring Hollywood A-listers, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Cruise, and claimed he had deals going with the industry's biggest studios. His extensive connections guaranteed the doc would be a winner, and he promised more than $24 million in profit, Mugalli says. More importantly, the project would allow Mugalli to garner the 'good will' of the Saudis, while promoting his own business at the same time. But, according to a $70 million-plus lawsuit obtained by The Independent, Kerouac's pitch was nothing more than a scam, ensnaring an unwitting Mugalli with the wannabe filmmaker's 'cultivated suave English accent' and 'dashing art of persuasion.' Even Kerouac's name was fake, court papers allege. The lawsuit describes a 'villainous ploy' involving political intrigue, financial treachery, and outright deception, which played out across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East until the audacious scheme finally came undone. Kerouac is accused of stealing at least $500,000 from investors in the film, half of which came from Mugalli, according to his complaint, which says Kerouac's actions displayed 'a high degree of moral turpitude,' as well as 'wanton dishonesty.' Reached by phone on Wednesday, a bewildered-seeming Kerouac, who lives in the U.K., insisted he had done nothing wrong, and was unaware he was being sued until The Independent contacted him for comment. 'None of this makes any sense,' Kerouac argued, calling Mugalli's claims 'ludicrous.' 'None of these claims are true,' Kerouac emphasized in a follow-up email. He said he has been unable to reach Mugalli in recent months, and did not want to offer further details before contacting a lawyer to address the allegations in the suit. In an email, Mugalli's attorney, Sean Holas, told The Independent that the dispute is 'not a cookie-cutter' case. He claimed Kerouac caused 'numerous harms,' and that Mugalli and his company now 'seek justice and compensation... for damages caused by the fraudulent misrepresentations and self-dealings of Mr. Kerouac.' Mugalli 'remains committed' to completing the unfinished documentary, the lawyer added. The stranger-than-fiction tale begins in October 2023, when Mugalli, who claims to run a hedge fund and have a personal net worth of $100 million, was casting about for ways to impress his Saudi hosts, according to a complaint filed February 4 in New York State Supreme Court. Mugalli was introduced to Kerouac in early 2024 by cameraman Sheldon Herron, a mutual acquaintance, the complaint goes on. It says Kerouac proposed shooting a doc titled RAWI: The Storyteller, funded in part by Mugalli, showcasing the people, places, and 'rich cultural history' of Saudi Arabia. The rest of the budget would come from an English film school Kerouac had solicited for a donation, along with a former pro rugby player, according to the complaint. Mugalli was impressed with Kerouac's pitch deck for the documentary, which sought a $3 million total budget. It listed past work with Paramount, Universal, and Netflix, upcoming projects with DiCaprio, Cruise and Jake Gyllenhaal, among other megastars, and Mugalli believed that funding and producing the film would reflect well on his company, according to the complaint. Kerouac first offered Mugalli a producing credit in exchange for a 'vintage classic car,' according to the complaint. But, during a follow-up meeting in Italy, Kerouac asked Mugalli to kick in $7.2 million for the project, which Mugalli was hesitant to fork over. However, Mugalli did agree to invest $250,000 once Kerouac told Mugalli he expected to later sell the rights to the finished film for a projected $24 million, the complaint states. Kerouac, who describes himself online as an artist and activist, began attracting public notice as a filmmaker in 2022, after reaching out to James Sandford, a former rugby union star who was working to revive a defunct English rugby club, the Worcester Warriors, and offering to make a 'behind-the-scenes' documentary about Sandford's initiative. An article at the time in the Worcester News referred to Kerouac as a ' Hollywood director.' It was through Sandford that Kerouac was introduced to Herron, a film editor and director of photography who has worked on projects for artists like Guy Ritchie, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Justin Timberlake. Mugalli's complaint says Kerouac opportunistically pegged Herron as the person who would provide 'the veil of legitimacy he needed' to procure high net-worth individuals and 'market himself as an established filmmaker.' To supplement this, Kerouac set up an IMDb page claiming he had collaborated with renowned actors such as Richard E. Grant, and Jeremy Irons, 'among many others.' Spencer Matthews, a cast member on Channel 4's reality show Made in Chelsea, was offered $125,000 to provide the documentary's voiceover, the complaint states, plus a percentage of profits on the backend from the film's eventual sale – a tidy sum for a fairly easy lift. But after positioning himself as a top auteur, Kerouac's 'lack of production set etiquette, protocol, and professionalism,' along with an apparent inability to 'write a script himself,' immediately raised eyebrows once filming on RAWI began during the first part of 2024, according to the complaint. It goes on to describe an obvious 'lack of experience' on his part, underpinned by a ''fake-it-'til-you-make-it' persona,' which came into sharp focus once the cameras started rolling. At the end of July, an email from one of the film's investors to several others 'expressed concern' about the legitimacy of a series of receipts Kerouac had submitted, the complaint states. Most hadn't actually been paid, and further investigation revealed Kerouac blew through a large portion of the film's budget before production even began, it alleges. A short time later, Herron, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment by The Independent, was experiencing his own crisis of confidence in Kerouac, and emailed the film's investors from a container ship in the middle of the Mediterranean, where he said he was shooting a film with Jason Statham, according to an exhibit filed in court alongside Mugalli's complaint. 'This whole situation has been incredibly stressful as it unravels,' Herron wrote. 'I spent the past year being utilized for my skills to help create these assets with Beau and him being so ridiculously under-qualified and under-skilled I was always very confused by his outrageous statements of previous work. Not only have I spent this time under this scum bag [sic] … but also brought Nick to the table… which now I regret massively. I had absolutely no idea what this guy was up to, and now we know.' At this point, the complaint states, an 'unexpected plot-twist' suddenly emerged. Kerouac not only didn't have the impressive resume he claimed, he wasn't even who he said he was, the complaint says. In actuality, the complaint contends 'Beau Kerouac' is a man named Michael John Stevens, who 'contrived a new identity and forged credentials as an established filmmaker to solicit tens of millions of dollars/pounds from unsuspecting investors for upcoming films that he had next to zero association.' The complaint describes Kerouac as 'an aspiring artist with little to no recognition, and almost zero experience in the film industry,' who 'devised a plan to rebrand himself as a prestigious filmmaker in order to infiltrate exclusive social and professional circles that he only ever viewed as an outsider.' Kerouac told The Independent that there was 'nothing nefarious' about the name change, which he said he did for professional purposes. Ultimately, the complaint says Kerouac stiffed Matthews out of his six-figure fee after he provided the voiceover, as contracted, never paid Herron for necessary post-production work, and it estimates it will cost at least $300,000 in editing fees alone to complete the film. Instead, Kerouac spent the film's budget on pricey Rolex watches, cash withdrawals, first class airline tickets, and luxury hotel stays, the complaint states. A source with knowledge of the situation said Matthews, who declined to comment for this article, recorded the voiceover, as contracted, but never got paid. As for Mugalli's hopes of impressing the Saudis, the complaint says he not only blew that chance, but claims the entire experience has undermined his burgeoning official relationships in the kingdom. Mugalli is demanding 'no less than' $72 million from Kerouac on each of three causes of action: $24 million for breach of fiduciary duty, $24 million for breach of contract, and $24 million for detrimental reliance, as well as another $750,000 for unjust enrichment, conversion, and fraudulent inducement, plus punitive damages and attorneys' fees. Kerouac now has roughly 30 days to file a formal response to the allegations.
