Derek Shulman, the polymath who conquered both the avant-garde stage and the corporate boardroom, has released his highly anticipated memoir ‘Giant Steps: My Improbable Journey From Stage Lights to Executive Heights’. Published on December 12, 2025, via Jawbone Press, the book features a foreword by legendary producer Tony Visconti and chronicles Shulman’s Zelig-like trajectory through 60 years of music history. From his early pop stardom with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound to fronting the progressive-rock pioneers Gentle Giant, Shulman provides an insider’s look at the creative risks that defined a generation. The memoir takes a fascinating turn in the 1980s as Shulman transitions to the “dark side” of the industry, becoming the visionary executive at Polygram, Atco, and Roadrunner Records who discovered and signed global juggernauts like Bon Jovi, Dream Theater, Pantera, and Slipknot.
The narrative also highlights the surprising endurance of Shulman’s musical legacy, particularly how Gentle Giant’s complex arrangements became a cornerstone for hip-hop production. The book details the band’s influence on icons like Questlove and their status as one of the most sampled rock acts in history by luminaries such as J. Dilla, De La Soul, and Travis Scott. Written alongside veteran journalist Jon Wiederhorn, ‘Giant Steps’ offers a rare, clean-living perspective on an industry often defined by excess, making it a definitive account of the evolution of popular music. Whether exploring the “Night Songs” of the 80s rock boom or the intricate time signatures of the 70s prog scene, Shulman’s story is an essential read for anyone curious about the intersection of artistry and the business of music.