Book Ideas Please???

[daviddesper]

I am birthday shopping for someone who is a voracious reader but always stays one step ahead of me. When I buy something, he says "I've already read that."

So with that in mind, what are some of the VERY recent books released about music that I might want to consider? For example, what Motown subject matter has been released in the past few months?

Also he was an Olivia Newton-John fan, so is there anything new on her or a recommended biography?

[Boogiedown]

I love reading biographies but have become increasingly disappointed with content , especially autobiographies where just a genetic overview is provided.
Probably for fear of litigation, the Kitty Kelly days are long gone. You
might be fighting a losing battle to find your well read friend a great read.
A gift certificate to a favorite restaurant might be an alternative.

[sansradio]

James Gavin has just released a biography of George Michael that’s gotten a lot of favorable buzz; his biography of Lena Horne from last decade is indispensable.

This one is more like “music-adjacent,” but Nabil Ayers’s My Life in the Sunshine is his account of growing up not really knowing his dad Roy. Great reviews for it as well.

ETA: I also recently saw Straighten Up and Fly Right by Daniel Mark Epstein in Barnes and Noble. It’s a lengthy new look at —who else?—Nat King Cole.

AFAIK, things have been pretty quiet on the Motown and Olivia fronts—though that’s almost certain to change for ONJ.

[PeaceNHarmony]

James Gavin has just released a biography of George Michael that’s gotten a lot of favorable buzz; his biography of Lena Horne from last decade is indispensable.

This one is more like “music-adjacent,” but Nabil Ayers’s My Life in the Sunshine is his account of growing up not really knowing his dad Roy. Great reviews for it as well.

ETA: I also recently saw Straighten Up and Fly Right by Daniel Mark Epstein in Barnes and Noble. It’s a lengthy new look at —who else?—Nat King Cole.

AFAIK, things have been pretty quiet on the Motown and Olivia fronts—though that’s almost certain to change for ONJ.

I have not yet read, but can concur, that the George Michael bio has gotten not only excellent but 'serious' reviews. I'm now interested in the Lena Horne bio myself; I recall it at the time but it escaped me at the time. The recent book about Josephine Baker, 'Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy' may be worth a look. I gifted a copy and have my own copy but have not yet read it.

[BobbyC]

I would highly recommend Darlene Love's memoirs My Name Is Love. It's a few years old but most people didn't even know it came out. Background singers always have the best stories.

[Graham Jarvis]

A relatively unknown Motown related bio "Mellow Yellow" The Incredible Life story of Jack The Rapper [Gibson] He was one of the most famous disc jockeys in the U.S. and Berry Gordy asked him to work for Motown in 1961, he agreed & then commuted to Detroit from his home town in Cleveland through to 1964/5.

The book called "Mellow Yellow" in 2015 - ISBN 978-0-9904996-4-0

There is a link to Raynoma Gordy when Berry Gordy divorced her in 1963 & she was moved in 1964 to set up the Motown office in N.Y. when she became Miss Motown.

[milven]

I am birthday shopping for someone who is a voracious reader but always stays one step ahead of me. When I buy something, he says "I've already read that."

So with that in mind, what are some of the VERY recent books released about music that I might want to consider? For example, what Motown subject matter has been released in the past few months?

Also he was an Olivia Newton-John fan, so is there anything new on her or a recommended biography?

if he is an avid reader, likes music and is an avid Olivia fan, he is probably already a step ahead of you and already has it and will probably be one step ahead of you on any reading material. Instead, why not invite him to a restaurant for a birthday dinner and then discuss his favorite reads during dinner conversation. It will give him a chance to discuss his favorite pass time, and it would probably be just as interesting to you and a fun time out with a good friend

[Spreadinglove21]

Gladys Horton's book Letters from the Postman was finally published earlier this summer. Not a whole lot about Motown in it, but still quite a read.

[daviddesper]

Thanks for that last suggestion! I knew there HAD to be something very recent that had a Motown collection but I just could not think what it might be.