Drawing from interviews conducted before Marvin Gaye's death, friend and music writer David Ritz has created a full-scale portrait of the brilliant but tormented artist who embodied the very essence of the word soul.

Reviews

Originally published in 1985 and newly available on audio, this biography unearths the demons that both plagued Marvin Gaye and inspired his music. Author Ritz, who has previously chronicled the lives of musicians including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and B.B. King, knows the music industry well and had access to Gaye and many in his inner circle. In Audie Award winner Dion Graham's (River Rising) solid performance, he often seems to be channeling the singer's vocal range and speech patterns. Although the production would have benefitted from music at the CD breaks, this concise abridgment tells Gaye's story while providing insight into Motown and the music industry during his lifetime. Highly recommended. [Audio clip available through www.blackstoneaudio.com; this year marks the 70th anniversary of Gaye's birth, the 25th anniversary of his death, and the 50th anniversary of Motown.-Ed.]-Gwendolyn Osborne, Evanston, IL Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.