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Rating: 
Summary: I love this book!
Review: Author Doug Carter throws everything but the kitchen sink at you in this detailed account of the late, great Jackie Wilson. Carter navigates the reader through Jackie's youth
activities - ranging from street corner singing to Gold Gloves boxing champion - his first contract (with Billy Ward and The
Dominoes), his solo career with Brunswick and Nat Tarnopol, the failed marriages and endless affairs. Of the latter, one affair led to a shooting incident which nearly killed Jackie, while another led to the killing of Jackie's lady friend. The author carefully recounts the story of a man who mixed too much play with work, too much escapism with his sorrow and too much naivete with trust. It was Wilson's naivete which led to his split with Barry Gordy. His trust in Nat Tarnopol would lead to eventual professional and personal decline. Wilson is too frequently associated with the tragic onstage heart attack which ultimately left him comatose for 81/2 years. Likewise, his musical legacy should exceed the endless renditions of "Higher And Higher" and "Lonely Teardrops". Wilson should be remembered for being one of music's true pioneers, the likes of which are a dying breed. Musicians like Aretha, Elvis, Van Morrison, Smokey,
Marvin Gaye, Springsteen, Pendergrass, and LaBelle have Jackie to thank for his stage presence, soaring vocal gymnastics, and crowd integration. Thanks to an author like
Doug Carter, Jackie's musical contribution is introduced (and reiterated) to legions of music fans everywhere. Must Read material!!
Rating:
Summary: Caught In A (Rat's) Trap!!
Review: Author Doug Carter throws everything but the kitchen sink at you in this detailed account of the late, great Jackie Wilson. Carter navigates the reader through Jackie's youth
activities - ranging from street corner singing to Gold Gloves boxing champion - his first contract (with Billy Ward and The
Dominoes), his solo career with Brunswick and Nat Tarnopol, the failed marriages and endless affairs. Of the latter, one affair led to a shooting incident which nearly killed Jackie, while another led to the killing of Jackie's lady friend. The author carefully recounts the story of a man who mixed too much play with work, too much escapism with his sorrow and too much naivete with trust. It was Wilson's naivete which led to his split with Barry Gordy. His trust in Nat Tarnopol would lead to eventual professional and personal decline. Wilson is too frequently associated with the tragic onstage heart attack which ultimately left him comatose for 81/2 years. Likewise, his musical legacy should exceed the endless renditions of "Higher And Higher" and "Lonely Teardrops". Wilson should be remembered for being one of music's true pioneers, the likes of which are a dying breed. Musicians like Aretha, Elvis, Van Morrison, Smokey,
Marvin Gaye, Springsteen, Pendergrass, and LaBelle have Jackie to thank for his stage presence, soaring vocal gymnastics, and crowd integration. Thanks to an author like
Doug Carter, Jackie's musical contribution is introduced (and reiterated) to legions of music fans everywhere. Must Read material!!
Rating:
Summary: A Vibrant Mystery
Review: For me, reading this book was the discovery of a lost gem. Jackie Wilson has a voice like no other and a story like no other. The book, Black Elvis, parellels Jackie's life to another contemporary of his, Elvis Presley. Elvis came to many of Jackie's shows and they had intimate ties throughout their lives. Doug Carter treats his subject with great respect, careful that no fabrication exists on these pages. But Jackie is a complex man, so we learn many perspectives of the same man from wives, friends, colleagues, and adoring -- even violently so -- fans. His music, already so great, becomes even more vibrant and alive after reading this thorough and careful biography.
Rating: 
Summary: Jackie deserves better than this
Review: I can see Doug Carter is a fan. He has all the LPs. The problem is he's not a writer. A small book to begin with, Carter jumps from item to item without the least development, often repeating himself, never clarifying.
He doesn't delve into the music at all; he doesn't shed light on anything that has made Jackie such an enchanting mystery to this day. "Inteviews" with people who knew Jackie all sound monosyllabically the same.
I'm from Detroit, yet I saw Jackie only once. He means an awful lot to me. "Lonely Teardrops" is out of print so, despite the title (I find nothing in common between Jackie and Elvis), I thought I'd try Carter's book.
Now I've gone back and found "Teardrops" has just "limited availability." I'm trying to get it now...
Rating:
Summary: the white JACKIE
Review: this book definatley get`s 5star`s it`s very informative and has beautiful discography pictures (for those of us who collect jackie`s albums) and great concert photo`s and arare photo of jackie leaving the hospital after being shot(with his mother and freda by his side .the only thing i din`t care for was the interjected bio on elvis ,why is there never a mention of JACKIE in elvis~ books in reality he`s "THE WHITE JACKIE"
over
all a very good preview to "THE MAN,THE MUSIC,THE MOB...
Rating:
Summary: I love this book!
Review: This book is about 2 of my favorite artists - Jackie Wilson and Elvis Presley.As much as Jackie Wilson could be referred to as "The black Elvis",the reverse is also true.Both of these men loved and respected each other and really,were influenced by each other.The book is great.If you are a Jackie Wilson and/or Elvis fan,you will love it.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: this was Michael Jackson before Michael Jackson.A Man who could do it all.had his own style,grace&way of doing things.it's a shame he never got the Love he deserved.he was a Pioneer.he could reach so many different styles of music and wrap them all into one.this book also shows how he got caught up in excess Sex,Drugs&Rock-N-Roll.but also the Racist Music Business.I'm a Big Michael Jackson Fan but I know where he got his foundation.not only from James Brown but also Jackie Wilson.Doug Carter does a Grand job here.in a fair world Jackie would have held a title.he was a one of a kind Artist.
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