Rating: 
Summary: Spellbinding, riveting, tragic, triumphant...
Review: One of the most in-depth, heart-wrenching, tragic biographies I have ever read. I was truly moved by the struggles, tragedies and triumphs of this great talent. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the emergence of Motown, the lives of the major talents of that decade, and in Marvin Gaye's amazingly prophetic life.
Rating: 
Summary: Ritz captures the essence of a man who story lives on.
Review: Ritz captures the essence of a man whose story I predict will be echoed for years. Gaye's charisma rivaled that of any entertainer of recent times. The book goes in depth to reveal his sexual confusion and frustration with his artistry, yet does so in a classy way. Accounts of his meetings with Martin Luther King and his love hate relationship with Diana Ross stood out most for me. The book has a handy index which allows for cross-referencing and easy reviewing. Troy Turner, New Jersey
Rating:
Summary: From the womb to the tomb, Soul music genius Marvin Gaye.
Review: Soul music legend Marvin Gaye tells David Ritz about his life, music, and the women that shaped his fragile world. Mr. Gaye gives detailed accounts of the relationships that shaped his music. A very good book that must be read to fully understand the marvelous music of Marvin Gaye.
Rating:
Summary: Stubborn, Troubled Fellow!
Review: Superb read, one of the classic musical memoirs of our time, along with Miles Davis' autobiography. The scariest part of this book, is that you will identify with some part of marvin after you are through reading- then you will go back time after time...I never thought I would say this, but this book was almost too candid at times. I almost died when Marvin revealed his fascination for dressing up in women's clothing. And how about his inferiority complex in relation to younger brother, Frankie? How many people actually verbalize these real, yet taboo subjects? I still mourn the loss of Marvin, beyond the music. Here, as you will read, was a soul crying for healing and sadly, life did not provide him with the solace he so desperately yearned for. His bout with paranoia really hurt to read near the end of the book. Hopefully, Marvin is resting in peace, his soul satisfied. Excellent job! Recommended read! kudos to David Ritz as well
Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING
Review: THE MOST DETAILED WRITING OF ONE OF THE GREATEST MUSICAL ARTISTS OF ALL TIME!!!
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for any Marvin fan
Review: This book is EXCELLENT. Ritz gives you a brutally candid and honest look at one of the greatest singers, songwriters or producers to ever come out of Motown, and in music PERIOD. We see just what made this "troubled man" tick. Ritz goes into depth about Marvin's rise to fame, his music, his clashes with Berry Gordy, the women in his life, his explosive and tragic love/hate relationship with his father, and so much more. Marvin consented to many of the interviews in this book, so we know just what he was thinking. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: This book was awesome. As is consistent with other reviews, it was impossible to put the book down. After reading this book, you knew the total Marvin Gaye- he was made bare in front of the reader. This book also had the uncommon ability to touch, move, and affect every aspect of you. Everyday i read this book, i would look forward to know what happened in Marvin's life today. The places he went you wanted to go and the people that he knew you wanted to know. This book fostered a need to know more about Marvin and to feel connected to him (on one occassion i even drove by the house on Gramercy Pl. and that felt weird).
I was 16 years old when Marvin Gaye was killed and even to this day not a big fan of popular music, but reading this book you understand that Marvin Gaye transcended music. If music never existed, he would have shown greatness in another medium. One thing that is intriguing in this book, is the relationship he had with his father that would turn so tragic. I question if the father is getting a bad rap. The bottom line was that toward the end of Marvin's life he was doing majors drugs, abusive and uncontrollable. We probably should put oursevles in the father's position of a son coming in the house doing major drugs,fighting you,and most of the time delusional.
Finally i think that Marvin Gaye finally found the peace he craved. It was interesting to note that he always talked about Jesus. On the liner notes that were on his album "What's Going On" he mentioned that everyone should get to know JESUS. In the book he stated that he could not hate his father as much as he wanted to because his father had introduced him to JESUS. It is ironic that the father would be used to complete this introduction. Marvin never really came to terms with what he was doing to make a living (singing secular music), his battle was trying to rectify the inconstencies of life, and no one has ever been able to do that. It is what psychologist call cognitive dissonance. I am religious and reading this book it appears that Marvin Gaye was also. The Jesus that his father introduced him to, the Jesus that he yearned to know more about, the Jesus that he felt he disappointed everytime he took a snort or popped a pill, I am hopeful that he found rest and perfection in that Jesus' arms.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: This book was awesome. As is consistent with other reviews, it was impossible to put the book down. After reading this book, you knew the total Marvin Gaye- he was made bare in front of the reader. This book also had the uncommon ability to touch, move, and affect every aspect of you. Everyday i read this book, i would look forward to know what happened in Marvin's life today. The places he went you wanted to go and the people that he knew you wanted to know. This book fostered a need to know more about Marvin and to feel connected to him (on one occassion i even drove by the house on Gramercy Pl. and that felt weird).
I was 16 years old when Marvin Gaye was killed and even to this day not a big fan of popular music, but reading this book you understand that Marvin Gaye transcended music. If music never existed, he would have shown greatness in another medium. One thing that is intriguing in this book, is the relationship he had with his father that would turn so tragic. I question if the father is getting a bad rap. The bottom line was that toward the end of Marvin's life he was doing majors drugs, abusive and uncontrollable. We probably should put oursevles in the father's position of a son coming in the house doing major drugs,fighting you,and most of the time delusional.
Finally i think that Marvin Gaye finally found the peace he craved. It was interesting to note that he always talked about Jesus. On the liner notes that were on his album "What's Going On" he mentioned that everyone should get to know JESUS. In the book he stated that he could not hate his father as much as he wanted to because his father had introduced him to JESUS. It is ironic that the father would be used to complete this introduction. Marvin never really came to terms with what he was doing to make a living (singing secular music), his battle was trying to rectify the inconstencies of life, and no one has ever been able to do that. It is what psychologist call cognitive dissonance. I am religious and reading this book it appears that Marvin Gaye was also. The Jesus that his father introduced him to, the Jesus that he yearned to know more about, the Jesus that he felt he disappointed everytime he took a snort or popped a pill, I am hopeful that he found rest and perfection in that Jesus' arms.
Rating:
Summary: Marvin's last masterpiece
Review: This is Marvin's last masterpiece. Ritz interviewed him in depth and Marvin was very open to him, so much so that Marvin probably would not approve of the manuscript had he lived to see it. But now, with Marvin out of the way, Ritz had a free hand in writing the most moving (auto)biography apart from Peter Guralnick's work on Elvis Presley. This is not only a book of great psychological depth, it pays careful attention to every detail of Marvin's music as well. Though writing with love and affection, Ritz never fails to shed a critical light on Marvin.
Rating:
Summary: DIVIDED SOUL: The Life of Marvin Gaye
Review: This was indeed a FASCINATING and TRAGIC drama. It produces emotions of love and hate for Mr. Gaye in the reader. I had no intention of reading the ENTIRE book...but I just couldn't help myself! I wish MORE had been said about HOW IN THE WORLD did his crazy father "get off," because it became obvious to me that it was a cold-blooded and premeditated murder. I wish the photos had been better and that there had been MORE of them....esp. did I want to see a photo of Jewel Price and Eugenie. It's a shame Marvin's mother was too weak to protect herself and her precious son throughout his life from such a vicious, mean, sick father...I couldn't believe how the whole family put up with him. I also feel regret that the family didn't intervene and didn't band together more to bring SOMEBODY to help Marvin in those last several months he spent at home and to keep those bad, destructive elements and people from "hanging out" at their own property. It's such a shame and a loss for the world that Marvin never sought professional therapy to resolve his many and varied issues. I believe that these sensitive entertainers should have "Conflict Resolution" as a part of their contracts. It's terrible to lose such a talent and for him not to have ever been truly happy with the wonderful life he COULD have enjoyed. All in all though, this book was DEFINITELY "da bomb." I'll never forget it or the man behind the story--esp. since I was a big fan, front-row center admiring his handsome face and body during his performance at his Black Expo Concert in Chicago in the 70's and have felt a real "closeness" to him ever since.
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