Faith in Time: The Life of Jimmy Scott

Rating:
Summary: A gripping biography which reads like a novel
Review: Musicians will also enjoy David Ritz's Faith In Time, a survey of the life of Jimmy Scott. Orphaned as a teen and suffering from a syndrome which kept his voice unnaturally high, he toured with Lionel Hampton in the 1940s and achieved a career breakthrough twenty years later - then went back to being an orderly and shipping clerk. Faith In Time recounts his rise and fall, providing a gripping biography which reads like a novel with its action and insights.

Rating:
Summary: Needed to peel more layers off this onion
Review: Very interesting read about Jimmy Scott and the times in which he lived.I do feel he comes across somewhat "wimpy".He never seems to get tough with the people that constantly take advantage of him, and he always finds excuses concerning his "faults", blaming others.
He grew up in a very dysfunctional family(especially after his mother was killed)...he married several women who ran out on him(prostitution), his father was a real self-serving lout!and he gets screwed over by greedy music execs again and again.
The author, Ritz, never really gets to the nitty gritty of just WHO Scott is...treating him with kids gloves despite the many references to drinking bouts,pot smoking,wife beating, mood swings, and wierd behavior.Though this book is not a "puff piece" read,it seems to tolerate behaviour which (to put it bluntly)hints that Jimmy Scott is an obnoxious s.o.b.
I got so frustrated with Ritz's portrayal of Scott's attitude I wanted to grab him(Scott) by the scruff o' the neck and smack some sense into him!
The man can sing though.He can really sing.