Along with the supremes, the miracles, the temptations, and the four tops, wells was said to have been part of the charge in black music onto radio stations and record shelves of mainstream america, bridging the color lines in music at the time. The tumultuous life of motown s first superstar, peter benjaminson delivers an account that falls short of being extensive or definitive. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar kindle edition by benjaminson, peter. The tumultuous life of motown s first superstar by peter benjaminson released nov. Mary wells the tumultuous life of motowns first superstar.
Mary wellsthe tumultuous life of motown superstar book. The books strength is that it does a good job of discussing mary the person and her life, giving the reader a lot of personal information about mary not previously known. This book clearly demonstrates that about the appropriatelynamed title tumultuous life of mary wells. My guy is a 1964 hit single recorded by mary wells for the motown label. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar by peter benjaminson 2012, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The tumultuous life of motown s first superstar, the first biography of mary my guy wells ever written, was released in 2012, and his book the lost supreme. Before diana ross defined the image of the motown female. The life of dreamgirl florence ballard was released in 2008. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android.
The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar peter benjaminson tells the whole story of mary wells, complete with never before revealed details about the sex, the violence, and the drugs in her lifeand about her motown hits that captivated the world. A wellresearched account of wellss life in and out of motown. Ive been a fan of mary s music for most of my life having grown up listening to it. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar ebook. Peter benjaminson complete with neverbeforerevealed details about the sex, violence, and drugs in her life, this biography reveals the incredibly turbulent life of motown artist mary wells.
Its a vivid portrait of a talented singer who met a tragic end. The book s strength is that it does a good job of discussing mary the person and her life, giving the reader a lot of personal information about mary not previously known. Along the way we learn that wells was a tireless performer. Written and produced by smokey robinson of the miracles, the song is a womans rejection of a sexual advance and affirmation of her fidelity to her boyfriend, who is her ideal and with whom she is happy, despite his ordinary physique and looks. The life of dreamgirl florence ballard, has just published his seventh book, mary wells.
The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar benjaminson. Author peter benjaminson, 67, author the story of motown and the lost supreme. There is plenty about hankypanky and substance abuse in mary wells. Written and produced by smokey robinson of the miracles, the song is a woman s rejection of a sexual advance and affirmation of her fidelity to her boyfriend, who is her ideal and with whom she is happy, despite his ordinary physique and looks. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar, peter benjaminson delivers an account that falls short of being extensive or definitive. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The motown sound is something that you cannot escape.
An interesting new book takes a look at the life, successes and troubles of motowns first first lady, mary wells. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading mary wells. Theres not a man today who could take me away from my guy. Long before diana ross and the supremes graced magazine covers and tv specials, wells broke ground with her playful voice and good looks, before a serious of wrong turns dimmed her star. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar is a revelation. Ive been a fan of marys music for most of my life having grown up listening to it. Mary wells the tumultuous life of motowns first superstar by peter benjaminson. Gerald posner, author of motown, why america slept, and case. Mary wells the tumultuous life of motowns first superstar hardcover book a stunning look at the great mary wells one of motowns first female acts of the 60s, and on dusty groove is chicagos online record store.
The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar, the first biography of mary my guy wells ever written, was released in 2012, and his book the lost supreme. The tumultuous life of motown s first superstar kindle edition by benjaminson, peter. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar and over 8 million other books are available for amazon kindle. In the first book ever written about motowns original superstar, mary wells.
Based in part on four hours of previously unreleased and unpublicized deathbed interviews with wells, this account delves deeply into her rapid rise and long fall as a recording artist, her spectacular. A wellresearched account of wells s life in and out of motown. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar by peter benjaminson pdf, epub ebook d0wnl0ad complete with neverbeforerevealed details about the sex, violence, and drugs in her life, this biography reveals the incredibly turbulent life of motown artist mary wells. Mary wells by peter benjaminson book read online scribd. Mary wells finally gets her due in a focused booklength discussion. Best motown books 34 books meet your next favorite book. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar 2012.
Mary esther wells may, 1943 july 26, 1992 was an american singer, who helped to define the emerging sound of motown in the early 1960s. Complete unrevealed neverbeforerevealed details about the sex, violence, and drugs in her life, this biography reveals the incredibly turbulent life of motown artist mary wells. Peter benjaminsons 3rd motown book tells the story of. She also came into contact with gordy not as a vocalist, but as a songwriter.
Peter benjaminson nyc tv interviews peter about his. Complete with neverbeforerevealed details about the sex, violence, and. Mary wells complete with neverbeforerevealed details about the sex, violence, and drugs in her life, this biography reveals the incredibly turbulent life of motown artist mary wells. Mary wells a great new bio about motowns first superstar. Along with the supremes, the miracles, the temptations, and the four tops, wells was said to have been part of the charge in black music onto radio stations and record shelves of mainstream america. The tumultuous life of motown s first superstar at. Turbulent and fraught with trouble, wells had difficulties in business, relationships, and with drugs. Benjaminson writes somewhere in this book that everybody knows the words to my guy 1964, and it would be hard to gainsay thisalthough i would hedge my bets if we were to include those among us under twenty. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar by peter benjaminson released nov.
Peter benjaminsons 3rd motown book tells the story of mary wells. Gerald posner, author, motown, why america slept, and case closed i thought i knew all there was to know about mary wells. Jan 01, 2012 this book clearly demonstrates that about the appropriatelynamed title tumultuous life of mary wells. Benjaminson has a background in investigative reporting, and it certainly helped him piece together the twists and turns of wells life. Jan 05, 20 in the first book ever written about motowns original superstar, mary wells. First superstar tumultuous life of motowns first superstar peter benjaminson complete with neverbeforerevealed details about the sex, violence, and drugs in her life, this biography reveals the incredibly turbulent life of motown artist mary wells. Peter benjaminsons fascinating expose about this underappreciated hitmaker is a roller coaster ride that will leave you breathless. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar is available on, and at any bookstore with good taste. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar, documents wells rise, as well as her dramatic and tragic fall. Nov 01, 2012 motowns first superstar is given topofthecharts treatment in this terrific book. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar by peter benjaminson benjaminson writes somewhere in this book that everybody knows the words to my guy 1964, and it would be hard to gainsay thisalthough i would hedge my bets if we were to include those among us under twenty.
The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar peter. When you finish this book, you will mourn mary wells, sure, and be grateful for the. Gerald posner, author, motown, why america slept, and case closed. Motowns first superstar is given topofthecharts treatment in this terrific book. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar is a portrait of a flawed but intriguing musical star.
Based in part on four hours of previously unreleased and unpublicized deathbed interviews with wells, this account delves deeply into her rapid rise and long fall as a recording artist, her spectacular romantic and. I also urge you to check out the lost supreme, peters biography of florence ballard. Mary wells finally gets her due in a focused book length discussion. A new book called mary wells, the tumultuous life of motowns first superstar details the ups and downs of the sultry singer of my guy, two lovers, and you beat me to the punch. The tumultuous life of motowns first superstar kindle. Mary wells, best known for her 1964 hit my guy, was motowns first female superstar.