About this item
Rick James played with Neil Young, self-produced his first album (later picked up by Motown) , crossed rock and funk to come up with one of the best-selling albums of the 1980s, became one of the biggest pop stars of the era, turned a young white woman named Teena Marie into an R&B superstar, displayed an outrageously sex- and drug-filled lifestyle, was tried and found guilty of assaulting and imprisoning a young woman, went on to record new music that was compared to the Beatles' White Album, and ended his life as a punch line for Dave Chappelle. James attempted to tell his own story - in two different books - but left out many incidents that reflected badly on his character. Now, based on court records, newspaper archives, and extensive interviews with dozens of family members, band members, friends, and lovers, here is the definitive biography of Motown's most controversial superstar.
About the Author
Peter's eighth book, "SUPER FREAK: THE LIFE OF RICK JAMES," was released by Chicago Review Press on March 1, 2017.
His seventh book, "MARY WELLS: THE TUMULTUOUS LIFE OF MOTOWN'S FIRST SUPERSTAR" (Chicago Review Press, 2012) , was released in paperback in Fall, 2016. This book is the only biography of the late great Ms. Wells ever published.
Peter's article about the attempt to make a movie based on his sixth book, "THE LOST SUPREME: THE LIFE OF DREAMGIRL FLORENCE BALLARD," (Lawrence Hill Books, 2008) was published by www.rollingstone.com in July, 2014 and can be accessed at www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-lost-supreme-and-a-classic-hollywood-con-20140701.
Peter was born in Washington, D.C. and was a reporter and City-County Bureau Chief for the Detroit Free Press from 1970-76.
While at the Free Press, he wrote the book "INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING" with David Anderson (Indiana University Press, 1976 and Iowa State University Press, 1990) , the first how-to book in that field. It was in print for 20 years.
In 1979 he wrote "THE STORY OF MOTOWN" (Grove Press) , and from 1979 to 1981 worked as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He taught journalism at Binghamton University, New York University, and Columbia University from 1981-91.
In 1984, he wrote "DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON: AMERICA'S NEWSPAPER GIANTS STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL" (Andrews, McMeel) , the first and only book about the death of afternoon newspapers in America's big cities.
In 1992, he wrote "PUBLISH WITHOUT PERISHING" (National Education Association and National Writers Union) ; and in 1997, he wrote "SECRET POLICE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF INVESTIGATION" (Barricade Books) .
From 1991-1994 he was the spokesman for the NYC Department of Investigation. He was Assistant Editor of the Chief Leader Newspaper in New York City from 1994-1998 and the spokesman for the NYC Correction Officers Benevolent Association from 1998-2003. In 2003 and 2009 he was the spokesman for Members for Change in NYC Teamsters Local 237.
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