Autobiographies can be a hit and miss affair, especially when they’re co-written with a jobbing author, no matter how good that writer is. I’ve never been a particularly big fan of a lot of Ritz’ other work – “Divided Soul” (Marvin Gaye) and, particularly, “Brother Ray” (Ray Charles) were OK, but I was disappointed with the B.B. King bio, preferring the earlier Charles Sawyer effort. This, however, is worth your money, but then you’d have to work hard to screw up a life this interesting!
This is a personal testament to one woman’s struggle to survive. Etta doesn’t seem to leave much out, but she’s largely non-judgemental, both about her own failings and those of others. She tells of her own demons and how self-doubt and her heroin addiction threatened to destroy her, but she never descends into self-pity. So many stories of incredible blues and soul musicians along the way – there are numerous stories about those she has known and worked with, including Johnny Otis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Aretha, Ray Charles, Esther Phillips and Bo Diddley. But she is rightly the core of the book
I did read one critique expressing disappointment about the lack of personal insight that might explain the rationale for the paths taken and decisions made. I think that misjudges the autobiography as a medium – that kind of analysis is often missing in any self examination (how good are any of us at consistently reading our own motives accurately) and is usually more acutely observed in a biographical treatment. This book should be read on its own terms, as a candid, graphic but entertaining chronicle of a great singer’s triumphs and tragedies. It is however self evident that bad choices in men seems to be her downfall and her mother Dorothy must share the blame. But whatever the lady’s condition she always gave her all when recording and performing live. Her music is her legacy to the world and her story needs to be told and read.
Postscript:- 14/02/26
Etta might not feature in the R&B Artists section of the smaller scale R&B Primer (although never say never) but at least I have now ported over Etta’s autobiography (co-authored with David Ritz). I was quite draconian when I created this original shortlist but have now put that right and, although long overdue, Etta and her story at last have a justifiable place in the streamlined Primer.