David Ritz is within worldlined steps of artists around the planet, in reach of everybody everywhere per the same seemingly miraculous small-world principle which dictates that there are between most human beings on earth 6 or fewer degrees of separation.
- Worldlines from David Ritz: I'LL TAKE YOU THERE! ▶
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We founded this matrix in the fertile, fecund and atavistic ground zero of Bahia — mindful that when all artists can be steps away, quilombolas and favelados can be too.
ma·trix /ˈmātriks - originally "source", from "mater", Latin for "mother". We're real mothers for ya!
Who's taking you???
- Outgoing curation by: The Matrix
Who I Am & Where I Live
- Name: David Ritz
- City: Los Angeles
- Country: United States
My Life & Work
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Bio:
As a professional writer for the past 40 years, my main focus has been the collaborative autobiography. I've written thirty-six such books. Willie Nelson’s It’s a Long Story, a NY Times bestseller, is the most recent.
I've written three independent biographies of which Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin is the most recent.
As a novelist, my books include Search for Happiness, Sanctified Blues, The Man Who Brought the Dodgers Back to Brooklyn and Blue Notes Under a Green Felt Hat.
As a lyricist, my songs include "Sexual Healing," co-written with Marvin Gaye. In addition, I've collaborated on songs with Janet Jackson, Smokey Robinson and Narada Michael Walden.
My articles have appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Essence, People, US, Art Connoisseur and TV Guide.
As an essayist, I've written some seventy sets of liner notes for albums and discs, ranging from Sammy Davis, Jr. to Donny Hathaway to Michael Jackson.
I've been honored with a Grammy (Best Liner Notes) and, on four occasions, the Ralph Gleason Music Book Award (for collaborations with BB King, Etta James, the Neville Brothers and producer Jerry Wexler). I received the 2013 ASCAP Timothy White Award for outstanding musical biography for When I Left Home, the story of Buddy Guy.
I live in Los Angeles with Roberta, a wonderful writer and my wife of 51 years.
My Media
- ▶ Website: http://www.ritzwrites.com
- ▶ Book Purchases: http://www.ritzwrites.com/books.html
- ▶ Articles: http://www.ritzwrites.com/magazine.html
Contact Information
- Email: davidritzwrites@gmail.com
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Management/Booking:
David Vigliano, literary agent
vig@viglianoassociates.com
More
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Quotes, Notes & Etc.
AWARDS
Grammy Nomination
"Sexual Healing," Best Rhythm & Blues Song, 1982
Grammy Award
Best Album Notes, "Aretha Franklin: Queen of Soul," 1992
Grammy Nomination
Best Album Notes, "Ray Charles, Genius & Soul," 1997
Grammy Nomination
Best Historical Album (as coproducer), "Ray Charles, Genius & Soul," 1997
Grammy Nomination
Best Liner Notes, "The Complete Ray Charles on Atlantic," 2005
Grammy Nomination
Best Liner Notes, "Rare and Unreleased Recordings of the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul--Aretha Franklin," 2008
The Blues Foundation Music Book of the Year
Rhythm and the Blues, with Jerry Wexler, 1994
The Blues Foundation Music Book of the Year
Blues All Around Me, with BB King, 1997
The Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award
Rhythm and the Blues, with Jerry Wexler, First Place, 1993
The Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award
Rage To Survive, with Etta James, Second Place, 1995
The Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award
Blues All Around Me, with BB King, Second Place, 1996
The Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award
The Brothers, with the Neville Brothers, Third Place, 2000
ASCAP Deems Taylor Award
Liner Notes, Johnny Guitar Watson Funk Anthology, 2006
ASCAP Timothy White Award for Outstanding Musical Biography
When I Left Home, with Buddy Guy, 2013
