Franklin Aretha - Respect: the life of Aretha Franklin

One of Rolling Stones Best Music Books of the Year

Respect is a comprehensive, illuminating, and unfailingly solicitous account of a life that, whatever its tribulations, conflicts, and complications, has always somehow been redeemed by Franklins musical calling. Ritz has an exceptional capacity to listen with care and sympathy to what people tell him, and then render their words vividly and compassionately.

Gene Seymour, USA Today

Clearly the book Ritz has been preparing to write his whole life. Its stuffed full with revealing interviews. Knowing the details of Franklins complicated, sometimes painful life helps deepen an appreciation of the pain and passion that fueled her music.

Gavin Edwards, Rolling Stone

Youll be in the nimble hands of a pro if you read Respect.

Janet Maslin, New York Times

An honest and genuinely respectful portrait of a true diva by a writer who feels the power of her art.

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

David Ritzs Respect judiciously captures the conflicted life of the legendary Queen of Soul.

Lisa Shea, Elle

A fascinating, delicious depiction of the life of a woman whod rather not be depicted. A book so juicy, it is dripping.

Rich Juzwiak, Gawker

A remarkably complex portrait of Aretha Franklins music and her tumultuous life.

Rolling Stone

A candid, far less sanitized look at the enormously gifted but demanding diva.

People

Respect will stand as one of Ritzs greatest and most unusual achievements: a rich, definitive portrait set in motion by a bit of unfinished business.

Nate Chinen, New York Times

A compelling and much-needed redo on the career and complicated life of Aretha Franklin. An unflinching portrait of a musical genius.

Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News

Only someone who had the complete confidence and trust of Arethas family and the elite of the Gospel and Rhythm and Blues communities could have gotten this story. An intimate and thorough account of this phenomenal womans talent and life as only David Ritz could capture.

Tommy LiPuma, Grammy-winning producer

Drawing on previous work and interviews with those close to Franklin, Ritz offers a portrait of a woman for whom faith and respect are essential.

Vanessa Bush, Booklist

The most comprehensive and accurate account of Franklin yet published.

Christopher Loudon, Macleans

Commendable for its depth as well as Ritzs highly readable, captivating style. Its a compelling record of the life of a musical titan and a fascinating picture of the process of recording some of the seminal popular music of our time. The king of cowriters provides the queen of soul with the definitive biography, along with a healthy dose of reverence, reflection, and, above all, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Bill Baars, Library Journal

The most revealing and well-rounded portrait of the Queen ever written.

Jim Farber, New York Daily News

Ritzs researchbased on interviews with Franklins siblings and departed legends from Ahmet Ertegun to Vandrossis solid, and he vividly expresses what made Arethas voice and albums so monumental in the sixties.

David Browne, Rolling Stone

A major biography, and unauthorized in the extreme.

Robert Christgau, Barnes & Noble Review

The richest record of her friends and familys words that we are likely to get. Reads like a series of inner-circle conversations held at the barbershop, beauty salon, or kitchen table.

Emily J. Lord, Los Angeles Review of Books

Ritzs intimate and elegant voice steps from behind the veil of the ghostwriter to tell a tale of genius, dysfunction, and blind ambition, describing a world of triumph and tragedy of near mythic proportions. A great read and a really heroic work of biographyhonest, loving, no-holds-barred.

Ben Sidran, author of There Was a Fire

The monumental biography weve been waiting for of Lady Soul, our greatest soul singer, from the also very great David Ritz, confidant to an entire generation of soul starsRay, Smokey, B.B., Etta, Marvin, et cetera. He is The Man. This is The Book.

Joel Selvin, author of Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues

People will be reading Respect generations from now to understand our musical culture. David Ritz deserves a lifetime achievement award for Most Soul Full Account of Americas Music.

Charles Keil, author of Urban Blues