{"product_id":"9798216395690","title":"Don't Leave Me This Way The Memoir of a Motown Legend","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDon't Leave Me This Way\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eThe Memoir of a Motown Legend\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThelma Houston | Fred Bronson\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003eBiography \u0026amp; Autobiography \/ Music\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Grammy Award-winning Motown artist behind the #1 hit “Don't Leave Me This Way” shares her touching life story and remarkable music career.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Thelma Houston – the first solo female artist at Motown to win a Grammy, for “Best R\u0026amp;B Female Vocal Performance” – is an indelible force whose #1 hit is considered among the best disco recordings of all time. But behind this artistry is a woman with a complex story and career. For the first time, Thelma dives deeply into details of her life and music cherished by countless listeners across generations. She was born in 1943 to a family of poor sharecroppers who picked cotton in Mississippi and was raised by a single mother. After working at local clubs for $25 a night, her career started to take off when she signed to Capitol Records, releasing 2 singles. Then, at Dunhill, she released her acclaimed debut album \u003ci\u003eSunshower \u003c\/i\u003e(1969), produced by Jimmy Webb, and eventually, executive Suzanne de Passe wanted her for Motown.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom performing at the official Human Rights Campaign inauguration dinner the day before Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony to her decades-long support of the LGBTQ+ community, Thelma has crossed paths with stars like Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Morrissey, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, The Temptations, Jimmy Sommerville, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Danny Glover, and Shelly Duvall. Thelma reflects, “I'm really blessed because I never stopped working, and I truly love what I do. Sometimes, it feels like I'm just getting started.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThelma Houston\u003c\/b\u003e is a Grammy Award-winning musical legend best known for her #1 international hit “Don't Leave Me This Way,” giving her the distinction of being the first solo female artist at Motown to win the Grammy Award for “Best R\u0026amp;B Female Vocal Performance.” In addition to her many records and albums, she competed in season 11 of \u003ci\u003eThe Masked Singer\u003c\/i\u003e as “The Clock,” and her third studio album \u003ci\u003eI've Got the Music in Me\u003c\/i\u003e was inducted to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2025. Thelma is also known for her charitable causes and was one of the first outspoken advocates in the battle against AIDS. She lives in Southern California.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFred Bronson\u003c\/b\u003e is the author \/ co-author of seven music books, including \u003ci\u003eRockin' the Kremlin\u003c\/i\u003e (Rowman \u0026amp; Littlefield 2024), \u003ci\u003eThe Sound of Music Family Scrapbook \u003c\/i\u003e(2011),\u003ci\u003e The Jacksons: Legacy \u003c\/i\u003ewith the Jacksons (2017), \u003ci\u003eDick Clark's American Bandstand\u003c\/i\u003e with Dick Clark (1997)\u003ci\u003e, \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e The Billboard Book of Number One Hits \u003c\/i\u003e(2004). He created “Smokey's Place,” a series for Smokey Robinson's Smokey's Soul Town channel. He has guest-starred as an expert on music on\u003ci\u003e American Idol\u003c\/i\u003e four times and has written the annual television specials the American Music Awards and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. He is a regular contributor to \u003ci\u003eBillboard \u003c\/i\u003eand has written for \u003ci\u003eRolling Stone, Variety, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Hollywood Reporter. \u003c\/i\u003eHe lives in Southern California.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13 May 2027\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9798216395690\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHardback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e224\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52223163072652,"sku":"9798216395690","price":28.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/fh90cf-fv.myshopify.com\/products\/9798216395690","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}