In this long-awaited memoir, illustrated with over 100 never-before-seen photos from his personal collection, the groundbreaking record producer chronicles his struggles, his success, and the celebrated artists that made him a legend.
Over the last twenty-five years, legendary music producer and record man LA Reid—the man behind artists such as Toni Braxton, Kanye West, Rihanna, TLC, Outkast, Mariah Carey, Pink, Justin Bieber, and Usher—has changed the music business forever. In addition to discovering some of the biggest pop stars on the planet, he has shaped some of the most memorable and unforgettable hits of the last two generations, creating an impressive legacy of talent discovery and hit records.
Now, for the first time, he tells his story, taking fans on an intimate tour of his life, as he chronicles the fascinating journey from his small-town R&B roots in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his work as a drummer to his fame as a Grammy Award-winning music producer and his gig as a judge on the hit reality show, The X Factor. In Sing to Me, Reid goes behind the scenes of the music industry, charting his rise to fame and sharing stories of the countless artists he’s met, nurtured, and molded into stars. With fascinating insight into the early days of artists as diverse as TLC, Usher, Pink, Kanye West, and Justin Bieber, his story offers a detailed look at what life was like for stars at the start of their meteoric rise and how he always seemed to know who would be the next big thing.
What emerges is a captivating portrait from the inside of popular music evolution over the last three decades. Part music memoir, part business story of climbing to the top, this beautifully designed book, jam packed with photos, showcases Reid's trademark passion and ingenuity and introduces a multifaceted genius who continues to shape pop culture today.
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“‘I always know in a few seconds.’ Music mogul Reid reveals the secrets of the producer’s trade…He worked hard to learn as much as he could about that business and eventually stepped from behind the drum kit to take the lead first as a producer, then as a label owner, and then as an executive for the biggest hit makers…Throughout, Reid conveys his love of music and his open-minded search for new talent, no matter what the genre…An entertaining, thoughtful account of the music business, one that would-be machers will want to study closely.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Recounts the highlights of his illustrious life as a supremely successful music producer…With a keen understanding of today’s pop music and its major influence on its listeners around the globe, Reid’s optimistic, soulful memoir mirrors the timeline of contemporary music culture with all of its peaks and valleys.”
— Publishers Weekly“Dion Graham narrates L. A. Reid’s memoir…Throughout, Graham conveys the mix of toughness, sensitivity, and love for the work that has characterized Reid’s career. Graham creates voices for the family, friends, and celebrities who populate Reid’s life and drops into more sedate tones for vulnerable moments, as when Reid talks about his grief after a friend’s suicide. An enlightening portrait and an enjoyable look behind the scenes of the music business.”
— AudioFileBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
L. A. Reid, after leaving high school to pursue a career in music, found success with his R&B group, Deele. After the group disbanded, he and his ex-bandmate Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds co-founded LaFace Records with Arista Records. As the head of LaFace, Reid broke ground for African American pop artists and helped establish the now-famous music scene in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2004, he became the chairman and CEO of The Island Def Jam Group, and in 2011, he signed on as CEO and chairman of Epic Records and as a judge on The X Factor.
Dion Graham is an award-winning narrator named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine. He has been a recipient of the prestigious Audie Award numerous times, as well as Earphones Awards, the Publishers Weekly Listen Up Awards, IBPA Ben Franklin Awards, and the ALA Odyssey Award. He was nominated in 2015 for a Voice Arts Award for Outstanding Narration. He is also a critically acclaimed actor who has performed on Broadway, off Broadway, internationally, in films, and in several hit television series. He is a graduate of Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, with an MFA degree in acting.