Otis
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The sleeve notes to this book makes the following claim, ""Otis! is the first full scale biography of one of the true giants of popular music", which may or may not be true, but if it is then there can't be too much between the publication of this and Geoff Brown's offering. Having just read Brown's book I was not intending to read a second biography so soon, but as rave reviews started to filter through the internet along with stories that Redding's wife Zelma was in the process of suing the author I decided that I could not put it off any longer. The last I heard, the author, Scott Freeman, was intending to fight the action. There can be no doubt at all that Freeman has written a very bold book, in fact his boldness is probably the root cause of his problems. It certainly makes very interesting reading and is composed in a very reader-friendly style. The fact Zelma does not approve does not mean that the book is wholly critical of Otis, indeed the author goes out of his way to paint Redding as a humble, caring and talented man. By contrast however he also claims that Otis was involved in gangland gun battles, took drugs and was less that faithful to his wife whilst on the road. He goes on to suggest that before he died Otis was considering leaving her and dumping Phil Walden as manager. If this were not enough he's was hardly likely to endear himself to any woman with descriptions of them such as this, "His friends didn't understand the attraction - Otis pretty much had his pick of the women around Macon and no one considered Zelma the most attractive thing in town." (P.48) I have to say that from the photographs in the book she looked fine to me, but there again I have not seen the other women of Macon to compare her with. To an impartial observer the book seems very balanced stating both the good and bad aspects of the man, but balance is not the question, it is whether the negative comments can be substantiated or not that is at issue. Results of lawsuits are never guarantees of truth, they merely judgements on what can be proven or not and which of the plaintiffs can afford the best lawyer. Whether Freeman's version of Redding's life is accurate we will never know. This was a book I could not put down. Besides being well written, it goes to places where many other biographers would fear to tread. It is well spaced and in a large font which made it particularly easy on my ageing eyes. How well researched it is I would not like to say. My advice would be to get a copy as quickly as possible. I suspect it may not be on the bookshelves for too much longer. |
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Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool This Site Last Updated 18/05/05
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