education of, 23–25, 29–30, 34–35, 40–44, 78, 290
ego of, 15–16, 18, 72, 178, 196, 199, 203, 228–29, 287
energy of, 2, 6, 10–11, 15, 36, 81, 251, 288
finances of, 1, 35, 38–39, 45, 50–51, 59, 61, 65, 70, 80–81, 89, 96, 98, 102, 105–7, 113–14, 117–18, 122–23, 128, 130–31, 140, 142–43, 146, 148–49, 151, 153–56, 158, 161–66, 168, 171, 173, 182, 191–93, 203, 211, 214, 229–30, 234, 248, 252, 255, 265, 275, 277–78, 280, 283–88, 292–94, 296, 301, 305–6, 314
focus of, 3, 179, 288
in gangs, 39–40, 45, 50
glow of, 50, 53, 67, 107, 111, 123, 128, 213, 219, 257, 264–65, 268, 296, 317–19, 321
as grandfather, 317
guns owned by, 134, 168, 170
hairdos of, 181–82, 258, 278
hits of, 1, 15, 171–82, 184–87, 191–96, 198–99, 201–2, 205–7, 212, 216–19, 224, 228, 232, 234, 236–37, 243–45, 247–48, 255–56, 258–59, 264–65, 268, 288, 295, 314–17
homes of, 1, 23, 27, 30, 40, 193–94, 203–4, 235, 237–38, 247, 314, 320
hospitalizations of, 250–52, 255, 266–68, 272–75, 280–81, 285, 300
idols of, 2, 144–45, 217, 247, 314
illnesses and injuries of, 5, 131–33, 280, 319
image of, 178–79, 181–85, 203, 245, 285
imagination of, 9–10, 38, 81, 199, 213
imprisonment of, 3–4, 9–12, 17–18, 39–40, 69, 87–89, 91–96, 101, 111–13, 122, 198–99, 210, 228, 299, 306–12, 315–18
intelligence of, 2, 18, 25, 34, 112, 262–63
jealousy of, 126, 163
as King of Punk Funk, 195, 235, 279
lawsuits of, 278, 283–85, 287, 289, 292, 296
legacy of, 321
as Little Ricky, 64, 68, 97, 101, 109–10
lovers and love life of, 74, 81, 90, 121–23, 127, 130–33, 136, 141–44, 146, 148–57, 164–65, 167, 222–23, 229–31, 235, 237–38, 240, 246–47, 249, 262–63, 269, 279–83, 289–91, 298, 300–307, 312, 315–16
marriages of, 5, 157, 164–67, 172, 179, 312, 314–15, 317
military service of, 54–61, 88, 92
narcissism of, 169–70
nightmares of, 239
paranoia of, 134, 305–6, 315
physical appearance of, 47, 55, 75, 79, 87–88, 152, 165, 180, 184–85, 205, 213, 215–16, 226, 243, 267, 278, 296, 321
pimping of, 117–18
politics of, 13–15, 44, 57, 91, 146, 276, 279, 317–18
popularity and fame of, 11, 14–16, 42–43, 96–97, 101, 109–10, 174, 179, 181–83, 187–89, 198–99, 203–6, 212, 214, 219, 224–25, 228, 235–36, 243, 246, 249–50, 266, 268, 299, 305, 308, 310–11, 313, 321
prison escape of, 88–92
prison releases of, 4, 96, 313–15
reading of, 11, 34, 46, 48, 53, 189
security for, 224–26
selflessness of, 127–28
sexuality and sex life of, 6, 14, 24–27, 33–35, 43, 46–47, 50–51, 67, 74, 90, 97, 103, 105, 109–10, 117, 121–22, 143, 151, 156–57, 161–62, 164, 166–68, 179, 181, 188, 217, 220–21, 227–29, 235, 238, 249, 256, 259, 267, 270–71, 277, 279–83, 286–87, 295, 298, 315–16
sobriety of, 267–71, 276–78, 289–90, 300–301, 312–13, 319
spirituality of, 9, 11, 16, 23, 26, 84, 136, 141, 151, 261, 266, 268, 270, 289–95, 299, 313
sports played by, 34, 40–41
suicidal thoughts of, 168–70, 252, 259–60, 263, 306
talents of, 11, 34, 41–42, 54, 56–57, 63–64, 67–68, 87, 95–96, 105, 113, 130, 135–37, 148–49, 163, 168, 171, 199, 256, 299
touring of, 13–14, 202–3, 208–11, 217, 220, 224–27, 230, 234–35, 245, 248–49, 316
trademark moves of, 208–10
trials of, 88, 92, 300–301, 307–8
vacations of, 212–14, 222, 277, 287, 301
wardrobe of, 47, 64, 66, 75, 104, 110, 114, 135, 165, 180, 205, 296
writing of, 5, 10–12, 18, 70, 74, 112–16, 118–19, 136–37, 144, 146, 167, 170–74, 188, 196, 201, 212, 214, 216–19, 247, 255, 257–58, 267, 276–77, 296, 311, 314
James, Tanya Hijazi (second wife), 5, 281–83, 298–307, 312, 314–16
James, Tazman (son), 301–2, 307, 312, 317
James, Ty (daughter), 142–44, 229–30, 239–40, 282, 301, 317
Jesus Christ, 16, 25, 46–47, 190, 289–92, 313
Jews, 11
Jobete Music Company, 200
Johnson, Alberta (sister), 23, 45
Johnson, Camille (sister), 23–24, 29–30, 45, 320
Johnson, Carmen (brother), 23, 31–32, 45, 47
Johnson, Cheryl (sister), 23, 45
Johnson, James Ambrose, Sr. (father), 20, 22–23, 32, 46, 267
Johnson, Lyndon, 44, 57
Johnson, Roy (brother), 23, 29–35, 45, 180, 227, 239, 285–87
Johnson, William (brother), 23, 45, 299
Jones, Elvin, 37, 41, 54
Jones, Grace, 219, 232–33, 246, 320
Jones, Jill, 201
Jones, Noel, 320
Jones, Quincy, 247, 253–54
Jones, Winnie, 201
Joplin, Janis, 94, 135, 287
Jordan, Louis, 5, 321
“Juicy Lucy,” 73
K
Kay, Connie, 71
Keeter, Lisa, 289–91, 293, 297
Keeter, Liz, 289–91, 293, 297
Kendricks, Eddie, 236
Kerr, Colin, 66, 70
Khan, Chaka, 268, 280, 296
King, B. B., 4, 34, 143, 147–48, 225
King, Ben E., 56–57
King, Martin Luther, 44, 47, 224
Kinks, 14, 65
Kirk, Rahsaan Roland, 94
Kiss, 182–83
Knight, Gladys, 77, 79, 235
Kool and the Gang, 154, 216
Koran, 11, 313
Krasnow, Bob, 288
Krupa, Gene, 71, 145
L
LaBianca, Leno and Rosemary, 133
“Lady Marmalade,” 195
Lanier, Bob, 41
Lasker, Jay, 255
Las Vegas, Nevada, 235, 283
“Lately,” 184
Lawrence, Martin, 317
Leary, Timothy, 269
Led Zeppelin, 137–39
LeMelle, Danny, 183–84, 195, 247, 314
Lennon, John, 67, 75
Leonard, Glenn, 236
Leonardo da Vinci, 189
Let It Bleed, 129
Let’s Get It On (album), 154, 246
“Let’s Get It On” (single), 190
“Let’s Go Get Stoned,” 89, 196, 255
Leviska, Nancy, 121
Life, 317
“Light My Fire,” 118
“Little Red Corvette,” 236
“Little Runaway,” 205
Little Walter, 64
London, 129, 234–35
“Loosey’s Rap,” 296
Los Angeles, California, 91, 97–106, 111, 143, 163, 230–31, 246, 248, 251, 265, 292, 316, 319–20
hippies in, 100–102, 104, 124
James’s departure from, 204–5
James’s life in, 100–106, 109–10, 119–40, 146–49, 155, 179, 181–97, 203–4, 235–39, 250, 269–71, 279–81, 283, 285, 297, 299, 302–4, 314–15, 320
James’s move to, 98–99
James’s trips to, 149, 175, 214, 253
Motown and, 115–16, 119–21, 205, 221, 231
ritualistic murders in, 132–35
Los Angeles County Jail, 308–9, 312
Los Angeles Times, 132–33
Louella, Aunt, 51–52
Louise, Pam, 121
Love, 103
“Love and Happiness,” 200
“Love Gun,” 205
“Love Interlude,” 195
Love Man, 2
“Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, The” (Eliot), 238
Love Unlimited, 152, 173
Lovin’ Spoonful, 7
2, 76
M
M, 303–5, 307
Mafia, 19, 26, 43, 130, 171, 194
Magical Funk Tour, 203
Mainline, 157
Malcolm X, 11, 44
“Mama’s Eyes,” 316
Manuel, Richard, 62
Marden, Dave, 65
Marley, Bob, 11, 184
“Marrakesh Express,” 123
Martha and the Vandellas, 42, 76
“Mary Jane,” 1, 172, 185, 187, 226, 310
Mary Jane Girls, 245, 248, 259, 268, 278, 287, 315
Mary Jane Productions, 231
“Master Blaster (Jammin’),” 184
Max, Peter, 219
Mayfield, Curtis, 137, 152
McCartney, Paul, 67, 94
McCoy, Van, 172
McDermott, Tom, 184, 247
McGraw, Pat, 62–64
McJohn, Goldy, 65, 73, 91, 96
McLaughlin, John, 93, 137, 145
McLean Hospital, 266–68, 272–75
McQueen, Steve, 89, 106
Medina, Benny, 288, 291–94
Melle Mel, 247, 260
“Mellow Yellow,” 103
Me Monster, 17–18, 48, 65, 88, 199, 228–30, 279, 311, 313, 317
Memphis, Tennessee, 224–25
Mercury/Polygram Records, 314
“Mercy Mercy Mercy,” 93
Mexican Mafia, 310–11
MGM, 146–48
Miami, Florida
James strip-searched in, 165–66
James’s trips to, 97–98, 139–40, 165–66, 211–12
Michaels, Lorne, 234
Michelangelo, 189, 238
Mike the Mack, 130–31
Mildred, 286–87
Miles Smiles, 83
Militello, Bobby, 245
Miller, Alonzo, 219, 296
Mills, Stephanie, 195
Mineo, Sal, 71–72
Miracles, 42, 64, 75, 246
“Misty,” 22
Mitchell, Joni, 64, 72–73, 96, 124, 138
“Moanin’,” 39
Modern Jazz Quartet, 71
Money Talks, 315
Monk, Thelonious, 57, 72, 145
Montgomery, Wes, 22
Montreal, 60, 90, 93, 163–64
Mood Records, 171
Moody, Dwayne, 308
“Moon Child,” 268
Moonglows, 22, 190
Moore, Geoffrey, 280–81
Moore, Sam, 97
Morgan, Seville, 122–23, 127, 130–33, 136, 141–44, 229, 239–40
Moroder, Giorgio, 173
Morrison, Jim, 103–5
“Mother Earth,” 146
Motown, 65, 87, 104, 145, 193, 214, 221–22, 245
blacks and, 74–75, 77–78, 116, 119, 186, 202
Detroit and, 74, 82, 113–16, 118–19, 221
James’s adolescence and, 41–42
James’s conflicts with, 211–12, 230, 255, 275–79, 282, 284, 287, 292
James’s hits and, 1, 15, 180–81, 185–86, 191, 196, 219, 288
James’s returns to, 113–17, 175–78
LA and, 115–16, 119–21, 205, 221, 231
Mynah Birds and, 74–83, 115
Teena Marie and, 200, 202
Mow, Aiden, 170–71
“Mr. Policeman,” 217
MTV, 14, 233, 236–37, 258–59
Muddy Waters, 62
Muhammad, 313
Murphy, Eddie, 234, 246, 257–59, 261–62, 266, 289, 316–17
“Musical Memoirs of a Superfreak, The” (Ritz), 4
Muslims, 11, 17, 297, 313, 320
“My Mama,” 155
Mynah Birds, 66–68, 70–83, 97, 113, 175
Gordy and, 75–79, 186
Motown and, 74–83, 115
Myron, 161–65
N
Nash, Graham, 125–26, 168
Navy, Navy Reserve, US, 53–62, 91–92, 95–96
James as AWOL from, 60–62, 64, 68, 75, 82, 87–89
Nelson, Willie, 279
“Never Say You Love Me,” 315
New York City, 9, 61, 89, 97, 100, 173, 181, 215, 235
James’s life in, 256, 258–61
New York City (cont.)
James’s trips to, 35–39, 51–53, 71–72, 152–53, 219, 287–89
Nicholson, Jack, 269, 280
Nixon, Richard, 146, 150
North Carolina, 290
Nyro, Laura, 65
O
Ohio Players, 154
O’Jays, 148
Olatunji, Babatunde, 181
One Life to Live, 271
“Ooo Baby Baby,” 200
Ooppicks, 110
Orpheum Theatre, 203
Ostin, Mo, 288, 292
“Out in the Country,” 116–17
Out of the Cool, 145
Owens, Tom, 308
Oxenberg, Catherine, 262
P
Palmer, Bruce, 65, 72–73, 82, 91, 96, 101–3, 124–26
Paris, 217, 234, 280, 286
Parker, Charlie, 11, 225
Parliament, 5, 80, 163, 182
“Party All the Time,” 258–59, 277
Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, 195
Paul, Clarence, 78, 114
Pendergrass, Teddy, 202–3
“People Get Ready,” 137
Perfect, 103, 105–13, 122
Perry, Joe, 174
Perry, Richard, 280, 296
Pickett, Wilson, 87, 135, 139
Pickin’ Up the Pieces, 123
“P.I.M.P. the S.I.M.P.,” 247
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 227
“Player’s Way,” 315
Poco, 123, 129
Pointer Sisters, 205, 280
Polanski, Roman, 131, 133
Presley, Elvis, 28–30, 38, 224–25, 321
Preston, Billy, 129
Prince, 5, 201, 206–11, 236, 245, 248, 257, 288, 296
James’s confrontations with, 208–11, 232
Process and the Doo Rags, 246–47
Prysock, Arthur, 22
Punk Funk Horns, 195
Q
Quality, 158
Queen Booking Agency, 154
R
race riots, 45
racists, racism, 47, 57, 111
in Buffalo, 30, 32, 48–49, 204
James’s adolescence and, 29–31
James’s imprisonment and, 92
and James’s life in Toronto, 60–63
of MTV, 233, 236–37
Rahiem, 247
Ramadon, 183
rap, 247–48, 314–15
Raspberries, 147
Ray, Ola, 279
RCA, RCA Canada, 122, 175
Reagan, Ronald, 13–15, 276, 279, 317
Rebel Without a Cause, 71
Record Plant, 173, 205, 216
Redding, Otis, 87, 95–96, 139
Reed, Lou, 104, 172, 244
Reeves, Greg, 120, 122–29, 134, 137
Reeves, Martha, 42, 76, 78
Reprise Records, 288
Reunion, 5, 236
Richie, Lionel, 214
Rick James Presents Bobby M: Blow, 245
Riggs, Seth, 245
Rivers, Joan, 269
Roach, Max, 54
Roberts, Elliot, 138
Robertson, Robbie, 62
Robinson, Smokey, 64, 75, 77, 104, 114, 116, 186, 192, 200, 244, 247, 320
Rock, Rhythm and Blues, 296
Rockefeller, Nelson, 152
Rockpalast, 14, 235–36
“Rocky Raccoon,” 94
Rolling Stones, 65, 67–68, 129, 174
Rollins, Sonny, 58
“Roll with Me, Henry,” 20
Ross, Chico, 261
Ross, Diana, 78, 176, 187, 195–97, 200–201, 235, 261–62
James’s producing for, 195–96, 201
Roth, Eddie, 137
“Round Midnight,” 57
Royal Arms, 22, 57, 83
Royce, Rose, 167
“Ruby, My Dear,”
57
Ruffin, David, 77, 80, 236
Ruffin, Jackie, 183
Ruffin, Jimmy, 117–18
Ruffin, Levi, Jr., 183, 207
S
Sailor Boys, 64, 68, 97
St. James hotel, 302–4
St. Nicholas, Nick, 63–65, 73
Salt ’n Pepper, 120–22, 134, 137–41, 173
Santamaria, Mongo, 41
Santana, 135
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, 94, 173
Sarnes, Chris, 137
“Satisfaction,” 67
Saturday Night Live, 234
“Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud,” 112
Scaggs, Boz, 139
Scarface, 158
Schelman, Morley, 71–75, 142
Mynah Birds and, 73–75, 81–82
Scorpio, 247, 260
Sebastian, John, 72–73
Sebring, Jay, 106–9, 113, 122–23, 131–34
Seltzer, Ralph, 113–14
Sepheus, Bobby, 248
“17,” 256–57, 281
Sex Pistols, 195
“Sexual Healing,” 237, 246
Shankar, Ravi, 151
Shorter, Wayne, 83–84, 145
“Shrink Freak,” 267
Shue, Elisabeth, 235
Silver, Horace, 73
Sinatra, Frank, 66, 77
Sinatra, Tina, 248
“Sincerely,” 22
“Sing, Sing, Sing,” 145
Singleton, Eddie, 120–21
Singleton, Raynoma, 121
Sketches of Spain, 73, 145
slavery, slavery mentality, 13, 46
Smith, Jimmy, 22
Smith, Lonnie Liston, 154
Smith, Will, 292
Smokey and the Miracles, 64, 75
Snoop Dogg, 315
“Somebody’s Watching You,” 315
Songs in the Key of Life, 184, 219
“So Soft So Wet,” 316
“Soul Sista,” 316
“Spacey Love,” 195
“Spinning Wheel,” 120
“Spiritual,” 37–38
Spyro Gyra, 172–73
“Square Biz,” 219–20
“Stand!,” 116
“Stand By Me,” 56, 63
“Standing on the Top,” 5, 15, 236
“Star-Spangled Banner, The,” 118
Staton, Dakota, 19
“Stay in My Corner,” 111
“Steamroller Blues,” 271
Steppenwolf, 91
Stevenson, Mickey, 76–79, 221
Stevie Wonder, 42, 118, 145, 186, 219, 258, 290, 320
James’s relationship with, 78–79, 184, 189, 192–93, 211, 217, 244, 247
Stewart, Al, 201
Stewart, Alana, 248
Stewart, Art, 177–79, 195, 205
Stewart, Billy, 90
Stewart, Rod, 235, 248
Stills, Stephen, 108–9, 113, 134, 168
James’s relationship with, 101–6, 123–27, 142
Stockholm, 156–57