David Ritz (born December 2, 1943, in
New York City) is an American author. He has written novels, biographies, magazine articles, and over a hundred
liner notes for artists such as
Aretha Franklin,
Ray Charles, and
Nat King Cole. He has coauthored 36 autobiographies, including some celebrities' autobiographies.[1]
Career and bibliography
As a biographer
Ritz's first collaboration was Brother Ray (1978), the autobiography of
Ray Charles. Ritz has said that his initial intention was to write a biography until becoming intrigued by the idea of rendering the book entirely in Charles' voice. "That's when I discovered I had a gift for channeling voice", Ritz told the L.A. Times' Patrick Goldstein in 2012. "That discovery changed the course of my literary life."[2]
Livin' on a Prayer: Big Songs, Big Life (2023) with
Desmond Child
Energy Follows Through: The Stories Behind Ny Songs (2023) with
Willie Nelson
Ritz has also written an inspirational book. Messengers, a portrait of African-American gospel singers and ministers, was published in 2006, as well as memoir, The God Groove, in 2019.
As a novelist
Ritz's fiction ranges from sports fantasies--The Man Who Brought the Dodgers Back To Brooklyn (1981)-- to jazz fantasies--Blue Notes Under a Green Felt Hat (1989) and Barbells and Saxophones (1989).
Ritz collaborated with
Mable John on three Christian novels: Sanctified (2006), Stay Out of the Kitchen (2007) and Love Tornado (2008). He has also collaborated with rapper
T.I. on two novels— Power and Beauty (2011) and Trouble and Triumph (2012).[4]
In 2016, Ritz collaborated with Willie Nelson on the novel Pretty Paper.
The
platinum-selling song "
Sexual Healing" was written in
Ostend, Belgium in April 1982 and is credited as a collaboration between
Marvin Gaye,
Odell Brown, and Ritz.[5] Ritz was not originally credited as songwriter. [6] Ritz sued Marvin Gaye for songwriting credit; Ritz received credit only after settling with Marvin Gaye's estate after the singer's death.[7] Ritz claims that the lawsuit was settled because he had interview tapes with Marvin Gaye in which Gaye says, "These are great lyrics you wrote."[8]
Ritz’s songs have also been recorded by Smokey Robinson, the Isley Brothers and Kem. David Ritz co-wrote three songs including the title track from
Guy King's 2016 album Truth.[9]
Ritz co-wrote “Brothers in the Night,” theme song for the 1983 film Uncommon Valor.
As a journalist
“Happy Song: Soul Music in the Ghetto,” Ritz's first critical essay, was published in Salmagundi (1970). Dozens of other articles have followed, including “History of the Jews of Dallas,” D Magazine (1974); “Kids’ Stuff: Jackson Pollock, Jimmie Vaughan and the Architecture of Las Vegas,” Art Connoisseur (1998); “Show and Tell,” introduction to Rolling Stone's Tattoo Nation (2002); the forward to Lady Sings the Blues, the 50th-anniversary edition of the autobiography of
Billie Holiday (2006); and “The Last Days of Brother Ray,” included in Da Capo's Best Music Writing of 2005.[10]
Ritz has also been nominated for four additional Grammys: “Ray Charles 50th Anniversary Collection,” Liner Notes (1997); “Ray Charles 50th Anniversary Collection,” Producer (1997); “Ray Charles—Pure Genius,” Liner Notes (2005); “Aretha Franklin—The Golden Reign,” Liner Notes (2008).[12]
2006
ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for liner notes of Johnny “Guitar” Watson: The Funk Anthology, released by Shout! Factory[15]
2011
ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for liner notes of
Nat King Cole & Friends: Riffin, released by Verve/Hip-O Select.com/Universal Music Enterprises[16]
2013 Living Blues Reader's Poll, Best Book for When I Left Home: My Story –
Buddy Guy and David Ritz – Da Capo Press[17]
2013 Association for Recorded Sound Award for Best Historical Research in Blues/Gospel/Hip-hop/R&B for When I Left Home: My Story –
Buddy Guy and David Ritz – Da Capo[18]
2013
ASCAP Timothy White Award for Outstanding Musical Biography for When I Left Home: My Story-
Buddy Guy and David Ritz[19]