This explosive autobiographical volume is about entertainer Jerry Castaldo growing up on the mean streets of Brooklyn, NY, his agonizing descent into the darkness of the city's underbelly and his desperate struggle back to normalcy. Celebrated NY Post columnist, author and playwright Chip Deffaa edited this dark, yet inspirational story. "Heartbreaking," "surprising," "emotionally charged." "Shocking," "volatile," "riveting" and "just plain scary." Those comments are from readers of this book who cut a wide swath across a varied demographic--men, women; young, old; and who are from varying socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and locales. Michael Musto, award-winning columnist for The Village Voice in NYC and TV's "E Channel" regular calls it: A gritty tale of dark struggle " America's largest Italian American newspaper promises: "You'll be captured by his story from the very first page " Jerry Seinfeld, sitcom star and comedian says, "I'm tellin' you right now--this guy is gonna be the biggest thing in show business."

This text tells the tale of the high times and hard times of six of the greatest living rhythm and blues artists. The author profiles Ruth Brown, the most popular female black singer of the early 1950s; La Vern Baker, who succeeded Brown; Little Jimmy Scott, whom Madonna calls the only singer who ever really made her cry; Charles Brown, master of the club blues style he popularized; Floyd Dixon, a more rambunctious fellow traveler; and Jimmy Witherspoon, whose blend of earthiness and urbanity helped earn him as big an r&b hit as was ever recorded. Chip Deffaa deals not only with the performers' music, but also with their struggles against racism and financial exploitation.