NOWHERE TO RUN

Nowhere to Run is a portrait of soul music as seen through the timeless voices of the people who were there. Just as no one voice is soul, neither can any one voice tell the story of soul. The book presents the recollections of a host of great names whose eyewitness testimonies add up to a lively anecdotal view of the music and the life.

These personal and in-depth meetings reveal the extraordinary lives behind the makers of the music that spoke to an entire generation – black and white – about the importance of pride, freedom, determination and respect.

Nowhere to Run is a monumental work in three parts:
Gospel – Blues – The roots of Soul — Including: Screaming J Hawkins – Ray Charles – James Brown
City Soul – the early Soul artists — Including: Sam Cooke – Smokey Robinson – Mary Wells – Martha Reeves – Supremes
Southern Soul — Including: Otis Redding – Sam & Dave – Issac Hayes

From the beginnings of Motown, when Berry Gordy borrowed $700 to gamble on a hunch, the business of soul was a reflection of what was going on at the time in America. Gerri Hirshey draws on an impressive list of interviews, many exclusive, and these haunting tales define a musical phenomemon that helped shape the sixties.

As soul music enjoys a widespread revival, Gerri Hirshey’s richly detailed narrative celebrates the music that moved the body and soul of a generation.

About the Author: Gerri Hirshey is a freelance writer who has written for Rolling Stone and The New York Times. She is also the author of We Gotta Get Outta This Place: The True, Tough Story of Women in Rock