Anyone who feels a connection to the best music of the last fifty years—and who doesn’t?—will revel in this uniquely American success story. Even at a young age, Richard Perry knew that his destiny was to bring music into people’s lives. What he couldn’t have dreamed was that his meteoric rise through the ranks of the music business would result in successful, ground-breaking, and award-winning collaborations with . . . Rod Stewart - Ray Charles - Barbra Streisand - Ringo Starr - The Pointer Sisters - Carly Simon - Diana Ross - Ella Fitzgerald - And many others, all of whom trusted him to shape the sound that made them great. In spite of Perry’s numerous successes, he has had to overcome many adversities. After contracting Polio at the age of twelve, he wasn’t expected to walk again. But Perry proved doctors wrong by excelling as a very successful high jumper on his track and field team. Forty-eight years later in 2003, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and even though there is no known cure, he has continued to work and write. In this candid and page-turning memoir, Perry transports us through his eventful life, from his childhood in Brooklyn, where he played in bands, starred in musicals, and witnessed the birth of rock ‘n’ roll; through his sometimes rocky but always thrilling climb up the music-business ladder; and finally, into the studios and personal lives of the many superstars who provide our most enduring soundtrack. Throughout his story, Perry remains entertaining and fun-loving company, always awed by his own proximity to greatness and boundlessly enthusiastic about his contributions to our most beloved art form. "Richard Perry is one of the greatest record producers of all time and this book captures all the excitement behind launching the countless hits he has helped create. With great style and charm, his story spans the last fifty years of popular music and is a thoroughly delightful and fascinating read."-- CLIVE DAVIS, Chief Executive Officer, Sony Music "Perry shows us what it means to be a music producer and reveals delicious moments that help us understand why he was one of the most successful record producers of his time." -- JANE FONDA "Love the book, love it mate, I'm most approving."-- SIR ROD STEWART "Richard knows just how to get down to basic and sexy. The way he writes his book is exactly the same. This is the most readable memoir about music and the musicians who create it that I've ever read. Read it. And love it."-- CARLY SIMON "All your favorite artists, he worked with them. All your favorite songs, he produced them. Perry is one of the greatest producers of all time."-- DIANE WARREN, American songwriter Over his forty-six-year career, RICHARD PERRY has produced classic albums and singles with legendary artists. With musical influences crossing cultures, Perry has been one of very few producers to have #1 records on all four music charts: pop, urban, country, and dance. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Perry developed his interest in Rock 'n' Roll very young. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1964 with a degree in music and theater, he formed his own independent record production company, Cloud Nine Productions, in June of 1965. As Perry describes in his book the several events that took place in his life, he vividly provides his audience with a template of music history, as well as the myriad of fascinating people he encountered from all walks of art and life. In 1974 Perry created his own state-of-the-art recording complex, Studio 55. In 1978 he formed his own label, Planet Records, which was the home of The Pointer Sisters for eight years. He was named Producer Of The Year by Rolling Stone Magazine in 1973 and by Billboard Magazine in 1977 and again in 1984. He was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award by the University Of Michigan and in 2014, he received a Special Merit Trustees Grammy Award by NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences), the Grammy for individuals who have made contributions of outstanding artistic significance in the field of recording.