You can be humble and still know you're the baddest MF in the room, you can treat people with kindness and respect in spite of having the power to destroy their reputations, you can put some money away for a rainy day even if you own the biggest house on the highest hill. These tenets of wisdom have kept Ron Ellison on top of his game through nearly 70 years of employment. Whether you have lived through the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s and have enjoyed the incredible music of the likes of Muddy Waters , the Impressions, The Emotions, and Prince, or you're fascinated with the history of black music from the perspective of an artist and music industry insider who was on the front row of black music's amazing evolution, you will be riveted by Ron Ellison's story. From the streets to the record studios to the stage to corner offices at Warner Bros., and Polydor Records, Ellison gives us a personal, gritty, inspirational, and humorous read that will be nostalgic for some and eye-opening for others. Like listening to a classic R&B album, Life Story gives the reader a sense of familiarity, anticipation, movement, and joy. Encouraged to leave grade school to go to work at age eleven, Ellison became the primary provider for his mom and siblings after the passing of his beloved father. With the goal of leaving a written tribute to his parents, Edgar and Dale, and providing a gift of family history for his daughters, Erika and Alisha, Ellison's colorful journey takes us from his humble beginnings on Chicago's South Side to his rise to eventual success and fortune as a first-rate studio and touring percussionist, a music industry mainstay, and a Los Angeles real estate heavyweight, and it iis filled with life's lessons from which we can all benefit. In the end, we learn that all the accolades, material wealth, and fame all pale to the true prize, the love of family, good friends, and great memories.