On July 5, 1961, Ray Charles walked into Bell Sound Studios and recorded four songs in one session. One of those songs was “Unchain My Heart.” In many ways, “Unchain My Heart” was the story of Ray’s life. Ray lived it.
This is the incredible story of the man who wrote the song “Unchain My Heart,” Bobby Sharp. This book will take you through a time period that was paramount to the history of American music, and through locales like Tin Pan Alley, Destiny Recording Studios, and Harlem. You’ll hear names like Joe Cocker, Dick Clark, Sarah Vaughan, Ruth Brown, and Mr. Sammy Davis, Jr. You will read about the music industry putting out some of its finest records at a time when its business practices were at their worst.
And yet, when you reach the last page, you’ll probably realize, like I did, that this is not a story about music nor is it a songwriter’s story. This is a story about men, women, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons. It is a story about family and friends and how you are never alone if you have them. In short, it is a story about life and how life is not a burden…if you live it.
—Tony Gumina, President Ray Charles Marketing Group
