First published 2014
Tommy Mottola grew up in the Bronx and dropped out of school, but he climbed to the top of the music business as one of its most creative and controversial CEOs. He discovered and developed superstars like Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, and Gloria Estefan. The industry recognizes him as the architect behind the Latin explosion in popular music. He worked alongside legends including Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, the Dixie Chicks, Pearl Jam, Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, and Ozzy Osbourne. Mottola reveals the private stories behind his public controversies, including his marriage to Mariah Carey and his role in developing her career, managing Michael Jackson's emotional struggles, and confronting his former boss and mentor Walter Yetnikoff. His story unfolds during a pivotal era when the music business transformed completely, from Elvis to the iPod.
Genres: business, non-fiction, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: rags-to-riches, self-made-man
Setting: Bronx
Period: Elvis Era, iPod Era
416 pages · Paperback · Penguin Publishing Group