Synopses & Reviews
The ultimate American Idol insider reveals what it takes to achieve your dreams, recalling his journey from South Central to center stage.As a highly successful musician and producer, Rickey Minor has worked with some of the worlds most celebrated performers. He knows firsthand that there are reasons why some people succeed, while others fail despite their talent. As American Idols music director, Rickey Minor helps contestants reach for their dreams week after week. Hes seen it all behind the scenes at the wildly popular show.
In Theres No Traffic on the Extra Mile, Minor spins stories from his life in the music business into inspirational gold, imparting the lessons he has learned the hard way, including:
Always give people more than they were expecting. But remember that you cant please everyone all the time.
Look for mentors. Minor recounts how Quincy Jones became his.
Why every action moves you closer or farther away from your aspirationand how to tell the difference.
If you cant get what you want, it may be because youre not ready yet. When the time comes, youll know.
He also provides juicy behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Idol contestants, and the keys to their success. He sees the show as a condensed version of life itself. The setbacks the performers face, and their triumphs, mirror our own. But his bottom line, no matter what your field of endeavor, is this: If you drive hard enough, sooner or later you will be the only one left on the road.
Review
We live in troubled and turbulent times....How do we begin to create value, integrity, love, and truth? How do you learn to distinguish and rise above [your] own limitations of circumstance or destructive mind-set? Rickey Minor has asked himself these kinds of questions, and the answers have turned themselves into a wonderful book.
Annie Lennox
Synopsis
As the music director on "American Idol," Minor has worked with some of the world's most celebrated performers. In this work, the author reveals what it takes to achieve one's dreams, recalling his journey from South Central L.A. to center stage.
About the Author
Rickey Minor is the music director of American Idol and has served as music director for nearly every major American awards show including the Grammys, the Emmys, and the Super Bowl. He has worked with major recording artists including Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Ray Charles, Beyoncé Knowles, and many more.