I first saw Jack in the "In the Shadows of Motown" movie. A cool dude with a super pleasant on-screen persona... His life story is a great bumper car ride going the course from a fantastic, old-fashioned (I would say a "cheese-steak- sandwich/mustard-on-pretzel") Philly-kind of beginning to a Berry-Gordy-pulled-the-plug-on-Motown kind of near-end. There are a lot of great forks in the road.... being drafted; burgeoning success touring; being scouted for Motown by Marvin Gaye and becoming a cog in Berry's music dyno; and independent label activities. Jack Ashford survives (no matter what it takes this side of the law) in the bleak, post-Motown vacuum.
Jack is blessed in being able to return to his niche in the vibes department and to re-unite with the Funk Brothers for that masterpiece movie and subsequent musical performances. As with most of us, his "what-if"s are un-resolvable. His book is a good read of his trials and tribulations. Jack seems like a nice guy with a great love for his family and those with whom he shared his passage through life. His wife and co-author must have steered him through the sensitive recalling and selecting of memories. I value this volume as a new and clear perspective of the Motown whirlwind by one of its great musical talents. Thanks, Jack!
