Overview

"Desmond Child is the ultimatehitmaker, contributing to some of the biggest smash global hits that helped ignitethe success of music icons KISS, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, RickyMartin, Katy Perry, and countless others. InLivin' On A Prayer, hereveals how he climbed his way to the top and beyond amid extraordinarycircumstances and shares his very personal and unbelievable journey that shapedhim into an artist of international renown. For over half a century,Desmond Child has collaborated with the world's most celebrated artistscreating timeless hits, such as Bon Jovi's ""Livin' On A Prayer"" and ""You GiveLove A Bad Name"" as well as Ricky Martin's ""Livin' La Vida Loca"" and ""The CupOf Life"" amongst his vast catalog. But inLivin' On A Prayer,Desmond himself takes center stage to share his transformational story frommisfit outsider to cultural pacesetter. In collaboration withlegendary music biographer David Ritz, Child recounts his unconventionalupbringing as his colorful family fled Cuba in the 1960s and fell into poverty.He details his shocking discovery at age 18 that the man he called ""dad"" wasnot his biological father after all, and he courageously bares his soul aboutnavigating the trials of being a Latino gay man in the macho world of rock androll. His is a story of willing himself to succeed and overcome impossible oddsto establish himself as one of the most influential composers and lyricists ofall time."

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9781635768534

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Reviews

The Desmond you don't know about is the one who not only taught me the next level of songwriting, but so many of the true aspects of friendship: truth, honor, and loyalty. -Jon Bon Jovi I can describe him in three words: Blood, Sweat & Hits. -Alice Cooper He only knows how to write one kind of song... a hit. -Cher I love myself for writing with him. -Joan Jett The first time we met, we wrote 'Angel' in about an hour and 45 minutes-and I'm not bullshitting. The guy's a fucking genius. -Steven Tyler Desmond Child is a game-changer. As a singer, songwriter, producer, and visionary, he has deconstructed and reconstructed the global soundscape, adding an electrical charge that continues to light up our musical culture. -Emilio Estefan For over five decades of #1 hits that stretch across two centuries, Desmond Child and Diane Warren have ruled as the King & Queen of popular songwriting. The only problem is trying to figure out which one is which! -John Stamos Desmond Child... always a threat. -Diane Warren

The Desmond you don't know about is the one who not only taught me the next level of songwriting, but so many of the true aspects of friendship: truth, honor, and loyalty. --Jon Bon Jovi I can describe him in three words: Blood, Sweat & Hits. --Alice Cooper He only knows how to write one kind of song... a hit. --Cher I love myself for writing with him. --Joan Jett The first time we met, we wrote 'Angel' in about an hour and 45 minutes--and I'm not bullshitting. The guy's a fucking genius. --Steven Tyler Desmond Child is a game-changer. As a singer, songwriter, producer, and visionary, he has deconstructed and reconstructed the global soundscape, adding an electrical charge that continues to light up our musical culture. --Emilio Estefan For over five decades of #1 hits that stretch across two centuries, Desmond Child and Diane Warren have ruled as the King & Queen of popular songwriting. The only problem is trying to figure out which one is which! --John Stamos Desmond Child... always a threat. --Diane Warren

"""A page-turner of an autobiography full of the remarkable stories behind his songs."" —The Guardian “The Desmond you don’t know about is the one who not only taught me the next level of songwriting, but so many of the true aspects of friendship: truth, honor, and loyalty."" —Jon Bon Jovi “I can describe him in three words: Blood, Sweat & Hits.” —Alice Cooper “He only knows how to write one kind of song… a hit.” —Cher “I love myself for writing with him.” —Joan Jett “The first time we met, we wrote ‘Angel’ in about an hour and 45 minutes—and I’m not bullshitting. The guy’s a fucking genius.” —Steven Tyler “Desmond Child is a game-changer. As a singer, songwriter, producer, and visionary, he has deconstructed and reconstructed the global soundscape, adding an electrical charge that continues to light up our musical culture.” —Emilio Estefan “For over five decades of #1 hits that stretch across two centuries, Desmond Child and Diane Warren have ruled as the King & Queen of popular songwriting. The only problem is trying to figure out which one is which!” —John Stamos “Desmond Child… always a threat.” —Diane Warren ""In the realm of music history, there are legends, and then there’s Desmond Child."" —Give it a Spin “Child is a fascinating character, a candid individual with a multitude of anecdotes. It feels like you’re right there in the room with him as he tells his story. With the assistance of ghostwriter David  Ritz, Desmond tells a life story that’s seen many highs and lows. It’s a  real rags-to-riches story in which Child comes across as a good guy with plenty to say.” —Rock Candy Magazine  "

Author Information

Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated songwriter Desmond Child is one of music's most prolific and accomplished hitmakers. From Aerosmith to Zedd, his genre-defying collaborations include KISS, Bon Jovi, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Ricky Martin, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, Michael Bolton, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Cyndi Lauper, Christina Aguilera, Ava Max, Mickey Mouse and Kermit the Frog, writing and producing more than eighty Billboard Top 40 singles and selling over 500 million records worldwide with downloads, YouTube views, and streaming plays in the billions.  Desmond Child was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008 and serves on its Board of Directors as well as the Board of ASCAP. In 2018, he received ASCAP’s prestigious Founders Award celebrating forty years in the music industry. In 2012, he co-founded the Latin Songwriters Hall Of Fame where he serves as Chairman Emeritus. In 2022, “Livin’ La Vida Loca” was inducted into the National Archives of the Library of Congress for its global impact and cultural significance to America. In 2023, “Livin’ On A Prayer” was certified to have reached 1 billion streams on Spotify. Grammy and Emmy-nominated songwriter Desmond Child is one of music's most prolific and accomplished hitmakers. From Aerosmith to Zedd, his genre-defying collaborations include KISS, Bon Jovi, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Ricky Martin, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, Michael Bolton, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Cyndi Lauper, Christina Aguilera, Ava Max, Mickey Mouse and Kermit the Frog, writing and producing more than eighty Billboard Top 40 singles and selling over 500 million records worldwide with downloads, YouTube views, and streaming plays in the billions.  Desmond Child was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008 and serves on its Board of Directors as well as the Board of ASCAP. In 2018, he received ASCAP’s prestigious Founders Award celebrating forty years in the music industry. In 2012, he co-founded the Latin Songwriters Hall Of Fame where he serves as Chairman Emeritus. In 2022, “Livin’ La Vida Loca” was inducted into the National Archives of the Library of Congress for its global impact and cultural significance to America. In 2023, “Livin’ On A Prayer” was certified to have reached 1 billion streams on Spotify. David Ritz is the cocomposer of “Sexual Healing,” and is a prolific ghostwriter and published author in his own right. He collaborated on the life stories of, among others, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Marvin Gaye, Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, B. B. King, and Smokey Robinson. See his full list of published works at Ritzwrites.com

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