Most people find the back-story of their parent’s youth less than riveting, but if your mother was once in an R&B band that was on the same recording label as Michael Jackson, you may be more curious. 'Tennessee Tribune' journalist A.J. Dugger’s 1st book chronicles his family’s drama-riddled path to fame as The Dealers in the 1970’s & 1980’s. Dugger provided an interview to JSaysOnline to discuss the biography and his experience with interviewing his relatives about their dark & astonishing past.
JSaysOnline: How did you learn that your mother was once a part of an up-and-coming band? Did you grow up knowing this?
Dugger: I grew up traveling the United States and Canada with these amazing people [The Dealers]. My earliest memories are traveling and watching them perform and rehearse. Sometimes they would put the spotlight on me and let me dance with them during the show! They were the best and I learned so much from them. I still do.
JSaysOnline: Your book promises a gritty story about the chase of fame-- sibling rivalries, negative influences and broken friendships. How were you able to get your mother and relatives to be so candid about their lives?
Dugger: Well, some things I naturally already knew about, but there was so much I didn't! Most people in my family were happy to be interviewed and share their perspective on things. Granted, they're more mature now than they were during their 20s and 30s, so some of them have a story or two that they're not proud of, but everyone was really open and that's what makes the book special; you get so many sides of the story that everything rounds itself out. Several people were a bit uneasy with me putting in the “juicy” stuff. Someone was murdered, several people were on drugs, someone was an alcoholic, people cheated the band, there were big fights, run-ins with racism, etc. These were sensitive things to bring up. Also, old rivalries were brought back to the surface as I interviewed everyone. Thankfully, everyone can laugh about those things now!
JSaysOnline: Did you find any details startling? Did any of your discoveries affect your perspective of your family?
Dugger: Oh yeah! I found some details very startling and so will the readers. I guarantee that. You never know what to expect as you read these pages, but nothing affected my perspective of my family. In the end, family is family, which is one of the many lessons learned in the book.
JSaysOnline: How did you learn that your mother was once a part of an up-and-coming band? Did you grow up knowing this?
Dugger: I grew up traveling the United States and Canada with these amazing people [The Dealers]. My earliest memories are traveling and watching them perform and rehearse. Sometimes they would put the spotlight on me and let me dance with them during the show! They were the best and I learned so much from them. I still do.
JSaysOnline: Your book promises a gritty story about the chase of fame-- sibling rivalries, negative influences and broken friendships. How were you able to get your mother and relatives to be so candid about their lives?
Dugger: Well, some things I naturally already knew about, but there was so much I didn't! Most people in my family were happy to be interviewed and share their perspective on things. Granted, they're more mature now than they were during their 20s and 30s, so some of them have a story or two that they're not proud of, but everyone was really open and that's what makes the book special; you get so many sides of the story that everything rounds itself out. Several people were a bit uneasy with me putting in the “juicy” stuff. Someone was murdered, several people were on drugs, someone was an alcoholic, people cheated the band, there were big fights, run-ins with racism, etc. These were sensitive things to bring up. Also, old rivalries were brought back to the surface as I interviewed everyone. Thankfully, everyone can laugh about those things now!
JSaysOnline: Did you find any details startling? Did any of your discoveries affect your perspective of your family?
Dugger: Oh yeah! I found some details very startling and so will the readers. I guarantee that. You never know what to expect as you read these pages, but nothing affected my perspective of my family. In the end, family is family, which is one of the many lessons learned in the book.
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