First Name
Peter
Last Name
Benjaminson
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City
State
Email
pbenjamson@aol.com
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About
Peter Benjaminson's latest book, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BETTY BOOP: THE 100-YEAR HISTORY OF AN ANIMATED ICON, will be released by Applause Books on November 15, 2023. IT'S NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON.COM.
His previous book, CRAZY MAN, CRAZY: THE BILL HALEY STORY, which he co-wrote with Bill Haley Jr., was released by Backbeat Books in 2019. The new and revised edition of Peter's 1979 book THE STORY OF MOTOWN was released by Rare Bird Books in 2018. His previous book, SUPER FREAK: THE LIFE OF RICK JAMES, was released by Chicago Review Press in 2017. Chicago also released Peter's book MARY WELLS: THE TUMULTUOUS LIFE OF MOTOWN'S FIRST SUPERSTAR, the first biography of Mary "My Guy" Wells ever written, in 2012, and his book THE LOST SUPREME: THE LIFE OF DREAMGIRL FLORENCE BALLARD in 2008.
Peter was born in Washington, D.C., and was a reporter and City-County Bureau Chief for the DETROIT FREE PRESS from 1970-76. While at the Free Press, he wrote the book INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, with David Anderson (Indiana University Press, 1976 and Iowa State University Press, 1990), the first how-to book in that field. It was in print for 20 years.
In 1979 he wrote the original edition of THE STORY OF MOTOWN (New York: Grove Press), the first U.S. book ever written about the Motown Record Company in this country. From 1979 to 1981 he was a reporter for the ATLANTA JOURNAL and the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. He taught journalism at Binghamton University, New York University, and Columbia University from 1981-91. In 1984, he wrote DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON: AMERICA'S NEWSPAPER GIANTS STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL (Andrews, McMeel) the first and only book ever written about the death of afternoon newspapers in America's big cities. In 1992, he wrote PUBLISH WITHOUT PERISHING (National Education Association and National Writers Union) and in 1997, SECRET POLICE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF INVESTIGATION (Barricade Books).
From 1991-1994 he was the spokesman for the NYC Department of Investigation. He was Assistant Editor of THE CHIEF-LEADER newspaper in New York City from 1994-1998 and the spokesman for the NYC Correction Officers Benevolent Association from 1998-2003. In 2003 and 2009 he was the spokesman for Members for Change in NYC Teamsters Local 237.
He lives in New York City.
His previous book, CRAZY MAN, CRAZY: THE BILL HALEY STORY, which he co-wrote with Bill Haley Jr., was released by Backbeat Books in 2019. The new and revised edition of Peter's 1979 book THE STORY OF MOTOWN was released by Rare Bird Books in 2018. His previous book, SUPER FREAK: THE LIFE OF RICK JAMES, was released by Chicago Review Press in 2017. Chicago also released Peter's book MARY WELLS: THE TUMULTUOUS LIFE OF MOTOWN'S FIRST SUPERSTAR, the first biography of Mary "My Guy" Wells ever written, in 2012, and his book THE LOST SUPREME: THE LIFE OF DREAMGIRL FLORENCE BALLARD in 2008.
Peter was born in Washington, D.C., and was a reporter and City-County Bureau Chief for the DETROIT FREE PRESS from 1970-76. While at the Free Press, he wrote the book INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, with David Anderson (Indiana University Press, 1976 and Iowa State University Press, 1990), the first how-to book in that field. It was in print for 20 years.
In 1979 he wrote the original edition of THE STORY OF MOTOWN (New York: Grove Press), the first U.S. book ever written about the Motown Record Company in this country. From 1979 to 1981 he was a reporter for the ATLANTA JOURNAL and the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. He taught journalism at Binghamton University, New York University, and Columbia University from 1981-91. In 1984, he wrote DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON: AMERICA'S NEWSPAPER GIANTS STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL (Andrews, McMeel) the first and only book ever written about the death of afternoon newspapers in America's big cities. In 1992, he wrote PUBLISH WITHOUT PERISHING (National Education Association and National Writers Union) and in 1997, SECRET POLICE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF INVESTIGATION (Barricade Books).
From 1991-1994 he was the spokesman for the NYC Department of Investigation. He was Assistant Editor of THE CHIEF-LEADER newspaper in New York City from 1994-1998 and the spokesman for the NYC Correction Officers Benevolent Association from 1998-2003. In 2003 and 2009 he was the spokesman for Members for Change in NYC Teamsters Local 237.
He lives in New York City.
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http://Peter Benjaminson
Work Sample 1 Description
This is my author website, which includes information about all nine of my published books, reviews about them, (including the glowing, full-page review of "Mary Wells" in the Wall Street Journal,) my upcoming author appearances, etc.
Work Sample 1
Work Sample 2 Description
This is an article I wrote that Rolling Stone published in 2014 about the recent attempt to make a movie of my sixth published book, "The Lost Supreme: The Life of Dreamgirl Florence Ballard." (Lawrence Hill Books, 2008).
Work Sample 2
Work Sample 3 Description
This is the website for my book, "Mary Wells: The Tumultuous Life of Motown's First Superstar.(Chicago Review Press, 2012.)
Work Sample 3
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