Being an "older" musician--that is, I didn't grow up with a computer attached to my head--I've been rather biased in my attitude toward the Internet, thinking that the tools it had to offer were mostly hype. In truth, I was just intimated. However, having read "The Musician's Guide To The Internet"--and now being informed rather than ignorant--I'm neither dismissive or scared! And that's a nice change for a geezer like me!

This book is one that we at nichemarket recommend highly in our Booklist for any Hip Hop Entrepreneur serious about a career in the music industry! --Walt Goodridge, President, Hip Hop Entrepreneur Association

The problem with any book about gangsters, particularly one who lived over 70 years ago, is that the underworld is a secretive, shady world. The practitioners of its nefarious rackets didn't keep documents, or conduct their business with witnesses present, or leave much in the way of empirical evidence. Family members and/or friends are rarely willing to talk about them. A book containing the sort of fascinating personal information that Lacey's "Little Man" did (Lacey was able to extensively interview Meyer Lansky's son for the book) is a true rarity. So, authors tend to write about them in the monotonous style of a college textbook. Either that, or they resurrect the hoary myths and indulge in the yellowest of journalism. (Among the most tenacious of untruths that continue to circulate in these books are the story of a nationwide massacre of Mafia leaders in 1931 and the romantic but untrue story that Bugsy Siegel "invented" Las Vegas.) Thankfully, Levine avoids the pulp fiction style of reporting and he seems to have been diligent in his research. Still, he never quite captures the personality of Diamond. Obviously, Diamond was a very flamboyant and dangerous man. But we never really get a sense of what drove him, his motives, his essence. The casual reader might well find Levine's style of writing dull. I would recommend that those wishing to learn about Diamond and the society in which he flourished and, inevitably, died, read this book in conjunction with the historical novel by William Kennedy entitled "Legs." Levine's book lays out the historical facts as they are known; Kennedy's book captures the aura and personality of Legs Diamond as he probably was, and his effect on those with whom he interacted, as well as on the larger society which got vicarious thrills through following his exploits in the newspapers.

Author Gary Levine has written an accurate, as far as the facts go that he is able to determine, of gangster Jack "Legs" Diamond who acquired his name for his nimbleness on the dance floor. This book abounds with the shady characters that made up the New York underworld during the time period from approximately 1927 through Diamond's murder in Albany, New York, in December of 1931. Levine provides various theories as to who was responsible for Diamond's death, and suggests that the death of Fats McCarthy in a shootout with police in July of 1932 eliminated him as a choice suspect. Levine believes Diamond's psychopathic personality was the cause of his waywardness. The only person he showed loyalty to was his brother Eddie. His marriages were failures as were his friendships with other people. In addition, Diamond's carelessness "Nobody can kill Legs Diamond" made him a mark for enemies who failed in four pervious attempts to kill him. He was popular with the young who often idolized him and to other adults who were thrilled with an autograph. In reality, however, this is the story of a failed man who through greed and corruption left a mark of infamy on this period of American history.

Unless one counts a fictionalized paperback from 1960's, this is the only real biography of Jack "Legs" Diamond. It's slim but accurate, containing many great photos and a lot of obscure info, some not published since the early '30's. Diamond was a cross between an old style urban highwayman and a modern day mobster. He was also the New York underworld's "Clay Pigeon," every other mob's target who survived at least three near fatal assassination attempts before he was finally gunned down for good in 1931. This is a great bio of one of the legends of the Roaring '20's.