Share My Life: A Journey of Love, Faith, and Redemption

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Kem debuts with a frank assessment of his struggles with addiction and the shame and “mask” of silence that fed his dysfunction. The narrative opens with Kem on the hunt for whatever substance might help him “descend into darkness [and] numb out,” and then flashes backward, charting his course from rural Tennessee to Detroit, and from “a painfully shy kid bent on self-destruction to someone who performs original songs in front of appreciative fans.” He recounts the rocky path he took to stardom, including his stint in the short-lived R&B group Wild Pair, a latent belief in his own voice, and a brush with homelessness. Eventually, he writes, AA meetings pushed him toward self-expression and jump-started his recovery and career trajectory. Throughout, Kem is candid about the discrepancy between his lyrics and his troubled romantic relationships, and he dives headfirst into the complexities of his various interracial relationships. The takeaway is triumphant: music heals Kem, and his climb to the top is captivating and inspirational. Fans and non-fans alike will be moved. Agent: David Vigliano, Vigliano Assoc. (Apr.)