Dr. Margena A. Christian’s biography ‘It’s No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown’s legendary songwriter Sylvia Moy’ arrives February 10, restoring the Detroit native to her rightful place at the forefront of music history. Moy became Motown’s first certified female in-house songwriter and producer, battling sexism and breaking down barriers in a room full of men. At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, when most African American women in the music industry could only dream of singing careers, Moy found unprecedented success behind the scenes. Booklist’s starred review calls the book “more than a biography” and “a long-overdue act of recognition.”
Moy single-handedly saved Stevie Wonder’s early career at Motown while penning many of his classic hits including “My Cherie Amour,” “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” “I Was Made to Love Her” and “Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day.” She solidified herself as one of the label’s most prolific composers, writing songs for other Motown acts like “Honey Chile,” “It Takes Two,” “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You),” “My Baby Loves Me,” “(We’ve Got) Honey Love,” “Forget Me Not” and “With a Child’s Heart.” Without Moy’s contributions, the landscape of popular music would sound completely different.
Meticulously researched and fiercely feminist, ‘It’s No Wonder’ examines the groundbreaking career of a pioneer whose legacy has been carefully tucked away within the annals of music history until now. Christian’s historical corrective reveals how Moy navigated an industry stacked against her from the start and emerged as one of its most essential creative forces.