Matt Raymond from the Library of Congress speaks with Rickey Minor, who will appear at the 2009 National Book Festival on September 26, 2009, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Biography

Rickey Minor is the Emmy-nominated music director of television’s No. 1-rated show, “American Idol.” His résumé also includes the Grammys and the Super Bowl, and he has collaborated with major recording artists Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Ray Charles, Beyoncé Knowles and many more. The ultimate “American Idol” insider reveals what it takes to achieve your dreams, recalling his journey from South Central Los Angeles to center stage in There’s No Traffic on the Extra Mile, Minor’s 2008 memoir. He lives in California.