For Immediate Release:
Fourteen years after his tragic death on June 2nd, 1998, the publication of a new book aims to commemorate the remarkable life and achievements of Sylvester Ritter, better known in professional wrestling circles as the Junkyard Dog (JYD).
The King of New Orleans: How the Junkyard Dog Became Professional Wrestling’s First Black Superstar by Greg Klein (ECW Press, available June 2012) is a fascinating new biography that chronicles the early days of Ritter’s wrestling career, his most famous feuds as Junkyard Dog, the wrestling business back-stories, and his life outside the ring to describe how JYD rose in popularity to become an African-American idol and a household name.
Author Greg Klein, a New York-based writer, actor, and producer, explains his motivation to research and write the book as personal: “I went to school in the Deep South, and I am a student of the Civil Rights Era. The more I looked into the promoter’s decision to make JYD the star of Mid South, the more amazing I found it to be. This was the Deep South in 1979! It was an amazing decision and [Ritter] was an amazing man to be able to pull it off.”
The King of New Orleans is the most complete portrait of JYD to date and is a fitting tribute to a remarkable man still fondly remembered in the hearts of wrestling fans. JYD will be inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame this year at their 11th annual Induction Weekend, May 18th and 19th, 2012, in Amsterdam, New York.
Look for this book at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble booksellers nationwide starting in June!
NOTE – Author Greg Klein joins ‘OWW Radio’ on June 4, 2012 for an exclusive interview. We will discuss JYD’s legendary career and the impact he made on the city of New Orleans, Mid South Wrestling, and professional wrestling history!