Norwood literally whizzed through life in the fast lane. He made fast friends with and worked with the biz’s biggest stars. His lavish estate – “Youngwood Court,” on the corner of Muirfield & 3^rd in Los Angeles – found him hosting some of the most legendary and elaborate “theme” parties. It became the much whispered about “in” place of plush decadence among the Mimosa and Beluga Black power elite – outright infamous for its 20 replica statues of Michelangelo’s “David” surrounding the property.

From the outside peeping in, Norwood’s life looked to be the envy of all who aspire to grand days and erotic nights of style and sparkle. Unbeknownst to the voyeurs, thick, choking coats of silver spoon-ladled varnish coated the inner core of Young’s life – a sick serial of forced sexual transgression, drug and alcohol abuse, loneliness, self-mutilation via multiple plastic surgeries…and shame. In his torrid autobiography “Getting Back to My Me: The Chronicles of Norwood Young” (self-published via Norwood Publishing, in-stores November 1, 2010), this humble yet ever-fabulous personality seeks to set the record straight about his twisted past with the hope of helping others speak up about their pain to ensure their healing.

“Writing this book was such a cleansing and freeing experience,” Young states. “Revealing my truths forced me to not only hold others accountable for what they’d done to me, but to also hold my self accountable for my actions in order to move forward to garner the life I desired.”

Throughout his high profile career, Ewing Township, New Jersey-native Norwood Young has always used music to express profound messages from the events of his life. When controversy first reared its ugly head surrounding his choice to erect the naked statues of David, Norwood fired off a searing single and video titled “Stand Up For Something” flexing his right of Free Speech. And he practiced what he preached. When neighbors fought tooth and nail to have the statues and/or Norwood booted off the block, the late, great attorney Johnnie Cochran took on ALL of Norwood’s property-related cases - pro bono - and won every one of them. 10 years later – basking in triumph – Norwood was deemed “King of Hancock Park” by L.A. City Beat Magazine in a star-studded ceremony in which he received official proclamations from city councilmen Tom Labonge and Bernard C. Parks for his steadfast refusal to be denied his right to Freedom of Expression. So what Norwood is doing now is nothing new or opportunistic – it has great precedent. Just as his book is titled “Getting Back to My Me,” so are his February-slated CD and its uplifting anthem of a title track.

Behind the bravado of the man who stayed “dressed to kill” and whose court has included Phyllis Hyman, Millie Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Loretta Devine, BeBe Winans, Niecy Nash, Jerry Springer, Michael Strahan, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Darius McCrary, Sherri Shepherd, Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell-Martin – among many others - lived a little boy ever in search of relief from keeping a burning secret…and a desire to be truly understood. Known in friendly circles as “Crazy Norwood” the party king, His Royal Highness had his whole kingdom fooled. That elevated Cloud 9 state attracted positive and negative people into his life.

On the negative side was author Karrine Steffans who, within her tawdry tell all “The Vixen Diaries” – in the opening chapter “A Man Named Norwood” no less - exploited a sincere friendship just to sell books. Norwood addresses this in his chapter “A Woman Called Superhead,” only unlike Steffans, he refuses to stoop to her level of dirt dishing.

On the positive side, Norwood is dear friends with superstar Natalie Cole. On the day HE was being inducted as “The King of Hancock Park,” Norwood took time to honor her with a lovingly sculpted crystal award she accepted at the event - her first public appearance while recovering from kidney disease. It was her father, Nat “King” Cole, who first integrated the “exclusive” Los Angeles neighborhood when he moved his family there back in 1949 – in a house four doors down from where Norwood lives now. 

It is compassion, love and support such as this that has buoyed Norwood through harrowing episodes such as complete strangers on social networking sites anonymously writing malicious asides about him - painting him with scarlet monikers such as ‘Prince of Darkness,’ ‘Butt Chin’ and ‘Michael Jackson’s Lost Brother.’ “Getting Back to My Me” triumphantly reveals how Norwood has been able to overcome such incessant misunderstanding of who and what he is, ultimately ascending from victim to victorious.

It took two years for Norwood to write his book but decades of his life to work through to arrive at the point where he could tell a story that would encourage and inspire, including a great story about how he flipped an initially apprehensive expose’ interview with deep dish TV queen Wendy Williams into what he now describes as “a friendly relationship.”    Beyond the book, Norwood also rolled video of himself in the plastic surgeon’s chair to make vividly and nakedly clear the changes he sadly felt he needed to inflict upon himself, and the painful process of reconstructing it all back to the way he was meant to be – “the way God intended for me to be.”

Shining brighter than ever now via his purposed “cause celebre,” Norwood Young is reveling in several autonomous new endeavors, including his thought-provoking reality webisodes “Just Norwood” (on www.justnorwoodmusic.com). However, “Getting Back to My Me” is also about Norwood getting back to music, a prime example being his infectious latest single, “I Fell in Love with You First.”

Notorious Norwood Young intends for his tome to be as life-changing for others as the process of writing it has been for him. “My hope is for every reader that relates to my story vow to never keep secrets regarding any form of being violated. They can manifest into horrible, life altering things... I also want them to internalize that it's never too late to find your 'me!' I found my 'me' - and now I am living my best life on my own terms."