Austin Brown

What can I say about Austin Brown? Talented! It’s in his blood. Austin is the youngest son of Rebbie Brown-Jackson from the musical Jackson family. Austin has a little bit of Michael and Janet influence, but he has his own sound. I listened to his mix tape while writing this and I must say I like it. This multi-talented singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, dancer and record producer has what it takes to be a star. Those family genes are strong. Keep doing your thing Austin Brown. Some of my favorite songs by Austin are “All I Need”, “Target Practice”, “Menage A Trois”, “Remember” and “Groove 92”. I have a feeling that we’re going to be hearing a lot from Austin Brown in the years to come. You can listen to songs from Austin Brown on Streetwise Radio. Also listen to Streetwise Radio on Pandora, iTunes, MyGen365, Live365, Athena365, Gilroy Radio Station & Roku

LM 

http://soundcloud.com/austinbrownhighway85/sets/austin-brown-highway-85

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SopQQPZwMcw&list=RD023eyOafpzHOI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHSi9mPgr64&list=RD02xZlNXiYUNOw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eyOafpzHOI&list=RD02xZlNXiYUNOw

The Bay Area Gears Up to Celebrate Michael Jackson’s 52nd Birthday

Image via Wikipedia

The Bay Area Gears Up to Celebrate Michael Jackson’s 52^nd Birthday

By Shelah Moody

            It’s all for l.o.v.e.

This phrase has become official mantra for Michael Jackson fans all over the world. It’s hard to believe that more than a year since Jackson’s tragic and untimely death on June 25, 2009 in his Los Angeles home.

            Across the country, fans, friends and family are geared up to celebrate the life of the King of Pop, who would have turned 52 on Aug. 29.

            In Los Angeles, Michael Bearden, Michael Jackson’s musical director and co-producer of  Jackson documentary “This is It” announced on Facebook that he has written a tribute song called “One Last Goodbye” that will soon be released. On Facebook, Bearden told fans to “get the tissue ready.”  According to Bearden, Jackson, his longtime friend, would always spell out the words “l.o.v.e. with his fingers.

            “Embrace l.o.v.e., I repeat this often but it's how I feel,” said Bearden.

            Also in Los Angeles, Cherilyn Lee, Ph.D, 

who became Jackson’s nurse practitioner and friend during his final year, is currently organizing the Healthy Body Expo 2010, designed to motivate and inspire families by empowering them with information on ways of taking care of their body temple, with a focus on education and awareness of breast healthcare and early screening for breast cancer using new technologies such as non invasive Thermography Screenings.  The event will take place on Dec. 18 at the LAX Marriot in Los Angeles. For information, visit www.healthybodyexpo.com.

 In Las Vegas, Raquel Choyce,

 president of Michael Jackson’s United Nation International Fan Club, will host a three day birthday event for Jackson Aug. 27-29-- the Official Michael Jackson’s United Nation 5th Annual  Fan Convention: “The Legend Continues…”  at the Sahara Hotel & Casino.

Choyce, who also works as a Janet Jackson impersonator in Las Vegas, created the fan club in 2004 during the time Jackson was on trial for child molestation.

            The Fan Convention will feature top professional tribute artists, impersonators, an MJ Pop Idol Show, dance party, live production shows, MJ birthday celebration, group trip, special guests, an award ceremony and more. For more information, go to www.mjsunifc.com/mjconvention5.

In New York, renown filmmaker Spike Lee, (who directed Jackson’s “They Don’t Really Care About Us” video), 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks and Spike DDB will host The 2nd Annual Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson Birthday Celebration in Prospect Park on Aug. 29. DJ Spinna (turntables) will keep the crowd dancing with Michael Jackson hits such as  “The Way You Make Me Feel,”  “Billie Jean,” "Beat It,” “Man In The Mirror” and more.  For information, go to  

            The Bay Area, also, has crazy l.o.v.e. for MJ. The  A List Musiq Circle will host the Official II Bay Area Michael Jackson Birthday Dance & Celebration on Saturday Aug. 28 at Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco. Festivities will run from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. For information, visit http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco.

            On Sunday Aug. 29, Dance A Vision Entertainment will host a Michael Jackson birthday bash at Club Anton in Jack London Square, Oakland. The event will feature live dance performances by Brandy Norris, Carla Service, Christine Crawford, Katherine Brown, Matthew Wickett, Tamika Harris and Tiana Hawkins plus DJ Dirty Diana vs. Darling Nikki.  Festivities will run from 9 p.m. until 2 p.m. For info, call Carla Service @ (510) 753-5180.

            On Aug. 29, the Bay Area Flash Mob will perform a series of dance tribute to Michael Jackson around San Francisco. Bay Area Flash Mob is a group of people who dance, choreograph, and perform Flash Mobs and in nightclubs throughout the S.F. Bay Area.  The core members of the Flash Mob met and organized at the Michael Jackson “Thrill the World” event last year.  Carol Johnstone,

co-founder and lead choreographer and Flash Mob crew are working on Michael Jackson dances (“Beat It,” “Bad,” “Smooth Criminal” and more). For information, visit www.bayareaflashmob.com.

            This summer, on the anniversary of Jackson’s death, the Bay Area Flash Mob, dressed in MJ regalia, pulled off a successful tribute on June 25.  The event was followed by a gala tribute to MJ, “Foreverland” at the Regency Ballroom in SF. See youtube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPP5IauEzc4.

            Johnstone believes that Jackson’s untimely death had a lot to do with the changing perception of the Thriller’s life.

            “I also think that people want to love him and they want to remember him for the things that they should remember him for--his amazing talent, his generosity and humanitarianism.  He really did donate more money to charity than any other celebrity.”

            Johnstone, believes her dance tributes to Jackson as her spiritual calling.

“Right before (Jackson’s) memorial service on July 7, 2009it hit me like a ton of bricks,” said Johnstone. “That’s when I started obsessively watching his youtube videos, found “Thrill the World, and that’s how I got involved in the dancing and started the Michael Jackson Flash Mob. It’s been love ever since.” 

Related Links:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/23/LVUD197NJC.DTL

Remembering Michael Jackson with Memorabilia

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-thomson/one-of-the-most-shameful_b_610258.html

One of the Most Shameful Episodes in Journalistic History

http://intent.com/gothamchopra/blog/remembering-my-friend-michael-jackson

Remembering My Friend Michael Jackson

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The Soul of New Orleans

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

The Soul of New Orleans

By Shelah Moody

There is a certain sweetness about New Orleans; from the delicious snowballs and the fluffy beneighs to  the way men and women call you “baby--” whether they know you or not. The way that people sit on their porches on soft summer days. After visiting new Orleans for six days this summer, I  now know exactly what the Louis Armstrong meant when he sang “Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans.”

During my stay in NOLA, I visited one of the city’s landmarks, Congo Square, aka Louis Armstrong Park.  During the 1800s, enslaved Africans gathered at this site to keep their culture alive through the power of singing, dancing and drumming. At night, you can hear the crawfish in the surrounding body of water singing sweetly and loudly. 

Thanks to my educational guide, activist, volunteer and New Orleans native Sakura Kone, I got a tour of Lower 9^th Ward, which was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I visited the sight where Lower  9^th Ward resident Robert Green lost his mother and granddaughter in storm; sadly, three broken steps are all that remain of his former home. Green and his family now live in a brand new two story home built by Brad Pitt’s Make it Right foundation. 

I also visited St. Augustine, oldest African-American Catholic parish in the nation and Wesley United church, a hub for education and social activism, which is currently in the process of being re-built by Kone and a large group of volunteers. 

I also met local artists and musicians, such as singer/songwriter Ben Hunter, who have held on in the midst of tragedy. In 2008, Hunter released a CD called “Traveler: A Healing Album for the City of New Orleans,” which features songs such as “Home,” “Abandon Souls” and “Before the Fall.”  Hunter, who also made a guest appearance on “Treme” was the subject of a documentary “Baptized by Katrina,” which was featured at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2006.

New Orleans is a city in recovery, in the wake of Katrina and the recent Gulf oil spill. The HBO series “Treme” and the Saints’ Super Bowl victory this put New Orleans back in the spotlight in terms of arts culture. 

During Fourth of July weekend (July 2-4) I attended the Essence Music Festival, which brings thousands of people to New Orleans every year. The concerts were held at the New Orleans Superdome, which five years ago, became a temporary refuge for Katrina survivors five years ago.

While supernovas Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige and LL Cool headlined on the main stage that weekend, some of New Orleans’ finest artists, including Grammy winner Irma Thomas, Irving Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstafunk and Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers drew the masses to the Superlounges.

Thomas, one of the guest stars on “Treme” celebrated her 50^th year in the music business last year. Her original hits include “Time is On My Side,” covered by the Rolling Stones, “Ruler of My Heart,” covered by Otis Redding and “You Can Have My Husband But Please Don’t Mess With My Man,” which she recorded at age 19.

“Ironically, more men ask for that song than women,” said Thomas.

In the press room, Thomas, who is the mother of four and also a great grandmother, was asked to comment on the highly publicized crime rate in New Orleans.

“I don’t like it, but by the same token, New Orleans’ crime situation isn’t any worse than any other major city,” said Thomas. “We’re just on the forefront because of the flooding that happened in New Orleans. Whenever something happens, it’s blown up larger than life because we are recovering from the flood. We will have got to get a handle on it some way and I think that parents are going to have to start being parents again and not expecting anyone else to do their jobs for them.” 

New Orleans rapper Mystikal, perhaps (best known for his hit “Skake Ya Ass” ) who recently served a stint in prison,  also found his way into the press room at the Superdome. Mystikal, aka Michael Lawrence Tyler, spoke about his personal recovery, comeback and new album on Jive/Big Truck records.

“I’m putting that thang together, I’m telling y’all, these rappers are in trouble, for real,” said Mystical.  “Fiyah like cayenne! I had the opportunity to showcase the growth that took place in me, the man, and definitely play it over to the artist. I missed the stage; I missed y’all so much. It is an absolute blessing to leave the people for six years and when I come back, their hands are still up. Thank you for helping me stay relevant in this industry.”

People in New Orleans love sweet soul music, and one of the highlights of the festival was the return of 1980s pop star El Debarge, who hade a guest appearance on stage with Keri Hilson at the Superdome. Debarge’s new album, scheduled for release this fall, will was co-produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmunds, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

 “I think what makes a good love song is.. when you can work a song from beginning to the end, as if you were in bed making love to someone who you felt really special about. Where you can take it slow at first  and just let it grow, let it do what it do,” said Debarge. 

Clearly, people in New Orleans love Gladys Knight. The R an B legend drew a huge crowd when she appeared for a photo op with Janet Jackson in the Wal-Mart booth at the New Orleans Convention Center. Before she took the stage at the Superdome, Knight stopped into the press tent to praise the Essence Music Festival and introduce her new line of jewelry made by Kumasi artisans in Ghana. Incidentally, the beads for her jewelry are crafted from Knights recycled records and other recycled products.  

“I’m excited,” said Knight. “I’ve always wanted to do something that would include all of us as a people. I’ve always wanted to make a difference through my music. I’m so proud of this line because it makes a difference in the lives of people in Africa.  I’ve been to the motherland and it is beautiful but they still need help.  They are so proud of us as a people here in the U.S. even though we still have our problems. They used us as a role model. We need to reach back and help them. Any time you buy a piece of my jewelry, you are helping that country, that tribe.”

For info on the 2011 Essence Music Festival, visit www.essence.com. For information on New Orleans, go to www.neworleanscvb.com.

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The fabulous USHER, one of a kind!

Image via Wikipedia

If album sales and music awards measure success, then recording artist and actor "Usher" may be the most successful performer I've ever blogged about.

 

Born 31 years ago in Dallas, Texas, 'Usher Raymond IV' rose to fame in the late 1990's after releasing "My Way" and "8701"....two of his six multi-platinum albums, each filled with smash hit singles that helped sell over 40-million copies world-wide!

 

Over the past 15 years Usher, also known as "The King of R&B", has won 5 Grammy's, 4 Music World, 4 American Music, 8 Soul Train, and 19 Billboard Music Awards. 

 

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has ranked Usher as one of the best selling artists in American music history, and Billboard Magazine rates him number one of the "Top 100" artists of the 2000 decade. 

 

Things did not start off on a high note, as the story often goes. His father left home when Usher was only a year-old, forcing his mother to move the family to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she eventually directed her 9-year old son to join the church choir.  It was there that Usher's grandmother first discovered his singing talent!

 

Following another move to Atlanta, Georgia, 11-year old Usher joined a local R&B quintet called "NuBeginnings, with whom he eventually recorded 10 songs.  Two years later, Usher competed on the TV show "Star Search",  where he was spotted and signed by 'LaFace Records' co-founder 'L.A. Reid'.

 

With his mother managing, and 'Sean "P Diddy" Combs' producing, Usher released his title album in 1994.  Then after graduating from high school, Usher appeared in a duet called "Let's Straighten Out" with recording star 'Monica', and was also featured in the hit song "I Swear I'm In Love" off the 1996 "Kazaam" movie soundtrack.

 

From there he was on his way to the top of all charts, with  6-time platinum album "My Way", followed by "8701", "Confessions", "Here I Stand", and most recently "Raymond vs Raymond" released this past March.

 

Along the way Usher has mixed it up musically with the likes of  'Mary J. Blige', 'Janet Jackson', 'Lil'Kim', 'Jagged Edge', 'Shanice', 'Twista', 'Manuel Seal', and 'Alicia Keyes'.  He also sang with 'Stevie Wonder' and 'Shakira' at 'President Obama's' inaugural celebration, and performed "Gone too Soon" at 'Michael Jackson's'  Memorial Service.

 

Usher's somehow found time to act as well, starting with a recurring role in the hit TV series "Moesha", which was followed by a film roll in 1998's "The Faculty". 

 

 After a soap opera debut on "The Bold and The Beautiful", he completed two more films..."She's All That", and his first starring roll in "Light It Up".  Usher also acted in 'Disney's' TV movie "Geppetto", and the 2001 film "Texas Rangers".

 

Just last month, Usher's latest album "Raymond vs Raymond" debuted at number one on the "Billboard 200" chart, making him the first artist since 'Eminem' to have three consecutive albums open on top of that chart!

 

Usher's also ventured into business with his own record label "US Records", is part owner of the NBA's "Cleveland Cavaliers" pro basketball franchise....has helped start and maintain the promising career of young singer 'Justin Bieber', and also owns several restaurants!

 

Moreover, he's chosen to be a part of the hit TV show "American Idol" as a contestant mentor, and also appeared this past week on the ITV1 show "Britain's Got Talent".  So, when does he find time to breathe, let alone... lead a personal life?

 

As to family matters, Usher has two very young children, a boy and a girl with wife Tameka Foster, althouigh, the couple has struggled recently....and divorce papers are said to have been filed.

 

Having much to give back, Usher's non-profit charity is called "New Look", with the aim of providing young people with a new look on life through education, and real world experience. 

 

How fitting!  Young or old, we should all take a new look at USHER'S  'real world experiences' which represent a path to success, and the "ushering' in to the world of wonderful music!

  

 

Thanks, and check out Usher on Streetwise Radio!

 

Sincerely,  PeteCam4 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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