Sabrina Starke “Outside The Box”

Sabrina Starke is another underrated singer/songwriter from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Sabrina was born on August 9, 1979. Sabrina Starke is another artist that I’ve never heard of, until DJ Michael Ealey of started playing her music on Streetwise Internet Radio. When I heard “Backseat Driver” and “Toss Me A Dreamer” I had to listen to more of her songs. I’m so happy I did, she has an amazing Reggae, Soul, Hip-Hop, Jazz, voice! Sabrina released her debut album, Yellow Brick Road on October 1, 2008. Her first single from the album, "Do For Love" was a hit song in The Netherlands. Sabrina signed to Blue Note records on October 27, 2008. In 2008 Sabrina won the Edison Award Best Newcomer. Blue Note re-released Yellow Brick Road on March 9, 2009. The album went gold in The Netherlands. “Bags & Suitcases” was Sabrina’s second album which in my opinion was another good album from this talented singer/ songwriter. Sabrina released her third album “Outside The Box” on June 1, 2012. The songs I like are “This Time Around”, “Backseat Driver”, “Simplest Way”, “Toss Me A Dream”, “Sun Settle Down” and “I Cry”. You know it’s a great thing that there is Internet Radio. Without it we would not get to hear, all the talent from around the world. Streetwise Radio is playing songs from Sabrina Starke’s album “Outside The Box”. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on iTunes, live365, MyGen365 and Athena365.

LM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabrina_Starke

Don Cornelius September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012

Donald Cortez Cornelius was an innovator who had a vision to bring African American teen’s dance style, fashion and musical artists to mainstream television all across America in the 1970s with Soul Train. Don Cornelius grew up on the Southside of Chicago he graduated from high school in 1954 and joined the United States Marine Corps he served in Korea for one and a half years. Don Cornelius had several jobs after he left the marines, selling tires, automobiles, insurance and police officer. In 1966 Don Cornelius quit his job and took a broadcasting course and then became a news reporter and disc jockey on WVON a radio station in Chicago. Don Cornelius was a journalist for the civil rights movement, while reporting on the civil unrest of the times; he was noticing that there were no television shows for African Americans.He introduce Soul Train to WCIU-TV in Chicago in the mid-1960s. Soul Train went national in 1970 in Los Angeles California. Don Cornelius died of a self-infected gunshot wound. It is sad the way Don Cornelius died, but is legacy will live on through the Soul Train Music Awards; I think it is the best music award show because the musical acts play live.They don’t fake it like the other awards shows. I remember getting up on early Saturday morning doing my chores before Soul Train came on. I could hardly wait to see the dancing and what outfits the dancers had on. Being a teen at the time Soul Train taught me how to dance and about fashion. Rest in Peace Don Cornelius, thank you for bringing America the “Hippest Trip in America”

LM

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-don-cornelius-20120202,0,5101594.story

Arika Kane. Now Playing on Streetwise Radio

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Arika Kane is exactly what the world has been missing. Charisma, Soul, Style, Class & Song are the elements of Arika Kane.She is a shining star waiting & ready to endulge the world with Great Music. She is a Singer/ Songwriter born and raised in The Northeast Corner of Connecticut. Being introduced to Music while she was in Mommy's tummy was only the beginning. Her Mother & Father whom both are Singers & Musicians were touring New England with their Hit Show called "Mass Production" during the time Arika was born. Mass Production was a group of 12 or more singers backed by a Full Band. Singing Broadway Medleys, Top 40, Rock & Roll.  Arika's tiny ears tuned into Good Music at an early age. Music became Second Nature to her. She always found herself surrounded by Music at all times no matter what. " I realized at a young age the power of Music...It releases emotions & puts things in perspective. I wish Life was a Musical, and there was a song for every situation. lol. " Arika had no doubt in her mind that what made her Happy was her destiny, Music. As Arika grew up she was influenced by every different genre of Music. From India Arie to Aerosmith. " Music has no boundaries & no Limits. An amazing song has the power to touch the whole world. I love all Music that is passionate & genuine." Arika's first vocal teachings came from Mariah Carey's Album, Vision of Love. " I learned a lot about Color & Range from Mariah. She is just phenomenal to me & paved the way for many singers. " As Arika grew up, she began developing her identity & her own style. Arika soon then became in touch with her Songwriting which was influenced by her father who is a Songwriter. After working with many artists & producers, Arika was determined to learn Recording Software & Audio Production on her own. She was anxious to Record and Produce all the Songs she had in her head...Soon her Songwriting became noticeable to all around her that Arika Kane is someone to take very seriously. Just about every song she was writing has HIT potential, and she was only improving.  She now produces & writes and plans on working with other Artists in the future. Arika Kane is now signed with BSE Recordings. of Big Score Entertainment. She is the First Artist & Lady of the Label, and is Hungry & focused on Success...She has recently Had A Successful Release & Listening Party at The DEX Studios in NYC. The turnout was wonderful. The World of Music, Entertainment, & Fashion joined together to celebrate this special event. ARIKA KANE hit the stage and performed her Singles " Why Did We Fall N' Luv " & " Bcuz I Luv U " which is climbing the charts right now on Urban AC & R&B Radio Stations. It has just recently hit the Number 2 Spot in the South. You can Hear Arika Kane also Right Now on MUSIC CHOICE. The Self-Titled Debut Album "Arika Kane" will be out in August of '09. It is filled with Great Music and Hit Songs. " I am so excited for the World to hear my Album. Every song has it's own identity and place, yet they are all equally amazing. My goal in all my Music is to make people feel good. I really believe we don't embrace the good things in life as much as we should. And through my Music I hope to Contribute to that." - Arika Kane :)

TEENA MARIE-(LADY T)

Image via Wikipedia

Mary Christine Brockert born (March 5, 1956-December 26, 2010). Teena grew up in Oakwood, California on the Westside of Los Angeles an African-American community. Teena’s godmother exposed Teena to Motown,
she was singing Harry Belafonte music by the age of 2. Marie had an acting role on The Beverly Hillbillies, credited as Tina Marie Brockert. In 1976 Teena Marie signed with Motown, and was spotted by Rick James and guitarist Paul C Saenz who became her mentors. Rick James produced “Wild and Peaceful” for Diana Ross, but he prefer to
work with Teena Marie. On this album “I’m Just a Sucker for Your Love” scored Teena Marie her first top ten on the R&B black singles chart.Teena Marie’s picture was not on this album, because the record executives thought that black audiences would not buy an album by a white artist. Radio programmers assumed Marie was African-American.
When she preformed her debut hit with Rick James on Soul Train in 1979, I know those radio programmers were surprised. Teena Marie’s second
album “Lady T” she was on the cover. Her third album “Irons in The Fire” Teena Marie wrote and produced herself. Teena Marie and Rick James duet “Fire and Desire” is one of my favorites. In 2004 Teena Marie and Rick James preformed this duet on BET Awards, which was their last appearance together Rick James died that same year.

Teena Marie got into a big legal battle with Motown over her contract and disagreements about releasing her new material. This resulted in“The Brockert Initiative”, which makes it illegal for a record company to keep an artist under contract without releasing new material for
that artist. With this new law she helped artist like Luther Vandross, Mary Jane Girls and a lot of other artist get out of their contracts.

After Teena Marie left Motown she signed with Epic Records 1983. She was turning out hits like “Shadow Boxing”, “Fix It”, “Lovergirl” and “Casanova Brown”. Teena Marie was one of the first and only artists of her time to rap on her single “Square Biz”; she is regarded as something of a pioneer in helping to bring hip-hop to the mainstream.
Her hip-hop portion of that song she mentions some of her
inspirations: Sarah Vaughn, Johann Sebastian Bach, Shakespeare, Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni, “just to name a few”. This is my all time favorite song of Teena Marie’s. Teena Marie took a 14 year sabbatical
from the spotlight, she released a comeback album La Dona in 2004 was gold certified her top selling album of her career and Sapphire in 2006.

Teena Marie passed away at her home in Pasadena California of natural causes. I was introduced to Teena Marie’s music by my Aunt in 1979. I
had the pleasure of seeing Tenna Marie perform at the Circle Star Theater and Oakland Coliumseum in the early 80s. Every time I saw her she was so soulful a could she sing. Teena Marie had a voice that was unique like no other her sound will be missed.


LM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teena_Marie

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Sheryl Lee Ralph Headlines HIV/AIDS Benefit 09/20 By Shelah Moody

Not only is Sheryl Lee Ralph a triple threat—star of the Broadway stage, film and television--she is also a longtime activist who sits on the board of the National Minority AIDS Council and the Black AIDS Institute. 

On Monday, Sept. 20, the Tony nominated performer returns to San Francisco as part of the “One Night Only Cabaret" event featuring  cast members from the touring cast of the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls.” “One Night Only,” which will take place  at the Marines Memorial Theater, is  a benefit for the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation

At the time of our phone interview, Ralph, who is married to Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes, was on her way to Washington, D.C. to attend a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation/Congressional Black Caucus Spouses event honoring Alice Walker and Robert Townsend. Later, she would moderate a panel for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on the plight of young black children.

Ralph’s one-woman show, “Sometimes I Cry,” which tells the story of real women living with HIV/AIDS has touched many lives. During the July 4^th weekend, Ralph appeared at the 16^th Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, speaking on HIV/AIDS prevention with actor Hill Harper and others.

Shelah Moody: Congratulations on being included in Essence magazine’s “40, Fierce an Fabulous” spread in their September issue. How does it feel?

Sheryl Lee Ralph: You know something, it feels quite special. It was an amazing luncheon; it was an amazing awards ceremony, to bring together such a diverse group of women from Valerie Jarrett to Naomi Campbell to me.  They chose 40 women who have changed the world in some way on an issue or a subject. Mine, of course was the issue of HIV and AIDS.

SM: How did you get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS?

SLR: For me, it all started as an original company member of the Broadway cast of “Dreamgirls.” At that time, I saw so many of my friends die of stigma, shame and silence because they were suffering from a mysterious disease; a disease that at that time, had no name.  It was called the gay cancer or gay related immune deficiency disease. That’s really what started it for me. Little did I know that almost 30 years later, it would become a so completely a black women’s disease.

SM: On the panel at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans this summer, you said that HIV/AIDS is the number one killer of black women.

SLR: It’s terrible. We die first of all of these diseases. We die first of diabetes; we die first of breast cancer. We die first and often under the stigma, silence and shame when it comes to HIV and AIDS.

SM: On the Essence panel, you also said that HIV/AIDS was 100 percent preventable. What should black women know about preventing the spread of the disease?

SLR: They need to get tested. They need to know their status. If they don’t know where to go to get tested, they can visit www.testtogether.org. You put in your zip code and a number of places will come up where you can get tested, many of them for free. The next thing they need to know is how to negotiate sex if they are going to have it. They’ve got to remember that the use of a condom is imperative for their health and well-being. No glove, no love.  

SM: Tell us about your annual AIDS benefit, Divas Simply Singing?

SLR: Diva stands for Divinely Inspired, Victoriously Anointed. I started the foundation 20 years ago in memory of the many friends that had lost. The 20^th event is taking place October 9 in Los Angeles. We’ve got an incredible wealth of talented divas, coming to raise their voices in song and commitment, one voice at a time. We’ve got Teena Marie, Ledisi, Jodi Watley, Kelly Price, Loretta Devine, Jenifer Lewis—so many incredible artists.

SM: Speaking of great events, you are performing in San Francisco on Sept. 20 at “One Night Only Cabaret,” a benefit for the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation. What can we expect?

SLR: You can expect one great song, absolutely. I love coming to the Bay Area and I’m looking forward to it.

SM: When you first starred the role of Deena Jones in “Dreamgirls” in 1981, did you have any idea that it would become a worldwide phenomenon?

SLR: I knew that it was going to be a big, big hit. I had no idea that we were certainly writing pages for ourselves in the books of theater.

SM: Being of Jamaican heritage, are you a fan of reggae music?

SLR: I remain classic to reggae. Reggae has changed a great deal, reggae has turned into dancehall just as R&B has pretty much gone the wayside and people are doing much more rap and all of that. Honestly, I have to stay true to classic Bob Marley.

Sheryl Lee Ralph performs at “One Night Only Cabaret,” a benefit for the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation with special guests, Tim Hockenberry, Jason Brock, Syesha Mercado from “American Idol” 7:30 p.m., Monday, September 20, 7:30pm

Marines Memorial Theater, San Francisco. Info: 415-273-1620 or online at www.HelpIsOnTheWay.org.

"Dreamgirls" plays at the Curran Theatre through Sept. 26.

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