Soul City

Sunday, July 25, 2010

The Soul of New Orleans

City flag of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

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.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The Misunderstanding of Lauryn Hill By Shelah Moody

“Lauryn Hill has a brilliant mind.” –Nikki Giovanni

When is ok for a woman to be a diva?

In this writer’s humble opinion, a woman has the right to be a diva if she has earned at least five Grammys.

A woman has a right to be a diva if she is responsible for at least five children.

A woman has the right to be a diva when she redefines a musical genre (i.e. pop music) gets people to think out of the box and influences a new generation of singer/songwriters.

A woman has a right to be a diva if she has been subjected to public breakups, meltdowns, lawsuits, bad hair and makeup days and ridicule and still, she rises.

Ms. Lauryn Hill earned has the right to be a diva.

In the late nineties , Lauryn Hill was perhaps the most famous black woman in the world. Lauryn Hill was the Michael Jackson of her time. Soon after the release of first solo album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” the singer’s deadlocked image dominated the covers of Rolling Stone, Vogue and People. She was praised for her brains and beauty. Her songs: “Doo Wop (That Thing,”) “Lost Ones,” “When It Hurts So Bad,” “To Zion” made us dance and think, too. When she went on self imposed hiatus in 2000, we began to embrace singers such as India.Arie, Estelle and a fiery young Jamaican vocalist named Cherine Anderson, hungry for a new Lauryn Hill.

A woman has a right to be diva is she is the leader of a band and her musical success and reputation ride on the competence of her band, sound engineers and venue.

Many people have criticized Lauryn Hill’s long awaited performance at the 32^nd Annual Harmony Festival, June 13 at Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Everything from quality of her sound and her interactions with her band members have been scrutinized.

Standing at the near the front of the stage in the photo/media pit, I did observe Ms. Hill doing her best to put on a good show despite sound and organizational glitches.

I was close enough to see Ms. Hill giving musical direction, which is what a bandleader does. She surprised me with pretty good covers of Bob Marley’s “

Zimbabwe

” and “I Only Have Eyes For You,” made famous by the Flamingos. I was close enough to see Ms. Hill sweating in an elegant, silky suit reminiscent of Alexander McQueen, her newly straightened hair blowing in the breeze.

“They (the audience) knows how they like the music, see,” Ms. Hill told the sound crew, before segueing into “When It Hurts So Bad:” “Bring the bass down a little bit, and bring me up.”

Check out this clip, where the crowd cheers her on with “We Love You Lauryn Hill:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59P62YjDBto

After her closing number, “Doo Wop,” Ms. Hill said: “I love you, Santa Rosa!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_mdwfwX92Y

In defense of Ms. Hill, at least she knew where she was! I recently attended the performance of an old school singer in Sacramento who thought she was performing in Saratoga, but that’s a different dish.

It would have been nice if Ms. Hill had agreed to a press conference at some point during the Harmony festival.

I had no personal interaction with Ms. Hill that day, but I was close enough to the stage to feel as if she were watching as security escorted me out of the media pit in a misunderstanding, and later let me back in. I did not have access to Ms. Hill’s private area backstage. But this is what I was told the next day by a longtime friend member of the press corps in an email:

“Her reputation is that she is an angry bitchy person who is more diva than Whitney Houston, or Naomi Campbell. She lived up to it, and more, and she disappointed everyone. She stunk. She yelled instead of sang, she bitched instead of smiled, and she isn't ready to bring her act to the stage.”

Excuse me? This writer was disturbed by these comments for more than one reason. Clearly these are hurtful comments aimed at a certain class of the population. A class of which I happen to belong. While I have no problem with the term “diva,” when used in the right context, I feel that “angry” and “bitchy” are two controlling images used to undermine black women.

Dictionary.com defines a diva as “a distinguished female singer” and a “prima donna.” If this is the case, then this individual could have compared Ms. Hill to Barbara Streisand, Madonna or Lady Ga Ga for that matter. Instead, he chose to pick, or pick on, two black women who rose to the top of their fields; one used to be America’s darling before she got a hold of the sickness called drug addiction (which transcends race, class and gender) and began canceling shows, and another who broke racial barriers as one of the first black supermodels and happened to assault one of her staff. .

Ms. Hill did not cancel her show and pressed on despite technical problems. To my knowledge, she did not hit anyone with her cell phone.

A few weeks later, I discussed the Lauryn Hill incident with Grammy nominated poet/activist/scholar Nikki Giovanni when she appeared at an event called “Conversations With Wise Women” in San Francisco. Giovanni, who recently published a children’s

“Lauryn Hill is a brilliant musicologist,” said Giovanni. “What she conceives and how she carries it out—I think she’s way ahead of the curve.

Giovanni, who recently published a children’s book on hip hop, said the term “bitch” is often applied to women who do not follow someone else’s program or agenda.

They said the same thing about Nina Simone. But I think they say the same thing about any brilliant musical performer. They thing that because you’re a musician you’re supposed to put a wind up in your back and move to their tune. Aside from being brilliant, she’s a very nice young woman.”And
yes it is ok to be a Diva.

Ms. Lauryn Hill returns to the Bay Area at on Aug. 22 as part of the Rock the Bells hip hop tour at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

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

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

EARTH WIND & FIRE

Earth, Wind & Fire via last.fm

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

EARTH WIND & FIRE

Becoming a teen in the 1970’s in my opinion was the best of times. The
musical groups were phenomenal. Earth Wind & Fire was one of those
phenomenal groups. Where were you? And what were you doing when you heard
Earth Wind & Fire the first time. I was sitting in my garage playing
records on the stereo and spades a card game with friends. A friend
brought over a new album she bought, Earth Wind & Fire’s self titled “Earth Wind & Fire”. After we listened to the album five times, I can say we were fans of Earth Wind & Fire.

The first time I saw Earth Wind & Fire in concert was 1979 at the Oakland Coliseum. My best friend got two tickets for her birthday, we both thought the seats were going to be in the nose bleed section, but to our surprise we had great seats 8th row from the stage right in the center.When Earth Wind & Fire came out, the crowd went wild and we were on our feet until the last encore was done. The second time I saw Earth Wind & Fire was in 1989 at the Oakland Coliseum, ten years later and they still hadn’t lost a beat they were still phenomenal.

Earth Wind & Fire was formed by Maurice White a former session drummer for Chess Records and member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio. Maurice based on the fact that his astrological sign of Sagittarius had a primary element of Fire and seasonal qualities of Earth and Air. That’s how he came up with Earth Wind & Fire. Earth Wind & Fire’s first Top 40 R&B hit was “I Think About Lovin’ You” from The Need of Love album in 1971. After that the hits just kept on coming “Evil”, “Keep Your Head to the Sky”, “Mighty Mighty”,
“Devotion” one of my all time favorites. “That’s The Way of the World”,
“Shining Star”, “September”, “Serpentine Fire”, “Boogie Wonderland” and
the list goes on. There are so many artists that has sampled Earth Wind &
Fire’s music. To name a few A Tribe Called Quest, Wycelf Jean, Jay-Z
Amerie, The Fugees, LL Cool J, De La Soul, Common, Frank Zappa, Naughty by
Nature, P Diddy and The Roots.

Maurice White had a vision to put together a universal music group, that was spiritually charged, ambitious defying boundaries of color and culture. Earth Wind & Fire is what he came up with. I say thank you Maurice White and Earth Wind & Fire for giving your fan all around the your music that is timeless.

LM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth,_Wind_&_Fire

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Kay.Tunes

Sometimes stars are made, and sometimes stars are born. Rising R&B star Kaneik Tune’s last name is no coincidence; she was born to sing.
“My last name didn’t happen by chance. This is my destiny,” says the soulful performer who is better known by her stage name Kay.Tunes.
Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Kay.Tunes began singing at an early age. The first song she learned to sing was, “This Little Light of Mine” in daycare when she was three. She came home later that day and belted it out for her mother.
At the age of six, Kay.Tunes won her first talent show singing, "This House" by Tracey Spencer. The win further ignited her passion for performing as she continued to compete and win local talent shows throughout Virginia. At 13 years old, she won a chance to compete at the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, where she blew the audience away.
As a teenager Kay.Tunes realized that she wanted to pursue a career in music full-time. However, after high school she was encouraged to go to college and get a degree so she would “have something to fall back on.” Kay.Tunes attended Old Dominion College but her heart was not in it, so she left school to pursue a career in music.
While holding up to three different part-time jobs at a time, Kay.Tunes honed her skills as a songwriter by developing songs for other artists as she continued create a buzz for herself a singer and performer in the Virginia music scene.
Upon chance meeting at a friend’s recording studio, Tunes met producer/songwriter Demario "Rio" Bridges who had been hearing about the talented singer for some time. Rio, the founder of SavantSoundz. LLC, a production company based in Virginia, had worked with various artists including. Grammy nominated entertainers such as Raphael Saadiq, Ashanti, P.Diddy, and Christina Aguilera among others. As a producer and music visionary, Rio immediately saw the talent that Tunes possessed and wanted to work with her. Together, the duo looks to collaborate and bring substance back to music.
In addition to collaborating with Rio, for her upcoming project Kay.Tunes has enlisted music heavyweights to produce her album including: producers Lee Major Kid (Jay Z, Young Jeezy, Flo-Rida, Wyclef, Mary J Blidge, Nas); Theo Edmonds (Young Berg, Noreaga); Sound H Productions (Skillz); and Grammy Award winning, multi-platinum selling producer Gerard Thomas (Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliott, Ashanti, Mel B from the Spice Girls).
When speaking on her upcoming project, Kay.Tunes states, “This music movement is so needed and people will be able to relate. Our music is so relatable, it’s refreshing.”
Moreover, Kay.Tunes is refreshing. She is a breath of fresh air to the industry. She is a gifted artist, who loves the craft of making music. Her passion shows through in her music and is the reason why she is destined to make an impact on R&B music.
She was born to make music; her last name is not a coincidence.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

The 'Dramatics'

The Dramatics via last.fm

The 'Dramatics' are one of 4 or 5 soul music vocal groups I especially enjoyed listening to growing up in the late 1960's and early 1970's....along with the 'Temptations', the 'Delphonics', the 'Stylistics', and 'Earth, Wind and Fire'. Dramatics front man and founder Ron Banks introduced smooth, strongly vocalized ballads and stage performances that helped set the R an B tone for that era.

The band was formed out of Detroit, Michigan in 1962, and was originally named 'The Dynamics'. Detroit had more talent than record company's could handle at the time, so the group struggled until finally signing with Wingate Records.(later bought by Motown)

In 1967 Banks changed their name to the 'Dynamics', and soon produced their first minor hit single "All Because of You". However, it took four more years before another single, "Whatcha See is Whatcha Get" finally broke into "Billboard Hot 100's top 10....peaking at #3 and reaching gold disc status in 1971!

The following year it was "In The Rain" that reached #1 on the R&B charts, after which, William "Wee Gee" Howard and Willie Ford left the band, and were replaced by singer/producer L.J. Reynolds and Lenny Mayes.

Throughout the rest of the '70's the Dramatics recorded a list of top ten singles including the cover "Me and Mrs.Jones"(from 'Billy Paul'), 'Get Up and Get Down', 'You're Fooling Around', 'Be My Girl', and 'Hey You! Get Off My Mountain".

They also appeared on the TV hit show 'Soul Train' several times, and continued with hits 'Toast the Fool", "I'm Going By the Stars in Your Eyes", and two albums called "Somewhere in Time", and "Positive State of Mind".

After the Dramatics released their final chart hit "Welcome Back Home" in 1980, L.J. Reynolds left the band....and Ron Banks followed in 1983. Both went on to pursue solo careers. However, the band has re-united several times over the past 20-years, and were even guests on the 'Snoop Doggy Dog' song "Doggy Dog World" in 1993.

They were also mentioned in a novel called "The Algiers Motel Incident", by John Hersey. 'The Algiers' is where Detroit Police allegedly committed murders which sparked the infamous Detroit riots of 1967....and the Dramatics happened to be staying there at the same time, following a performance!

On a sad note, so many of the band members have had their lives cut short by natural causes, including Elbert Wilkins(heart attack, 1992, age 45), William "Wee Gee" Howard(heart attack, 2000, age 49), Lenny Mayes(cancer, 2004, age 53), James Mack Brown(cancer, 2008, age 58), and founder Ron Banks who died of a heart attack just last month at his Detroit home at the age of 58. Banks left a wife and six children.

Nevertheless, the Dramatics have gone on to entertain millions of fans over the past 40-years, and continue to tour even today....as L.J. Reynolds, Winzell Kelly, Willie Ford, and Michael Brock, will soon release an album titled "Bad Girl". May the dramatic R&B sound of 'The Dramatics' live on for years to come.

Thanks, and keep listening to Streetwise Radio at www.Streetwisesd.com

Sincerely, PeteCam4

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Lionel Richie

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 15: Singer Lionel...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Lionel Brockman Richie is a 61-year old American singer-songwriter and producer who "truly" became the ultimate 'American Idol', selling more than 100-million records. I myself bought only 25 of them, but they were always on the top of the stack!

Richie was born on the campus of 'Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, after which his family moved to Joliet, Illinois when he was a toddler. After becoming a star tennis player and graduating from Joliet Township High School, Richie returned to Alabama and accepted a scholarship at Tuskegee Institute.

While earning his economics degree, Richie formed a succession of R&B groups, until finally becoming the lead singer and saxophonist with 'The Commodores'. From that point on, his only need for an economics degree was to manage all the money he would earn!

Under the 'Motown Records' label the Commodores cut their teeth as a support act to the 'Jackson Five', and thus, established themselves as a popular soul group.

After cutting thier first several albums which featured a danceable, funky sound with songs like 'Machine Gun', and 'Brick House', Richie began to write and sing more romantic, easy-listening ballads such as 'Easy', 'Three Times a Lady', 'Still', and eventually--the tragic break-up ballad 'Sail on'.

It was during this time, and while enjoying these songs that Richie's sound touched my musical soul! His smooth, resonating voice and elegant piano accompaniment helped spawn a personal hobby of listening to, and playing back songs on the piano...totally playing by ear. I never did learn to read music. I could just play. It was God's, sort of...simple little gift to me, which was stongly influenced by artists like Lionel Richie.

All of us music lovers appreciate those few, rare, euphoric moments of joy that come when listening to someone play and sing a certain song! One of mine happened while watching the 1980 'Grammy Awards', as Lionel Richie took to the grand piano and sang 'Lady', a ballad he actually composed for Kenny Rogers.

It was Kenny who sang 'Lady' to #1 that year, but it was Richie's singing and playing that night, that brought tears to my eyes, and tingling down my spine! In 1981, Richie produced Rogers' 'Share Your Love' album, and the two stars became life-long friends.

In 1982, Richie sang a duet with 'Diana Ross' as the theme song for the movie 'Endless Love". The song topped the UK and U.S. pop music charts, becoming one of Motown's biggest smash-hits...and encouraged Richie to branch out into a full-fledged solo career.

His debut album called, 'Lionel Richie' produced chart-topping singles 'Truly', 'You Are', and 'My Love', while selling over 4-million copies! His 1983 follow up LP, 'Can't Slow Down' featured the Caribbean flavored dance number 'All Night Long', and sold more than twice as many records--winning Richie two 'Grammy Awards' including 'Album of the Year'.

This propelled him into the top rank of international superstar, where, over the next four years, more Top-10 hits followed--the most successful being another Richie love ballad called 'Hello'. In 1985, Richie collaborated with 'Stevie Wonder', and 'Michael Jackson' on the 'USA for Africa' "We are the World" project.

But, by 1987 Richie was exhausted from his work schedule, and returned home to Alabama to care for his ailing father, Lionel Sr., who eventually died in 1990.

In-between this time, Richie and longtime wife 'Brenda Harvey' adopted two-year old 'Nichol Escovedo', who's birth father is 'Peter Escovedo', a member of Lionel's band...and brother of drummer 'Sheila E'.

Following a painful separation, highly publicized affair, and divorce from Brenda Harvey, Richie married 'Diana Alexander' in 1995, and, together they had a son, Miles and a daughter, Sofia. Richie and Alexander eventually divorced in January 2004.

Daughter 'Nichole Richie' went on to become a successful actress and screen star before giving birth to a baby girl with singer 'Joel Madden'--thus making Lionel a Grandfather in January 2008.

As for "Grandpa", he has spent the past 17-years producing albums like 'Time', 'Louder Than Words', and even a greatest hits collection called 'Back to Front'....none of which measured up to his previous successes.

In 2002, Richie's song 'Running with the Night' was featured on the video game 'Grand Theft Auto', and his 2006 album 'Coming Home' featured "Call it Love"...his first hit single in 10-years.

Richie has since hosted and performed live on 'British TV's "An Audience with Lionel Richie", appeared on the 'Australian Idol' grand finale, and sang "Hello" at the '49th Grammy Awards'.

In May 2008, he received the 'George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Achievement Award' at 'UCLA's' 'Spring Sing'. Richie has also become a phenomenon in the Arab world, performing in Morraco, Kubai, Qatar, and Libya. According to Richie, Iraqi civilians actually played "All Night Long" the night U.S. tanks invaded Baghdad.

After song writer 'Dallas Austin' was arrested on drug charges and held in a United Arab Emirates prison, a Washington D.C. consulate official called Richie for a character reference, and upon sending abroad his three-sentence statement of support--Austin was pardoned!

Richie recently announced his intention to get the 'Commodores' back together again soon, or "in the next ten years no one will care", he commented.

Last year, Richie performed on the season finale of 'American Idol', and has since released his latest album 'Just Go'. Then, on June 7th, 2009 he performed 'Jesus is Love', at Michael Jackson's memorial service.

All in all, in so many ways, Lionel Richie has "Truly" become the genuine article of influence for millions of fans(me included) in every corner of the music world!

Thanks, and keep listening to 'Soul City' on Streetwise Radio

Sincerely, PeteCam4

Friday, February 19, 2010

Melanie Fiona

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 31: Singer/songwrit...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

As the world focuses on the 21st Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, its a good time to pay homage to one of that country's aspiring R&B singer-songwriters. Melanie Fiona was born Melanie Hallim 26-years ago in Toronto, Canada to immigrant parents from Guyana.

Living in a music filled household, Fiona always knew music was her passion, from the time her guitarist father let her sit on stage and practice with his band. Her mother would also constantly play music around the house, everything from 'The Ronettes' to 'Whitney Houston. It was Houston's hit single "The Greatest Love of All' that became Fiona's childhood anthem, inspiring her to become a singer.

Active in the industry since 2002, Fiona was briefly in the Toronto R&B girl group 'X-Quisite', but left before their first album....although she did earn songwriting credits. In the fall of 2008, 'Kanye West' hand picked her to open his European tour, where she befriended 'Jay-Z', who's 'Roc Nation' group now manages Fiona.

She was also featured on 'Reggae Gold 2008' with the 'Supa Dups'-produced "Somebody Come Get Me". In February 2009 Fiona released her first single "Give it to Me Right", which was writtin by Andrea Martin....who praised Fiona as "finally a voice that is not only soulful, but ear-friendly". The song peaked at #20 on "Billboard's Canadian Hot-100".

Her debut album 'The Bridge' was released last summer, where Fiona worked alongside 'Future Cut', 'Vada Nobles', 'Stereotypes', 'J. Phoenix', 'Peter Wade' and 'Salaam Remi'. It was the album's second single "It Kills Me" that became Fiona's breakout song cracking the Top 50 and hitting #1 on the 'Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs' chart.

It also earned Fiona a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while 'The Bridge' received a 'NAACP Image Award' nomination for Outstanding New Artist.

When first learning of the Grammy nomination Fiona commented, "It's like the best news I've ever received, oh my gosh....I instantly had flashbacks of singing as a little girl into my hairbrush in front of the bathroom mirror". "Could I have ever imagined that singing around the house or just loving to sing would someday put me into this position now? It's just unbelievable", she exclaimed.

What is believable is that Fiona's best times are still ahead of her, with a distinctive voice, great range, and keen adeptness at expressing vulnerability, strength, and....the right look! Currently, Fiona is set to go on tour with Alicia Keyes

Thanks, and keep listening to Streetwise Radio,

PeteCam4

Saturday, February 13, 2010

JAMES BROWN

Image via Wikipedia

JAMES BROWN

James Joseph Brown was born on May 3, 1933 in Barnwell South Carolina and past away on December 25, 2006 in Atlanta Georgia. I saw James Brown in the late 1990s at the Monterey Fairgrounds, he had to be in his sixties and the man put on a show. He was still dancing and singing and making the crowd go crazy. James Brown was a songwriter, arranger and dancer, he was one of the most influential entertainers of the 20th century with his popular music and his remarkable achievements earned him the title “the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business.” James Brown was raised in Atlanta Georgia by his great-aunt, Growing up in the poor south during the depression James was sent home from grade school for “insufficient clothes”, this that is probably why he wore such elaborate clothes. At the age of 15 James and some friends were arrested for breaking into cars.

James was originally sentenced to 8 to 16 year of incarceration at Alto Reform School, but he only served 3 years for good behavior. While he was in Alto he formed a gospel group called “The Gospel Starlighters”. Later on the group went secular and called themselves The Flames. The Flames caught Little Richards attention. Little Richards manager Ralph Bass who took the James Brown to Syd Nathan of King records Syd Nathan hated James first recording “Please Please Please”(1956) James Brown First Single Sold three million copies and this single launched James Brown’s career. James Brown was known as “Soul Brother Number One” in the 1960s. James had three hits out that decade “Don’t Be a Drop Out” in 1966, “Say It Loud -I’m Black and I’m Proud” in 1968 and “Don’t Want Nobody to Give me Nothing’

(Open Up the Door, I’ll Get It Myself)” in 1969. During all the civil unrest in the major cities on the East Coast politicians would recruit James Brown for his avid endorsement of issuse of the times. James Brown had several hits in the 1960s like “Out of Sight”, “Papa’s got a Brand New Bag” and “I Got You (I Feel Good)”. In 1967 “Cold Sweat” was James Brown’s first true funk song and three more followed “Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose” and “Licking Stick-Licking Stick in 1968 and “Funky Drummer” in 1969. James Brown recordings influenced musicians like Sly and The Family Stone, Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s , and soul shouters like Edwin Starr, Temptations David Ruffin, and Dennis Edwards. Michael Jackson at a young age took James Brown’s shouting and dancing to the mainstream America. In the late 1970s and 1980s James Brown put out two album for the disco era Get Up Offa That Thing and Body Heat in 1976. James appeared in feature films The Blues Brothers, Doctor Detroit and Rocky IV and Miami Vice. James Brown had his challenges with the law throughout his career and after his death his children filed a lawsuit against his estate. James Brown was presented honors, awards and dedications throughout his career. He always be known as The Godfather of Soul.

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

Sunday, July 25, 2010

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