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    0 Google Salute to Kingsley H. Smith and his NJ Library Appearance

      In May I was contacted by Google. They interviewed me for 45 minutes on a Zoom call. The conversation was to be used for a future publication. Google requested that I not mention any details until the July 23rd publication date. #WeArePlay features stories about people from all over the United States and the world who build apps and game businesses. In the Google Play story, my Powerhouse Radio book is mentioned. I'm holding an actual circulating library copy standing in front of my regional county library. Thank you libraries for adding the book. Thank you Google for featuring my work after thirteen years of Android app development! I represent New Jersey along with other Garden State developers in the Google feature. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Art Blakey Interview - Jazz Is?

    Art Blakey has a lot to say about music and the electronic influences diluting the genre he loves in this audio interview recorded 13 years before his passing. I learn why Art Blakey thinks there is an important connection between our ears and the craft of jazz. You know I was thrilled to talk to this jazz legend live on-air during my broadcasting journey through Atlantic City, New Jersey radio. Definitely check this one out! Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 AWB - Average White Band Interview - Pick Up The Pieces Interview

    Average White Band - AWB were the real deal. While a student at New York University, I interviewed AWB members Hamish Stuart and Molly Duncan live on WNYU FM radio right after the first AWB Atlantic Records album was released. It was one of the first USA interviews by the Average White Band. It's 1974! AWB was in New York City to appear at the Bottom Line music venue. Enjoy! Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Harvey Mason Sr Talks Marching in the Street

    Drummer Harvey Mason Sr. was 28, and I was 24, when we chatted up a storm live on-air in the WUSS 1490 AM Atlantic City radio studios. We discussed the life of a studio musician, growing up in the shore resort, and the release of Harvey’s first solo album, Marching in the Street. The conversation happened on a chilly, January day in 1976. In 2024, you can say that Harvey humbly reflects a persona of understated confidence. It goes without saying that you need a lot of talent to sustain a '50 year plus career.' In the video you’ll learn how the teenage Harvey played with his home town musical group while he matured in Atlantic City, New Jersey, before going on to be one of the most requested players for studio sessions among the greats. I had only been at WUSS for fourteen months, in what was my first full-time on-air gig. My entire story is in the highly rated audiobook, eBook, and paperback Powerhouse Radio: Rough Roads, Radiance, and Rebirth available at Amazon and other online retailers. Experience, Credentials, Expertise If you are not impressed by the artist shout-outs you'll hear in the video, check out this incredible list of Harvey Mason artist credits on his website. Harvey Mason Sr. attended Berklee, one of the leading institutions for music, dance, and theater study. He graduated from the New England Conservatory. Here's my nine minute and change, exchange with the amazing Harvey Mason. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Good Friday Divine Emotions

    What do Whitney Houston, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeff Beck, and Gladys Knight have in common? They all have been touched by Narada Michael Walden. Drummer Walden played with the fusion-rock group Mahavishnu Orchestra, and with British guitarist Jeff Beck. As a solo artist, Narada Michael had a bunch of R&B hits: "I Don’t Want Nobody Else (To Dance With You)"  "I Shoulda Loved Ya" "Tonight I'm Alright" He produced and arranged hits for Whitney Houston "How Will I Know" "So Emotional" Walden co-wrote "Licence to Kill" for Gladys Knight in the James Bond movie. The songwriter, producer, and drummer is from Kalamazoo, Michigan. His groove laden music emphasizes bass and drums, marching through galloping dance tracks.   'Jam on Good Friday,' so says Narada Michael Walden, in his 1988 hit song "Divine Emotions." We love the longer eight minute, forty-eight second 12" single remix with additional Shep Pettibone production. Hear the 'lyric line' in this 15 second segment from the 8:48 track: Your browser does not support the audio element. Here is a shorter, full-length 5:14 song version on YouTube. The "jam on Good Friday" song lyric is mixed down in the final quarter of the song. It is loud and clear in the 8:48 remix!  Walden shares writing credits and the arrangement for Gladys Knight's "Licence to Kill." Here's Gladys on YouTube: I saw Narada Michael Walden perform at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey with Rufus and Chaka Khan and The Brothers Johnson. Walden was the opening act. The entire show, as well as Michael, was fantastic! Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Black History Month Book Signing at L'Ouverture Books

    • Photo
    • by Kingsley H. Smith
    • 02/14/2024

    Three fans join me (Kingsley H. Smith), among other attendees, at L'Ouverture Books in Pleasantville, New Jersey for a book signing on February 10, 2024. Discover my complete story, relevant to students or professionals who are learning about digital media, announcing, audio production, podcasting, content management, and life. African Americans in radio broadcasting is a sub theme discussed as the story develops. The important concept of specializing in a niche without abandoning broader opportunities to grow is detailed. It's in Powerhouse Radio: Rough Roads, Radiance, and Rebirth. eBook, audiobook, and paperback available at Amazon (above link) and at other online retailers. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Sly Stone - Thank You! Review

    • Review
    • by Kingsley H. Smith
    • 01/24/2024

    I love this in-depth story about Sly Stone: Thank You (Faletttinme Be Mice Elf Agin). He tells the whole truth and nothing but the truth in his electric 2023 musician memoir, co-written by Sly with Ben Greenman.  During my entire professional radio career I played Sly's music: the hits, the heavies, and the near misses. Mr. Stewart's word-driven, song-laden, narrative timeline is accurate and all-encompassing as he tells the Sly story. The book is long. It's almost 300 pages before you get to the selected discography and other back of the manuscript matter. Who is Sylvester Stewart, the architect of the hit making Sly & The Family Stone machinery? Sly enters the world of Denton, Texas in 1943. He says "a little while after I was born, we moved out to California." He and family settled in Vallejo, a port city that was the home of the first naval shipyard on the west coast. Soon there were seven members in the family unit. Sly recalls that music was front and center as the eighth sibling of the clan. Sly became a jack of all instrument trades playing piano, keyboards, bass, guitar and other melody maker devices, joined by his eventual Family Stone brother Freddie (on guitar). The whole family rejoiced together singing gospel songs at home and at church. They bonded through the chorus of praise.  After high school, a strong music theory teacher at Vallejo Junior College was a big influence. Sly credits instructor David Froehlich for helping him "recognize chords, scales, intervals, and rhythms." He says he "learned how to learn," crediting Froehlich for his appreciation for "music as a language." We learn how Mr. Stewart acquired the sobriquet "Sly." Not how you might think! Before jumping into music full-time, the medium of radio knocked as a possible opportunity. If you want a broadcasting job, you have to be aggressive. Our hero explains how he got his first radio gig at KSOL San Francisco after completing training at the Chris Borden School of Modern Radio Technique. Listen to this aircheck of Sly Stone at KSOL inside my blog post from 2006: The Secret Life of Sly Stone. Singing and Playing Simple Songs Progressive forward thinking creative people at Black radio stations always open up the song airwaves to multi-cultural artists. KSOL was a Black station. Sly took some heat in 1964 for including "Beatles, Stones, Bob Dylan, and Mose Allison" in his on-air playlist. This era was the heyday of the three minute or less hit song. Stations could jam in more ads by playing short records so artists created those records! Sly emphasizes his philosophy of writing short tunes throughout the book. Even in the radio studio, Sly was never far from a musical instrument. Styling the thank you words If you've ever watched a Sly Stone talk show interview, you may have noticed his innate ability for non sequiturs. The Random House Dictionary defines them as "an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises." So when Sly says "arrest records were my new records" or "I didn't really keep score except when it came to scoring" (talking about good and bad days), you know this is authentic and this is the real Sly. The book uses this technique to move the story along. Another of his gems: "if I wasn't straight, I didn't have much interest in being straightforward." Producing hits While still at KSOL, Sly shares anecdotes about early success producing hits for Bobby Freeman "C'mon and Swim," and both "Laugh Laugh" and "Just a Little" by the Beau Brummels. Sly Stone shares ideas and interacts with a who's who of performers, stars, and musicians. He has a lot of interaction with Bobby Womack, Billy Preston, George Clinton, and others. George 'Mr. P. Funk' Clinton is at the center of a famous story related by Sly. If you've watched the documentary "Tear the Roof Off: The Untold Story of Parliament Funkadelic," this birthday suit story is shown in the film and recalled by Sly's summary in the book. Sports, Cars, and Everyday People Sly loves boxing and collectable cars. He talks fondly about interactions with Muhammad Ali. He lustfully describes his army of personal automobiles. Everything is on the table during his story. Mr. Stewart wanted an everyday people concept for his band Sly & the Family Stone. "White and Black together, male and female both, and women not just singing but playing instruments." It's 1967. Sly was missing shifts at KSOL. He hops across The San Francisco Bay to Oakland's KDIA. The interracial Sly & The Family Stone drop "A Whole New Thing" into the marketplace while Sly is still at KSOL. This collection of songs showed some promise but received mixed reviews. By the time "Dance to the Music" is released, the legend of Sly as a saint, sinner, and performer takes off. I've written about seeing Sly & the Family Stone live at both The Apollo Theater and at Bill Graham's Fillmore East during the same short period in NYC. Sly touches on this dynamic in "Thank You..." At these two shows I sensed the tension in the Black audience uptown, and the welcoming embrace of the white audience downtown. Let's face it. Sly & the Family Stone were not the Temptations wearing matching suits. When "A Whole New Thing" was released by the Epic record label, Sly describes the Family Stone band outfits as "eclectic." Sly recalls label chief Clive Davis asking "if I thought that our fashion might distract people from the music." Sly said no, continuing "it was fashion but it was also a feeling" responding to Davis. These songs took off in 1968 and 1969: "Dance To The Music" "Everyday People" "Sing a Simple Song" "Stand" "I Want To Take You Higher" "Hot Fun In The Summertime" "Life And Death in G & A" (Georgia and Alabama) by Abaco Dream "Everyday People," "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mic Elf Agin)" in 1970, and "Family Affair" in 1971 are the three Sly & The Family Stone number one records. Between all of the girl friends, marriage, children, talk show appearances, problems with promoters, gun culture, drugs, and dogs, Sly details the progression of his music year by year alongside his personal and professional challenges. Each book chapter summarizes a couple of years through his timeline. There are so many behind the scene stories that this element makes Thank You (Faletttinme Be Mice Elf Agin) a book you won't want to put down.  Sly discusses all of his album covers and why specific art was used. You'll discover what really happened between Sly and Larry Graham, his bassist who left and went on to score Graham Central Station music fame. Sly gets into expressing how hip-hop artists have sampled his music. He likes this and thinks that sampling their music in his tracks might be wonderful to try out! He says "working on music settles his mind." There are unsettling stories within the prose about his experiences with the drug culture that I don't need to detail. Read the book to learn more. There's also a nice explanation about the "no show" reputation he was branded with and the justification he offers for why he missed so many concerts. Sly made his reputation with the Family Stone performing at some of the biggest shows: Woodstock, Isle of Wight, Summer of Soul (The Harlem Cultural Festival), and others. In the later years new musicians would come and go passing through the Family Stone circle of players. There's a good story about the original group's induction into the Rock Hall of Fame. We learn what was said, and who was there. Sly talks candidly about superstars Michael Jackson, Prince, and James Brown. He knew them all and has lots to say about them. Mr. Stewart shares his practice to use cameras and microphones to keep tabs on the pulse of the action inside of his home front. He is a tech guy. I give him credit for moving smoothly from the analog world into the digital age. His music production benefited. He got interested in using computers. He mentions the digital audio editor Pro Tools that was used to lay down tracks. Sylvester says his Alexa smart speaker "let's me request any song I want." As Sly now navigates through his eighties, I'm happy that this book was finally written. It's his story in his words. This is how he did it. Sly says he loves to read 'how to' books. Here is his. There's much more that I haven't touched on. Now it's your turn to discover more! I got the hardcover and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Back in the day, Sly was and still is one of my favorite all time artists. If you are curious about what shorty song clips I used in the video, here they are in order: "Higher" "I Want To Take You Higher" "M'Lady" "Love City" "Sing A Simple Song" "Dance To The Music" "Hot Fun In The Summertime" "Everybody Is A Star" "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin" "Everyday People" "Family Affair" "Life" All photos of the record labels are from my personal music collection. I learned during the early Sly era to finally stop putting numbers and my initials on vinyl records! Big Apple Showtime The pictures below are from my May, 1969 Fillmore East program. Yes I was there. Seventeen years old. You'll notice that Sly's birthday is wrong in the group biography. I supply the correct date in the Denton, Texas paragraph above!  A Nice Bonus! This 12" single from my collection was released in 1986 with former Time guitarist Jesse Johnson recording "Crazay," featuring Sly Stone. "Crazay" became a number two R&B hit. Jesse has Sly's name in pretty small print on the front cover! Can you even read it (in purple)? The top photo is the front of the 12" single. Underneath is the flip side that features Sly.     Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 QBR Thoughts About the Powerhouse Radio Book

    I'd like to thank my editor, proof reader, publisher, special family members, and wonderful friends who provided sparkling feedback after reading copies I provided to them of Powerhouse Radio: Rough Roads, Radiance and Rebirth. Today, the paperback becomes available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Baby, and other retailers. The audiobook dropped in December, 2023 on Audible and iTunes. EBook launched in Fall, 2023. Here's a part of what QBR, The Black Book Review had to say in a commissioned review: "Racial discrimination in commercial radio in America has been a persistent issue throughout its history, reflecting broader societal inequalities having broader implications for communities, as it affects the types of stories, music, and cultural content that reach audiences." "Lack of diversity in content creation result in a limited representation of the tapestry of American culture. But Smith allows little of this to thwart the passion for his work or his persistence in achieving his measures or learning from the greats in the business on either side of the microphone." "He is technically astute – generously sharing hard earned "how-to's" – and is gifted in his craft. And he spills tea on music artists and influencers, known and lesser known, giving backroom details that only an insider could know." Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Powerhouse Radio Year In Review

    • Video
    • by Kingsley H. Smith
    • 01/02/2024

    Here are some of our 2023 memories in thirty seconds beginning with an appearance on Blackman (Chris Fraley's) Nodcast the Podcast at the Black Label Comicon in Philly. He's on the left. Peace Moore is in the center.  We drift into Vampire Bobby P. at Tapped in Berlin, NJ. Andre' Gardner at WMGK FM Philadelphia's Sweetwater Marina event in NJ is the next pic. I'm with Olivia Burton at the Philly Odunde Festival followed by Superwoman at the Black Label Comicon. The next frame features Darren Palmer who owns L'Ouverture Books in Pleasantville, NJ. Wrapping up is his honor the Mayor Eric Adams who strikes a pose at the Harlem Book Fair, NYC. Mayor Adams wrote me a nice letter via postal mail expressing his gratitude for my book that I gave him! Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Audiobook Assembly Anecdotes To Learn From

    Plan 'B' might have to be your go to solution if plan 'A' fails! When producing an audiobook, your best made plan might lead you down an alternative highway if a wrong turn is taken. Five voice talents were auditioned for my project. The winner was a guy with FM broadcast experience. Great! He fit the bill. It was the second week in July, 2023. July is a long month. Four weeks later when the project was not delivered as promised, my voice talent asked for a two week extension. No problem. The middle of August had just arrived. I gave the talent a second two-week extension to record this nearly 40,000 word book as he had only completed: Opening credits Preface Chapter One Professionals have to meet deadlines. Since the Labor Day holiday had just arrived, and my talent could not meet deadlines, he had to go. Dude was released and fired. I received a full refund for a large deposit that was put into escrow.  When your intuition tells you something is not right, you implement plan 'B,' your backup plan. Plan 'B' action came early On the day the first extension was granted to the talent at the end of 30 days, an alternative reader began to record the audiobook simultaneously. This was not  disclosed to the first talent. The second voice talent took eight weeks working part-time to finish the read. Not bad! Once the audio level matching, editing, and fine tuning was complete, audio files had to be converted to ACX, Audible, iTunes and Amazon requirements. Powerhouse Radio: Rough Roads, Radiance and Rebirth; My True AM - FM -Satellite - And Audio Streaming Survival Story audiobook was finally submitted to those gatekeepers in early December, 2023 and approved on December 8. It is available right now. That's good, because the promised audiobook release date was January 3, 2024. A six month pre-promotion period was a perfect buffer zone for unexpected issues. The paperback version of the book was submitted to the publisher BookBaby on June 1, 2023. I hope you enjoy my story. If you didn't guess, the second voice talent who made the cut to tell my story was me. Previous Post | Next Post

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