0 Irene Cara with Hot Caramel is a Cool Smoothie

• Audio
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/10/2008

Remember "Flashdance," "Fame," and one of my favorites, "Anyone Can See." Irene Cara was the vocal talent behind those memorable songs. The Oscar and Grammy Award winning composer, actress, and vocalist has been grooming an all-girl band called Hot Caramel. They are due to release a new song in June, 2008. Hot Caramel members include; Errica Poindexter - bass, Yvonne Poindexter - vocals, Audrey Martell - vocals, Donna Hairston - bass guitar, Lafrae Olivia Sci - drums, Sheryl Bailey - guitar, and Irene Cara - lead vocals, acoustic piano, synths, and keyboards. While listening to their material and auditioning a few tracks, I picked up on Hot Carmel's distinctive blend of R&B, rock, jazz, Latin dance, pop, and soul. Not too many artists embrace this kind of eclectic mix. Your browser does not support the audio element. Watch for their new album, and listen to about a minute of the ballad "How Can I Make You Love Me." Previous Post | Next Post

0 New Edition Collects Cool Candy Award

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/04/2008

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will honor New Edition at their 21st Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards on June 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. Celebrating their 25th anniversary as a group, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill helped create the popular new jack swing sound of the early 1980's. New Edition Albums: Candy Girl New Edition All For Love Christmas All Over the World Under the Blue Moon Heart Break Home Again One Love New Edition Hits: "Candy Girl" "Popcorn Love" "Cool It Now" "Mr. Telephone Man" "Count Me Out" "A Little Bit of Love (Is All It Takes)" "Earth Angel" "Can You Stand the Rain" "If It Isn't Love" "You're Not My Kind of Girl" "Hit Me Off" Previous Post | Next Post

0 Bo Diddley Remembered

• Biography
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/02/2008

Bo Diddley, along with Little Richard and Chuck Berry, created the core of what we now call rock and roll...music that has since splintered into scores of different sub genres. Diddley passed away of heart failure on Monday, June 2, 2008. Recently, his health was failing, as he had suffered a heart attack, and a stroke, this past year. Why is Bo Diddley important? His songs have been covered and recorded by artists such as the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Manfred Mann, the Kinks, the Yardbirds, Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Doors, Tom Rush, and Bob Seger, (among others). He is a pop music icon of enormous influence. Diddley's custom-made rectangular guitar, and his playing style, complete with distorted amplification, became a trademark by the mid 1950's. He was born in McComb, Mississippi, in 1928. Ellas McDaniel, also known as Bo, received his nickname from his early years as a boxer. Diddley played the blues clubs of Chicago, Illinois, in the 1940?s and 1950?s. His early legendary recordings were made for the Chess label. Diddley hits include "Who Do You Love," "Hey! Bo Diddley," "Pretty Thing," and "Hush Your Mouth." Bo played on several Chuck Berry classics including "Memphis, Tennessee," and "Sweet Little Rock N' Roller." Diddley's 1959 "Say Man" was a rap styled dialogue 20 years ahead of its time. In 1962, he performed for President John F. Kennedy at a private set at the White House. He toured Great Britain in the 1960?s and 1970's, performing on shows with the Everly Brothers, the Rolling Stones, and the Clash. Diddley continued his presence through the 1980's, with a film appearance in Eddie Murphy's Trading Places (1983). Bo's music was featured in films including La Bamba (1987), and Dirty Dancing, (1987). Diddley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He performed for President George Bush at the Inaugural Gala in 1989. Diddley rocked at 1992's Democratic National Convention celebration for Bill Clinton. In February of 1996, Bo Diddley received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, an acknowledgment, for among other accomplishments, pioneering the famous "Bo Diddley beat." biography elements courtesy of Empower Encyclopedia Previous Post | Next Post

0 Earth, Wind & Fire 2008 Summer Tour

• Tour
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/29/2008

Here are June, July, and August 2008 tour dates for Earth, Wind & Fire. June: Friday, June 6, Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas Hilton Saturday, June 7, Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas Hilton Tuesday, June 10, Temecula, CA - Pechanga Casino Friday, June 13, Reno, CA - Silver Legacy Casino Saturday, June 14, Reno, CA - Silver Legacy Casino Sunday, June 15, Stockton, CA - Bob Hope Theater Tuesday, June 17, Santa Rosa, CA - Wells Fargo Center for Arts Thursday, June 19, Santa Inez, CA - Chumash Casino Friday, June 20, San Diego, CA - County Fair - Del Mar Sunday, June 22, Los Angeles, CA - The Greek Theatre Tuesday, June 24, Livermore, CA - Wente Vineyards Thursday, June 26, Jacksonville, OR - Britt Pavilion Friday, June 27, Ridgefield, WA - Clark County Amphitheater Saturday, June 28, Woodenville, WA - Chateau Ste. Michelle July: Sunday, July 6, Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest Wednesday, July 9, Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Theater Friday, July 11, San Antonio, TX - Majestic Theater Saturday, July 12, Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater Monday, July 14, Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Wednesday, July 16, Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap Saturday, July 19, Memphis, TN - Botanical Gardens Sunday, July 20, Greenville, TN - Miswonger PAC Wednesday, July 23, Toledo, OH - Toledo Zoo Amphitheater Friday, July 25, Cincinnati, OH - Paul Brown Stadium Saturday, July 26, Cleveland, OH - Plain Dealer Pavilion Sunday, July 27, Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre Tuesday, July 29, Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater Thursday, July 31, Binghamton, NY - Anderson Center for Arts August: Friday, August 1, Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Saturday, August 2, Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Tuesday, August 5, New York City, NY - Radio City Music Hall Wednesday, August 6, Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest Friday, August 8, Toronto, Canada - Casino Rama Saturday, August 9, Toronto, Canada - Casino Rama Previous Post | Next Post

0 Janet Jackson 2008 Tour Cheer

• Tour
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/27/2008

To promote her Summer-Fall 2008 "Rock Witchu Tour," a new website, JanetFanClub.com is scheduled to be plugged in on Wednesday, May 28th. You can become an insider at the site to get the first word on tour dates, presale tickets, and other Janet goodies. Some confirmed dates include Toronto, Canada on October 13th, and Washington, DC on October 15th. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Tina Turner World Tour 2008-2009

• Tour
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/22/2008

When Tina Turner & Beyonce' did their "Proud Mary" duet at the 2008 Grammy Awards, the spotlight reflected back on Tina's radiant star. Her glow illuminates the universe again when the Tina Turner World Tour 2008-2009 officially kicks off this October. The first show is already sold out, so demand for tickets should be strong. Along with USA dates, Tina's other ports of call include Canada, Austria, Belgium, and the UK. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Motown's Funk Brothers Honored for Excellence

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/20/2008

Congratulations to Motown's legendary Funk Brothers, who will be honored at the 19th Annual Heroes and Legends Awards and Scholarship gala in Beverly Hills, California on September 28th. Eddie Willis, Uriel Jones, and Bob Babbitt are the remaining active Funk Brothers. When you listen to the Motown hits, you are listening to the instrumental artistry of the Funk Brothers. The Heroes and Legends Scholarship Foundation was created by Motown songwriter Janie Bradford to aid "at risk" youth and to publicly recognize others who share her vision. HAL spotlights positive role models from many diverse backgrounds, including leaders in the fields of music, theater, motion pictures and business. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Tresvant, Burke, Green & Summer Heat Up Spring

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/16/2008

Cuing up some new releases in the coming weeks are Donna Summer, Al Green, Solomon Burke, and Ralph Tresvant... Donna Summer, Crayons, Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Al Green, Lay It Down, Tuesday, May 27 Solomon Burke, Like A Fire, Tuesday, June 10 Ralph Tresvant, "It Must Be You," (single) from the former New Edition vocalist, Tuesday, July 1 Previous Post | Next Post

0 Rudy Ray Moore Plays it Raw, Rude & Real

• Commentary
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/14/2008

Rudy Ray Moore, also known as the Mighty Dolemite, is another superfly player, who like Blowfly, has a somewhat ignominious reputation for his own series of rowdy party platters. Moore has recorded at least 15 albums during a career that spans 4 decades. His first record, Eat Out More Often, hit the streets in 1970. Even more graphic than Blowfly, Rudy Ray Moore's pulsating collection of steamy hot wax spawned a cast of characters who carried melodrama to hilarious heights. Between Moore and Blowfly, you'll get all you can handle from a couple of outrageous guys who filled a void with enterprising musical soul-comedy few others were willing to match or touch. Some elements of today's hip hop can credit the 'no holds barred anything goes style' pioneered by Moore and his contemporaries, exemplified by free flowing, uncensored, musical verse. October 21, 2008 update: Moore passed away at the age of 81 in Akron, Ohio. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Blowfly is King of the Funky Soul Party

• Flashback
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/12/2008

The original rappin' classic soul comedic super hero, Blowfly, is about as raunchy and as far away from politically correct as you can get. The alter ego of producer Clarence Reid, Blowfly has busted some nasty moves since the 1970's behind his dynamite microphone. You would never hear unedited Blowfly records on the radio in the USA, as airing them would guarantee a quick visit from the federal authorities. You would hear few Blowfly tracks, period. However, in basement party land, Blowfly reigned supreme, rocking the house with danceable dialogue guaranteed to make a sailor blush due to extremely salty language.       My favorite Blowfly track of all time is "Blowfly's Rapp," an amusing story about truckers, rednecks, and heathens not appropriate for the faint at heart. It's the "B" side of the 12" single, "Rapp Dirty." Clarence "Blowfly" Reid's other work is equally noteworthy, as he's produced and written big hits for Betty Wright, Gwen McCrae, and KC & The Sunshine Band. Blowfly represents a musical underground that was off the radar screen of many music fans. Unlikely other non-musical but equally expressive personalities including Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx, Blowfly's burlesque traveled in smaller circles but had impressive impact among comedy lovers who gravitated toward blue beat delivered high energy laughs. Previous Post | Next Post