0 Spinners Lose Vocalist Billy Henderson

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/06/2007

Spinners vocalist Billy Henderson, an original group member, passed away last Friday of complications from diabetes in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was 67. Henderson left the Spinners in 2004 after suing the group's corporation and business manager to obtain financial records. Four of the original Spinners performed together until recently. Spinners Live is a very good double album, featuring the rare duet with writer Linda Creed behind the mic on the classic soul hit, "Then Came You." Dionne Warwick sang the original duet with the group. The Spinners cut their teeth at Motown. "It's a Shame" was their one big Motor City hit for the label. Take another look at the official Spinners biography at their website for colorful career highlights. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Prince Electrifies Big Game without getting Electrocuted

• Commentary
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/05/2007

Two thumbs up to Prince for his electrifying halftime performance during a pouring rain at Super Bowl 41. He looked good, sang with spirit, played with energy, and gave one of the best Super Bowl halftime performances ever. Playing by the rules and delivering his hits clicked for pure entertainment. No suprises for the censors, although the sequence of a silhouetted Prince with his Purple Rain guitar behind a wind blown curtain got suggestive if you were watching carefully, will the halftime performer next year at Super Bowl 42 be able to top Prince? Previous Post | Next Post

0 Kool & the Gang Launch World Tour

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/01/2007

Fans in Italy, St. Vincent, Norway, and the USA will be able to catch the energy of Kool & the Gang during their extended 2007 world tour. Always exciting, I've never been disappointed at one of their shows. Here's the complete Kool & the Gang tour schedule featuring public and private dates. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Prince Salutes James Brown at Super Bowl 41

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/30/2007

Look for Prince to step lightly but brightly during the halftime show at Super Bowl 41 this Sunday, February 4. During his set, Mr. "Purple Rain" is scheduled to include a tribute to James Brown. One of the funkiest Prince hits is "Sexy M.F.," a vamp that borrows heavily from the style of soul brother number one. Don't expect Prince to perform it, as the censors would have a field day hitting the bleep button. (The halftime show will be on a slight broadcast time-delay). We play a unique version of "Sexy M.F." on Powerhouse Radio that even your grandmother could enjoy. Like the Rolling Stones who performed last year, Prince is a non-conformist, who can offer up some spontaneous, unpredictable moves. Given the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" incident in 2004, you can bet Prince will take the high road during the middle of the big game and keep things rated G. Check out the Super Bowl halftime show. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Al Green Cooks up Definitive Classic Soul

• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/25/2007

Capitol Records EMI has just released Al Green: The Definitive Greatest Hits on both CD and DVD. The DVD adds six film and video clips, including TV performances from 1971, 1978 and 2004. Before you scan through the 21 tracks we list on this new collection, here are 4 powerful Al Green "extras" I recommend for any serious "jolly Green giant" fan. "I'm a Ram" from Gets Next to You "Light My Fire" from Gets Next to You "Are You Lonely for me Baby" from Gets Next to You "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" from Let's Stay Together Al Green Gets Next to You, released in 1971, may be his best album, as it emphasizes the grittiest aspects of his Memphis funk soul (with no pun intended). Both "I'm a Ram" and "Are You Lonely for me Baby" showcase Green's raw Southern soul style with some slick horn arrangements courtesy of producer Willie Mitchell. "Light My Fire" is a terrific interpretation of the Doors classic, as it's sung by Al in a slower bluesy delivery accented by an understated pulsating rhythm. As Green progressed in his career, his hits were produced with a more mass appeal sound. You won't hear the harder edge. Al's cover of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" is a great example. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" also appears on the R&B compilation CD, Soul of the Bee Gees featuring Gibb brother songs sung by Candi Staton, Chaka Khan, Melba Moore, Jerry Butler, Thelma Houston, and others. Here are the tracks on Al Green: The Definitive Greatest Hits... Let's Stay Together Tired Of Being Alone Take Me To The River I'm Still In Love With You Look What You Done For Me Here I Am (Come & Take Me) Love & Happiness Keep Me Cryin' Call Me (Come Back Home) Livin' For You Let's Get Married Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy) L-O-V-E (Love) You Ought To Be With Me Oh Me, Oh My (Dreams In My Arms) Full Of Fire Back Up Train - (with The Soul Mates) I Can't Get Next To You Belle I Can't Stop Perfect To Me There's no argument that Al Green is one of the best "soul" singers of all time. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and he deserves to be there. Previous Post | Next Post

0 New Diana Ross Covers Old Hit Parade

• Review
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/23/2007

Diana Ross steps back on stage this March to kick off a new world tour. Until then, she'll have a great promotional opportunity as a mentor on Fox TV's American Idol. We've been playing 5 tracks on Powerhouse Radio from her new release, I Love You, (since the CD was released on January 16). Listeners have the ability to vote on the tracks, and based on your rating numbers, you generally like Diana's take on these 5 songs from among the dozen old classics she tackles. Here's the scorecard up until today (based on a scale of poor to excellent): "Lovely Day" - good "More Today Than Yesterday" - good "The Look of Love" - good "Only You" - good "I Want You" - so so Here's a list of all of the Diana Ross I Love You tracks. More on I Love You in the January 24, 2007 Powerhouse Radio Newsletter. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Brian McKnight Touches Ten with Time

• Biography
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/18/2007

Brian McKnight has been making music since 1991. The first time he entered a recording studio, he says he was motivated "to pick-up where Marvin Gaye left off." That's an inspiring comment from a young man who wants to continue the elegant tradition of smooth classic soul. The Buffalo, New York native, born on June 5, 1969, is also aware of the changing nature of rhythm and blues today. He notes in his official biography that "the landscape of soul music has gotten younger." Despite this reality, Brian adds "I believe my material will appeal to everyone from teenagers to older folks." With this challenge in mind, comes Ten, a new release from Brian on Warner Brothers Records, his first for the label. "Used to Be My Girl" is getting a big push from the album. As the ladies can tell you, Brian McKnight has mastered the softer side of soul. Ten maintains his dominance within this genre. To learn more about Brian's secret formula for success, the official Brian McKnight biography (on his website) tells all. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Joyful Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson wins Golden Globe

• Biography
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/16/2007

Jennifer Hudson has grabbed the Golden Globe award for the best performance by an actress in a supporting role for Dreamgirls. Her biography says she sang for the very first time before a small church in her native Chicago, bringing the congregation to its feet with soul-stirring solo performances week after week. Jennifer landed her first professional role in a local production of Big River. In 2002, she was a featured vocalist on the Disney Wonder cruise ship. In 2004, she pumped up the volume during season three of Fox TV's American Idol. Soak in all of the official Jennifer Hudson biography at Jennifer Hudson online. Twenty-five years ago, Jennifer Holliday, the original Dreamgirl, created the breakout role of Effie White (for which Jennifer Hudson has won the Golden Globe). In a recent television interview with Deborah Norville of Inside Edition, Jennifer Holliday says she's very disappointed at her lack of involvement in the current film version of Dreamgirls. Holliday says she thinks it's ironic, that the performer who has the role of Effie in the film Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson, has the same first name and the same initials as Holliday. "I'm glad about YouTube showing my 1982 Tony Awards performance, (Holliday says), because that way the public can see that I did it first and that this is being copied." Stand by for more Dreamgirl cat fights as we close in on the 2007 Academy Awards. Yes, Jennifer Hudson is upstaging both Beyonce' and Jennifer Holliday. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Aretha and Beyonce go for the Golden Globes

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/11/2007

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, has never won a movie Golden Globe Award. On Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 15th, we'll find out if she wins the honor on the televised NBC event. Aretha is nominated for the best original song "Never Gonna Break My Faith," sung with Mary J. Blige, from the movie Bobby, a film documenting the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, on June 6th, 1968. Beyonce' is one of four song writers credited with creating the lyrics to "Listen" from Dreamgirls, also nominated for the best original song Golden Globe Award. In Beyonce's case, the February 25, 2007 song writer Academy Award will be limited to tracks with a maximum of three writers. As such, it looks like she'll be locked out of the 'best song writer' Oscar. Because the Golden Globe Awards are presented every year before the Academy Awards, Golden Globe winners can sometimes effectively indicate who will win the Oscars. The Golden Globe Awards have enabled the non-profit Hollywood Foreign Press Association, (the sponsoring organization), to donate more than $6.5 million during the past twelve years to entertainment-related charities. HFPA has also funded scholarships and other programs for future film and television professionals. Here are all of the Golden Globe Award nominations and winners. Previous Post | Next Post

1 Ronettes Rock Hall of Fame

• Biography
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/09/2007

Legendary New York City radio dee jay "Murray the K" called them his "dancing girls." And dance up a storm they did during their time in the spotlight. The Ronettes will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2007 on March 12 in New York City. Estelle Bennett, Ronnie Spector, and Nedra Talley join... The Supremes (1988) Martha and the Vandellas (1995), and The Shirelles (1996) exclusively as the only "girl group" representatives in the Hall. Here are the hits of the Ronettes... "Be My Baby" (1963) "Baby, I Love You" (1964) "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (1964) "Do I Love You? (1964) "Walking In The Rain" (1964) The ladies got together in 1958 as the Darling Sisters. While still in junior high school, they turned professional. Producer Phil Spector used them as backup singers as early as 1962. After their string of hits, the Ronettes were history by 1966. Veronica "Ronnie" Bennett was married to Phil Spector from 1968 - 1974. Ronnie continues to be active. She released Last of the Rock Stars in 2006, a 20 year follow-up to 1987's Unfinished Business. In many was, the induction of the Ronettes is a tribute to the dedication of Ronnie Spector to her life-long craft. The salutation also honors this great "girl group" as significant contributors to popular music during an era of industry transition in the early 1960's. Not many acts can get elected to the Hall with such a short list of recordings. Music insiders will tell you however that Ronnie Spector has one of the great pop music voices. I certainly agree. Here's the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Full Inductee List from A to Z. In 2007, the Ronettes join Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, (first hip-hop group ever to be inducted), R.E.M., Patti Smith, and Van Halen in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Previous Post | Next Post