0 American Gangster Grabs Classic Soul Gold

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 10/30/2007

The explosive movie American Gangster grabs the audio gold of 1970's classic soul to help give the story emphasis and emotional guts. American Gangster opens this week. 2 different soundtracks will be available next Tuesday, November 6, 2007. Bobby Womack, Sam & Dave, and the Staple Singers keep the battle between Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe grounded in the sonic grooves of urban America during the Vietnam War era. Public Enemy is here too, as are a couple of blues legends, Lowell Fulson, and John Lee Hooker. Anthony Hamilton, Hank Schocklee, and Marc Streitenfeld also perform songs on the original motion picture soundtrack. Note that Jay-Z has a separate CD, American Gangster with his own music inspired by the film. Bobby Bland's hit "Ain't No Love In The Heart of the City," prominently used to promote the flick, is surprisingly missing in action from the original soundtrack. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Diana Ross to receive Kennedy Center Honor

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 09/13/2007

Diana Ross will be honored by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, December 2nd. CBS will broadcast the event live from the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, DC. 2007 marks the 30th anniversary of the gala. 5 artist/songwriters will be honored this year, including Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush will hold a reception at the White House for Diana Ross and the other honorees. The President and First Lady will also attend the broadcast event at the Opera House. Comedian actor Steve Martin, film director Martin Scorsese, and pianist/conductor Leon Fleisher round out the complete Kennedy Center class of 2007. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Jill Scott, Peabo Bryson, Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey Prepare New Fall Releases

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 09/06/2007

Post Labor Day, new music releases hit the distribution pipeline like clockwork. 2007 is no exception. Here are 5 collections coming your way that place R&B out front. Jill Scott - The Real Thing - Tuesday, September 25 Peabo Bryson - Missing You - Tuesday, October 2 Alicia Keys - As I Am - Tuesday, November 6 Boyz II Men - Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA - Tuesday, November 13 Mariah Carey - TBA - Tuesday, November 20 Previous Post | Next Post

0 Stevie Wonder Overjoyed to Tour Again

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 09/04/2007

Stevie Wonder last toured in 1995. According to his website, he's back on the road for several special dates this Fall: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - The Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA Wednesday, September 5, 2007 - Greek Theater - Los Angeles, CA Monday, September 10, 2007 - Charter One Pavilion - Chicago, IL Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - Meadow Brook Music Festival - Rochester Hills, MI Friday, September 14, 2007 - Chastain Park - Atlanta, GA Sunday, September 16, 2007 - Pier 6 Concert Pavilion - Baltimore, MD Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - Radio City Music Hall - New York, NY Thursday, September 20, 2007 - Bank Of America Pavilion - Boston, MA Wonder historically puts on an excellent show, so he's not to be missed. More dates will be added. The September 18th show at Radio City Music Hall is a benefit concert, co-headlined with Aretha Franklin, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Washington, DC National Memorial. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash, and Nona Hendryx Reunion Album

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 08/14/2007

Patti LaBelle is currently working on a reunion album with former LaBelle members Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx. LaBelle, the group, was an early 1970's trendsetter during "the decade of funk." Their blended voices were dominated by the soaring sonics of Patti LaBelle, and lyrically energized by the excellent songwriting of Nona Hendryx. Dash, Hendryx, and LaBelle created a unique songfest mixing up musical genres in an unpredictable way. LaBelle Albums: LaBelle - 1971 Moonshadow - 1972 Pressure Cookin' - 1973 Nightbirds - 1974 Phoenix - 1975 Chameleion - 1976 3 LaBelle Picks: "Lady Marmalade" "Isn't It A Shame" "Come Into My Life" Patti LaBelle is negotiating to sign a new record deal with Island/Def Jam soon. 2021 Update: Here is a brief Tribute to Sarah Dash from Quikthinking.com. Sarah passed away in September, 2021. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Ronald Isley's Brothers, Sisters, and Fans Shout for a Presidential Pardon

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 08/09/2007

According to the Isley Brothers website, The White House has received thousands of telephone calls in support of a pardon for Ronald Isley who was due to begin serving a 3 year sentence for non-payment of taxes on August 7, 2007. In the "News" section of the website, all kinds of telephone numbers and links are provided to mobilize fans to rescue Ron "Mr. Biggs" Isley from the big house. 2021 Update: The Isley Brothers official website is sunset. Follow the Isley Brothers on Facebook. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Quincy Jones Opens Up the Q Vault

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 07/31/2007

Quincy Jones is opening up his archive. The 27-time Grammy Award winner is scheduled to launch QuincyJones.com in the Fall of 2007. A big feature will be access to previously unreleased audio and video of Quincy and legendary performers he?s worked with. Music professionals can look forward to a virtual Quincy Jones academy for networking opportunities. Video podcasts will be a big part of QuincyJones.com. In 1953, Quincy Jones was the first arranger/conductor to utilize the newly-invented Fender electric bass in audio recordings. He used one of the first synthesizers on his Ironside TV series theme music, which brought electronic music into the mainstream in the late 1960?s. Q has worked beside the legends: Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, Bono, Celine Dion, Will Smith, Oprah and dozens more. He has an Emmy Award, seven Oscar nominations, and an honorary Oscar to go along with those 27 Grammys. Previous Post | Next Post

2 Main Ingredient Cuba Gooding Sr. Votes for Politics

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 07/24/2007

35 years ago this July, Tony Silvester, Luther Simmons Jr., and lead singer Cuba Gooding Sr.'s "Everybody Plays the Fool" became the Main Ingredient's biggest chart hit. Anchored by Gooding's vocal charm in the early 1970's, the group had 20 songs glide into the R&B charts through 1990 with various personnel changes along the way. While his Academy Award winning son Cuba Gooding Jr. has been getting most of the recent family attention, the senior Gooding has several projects in the works. Cuba Gooding Sr. is scheduled to release a new vocal track in September 2007, called "Politics." Everybody Plays the Fool: The Cuba Gooding Story is coming to film too. It's a cinema anthology that tells of tragedy and success in three generations of the Gooding Family. History buffs and classic soul fans should enjoy it. "Everybody Plays the Fool," and "Just Don't Want to be Lonely," top the Main Ingredient hit list." Their cover of Brian Auger's "Happiness is Just Around the Bend" is another one of my personal Main Ingredient favorites. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Janet Jackson Jumps from Virgin Babe to Island Girl

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 07/16/2007

Janet Jackson has left Virgin Records to hopefully find new fortune with Island Def Jam. 2004's Damita Jo, and 2006's 20 Y.O. album releases were only marginally successful for Miss Jackson. Janet needs a fresh start in a new direction that honors her roots. Can this classic soul coquette conquer the charts again? Look for a possible late 2007, early 2008 new Janet Jackson release. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Keith Sweat Hotel Registers Fans with Applause

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 07/02/2007

Keith Sweat has recently released Sweat Hotel, an all live-track collection. Quite a few Sweat favorites are featured on this 15 song CD. When "New Jack Swing" was hot, Keith Sweat was right there with it in the late 1980's, and early 1990's. Sweat Hotel offers Keith at his best teaming up with a strong supporting cast of musicians and vocalists on these tracks... "I Want Her" "Something Just Ain't Right" "Don't Stop Your Love" "I'll Give All My Love To You" - (with Monica) "Lose Control" - (with Silk) "Freak Me" - (with Silk) "Make It Last Forever" - (with Jackie McGhee) "Right And A Wrong Way" "How Deep Is Your Love" "Let's Chill" - (with Charlie Wilson) "Get Up On It" - (with Kut Klose) "Twisted" - (with Kut Klose) " (There You Go) Telling Me No Again" - (with Akon) "Just Got Paid" - (with Charlie Wilson/Teddy Riley/Silk/Johnny Kemp/Kut Klose/Jackie McGhee) "Nobody" - (with Athena Cage) Previous Post | Next Post