0 50 Ways To Love Michael Jackson

• Commentary
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 08/14/2008

If 50 is the new 40, then the decade defying young at heart Michael Jackson has a lot to celebrate during many fun filled years to come. The media certified tabloid musical giant, lovingly crowned, "The King of Pop," turns 50 years old on August 29, 2008. Jacko joins Madonna, who also turns 50 on August 16, 2008, as another new AARP recruit (formerly American Association of Retired Persons). Barring any health issues, I believe that Michael Jackson will eventually make a notable comeback. In honor of his 50th birthday, here is my endearing timeline list of 50 Ways to Love Michael Jackson: 1958 - Michael Jackson is born (August 29th) 1968 - The Jackson 5 are signed by Motown Records 1969 - Motown releases Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 album 1970 - "I Want You Back" - Jackson 5 #1 song in January 1970 - "ABC" - Jackson 5 #1 in April 1970 - "The Love You Save" - Jackson 5 #1 in June 1970 - "I'll Be There" - Jackson 5 #1 in October 1971 - "Never Can Say Goodbye" - Jackson 5 #1 in May 1972 - "Got To Be There," MJ's first solo album is released 1972 - "Ben" becomes a hit single and album. (Rat power movie theme)! 1972 - MJ scores with the top 2 hit "Rockin' Robin'," a remake of the 1958 Bobby Day smash 1974 - "Dancing Machine" - Jackson 5 #1 in May 1976 - The Jacksons release The Jacksons on Epic Records produced by Philadelphia's Gamble & Huff 1977 - MJ begins preparing for his role in the movie The Wiz 1978 - The Jacksons release the critically acclaimed Destiny album 1979 - MJ releases Off The Wall produced by Quincy Jones 1980 - MJ scores a #1 song with "Rock With You" 1982 - MJ duets with Paul McCartney on Thriller with "The Girl Is Mine" 1982 - MJ writes and produces "Muscles," a top 10 Diana Ross hit 1983 - The Jackson 5 reunite for Motown's 25th Anniversary show in Los Angeles featuring a moonwalking MJ 1983 - Thriller conquers the charts 1983 - MJ duets with Paul McCartney for "Say Say Say," spending 6 weeks at #1 1984 - MJ wins 7 American Music Awards 1984 - MJ wins 3 MTV Music Video Awards 1984 - MJ receives 2nd degree burns on the set of a Pepsi commercial 1984 - MJ sings "State of Shock" with Mick Jagger on the Jacksons album Victory 1985 - MJ buys the publishing company owning the rights to 250 Beatles songs for $47.5 million 1985 - MJ and Lionel Richie write "We Are The World" and record the song with 43 stars to benefit USA for Africa's efforts for famine relief 1986 - MJ gets wacky with Bubbles the chimpanzee, Crusher, his 300 pound snake, and cocoons in a hyperbaric breathing chamber for shots of hyped oxygen 1987 - MJ's "Bad" tops the charts (R&B and pop) 1987 - MJ reaches #1 (pop & R&B) in Britain with the Siedah Garrett duet, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" 1988 - MJ buys Sycamore Ranch in California - the future Neverland Ranch 1988 - "Man In The Mirror" become a #1 song 1990 - MJ wins the Entertainer of the Decade Award from the America Cinema Awards Foundation 1991 - MJ signs what is called a billion-dollar entertainment deal with Sony Music 1991 - The Dangerous album is released 1992 - MJ is interviewed by Ebony Magazine 1992 - The Jacksons: An American Dream debuts on national television dramatizing the story of the famous Gary, Indiana family 1993 - MJ performs during halftime at Super Bowl XXVII (27) 1994 - MJ retains attorney Johnny Cochran and settles a 1993 child molestation charge out of court for a reported $20 million dollars 1995 - MJ and sister Janet Jackson sound off on the song "Scream" 1995 - MJ and wife Lisa Marie Presley call it quits 1995 - HIStory: Past, Present, and Future , Book 1 MJ's double album of past hits creates some buzz and becomes a #1 best seller 1996 - MJ marries Debbie Rowe 2001 - Invincible CD is released 2006 - MJ escapes to the island of Bahrain, off the coast of Saudi Arabia, to rebuild his career 2007 - MJ is interviewed by Ebony magazine 2008 - 25th anniversary version of Thriller is released 2008 - MJ's plastic surgeon checks into a California psychiatric hospital 2008 - Rumors fly that MJ will make a comeback at a Las Vegas casino hotel Previous Post | Next Post

0 Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac, & Samuel L. Jackson Get Soul Men Movie Focus

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 08/12/2008

Here's the late Bernie Mac, along with Samuel L. Jackson, in a scene from Soul Men, a new music flick in the movie pipeline also featuring Isaac Hayes. With both Mac and Hayes now deceased, I wonder if Dimension Films will stick to the scheduled USA release date this Fall of November 14, 2008? Soul Men has a familiar story. Take the sometimes strained relationship between 2 fictional legendary R&B male icons (think Sam & Dave), borrow a reunion theme from both Blues Brothers movies, and you have the core plot. Our soul men, Mac and Jackson, decide to reunite at the Apollo Theater after going their separate ways for almost 20 years. John Legend also has a prominent role in Soul Men. With the deaths of both Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac within days of each other, I'm sure there will be additional interest when Soul Men finally gets released. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Isaac Hayes Remembered

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 08/11/2008

Living up to his bigger than life image, here's "Black Moses," Isaac Hayes, with Millie Jackson on the cover of their 1979 album, Royal Rappin's. Check out an even steamier Hayes - Jackson photo from the flip side of the album. Isaac Hayes passed away Sunday, August 10, 2008, at age 65. He was really the biggest post Otis Redding Stax Records star who changed the face of soul music with extended free-flowing mixes of some of pop's biggest hits. "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," and "Walk on By" are just 2 examples of Hayes' progressive "deal changing" approach to the status quo of R&B songs that generally stuck to the formula of three minutes or less in the early 1970's (to make a hit). "The Theme From Shaft" made him a mega star, but Isaac Hayes was instrumental in writing and arranging songs for other artists long before the world of movies and John Shaft. 6 Isaac Hayes Hits that you don't want to miss: "Theme From Shaft" "Do Your Thing" "Walk On By" "Never Can Say Goodbye" "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" "Joy" Previous Post | Next Post

0 Patti LaBelle Saluted by UNCF

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 08/07/2008

The Spotlight will shine on Patti LaBelle during a taping of the 30th annual An Evening of Stars event, formerly The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, Saturday, September 13th, 2008 at Hollywood's Kodiak Theater in Los Angeles. You'll be able to see this star studded event broadcast nationwide during January, 2009. Patti will receive UNCF's (United Negro College Fund's) prestigious Award of Excellence. Previous honorees include Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Steve Wonder, Quincy Jones, and Lou Rawls. You can win a free poster autographed by Patti LaBelle visualizing the event by going to UNCF's 30th anniversary event page for all the details. Update: link removed after the event date. Previous Post | Next Post

0 LL Cool J Takes Exit 13 Home

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 08/05/2008

Hip hop stars come and go, but LL Cool J has defied the odds as he gets ready to release his 13th album, Exit 13, on Def Jam Records Tuesday, September 9, 2008. I remember seeing LL Cool J live in concert over 20 years ago in Philadelphia, PA with several other hip hop acts who have long since disappeared. The cover of Exit 13 has a mile marker that says "8760 miles and still counting." Yes, the clock keeps ticking for LL Cool J, who just turned 40 in January, 2008. In a young man's game, LL Cool J has all the street cred that he needs to continue to be an important presence in a genre of music he help to create. Take a walk down memory lane with the 12 previous albums from LL Cool J: 1985 - Radio 1987 - Bigger and Deffer 1989 - Walking with a Panther 1990 - Mama Said Knock You Out 1993 - 14 Shots to the Dome 1995 - Mr. Smith 1997 - Phenomenon 2000 - G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith 2002 - 10 2004 - the DEFinition 2006 - Todd Smith 2007 - Todd Smith, Pt. 2: Back to Cool Previous Post | Next Post

0 Alicia Keys Spies 007 Theme

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 07/31/2008

If you've been to the movies this summer, you may have seen the promotional trailer for Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond film scheduled for release this fall (2008). Alicia Keys has teamed up with Detroit's Jack White from the group White Stripes for a first ever 007 theme song duet. "Another Way to Die" is the song that will feature Keys and White. Troubled soul Amy Winehouse, who received early consideration for the Quantum of Solace theme, did not land the project. Find out what James Bond themes have been sung by Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, and Dionne Warwick. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Solid Gold Dance Party Hit Makers Reunited

• Flashback
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 07/29/2008

During the Summer of 2007, Peaches & Herb, Maxine Nightingale, Anita Ward, A Taste of Honey, France Joli, and the Village People spread some love Across the USA and Canada. J.T. Taylor of Kool & the Gang fame, and Tavares, also joined the fun. The 15 city tour, called The Solid Gold Dance Party, brought back some of our favorite energetic hit makers to entertain live from coast to coast. Since 2006, there's been a variation on the dance party theme by the promoters, Front Row Productions, to kick the summer into high gear. Tavares, from New Bedford Massachusetts, struck gold with "More Than a Woman," "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel, and "It Only Takes a Minute (To Fall In Love)." Janice Marie Johnson of A Taste of Honey handles her red bass with the golden touch of "Boogie Oogie Oogie..." From left to right, J.T. Taylor, Maxine "Right Back Where I Started From" Nightingale, and Ms. "Ring My Bell," Anita Ward: Previous Post | Next Post

0 Jill Scott Wins Her Way with Song

• Tour
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 07/24/2008

Jill Scott has wrapped up a 2008 European tour exciting her fans in Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, France, the UK, and the Netherlands. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native is back in the USA for some additional July and August dates before she hits the road again. After summer music, Jill returns to Botswana in Southern Africa to shoot the second season of the television series: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Even though Jill has expanded her horizons to pursue more acting opportunities, she maintains time in her schedule to make enjoyable music. Catch Jill live on these dates: July Saturday, July 26, 2008, Macy's Music Festival, Cincinnati, OH Sunday, July 27, Chene Park, Detroit, MI Wednesday July 30, Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA August Saturday, August 2, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD Sunday, August 3, Borgata, Atlantic City, NJ Thursday August, 7, Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, MO Friday, August 8, Charter One Pavilion, Chicago, IL Saturday, August 9, Plain Dealer Arena, Cleveland, OH Monday, August 11, Wingate, Brooklyn, NY Tuesday, August 12, Central Park SummerStage, NY, NY Previous Post | Next Post

0 The Spinners Keep Classic Soul Revolving

• Tour
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 07/22/2008

Despite several personnel changes, original Spinners Bobbie Smith, Pervis Jackson, and Henry Fambrough continue to generate gleeful harmonies with new lead singer Charlton Washington and new vocalist Spike DeLeon. "Mighty Love," "Rubberband Man," "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love," and a string of other hits contributed to the Spinners 12 gold records and 6 Grammy Awards. The Spinners are still taking it to the stage, performing their timeless classic soul hits during their 2008 tour: July Tuesday, July 29th, California Mid-Sate Fair, Paso Robles, CA August Wednesday, August 13th, America's Fair, Buffalo.com Grandstand, Hamburg, NY Saturday, August 16th, Tropicana Express, Laughlin Pavilion Theatre, Laughlin, NV Friday, August 22nd, New York State Fair, Chevrolet Court, Syracuse, NY Saturday, August 23rd, Big Rock Casino, Espanola, NM Friday & Saturday, August 29 - 30th, Jazz Festival, Johannesburg Jazz Dome, Johannesburg, South Africa September Saturday, September 6th, Cerritos Center for the Arts, Cerritos, CA Saturday, September 20th, Palace Theatre, Corsicana, TX Saturday, September 27th, Millennium Center, Southfield, MI October Saturday, October 4th, Home Front Festival by the Bay, Richmond, CA Saturday, October 11th, Pontin's Prestatyn, Prestatyn, North Wales, United Kingdom Saturday, October 18th, Trump Marina, Grand Cayman Ballroom, Atlantic City, NJ November Friday, November 7th, Viejas Casino - Dreamcatcher, Alpine, CA Saturday, November 8th, Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, CA December Friday, December 5th, Children's Charities Foundation Event, Washington Hilton & Towers, Washington, DC Previous Post | Next Post

0 Chaka Khan 2008 World Tour

• Tour
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 07/17/2008

Chaka Khan is heating up the European continent on the latest leg of her 2008 - 35th Anniversary World Tour. She'll be back in the USA on a cross-country excursion in August. July Saturday, July 19, Campione D'Italia Casino, Campione D'Italia, Italy Sunday, July 20, Porretta Soul Festival, Porretta Terme, Italy Tuesday, July 22, Indigo, London, England Wednesday, July 23, Bridgewater, Manchester, England Thursday, July 31, Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL August Saturday, August 2, Country Club Hills Theater, Country Club Hills, IL Tuesday, August 5, Epic, Minneapolis, MN Thursday, August 7, Kool Haus, Toronto, Canada Friday, August 8, Ohio State Fair, Columbus, OH Saturday, August 9, Borgata, Atlantic City, NJ Sunday, August 10, Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA Tuesday, August 12, Nokia Theater, New York, NY Thursday & Friday, August 14-15, Warner Theater, Washington, DC Saturday, August 16, Seneca Niagara Casino Theater, Niagara Falls, NY Monday, August 18, Showcase Live, Foxborough, MA Thursday, August 21, Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX Friday, August 22, Riverwind Casino, Norman, OK Saturday, August 23, Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK Sunday, August 24, Reliant Arena, Houston, TX Friday, August 29, Hard Rock Casino, Biloxi, MS Saturday, August 30, Cannon Center, Memphis, TN September Friday & Saturday, September 5-6, Gibson Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA This is a really intense non-stop schedule! Here are 3 additional Chaka Khan tidbits: The Chaka Khan - Yvette Stevens connection Rufus & Chaka Khan's 30th Anniversary Concert Chaka Khan at Resorts International Atlantic City Previous Post | Next Post