0 One Million Fans Try a Little Tenderness with Otis Redding

• Video
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/30/2010

There's a reason why well over one million fans have enjoyed this 1967 Stax Tour Otis Redding live performance. Brightened up your day and watch the classic "Try A Little Tenderness." Previous Post | Next Post

0 Video - Remembering Michael Jackson One Year Later

• Video
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/25/2010

Please watch this 90 second video below featuring my thoughts about the King of Pop's year long archival renaissance as we mark the first anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson. The date was June 25, 2009, one year ago. Previous Post | Next Post

0 George Clinton to Hangout in Hampton VA

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/22/2010

George Clinton will help Hampton, Virginia celebrate it's 400th anniversary with a funk party on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 8 pm. 200,000 plus attendees are expected to gather at one of the East coast's largest family-friendly festivals for the weekend. On the evening of the show, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic will take to the City Hall stage. It's the 28th annual Hampton Bay Days weekend, an event founded in 1982 to remind the public about the importance of the Chesapeake Bay in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Maryland region. In other recent George news... George Clinton and El DeBarge perform a great tongue-n-cheek version of Barry White's "Never Gonna Give You Up" on George's 2008 CD, George Clinton and his Gangsters of Love. Previous Post | Next Post

0 7 Songs that Score for the 2010 World Cup

• Video
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/17/2010

Here are 7 songs that score for the 2010 World Cup football - soccer experience happening now in South Africa. "Move on Up" - Angelique Kidjo, John Legend, and Bono written by Curtis Mayfield "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" - Shakira (the official World Cup song) "Sign of a Victory" - R. Kelly, (the official anthem of the World Cup) "Satellite" - Uwu Lena, (unofficial German football song) "Shout for England" - Dizzee Rascal "Wavin' Flag" - K'Naan (used by Coca-Cola ads) "Oh Africa" - Akon and Keri Hilson (used by Pepsi ads) Watcg the live version of "Move On Up" featuring Angelique Kidjo and John Legend. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Oil Spill Worries Won't Stop The Essence Music Festival in New Orleans

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/15/2010

The last time I was in New Orleans, I was treated to a trip on one of those paddle wheel riverboat casinos (right out of the Mark Twain era). Bayous, the mighty Mississippi, and the Gulf of Mexico keep the aquatic soul of New Orleans hummin'. Despite the problems from the recent Gulf oil spill, the reliable Essence Music Festival makes it's annual appearance July 2nd through July 4th, 2010 in the Big Easy. Pig-out on regional shrimp gumbo at your own risk, although we don't want to be accused of questioning the safety of the area's seafood. You'll experience some of the best food, and some of the best music found in any USA city right in New Orleans. The Essence Music Festival main stage headliners keep the tradition alive during the July 4th holiday weekend. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Tower of Funk Power

• Video
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/10/2010

After all these years, Oakland, California's Tower of Power just doesn't seem to want to slow down. This is a band at their best when they're jammin' live. Take a look at the Tower of Power 2010 tour schedule. New Jersey, Milan, Italy, Switzerland, Las Vegas: the guys are pumped to deliver the funk. I've checked them out a couple of times live and they rock. Enjoy this video from 2006 featuring their classic, "Soul Vaccination," all across the nation! Connect to Tower of Power on Facebook. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Roberta Flack Keeps Her Song Soft and Mellow

• Biography
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/08/2010

Always the master of timeless R&B, Roberta Flack continues to serenade audiences with her elegant mixture of toned down pop, soul, and jazz. Roberta's official biography tells the story... "Classically trained on the piano from an early age, Ms. Flack received a music scholarship at age 15 to attend Howard University." "She was "discovered while singing at the Washington, DC nightclub Mr. Henry's by musician Les McCann, and promptly signed to Atlantic Records resulting in the release of a string of big Roberta Flack hits." An interpretive album of Beatles' classics is occupying lots of Roberta's time, even as she sings to audiences during her 2010 tour. Her Roberta Flack School of Music at the Hyde Leadership Charter School in the Bronx, New York, provides inspiring music education to underprivileged students free of charge. That's Roberta giving back to the community. Roberta Flack live features the following dates: Saturday, June 12, 2010, DC Jazz Festival, Washington, DC Saturday, June 19, McDonald's Gospelfest, Prudential Center Arena, Newark, NJ Friday, July 9, Vancouver Island Music Fest, British Columbia, Canada Saturday, July 17, BFLO Jazz Festival, Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY Sunday, July 25, Calgary Folk Music Festival, Calgary, Canada Saturday, September 4, Tokyo Jazz Festival, Tokyo, Japan Saturday, September 18, Mayo Civic Center Theater, Rochester, MN Previous Post | Next Post

0 Bettye LaVette Sings the Real Deal

• Audio
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/03/2010

Bettye LaVette is the legendary female classic soul lady who's career is repeatedly described as invisible anonymity. She's not a household name. How can this be? In 1962, she had a top 10 R&B hit with her very first recording, "My Man-He's A Lovin' Man." Through the years, Bettye has teased the R&B charts, never quite breaking through to big time fame. Despite this stigma, she's earned an iconic reputation as one of the most gifted song interpreters you'll ever hear. Enter Bettye LaVette's May, 2010 release Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook. Classic soul invades the classic rock play book to sprout 13 re-groomed tunes. The album concept reverses the 1960's trend of British bands covering the songs of American blues artists. LaVette recasts the formula weaving rock hits into fresh, mellow, torch songs fueled by soul-to-the-bone emotion. These chestnuts are not the usual overexposed suspects. Even If you've never heard of the original songs, and don't know who recorded them, this collection could easily stand on it's own as a quality introduction to Bettye LaVette. I have been following the hype about this album for months, and I'm happy to say it delivers. One personal criticism is LaVette's choice to sing some of what were original uptempo classics as ballads this time around, however she creates inspired renderings with clear, understood lyrics. Who says you can't have a renaissance in the music business after kickin' it for over 40 years! Check out Bettye LaVette Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook "The Word" (Lennon & McCartney) "No Time To Live" (Capaldi & Winwood) "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Benny Benjamin) "All My Love" (John Paul Jones & Robert Plant) "Isn't It A Pity" (George Harrison) "Wish You Were Here" (Roger Waters) "It Don't Come Easy" (Richard Starkey) "Maybe I'm Amazed" (Paul McCartney) "Salt of the Earth" (Mick Jagger & Keith Richards) "Nights In White Satin" (Justin Hayward) "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad" (Eric Clapton) "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" (Elton John) "Love Reign O'er Me" (Pete Townshend) Track 13 is a bonus track recorded live at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, December, 2008. Your browser does not support the audio element. Listen to 30 seconds of "Isn't It A Pity" sung by Bettye LaVette. Previous Post | Next Post

0 4 More Concerts for Soulful Summer Sounds

• Concerts
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/01/2010

Here are 4 more (international) concert picks for classic soul fans to enjoy. Smokey Robinson Saturday, June 12, 2010 Avalon Ballroom Theatre Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara Falls, ON, Canada 9:00 pm Lionel Richie Friday, June 25 Salle Wilfrid- Pelletier / Place Des Arts Montreal, QC, Canada 7:00 pm Angelique Kidjo Thursday, July 1 Toronto Star Stage at Nathan Phillips Square Toronto, ON, Canada 8:00 pm Erykah Badu Tuesday, July 13 Heineken Music Hall Amsterdam, Netherlands 8:00 pm Previous Post | Next Post

0 4 Concerts for Soulful Summer Sounds

• Concerts
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/27/2010

Summertime will be here in just a few short weeks. Here are 4 USA concert picks for classic soul fans in each region around the country. Next time, 4 international picks. Jill Scott / Maxwell Friday, June 4, 2010 Oracle Arena Oakland, CA 7:00 pm Patti LaBelle Saturday, June 12 Miller Stage Milwaukee, WI 10:00 pm Erykah Badu Monday, June 14 Verizon Theatre At Grand Prairie Grand Prairie, TX 7:30 pm Earth, Wind & Fire Thursday, June 24 Uptown Ampitheatre at The Music Factory Charlotte, NC 7:30 pm Previous Post | Next Post