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    0 Johnny Mathis, Whitney Houston, and The Sequence

    Before the 1960s influences of Motown, The Beatles, and The Beach Boys, the style of popular music was different. In the 1950s, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Bo Diddley created and revolutionized the sound that would be called rock and roll. During this decade, traditional songs in the style of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett soldiered on for popularity, radio airplay, and record sales. One iconic balladeer who is still with us, as of this writing, is Johnny Mathis. Mathis was a champion of the "standards" music genre. Standards use lots of strings, horns, and up-front vocals showcasing easily heard, understandable lyrics. I've played two Mathis songs on the radio in the 1970s and 1980s. 1978's "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late," a duet with Deniece Williams was the first. 1982's "Friends in Love," a duet with Dionne Warwick was the second. Johnny Mathis had his biggest solo hit in 1957. "Chances Are" was a #1 pop song, and a #12 R&B song! Although it is not R&B, it is a great song. "Chances Are" was a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame winner. Here are a few other Johnny Mathis pop hits: "It's Not For Me To Say," 1957 "The Twelfth of Never," 1957 "Wonderful! Wonderful!," 1957 "Wild is the Wind," 1957 "A Certain Smile," 1958 "All The Time," 1958 "Teacher, Teacher," 1958 "No Love (But Your Love)," 1958 "Come To Me," 1958 "Sweet Thursday," 1962 There are many more in the 1960s, but these ten are great examples of his success and popularity.   "I Only Have Eyes For You" is one of my six Johnny Mathis albums, all on Columbia Records. Five are from the 1970s, one is from 1982. I certainly lean toward more of a funkier music groove, but a legend is a legend. Historic music is just that! Recently, this Sequence album came into my possession. Presenting the front and back of their 1983 record for you is a follow-up to my story about group members Angie B, Blondy and Cheryl The Pearl. Their experience with my family member in her house is a snapshot of city life at the dawn of hip hop. Enjoy reading it. I get a lot of emails from Whitney Houston's posthumous promotion machine. Her team provides updates about new remixes, swag, and noteworthy fan events. Keeping her memory alive is a good thing. We all know her hits, but I was very impressed with the new Whitney Houston Gospel album released in 2023. If you are a Whitney lover, discover, one more time my Whitney Houston: I Go To The Rock review. The songs are spiritually uplifting. Check them out.   Previous Post | Next Post  

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    0 Michael Jackson - 15 Year Remembrance

    It's been 15 years since I did my first video tribute to Michael Jackson in June, 2010. That was the first anniversary of his June 25, 2009 death. The King of Pop had thirteen #1 R&B charted hit songs performing as himself. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was his first in 1979. The Jackson 5 had six #1 R&B charted hit songs. "I Want You Back" was their first (featuring Michael on lead vocal) in 1969. The Jacksons had three #2 R&B charted hit songs, but no #1 tracks. "Enjoy Yourself" featuring Michael hit #2 in 1976. Here are three Michael Jackson flashback videos from our archive, followed by a special bonus feature of an interview I did with the Black Authors TV ladies about my Powerhouse Radio book. 2010: His Impact 2022: The Music 2009: The Movie Bonus: Kingsley H. Smith's author interview, opening segment, 3:50, about the influencer driving him to succeed. This is an inside look. The complete conversation was 20 minutes. July 18 update: Here is the complete Kingsley H. Smith Powerhouse Radio interview on our YouTube channel in a playlist with extras. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 The Jersey Shore, Music Radio People, and Kingsley

    One of the radio stations I had a strong musical influence on was WAYV FM, 95.1 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I sailed through four years there between 1977 - 1980. Here's one of the "Rhythm of South Jersey" newsletters profiling the WAYV FM 95.1 on-air staff. Much more about the WAYV staff below. Guess what? I have lots you'll discover from my appearance on this episode of Black Authors TV. If you miss it live, there will be a video replay. My paperback, eBook, and audiobook memoir Powerhouse Radio: Rough Roads, Radiance, and Rebirth; My True AM - FM - Satellite - And Audio Streaming Survival Story, plus much more, will be in the spotlight.    There's more to my story. After on-air jobs at a couple of other South Jersey stations, it was on to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love! Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 DJ Gary Byrd Captures Sly Stone and Curtis Mayfield Lyrics

    When I was a young man, I interviewed legendary New York City radio host and writer Imhotep Gary Byrd. Don't tell, but this was my very first interview (done during my sophomore year at NYU). Byrd talks about how both Sly, of Sly and The Family Stone, and Curtis Mayfield, of the Impressions, influenced his writing activism when he first arrived in New York City radio from Buffalo, New York. Originally produced for my Black History People website, here's Gary, (see the video below), after my introduction, talking about Curtis Mayfield and Sly Stone. It's 59 seconds, pulled from the 5-1/2 minute conversation. Sly Stone, RIP 1943-2025. Here's a bunch of other stuff related to the late Sly Stone that I have previously written. Don't miss the first story on this list, Sly Stone - Thank You! Review, and the last one, The Secret Life of Sly Stone. Sly Stone - Thank You! Review Sly Stone's July 4 Flag Day David Ruffin - Eddie Kendricks - Family Affair George Clinton & his Gangsters of Love John Legend Honored by Songwriters Hall of Fame Does Sly Stone know the way to San Jose? Sly Stone takes you Higher with Reissues Little Richard, Sly Stone, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, & Prince The Secret Life of Sly Stone  Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Angie B, Blondy and Cheryl The Pearl

    Let me tell you a story that takes place in a large, vintage, Englewood, New Jersey house built in the 1930s. The community of homes surrounding the house is suburban. A short walk from the house is a vibrant downtown area. All of the featured shops and commerce you would expect are on opposite sides of it's long main street, Palisade Ave. Englewood features diverse neighborhoods. The 2025 population tags the peeps total at just under 30,000 people. Travel time by car is 15 to 20 minutes to New York City. My aunt owned this inviting three story house I reference, until she passed at 92. Before her passing when her daughter, my cousin, got married and moved out, my aunt rented several rooms in the large house. History in this Northern New Jersey neighborhood reflects a hot music scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Sylvia Robinson, owner of Sugarhill Records, also owned a house several blocks away (on the same street) from my aunt's home. So did the Isley Brothers. Trivia note. Jimi Hendrix lived in the basement of the Isley Brothers' Englewood home when Hendrix played with the Isley Brothers in the early 1960s. The Sequence Cheryl Cook now enters the story. Before TLC and Destiny's Child, there was the pioneering female hip hop group, The Sequence. Shown below left to right are members Cheryl Cook, Angie Stone, and Gwen 'Blondy' Chisholm. Sequence hailed from Columbia, South Carolina. Cheryl Cook was lucky to inherit my cousin's vacant room as a rental in the Englewood house on the street with all the music stars. The Room The actual room, photo taken in June, 2025 When Cuz visited her mom, my cousin would tell me great stories about Angie Stone coming over to visit Cheryl Cook at the house. I never met Angie or Cheryl, but I feel that I know them more deeply thanks to my cousin's anecdotes about them. Cheryl moved out a long time ago, but when I visit my male cousin who still lives in the house, I sleep in that same bed, in the same room that you see, with quite a lot of music history behind it!  May Angie Stone, my female cousin, and her mom RIP. Let's Meet! Have you experienced a music story like this? Discover many of mine. If you are in the Northern New Jersey - New York City area on Saturday, September 6th, come by and say hello during my appearance at the Independent Authors Book Expo. I'll sign copies of my award winning book for you, Powerhouse Radio: Rough Roads, Radiance and Rebirth; My True AM - FM - Satellite and Audio Streaming Survival Story. Come on by. I'll see you there!   Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Good Friday Divine Emotions

    What do Whitney Houston, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeff Beck, and Gladys Knight have in common? They all have been touched by Narada Michael Walden. Drummer Walden played with the fusion-rock group Mahavishnu Orchestra, and with British guitarist Jeff Beck. As a solo artist, Narada Michael had a bunch of R&B hits: "I Don’t Want Nobody Else (To Dance With You)"  "I Shoulda Loved Ya" "Tonight I'm Alright" He produced and arranged hits for Whitney Houston "How Will I Know" "So Emotional" Walden co-wrote "Licence to Kill" for Gladys Knight in the James Bond movie. The songwriter, producer, and drummer is from Kalamazoo, Michigan. His groove laden music emphasizes bass and drums, marching through galloping dance tracks.   'Jam on Good Friday,' so says Narada Michael Walden, in his 1988 hit song "Divine Emotions." We love the longer eight minute, forty-eight second 12" single remix with additional Shep Pettibone production. Hear the 'lyric line' in this 15 second segment from the 8:48 track: Your browser does not support the audio element. Here is a shorter, full-length 5:14 song version on YouTube. The "jam on Good Friday" song lyric is mixed down in the final quarter of the song. It is loud and clear in the 8:48 remix!  Walden shares writing credits and the arrangement for Gladys Knight's "Licence to Kill." Here's Gladys on YouTube: I saw Narada Michael Walden perform at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey with Rufus and Chaka Khan and The Brothers Johnson. Walden was the opening act. The entire show, as well as Michael, was fantastic! Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Aretha and Ray

    Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles share a hug from back in the day. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Rose Royce Rides in Classic Soul Style

    Producer Norman Whitfield was the wizard behind the mix with a nice run mentoring these four albums by Rose Royce released between 1976 - 1979. Car Wash - 1976, In Full Bloom II - 1977, Strikes Again III - 1978, and Rainbow Connection IV - 1979. Three of these albums were released on his own label Whitfield, distributed by Warner Brothers, (with the exception of Car Wash, on MCA). Before his Rose Royce days, Norman Whitfield wrote and produced many classics for Motown, including "Ball of Confusion," and "Just My Imagination" by the Temptations. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Shelia E. and Natalie Cole Freeze Frames

    Natalie Cole's "I Live For Your Love" is one of the many 7 inch 45 rpm vinyl picture sleeve singles released to promote her music back in the day. Some of her other picture sleeves include: "Dangerous" "Jump Start" "When I Fall In Love" "Miss You Like Crazy" Shelia E.'s "The Glamorous Life" and "The Belle of St. Mark" are her two most popular picture sleeves, along with: "A Love Bizarre" "Sister Fate" "Bedtime Story" "Holly Rock" "Hold Me" "Koo Koo" In 2010, some of these sleeves are more valuable than the records. You may find some hidden gems lying in a basement, garage, attic, flea market, second-hand shop, or at a used record store. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Time Plays it Cool for New Year's Eve

    That's Morris Day out in front on the cover of the Time's 1981 album, The Time. As was normal back in the day, record label Warner Brothers stamped a "loaned for promotion only" sticker on the upper right side of my deejay copy (of the vinyl disc). Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam, Monte Moir, Jellybean Johnson, Jesse Johnson, and Morris Day were the Minneapolis, Minnesota Time. They'll be represented during the 16 hour plus Powerhouse Radio New Year's Eve Special beginning at 9 am Eastern. Previous Post | Next Post

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