0 Janet Jackson 2008 Tour Cheer

• Tour
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/27/2008

To promote her Summer-Fall 2008 "Rock Witchu Tour," a new website, JanetFanClub.com is scheduled to be plugged in on Wednesday, May 28th. You can become an insider at the site to get the first word on tour dates, presale tickets, and other Janet goodies. Some confirmed dates include Toronto, Canada on October 13th, and Washington, DC on October 15th. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Tina Turner World Tour 2008-2009

• Tour
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/22/2008

When Tina Turner & Beyonce' did their "Proud Mary" duet at the 2008 Grammy Awards, the spotlight reflected back on Tina's radiant star. Her glow illuminates the universe again when the Tina Turner World Tour 2008-2009 officially kicks off this October. The first show is already sold out, so demand for tickets should be strong. Along with USA dates, Tina's other ports of call include Canada, Austria, Belgium, and the UK. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Motown's Funk Brothers Honored for Excellence

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/20/2008

Congratulations to Motown's legendary Funk Brothers, who will be honored at the 19th Annual Heroes and Legends Awards and Scholarship gala in Beverly Hills, California on September 28th. Eddie Willis, Uriel Jones, and Bob Babbitt are the remaining active Funk Brothers. When you listen to the Motown hits, you are listening to the instrumental artistry of the Funk Brothers. The Heroes and Legends Scholarship Foundation was created by Motown songwriter Janie Bradford to aid "at risk" youth and to publicly recognize others who share her vision. HAL spotlights positive role models from many diverse backgrounds, including leaders in the fields of music, theater, motion pictures and business. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Tresvant, Burke, Green & Summer Heat Up Spring

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/16/2008

Cuing up some new releases in the coming weeks are Donna Summer, Al Green, Solomon Burke, and Ralph Tresvant... Donna Summer, Crayons, Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Al Green, Lay It Down, Tuesday, May 27 Solomon Burke, Like A Fire, Tuesday, June 10 Ralph Tresvant, "It Must Be You," (single) from the former New Edition vocalist, Tuesday, July 1 Previous Post | Next Post

0 Rudy Ray Moore Plays it Raw, Rude & Real

• Commentary
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/14/2008

Rudy Ray Moore, also known as the Mighty Dolemite, is another superfly player, who like Blowfly, has a somewhat ignominious reputation for his own series of rowdy party platters. Moore has recorded at least 15 albums during a career that spans 4 decades. His first record, Eat Out More Often, hit the streets in 1970. Even more graphic than Blowfly, Rudy Ray Moore's pulsating collection of steamy hot wax spawned a cast of characters who carried melodrama to hilarious heights. Between Moore and Blowfly, you'll get all you can handle from a couple of outrageous guys who filled a void with enterprising musical soul-comedy few others were willing to match or touch. Some elements of today's hip hop can credit the 'no holds barred anything goes style' pioneered by Moore and his contemporaries, exemplified by free flowing, uncensored, musical verse. October 21, 2008 update: Moore passed away at the age of 81 in Akron, Ohio. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Blowfly is King of the Funky Soul Party

• Flashback
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/12/2008

The original rappin' classic soul comedic super hero, Blowfly, is about as raunchy and as far away from politically correct as you can get. The alter ego of producer Clarence Reid, Blowfly has busted some nasty moves since the 1970's behind his dynamite microphone. You would never hear unedited Blowfly records on the radio in the USA, as airing them would guarantee a quick visit from the federal authorities. You would hear few Blowfly tracks, period. However, in basement party land, Blowfly reigned supreme, rocking the house with danceable dialogue guaranteed to make a sailor blush due to extremely salty language.       My favorite Blowfly track of all time is "Blowfly's Rapp," an amusing story about truckers, rednecks, and heathens not appropriate for the faint at heart. It's the "B" side of the 12" single, "Rapp Dirty." Clarence "Blowfly" Reid's other work is equally noteworthy, as he's produced and written big hits for Betty Wright, Gwen McCrae, and KC & The Sunshine Band. Blowfly represents a musical underground that was off the radar screen of many music fans. Unlikely other non-musical but equally expressive personalities including Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx, Blowfly's burlesque traveled in smaller circles but had impressive impact among comedy lovers who gravitated toward blue beat delivered high energy laughs. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Marvin Gaye Bio and Bistro Beam Inner City Blues

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

American Masters puts Marvin Gaye in the spotlight with a PBS television special this week. Marvin Gaye: What's Going On tells the story of the Motown Legend in a dramatic visual biography. In his hometown of Washington DC, in the famous Shaw neighborhood, a two story restaurant has opened called "Marvin," dedicated to his memory. Marvin combines Belgian cuisine and soul food, a somewhat unusual mix. There's a Belgian connection in Gaye's past, during the early 1980's, when he spent time in Belgium trying to resurrect his career. 24 years after his death, Marvin Gaye remains in the spotlight. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Ross - LaBelle - Khan and Knight Reunited

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/06/2008

Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan graced the stage at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for 2 shows this past weekend for the benefit of the Masonic Medical Research Lab. There's an interesting take on the diva factor of these ladies from Jim Farber that appeared in the New York Daily News, Sunday, May 4, 2008. If you have the printed version of the actual newspaper, the chart that Farber created is very amusing. New Yorkers, look for it if you haven't read your Sunday paper yet. If you saw the show, let us know! Previous Post | Next Post

0 Temptations Gaze into the Crystal Ball of Confusion

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/01/2008

As prophetic today as it was in 1970, "Ball of Confusion" by the Temptations sings of troubled times, tortured souls, cultural chaos, disappearing civility, and other complicated themes of woe. Norman Whitfield produced and co-wrote this magnificent Motown track with Barrett Strong. Only in recent years does this song show up on CD's, as it was never included on a Temptations album when the single was originally released. An opening bass line builds together with the well arranged vocal gymnastics of the Temptations who take turns soaring through this dramatic slice of social commentary. Here's the actual 45 rpm vinyl picture sleeve from the PowerhouseRadio.com archive, front above, and back below. As you can see, the song lyrics were included on the sleeve of this Gordy G 7099 release. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Al Green Retouches Roots on New Blue Note Album

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 04/29/2008

Al Green recruits John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae, and other contemporary friends for his first new album in 3 years, Lay It Down, due on Tuesday, May 27, 2008. Work on the album began in 2005. Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of the Roots is the producer in charge who will attempt to fuse Green's secular bluesy grit with today's neo-soul groove. Al Green will be on tour throughout 2008 to support Lay It Down, his 3rd album on the Blue Note label. Previous Post | Next Post