0 Brian McKnight Touches Ten with Time

• Biography
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/18/2007

Brian McKnight has been making music since 1991. The first time he entered a recording studio, he says he was motivated "to pick-up where Marvin Gaye left off." That's an inspiring comment from a young man who wants to continue the elegant tradition of smooth classic soul. The Buffalo, New York native, born on June 5, 1969, is also aware of the changing nature of rhythm and blues today. He notes in his official biography that "the landscape of soul music has gotten younger." Despite this reality, Brian adds "I believe my material will appeal to everyone from teenagers to older folks." With this challenge in mind, comes Ten, a new release from Brian on Warner Brothers Records, his first for the label. "Used to Be My Girl" is getting a big push from the album. As the ladies can tell you, Brian McKnight has mastered the softer side of soul. Ten maintains his dominance within this genre. To learn more about Brian's secret formula for success, the official Brian McKnight biography (on his website) tells all. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Joyful Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson wins Golden Globe

• Biography
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/16/2007

Jennifer Hudson has grabbed the Golden Globe award for the best performance by an actress in a supporting role for Dreamgirls. Her biography says she sang for the very first time before a small church in her native Chicago, bringing the congregation to its feet with soul-stirring solo performances week after week. Jennifer landed her first professional role in a local production of Big River. In 2002, she was a featured vocalist on the Disney Wonder cruise ship. In 2004, she pumped up the volume during season three of Fox TV's American Idol. Soak in all of the official Jennifer Hudson biography at Jennifer Hudson online. Twenty-five years ago, Jennifer Holliday, the original Dreamgirl, created the breakout role of Effie White (for which Jennifer Hudson has won the Golden Globe). In a recent television interview with Deborah Norville of Inside Edition, Jennifer Holliday says she's very disappointed at her lack of involvement in the current film version of Dreamgirls. Holliday says she thinks it's ironic, that the performer who has the role of Effie in the film Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson, has the same first name and the same initials as Holliday. "I'm glad about YouTube showing my 1982 Tony Awards performance, (Holliday says), because that way the public can see that I did it first and that this is being copied." Stand by for more Dreamgirl cat fights as we close in on the 2007 Academy Awards. Yes, Jennifer Hudson is upstaging both Beyonce' and Jennifer Holliday. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Aretha and Beyonce go for the Golden Globes

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/11/2007

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, has never won a movie Golden Globe Award. On Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 15th, we'll find out if she wins the honor on the televised NBC event. Aretha is nominated for the best original song "Never Gonna Break My Faith," sung with Mary J. Blige, from the movie Bobby, a film documenting the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, on June 6th, 1968. Beyonce' is one of four song writers credited with creating the lyrics to "Listen" from Dreamgirls, also nominated for the best original song Golden Globe Award. In Beyonce's case, the February 25, 2007 song writer Academy Award will be limited to tracks with a maximum of three writers. As such, it looks like she'll be locked out of the 'best song writer' Oscar. Because the Golden Globe Awards are presented every year before the Academy Awards, Golden Globe winners can sometimes effectively indicate who will win the Oscars. The Golden Globe Awards have enabled the non-profit Hollywood Foreign Press Association, (the sponsoring organization), to donate more than $6.5 million during the past twelve years to entertainment-related charities. HFPA has also funded scholarships and other programs for future film and television professionals. Here are all of the Golden Globe Award nominations and winners. Previous Post | Next Post

1 Ronettes Rock Hall of Fame

• Biography
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/09/2007

Legendary New York City radio dee jay "Murray the K" called them his "dancing girls." And dance up a storm they did during their time in the spotlight. The Ronettes will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2007 on March 12 in New York City. Estelle Bennett, Ronnie Spector, and Nedra Talley join... The Supremes (1988) Martha and the Vandellas (1995), and The Shirelles (1996) exclusively as the only "girl group" representatives in the Hall. Here are the hits of the Ronettes... "Be My Baby" (1963) "Baby, I Love You" (1964) "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (1964) "Do I Love You? (1964) "Walking In The Rain" (1964) The ladies got together in 1958 as the Darling Sisters. While still in junior high school, they turned professional. Producer Phil Spector used them as backup singers as early as 1962. After their string of hits, the Ronettes were history by 1966. Veronica "Ronnie" Bennett was married to Phil Spector from 1968 - 1974. Ronnie continues to be active. She released Last of the Rock Stars in 2006, a 20 year follow-up to 1987's Unfinished Business. In many was, the induction of the Ronettes is a tribute to the dedication of Ronnie Spector to her life-long craft. The salutation also honors this great "girl group" as significant contributors to popular music during an era of industry transition in the early 1960's. Not many acts can get elected to the Hall with such a short list of recordings. Music insiders will tell you however that Ronnie Spector has one of the great pop music voices. I certainly agree. Here's the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Full Inductee List from A to Z. In 2007, the Ronettes join Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, (first hip-hop group ever to be inducted), R.E.M., Patti Smith, and Van Halen in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Stax is back with Memphis Soul

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/04/2007

The Stax record label, shown above on the extreme right in yellow, is returning after more than 30 years. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Stax featured the classic soul sounds of the Bar-Kays, Otis Redding, Johnnie Taylor, the Mad-Lads, the Soul Children, Frederick Knight, and many others. Just re-signed to the label is arguably their biggest former star, Isaac Hayes. He joins Angie Stone to form a nice foundation for a new roster of talent. Stax folded in 1975. Their studios were sold in 1981, and demolished in 1989. The new Stax Museum of American Soul Music was constructed on the old site, opening in 2003, along with the Stax Music Academy. Concord Records, who will be resurrecting the label, bought the Stax name in 2004. Concord plans to release deluxe versions of classic Stax albums. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Jill Scott Wins with Golden Collaborations

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/02/2007

Happy New Year! Grammy Award winning Jill Scott's next studio album, The Real Thing, should be released by mid-2007. With hits "The Way" and "He Loves Me" under her vocal belt, Jill has been living her life like it's "Golden," connecting to her fans from Scott central in Philly P-A. Until The Real Thing is completed, as a teaser, Hidden Beach Records, (Scott's label), is releasing a compilation of Jill's best duets, featuring these highlights... "The Rain" featuring Will Smith "God Bless the Child" featuring Al Jarreau and George Benson "Let Me" featuring Sergio Mendes and Will.i.am "Said Enough" featuring the Isley Brothers "Kingdom Come" featuring Kirk Franklin "Slide" featuring Jeff Bradshaw "Love Rain" featuring Mos Def "Sometime I Wonder" featuring Darius Rucker "8 Minutes to Sunrise" featuring Common "Funky for You" featuring Common and Bilal "Day Dreamin'" featuring Lupe Fiasco "Good Morning Heartache" featuring Chris Botti "One Time" featuring Eric Roberson Collaborations is expected to be available on Tuesday, January 30, 2007. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Original Dreamgirl Showstopper Jennifer Holliday

• Photo
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 12/27/2006

Here's a picture of the original Dreamgirls showstopper, Jennifer Holliday. This is one of the 45 rpm picture sleeves from the original Broadway cast album. Jennifer is our final classic soul 45 rpm picture treat for you this holiday week, as we head towards 2007. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Bill Withers Gift of Giving Message

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 12/26/2006

Here's the picture sleeve and message from a classic soul Bill Withers 45 rpm release, "The Gift of Giving." Enjoy your holiday week. Previous Post | Next Post

0 James Brown Peace on Earth Message

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 12/25/2006

Here's the picture sleeve and lyrics to a classic soul James Brown 45 rpm release, "Hey America, It's Christmas Time." Merry Christmas! ---------- ***update (at 9:01 AM Eastern) *** I decided over a week ago to post three classic soul 45 rpm picture sleeves Christmas week and debated which one to use first. Ironically, I chose James Brown for Christmas Day, and I was saddened this morning at about 8 AM Eastern time to learn of his passing at the age of 73. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Tribute to Ahmet Ertegun by Narada Michael Walden

• Commentary
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 12/21/2006

Ahmet Ertegun: July 31, 1923 - December 14, 2006 Ahmet Ertegun, a U-S immigrant from Turkey, was a founder of Atlantic Records. He helped popularize R&B and soul music to the masses. See the red Atlantic label above. In the spirit of Christmas, here's a tribute to Ahmet Ertegun written by producer/artist Narada Michael Walden. "Ahmet, God shines down upon your precious heart and soul, His choice Blessings for the love you have given on a regular basis of your life. Our hearts are heavy with sadness because you were so Damn Cool. You who've been witness to so many miracles in your life. The Birth of Jazz with Louis Satchmo Armstrong as its Father. The Discovery of the Genius of Soul Ray Charles. The making way of the new sound for The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. The promoting of the Hot fresh sounds of Joe Turner, Ruth Brown who joins you in Heaven, and a host of others who created early Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Soul. You were not only there but helped make it happen. You and your Brother Neshway, who was always supportive of my career with Atlantic since 1976. Ahmet, I love you for taking me under your wing and teaching me the ropes. You so loved Barry White and inspired Phil Collins with his message. You were a delight and knew how to charm the beautiful ladies. I thank you most recently for introducing me to your long time friend Diana. She's beautiful and kind and knows you well. You kept us up with my friend Danni, till 4 in the morning at Kodak Theater bar explaining to us the history of Jazz and the evolution of music. That Louis was in fact the Father of Jazz and changed everything with his phrasings and Genius. And that we should make the Louis Armstrong Story Film. Then you'd swing over to memory lane where you brought sandwiches to the shivering cold Stones fans in London waiting for tickets all night long, to look out for them. How White people have always borrowed from the Black man's music. How delighted you were that to this day, that the Black man's sound and influence from the streets is still profound and rules. How to make Hits was still a big and major motivation for you even to the end as we were working co producing your Turkish artist and friend Tarkan. So many things I can say about you my friend but in closing, I'll never forget your embrace with Stevie Wonder last year after the Grammies and your profound tears with him and your wife. Brother Brother Brother, it is because of you , so many of us have had a voice and were able to be heard and loved round the world. As you are so loved and beloved round this world and in the hearts of true music lover's everywhere. I will love and cherish you... Eternally, Your Brother Always, Narada Michael Walden" "PS: I recorded 7 solo albums for Atlantic Records 1976 thru the 80's, and dozens of productions from my first of Don Cherry 1976 thru Stacey Lattisaw's, Let Me Be Your Angel LP and thru her career - to Sister Sledge, All American Girls, in the disco period (which later became the Hit "Sex Bomb" for Tom Jones)." "Ahmet, You have always been a friend of mine." Previous Post | Next Post