0 Mary J. Blige: Swings, Hits and Misses

• Commentary
• by Kingsley H. Smith and guest
• 12/22/2021

What's your favorite Mary J. Blige song? It might be: "Be Without You" "Real Love" "Family Affair" "My Life" There are scores more to choose from. Other than her own, Mary J. has a thing for Elton John songs. She's featured on "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" live with Elton at Madison Square Garden in New York City (2000). Mary J. also sang the Elton song "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" from the 2004 movie Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. She does a wonderful duet "Being With You" on Smokey Robinson's 2014 CD Smokey & Friends. There's a lot of authentic gravity in Mary's live rendition of the traditional "Hard Times (Come Again No More)" as featured with the Roots on the multiple artist fundraiser collection album "Hope For Haiti Now." "Mary J.," has come a long way. From combat boot dilettante to co-headliner in the halftime show at the Super Bowl. The question remains, what lyric remembrance from her songbook had the largest impact? Antwane Folk takes an in-depth look back at this music icon's biggest single in the story "A Breakthrough: Mary J. Blige's 'Be Without You'" https://ratedrnb.com/2020/12/a-breakthrough-mary-j-blige-be-without-you/ Previous Post | Next Post

0 Sharon Jones Tribute Story

• Biography
• by Kingsley H. Smith and guest
• 10/28/2021

In the battle between my post 2000 favorite female vocalist, top spot consideration meandered between Alicia Keys and Sharon Jones. I've always leaned towards power belters. Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan charge ahead in that department. You won't be surprised then that Sharon Jones comes out on top as my last twenty-year female vocalist favorite. She has a style all her own, and an emotional story of success to match. The horn arrangements in her songs are not Motown-Detroit and are not quite Stax-Memphis. The Dap-Kings band gives her music a special quality that echoes a signature of uniqueness. This remixed cover for the record 100 Days, 100 Nights is a throwback to 2007 when the album was released. Take a look at the original cover in my article: Retro-Soul Makes a Mighty Comeback. Here's a deeper look at Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings in the Sharon Jones Biography written by Mark Deming. ---------- "Few artists took longer to reach stardom, and gained as much critical acclaim once they found their audience, than R&B vocalist Sharon Jones. "Born in 1956, Jones had been singing in clubs since the early '70s without much success until she was recognized by a producer who paired her with her band the Dap-Kings in the late '90s. "Once she finally broke through, Jones became celebrated for her strong, emotive voice and phrasing that was powerful without showboating. "At her best, Jones could evoke the sound of classic soul and R&B of the '60s and '70s while summoning an energy and confidence that made her performances feel fresh and contemporary. "2002's Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings was the debut album that introduced her talent to the world, 2010's I Learned the Hard Way documented Jones and her band at the peak of their powers, and 2017's Soul of a Woman found Jones singing at the top of her game, even while fighting cancer. "Sharon Jones was born in Augusta, Georgia on May 4, 1956. She was the youngest of six siblings. "In 2013, Jones revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer -- initially in the bile ducts, and later advanced to stage two pancreatic cancer -- but she continued to perform as often as her therapy schedule would permit, sometimes appearing on-stage with a bald head after chemotherapy caused her to lose her hair. "In late 2013, Jones was well enough to complete work on the next Dap-Kings album, and Give the People What They Want appeared in January 2014; it earned a Grammy nomination as Best R&B album. "Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple premiered a movie about the vocalist, Miss Sharon Jones!, at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. "Jones was in attendance for the debut screening, and revealed that her cancer had returned, but defiantly added, "I'm gonna keep fighting, we got a long way to go. "Sadly, she would lose her valiant battle with cancer, which took her life, at age 60, in November 2016. "Shortly before her death, Jones completed vocals for a final album with the Dap-Kings. That album, Soul of a Woman, was released in November 2017. "A collection of covers Jones had recorded with the Dap-Kings through their years together, Just Dropped in to See What Condition My Rendition Was In, appeared in January 2021." ---------- Listen to the Sharon Jones spin on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours." It's less bluesy than typical Sharon Jones approaches but it is a deserving interpretation of a Stevie Wonder Motown classic! Previous Post | Next Post

0 RnB And Hip Hop Quiz Trivia

• Games
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 09/23/2021

In a couple of years we'll mark fifty years of hip hop! Some of you know that I write iOS and Android apps for mobile devices. As I worked in radio playing music on-air coupled with similar leisure efforts at home, I've always paid attention to the rhythms, beats, and musical grooves. One of my apps that surveyed the legacy classic song parade is RnB and Hip Hop Quiz. It's a trivia game that focuses on both genres.  Here's a quick 14 second teaser video featuring RnB and Hip Hop Quiz Game app for iOS (iPhone and iPad). Find out more on the App Store for RnB and Hip Hop Quiz trivia. Questions with images True or False questions Questions with multiple answers Turn time limits on or off Reset your progress in the game Select from multiple avatars Game music you can turn off Sound effects you can turn off Fun trophies The Android timeline for developing this game: RnB Music Quiz Soul was released in 2015 Hip Hop Quiz was released in 2016 RnB Music Quiz Soul for iPhone was released in 2019     RnB and Hip Hop Quiz for Android was released in 2020.   It's important to know that I wrote all of the trivia questions myself based on research and personal knowledge. Often I'm contacted by people who want to sell me quiz questions. I always politely decline. Discover the Android version of RnB and Hip Hop Quiz in Google Play. Speaking of writing, I've just begun a new project that I hope to finish as soon as possible. You'll discover an eye-opening look at my previous career along with the steps I took to thrive in broadcasting. Stay tuned for periodic updates. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Elton John Diamonds

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/21/2020

I don't buy many CDs anymore, but I finally took the plunge to grab a lifetime of tracks created by a music maker that I've enjoyed for many years. You can say I've enjoyed him from the very beginning of his career. With only a couple of of seven-inchers and one twelve-inch 45 RPM vinyl track from this performer among my countless collection, it was time to get Elton John Diamonds at a great price. Diamonds is a three CD set with all of his hits and heavies. When you think of Elton John and Philadelphia, you might think of "Philadelphia Freedom." I was especially in the hunt for the overlooked Philly gem "Mama Can't Buy You Love." "Mama," included on the third CD is a very soulful track produced in the spirit of hit maker Thom Bell, the Spinners, and other Philly music stars of the 1970s. Leroy Bell and Casey James produced "Mama Can't Buy You Love" for Elton. Bell & James had their own solo hit in 1979 "Livin' It Up (Friday Night). Leroy Bell's uncle is Thom Bell. Here's a quick 56 second sample of "Mama Can't Buy You Love." The full length of the song clocks in at just under four minutes - about 30 seconds too long because of the monotonous yet silky smooth chorus that pads out the song until it ends! Your browser does not support the audio element. You have to lean into Elton John's ballads for the songs that made him a musical icon. You'll find them all on Diamonds: "Your Song," "Tiny Dancer," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," etc. My one disappointment was "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" presented as a live duet. George Michael and Elton John share the mic. This version is good, but I really wanted the solo Elton effort. I could have consumed more background material from the CD liner notes. There's not much info. You get the track list, writers, and song producers. That's it. However, if you only care about the songs, they are all here for you to enjoy! Elton John Diamonds. lapidarians rejoice! Previous Post | Next Post

0 Sheila E. Jams With Morris Day And The Time

• Video
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 09/25/2019

Sheila E. opens up a powerful 2019 evening featuring Morris Day & The Time in Atlantic City, NJ. In 1981, who were the original Time from Minneapolis, Minnesota? Morris Day (vocals), Jesse Johnson (guitar), Jimmy "Jam" Harris (keyboards), Monte Moir (keyboards), Terry Lewis (bass), and Jellybean Johnson (drums). Enjoy! Here's a two minute video package I shot at the show. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Prince, The Time, and Jesse Johnson

• Commentary
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/02/2019

We were lucky enough to be there for Celebration 2019 at Paisley Park (Prince's recording complex) in Minnesota last week and enjoyed Jesse Johnson's live performance. Shown above in our promotional copy of The Time album on the right is Jesse Johnson. In the past there was tension between Jesse and Prince. Jesse talked about trying to find peace with that relationship now that Prince is no longer with us. This was Johnson's first return to Paisley Park since Prince's passing. Here's more about Time guitarist Jesse Johnson airing his Prince grievances on the Celebration 2019 stage at Paisley Park. Read all about it. https://www.twincities.com/2019/04/25/time-guitarist-jesse-johnson-airs-his-prince-grievances-on-celebration-2019-stage-at-paisley-park Previous Post | Next Post

0 Michael Jackson: On The Wall

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 08/30/2018

Forty-eight artists interpret "Michael Jackson: On the Wall" at the National Portrait Gallery in London until Oct. 21, 2018. Michael Jackson through the eyes of the world's top artists: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/michael-jackson-on-the-wall-national-portrait-gallery Previous Post | Next Post

0 Nina Simone

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/15/2018

Nina Simone attended the Julliard School of Music in New York City for one year. Her application to the Curtis Institute (School of Music) in Philadelphia was rejected while Simone studied at Julliard. Curtis Institute of Music would award the gifted performer a honorary degree in 2003. Watch Nina Simone's posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Previous Post | Next Post

0 CD Sunset

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/08/2018

Still listening to CD's in the car, in your home, or at your job? We've downloaded tons of music from iTunes, but we still love CD's too. On January 17, 2018 the Sony Music CD plant in Terre Haute, Indiana announced that 380 workers would lose their jobs when several parts of the plant are closed. Sony will outsource the manufacturing of DVDs and CDs to "Technicolor Home Entertainment," in California. Now Target and Best Buy look to phase out CD's. https://rainnews.com/best-buy-and-target-launch-efforts-to-scale-back-cd-sales/ Previous Post | Next Post

0 Charles Bradley And Sharon Jones

• Video
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 12/15/2017

We lost Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings in 2016 and Charles Bradley earlier this year. There are always new trailblazers who prove that talent with luck will rise to the top. Who says today's classic soul can't be as good as the songs from "the golden age." Both Jones and Bradley are late bloomers in the music business if one brands success by age. However, they are not overnight sensations by a long shot. Check out "Sail On," one of the last tracks recorded by Sharon Jones. After that, listen to Charles Bradley belt out Neil Young's "Heart of Gold." It's the "official" audio from Daptone Records. Enjoy them both! Previous Post | Next Post