Tag Archives: c-dub

 
 
Prince took the stage at Madison Square Garden last night for the fourth time amidst his Welcome 2 America Tour. “I’ll be back New York,” he yelled, “I love it here,” he exclaimed during the latter part of the show. His Highness vowed that he would return before TOO long, saying it had been awhile since he had done a major show in the Big Apple.

 
 
According to his publicist Press Here Publicity, Raphael Saadiq has announced dates for his upcoming US tour. Kicking off this spring, the tour will include performances at this year’s Coachella Music and Arts Festival and Austin’s SXSW Music + Film Interactive Festival before wrapping in Tampa, Florida, Memorial Day weekend.

Teddy Pendergrass was unquestionably one of the greatest male vocalists in the genre of R&B. Initially the drummer for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, his voice is featured on their hits “Bad Luck,” “Where Are All My Friends,” “Be For Real” and “Wake Up Everybody.

 
 
According to dime wars.com, Halle Berry is not doing the role of Aretha Franklin. On the site it reads: Halle Berry was recently named as a contender for playing the lead in the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic. However, it seems that Halle Berry is not interested in the role.

 
The events in the life of Ted Williams have been taking on new dynamics for the past three weeks. According to the newser.com, after a televised session with Dr. Phil, he has decided to check into a private, inpatient rehab facility to try to rid himself of dependencies on drugs and alcohol.

 
 
 
 
Now as happy as I am to see a new film coming from Ang Lee, does it have to be in 3-D? When I saw the face of Irfan Khan in the border on Facebook I was intrigued. Recognizing him from this past season of HBO’s “In Treatment,” reading the article, I realized I loved his performance in “Slumdog Millionaire.” My favorite delivery from Khan however, is his tour de force in Nair’s “The Namesake.” 

 
This time last Sunday Ted Williams was living behind an abandoned gas station with several other homeless men. Now, just seven days later, his “golden voice” will be heard all across America tonight when Kraft Foods uses Ted in a nationally-televised commercial. He’ll do the voice-over for a Kraft Macaroni & Cheese advertisement. The spot will be featured during tonight’s Fight Hunger Bowl, when Boston College plays Nevada.

 
“The video went viral, now he’s huge and getting job offers,” my wife Kim said to me, “the Cavaliers offered him a job and a house.” I’m talking about the now famous Ted Williams. A homeless man — originally from Brooklyn — encountered by a news reporter on the streets of Columbus Ohio, is the country’s new “celebrity.”

I actually had the fortune to have met Al Green, the first time I interviewed him. As it was in the latter 90s when I conducted it, the living legend was already extremely accomplished by that time. He reflected on his beginnings in music and spoke of his early days in the studio with Willie Mitchell.

First I have to give a HUGE THANK YOU to my cousin, friend and sister in FUNK Loreen for her tireless efforts to make this James Brown interview and all the others posted possible.

 
Jazmine Sullivan’s new CD “Love Me Back” is one of the best R&B offerings in a long while. The project incorporates hip-hop, jazz and funk all cooked up in an R&B stew that has a fresh sound, while infusing a recognizable retro groove. Better than her debut CD “Fearless,” it was released too late for Grammy consideration this year. However, the first single “Holding You Down (Going In Circles)” from the album, is up for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

How can I let 2010 (10) go by w/o listing my Top-10 favorite CDs? While the Top-10 list for many of us has taken a back seat to more pressing things in life, I believe it’s because there’s been less music that’s been inspiring for us to mention.

 
Grammy Award winning recording artist Lauryn Hill, will be embarking on a series of intimate performances throughout the FUNKIN’ US according to her publicist Ashley Bryan of PRESS HERE. Hill spent much of 2010 appearing at select international festivals, and a few domestic events.

Prince proved to thousands last week that purple still reigns. After two nights at the Izod Center in NJ (12/15 & 17), his highness took the stage of Madison Square Garden (MSG) on December 18th.

 
Earlier this week, Aretha Franklin was discharged from a Detroit hospital after undergoing surgery that her doctors deemed highly successful! The Queen of Soul is in great spirits and very happy to be home where she will be resting in anticipation of spending the upcoming holiday season with her family.”

 
Janelle Monae is known to most via her appearance on Big Boi’s compilation release Big Boi Presents… Got Purp? Vol. II. Featured on the album is an uptempo remake of the DeBarge classic “Time Will Reveal,” which still gets airplay, and the track “Lettin’ Go,” my favorite song on the CD.

When BT Express dropped their hit “Do It til’ You’re Satisfied,” I couldn’t believe they put all that FUNK and sexy lyrics into one song. As I was coming of age when the song was released, my first thoughts about the satisfaction they sang of, was sexual. This train of thought was the closest I had gotten to any sibilance of sex at that early age.

When I had the fortune to interview Millie Jackson, she spoke to me about her endeavors from the Apollo Theatre to Broadway. We laughed a lot, as she was very candid with me about her unique style and the ups and downs of her career.

When I was afforded the privilege to speak to Curtis Mayfield, it wasn’t until after his near fatal accident at Brooklyn’s Wingate Field. As he spoke to us in a reclined position, everyone present at the roundtable discussion felt blessed to be there.

One of the greatest compliments I ever got as a journalist, was from Chaka Khan. She told me, that my interview with her, was “Vivid and Real.”