The Voice of Love…

                     

                                                     Luther Vandross

In my opinion Luther Vandross was the most inspirational singer of all time. When you listen to his music you’re taken into another state of consciousness. You feel Luther’s soul, his powerful message that he’s trying to get across.

What’s amazing to me is how all of the R&B singers from back in 60’s to current time have a similar underlying theme to their music, which is “loving some one.” Vandross especially was one of the most talented R&B singers of all time and my most favorite male singer.

His music topped the charts for much of his career. One of my favorite songs he sang was, “If this world were mine.”  Vandross died back in 2001. He truly left a huge mark on the music industry and in the R&B world. I believe the saying, “The good die young!” If he were still alive today, I know he would have the best selling album. If you listen closely to his music, the words, and his voice, you can feel his spirit. Another song that was a hit which Luther sang was, “Endless Love.” I always hear this song at weddings, you know places where it would be appropriate. This for sure one of his signature love songs he ever sang.  Watch this video you’ll see what I mean. Here he sings a duet with Mariah Carry singing , “Endless Love.”

That’s what music is all about. He sang love songs and sad songs, the ones we listen too when we’ve either just got into a relationship with someone or ended one. His music is the kind you listen to in your car, tapping the steering wheel, and singing loudly enough so the people driving next to you give a look as if you’re crazy!

During Luther’s funeral service Pattie Labelle a long time friend of his, gave a memorial speech about him. Many of his fellow R&B friends came out to celebrate his life. This was the year when we lost one of the best singers of all time!

   

Looking at Houston…

Whitney Houston

    Whitney Houston is one of the music artists in the 80’s and 90’s that I enjoyed. She has a voice that no other can match especially when she was at her peak of her career. She began her career at age 11 where she sang in her church gospel choir. President of Arista Records, Clive Davis spotted little Whitney and made her his priority. She signed up with Davis’s company in 1983. Her fist album debuted in February 1985, leaving a historic mark in the music industry at the time. Her fist album was entitled “Whitney Houston” and sold 14 million copies. This was the most successful solo album sung by a female African American artist. This part of her career is what I appreciate the most. This young, black, successful, girl made a difference. I mention in this blog in previous posts that many of the African artists struggled to get where they were. They had to fight to prove to society that they can make a difference in the music world. Whitney at this pint in her career, I believe gave put a smile on other the other black singers face’s. This is what they worked for. Again, it’s important for me to mention that it’s this point in her career she was irresistible. This is the time during the late 80’s and early 90’s when she was soring  both a singer and a actress.

 

 

 

Of course there’s the drug allegations that she and her husband Bobby Brown did drugs and had serious material problems. I try not to let those negative aspects affect the voice that was so powerful during her time of fame. When I listen to her music whether it’s at home or on the Internet, I don’t concentrate on the mistakes she’s made personally. Becoming famous at an early age, selling a number one album, and entering this world of fame and glamor doesn’t always allow a person to make the right decisions. Look at Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan! They have been in the public eye for stupid and foolish decisions they’ve made. I think much of the negative acts they have made was due to the fact they they were not both ready for this type of pressure. Yes, they began young on Disney and were cute, acting like innocent little girls. They are BIG girls and couldn’t handle where they are in their careers so they began to do things they weren’t allowed to do before.  Now, it’s all catching up with them.

Below is a video interview with Whitney discussing her career and personal problems, including her drug use.

 

     I feel with Whitney, because she was so popular and in the eye of the media, anything she did or any problems she had, was exposed. She was never given any privacy with her marriage, always on the spot light, and I’m sure was very pressured by all of this. Due to these factors, this very well could have lead to the use of drugs.

Here’s an article stating her addiction to cociane.

  I remember noticing Houston when she played in “The Body Guard.” I was born in 1986, so I wasn’t very familiar with her in the late 80’s ect. After watching the movie, her signature son, “I will always love you,” stuck in my head and I always related that song to her.

 

An interesting fact about Whitney, her cousin is Dionne Warwick. In my previous post I did blog about Ms. Warwick.  Below is a video of her singing with her aunt , “That’s what friends are for.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever Wonder…

 

 

  

Stevie Wonder

 Wonder is another African American Music Artist who has broke the barriers of black musicians in the music world. His music merged all aspects love, passion, and dignity together. His voice like the others in this blog, really allows you to hear the message he is trying to get across.

Stevie Wonder allowed himself to develop into a diverse musician. He let all sorts of music come into his life and never just stuck to one genre. This of course, was a contributing factor to his success in the music business. I think as a music artist one should absorb all forms of music and embrace the differences. In my opinion, I would think this would make artist a better performer.

 The song, “You are the Sunshine of My Life,” makes the listener understand the essence of the message he is trying to get across. His confident voice transitions his words to put his fans in a state of awe when they hear him sing. You believe every word he  sings because you know Stevie Wonder is “real!”  You can get the message in the video below, where he sings with my all-time FAVORITE R&B singers, Whitney Huston, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, and Wonder himself!

 

 

 

 

She Knows the Way!

                                        

           Dionne Warwick is another Music Artist who has always always given her soul to her music. Warwick is an International music legend! She’s sung from continent to continent sharing her music to everyone around the world. Many of her hit songs like “Alfie” have made it to the big screen  in feature films including “The Valley of Dolls.”

   Above is Dionne Warwick at one of her concert’s singing “Alfie.”

What distingueses Dionne from all of the other performers in the music industry, is her passion for the “human spirit.”She has used her fame to help others in need here in the United States, but also from around the world. She has raised millions of dollars for AIDS research. Currently, she serves as a Global UN Ambassador of the Food and Agricultire Organization (FOA).

My favorite song of Warwick’s is …”Do know The Way To San Jose.” It’s about people who get too caught up with the material world and need to find a place where they can become more en-tuned with their lives.  Take at look at the video below.

               

         

                                                       

Queen of Day Time and Music Diva…Celebrate!

Oprah Winfrey, day time television Diva celebrated her 50th Birthday a while back and Tina Turner, sang on her show. In this Video, see Tina along with other celebrities and actors, who were a hit back in Tina’s era. Although Tina began her career decades earlier than her appearance on Oprah’s show, her popularity is still at a high demand and thanks to people like Oprah, her legacy lives on.

                            

She’s “Simply The Best….”

Tina Turner was a huge hit in the eighties and early nineties. Her fame struck to its highest point during those eras and still her music is rocking! Ms. Turner not only plowed through these decades with the power of her voice, but with her energy that she gives to every song that’s performed. This Song, “Simply The Best,” shows Turner at a tribute show in 1999 and the crowd is roaring as she enters. The beat to this song is her signature to her fame. Like Barry White, The Temptations and Ella Fitzgerald, her music fits her style. Turner allows herself to just go with the vibe of the songs she sings. You feel good listening to her music. As I was watching this video, I began to dance by doing a little shoulder flick. I believed her when she was saying…”You’re simply the best…better than all the rest.” It’s a line that you remember because you believe Turner when she sings it. I believe allot of what we listen too is all psychological. We want to feel the song, we want to believe we are the person the artist is singing about. When we hear a song where the artist is saying  “you’re the best,” you sit there for a minute and actually believe you are “the best.”  I want to thank Tina Turner for making me feel like I’m the best! Tina is still rocking today with her latest album, “All The Best.”  Her fans have a myspace group where you can listen to audio news reports on Ms. Turner.

Feel the mood…

     

Barry used a variety of techniques to enchance his music and his style of words. His music allows the listener to transform themselves into someone they’ve never thought of before. The mood he sets in his lyrics instills a feeling that allows Barry’s listeners connect with the music. If there’s no connection to the music you’re listening too, then why listen to it? What’s amazing with White’s music, is how quickly people recognize his songs just by the tone of his voice. That tone, the voice you hear, is his signature. All you have to do is listen to one word of his songs and you know it’s Barry. It’s his way of connecting to the words and communicating to his audience. His deep powerful voice sets his stance on how he feels, and how he wants you as a listener to feel.