The Queens of R&B…

 Pattie LaBelle

       Dionne Warick                        Gladys Knight

 

These are my girls right here! These are the Sisters of R&B. They are a prime representation of what R&B / Soul music is. I’ve seen Patti Labelle perform, but I haven’t seen Dionne Warick or Gladys Knight LIVE in person. However, I listen to ALL of their music and I’ll admit, I even have it on my I-Pod! Ballroom dancing is a big part of my life, dancing in general always has.  Dancing slow or dancing fast, like my favorite, the Hustle; has always allowed me to appreciate these women. These are true American singers and will always be.

Listening to Dionne’s “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” Patti LaBelle’s ”You Are My Friend,” and Ms. Knight’s “On That Midnight Train to Georgia,” truly show this genre of music to it’s highest degree. I’m 21 years old and I love these women. They actually bring you to tears when they sing because of the passion they express while they are singing.

 

Pattie LaBelle

 

Gladys Knight

 

Dionne Warick

 

 

 

 

GLADYS KNIGHT…

Gladys Knight

 

Gladys Knight is a woman who I also admire. Her powerful voice much like Ms. Patti LaBelle, is what truly makes her music what it is. Gladys performed in her group called, Gladys Knight and the Pips. They were an R&B / Soul  group from Atlanta, Georgia. Gladys was very active in singing from 1953- 1989. From 1989 on, she’s sang her original hits and has performed all over.

Her first hit with the group was “Every Beat of My Heart.” One of my favorite songs of hers is “On That Midnight Train To Georgia.” Gladys won a Grammy for that song in 1973.

In the 1980’s Gladys and the Pips had to break up due to legal problems with the record company Buddha. After listing with Colombia records, Gladys was able to reunite with her Pips! They lasted until 1988 and then concluded their career together.

It’s her personality and dedication to her music that has allowed her to be successful. Her music has meaning to people  and to her fans. It’s the way she sings her songs with such enthusiasm and strength that makes you feel her soul. You can feel her soul when she sings and that’s what this is all about. You can understand the meaning of her songs as she is singing then because in some way you can relate to the lyrics.  “On That Midnight Train to Georgia,” is one song of hers that has true meaning.

Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr.

This week I decided to blog about three singers who I admire the most. One of them happens to be Mr. Davis.

Sammy Davis Jr. was a dancer, actor and singer. A true American Icon. He has recorded many records and has starred in various movies. He began performing at the age of four. He starred in his first film, “Rufus Jones for President.” He was trained by tap dancing legends and wrote his own music. He also wrote music for several other performers, such as, Frank Sinatra.

  I went to see Paul Anka, a popular singer in the fifties and sixties. Paul mentioned Sammy Davis at the beginning of his show. He told everyone how Davis wrote many of the songs that were sung by the various performers of their time. He said Sammy took a back seat through out much of his career. The issue of race at the time played a role as to why Sammy Davis didn’t get the credit he deserved. Paul wanted to make it clear, when singing his different songs, as to which ones Sammy wrote.

Sammy Davis is someone I admire because of his strength to pull though during the difficult times he faced. Being a black entertainer wasn’t easy for many during the 50’s, but Sammy didn’t let anyone stop him from doing what he loved the most, making people smile!

My Experience with Ms. LaBelle

 

I went to see Patti LaBelle Perform live at the Mohegan Sun Casino. It was my first time ever to see her perform. My cousin went to see her six times and said she cried all six times. Patti came out singing her song, “New Attitude.” I’ve always heard it play on the radio, but to see it performed LIVE by her was pretty cool.

She told everyone she is 63 years old and has diabetes. She said, “I have diabetes, but diabetes don’t have me!” She talked about her sisters who past away, her mother and several of her friends in the music industry. She was very emotional when talking about her life and singing her songs.

She asked several males in the crowd who knew how to dance to come up on stage and dance. I hopped right out of my seat and ran up there. She is beautiful! Her voice sounds like a 20 year old. It was impressive to see her sing after always watching her on MTV and BET singing for the music awards.

There’s nothing like seeing someone you admire sing in person and actually stand next to them near the stage. I was dancing in my seat, yelling, “Sing it Patti” the whole night. She was awesome! Probably one of the best performers I’ve ever seen. My favorite song she sang was, “You are my Friend!”

Ms. Patti LaBelle

Patti LaBelle

 Pattie LaBelle was born in Philadelphia on May 24, 1944 with the name Patricia Holt. LaBelle formed a group in the 60’s called the Blue Belles. Competition with the Supremes arose and later in her Career, Patti broke away from group singing, and went solo.  Singing solo for many years she topped R&B charts with many of her songs, one in particular,” New Attitude.”

 

      Ms. Labelle is another artist who I wanted to blog about. I think she’s a women every one should know. Patti Labelle is a woman of strength and power. In just 10 years she lost three sisters to cancer, her mother and and a best friend to Diabetes. Ms. LaBelle also has diabetes and is a spokeswomen for the National Medical Association for the illness. She takes insulin at least 7 times a day. She’s not only suffered from great loss as a person, but has an astonishing career as a performer.  She one of the most recognizable singers of R&B and an actress as well. Patti was the first African American Actress to appear at the New York Metropolitan Oprah House.

Patti can hit and hold musical notes that no other musical performer can sing.

Dream Girls…

 

                                                                 

The movie “Dream Girls,”portrayed the life of Diana Ross and The Supremes. Now although the actors in this movie didn’t use the exact song titles or called themselves The Supremes, you can see the similarities and the essence of the story.

Again, this movie showed the struggles this young African American group faced, including racism. What I couldn’t understand while watching the movie, is why those people who were racist, liked the music these black groups were singing? You dislike the race, but not the music they sing? That doesn’t make sense to me. Well, I could get into a whole political thing and go on and on, but this aspect of it didn’t connect.

Dream Girls, allowed people to see the actual trials and tribulations The Supremes faced  and what other African American groups dealt with in the industry. There’s a scene in the movie where the Dream Girls are singing in the “high class white” night club. It’s one of my favorites because going back to the reality of it at the time, this audience wasn’t use to the loud soul music that other black groups were signing at the time.

The Dreamettes ( the group in the movie) walked out on stage with confidence, sang their songs, and put their fears of race behind them. This was truly an accomplishment for any African American group to perform at a ritzy club and sing their music. Diana Ross was played by singer, Beyonce Knowles .

Elegance and Power…

 

 

  Another group in the music industry that made a huge impact, was The Supremes. This African American female group fought through an extremely difficult time during American history. Racial division played a huge role in how this group performed and where they performed. A majority of the black singers in the sixties weren’t always allowed to sing in the high scale “white” night clubs. However, these woman rose to the top and showed America especially, “white” America at the time, they were worthy enough to sing at any night club. Their milestone is significant because it occurred at the peak of the British Invasion.

Their stylish charm and soulfulness appealed across the board of black and white listeners alike. The members included lead singer Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson.

They first came together as The Primetts and recruited by another singer. After performing as back up singers for awhile, they decided to change their name as The Primetts, go on their own, and call themselves The Supremes. On January 15, 1961 they signed their contract with Motown Records and on August 22, 1964 they came out with their number one hit, “Where did our love go.”

Families speak out…they don’t want him there!

 

                                   

                                            

         What I found to be interesting back in the August eddition of an article on MTV.com, Seven families of Virginia Tech. didn’t want Nas to perform at the college.

    Apparently, Nas was scheduled  to perform, but the victim’s parents of Virginia Tech. were outraged when they learned he was going to be there. They felt his lyrics were too violent and wasn’t approperiate since the tragic massacre back in April at the school.

School Officials allowed the concert to take place, despite the opposition.

What’s that word…?

  

                                                                

                                                                           

         A recent  Music Artist is causing quite a stir up in the music world these days, with the title of his new album.

      Rapper, Nas, entitled his new album a word that many find to be disrespectful and a racial epithet. The “N-word,” was his choice to represent his latest accomplishment.  The disc is scheduled to come out on December 11th of this year.

      According to CNN.com during an MTV interview, many found this word to be offensive, but the Rapper holds his ground saying,

           ”We’re taking power from the word,” he added. “No disrespect to none of them who were part of the civil rights movement, but some … in the streets don’t know who (civil rights activist) Medgar Evers was … they know who Nas is.” 

    Now, his purpose is to take the sting out of the fowl word. We’ll see how that works, won’t we?

     I’ve been covering this genre of African American Music since September, and I don’t consider myself an expert, but I do think I’m qualified for this opinion… “I personally don’t think all of Nas’s previous colleagues, those who worked hard to get African Americans into the music world, would appreciate that title.”

      So where will music go from here? In ten or twenty years, will all rappers like Nas use profanities to sell albums in order to make a point to society? Well, I guess we’ll just have to see. 

               Here’s a  quick interview with Reverend, Al Sharpton  on his view of the new album’s premiere…

What killed Vandross…?

                                     

After searching the Internet and reading various news articles over the years, it seems people are very interested in how Luther Vandross died. Well, he died from a stroke which was brought on by diabetes. 

Luther’s Mother, Mary Ida Vandross lost all of her four children, her husband, and a grandson to this disease. When I read this information I had to pause and breathe. To think a family can be wiped out out from this disease is really scary. I don’t think people really understand the seriousness of diabetes.

According to WEB MD,over six million Americans live with undiagnosed diabetes. This is a pretty scary fact especially that many of those are Children. It’s main cause is the food you eat. What is your sugar in take every day? Better yet, have you been tested for diabetes. I bet allot of us who read this blog will say, “I haven’t been tested.”

I bring up this topic and these questions because look at Luther Vandross. A man who had a voice that could shake satin out of hell himself. He was a man who had a talent that brought him to success, but this disease took it all away. It prevented him for spending more time with his family, living longer, and doing what he loved to do best, sing