Podcasts about best female vocalist

This episode we have:Amy Simpson:Lead Vocalist of Blitz Dynette, a Hall of Fame Soul Band out of Central PA - Amy is also a CPMA winner for Best Female Vocalist.Amy grew up performing music all over the world as a young adult. Amy Started with Blitz Dynette in 1992, and has recorded 2 full length albums and 1 EP with the band. Amy also sings with the Groove Rebels, a Rock Band also out of Central PA, and her own solo project. In this episode Daniel, Alan, and Amy discuss her come up as a musician, some experiences from her music career, and her monthly article in Harrisburg Magazine.https://blitzdynette.com/https://www.facebook.com/people/Groove-Rebels/61555198117280/&Sir Dominique Jordan:Lead Vocalist of The Prolific Steppas, and the founder and CEO of The Artivist Corp. and Nobody's Pen. Also a CPMA Spot Award winner for Best Spoken Word.Traveling the country, sharing the transformative power of Hip Hop culture and creative expression, especially through spoken word poetry. Sir Dominique Jordan is a true superhuman, in music, poetry, as well as activism. Spreading positivity and encouragement all over the country, Sir Dominique Jordan is not just a Hip Hop artist. Joining Sir Dominique Jordan in this episode is Lassai, a solo artist out of Lancaster, PA.Make sure you stick around for an exclusive live performance at the end of the episode!https://unitedmasters.com/a/sirdominiquejordanhttps://www.facebook.com/sirdominiquejordan/https://www.instagram.com/sirdominiquejordan/https://www.instagram.com/theartivistcorp/https://open.spotify.com/album/0MDUzrt5mqJhbK47zcRMjOEnjoy!You can find out more about the CPMHOF @ https://cpmhof.com/Brought to you by Darker with Daniel @ Studio 3.http://darkerwithdaniel.com/All media requests: thecpmpodcast@gmail.comWant to be on an episode of the CPMP? For all considerations please fill out a form @ https://cpmhof.com/guest-considerationJoin us back here or on your favorite audio streaming platform every other week for more content.

As 2024 comes to a close, we revisit some of our favorite music to shout out songs, albums, and artists that stood out along the way. With special help from some of our favorite guests on the show (Tommy Acker, Asher Swiss, and Jonah Park) we present the 2nd Annual Casual Genius Awards!Categories:​Most Underrated Artist (00:01:30)Best Rapper (00:07:45)​Best Female Vocalist (00:13:25)​Best Experimental Album (00:20:12)​Best Concept Album (00:26:28)​Best Storytelling in a Song (00:34:26)​Best Male Vocalist - with Tommy Acker (00:40:17)​Best New Artist (00:48:20)​Best Bar of the Year - with Asher Swiss (00:52:38)​Best Album Production - with Jonah Park (01:04:00)​Best Feature (01:15:05)​Best Album Art (01:18:55)

Creating Joy and Community through Music with Jennifer Tefft SHOW SUMMARY: In this special episode of Look for the Good with Carrie Rowan, we explore the enchanting world of music and its ability to unite and uplift us. Award-winning singer/songwriter and Jump,Jive and Sing music school creator,  Jennifer Tefft, joins us to delve into the profound impact that creating, playing, and singing music has on both listeners and performers. Jennifer shares her insightful stories about motherhood, the power of music to elevate our spirits, and her journey as a performing artist in a popular New England band. She offers a unique perspective on juggling her roles while staying true to her passion for music. Listeners will gain valuable lessons from Jennifer's experiences and enjoy an exclusive sneak peek of one of her debut singles from her new CD. This episode promises to be a rich and inspiring exploration of the goodness that music brings into our lives. Tune in for an unforgettable episode that celebrates the joy and community fostered through music. BIO: Recently recognized as the New England Music Awards "Female Performer of the Year" 2021,  Jennifer Tefft is a fired up,  energizing presence that creates earthy music from its roots and breathes fresh,  soulful, rock and roll life into them. Her music combines intense rhythms with melancholy textures and haunting vocals that wind easily from darkly ethereal to outspoken, creating her own brand of Gritty-Lush Alternative Rock.  After getting her start playing for change in the subways and streets of Cambridge,  MA, Jennifer Tefft met guitarist John Parrillo many years ago and they began writing and playing together as a duo.  Following several years playing the circuit in Boston and Cambridge,  they released their first album “Dig This Thing” along with bass player Jeff St. Pierre and drummer Phil Antoniades.  They soon hit the road, playing shows along the Eastern seaboard and the Midwest. Since then,  Jennifer has gone on to release four more albums with her band on the label Gypsy Spin Music that she owns.   All five releases have received critical acclaim such as a New England Music Award Nomination for "Best In State" 2019,  a nomination from the prestigious Boston Music Awards for Best Female Vocalist,  and a “Boston's Best Unsigned Band" nod by local press. Her album “Shift” was awarded “Best Alternative Album” by the Just Plain Folks association in Hollywood,  CA, 12 MyFm Local Music Award nominations and 4 Local Music Awards.  Songs from all of Jennifer's projects continue to be used on National Television shows such as Cruel Summer,  CSI,  MTV,  Stargate Universe,  One Life To Live,  The Young & The Restless, General Hospital and many others. To find out more about Jennifer , catch a live show or get your copy of her new release, visit www.JenniferTefft.com Want to find out when the next incredible episode of Look for the Good is dropping? Sign up for the Look for the Good Podcast Chat weekly newsletter to get behind the scenes insights, special tips, and insider only offers. Click HERE to sign up today! Learn More about Carrie here: https://carrierowan.com/

Joanne Shaw Taylor is a dynamic singer/guitarist/songwriter who has blazed a trail to the top of the Blues Rock genre.  Discovered by Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics at the age of 16, she's released 12 solo albums throughout her rising music career.  In 2021, she teamed up with guitar wizard Joe Bonamassa and started recording on his record label.  Among her accolades you'll find Joanne named Best Female Vocalist (twice) at the British Blues Awards and also tapped for Songwriter of the Year.  Ray White, multi-award winning program director and show host, caught up with Joanne in February of 2024 before her extensive U.S. tour to talk about her star connections and latest album - Heavy Soul.  In our "showcase segment" we feature the iconic band from the U.K. - The Rolling Stones whose latest album is Hackney Diamonds and continue our British Invasion themed show with Dire Straits' frontman Mark Knopfler who just released One Deep River.  Rock royalty and young blood on this episode from Classic Artists Today!

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If you're looking to discover a new artist, you are in the right place! Madison, WI-based evo-folk artist Dana Perry is my guest this week! "Dana has been making music passionately for 30 years, with over 15 years of focus on playing guitar and songwriting. A thumping guitar style, combined with poignant lyrics and powerhouse vocals; her music resonates with anyone who recognizes that we are all on our own Journey." (www.danaperrymusic.com) Dana is a 15-time winner at the Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) Awards — including Acoustic Guitarist of the Year (2019), Folk/Americana Performer of the Year (2020) and Best Female Vocalist (2021). Her 2021 release Tunes on the Battlefield won the 2021 MAMA award for Folk/Americana Album of the Year. Dana also teaches songwriting & guitar workshops, is a guitar teacher/band coach for Girls Rock Camp Madison and music coordinator at Cargo Coffee East.Follow Dana Perry on Facebook & Instagram — @dana_makes_musicOn this episode, you'll hear previews of her songs "The Invitation," "The Great Alone," the collaboration "All Come Outta This" and "This Year" (episode outro).Photo Credit: Denny EgstadEmail me at dantimepod@gmail.com

Joanne Shaw Taylor is a blues guitarist/vocalist/songwriter to keep your eyes on!  Her career has skyrocketed since hanging with Joe Bonamassa and Dave Stewart.  With over 10 albums released, you'll find her songs charting with each new album.  In 2010, Joanne won Best Female Vocalist at the British Blues Awards.  In February of 2024, multi-award winning program director Ray White "zoomed" with Joanne while she was finishing up a tour in the U.K., preparing for her Spring of 2024 tour in the U.S.  She provided insights into her rising star music career, hooking up with Joe and Dave, her new album Heavy Soul and much more.  In our showcase segment Lisa Davis dives into the latest from Joe Bonamassa - who released Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 in 2023, blues and boogie icons Foghat whose latest hot album is Sonic Mojo and bluesman Tinsley Ellis who just dropped Naked Truth.  The best in blues... it's the Coool CAT!! 

Super excited to welcome back returning guest, Jess Zimmerman, to The Story!The Jess Zimmerman Band is a Country Rock Band formed in 2015 and based in Southeastern PA. Jess's love for country music combined with rock influences from musicians/artists like Halestorm, Underwood, Van Halen, Gaga, Benatar, and McBride, The Jess Zimmerman Band is a sweet cocktail of country and rock music adding in variety of other genres providing an exciting and entertaining live show. Jess Zimmerman was nominated and won the 2019 "Best Female Vocalist" in the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame Awards and The Jess Zimmerman Band was awarded "Best Country Band" in 2021 at the CPMA's most recent awards show.The band is up for three awards in the 2023 Nashville Josie Music Awards. The nominations include, “Group of the Year“ (Country Rock/Southern Rock), “Vocalist of the Year” (Country Rock/Southern Rock) and “Song Achievement Award - Song: (Be The Light)In the year 2022, the band was nominated for five awards this year at the JMAs Show. Including: "Entertainer of the Year", "Best Rock Singer" (Jess). "Album of the Year" (Breathe), "Video of the Year" (The Old Me), and "Fans Choice Award". The band, took home, Country Rock Album of the Year (Breathe) in the year 2022. The 2023 Awards show is set to take place October 22,2023 at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, TN.The band has written and recorded four records at OmniSound Studios, Nashville with more to come! Their fourth studio album, Be The Light, to be released May 21,2023 at Mickey's Black Box, located on the grounds of Rock Lititz Campus, in Lititz, PA. Be The Light is a bright, bold, feel good record with deep meaning. The Jess Zimmerman's 10 track album, Be The Light, can now be found on all streaming platforms. The bands first EP “The Jess Zimmerman Band” was released in 2016, followed by “Red” in 2018. Their first full length album “Breathe” debuted in 2021 and won “Best Country Rock Album Of The Year” at the Josie Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry in 2022.The Jess Zimmerman Band is set to share the stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshal Tucker Band and more on May 19,2023 in Bushkill, PA for the Lost Highway Motorcycle Fest & Concert.Festivals are a the top do the list of things the JZBand loves to do. This June, the band is set to play Barefoot Country Music Festival, in Wildwood, NJ along with 40 + Artists.The JZBand won the 1st Citadel Palooza Rising Star Contest and has been playing the Citadel Country Spirit USA Festival every year since. The band has opened shows and shared the stage with a list of monumental artists such as Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Toby Keith and Trace Atkins to name a few.The JZ Band has worked with BOB 94.9 FM iHeart Country Radio and has kicked off shows for Kane Brown, Jimmie Allen, High Valley, and Drew Baldridge. The band tours nationally and has performed at multiple NASCAR Tracks for race fans while also honoring veterans and first responders along the way. Stops have been Homestead-Miami Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Watkin-Glen, Bristol Motor Speedway and many other festivals, state fairs and events.Jess and the band have worked at helping to keep LIVE Country Music Alive with WITF, PBS Kids and The American Music Theatre. The band performed and showcased in presenting, "Country Music" a Film by Ken Burns hosted at the American Music Theatre in 2019.You can find Jess and her projects here:Webpage: https://www.jzband.org/Find The Story Podcast here: coryrosenproductions.com/podcastsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-story/donations

It's officially time to ring in the New Year by recapping the very best entertainment of 2023 during this, the first ever Casual Genius Podcast Award Show! Join Jaden & Ryder along with each of our special guests who joined us throughout 2023 (Blake Grimes, Asher Swiss, Madi Vance, & Jonah Park) and see where your favorite music and movies rank! Categories: (01:33) - Best Male Vocalist (08:00) - Best Female Vocalist (12:24) - Best Rapper (17:18) - Most Underrated Artist (23:20) - Best Storytelling In A Song (28:58) - Best Album Production (with Blake Grimes) (37:35) - Best Experimental Album (with Asher Swiss) (47:42) - Best New Artist (with Madi Vance) (54:08) - Best Cinematography (with Jonah Park) (1:07:52) - Best Album Concept/Theme (1:15:31) - Best Actor (1:22:46) - Best Actress (1:28:40) - Best Movie Script (1:34:00) - Best Album Art (1:38:53) - Best Feature On A Song

On this Joanne Shaw Taylor Interview: How she started gigging at 14, learning to write songs on her own, how music helped heal emotional wounds, losing her mum to breast cancer, dealing with financial low points in her career, her worst gig ever, the naivete of her youth… her main guitars and how she got them… why she doesn't listen to new blues OR guitar music, cooking, reading & the outdoors, why your gigs are never as good or as bad as you think, how she stopped giving a f-ck, Hank, and why it's best if “You do you.” LOVELY conversation with a first-class professional who's also a lot of fun Discover How to Get Your Music Licensed & Placed in TV, Movies, Video Games & Streaming Services: https://MusicReboot.com Support this show: https://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/support Originally from England, Joanne Shaw Taylor's a blues guitarist. Joanne's been playing live since she was a teenager and currently lives in Nashville. She won Best Female Vocalist at the British Blues Awards, twice, as well as Songwriter of the Year. Joanne released 11 albums including her latest, Nobody's Fool which features Dave Stewart, Joe Bonamassa & Carmen Vandenberg who we had on here on the show a while ago. Joanne's currently touring the states, so check her out when she's nearby.  Subscribe & Website:  https://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/subscribe Cool Guitar, Music & ELG T-Shirts!: https://www.GuitarMerch.com 

Rod Goelz; Rod is a local music mentor with over 30 years of performing and teaching experience. A Millersville graduate with a passion for music and rhythm, Rod has created his own methods of teaching and coaching locally in Central PA. Partially operating out of Rock Mill Industries, Rod teaches Quick Start Guitar lessons, Music and Wellness sessions, and many more. There is just too much to cover in one short interview. Please check out Rod's lesson options @ https://www.rodgoelz.com/Jess Zimmerman of The Jess Zimmerman Band;Jess is an award winning local Country Artist with more nominations than we can list. Winning the "Best Female Vocalist" CPMA in 2019 and the "Best Country Band" CPMA in 2021. The band's newly released album "Be the Light" was released in May and they are currently touring the US. We are looking forward to seeing their band at this coming CPMAs so make sure you get your nominations in! https://www.jzband.org/You can find out more about the CPMHOF @ https://cpmhof.com/Brought to you by Darker with Daniel @ Studio 3.http://darkerwithdaniel.com/All media requests: thecpmpodcast@gmail.comJoin us back here or on your favorite audio streaming platform every other week for more content.

On this Episode of #WeNeedToTalk, Malynda chats with Sleuth App startup founder, Sehreen Ali Noor. They discuss parenting, medical care, why she created the app and how parents need more support. Sehreen is the co-founder of Sleuth, an app that enables parents to understand, manage, and predict their child's health. Backed by investors like Gary Vaynerchuk, Sleuth is the first platform to combine crowdsourced health histories with AI to give parents comprehensive, evidence-backed information about their kid's health and development that can be taken to a pediatrician. Sehreen is passionate about supporting founders, serving on the leadership team of VC Backed Moms (300 founders, $2B+ raised) and an EIR at Brown University. The journey to Sleuth is inspired by her struggle navigating her daughter's health and she is a vocal advocate for more inclusive policies towards all kids, especially ones with medical and special needs.   All Listeners of #WeNeedToTalk can use the promo code: Malynda20 for 20% discount. To download the app click here: Sleuth.   #WeNeedToTalk is hosted by singer, songwriter, actress and activist Malynda Hale.  She won “Best Female Vocalist” at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, “Best Pop Music Video” at the Indie Music Channel Awards, and “Pop Song of the Year” at The Josie Music Awards. She has been a headliner for the NAMM show, has opened for artists such as Tyrone Wells, Ernie Halter, Levi Kreis, OTOWN and Smokey Robinson and sung background for Melissa Manchester, Terron Brooks and Foreigner. She has toured the world as a guest entertainer on cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Regent, and Celebrity. She has also  sung the national anthem numerous times for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Galaxy, and the California Democratic National Convention. She recently had music featured on the CBS hit soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful as well as the Disney channel TV show Saturdays.  She was also a featured soloist in WhyHunger's: Drum Together version of The Beatles classic “Come Together”. The project featured over 100 drummers and musicians including Ringo Starr and a featured soloist for the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared in numerous stage productions, national commercials, independent films and TV movies.She hosts the #WeNeedToTalk Podcast that is centered around meaningful conversations, is the owner of JMV Entertainment  and a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA and NARAS. Website: www.malyndahale.com | Instagram: @malyndahale | Twitter & Threads: @malyndahale | TikTok: @malyndahale  

Jana Kramer is an actress, country music singer, New York Times bestselling author and host of the popular podcast Whine Down with Jana Kramer. She starred on the hit television series One Tree Hill and has appeared in numerous shows and films since. Jana has also made her mark in the music industry, winning ‘New Female Vocalist of the Year' at the 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards and earning a nomination for ‘Best Female Vocalist of the Year' in 2015. In her new book, The Next Chapter, Jana chronicles the end of her marriage and the year that follows, revealing how she found the courage to write the next chapter of her story. This episode is a conversation about moving from heartbreak, pain and anger to forgiveness, confidence and peace.  

In this episode, Jennifer chats with singer, actress, and activist, Malynda Hale. Her unwavering faith and spirituality guide her in speaking out for marginalized groups with earnestness, vulnerability, and kindness. As such, they talk about the challenges of engaging in difficult conversations in today's fast-paced and divided world, especially on social media. They share insights on giving oneself permission to start and speak out even in the face of adversity. They also explore the importance of learning directly from others lived experiences in order to foster understanding and create change. Plus they emphasize the value of kindness, empathy, and active listening in addressing social issues and breaking down barriers.   About Malynda: Malynda Hale was born and raised in sunny Santa Barbara, California where she began singing at the age of 5. At the age of seven she learned to play the piano, and by the age of nine, she was writing her own music. Her love for music and desire to make a difference in the world has led her to be recognized many times for her work. She won “Best Female Vocalist” at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, “Best Pop Music Video” at the Indie Music Channel Awards, and “Pop Song of the Year” at The Josie Music Awards. She has been a headliner for the NAMM show, has opened for artists such as Tyrone Wells, Ernie Halter, Levi Kreis, OTOWN and Smokey Robinson and sung background for Melissa Manchester, Terron Brooks and Foreigner. Pre-covid she was touring the world as a guest entertainer on cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Regent, and Celebrity. As an actress she has appeared in stage productions of Once of This Island, Dreamgirls, and Bye Bye Birdie as well as numerous national commercials, independent films and the Lifetime TV Network movie ” A Hunt for Truth” alongside Willa Ford. Most recently she starred in a feature film alongside Loretta Divine and Amy Madigan and a short film with Danielle Beckman and Bobby Moynihan. She currently hosts her own podcast called #WeNeedToTalk that focuses on powerful one-on-one conversations. #WeNeedtoTalk drives home the message that “Everything begins with a conversation.” She loves tackling hard hitting topics like politics, religion, social justice, mental health, and more. No topic is off limits for her. She specifically has a deep passion for discussing social justice from a Christian perspective and encourages all people of faith to do the same. Because of her love for telling people's stories, in January 2021 she created the Black Voices Heard Project, an ongoing video and photo series that seeks to amplify the experiences of Black Americans. Through this project, it is her hope that the negative perceptions of the Black community will be dismantled and the door will open for more understanding and empathy. Malynda uses her voice through her music and social media presence as an educating activist to effect change within social justice, female empowerment, LGBTQ+ rights, veganism, the Black Lives Matter movement, Antisemitism and Progressive Christianity. Malynda has partnered with many organizations such as ACE For Change, Vocal Media, and Yahoo to spread messaging on voting rights, climate change and world hunger and has been a featured commentator on CNN, ABC News Live & Good Morning America. She currently serves as a curriculum and development consultant for ROC Era, a nonprofit committed to providing arts and mentorship programs to inner city youth,  she is on the board for the Religions Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and for The New Evangelicals Non Profit and is an assistant producer at the Garry Marshall Theatre. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and dog.  Malynda's IGs: @malyndahale Malynda's Website: www.malyndahale.com Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! https://appt.link/jenniferapple Monologue Sourcing Promo Link! https://empoweredartistcollective.com/podcastpromo Learn more: https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/podcast EAC IG: @EmpoweredArtistCollective  EAC TikTok: @EmpowerArtistCollective EAC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredartistcollective/ Nominate a Podcast Guest! https://form.jotform.com/220608577638162 Sign up for our newsletter! https://mailchi.mp/8e72e8dcb662/stay-in-touch Check Out Our Merch! https://www.empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com/ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com

On this episode of #WeNeedtoTalk, Malynda chats with Psychotherapist and Author Matthias Roberts. The two discuss his personal faith journey, the future of the church, reclaming your faith and his new book Holy Runaways. Matthias Roberts (he/him) is a psychotherapist specializing in religious and spiritual trauma and the author of Beyond Shame: Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms. He hosts Queerology: A Podcast on Belief and Being and holds two master's degrees from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, one in theology and culture, and one in counseling psychology. His work has been featured by O: The Oprah Magazine, Bustle, Woman's Day, Sojourners, The Seattle Times, and many others. He lives in Seattle.   Website: matthiasroberts.com/  | Instagram: matthiasroberts/ | Twitter:  matthiasroberts | Facebook: matthiasroberts  #WeNeedToTalk is hosted by singer, songwriter, actress and activist Malynda Hale.  She won “Best Female Vocalist” at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, “Best Pop Music Video” at the Indie Music Channel Awards, and “Pop Song of the Year” at The Josie Music Awards. She has been a headliner for the NAMM show, has opened for artists such as Tyrone Wells, Ernie Halter, Levi Kreis, OTOWN and Smokey Robinson and sung background for Melissa Manchester, Terron Brooks and Foreigner. She has toured the world as a guest entertainer on cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Regent, and Celebrity. She has also  sung the national anthem numerous times for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Galaxy, and the California Democratic National Convention. She recently had music featured on the CBS hit soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful as well as the Disney channel TV show Saturdays.  She was also a featured soloist in WhyHunger's: Drum Together version of The Beatles classic “Come Together”. The project featured over 100 drummers and musicians including Ringo Starr and a featured soloist for the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared in numerous stage productions, national commercials, independent films and TV movies.She hosts the #WeNeedToTalk Podcast that is centered around meaningful conversations, is the owner of JMV Entertainment  and a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA and NARAS. Website: www.malyndahale.com | Instagram: @malyndahale | Twitter & Threads: @malyndahale | TikTok: @malyndahale      

WeNeedToTalk Returns next week on October 9th! #WeNeedTo Talk is hosted by MALYNDA HALE. SHE IS A SINGER/SONGWRITER, ACTRESS, ENTREPRENEUR & ACTIVIST.   Malynda was born and raised in sunny Santa Barbara, California where she began singing at the age of 5. At the age of seven she learned to play the piano, and by the age of nine, she was writing her own music. Her love for music and desire to make a difference in the world has led her to be recognized many times for her work. She won “Best Female Vocalist” at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, “Best Pop Music Video” at the Indie Music Channel Awards, and “Pop Song of the Year” at The Josie Music Awards. She has been a headliner for the NAMM show, has opened for artists such as Tyrone Wells, Ernie Halter, Levi Kreis, OTOWN and Smokey Robinson and sung background for Melissa Manchester, Terron Brooks and Foreigner. Pre-covid she was touring the world as a guest entertainer on cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Regent, and Celebrity. She has sung the national anthem numerous times for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Galaxy, and the California Democratic National Convention and she recently had music featured on the CBS hit soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful as well as the Disney channel tv show Saturdays.  She was also a featured soloist in WhyHunger's: Drum Together version of The Beatles classic “Come Together”. The project featured over 100 drummers and musicians including Ringo Starr. As an actress she has appeared in stage productions of Once of This Island, Dreamgirls, and Bye Bye Birdie as well as numerous national commercials, independent films and the Lifetime TV Network movie ” A Hunt for Truth” alongside Willa Ford. Most recently she starred in a feature film alongside Loretta Divine and Amy Madigan and a short film with Danielle Beckman and Bobby Moynihan. She also played “Tanta Kringle” in the Troubadour Theatre company's performance of “Santa Claus is coming to Motown” and The Soul Sister Fairy Godmother in Cindy and the Disco Ball, a 70's version of Cinderella at the Garry Marshall Theatre. Past guests on the show have included: Cornel West, John Pavlovitz, Shaun King, Kyla Pratt, Frederick Joseph, Richard Marx, Michelle Williams, Elisa Donovan, Jonah Platt, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Noa Tishby, Grace Semler Baldridge, Angel Parker, Dewayne Perkins, Nick Jones Jr., and more! Because of her love for telling people's stories, in January 2021 she created the Black Voices Heard Project, an ongoing video and photo series that seeks to amplify the experiences of Black Americans. Through this project, it is her hope that the negative perceptions of the Black community will be dismantled and the door will open for more understanding and empathy. Malynda uses her voice through her music and social media presence as an educating activist to effect change within social justice, female empowerment, LGBTQ+ rights, veganism, the Black Lives Matter movement, Antisemitism and Progressive Christianity. Malynda has partnered with many organizations such as ACE For Change, Vocal Media, and Yahoo to spread messaging on voting rights, climate change and world hunger and has been a featured commentator on CNN, ABC News Live & Good Morning America. She currently serves as a curriculum and development consultant for ROC Era, a nonprofit committed to providing arts and mentorship programs to inner city youth,  she is on the board for the Religions Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and for The New Evangelicals Non Profit and is an assistant producer at the Garry Marshall Theatre. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and dog. She is the owner of JMV Music Entertainment Agency and a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA and NARAS.. When she's not working she loves to binge watch a good Netflix series.

In this episode, we have a powerhouse guest, Qamil Wright, the CEO of Soul Dope Entertainment, an R&B soul recording artist, Podcast host, Producer, and Creative Project Manager We'll be delving into the world of music and self-discovery with her. So, let's have some fun! Grab your notepad (especially if you have a Vision Made notebook), call up your friends and join us as we grasp Qamil's journey, her music, and her golden nuggets of wisdom and inspiration. KEY HIGHLIGHTS: Get to know our amazing guest, Qamil Wright, and discover how she entered the music industry Qamil reflects on her initial stage fright and shares how she overcame it Explore the importance of having fun and not allowing fear to hinder your pursuit of passions Qamil celebrates the unique music scene in the Midwest, specifically Ohio Get the chance to listen to a sample of one of her songs Learn about her novel, "Satisfaction," featuring four young black professionals with intriguing stories Qamil shares her self-care routine, recent wins, and what's next on her journey ABOUT THE GUEST: Qamil is the CEO of Soul Dope Entertainment. With a powerful voice, songwriting prowess, and expertise in directing and producing, she's a force to be reckoned with in Columbus, Ohio's entertainment scene. Qamil's roots in music run deep, as the niece of Norma Jean Wright, former lead vocalist of Chic, and her performances span the emotional spectrum from love to sensuality. Her remarkable talents have graced stages with renowned artists like Sy Smith, Dwele, K Michelle, and Marlon Wayans. Qamil's accolades include nominations for Best Female Vocalist at the Ohio Hip Hop Awards, a starring role as Billie Holiday in a stage production, and winning the WTMH Music Award for Best Female Vocalist. In 2020, she paved the way for the Ohio R&B Music Festival, founded Black Artist Solidarity Day, and continuously supports indie artists through showcases and open mics. Qamil also hosts "The Soul Dope Show" podcast, manages Soul Dope Production Studio, and anticipates releasing a new album under her Indie label, Soul Dope Records, in 2024. KEY TAKEAWAY: Whatever we face, we still gonna have to have fun getting through it. We picked our thing, so whether you're a writer, or you're a comedian, or you watch a magazine, you picked it because you're passionate about it, or something about it made you wanna do it, so you might as well enjoy it. - Qamil Keep going. When you think that nobody cares. When you think that nobody's paying attention. Remind yourself that you are doing it for you because it's something that you love… it really doesn't matter who's watching and who is there, who isn't there, who is meant to be there, will be there. Always, it will never fail. So just do things because you love it and have a good time. Just keep going. - Qamil To connect with Qamil visit her at: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Qamil Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qamilsouldope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qamil.souldope.12/ Website: https://www.souldopeentertainment.com Connect with me on Facebook at: Facebook: Pamela Stone Vision Made Media www.visionmadtwork.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whatsnextforwomen/support

Gillian Smith is a beautiful, kind, and fun-loving country music artist. She stepped onto the country music stage in 2021 with her debut single, ‘Guess You Couldn't'. Since then she has been a nominee for the Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame Awards and nominated for Best Female Country Artist and Best Female Vocalist. She's opened for big names like Morgan Evans, Restless Road, Breland, Chris Lane, Morgan Wade and even Blake Shelton. The Myrtle Moms had the unique opportunity to sit down with Gillian and learn about what got her into the business and her life as a rising country music singer. 

Date: May 10, 2023Name of podcast: Backstage Pass RadioEpisode title and number:  S4: E15 - Season Ammons  - Steel Hearts in Gruene TexasArtist Bio -With a voice as distinguishable and versatile as her name, Season Ammons is an award-winning songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, blending soulful blues with Texas roots and Americana.  Ammons' most recent project, 'Steel Hearts,' is her fourth and most personal album to date.  For this recording, Texas-based Ammons took a special trip across the pond and recorded in the legendary Studio 2 at London's fabled Abbey Road Studios.  Sought-after producer David Percefull (Green Day, Gary Clark Jr., Meat Puppets) mixed ‘Steel Hearts' at Abbey Road in Studio 3, and Sean Magee (Beatles, Rolling Stones, Rush, Iron Maiden) mastered the album there. Drawing predominantly from her experiences of heartbreak, forgiveness, self-acceptance, and new love ‘Steel Hearts' showcases Ammons' unique, searing intensity and confirms that this singular artist has a lot more to say and infinite ways to say it.   Ammons' remarkable live show has taken her all over the country and beyond. Highlights include multiple standing-room-only showcases at Americanafest in Nashville, TN; a featured showcase at the FMQB Triple A Conference (Boulder, CO); performances at 30A Songwriters Festival (Destin, FL), Little 5 Points Festival (Atlanta, GA), Waltstock & Barrel Festival (Fredericksburg, TX); packed house at The Bedford (London, England) and a special Future Faces showcase at the Texas Regional Radio Music Awards.  Over the years, Ammons has earned steady press coverage from national and regional media.  Her musical diversity is evident with consistent appearances on various national radio charts including Billboard Triple A,  Americana Albums Chart, Roots Music Report's Top R&B Album Chart (#10), and regular Top 40 chart action on the Texas Regional Radio Report (TRRR) chart. *Awards: Texas Country Music Association Award of Distinction (2012);  Emerald Coast BMA Awards for Best Country Artist (2015), Best Female Vocalist (2017) and Best Singer/Songwriter (2017); Texas Music Awards nominee for Best Female Vocalist (2020)Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist Media Handles:Website - www.seasonammons.comInstagram  - https://www.instagram.com/season__ammons/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theseasonammonsCall to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass RadioYour Host,Randy Hulsey 

Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Interviewing the Legends I'm your host Ray Shasho Andy Glass founded the UK Prog group Solstice in 1980 with violinist Marc Elton and the following 4 years would see them make the Marquee Club their home and take the band to the main stage at Reading Rock Festival, Glastonbury and many others. Following the split in 1985, a change of tack led to touring as guitarist for American soul legends Bill Withers and Geno Washington alongside his work as studio engineer and session musician.   After recording Ian Anderson in the studio, Andy was invited to take the job of 'front of house' sound engineer with Jethro Tull leading to five American tours and long outings through Europe and the UK. Nothing would prove as satisfying as playing with Solstice though and so, inevitably, Andy reformed the band in its current line up in 2007. The follow-up to 2020's acclaimed Sia is the band's seventh album, and the second to feature vocalist Jess Holland, who was placed fourth in the Best Female Vocalist category of Prog Magazine's 2022 Readers' Poll (guitarist Andy Glass also ranked 5th in the Guitarist category while the band ranked 8th in Best Band). Big Big Train's Greg Spawton was moved to comment: "Nothing prepared me for the extraordinary new line-up that they have settled on in the last few years. Solstice are back and are back to being brilliant. Their forthcoming album, Light Up, is utterly sensational: beautiful production, great songs, great voices, tricky rhythms and epic guitar solos." The band have lined up some live dates to support the new album, including appearances at Cropredy Festival, London's 229 venue on April 28 and a co-headline performance with fellow 80s neo-prog veterans Trilogy, the first time the two bands have performed with each other since they toured together back in 1983! Please welcome guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and founder of UK's Prog Rock group SOLSTICE to Interviewing the Legends …   PURCHASE THE BRAND-NEW RELEASE BY ANDY GLASS AND S O L S T I C E Entitled L I G H T   U P Available at https://gep.co.uk/ GEP Records (Giant Electric Pea) www.solsticeprog.uk Official website   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT S O L S T I C E VISIT www.solsticeprog.uk Official website https://solstice3.bandcamp.com/ Bandcamp www.facebook.com/solsticeprog Facebook www.instagram.com/solsticeproguk Instagram https://gep.co.uk/ GEP Records (Giant Electric Pea) www.3sticks.weebly.com 3Sticks official site   Solstice tour dates 2023 FRI 3 MARCH Fusion 4 2023 Stourport, UK   SAT 8 APRIL Progdreams Festival 2023 Zoetermeer, Netherlands   FRI 28 APRIL 229London, UK   SAT 29 APRIL The Northcourt Music Venue Abingdon, UK   SUN 30 APRIL the 1865Southampton, UK   SAT 1 JULY Alford Rock and Blues 2023Alford, UK   SAT 22 JULY Colchester Arts CentreColchester, UK   SAT 12 AUGUST Cropredy Festival 2023Cropredy, UK   SAT 2 SEPTEMBER The Stables Milton Keynes, UK   SAT 11 NOVEMBER HRH Prog XII 2023Great Yarmouth, UK   HRH Prog XII 2023 Line-up Focus        Tangerine Dream       Steeleye Span Airbag       Gong       Spock's Beard Russ Ballard       Magenta       Solstice Jump       Galahad       It Rosalie Cunningham       Godsticks       Ryders Creed Apostle       Doris Brendel       Gandalf's Fist Pearl Handled Revolver       Kepler Ten       The Far Meadow Codices       The Amber Herd       Dr Hasbeen I Am The Manic Whale       Mother Black Cap       Stuckfish Grace and Fire       Dadaxl       The Pearson Memmott Conspiracy       Marmrain   SOLSTICE Discography Studio albums     Silent Dance (1984)     New Life (1993)     Circles (1997)     Spirit (2010)     Prophecy (2013)     Sia (released 23rd November 2020) Light Up (2023)   Live albums     The Cropredy Set (2002)     Kindred Spirits (2011)     Live in Veruno (2022)   Compilation albums     Pathways (1998) Support us!

On this episode, Nick O'Brien talks with Milwaukee based female vocalist B.D. Greer! Returning to Wisconsin after 21 years in New York, B.D. has been immersing herself comfortably in Milwaukee's music scene - so far as to be named Milwaukee's Best Female Vocalist of 2022! Reflecting on her time in New York, B.D. talks performances, music communities, and shifting her focus to working in hospitality.Find more info about B.D. at: www.bdgreer.comCheck out more about TMV Podcast at www.themusiciansventure.com, @themusiciansventure on Facebook and Instagram, and @MusicianVenture on Twitter.

Super stoked to announce next guest, Jess Zimmerman, to The Story!The Jess Zimmerman Band is a Country Rock Band formed in 2015 and based in Southeastern PA. Jess's love for country music combined with rock influences of band members, Joe Barszowski, John Knobler, and Joe Mattis creates a band with music that has a lasting impact on all that witness their show. With influences from musicians/artists like Halestorm, Underwood, Van Halen, Gaga, Benatar, and Mc Bride, The Jess Zimmerman Band is a sweet cocktail of country and rock music adding in variety of other genres providing an exciting and entertaining live show. Jess Zimmerman was nominated and won the 2019 “Best Female Vocalist” in the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame Awards and The Jess Zimmerman Band was awarded "Best Country Band" in 2021 at the CPMA's most recent awards show.The band is currently up for five awards this year at the Nashville Josie Music Awards Show. Including: "Entertainer of the Year", "Best Rock Singer" (Jess). "Album of the Year" (Breathe), "Video of the Year" (The Old Me), and "Fans Choice Award".The band has written and recorded three records at OmniSound Studios, Nashville with more to come! Their first, self-titled EP, The Jess Zimmerman Band was recorded in 2016, with hit tracks “No Different” and “No Easy Way”. Red - The Jess Zimmerman Band, was the second “hot off the press” EP the band produced/released in 2018 and in 2021 their newest full-length album entitled "Breathe".The Jess Zimmerman Band won the 1st Citadel Palooza Rising Star Contest and has been playing the Citadel Country Spirit USA Festival every year. The band has opened shows and shared the stage with a non-stop list of monumental artists such as Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Toby Keith and Trace Atkins to name a few. The JZ Band also works with BOB 94.9 FM iHeart Country Radio and has kicked off shows for Kane Brown, Jimmie Allen, High Valley, and Drew Baldridge. The band tours nationally and has performed at multiple NASCAR Tracks for race fans while also honoring veterans and first responders along the way. Recent stops have been Homestead-Miami Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Watkin-Glen, Bristol Motor Speedway and many other festivals, state fairs and events. Jess and the band have worked at helping to keep LIVE Country Music Alive with WITF, PBS Kids and The American Music Theatre. The band performed and showcased in presenting, “Country Music” a Film by Ken Burns hosted at the American Music Theatre in 2019. You can find Jess and her projects here:Webpage: https://www.jzband.org/Instagram: @jesszimmermanbandFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesszimmermanbandTik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jesszimmermanband?_t=8VwDouCiN1n...Spotify: https://music.apple.com/.../the-jess-zimmerman.../1188822693Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/.../the-jess-zimmerman.../1188822693Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-story/donations

Writer and trivia host Terrance Balazo returns to the show to mark the passing of Olivia Newton-John. Beyond achieving iconic screen stardom as the “good girl gone bad” Sandy in Grease, she changed the sound of country music in the seventies and then pop music in the eighties with “Physical”, the biggest chart hit of the decade and a key influence on performers like Madonna and later Kylie Minogue. Of course we discuss Grease (and Grease 2), but we also dive into Olivia's notorious rollerskating musical Xanadu as well as her screen debut in the obscure 1970 British sci-fi musical comedy Toomorrow and her reunion with John Travolta Two of a Kind (featuring the uncredited voice of Gene Hackman as God!) Plus, we watched her insane 1980 prime-time tv special Hollywood Nights, an all-star salute to Tinseltown. Patrons of the Junk Filter podcast can access additional exclusive episodes every month: some of our notable previous guests include Jared Yates Sexton, David Roth, Bryan Quinby, Alex Shephard and Sooz Kempner. More to come! Sign up at https://www.patreon.com/junkfilter Follow Terrance Balazo on Twitter. Terrance's Twitchstream for his weekly trivia contest Another Round Trivia. Olivia Newton-John accepting the 1974 CMA award for Best Female Vocalist of the Year Argentine trailer for a 1979 cash-in re-release of Toomorrow (Val Guest, 1970) Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights (ABC TV special, 1980) Trailer for Xanadu (Robert Greenwald, 1980) TV spot for Two of a Kind (John Herzfeld, 1983) “Magic” - Olivia Newton-John, 1980 "Physical" music video - Olivia Newton-John, 1981 “Make a Move on Me” - Olivia Newton-John, 1982 Olivia's anti-crack PSA, 1987

It's not often an artist lands on the stages of music festivals like Governor's Ball and New Orleans Jazz Fest before they graduate high school. For multi-hyphenate artist DAMOYEE, they're just the beginning. Since early childhood, the Dallas, Texas native and award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and composer has been studying music theory and composition to establish her own musical thumbprint built on an intrapersonal understanding of her art. She quickly began nourishing her ability by learning several instruments, including piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, melodica and dulcimer, to name a few. Growing up, DAMOYEE found inspiration from the soulful musings of artists like Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys as she began charting her journey as a pianist and storyteller with ethereal and enchanting vocals — by the age of 10 she was performing her own original music. This led to her acceptance into Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, an alma mater shared by the likes of Norah Jones and Erykah Badu. Her latest album, 2019's The Whole Truth, charted internationally and garnered praise from publications like Dallas Observer and Central Track, which respectively dubbed her “Best Vocalist” and “Best Female Vocalist” in Dallas. Now, having spent the past few years bolstering her craft while a student at Berklee College of Music, DAMOYEE has found deeper meaning in the trials and tribulations of unrequited love, self-discovery and the reclamation (similar to proclamation)of her womanhood. Her new music explores these themes while fusing shades of pop, jazz, R&B and folk to create a unique sound that has reverberated throughout the viral ethers of multiple social platforms, including TikTok and Instagram, where she has amassed a collective audience in the hundreds of thousands of followers.

Notes: Abigail Spinner McBride has one of those stories -- a choir director told her, "Don't sing, honey, because no one wants to hear your voice." This year she was chosen as Best Female Vocalist of the Year 2022 at the International Pagan Music Awards. I love me a story that says though we may have had voices like that in the past -- voices that shut us down either with dismissal or by sky-high expectations -- those voices have no way of knowing us or our potential. Our excitement can be to wake to our own voices, come out of a dream state and notice what is actually real, around us, right now. I love this song for its high energy of opening and possibility. Songwriter Info: Abigail Spinner McBride has been creating pagan chants in the Earth-Spirit community since the late 1980s and is deeply involved in transformation and transmutation work through drumming, chanting, fire circles, and magic. She is a High Priestess of the Family of Fire, a musician, dancer, and massage therapist, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Links:  Fire of Creation album (with Awaken Me) on Apple Music (2007) ​Abigail's facebook page (you don't have to be a Facebook member to look at this) The Vegas Vortex: a website of the transformational fire work that Abigail offers Nuts & Bolts: 4:4; Mixolydian, 2 layer song with harmonies Visit abreathofsong.com for lyrics, more of Patty's artwork, and a way to nominate songs or songwriters for the podcast. Join the A Breath of Song mailing list to receive a heads up as a new episode is released, plus a large version of the artwork, brief thoughts from my slightly peculiar brain... and occasional extras when they seem vitally important! No junk -- I will never sell your address. I read out all your names into my living room when I send new mailings... I appreciate the connection to you who are listening and singing these songs with me. Exchange energy with A Breath of Song with dollars at the Gratitude Jar (whoo-hoo!!!!), or by making comments, leaving reviews, suggesting songs or songwriters (including yourself) ..... your participation matters!

On this episode of Concerts That made us Brian is joined by Giuliana Amaral of BAND,Inc. BAND, Inc. is a heavy rock band based out of Boston, Massachusetts. This hell-raising band brings their all to every show, every venue, and every stage that they play on. Combining their love for rock music, their ambitious personalities, and a unified dream of bringing their music for all to hear, BAND, Inc. is truly a force on stage. Formed by lead vocalist/bassist Giuliana Lucia Amaral in 2018, BAND, Inc. has been gigging non-stop ever since. From opening for big names, such as Alice Cooper, Dave Matthews Band, Buckcherry, to playing at iconic clubs such as the Whisky A Go Go, BAND, Inc. strikes with electrifying riff, grooves, and catchy melodies. BAND, Inc.'s Amaral has won several awards, such as Best Female Vocalist of The year by Limelight Magazine and Best Young Act of the Year by The New England Music Hall of Fame. Find BAND,Inc here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063592830411 https://www.instagram.com/band_inc/ https://music.apple.com/us/album/midnite-rider-single/1607488912 https://open.spotify.com/artist/5NjXCbPfyL2J14LqpySqrt?si=Q0YANSQ9SuGm0Vt-1Hp9Aw Find CTMU here:  https://linktr.ee/Concertsthatmadeus  Newsletter: https://concertsthatmadeus.aweb.page/p/f065707b-2e34-4268-8e73-94f12bd2e938 If you would like to support the show you can do so by rating/reviewing us on Itunes and Spotify or by signing up at https://www.patreon.com/Concertsthatmadeus and you will gain access to a range of benefits including video versions of the episodes.https://concertsthatmadeus.aweb.page/p/f065707b-2e34-4268-8e73-94f12bd2e938--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ctmu/message Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/concerts-that-made-us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/jwgnsY3Awo4 The work that Wendy Scherl, Ann Kittredge, and Carolyn Montgomery are doing on behalf of the American Songbook Association is worthy of Super Heroines and we will definitely celebrate their individual achievements as well as the alchemy they create together. Ann Kittredge is an award-winning performing artist who has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at major venues across the country, working with top producers and directors throughout her career. Offstage, Ann has volunteered as a child education advocate and is currently Vice President of the American Songbook Association, an organization that provides music workshops to underprivileged NYC public school students. Carolyn Montgomery is the Executive Director of the American Songbook Association, as well as a MAC, Bistro and Nightlife Award winning singer/songwriter. She's performed in 42 states across the nation as well as London, Mexico and Canada. She lives on the west side of Manhattan with a teenage son and a Jack Russell terrier. Wendy started her performing career in regional theater after she graduated with honors from Northwestern University (BA,Theater). She made her Cabaret Debut in 1988 with a sold out run at Danny's Skylight Room (NYC) with her show The Lights and The Smiles. Following MetroStar, Scherl began her collaboration with multiple award-winning director Barry Kleinbort, and esteemed Musical Director Christopher Denny (MD for Karen Mason and the late Julie Wilson). With Kleinbort and Denny, her show NEW Scherl in Town garnered her first nomination for Best Female Vocalist at the 2018 Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs Awards at BB Kings.  https://withcarolyn.norby.live

BAND, Inc. is a heavy rock band based out of Boston, Massachusetts. This hell raising band brings their all to every show, every venue, and every stage that they play on. Combining their love for rock music, their ambitious personalities, and a unified dream of bringing their music for all to hear, BAND, Inc. is truly a force on stage. Formed by lead vocalist/bassist Giuliana Lucia Amaral in 2018, BAND, Inc. has been gigging non-stop ever since. From opening for big names, such as Alice Cooper, Dave Matthews Band, Buckcherry, to playing at iconic clubs such as the Whisky A Go Go, BAND, Inc. strikes with electrifying riff, grooves, and catchy melodies. BAND, Inc.'s Amaral has won several awards, such as Best Female Vocalist of The year by Limelight Magazine and Best Young Act of the Year by The New England Music Hall of Fame.

Join me and Giuliana Lucia Amaral singer/songwriter/lead front woman of Band, Inc for a fun chat. Giuliana has an impressive resume at such a young age including Best Female Vocalist of the Year by Limelight Magazine 2020, BEST YOUNG ARTIST 2021 by the New England Music Hall of Fame and a new nomination for Portugal New artist of the year. Her bands include BAND, Inc. & Giuliana & Damiano Duo and she is attending Berklee College of Music student on an awarded scholarship. Such a humble, kind and caring musician, Giuliana was inspired to play bass by her Grandfather and continues to carry on the family tradition of kicking ass! She has consistent shows at the famous Whiskey A Go-Go in L.A. and continues to rise to the top!!! Please consider following her on her socials @giulianaluciaamaral Sit back, relax and enjoy!! Please consider joining the chat during our live shows on facebook @sunshine-cantu Thank you, as always, for your support ! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thesunshineshow/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thesunshineshow/support

On this episode of Roger the Wild Child Show, we are joined by Nashville singer/songwriter, Jessie Ritter and country music artists, John PayCheck!JESSIE RITTERBased in Nashville, Tennessee and Northwest Florida, singer/songwriter Jessie Ritter plays a heartfelt brand of country with a breezy, romantic feel and plenty of charm. While studying music at Belmont University in Nashville, she released her EP Stories Told. Ritter then cut her teeth on the cruise ship circuit, releasing her debut album, Coffee Every Morning in 2018.After winning NashFM 105.5's regional Nash Next competition, she represented the Florida Panhandle in the finals, beating out over 800 contestants to be named the 2018 Nash Next winner. She gained national recognition and a record deal with Big Machine (home to heavy-hitters like Taylor Swift and Florida Georgia Line) making her label debut in May 2019 with the single "Nothing But You.” She then swept the 2019 Northwest Florida Beachcomber awards taking home eight titles including: Musician of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Original Song, Best Country Artist, Best Singer/Songwriter, Best Solo Artist, Best New Artist, and Best Female Vocalist. Opening slots for Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, Easton Corbin, and Runaway June followed, as well as featured performances alongside hitmakers at songwriter festivals across the southern United States.Touring heavily through the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions, Ritter released her soul-stirring single “Home” in November of 2020. The tune received accolades as a semi-finalist in the Unsigned Only music competition. The corresponding music video was featured on CMT in the United States and Australia. “Home” reached #1 on TCN Country's Top 20 Countdown on The Country Network, logging seventeen weeks on that chart, and many more in their Discovery Artist rotation. Beach vibes from her single “The Sand and The Sea” followed, paying tribute to Jessie's newfound love of life on the Florida Panhandle. Jessie's newest record, "Little Town In America," takes her storytelling to a whole new level, exploring the dichotomy of yearning for adventure and yearning for home. A native of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Ritter grew up on her family farm listening to country radio and absorbing the sounds of artists like Lee Ann Womack, Shania Twain, and Miranda Lambert. She continues to tour heavily through the midwest and Gulf Coast regions.JOHN PAYCHECKJohn PayCheck is just a guy trying to enjoy country music and have fun with some other rowdy musicians while continuing to carry on the music traditions his father left behind. He also just happens to be the son of a country music legend, a combat veteran, any Army helicopter and fixed wing pilot, a firefighter, a civil servant, a computer engineer, a musician, a small business owner, comic book collector, board game nerd, rodeo lover, horse lover, a whiskey drinker and a pretty darn good guy....oh and he some how finds time to be a father and husband.John has been a part of the music business for years and only recently decided to jump back in after some encouragement from friends in the music industry. John started out working for his dad every summer as a kid. Working his way up from roadie to road manager. He played in a few different bands for fun while pursuing his other interests outside music like finishing his Bachelors of Science in Computer Information Systems and his Masters in Military Strategy and Diplomacy. To top it all off he is married to his wife Samantha,a combat veteran, and together they are raising three wonderful girls. Flying planes and helicopters, working with computers at IBM and raising a family just wasn't enough for him though, he missed the road and music.

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/7LczBmmW-qA Phyllis Pastore arrived from Colorado 30 years ago fully intending to take the NY cabaret stages by storm and sang regularly at Don't Tell Mama, the Duplex, Rose's Turn, Eighty-Eights and most recently at Pangea in the East Village. She was nominated for an award by the Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets for her debut show and named Best Female Vocalist by Backstage Magazine. she has performed at Town Hall and Symphony Space as a part of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention and has become a regular entertainer in the esteemed series Sondheim Unplugged at Feinstein's/54 Below. Fate smiled on Phyllis when she was offered the opportunity to sing in Mykonos Greece at Montparnasse, The Piano Bar.   It was a joy and privilege to be a resident vocalist in that beautiful club. After watching her fair share of commercials on television, she decided that THAT is what she desired to do in her “golden years” so she has taken on a new career as a commercial/film actress being featured in several national commercials. During the early stages of the pandemic, I converted a closet into a voice-over booth and have been working as a voice-over actor from home, voicing The Darkle Dragon in Nickelodeon's animated series Nella the Princess Knight, as well as another animated series called Barley and Tabby. The Finellis, originally planned to be a series has since become a film which was released world-wide earlier in January on Amazon Prime, Google Play and Apple TV.  http://www.thefinellis.com/ www.thep1hyllispastore.com

Chloë Agnew is a singer, songwriter from Dublin, Ireland. From the age of 14, she gained fame for her integral part as one of the original (and youngest) members of the internationally acclaimed music group Celtic Woman. In 1998 Chloë won the Grand Prix at the First International Children's Song Competition in Cairo, Egypt, where she represented Ireland. She made her PBS début in 1999 as part of Handel's Messiah performing alongside Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Roger Daltrey and Aidan Quinn. In 2004 Chloë had just finished recording her second solo album ‘Walking in the Air' when she was cast as one of the original soloists for the PBS production Celtic Woman. The Celtic Woman PBS Special first aired in March 2005 and within weeks the group's eponymous debut album reached #1 on Billboard's World Music chart where it held the top position on the Billboard World Music chart for 81 weeks. Their second album, Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration knocked their first album to the #2 spot on the World Music chart when released in October 2006. Chloë is featured on a total of 14 of Celtic Woman's albums, with songs recorded in English, Irish, Latin, Japanese, Italian and German which have sold more than eight million copies worldwide, all of which debuted at #1 on Billboard's World Music chart. Celtic Woman sold-out concerts in prestigious venues across the globe from Carnegie Hall, Red Rocks, Colorado, Radio City Music Hall to several Arenas in Europe, Japan and Australia, performing for almost three million fans. She has performed with Celtic Woman on the US TV shows Dancing with the Stars, Regis and Kelly, The Today Show and Good Morning America and many more. In 2013 Chloë made a guest appearance on the show ‘Bold and the Beautiful. While touring with Celtic Woman Chloë performed for three consecutive US Presidents (Clinton, Bush and Obama) before she turned 20. In 2012 she was named Best Female Vocalist at the Irish Music Awards. She has performed at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and collaborated with Emmy award-winning tenor Eamonn McCrystal on his album ‘And So It Goes' in a duet with Rita Wilson. She is featured in several television shows that are currently airing on PBS including The Power of Music with Ethan Bortnick and Damian McGinty (Glee Project/ Celtic Thunder), and the Nathan Carter Celtic Country show. Since 2017 Chloë has been touring with top Irish artist Nathan Carter on his U.S. tours and for the past four seasons has been the headline act for the highly acclaimed and always innovative Atlanta Pops Orchestra. The popular show ‘An Irish Heart,” as well as their holiday shows have taken Chloë and the Pops to performing arts centers throughout the Southeast and Midwest. She has become a ‘Voice of the Irish' for the University of Notre Dame performing for many events at the University including opening for the band Chicago at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Party in Dallas, Texas where she performed a song with the legendary group. She has also performed with IBMA award winning bluegrass Entertainer of the Year Balsam Range and John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band. Touring her solo show Chloë Agnew: Live Concert has brought her to many PAC's, concert series, theatres, music halls and festivals throughout the US and Europe. Connect with Chloe: Website Spotify Youtube Facebook Instagram Twitter

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/PkcDY0Paz1E Known in the cabaret and performance community as being a versatile singer who can move smoothly from one vocal genre to the next, Dawn Derow grew up in Eastham, MA and graduated from the Boston Conservatory with a Bachelor's Degree in Music: Vocal Performance & Opera Emphasis. She has performed around the world and in prestigious New York venues such as Rose Hall at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Derow's 2014 album Music 4 Two with guitarist Sean Harkness earned her a “Best CD” nomination from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC). In 2015, Derow won her first MAC Award for her work in the duo show Revolution with Kathleen France. In 2016, she employed her formidable opera singing in her solo show Legit: A Classical Cabaret and captured a Bistro Award for “Outstanding Vocalist.” In 2018, Derow won the MAC Award for “Best Female Vocalist” for her critically acclaimed solo show, My Ship: Songs From 1941, an album version of which will be released in December 2021. Last summer, Dawn introduced her new Eydie Gorme tribute show, Gypsy In My Soul, at Birdland to rave reviews and this December she was the featured singer in the Cape Symphony's Holiday performance in Cape Cod, MA. Additional information and performance dates for Dawn Derow can be found on her website at www.DawnDerow.com. In her debut Zoho Music release My Ship: Songs from 1941, vocalist Dawn Derow performs the music from her Award-winning cabaret show of the same name. Her stunning renditions on this album are not only an homage to classic songs of the WWII period, but a tribute to the performers who kept hopes high until America achieved victory. 

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/HXWCk8SScKI Diana Templeton has had a varied career in show business. Her credits include TV, radio, nightclubs, country clubs, cultural centers, retirement venues and libraries. In 1978 she began a twenty-seven year stint in the cabaret world, performing in all the leading Manhattan cabaret clubs, including The Russian Tea Room, The Firebird Cafe, Judy's Supper Club, Danny's Skylight Room and the Hideaway Room at Helen's. She has recorded ten CDs. Diana is also the creator and Artistic Director of "Broadway In The Bronx", a variety show featuring top-notch cabaret artists. Her talent was recognized and honored by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs when they presented her with their 2006 MAC Award for Best Female Vocalist. Diana taught tap dancing for eight years and in 1979 she choreographed the Off-Broadway show "Stardust" presented at The Carter Theatre in NYC  

What's the key to perseverance + following your dreams? Based in Nashville, Tennessee and Northwest Florida, singer/songwriter Jessie Ritter plays a heartfelt brand of country-pop with a breezy, romantic feel and plenty of charm. While studying music at Belmont University in Nashville, she released her EP Stories Told. Ritter then cut her teeth on the cruise ship circuit, releasing her debut album, Coffee Every Morning in 2018. After winning NashFM 105.5's regional Nash Next competition, she represented the Florida Panhandle in the finals, beating out over 800 contestants to be named the 2018 Nash Next winner. She gained national recognition and a record deal with Big Machine (home to heavy-hitters like Taylor Swift and Florida Georgia Line) making her label debut in May 2019 with the single "Nothing But You.” She then swept the 2019 Northwest Florida Beachcomber awards taking home eight titles including: Musician of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Original Song, Best Country Artist, Best Singer/Songwriter, Best Solo Artist, Best New Artist, and Best Female Vocalist. Opening slots for Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, Easton Corbin, and Runaway June followed, as well as featured performances alongside hitmakers at songwriter festivals across the southern United States. A native of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Ritter grew up on her family farm listening to country radio and absorbing the sounds of artists like Lee Ann Womack, Shania Twain, and Miranda Lambert. She is continually inspired by her favorite writer/performers: Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, and Cam.  In this episode, Jessie Ritter opens the show by explaining how she perseveres and pursues her dreams. Jessie is a kindred spirit, wise beyond her years, and she's just a few days away from having her first son. Luckily, Jessie gives us a scoop into what's happening in her world right now by sharing a little of her heart and soul. Later, Jessie talks about what success looks like for her and discusses the importance of accepting help on our journeys. At the end of this episode, we actually give you a listen to her single 'Home.' In this Episode You'll Learn:  All about today's guest, Jessie Ritter [ 0:45 ] The ingredient that helped Jessie to persevere + keep going [ 8:50 ] How to work through the comparisonitis [ 16:25 ] What Jessie's definition of success looks like [ 21:20 ] How the future looks for Jessie [ 28:15 ] The importance of accepting help on our journey [ 32:00 ] Why we have to give away things for free as creators [ 35:10 ] All about Jessie's most recent hits [ 41:10 ]   Soul Shifting Quotes:  “I think there's a lot of trust in yourself.” “Just believe that somebody would be interested in what you have to say.” “Your success doesn't have to look exactly like someone else's.” “Success for me looks like being happy most days.” “There are sacrifices you're willing to make along the way and sacrifices you're not willing to make along the way.” Links Mentioned:  Learn my 7 Secrets to Uplevel Your Brand & Land Your Dream Clients  Grab your FREE training, How to Call in Your Tribe + Create Content that Converts  Text me at 603-931-4386 Learn more about Jessie by following her on Instagram or heading to https://jessieritter.com/. Tag me in your big shifts + takeaways: @amberlilyestrom  Did you hear something you loved here today?! Leave a Review + Subscribe via iTunes  Listen on Spotify 

An episode for Sondheim fans! This week, we turn our focus to Sondheim Unplugged, one of the most popular and long-running series presented at Feinstein's/54 Below. A celebrated New York event since 2010 (It's a Hit!), the show features some of Broadway and cabaret's most dynamic voices, accompanied by piano only, delving into the musical world of Broadway's master composer. In December 2020, Sondheim Unplugged was recorded and streamed as part of 54 Below Premieres, the club's new streaming series. God, That's Good! We are joined by creator and host Phil Geoffrey Bond and performer Lucia Spina.   Phil Geoffrey Bond created Sondheim Unplugged, the long-running, award-winning monthly series, in 2010 and has served as its producer and host ever since. His novel, The Last Year at Low Tide, is currently available on Amazon from Chess Books as are his other titles — My Queer Youth, Small Town Confessions, The Fall of Mrs. Parsons, The Disney Diaries, and All the Sad Young Men. Phil has served as Director of Programming for The Duplex Cabaret Theatre, The Laurie Beechman Theatre as well as Feinstein's/54 Below, where he later became Director of Original Programming. He is the recipient of seven Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets (MAC) Awards, two Backstage Bistro Awards, a Broadway World Award, and a Nightlife Award. Lucia Spina made her Broadway debut with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona Lisa Peretti) in 2006. Her Broadway credits include Kinky Boots (original cast), South Pacific, Legally Blonde (Enid), and Les Miserables. Off-Broadway, she originated roles in Silence! The Musical (Catherine/Senator Martin) and Fugitive Songs. She toured the country with Legally Blonde, and her regional work includes credits at Goodspeed Opera House, Long Wharf Theater, Baltimore Center Stage, Barrington Stage, Milwaukee Rep, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and The Hangar Theater, as well as Sunday in the Park With George (Nurse/Mrs./Harriett) and Anyone Can Whistle (Osgood) at the Ravinia Festival (Lonny Price, director; Paul Gemignani, musical director). She has sung with the acclaimed American Pops Orchestra and has graced cabaret stages all over New York City garnering her Best Female Vocalist for BroadwayWorld's 2015 Cabaret Awards. www.luciaspina.com Sondheim Unplugged premiered online Saturday, December 26, 2020, and is available on-demand through January 23, 2021. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.54below.com/Sondheim.  View clips from the show: Natalie Douglas sings “Losing My Mind” https://youtu.be/j9FLx8Z4Qfg Telly Leung sings “Being Alive” https://youtu.be/viXRnxui0Uc All music clips in this episode are from Sondheim Unplugged at Feinstein's/54 Below, filmed on December 5, 2020: “Being Alive” from Company, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, featuring Joe Goodrich on piano “The Ladies Who Lunch” from Company, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Lucia Spina “Marry Me a Little” cut from Company, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Nicholas Rodriguez  “Move On” from Sunday in the Park with George, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Lucia Spina & Nicholas Rodriguez  “Something's Coming” from West Side Story, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Darius de Haas  “Losing My Mind” from Follies, music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Natalie Douglas  “Being Alive” from Company, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Telly Leung  “Anyone Can Whistle” from Anyone Can Whistle, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by T. Oliver Reid Instrumental from “Beautiful Girls” from Follies, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, featuring Joe Goodrich on piano   Credits This podcast is hosted by Nella Vera and produced by Grace Benigni, with support from the Feinstein's/54 Below marketing staff. Original artwork by Philip Romano. Follow Nella on Twitter at @spinstripes  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ranella Ferrer is a powerhouse in the Filipino-American Entertainment Industry since she was only 13 years old. Ranella's professional background includes Grammy produced songs, commercial pop singles, multiple appearances in live performances, tour collaborations, and TV and Radio shows, making her one of the most-wanted Fil-Am vocalists in America. Ranella sang the National Anthem for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016 and has sung for former President of the Philippines Fidel Ramos and known as the Asian Queen of Soul in the R&B/Pop Culture opening up for Keysha Cole, Stevie Wonder, Tyrese, B2K, and NEYO amongst others. In addition, Celebrity Chronicles names Ranella the “Best Female Vocalist” after her song on the soundtrack for the Wayan's Bros movie, The Dance Flick working with Dwayne Wayans Jr. Ranella's pop style, fused with her love for R&B allows her to go back to her roots and vibe. Ranella Ferrer is a strong women who has struggled with her mental health and weight and now continuing to share her journey and inspire others through her music and life. Connect with Ranella: Instagram Facebook

Shauna Jensen is an Australian singer. This year she celebrated her 50th year in ‘the business’. She has been a member of multiple bands including Purple Vision and Flake. She was an original cast member of Jesus Christ Superstar, appearing on the Original Australian Cast Recording. Turns in Two Gentlemen of Verona and Betty Blokkbuster followed,Shauna's debut CD, Something Real, was released in 1997. By January 1998 she had won the award for Best Female Vocalist at the inaugural Goulburn Blues Festival; a festival which rivals the Blues Festival at Byron Bay.Shauna has worked as backup vocalist for the leading rock artists in Australia, including Jimmy Barnes, Australia's most beloved rock band Cold Chisel, Richard Clapton, Jon Stevens, Billy Thorpe, Hugh Jackman, Noiseworks, Powderfinger and INXS.For most of the 1980s Shauna was one of the most in-demand studio singers, a career which introduced her to the world of background singing on film, television, radio and in the rock music world, for the next two decades.The new millennium brought with it exciting new projects for Shauna. These include singing background vocals for Carry the Flame by Jon Stevens, the official song for the Sydney 2001 Olympics torch relay. In 2001 Shauna collaborated with legendary Sydney DJ Paul Goodyear and their first single is an uplifting house rework of the Sylvester classic Take Me to Heaven.Stages caught up with Shauna midway of her cabaret season at Claire's Kitchen at Le Salon.The Stages podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where all good podcasts are found.

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - She has beauty, poise, confidence and an unmistakable voice ― and did we mention the sheer gracefulness she displays through hula? Natalie Ai Kamauu is one of Hawaii’s most talented musical artists. She’s a five-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner as Best Female Vocalist, a Grammy Award nominee, and a former Miss Aloha Hula. But this week, the busy mother of two shares with Steph, Brooke and Noli that sometimes time in the limelight can trigger anxiety and panic attacks. This week on ‘Muthaship,’ Natalie shares how she overcomes negativity in her life and how her mother and father ― through music, love and hula ― shaped her life and taught her the value of hard work and staying humble and true to yourself. Natalie also shares tips all parents can use about the importance of maintaining honest and open communication with your children, encouraging them to find their passion and not being afraid to express endless love ― oh, and that splurging on your favorite chocolate cake every now and then is a smart move! (Oh, and stay tuned for an impromptu kanikapila from Natalie and her husband, Iolani!)

This episode we meet with Felicia Farerre, an extremely talented vocalist with an extensive history as a session singer and solo vocalist. She has written and performed in collaborations with Two Steps From Hell, and was awarded Best Female Vocalist by Trailer Music News in 2013. And she also happens to be Jordan's aunt!Felicia meets with us to talk about how she got into session singing, and how that has led her to the career she enjoys today. Take a listen to her latest release Between Worlds, by clicking here.Support the show

Full Interview for Best Female Vocalist from

My dear friend Duffy Bishop is my guest on Episode #14 of Living A Vocal Life.Duffy and I have known each other for a long time — 20 years, or maybe even more. Offstage Duffy’s a bit of a homebody, a creative maker who’s always drawing, painting, and sewing. You notice her when she walks into a room not because she tries to draw attention to herself, but because of the way her eyes light up with love when she greets you.This quieter demeanor makes it easy to forget that the woman is an absolute powerhouse when she takes the stage. Her voice and presence are huge. You can’t help but be drawn into her every move, riveted by the raw emotion she transmits through the music she makes.Her humble nature belies the fact that she’s won a bevy of blues awards. She was named Best Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year by the Northwest Area Music Association and the Washington Blues Society. The Cascade Blues Association named her Best Female Vocalist for five consecutive years, eventually renaming the award “The Duffy Bishop Female Vocalist Award.” She’s a member of the Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame, the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame and the Oregon Hall of Fame.Duffy’s a lovely human being, and I’m so grateful for our friendship.I’m excited to share our conversation with you!Links:For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.You can find Duffy Bishop on her Website or on her Facebook page.The songs from today’s episode are called:Hey Linda from Fly The RocketYou Don’t Own Me from I’m Gonna Do What I Want Everyone’s Comin’ To A Party from The Queen’s Own BootlegI’m Gonna Do What I Want from I’m Gonna Do What I Want (All used with permission.) Click the links above to listen to more and download.For information about the online course mentioned in this episode, just head to Becoming A Singer. Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks, honey!)

Sass Jordan has one of the most powerful voices in all of rock and roll. The Canadian JUNO and Billboard Best Female Rock Vocalist award winner Sass Jordan recently released her new album, Rebel Moon Blues. Rebel Moon Blues charts a new course in Jordan's musical voyage while tracing her love of the blues back to its source. All killer and no filler, the album features the inimitably raspy rock goddess jubilantly celebrating the songs, sounds and styles of everyone from old masters like Willie Dixon, Elmore James and Freddie King to younger, louder guns like Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher. A pioneer of powerful, gritty female-fronted rock, Sass Jordan has worked alongside fellow greats like Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Van Halen, among many more. She has toured with A Bowie Celebration, the critically acclaimed, one-of-a-kind roving tribute to the late legend, David Bowie, featuring a distinct alumni of former band mates. Born in Britain and raised in Montreal, Sass Jordan launched her solo career with the single “Tell Somebody” from her 1988 debut of the same name, garnering national acclaim and a JUNO Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. Throughout her career, she’s earned three more nominations for Best Female Vocalist thanks to albums like Racine (1992), Rats (1994), Present (1997), Hot Gossip (2000), Get What You Give (2006), From Dusk Til Dawn (2009) and her side project S.U.N.'s album, Something Unto Nothing (2011) — along with singles like “Make You A Believer,” “You Don't Have to Remind Me,” “Sun's Gonna Rise” and 1992's “Trust in Me,” a duet with Joe Cocker from the record-selling Bodyguard soundtrack.

Sass Jordan has one of the most powerful voices in all of rock and roll. The Canadian JUNO and Billboard Best Female Rock Vocalist award winner Sass Jordan recently released her new album, Rebel Moon Blues. Rebel Moon Blues charts a new course in Jordan’s musical voyage while tracing her love of the blues back to its source. All killer and no filler, the album features the inimitably raspy rock goddess jubilantly celebrating the songs, sounds and styles of everyone from old masters like Willie Dixon, Elmore James and Freddie King to younger, louder guns like Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher. A pioneer of powerful, gritty female-fronted rock, Sass Jordan has worked alongside fellow greats like Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Van Halen, among many more. She has toured with A Bowie Celebration, the critically acclaimed, one-of-a-kind roving tribute to the late legend, David Bowie, featuring a distinct alumni of former band mates. Born in Britain and raised in Montreal, Sass Jordan launched her solo career with the single “Tell Somebody” from her 1988 debut of the same name, garnering national acclaim and a JUNO Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. Throughout her career, she’s earned three more nominations for Best Female Vocalist thanks to albums like Racine (1992), Rats (1994), Present (1997), Hot Gossip (2000), Get What You Give (2006), From Dusk Til Dawn (2009) and her side project S.U.N.’s album, Something Unto Nothing (2011) — along with singles like “Make You A Believer,” “You Don’t Have to Remind Me,” “Sun’s Gonna Rise” and 1992’s “Trust in Me,” a duet with Joe Cocker from the record-selling Bodyguard soundtrack.

Deborah CoxDeborah Cox (born July 13, 1974) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Toronto, Cox began performing on television commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows in her teenage years before becoming a professional backing vocalist for Celine Dion. In 1994, she relocated to the United States and was signed to Arista Records by Clive Davis, releasing her self-titled debut album the following year. Her second studio album One Wish (1998) was certified platinum in the United States and was marked by the commercial success of the pop crossover single "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", which would become Cox's most successful entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number two and remaining there for eight consecutive weeks. Cox signed with J Records for her third studio album The Morning After (2002), which saw moderate commercial success.Cox ventured into acting in the 2000s, making her film debut in the Canadian drama film Love Come Down (2000) and her stage debut in 2004, in the title role in the Broadway musical Aida. She has since appeared in smaller films and several musical productions, including the horror-drama Jekyll & Hyde, the biographical musical Josephine and the musical adaptation of The Bodyguard. Cox's most recent studio albums, Destination Moon (2007) and The Promise (2008), have been released through her own independent record label, Deco Recording Group. In 2017, her single "Let the World Be Ours Tonight" became her 13th number-one hit on Billboard's Dance Club Songs over the span of three consecutive decades.[1] In 2016, Billboard listed Cox at 23rd on its list of the Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists.[2] An eight-time Juno Award nominee, she has won four awards and is often cited as Canada's top R&B artist.[3] Deborah Cox was born in Toronto to parents of Afro-Guyanese descent, grew up in Scarborough, Toronto and attended John XXIII Catholic Elementary School and Earl Haig Secondary School.[3] She began singing on TV commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows including an appearance on Tiny Talent Time.[4] She performed in nightclubs as a teenager, and began to write music around the same time.[5] Cox entered the music industry in the early 1990s, performing as a backup vocalist for Celine Dion for six months.[3][6] After receiving many rejection letters from Canadian record labels that claimed their "quota" had been reached, Cox moved to Los Angeles in 1994 with producer and songwriting partner, Lascelles Stephens.[3][6]Career[edit]1995–1999: Debut and One Wish[edit]In 1995, label executive Clive Davis signed Cox to Arista Records. Featuring production from Dallas Austin, Keith Crouch, Tim & Bob, and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, she released her self-titled debut album the same year. A middling commercial and critical success, the album peaked at number 102 on US Billboard 200 but emegered as a steady seller, eventually receiving a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), while going platinum in Canada. Lead single "Sentimental" entered the top five on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while follow-up "Who Do U Love" attained worldwide success, becoming a top twenty success in Australia, New Zealand and the US, also reaching the top of Billboard's Dance Club Songs.[7] In 1996, Deborah Cox won Cox a Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording at the annual award ceremony and earned her a Best Soul/R&B New Artist nomination at the 1996 American Music Awards.Cox contributed the non-album song "Things Just Ain't The Same" to the soundtrack to the 1997 film Money Talks. A dance remix of the song, produced by Hex Hector, became her second number-one hit on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart and was included on her second album, 1998's One Wish. As with her self-titled debut album, her sophomore effort was once again executive-produced by Davis, but featured more uptempo, contemporary R&B, and a slew of new producers and personnel to incorporate dance and club music, including Montell Jordan, Anthony "Shep" Crawford, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and DJ Quik. One Wish peaked at number 72 on the Billboard 200 and earned a platinum certification from the RIAA, while reaching gold status in Canada. The album capitalized on the crossover success of lead single "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" which became Cox's most successful entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number two, and remaining there for eight consecutive weeks, making it one of the longest stays at number two in chart history. The song also reached number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, spending a then record-breaking 14 weeks at number one, while the third single "We Can't Be Friends," a duet with R. L. Huggar, reached the top ten, with "It's Over Now" and "I Never Knew" become chart-toppers on the Dance Club Songs chart.2000–2005: The Morning After and acting career[edit]After One Wish, Cox collaborated with singer Whitney Houston on her single "Same Script, Different Cast" from the compilation album Whitney: The Greatest Hits. Incorporating a backing track of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise" during the intro, it was released as a radio-only promo single and became a minor hit on Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 70 while reaching number 14 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. In 2000, Cox made her acting debut when she starred in Clement Virgo's Canadian drama film Love Come Down, playing a nightclub singer. The film garnered eight nominations at the 21st Genie Awards, including two Best Original Song nominations for Cox's songs "29" and "Our Love". In 2001, Cox then recorded "Absolutely Not", for the soundtrack to Dr. Dolittle 2 which became her sixth number one hit on Billboard's Dance Club Songs.Cox's third album The Morning After was released in November 2002 on J Records following a frustratingly long departure from Arista. It marked the Cox's first record under Clive Davis's label, with Davis, once more serving as executive producer.[8] Keen to build on the success of her previous album One Wish, he enlisted the help of producers such as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jermaine Dupri, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Shep Crawford as well as up-and-coming producers Warryn Campbell, Johntá Austin and Alex Richbourg to work with Cox. A blend of urban R&B and adult contemporary songs with additional dance/house tracks, it became her highest-charting album on the US Billboard 200 and Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums yet, debuting and peaking at number 38 and number seven, respectively. Commercially, the album was less successful than her previous album, however, though it produced two singles on the US Dance Club Songs chart, including "Mr. Lonely" and "Play Your Part".[8]In February 2004, Cox made her Broadway debut in the Elton John-Tim Rice musical Aida when she replaced singer Michelle Williams in her role of the Nubian princess. Her four-month engagement earned largely positive reviews.[9] The same year, she recorded and released a dance remix of the musical's theme song "Easy As Life" as a promotional single.[10] In 2005, Cox starred in the films Blood of a Champion and Love on Layaway. Also that year, her voice was featured in the movie Hotel Rwanda in the song "Nobody Cares". To sustain demand for Cox's club appearances, while focused on her family and new album projects, she released a dance single titled "House Is Not a Home" on Nervous Records in January 2006. Later in the year, her song "Definition of Love" was used in the movie Akeelah and the Bee, but was not released as a single.2006–2009: Destination Moon and The Promise[edit]Between 2005 and 2006 Deborah recorded her fourth album, called Destination Moon, arranged and produced by Rob Mounsey. A tribute album to jazz singer Dinah Washington, Cox noted it a concept album that she had in mind for years.[11] Most of the album was recorded live with a forty-piece orchestra with Rob Mounsey arranging. Eventually released by Decca Records in June 2017, Destination Moon peaked at number three on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums. The same year, Cox co-starred alongside Golden Brooks and Darius McCrary in Leslie Small's film A Good Man is Hard to Find. Based on the musical stage play of the same name, the comedy depicts the story of three women who each undergo romantic crises that challenge their personal and spiritual relationships.[12] In 2008, Cox performed the Canadian national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, receiving rave reviews.[13] She also contributed the song "This Gift" to the soundtrack of the 2008 romantic drama film Meet the Browns, directed by Tyler Perry, and served as a supprting act on Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour 2008.[14]Also that year, Cox finished work on her sixth studio album The Promise, released on November 11, 2008, through Deco Recording Group, Cox's own independent label, with distribution handled by Image Entertainment. A breakaway from her previous album, it marked her return to R&B music and saw her working with a wider number of songwriters and producers on the album, including The Avila Brothers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Devo Springsteen, Big Jim, and Shep Crawford.[15] The Promise debuted at number 106 on the US Billboard 200, number 14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and number 95 on the Canadian Albums Chart. Earning generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics,[16] it was nominated for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards. It second single "Beautiful U R" marked her biggest hit since "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here," becoming a top ten hit in Canada, where it was certified platinum by Music Canada, as well as her tenth chart-topper on the Billboard' Dance Club Songs. In support of the album, Cox joined forces with American R&B singer Kenny Lattimore for the joint Timeless Promise Tour in July 2009.[17] Also in 2009, she was featured on the single "Leave the World Behind", a house track produced by four DJs Axwell, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Laidback Luke.[18]2010–present: The Queen Project, dance music and Broadway[edit]Cox performing at the Capital Pride in Washington, D.C. in 2012.In 2010, it was announced that Cox would be joining fellow R&B singers Kelly Price and Tamia to form a supergroup.[19] While the trio recorded several tracks together, their joint album The Queen Project eventually failed to materialize due timing issues and label politics.[20] In 2011, Cox released the dance-heavy single "If It Wasn't for Love" through Deco Entertainment.[21] It became her eleventh chart topper on Billboard's Dance Club Songs and was to precede a new studio album which remained unreleased.[22] In September 2012, Cox gave her inaugural performance as the female lead Lucy in a revival of the musical Jekyll & Hyde which toured North America for twenty-five weeks. While the show enjoyed a limited Broadway run only, Cox received positive reviews for her performance.[22] Also in 2012, she collaborated with rapper Akon on the song "No Labels", the official anthem of the same-titled American bipartisan political organization.[23] The following year, Cox collaborated with DJ Paige on the non-album single "Higher". Released through Electronic Kingdom Records, it became her twelfth number-one hit on the US Dance Club Songs chart.[21] In 2014, Cox was one of the performers at the opening ceremonies of WorldPride in Toronto, alongside Melissa Etheridge, Tom Robinson and Steve Grand.[24]In 2015, she provided vocals for the made for television biographical film Whitney, directed by Angela Bassett based on American recording artist Whitney Houston.[25] Cox performed all of Houston's vocals in the film, including "I Will Always Love You", "I'm Your Baby Tonight", and "The Greatest Love of All."[25] The same year, she released the deep house-influenced "Kinda Miss You",[26] as well as the ballad "More Than I Knew" as singles.[27] Both were set to appear on her sixth album Work of Art, initially announced for an August 2015 release through Deco and Primary Wave Music.[28] However, after several delays, the album remained unreleased.[29] In 2016, Cox played the lead role of Josephine Baker in the Broadway-bound musical Josephine, which chronicled the singer's life between the years of 1939 and 1945, and starred as Rachel Marron in the North American Tour of the musical The Bodyguard based on the 1992 film of the same name. In support of the musical, Cox released the EP I Will Always Love You on Deco and Broadway Records, containing cover versions of seven Whitney Houston originals and Whitney Houston's cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."[30] In June 2017, she released an uptempo dance single "Let the World Be Ours Tonight" during LGBTQ pride season on Radikal Records and Galactic Media. It marked her 13th single to top Billboard's Dance Club Songs.[1]On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Deborah Cox among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[31]Personal life[edit]Cox currently lives in Miami, Florida. She is married to her high school sweetheart and manager, Lascelles Stephens.[32] They have three children: son, Isaiah (born July 1, 2003), and two daughters, Sumayah (born June 29, 2006), and Kaila Michelle (born February 23, 2009).[33]Discography[edit]Main article: Deborah Cox discographyDeborah Cox (1995)One Wish (1998)The Morning After (2002)Destination Moon (2007)The Promise (2008)Awards and nominations[edit]1996Won: Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording (Deborah Cox).Nominated: American Music Award for Favorite New Artist – Soul/Rhythm & Blues.1997Nominated: Juno Award for Best Female Vocalist.1998Won: Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording ("Things Just Ain't the Same").Won: Soul Train Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Female ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here").1999Won: Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording (One Wish).Nominated: Juno Award for Best Female Vocalist.Won: Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Song of the Year ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here").2000Nominated: Genie Award for Best Original Song ("Our Love" and "29" from Love Come Down).Nominated: Soul Train Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo ("Same Script, Different Cast" feat. Whitney Houston).Nominated: Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist ("We Can't Be Friends")2002Nominated: Juno Award for Best Dance Recording ("Absolutely Not").2008Nominated: Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year (Destination Moon).Nominated: Grammy Award Best Engineered Album, Non Classical ("Destination Moon").Received a star on walk of fame, in Toronto's Scarborough Town Centre.2009Nominated: Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year (The Promise).https://www.instagram.com/deborahcox/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Based in Nashville, Tennessee and Northwest Florida, singer/songwriter Jessie Ritter plays a heartfelt brand of country-pop with a breezy, romantic feel and plenty of charm. While studying music at Belmont University in Nashville, she released her EP Stories Told. Ritter then cut her teeth on the cruise ship circuit, releasing her debut album, Coffee Every Morning in 2018. After winning NashFM 105.5's regional Nash Next competition, she represented the Florida Panhandle in the finals, beating out over 800 contestants to be named the 2018 Nash Next Winner. She gained national recognition and a record deal with Big Machine (home to heavy-hitters like Taylor Swift and Florida Georgia Line) making her label debut in May 2019 with the single "Nothing But You." She then swept the the 2019 Northwest Florida Beachcomber awards taking home eight titles including: Musician of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Original Song, Best Country Artist, Best Sing/Songwriter,   Best Solo Artist, Best New Artist, and Best Female Vocalist. Opening slots for Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, Easton Corbin, and Runaway June followed, as well as featured perfomances alongside hitmakers at songwriter festivals across the southern United States.A native of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Ritter grew up on her family farm listening to country radio and absorbing the sounds of artists like Lee Ann Womack, Shania Twain, and Miranda Lambert. She is continually inspired by her favorite writer/performers: Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, and Cam.  Touring heavily through the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions, Jessie Ritter continues to grow her fanbase and catalogue of songs that are sure to pull at your heartstrings. Jessie is one of my new favorite friends! It was a joy to speak with her about our midwest roots, Holy moments, and obviously, country music. She is is always true to herself and Jesus, because "being anyone else is too much work". Pour yourself a cup of morning coffee, kick your feet up and listen in. I cannot wait for you to hear Jessie's story and be deeply moved by her music. Official show notes available at www.kohliebrowning.com Jessie Ritter www.jessieritter.comMusic, “Lifted” from "It's All Beautiful Right Here" by Lily Garay www.lilygaray.comAd Music: “Tupelo” Train by Chris Haugen and “Foundation” by Vibe TrackQuinn Sharp Jewelry Designs, for 20% off your entire order use the code STILLWITHYOUwww.quinnsharp.comGold + Ivy Co. Candles, for 20% off your entire order use the code STILLWITHYOUwww.goldandivy.com

Based in Nashville, Tennessee and Northwest Florida, singer/songwriter Jessie Ritter plays a heartfelt brand of country-pop with a breezy, romantic feel and plenty of charm. While studying music at Belmont University in Nashville, she released her EP Stories Told. Ritter then cut her teeth on the cruise ship circuit, releasing her debut album, Coffee Every Morning in 2018. After winning NashFM 105.5's regional Nash Next competition, she represented the Florida Panhandle in the finals, beating out over 800 contestants to be named the 2018 Nash Next Winner. She gained national recognition and a record deal with Big Machine (home to heavy-hitters like Taylor Swift and Florida Georgia Line) making her label debut in May 2019 with the single "Nothing But You." She then swept the the 2019 Northwest Florida Beachcomber awards taking home eight titles including: Musician of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Original Song, Best Country Artist, Best Sing/Songwriter,   Best Solo Artist, Best New Artist, and Best Female Vocalist. Opening slots for Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, Easton Corbin, and Runaway June followed, as well as featured perfomances alongside hitmakers at songwriter festivals across the southern United States.A native of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Ritter grew up on her family farm listening to country radio and absorbing the sounds of artists like Lee Ann Womack, Shania Twain, and Miranda Lambert. She is continually inspired by her favorite writer/performers: Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, and Cam.  Touring heavily through the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions, Jessie Ritter continues to grow her fanbase and catalogue of songs that are sure to pull at your heartstrings. Jessie is one of my new favorite friends! It was a joy to speak with her about our midwest roots, Holy moments, and obviously, country music. She is is always true to herself and Jesus, because "being anyone else is too much work". Pour yourself a cup of morning coffee, kick your feet up and listen in. I cannot wait for you to hear Jessie's story and be deeply moved by her music. Official show notes available at www.kohliebrowning.com Jessie Ritter www.jessieritter.comMusic, “Lifted” from "It’s All Beautiful Right Here" by Lily Garay www.lilygaray.comAd Music: “Tupelo” Train by Chris Haugen and “Foundation” by Vibe TrackQuinn Sharp Jewelry Designs, for 20% off your entire order use the code STILLWITHYOUwww.quinnsharp.comGold + Ivy Co. Candles, for 20% off your entire order use the code STILLWITHYOUwww.goldandivy.com

Based in Nashville, Tennessee and Northwest Florida, singer/songwriter Jessie Ritter plays a heartfelt brand of country-pop with a breezy, romantic feel and plenty of charm. While studying music at Belmont University in Nashville, she released her EP Stories Told. Ritter then cut her teeth on the cruise ship circuit, releasing her debut album, Coffee Every Morning in 2018. After winning NashFM 105.5's regional Nash Next competition, she represented the Florida Panhandle in the finals, beating out over 800 contestants to be named the 2018 Nash Next Winner. She gained national recognition and a record deal with Big Machine (home to heavy-hitters like Taylor Swift and Florida Georgia Line) making her label debut in May 2019 with the single "Nothing But You." She then swept the the 2019 Northwest Florida Beachcomber awards taking home eight titles including: Musician of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Original Song, Best Country Artist, Best Sing/Songwriter,   Best Solo Artist, Best New Artist, and Best Female Vocalist. Opening slots for Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, Easton Corbin, and Runaway June followed, as well as featured perfomances alongside hitmakers at songwriter festivals across the southern United States.A native of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Ritter grew up on her family farm listening to country radio and absorbing the sounds of artists like Lee Ann Womack, Shania Twain, and Miranda Lambert. She is continually inspired by her favorite writer/performers: Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, and Cam.  Touring heavily through the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions, Jessie Ritter continues to grow her fanbase and catalogue of songs that are sure to pull at your heartstrings. Jessie is one of my new favorite friends! It was a joy to speak with her about our midwest roots, Holy moments, and obviously, country music. She is is always true to herself and Jesus, because "being anyone else is too much work". Pour yourself a cup of morning coffee, kick your feet up and listen in. I cannot wait for you to hear Jessie's story and be deeply moved by her music. Official show notes available at www.kohliebrowning.com Jessie Ritter www.jessieritter.comMusic, “Lifted” from "It’s All Beautiful Right Here" by Lily Garay www.lilygaray.comAd Music: “Tupelo” Train by Chris Haugen and “Foundation” by Vibe TrackQuinn Sharp Jewelry Designs, for 20% off your entire order use the code STILLWITHYOUwww.quinnsharp.comGold + Ivy Co. Candles, for 20% off your entire order use the code STILLWITHYOUwww.goldandivy.com

Born in suburban Massachusetts, Kim has been singing since the ripe old age of 5. The oldest of eight children in an Irish Catholic family in the Boston suburbs, Kim grew up listening to the music of Clancy Brothers, Jim Croce, and James Taylor. “I didn't know it back then, but traditional Irish music and the 1970s singer-songwriters got deep into my heart, and now influence me in ways I never realized,” says Kim of her musical influences.After teaching herself to play piano while in middle school, Kim picked up a guitar after college. The songwriting bug bit her only after several years of playing covers. “There's something about finding a creative and supportive community that has inspired my muse! The talented musicians in the suburbs of Boston have really inspired me to open up and just let the songs come out.”Writing at a feverish pace for a woman balancing work, motherhood, and family life is now something she can't remember being without. “It's been such a positive influence in my life. My friends ask me how I do it – and I tell them I am actually more balanced as a person now. The hardest part of it all is finding the time to sit still and just be.”In the summer of 2009, looking ahead to the completion of Kim's debut CD, she started talking big goals with fellow singer-songwriter Dan Cloutier. The next thing you know, a conversation went something like this: “You have an album coming out. I have an album coming out. What can we do to help each other? And help other people too? And support the local music we know and love so well? Hey, I know…let's start a record label!!” And so, Birch Beer Records was born.My Own True North, her first full-length CD, debuted in 2009. My Own True North is an acoustic-folk album, recorded at Humming Lake Studio with Seth Connelly. Getting some traction in the local area, in 2010 Kim won Best Female Vocalist at the Worcester Music Awards.Her sophomore effort, the indie-rock, band-driven Here Now, was recorded at Bang-A-Song Studios with Tony Goddess and at RockSalt Studio with Eric Salt, and released in 2013. Kim and Eric co-produced Here Now, with an ear towards lush musical landscapes, layered arrangements, and blending and building harmonies – even though the bulk of the tracks were recorded in live sessions. “One of my favorite comments about this album is that it rocks – but it's still true to my acoustic roots. The songs, the lyrics, and the arc of the story I tell is just as important with this set of songs as it was before,” says Kim. Here Now was nominated for Best CD in the 2014 Worcester Music Awards.In 2014 , one of Kim's newest songs, “When We Are Broken,” was nominated as a finalist in the Eventide Arts 2014 Songfest songwriting competition (Cape Cod, MA), and Kim earned an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Solarfest Songwriting Showcase Competition (VT). 2015 brought a self-imposed songwriting challenge: write a new song every week for the first 3 months of the year. She made it work for 8 weeks. She says: “It was a good run, even if I didn't write all 12 new songs! Writing consistently, trying not to worry over whether or not the new songs are any good, is better than not writing at all. 8 songs is a good start, there's certainly more writing to do, and all the new tunes need work. But, getting myself to write consistently is planting the seeds for what my next recording project can be, and getting those wheels turning again.”And, since it's true that each ending is its own beginning, as Birch Beer Records came to a close, in 2017 Kim – along with Dan Cloutier and Ricardo Barraza – formed The Great Molasses Flood, an acoustic folk-rock band with powerful stories to tell through beautiful harmonies.

One of THE coolest guests we’ve had on the show, Tiffany shares some intimate stories: How she reunited with her biological family at age 25 after being adopted as a child… rising up and out of a 5-year abusive relationship, becoming a mortuary and being visited by the spirit of one of her clients… her role in the real life version of “The Pharmacist”... playing with Russell Batiste (from The Funky Meters)... singing tips for non-singers, confidence, resilience and more. Awesome energy!  Tiffany began singing and writing songs at a young age, in her native New Orleans. Today, she fronts Tiffany Pollack and Co. her own band, touring regionally and performing her own music. An incredibly talented and passionate singer, TIffany has recorded one LP with Eric Johanson, “Blues In My Blood.” The record earned several awards including one for best Blues/Rock LP, as well as Best Female Vocalist. Expect big things from Tiffany - she’s incredibly talented, full of passion, and resilient Support this Show: http://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/support  Subscribe https://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/subscribe/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EveryoneLovesGuitar/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everyonelovesguitar/ 

Making a Scene presents an Interview with Rae Gordon! Rae began her singing career in the piano bars and comedy clubs of Los Angeles, where she honed her ability to relate to any audience – from a small wine bar with a few people sipping libations, to a big festival attended by thousands. Rae’s approachability and onstage charisma are as well-known as her multi-octave range. She has won the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Award for Best Female Vocalist five times, landing her in their Hall Of Fame. Her first recording, Blue Lemonade, hit #10 on the Billlboard Blues Chart; her second offering, Dirty Flowers, has enjoyed extensive airplay in the U.S. and beyond. In 2017 the Rae Gordon Band released its third recording, the award-winning Better Than I Was, produced by RGB guitarist Kivett Bednar and featuring songs co-written with RGB keyboardist and musical director Pat McDougall.

Kali Ma & The Garland of Arms were featured for the month of October on DNH Discovered.  Jamie and Ray from the band join Adam in the studio for a discussion on their approach to music and their lives before coming together as a band.  Jamie was awarded the Steamtown Music Award for Best Female Vocalist in 2018 and when she sings on the air, it's pretty obvious why she won.  The gang brings in some Japanese cookie snacks and Adam shares trick-or-treat candy from Colombia and the Ukraine.  

Topics: Air Jordans, Whitney Houston, Sade, The Color Purple, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Phylicia Rashad (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)   1985 Notes   General Snapshots   1.    President: Ronald Reagan   2.    Jan – In Hollywood,  California, the charity single "We  Are the World" is recorded by USA for  Africa. The  single raises money to combat the  ongoing famine in Ethiopia. The  American act consists of high-profile  performers, including Michael  Jackson, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner,  Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross.   3.    Jan – The newest music video channel, VH-1, begins broadcasting on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV. The first video played is Marvin Gaye's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner".   4.    Mar – WrestleMania debuts at Madison Square Garden.  In the main event, Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeated Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper. The attendance for the event was 19,121. The event was seen by over one million viewers through closed-circuit television, making it the largest pay-per-view showing of a wrestling event on closed-circuit television in the United States at the time.   5.    Apr – Coca-Cola changes its recipe and releases New Coke. The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula is back on the market in less than three months.   6.    Aug - Ryan White who was expelled from Western High School in Indiana is allowed to attend his first day of classes via telephone.   7.    Sep - The Farm Aid concert is held in Champaign, Illinois, USA.   8.    Oct  – The Nintendo Entertainment System is released in U.S. stores. By 1988, industry observers stated that the NES's popularity had grown so quickly that the market for Nintendo cartridges was larger than that for all home computer software.  The NES was released two years after the North American video game crash of 1983, when many retailers and adult consumers regarded electronic games as a passing fad. With the NES, Nintendo also changed the relationship between console manufacturers and third-party software developers by restricting developers from publishing and distributing software without licensed approval. This led to higher-quality games, which helped change the attitude of a public that had grown weary from poorly produced games for earlier systems.   9.    Nov - Microsoft Corporation releases the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0.   10.    Open Comments:   11.    Top 3 Pop Songs   12.    1    "Careless Whisper"    Wham!   13.    2    "Like a Virgin"    Madonna   14.    3    "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"    Wham!   15.    Grammy Awards   16.    Record of the Year: Quincy Jones (producer) for "We Are the World"   17.    Album of the Year: Phil Collins (producer & artist) for No Jacket Required   18.    Song of the Year: Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie (songwriters) for "We Are the World"   19.    Best New Artist: Sade   20.    Top 3 Movies   21.    Back to the Future   22.    Rambo: First Blood Part II   23.    Rocky IV   24.    Other Notables:  The Color Purple / Out of Africa / Cocoon / The Jewel of the Nile / Witness / The Goonies / Spies Like Us / The Breakfast Club / Brewster's Millions / St. Elmo's Fire /  Krush Groove   25.    Top 3 TV Shows   26.    The Cosby Show   27.    Family Ties   28.    Murder, She Wrote       29.    TV Debuts   30.    Sep - What's Happening Now!! / Stir Crazy   31.    Black Snapshots   32.    Feb -  Whitney Houston releases her debut  album – Whitney Houston.   33.    Mar  – Mike Tyson makes his professional debut in Albany, New York, a match which he wins by a first-round knockout.   34.    May - Michael Jordan is named as the NBA's "Rookie of the Year."   35.    May – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mayor Wilson Goode, the  first African American to hold that office,  orders police to storm the  headquarters of the black liberation/back-to-nature group MOVE to end a stand-off over serving arrest warrants. (Due process?!?!)  The police drop 2 explosive devices into the headquarters, killing 6 adults and 5 children, and destroyed an additional 61 residental homes in the resulting fire. The survivors filed a civil suit against the city and the police department, and were awarded $1.5 million in 1996.   36.    Jul - The final episode of The Jeffersons airs. (1975-) 10 yrs   37.    Aug - Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids  (1972-) 13 yrs   38.    Nov - Ebony Man: EM  Magazine launches   39.    Best Comedy Recording: Whoopi Goldberg - Original Broadway Show Recording   40.    Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female: Aretha Franklin for "Freeway of Love"   41.    Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male: Stevie Wonder for In Square Circle   42.    Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Commodores for "Nightshift"   43.    Economic Snapshot   44.    Avg. Income = $22,138   45.    House = $99,331   46.    New Car = $9,531   47.    Avg. Rent = $375   48.    Tuition at Harvard = $9,800   49.    Movie Ticket = $2.75   50.    Gas = $1.20   51.    Stamp = $0.22   52.    Socilal Scene: “Money, it's gotta be da shoes!” - Mars Blackmon   53.    The Air Jordan I was originally released in 1985 and is almost single-handedly responsible for modern-day sneaker culture. Michael Jordan originally wanted to sign with either Converse or Adidas. But Converse declined and according to a Wall Street Journal article published in 2015 so did Adidas. Still MJ was not convinced. Only when Nike, thinking they had nothing to loose, offered to give MJ his own shoe- and clothing line did he change his mind. This was unheard of at the time, no NBA player had an entire product line named after them. As the first basketball player with his own signature shoes Jordan would immediately become the king of basketball sneaker advertising. Just to be on the safe side Nike worked an out-clause into the contract: if Air Jordans didn’t earn Nike $3 million in the first 3 years, or if Jordan didn’t make the NBA All-Star Game in his first three years, Nike could dump him. Jordan was voted into the All-Star Game as a Rookie starter and the "Air Jordan 1" shoe made Nike $130 million in 1985 alone. The rest is history.   54.    Open Comments:   55.    The pushback and common critisisms   56.    Extremely superficial materialism is one of the only ways that many black Americans express a sense of self worth.    57.    When you live in a society where nobody has a savings account, or a college degree, or has traveled abroad, having a fresh pair of sneakers and a gold chain shouldn't be your version of keeping up with the Joneses.   58.    Liking shoes is as much of a "black thing" as liking chicken is a "black thing". Everyone likes both of these things.   59.    Open Comments:   60.    It became popular in the late 80s for people with moderate or low incomes to wear clothing adorned with the names and logos of luxury, high-end brands. Then all the luxury brands started making their own low-end, logo-covered versions. You wear your favorite sports team to affiliate yourself with them. It's the same thing with Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Jordache, Guess, Wrangler, Levi, Gitano, Bonjour, Sasson, etc., it's a way of signalling.   61.    Question: We went from tailored suits and dresses to baggy jeans and yoga pants. From afro's and braids to fashioned bandanas and bleached blondes. From the stylish Supremes and Tempations to tatooed  faces and pireced everytginhg. - What do you think is at the root of our decisions? Are we victims of advertising?   62.    Music Scene   63.    Black Songs from the Top 40 (No Lionel Richie showed up!)   64.    5    "I Feel for You"    Chaka Khan   65.    6    "Out of Touch"    Hall & Oates   66.    12    "Easy Lover"    Philip Bailey and Phil Collins   67.    17    "Cherish"    Kool & the Gang   68.    20    "We Are the World"    USA for Africa   69.    22    "Part-Time Lover"    Stevie Wonder   70.    23    "Saving All My Love For You"    Whitney Houston   71.    26    "Cool It Now"    New Edition   72.    28    "Loverboy"    Billy Ocean   73.    29    "Lovergirl"    Teena Marie   74.    31    "Oh Sheila"    Ready for the World   75.    32    "Rhythm of the Night"    DeBarge   76.    38    "Neutron Dance"    The Pointer Sisters   77.    40    "Nightshift"    Commodores   78.    Vote:   79.    Top RnB Singles   80.    Jan - "Operator"    Midnight Star   81.    Jan - "Gotta Get You Home Tonight"    Eugene Wilde   82.    Feb -  "Mr. Telephone Man"    New Edition   83.    Feb - "Missing You"    Diana Ross   84.    Mar - "Nightshift"    The Commodores   85.    Apr - "Back In Stride"    Maze featuring Frankie Beverly   86.    Apr - "Rhythm Of the Night"    DeBarge   87.    May - "We Are the World"    USA for Africa   88.    May - "Fresh"    Kool & the Gang   89.    May - "You Give Good Love"    Whitney Houston   90.    Jun - "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)"    Freddie Jackson   91.    Jul - "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)"    Loose Ends   92.    Jul - "Save Your Love (For #1)"    René & Angela   93.    Aug - "Freeway of Love"    Aretha Franklin   94.    Sep - "Saving All My Love for You"    Whitney Houston   95.    Sep - "Cherish"    Kool & the Gang   96.    Sep - "Oh Sheila"    Ready For the World   97.    Oct - "You Are My Lady"    Freddie Jackson   98.    Oct - "Part-Time Lover"    Stevie Wonder   99.    Nov - "Caravan of Love"    Isley-Jasper-Isley   100.    Dec - "Don't Say No Tonight"    Eugene Wilde   101.    Vote:   102.    Top RnB Albums   103.    Jan - New Edition    New Edition   104.    Feb - Solid    Ashford & Simpson   105.    Mar - Gap Band VI    The Gap Band   106.    Mar p- Private Dancer    Tina Turner   107.    Apr - Nightshift    The Commodores   108.    Apr - Can't Stop the Love    Frankie Beverly and Maze   109.    May - The Night I Fell in Love    Luther Vandross   110.    Jun - Whitney Houston    Whitney Houston   111.    Jun - Rock Me Tonight    Freddie Jackson   112.    Nov - In Square Circle    Stevie Wonder   113.    Vote   114.    Featured Artists: Whitney Houston and Sade   115.    Whitney Elizabeth Houston, @22 yrs old: Singer, actress, model, and producer, Whitney Houston is one of the world’s most successful female entertainers of all time.   116.    Born and raised in Newark NJ,  she is the daughter of Grammy-award-winning gospel singer, Emily “Cissy” Houston and John R. Houston, who managed his daughter’s production company.    117.    Childhood & Early Life   118.    She was no stranger to the entertainment industry, having come from a line of singers and actresses. Not only did her mother’s vocal group, the ‘Sweet Inspirations’, sing backup for Aretha Franklin, but her cousins Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick are also renowned singers, as well as her godmother, Darlene Love. She began performing in her church’s gospel choir as a soloist at the age of eleven and learned to play the piano. While attending Catholic school, she took voice lessons from her mother, with whom she would occasionally perform in nightclubs.   119.    Career   120.    In 1977 (@ 14 yrs old), she was a backup singer for Michael Zager Band’s single ‘Life’s a Party’ and the following year she sang on Chaka Khan’s single ‘I’m Every Woman’. She was offered an opportunity to sign with a recording company, but her mother declined so she would finish high school. In the early 1980s, (@17 yrs old), she worked as a model, appearing in several magazines including, ‘Seventeen’, where she became the first African American to be featured on the cover. She also took on acting gigs appearing in TV show episodes such as, ‘Gimme a Break’, while continuing to develop her vocal skills. In 1983,(@ 20yrs old) she was signed with ‘Arista Records’. President Clive Davis spent the next couple years assembling lyricists and producers to balance her gospel-like sound with contemporary melodies. In 1985, her debut album, ‘Whitney Houston’ gradually became the number one selling album of her career.  She went on to win two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards.   121.    Open Comments:   122.    A Hot Mess   123.    On February 11th, 2012, Whitney Houston (@ 48 yrs old) was found facedown in a bathtub.  Weeks later, an autopsy report would contribute Houston’s death to accidental drowning, heart disease and cocaine use. There were additional traces of a muscle relaxant, Xanax, marijuana and an allergy medication in the singer’s system.    124.    The sad, secret life of Whitney Houston: From a secret lesbian relationship to a decades-long struggle with drugs, five years after singer’s death, a new film ‘Whitney: Can I Be Me’ examines what caused her tragic downfall - Tara Brady [Jun 12, 2017] https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-sad-secret-life-of-whitney-houston-1.3105861   125.    Selected quotes from the article:   126.    What exactly killed Houston? Why did she drown? How did she drown? Was she simply overwhelmed by the controlling demands of her formidable mother, Cissy Houston, Svengali Clive Davis, and her record company, Arista? Did the aftermath of her toxic and co-dependent marriage to Bobby Brown send her spiralling? Or was it the dissolution of her decades-old lesbian relationship with her assistant Robyn Crawford? It’s complicated, as documentarian Nick Broomfield discovered.  “In the end I think the divide between who she was and what her public persona was became more and more difficult,” says  documentarian Nick Broomfield. “And she just went down,    127.    The imploding relations between Houston, Bobby Brown and Robyn Crawford. Brown told Us Weekly magazine that Houston was bisexual and that she once had an affair with Tupac Shakur. He went on to say that Houston kept her relationship with Crawford hidden because of Cissy. “I really feel that if Robyn was accepted into Whitney’s life, Whitney would still be alive today,” Brown told the magazine. “She didn’t have close friends with her anymore.”   128.    From Cissy’s notorious 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey:  “Would it have bothered you if your daughter was gay?”  “Absolutely,” Cissy snapped back. “You wouldn’t have condoned it?” continued an incredulous Oprah. “Not at all.” ...“I didn’t particularly like [Crawford],” Cissy told the talk show queen. “She just spoke too much, disrespectful sometimes, like she had something over Nippy (Houston’s nickname), and I didn’t like that at all. She was all right, she turned out to be all right, I guess. That was her friend.”   129.    Houston and Crawford first bonded while they were teenagers working at a community centre in East Orange, New Jersey. When Houston’s modelling career began to take off, she’d face bullying in school, and Crawford, who was originally a friend of Houston’s older brothers Michael and Gary, would frequently come to the rescue. When Houston moved out of her family home, she shared her first apartment with Crawford. Deep into Houston and Brown’s 14-year marriage, Crawford remained a fixture in Houston’s domestic arrangements.   130.    Houston’s marriage to Brown, understandably, made for an uneasy romantic trinity. In Derrick Handspike’s unauthorised 2008 biography, Bobby Brown: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But . . ., the author quotes Brown as saying: “Now I realise Whitney had a different agenda than I did when we got married. I believe her agenda was to clean up her image while mine was to be loved and have children. “Whitney felt she had to make rumours of a lesbian affair go away. Since she was the American Sweetheart and all, that didn’t go too well with her image. In Whitney’s situation the only solution was to get married and have kids. That would kill all speculation whether it was true or not.”   131.    Supermarket tabloids did a brisk trade during the 1990s by peddling the idea that Houston’s life spiralled into addiction after she married Brown. She was the gospel-singing good girl – the church-going daughter of Cissy and a cousin of Dionne Warwick. He was a bad boy who, aged 20, when they first met, had already been shot and stabbed in the shoulder. Their tumultuous marriage (from 1992 to 2007), characterised by drug use, infidelity and a costly entourage, was seldom out of the headlines. But contrary to popular belief, Brown did not introduce his troubled wife to cocaine. Houston first dabbled with drugs with her brothers, Michael and Gary, as a teenager. The truth is that Houston was always as “street“ as her R&B star husband. But that part of her personal history didn’t fit with what Broomfield calls “the Whitney character”.  As Pattie Howard, Houston’s backing vocalist, notes: “People may not know it but Whitney was from the ‘hood’. They wanted to present her as the princess. And that’s what white America was presented with.” Kenneth Reynolds, who worked in marketing for Arista Records recalls that: “Anything that was too black sounding was sent back. We wanted Joni Mitchell. We wanted Barbra Streisand. ” “She was very carefully groomed for nearly two years before the first album came out,” explains Broomfield. “So every aspect of her was carefully considered. She was a major project. A lot of money was spent on her. Anything that was too R&B was out. They didn’t want a female James Brown. That was not part of their vision. Which, of course, was a very successful vision.”   132.    In 1989, just as Houston topped 25 million in album sales and surpassed the Beatles’s record with seven consecutive number one hits, she attended the Soul Train awards where, in response to her “white” music, she was roundly booed. Pre-Beyoncé and Mariah Carey, “crossover” was synonymous with cultural betrayal. People shouted “Oreo” – brown on the outside, white on the inside – as her nomination for Best Female Vocalist was announced. “It’s not a good feeling,” says Houston, in Can I Be Me. “It’s horrible and kind of funny. You think: ‘Are they booing me?’ And you have to sit there and be cordial and smiley. And you feel like: ‘Oh my God’.” Kirk Whalum, the saxophonist who toured with Houston for more than seven years recalls that night, which coincidentally, was the first time she met Brown. “It was devastating [for her],” says Whalum.   133.    By the end of the 90s, Houston found herself at the centre of a perfect storm of ongoing racial friction, marital troubles and drug abuse. Friends, unable to watch Houston’s decline, began to drift away. Her father, John, died in 2003, but not before his management company, John Houston Entertainment LLC, filed a $100 million lawsuit against his own daughter. Months before his death, he made a public appeal on the syndicated show, Celebrity Justice: “You get your act together, honey, and you pay me the money that you owe me.” Robyn Crawford’s departure in 2000, too, prompted a new, crippling dependency on crack-cocaine and other substances. - “Robyn was the one who was keeping her together,” says writer Allison Samuels. “That’s when drugs became so important to her.”   134.    Open Comments:   135.    The Smooth Operator -Helen Folasade Adu, professionally known as Sade (@26 yrs old)   136.    Sade is an internationally renowned, multi-Grammy award winning singer who is known for her smooth, melodic vocals and the seamless incorporation of different styles of music. She was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria on January 16, 1959. Her father Adebisi Adu, a Nigerian lecturer of economics, and her mother Anne Hayes, a district nurse, had met in London. Sade was the couple’s second child. Shortly after her birth, Sade’s parents separated and she and her brother followed their mother to Colchester, Essex, England. There, the children were raised by their mother as well as their maternal grandfather. Upon finishing her education at Clacton County High School in Colchester, she enrolled at Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design in London to pursue fashion and design. After completion of her program, she worked as a model and menswear designer.    137.    Sade entered the music scene around 1980 when she started singing harmony for Arriva, a Latin funk band. She joined another funk band called Pride and was a background singer for the group. Pride garnered much attention from record companies due to their performances around London. Eventually Sade and fellow bandmates, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Denma, and Andrew Hale signed a deal with the U.K. division of Epic Records and formed the band Sade. In 1984 the band’s debut album, Diamond Life, was released to much critical success and was bolstered by singles such as “Hang On to Your Love” and “Smooth Operator.” The band followed up their debut with their next album, Promise, which was released the following year. “The Sweetest Taboo,” a single from Promise, was on the U.S. Hot 100 for six months. She was awarded the Grammy for best new artist of 1985.    138.    Open Comments:   139.    Selected quote about her sound   140.    Let's get this into context. With Sade it's unlikely there will ever be a full, naked baring of the soul. In terms of contemporary icons, it's better to listen to Mary J for stories of drama and shattered devotion. But Sade, today, is all about the acknowledged presence of absence. What's missing in her music is as important as what's present. - The Fader   141.    A small, yet important, fact: When Sade signed her first record deal with Epic in the early '80s, she accepted a small advance, worth ~$70,000 in exchange for an unusually high cut of sales for a new artist—15 percent. It was a deal that ended up proving immensely lucrative, and it has freed her from many of the commercial demands that often encumber artists. Put simply, she only works when and how she wants to. As one executive at her label, Epic, put it to me: "Who's going to argue with a woman who's sold 50 million albums? She's more powerful than anyone working at the label, including the [President]." - The Fader   142.    Question: Does the Sade sound ever wear out?   143.    The Movie Scene   144.    The Color Purple/Film synopsis   145.    An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.   146.    Review by Roger Ebert   147.    Returning to "The Color Purple" after almost 20 years, I can see its flaws more easily than when I named it the best film of 1985, but I can also understand why it moved me so deeply, and why the greatness of some films depends not on their perfection or logic, but on their heart. The movie may have inconsistencies, confusions and improbabilities, but there is one perfect thing at its center, and that is the character of Celie, as played by Whoopi Goldberg. "Here is this year's winner for best actress," I wrote in my original review, and that should have been true, but although "The Color Purple" had 11 nominations, it won not a single Oscar. When a movie character is really working, we become that character. That's what the movies offer: Escapism into lives other than our own. I am not female, I am not black, I am not Celie, but for a time during "The Color Purple," my mind deceives me that I am all of those things, and as I empathize with her struggle and victory I learn something about what it must have been like to be her.  - Roger Ebert   148.    Selected Quotes   149.    In Honor of Its 33rd Anniversary, Here Are 10 Life Lessons I Learned From the Color Purple - By Melissa Kimble Dec 18, 2018 [https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a25616715/the-color-purple-quotes-anniversary/]   150.    I was born a few years after the film was released. However, I can credit much of my self discovery to the many times I’ve watched it. My favorite quotes from the movie taught me valuable lessons about Black womanhood, faith, and self love. And these 10 are the ones I’ll never forget.   151.    “Girl, you oughta bash Mister’s head open and think about heaven later.” By Oprah Winfrey - In a film where women are treated like inferiors, Sofia breaks the mold by refusing to be her husband's punching bag. This scene-stealing monologue, with its rage filled entrance by the O of O, is an act of defiance—especially one committed in early 20th century Georgia. It was powerful and necessary to see a Black woman go against the grain on screen. And to me, it was a call to action to be fearless.   152.    "I'm poor, Black, I may even be ugly, but dear God, I’m here! I’m here!" By Whoopi Goldberg - What a victorious statement this was by Celie, who, up until this point, had spent most of her life feeling unworthy and invisible. It reminded me that even with our flaws and imperfections, we still deserve to show up in our own lives.   153.    "Until you do right by me, everything you think about is going to crumble." By - Whoopi Goldberg - With these words, Celie breaks a cycle of abuse from Mister and sticks up for herself. I interpreted this line as a sign that I don’t have to carry the weight of people who have caused my pain; life will take care of everything.   154.    “Miss Celie, why you always covering up your smile?” By Desreta Jackson - Growing up, I was very insecure about my smile. And when Shug Avery posed this question to Miss Celie, it also made me turn to myself. When Shug encourages Celie to smile, I learned that there’s no need to cover up my own   155.    Open Comments:   156.    Featured Artist   157.    Caryn Elaine Johnson, a.k.a. Whoopi Goldberg (@ 30 yrs old): an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, Broadway star, political activist, author and talk show host, she is one of the most successful and established African American actresses of her time.    158.    Born and raised in Manhattan, she is one of 14 entertainers ever to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. What differentiates Goldberg from her contemporaries is the excellence that she portrayed in all the mediums of entertainment, be it television, theatre, films or radio.    159.    Childhood & Early Life   160.    Her mother was a nurse and a teacher while her father served as a clergyman. She was raised in the Chelsea-Elliot Houses by her mother alone after her father disbanded the family when she was young. She studied until her teen years and later dropped out of school. Her started acting started at a young age. It was during her stage performance that people complimented her by saying that she looked like whoopee cushion. It was from there that she took the stage name Whoopi and adopted Goldberg as her surname to sound more Jewish.    161.    Career   162.    In 1974, (@ age 19) she moved to California and thereafter lived in various cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. It was during this time that she honed her acting skills and developed her talent as a stand-up comedian.  However, soon thereafter, she returned to New York and started receiving training under acting coach Uta Hagen. Her first ever appearance on screen was for William Farley’s feature, ‘Citizen: I'm Not Losing My Mind, I'm Giving It Away’ in 1982 (@ 27). In 1983, she created, starred and directed a ‘The Spook Show’, a one-woman show that addressed the issue of race in American but in a unique and innovative style. Next, she created other off-Broadway productions such as ‘Little Girl’ an African-American child obsessed with having blond hair and ‘Fontaine’ a junkie who also happens to hold a doctorate in literature. The innovative presentation and sense of wit and style in her shows impressed director Mike Nicholas who offered to take ‘The Spook Show’ to the Broadway. The show which ran for 156 performances, met with much acclaim both commercially and critically. It went on to earn her a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. The eye-catching performance and amazing positive reception of the show earned her attention of the Hollywood bigwigs. It helped her bag a role in the Steven Spielberg film, ‘The Color Purple’, released in 1985. The movie met with resounding success, clutching 11 Academy Awards nominations and she won her first Golden Globe award.   163.    Open Comments:   164.    Oprah Gail Winfrey , a.k.a. Oprah Winfrey (@ 31 yrs old): Talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist.   165.    Childhood & Early Life   166.    Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, on a small family farm, to an unwed mother who had a short relationship with a soldier stationed nearby, Oprah grew up in dire poverty, and was primarily raised by her grandmother. Sexually abused and mistreated as a child, Winfrey rose above adversity to focus on her primary and high school education.    167.    Career   168.    When she was still a teenager, the local CBS television station in Nashville, Tennessee offered her a job as a co-anchor. She turned it down three times. At age 19, Oprah Winfrey said yes after the fourth offer. She failed the interview, but instead was offered a job as a full-time reporter for a Baltimore television news channel. She did poorly as a reporter, and by age 22 she was fired from the news division. The director of the station gave Winfrey a boost by selecting her to anchor a morning talk show entitled ‘People are Talking’. For the next seven years, her talk show enjoyed excellent ratings. In 1981, (@ 27) she moved to Chicago to host a talk show entitled ‘A.M. Chicago’. Four years later, (1985) after a tremendous boost in the ratings, the producers changed the name to ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’. She caught the attention of Quincy Jones, a Chicago native, and he cast her as Sofia for the first movie he produced, 'The Color Purple'. The following year ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ was broadcast nationally.    169.    Open Comments:   170.    TV Scene:   171.    Featured Actor: Phylician Ayers Allen, a.k.a Phylicia Rashad is an Emmy-nominated American actress, singer, and director.   172.    Her multi-faceted career began with Broadway before she branched into television and films. She is best remembered for her character as Claire Huxtable in the NBC sitcom ‘The Cosby Show’, which ran for eight years. The series brought Phylicia much deserved recognition, also earning her two Emmy nominations. Phylicia, however, is immortalized for her rich performances on the stage as an artist. She starred in several lavish musicals and dramas, all praised highly by critics. She became the first African American actress to walk away with a Tony Award for her performance in Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘Raisin in The Sun’.  Subsequently, she was venerated within the African American acting community at the NAACP Awards, where she was called ‘The Mother’ of the Black Community. Her other popular plays include ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, ‘August: Osage Country’, and ‘Gem of the Ocean’. She has tried her hand at stage direction and has successfully directed hit plays at prominent stages. Over the course of her career, Rashad has starred in several television series and voiced many characters. Her prolific output continues to be on the rise as she is still an active part of the entertainment industry.   173.    Childhood & Early Life:   174.    Phylicia Rashad was born Phylician Ayers Allen on June 19, 1948, in Houston, Texas to Vivian Ayers and Andrew Arthur Allen. Her mother was a prize-winning poet and artist, while her father was a reputed orthodontist. She has three siblings: Andrew Arthur Allen Jr., Debbie Allen, and Hugh Allen. Phylicia was raised in the United States and Mexico. She studied at Howard University, Washington D.C. and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theatre in 1970. During her university days, she was inculcated into the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.   175.    Career   176.    After graduating with a degree in theatre, Phylicia immediately joined the Negro Ensemble Company in New York. She toured the city and was seen in several plays under this troupe. Her Broadway debut occurred in 1972 and she was seen in several minor roles for hit musicals, including ‘The Wiz’ (1975) and ‘Dreamgirls’ (1981). In 1978, Rashad tried her hand at something new by releasing the concept album ‘Josephine Superstar’, an album that was based on Josephine Baker’s life. She decided to embark on an alternative career in television owing to the scarcity of good roles given to her. In 1982, after moving to television, Rashad landed a recurring role in the series ‘One Life to Live’ as Courtney Wright, a publicist. In 1984, Phylicia Rashad was roped in to play the role of Clair Huxtable, an attorney, in the hit comedy ‘The Cosby Show’. The show starred Bill Cosby in the lead role and Phylicia played his wife. The series ran for over eight years and was a critical and commercial success. Phylicia’s role as Clair proved to be the highest point in her career, earning her two Emmy Award nominations.   177.    Open Comments   178.    Question: Is she a good actor? Do you buy her in other roles?   179.    Vote: Best Pop Culture item/event for 1985

Topics: Air Jordans, Whitney Houston, Sade, The Color Purple, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Phylicia Rashad (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)   1985 Notes   General Snapshots   1.    President: Ronald Reagan   2.    Jan – In Hollywood,  California, the charity single "We  Are the World" is recorded by USA for  Africa. The  single raises money to combat the  ongoing famine in Ethiopia. The  American act consists of high-profile  performers, including Michael  Jackson, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner,  Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross.   3.    Jan – The newest music video channel, VH-1, begins broadcasting on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV. The first video played is Marvin Gaye's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner".   4.    Mar – WrestleMania debuts at Madison Square Garden.  In the main event, Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeated Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper. The attendance for the event was 19,121. The event was seen by over one million viewers through closed-circuit television, making it the largest pay-per-view showing of a wrestling event on closed-circuit television in the United States at the time.   5.    Apr – Coca-Cola changes its recipe and releases New Coke. The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula is back on the market in less than three months.   6.    Aug - Ryan White who was expelled from Western High School in Indiana is allowed to attend his first day of classes via telephone.   7.    Sep - The Farm Aid concert is held in Champaign, Illinois, USA.   8.    Oct  – The Nintendo Entertainment System is released in U.S. stores. By 1988, industry observers stated that the NES's popularity had grown so quickly that the market for Nintendo cartridges was larger than that for all home computer software.  The NES was released two years after the North American video game crash of 1983, when many retailers and adult consumers regarded electronic games as a passing fad. With the NES, Nintendo also changed the relationship between console manufacturers and third-party software developers by restricting developers from publishing and distributing software without licensed approval. This led to higher-quality games, which helped change the attitude of a public that had grown weary from poorly produced games for earlier systems.   9.    Nov - Microsoft Corporation releases the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0.   10.    Open Comments:   11.    Top 3 Pop Songs   12.    1    "Careless Whisper"    Wham!   13.    2    "Like a Virgin"    Madonna   14.    3    "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"    Wham!   15.    Grammy Awards   16.    Record of the Year: Quincy Jones (producer) for "We Are the World"   17.    Album of the Year: Phil Collins (producer & artist) for No Jacket Required   18.    Song of the Year: Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie (songwriters) for "We Are the World"   19.    Best New Artist: Sade   20.    Top 3 Movies   21.    Back to the Future   22.    Rambo: First Blood Part II   23.    Rocky IV   24.    Other Notables:  The Color Purple / Out of Africa / Cocoon / The Jewel of the Nile / Witness / The Goonies / Spies Like Us / The Breakfast Club / Brewster's Millions / St. Elmo's Fire /  Krush Groove   25.    Top 3 TV Shows   26.    The Cosby Show   27.    Family Ties   28.    Murder, She Wrote       29.    TV Debuts   30.    Sep - What's Happening Now!! / Stir Crazy   31.    Black Snapshots   32.    Feb -  Whitney Houston releases her debut  album – Whitney Houston.   33.    Mar  – Mike Tyson makes his professional debut in Albany, New York, a match which he wins by a first-round knockout.   34.    May - Michael Jordan is named as the NBA's "Rookie of the Year."   35.    May – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mayor Wilson Goode, the  first African American to hold that office,  orders police to storm the  headquarters of the black liberation/back-to-nature group MOVE to end a stand-off over serving arrest warrants. (Due process?!?!)  The police drop 2 explosive devices into the headquarters, killing 6 adults and 5 children, and destroyed an additional 61 residental homes in the resulting fire. The survivors filed a civil suit against the city and the police department, and were awarded $1.5 million in 1996.   36.    Jul - The final episode of The Jeffersons airs. (1975-) 10 yrs   37.    Aug - Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids  (1972-) 13 yrs   38.    Nov - Ebony Man: EM  Magazine launches   39.    Best Comedy Recording: Whoopi Goldberg - Original Broadway Show Recording   40.    Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female: Aretha Franklin for "Freeway of Love"   41.    Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male: Stevie Wonder for In Square Circle   42.    Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Commodores for "Nightshift"   43.    Economic Snapshot   44.    Avg. Income = $22,138   45.    House = $99,331   46.    New Car = $9,531   47.    Avg. Rent = $375   48.    Tuition at Harvard = $9,800   49.    Movie Ticket = $2.75   50.    Gas = $1.20   51.    Stamp = $0.22   52.    Socilal Scene: “Money, it's gotta be da shoes!” - Mars Blackmon   53.    The Air Jordan I was originally released in 1985 and is almost single-handedly responsible for modern-day sneaker culture. Michael Jordan originally wanted to sign with either Converse or Adidas. But Converse declined and according to a Wall Street Journal article published in 2015 so did Adidas. Still MJ was not convinced. Only when Nike, thinking they had nothing to loose, offered to give MJ his own shoe- and clothing line did he change his mind. This was unheard of at the time, no NBA player had an entire product line named after them. As the first basketball player with his own signature shoes Jordan would immediately become the king of basketball sneaker advertising. Just to be on the safe side Nike worked an out-clause into the contract: if Air Jordans didn’t earn Nike $3 million in the first 3 years, or if Jordan didn’t make the NBA All-Star Game in his first three years, Nike could dump him. Jordan was voted into the All-Star Game as a Rookie starter and the "Air Jordan 1" shoe made Nike $130 million in 1985 alone. The rest is history.   54.    Open Comments:   55.    The pushback and common critisisms   56.    Extremely superficial materialism is one of the only ways that many black Americans express a sense of self worth.    57.    When you live in a society where nobody has a savings account, or a college degree, or has traveled abroad, having a fresh pair of sneakers and a gold chain shouldn't be your version of keeping up with the Joneses.   58.    Liking shoes is as much of a "black thing" as liking chicken is a "black thing". Everyone likes both of these things.   59.    Open Comments:   60.    It became popular in the late 80s for people with moderate or low incomes to wear clothing adorned with the names and logos of luxury, high-end brands. Then all the luxury brands started making their own low-end, logo-covered versions. You wear your favorite sports team to affiliate yourself with them. It's the same thing with Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Jordache, Guess, Wrangler, Levi, Gitano, Bonjour, Sasson, etc., it's a way of signalling.   61.    Question: We went from tailored suits and dresses to baggy jeans and yoga pants. From afro's and braids to fashioned bandanas and bleached blondes. From the stylish Supremes and Tempations to tatooed  faces and pireced everytginhg. - What do you think is at the root of our decisions? Are we victims of advertising?   62.    Music Scene   63.    Black Songs from the Top 40 (No Lionel Richie showed up!)   64.    5    "I Feel for You"    Chaka Khan   65.    6    "Out of Touch"    Hall & Oates   66.    12    "Easy Lover"    Philip Bailey and Phil Collins   67.    17    "Cherish"    Kool & the Gang   68.    20    "We Are the World"    USA for Africa   69.    22    "Part-Time Lover"    Stevie Wonder   70.    23    "Saving All My Love For You"    Whitney Houston   71.    26    "Cool It Now"    New Edition   72.    28    "Loverboy"    Billy Ocean   73.    29    "Lovergirl"    Teena Marie   74.    31    "Oh Sheila"    Ready for the World   75.    32    "Rhythm of the Night"    DeBarge   76.    38    "Neutron Dance"    The Pointer Sisters   77.    40    "Nightshift"    Commodores   78.    Vote:   79.    Top RnB Singles   80.    Jan - "Operator"    Midnight Star   81.    Jan - "Gotta Get You Home Tonight"    Eugene Wilde   82.    Feb -  "Mr. Telephone Man"    New Edition   83.    Feb - "Missing You"    Diana Ross   84.    Mar - "Nightshift"    The Commodores   85.    Apr - "Back In Stride"    Maze featuring Frankie Beverly   86.    Apr - "Rhythm Of the Night"    DeBarge   87.    May - "We Are the World"    USA for Africa   88.    May - "Fresh"    Kool & the Gang   89.    May - "You Give Good Love"    Whitney Houston   90.    Jun - "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)"    Freddie Jackson   91.    Jul - "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)"    Loose Ends   92.    Jul - "Save Your Love (For #1)"    René & Angela   93.    Aug - "Freeway of Love"    Aretha Franklin   94.    Sep - "Saving All My Love for You"    Whitney Houston   95.    Sep - "Cherish"    Kool & the Gang   96.    Sep - "Oh Sheila"    Ready For the World   97.    Oct - "You Are My Lady"    Freddie Jackson   98.    Oct - "Part-Time Lover"    Stevie Wonder   99.    Nov - "Caravan of Love"    Isley-Jasper-Isley   100.    Dec - "Don't Say No Tonight"    Eugene Wilde   101.    Vote:   102.    Top RnB Albums   103.    Jan - New Edition    New Edition   104.    Feb - Solid    Ashford & Simpson   105.    Mar - Gap Band VI    The Gap Band   106.    Mar p- Private Dancer    Tina Turner   107.    Apr - Nightshift    The Commodores   108.    Apr - Can't Stop the Love    Frankie Beverly and Maze   109.    May - The Night I Fell in Love    Luther Vandross   110.    Jun - Whitney Houston    Whitney Houston   111.    Jun - Rock Me Tonight    Freddie Jackson   112.    Nov - In Square Circle    Stevie Wonder   113.    Vote   114.    Featured Artists: Whitney Houston and Sade   115.    Whitney Elizabeth Houston, @22 yrs old: Singer, actress, model, and producer, Whitney Houston is one of the world’s most successful female entertainers of all time.   116.    Born and raised in Newark NJ,  she is the daughter of Grammy-award-winning gospel singer, Emily “Cissy” Houston and John R. Houston, who managed his daughter’s production company.    117.    Childhood & Early Life   118.    She was no stranger to the entertainment industry, having come from a line of singers and actresses. Not only did her mother’s vocal group, the ‘Sweet Inspirations’, sing backup for Aretha Franklin, but her cousins Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick are also renowned singers, as well as her godmother, Darlene Love. She began performing in her church’s gospel choir as a soloist at the age of eleven and learned to play the piano. While attending Catholic school, she took voice lessons from her mother, with whom she would occasionally perform in nightclubs.   119.    Career   120.    In 1977 (@ 14 yrs old), she was a backup singer for Michael Zager Band’s single ‘Life’s a Party’ and the following year she sang on Chaka Khan’s single ‘I’m Every Woman’. She was offered an opportunity to sign with a recording company, but her mother declined so she would finish high school. In the early 1980s, (@17 yrs old), she worked as a model, appearing in several magazines including, ‘Seventeen’, where she became the first African American to be featured on the cover. She also took on acting gigs appearing in TV show episodes such as, ‘Gimme a Break’, while continuing to develop her vocal skills. In 1983,(@ 20yrs old) she was signed with ‘Arista Records’. President Clive Davis spent the next couple years assembling lyricists and producers to balance her gospel-like sound with contemporary melodies. In 1985, her debut album, ‘Whitney Houston’ gradually became the number one selling album of her career.  She went on to win two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards.   121.    Open Comments:   122.    A Hot Mess   123.    On February 11th, 2012, Whitney Houston (@ 48 yrs old) was found facedown in a bathtub.  Weeks later, an autopsy report would contribute Houston’s death to accidental drowning, heart disease and cocaine use. There were additional traces of a muscle relaxant, Xanax, marijuana and an allergy medication in the singer’s system.    124.    The sad, secret life of Whitney Houston: From a secret lesbian relationship to a decades-long struggle with drugs, five years after singer’s death, a new film ‘Whitney: Can I Be Me’ examines what caused her tragic downfall - Tara Brady [Jun 12, 2017] https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-sad-secret-life-of-whitney-houston-1.3105861   125.    Selected quotes from the article:   126.    What exactly killed Houston? Why did she drown? How did she drown? Was she simply overwhelmed by the controlling demands of her formidable mother, Cissy Houston, Svengali Clive Davis, and her record company, Arista? Did the aftermath of her toxic and co-dependent marriage to Bobby Brown send her spiralling? Or was it the dissolution of her decades-old lesbian relationship with her assistant Robyn Crawford? It’s complicated, as documentarian Nick Broomfield discovered.  “In the end I think the divide between who she was and what her public persona was became more and more difficult,” says  documentarian Nick Broomfield. “And she just went down,    127.    The imploding relations between Houston, Bobby Brown and Robyn Crawford. Brown told Us Weekly magazine that Houston was bisexual and that she once had an affair with Tupac Shakur. He went on to say that Houston kept her relationship with Crawford hidden because of Cissy. “I really feel that if Robyn was accepted into Whitney’s life, Whitney would still be alive today,” Brown told the magazine. “She didn’t have close friends with her anymore.”   128.    From Cissy’s notorious 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey:  “Would it have bothered you if your daughter was gay?”  “Absolutely,” Cissy snapped back. “You wouldn’t have condoned it?” continued an incredulous Oprah. “Not at all.” ...“I didn’t particularly like [Crawford],” Cissy told the talk show queen. “She just spoke too much, disrespectful sometimes, like she had something over Nippy (Houston’s nickname), and I didn’t like that at all. She was all right, she turned out to be all right, I guess. That was her friend.”   129.    Houston and Crawford first bonded while they were teenagers working at a community centre in East Orange, New Jersey. When Houston’s modelling career began to take off, she’d face bullying in school, and Crawford, who was originally a friend of Houston’s older brothers Michael and Gary, would frequently come to the rescue. When Houston moved out of her family home, she shared her first apartment with Crawford. Deep into Houston and Brown’s 14-year marriage, Crawford remained a fixture in Houston’s domestic arrangements.   130.    Houston’s marriage to Brown, understandably, made for an uneasy romantic trinity. In Derrick Handspike’s unauthorised 2008 biography, Bobby Brown: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But . . ., the author quotes Brown as saying: “Now I realise Whitney had a different agenda than I did when we got married. I believe her agenda was to clean up her image while mine was to be loved and have children. “Whitney felt she had to make rumours of a lesbian affair go away. Since she was the American Sweetheart and all, that didn’t go too well with her image. In Whitney’s situation the only solution was to get married and have kids. That would kill all speculation whether it was true or not.”   131.    Supermarket tabloids did a brisk trade during the 1990s by peddling the idea that Houston’s life spiralled into addiction after she married Brown. She was the gospel-singing good girl – the church-going daughter of Cissy and a cousin of Dionne Warwick. He was a bad boy who, aged 20, when they first met, had already been shot and stabbed in the shoulder. Their tumultuous marriage (from 1992 to 2007), characterised by drug use, infidelity and a costly entourage, was seldom out of the headlines. But contrary to popular belief, Brown did not introduce his troubled wife to cocaine. Houston first dabbled with drugs with her brothers, Michael and Gary, as a teenager. The truth is that Houston was always as “street“ as her R&B star husband. But that part of her personal history didn’t fit with what Broomfield calls “the Whitney character”.  As Pattie Howard, Houston’s backing vocalist, notes: “People may not know it but Whitney was from the ‘hood’. They wanted to present her as the princess. And that’s what white America was presented with.” Kenneth Reynolds, who worked in marketing for Arista Records recalls that: “Anything that was too black sounding was sent back. We wanted Joni Mitchell. We wanted Barbra Streisand. ” “She was very carefully groomed for nearly two years before the first album came out,” explains Broomfield. “So every aspect of her was carefully considered. She was a major project. A lot of money was spent on her. Anything that was too R&B was out. They didn’t want a female James Brown. That was not part of their vision. Which, of course, was a very successful vision.”   132.    In 1989, just as Houston topped 25 million in album sales and surpassed the Beatles’s record with seven consecutive number one hits, she attended the Soul Train awards where, in response to her “white” music, she was roundly booed. Pre-Beyoncé and Mariah Carey, “crossover” was synonymous with cultural betrayal. People shouted “Oreo” – brown on the outside, white on the inside – as her nomination for Best Female Vocalist was announced. “It’s not a good feeling,” says Houston, in Can I Be Me. “It’s horrible and kind of funny. You think: ‘Are they booing me?’ And you have to sit there and be cordial and smiley. And you feel like: ‘Oh my God’.” Kirk Whalum, the saxophonist who toured with Houston for more than seven years recalls that night, which coincidentally, was the first time she met Brown. “It was devastating [for her],” says Whalum.   133.    By the end of the 90s, Houston found herself at the centre of a perfect storm of ongoing racial friction, marital troubles and drug abuse. Friends, unable to watch Houston’s decline, began to drift away. Her father, John, died in 2003, but not before his management company, John Houston Entertainment LLC, filed a $100 million lawsuit against his own daughter. Months before his death, he made a public appeal on the syndicated show, Celebrity Justice: “You get your act together, honey, and you pay me the money that you owe me.” Robyn Crawford’s departure in 2000, too, prompted a new, crippling dependency on crack-cocaine and other substances. - “Robyn was the one who was keeping her together,” says writer Allison Samuels. “That’s when drugs became so important to her.”   134.    Open Comments:   135.    The Smooth Operator -Helen Folasade Adu, professionally known as Sade (@26 yrs old)   136.    Sade is an internationally renowned, multi-Grammy award winning singer who is known for her smooth, melodic vocals and the seamless incorporation of different styles of music. She was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria on January 16, 1959. Her father Adebisi Adu, a Nigerian lecturer of economics, and her mother Anne Hayes, a district nurse, had met in London. Sade was the couple’s second child. Shortly after her birth, Sade’s parents separated and she and her brother followed their mother to Colchester, Essex, England. There, the children were raised by their mother as well as their maternal grandfather. Upon finishing her education at Clacton County High School in Colchester, she enrolled at Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design in London to pursue fashion and design. After completion of her program, she worked as a model and menswear designer.    137.    Sade entered the music scene around 1980 when she started singing harmony for Arriva, a Latin funk band. She joined another funk band called Pride and was a background singer for the group. Pride garnered much attention from record companies due to their performances around London. Eventually Sade and fellow bandmates, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Denma, and Andrew Hale signed a deal with the U.K. division of Epic Records and formed the band Sade. In 1984 the band’s debut album, Diamond Life, was released to much critical success and was bolstered by singles such as “Hang On to Your Love” and “Smooth Operator.” The band followed up their debut with their next album, Promise, which was released the following year. “The Sweetest Taboo,” a single from Promise, was on the U.S. Hot 100 for six months. She was awarded the Grammy for best new artist of 1985.    138.    Open Comments:   139.    Selected quote about her sound   140.    Let's get this into context. With Sade it's unlikely there will ever be a full, naked baring of the soul. In terms of contemporary icons, it's better to listen to Mary J for stories of drama and shattered devotion. But Sade, today, is all about the acknowledged presence of absence. What's missing in her music is as important as what's present. - The Fader   141.    A small, yet important, fact: When Sade signed her first record deal with Epic in the early '80s, she accepted a small advance, worth ~$70,000 in exchange for an unusually high cut of sales for a new artist—15 percent. It was a deal that ended up proving immensely lucrative, and it has freed her from many of the commercial demands that often encumber artists. Put simply, she only works when and how she wants to. As one executive at her label, Epic, put it to me: "Who's going to argue with a woman who's sold 50 million albums? She's more powerful than anyone working at the label, including the [President]." - The Fader   142.    Question: Does the Sade sound ever wear out?   143.    The Movie Scene   144.    The Color Purple/Film synopsis   145.    An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.   146.    Review by Roger Ebert   147.    Returning to "The Color Purple" after almost 20 years, I can see its flaws more easily than when I named it the best film of 1985, but I can also understand why it moved me so deeply, and why the greatness of some films depends not on their perfection or logic, but on their heart. The movie may have inconsistencies, confusions and improbabilities, but there is one perfect thing at its center, and that is the character of Celie, as played by Whoopi Goldberg. "Here is this year's winner for best actress," I wrote in my original review, and that should have been true, but although "The Color Purple" had 11 nominations, it won not a single Oscar. When a movie character is really working, we become that character. That's what the movies offer: Escapism into lives other than our own. I am not female, I am not black, I am not Celie, but for a time during "The Color Purple," my mind deceives me that I am all of those things, and as I empathize with her struggle and victory I learn something about what it must have been like to be her.  - Roger Ebert   148.    Selected Quotes   149.    In Honor of Its 33rd Anniversary, Here Are 10 Life Lessons I Learned From the Color Purple - By Melissa Kimble Dec 18, 2018 [https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a25616715/the-color-purple-quotes-anniversary/]   150.    I was born a few years after the film was released. However, I can credit much of my self discovery to the many times I’ve watched it. My favorite quotes from the movie taught me valuable lessons about Black womanhood, faith, and self love. And these 10 are the ones I’ll never forget.   151.    “Girl, you oughta bash Mister’s head open and think about heaven later.” By Oprah Winfrey - In a film where women are treated like inferiors, Sofia breaks the mold by refusing to be her husband's punching bag. This scene-stealing monologue, with its rage filled entrance by the O of O, is an act of defiance—especially one committed in early 20th century Georgia. It was powerful and necessary to see a Black woman go against the grain on screen. And to me, it was a call to action to be fearless.   152.    "I'm poor, Black, I may even be ugly, but dear God, I’m here! I’m here!" By Whoopi Goldberg - What a victorious statement this was by Celie, who, up until this point, had spent most of her life feeling unworthy and invisible. It reminded me that even with our flaws and imperfections, we still deserve to show up in our own lives.   153.    "Until you do right by me, everything you think about is going to crumble." By - Whoopi Goldberg - With these words, Celie breaks a cycle of abuse from Mister and sticks up for herself. I interpreted this line as a sign that I don’t have to carry the weight of people who have caused my pain; life will take care of everything.   154.    “Miss Celie, why you always covering up your smile?” By Desreta Jackson - Growing up, I was very insecure about my smile. And when Shug Avery posed this question to Miss Celie, it also made me turn to myself. When Shug encourages Celie to smile, I learned that there’s no need to cover up my own   155.    Open Comments:   156.    Featured Artist   157.    Caryn Elaine Johnson, a.k.a. Whoopi Goldberg (@ 30 yrs old): an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, Broadway star, political activist, author and talk show host, she is one of the most successful and established African American actresses of her time.    158.    Born and raised in Manhattan, she is one of 14 entertainers ever to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. What differentiates Goldberg from her contemporaries is the excellence that she portrayed in all the mediums of entertainment, be it television, theatre, films or radio.    159.    Childhood & Early Life   160.    Her mother was a nurse and a teacher while her father served as a clergyman. She was raised in the Chelsea-Elliot Houses by her mother alone after her father disbanded the family when she was young. She studied until her teen years and later dropped out of school. Her started acting started at a young age. It was during her stage performance that people complimented her by saying that she looked like whoopee cushion. It was from there that she took the stage name Whoopi and adopted Goldberg as her surname to sound more Jewish.    161.    Career   162.    In 1974, (@ age 19) she moved to California and thereafter lived in various cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. It was during this time that she honed her acting skills and developed her talent as a stand-up comedian.  However, soon thereafter, she returned to New York and started receiving training under acting coach Uta Hagen. Her first ever appearance on screen was for William Farley’s feature, ‘Citizen: I'm Not Losing My Mind, I'm Giving It Away’ in 1982 (@ 27). In 1983, she created, starred and directed a ‘The Spook Show’, a one-woman show that addressed the issue of race in American but in a unique and innovative style. Next, she created other off-Broadway productions such as ‘Little Girl’ an African-American child obsessed with having blond hair and ‘Fontaine’ a junkie who also happens to hold a doctorate in literature. The innovative presentation and sense of wit and style in her shows impressed director Mike Nicholas who offered to take ‘The Spook Show’ to the Broadway. The show which ran for 156 performances, met with much acclaim both commercially and critically. It went on to earn her a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. The eye-catching performance and amazing positive reception of the show earned her attention of the Hollywood bigwigs. It helped her bag a role in the Steven Spielberg film, ‘The Color Purple’, released in 1985. The movie met with resounding success, clutching 11 Academy Awards nominations and she won her first Golden Globe award.   163.    Open Comments:   164.    Oprah Gail Winfrey , a.k.a. Oprah Winfrey (@ 31 yrs old): Talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist.   165.    Childhood & Early Life   166.    Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, on a small family farm, to an unwed mother who had a short relationship with a soldier stationed nearby, Oprah grew up in dire poverty, and was primarily raised by her grandmother. Sexually abused and mistreated as a child, Winfrey rose above adversity to focus on her primary and high school education.    167.    Career   168.    When she was still a teenager, the local CBS television station in Nashville, Tennessee offered her a job as a co-anchor. She turned it down three times. At age 19, Oprah Winfrey said yes after the fourth offer. She failed the interview, but instead was offered a job as a full-time reporter for a Baltimore television news channel. She did poorly as a reporter, and by age 22 she was fired from the news division. The director of the station gave Winfrey a boost by selecting her to anchor a morning talk show entitled ‘People are Talking’. For the next seven years, her talk show enjoyed excellent ratings. In 1981, (@ 27) she moved to Chicago to host a talk show entitled ‘A.M. Chicago’. Four years later, (1985) after a tremendous boost in the ratings, the producers changed the name to ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’. She caught the attention of Quincy Jones, a Chicago native, and he cast her as Sofia for the first movie he produced, 'The Color Purple'. The following year ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ was broadcast nationally.    169.    Open Comments:   170.    TV Scene:   171.    Featured Actor: Phylician Ayers Allen, a.k.a Phylicia Rashad is an Emmy-nominated American actress, singer, and director.   172.    Her multi-faceted career began with Broadway before she branched into television and films. She is best remembered for her character as Claire Huxtable in the NBC sitcom ‘The Cosby Show’, which ran for eight years. The series brought Phylicia much deserved recognition, also earning her two Emmy nominations. Phylicia, however, is immortalized for her rich performances on the stage as an artist. She starred in several lavish musicals and dramas, all praised highly by critics. She became the first African American actress to walk away with a Tony Award for her performance in Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘Raisin in The Sun’.  Subsequently, she was venerated within the African American acting community at the NAACP Awards, where she was called ‘The Mother’ of the Black Community. Her other popular plays include ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, ‘August: Osage Country’, and ‘Gem of the Ocean’. She has tried her hand at stage direction and has successfully directed hit plays at prominent stages. Over the course of her career, Rashad has starred in several television series and voiced many characters. Her prolific output continues to be on the rise as she is still an active part of the entertainment industry.   173.    Childhood & Early Life:   174.    Phylicia Rashad was born Phylician Ayers Allen on June 19, 1948, in Houston, Texas to Vivian Ayers and Andrew Arthur Allen. Her mother was a prize-winning poet and artist, while her father was a reputed orthodontist. She has three siblings: Andrew Arthur Allen Jr., Debbie Allen, and Hugh Allen. Phylicia was raised in the United States and Mexico. She studied at Howard University, Washington D.C. and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theatre in 1970. During her university days, she was inculcated into the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.   175.    Career   176.    After graduating with a degree in theatre, Phylicia immediately joined the Negro Ensemble Company in New York. She toured the city and was seen in several plays under this troupe. Her Broadway debut occurred in 1972 and she was seen in several minor roles for hit musicals, including ‘The Wiz’ (1975) and ‘Dreamgirls’ (1981). In 1978, Rashad tried her hand at something new by releasing the concept album ‘Josephine Superstar’, an album that was based on Josephine Baker’s life. She decided to embark on an alternative career in television owing to the scarcity of good roles given to her. In 1982, after moving to television, Rashad landed a recurring role in the series ‘One Life to Live’ as Courtney Wright, a publicist. In 1984, Phylicia Rashad was roped in to play the role of Clair Huxtable, an attorney, in the hit comedy ‘The Cosby Show’. The show starred Bill Cosby in the lead role and Phylicia played his wife. The series ran for over eight years and was a critical and commercial success. Phylicia’s role as Clair proved to be the highest point in her career, earning her two Emmy Award nominations.   177.    Open Comments   178.    Question: Is she a good actor? Do you buy her in other roles?   179.    Vote: Best Pop Culture item/event for 1985

Laura is a two-time winner of Best Female Vocalist at the British Country Music Awards and a Top 5 artist on the iTunes UK Country Music Chart. With an incredible room-silencing voice and ridiculously great songwriting talent, Laura is definitely on her way to BIG things! Read more about Laura via the links below. http://lauraoakesmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/lauraoakesofficial/ https://twitter.com/lauraoakesmusic

Michael J. Epstein is a Los Angeles director, actor, writer, musician, and producer known primarily for horror and sci-fi feature films layered with modern sociopolitical commentary, including the social-satire-horror Clickbait (2019), 70s-Euro-vampire Blood of the Tribades (2016), psychotronic-sci-fi Magnetic (2015), and the avant-mystery Ten(2014). He often co-writes, co-directs, and co-produces with his wife, Sophia Cacciola, with their production company, Launch Over. Sophia Cacciola is a filmmaker, actor, and musician based in Los Angeles. She is primarily known for her genre-feature films (director/writer): Blood of the Tribades, Magnetic, TEN. She also has done numerous shorts and music videos and often works in production camera and sound.Sophia is also the award-winning singer (Boston Phoenix 2012 Best Female Vocalist) and drummer of the spy-core, The Prisoner-themed band, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thejhorton)

MRS.FUN plays nu jazz. Complex, sophisticated and adventurous, their music is a unique blend of off-center jazz, ultra-funk, spoken word rap, and their own brand of neo-cabaret. Intelligent lyrics, stellar musicianship, and a dynamic stage presence are hallmarks of their music. The MRS.FUN sound is derived from Connie Grauer’s funky bass-driven keyboard playing, combined with Kim Zick’s skillful in-the-pocket drumming. “Grauer is a piano player with few equals whose drive and energy spills across the stage and into the audience like nitrous oxide. She’s got a left hand that doesn’t quit, the mark of any great pianist, and a right hand with limitless boundaries”. Zick holds court as a “heart-stopping drummer” whose “grooves get so far out, most people need a map to get back.” Voted Best Contemporary Jazz Group by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) three consecutive years, Grauer and Zick have also received WAMI awards for Best Instrumentalist: keyboards and drums. Grauer has also received awards for Best Female Vocalist and Best Stage Entertainer. Tune into WMSE’s Local/Live on Tuesday, October 16th to hear what Milwaukee jazz legends, MRS.FUN have been up to lately. WMSE.org to stream live or in the archives, or simply tune your radio to 91.7FM at the 6 o’clock hour. Local/Live on WMSE is sponsored by Club Garibaldi’s.

A staple in the Austin Jazz community, Sarah Sharp is a singer that embodies the cool-jazz era of the 1940s. Sharp has topped the Austin Music Award Polls for Best Female Vocalist, Best Producer, Best Songwriter, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Band of the Year, and Best Jazz Band. She has been featured on NPR’s “Song Travels with Michael Feinstein” where he suggested some of her original songs were destined to become standards. Sway starts as a Jazz EP with standards “Oh What A Beautiful Morning” a nod to Peggy Lee’s version and “Everytime WE Say Goodbye,” clearly displaying her jazz background before continuing on to remind us that she is, and always will be a southern girl. With her rockabilly  influenced originals like “ Your Girlfriend hates me” to ther iconic “Always On My Mind,” that has been performed by countless country icons such as Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson.   Sarah Sharp holds nothing back as she paints a clear picture of her musical identity from its inspiration to its realization.

Which artist’s father was the tour manager for the Kinks? What was legendary album artist Roger Dean’s first album cover? Which artist won a motor rally in Africa? Which female punk rocker was nominated for Best Female Vocalist and lost to Tina Turner? What is AD’s favorite KISS album from the 1980’s? Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @shabbypodcast. Visit www.shabbyroadrecordshow.com to listen to the entire catalog of podcasts, support the show by clicking on the Amazon banner, buy some beers for the fridge and watch some cool videos!

This week's feature interview is with Bree Noble. Bree had a successful 7-year run as a touring singer/songwriter including 3 album releases, several songwriting and artist awards including Best Female Vocalist at the Inland Empire Music Award (2007) and an opportunity to sing the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium in front of 60,000 people.  In 2007, during her time as a touring musician, she founded an online radio station, Women of Substance Radio, to promote quality female artists in all genres. During its 10 years on the air, the station became a highly respected and sought-after source of promotion for female artists, pursued by their PR agents and Record Labels. Bree’s marketing efforts cultivated a large Facebook following, significant listenership, a healthy email list and regular advertising revenue.  The weekday Podcast of the same name launched in 2014 to spotlight quality songs by unsigned female musicians. A few weeks after its debut, it hit #1 in New & Noteworthy in all 3 of it's categories on iTunes and #4 Audio Podcast for all of iTunes. Bree considers it a privilege to discover and promote amazing artists who are not getting the promotion they deserve from traditional media. In July 2017 the show hit 10,000 monthly listeners and continues to grow.   In 2015 Bree launched a 2nd Podcast, the Female Entrepreneur Musician (also #1 in New & Noteworthy), to serve the artists she had been promoting with Women of Substance. On the weekly show, Bree teaches marketing and business strategies for musicians and conducts interviews with successful Indie female artists and industry professionals that are both informational and inspirational. Bree has become a pioneer for women’s voices in Podcasting. In fact she was recently featured in a Forbes article called “The Power Of Podcasting To Fight THe Patriarchy.” Bree has created a large, enthusiastic following of female musicians over the years. She made this community official when she opened the Female Indie Musician Community on Facebook in July 2016. By mid 2018 the group will have amassed over 3,000 engaged members. Drawing on her extensive experience as a musician and entrepreneur, Bree has created several online courses to help musicians learn to make a living from their music. Her most popular offering is an online training and mentoring community exclusively for female musicians called the "Female Musician Academy". Additional Resources: Get this Book!!!! The Artist Way by Julia Cameron Microphone arm with desk clamp

Matt and Heather present the 2017 Paradise Rock Music Awards, with awards including Best Rock album, Best Metal album, Best Newcomer, Award for Excellence and many more. 0:49 – Best Rock Album 1:51 – Best Metal Album 3:29 – Best Female Fronted Album 5:40 – Best Female Vocalist 6:39 – Best Male Vocalist 8:01 – Best Melodic Rock Album 8:28 – Best Folk Metal Album 9:26 – Best Newcomer 10:12 – Legend of the Year 11:00 – Notable Mention of 2017 12:12 – Award for Excellence This is also available on our YouTube channel, links below. Thanks for joining us, and stay meddlesome! This episode was hosted by Matt and Heather, and featured narration by Greyskarn The Black. It featured the following songs: Pipe Choir – “Ignite To Light” Eidetic Seeing – “It's Brick Out” Meddlesome Meeples website: https://goo.gl/LiXWAV SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Meddlesome Meeples on Twitter: https://goo.gl/rUCsEr Meddlesome Meeples on Facebook: https://goo.gl/2ybCxc Meddlesome Meeples on Instagram: https://goo.gl/ttBMPU Meddlesome Meeples on YouTube: https://goo.gl/SJ9SZD Matt's Twitter: https://goo.gl/kK7DHL PODCASTS: The Meddlesome Meeples Podcast: https://goo.gl/dHrgbz The Quest Report Board Gaming Podcast: https://goo.gl/uH9ovN Tome Talk Reading Recommendations: https://goo.gl/o33Y5W Tiny Meeples, Big Talk on iTunes: https://goo.gl/noA6gf Bards Corner Music News Podcast: https://goo.gl/fv3gkW WEBSITES: Paradise Rock UK: https://goo.gl/uXCnaS Matt's Personal Website: https://goo.gl/vhU41q… Read More

WMSE’s Local/Live once again returns to Club Garibaldi’s for another awesome Local/Live segment that YOU can join! On Tuesday, March 6th, we welcome Milwaukee folk group, Dead Horses for a live show and interview on-site and over the airwaves. At fifteen, Dead Horses frontwoman Sarah Vos’ world turned upside down. Raised in a strict, fundamentalist home, Vos lost everything when she and her family were expelled from the rural Wisconsin church where her father had long served as pastor. What happened next is the story of Dead Horses’ stunning new album, ‘My Mother the Moon,’ a record full of trauma and triumph, despair and hope, pain and resilience. Blending elements of traditional roots with contemporary indie folk, the album is both familiar and unexpected, unflinchingly honest in its portrayal of modern American life, yet optimistic in its unshakable faith in brighter days to come. Earthy and organic, Vos’ songs often reveal themselves to be exercises in empathy and outreach; she writes not only to find meaning in the struggles she’s endured, but also to embrace kindred souls on their own personal journeys of self-discovery… ‘My Mother the Moon’ is Dead Horses’ third album, and it follows hot on the heels of their acclaimed 2016 release, ‘Cartoon Moon,’ which Wisconsin Public Radio called “equally beautiful and effortless.” That record prompted the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to declare Dead Horses a Band To Watch and earned them honors for “Best Album,” “Best Americana/Bluegrass Artist,” and “Best Female Vocalist” at the 2017 WAMI Awards. American Songwriter called Vos “a compelling vocalist…who carries every tune with her husky, deeply emotional tone that feels lived in and real,” while No Depression hailed her songwriting as “beautiful and fresh.” With a fleshed out touring lineup, the group logged countless miles, sharing bills along the way with Trampled by Turtles, Mandolin Orange, and Elephant Revival in addition to making festival appearances from Bristol Rhythm and Roots to WinterWonderGrass. You can join WMSE and Dead Horses at Club Garibaldi’s as we team up for this live radio show. If you can’t make it, listen live over the airwaves (or in the WMSE archives). As always, WMSE Music Director Erin Wolf and co-host Cal Roach will lead Dead Horses through questions in between the live performance with the help of our audience (audience participation is encouraged!). Doors are at 5:30pm and the segment starts at 6pm and runs until 7pm. Club Garibaldi’s is located at 2501 S. Superior Street in Bay View. This is a 21+ event which is FREE and open to the public. Again, if you can’t join us for the live segment and show at Club Garibaldi’s, please tune in, per usual, to 91.7 FM (or stream online at WMSE.org) at the 6 o’clock hour. Local/Live on WMSE is sponsored by Club Garibaldi’s.

Corporate Executive by day. Celia Berk has spent over 20 years at WPP, the world's largest marketing communications company.  As Chief Employee Experience Officer, J. Walter Thompson, she reports to the CEO and focuses on ensuring the work lives of JWT employees are as rewarding as possible. As Group Talent Partner, WPP she reports to the company's Chief Transformation Officer and works with over 50 global account teams to advance WPP's strategic focus on “horizontality.” Award-winning Singer by night. Celia set out to have a life in the theatre, and returned to performing in 2009. She is the recipient of the 2017 BroadwayWorld Award for Best Female Vocalist and her highly anticipated second album, MANHATTAN SERENADE, won the 2017 LaMott Friedman Award. Of her extended run of shows at New York's Metropolitan Room celebrating its release, Stephen Holden wrote in The New York Times, “Ms. Berk makes you feel about New York the same way a Cole Porter song makes you feel about Paris.”  It received the 2016 BroadwayWorld Award for Best New York Cabaret Show, Female.  Rex Reed calls Celia "One of the best singers I've heard in a long time" and Michael Feinstein says, “I so enjoy Celia's beautiful vocal sound and style, and her taste in song choices.” MANHATTAN SERENADE is arranged and conducted by Alex Rybeck and co-produced by Tony Award-winning sound designer Scott Lehrer, the team behind her 2014 debut album YOU CAN'T RUSH SPRING. That album and Celia's solo cabaret debut, directed by Jeff Harnar, earned Celia a 2015 Bistro Award: Vocalist, 2015 MAC Award: New York Debut – Female, 2015 BroadwayWorld Award for Best New York Cabaret Debut, and The 2015 Margaret Whiting Award. Celia has made memorable appearances at Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center and The Town Hall. MANHATTAN SERENADE and YOU CAN'T RUSH SPRING are available at iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby.com, and Pandora. More information can be found at GramercyNightingale.com and at Facebook.com/Instagram/Twitter/YouTube: CeliaBerkMusic Paying it forward through Philanthropy. Celia holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hofstra University and serves on the school's Women in Leadership initiative. She is on the Advisory Council of the National Executive Service Corps, and sits on the Global Advisory Board for the Future of Advertising Project at Wharton. She is a Trustee of the Nina Abrams Fund.  In this episode, Celia shares her one way ticket to the "present perfect". She also talks about music, music and more music! And of course, the episode features Celia taking to the mic on three enchanting tunes.  Celia is just one of the extraordinary guests featured on The One Way Ticket Show, where Host Steven Shalowitz explores with his guests where they'd go if given a one way ticket, no coming back! Destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or a state of mind. Steven's guests have included: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, President Jose Ramos-Horta; Legendary Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz; Broadcast Legend, Charles Osgood; International Rescue Committee President & CEO, David Miliband; Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty; Journalist-Humorist-Actor Mo Rocca; ; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.; Abercrombie & Kent Founder, Geoffrey Kent; Travel Expert, Pauline Frommer, as well as leading photographers, artists, writers and more.