One Man Band (Reissue)
Soul crooner Ronnie Dyson became of his generation’s most iconic vocalists before he joined one of soul music’s most important record labels. In 1968, the 18-year old Dyson earned the lead in the musical Hair, singing the tune’s opening line “When the moon is in the seventh house/And Jupiter aligns with Mars.” Dyson continued pursuing […]
Two Eleven
So much has happened since we last heard from Brandy, the soloist. Not Brandy, or rather Bran’Nu, the rapper as on Timbaland’s 2009 Shock Value II. Not the Brandy that was engaged in rather forced duets with her brother Ray J on The Family Business television soundtrack. Certainly not the fembot masquerading as Brandy on […]
The Evolution To Living In Truth
A soul/R&B artist whose album is total live music instrumentation is fast becoming a thing of the past. All too often, we hear passionate vocals over beats and sample loops, with a live organic keyboard thrown in for good measure. It passes for soul music, I guess. Personally, I call this type of soul music […]
Heartbreaker (Reissue) (2012)
By the time of 1982’s Heartbreaker, Dionne Warwick had already made one of the most impressive, improbable comebacks in popular music history. Warwick had been perhaps the world’s most popular female singer in the 60s, as she interpreted the now legendary compositions of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. But the 70s were unkind to the chanteuse: her […]
The Experience
There are many seasoned praise and worship ministers that have experienced qualified success in serving their local church communities, yet some desire to seek bigger platforms in preaching God’s word through music. Though the reasons may vary (especially securing their financial future), there is still one thing that stands out. Their rise typically leans on […]
Playlist
A succession of gold and platinum albums, two Grammy Awards and a worldwide tally of at least 60 million in sales units have immortalized Destiny’s Child as historical hit makers. In their seven years as a professional singing group, the quartet/trio capitalized on the power of social media, sex appeal and songs bubbling over with […]
This Is Life
When we last left Donald Sheffey in 2011, he was celebrating the fifth anniversary of his pride and joy in Weezie Productions with Between You & I. A year later, not much has changed with the musical bubbly as this singer/songwriter/producer still keeps business as usual. Since opening the doors of his self-contained entertainment company, […]
For Sentimental Reasons
It’s been 14 years since British soul vocalist Jaki Graham released an album. Possessing just the right balance of power and finesse, the song stylist scored transcontinental R&B hits during the ’80s with “Heaven Knows,” “Set Me Free,” and “Breaking Away.” But after a few ’90s releases which garnered more spins in dance clubs than […]
Thankful N’ Thoughtful
She’s a latter-day legend despite 50 years this year in the business. From the doo-wop era to psychedelic soul through disco to funk, new age, New Jack Swing, smooth soul, neo-soul, hip hop soul and now auto-tuned Euro-pop, there has been an unwavering Bettye LaVette steadily belting heartfelt lyrics with all the pathos life has […]
Black Radio Recovered: The Remix EP (2012)
It has already become one of the most celebrated projects of 2012: Robert Glasper’s Black Radio has won over critics and fans alike as the most accessible jazz projects by the progressive jazz pianist, composer, arranger and producer. Black Radio delivered something new, with a bevy of named underground royals (and mainstream titleholders with pauper […]
