Happy Birthday Patti!

Today is the birthday of iconic Grammy winning singer and actress Patti LaBelle, who in 1944 was born on this date in Philadelphia, PA.

The career of the 'Godmother of Soul' spans several decades and she is an iconic presence in the African American community.

She's especially loved in the rainbow African American one.    Back during the 80's and early 90's the two most popular people my FI friends used to emulate were Diana Ross and Patti LaBelle.    She's also loved in the African American TBLG community for her advocacy work that earned her a GLAAD Media Award in 2007. 

She's not only an Apollo Legends Hall of Famer, she was listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of 'The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time'.  Her voice is the one that Oprah used for her show's theme song from 1996-1998



And those of us who were (and still are) fans of the groundbreaking  television series A Different World can't forget her recurring role performances as Dwayne Wayne's mother Adele Wayne.

Happy birthday Patti!   May you have many more!

Happy 60th Birthday 'Lufer'

Today would have been the 60th birthday of Luther Ronzoni Vandross, who was born on this date in New York City in 1951.  There are more than a few of you younglings who probably owe your existence on Planet Earth to the fact that your parents were listening to his music the night you were conceived.

And what music it was.   While we all remember the romantic ballads and remakes of classic songs that he gave that Luther touch, he could put together some songs that would make you move as well.

And he is a music legend that is sorely missed.   




 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T The Queen Of Soul's Birthday

Today is Aretha Franklin's 69th birthday, so it is time to bow in the direction of Detroit and pay homage to one of our iconic singers while she still walks amongst us mere mortals in her queendom.

The Queen of Soul was born on this date in 1942, and yes I have much love for her music.




Don't forget she sang at the 2009 inauguration of President Obama.




PETA may hate her, but as I said in last year's birthday post,  frack them.   Who cares what those fools think?  .

Happy birthday, your royal higness!

Kim Petras Performs New Song Live

Enjoy the YouTuibe video of Germany's Kim Petras' new song One Piece Of Tape. 

Teena Marie's 55th Birthday

Today would have been the 55th birthday of one of my fave singers Teena Marie.    She was born on this date in Santa Monica, CA in 1956 and recently passed away the day after Christmas of natural causes.. 

I and all her fans feel as though the Ivory Queen of Soul was taken away from us far too soon, and know her born on Christmas Day daughter Alia Rose probably feels the same way.   She is definitely missed, but she left us a lot of wonderful music to remember her with.


Alia is following in her mom's musical footsteps, and if she's even half as good as her Grammy winning mother, the music industry can sure use her.

Rest in peace Lady Tee.

It's Sade's Birthday!

Happy birthday to Helen Folasade Adu, known to the rest of the world as simply Sade.

Y'all know how much I love her music and wasn't letting today pass without at least doing some kind of shout out birthday post to her.

Damn, Lady Tee Passes Away

Mary Christine Brockert, better known to legions of R&B fans as Teena Marie, passed away in her sleep Christmas Night at age 54.     She was found by her daughter Alia Rose at her home in Pasadena, CA early this morning.

I wrote a post about her on her March 5 birthday back in 2009.   Back in the day I loved me some Teena Marie (and still do).   The Grammy Award nominee was a 'blue eyed soul' singer with some serious pipes.  



I had more than a few songs of hers I liked and her CD's have a prominent place in my collection.   Besides her 'Fire and Desire duet with Rick James, I loved a song on one of her earlier albums called 'Behind The Groove'.

Rest in peace, Lady Tee.   Thanks for the music and memories.  As  sad as we are to see you go, Rick James is probably happy his protege and duet partner is finally joining him on the other side. 

Say A Little Prayer For The Queen Of Soul

Was distressed to hear the announcement earlier this week about Aretha Franklin being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  

While that particular form of cancer is deadly, as is evidenced by two of my fellow Houstonians succumbing to it such as our crusading consumer news reporter Marvin Zindler and Patrick Swayze, there have been people such as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Apple CEO Steve Jobs who have beaten the odds.

It's also a prevalent form of cancer among African Americans.   If it is caught early ebough, people diagnosed with it have a 15-18% survival rate with surgical intervention.


In the meantime, as you say prayers for the sick and shut in at church today, say one for the Queen of Soul as well.

Happy 45th Birthday Karyn White!

During the late 80's and early 90's Karyn Layvonne White was not only on a Grammy nominated roll musically, more than a few brothers in that time period thought she was one sexy lady as well. .


I'd heard about her thanks to me being a jazz music fan and loving Jeff Lorber's music. In 1986 he produced his Sand Castles CD that featured the then little known Los Angeles born backup singer.

A cut on the CD White sang lead on called 'Facts of Love' took off, and the rest was history.

She was appearing on the Arsenio Hall Show and two years later was releasing her own self titled LA Reid and Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds produced album.   The Karyn White CD went platinum with songs such as 'The Way You Love Me', 'Superwoman', 'Secret Rendezvous' and a duet with Babyface called 'Love Saw It'. 

She's a mother running a successful interior design and real estate business in northern California these days.   She did record an album called Sista Sista in 2006 which hasn't been released yet.   If it does, I'll definitely be adding it to my music collection.

Happy birthday Karyn White!    May you have many more, and hopefully we'll get to see you on stage performing again soon.