A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

all star karaoke

We never know who will pop by – so please come out and EXPERIENCE Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul. EVERY TUESDAY. 7P to 10p. RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 212.280.2248. We're up until MID-JULY 2015!#billiesblack#allstarkaraoke #motownmay

Trying to maintain my CALM and SANITY amidst a perfect storm of LOTS OF PROJECTS and BOOKINGS…. LOTS OF PENDING ACCOUNT RECEIVABLES… LOTS OF TO-Dos…. LOTS OF PROJECTS TO WORK ON…. LOTS OF ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH.  AND ON TOP OF THAT? POP CULTURE and POSSIBILITIES are on FIRE! Another JUSSIE SMOLETT run-in on the streets of NEW YORK CITY(OMG!!!! LOL!)! My heart keeps dropping! LOL! And he's always THE NICEST! LOOKING FORWARD TO "EMPIRE" - SEASON TWO! After just interviewing him at Aretha Franklin's bday party, did CLIVE DAVIS just happen into Harlem’s Cheri as we all gathered for my NABJ buddy Brian Henderson’s birthday party? Running into him has become a regular thing! LOL! AND WAIT! Did everybody see ALL OF QUEEN LATIFAH in the BRILLIANT “BESSIE”? AND DID SOMEBODY SAY JANET JACKSON IS COMING OUT WITH NEW MUSIC AND A WORLD TOUR!???? And is that an invite to Insanity’s own SHAUN T’s birthday party? WHEW! OH! I just wrapped working with recurring client BET on a 35-YEAR tribute that ran at The Paley Center tribute to African Americans in Entertainment last week at Cipriani. Also, I am doing a week of guest co-hosting at ARISE 360 this week. YOU can watch (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand via www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! #arise360 #allstarkaraoke#billiesblack  #maintaining sanity

black men can

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jtxlszLraw&feature=youtu.be.   Thanks to Founder and CEO of Learningateway Education, Candis Best, for an invitation to participate in a celebration of Black males headed to college in 2015. This interactive event allowed other esteemed panelists and me to share experiences and insights to Black males committed to obtaining a college degree. #rmgsigningday. For more information on how you can get involved: www.learningateway.com/rmg. Special shout out to my dear friend Kelly J Welborn and her team at www.idreamspeakers.com  for their care in managing this booking for me! AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT… and PLEASE DON’T HESITATE to remind our young brothers that BLACK MEN CAN… and do…GRADUATE!

Shaun T and Ryan Tarpley

Shout out to Harlem's own SUPER-producer Musa Jackson for invite to Shaun T aka Shaun Thompson and Ryan Tarpley's Harlem BDAY set at Gin Fizz - guests including Ernest Maynor, Anthony Harper, Derrick Hemphill, Jamar Dunn, Savoy Walker, Mark A Forrest, Wardell Malloy, Angelique Miles, Morehouse brother UPTOWN Magazine Editor in Chief Isoul Harris; GLAAD-award-winning Monifah Carter and Terez Mychelle; Bravo Fashion Queens Bevy Smith - host and muse for the FAB gathering; iconic LABELLE diva Nona Hendryx; and more! PLUS in the house: Empire's own Jussie Smollett! We'll all soon gather at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul for Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley. #billiesblack#allstarkaraoke #motownmay

Harlem on my Plate

Thanks to Perspective PR’s Joseph Babineaux and his team for coming by Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley this past Tuesday! Fun TIMES! And as the video I produced for recurring client BET played at Cipriani Wall Street for The Paley Center’s TRIBUTE to BET’s 35 years and – in general - African Americans in TV, I accepted Joseph’s invite to attend the world premiere screening of the new documentary short film, Harlem on My Plate, written, directed and produced by Rochelle Brown and Sonia Armstead of Powerhouse Productions. This amazing project, celebrating Harlem's rich culinary history, is presented by Citi in partnership with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. FUN ROOM! GOOD FOOD! Anthony Harper, Derrick Hemphill, and I attended… and were excited to see our Harlem fam – including my BFF/NAACP Image Award winning producer (“Free Angela”), Sidra Smith; Patrik-Ian Polk(whose Blackbird (2014 film) has a few more days to be seen on the big screen. Just today at 4p in NYC at AMC 23); Grammy divo Gordon Chambers; Bumble & Bumble creative exec Dwight Allen O'Neal; art connoisseur; creative consultant; designer; and comedian Rahsaan Gandy; TV Chef Mark Anthony Bailey; and a host of others – out to enjoy this project; food from Harlem’s The Cecil and Melba’s Restaurant; and host with the most: Miss Bevy Smith, Founder of “Dinner with Bevy” and HOST of Bravo’s Fashion Queens. #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #motownmay

Nabe

Out with the BOYZ for Mario Ephriam's Thursday night Harlem Happy Hour event: Nabe Underground - Nabe Harlem - including my NYC fam: my Ant; Derrick Hemphill; Jamar Dunn; Jason Johnson; Randall Isaacs; and more! We'll all be at Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley! #allstarkaraoke#billiesblack #motownmay

Brian bday

Shout out to friend Nikita Stewart Henderson for inviting Ant, his Denver buddy Justin, and me out for her husband/my NABJ BFF Brian Henderson's BDAY set which took place at Harlem's Cheri - including a fun guest list of friends - including Proteus Spann, responsible for the staging of E Lynn Harris' "Invisible Life" at The Apollo in June; my Morehouse brother/fellow pop culture expert George Alexander; "Motown the Musical"s own dance diva Dionne Dadrinelle Figgins; Project1Voice Founder Erich McMillan; and - guess who happened upon Cheri? THE Clive Davis whose high school program Brian's step-daughter Ella just completed at NYU and my BFF Sidra Smith happened in too! Happy Birthday, Brian!

Another great week of ALL STAR KARAOKE

WEEK THREE of Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley TOTALLY ROCKED! Our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULs came out in FULL FORCE! Thanks to FRIENDS – including celebrity hairstylist (Kerry Washington; Jada Pinkett Smith) Carla Bone; #theboss choir director Mario Ephriam - https://www.facebook.com/billiesblack/videos/vb.1172177040/10205233579177007/?type=3&theater;  Broadway writer Ephriam Walker (http://broadwayblack.com/author/ephraim-walker/); Monifah’s management and marketing team from SavvyMarketing Entertainment Group LLc: Savoy Walker, Mark A Forrest, Ulysses Carter, Cynna Gorham, et al! My Spelman sister Adrianne C. Smith ( Southern Chefs Executive Producer and Host); platonic boo Carl Nelson (Producer, Drums Along The Hudson -Inwood Park which is Sunday, June 14th here in NYC. I'm hosting the afternoon stage alongside Mara Schiavocampo at Drums Along the Hudson): : https://youtu.be/UGOqHhjbZ3k; MAKEUP by MERRELL’s own Merrell Hollis (working a FAB cover today – STAY TUNED!); Perspective PR’s own Joseph Babineaux; #motownmay GRAND FINALE WINNER/singer Husain Mello Deas Williams; Jamar Dunn; Musa Jackson; Ry Tarpley; Angelique Miles; and filmmaker extraordinaire Andre Robert Lee who is responsible for introducing Miko Branch to me, hence Miss Jessie's is our weekly sponsor! Always great to have Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-Naturallyin the house! Well, folks! We’re up every Tuesday from 7p-10p --- through mid-July. We never know who will pop by – so please come out and EXPERIENCE Billie's Black Gourmet Soul presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley. RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 212.280.2248.#billiesblack#allstarkaraoke #motownmay

we’re back

TOMORROW (as in TUESDAY), we're back for WEEK 2 of SPRING 2015 SERIES: #ALLSTARKARAOKE #BILLIESBLACK #IAMMISSJESSIES are ALL BACK TOGETHER AGAIN inside Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley: the SPRING 2015 SERIES! BUT MORE ON THAT IN A MINUTE....

tamia

I LOVE ME SOME TAMIA! And recurring client ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 provided an awesome opportunity for me to interview her:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW1kFsgRINE&feature=youtu.be! Another week of ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 makes the week complete - especially given that MISS LOLA and I interviewed one of my FAVORITES + WALL STREET JOURNAL style writer Ray Smith - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0GQyU3IVes&feature=youtu.be; and actress Andrea Lewis (“Black Actress” web series) -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT4UvaJ-h24&feature=youtu.be! YOU can watch (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand viawww.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! #arise360 #allstarkaraoke#billiesblack

back to our ALL STAR KARAOKE re-cap...

 And my ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS did NOT disappoint – including Miss Jessie’s own Miko Branch who made a surprise visit after receiving a nod at the Essence Beauty Awards. Other victors of that prize included Porsche Cooper and ALL STAR KARAOKE DIVA Carla Bone – known for rocking the tresses of Kerry Washington and Jada Pinkett Smith. So glad they all chose to come out and CELEBRATE with us. We even ALL sang our weekly anthem #THEBOSS - https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10152964609513737/?type=3&theater.  OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE HOUSE: Lisa Bonner, Esq and TV personality (winner of MISS JESSIE’s giveaway and our weekly raffle for a Mother’s Day weekend show at The Apollo); Musa Jackson (Harlem’s own super-producer of events and parties who has just been signed to model again with the iconic agent Nadia Shahrik; Ryan Tarpley, Agent extraordinaire including clients like Brandy; Boule (MC/rapper); photographer Ray Bangs; Charon Richardson (designer, GWAN “Heat” swimwear for curvy women); my dear friend from ATL, Lamoh Hicks; my industry buddy Angelique Miles (who is working on a cool project scheduled for May 6th in NYC: “COMMON – UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL” – an intimate evening of instrumental, spoken word, and musical performance – www.MISTHARLEM.COM/EVENT/COMMON); my nephew Herman L. Riley III and several of our Morehouse brothers; and a host of other SUPPORTERS for which our “Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke” is GRATEFUL! We’re up EVERY TUESDAY in Harlem from 7p-10p. Please come out and join us! RESERVATIONS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: CALL 212 280 2248. And PLEASE consider us to celebrate your BIRTHDAY as we did my partner Anthony Harper last night! It’s the PERFECT BACKDROP! As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! XO

sir duke

The first shout out should go to Vice President of Development at Jazz at Lincoln Center Dwayne Ashley. He invited me to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s annual Spring Gala in Frederick P. Rose Hall. This year we celebrated the indomitable spirit of swing in an evening titled "The World of Duke Ellington." Host Michael Keaton (booked for the event exclusively by my BFF Sidra Smith) joined the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis along with special guests: Tony Bennett, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jonathan Batiste, Christian McBride, Adriane Lenox, Dick Hyman, and Melissa Aldana for unforgettable performances. The evening also honorED Jazz at Lincoln Center Board Chairman Robert J. Appel with the Ed Bradley Award for Leadership in Jazz, and Wendy Oxenhorn, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of the Jazz Foundation of America with the Ashley Schiff Ramos Community Development in Jazz Award. And how EXCITED was I to see so many friends in the house – including my dear friend since our college days (her FAMU; me MOREHOUSE; we both NABJ): Miss Paula Witt! LOVE Y’ALL! Great WEDNESDAY! #jalc #dukeellington

common

I'M SO EXCITED! Please make sure you click on the following link and snag your tickets if you want to join me getting UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL with Academy & Grammy Award winning Instrumental, Spoken Word and Musical performer and entertainer: Common: WWW.MISTHARLEM.COM/EVENT/COMMON. That’s right! And this experience could include Exclusive Meet & Greet Packages that are available - including VIP seating. There are two shows: 7PM & 9PM. Seated tickets are cabaret style & there will be dinner options, beer & wine bar available w/ a $20 minimum for any general enquiries please contact the Box Office at 646 738 3048. Shout out to Angelique Miles for hipping Anthony Harper and me to this one! I'M SO EXCITED! XOXOXOXO ‪#‎common ‪#‎ucap ‪#‎madebaharlem ‪#‎myimagestudios

real men graduate

Real Men Graduate National Signing Day is a day to amplify a positive narrative about Black males by celebrating those who have chosen enroll in college or are returning after a break of a semester or more in 2015. I have been asked to participate. For more information: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/24425-real-men-graduate-signing-day?locale=en.  

camille

Only1Camille is in NYC! YOU KNOW! LOL! And say HI to South Africa’s own Tebogo Lefifi who lives in Beijing, China. Of course, Camille comes from DC by way of Atlanta by way of Orlando (on this leg of her life’s journey which usually has her holding it down in Malaysia, Bali, or WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CAMILLE? LOL! Even Beijing). But this pic finds these two – globally aforementioned – on the same block as me as I’m wrapping a freelance project with recurring client BET. So, we all met up at the Hyatt Times Square to say HI! ONE LOVE! #onlyinnewyork #only1camille

brotherly love

SHOUT OUT to my friend Gil Robertson with the African American Film Critics Association for always keeping me in the know. This time, he makes me aware of a new independent black film, “Brotherly Love,” produced by Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Productions – just released. KeKe Palmer, Cory Hardrict and Quincy Brown lead the cast for first time writer/director Jamal Hill in a complicated love story that will grip your heart and awaken your belief in family. Set in West Philadelphia, born-and-raised basketball star Sergio Taylor (Eric D. Hill Jr.) deals with the early pressures of fame. Alongside older brother June (Cory Hardrict), who lost his own hoop dreams to the streets to provide for the family after their father¹s death, and sister Jackie (KeKe Palmer), whose own musical ambitions are sidetracked by love, Sergio faces life-altering decisions on the streets of Philly. The film's cast includes: Macy Gray, Malik Yoba, Romeo Miller, Jay Lewis, Logan Browning, Faizon Love and Teyana Taylor. Flavor Unit partner, Queen Latifah comments: "Shakim and I have always paved our own lane in business. We are excited to release this incredible film with talent we really believe in. Flavor Unit is constantly looking for projects, new talent, writers and directors that we can create opportunities with and grow with. This movie is an important step for our company and a journey we're ready for." #brotherlylove #flavaunit

all star karaoke

 WHERE IS MY ‪#‎THEBOSS CHOIR? LOL!!!! We sing it EVERY WEEK:

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/10152301946678737/! This clip features THE AMAZING Gordon Chambers, Darius Booker, AND Husain Mello Deas Williams! SPRING 2015 SERIES of Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley starts next Tuesday, April 28th at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul! Y’ALL COME ON OUT AND JOIN US! NOW THAT I CAN EXHALE from one recent client project: BET's UP FRONT for which I got to contribute to the Creative Services team on its video and art/design that let all the industry and the friendly advertisers know why BET IS ALL WAYS THE NEW BLACK with lots of new programming to ensure it stays at #1! CONGRATS, TEAM! Some of you will join me at ALL STAR KARAOKE - to let some steam off! LOL!  ‪#‎billiesblack ‪#‎allstarkaraoke ‪#‎motownmay #theboss

more arise work

ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 had me on again this past week. I filled in for Shannon again. Always fun to chat it out with MISS LOLA!

LAST WEEK:
Among the Believers directors
- Co-Directors Hemal Trivedi & Mohammed Naqvi @manaqvi talk with us about their new Documentary#amongthebelievers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVpdgMGAap0&feature=youtu.be

Kristen Taekman
#BRAVOTV #RHONY Reality Star &creator of#popofcolor @KristenTaekman talk with us about the upcoming season & much more 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPSIGsgkFGY

Kendall Minter
Entertainment Attorney/Author Kendall Minter @askmusiclawyer tells us about his new book "Understanding & Negotiating 360" 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqcU6wlXXzs&feature=youtu.be

YOU can watch (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand...www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! #arise360 #allstarkaraoke#billiesblack

the more you know

Hi folks! I mentioned Executive Producing a special project inside the Fall/Winter 2014 months last year! But it was kinda’ top secret as I was asked to jump into the project in the 11th hour. Well, the project is complete and can be seen here: http://www.themoreyouknow.com/. It’s NBC Universal’s iconic THE MORE YOU KNOW campaign which had been EP’d for years by the legendary Susan Haspel. But as she was leaving the building, I was asked to come in and oversee production on the shoots with the over 40 NBC Universal talent that we shot in L.A. and New York City. I also worked with the scriptwriters; our content partners; graphic designers; and all the respective crews to complete the 2015-16 installment. FOR MORE on THE LIFE OF RILEY and that project:

http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/10/13/jakki-is-back.html.  Since working on that project at the end of 2014, NBC News' African American vertical, NBCBLK, has brought me on as a freelance contributor to its digital platform:

* Miss Aretha Franklin's birthday party:

http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbcnews-com/aretha-franklin-puts-on-star-studded-birthday-417968707987.

* MISS FRANKLIN and EMPIRE Co-Creator LEE DANIELS! LOL! -

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1553278574945680&set.  

* My debut contribution was an interview with Lee Daniels on EMPIRE:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/precious-butler-director-lee-daniels-building-empire-n290416.

#themoreyouknow #comcast #nbcuniversal #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #NBCBLK

blackbird

It was Ant’s birthday... and since it fell in the middle of the week, we will enjoy and toast this weekend (and one thing we’ll be doing is supporting the opening weekend of “BLACKBIRD” [See cities below and let’s make this FIRST WEEKEND count]. Last night, on Ant’s birthday, he and I thought it important to attend and support the New York PREMIERE of our friend Patrik-Ian Polk’s “Blackbird” – Co-Executive Produced and Starring Academy Award winner Mo’Nique – in attendance with her co-stars Isaiah Washington, D. Woods, and introducing Julian Walker. The historic night at the iconic Schomburg included an awesome array of my industry family – including legendary make-up artists Reggie Wells and Roosevelt Cartwright – once-Oprah’s team (Roosevelt now works with Mo’Nique). TRAILER: https://youtu.be/rHe0ukjp0-M. I am TOO EXCITED for Patrik-Ian as I remember in 2006 in Los Angeles as I was out there for business, we had dinner and drinks at The Standard on Sunset. And I remember him sharing the BLACKBIRD script and telling me how he was seeking funds and some star attachments for the project. After that deal fell through, his BLACKBIRD takes flight! YAZZZ! Blackbird opens April 24 in the theaters below. Tell a friend and check www.BlackbirdTheMovie.com for more information.#WeAreBlackbird p.s. Leon was there! Always good to see him!

p.p.s. And a special shout out to our girlfriend Alysia Joy Powell - a regular alongside Debra Messing on The Mysteries of Laura - NBC hit in primetime! YOU GO GIRL!

support

The weekend brought out the CHEERS – first for Miss Miko Branch with whom I had the chance to have a conversation at an awesome book event hosted at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Skylight Gallery – hosted by the Honorable Assemblywoman Annette M. Robinson and my friend Blaine Robinson’s Bainbridge Harrison Partners. BEAUTIFUL to catch up with Miko on her debut tome: “Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch---Naturally”. Then, also in Brooklyn – DUMBO to be exact, our girlfriend Charon who I got the chance to meet in St. Croix last year, debuted her GWAN BY CHARON HEAT line of swimwear for the curvy girls out there. The Private Fashion Presentation was fierce and the publicity was handled by Ant’s sis Sabrina who I met December 1, 2005 – the same night I met Ant. Then, we had Mairie and Eric baby shower duty. And the close out? Celebrating Ant’s birthday! Backdrop: Kiabacca bar on 10^th Ave between 45^th and 46^th. BEER. BRICK-OVEN PIZZA. And an ENDLESS STREAM OF LOVE for ANT!  #iammissjessies #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

DL and ESTELLE

I interviewed Debi Mazar for recurring client Oprah: Where Are They Now? recently! Find out more about her later this summer. But this past weekend, my D.L. Hughley and Estelle Parsons finally aired --- culled from a couple of days I got to spend with each of them in New York City last year on assignment for recurring client OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Here’s a peek: http://www.oprah.com/own-where-are-they-now/The-Promise-a-Young-Broke-DL-Hughley-Made-to-His-Baby-Girl-Video#ixzz3Y9PpoXUQ. #WhereAreTheyNow

spring arises

ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 had me on a few more times this past week – including a reunion with my friends Lola Ogunnaike and Shannon Lanier, the show’s hosts. We were BACK TOGETHER AGAIN to talk BROADWAY & OFF-BROADWAY! https://youtu.be/54sUbyIDkiI. Additionally, I filled in for Shannon on another day – including interviews with New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey (https://youtu.be/jCgLNbWcof8);

 “Gotham” series star Zabryna Guevara (https://youtu.be/p5RjQ9-YjuM); and “The Scorpion” series star Eddie Kaye Thomas (https://youtu.be/L9q6XabEpEI).  I’ll be filling in a few more times over the next few weeks! YOU can watch (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand... www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!#arise360#allstarkaraoke #billiesblack p.s. Special shout out to Mara Schiavocampo who sent students from the University of Maryland chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.

harriette cole

I was too excited when Harriette Cole asked me to be a guest on her web series The Root: Bring it to the Table, which churns out its FOURTH SEASON next Month! Harriette – also the show’s Executive Producer – has been an industry buddy for years. So good to discuss FAME: the great things and the pit falls in my episode which will run on  www.TheRoot.com and will be distributed via the site and social media when aired.

Miko Branch

PLEASE don’t forget to join us – starting Tuesday, April 28th at 7p for Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/4/9/cookie-and-jamal-rock.html. We are too excited. Meanwhile, our beloved sponsor Miss Jessie’s will be back in the mix. And I am excited to be interviewing Miko at one of her book launch events next Saturday, April 25^th in Bed Stuy. Please see flyer and come out and join us! #iammissjessies #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

Curtis Smith

Hi folks! You should already know who my industry buddy Curtis Smith is as our mutual friend, makeup extraordinaire Merrell Hollis of MAKEUP by MERRELL fame brought Curtis to Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with @Patrick Patrick L. Riley last season (We’re starting back up Tuesday, April 28th from 7p to 10p, by the way!). But Curtis Smith - master groomer and barber behind his recurring clients Diddy and Usherj- is starting up as CELEBRITY JUDGE this Friday on Cedric's Barber Battle – Cedric The Entertainer’s new barber reality competition show. The CW bought 10 episodes which will run every Friday from 8p-8:30p. CEDRIC’S BARBER BATTLE sets out to capture the unique culture that exists in barbering communities across the country. Blending craft with comedy, CEDRIC’S BARBER BATTLE will visit different barbershops in communities, including Los Angeles, Queens, Harlem and Austin, where the best barbers will go head-to-head in a hilariously unfiltered, no-holds-barred arena. Creating hair sculptures that feature elaborate designs, ranging from images of a person’s face to grand cityscapes, the barbers will use nothing more than their clippers and a few coloring tools to create intricate works of art that are both imaginative and location-centric. Episodes will contain two challenges: a “buzz cut” challenge, set inside an iconic barbershop, and an outdoor “cut down” challenge, located at a regional landmark in each city. At the end of each episode, a champion will be crowned. Joining my friend Curt on the panel of judges also known as “The Cutting Board”: Rich the Barber, Bashan “B.G. Cutta” Gibbs and famed instructor Lena Piccininni. FOLLOW CURTIS on Instagram: xotics and FOLLOW CURTIS on TWITTER: xoticsproducts. CONGRATS, CURT! Come back and see us at Billie's Black Bar Lounge & Restaurant! Billie's Black Gourmet Soul WELCOMES YOU, BROTHER! #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #curtissmith #motownmay

wendy hilliard

Shout out to my friend Janet Hill Talbert for inviting me to help raise funds – as reverse auctioneer and raffle wrangler – for the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation’s 3rd annual benefit: HEALTHIER LIVES FOR HARLEM YOUTH! This program provides free and low cost gymnastics for over 15, 000 urban youth – many of whom go on to become serious competitive gymnasts. The US Olympic Committee awarded Wendy Hilliard the prestigious “Rings of Gold” Award in 2011 for her commitment to helping children develop their Olympic dreams and reach their highest athletic goals. The well-appointed affair took place at the New York Athletic Center. You can still be a part and help: www.wfhny.org. AND may I send a special shout out to some of my favorite divas – including Rebecca James, Michelle Huff, and Simone Smalls! Plus a couple of my divo bros were in the house and I was so happy to see: Raymond Lewis – one of Adrianne C. Smith’s Southern Chefs and a chef personality his own right; my Morehouse brother and fellow pop culture/arts producer/personality George Alexander; and UPTOWN Publisher Len Burnett. #wendyhilliardFD #WendyHilliardFoundation

April 28

 Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley starts our SPRING 2015 SERIES Tuesday, April 28^th from 7p to 10p! ALWAYS A BLAST! LINK: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/20/ask-patrick.html

 Cookie & Jamal

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 08: You all know how much I LOVE EMPIRE and Lee Daniels and its cast! LOL! So, imagine my EXCITMENT "stumbling into" "COOKIE" and "JAMAL" at the Summer Sizzle BVI 2015 launch party at Ricco Maresca Gallery! THANK THE LORD Derrick Hemphill got the shots! LOL! As you know, I’ve been talking about ALL THINGS EMPIRE on all platforms: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/3/empire-recap.html. Shout out to my friend The Wiz, Ron Smith, for inviting my Anthony Harper, our girlfriend Rachelle, Derrick, and me out for a lovely evening (after I had them all see “Airline Highway” on Broadway. I had a late edit with recurring client BET). Many industry players were in the house and I was glad to see them – including friends, fellow journalist Clay Cane, model/trainer Christopher Kadima, Beyonce stylist Ty Hunter, Wendy Williams’ stylist Memsor Kamarake , Bravo's "Blood Sweat & Heels" star Demetria Lucas D'Oyley, model Jordun Love, who walked for Givenchy last fashion week in Paris, and more! FOR MORE INFO: http://www.summersizzlebvi.com/events/. I think I'm going to have to go to the BVI in July. LOL! You remember my St. Croix fiesta last year: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/6/5/fvifw.html.  Audrey Irvine? You crashing this one!? OH! My last digression: I produced Wendy Williams in the BVI a few years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZJZDNu3ztM&list=PL1TUj2SKo8nu4WfB_. BACK TO #SUMMERSIZZLEBVI:  A LITTLE VIDEO C/O Derrick Hemphill: http://bit.ly/ssbvi_dh  - www.summersizzlebvi.com - Summer Sizzle events include the Culture and Style Welcome Party, the Sunset White Fashion Fete, a Sailing Excursion, the highly anticipated fashion gala, VIP after-party, and other fabulous activities. Many highlights at Summer Sizzle BVI. They include: the Global Glamour fashion show, serves as a platform for showcasing international and Caribbean trend-setting fashion designers and models. All the world’s top agencies are represented. Line up includes Ford, IMG, Elite, DNA, Major, Muse and RED.

Who's joining Cookie, Jamal, and me?

lola is back

SHOUT OUT to my beloved Lola Ogunnaike for calling me in to fill in for my friend Shannon Lanier on Arise Entertainment 360. We interviewed my old industry buddy from the beginning of my career in New York City, Tavis Smiley who had lots to talk about – from his new book on Dr. Maya Angelou to EMPIRE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHWT12NElT0&feature=youtu.be. Also in the house: Dr. Paul with STRESS AWARENESS MONTH tid-bits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC4nZi9W_64&feature=youtu.be

and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Darryl Strawberry’s daughter Diamond Strawberry – castmember of VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ezlb-lLMJQ&feature=youtu.be.

Also, we interviewed Dr. Woody on "Horrible Bosses":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4YSW-65BEE&feature=youtu.be

 and R&B Singer Case who is so talented and super nice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoWzIjDESME&feature=youtu.be. YOU can watch them (and me

from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand... www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. I’ll soon be going back to talk BROADWAY and THEATER including two shows I saw this week: At the PUBLIC, BUZZER! And on Broadway, AIRLINE HIGHWAY! Lots going on inside The Great White Way! Please stay tuned! And as always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!#arise360#allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

money minute

I'm booking more-and-more work - including hosting WELLS FARGO PRESENTS THE NEW ADVOCATE MONEY MINUTE - an online show that currently runs on-line (http://www.advocate.com/business/advocate-money-minute). Well, Wells Fargo is back as sponsor for another season of The Advocate Money Minute.  This season it is called "Working Sessions"; Wells Fargo and The Advocate would love to have me return as host! This season, the focus will be on families:  we will shoot in people's homes with the Wells Fargo subject matter expert.  I also do a lot of mentoring with LGBTQ youth! Please check out my testimonial for the IT GETS BETTER campaign I am PROUD to have been asked to be a part! http://www.advocate.com/youth/no-more-bullying/2014/01/24/healing-one-truth-time  FOR MORE INFO, check out the blog: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/1/24/hallelujah-amen.html 

black gays rock

I was just my girlfriend Mara Schiavocampo’s “+1”. The GMA Correrspondent and best-selling-author of THINspired was a #blackgirlsrock presenter. But recurring clients BET and CentricTV air showed that #blackgaysrock too! CUTAWAY after CUTAWAY! LOL! Be sure to tune in for ENCORE PRESENTATION! FOR MORE INFO on that night: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/4/1/black-girls-rock.html.   #BLACKGIRLSROCK

Olu

Was nice recently to unwind with friends Brian Henderson, Nikita Stewart Henderson, Rachelle, Mario Ephriam, and more between two spots: On an invite from my friend Jae Joseph, we gathered at Gallery 151 for a show he curated. Ori is the first solo exhibition from Toronto-based visual artist Oluseye. Great to see some industry buddies - like artist Henry Mitchell and creative director Mykel C Smith Creative. Join the conversation: @gallery151 #ORI After, we all went to NABE for my friends Mario Ephriam and Randall Isaac's Thursday night set - come one, come all. Perfect back-drop for joyful conversation among gentlemen (and an array of beauties in the mix, of course); dance and house music piping to temperature of the room, so you can hear yourselves until "The Boss" or something the like comes on (LOL!); cocktail specials; and some hearty fare for the social kind. With Spring beginning to do what it do, Thursdays at NABE in Harlem (127th St and Frederick Douglass/8th Av) is often where I'll be.

brenda braxton

Broadway Star and Tony Nominee Brenda Braxton - and friend of ALL STAR KARAOKE - comes to the Metropolitan Room in her new One Woman show "ACT 2...Now What?" Join Brenda on her journey of Love, Loss, and What wore her out, yet lifted her up!! MAC and Bistro Award Winner Tracy Stark is Musical Director. There are 2 shows scheduled Sunday, April 26th @ 7:00 and Sunday, May 3rd @ 7:00. For ticket information see the link below. http://metropolitanroom.com/event.cfm?id=185269  Or call 2122060440 to make your reservations. A large number of tickets have already been sold so purchase your tickets today.

wendy hilliard gymnastics foundation

My dear friend Janet Hill Talbert has asked me to be a reverse auctioneer for a benefit that is being held to at the New York Atheletic Club to benefit the Harlem based Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation. She also wants me to invite me friends. It’s April 16 from 6:30-8:30 at the New York Athletic Club. Here's a quick link that tells you what the Foundation is all about! http://aetnaafricanamericancalendar.com/2015/videos.php?month=2. Olympic Medalist Sarah Hughes is our MC. It's cocktail reception benefit; the kids will be doing a brief performance; and we are trying to raise money for the kids!FOR MORE INFO on how to get tickets, go to www.whfny.org.

from remy to kehinde to pet rescue road trip

I’m always talking about the awesome projects on which my friend Lamar Johnson is working and – sometimes – extending my way for collaboration. Well, I must tell you his latest. He and his partner Susanne Rehse are getting ready to embark on an 8,300 MILE trek AND crowdfund for Pet SHELTERS.  Yep! It’s what happens when you combine two dog-loving New Yorkers, a 15-pound Baguette, an 8,300-mile sightseeing journey and a crowd-funding campaign to support animal rescue shelters.  Pet Rescue Road Trip is the brainchild of Lamar, a NYC-based marketing consultant and documentary filmmaker who, along with his partner Susanne Rehse, wanted to raise awareness of the benefits of pet adoption and to raise funds to support No-Kill animal shelters.  Johnson and Rehse own a shelter-rescued 8 year old Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix named “Baguette” and had been tossing around the idea of a 2-week sightseeing road trip vacation for over 2 years when they decided to extend the duration and incorporate a charitable “passion project” into the trip. Rehse, a German-born ex-pat says, “We kept seeing those heart-wrenching TV commercials with the sad Sarah McLachlan song and I said to Lamar one day, ‘I wonder if we could come up with something to help promote animal adoptions that would feel more fun and upbeat and not like such a “downer”.’ The couple went to work planning and mapping out their bucket-list-style tour of National Parks, historic sites, pet-friendly activities and points-of-interest (using trip-planning websites -- Roadtrippers.com and BringFido.com). Next, they launched a crowd-funding campaign on GoFundMe.com with the starting goal of raising $15,000 (to support 6 shelters with donations of $2,000 each and $3,000 to cover GoFundMe processing fees and to offset a portion of gas and lodging expenses).  They spread the word via social media, word-of-mouth, flyers and magnetic and vinyl decals affixed to Johnson’s SUV. Within the first 4 weeks, the campaign had raised just over $3,000 and donations continue to trickle in. On April 2, Johnson and Rehse presented the first donation check to Animal Haven NYC -- the shelter they fostered then adopted Baguette from in the months following SuperStorm Sandy. Lamar says, “It’s like our own little telethon. To keep folks entertained, we’ve outfitted Baguette with a GoPro “Fetch” harness-cam and installed dash cams in the SUV so fans and followers can get a streaming “dog’s-eye” view of the journey on social media - @K9Baguette. We can’t wait to hit the road!” The Pet Rescue Road Trip departs from NYC on April 11 “National Pet Day” and lasts four weeks, stopping and taking pics at National Parks, monuments and points-of-interest like Mt. Rushmore, the Hollywood sign, and the Gateway Arch -- just to name a few. The trip will also visit and make donations to additional No-Kill animal shelters along the way and will wrap up in our nation’s capital at the end of National Pet Week (May 10).  For more information, please visit www.gofund.me/PetRescueRoadTrip and www.PetRescueRoadTrip.com. Hey Lamar! When y’all get back, be sure to come by Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley and tell us all about it!