A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

Arise 360

HI FOLKS! Swan song show for my week of guest co-hosting on ARISE 360 with Lola Ogunnaike (filling in for Shannon Lanier): http://www.arise.tv/entertainment/arise-360-05-12-9618. It included "Annie" Executive Producer Devon Franklin, whose book "Produced by Faith" is one of my favorites. Also, Chef Gabe Thompson presented "Downtown Italian". Yum! And did I mention that DJ D NICE popped by? Such an awesome hip hop legend, DJ supreme, and renowned photographer. SHOUT OUT TO Arise Entertainment 360 - primarily Lola Ogunnaike with whom I got to be a guest co-host – filling in for my friend Shannon Lanier who is away on special assignment. Earlier in the week, we interviewed BRAVO’s Fashion Queens– including my friend Bevy Smith and Miss Lawrence and Derek J: http://youtu.be/hb6gUFK3vsc. LOVE Bevy Smith!!! Also, culled from my childhood, “THE DUKES OF HAZZARD” themselves: John Schneider (now on Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots) and Tom Wopat (who I mostrecently saw in “The Trip to Bountiful” on Broadway): http://youtu.be/22GqEbrF1OU. They’ve recorded a HOLIDAY ALBUM! And mega-producer Sean Garrett brought Avery Wilson (former The Voice contestant) to hip us to his upcoming album and to sing Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”: http://youtu.be/TUfq35qKJV4. Plus, we had an Ashley Stewart fashion show! WHEW (because you know we had more than our share of hot topics): http://youtu.be/OsB8Kf2p7ow! FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK: SHOW #2 is here: http://www.arise.tv/entertainment/arise-360-03-12-9579 - including interviews with actors Tony Denison (http://youtu.be/iIkAm7XmEgc). Also, Christian Kale (http://youtu.be/NFY4gpMivxw). Plus, my highlight: Alan Light whose “Let’s Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain” made for blissful chat (http://youtu.be/TKDXudN2yC0). SHOW #1 from my guest co-host stint on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 is here – featuring interviews with Ben Vereen! Yes, THE Ben Vereen! (http://youtu.be/a12El8-zU_k)! ALSO: Faith Evans (http://youtu.be/LfpHpiQd2pg):http://www.arise.tv/entertainment/arise-360-02-12-9562. AND MORE! HOLIDAY DECORATING TIPS: http://youtu.be/zDI7_qZqOTU; and MORE HOLIDAY FASHON: http://youtu.be/YrlE0C4nPQg. FULL EPISODE of Show #3 is here: http://www.arise.tv/entertainment/arise-360-04-12-9595. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Watch Daily On Time Warner, Verizon Fios, Centric and On Demand... www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360 + you can watch it streaming live on www.arise.tv at 3p/eastern everyday – whether I’m there or not.  #ARISE360 #hiphopchangedus #devotion #endlesslove #popcultureandpossibilities #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #CentricTV

Thinspired

I’ve already congratulated my internet wife, Mara Schiavocampo on her upcoming book “THINspired”, due December 30^th… but you can pre-order on Amazon NOW: http://www.amazon.com/Thinspired-Pounds-Lasting-Weight-Self-Acceptance/dp/1476784051/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417643482&sr=8-1&keywords=thinspired. She came by “Billie’s Black Presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley” once to talk about it (and sing a little): http://youtu.be/JTZt5efrf4c. On this upcoming Tuesday, ALL STAR KARAOKE toasts Mara on this awesome milestone in her life and career. We’ll give some books away to those who participate in our round-robin of fun singing… and she’ll have some copies of the latest edition of ESSENCE inside of which there’s an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from her book. Also, you'll find some FABULOUS PICTURES of Mara through the years - http://bit.ly/ask_mara #THINspired

All Star Karaoke COUNTDOWN

TWO TUESDAYS TO GO on our Fall 2014 Series of Billie’s Black Presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley (though my ALL STAR KARAOKE producer Bernice will be holding down 12/23 and 12/30 for those still in town and in the mood for some Holiday CAROL-ing on Tuesday night!!!!). Come January, ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley goes on hiatus (looking to APRIL to re-launch). But my girlfriend MIKA deHarlem will be hosting a fun karaoke experience on Tuesday’s – starting in mid-January. Look out for that… and CONGRATS, MIKA! WE LOVE YOU… and will come out and sing with you too! BUT my FINAL BLOW-OUT will be Tuesday, December 16th (and – yes – we’ll be in the house December 9th as well with Mara Schiavocampo from Good Morning America). MEANWHILE, to recap LAST TUESDAY: I was barely over the high of interviewing Broadway royalty: the TONY-AWARD-WINNING actor Ben Vereen on guest-co-host duty at recurring client ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 - http://www.arise.tv/entertainment/arise-360-02-12-9562. AND THEN another LEGENDARY TONY AWARD WINNER decided to grace us: MR. GEORGE FAISON who won the Tony for choreographing the THE WIZ on Broadway... and over my years in New York, he has become a friend. TOTAL HONOR! George let everybody know about the classic "Ain't Misbehavin'" (The Fats Waller Musical Show) that is running at his wonderful Faison Firehouse throughout December (For tickets and information, call Smart Tix at 212.868.4444 or log on to www.SmartTix.com). The shows run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The house was filled with a round robin of our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS and goodies from our sponsors Riley Land Gourmet Pantry - on board with us since the beginning; and our Fall 2014 Series title sponsor at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul: Miss Jessie's which always brings such enthusiasm from our ALL STAR KARAOKE audience. THANK YOU, MIKO and MISS JESSIE'S! WE LOVE YOU!
 SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to: NEW ALL STAR Phillip Evelyn II who stars in a film that Ant and I stumbled into on Net Flix: “Leave it on the Floor” and my Morehouse (little) brother Tony Moultry who hipped us all to his Chicer Collegiate clothing line: http://www.chicerc.com/.  We’ll be back next Tuesday at 7p for "Billie's Black Presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley". WITH TWO MORE TO GO, we want to have the chance to SEE and HEAR you all before the year is up! As always, THANKS TO MY TEAM: Derrick Hemphill and Bernice Wooden as well as my partner Anthony Harper, who came up with the concept for ALL STAR KARAOKE and is always in the cut to support our little night that DOES (AND THEN SOME! LOL!). AND THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. #ARISE360 #hiphopchangedus #devotion #endlesslove #popcultureandpossibilities #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #CentricTV #‎THINspired ‪#‎Dec30