A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

Hi folks!

CAN YOU FEEL A BRAND NEW DAY?

Well, LIFE OF RILEY will be bringing you a few more videos to off-set when I’m not booked on one of my clients’ airwaves… and I have something exciting to share – like the official key art for THE WIZ LIVE: http://bit.ly/thewizlive_plr. I just had to get it OUT to YOU! LOL!  

NBC’s THE WIZ LIVE is premiering December 3!

And it goes without saying for what my MISS ROSS jones is that we will be EASING ON DOWN THE ROAD during SEASON 4 of BILLIE’S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY!

We kick off Tuesday, October 27^th at 7p! We’ll be up 10 TUESDAYS until the end of the year!

And we really do LOVE “THE WIZ” at #ALLSTARKARAOKE:

I did BRAND NEW DAY one time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOKtUdgTunQ;

we have had Tony-award-winning choreographer for “The Wiz” on Broadway, George Faison, in the house to promote Faison Firehouse’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” which we shouted out that night: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10152636368748737/?type=3&theater.  

And I shouted out in my theater segment on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360: http://youtu.be/BKwfoTKRwJ8 .

FRENCHIE DAVIS sang ‘HOME’ (and joined us with the cast of “Invisible Life” on #THEBOSS - https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153063149713737/?type=3&theater).

Reservations are highly recommended: 212 280 2248: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/9/27/working-overtime-sessions.html.

Miss Jessie's is back among our sponsors! And as ‪#‎missjessies CEO and CO-FOUNDER MIKO BRANCH did last season in promotion of her book Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from... (Amistad; Hardcover; $24.99): https://youtu.be/RL-EqYvCAeI, we hope you will come SING your FAVORITES with us, ENJOY cocktail specials and tasty soul food, and NETWORK with a ROOM FULL of FABULOUS FOLKS! Miko and I LOVE #THEBOSS - 

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10152964609513737/?type=3&theater.

SEASON 4 is - in part - POWERED by ALL STAR KARAOKE PLATINUM PATRON Mr. Reginald Van Lee. WE THANK HIM and all of you who continue to be such a support! And Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry via Joseph Riley Land is back IN THE HOUSE - literally as the critically-acclaimed pantry has taken up semi-permanent space in the back of Billie’s Black. Gift certificates to purchase ‪#‎rileyland products will be raffled. Plus, look for Riley/Land inside our ALL STAR KARAOKE signature cocktails (Riley/Land-curated mixers that will also be in stock for sale. Stay tuned!). Would LOVE TO SEE YOU some Tuesday - really soon! Let us know if you want to use ALL STAR KARAOKE as a back-drop to promote or present any of your projects inside an intimate but power-filled room of taste-makers and top talent! PLEASE TELL YOUR PEEPS...and SHARE! ‪#‎BILLIESBLACK‪#‎ALLSTARKARAOKE#MOTOWNMAY ‪#‎StockYourPantry

#‎HarlemEats ‪#‎missjessiesbook#iammissjessies‪#‎Legacy of ‪#‎TitiBranch

Money Minute

I’ve always wanted to be a television presenter – as my British friends and colleagues sometimes say. Excited to be hosting a second season of Wells Fargo presents The Money Minute on www.advocate.com. Check them out here: http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute. Episodes 3 and 4 are out:

* http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute/2015/10/07/saving-college-tuition-hayley-erica

* http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute/2015/10/13/purchasing-second-home-hayley-erica

Sidmel

I got news of her passing after midnight…and couldn’t lift myself from my fetal position to post anything nor could I lift myself out of bed to turn the computer on to email something. I just laid there until the pain subsided and I fell asleep to dreams of a time when SIDMEL took a chance on ME!!! AND THE MANY REFLECTIONS CAME FLOODING THROUGH! Well, I'm up now... and the news is still true.... and I did get out of bed - knowing there would be a sea of condolences and memories in social media…and RIGHTLY SO! Sidmel Estes Sumpter was not only the FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT of our beloved National Association of Black Journalists, she paved the way so that ALL WOMEN MANAGERS – and ALL BLACK JOURNALISTS and JOURNALISTS OF COLOR who want the opportunity to work – can stand firm in their calling and WORK! And as one of her first two producers she hired for the now-iconic GOOD DAY ATLANTA which she Executive Produced, she showed of what she was made – hiring this reporter trainee from WSB-TV who was interested in the entertainment/news mix of morning TV to learn not only how to build a morning news show…but she gave me my FIRST opportunities to grow my gift for conducting the interview and to build my “pop culture expert/entertainment reporter” reel through a number of Atlanta-based opportunities that would have New York City calling in 1995! Sidmel didn’t want me to leave her or WAGA, but knew she had to let me go. In our last, in-depth chat, she acknowledged that she was being selfish and shouldn’t have tried to hold me back from trying to take my career to the next level, but she LOVED having me at GOOD DAY ATLANTA with her and she explained that I was one of her “BABIES” – a term of endearment she called us all…and – in turn – those of us who have come up through the student pipeline are coined #NABJBABIES. In our last chat a couple of years ago (Orlando NABJ), Sidmel told me how proud she was of what I made of myself - as producer, talent, and MAN --- something she pointed out that she knew I was figuring out when we worked together and I was 22 and 23 years old. Well, like Sid, I can right now acknowledge that I am being selfish and trying to hold her back from leaving us and taking her life’s destiny and legacy to the next level. She is one of my INDUSTRY MOMS after all! She took a chance on me at the beginning…and so many thousands and thousands of others – including putting the fire under us entertainment beat journalists to start the NABJ Arts & Entertainment Task Force! She was spirited, fierce, pioneering, and FULL OF LOVE…and she did an AWESOME JOB while here on earth – indeed jumping over the moon to be with her parents again in heaven. This, as we keep her family, especially her sons Joshua and Sidney, in our PRAYERS! THOUGH A SAD MOMENT IN TIME that will reverberate for the rest of their lives, THEY SHOULD BE SO PROUD! SHE LOVED HER BOYS!!! WE WILL LOVE SIDMEL ESTES SUMPTER FOREVER! I LOVE YOU ALL! Please don’t forget to LOVE ONE ANOTHER – from near or far! JUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER as I LOVE YOU! #NABJ40

more hosting

I'm on my freelance hustle out here! LOL! Just wrapped hosting a 2nd season of WELLS FARGO's MONEY MINUTE - first installments of which are out this week:

teaser:

http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute

part 1:

http://www.advocate.com/.../9/24/purchasing-home-jason-shane

part 2:

http://www.advocate.com/.../planning-retirement-jason-shane

Please share with your PEEPS: #advocatemoneyminute And as always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! XOXOXO

The Porters

Happy 10th Anniversary, to two-time Emmy-award-winning, GMA Correspondent Mara Schiavocampo and her husband Tommie Porter! Happy to host their vow renewal! We LOVE YOU! Thanks Reverend Al Sharpton for re-sealing the deal! Great to see him after interviewing him at Miss Aretha Franklin's birthday party earlier this year:

... and after Executive Producing him for this year's iconic, PSA campaign for NBCU: "The More You Know" 2015-16. He spoke of DIVERSITY:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNoWX-dO9aM

. And the ENVIRONMENT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNSNKutJ7Rs

. And special shout out to contemporary fine artist Shenna Vaughn who Ant and I commissioned to create a 10-year anniversary piece for Mara and Tommie! It IS stunning! Shenna is described as “a vessel for enlightenment, virtue, creativity and color”. She uses her gift as an artist to evoke the raw essence of inner beauty, otherwise not seen until now. Her paintings range from customized gratitude pieces to original works of art. Her work has been featured In Chelsea, Miami Art Basel and Internationally just to name a few…and she will be showing at “Billie’s Black” in December during “Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”.  #ENDLESSLOVE #ThePorters #ENDLESSLOVE #ThePorters

Happy Birthday, Nephew

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Herman Lee Riley III aka NOOT (to me)! BEST NEPHEW EVER! Great to celebrate with Savannah homegirl Aquilla and her childhood friends as my childhood BFF Ernest Maynor was also in the house – toasting 27 YEARS of Herman Lee Riley III. Also, a HAPPY 50^TH BIRTHDAY to my brother – and HLRIII’s father – Herman L. Riley Jr.

Ladies Who Lunch And Love

Excited to introduce my friend Nathan Hale Williams at the New York City book party for his new novel "Ladies Who Lunch & Love". What a great room: Bevy Smith, La Rivers, Beverly Johnson, Flo Anthony, and so many more! Also, Miss Miko Branch from Miss Jessie's was in the house. Miko partners with Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul. Season 4 to be announced soon for a late October return… STAY TUNED! Meanwhile, check out “Ladies Who Lunch & Love”. The novel is a hoot and gives "Sex & The City" with some #blackish and #girlfriends to boot! It's an exciting trip through the fabulous lives of 5 friends in New York City. Get the book exclusively on www.Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/oefd4kn. YOU MUST BUY IT! Oh! AND AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR SUPPORTING US ALL! CONGRATS,Nathan! #harlemskinlaserclinic #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #mikobranch #LadiesWhoLunchAndLove #AngelofHarlemNY #HarlemSkinClinic #NathanHWilliams #LadiesLunchLove

Beverly Johnson

Great to attend Beverly Johnson’s book launch party for her memoir 'The Face That Changed iIt All' at The Museum of the City of New York. Many friends – old and new – were in the house, including “The Original Dreamgirl” Sheryl Lee Ralph and BFF Ern’s and my dance diva CeCe Peniston for whom we’ve LIVED since she came out! Plus, I was excited to hang out with Co-Founder of MISS JESSIE'S, Miko Branch as I'm doing some consulting work with the brand in addition to Miss Jessie's being one of my sponsors for “Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/20/ask-patrick.html. Co-Founder Miko Branch was my EXCLUSIVE SPONSOR for#NABJ40 where she spoke on an AUTHOR's panel with PAULA MADISON and LUTHER CAMPBELL. Next up: Miko’s just back from DC at the Congressional Black Caucus and then was a Marshal in Harlem’s African-American Day Parade. GREAT to see everybody as SUMMER 2015 transitions into FALL 2015 with Fashion Week unfolding… XO #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

#WhereAreTheyNow

She is LISA PRICE. Born in BROOKLYN. Made with LOVE. She is CAROL'S DAUGHTER! I can't say more than that today, but it was nice to interview her. Will tell you when you can see it in 2016! #BornAndMade Have something coming up with “The Chew”s Carla Hall as well. Also, IMAN! MEANWHILE, more of my assignments in the new season of “Oprah, Where Are They Now?” are beginning to air – including Debi Mazar: http://www.wherearetheynow.buzz/the-actress-who-started-out-as-a-makeup-artist-to-the-stars/. #WhereAreTheyNow

STUDIO 54

FUN to host Duane Gazi-White's Epic 50th Bday Party – a “RETURN TO STUDIO 54” starring DISCO DIVAS Carol Douglas; Taana Gardner; Norma Jean Wright and the Former Ladies of Chic; Sylvester doppelganger Clayton Bryant (with whom I even got the chance to sing in 2009 when I was asked to perform THE BOSS for its composers! And I looked to CLAYTON for all the high notes! LOL! And I can sing high! LMAO! ); Mel’lisa Morgan; Former Ladies of Skyy; and MISS KATHY SLEDGE! Shout out again to Musa Jackson Productions for booking me…and I’m too excited my Itika Oldwine was in town to enjoy! All the ladies must join us at Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley when we return at the end of October! CHEERS, DUANE! P.S. A MESSAGE FROM MUSA JACKSON PRODUCTIONS: it was a journey beyond Epic! Super agent Duane and his husband Rashgene Gazi-White along with artist extraordinaire Mira Gandy with our combined creative genius took MIST Harlem and transformed it back to the era of the most legendary and exclusive nightclub in History. Complete with back door VIP entrance, silver carpet and over the top open bar super sexy decadent disco fun! We had legends upon legends Kathy Sledge, Norma Jean Wright, Tania Gardner, Clayton Bryant, Meli'sa Morgan and the Ladies of Skyy performing some of their iconic hits on a first ever 3 stages with DJ Sir Charles Dixon ( WBLS master mixer) and DJ Magic Myke accompanied by the original videos playing on 3 screens. Hosted by Patrick L. Riley with 6 amazing hot male dancers/servers 2 gorgeous bartenders provided by hot choreographer Manwe Sauls Addison with door hosts Coco De'ball and legendary publicist Irene Gandy and hunk Daniel. Silver carpet Studio 54 photos courtesy of Will Will Vaultz and legendary lensman Ronnie Wright and Waddie G. with indoor photos from Rowena M Husbands and Sheila Ennisattended by 250 beautiful artists, fashionistas, supermodels, celebs and fabulous guests. It was a Harlem night for the record books. Thank you MOËT and Lennard Jackson for the champagne and Louis Johnson/ Harlem Haberdashery and designer Masahiro Saga for the gorgeous jacket and slippers. David Chevreux of Gin Fizz, Justin Walters of Real Life Studio, Alex Lerner and Bena. Cliff Cooper on security and Rachel, Sam, Anthony Harper and the staff of MIST.

Thank you again and a Happiest of birthdays to Duane for choosing MJP to help bring your birthday fantasy to life.

*Make your birthday dream an epic fantasy with musajacksonproductions@gmail.com.

#allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #motownmay

LEON

Ant’s sister Sabrina, who I met the night I met him in December 2005, was in town with client Leon & The Peoples. So, in addition to an awesome dinner at MIST Harlem where Ant works, we all – with GWAN’s Charon Richardson and Sabrina’s bio brother Jason in tow – enjoyed the awesome band at La Marina for “Reggae on the Beach”. Then, after Ant and I enjoyed the PA-based wedding of dear friends Robin Stone and Rodney Pope... we got an encore presentation from Leon & The Peoples at an awesome, Trenton-based “prostate cancer awareness fundraiser”! GREAT CAUSE! #nyc #nyfw #reggae #soul #music #inwood #hudsonriver

STILL THE BOSS

MISS ROSS was at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) LAST NIGHT! At the top of the day, it was SOLD OUT! I was despondent that I hadn’t secured my ticket before time. Was hoping for a hook-up or a sponsor. Still, I went to SEE if MISS ROSS had room for one more in the house! And upon my arrival, one of her FANS did: an orchestra seat right by the sound-board and near my friends Karu Daniels, Audrey Bernard, Phil Geston, Stanley Hopkins, and a FULL HOUSE MORE! The show was familiar but she did introduce a new gown that she’d only worn in her Hawaii stop this past summer. “It’s My House” was a highlight and it is clear that MISS ROSS was in control. But as she sang “Don’t Explain”, she did confess vulnerably and jokingly: “…I can’t stop thinking about that Billy Dee Williams!” The audience exploded with applause. MISS ROSS did it again: EXCELLENT SHOW! LOVE ME SOME MISS ROSS! As you all know, I was hired as Opening Night Host of “Motown the Musical” – another chance to interview Diana Ross, a video that ran on the Lunt Fontanne Theatre for the hit show’s full run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ. (Was also a DREAM to interview MISS ROSS for Oprah at the Legends Ball in 2005: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGFgjJ7u1hk). They all got me ready for my latest get with MISS ARETHA FRANKLIN. Here’s my recap: www.nbcnews.to/1HFEc48.

Nice Tits

My editor friend Shaun Edwards introduced me to Amy Marcs who recently wrote a one-woman show aptly titled "Nice T!ts" which is about her experience with breast cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy. She performed it last year to a sold out crowd at The Peoples Improv Theater. Now, she is excited to announce that, beginning October 8th in conjunction with breast cancer awareness month, The Rack is Back.... 

Nice T!ts

Thursday October 8th  8pm

Sunday   October 11th 4pm

Sunday   October 25th 4pm

Thursday October 29th 8pm

to buy tickets www.thepit-nyc.com/event/nice-tts-5

 #NiceTits #TheRackisBack

CHARLES PERRY

Thanks to my girlfriend Paula Witt, PR at Sunshine Sachs, for inviting us out to hear her client Charles Perry at Quad Studios. Here is a little snippet of him performing a song with none other than Jeff Goldblum! He certainly has the theatrics and the voice like ME! We MUST get him to ALL STAR KARAOKE to jam with us at BILLIE’S BLACK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59AAfRz0yZ0.

MARCIA PENDELTON

My dear sister friend Marcia Pendelton's Walk Tall Girl Productions Celebrated 15 Years of Bringing the Best in Performing Arts to NYC‏. For 15 years, Marcia Pendelton has been guiding audiences to the best in theater and other performing arts across New York City. Her work was feted last night. The event included performances by Classical Theatre of Harlem, Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, Darius Crenshaw, Tony nominee André De Shields (The Wiz, The Full Monty), Eden Duncan-Smith (Fences, The Lion King), Marva Hicks (Motown The Musical), Ebony JoAnn (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre, Sounds of Praise of Emmanuel Baptist Church,  Jamal Story (Motown the Musical, The Color Purple [2005]) Rema Webb (The Lion King, Violet, The Book of Mormon, The Color Purple[2015]). For more information and reservations visitwww.walktallgirlproductions.com.

ALL STAR KARAOKE is BACK

We will be singing MISS ROSS and MISS FRANKLIN at BILLIE’S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY for this FALL 2015 SERIES – starting at the end of October: October 27, 2015 from 7p-10p (and going through to Tuesday, December 29, 2015)!

And as MIKO did this last season in promotion of her book Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from...​ (Amistad; Hardcover; $24.99): https://youtu.be/RL-EqYvCAeI, we hope you will come SING your FAVORITES with us, ENJOY cocktail specials and tasty soul food, and NETWORK with a ROOM FULL of FABULOUS FOLKS! SEASON 4 is - in part - POWERED by ALL STAR KARAOKE PLATINUM PATRON Mr. Reginald Van Lee. WE THANK HIM and all of you who continue to be such a support for our little night that could and IS!  Would LOVE TO SEE YOU some Tuesday - really soon! #BILLIESBLACK #ALLSTARKARAOKE #MOTOWNMAY #missjessiesbook #iammissjessies #Legacy of #TitiBranch

Nabj40

What a WONDERFUL week NABJ! It’s truly my ANNUAL THERAPY! 21 YEARS of NABJ Conventions! YIKES! GASP! LOL!

APOLLO STYLE

One highlight this week for me was getting the opportunity to HOST #NABJ40 AT THE APOLLO… and what a BLAST THAT WAS. A GLOWING REVIEW from Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist ER Shipp goes a LONG WAY! THANK YOU, SIS! REVIEW: "Displaying his unique talent as emcee, instigator, cajoler, cheerleader and performer, our Patrick The Entertainer helped kick off the 40th anniversary convention of the National Association of Black Journalists with a night of poetry, gymnastics and music by journalists and friends at the convention center in Minneapolis, temporarily transformed into The World Famous Apollo Theater. He even persuaded the likes of news executives Paula Madison and Cheryl Smith to party like it was 1999. Thank you, Patrick L. Riley. How will we top this next year in Washington D.C.?" MY RECAP: #NABJ40 kicked off with a FUN OPENING NIGHT event - KARAOKE, APOLLO-style!!!!! I sang "Reasons" and a Mariah Hollywood Walk of Fame shout out with "Can't Let Go". ALSO: We homaged Minneapolis' own Prince Roger Nelson by singing along on 1999...and we also did a #DABUTTmoment. Plus, of course, the #THEBOSS CHOIR FINALE! LOL! Our NABJ members enthusiastically sang, recited poetry, played sax, and danced for the GRAND PRIZE of a $100 GIFT CARD to TARGET! .... AND THE WINNER IS: NBCBLK MANAGING EDITOR Amber Payne whose rendition of Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" STUNNED and PLEASANTLY SURPRISED the NABJ audience. Since my Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley sponsor Miss Jessie's is EXCLUSIVELY the sponsor that got me to (NABJ) National Association of Black Journalists' NABJ Convention & Career Fair, I want to shout out MISS JESSIE's CO-FOUNDER and OWNER MIKO BRANCH for making it possible for me to provide consolation prizes. They included MISS JESSIE'S product bags and Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-Naturally! And big thanks to Executive Producer Manuel McDonnell Smith and my MARY aka our VOICE OF GODDESS/ON-SITE PRODUCER Angela Robinson and all those who helped make this go off as a great launch for the week. TOTAL FUN! ANNUAL THERAPY! I LOVE NABJ!#REASONS #EARTHWINDANDFIRE #billiesblack#allstarkaraoke #iammissjessies #NABJ40

MISS JESSIE’S

I – as priority – want to shout out MISS JESSIE'S, one of my sponsors for “Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/20/ask-patrick.html. Co-Founder Miko Branch was my EXCLUSIVE SPONSOR for #NABJ40. I couldn’t have done the trip without her support. LOOK OUT FOR MIKO at a city near you throughout the rest of the year. Stay tuned to LIFE OF RILEY for those dates in the coming weeks and months. Some coverage that’s coming up – culled from NABJ - includes NABJ Salute to Excellence award-winning PULSEBEAT with Greg Dunmore out of Detroit; several Minneapolis features – including its ‘Good Day’ FOX affiliate; etc.  MIKO was also a panelist for the NABJ AUTHOR SHOWCASE: YOUR COMPELLING STORY - TELL IT & SELL IT #nabj40bioTelling one’s life story is difficult enough, but on top of that you must try to get it published and then convince the world that it is worthy of attention, and purchase. The individuals who grace this panel have managed to do all three, and they’ll share their insights on how they successfully crafted their biographies and brought them to a wider audience.
Location: Convention Center, 208AB
Moderator:
Richard Prince, “Journal-isms”
Panelists:
Miko Branch, Miss Jessie’s
Luther Campbell, Miami New Times
Paula Madison, Williams Group Holdings LLC James McGrath Morris, Biographer and Author

IYANLA

Iyanla Vanzant blessed our morning at #NABJ40 with a breakfast that gave us an intimate, sneak-peek of Iyanla: Fix My Life...and OH, WHAT A SEASON IT WILL BE! PROVOCATIVE! Was also cool to have Iyanla Vanzant be SUPER-EXCITED to see my sponsor for this NABJ Convention & Career Fair, Miss Jessie's and MIKO BRANCH! Iyanla exclaimed "I LOVE MISS JESSIE'S! HAVE IT IN NOW! LOL!" We gave her the best seller Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-Naturally as well.

Underground

WGN America sponsored #NABJ40 Arts & Entertainment Task Force reception - featuring Empire breakout Jussie Smollett's real-life sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Friday Night Lights) to quite the ENTHUSIASTIC audience! My sponsor for this Convention, Miss Miko Branch aka MISS JESSIE'S says she will be tuning in to watch with her son. In the one-hour drama, bravery, ingenuity and power take center stage as slaves band together in the fight of their lives, their families, their future and their freedom. Smollett will appear as Josey, a wild-eyed runaway who doesn’t trust anyone, not even the people stationed along the way who would try to help him. Smollett-Bell plays the series regular role of Rosalee, a shy house slave with a powerful inner strength and courage. And I hear my other favorite Smollett, Jussie, will be in the mix of UNDERGROUND. Of course, his main return is EMPIRE: SEASON 2!!!!

PRINCE

THE REVOLUTION nor PRINCE were TELEVISED or RECORDED! Hell, they didn't even PERFORM! But we all still partied like it was 1999... and got to enjoy PAISLEY PARK. Richard Prince chronicled it best:http://mije.org/richardprince/nabj-audience-sees-prince-2-minutes! READ ON: At least 650 members of the National Association of Black Journalists accepted an invitation from Prince to pay $20 apiece to visit the Paisley Park studio complex used by the entertainer outside Minneapolis Saturday night in hopes of seeing the star himself.
But the NABJ members — and an additional 227 people who paid $50 for the privilege — saw an appearance of just two minutes or so in which the entertainer plugged his upcoming recording. He did not perform. Attendees spent an additional 110 minutes moving their bodies to dance tunes from the '70s and '80s transmitted with heavily enhanced bass beats inside a dimly lit airplane hanger-style hall that featured hefty speakers and a screen with kaleidoscopic images. Some partygoers were fine with what took place; others were not. While the everyday NABJ members were speculating on whether the star would show, 10 others received 45 minutes of interaction with the entertainer. In that meeting, Prince urged news coverage of what he called exploitation of young artists by the music business, which he said requires artists to relinquish too much to the industry, according to Bob Butler, the NABJ president who was among the attendees.
"He wants us to really write about what's going on in the music industry," Butler told Journal-isms. The rock star urged young artists not to sign contracts with the companies. Also in the meeting with Prince were Kelley L. Carter of BuzzFeed; Bryan Monroe, a past NABJ president; Eric Deggans, NPR television critic; Errin Whack, NABJ's vice president-print; incoming NABJ president Sarah J. Glover; ESPN host Michael Wilbon; Barbara Ciara, a past NABJ president; Trymaine Lee, a writer for MSNBC; and Carol Ash of WMAQ-TV in Chicago. "Prince has had a love/hate relationship with the Internet since the Napster days," Oscar Raymundo reported June 30 for Macworld. Last year, Prince quit Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and in July, his catalog was removed from iTunes and Spotify. The albums, including classics such as "Sign O The Times" and "Purple Rain," have found a home on a new venue assembled by Jay Z, Alvin Aqua Blanco reported Thursday for HipHopWired.com. Prince announced Thursday that the Tidal streaming service, assembled by Jay Z and including shareholder-artists Beyoncé, Madonna, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Jack White, would be the exclusive home of his upcoming record HITNRUN, to be released Sept. 7.
"After one meeting, it was obvious that Jay Z and the team he has assembled at TIDAL recognize and applaud the effort that real musicians put in2 their craft 2 achieve the very best they can at this pivotal time in the music industry," Prince said in a statement. "TIDAL have honored Us with a non-restrictive arrangement that once again allows Us to continue making art in the fashion. We've grown accustomed 2 and We're Extremely grateful 4 their generous support." It was that message that Prince used his two minutes to tell the Saturday night Paisley Park audience. "Jay Z and I have an album coming out on Jay Z's title. Downloads are coming. He needs our help," the entertainer said. And then he was gone. The dance music returned. Were audience members expecting too much? Butler messaged NABJ members on Friday, "I received a text on Wednesday that NABJ was invited to hold a dance party at Prince's Paisley Park. When I asked if Prince was going to be there I was told, 'I think so.' Cover charge is $20 at the door. Buses will take registered convention attendees from the Hilton to Paisley Park following the Salute to Excellence Gala." No cell phones were allowed. Attendees were urged to leave them behind. NABJ, which had already announced it faces a potential deficit, paid about $10,000 for buses to take members to Paisley Park in suburban Chanhassen, NABJ Executive Director Darryl R. Matthews told Journal-isms. Waiting for the return trip to Minneapolis, where the association is concluding its 40th anniversary convention, Derrick Clifton, deputy opinion editor ofdailydot.com who is based in New York, said of the evening, "I thought it was great. It's not every day you get to go to Paisley Park. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially if you're not in Minneapolis." The absence of cell phones "gave us as a community of journalists a chance to talk to each other," he said. With the devices, the journalists would probably be on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and trying to capture inside photographs of Paisley Park, Clifton added. However, Margo Spann, a Los Angeles-based journalist, told Journal-isms, "Disgusted is not the word to describe how I feel. With the number of restrictions put on, the event was hyped. What was presented I didn't have to wait two hours [for]. I feel disrespected." The entertainer could have delivered his message on Twitter and saved everyone's time, she said. For those in need of souvenirs, Prince T-shirts were available for $30, vinyl albums for $20, posters for $10 and tote bags for $40. The evening drew 877 people, according to Jason Carlson, Paisley Park's assistant manager.

LADIES WHO LUNCH

My brother friend Nathan Hale Williams Releases Debut Novel: Ladies Who Lunch & Love… and we are ALL TOO EXCITED! It’s about Four Fabulous NYC Women Share Their Tales of Triumphs, Tragedies and Love. Please see link to buy book BELOW. Ladies Who Lunch & Love, the dazzling debut novel from former Essence magazine columnist and NAACP Image Award nominee, Nathan Hale Williams, is the story of four fabulous New York society women navigating life and love while sharing their best friend. Not your typical snobs or real housewives, these ladies are down-to-earth, relatable women who know how to have a great time even when confronting life’s challenges. Over the course of a year, the narrator and the ladies go on a journey that forces them to examine their lives and choices, yet enjoying the glamorous side of NYC as the backdrop. Vikki is a twice-divorced magazine publisher contemplating a third trip down the aisle with her younger, multi-millionaire boyfriend. Krissy is a high-powered attorney with humble Harlem beginnings who has a penchant for downward spiraling men. Lauren, the nature loving trust-fund heiress, has to work for the first time because of her film producer husband’s drug addictions. And, Rebecca is the “house” wife of a business tycoon caught in an affair with a star ballet dancer. The other main character of the novel is New York City, which the narrator romanticizes as “the true love of his life.” “Ladies Who Lunch & Love combines the sultry urban drama of an E. Lynn Harris book with the romantic longings of a Candace Bushnell TV series in this exuberant debut novel" says Keith Boykin, New York Times bestselling author Ladies Who Lunch & Love is also a novelization of Nathan’s popular Essence magazine love and relationship advice column, “The Girl’s Best Friend.” It is heartwarming, complex, and full of relatable, but well-crafted characters who live extraordinary lives. Yet, every woman (and man) can identify with their stories and struggles. “Ladies Who Lunch & Love was a joy to write and I hope readers will enjoy these stories and life lessons embedded in a fun story,” says Mr. Williams.

LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Lunch-Love-Nathan-Williams-ebook/dp/B012HEKWMW/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1439268299&sr=8-1

 BIO: Nathan Hale Williams is an award-winning filmmaker (Dirty Laundry & Love for Passion), producer, entertainment attorney and television personality. Nathan is the co-author of Inspiration: Profiles of Black Women Changing Our World and contributing author of For Colored Boys…, which won the American Library Association’s Stonewall Award for Non-Fiction Book of the Year. Nathan starred in Sundance Channel’s #1 rated original series, “Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys” as well as Showtime’s “American Candidate.” He recently moved to Los Angeles after living in Harlem, New York for fifteen years. ### Press Contact: Kiwan Michael Anderson, 323.614.5550 or KAnderson@a-plusevents.com

money minute

I just hosted the 2ND SEASON of WELLS FARGO's NEW ADVOCATE MONEY MINUTE. It runs on-line on www.advocate.com: http://www.advocate.com/business/advocate-money-minute. Those will roll out at the end of August through December 2015.

forest whitaker

My NBCBLK INTERVIEW WITH Forest Whitaker just went HOT! CHECK IT OUT: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/forest-whitaker-knockout-southpaw-n399381. My last NBCBLK assignment was with Miss Aretha Franklin: http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbcnews-com/aretha-franklin-puts-on-star-studded-birthday-417968707987. Have had two LEE DANIELS impressions published as well – from Aretha Franklin’s birthday party. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1553278574945680&set and a Q&A at the beginning of EMPIRE’s first season: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/precious-butler-director-lee-daniels-building-empire-n290416. On the NBC tip, I also recently Executive Produced NBCU's "The More You Know" Campaign for 2015-16 (L.A. and NYC shoots as well as the preps for post): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGYcGYgfrm7AdQUaNaAzK6i3M1dnsPwxD. AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR YORU SUPPORT! #SOUTHPAW #FORESTWHITAKER #JAKEGYLENHAAL

brandy

Got to CELEBRATE Brandy’s UPTOWN Magazine cover with the DIVA herself and Editor in Chief Isoul Harris. IT and the STORY and the SUBJECT and the EDITOR are nothing short of FABULOUS! Read the cover story at http://bit.ly/brandy_dh.

culture club

Went to the Beacon Theater to meet Morehouse brother Michael K Watts for my belated birthday gift: Culture Club WITH BOY GEORGE! IT’S A MIRACLE!!!! Get the latest concert tour news, tour dates, information, reviews, videos, and more at http://www.facebook.com/LIVEfromFrontRow.

amazing grace

Two of my sentiments and endless praise from others on Amazing Grace Musical: https://www.facebook.com/agmusical/videos/p.869775669759713/869775669759713/?type=2&theater!! #amazinggracemusical

miss harlem shake 2015

I’m missing Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE already! But the Miss Harlem Shake 2015 pageant gave me a host booking for the second year in a row. Last year’s 1ST ANNUAL was a blast! LINK: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/9/17/harlem-shaking.html .. and THIS YEAR was even more FABULOUS! Special shout out to Musa Jackson whose Musa Jackson Productions booked me then, asked me back this year, and organized this event and a number of other grand fetes in Harlem and throughout NYC. And a SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to the Harlem Shake TEAM plus ALL-of-the behind the scenes team-members – most pointedly, owner of Harlem Shake: Jelena Pasic. One more CONGRATS to Ljeoma: the 2014 Miss Harlem Shake… and we look forward to meeting #MissHarlemShake2015 from #Top6 come September!

frenchie davis

Frenchie Davis came by Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley TWICE during our SPRING 2015 SERIES. So, Ernest Maynor and I had to support The Frenchie Davis Experience at The Metropolitan Room... She's AMAZING! GIVES VOICE FOR DAYS AND INTO ETERNITY WITH ELEGANCE, VULNERABILITY, AND A SPOT OF RATCHETNESS TO BOOT! LOVE ME SOME Frenchie Davis!!! THAT'S ALL! YOU'RE WELCOME! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

fellowship and fabulosity

Been great to catch up with friends and NYC family of late:

1. My dear friend Sidra Smith invited an impressive group of tastemakers to her client Janet League-Katzin’s Sphatika – the 100% Natural Sphatika Skincare & Spa on Madison Avenue between 68th and 69th Street: www.sphatika.com. Instagram: @Sphatika_nyc and Twitter: @Sphatika The room included industry friends: GMA Correspondent Mara Schiavocampo; recording artists Gordon Chambers and – from The Voice: THROATRESSES Amanda Brown and Kimberly Nichole; style experts Emil Wilbekin and Tai Beauchamp; Lisa Bonner, Esq.; artist Dianne Smith; and so many more! The Sphatika concept is based on the awareness that the true nature of every individual is divine, radiant, and joyful. We honor and connect with that inner reality by offering the highest quality treatments and products possible. Through a unique combination of deep sleep, sacred elements from the earth and powerful natural healing modalities one experiences the body’s innate ability to repair, renew and rejuvenate itself.

2. Got to spend some long-overdue, quality time with my Mara and her husband Tommie and ALL OF OUR GANG recently for a BLACK MOVIE NIGHT at their home!

3. My people in Mount Vernon are always up for a great time… and we had game night and some karaoke to boot with Derrick, Kiana, Neal, and the gang out there! ALWAYS A PLEASURE!

minneapolis

Though LIFE OF RILEY can be FAB, it only beats one booking and one check at a time, so when folks in my life are the difference to me (as I aim to be for so many), I have to SHOUT it out! SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to MY FRIEND, Miss Jessie's Founder Miko Branch and Miss Jessie's for SPONSORING ME to attend this year’s National Association of Black Journalists’ Convention – a bit of an off-shoot of my “Harlem open mic night” as I’ve been invited to HOST “#NABJ40 Night at the Apollo” (but it’s in MINNEAPOLIS on Opening Night of the Convention in August). Everyone knows NABJ is "my annual therapy". And my "annual therapy" is about to meet my "daily therapy" (karaoke) at the pass. LOL!  The release reads: "Battle it out on stage with your fellow NABJ members as you compete in the ULTIMATE Apollo talent competition hosted by none other than Patrick L. Riley! Bring your costumes, props, and song choice to the convention center after the opening reception. Solos, duets, and group performances are welcome! Become the 2015 #NABJ40 Apollo Night Champion!" If my NABJ fam is registered for the convention, coming, and going to be there and want to get in on the fun, PLEASE FILL THIS OUT and SUBMIT: https://thenabj.wufoo.com/forms/q1dixmwj177j5go/. #NABJ is a FAMILY REUNION and ALWAYS a good time! See LIFE OF RILEY's capture of NABJ over the years: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/tag/nabj. Once-NABJ “Emerging Journalists of the Year” Michael Feeney (NYABJ President); dear friend Mara Schiavocampo (GMA Correspondent); NBC4 Anchor Shiba Russell (and the NBC 4 crew);  and one of Ant's and my favorite couples Nikita Stewart Henderson (New York Times) and consultant Brian Henderson frequent our night! Also, NABJ President Will Sutton and NABJ's own Garry Howard brought their Dow Jones Business Reporting Internship students out. And they came two Tuesdays in a row at this Spring 2015's "Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley". So, I’m excited to bring KARAOKE to NABJ!  And to see what our FABULOUS MEMBERS are going to sing! #WEAREFAMILY

nyabj

Derrick Hemphill and I did a drive by the New York Association of Black Journalists’ pre-convention mixer to find out who is going to be participating in #NABJ40 AT THE APOLLO. Great to see NABJ and NYABJ fam… as always!

RIP Bobbi Kristina and Michael Masser and Whitney Houston 

"Didn't We Almost Have It All"

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153136593663737/?type=2&theater&notif_t=video_comment

almost

 Anthony Harper and I are here watching Xscape Unsung. Talk about the soundtrack of OUR LIVES (and - for me - my young adult years right as my pie-in-the-sky ambitions were about to meet crippling-despair at the pass... and life would never be the same... and yet I'm here to tell the story)...GOD IS GOOD!See the time stamp: July 8, 1994. And the frame is footage from some behind the scenes footage of that Xscape music video shoot for the song "Tonight". As I was an associate producer and the entertainment guy for FOX 5 Atlanta's Good Day Atlanta, I took my little cousin DeeDee Manor with me to the set as she was visiting Atlanta from Savannah for the summer and had just come up with my mom #queenelizabethbellingerriley for my sister Janice Riley Priester's July 4 work cookout. That week, we also saw Whitney Houston at The Omni. At 23, I was readying for the wrap of "Options: Image of the Future" summer camp which I co-directed with Reginald Parker (our banquet was approaching) and I was Co-Chair of the first Unity Journalists of Color / (NABJ) National Association of Black Journalists Convention (as VP-Broadcast of Atlanta Association of Black Journalists - AABJ). A week later, I'd wreck my car on Georgia Tech's campus. That's where we held our camp. Then 7/20 happened: my mom had a heart attack and instantly passed away. When this frame of video flashed across the screen, I got goosebumps. It all came pouring back! It was 21 years ago this month...time flies... and pop culture is here to remind us. XO RIP #queenriley #72094

grand finale

THE GRAND FINALE of Billie's Black PRESENTS#ALLSTARKARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley: our SPRING 2015 SERIES went out with a BANG! Broadway DIVOs Ryan Shaw (Stevie Wonder from “Motown the Musical”). Also, my friend Charles Wallace (Broadway’s “Amazing Grace” which OPENS this Thursday) came by and SANG Aretha and Teddy. The passing of songwriter/producer Michael Masser hit me like a ton of bricks as I was first introduced to him via Miss Ross' liner notes. He wrote "Touch Me In The Morning"; "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?"; "Last Time I Saw Him"; "It's My Turn"; "To Love Again", "In Your Arms", "One More Chance", "Stay With Me" --- many of my FAVORITES! Then, when Miss Ross exited stage left from his works in the '80s, Miss Whitney Houston inherited his genius on "Greatest Love of All", "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "All At Once", "After We Make Love", and so much more - for these ladies and George Benson and Natalie Cole, etc! I would have me choose two favorites from his Diana Ross/Whitney Houston repertoires: “It’s My Turn” and “Didn’t We Almost Have it All”: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153136593663737/?type=2&theater&notif_t=video_comment. And we celebrated two birthday girls: Rachelle and Tracey as well as the CUNY Journalism Fellows who my friend Nikita Stewart Henderson (from “The New York Times”) brought to hang out with us. AND WE DID THE ‪#‎THEBOSSCHOIR at#BILLIESBLACK ONE MORE TIME! LOL! https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153136580498737/?type=2&theater THANKS TO EVERYBODY who has been such a STEADY SUPPORT of our LITTLE NIGHT that COULD - including our TITLE SPONSOR Miss Jessie's... and Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry XOXOXOHope to see y'all in the FALL... if we don't pop up somewhere in the meantime! Endless Love for Billie's Black! Love you, Adriane and Marian! XOXOXOXO

nyuujw

I love my National Association of Black Journalists' sister friend Katti Gray - so much I got up too early (after the GRAND FINALE of our Spring 2015 Series of “Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley”) to teach her new, diverse crop of NYC high schoolers participating in the NYU Urban Journalism Workshop "THE ART OF THE INTERVIEW". Plus, I had a young CAU-bound intern Blake shadowing me for the day on an ask from my friend Marcia Cole. GREAT KIDS! GREAT TIMES! http://urbanjournalismworkshop.org/ My recap from last year: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/7/21/time.html #nyuujw

rosenwald

Thanks to my "nephew" and NABJ BFF Brian Henderson for hipping me to filmmaker Aviva Kempner's latest work: Rosenwald, a documentary describing how businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald joined with African-American communities in the South to build schools for them during the early 20th century. Rosenwald will be released in theaters in August 2015. And there's a screening next week in L.A. MUST SEE! Thanks Brian!

ella

Brian and his wife, dear friend Nikita Stewart Henderson - New York Times' own - invited me to experience Nikita's daughter Ella for what is being dubbed "the greatest showcase of the summer"! This weekend, at the lengendary Bitter End, talented teenage musicians took over the stage at "ROCK IN BLEECKER"! Proceeds benefitted the charity Music Unites, which is dedicated to spreading music programs throughout public schools for at-risk youth. GO ELLA who also graced our Grand Finale of Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley. She's also working in several fabulous arts programs - including a Clive Davis one at NYU and another at Harlem School of the Arts. And she's interning at Sounds of Brazil: SOBs this summer - booking acts for the famous live venue.