A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

DA BOSS

Everybody KNOWS Diana Ross' THE BOSS is my FAVORITE!

And we MUST DO #THEBOSS with the #THEBOSSCHOIR every week at Billie's Black​ presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley​ at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul​ --- EVERY TUESDAY! Even got my nephew's mom/friend Felecia Roberts to join in on the fun as she visits from our hometown of Savannah, GA: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153126723338737/?type=3&theater. MUCH LOVE, FE! And FOLKS! with ONE MORE TO GO, WHO WILL JOIN US NEXT WEEK for #THEBOSS choir!? Reservations highly recommended or swing through and TOAST with us for a MOMENT! It's ALWAYS A BLAST! And we'll be back in the FALL and may be POPPIN' UP around TOWN and maybe somewhere out there! AS ALWAYS, THANKS TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU WHO PLAY A PART – including designer B. Michael (and his business partner and husband Mark-Anthony Edwards) for stepping into our room for the first time… WHAT A BLAST!

DA BUTT

THIS PAST TUESDAY was NEXT LEVEL! WASHINGTON DC brought GO GO music to LIFE! Morehouse man Spike Lee brought GO GO music to the world via his 1988 film School Daze. Howard’s own Carla Bone’s BFF Donna Kirkland – along with the capture by her fellow CAU alum Derrick Hemphill – created ‪#‎DABUTT MANIA when this song was selected at our 2nd to the last Tuesday of the SPRING 2015 SERIES of Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley. The room ERUPTED with C.A.U., Morehouse, Spelman, Howard and all the the HBCU's representing when the EU classic was chosen! OMG! LOL! https://youtu.be/YjmBDlevexQ.

DA LAST TUESDAY

ONE MORE TUESDAY LEFT: Tuesday, July 14th! And if you plan to do more than a “drive by”, RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 212.280.2248. All Star Karaoke is a weekly karaoke series in Harlem, NY that I host in Harlem, NY! My blog, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY can be found at http://bit.ly/lor_blog.  ‪#‎BILLIESBLACK#ALLSTARKARAOKE #DABUTT ‪#‎DABUTTCHOIR#THEBOSSCHOIR ‪#‎THEBOSS ‪#‎thevoice ‪#‎teamkimberlynichole‪#‎schooldaze

DA PLANE

Speaking of Miss Jessie’s and their continued support of BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with PATRICK L. RILEY and LIFE OF RILEY, I must note how appreciative our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS are for the weekly giveaways. And the SWAG bags she provides everyone who walks through the door! Along with other integrations we've been able to execute with RILEY LAND GOURMET PANTRY, HENDRICKS GIN, and MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, MISS JESSIE'S has been our MAIN SPONSORSHIP DIVA - in the cut for our folks... and letting us wrap our arms around her from time to time as she's been inside a grueling year of personal losses; major professional gains; and a major book release and tour:Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch---Naturally. And - sometimes - you just want to sing some karaoke... and we do! LOL! #THEBOSS of course:

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

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 

DA GRACE

Broadway marketing/audience consultant SUPREME, Marcia Pendelton​! THANK YOU! WHAT AN AWESOME MUSICAL! Something ALL will want to experience when it OPENS next Wednesday! Anthony Harper​, Derrick Hemphill​, Herman Lee Riley III, Felecia Roberts​, RU, and I LOVED Amazing Grace, the musical. It stars Chuck Cooper. He's a Broadway legend! AND IS JUST AWESOME in this musical!I got to share the stage in Project1voice​'s Amen Corner​ by James Baldwin​: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2012/6/29/impossible-inevitable.html. My friend Charles E Wallace​ is also in it...and STUNS! The whole cast is AMAZING! But friend Charles Wallace does bring something special into the equation. He'll be understudying for Chuck Cooper as well. A MUST SEE!  #AGBROADWAY #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

I love when my MOREHOUSE COLLEGE brother Michael K. Watts - LIVE! from Front Row keeps me posted on where he is in his #LIFEOFRILEY reading. He reads on varied commutes... on demand. Or when he chooses! LOL! His note with this picture: "You've been blogging your a__ off this year!! This is only half of them!!" LOL! Thank MKW and all who take the time to check out LIFE OF RILEY: http://bit.ly/lor_blog. #lor #lifeofriley

Kimberly Nichole

The Voice Finalist KimberlyNichole - of KimberlyNichole & the Yellow Brick Journey! fame - was in the house! She was SANGING Led Zeppelin's hit A Whole Lotta Love and more at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul for Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley!

OUR CHAT:

KIMBERLY NICHOLE's and my chat: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153109483253737/?type=3&theater

SHORTER LINK OF KIMBERLY NICHOLE’S PERFORMANCE: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153109062548737/?type=2&theater

LONGER LINK OF KIMBERLY NICHOLE’S PERFORMANCE:

https://www.facebook.com/derrick.styles.98/videos/vb.100000292492552/1086888071330932/?type=2&theater

We NEVER know! And how gracious was Kimberly Nichole to get in on the fun of our Miss Jessie's GIVEAWAYS! Plus, we had Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry back in the house with a "pop up situation" and we did a raffle giveaway of Joseph Riley Land products - an awesome grouping of sauces, jams, rubs, popcorn, chocolates, OH MY! TOO YUMMY! He'll be back in the house to raffle off some more goodies this Tuesday! TWO MORE TUESDAYS TO GO, FOLKS! MORE GIVEAWAYS, SPECIAL GUESTS, and SO MUCH FUN! Please come join us... and make your reservations: 212.280.2248. AND AS ALWAYS, THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO PLAY A PART! XOXOXOXO ‪#‎billiesblack ‪#‎allstarkaroke ‪#‎thevoice ‪#‎teamkimberlynichole

THE ROOT

Hi folks! CHECK THIS OUT! IT WENT HOT this WEDNESDAY JUNE 24TH! Link: http://theroottv.theroot.com/video/I-Want-to-Be-Famous. My segment "I want to be Famous". It is a great conversation. THANKS to Harriette Cole from HARRIETTE COLE MEDIA and Michele Wilson for the opportunity to chat it up. #theroot #harriettecole #bringittothetable

THREE MORE

THREE MORE! Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley is going through Tuesday, July 14th. Last night’s 9th ANNIVERSARY of Billie's Black Gourmet Soul brought back (with a three-song set): MISS Frenchie Davis, a surprise for owner Adriane, who has been an awesome #theboss for our Tuesday night that could and did and does! Shout out to Marian - her wife - for her awesome zen-like support! And THANKS to FRENCHIE for shouting out my Anthony as well. She - to our ask - performed her amazing spin on Rihanna's "We Found Love". Was EXCITED to gift Frenchie Davis with a special giveaway from our SPRING 2015 SPONSOR Miss Jessie's. Upon receipt, Frenchie exclaimed: “I LOVE MISS JESSIE’S!!!”. We also toasted my Morehouse College BFF Michael K. Watts’ 45th Birthday. He had a blast! And I was too over the moon when my high school BFF Natalie Shinhoster Palmer opted to come up from Atlanta for ONE NIGHT ONLY of Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley. We got in some other quick fun too. But she's gonna have to come for a stretch the next time. LOVE YOU, NAT! BEFORE WE WRAP, COME ON OUT! It's always so good to see my ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS and our SUPPORTERS who come from NEAR and FAR! RESERVATIONS are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:212.280.2248. #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #invisiblelife #iammissjessies

INVISIBLE LIFE

Ushering in #NYCPride2015 at the Opening Night of Invisible Life:THE MUSICAL - running at The Apollo Theater, Harlem's Apollo Music Cafe!As this week's landmark decision by the nation's highest court marked a victory for proponents of same sex marriage, Invisible Life, the wildly successful novel from author E. Lynn Harris, is debuting a limited run --- as a musical --- at the Historic Apollo Theater. 20 years since the New York Times best-selling novel hit bookshelves, this explosive narrative addresses the conflicts of Sexuality, Religion, HIV/AIDS and Family in America. The musical features a prolific and robust score that was started by writer/author/director/LGBT-rights advocate Stanley Bennett Clay and completed by Motown legends Ashford & Simpson. One song, “God Has Love For Everyone”, captures the sentiment of this moment in time. Thanks to show consultant Sidra Smith for inviting me to be her date! So GOOD to see this long-held dream come to life for Co-Director Proteus Spann! CONGRATULATIONS! IT IS SOOOOO GOOD, I HAVE TO GO BACK THIS WEEKEND! 

FAMILY

Weekend of FAMILY:
Cousin Reggie's wedding in Perry, GA...and FATHER'S DAY in Savannah, GA with the GREATEST DAD ON EARTH! LOVE MY FAMILY! XO

INCLUSION SHOW

PATRICK L. RILEY on latest episode of “The Inclusion Show” on “Soul of the South” Network:

http://www.theinclusionshow.com/inclusion-show-wallace-ford-patarack_riley/ - “The Inclusion Show” with Wallace Ford had me on Soul of the South Television Network a month or so to discuss EMPIRE and the images of African Americans in Hollywood throughout time: http://youtu.be/tZ1EGcqbb90. Now, look for me on a monthly basis as a pop culture contributor --- having just taped another episode that will run this weekend. We'll talk more Empire, Shonda Rhimes, Diversity in Hollywood, and TV on DEMAND. ‪#‎theinclusionshow ‪#‎soulofthesouth ‪#‎ARISETV360 ‪#‎ARISENews ‪#‎EMPIRE ‪#‎FOXTV ‪#‎shondarimes ‪#‎scandal ‪#‎thecatch ‪#‎allstarkaraoke ‪#‎billiesblack ‪#‎motownmay

4 MORE TUESDAYS LEFT!

The rain didn't keep BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley from being THE PLACE TO BE – for singing, eating, drinking, and snagging some product from our sponsor MISS JESSIE’S.

Week 8 was a BLAST!

First, my surprise came in the form of MY COUSINS Gloria and Dwayne Arvinger who stopped by and got in on the fun! I LOVE Y’ALL!

And my dear friends, "Cheetah Girls" author Deborah Gregory - with her brother Edgar in tow (He turned it out! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDGAR! LOVE YOU, DEBORAH!); film/TV producer/writer/podcast host Nathan Hale Williams, actress La Rivers, celeb hairstylist Carla Bone, Chef Roble & Co’s Artie Thompson - ALSO A BIRTHDAY BOY, Zenbiz Travel’s Laurence Pinckney, and makeup artist for the stars Merrell Hollis --- ALL stopped by with great things to share: Nathan’s Directorial Debut, Love for Passion, is an Official Selection at the Manhattan Film Festival...For more info: http://www.independentfeatures.com/view-screening/677 and Artie Thompson has a show at Metropolitan Room Saturday July 11th: http://metropolitanroom.com/event.cfm?id=193848.

BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE is going through Tuesday, July 14th.

PLEASE COME JOIN US Tuesday, June 23, the 9th ANNIVERSARY of BILLIE’S BLACK!

It will be ALL STAR KARAOKE as usual with several surprises + we’ll toast my Morehouse College BFF Michael K. Watts 45th Birthday while welcoming my high school BFF Natalie Shinhoster Palmer out for ONE NIGHT ONLY of Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley.

RESERVATIONS are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:212.280.2248.

#allstarkaraoke

#billiesblack 

#invisiblelife

frank ishman

World-renowned photographer - Frank Ishman – also my Morehouse College brother! He married his GENIUS to the COLLABORATIVE BRANDING GENIUS of Myrdith Leon-Mccormack... to the STYLING GENIUS of Janine Linton... and – VOILA! – you have MAN-HOGANY! LOL! Was FUN to get my MAHOGANY on with FRANK! Frank Ishman is THE BEST! www.frankishman.com #frankishman

mahogany

How is it that I tell a slew of people on social media to go see MAHOGANY at the IFC and – by the time – I got around to securing my own ticket, it was SOLD OUT! Then, when I do an outreach, I get an emailed reply from Rhonda Ross! Yes, my friend! But also: daughter of Miss Diana Ross and Mr. Berry Gordy… and MAHOGANY was their 1975 Blockbuster project for which Miss Ross designed (and/or styled) ALL OF THE COSTUMES! Oh, and wait for it! Rhonda was seeing it ON THE BIG SCREEN for the FIRST TIME! Her escort? Bob Silberstein, the man who raised Rhonda - also father of her sisters Tracee Ellis Ross and Chudney Ross. The occasion: "Black Summer Nights", a celebration of queer African American artists and their unique role in shaping American culture and history. Tonight's selection was curated by another industry buddy, Tony-nominated actor for "Passing Strange" Colman Domingo via SKYPE (who - last we hung out - I was helping navigate the red carpet at the World Premiere of Lee Daniel's "The Butler"). As I'd just asked our sponsor at "Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley", Miko Branch of Miss Jessie's, her favorite film at a recent book signing, LOVE that it was "Mahogany" and she came out to enjoy it as well --- along with other buddies, filmmaker Andre Robert Lee; legendary performer Flotilla Debarge whose next show "FLO-REAL!! Here & Now" goes up Thursday, June 25th at 9p at Kraine Theatre -   www.horsetrade.info - and many others! FAB Monday Night! Next month on July 20th, pick up the series with "James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket". For more info on Queer/Art/Film at the IFC Center...and the awesome folks associated - including filmmaker Stephen Winter, poet Pamela Sneed, Ira Sachs, Adam Baran, please visit www.IFCCENTER.COM/SERIES/QUEERARTFILM.  #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke#mahogany #queerartfilm

invisible life

Week 7 of BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE was VISIBLY VIBRANT as EVERYBODY ENJOYED their “Miss Jessie’s” grab bags (and Miko Branch’s current book). Highlight of the night was the cast of “Invisible Life: The Musical” coming by to promote their week-long, almost-SOLD-OUT engagement at The Apollo June 25th – 30th. We gave away tickets; sang Miss Ross’ “The Boss” produced by Motown Legends Ashford & Simpson who wrote the music and lyrics for “Invisible Life” (with additional lyrics by my brother friend Stanley Bennett Clay): https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153063149713737/?type=3&theater.  Based on the novel “Invisible Life” by E. Lynn Harris, the musical’s book is written by Proteus Spann & Javon Johnson who joined us on stage for the fun! They co-direct “Invisible Life: The Musical”. And can we talk about the cast which is full of Broadway star power? Tony Award nominee Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe’s Cafe) will portray Mama Tyler, the mother of Raymond Tyler Jr., who will be played by Gregory Williams. Raymond’s two closest friends Kyle and JJ, will be Terry Lavell (La Cage aux Folles) and Grammy- nominated Frenchie Davis (RENT). The iconic stage songstress Vivian Reed is also in the cast. Terry and Frenchie came to play – singing with me and solo! Ant’s sister Sabrina does Frenchie’s PR – so these moments were extra special. Purchase Tickets: http://gn-bp.com/invisible-life. ALSO IN THE MIX: One of our All Star Karaoke Journalism DIVAS, NBC4’s own anchor extraordinaire Shiba Russell and her crew were in the house as well as FIT grad Travis and his friends – led by ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFUL Antoinne who brought a fun group to CELEBRATE. And to all my peeps, THANKS! BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE is going through Tuesday, July 14th. PLEASE COME JOIN US! RESERVATIONS are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:212.280.2248. AND COME TUESDAY, JUNE 23^RD, LET’S LOOK TO ALL STAR KARAOKE plus CELEBRATE BILLIE’S BLACK’S 9^TH ANNIVERSARY – including a “special surprise guest”! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #invisiblelife

sidra and tasha smith

I was too excited to see my girlfriend Sidra Smith who has been busy as ever of late, but not too busy to bring the cast of “Invisible Life” to see me at All Star Karaoke (with the coordination of my friend Richard Pelzer). Sidra - NAACP Image Award winning producer of “Free Angela” - is Executive Producing "BOXED IN" - a film project her identical twin sister, Hollywood star Tasha Smith wrote and directed in association with producer Kim Ogletree. ABFF – the American Black Film Festival – screened the awesome flick . Shout out to ABFF and Jeff Friday for curating this one! For more information visit: http://www.abff.com/).What a compelling story that anecdotes brilliantly the struggle and stigma of mental illness among our African American brothers and sisters. Beautiful film andawesome cast! Walter Fauntleroy plays a character who suffers with bipolar disorder. His mom is played by the amazing actress Tyra Ferrell who I've missed from the big screen a la the days of Poetic Justice and School Daze! We also loved her from HBO's The Corner (with Tasha Smith)...and - this just in - she told me we'll see her in Season 2 of Empire. BOXED IN also features the lady who cast me in upcoming film Steps- due out later this year: Penwah Phynjuar!! She's THE BEST! Director of STEPS, Eddie Harris
also in attendance tonight - saw an early screening of BOXED IN...and says he had to have Walter Fauntleroy for STEPS! And he and I have a few scenes together. Eddie also says I'm looking good in edit - as Rudy, the character I play, my acting debut in a feature film... Stay tuned..

tony awards

Another of my Broadway predictions on Arise Entertainment 360 has come TRUE! From my last visit, I figured Helen Mirren is so well-decorated in so many platforms for portraying THE QUEEN, the Great White Way would CROWN her accordingly. I was right! CLIP: http://bit.ly/bway_arise360_mirren! Tony Awards Leading Actress in a Play -- Helen Mirren in "The Audience". Mirren played Queen Elizabeth II in the Broadway play, written by Peter Morgan. Mirren also originated the part at the play's original 2013 run in London's West End. #TheAudienceBway #TonyAwards #Arise360 #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke

drums

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/UGOqHhjbZ3k - SHOUT OUT to Carl Nelson - BFF for 20+ YEARS and Producer of Drums Along The Hudson -Inwood Park joined me on stage recently at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul for Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke to promote #drumsalongthehudson which he produces every years. I host the afternoon stage this Sunday, June 14^th – an event that honors Tichina Arnold and His Holiness the Dalai Lama! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

 Hosting 2015s Drums Along The Hudson -Inwood Park, 13th annual! Honorees: my friend Tichina Arnold andHis Holiness the Dalai Lama! And George Faison andLotus Music Dance put on quite the FABULOUS presentation! #weareONE #drumsalongthehudson#rhythmnation 

#wearetheworld #thewiz #tony#lotusmusicanddance