A Day In "The Life Of Riley"

WELCOME to "The Life of Riley" which will include periodic chronicles of pop culture and possibilities that flow out of Patrick L. Riley's day. That's me!!! Through blogging (and soon some other technological features on which I'll keep you posted as they launch), I will pull experiences from my busy life to entertain and inspire all of you. Through this site, I will share my observations and insights.

Some features to look forward to:

1.) "PATRICK'S POP UP(DATES)" will feature stories from pop culture, music, theater, fashion, and the entertainment industry at large.

2.) "The Life of Riley" will also introduce a "take-a-look-at-your-life" section (READ: sort of an advice column), where I will help readers come up with their own questions and answers around what "ways of being" are working (or not working) to have them acheive their respective goals and live their best lives. This section is called "WHO YOU BE?".

3.) Additonally, there will be a free-flowing, organic section called "TESTIFY" from which I will pull from my own life's journey to share and hopefully inspire. Some of the fare may be new musings and experiences. Other times, I may pull from my journals and past sharings to shed light on some uncomfortable truths that I've experienced and that may perhaps play a role in healing someone else's wounds as the real-life experience did for me. From my experience of covering 9/11 as a freelance journalist to courageously coming out (as gay) to my family, "TESTIFY" promises to move those who choose to read it.

4.) And a section titled "PR" (like my initials, but also like "public relations") will include press clips from any coverage I get.

5.) And anytime pictures or video can support an entry (in the blog, and perhaps in the subsequent podcasts, my space, and website), those visuals will keep things aesthetically enrolling. That section will be called "MY TUBE".

PLAYING TO THE POP IN POSSIBILITIES!

Patrick L. Riley

purple

purple

Some know but I’ll share again: Ant and I met the opening night of “Oprah Winfrey presents The Color Purple”. He was covering it for STARZ. I was covering it for aforementioned title producer’s talk show. Ten years later, Ant and I are HERE! And my ARISE 360 Broadway/theater segment producer Derrick Hemphill and I got to meet the cast of on THE COLOR PURPLE Revival for Broadway – due in November 2015. At Chelsea’s Pier 59 as the backdrop, we got to hang out with the ladies on their first day together: Cynthia Erivo as Celie (She played the part in the London run); Jennifer Hudson as Shug (EGOT anyone? She has the Oscar and the Grammy); and Danielle Brooks of “Orange is the New Black” FAME as Sophia. #thecolorpurple

all star karaoke

Hope we can get Miss Hudson and the ladies up to Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley. We are UP AND RUNNING through mid-July! Join us next Tuesday for some special giveaways – including MISS JESSIE’s and a raffle for tickets to see the APOLLO THEATER's staged adaptation of E. Lynn Harris' New York Times best-selling debut novel "Invisible Life"….

This week was a BLAST! We welcomed another group of business journalism interns under the leadership of my NABJ brothers Will Sutton and Garry Howard. Shout out to the #DJNFbiz15 – the Dow Jones News Fund Business Internship program…

…we toasted and serenaded our ALL STAR KARAOKE show-runner Derrick Hemphill…

…and we welcomed singer Kylie Marcus Blue who sang her new single WONDER – available on I-Tunes and all platforms.

HERE'S A HIGHLIGHT VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/5t6cAyzUqSA

ALSO IN THE HOUSE: Celebrity designer Indashio came, saw, and conquered --- with the promise to return! MUCH LOVE!

Was also a treat to have ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 CO-HOST SHANNON LANIER in the house! I fill in for him at ARISE 360 when he's away. Now, we must get MISS LOLA OGUNNAIKE and the rest of the ARISE gang to come hang out at ALL STAR KARAOKE.

COME JOIN US NEXT WEEK – prepared to sing your favorite DIVA in the first hour of the night. We’ll have a “little giveaway” for the participant who BRINGS IT!

RESERVATIONS are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – if you want to sit and enjoy some SOUL FOOD & COCKTAILS! 212.280.2248. #DJNFbiz15 #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke

nectar imperial rose

Shout out to BFF Derrick Hemphill who invited me out to his birthday celebration extension: a Moet & Chandon-sponsored TOAST (of Nectar Imperial Rose - one of my FAVS!). The event at Cipriani was to introduce Nectar Imperial Rose's FIRST CREATIVE COLLABORATION: LIMITED EDITION BY MARCELO BURLON! FUN ROOM of GREAT FRIENDS and INDUSTRY BUDDIES I've not seen in a minute. ALSO IN THE HOUSE: my EVERY-STYLISH & GQ NEPHEW: HERMAN L. RILEY III. FUN to stumble into him... and a hang a bit! XO #MOETXMARCELO

Posted on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 10:15AM by

THE LIFE OF RILEY in All Star Karaoke, Dow Jones News Fund Business Internship, JENNIFER HUDSON, Kylie Marcus Blue, Moet & Chandon, Orange is the New Black, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, The Color Purple, Trey Songz |

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wonder

Kylie Marcus Blue

My girl Michelle Sanchez Boyce is working with another awesome artist Kylie Marcus Blue… and bringing her to BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE this Tuesday, June 2^nd to karaoke with us and to let us hear her new song “Wonder”. PLUS, Kylie will catch us all up on her upcoming plans! Kylie is HOT! Check out her EPK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtiOogGOV1w. FOLLOW KYLIE NOW: @kylie_marcus. One of the love interests in the video is Don Benjamin who was recently on America’s Next Top Model. He has over 1M followers on IG @itsdonbenjamin. Come join us this Tuesday, June 2^nd to meet Kylie and more! RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 212.280.2248… or please be flexible and patient for standing room pending any cascading avails throughout the night! THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR THEIR WEEKLY SUPPORT! WE ARE HAVING A BLAST!

INVISIBLE LIFE

On Tuesday, June 30th ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley will host the closing night show of Invisible Life The Musical Afterparty at Billie's Black, 271 W 119th St, New York, NY 10026. Join Global Network of Black Pride, Circle of Voices & Tammy Peay for a summer of fun on the last day of 'PRIDE' Month. For Additional Information & To Purchase Tickets: http://gnbp.s424.sureserver.com/invisible-life or RSVP Tickets with Richard E. Pelzer II at gn.blackpride@gmail.com. Shout out to Proteus Spann. Glad to see my friend Stanley Bennett Clay involved – adding lyrical magic to the gurus of composition: Ashford & Simpson. Was blessed to hear some of this music several years ago at The Apollo for a staged reading. Now, it’s show-time! RIP E. Lynn Harris. He’ll be thrilled to see the “Invisible Life” cast include: Broadway’s Brenda Braxton AND MISS Frenchie Davis – two powerhouses!

DJNFBiz15

THIS PAST WEEK was OFF THE CHARTS! Shout out to one of my National Association of Black Journalists' mentors/Past NABJ President Will Sutton for bringing the Dow Jones News Fund Business Reporting Internship Program to Harlem for Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley. VIDEO CLIP: http://bit.ly/willsutton_ask_plr. Will heads up Grambling State University's journalism school. He came in tow with about 20 program participants - recent graduates from an array of colleges and universities across the nation. They all trekked up from their facility at NYU to to see me and ask many questions about what I do, how, with whom, etc. They took lots of notes... and then, ENJOYED the SOUL FOOD, the KARAOKE (YEP! THEY SANG! LOL!), and quite the networking room - including our sponsor MIKO BRANCH from MISS JESSIE'S who brought a fun group of folks to get in on the fun and meet the kids. Plus, she helped me co-present the MISS JESSIE'S giveaways! PLUS, we all broke out in song as well! VIDEO CLIP: http://bit.ly/miko_ask_plr. Special shout out to ROB WELLS, a professor at Maryland, who is working with #DJNFBiz15 as well. ALSO IN THE HOUSE: A host of our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULs and a lovely group of new ALL STAR KARAOKE FRIENDS – including Choreographer & Creative Director Victor Jackson who designs the moves for many of the music stars out today, from Iggy Azalea to SWV to Jennifer Hudson! AND CAN I TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I WAS TO HAVE – FOR THE FIRST TIME – MY BELOVED MOREHOUSE BROTHER ISOUL HARRIS – UPTOWN Magazine’s Editor in Chief – IN THE HOUSE! #bossbitches 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. #AllStarKaraoke #motownmay #billiesblack #iammissjessies #theboss

THE INCLUSION SHOW

“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. I’ll send the link when they send it. ‪#‎theinclusionshow ‪#‎soulofthesouth ‪#‎ARISETV360 ‪#‎ARISENews ‪#‎EMPIRE ‪#‎FOXTV ‪#‎shondarimes ‪#‎scandal ‪#‎thecatch ‪#‎allstarkaraoke ‪#‎billiesblack ‪#‎motownmay

Posted on Friday, May 29, 2015 at 07:14PM by

THE LIFE OF RILEY in AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, All Star Karaoke, Billie's Black, Don Benjamin, Empire, Kylie Marcus Blue, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Soul of the South Network, Wonder |

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prove it on me

prove it on me

HI FOLKS! The chance to reconnect with AMEN’s “Thelma”: THE Anna Marie Horsford! An opportunity to meet BRAVE from R&B DIVAS-LA! SINGING “BEST OF MY LOVE” with MISS MONIFAH!

EXCERPT:

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153006964663737/?type=2&theater

WHAT A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF RILEY! Please make sure you POP BY and/or MAKE YOUR HIGHLY-RECOMMENDED RESERVATIONS at BILLIE’S BLACK for “BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”: 212.280.2248. We never know who is going to roll through…

ALL STAR KARAOKE – WEEK 4

That’s right! Monifah not only sang with me, she blessed us with an a cappella take on her new song ONE MOMENT... and shut us all down: http://bit.ly/onemoment_plr. BE SURE TO GET IT ON ALL PLATFORMS! ALSO: Monifah is Assistant Directing a TRIBUTE to GERALD LEVERT next month at The Beacon (SOLD OUT) and The New Jersey Symphony Hall (a few tickets left). MONIFAH also generously joined us to take care our SPONSOR business: Miss Jessie's is our weekly sponsor… and partner Miko Branch had lots of giveaways for everybody – including her AMAZING new book: “Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-Naturally” and the amazing MISS JESSIE’S products! AND OF COURSE, our NEW FRIENDS and our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS sang ALL NIGHT LONG! LOL! Well, folks! We’re up every Tuesday from 7p-10p --- through mid-July. #billiesblack

#allstarkaraoke#iammissjessies #wearemissjessies #motownmay #monifah

#monifahcarter #onemoment

COVE – 3^RD ANNIVERSARY

Shout out to Michelle Huff Elliott - HUFF Events and PR/Strategic Heights Media (www.HUFFent.com) and Alyah Horsford-Sidberry for Cove Lounge's 3-year anniversary celebration - hosted by Ed Lover and actress Anna Maria Horsford, who is always such a joy! I asked her for some scoop...and she gave it to me! She's playing the mother of the Transgender character inside a hot plot I'm watching daily on one of my favorite soaps CBS' "Bold and the Beautiful". Was a delight to meet "R and B Diva" Brave Williams who performed a special vintage set for the Harlem Nights theme: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153008271668737/?type=3&theater. Fun night!

ARISE 360 – MEMORIAL WEEK

I did a week of guest co-hosting at ARISE 360 this week - filling in for my friend Shannon Lanier and co-hosting with the FABULOUS MISS Lola Ogunnaike. In the course of the week, we interviewed singer/songwriter Elle Varner; the iconic Antonio Fargas - new brand ambassador for one of my recurring pop culture critic locales Cozi TV; Vivica A. Fox; Darren DeWitt Henson; Robert Ri'chard - all from Chocolate City Movie; superproducer/rapper/writer Rico Love; and more! MEANWHILE, 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!

LOTS OF CLIPS below:

Elle Varner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgA8AJbz1yc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPVwFtjfKb0

Wedding expert Jason Mitchell

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

Kate Pierson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfUPRPk9ScM

Rico Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkiO2PoNFoM

Lance Knowling from Harlem's Bluejeen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUYOAZSJ65w

Dog Trainer Ann Grossman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSRL5TsT19Q

Elijah Bland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEaK_p2ZahM

Pop culture expert Rhonda Ridley and Comedian Adam Wade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cn5xd77_xY

NBA Star and Coach Craig Speedy Claxton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi32bkTxMCI

Eden Wexler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv2xAZJ0IZE

ALSO did a BILLBOARD recap this week on ARISE AMERICA:

http://youtu.be/Z29BrWEdAk8

Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 08:45AM by

THE LIFE OF RILEY in Antonio Fargas, COZI TV, Chocolate City, Essence magazine, Independence Day sequel, Memorial Day, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Rico Love, Vivica A. Fox |

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full plate

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

Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 10:55AM by

THE LIFE OF RILEY in BRANDY, Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick Riley, CHICAGO, Clive Davis, Empire, Jussie Smollett, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Shaun T, TaTARAJI P. HENSON |

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sir duke

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