PATRICKRILEYHEADSHOT2.JPGWELCOME 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

 

Entries in 9/11 Museum (1)

Motown is 4ever

 

MOTOWN MAY – WEEK 2

 

I'M NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE Motown the Musical CONTEST at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul for Billie's Black PRESENTS All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley!

 

BUT MOTOWN IS FOREVER and MY LOVE FOR MOTOWN is ENDLESS, hence my OPENING HOMAGE for Week 2 of #MOTOWNMAY –  http://youtu.be/UX1ncAQVRmg

 

TWO MORE WEEKS until the Grand Finale where the winner will win the opportunity to sing on the Broadway stage with Diana Ross from Motown the Musical.

 

For more info, click on my blog, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY, at http://bit.ly/lor_blog 

 

BUT IN A NUTSHELL: ONE MORE WEEK to qualify! So, WHO’S COMING OUT WITH US NEXT WEEK? Sign up begins at 7pm with the competition taking place between 9-10pm. TWO MORE WINNERS (OF SIX TOTAL) FROM NEXT TUESDAY WILL ADVANCE TO THE FINALE ON TUESDAY, MAY 27TH. So come join us for Billie's Black Bar Lounge & Restaurant Presents: All Star Karaoke w/ Patrick Riley. #motownmay #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

 

CONGRATS to ALL STAR KARAOKE faithful (from our prior venue), Danny Rey, on his stellar “Neither One of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye” by Gladys Knight & The Pips: http://youtu.be/FF4jeVmqRRs. HE DID THAT!

 

RUNNERE UP: my friend Derrick Prwtch Leblanc, whose "Hello" by Lionel Richie was stunning! Check out my YOUTUBE channel for other selects from ALL STAR KARAOKE: http://www.youtube.com/user/patarack2010

 

BUT OUR ALL STAR for the night? My friend, Bravo's own MICA HUGHES from Bravo’s BLOOD, SWEAT, & HEELS! She attended with her man, Terry Lyon, on her arm. She sang many things… and it was all SWEET:  http://youtu.be/_hQkBhgANZ4

 

Special shout out to my ALL STAR FRIENDS CBS2 reporter/anchor Don Champion; artist Cynthia Burgos; Morehouse brother Michael K. Watts; publicist/producer of the most stylish note, George T. Wilson; and more for coming by to join us! And I'm so GLAD my girlfriend Dawn performed! MY GIRL!

 

Please come out and join us for BILLIE’S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY!

We are having a BLAST!

 

This series runs EVERY TUESDAY from 7p-10p until the end of June.

 

GREENHOPE

 

CHECK THIS OUT: http://youtu.be/dQDVyZhz3Qs

 

Greenhope Services for Women commissioned me to narrate and produce its latest highlight video which highlights all the great work the agency is doing to help women involved with the criminal justice system who are struggling with substance abuse to reclaim their lives, reunite with their families, and rebuild their communities. Special shout out to my media partners:

 

Director of Photography James Michael Curry with Mindfile Multimedia, Inc. - http://www.mindfilemultimedia.com/  and Director/Editor Mitch Jacobson with Category-5 Studios - http://www.category5studios.com/.  These two gentlemen are often my A-TEAM collaborators for recurring clients OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Oprah: Where Are They Now?) and The Wendy Williams Show among others. For more info on Patrick L. Riley, check out blog, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY, which can be found at http://bit.ly/lor_blog - http://bit.ly/lor_greenh

 

SPECIAL PROJECT

 

Working on a new project. Stay tuned...

 

9/11 MUSEUM

My Tony-award-winning friend LaChanze, whose husband Calvin died when Tower One was struck, sang an extremely moving rendition of “Amazing Grace” at the opening of the 9/11 Museum.  The emotion of LaChanze’s performance was truly touching, and was a perfect, somber way to honor her husband and all of the other victims. I’ve had the chance to know LaChanze since that time. She is what “pop culture” and “possibilities” in “The Life of Riley” are all about. I LOVE YOU and the girls, LACHANZE, CELIA, and ZAYA! #neverforgotten SEE the clip NBC Nightly News did: http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly-news/a-moment-of-amazing-grace-at-9-11-museum-dedication-257079363753

 

HOLLER IF YOU HEAR ME

Shout out to MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL marketing outreach diva Marcia Pendelton – my dear friend for inviting me out to a wonderful preview event for an upcoming Broadway HIT [I’ve claimed it]! Marcia is always making sure I’m in the place to be – like the Opening Night of Motown: The Musical: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ&feature=share&list=PL1TUj2SKo8nvZ9A3Ah0NKuFI3BWM5aqru and as she has just booked another Broadway show to market, this evening was no exception for Marcia ensuring I was in yet another PLACE TO BE (Shout out to MOTOWN as her #motownmay sponsor for “Billie’s Black Presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley”: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/). It was a press event at legendary Sardi’s Restaurant – promoting the breakthrough musical HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME – based on the poetry and lyrics of Tupac Shakur. The show is directed by one of my early mentors from the AUC, Kenny Leon – late ‘70s Clark College grad who directed me on Clark and Morehouse’s stages when I was a student there in the ‘90s. Now, he is prolific Broadway director extraordinary whose current work “Raisin on the Sun” is one of The Great White Way’s big shows this season. It picked up FIVE nominations – including one for Kenny as Director. HOLLER is written by Todd Kreidler, and starring another familiar player from my AUC past, poet/actor Saul Williams, my Morehouse brother (same years): www.SaulWilliams.com. Also in the cast: Tony winner Tonya Pinkins and a friend I’ve now gotten the chance to know via Broadway: Saycon Segbloh (http://SayconSegbloh.com/ - TWITTER @sayconsengbloh). I got to interview her during her FELA! run and her “Motown: The Musical” run! SHE’S THE CREAM OF THE CROP! HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME will begin performances on May 29, 2014 and open June 19, 2014 at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street) – home to where MOTOWN MUSE, Diana Ross, snagged a special TONY AWARD for her “An Evening with Diana Ross”, which broke box office records in the legendary venue. Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster at www.Ticketmaster.com  or by calling 877-250-2929. Also stay tuned to LIFE OF RILEY (http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/) for DISCOUNT CODES and other info on the show – also reachable via www.HollerIfYaHearMe.com; on TWITTER, via @HollerBway; and on FACEBOOK, via: https://www.facebook.com/HollerBway

 

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL DISCOUNTS