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.
Entries in Amazing Grace (2)
grace is amazing
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
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in AGBroadway, AGMusical, All Star Karaoke, Amazing Grace, Charles Wallace, Chuck Cooper, Da Butt, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, SPIKE LEE
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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
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
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in 9/11, 9/11 Museum, All Star Karaoke, Amazing Grace, Billie's Black, Lachanze, MOTOWN, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR
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