A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

BLACK GIRLS ROCK

If I was going to be the understudy for Tommie Porter, you KNOW I had to capture my internet wifey Mara Schiavocampo while she WERQ'd the white carpet at#BLACKGIRLSROCK for Black Girls Rock! Inc. I can't teach her how to be an Emmy-award-winner /GMA Correspondent/Author of THINSPIRED, but I can escort her FABULOUSNESS... and capture a shot or two! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, MISS Mara Schiavocampo! You are my BLACK GIRL who ROCKS! And I look forward to everyone getting to see you present at the 'Black Girls Rock!' BET special which taped at NJPAC (NJ Performing Arts Center Prudential Hall on March 28, 2015 in Newark, New Jersey. SO PROUD OF YOU, MY AMAZING GRACE! And as an embarrassment of riches go, it was a night of WORK WIVES! LOL! I WAS TOO EXCITED to see Lola Ogunnaike back in front of that camera in haute couture! As you know, I fill-in for Shannon Lanier over at Arise Entertainment 360: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/2/13/beyond-the-cray.html. And I have missed LOLA as she's been on maternity leave - having ushered her little boy into the WORLD! SO HAPPY for your growing family and your FIERCE RETURN, LOLA! Glad I ran into you, Jacque Reid, and Sharmayne Jenkins before you got too busy! TRUST ME, FOLKS! THIS IS A SHOW YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS! Easter Sunday night on BET and CENTRIC at 7p/eastern. For updates or more information about "BLACK GIRLS ROCK! " visit http://www.BET.com/blackgirlsrockandwww.blackgirlsrock.org

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to BET's multiple social media platforms:
• On Twitter by using hashtag: #BlackGirlsRock; follow us @BET and @BLACKGIRLSROCK

• On Facebook by liking the fan pages at facebook.com/BET and facebook.com/BLACKGIRLSROCK

• On Instagram @betnetworks and @BLACKGIRLSROCK
#BlackGirlsRock #AriseTV360 #allstarkaraoke#billiesblack

#GMA #THINspiredbook#allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

WENDY WILLIAMS ROCKS!

I think we already knew that my recurring client The Wendy Williams Show was Daytime Emmys-worthy! And now, the Academy has caught up to say "How you doin'?" LOL! That’s right! The Queen of All Media can now proclaim she and her show are Emmy nominated! Yay!!!! As we would expect from LIFE OF RILEY, I must shout out the entire team over there, who are industry fam. They are truly the hardest working team in talk - a little engine that could, did, and still does - in EXCELLENCE! A personal congrats of the not-always-sung kind: my partner Anthony Harper who worked with the producing team over there from sneak-peek to the end of last season...and helped build, shape, and grow it into the grandness we yearn to watch daily or nightly today. I even get the treat of personally producing Miss Wendy Williams for many of their integrated marketing shoots over the years - including the British Virgin Islands & Closet Makeover shoots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZJZDNu3ztM&list=PL1TUj2SKo8nu4WfB_74atRGcx0Q_l-Wfq. I produced several Family Dollar moments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5nYvBxX_wM;  Walt Disney World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15cT2QmAhZc.  I even got to do a wonderful, inspiring profile on Christine Carter – an Against All Odds inspirational story for "My Black is Beautiful": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm2fqrEStSo.  And we did "50 and FAB" just this past summer. A Monster Truck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUpsz80z8oY; Stand-up debut in Vegas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYWSgh_7ha8;  and a BDAY greeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5VxXjA1L4Q.  Job well done to all of our Wendy Williams fam - yesterday, today, and How You Doin'? LOL! Oh! And WENDY and TEAM! PLEASE come to Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with @Patrick Patrick L. Riley when you win! Wendy and I can do "The Boss"!!!!!! Yazzz! XO #wendyshow #wendy#wendywilliams #daytimeemmys #allstarkaraoke#billiesblack #motownmay15 #faband50 #wendywilliams

BOLD SOUL SISTERS ROCK!

I’M JUST GONNA PUT IT OUT THERE! I asked Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge if she’d come and join us at BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley and she said – wait for it! – pending schedule, she really wants to try to come by! YAY! Now, if I can get her to bring her Bold Soul Sisters: Nona Hendryx of LaBelle; and Ruth Pointer of Pointer Sisters; and Rochelle Fleming of First Choice --- all of whom music journalist and essayist Christian John Wikane curated last night for a staged, APOLLO THEATER panel that explore a revolution of sound and style like none other. As the excerpt from the book notes: “Riding the waves of an evolving Feminist movement and the sexual revolution, the “girl groups” of the 1960s gave way to a more progressive look and sound for female singers in the 70s. Groups like Labelle, The Pointer Sisters, First Choice, and Sister Sledge took R&B, jazz, soul and even country music to a new level.” ALSO in the HOUSE: Melba Moore; Rhonda Ross (on her mom DIANA ROSS’ birthday! WHAT A GIFT!); and CHIC’s women voices, Norma Jean Wright and Alfa Anderson – pointing out that they have a Nile-Rodgers-produced collaboration coming up with Kathy Sledge. Maybe they’ll ALL come by and sing at Billie’s Black. Some highlights:• Miss Nona Hendryx is GODDESS! So full of EXPERIENCE! And SUCH a POWER ROCK STAR persona (yet so REAL & HUMBLE)! • The vintage clips; pix; and album covers were EVERYTHING to experience again - Lady Marmalade on Midnight Special anyone!!!• Ruth Pointer had us HOWLING and yet left us sober by her AUTHENTIC sharing! Says she and Anita did NOT want to be bothered with June or Bonnie before they re-grouped as Richard Perry's girl group trio - leading them on a soul train of pop success through mid-70s to mid-80s. This, as Ruth put it, those two were "out there"!• Ruth also told of the time when The Pointer Sisters were invited to the Grand Ol' Opry after winning a best Country song Grammy - their first - for "Fairy Tales". They arrive. Are received by Opry handlers who ushered them quickly through a backdoor and into the kitchen for what they're thinking is the big reveal of them surprising the audience with their dramatic arrival. From inside the party, their manager wonders where they are as the "guests of honor": missing in action. Their manager soon discovers them waiting in the kitchen and come to find out the Opry people who received them at the door thought they were THE HELP! 1976. SMH! • Ruth also tells of a time when they discovered that their male musicians were making more than them. And the band quit because they loved the girls and hated to see them ripped off. • Was great to see clips on ALL with the audience and to enjoy Chris' flow. Nice program!• Shout out to Ulysses Williams; Nina Flowers; Cynthia Tate; and Tonya Giddens for making sure my face was in the place. • BONUS ROSS MOMENT 1 – Motown the Musical Opening night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ • BONUS ROSS MOMENT 2 – Excerpt of Legends Ball in 2005: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGFgjJ7u1hk • BONUS ARETHA FRANKLIN BIRTHDAY MOMENT 1 for NBCBLK: www.nbcnews.to/1HFEc48 • BONUS ARETHA FRANKLIN BIRTHDAY MOMENT 2 for NBCBLK: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1553278574945680&set=vb.1508175089456029&type=2&theater • #divatakeover #BoldSoulSisters #ApolloLIVF #ArethaFranklin #NBCBLK#AllStarKaraoke#billiesblack #motownmay #DianaRoss

R&B DIVAS AND DIVOS ROCK!

Sunday brought a couple of awesome invites for Ant and me – starting with a shrimp & grits/chicken & waffles brunch invite to the home of friends - New York Times’ Nikita Stewart Henderson and her husband/my NABJ baby boy Brian Henderson. YUM is the only WORD! We then double-dated down to another invite from Brad and Lyndsay Christian: RnB Spotlight presents multi-platinum singer-songwriter Faith Evans. Also, special guest J Drew was headlining. And we all got a special treat as Ivan Ellis from the smash TV show Empire performed! This is SWV manager Cory Taylor’s event that Brad and Lyndsay co-produce and present with him. Got to chat to Ivan Ellis – rep’d by an awesome team of folks, including my friend Will Nero. Stay tuned into Ivan Ellis as new music and a possible return to EMPIRE – Season 2 goes: http://www.ivanellismusic.com/. AND what a JOY it was to interview Faith Evans a couple of months ago.  I was filling in on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfpHpiQd2pg. The weekend started with a standing-room drive-by to BB King’s to see Angie Stone and Bradd Marquis: SOLD OUT! Shout out to Fiona Bloom for the tix and for the invite to then see Avery*Sunshine in concert at Sub/Culture this past Monday. You recall, I had the chance to meet her last weekend as she was hand-selected by the QUEEN OF SOUL to perform for her 73rd Birthday party - an evening I chronicled for recurring client NBCBLK:www.nbcnews.to/1HFEc48. MISS FRANKLIN and I also got into it about EMPIRE... and I brought Lee Daniels into my "dream casting"! LOL!https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1553278574945680&set=vb.1508175089456029&type=2&theater. In meeting Fiona and Avery’s team, I have some new music to share: Jeff Bradshaw has a new CD out this week that features Black Thought as well as Robert Glasper, Trombone Shorty, Marsha Ambrosius, Trombone Shorty, Will Downing, Kim Burrell, Take 6, Najee, Bilal, Eric Roberson, Tweet, and Kenny Lattimore. Two time Grammy winner Robert Glasper is executive producer of the album. Jeff Bradshaw has been a key player in Philly's influential neo-soul scene. Bradshaw's trombone has propelled horn-sections for everyone from The Roots, Jill Scott and Jay Z to Erykah Badu to Kirk Franklin. He is kind of the go to guy. The new CD, "HOME", (out 3/31) is an all-star concert recorded live at the renowned Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and joins Bradshaw by some of the brightest stars in R&B and gospel. Bradshaw's Kimmel Center concert is a dream come true and in a way brings the inspiring musician full circle. Bradshaw grew up in the North Philadelphia housing projects, the son of a minister. His formative musical experiences were in church, where brass bands were a staple. Jeff amazingly never took formal lessons. He used to play around the corner from the Kimmel Center on the street. HOME brings him full circle and this star-studded date is a testament to how respected Bradshaw is in the music world. Jeff is also committed to bringing the trombone to the forefront in music and not just having it be relegated as a background instrument.The album's first single "All Time Love" features Robert Glasper, Tweet and Eric Roberson:http://youtu.be/2KHNGsC9vZs

AND Fiona’s client Timothy Bloom is poised to perform at 

Apollo Music Café April 18th:

 http://www.timothybloom.com. 

He plays guitar and piano. Check out some of his clips:

 "Waitin on You"

From upcoming 808 Project

http://youtu.be/BrOaph8MAlI

 Official Video-

"Stand in the Way"- featuring Herbie Hancock

http://youtu.be/1LQA-C9UBKM

 "On the Other Side"-- MUSE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-EeU42vkRU

Last time I did Apollo Music Cafe, the headliner was MISS JOI! She's AMAZING... and so HUMBLE! Have known her since my days in Atlanta in the '90s! XOXOXOXO

 STEPS ROCKS!

Earlier this year, I mentioned that I shot a small part in a film called STEPS: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/1/22/empire-fire.html. Well, as I’m trying to announce BILLIE’S BLACK Presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley is coming back for SPRING 2015, starting Tuesday, April 28th and as LIFE OF RILEY toasts THE QUEEN OF SOUL - http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/20/ask-patrick.html, THE OFFICIAL MOVIE POSTER for STEPS is out – underscoring that it’s COMING SOON! And AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST QAASIM MIDDLETON is in it too along with his brother KHALIL MIDDLETON. I’ll tell you more when I can… but the poster came out today! YAY! And BIGGEST of THANKS to EDDIE HARRIS and PENWAH for casting me… #LIFEOFRILEY #ALLSTARKARAOKE #BILLIESBLACK #NBCBLK

MIKO ROCKS!

Got to celebrate Miko Branch at the 17th Annual Influential Black Women in Business Awards Luncheon – put on by The Network Journal at the Marriott Marquis. And we got advanced copies of her book Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-NaturallyScratch - NATURALLY hits stores April 15th! And Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley is excited to have Miss Jessie's back in our “mix” for SPRING 2015: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/20/ask-patrick.html.  OF COURSE, we’ll celebrate the release of her book, which you can pre-order now: http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Jessies-Creating-Successful-Scratch-Naturally/dp/0062329189 …and maybe MIKO will join us on the stage to SING – along with, ahem, Kobie Brown; Andre Robert Lee; Anthony Harper; Amber Payne; Ryan Williams; and more! WE LOVE YOU, MIKO (who is also featured on the cover and inside the Spring 2015 issue of The Network Journal (TMJ)! #IamMissJessies #NATURALLY #ALLSTARKARAOKE #billiesblack

BRANDY ROCKS

I said when we saw Wendy Williams in Chicago the Musical on Broadway that I would NOT see it AGAIN - having gone TOO MANY TIMES for all the stunt castings they've done over the years - from Michelle Williams to Robin Givens to Smokey Robinson! WELL, I LIED! LOOK WHO'S COMING? Brandy!!!! http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/brandy-norwood-chicago-broadway_72221.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=24mar2015 LOL! Oh, well… one more time! LOL!

BEING MARY JANE & MAD ROCK!

So GLAD to CELEBRATE THE BEST amongst BET’s BEST while watching THE BEST TV EVER! It was Michaela angela Davis’ BDAY! So, that alone should have been enough but – wait for it – we were hosted by the network’s top tier as we screened ‪#‎BeingMaryJane on BET – featuring an inspiring cameo by Miss Michaela AND Bevy Smith – also in attendance. Bravo TV’s Demetria Lucas D'Oyley – cast-member on “Blood, Sweat, & Heals”. Plus, Miss Tai Monique Beauchamp - who is featured in the Mara Brock Akil interviews that run after the show each week – gave us a reason to toast her: she’s got her own show on TLC that will be rocking this summer. And my friend Briana Bingham was in the house as well. She designs the most amazing bags. Stay up on her… and if you need any further proof that #blackgirlsrock … be sure to check it out Sunday at 7p/eastern on BET! IT IS AN AWE-INSPIRING NIGHT! CONGRATS MAD ET AL!!!! Y’ALL ROCK! Please come rock with us at Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley. XOXOXOXOXO #beingmaryjane #earringsoff #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #motownmay15

PATRIK-IAN POLK AND MO’NIQUE ROCK!

You need look no further than the pages of LIFE OF RILEY to know how much I love me some Patrik-Ian Polk and all of his great contributions to TV and film – from PUNKS to Noah's Arc to Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom to The Skinny to Blackbird (2014 film) which did a successful run on the FILM FESTIVAL circuit: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/6/30/empowerment.html.  Well, it now has a distributor and a release date: "Blackbird" @BLKBirdTheFilm www.blackbirdthemovie.com.When the film did one of its festival premieres, Patrik-Ian Polk came by Billie’s Black Presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley. Hoping he’ll come by this Spring 2015 – starting Tuesday, April 28, 2015 (through mid-July)…and PLEASE BRING your STAR and EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Mo'Nique by! LOL! Great to attend a press screening with a Q&A hosted by my friend from The Grio and MSNBC, Chris Witherspoon with Patrik-Ian. #WeAreBlackbird TWEET and INSTAGRAM away, my friends:

@BlkBirdtheFilm

@PatrikIanPolk

@WitherspoonC

@WatchUMC

@135StreetAgency

BETTER BROTHERS ROCK

I LOVE that my friend Scott and his BETTER BROTHERS group put on the

Inaugural Truth Awards – an evening to celebrate "Living Our Truth".

The Truth Award honors Black Gay Men and Women whose accomplishments have positively impacted the perception and image of the Black LGBTQ community.

 

The Inaugural Truth Awards presented to the following honorees:

 

B. Slade

Grammy-nominated producer, writer and singer

 

Dr. Wilbert C. Jordan MD, Founder

Oasis Clinic

 

Stanley Bennett Clay

Actor, Producer, Author and Journalist

 

Benjamin Cory Jones, Writer

Amazon’s “Hand of God” and HBO series creator

 

Darren “Buttah Man” Brin, Music Director

BET’s 106th & Park and Yo MTV Jams

 

Vallerie Wagner, Chief Operating Officer

AIDS Project Los Angeles

 

Wendell James, Philanthropist

OWN’s “Raising Whitley” Cast Member

 

Steph Thomas and Glen Lawrence

Community Mentors

 

Quincy & Deondray Gossfield

 

Writers, Producers and Creators of “ DL Chronicles”

 

Dr. Tenika Jackson

Community Mentor

 

 

The goal of the Truth Awards is to increase the awareness of Black Gay men and women, and highlight their contributions in life, career, and mainstream culture. This annual event will also provide funding for a college scholarship to be given to a promising Black LGBT youth. While recognizing members of the community, we want to encourage youth to pursue educational opportunities while being true to themselves.

 

For more information: www.betterbrothersla.com/truthawards

YLONDA GAULT CAVINESS ROCKS!

CHILD, PLEASE (Penguin) by Ylonda Gault Caviness hits bookstores on May 5. It's a glimpse of her life as a mom and parenting editor living in a fancy-ish suburb. Occasionally she pokes fun at the differences between white moms and black moms. But mostly she explores her stormy relationship with a straight-no-chaser mama, whose lessons eventually shape her into the woman she was meant to be. She concludes that Mama had motherhood righhttps://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/19122_627112977420232_564525210395960882_n.jpg?oh=69a197112442d5fea16beef4ccb39fe6&oe=55B60000fter all, you really don't need expert advice when you have such old school wisdom as, "Act like you've got some sense!" Pre-order on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Child-Please-Old-School-Lessons-Wrecked/dp/0399169962. CONGRATS YLONDA! www.ylondagault.com 

 

 

 

 p.s. LIFE OF RILEY keeps churning through the BLESSINGS and the DIFFICULT TIMES. ALL TOWARDS MAKING A BETTER ME, WE, AND THE WORLD! But  I MUST - in LIFE OF RILEY signature style and sensitivity - mention that it's been 10 YEARS since KODJOE left us! WOW, right? SURELY, he's looking down and saying JOB WELL DONE! Or as the struggles and stresses of life go, he might be saying "BETTER Y'ALL THAN ME"! LOL! Either way, WE SPEAK YOUR NAME, KODJOE! And MISS YOU MUCH! RIP.

 

curtain

HERE'S THE CLIP OF THE SEGMENT:

http://youtu.be/BKwfoTKRwJ8

HERE'S THE CLIP OF THE FULL SHOW (21 MINUTES IN):http://www.arise.tv/entertainment/arise-360-18-12-9893--- LOTS GOING IN THE LIFE OF RILEY! Looking forward to some downtime down South with my FAM -http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/! But just did a MUST-SEE HOLIDAY SHOWS segment on Arise Entertainment 360 today with my friends Shannon Lanier and - in for Lola Ogunnaike whose maternity leave has begun – Jina Johnson, stand-up comic and multi-media talent. We spoke ABT Nutcracker At Bam with Misty Copeland; Ain't Misbehavin’ at George Faison's Faison Firehouse Theater; Radio City Christmas Spectacular; Motown the Musical; andStanley Bennett Clay’s "RITUAL". I’LL SEND LINK LATER (As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Watch Daily On Time Warner, Verizon Fios, Centric and On Demand... www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360 + you can watch it streaming live on www.arise.tv at 3p/eastern everyday – whether I’m there or not.). Was also great to see cast of DISGRACED as I highly recommended that Broadway show in my last segment:http://youtu.be/zDGZvIY6klY.

I’ve been GUEST CO-HOSTING and doing POP CULTURE/BROADWAY SEGMENTS on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 for a couple of years now - including recent interviews with:
* "Annie" Executive Producer Devon Franklin, whose book "Produced by Faith" is one of my favorites:http://youtu.be/KANSZen0nac; 
* Chef Gabe Thompson presented "Downtown Italian" -http://youtu.be/yESAGSc3yDc; 
* DJ D NICE:http://youtu.be/veNhcCNA1Lg; 
* BRAVO’s Fashion Queens– including my friend Bevy Smith and Miss Lawrence and Derek J: http://youtu.be/hb6gUFK3vsc;
* “THE DUKES OF HAZZARD” themselves: John Schneider (now on Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots) and Tom Wopat (who I mostrecently saw in “The Trip to Bountiful” on Broadway): http://youtu.be/22GqEbrF1OU;
* mega-producer Sean Garrett brought Avery Wilson (former The Voice contestant) to hip us to his upcoming album and to sing Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”:http://youtu.be/TUfq35qKJV4; 
* interview with actor Tony Denison (http://youtu.be/iIkAm7XmEgc);
* interview with actor Christian Kale (http://youtu.be/NFY4gpMivxw); 
Plus, my highlight: Alan Light whose “Let’s Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain” made for blissful chat and inspired Prince’s publicist to send the reclusive singer the link to this interview (http://youtu.be/TKDXudN2yC0); 
* Ben Vereen! (http://youtu.be/a12El8-zU_k); 
* ALSO: Faith Evans (http://youtu.be/LfpHpiQd2pg); etc. #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #motownmay

counting down

After pushing a deadline on a project for BET and doing another ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 segment on the MUST-SEE HOLIDAY SHOWS (21 MINUTES IN): http://www.arise.tv/entertainment/arise-360-18-12-9893, I had to high-tail it to the Dempsey Auditorium in Harlem for a SAGE Harlem holiday talent show for which my friend, Program Manager Christopher Jones, invited me to perform to the awesome group. I sang “Reasons” - 

 https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152666057313737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater, “This Woman’s Work”, and “Endless Love”. GREAT NIGHT!

 SAGE Harlem provides a safe space for LGBT older adults in Harlem and The Bronx. SAGE Harlem is a program of SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders). Learn more at: http://www.sageusa.org/sageharlem. After, with a dozen roses in tow for my performance, I stopped by my Morehouse brother Mario’s holiday set at NABE – also the destination for his weekly Thursday party. He served wonderful bites and wine from a Charlayne Hunter-Gault-owned, South Africa wine label called Passages.

boom kack

 

 

THEATRE

If you missed my latest pop culture segment on CENTRIC via ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 – chronicling BROADWAY and OFF BROADWAY this time – please check it out here: : http://bit.ly/arisesegment_lor.Shows I cover are Cinderella - including a reference to the "Evil Stepmothers" - Sherri Shepherd and Nene Leakes; The Last Ship (featuring story and music by STING who hipped me to this play at the Opening Night of "Motown: The Musical" - http://youtu.be/KK1yncqPlOQ?list=PL1TUj2SKo8nvZ9A3Ah0NKuFI3BWM5aqru);Les Miserables; You Can't Take it with You; Disgraced; Father Comes Home from the Wars;  While I Yet Live;  and Side Show. Always great to be on with my FAVORITE HOSTS Lola Ogunnaike and Shannon Lanier! YOU can watch them (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand... www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. I’ll be back on in a couple of weeks to talk about MUST SEE HOLIDAY SHOWS here in NYC! As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! #arise360 #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #CENTRICTV

FETE

TUESDAY NIGHT FOUR of our FALL 2014 SERIES of Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley celebrated MY BIRTHDAY! THANKS TO EVERYONE! I FEEL SO BLESSED!AND WHAT A BIRTHDAY IT WAS! New sponsor Miss Jessie's and our weekly partner (since the beginning) Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry gave away lots of goodies. OUR ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS did their thing - including friend of our special Tuesday night, Mica Hughes - co-star of BRAVO's Blood, Sweat & Heels; Darius Booker; and many more. From my ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS to many of my INDUSTRY FAM – old and new, I felt so much LOVE! PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO COME OUT AND JOIN US at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul every Tuesday - from 7p-10p! WE ARE TRULY HAVING A BLAST! As always, THANKS for your support! WE LOVE Billie's Black Bar Lounge & Restaurant! THANKS to my team: Bernice Wooden and Derrick Hemphill! AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to my friend of 20 years, Carl Nelson – my platonic boo – for bringing saxophonist Kim Waters to serenade me HAPPY BIRTHDAY - http://bit.ly/hbdpatrick_lor. XO #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #meoclock #amor #luxecolore #globalchic #bravotv #bloodsweatheels

OUT

Was nice to celebrate 20 years of LGBT people who have shaped our culture at the OUT 100: 20TH ANNIVERSARY – and with my NYC FAM: my partner Anthony Harper; GMA Correspondent Mara Schiavocampo - author of new book “Thinspired: How I lost 90 Pounds – My Plan for Lasting Weight Loss and Self-Acceptance” (http://books.simonandschuster.com/Thinspired/Mara-Schiavocampo/9781476784052#sthash.uaE3Dryv.dpuf); Derrick Hemphill (ALL STAR KARAOKE consultant and producer of my pop culture segments on Arise Entertainment 360: http://bit.ly/arisesegment_lor) and his date, college friend Katrina Pete Dunn. ALSO GREAT TO SEE: Anthony Wayne and Kendrell Bowman whose Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical is coming back to NYC for ONE NIGHT ONLY January 18, 2015. For tickets, go to www.FabulousSylvester.com. IT’S  A MUST SEE! AND A SPECIAL Shout out to Amanda Johnson who always makes sure DIVERSITY is in the house. She’s booked me as talent on many projects – from the IT GETS BETTER campaign last year:http://www.advocate.com/youth/no-more-bullying/2014/01/24/healing-one-truth-time to inspiring Wells Fargo to hire me as its host for THE ADVOCATE MONEY MINUTE – episodes of which run on-line. Here’s the promo: http://www.advocate.com/business/advocate-money-minute/2014/10/10/introducing%E2%80%A6-new-advocate-money-minute and here are a couple of episodes: CONVERSATIONS: http://www.advocate.com/business/advocate-money-minute/2014/10/16/federal-vs-state  and RETIREMENT: http://www.advocate.com/business/advocate-money-minute/2014/11/13/retirement. #OUT100  #moneyminute #wellsfargo #advocate #thenewadvocatemoneyminute #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #ARISE360 #CENTRICTV

SELMA

An early birthday gift from friend Bernice Wooden - a multi-platform producer her own right, including Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley: SELMA – an ADVANCED screening for the first New York City audience. Well, CONGRATS to Director Ava DuVernay - also a friend from when she was high-powered Hollywood publicist Ava DuVernay! NOW, I SMELL OSCAR on her! WOW! Check out BERNICE's write-up on our Monday evening date - proof that RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS (don't) ALWAYS BRING ME DOWN! LOL! http://www.bernicewooden.com/2014/11/17/selma-a-special-advance-screening/ #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #selmafilm

ENGAGEMENT

Great to attend engagement fete in celebration of our friend Dr. Shirley Madhere MD PC and Mr. Michael Weil took place at The New York Public Library – where Ant and I first met December 1, 2005. What an elegant and well-appointed affair. So happy for Dr. Shirley Madhere! Was also nice to see industry fam Michaela angela Davis and Crystal McCrary as well as b michael America "Advanced American Style" who dressed Dr. Shirley Madhere for the dancing portion of the evening. Great job, B Michael America.

BREAD

After toasting and singing into my birthday at Billie’s Black Presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley (with saxophonist Kim Waters serenading me HAPPY BIRTHDAY - http://bit.ly/hbdpatrick_lor) and receiving Whtiney Houston LIVE as one of my gifts (plus the pop cultural gift announcement that Miss Ross will be mentoring with Team Pharrell on The Voice), what else could there be for me? The most amazing dinner that my nephew Herman L Riley III organized at my favorite restaurant Houston’s AKA Hillstone with my partner Anthony Harper and a perfect sampling of my BFFs: Ernest Maynor [childhood friend], Michael K. Watts [Morehouse brother], Mara; and Derrick. We even had a pre-dinner cameo: Miss Lola Ogunnaike with whom I get the chance to guest co-host often on Arise Entertainment 360 and girlfriend Priya Scroggins – designer/lifestyle expert - who baked lovely sweet treats for my birthday party Tuesday: https://www.facebook.com/BelovedStarResort. #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #arise360 #thinspired #thevoice #teampharrell #dianaross #nabj #gma retirement #moneyminute #wellsfargo #advocate #thenewadvocatemoneyminute

SCORPIO

Shout out to my other SCORPIOS – including Robin Stone with whom we got to bowl to ring in her 5-0! ALSO: Miss Ashley Fettig with whom we got to have BDAY Brunch at Mother's Ruin in NOLITA! Scorpio season. Happy Birthday, Ash! LUV U!

 

 

 

MORE HOSTING

I’ll share cryptically – for now – that I just wrapped a day of co-hosting an on-line show that is “all about the Benjamins” (a clue, but not DIDDY or REVOLT! LOL!). Instead, it will be something ELSE from THE LIFE OF RILEY that you can see soon! STAY TUNED… and as always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, FOLKS!

HARLEM SHAKE

UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT! Was too excited to be a part of HARLEM HISTORY as I hosted the Miss Harlem Shake 2014 pageant. One of the #Top 5 --- Ljeoma (PRONOUNCED E-JAMA) --- won! She’s a health educator, PHd student, and blogger. In addition to winning cash prizes and a slew of great SWAG, she raised $1,000 for her charity: Harlem's Children Zone, which I’ve had a the chance to chronicle a few times for recurring client “Oprah”. Ljeoma’s favorite meal at Harlem Shake is the BBQ Onion Burger and the jerk fries. The celebrity judge panel was fierce too: make-up artists extraordinaire Cynde Watson and Kevin McQueen; the debonaire Byl Thompson with CACHE; Broadway royalty and Harlem entrepreneur, Tony nominee Brenda Braxton; dancer/choreographer supreme Manwe; theater icon, storied stage manager of Broadway, Mr. Kenneth Hanson ; and the fiery Farrah Burns AKA The Harlem Chanteuse; and one of my favorite people of all time: the legendary Ms. Vy Higgensen who Founded and heads up Mama Foundation for the Arts. Her beautiful daughter Knoelle entertained the enthusiastic crowd with Minnie Ripperton’s "Loving You". And the sponsors were so great – including: Chatman Cakes, Sober Up, Uptown magazine, Harlem trends, Harlem Haberdashery, Jembere eyewear, graffiti artist Kindo Harper, DjNessdigital ,and more! Special shout out to Musa Jackson whose Musa Jackson Productions booked me and organized the event. And to the Harlem Shake TEAM plus ALL-of-the behind the scenes team-members – most pointedly, owner of Harlem Shake: Jelena Pasic who noted to me the night went beyond her expectations. Congrats to Ljeoma: the 2014 Miss Harlem Shake. abulous Job. See you next year! #MissHarlemShake2014 #Top5 p.s. Ant and I did an after set with one of our favorite couples: Brian and Nikita Henderson. We enjoyed karaoke at Radio Star. FUN!

 KEHINDE

I love me some Lola Ogunnaike who – along with Shannon Lanier – co-hosts Arise Entertainment 360 where I do Broadway and pop culture round-ups and re-caps + I get to guest co-host with her.

Well, I told her at a recent Kehinde Wiley party that the guest co-host (yours truly) expects to be invited to the baby shower as she has announced to us all (though I knew for a month now) that she and her hubby are expecting their new addition at the end of the year! CONGRATS, LOLA!

And that good news came with the great occasion we were attending: the PREMIERE of a film EXECUTIVE PRODUCED by my friend Lamar Johnson: “Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace” (a MUST-SEE on PBS or somewhere nearby… and MISS LOLA has a cameo! Check it out on www.pbs.org).  

SPEAKING OF ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360, the full episodes for my last two guest co-hosting stints on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 are here:

http://www.arise.tv/entertainment/arise-360-25-08-8038  

 and

http://www.arise.tv/entertainment/arise-360-26-08-8017  

 ALWAYS A BLAST to GUEST CO-HOST on Arise Entertainment 360 with Lola Ogunnaike and Shannon Lanier: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/tag/arise-entertainment-360.

 Arise News is on TV now in NYC/NJ area - 18 million homes Mon-Fri 2pm on Time Warner Cable #92 & Verizon FiOS #481 plus still on millions of TVs overseas. And it's coming this FALL 2014 to CentricTV - BET Networks. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! XO #ARISE360 #LOR_kehinde #kehindewileyPBS #economyofgrace #aneconomyofgrace #ARISE360 #ARISEENT360

SYLVESTER

 

We have to SHOUT OUT Anthony Wayne and his partner Kendrell Bowman (along with their partner, my favorite DIVA Sheryl Lee Ralph) as they unveiled Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical at the Theatre At St. Clement'st. It’s an ALL-MONTH-LONG-AND-BEYOND run – so please get your tickets and come out and feel #MIGHTYREAL!! Several of my FAVs were in the house - including Jamie Foster Brown, Michaela angela Davis, DjStormin Norman, Kendrick Jim Brown Reid, Derrick Hemphill, and more! FUN NIGHT and FIERCE PERFORMANCES! www.FABULOUSSYLVESTER.com  AND http://www.facebook.com/FABSYLVESTER.  

 We were too excited when Anthony Wayne graciously popped by our Spring 2014 series of “Billie’s Black Presents All Star Karaoke” with Patrick L. Riley. We had a blast as he gave us a preview of his Sylvester turn before he and I rotated on Miss Ross’ “Upside Down”! BLISS! http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/6/5/fvifw.html

 Interview from ALL STAR KARAOKE:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152256906708737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater

 AIN’T NO WAY:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152256929153737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater

 YOU MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL):

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152256942133737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater

 UPSIDE DOWN

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152256951438737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater

MICHAEL JAI WHITE

Ernest Maynor & I at Michael Jai White's #falconrising premiere. Anthony Harper's sis Bri Cole's PR for MJW & actor Leon Robinson aka "Leon". Being Mary Jane's Richard Brooks came too! Enjoyed a great dinner at Negril after - also with Charon Richardson of G'wan by Charon fame - and what a great Saturday Night in New York City! P.S. Ern and I did stop by Karaoke One7 for a nightcap. WE JUST HAD TO! LOL!

MALIK YOBA

HAPPY BAIRTHDAY, MALIK YOBA, who produced a project that screens at Urban World Film Festival this weekend in New York City. It’s TONSURE – directed by my fellow freelance writer/producer at BET, FRED BUMAYE and also produced by Savannah homeboy Maurice Marable: http://www.bet.com/news/celebrities/2014/09/16/malik-yoba-produced-short-tonsure-premiering-at-urbanworld.html 

BRANDEE YOUNGER

Enjoyed BET buddy Blair Younger's sister Brandee Younger stellar harpist - at jazz club Minton's Harlem. Anthony Harper and one of my work BFFs Howard Chisholm were in the house too! "PRELUDE" available on iTunes: www.brandeeyounger.com. BRAVO!!!

  

My nephew Herman Lee Riley III's mom Felecia Roberts was in town just after I submitted my last entry. Her first stop on her trip from Savannah was Broadway's Motown the Musical (of course! LOL!): http://youtu.be/KK1yncqPlOQ. Was cool to see my Broadway CONNECTION Marcia Pendelton who credits Motown the Musical as one of her BIG TICKET clients this season!   

Then, fast forward a couple of weeks to this past weekend…and you have MY sister (my nephew’s aunt) in town - celebrating her Big 5-0!   

AND OF COURSE, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL was on her mind!

She insisted on EXPERIENCING what her baby brother has been yapping about for the last few months: You know, I got the chance to sing 'TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL's praises  on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 - most recently predicting TONY AWARDS nominations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTd5S1wKUs0.  

A few weeks prior, I was on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 to talk BROADWAY... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxfe-hG_aY. In the aforementioned ARISE 360 Broadway segment, I predicted the iconic Cicely Tyson would be nominated for her role in Broadway's "The Trip to Bountiful". And she was!! YAY!  So, they played that clip and referenced my prediction the following day:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuJEs6ruin0. (I was again on ARISE recently to talk GATSBY: the book, the film(s), the blueprint on hip hop! HERE'S THE LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBT9mSmfmCo). 

I also got to introduce the Broadway season on WNBC’s COZI-TV: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Pop-Culture-Expert-Patrick-Riley-on-Black-Broadway_New-York.html. But of course, the HIGHLIGHT - of the musical kind - is being hired to do red carpet interviews on MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL's opening night for its cameras. and to host its highlight video! YAY! LOL! Here's the clip I host: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ. 

AND THIS VIDEO IS LOOPING ON THE MONITORS OUTSIDE THE THEATER; on the big screen in Times Square sometimes; lots of YOU TUBE traffic; and in cabs; etc! WOW! LOL! 

Other outlets picked up the raw footage of my MOTOWN THE MUSICAL interviews - including REUTERS: http://www.reuters.com/video/2013/04/16/motown-memorialized-in-new-musical?videoId=242278913&videoChannel=3. BROADWAY BUZZ also used my MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=An_r_D2HM5Q.

JANICE got to see my OPENING NIGHT MOTOWN VIDEO that I host – looping outside the theater and in its foyer. FULL CIRCLE moment – especially given all of the MOTOWN we grew up together LOVING… and given we – along with our FAM (mom, dad, the other brother, and us) – enjoyed (from our family room in Savannah, GA) MOTOWN 25 and all of its MAGICAL MOMENTS! 

I asked my sister “Can you believe I’m hosting a video that is running on the monitors of the theater that is hosting “MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL” – the hottest show on Broadway right now and in a long time – an event that has brought me face-to-face with my lifelong icon Diana Ross?”

She said: “NO!” I guess our peeps see our POP CULTURE and POSSIBILITIES (and obsessions for good! LOL!) – even when – on the journey – we’re not convinced a moment the like is possible!  Well, that’s what it’s about, isn’t it? AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH, huh? 

On with Janice’s BDAY EXTRAVAGANZA, she landed and we hit "Melba" in Harlem for a soul-food welcome!   

Birthday GIRL had the 1^st of many slices of cake (We mustn’t compromise her recent weight-loss! LOL!): Red Velvet on deck. And my friend Derrick joined us. Plus, we stumbled into my dear friend Robin D. Stone's son Zachary Boyd! Zach is Ant's and my buddy. 

In fact, we took Zach to see Lady Gaga a year or so ago...

 and we LITTLE MONSTERS had a BLAST!

 

What a pleasant surprise! "Native" Restaurant in Harlem is where I once hosted 'All-Star Karaoke Thursday Night'. We had to pop by and show Janice. Ary was most hospitable, as always! XO

 

 

 

This, after a fun cocktail hour at Fashion 40. I joined my buddy Jamar Dunn.

 

 

 

I got to toast my friend and colleague Shannon Love - also the birthday boy.

 

 

 

ALSO IN THE HOUSE:

 

 

 

 John Cotton, Toyce Francis, Janet Rolle (with whom I first worked when hired to produce tribute videos for the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies), Rick Grant, and a host of fun folks who I was happy to see. DJ ENVY was on the one-twos - working it, as always!  

 

 

THE NEXT DAY: Janice and Noot popped by my recurring client BET where they got to meet my many colleagues from the Creative Services department. Here I do a number of special projects alongside - among many - Miss Micheala angela Davis who was gracious to chat my sister up - woman-to-woman on the threshold-of-50. BEAUTIFUL MOMENT! She got some great shots. And she loved the views! Afterwards, we went and had a snack at Virgil's BBQ. Then, we got in a little karaoke at Yuki 55 (Our repertoire included some of the birthday girl's favorites: "Reasons" by Earth, Wind, & Fire. And I just HAD to do the Whitney Houston medley for her! AND Jan and Noot even got in on the fun that Ant and I do all the time! LOL! This, before A Trip to Bountiful on Broadway – starring Cicely Tyson in her Tony-award-winning role. She works that stage alongside Vanessa Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., AND Condola Rashad. After Broadway's "Bountiful", which Janice LOVED, she and I met up with Noot at Red Rooster - hot Harlem spot where JR got to meet several of my industry buddies and Harlem friends, including:  Essence’s own Emil Wilbekin and DJ Stomrin Norman. Red Rooster provided a nice toast of champagne in honor of my sister’s birthday + she and my nephew got to enjoy some fried green tomatoes and other lite bites before they called in a night.

 

 THE NEXT DAY:

Ant, my nephew, my sister, and I enjoyed BIRTHDAY brunch at Sotto 13 - tapas, wood fired-pizza, and more! GREAT BRUNCH! And good time for my family (Janice and Noot) to get to know further my family here (Ant). LOTS OF LAUGHS! And some VULNERABLE sharing, too! FOOD FOR THE SOUL! Then, she, Noot, and I rushed to Brooklyn to visit with our dad's big sister Charlie Mae, cousins Pat and Betty Jean in Brooklyn, NY + cousin Gloria called in from VA! It was a FAMILY REUNION! We then headed back uptown --- popping up to Dallas BBQ in Washington Heights (Upper Manhattan) for snack. Enter: Zimmerman trial verdict. HENCE: OUR UPSET EXPRESSIONS. NIGHT WAS A WRAP! But we recovered Sunday with the theme of the whole trip: “Motown: The Musical” on Broadway! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ

After "Motown", we popped by BFF Sidra Smith's twin sister Tasha Smith's actors workshop nearby. Our sisters HAD to meet! And Sid HAD to meet MY SISTER! I was so charmed as Tasha Smith rushed out of her class - exclaiming: "PATRICK!!!!!!" LOL! From there, we wrapped Janice's 50th BDAY Extravaganza with an intimate dinner hosted and prepared by my dear friend Merrell Hollis (celebrity make-up artist and groomer for Wendy Williams, Diddy, Usher, Jessica White, etc.). His mom was in town from Columbus, GA. Ant's cuz Shantay also joined us as well as Noot. NYC FAM! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANICE! Shout out to ALL who helped Herman Lee Riley III and me CELEBRATE my sister Janice Riley Priester's 5-0 in EXCELLENCE and with SO MUCH JOY & LOVE

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIG (and only) SIS! I LOVE YOU!