A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

Hi folks!

CAN YOU FEEL A BRAND NEW DAY?

Well, LIFE OF RILEY will be bringing you a few more videos to off-set when I’m not booked on one of my clients’ airwaves… and I have something exciting to share – like the official key art for THE WIZ LIVE: http://bit.ly/thewizlive_plr. I just had to get it OUT to YOU! LOL!  

NBC’s THE WIZ LIVE is premiering December 3!

And it goes without saying for what my MISS ROSS jones is that we will be EASING ON DOWN THE ROAD during SEASON 4 of BILLIE’S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY!

We kick off Tuesday, October 27^th at 7p! We’ll be up 10 TUESDAYS until the end of the year!

And we really do LOVE “THE WIZ” at #ALLSTARKARAOKE:

I did BRAND NEW DAY one time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOKtUdgTunQ;

we have had Tony-award-winning choreographer for “The Wiz” on Broadway, George Faison, in the house to promote Faison Firehouse’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” which we shouted out that night: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10152636368748737/?type=3&theater.  

And I shouted out in my theater segment on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360: http://youtu.be/BKwfoTKRwJ8 .

FRENCHIE DAVIS sang ‘HOME’ (and joined us with the cast of “Invisible Life” on #THEBOSS - https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153063149713737/?type=3&theater).

Reservations are highly recommended: 212 280 2248: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/9/27/working-overtime-sessions.html.

Miss Jessie's is back among our sponsors! And as ‪#‎missjessies CEO and CO-FOUNDER MIKO BRANCH did last season in promotion of her book Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from... (Amistad; Hardcover; $24.99): https://youtu.be/RL-EqYvCAeI, we hope you will come SING your FAVORITES with us, ENJOY cocktail specials and tasty soul food, and NETWORK with a ROOM FULL of FABULOUS FOLKS! Miko and I LOVE #THEBOSS - 

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

SEASON 4 is - in part - POWERED by ALL STAR KARAOKE PLATINUM PATRON Mr. Reginald Van Lee. WE THANK HIM and all of you who continue to be such a support! And Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry via Joseph Riley Land is back IN THE HOUSE - literally as the critically-acclaimed pantry has taken up semi-permanent space in the back of Billie’s Black. Gift certificates to purchase ‪#‎rileyland products will be raffled. Plus, look for Riley/Land inside our ALL STAR KARAOKE signature cocktails (Riley/Land-curated mixers that will also be in stock for sale. Stay tuned!). Would LOVE TO SEE YOU some Tuesday - really soon! Let us know if you want to use ALL STAR KARAOKE as a back-drop to promote or present any of your projects inside an intimate but power-filled room of taste-makers and top talent! PLEASE TELL YOUR PEEPS...and SHARE! ‪#‎BILLIESBLACK‪#‎ALLSTARKARAOKE#MOTOWNMAY ‪#‎StockYourPantry

#‎HarlemEats ‪#‎missjessiesbook#iammissjessies‪#‎Legacy of ‪#‎TitiBranch

Money Minute

I’ve always wanted to be a television presenter – as my British friends and colleagues sometimes say. Excited to be hosting a second season of Wells Fargo presents The Money Minute on www.advocate.com. Check them out here: http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute. Episodes 3 and 4 are out:

* http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute/2015/10/07/saving-college-tuition-hayley-erica

* http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute/2015/10/13/purchasing-second-home-hayley-erica

Sidmel

I got news of her passing after midnight…and couldn’t lift myself from my fetal position to post anything nor could I lift myself out of bed to turn the computer on to email something. I just laid there until the pain subsided and I fell asleep to dreams of a time when SIDMEL took a chance on ME!!! AND THE MANY REFLECTIONS CAME FLOODING THROUGH! Well, I'm up now... and the news is still true.... and I did get out of bed - knowing there would be a sea of condolences and memories in social media…and RIGHTLY SO! Sidmel Estes Sumpter was not only the FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT of our beloved National Association of Black Journalists, she paved the way so that ALL WOMEN MANAGERS – and ALL BLACK JOURNALISTS and JOURNALISTS OF COLOR who want the opportunity to work – can stand firm in their calling and WORK! And as one of her first two producers she hired for the now-iconic GOOD DAY ATLANTA which she Executive Produced, she showed of what she was made – hiring this reporter trainee from WSB-TV who was interested in the entertainment/news mix of morning TV to learn not only how to build a morning news show…but she gave me my FIRST opportunities to grow my gift for conducting the interview and to build my “pop culture expert/entertainment reporter” reel through a number of Atlanta-based opportunities that would have New York City calling in 1995! Sidmel didn’t want me to leave her or WAGA, but knew she had to let me go. In our last, in-depth chat, she acknowledged that she was being selfish and shouldn’t have tried to hold me back from trying to take my career to the next level, but she LOVED having me at GOOD DAY ATLANTA with her and she explained that I was one of her “BABIES” – a term of endearment she called us all…and – in turn – those of us who have come up through the student pipeline are coined #NABJBABIES. In our last chat a couple of years ago (Orlando NABJ), Sidmel told me how proud she was of what I made of myself - as producer, talent, and MAN --- something she pointed out that she knew I was figuring out when we worked together and I was 22 and 23 years old. Well, like Sid, I can right now acknowledge that I am being selfish and trying to hold her back from leaving us and taking her life’s destiny and legacy to the next level. She is one of my INDUSTRY MOMS after all! She took a chance on me at the beginning…and so many thousands and thousands of others – including putting the fire under us entertainment beat journalists to start the NABJ Arts & Entertainment Task Force! She was spirited, fierce, pioneering, and FULL OF LOVE…and she did an AWESOME JOB while here on earth – indeed jumping over the moon to be with her parents again in heaven. This, as we keep her family, especially her sons Joshua and Sidney, in our PRAYERS! THOUGH A SAD MOMENT IN TIME that will reverberate for the rest of their lives, THEY SHOULD BE SO PROUD! SHE LOVED HER BOYS!!! WE WILL LOVE SIDMEL ESTES SUMPTER FOREVER! I LOVE YOU ALL! Please don’t forget to LOVE ONE ANOTHER – from near or far! JUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER as I LOVE YOU! #NABJ40

more hosting

I'm on my freelance hustle out here! LOL! Just wrapped hosting a 2nd season of WELLS FARGO's MONEY MINUTE - first installments of which are out this week:

teaser:

http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute

part 1:

http://www.advocate.com/.../9/24/purchasing-home-jason-shane

part 2:

http://www.advocate.com/.../planning-retirement-jason-shane

Please share with your PEEPS: #advocatemoneyminute And as always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! XOXOXO

The Porters

Happy 10th Anniversary, to two-time Emmy-award-winning, GMA Correspondent Mara Schiavocampo and her husband Tommie Porter! Happy to host their vow renewal! We LOVE YOU! Thanks Reverend Al Sharpton for re-sealing the deal! Great to see him after interviewing him at Miss Aretha Franklin's birthday party earlier this year:

... and after Executive Producing him for this year's iconic, PSA campaign for NBCU: "The More You Know" 2015-16. He spoke of DIVERSITY:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNoWX-dO9aM

. And the ENVIRONMENT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNSNKutJ7Rs

. And special shout out to contemporary fine artist Shenna Vaughn who Ant and I commissioned to create a 10-year anniversary piece for Mara and Tommie! It IS stunning! Shenna is described as “a vessel for enlightenment, virtue, creativity and color”. She uses her gift as an artist to evoke the raw essence of inner beauty, otherwise not seen until now. Her paintings range from customized gratitude pieces to original works of art. Her work has been featured In Chelsea, Miami Art Basel and Internationally just to name a few…and she will be showing at “Billie’s Black” in December during “Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”.  #ENDLESSLOVE #ThePorters #ENDLESSLOVE #ThePorters

Happy Birthday, Nephew

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Herman Lee Riley III aka NOOT (to me)! BEST NEPHEW EVER! Great to celebrate with Savannah homegirl Aquilla and her childhood friends as my childhood BFF Ernest Maynor was also in the house – toasting 27 YEARS of Herman Lee Riley III. Also, a HAPPY 50^TH BIRTHDAY to my brother – and HLRIII’s father – Herman L. Riley Jr.

Ladies Who Lunch And Love

Excited to introduce my friend Nathan Hale Williams at the New York City book party for his new novel "Ladies Who Lunch & Love". What a great room: Bevy Smith, La Rivers, Beverly Johnson, Flo Anthony, and so many more! Also, Miss Miko Branch from Miss Jessie's was in the house. Miko partners with Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul. Season 4 to be announced soon for a late October return… STAY TUNED! Meanwhile, check out “Ladies Who Lunch & Love”. The novel is a hoot and gives "Sex & The City" with some #blackish and #girlfriends to boot! It's an exciting trip through the fabulous lives of 5 friends in New York City. Get the book exclusively on www.Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/oefd4kn. YOU MUST BUY IT! Oh! AND AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR SUPPORTING US ALL! CONGRATS,Nathan! #harlemskinlaserclinic #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #mikobranch #LadiesWhoLunchAndLove #AngelofHarlemNY #HarlemSkinClinic #NathanHWilliams #LadiesLunchLove

Beverly Johnson

Great to attend Beverly Johnson’s book launch party for her memoir 'The Face That Changed iIt All' at The Museum of the City of New York. Many friends – old and new – were in the house, including “The Original Dreamgirl” Sheryl Lee Ralph and BFF Ern’s and my dance diva CeCe Peniston for whom we’ve LIVED since she came out! Plus, I was excited to hang out with Co-Founder of MISS JESSIE'S, Miko Branch as I'm doing some consulting work with the brand in addition to Miss Jessie's being one of my sponsors for “Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/20/ask-patrick.html. Co-Founder Miko Branch was my EXCLUSIVE SPONSOR for#NABJ40 where she spoke on an AUTHOR's panel with PAULA MADISON and LUTHER CAMPBELL. Next up: Miko’s just back from DC at the Congressional Black Caucus and then was a Marshal in Harlem’s African-American Day Parade. GREAT to see everybody as SUMMER 2015 transitions into FALL 2015 with Fashion Week unfolding… XO #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

#WhereAreTheyNow

She is LISA PRICE. Born in BROOKLYN. Made with LOVE. She is CAROL'S DAUGHTER! I can't say more than that today, but it was nice to interview her. Will tell you when you can see it in 2016! #BornAndMade Have something coming up with “The Chew”s Carla Hall as well. Also, IMAN! MEANWHILE, more of my assignments in the new season of “Oprah, Where Are They Now?” are beginning to air – including Debi Mazar: http://www.wherearetheynow.buzz/the-actress-who-started-out-as-a-makeup-artist-to-the-stars/. #WhereAreTheyNow

STUDIO 54

FUN to host Duane Gazi-White's Epic 50th Bday Party – a “RETURN TO STUDIO 54” starring DISCO DIVAS Carol Douglas; Taana Gardner; Norma Jean Wright and the Former Ladies of Chic; Sylvester doppelganger Clayton Bryant (with whom I even got the chance to sing in 2009 when I was asked to perform THE BOSS for its composers! And I looked to CLAYTON for all the high notes! LOL! And I can sing high! LMAO! ); Mel’lisa Morgan; Former Ladies of Skyy; and MISS KATHY SLEDGE! Shout out again to Musa Jackson Productions for booking me…and I’m too excited my Itika Oldwine was in town to enjoy! All the ladies must join us at Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley when we return at the end of October! CHEERS, DUANE! P.S. A MESSAGE FROM MUSA JACKSON PRODUCTIONS: it was a journey beyond Epic! Super agent Duane and his husband Rashgene Gazi-White along with artist extraordinaire Mira Gandy with our combined creative genius took MIST Harlem and transformed it back to the era of the most legendary and exclusive nightclub in History. Complete with back door VIP entrance, silver carpet and over the top open bar super sexy decadent disco fun! We had legends upon legends Kathy Sledge, Norma Jean Wright, Tania Gardner, Clayton Bryant, Meli'sa Morgan and the Ladies of Skyy performing some of their iconic hits on a first ever 3 stages with DJ Sir Charles Dixon ( WBLS master mixer) and DJ Magic Myke accompanied by the original videos playing on 3 screens. Hosted by Patrick L. Riley with 6 amazing hot male dancers/servers 2 gorgeous bartenders provided by hot choreographer Manwe Sauls Addison with door hosts Coco De'ball and legendary publicist Irene Gandy and hunk Daniel. Silver carpet Studio 54 photos courtesy of Will Will Vaultz and legendary lensman Ronnie Wright and Waddie G. with indoor photos from Rowena M Husbands and Sheila Ennisattended by 250 beautiful artists, fashionistas, supermodels, celebs and fabulous guests. It was a Harlem night for the record books. Thank you MOËT and Lennard Jackson for the champagne and Louis Johnson/ Harlem Haberdashery and designer Masahiro Saga for the gorgeous jacket and slippers. David Chevreux of Gin Fizz, Justin Walters of Real Life Studio, Alex Lerner and Bena. Cliff Cooper on security and Rachel, Sam, Anthony Harper and the staff of MIST.

Thank you again and a Happiest of birthdays to Duane for choosing MJP to help bring your birthday fantasy to life.

*Make your birthday dream an epic fantasy with musajacksonproductions@gmail.com.

#allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #motownmay

LEON

Ant’s sister Sabrina, who I met the night I met him in December 2005, was in town with client Leon & The Peoples. So, in addition to an awesome dinner at MIST Harlem where Ant works, we all – with GWAN’s Charon Richardson and Sabrina’s bio brother Jason in tow – enjoyed the awesome band at La Marina for “Reggae on the Beach”. Then, after Ant and I enjoyed the PA-based wedding of dear friends Robin Stone and Rodney Pope... we got an encore presentation from Leon & The Peoples at an awesome, Trenton-based “prostate cancer awareness fundraiser”! GREAT CAUSE! #nyc #nyfw #reggae #soul #music #inwood #hudsonriver

STILL THE BOSS

MISS ROSS was at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) LAST NIGHT! At the top of the day, it was SOLD OUT! I was despondent that I hadn’t secured my ticket before time. Was hoping for a hook-up or a sponsor. Still, I went to SEE if MISS ROSS had room for one more in the house! And upon my arrival, one of her FANS did: an orchestra seat right by the sound-board and near my friends Karu Daniels, Audrey Bernard, Phil Geston, Stanley Hopkins, and a FULL HOUSE MORE! The show was familiar but she did introduce a new gown that she’d only worn in her Hawaii stop this past summer. “It’s My House” was a highlight and it is clear that MISS ROSS was in control. But as she sang “Don’t Explain”, she did confess vulnerably and jokingly: “…I can’t stop thinking about that Billy Dee Williams!” The audience exploded with applause. MISS ROSS did it again: EXCELLENT SHOW! LOVE ME SOME MISS ROSS! As you all know, I was hired as Opening Night Host of “Motown the Musical” – another chance to interview Diana Ross, a video that ran on the Lunt Fontanne Theatre for the hit show’s full run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ. (Was also a DREAM to interview MISS ROSS for Oprah at the Legends Ball in 2005: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGFgjJ7u1hk). They all got me ready for my latest get with MISS ARETHA FRANKLIN. Here’s my recap: www.nbcnews.to/1HFEc48.

Nice Tits

My editor friend Shaun Edwards introduced me to Amy Marcs who recently wrote a one-woman show aptly titled "Nice T!ts" which is about her experience with breast cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy. She performed it last year to a sold out crowd at The Peoples Improv Theater. Now, she is excited to announce that, beginning October 8th in conjunction with breast cancer awareness month, The Rack is Back.... 

Nice T!ts

Thursday October 8th  8pm

Sunday   October 11th 4pm

Sunday   October 25th 4pm

Thursday October 29th 8pm

to buy tickets www.thepit-nyc.com/event/nice-tts-5

 #NiceTits #TheRackisBack

CHARLES PERRY

Thanks to my girlfriend Paula Witt, PR at Sunshine Sachs, for inviting us out to hear her client Charles Perry at Quad Studios. Here is a little snippet of him performing a song with none other than Jeff Goldblum! He certainly has the theatrics and the voice like ME! We MUST get him to ALL STAR KARAOKE to jam with us at BILLIE’S BLACK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59AAfRz0yZ0.

MARCIA PENDELTON

My dear sister friend Marcia Pendelton's Walk Tall Girl Productions Celebrated 15 Years of Bringing the Best in Performing Arts to NYC‏. For 15 years, Marcia Pendelton has been guiding audiences to the best in theater and other performing arts across New York City. Her work was feted last night. The event included performances by Classical Theatre of Harlem, Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, Darius Crenshaw, Tony nominee André De Shields (The Wiz, The Full Monty), Eden Duncan-Smith (Fences, The Lion King), Marva Hicks (Motown The Musical), Ebony JoAnn (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre, Sounds of Praise of Emmanuel Baptist Church,  Jamal Story (Motown the Musical, The Color Purple [2005]) Rema Webb (The Lion King, Violet, The Book of Mormon, The Color Purple[2015]). For more information and reservations visitwww.walktallgirlproductions.com.

ALL STAR KARAOKE is BACK

We will be singing MISS ROSS and MISS FRANKLIN at BILLIE’S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY for this FALL 2015 SERIES – starting at the end of October: October 27, 2015 from 7p-10p (and going through to Tuesday, December 29, 2015)!

And as MIKO did this last season in promotion of her book Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from...​ (Amistad; Hardcover; $24.99): https://youtu.be/RL-EqYvCAeI, we hope you will come SING your FAVORITES with us, ENJOY cocktail specials and tasty soul food, and NETWORK with a ROOM FULL of FABULOUS FOLKS! SEASON 4 is - in part - POWERED by ALL STAR KARAOKE PLATINUM PATRON Mr. Reginald Van Lee. WE THANK HIM and all of you who continue to be such a support for our little night that could and IS!  Would LOVE TO SEE YOU some Tuesday - really soon! #BILLIESBLACK #ALLSTARKARAOKE #MOTOWNMAY #missjessiesbook #iammissjessies #Legacy of #TitiBranch

almost

 Anthony Harper and I are here watching Xscape Unsung. Talk about the soundtrack of OUR LIVES (and - for me - my young adult years right as my pie-in-the-sky ambitions were about to meet crippling-despair at the pass... and life would never be the same... and yet I'm here to tell the story)...GOD IS GOOD!See the time stamp: July 8, 1994. And the frame is footage from some behind the scenes footage of that Xscape music video shoot for the song "Tonight". As I was an associate producer and the entertainment guy for FOX 5 Atlanta's Good Day Atlanta, I took my little cousin DeeDee Manor with me to the set as she was visiting Atlanta from Savannah for the summer and had just come up with my mom #queenelizabethbellingerriley for my sister Janice Riley Priester's July 4 work cookout. That week, we also saw Whitney Houston at The Omni. At 23, I was readying for the wrap of "Options: Image of the Future" summer camp which I co-directed with Reginald Parker (our banquet was approaching) and I was Co-Chair of the first Unity Journalists of Color / (NABJ) National Association of Black Journalists Convention (as VP-Broadcast of Atlanta Association of Black Journalists - AABJ). A week later, I'd wreck my car on Georgia Tech's campus. That's where we held our camp. Then 7/20 happened: my mom had a heart attack and instantly passed away. When this frame of video flashed across the screen, I got goosebumps. It all came pouring back! It was 21 years ago this month...time flies... and pop culture is here to remind us. XO RIP #queenriley #72094

grand finale

THE GRAND FINALE of Billie's Black PRESENTS#ALLSTARKARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley: our SPRING 2015 SERIES went out with a BANG! Broadway DIVOs Ryan Shaw (Stevie Wonder from “Motown the Musical”). Also, my friend Charles Wallace (Broadway’s “Amazing Grace” which OPENS this Thursday) came by and SANG Aretha and Teddy. The passing of songwriter/producer Michael Masser hit me like a ton of bricks as I was first introduced to him via Miss Ross' liner notes. He wrote "Touch Me In The Morning"; "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?"; "Last Time I Saw Him"; "It's My Turn"; "To Love Again", "In Your Arms", "One More Chance", "Stay With Me" --- many of my FAVORITES! Then, when Miss Ross exited stage left from his works in the '80s, Miss Whitney Houston inherited his genius on "Greatest Love of All", "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "All At Once", "After We Make Love", and so much more - for these ladies and George Benson and Natalie Cole, etc! I would have me choose two favorites from his Diana Ross/Whitney Houston repertoires: “It’s My Turn” and “Didn’t We Almost Have it All”: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153136593663737/?type=2&theater&notif_t=video_comment. And we celebrated two birthday girls: Rachelle and Tracey as well as the CUNY Journalism Fellows who my friend Nikita Stewart Henderson (from “The New York Times”) brought to hang out with us. AND WE DID THE ‪#‎THEBOSSCHOIR at#BILLIESBLACK ONE MORE TIME! LOL! https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153136580498737/?type=2&theater THANKS TO EVERYBODY who has been such a STEADY SUPPORT of our LITTLE NIGHT that COULD - including our TITLE SPONSOR Miss Jessie's... and Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry XOXOXOHope to see y'all in the FALL... if we don't pop up somewhere in the meantime! Endless Love for Billie's Black! Love you, Adriane and Marian! XOXOXOXO

nyuujw

I love my National Association of Black Journalists' sister friend Katti Gray - so much I got up too early (after the GRAND FINALE of our Spring 2015 Series of “Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley”) to teach her new, diverse crop of NYC high schoolers participating in the NYU Urban Journalism Workshop "THE ART OF THE INTERVIEW". Plus, I had a young CAU-bound intern Blake shadowing me for the day on an ask from my friend Marcia Cole. GREAT KIDS! GREAT TIMES! http://urbanjournalismworkshop.org/ My recap from last year: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/7/21/time.html #nyuujw

rosenwald

Thanks to my "nephew" and NABJ BFF Brian Henderson for hipping me to filmmaker Aviva Kempner's latest work: Rosenwald, a documentary describing how businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald joined with African-American communities in the South to build schools for them during the early 20th century. Rosenwald will be released in theaters in August 2015. And there's a screening next week in L.A. MUST SEE! Thanks Brian!

ella

Brian and his wife, dear friend Nikita Stewart Henderson - New York Times' own - invited me to experience Nikita's daughter Ella for what is being dubbed "the greatest showcase of the summer"! This weekend, at the lengendary Bitter End, talented teenage musicians took over the stage at "ROCK IN BLEECKER"! Proceeds benefitted the charity Music Unites, which is dedicated to spreading music programs throughout public schools for at-risk youth. GO ELLA who also graced our Grand Finale of Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley. She's also working in several fabulous arts programs - including a Clive Davis one at NYU and another at Harlem School of the Arts. And she's interning at Sounds of Brazil: SOBs this summer - booking acts for the famous live venue.

ross

From the house, MISS ROSS came OUT at the GRAND RE-OPENING of the Kings Theatre. In the audience? NYC Mayor de Blasio; Natalie Cole; Gordon Chambers; Rhonda Ross; Miss Ross' first husband Bob Silberstein (father of Tracee Ellis Ross and Chudney Ross); Art Thompson; and all my DIANA tribe members. WAS TOO EXCITED to experience the show with my nephew, his first ROSS extravaganza, which capped off with "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" on which Rhonda Ross joined her mom with an ad-lib plus Ross' son Evan Ross joined her with his new wife Ashlee Simpson who is pregnant with Miss Ross' third grandchild.Ashlee's son joined them on the stage as well - dancing with Miss Ross whose ex-stepchild Leona Naess, Evan and Ross' sister via thier late father Arne Naess, was also in attendance. Miss Ross will tour this final leg of her IN THE NAME OF LOVE 2014-15 tour throughout February. Then, she’ll jump into rehearsals and relocation for here mini-residency in April at The Venetian in Las Vegas - http://www.venetian.com/ - THE ESSENTIAL DIANA ROSS: SOME MEMORIES NEVER FADE. #endlesslove

ella

It's Ella's Sweet 16! She is my NABJ buddy Brian Henderson's stepdaughter (Daughter of Brian's wife Nikita Stewart Henderson).Had to have her "guncles" in the house! That's right! Anthony Harper's back! Yay! XO #e16

titi

Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley's sponsor Miss Jessie's MIKO BRANCH asked me to sing Sylvester/Patti LaBelle's "You Are My Friend" for the public celebration of her sister Titi Branch's life held recently at the Brown Memorial Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY:

http://youtu.be/KDlVBgqBH0U

. A BEAUTIFUL, UPLIFTING AFTERNOON! #TitiBranch#RIPTitiBranch #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke

brunch

Champagne Fashion Brunch during ALL STAR WEEKEND! Women in POWER (and the men they love) NETWORK and enjoy an afternoon on Sunday, February 15^th.  

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

We never know who will pop by “Billie’s Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”.  And this past Tuesday was no exception. ALL STAR KARAOKE faithful Carla Bone – celebrity hairstylist for Kerry Washington, Jada Pinkett Smith, and many more – brought star choreographer (from Lady Gaga to Diddy to Nicki Minaj) and performance artist her own right: Laurie Ann Gibson. She brought such a welcomed zest to the night. We were also able to extend condolences to Miko Branch and the family and friends of Titi Branch of Miss Jessie's, who died last week at the age of 45.http://bit.ly/1yTYVNv In song and silence, we sent good vibrations for healing inside this difficult time. Plus, as our FALL 2014 series of Billie’s Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L Riley comes to a near-close, our amazing partners – including Miss Jessie’s; Riley Land Gourmet Pantry; and a return for the night: MOTOWN THE MUSICAL – a special gift from marketing consultant Marcia Pendelton who brought#MOTOWNMAY IN DECEMBER to #BILLIESBLACKand #ALLSTARKARAOKE. This is another full circle moment as Marcia made it possible for me to be the Opening Night HOST of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL's video which allowed me TWO interviews with Miss Ross and Berry Gordy that night:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ; and since our #MOTOWNMAY was such a SUCCESS; and since MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL is playing its final performance at Broadway's Lunt Fontanne Theatre on January 18, 2015 (though poised to return to the Nederlander theater July 2016). Use PROMO CODE ABC123 for Discount Tickets. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE: In additon to its US THEATER TOUR, a UK production is planned for the summer of 2015. MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL has broken the weekly gross box office record at the Lunt Fontanne with million-dollar grossing weeks. Recoup? Check! This spring, the first National Tour of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL opened to critical acclaim, grossing an impressive $20 Million dollars during a packet, sixteen-week run. UPDATES: My ALL STAR KARAOKE producer Bernice Wooden will keep the party going during the two holiday TUESDAYS left in 2014. And if I get back in time for Tuesday, December 30th… I may pop by to WATCH (and wait in line to sing)! LOL!#getready #motownthemusical #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #motownmay