A Day In "The Life Of Riley"

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

Some features to look forward to:

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

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

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

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

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

PLAYING TO THE POP IN POSSIBILITIES!

Patrick L. Riley

Entries in Gospel (3)

hallelujah amen

Shout out to friend Amanda Johnson for getting me involved in this “IT GETS BETTER” project! Check out the link here: http://www.advocate.com/youth/no-more-bullying/2014/01/24/healing-one-truth-time She brought me to the attention of Wells Fargo which is producing a video campaign titled “It Gets Better”. The purpose of the “IT GETS BETTER” video is to inspire teenagers who may have been bullied and offer them inspiration – perhaps that may have been lacking when I was coming up. To borrow a phrase my late, great mom often used: ONE DAY AT A TIME, SWEET JESUS! This comes on the heels of a recent profile that UPTOWN UNPLUGGED did on me - including references to the same MILESTONES in my LIFE!

http://uptownmagazine.com/2013/12/h-list-patrick-riley-video/

Speaking of JESUS (it’s a tie in...and for my BRETHREN and SISTERS in CHRIST, you will want to read on):

Hi folks,

My dear friend from back in my Atlanta days, Melanie Few, is the only African American with a sanction to do a Super Bowl event of which she is the Founder. And along with the Super Bowl, the 15th Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is coming to town! The event is truly amazing and has been a blessing to a number of charitable organizations as it a fundraiser. This year the ticket sales will benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital. The National Football League Sanctioned Super Bowl Gospel Celebration (SBGC'14) that will take place on Friday, January 31st, 2014 at the Theater @ Madison Square Garden.

Please continue to read below signature for more information! And most importantly, COME JOIN US NEXT FRIDAY! It's going to be a BLESSED BLAST - including some of my favorites Patti LaBelle; Mary Mary; Tamela Mann; and a host of others!

LOVE & LIGHT,

Patrick L. Riley

"A Day in the Life of Riley: pop culture & possibilities"

Please check out:

The commercial for this year: http://youtu.be/nXxBjm9rZqU
Our Recap Reel: http://youtu.be/I4gxs_uegCk
Please check out the NFL Players Choir Recap Reel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbvi-blpJ-I
The site:http://superbowlgospel.com
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/SuperBowlGospel / https://twitter.com/SuperBowlGospel

Event Vitals for the 15th Annual National Football League Super Bowl Gospel Celebration:

Date: Friday, January 31^st, 2014

City: Super Bowl Host City: New York / New Jersey

Location: Theater at Madison Square Garden

Time: 7:30pm

Type of Event: Public, Ticketed (portion of ticket sales go to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Genre: Inspirational musical performances

Broadcast: Syndication in 200 plus TV markets

Event Overview:

In its 15th year, the National Football League Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is the FIRST and ONLY gospel event sanctioned by the NFL for Super Bowl Weekend. Since its inception the event has drawn thousands, selling out venues in key Super Bowl host cities; and was named by USA Today as “One of the Best Three Super Bowl Events to Attend.” The event brings key NFL players and top gospel/contemporary Christian and mainstream artists together on one stage for uplifting music and inspirational messages. It is by far the largest multicultural event that takes place during Super Bowl weekend. In addition, SBGC offers an opportunity to extend goodwill from the NFL.

SBGC has featured Grammy Award-winning and platinum-selling artists such as Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker, Gladys Knight, Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton & New Breed, Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and a host of other major acts. Our goal for 2014 is to make the show even more diverse and select from artists such as: Carrie Underwood, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Nettles, The Neville Brothers, Josh Groban, The Judd’s and more! Current and former NFL players who have been featured on the show include: Emmitt Smith, Drew Brees, Jerry Rice, John Elway, Cris Carter, Kurt Warner, Ray Lewis, Donovan McNabb, Bryant McKinnie, Richard Seymore, Tommie Harris, Curtis Martin and Deion Sanders to name a few; plus- Coach Tony Dungy, Coach Lovie Smith and others!

In 2008, SBGC presented the first ever NFL Players Choir featuring some of the most musically talented NFL players in the nation. The 32 plus member choir performed during the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration and were received with major applause and excitement!

Charitable Contributions:

The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration believes in giving back to each Super Bowl host city. Since its sanctioning in 2002, more than 5,000 tickets and $500,000 has been donated to various organizations including Special Olympics, Urban League, Project Wave, YET and other local / national charities. SBGC charity partner is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Community Relations:

SBGC has implemented several community relations/grassroots campaign that includes strategic advocacy and relationship building to successfully saturate core audience. Activities include:
Ticket donation to in-market charities and community organizations. To date more than 5,000 tickets have been donated.
Participation in local market activities including parades, community events, luncheons, church events, etc. Fundraiser for in-market churches (Monies have been used to purchase instruments, choir robes, fund trips, etc.).
Cross promotions with select host committee activities

Posted on Friday, January 24, 2014 at 05:00PM by

THE LIFE OF RILEY in Donnie McClurkin, Gospel, MARY MARY, NFL, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Patti LaBelle, Stellar Awards, Superbowl, Tamala Mann |

Gospel great FRED HAMMOND at NJPAC THIS FRIDAY 122112

CLICK HERE TO GET TICKETS: http://bit.ly/njpacLOR

FRED HAMMOND

I love me some FRED HAMMOND! And guess what? HE IS IN TOWN THIS WEEK…as in THIS FRIDAY (12-21-12) at NJPAC! For tickets and more information, please click here: http://bit.ly/njpacLOR. And tell them “…LIFE OF RILEY…” sent you!

Meanwhile, this WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR has us quite socially busy:

HOLIDAY PARTIES

Got to enjoy bowling and all of the deep-fried accoutrements at a holiday party – hosted by my recurring client BET Creative Services. GREAT TIME! Went to many holiday parties – including one hosted by one of my HARPO BFFs Ray Dotch – now a New Yorker! WELCOME, RAY! From there, Ant’s Denver peeps called us to Williamsburgh, Brooklyn for cocktails and dancing – holiday style! Great to see Manivone, Vilay, Dustin, and Paul. And the Claytons were in the house: Taha, Mustafa, and their sister Sameeya. WONDERFUL NIGHT! Another busy night had us toasting two friends John Castro and Merrell Hollis for their birthdays (Harlem pad and Club 7/Mission respectively)! Also, got to squeeze in some BBQ-time with buddy Tony – in town from L.A. Lemuel Adams and my Carl Nelson were also in the mix. But the cream of the party crop was Mara Schiavocampo and Tommie Porter’s NINA who turns ONE. Of course, Ant and I couldn't miss it! NINA insisted we be there! As we all gathered to celebrate her, we also got a toast in for Nina’s mom, NBC News correspondent/now-named anchor of the early-morning NBC program 'Early Today,' which airs at 4 AM ET and MSNBC's early news show 'First Look,' which airs at 5 AM ET. This, plus she will continue in her role as a correspondent, contributing to all of the NBC News platforms and programs. CONGRATS, NINA'S MOM!).

FRIENDS

On the evening of Nina’s bash, we made our way to 230 Fifth Ave to celebrate the life of our dear friend, Ross Burton. Gone too soon, but what a WONDERFUL LIFE! He touched many lives…and it was GREAT for all of us who knew him to get together – in fellowship and comfort during a difficult time.

KIMBERLA LAWSON ROBY

My publicist friend Shandra Hill Smith reached out recently regarding NAACP Award Nominee and New York Times bestselling author Kimberla Lawson Roby (www.kimroby.com). Her newest work, “THE PERFECT MARRIAGE”, Roby’s 18th title, releases on Tuesday, January 8, 2013. The Illinois native/resident is a nominee in the Outstanding Literary Work of Fiction category for the 44th Annual NAACP Image Awards (February 1, 2013). Starting with THE PERFECT MARRIAGE, Roby will have three titles published in 2013 by Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group. It’s a topic that grabs headlines on an almost daily basis — prescription drug abuse— the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In THE PERFECT MARRIAGE, she weaves a tale of a husband and wife — both functioning addicts balancing family and career — and their 12-year-old daughter caught in the middle. With more than two million copies in print, and known for tackling real-life social issues such as corruption within the church, sexual abuse, gambling addiction, domestic violence and racial and gender discrimination in the workplace, Roby was moved to bring attention to the issues of drug abuse and addicts who manage to mask their addictions. Again, THE PERFECT MARRIAGE releases on January 8, 2013. Roby also appears in the January 2013 issue of ESSENCE magazine and recently was featured in USA Today: http://books.usatoday.com/happyeverafter/post/2012-09-02/recommended-last-bride-in-ballymuir-the-booby-trap/837287/1.

BUT ONE MORE TIME TO MY GOSPEL LOVERS OUT THERE: FRED HAMMOND IS IN TOWN THIS WEEK…as in THIS FRIDAY (12-21-12) at NJPAC! For tickets and more information, please click here: http://bit.ly/njpacLOR. And tell them “…LIFE OF RILEY…” sent you!