A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

All Star Karaoke SPECIAL on Valentines Day Sunday 2/14/16

SAVE THE DATE, FOLKS: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  https://valentines-brunch-and-karaoke.eventbrite.com/ : With our SEASON FOUR of Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE behind us and our return still pending for SPRING 2016 (TBD), we are - are – BY POPULAR DEMAND – excited to invite you to come and join us for an ENCORE PRESENTATION ALL STAR KARAOKE SPECIAL EVENT: MIST HARLEM PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE AND BRUNCH WITH PATRICK L. RILEY on VALENTINE’S DAY SUNDAY from NOON until 5pm! For $50, ENJOY VALENTINE’S DAY BRUNCH – including a SPECIAL BIRTHDAY TOAST to ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS Ernest Maynor AND Derrick Styles: both February 14^th BIRTHDAY BOYS! COUPLES WELCOMED! Included: Bottomless Mimosas; Cocktail Specials; All Star Karaoke; Special Giveaways; and Some Surprises! WE HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME at my MIST-HARLEM-housed BIRTHDAY BRUNCH – ALL-STAR-KARAOKE-style: https://youtu.be/bq1uovrAx0o, we had to try it one more time! AND YES, THERE WILL BE A VALENTINE’S DAY/BIRTHDAY VERSION of #THEBOSSCHOIR: https://youtu.be/6OY7bT6AKT8. ALL STAR KARAOKE is proud to have gotten to celebrate the LEGACY OF NATALIE COLE via this video that combines one of our ALL STAR KARAOKE staples: Natalie Cole’s “Our Love”: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/10153465679798737/?l=2168526762619196553. #mistharlem #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #motownmay #missjessies #ernestmaynor #derrickstyles #nataliecolerip #nataliecole #ourlove

BIRTHDAY BRUNCH

ONE AFTERNOON ONLY! An ALL STAR KARAOKE at MIST Harlem! SPREAD THE WORD AND SAVE THE DATE! LINK: www.eventbrite.com/e/mist-harlem-presents-all-star-karaoke-and-brunch-with-patrick-riley-tickets-19319414890. WILL LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING Y'ALL IN THE HOUSE for our MIST special and ONE of my bday fetes (of course, we'll also celebrate at Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley the prior Tuesday 11/17 and you don't want to miss that one as some famous friends may pop by. Make your reservations at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul. The bday itself is 11/19! WHEW! LOL! AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

JOSH POWELL

Two-time NBA Champ Josh Powell (most recently an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets) was in town shooting VH1s Black Ink. He wanted to stop by All Star Karaoke tonight… and did! He even sang The Boss with me! Lol! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #joshpowell

https://www.facebook.com/JoshPowell21/?fref=ts

http://www.josh21powell.com/

@jp21reasons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Powell

I TOLD YOU WE NEVER KNOW WHO WILL POP BY! Please come join us! We have 8 MORE TUESDAYS through the end of the year! Reservations are highly recommended: 212 280 2248: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/. 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 Scratch-Naturally (Amistad; Hardcover; $24.99): https://invalid.invalid/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…and more and more partners are coming through – including Kehinde Wiley documentary Executive Producer Lamar Johnson and new spirits sponsor William Wolf: http://thinklikeawolf.com/. Special shout out to Koran Thomas. WE THANK THEM 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  #williamwolf  #thinklikeawolf #21REASONS #JP21REASONS

MONEY MINUTE FINALE

What a JOY it has been to host the WELLS FARGO PRESENTS THE ADVOCATE MONEY MINUTE – a six-part video series in which Wells Fargo Financial Experts provide financial wellness tips through the LGBTQ lens. In our last episode of the season, Matt & Rick learn how to effectively pay off student loan debt while saving for other investments: http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute/2015/10/23/paying-student-loans-matt-rick. Shout out to all of you for your support. See the whole season and last season (which I also co-hosted) here:  www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute. #WELLSFARGO #MONEYMINUTE #ADVOCATE

HAPPY HARLEM-WEEN!

CALL ME RASTA RILEY aka The Grinch that SHUT HALLOWEEN DOWN! LOL! CALL Anthony Harper #lusciouslyons from #empire. And LOOK WHO'S IN TOWN FOR #HALLOWEEN2015 Onlyone Camille, our BELOVED!!!! And Melody Vaughn - from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams HOSTED US WELL! HAPPY HARLEM-WEEN! XOXOXO

CIZE

Surely, you’ve all noticed my Incredible Shrinking Man: ANT! Well, now I can say that he’s featured in the ‪#‎CIZE infomercial which chronicles the story of he and the many who participated with the great Shaun T to transform and start their journey to a new WAY! Ant is currently 70 pounds down… and counting! He THANKS ALL OF YOU for your  motivation and support! I'M SO PROUD OF ANT! LOVE YOU, BABE! #CIZEOPPORTUNITY

Where are my up and coming funny people? Do you do improv? Are you starting to do stand-up? Do you LOVE POP CULTURE! If you do...and want an unpaid, but high-visibility, opportunity to be on TV, I'd just need 20 minutes or less of your time on the couple of days a month through July that I'll be shooting. For more info, please email me...and I can tell you more...: patarack@hotmail.com. THANKS FOLKS!

ASK PATRICK 

This entry was to announce that ALL STAR KARAOKE is coming back at the end of APRIL 2015! Then, the QUEEN OF SOUL called and my lead is buried! But this is MISS ARETHA FRANKLIN, after all.. LOL!.... so let me interrupt this regularly scheduled programming for this ROYAL RE-CAP that deserves some R-E-S-P-E-C-T....

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN

CHECK OUT THIS LATEST VIDEOs on NBCBLK - a viral that details MISS FRANKLIN's "openness" - shall we say - to do some EMPIRE - Season 2 - https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1553278574945680&set=vb.1508175089456029&type=2&theater.... and here is a RE-CAP of the MAGICAL NIGHT: 

http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbcnews-com/aretha-franklin-puts-on-star-studded-birthday-417968707987

It’s for NBCBLK – recurring client which dispatched me to do this LEE DANIELS interview last month: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/precious-butler-director-lee-daniels-building-empire-n290416.  Over the years, MISS ARETHA FRANKLIN has invited LIFE OF RILEY to celebrate her birthday and other milestones. There was last year’s birthday at the RITZ CARLTON. Denzel Washington stopped by: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/3/23/another-night.html. In 2009, I was a guest at Miss Franklin's HOLLYWOOD BOWL show followed by a post-show set at the PENINSULA HOTEL. This was on the day that Michael Jackson died:http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2009/9/21/ive-waited-so-long-to-hear-you-say-that-to-me-say-it-again-s.html. The year prior to that, Miss Franklin’s camp asked me to secure SECRET TROIS for her birthday set in Detroit and to accompany them. The QUEEN’s wish was Anthony Harper’s and my command: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2009/3/26/people-say-im-the-life-of-the-party.html. And years ago, in 1992, when I started my career in TV, I got to interview Miss Franklin at then-CBS affiliate WXIA. We dished on “The Young & The Restless”. Fast forward 23 years later to Miss Aretha Franklin’s 73rd birthday celebration recently held at the Ritz Carlton, Central Park South; LIFE OF RILEY gets another ROYAL INVITE; NBCBLK asks if they can tag-along; and THE QUEEN OF SOUL and I do some catching up – on the SOAPS. But this time, we talked EMPIRE and Tyler Perry’s THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS. She’s a fan of both. ALL HAIL THE QUEEN for whom some very special guests came out: Record industry legend Clive Davis, Empire creator Lee Daniels, Attorney General Eric Holder, singers Valerie Simpson and Freddie Jackson, LABELLE original Sarah Dash, CNN’s Don Lemon, my fellow journalist buddy Jamie Foster Brown (“Sister 2 Sister”), choreographer George Faison, Sirius XM’s Tracey J. Jordan, Lawrence O'Donnell, Tamron Hall from msnbc and NBC Today, Rev. Reverend Al Sharpton, Charlie Rangell, the Duke Ellington Jazz All Stars, philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, Avery*Sunshine, etc. Shout out to my friend, Detroit’s own Greg Dunmore who emceed the festivities. Miss Franklin’s actual birthday is March 25. FOR MORE INFO on LIFE OF RILEY, click here: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/20/ask-patrick.html. I love that even at the Queen of Soul's 73rd birthday party, we're in an EMPIRE state of mind! LOL!  #NBCBLK

PHOTO - Michael Stewart. 

BACK TO ALL STAR KARAOKE! LOL!

 As brutal as winter was, I know we made a good decision to hibernate BILLIE'S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY during winter break. Well, as Spring awakens, I'm excited to announce that BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, we are returning with our SPRING 2015 SERIES - STARTING Tuesday, April 28th! We'll go every Tuesday through Tuesday, July 14th from 7p-10p.

Highlights have included:

* Monifah singing - http://bit.ly/beatsbydre_monifah

* Keke Wyatt singing - http://bit.ly/beatsbydre_kekewyatt

* Patrick L. Riley singing with Keke Wyatt - http://bit.ly/beatsbydre_patricklriley

* Patrick L. Riley singing I AM CHANGING (and more on my YOU TUBE channel):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_pVZZ9GCm4

* Good Morning America’s Mara Schiavocampo promoting her book THINSPIRED:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTZt5efrf4c

STARS OF TOMORROW

* Iconic vocalist Toni Seawright brought her son Qaasim Middleton to ALL STAR KARAOKE Spring 2014. Fast forward to this week: he is an "American Idol Top 10" finalist. Did you see that SAVE? LOL!

* My Spelman sister Kimberly Nichole has also performed on the Billie's Black stage as she is now perched on Team Christina Aguilera for the current season of "The Voice".

* After Broadway hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL's marketing rep hired me to host its Opening Night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ, the producers wanted to partner with ALL STAR KARAOKE for what we coined: #MOTOWNMAY - a month of participants singing songs from MOTOWN's legendary catalog; a handful competed each week inside a MOTOWN-RETURNS-TO-THE-APOLLO-style competition for a chance to sing with the show's DIANA ROSS on the Broadway stage for ONE NIGHT ONLY (Our winner: emerging vocalist Husain Mello Deas Williams). MOTOWN THE MUSICAL also provided lots of giveaways; discount codes for the show; and - as our GRAND FINALE judges - a handful of cast-members from MOTOWN THE MUSICAL - including Marva Hicks (Gladys Knight in the show) and Bryan Terrell Clark (Marvin Gaye in the show).

SINGERS PROMOTE THEIR SONGS & SHOWS

* TV One's R&B DIVAS' Monifah Carter & Keke Wyatt came by to karaoke; sing their songs; and promote their show/new music. 

* Recording artists Alyson Williams; Shaliek; Gordon Chambers; Kenneth Carr; Kim Waters (who serenaded me HAPPY BIRTHDAY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Iwk4WLMuI); and Sweet Honey in the Rock.

* Broadway star Anthony Wayne ("Pippin'") took a night off from the Great White Way to join me on the All Star Karaoke stage to preview his smash hit "Mighty Sylvester".

CELEBS & TASTEMAKERS LOVE ALL STAR KARAOKE 

* We never know who will pop in - including ALL STAR KARAOKE supporter Bevy Smith (BRAVO's FASHION QUEENS HOST); Mica Hughes (BRAVO's BLOOD, SWEAT, & HEELS); Artie Thompson (BRAVO's CHEF ROBLE); Mara Schiavocampo (GOOD MORNING AMERICA correspondent/best-selling author: THINSPIRED); Shiba Russell (NBC4 Anchor); Xosha Roquemore (Actress, FOX's "The Mindy Project"); and Laurie Anne Gibson(Choreographer/Recording Artist - clients including Lady Gaga and more).

* Before we did ALL STAR KARAOKE at Billie's Black, NATIVE Restaurant hosted it. Some of those CELEB sing-bys included: Tichina Arnold (Actress, "Martin", "Everybody Hates Chris", etc.); Kevin Mambo (Actor, "FELA" on Broadway); TONEX (Recording Artist); Brenda Braxton (Broadway legend, "Chicago"); Napiera Groves (Actress, "As The World Turns"); David Nathan (Author, "Soulful Divas"); Greg Dunmore (Host, PULSEBEAT); Jamie Foster Brown (Publisher, SISTER 2 SISTER); etc.

* Though most are in the house to enjoy ALL STAR KARAOKE and the food and drink BILLIE'S BLACK provides, the room is also a networking room. You could be dining or singing alongside any of the entertainment and media industry's best - from all domains - including CELEBRITY HAIRSTYLISTS Carla Bone (clients including: Kerry Washington, Jada Pinkett Smith, and more); Brian Badie (clients including: Ice T, Coco, "Power"); BLACK OPAL Creative Director Merrell Hollis (celeb make-up artist including Wendy Williams; Diddy; Usher; Cynthia Bailey; Jessica White; etc.); celebrity publicist Gwendolyn Quinn (clients including: Keke Wyatt [who she brought]; Aretha Franklin; Deborah Cox, etc.); President of the New York Association of Black Journalists Mike Feeney; legal analyst/journalist Lisa Bonner, Esq.; BLISS President Mike Indurksy; "Blackbird"/"The Skinny"/"Noah's Arc" Director Patrik-Ian Polk; producer/director Nathan Hale Williams; NAACP Image Award winning producer Sidra Smith; actor/writer/director Stanley Bennett Clay; "Drums Along The Hudson" producer Carl Nelson; Tony-award-winning choreographer/Faison Firehouse's own George Faison; New York Times writer Nikita Stewart-Henderson; etc.

* Industry players use our ALL STAR KARAOKE experience as a BUILT-IN BIRTHDAY PARTY. We've toasted many - including: Kevin Anthony (international performer/recording artist); Rowena Husbands (celebrity photographer); Penwah (singer/casting director/producer [STEPS: An Eddie Harris Film]; Anthony C. Harper (my partner and - at the time - producer, The Wendy Williams Show); and me.

ALL STAR KARAOKE SPONSORS ROCK

* MANY SPONSORS have appreciated the excitement of our night; the folks in the room; and the on-line social media buzz we get during and after that they have reached out to partner with ALL STAR KARAOKE - including our main FALL 2015 SPONSOR "Miss Jessie's" who donated giveaways for all of our ALL STAR KARAOKE guests. Plus, Co-Founder Miko Branch ensured TWO big weekly prizes for two on-stage participants to hopefully win at the end of the night. ALL STAR KARAOKE is excited to help promote MISS JESSIE'S: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch - Naturally (Amistad; Hardcover; On Sale: April 14, 2015; $24.99). #IAMMISSJESSIES

* HENDRICK's GIN provided a month of ONE-HOUR TASTINGS along with signature cocktails at a discounted price to quench the thirst of our ALL STAR KARAOKE regulars. Dear friend Sidra Smith brought that integration to ALL STAR KARAOKE. She is an NAACP Image Award winning producer for documentary "Free Angela", Sidra Smith, is a dear friend (and also the identical twin of Hollywood actress Tasha Smith - known for her current role as Cookie's sister in EMPIRE and her starring role in Tyler Perry's "For Better or Worse" on OWN).

* RAFFLES: We also do $2 raffles (and sometimes $5 raffles for BIG GIVEAWAYS). Our RAFFLE SPONSOR for SPRING 2014 and FALL 2014 was RILEY/LAND GOURMET PANTRY - providing a number of high-end gourmet samples.

CREATIVE THOUGHT-STARTERS FOR SPONSOR CONSIDERATION: SPRING 2015

A. BRING YOUR CLIENTS: Already, we're receiving word from CELEB family members; publicists; and crew-members that some of their clients want to come by. So, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD to any of your CLIENTS or PEEPS that BILLIE'S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY is a good room to DRIVE-BY on TUESDAY NIGHT!

B. LIFE OF RILEY FRIENDS & CLIENTS: As an independent personality, producer, and writer, you folks know LIFE OF RILEY is all over the place: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/. As such, I LOVE when I'm working on a special project with recurring client BET and I see my BET FAM at ALL STAR KARAOKE! So, to all of MY RECURRING CLIENTS & FRIENDS, here's a SHOUT OUT for you to CONSIDER a TUESDAY NIGHT (s) to come out and decompress or celebrate APRIL/MAY/JUNE/JULY birthday(s). That includes: my peeps at ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360; OWN TV; NBCBLK; NBCU's "The More You Know" team; NYABJ (New York Association of Black Journalists); LIVE OUT LOUD (LGBTQ Mentoring Organization); NABJ Arts & Entertainment Task Force; NABJ LGBTQ Task Force; "The Wendy Williams Show"; etc.

C. LOOKING AHEAD: ALL STAR KARAOKE ON-DEMAND:  

* SAGE Harlem provides services and advocacy for GLBT Elders. SAGE Harlem program manager (and friend) Christopher Jones asked me to perform for the group's holiday party after he’d attended Billie's Black Presents All Star Karaoke FALL 2014 SERIES. WAS FUN to sing my ALL STAR KARAOKEstaples for this enthusiastic audience: “Reasons” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vxU3In7zl4; “This Woman’s Work” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phNQU3hWfAE; and “Endless Love” - https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152858343658737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater. Learn more at: http://www.sageusa.org/sageharlem.

* BILLIE'S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY was also able to offer support to MISS JESSIE's (talent and food) in the wake of MISS JESSIE's co-founder Titi Branch's passing at a MEMORIAL TRIBUTE - celebrating her life: http://youtu.be/KDlVBgqBH0U.

* After AMERICAN IDOL finalist Qaasim Middleton’s mom Toni Seawright graced our ALL STAR KARAOKE stage several times with her AMAZING TALENTS, I was too excited when she asked me to host her 50th Birthday Honoring the Music and Legacy of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Her family and friends all gathered in Brooklyn, New York at the 5 Spot. I sang “Got to Be There” with the HOT BAND! Shout out to them for rehearsing with me a couple of days prior to ensure I could hit those CHAKA notes. I even rehearsed at our closing night of ALL STAR KARAOKE:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152301811918737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater.

* We are currently in talks with varied sponsors and organizers regarding an ALL STAR KARAOKE TOUR for later this year or next year. Stay tuned as we've received word from several entities that they would love ALL STAR KARAOKE. Some of the information in the attached POWERPOINT underscores some of the current outreaches. Nothing is firm as the TOUR goes - so if an announcement, you'll hear it first from me.  ENDLESS LOVE for #ALLSTARKARAOKE #BILLIESBLACK AND ALL OF YOU!

MAIRIE BDAY

Great to gather and celebrate Mairie Ame Raxy at Isola on Columbus where I just had to break out in a HAPPY BIRTHDAY serenade for our BDAY GIRL - looking to celebrate another birthday this summer: she, her husband Eric, and big sister Raixy's new addition: a baby boy! CONGRATS on everything, Mairie! We LOVE YOU! Remember when Ern and I had the chance to attend their beautiful wedding last year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Ant and I enjoyed catching up with Miss Angelique Miles. She’s so FAB! Please check out her method to living a balanced, healthy, fit, social life at 45+. It’s The Miles Method – a content portal that allows you to read and see many of her fitness/lifestyle escapades. Good tid-bits… and you might as well listen: Ain’t she FINE! LOL! Please like her page, The Miles Method, and invite your friends to like it too!: https://www.facebook.com/Amilesmethod. 

COVERGIRL, MARA!

LADIES & GENTLEMEN!!! MISS Mara Schiavocampo AKA Good Morning America CORRESPONDENT AKA COVER GIRL on Woman's World AKA MY AMAZING GRACE AKA MY INTERNET WIFE AKA "MAKES ME SO PROUD"!!!! GO MARA, GO! ‪#‎THINspiredbook

PAULA MADISON

‪#‎FBF Paula MadisonN is one of my (NABJ) National Association of Black Journalists MENTORS! At a time in my career when I needed to "attract" skill-set work in entertainment and pop culture, she - at the helm of News 4 New York - quickly and deliberately stepped in and up and presented me a handful of opportunities to SHINE via the local news division's special projects unit. The year was 1997 and - to that moment - I became a "working", full-time, independent producer, personality, and writer. And the melody lingers on. By way of that one chance she took on me, I continue to know ENDLESSLY that I can make it - even when the fiscal snapshot isn't cute. She remains supportive and kind. And she continues to lead by example - having experienced many chapters inside the book of her own amazing life since we worked together in the late '90s - including leading diversity efforts in network TV and Hollywood; owning sports teams and networks; and - wait for it - dancing with Prince on his "Musicology" tour. Her latest flourish is an actual book that she's written (alongside a companion documentary she produced) about her search to connect with her Chinese relatives. And she will be in NYC April 12-15 for the launch of Finding Samuel Lowe: www.findingsamuellowe.com. Hit up my sister friend publicist Lauren Tobin with PANTHER PR, if you want to consider booking our beloved Paula and/or knowing where she's signing and speaking. Book launch at B&N on 82nd and B'way, 7P Tuesday 4/14!!! Please come on out to show your friendly face. Paula says she will be signing books until they close!!! AND PAULA? If you make it back Harlem-way between Tuesday, April 28th and Tuesday, July 14th, please stop by Billie's Black Gourmet Soul for Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH Patrick L. Riley... and sing a tune with me as we hip my folks to FINDING SAMUEL LOWE! LOVE YOU! ‪#‎findingsamuellowe ‪#‎nabj40 ‪#‎billiesblack ‪#‎allstarkaraoke

BEN VEREEN

LOVE when my LEGENDS are still high-kicking and singing for the gods! lOL! One of my heroes from the land of TRIPLE THREAT: Ben Vereen recently did a stint at #54Below: http://54below.com/artist/ben-vereen/. WAS TOO EXCITED to interview Ben Vereen a month or so ago at ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a12El8-zU_k.  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. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! #ARISE360#hiphopchangedus #devotion #endlesslove #popcultureandpossibilities #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke#CentricTV

 THE YOUNGER ‘EMPIRE’

CLICK HERE: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153273324868287 - LAWD! Blair Younger - one of my work BFFs - formerly from Harpo Productions /Oprah Winfrey Show and currently via recurring client BET - is always YAPPING about her FAMILY - primarily her sister, professional musician Brandee Younger AKA Brandee A. Younger (as well as her FIERCE mother Linda Mcnease-Younger)! Well, NO SURPRISE these two AMAZING WOMEN are MEDIA DARLINGS this week - BRANDEE inside a feature on FOX 5 / MyFoxNY.com c/o Chrystal Young: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153273324868287 & MOM was featured in one of Anthony Harper's The Wendy Williams Show contributions - dating back to his former employer's sneak-peek: It was CELEBRITY FAN OUT... and Miss Linda was inside the segment with not one, but TWO pix with two of the FINE BROTHERS in Empire: Bryshere Gray and Jussie Smollett! HOW YOU DOIN'? LOL! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS6XDg86o-c. ‪#‎empire ‪#‎harp

john edward

Remember CROSSING OVER? Too cool to interview John Edward (and co-host Kat Jenus at Evolve) recently for recurring client OWN. Catch up with John and more on March 29^th on Oprah: Where Are They Now? WHAT AN ICON HE IS! My DL Hughley is coming up in that episode as well. For more on Oprah: Where Are They Now, visit: www.Oprah.com/WhereAreTheyNow To join the conversation on social, use: #WhereAreTheyNow @OWNtv

Tuesday 3 of Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE w/ Patrick L. Riley" was a HOME RUN! This week, there was something for everyone! Of course, my ALL STAR KARAOKE supersrars were in the house at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul - from celebrity hairstylist Carla Bone to Chef Roblé & Co.'s Artie Thompson (also head of A2 Collections, Inc. - a brilliant array of bow-ties who did brilliant turns on Miss Ross' "It's My Turn": https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151065363737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater and "My Old Piano": https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151066318737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater) to Laurence Pinckney ( Zenbiz Travel (LGBT)) to our usual and FABULOUS suspects Ephraim, Toyce Francis (whose LGBT web series and short film site is http://iseegaypeople.tv/), Antar, et al. Also, friends who've been announcing their attendance made it -- from Danielle Johnson and Charzette Torrence AKA Charlie T ( Jillian's Peak Tv): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151066843737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater to homegirl Kamaria Milford (CBS News) to my BET colleague, karaoke enthusiast to fellow LIFE AFTER pop culture analyst and BET.com entertainment reporter supreme Clay Cane () and awesome singer Jeremy Trott. Also we introduced a FAB sistah from Germany, "B.B"! And I always say the "kids" turned it! This time, literally: 8-year-old Billie (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151064533737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater) and her brother, 6-year-old
Henderson (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151061553737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater) turned it out - not only singing beautifully, but reading every word off that screen than me! LOL! In addition to our yummy drink specials, we even had a giveaway from Harlem's own and my last-namesake Joseph Riley Land as in Riley-Land (A Gourmet Pantry): www.riley-land.com; Twitter and Instagram: @RileyLandPantry; Facebook: Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry (www.facebook.com/rileylandgourmetpantry).: Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry. Joseph donated a wonderful gift bag of goodies and an Uber-car credit to our event. We chose randomly the name of one of our ALL STAR KARAOKE first-timers Jonathan. THANK YOU! Please be sure to come back as we have some fun partnerships to soon announce for May. Plus, we never know who will come by "Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE w/ Patrick L. Riley". Thanks to all for your support! Come on out! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

OTHER LIFE OF RILEY TID BITS

Good weekend! Because of friend and colleague Derrick Hemphill, we got in (1) THE YANKEES!! Derrick's college buddy Katrina was visiting. FUN! And we also got in some BROADWAY prep for my next segments in which I’ll be breaking down all the many offerings on THE GREAT WHITE WAY: THE REALISTIC JONESES and Audra McDonald in a revival of the one-woman homage to BILLIE HOLLIDAY! WONDERFUL SHOWS! Then, http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2013/6/9/magic-2-do.html, you folks know I’d written last year attending my friend Chenoa Maxwell’s NYC solo debut LEADERS OF THE COOL - a one-night pop up photo exhibit showcasing an awesome round-table of artistic, cultural muses that Chenoa holds dear. The guests included Chef Roble; NFL great Curtis Martin; my BFF Sidra Smith; poet Mumms; our New Ro buddies Cynthia, Elijah, Beyonce's stylist Ty; and too many to mention. Was great to run into Danny Simmons who introduced Chenoa who had a chorus of cameras chronicling her special night for what is now an OWN show: LOVE IN THE CITY! - http://www.oprah.com/app/own-tv.html #LoveInTheCity #BeMagnifico #ReenaTreats CONGRATS, CHENOA and ALL of her FAB co-stars!

Shout out to my girlfriend Sidra Smith for ensuring Ant and I were in the house for "A NEW ODYSSEY" – The Romare Bearden Fundation FESTIVE FUNDRAISER!

Backdrop: THE LIGHTHOUSE AT CHELSEA PIERS IN NEW YORK CITY. 

 

HONORED: THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, JOHN W. ASHE; PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT ARTIST SIMMIE KNOX; BUSINESSMAN, COLLECTOR E.T. WILLIAMS, NOW EMERITUS CHAIR OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 

HOSTED BY: T.J. HOLMES

Always a pleasure to hang with TJ!
FEATURING: AUCTION, ROVING SUPPER, SPECIAL GUESTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT BY RECORDING ARTIST LUKE JAMES AND DJ RASHIDA!

IN THE HOUSE: So many but I’ll shout out a few: JONES Magazine Publisher L LONDELL MCMILLAN; artist/therapist JEANINE PRIMM JONES; Rush Arts own DANNY SIMMONS; and many more! FUN NIGHT!

GO TO WWW.BENEFITOFFICE.ORG/BEARDEN 

So glad Ant was in the house to grab some special moments at BILLIE’S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

NIGHT ONE was amazing!

http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/4/2/something-to-talk-about.html

WAS A GREAT NIGHT TWO – highlight for me being the SING-A-LONG of Natalie Cole’s “OUR LOVE”!

VIDEO EXCERPT 1:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152135753883737&set=vb.662073736&type=2&theater

VIDEO EXCERPT 2: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152135603883737&set=vb.662073736&type=2&theater

THANKS to ALL our ALL-STARS who came out to celebrate Kevin Anthony’s birthday:

VIDEO EXCERPT:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152135734368737&set=vb.662073736&type=2&theater

Kenneth Carr - hubby of my boo Shareen King Carr. Kenny Carr our first ALL-STAR KARAOKE instrumentalist (His “Don’t Stop Believing” made us ALL believe!):

VIDEO EXCERPT:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152135694263737&set=vb.662073736&type=2&theater

our regulars oh-the-day – including Ephraim, the FABULOUS Belinda Munro who sang her Belinda Munro FACE OFF:

VIDEO EXCERPT:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152135740083737&set=vb.662073736&type=2&theater

ALSO IN THE HOUSE:  

karaoke buddy with the most Jamar Dunn

and was that my friend, New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ) President Michael J. Feeney? IT WAS!

And Penwah Phynjuar came back and inspired a fun group to round out the ALL-STAR vocals – including my “Our Love” (SEE THE CLIP); their “Poison” by BBD; and a number of other great tunes.

EXCERPT:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152135689228737&set=vb.662073736&type=2&theater

 Yes! That was Gwendolyn Quinn! And Toni Seawright’s “Earth Song” was nothing short of stunning.  

EXCERPT:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152135717973737&set=vb.662073736&type=2&theater

We are so humbled, Toni Seawright!

Lisa Bonner made everybody “Happy”.

We were anyway, hence the “Happy Birthday” we did for Kevin Anthony II (Stevie-style).  

And we get DRUNK IN LOVE with the help of Harlem’s and the APOLLO’s own Nina Flowers!

VIDEO EXCERPT:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152135752783737&set=vb.662073736&type=2&theater

Cousin Shantay even got in on the FUN – singing Pink’s “Glitter in the Air”!

VIDEO EXCERPT:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152135746008737&set=vb.662073736&type=2&theater

And there were just too many fabulous moments on our second night – another packed house one week after TV-One’s R&B Divas’ Monifah Carter and Terez Mychelle; “Fashon Queens” Bevy Smith; and many more! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEVIN-ANTHONY! HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL NEXT TUESDAY! For those who want to celebrate their birthdays - "All Star Karaoke" style with Patrick L. Riley - please tell Kevin Anthony LIFE OF RILEY sent you - so you can find out how you can celebrate with us at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul. 7-10pm. Tuesday. Hope to see you there. #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

OMARI BANKS

My friend Michelle Sanchez Boyce is a long-standing music exec - from A&R to Management from Jamie Foxx to Miguel! She's currently representing new reggae artist, Omari Banks. Omari Banks – 2014 Anguillan Artist of the Year – has a unique Caribbean sound. The accomplished cricket player is the son of legendary Anguillan reggae artist Bankie Banx; his recording of “Unafraid” was the number one music video in the Caribbean in 2013 and remained in the top 10 of Tempo’s Cross Caribbean Countdown for seventeen weeks. The video for his recently released second single, “Jehovah Message,” garnered over 20,000 hits in the first week. (See it yourself at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZnktBaaa-M)

 AND SHE INVITED Ant and me out last night to PARK 112 to meet Omari and some other players who are supporting his AMERICA TAKE-OVER – including Meatpacking’s own Brian Gold (Owner, GRIFFIN and SUGAR FACTORY) and MS. BODEGA (https://www.facebook.com/MissBodega). Check out Omari’s ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfkk5FqY27E.

SPEAKING OF MS. BODEGA

 Shout out to that FABULOUS ARTIST and PRODUCER MS. BODEGA and her brother Jon Levy. They invited Ant and me up to their Upper Westside "Influencers Dinner" after-set

 (They are the adult kids of famed fine artist Benjamin Levy).

Fav pianist and friend ELEW is in the house!! As always, he turns it out!
Special shout out to our special host "Ms. Bodega". Her new single that she's putting out with LalaBela and Commissioner Gordon is a Dance track. "FLY SO HIGH" is a socially empowering music track. Follow her:

Facebook: Batsheva Ms.Bodega
Facebook Fanpage: Ms.Bodega
Twitter: Batsheva@Ms_Bodega
Instagram: MsBodegaaa

About The Bodega Movement & Mission:

Bodega World Music,LLC is a company that attempts to carry the message of Ms.Bodega as an artist and hopes to fulfill projects that represent unity, peace and the blending of cultures through music, fashion and dance. Its vision is to take on projects that have the ability to break down boundaries and stereotypes between people of different countries, religions and political backgrounds as a catalyst for celebrating each others cultures,for unity and for the realization that humanity comes first.

Ms.Bodega as a music artist is coming out with a New Campaign led by recorded music, live performances, Fashion and product integration to be marketed in the world of the New Digital Wave. These days we often see Music artists having a Bigger influence than politicians do. They can reach the youth with a word or a song in a way nobody else can. This is True Power of Influence. Ms. Bodega is about Positive Power and believes in using Power to move people, spread Light and inspire those who think they Can't.

Ms. Bodega and Bodega World Music is currently partnering up with Lalabela Entertainment Group/Alliance, 7-time Grammy Award Winner "Comissioner Gordon" WIlliams, The Manhattan Center and Leading Top Digital Media Marketing Technologists in order to reach a GLOBAL audience.

EPK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I915o5cXAMs&list=PL64835B6FD83A6F5C

Ms.Bodega Live (Show Reel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLwQcqnz3dM&list=PL64835B6FD83A6F5C

Interview on Fit n' Fine Show (Public Access TV -100,000 Viewers)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLsN8GT-nZA

Top Of The World (Music Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpGZvvb3UdE&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL64835B6FD83A6F5C

Ms.Bodega Interviews Ky-mani Marley and Rohan Marley at Live show (Barbi,Telaviv)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zgDsSM9i2g&list=PL64835B6FD83A6F5C

Ms. Bodega Youtube Search (videoes,interviews,live performances etc..)
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ms+bodega&sm=12

VANESSA WILLIAMS

In Jan 1995, Ernest Maynor and I flew up from ATL to see Vanessa Williams on Broadway in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Apr 2014, BFFs see her in After Midnight on Broadway! FULL CIRCLE! p.s. I got to interview Fran Drescher this week. She's on Broadway in "Cinderella". More from this later...

AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!