WELCOME to "The Life of Riley" which will include periodic chronicles of pop culture and possibilities that flow out of Patrick L. Riley's day. That's me!!! Through blogging (and soon some other technological features on which I'll keep you posted as they launch), I will pull experiences from my busy life to entertain and inspire all of you. Through this site, I will share my observations and insights. Some features to look forward to:
1.) "PATRICK'S POP UP(DATES)" will feature stories from pop culture, music, theater, fashion, and the entertainment industry at large.
2.) "The Life of Riley" will also introduce a "take-a-look-at-your-life" section (READ: sort of an advice column), where I will help readers come up with their own questions and answers around what "ways of being" are working (or not working) to have them acheive their respective goals and live their best lives. This section is called "WHO YOU BE?".
3.) Additonally, there will be a free-flowing, organic section called "TESTIFY" from which I will pull from my own life's journey to share and hopefully inspire. Some of the fare may be new musings and experiences. Other times, I may pull from my journals and past sharings to shed light on some uncomfortable truths that I've experienced and that may perhaps play a role in healing someone else's wounds as the real-life experience did for me. From my experience of covering 9/11 as a freelance journalist to courageously coming out (as gay) to my family, "TESTIFY" promises to move those who choose to read it.
4.) And a section titled "PR" (like my initials, but also like "public relations") will include press clips from any coverage I get.
Entries in JJussie Smollett (1)
ask patrick
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 29th 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
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in Billie's Black, Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick Riley, China, Empire, Finding Samuel Lowe, Harlem, JJussie Smollett, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Paula Madison
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