A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

A FILM ABOUT THE NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL (1958)

NELSON GEORGE presents a screening of JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY and Panel Discussion with STANLEY
CROUCH, JOMMY COBB, BILL CHARLAP & WOODY SHAW III this Friday 5.10. BUY TICKETS! http://bit.ly/17Bt83o #NELSONGEORGE

Hi folks,

Lots going on in “A Day in the Life of Riley: pop culture & possibilities” – including recent NBC 4/COZI-TV impression (talking “Blacks & Broadway”): http://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Pop-Culture-Expert-Patrick-Riley-on-Black-Broadway_New-York.html

Beyond Broadway (but a stone’s throw), another recurring client NJPAC is allowing me to SPREAD LOVE THIS EASTER WEEKEND!

One of my “…Life of Riley…” readers will get a pair of tix ) to go see TAKE 6 and HEZEKIAH WALKER this Friday, March 29^th!!!!

DEETS FOR TICKET GIVEAWAY:

1. All we need you to do is send: (a) FULL NAME; (b) EMAIL ADDRESS; (c) and CELL PHONE to: patarack@hotmail.com no later than THURSDAY, MARCH 28^TH, 2013 at 12 NOON!

2. I will pick the name this Thursday and let you know (I also have to turn your info into NJPAC Thursday as well – to ensure NJPAC has your name at WILL CALL to pick up your FREE PAIR OF TICKETS before the show FRIDAY, MARCH 29^TH, 2013!

In the meantime, PLEASE BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!  http://bit.ly/njpacLOR #NJPAC

AND LOOK FOR MORE “…LIFE OF RILEY…” UPDATES OVER THE NEXT WEEK: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog.

As always, THANKS!

Patrick L. Riley

“A Day in the Life of Riley: pop culture & possibilities”
http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog

MARVIN SAPP

MARVIN SAPP is in town THIS WEEK! His “Never Would Have Made It” anoints ME every time! It gets me back to CHERISHED MEMORIES; ETERNAL GRATITUDE; and GOD’s LOVE! Plus, it’s just a SLAMMING SONG! Well, the marketing folks with NJPAC have asked me to let all of my GOSPEL MUSIC FANS and FANS OF GOOD MUSIC know that this is an experience you don’t want to miss. This Friday 1/18 at NJPAC! You can BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY! http://bit.ly/njpacLOR #NJPAC #MARVINSAPP

...AND TELL THEM “…THE LIFE OF RILEY…” SENT YOU!

2013 off to a busy start! Lots of client calls and booked gigs! A little travel! Taking meetings on new business! And amidst it all, remembering what’s important: MY LOVED ONES; GIVING BACK; SAYING THANK YOU!

In other church bulletin news (LOL!):

YOU MATTER: 7 Practices of Living a Life of Purpose

I’m always singing the praises of MOMENTUM EDUCATION (www.momentumeducation.com) – an awesome series of classes I experienced in 2004 that keeps me GOING FOR THE GOLD in my life and career (and teaches me how to get up POWERFULLY when I may not meet the mark, but just need a little RE-BOOT): http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2006/10/25/love-is-in-the-air.html. Since then, I’ve been tapping into that POWER SOURCE and blessed to share the gift with so many of my friends…and to see – in addition to MY WORLD – THE WORLD CHANGE (for the better!). Was really excited to see many of my Momentum family members – old and new – at the first course, THE BASIC’s celebration last night when another friend graduated the life-changing work. Congrats, Jamar! MOMENTUM continues to inspire me to BE THE DIFFERENCE in my personal and professional life! I call it a tool that I use alongside many other supports that keep me aligned with those ways of being that work best to achieve my goals. Another tool I’ll be using comes from two dear Momentum friends Melvin Miller and Federica Baldan. It’s an Ebook and Audio book: “YOU MATTER: 7 Practices of Living a Life of Purpose” and you must order it now: www.audiogo.com/us/youmatter.  Thanks to Melvin and Federica for all they do to CHANGE the WORLD – one person at a time!

“YOU ARE NOT ALONE”

A casual invitation for pasta from my girlfriend Sidra Smith turned into a beautiful night of cinema: an intimate screening of documentary “You Are Not Alone” – a collaboration between friends - triple NAACP Image Award winner Stanley Bennett Clay and Guyanese-born double NYABJ Award winner, journalist and national gay mental health activist Antoine B.Craigwell – both in attendance. The film pushes the envelope, shines a light in a dark, unspoken area in the Black community, to bring healing. Through the courageous sharing of personal stories, “You Are Not Alone” explores many of the underlying social factors which contribute to high rates of depression among Black gay men. “You Are Not Alone” also opens up discussions on the critical issues affecting many Black men and Black gay men who go through life hiding their depression, which can contribute to unsafe sexual activity because they are unconcerned about the consequences, elevated drug use, and even death by suicide. The documentary is a combination of powerful, heart wrenching and poignant interviews and is balanced with professional opinions provided by mental health professionals, academics and religious leaders (Christian and Islam) as well as some beautifully-woven docu-dramatized iconography. For more information on “You Are Not Alone”, visit www.dbgm.org and to see a trailer of the film www.yana-thefilm.com. BEAUTIFUL WORK!

LEWIS JOHNSON

I told you a few months back about my friend Kelly J. Welborn and how she was doing big things via her  idreamSpeakers, LLC: TWITTER: @idreamspeakers.com. Well, Kelly’s client, seven-time NBC Olympic Commentator and ESPN reporter Lewis Johnson (Twitter: @LewisJohnsonMG) is coming to the Boys & Girls Club in NY and NJ on Wednesday, January 23, and Thursday, January 24 to distribute 400 coats, hats, scarves, gloves, clothing and winter wear collected over the holiday during his WORLD-CLASS COAT DRIVE organized in Dallas, TX. World-Class athletes, Olympians, Super Bowl champs and his generous Dallas/Fort Worth community donated to his charitable effort to help families in need that were impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Lewis was in New York days after Hurricane Sandy devasted the northeast and was compelled to help families in hard-hit areas stay warm for the winter. Lewis will be joined by Olympians to present “A View from the Olympic Broadcast Booth,” his Olympic-themed inspirational speech to over 200 youth at Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County in Jersey City and Educational Alliance Boys & Girls Club at P.S. 188 about goal setting, overcoming obstacles and pursuing your dreams. After the presentation, all the young attendees will receive a coat or winter wear donated during his two-week World-Class Coat Drive. There are so many stories of graciousness from his community that have emerged from this charitable effort. To find out more (and what you can do), click here: www.idreamspeakers.com.

MARVIN SAPP

REMINDER: MARVIN SAPP is in town THIS WEEK! His “Never Would Have Made It” anoints ME every time! It gets me back to CHERISHED MEMORIES; ETERNAL GRATITUDE; and GOD’s LOVE! Plus, it’s just a SLAMMING SONG! Well, the marketing folks with NJPAC have asked me to let all of my GOSPEL MUSIC FANS and FANS OF GOOD MUSIC know that this is an experience you don’t want to miss. This Friday 1/18 at NJPAC! You can BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY! http://bit.ly/njpacLOR #NJPAC #MARVINSAPP

...AND TELL THEM “…THE LIFE OF RILEY…” SENT YOU!

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!