A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

 

 

PRESIDENT OBAMA: MY MOREHOUSE BROTHER

Scheduling wouldn’t have me down in Atlanta at my alma mater as our President of the United States became a Morehouse brother.

Still, I sure felt like I was there as so many of my brethren and friends in attendance gifted me with the best play-by-play. There or not, what a proud day in the Life of Riley… and in THE WORLD! Shout out to BFF Elise Durham, Morehouse College’s Media Relations Manager who served as the primary liaison between my alma mater and The White House in preparing for this historic undertaking! CONGRATS, ELISE! And a SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to mother of my Morehouse BFF Michael K. Watts: Dr. Anne Wimbush Watts, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of English at Morehouse who is leaving THE HOUSE (after 43 years) for her own new chapter.  Morehouse College unveiled an oil portrait of Dr. Anne W. Watts at Baccalaureate the day prior to Commencement. CONGRATULATIONS, DR. WATTS! MUCH DESERVED!

 

 

Won't HE do it? HAPPY TO CALL MYSELF MOREHOUSE MAN, hear!? Oh! And MOREHOUSE uncle!

 

SCANDAL

 Obviously, I was well-represented there while my own MOREHOUSE mystique was showing up elsewhere in the world - including THE PHILADELPHIA SUN:  http://www.philasun.com/news/4252/38/The-OMG-Show-Scandal-has-kicked-the-political-soap-opera-up-a-notch.html Shout out to writer/reporter Denise Clay for including some of my pop culture analysis in her The Philadelphia Sunday SUN cover story on the Scandal phenomenon. It reminded me that I shared a sweet moment recently in New York City with the hit show’s star Kerry Washington whose fabulosity went out to 9.1 million viewers for its finale the other night. NABJ brethren Roland Martin is also quoted. The ratings for the season finale hit an all-time high of 9.1 million viewers.

DRUMS ALONG THE HUDSON

And while – through the rain - President Obama was speaking words of service, responsibility, and daring to the Universe’s 500 or so NEW MOREHOUSE MEN, I – through the rain – was hosting the main stage (afternoon shift) at Drums Along The Hudson: a Native American Festival and Multicultural Celebration - the afternoon of which I hosted (My friend, news anchor Sandra Bookman with WABC-TV, hosted the earlier part of the day, which included honors to Deborah Harvey-Koenigsberger.

(Deborah is Founder/President of Hearts of Gold charity to which I introduced Remy Martin, a sponsor for one of her recent fundraisers: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2012/11/19/golden-hearts.html);

Grammy-award-wnining singer/songwriter Joanne Shenandoah (Oneida); and author Doug George (Mohawk). "The rain is for the flowers! It'll only make us GROW," I exclaimed (a la Miss Ross Central Park circa '83) to the many who braved the stormy weather to enjoy live performances on the main stage. I got to introduce some awesome acts - including Kotchenga African Dance Company; Saung Budaya Indonesian Dance Group; and Samuel Le Heananff Quartet. And our girlfriend, artist Cynthia Bergos, and Ant (as his artist name Akhenaten) displayed their art for the attendees. Ant sold one of his Egyptian-inspired pieces: "Radiant Thinker" (2013 Egyptian Pop Series: Acrylic on raw canvas 3 x 2.5) 2013 - SOLD). This transaction turned one art patron's rainy day SUNNY! Congrats Ant! Shout out to my friends Frankie Edozien, Ed Roebuck, Matt Morgan, and many others who came out to support me. But primarily we were ALL there to support the cause and the creator and producer of the 11-year-old brainchild, Carl Nelson.

Good job, Carl!

COMING UP: BROADWAY INSPIRATIONAL VOICES – Sunday, June 2nd

I have several friends who are in and/or associated with the Broadway Inspirational Voices – including Miss Kimberly Jajuan who introduced me to the dynamic group! I’m so excited they’ve given me permission to share with you word on their upcoming  concert: Sunday June 2nd at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem. THAT’S RIGHT! YOU HEARD IT HEAR (from the group’s fab press release): The Grammy-Nominated Broadway Inspirational Voices “Expect the Great” June 2^nd: Creator Michael McElroy (TONY nomination, BIG RIVER) will lead The Broadway Inspirational Voices in their 3rd Annual Spring concert to create an evening of hope, joy, and inspiration.  With members representing such shows as Motown: The Musical, The Lion King, Wicked, Spiderman, The Book of Mormon, Annie, Kinky Boots, and many more, “Expect the Great” will include a wide array of inspirational repertoire, including a few original pieces by McElroy. The one-night-only concert will be held on June 2nd at 7pm st at 8pm at the First Corinthian Baptist Church, located at 1912 7th Ave at 116th St.  Tickets are priced from $10-$100 and can be purchased by visiting: www.smarttix.com. A portion of the proceeds from this concert will go to BIV’s Educational Outreach Program.  BIV members participate in these outreach programs to provide music to children in need.  Through their music and community driven work, BIV is committed to providing children access to high quality and engaging music arts programs and resources. Broadway Inspirational Voices was originally founded by McElroy in 1994 as the Broadway Gospel Choir and in 1999 was reincarnated to its current form. In addition to numerous concerts, the group has performed on “The Rosie O’Donnell Christmas Special,” Broadway Sings Elton John, The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation Benefit, and The 2000 Tony Awards. The Broadway Inspirational Voices second album Great Joy: A Gospel Christmas was released on Sh-K-Boom Records in 2003 and received a Grammy Award nomination.”

BLACK GIRLS ROCK AND BURY THE RATCHET  – Tuesday, June 4th

International DJ and Black Girls Rock Founder and Executive Director, Beverly Bond  will present the Brooklyn community services human spirit award to Michaela angela Davis on Tuesday, June 4, 2013. You should come out and bear witness to two dynamic women and then some. The Brooklyn Community Services will host its annual BCS Human Spirit Awards at the Grand Hyatt-Manhattan Ballroom this year. I’ve been asked to join its host committee and to invite as many of you to get in on this wonderful cause as possible. In addition to Michaela, BCS will honor another cultural leader who too calls Brooklyn his home: award-winning artist, Danny Simmons, will join other honorees in a ceremony that celebrates individuals who through their vision, leadership, service and generosity have built a lasting impression on both culture and community. The Human Spirit Awards is the annual fundraising dinner for BCS that highlights individuals, groups and programs that have made lifting up the lives of Brooklynites their call to action.  Last year's gala raised $500,000 and provided vital resources to support BCS's mission to strengthen families, help children and youth reach their full potential, and support adults in leading productive, fulfilling lives.  Proceeds from this year's online and silent auction will support efforts to provide continued relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy in Coney Island: http://bit.ly/ZVFgLS. #humanspirit2013

FRIENDS

CONGRATS to dear friend, fine artist Taha Clayton on his latest project: "Round Zero", an Exhibition of Paintings by Tim Okamura, Jerome Lagarrigue, Taha Clayton, & Joseph Adolphe in NY! We got to check out "Round Zero," a fine art exhibition, featuring Taha and crew at the Art Director’s Club in Manhattan.

Tim Okamura, Jerome Lagarrigue, Taha Clayton and Joseph Adolphe exhibited their latest work in a boxing-themed collection curated by Dexter Wimberly. The exhibition also served as the culmination of more than two years of documentation of these artists' creative journey by film-maker Jeff Martini, for an upcoming feature entitled "HEAVYWEIGHTPAINT," a segment of which was shot at the events. A portion of proceeds went to the Brotherhood / Sister Sol, a Harlem-based youth organization.  Artworks created by students from "Bro/Sis" were also on display at the event. (http://heavyweightpaint.com/)  and (http://www.brotherhood-sistersol.org)

Afterwards, we all gathered to toast my Nichole who is getting ready to embark on a fun journey of reinvention and relocation. Stay tuned! WE LOVE YOU, NICHOLE…

and of course, you and I are together forever – no matter where we are geographically.

Happy birthday to BFF Tommie Porter – husband of Mara Schiavocampo.

We all gathered in Harlem to toast Tommie;

enjoy cake and champagne; and – as always – to have a good time!

Shout out to my NABJ buddy Alicia Quarles – E! Entertainment News’ own!

She was standing next to me the opening night of "Motown: The Musical" - covering for E! News (as chronicled by my lens when I wasn't otherwise occupied).

She did the same when she wasn't busy and forwarded me some of the good ones while we awaited Tommie's arrival.

In addition to the highlight video of my work which you can check out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ, Alicia got some shots that were coming in from a whole other angle of which I wasn't aware.

Great shots, Alicia! 

EVEN MISS ROSS walking away...

THANK YOU!

FRIENDS OF HARLEM HOSPITAL

On a referral from my BFF Sidra Smith, I was invited to host The Friends of Harlem Hospital Center’s Holiday Party (www.nychhc.org). It took place at Londel’s Restaurant in Harlem (www.londelsrestaurant.com/).  The Friends of Harlem Hospital Center was founded in 1987 on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Harlem Hospital Center to engage in and support activities that promote the work of the Hospital. TOTAL HONOR to be a part of a LOVE MOVEMENT which honored the iconic John M. Palmer, Ph.D, President of John Palmer Associates, Inc., a consulting company. His commitment to Harlem and the Harlem Hospital Center for which he worked - over 12 years - as the Executive Director (impact - among many things - including taking the lead on preserving and reviving the institution's beautiful murals of old into murals of new that can now be seen at the hospital). Since 2000, the Friends of Harlem Hospital Center has dispersed grants of over $1.3 million dollars; in 2008-2009 they donated $224,146 in grants to various departments and programs, and, in 2006 they donated $100,000 to Harlem Hospital Center’s Capital Campaign Modernization Project. The Friends of Harlem Hospital Center are committed to assist Hospital initiatives that are not funded by NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation. For more information about the Friends of Harlem Hospital Center call the Development office at (212) 939-1390.

MOHEGAN SUN

Ant & I got the chance to celebrate our 7th anniversary with a complimentary, two-night, three-day stay at Mohegan Sun (http://www.mohegansun.com/) in Connecticut. We had a blast! The 34-story hotel overlooks the Thames River - making for beautiful New England views and vistas. We got to dine at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain - a meal of filet mignon, shrimp & grits, deviled eggs...and lots of champagne! And ...when not dining 5-star, Johnny Rockets provided lots of comfort food - from its chili dogs to the chocolate malt. We danced a bit at Club Vista and -- of course -- we enjoyed the slots and proved WINNERS - especially on the Michael Jackson machine! SO MUCH FUN! We didn't get any spa treatments this time, but plan to return - perhaps for Ant's BDAY weekend in April. But the whole experience was a spa treatment for us - relaxing, fun, and romantic. Casino culture is unique. I enjoy popping in from time to time to experience it. Quite a re-nourishing getaway.

WICKED WILLY’S

Upon our return from the Mohegan Sun, we did a night-cap at Wicked Willy's (in the Village - next to Bitter End where I have performed a time or few in the '90s - primarily as host (and singer) for an event that was the brainchild of the brilliant Doreen Oliver: "Frustrated Artists in Corporate America" - a showcase featuring a host of 9-to-5er professionals - performing their sidelight i.e. singing, poetry, etc. What a FUN experience! ANYBODY REMEMBER THAT? But I digress, the Wicked Willy invite came from our girlfriends Ashlei and Natasha. My Carl Nelson joined us. It was karaoke night - so with what voice I had left from the 2nd-hand smoke in those CT casinos (It's still legal there to smoke inside! YUK!), I performed a - WHEW!-I-got-through-it version of "Reasons" by Earth, Wind, & Fire - one of my favorites to hear and perform.

THE LOUD 100

Shout out to my friend Stanley Bennett Clay, Contributing Editor for DBQ Magazine (as in David Bridgeforth – Editor and Publisher). I’ve just been informed that I have been named to “The Loud 100 LGBT People of Color” list, according to DBQ magazine. I’m told a hard copy of the magazine is on its way. I look forward to seeing the entire list of company of which I’m proud to be a part! Thanks GUYS! http://dbqmag.com/

LEWIS JOHNSON

Shout out to my friend Kelly J. Welborn whose idreamSpeakers, LLC is making a big difference already as the firm just launched (TWITTER: @idreamspeakers.com). Kelly’s client, seven-time NBC Olympic Commentator and ESPN reporter Lewis Johnson is hosting his World-Class Coat Drive benefiting the New York Cares 24th Annual Coat Drive and the Boys and Girls Clubs in the NY/NJ Metropolitan area (Twitter: @LewisJohnsonMG). Lewis was in New York to cover the ING NYC Marathon for ESPN in the days after Hurricane Sandy impacted the Northeast. Lewis has organized this coat drive to help families still recovering from the storm as well as those preparing for the Winter weather during this Holiday Season. He is inviting Olympic champions, world-class athletes, broadcast colleagues, corporations, and community friends to join him on Saturday, December 15, 2012 to kick-off his World-Class Coat Drive by collecting new or clean gently used winter coats, jackets, scarves, hats and gloves to donate to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The kick-off event plus a FREE Kids Holiday Village will be held at A Touch of Paris Art Gallery, owned by his wife, Dominique Galleron, located in historic downtown Grapevine, TX. From Saturday, December 15 - Saturday, December 29, other drop-off locations include Trinity Chiropractic Clinic in Carrollton, TX, Golden Corral in Keller, TX, The Arbors of Central Park in Bedford, TX and more locations to be announced. For more information, keep up with both entities on TWITTER.

VALIANT HORIZON

My Savannah homeboy Terry Sartor has started his own music label and production with a focus on dance music. It's called Valiant Horizon: http://www.facebook.com/valianthorizon. He is the first artist to release a single on it. It's a progressive house track called “Industry” with a number of remixes in the progressive house and techno spaces. Also, he now has another artist slated to release a single. His name is Lorchee (also known as David El). Lorchee is a music producer and DJ out of Poland. His music styles are house, techno and trance. Put your dance shoes on (or take them off) and enjoy! CONGRATS, TERRY (www.soundcloud.com/terrysartor)!

NAACP IMAGE AWARDS

Four of the five nominees in the category of the NAACP Image Award’s BEST TALK category have one degree of separation with me as they are all recurring clients! CONGRATS to : "Don't Sleep!" (BET); "Oprah's Lifeclass" (OWN); "Oprah's Next Chapter" (OWN); and "The View" (ABC).  I made recent impressions - on-cam and/or behind-the-scenes - on all of them this last year and change. My recent appearance on BET’s Don't Sleep, with T. J. Holmes for its POST-ELECTION DAY SHOW with Rapper The Game and MSNBC’s Toure: Here’s a clip: http://www.bet.com/video/dont-sleep/highlights/2012/sleep-talkers-don-t-sleep-121-12021.html. Also, I was interviewed back-stage before the show: http://bet.us/TuU3Eb.

MISS ROSS, THE OBAMAS, & CHRISTMAS

My Miss Ross overcame the challenge of a broken ankle to perform in excellence (with choir accompaniment) for the annual "Christmas In Washington" television-concert special, which will air on TNT Friday, December 21^st (http://www.tntdrama.com/schedule/).

Hosted by Late Night's Conan O'Brien, the show also featured appearances Demi Lovato and Scotty McCreery, among others… but MOST SUPREME: MISS ROSS! http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/diana-ross-performs-at-tnts-christmas-in-washington/2012/12/10/a201c766-42e9-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_video.html.

ROSS BURTON R.I.P.

We had many friends in common. All ABSOLUTELY LOVED HIM! When I met him and got to know him for a short, but recent window of time (the last five years or so), I too found him to be an AWESOME GUY! SUPER NICE & SWEET! And SO HANDSOME! Death is bigger than us and our comprehension sometimes. This one - for sure - feels like he's GONE TOO SOON! R.I.P. ROSS! Please see the info below re: a Celebration of ROSS' beautiful life that will take place here in NYC!