A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

REMY Martin meet NABJ

 You folks know how much I LOVE NABJ! SO MUCH!  

As my NABJ fam and I convened in Orlando, Florida last week, it was “annual therapy” as usual! A family reunion! HUGS! LAUGHTER! TEARS! JOY! And as can be par for the course in convention culture, lots of cocktails --- all for the calming of nerves and the brokering of new gigs and deals.  As Immediate Past Chair of the NABJ Arts & Entertainment Task Force, I’m pleased to have been able to bring a recurring client REMY MARTIN to the table. This, just in time for the task force’s 20^th Anniversary. Good friend of almost 20 years Lamar Johnson is VP of PR, Branded Entertainment, and Digital Marketing for Remy Martin. And he reached out to me about a year ago with the interest of connecting his brand to some of the events that I often include in “A Day in the Life of Riley: pop culture & possibilities” – most pointedly: He wanted to do something with NABJ (www.nabj.org). Well, mission accomplished! REMY Martin came in to the Orlando convention mix with great synergies and signature cocktails for the NABJ President’s Reception (CONGRATS, my friend, Mr. Greg Lee on the completion of your administration!) and – after my own heart – the NABJ Arts & Entertainment Task Force’s reception which featured some exciting elements: POWERED by Toyota Avalon via dear friend Sheila Eldridge, MC Lyte DJ’d; Tyrese Gibson... and TD Jakes (sporting plaid like me!) appeared on behalf of BLACK NATIVITY (In theaters November 27th) and Derek Luke, Jennifer Lewis (who brought me many laughs this night and from her body of work!), and... David E. Talbert joined us on behalf of his BAGGAGE CLAIM (September 27^th); my friend Bevy Smith hosted; and we honored Eric Deggans with this year's LEGACY award (He’s just been named TV Critic for NPR). From carving stations to passed food... and THREE signature cocktails courtesy of REMY Martin!  WHAT A BLAST!  Great event! Some of the other events for which I've enrolled Rémy Martin to power and partner this past year: 

1. Oscar Viewing Party in L.A. with the African American Film Critics Association and the Robey Theatre Company: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2013/2/26/oscar-and-remy-martin.html. Went well and client may want to partner again this year.

2. NYC Hearts of Gold charity event: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2012/11/19/golden-hearts.html.

3. DC (National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame synergy where REMY provided all the inductees engraved bottles of high-mark cognac);

4. Chicago (We recently hosted a 'Steve Harvey' birthday toast on the set of his show). That synergy with Steve Harvey has legs as Mr. Harvey has reached out and asked REMY to partner with his HOODIE AWARDS in Las Vegas next week. I've had the chance to host a half dozen "Disney Dreamers Academy" events (Steve Harvey's baby) at the National Associaton of Black Journalists' Convention. And at our Vegas convention, I got to share the stage with Mr. Harvey: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2007/8/13/audacity-of-hope-and-dreams-in-vegas.html.  This past year, I was a guest of Disney at the "Disney Dreamers Academy" (http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2012/3/15/dreams-and-desire.html).

I LOVE NABJ! I LOVE REMY Martin! THANKS ALL! #nabj13

THE BUTLER

I LOVE “LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER”! And I absolutely ADORE OPRAH in it... and the rest of the STAR-STUDDED, AMAZING CAST! But I digress: Most of you know I’ve freelanced for Oprah Winfrey since 1998 (and still today as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network produces a whole network of next-chapter content for which I sometimes get assigned to field produce – including recent Oprah: Where Are They Now? fare i.e. interviewing Dennis Rodman and Candace Bushnell recently; etc.). But like many of her opening nights (including “The Color Purple” on Broadway where Ant and I met), I got to share the carpet with her. But not working for her this time. I was asked a favor by my dear friend and NABJ sister @Lauren Tobin (Just saw her at the Convention in Orlando) – to escort her client Colman Domingo down the red carpet of Lee Daniels’ The Butler premiere. He portrays Freddie Fellows (head of the White House staff) – the character who grills Forest Whitaker’s character about Rémy Martin 1738 Cognac – the exceptionally mellow cognac made by my recurring client Rémy Martin who just partnered with my beloved NABJ for its Orlando Convention – providing fine spirits for the NABJ Arts & Entertainment Task Force and Immediate Past President Greg Lee’s reception.     But worth noting it was in Orlando where Lauren knew she wouldn’t be able to make it NYC for the WORLD PREMIERE. ENTER COLMAN DOMINGO – in Hugo Boss! I made sure my friends in the business spoke to him – from EXTRA’s AJ Calloway to E! ENTERTAINMENT’s Alicia Quarles to OMG! Insider’s Kevin Frazier; ACCESS HOLLYWOOD; Vanity Fair; Wall Street Journal; The Source; all of NYC’s papers; and a host of other GREAT PRESS! PLUS, I snagged a few shots of him with his co-stars – including Lenny Kravitz who attended with his late mom Roxie Roker’s dear friend Cicely Tyson (recent Tony-award-winner for “Trip to Bountiful”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxfe-hG_aY).  I first met Colman Domingo after he starred in Broadway’s “Passing Strange” (http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2012/11/1/swept-away.html).  Came to know he and I had Lauren in common soon after that. His upcoming projects: “A Boy and His Soul” at the Tricycle Theatre in London and “The Scottsboro Boys” at The Young Vic in London; one recent independent film “Newlyweeds” premiered at Sundance; and “Almost Christmas” with Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd is also coming up. OF COURSE, while on the carpet, I got to acknowledge – face-to-face – many of the wonderful cast-members – including Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrance Howard, David Oleyowo, Mariah Carey, Yaya Alafia (from “America’s Next Top Model”), Jane Fonda, and a host of others. Most excitedly, I got to say HI to MISS WINFREY (and to CONGRATULATE her on the amazing role she plays). Shout out to MISS WINFREY’s GLAM SQUAD: Andre, Kelly, and my friend Derrick – all of whom I was happy to see. I’ve seen the film twice – once with Lee Daniels, Gabourey Sidibe, my girlfriend Sidra Smith, TV personality Paul Wharton, Chris Rock, and an intimate group of folks. Then, I just saw it again – FINAL CUT – with NABJ this past weekend. I LOVE “THE BUTLER”! It’s a CLASSIC and so timely right now! TWITTER @weinsteinfilms @oprah @colmandomingo INSTAGRAM: kingofbingo FACEBOOK: Colman Domingo WEBSITE: www.colmandomingo.com  JOB WELL DONE, LADIES (including my friend Pernell Walter) and GENTLEMEN‪!‎ #leedanielsthebutler

What a busy week! I’m on deadline with one client BET as I work with its creative team on content for its UP FRONT presentations in April. Been balancing work with other clients – spot shoots here and consulting gigs there. I even got an invitation to sing “Through the Fire” to Chaka Khan for her 60^th birthday, but the plans around those arrangements changed along with my serenade. A friend tells me “mercury is in retrograde”. Maybe… LOL!

girlfriendz

Shout out to Mara Brock Akil who received such an awesome honor Oscar week from Essence at its annual women's luncheon (presented to her by the original cast of "Girlfriends" I.E. Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, and - wait for it - Jill Marie Jones AKA Toni Chiles whose character abruptly moved to NYC from LA and before the show went away, we never heard from her again). But I missed that event as I didn't get to LA until Friday for my Oscar-related business:  the Oscar Viewing Party - hosted by the African American Film Critics Association and the Robey Theatre Company. I enrolled fine liquor comany Remy Martin to partner with the groups' fundraiser to ensure all suitably quenched while the live telecast ran [Go J Hud!!!]). The one thing missing from the L.A. Center Studios set was Mara Brock Akil who I invited to the Oscar Viewing Party. But as I was hopping into Hollywood, she was heading to Atlanta to continue her work on her upcoming BET creation: "Being Mary Jane" starring Gabrielle Union (Stay tuned). But in addition to texting me her regrets, she made good on it: inviting me to sit at she and her fab director husband Salim Akil's table that they bought for the New York City-based Dance Theater of Harlem's Vision Gala (They were Gala Co-Chairs). Though in their absence, my "Amazing Grace" Nichole Andrews invited me to escort her...and BABY! WE HAD A BLAST! - an evening produced - in large order - by my friend Vernon! In addition to reconnecting to dear friends Terri Prettyman Bowles and her husband Alvin Bowles as well as many other friends Olivia Scott-Perkins(Omerge Alliance); publicist Gilda Squire; TV exec Sharon Nelson; colleague(at BET) Jeanine Liburd; EXTRA correspondent AJ; host of "Closet Talk" Chenoa Maxwell; Corcoran Group's Spencer Means (NYC real estate agent); journalist Lola Ogunnaike (and her brother who works at Amex where my nephew works); Salim's Uncle Rick; former N Boutique co-owner Larry; and a beautiful room of folks:

* to honor Vision Award Honoree Vanessa L. Williams (TOTAL FAV!!!!! And an even more profound treat seeing her daughter Jillian Hervey AKA Lion Babe - an aspiring singer/actress and current fashionista a la her mom's 'Right Stuff' era - present to her mom while Vanessa's mom looked on with pride. Jillian's latest video is all the rage with the young'ns: "Treat Me Like Fire":  www.youtube,com/watch?v=gNd2XAP_Pfo 

* to enjoy Eyewitness 7's Sade Baderinwa;

* to be in the presence of Opera diva Jessye Norman;

 * to be impressed byHonorary Chair Chelsea Clinton;

AND

* to be inspired by all the wonderful, young dancers! Indeed I was exhausted from our L.A. whirlwind followed by a quite full and demanding day with my client. But clearly, I found my second wind: The Colors of the Wind to be exact.

everybody loves sidra

Harlem BFF Sidra Smith attracted a ROOM FULL OF LOVE! Backdrop? Cedric’s for her birthday – including many of her NYC FAMILY MEMBERS i.e. Ant, Carl, Mara Schiavocampo, Tommie Porter, MISS NINA, Nathan Hale Williams (who brought actress Jennifer Lewis by to greet Sidra), Brian Palmer Washington, Micheala angela Davis, DJ Stormin’ Norman, Gordon Chambers (who has a show TONIGHT with Avery Sunshine at the Highline Ballroom: http://highlineballroom.com/show/2013/03/07/avery-sunshine-with-gordon-chambers/); As he serenaded Sid HAPPY BIRTHDAY, I joined in... and then we all cut up! LOL!), Eric Deon, Phedra Gremillon, Elisabeth Blix Lie, Ramon Hervey, Ary, Tracey Smith, and a host more. After brunch wrapped, we popped over to Billie’s Black and ran into even more well-wishers – including Kimberly Nichole and my nephew Herman L. Riley III. He was having a brunch with a few colleagues. Sid was thrilled to see him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIDRA! WE LOVE YOU!

love hangover

Y'all SAVE THE DATE(S) for my girl LaChanze who is presenting a LOVE HANGOVER to all of NYC! See this clip: https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=10200753000931783 “Stop! In The Name of Love”? or “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”?, La Chanze asks on this viral as she prepares to perform Love Hangover: Celebrating the Music of Diana Ross over THREE... NIGHTS in April at 54 Below (www.54below.com) ...: April 17, 18, & 22nd! I mentioned in a prior “…Life of Riley…” that my girlfriend LACHANZE is doing this special tribute (http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2013/1/24/first-look-and-listen.html). When she originally told me, she said “knowing she’s your girl, I just had to share this with you. I'm so inspired and pumped up about it I don't know what to do…!!” Moreover, you know I bombarded her with recommendations of what she should sing. She says she’s doing sections for her set list: MISS ROSS’ #1s; MOVIES; JAZZ; SUPREMES (“Baby Love”; “Where Did Our Love Go?”; “I Hear a Symphony”; and only one more song can fit in the section: “Stop! In The Name of Love”? or “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”? WHAT SAY YOU? LACHANZE went on to say “… I LOVE HER! And while so many other legends have been celebrated, I can't think of one honoring her…” I LOVE IT!

black on black

Shout out to a dear friend Berlinda Garnett with whom I used to work at CNBC in the mid-‘90s. We were BFFs then and have stayed in touch through the years, even though I hadn’t seen her in a decade-plus. She popped into NYC from Philadelphia recently and what a reunion we had. She met me at my client BET’s Times Square office. This, while she is an UBER-PRODUCER of SPECIALS and great programming like “Good Day Philadelphia” (www.myfoxphilly.com). She’s produced and promoted a series of specials titled “Black on Black” which have been highly-praised and nominated for awards (I SMELL EMMY!).  YOU GO, BERLINDA! I’m so proud of you ALWAYS! Here are some links to her work: http://www.myfoxphilly.com/video?clipId=6980827&autostart=true And from “Black on Black… the Conversation Continues” - http://www.myfoxphilly.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7981645&clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass.

vy higginsen

My dear friend Vy Higginsen is celebrating the 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF "MAMA, I WANT TO SING" - the longest-running off-Broadway Black musical in theater history!  EVENT CHAIRS Lesley Stahl; Aretha Franklin; Chaka Khan; Cissy Houston; Shirley Caesar; Valerie Simpson; and show creator Vy Higginsen are doing a big RED CARPET on Saturday, March 23rd at The Dempsey Theater - 127 West 127th Street - Harlem. (The Gospel for Teens program will benefit; It was created to transform young lives through music and to pass on gospel as an art form so that the music never dies). For more information, click on www.mamafoundation.org.

merrell hollis

Shout out to my friend and Wendy Williams glam-squad best Merrell Hollis for his recent  2013 Bronner Bros. ICON Award presented By Clairol last month in Atlanta. Merrell is blowing up – working on many great projects – including his flawless foundation pro class that he teaches in Harlem. LOVE YOU, MERRELL! KEEP GOING! #flawlessfoundation

ken reynolds

I got to see friend and legendary entertainment publicist Ken Reynolds when I was out in Los Angeles. He was in New York City with two clients JU-TAUN (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Exist/110507328978273?ref=ts&fref=ts&rf=106390986063307#!/jutaun?fref=ts) and DC FAM (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Exist/110507328978273?ref=ts&fref=ts&rf=106390986063307#!/DCFAMBoston?fref=ts)! You’ll want to check them out – so don’t sleep!

will downing

Grammy Nominated Singer Will Downing is celebrating 25 Years of Recording Excellence with the Release of "Silver"! It’s out now! And what a wonderful reflection: http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Will-Downing/dp/B00B1E6FLM.

the tony rich project

Shout out to my friend Thornell Jones for reminding me about his client The Tony Rich Project’s "Speak Me", a new album coming May 2013. Pre-view new music at www.hiddenbeach.com/thetonyrichproject Pre-Order Now at http://www.hiddenbeach.com/speakme .

kenneth carr

Hey y'all! Check out my friend Kenneth Carr's video about the history and the evolution of his music! Share with your family and friends... and don't forget to LIKE it... Thxs! Stay tuned for the first release coming in a couple weeks.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HXv6nmqmG8