A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

ritual

Lots going on this season as LIFE OF RILEY looks to unplug a bit over the holidays. I have one big deadline for recurring client BET – a video project for which I had to shoot an impressive crew of millennials who may be hiring me soon! THANKS LADIES and GENTLEMEN! Meanwhile, a couple of other projects I wrapped a couple of months ago will see the light of day. First up is my HOME LENDING episode for recurring client WELLS FARGO PRESENTS THE NEW ADVOCATE MONEY MINUTE: http://www.advocate.com/business/advocate-money-minute/2014/12/12/home-lending (See all my other episodes here: http://www.advocate.com/business/advocate-money-minute) ... and on long-standing, recurring client OWN THIS UPCOMING SUNDAY? A very special interview THAT I ACTUALLY CONDUCTED with Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie:
http://www.oprah.com/own-where-are-they-now/Beth-Holloway-Tiffany-and-the-Original-Cast-of-The-Real-World-Video. That’s Sunday, December 21, at 9/8c. Read more:http://www.oprah.com/own-where-are-they-now/Beth-Holloway-Tiffany-and-the-Original-Cast-of-The-Real-World-Video#ixzz3LtLgBV2v #WhereAreTheyNow. And I’m saying yes to as many talent bookings I can before I leave town – including: the chance to host a marriage party for my NABJ BFF Brian Henderson and his beautiful wife Nikita Henderson – The New York Times own. Le Maison d’Art in Harlem was the back-drop… and we had a BLAST – celebrating the newlyweds. This Thursday, my friend Chris Jones booked me to join a fun line-up at “Freddie Wright’s Holiday Talent Show and Review”. And the holiday parties are booked at the craziest pace while Ant and I try to get to our loved ones – respectively! WHEW!

karaoke

I’m hoping to have some voice left-over Thursday after our PRE-HOLIDAY BLAST! That's right! We are about to wrap up our FALL 2014 series of Billie’s Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L Riley! AND YES! WE HOPE TO RETURN IN THE SPRING!

UPDATES:

My ALL STAR KARAOKE producer Bernice Wooden will keep the party going during the two holiday TUESDAYS left in 2014. And if I get back in time for Tuesday, December 30^th… I may pop by to WATCH (and wait in line to sing)! LOL!

Last Tuesday, our usual suspects included our beloved sponsors Miss Jessie’s and Riley Land Gourmet Pantry who ensure our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULs walk out the door with a smile and some SWAG! LOL! BFF Mara Schiavocampo got in on the phone – giving away two copies of her upcoming book “THINspired”, due December 30th… but you can pre-order on Amazon NOW: http://www.amazon.com/Thinspired-Pounds-Lasting-Weight-Self-Acceptance/dp/1476784051/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417643482&sr=8-1&keywords=thinspired. We sang, laughed, and were TRULY MERRY:https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204127038514182&set=vb.1172177040&type=2&theater. AND OF COURSE, we talked about THINSPIRED: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204126885790364&set=vb.1172177040&type=2&theater. Mara also secured copies of the latest edition of ESSENCE inside of which there’s an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from her book. Also, you'll find some FABULOUS PICTURES of Mara through the years AND a couple of the pages features our ALL STAR KARAOKE/CELEBRITY hair stylist SUPREME, Carla Bone! So much fun when Mara comes by: http://bit.ly/ask_mara.#THINspiredbook #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke  

motown

So, imagine my EXCITEMENT when my nephew made sure that his uncle got prime seats to see my icon MISS ROSS February 3rd as she opens the historic, now-newly-renovated theater in Brooklyn! She's still #THEBOSS - never more underscored when my friend - marketing consultant Marcia Pendelton - brought #MOTOWNMAY to #BILLIESBLACK and #ALLSTARKARAOKE. Well, as I have loved MISS ROSS since I came out the womb; and since Marcia made it possible for me to be the Opening Night HOST of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL's video which allowed me TWO interviews with Miss Ross and Berry Gordy that night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ; and since our #MOTOWNMAY was such a SUCCESS; and since MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL is playing its final performance at Broadway's Lunt Fontanne Theatre on January 18, 2015 (though poised to return to the Nederlander theater July 2016). BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE: In additon to its US THEATER TOUR, a UK production is planned for the summer of 2015. MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL has broken the weekly gross box office record at the Lunt Fontanne with million-dollar grossing weeks. Recoup? Check! This spring, the first National Tour of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL opened to critical acclaim, grossing an impressive $20 Million dollars during a packet, sixteen-week run. SO GIVEN ALL OF THAT: Marcia is coming THIS WEEK to ALL STAR KARAOKE to - as she put it - "Can I come to karaoke, we do some Motown, and I give away some grand prizes?" The answer is: AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH! LOL! #getready #motownthemusical #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #motownmay

Rip

“Billie’s Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley” extends condolences to Miko Branch and the family and friends of Titi Branch of Miss Jessie's, who died last week at the age of 45. http://bit.ly/1yTYVNv

 theater

I am scheduled to do one more MUST-SEE HOLIDAY SHOW segment for ARISE 360 a little later this week – including, if time, word on my friend Stanley Bennett Clay who invited Anthony, Derrick, Dawn Murphy Riley, and me to see his award-winning play “Ritual” – now inside an extended run at the 777 Theatre, 777 8^th Avenue, NY 10036 (between 47^th and 48^th Sts.), with 2 pm Sunday shows. Tickets are currently on sale for performances thru December 28, 2014. BACK-STORY: Set in the 1980’s, this powerful drama explores the dysfunctional dynamics at work beneath an affluent African-American family’s appearance of perfection. The husband & father is in denial about his family crisis, and is equally detached from his ethnic soul. The wife & mother is on the verge of alcoholism and is threatened by her cunning daughter in the home and perhaps the bedroom. The young gay son, at odds with his father, leaves his Ivy League college to come home and save his family…by any devastating means necessary. “Ritual” features Reginald James Albert, Latresa Baker, David M. Raine, and Q as the volatile Becker family. Clay wrote and produced “Armstrong’s Kid” Off-Broadway 3 years ago. Two years ago he wrote and directed the feature-length documentary “You Are Not Alone,” an examination of depression among black gay men, and directed last year’s award-winning production of the stage adaptation of James Earl Hardy’s classic novel “B-Boy Blues.” He received 3 NAACP Theatre Awards and 3 Drama-logue Awards for writing, directing and co-producing the original Los Angeles production of “Ritual.” That production was also an L.A. Times Critics’ Choice and an L.A. Weekly Pick of the Week. Tickets to “Ritual” are available by calling (866) 811-4111 or visiting www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/shows/ritual_305392/. Tickets are also available at the box office one hour before curtain. Tickets are $31.45-$51.45 (which includes a $1.95 service fee). TDF members get discount tickets on the TDF site. All seats reserved. Tickets are on sale now. Group rates/tickets are available. Contact: Stanley Bennett Clay phone: 323-200-4861 email:stanleybennettclay@gmail.com #HIGHLYRECOMMENDED #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

model

After enjoying a night with my Morehouse brother Mario's Harlem Thursday Night at NABE, had a great night with industry buddy Ron Smith AKA The Wiz.  He brought Anthony Harper and several of our colleagues and friends – new and old – together at Chez Josephine for the opportunity to meet and greet and get to know menswear label Polo Ralph Lauren’s latest pluck: model Darius Williams - one of the faces of the brand’s Fall/Winter 2014 men’s campaign. In attendance: David Miller (DMillerPR); Brian Jamie (Photographer); Sonya Magett (Style/Fashion expert); Ken like Barbie (VROGGPR); Terry Donovan (Summer Sizzle BVI); Christopher Kadima (model); Jamie Tonge (Distinct Homene Magazine); Claire Summers (Fashion Bomb Daily); Indashio; Ebony ( model – “MLZ”). We all WELCOMED Darius into what we see as an obvious destiny of SUCCESS: the TRIPLE-THREAT KIND! PER DARIUS’ BIO, Louisiana native Williams caught the eye of one the fashion industry’s leading clothing brands this year. The 6’1.5” fitness model was photographed to appear in the print and online ads for the prestigious company by world-renowned lensman Bruce Weber, one of the industry’s most celebrated photographers. Weber captured the professional model’s good looks both solo and posed with other models for the brand’s print and billboard ads featured in department stores nationwide as well as on the company’s website Polo.com. The photos spark the viewer’s imagination enough to cause a double-take. Williams was raised in a small town in Louisiana with a population of only 18,000 residents. Before he moved to New York, he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Northwestern State University of Louisiana where he also honed his skills as a graphic designer. It was during his last semester in college is when he took up an offer by a model scout to attend castings for Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week. Williams jumped at the chance he felt could be a once in a lifetime opportunity, despite having never visited the Big Apple before. As Williams’ flight landed in a New York airport, he received a phone call stating he had one hour to attend his first meeting at a modeling agency in Manhattan. As fate would have it, he landed a modeling contract with Soul Artist Management. Since that fateful meeting, Williams has worked with many other talented photographers. He has appeared in ad campaigns for Nike, SperryTopsider, and Verizon. The fine art lover has also been snapped by male supermodel David Agbodji (Calvin Klein) for Flaunt magazine. Williams has also walked on the runway for men’s underwear brand 2xist as well as various designers for the fashion week seasons. Williams recently wrapped a shoot to appear in an upcoming ad for Hanes; another one of the nation’s leading the underwear brands for their spring 2015 campaign. His career path, however, lies not only in modeling—he is currently studying acting to prepare his next steps into Hollywood. His model profile and portfolio may be viewed at SoulArtistManagement.com.