A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

I've been on the road a lot lately;

, Anthony and I were figuratively transported to 1994 RWANDA during the horrific genocide its people had to struggle through during that bloody summer. And again (as I have in previous entries), I want to re-inforce how awesome Leslie Lewis Sword (pictured above with us) is in the one-woman show Miracle in Rwanda (www.MiracleInRwanda.com) which is still running at the Ohio Theater in SOHO/NYC. She plays every character in this amazing true story of how Immaculee Ilibagiza learned to forgive the unforgiveable. She plays a dozen or so characters in her piece. And my friend Carl Nelson (pictured below) is producing. Anthony and I had the chance to check it out last weekend and we were both quite moved. Apparently, the masses are inspired as well. This show, which was debuted in its current incarnation in Naples, Florida, is getting ready to go on the road to California, North Carolina, and a number of other festivals and theaters which have begun to invite Leslie in large order to share this powerful message wrapped inside of her talent.

FROM THERE, I was off to ATLANTA for an assignment. It gave me the opportunity to hang out with my nephew, who I call Noot, who is a freshman at Morehouse College (www.morehouse.edu). He and I hung out on the campus and he, my sister, cousin Floyd, and I enjoyed a nice meal at my favorite (and now my nephew's favorite) HOUSTON'S. I also got the chance to enjoy cocktails at the Omni Hotel with my friends Audrey and Chris -- both of whom (along with my family) have been chronicled in my Georgia entries from Christmas and February (Check out What You've Missed ). ATL is ALWAYS a good time for me and I now look forward to my 15-YEAR REUNION from MOREHOUSE which is coming up mid-May ( www.morehouseoldschool.com/1992 ). See our pic from the 10-year reunion. FROM A-T-L, I got the chance to hit BALTIMORE for a few days - again for another assignment. As I do when I'm on the road for work, I try to see my peeps. And I got the chance to spend some quality time with my "Amazing Grace" Lisa Goodnight who drove from her home of Silver Spring, MD to see me at the Intercontinental hotel that sets off of Baltimore's beautiful harbor. (www.harborcourt.com). She and I walked around and grabbed a cocktail or two from various spots before I joined some of my colleagues for dinner at P.F. Changs ( www.pfchangs.com/ ). We considered going out to the club on one of the nights, but fatigue got the best of us. Our server recommended "Grand Central" (www.centralstationpub.com) or "Hippo" ( www.clubhippo.com/index.shtml ). Maybe next time...

While in CHICAGO (on another assignment), however, I accepted just about every invitation that came to me. The National Association of Black Journalists BOARD was meeting in Chicago during the time I was there and I got the chance to hang out with them extensively.  My ITIKA and I went to their reception at CARNIVALE (www.carnivalechicago.com), the restaurant Anthony and I have enjoyed before. [PIX provided by neal@weisenbergphotography.com]. There, anchor for the CBS affiliate in Chicago, Diann Burns and her husband Marc Watts, talent agent, hosted the affair. Many of my brothers and sisters from Chicago journalism were in the house - from reporter/ anchor Dorothy Tucker to managing editor of EBONY Lynn Norment. It's always good to see my NABJ folks. Afterwards, Diann and Marc hosted an after-set at their beautiful Lincoln Park home, which was most palatial. Anna Nicole's baby daddy Larry Birkhead who he recently ran into on vacation in the Bahamas. It seems a match made in 'pop culture' heaven and as Birkhead considers his future and the many offers, Marc will advise him accordingly. The next night, NABJ's President Bryan Monroe hosted everyone at his home in Naperville, quite the schlep from the city. But schlep, Itika, her friend Janene, and I did. Bryan was ever the host and even allowed us to listen to "Dreamgirls" as piped from his I-TUNES to his DVR (TIVO)... and of course, we all reflected on our time with Jennifer Hudson back in Indianapolis last summer before her amazing ride. We too are looking forward to May 1st when "Dreamgirls" comes out on DVD.

ALSO, while in Chicago, I got to see my Chicago CARL and we had the chance to hang out at his friend Bionce's WGCI networking mixer at SOLO (Solo 1530). TANK was the featured performer. He performed his hits as well as songs from his upcoming 3^rd album "Sex, Love & Pain" due out on  May 15^th via Blackground Records. The new set will include joints like "Please Don't Go", as well as collaborations with production team The Underdogs(Whitney Houston, Nick Lachey) and Keri Hilson (Britney Spears, Ciara). On the other hand, fans of Tank's songwriting should look out for the next albums by Kelly Rowland (Sony Music), Claudette Ortiz (Interscope Records), Keke Wyatt (TVT Records), Megan Rochell (Def Jam Records), as well as new girlgroups Gyrlfriend (J Records) and LAX (Blackground Records). He writes for them all and - of course - wrote the lion's share of Jamie Foxx's J Records debut. TANK was in fine form (vocally and physically). It turns out that NEYO was having a listening party for his upcoming album across town at Quantro. Itika was there. She, Carl, and I let SPRING know how happy we are for it to finally have awakened by hanging out beyond our evening appointments. Carl took me to see his friend AJES at his hair salon in Chicago (www.ajessalon.com). I'd heard so much about AJES, it was great to finally meet him. He was a joy and I look forward to more time to hang out in Chicago. His salon is beautiful with gorgeous floral arrangements, exposed brick, multiple stations, etc. And he's done the heads of many celebrities who've come through Chicago and beyond. Meanwhile, at one point, Itika and I took my friend Caleb to the Peninsula for drinks (chicago.peninsula.com). We took Caleb and some of our other NABJ folks to a big party at 12 ERIE BALLROOM. We saw lots of folks we know from New York and Chicago as we all danced to the hottest '80s songs around - from Michael Jackson to WHAM!. It was a GREAT night of dancing. Caleb inspired table service and some great champagne at our after-after set, which took place at REDNOFIVE (www.rednofive.com/). I ran into one of my buddies Loucian there. That was cool. We also took in some pre-dawn breakfast from TEMPO (Tempo Cafe).

By the way, Itika's boyfriend Datari is the executive producer of a new show "I MARRIED A BALLER" which launched this week on TV ONE (www.tvoneonline.com). It features Miss Taj from R&B group SWV and her husband Eddie George -- Heisman Trophy winner and former Ohio State and NFL running back. The series will run on TV One. In the show, we see Taj running her husband's nonprofit organization, Visions With Infinite Possibilities. We also will see her with SWV as they reunited for some dates. And we see her as mother and stepmother. Datari and his fellow executive producer Shannon J. Love run the ship, which also features the couple bringing up his 10-year-old son, Jaire, from a previous relationship and their 2-year-old son, Eriq. They live in Nashville, where George played with the Tennessee Titans for nine seasons. And they have homes in Columbus and Los Angeles, to which he commutes for his job as an NFL analyst with Fox Sports Net. Itika, Datari, Anthony and I had the chance to holiday last summer in Maui and we experienced an awesome bonding. I wish him well on this show...

Though this season of "American Idol" isn't the most exciting, the celebrity coaches - led by Diana Ross - have been adding a certain zest to this otherwise bland cast. Having said that (and now that Sanjaya is gone), the balance of the finalist ballot is beginning to look like a "serious" competition. Some of them are lacking in the way of personality, but clearly there are some talented kids in there. Melinda Doolittle is still turning the kids while LaKisha Jones holds her ground. Meanwhile, Jordin Sparks may be the last "sistah" standing a la the season that Kimberly Locke rose to the top three (just under the radar). But Blake Lewis (though in the bottom three with other favorite LaKisha last week) seems poised to take it - demographically speaking. Plus, he offers something fresh and new that we've not seen elevate to the top in this franchise.

Meanwhile, beyond "American Idol", there are a couple of shout outs I want to make for those who are already established in the industry or aiming to establish themselves outside of the "American Idol" mix:

Last week, after I gave a shout out to Amy Winehouse and her new CD "Back to Black" (on Universal Republic Records), I got a call from Virgin (EMI/Capitol), asking if I liked their blue-eyed soulstress Joss Stone. Though they had sent me a "Valentine's basket", it didn't include the full CD. A day later, the new CD "Introducing Joss Stone" was in my mailbox... and has been on my rotation ever since. Raphael Saadiq produced the project (with Joss Stone credit for Executive Producer). Joss (and Amy) stand on the shoulders of Teena Marie, George Michael, and a host of other white singers who have us asking "Is she white?". She exudes so much soul, sass, and attitude in her vocals. Coupled with Saadiq's contemporary/vintage spin on her voice, she's got a release here that will let us know a bit more about what she's got to offer. (www.jossstone.com/)

Meanwhile, my Anthony brought another artist to my attention via the domain of MY SPACE. Many artists (unsigned, independent, and between projects while in the lab) share their new music on their respective sites. One on which he stumbled and shared with me: MATEO (http://www.myspace.com/mateosongs). As comparisons go, his vocals weave in and out of R&B singers we know and love - like Musiq Soulchild, Eric Benet, and Craig David. But MATEO - via his EP "HUMAN" - is all his own. Born into a family of musicians in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mateo was raised by a single mother where his early musical gifts were cultivated and developed. His site shows that he's a Morehouse brother of mine (younger though). And after he graduated college, he moved to New York City where he worked as a corporate consultant, while also performing at various venues around the city on the side - a trajectory many of us who are singers/artists have taken. (I used to host an event for that demographic here in the city. It was called "Frustrated Artists in Corporate America"). Frustrated no more, Mateo set his sights on Los Angeles to pursue his passion for music full time. And that's what he is doing... BEING THE DIFFERENCE he wanted to see in his world! And now, musically, it is showing up all over. Check him out.                                                                    

MEANWHILE, since Anthony has moved here to the east coast, he's become such a 'pop culture' influence on me (as I think he would say I am on him). During his first week here, we went to karaoke and we have stumbled into a bit of a tradition where he will select a song for me to sing. MAXWELL's "This Woman's Work" is the new hit I do. Another that he stumbled into was DES'REE's "Kissing You" from the movie "Romeo and Juliet" starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Daines. I had not seen the film nor had I heard the song, but Anthony insisted I sing it anyway --- following the melody, his direction, and the lyrics on the screen. With no frame of reference, Anthony says I did a great job. With that, everytime we go to Karaoke, he punches it in for me to sing to him. I did get the chance to hear the song when Anthony insisted - one night - that we watch the DVD of "Romeo and Juliet" at home. I fell asleep the first time, but stayed awake the second time... and I now know why it's his favorite. It's now one of our favorites. And the song as sung by Des'Ree - famous for her 1994 smash hit, "You Gotta Be" - in the movie is beautiful. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G0NHmGcY0M) And Anthony is right. I did nail it (THE SONG... and PERHAPS THE KISS) the first time (if I don't say so myself). With that, "Kissing You" has become OUR SONG (or one of those that we share and are inspired by... in the context of our shared LOVE). Imagine my wonder when I got an e-mail from my nephew that another of my favorite young divas BEYONCE has covered the song on her newly-expanded and re-released B-DAY album (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU5GGiFK5Bc). However, according to a lawsuit filed recently in Manhattan Federal Court by music administators, Beyoncé allegedly never obtained proper clearance to cover the song, which she's re-titled "(Still in Love) Kissing You". In the lawsuit, Des'ree and her reps claim that Beyoncé, along with her record company people, originally tried to work out a deal to use the song. When they weren't satisfied with the proposed terms -- which included not being able to change the title or make a music video for the song -- Beyoncé allegedly blew off copyright law completely, and recorded the song and video without permission. Des'ree is suing to halt distribution of the song, video and album and seeking at least $150,000 in damages. Both versions are beautiful and though I don't necessarily know the reason for needing to change the title, I do know Beyonce is not the first diva to change a song's title when she re-recorded it. I recall Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston's "Hold Me" from 1982. It was a duet that introduced Whitney Houston to the airwaves. Well, Miss Ross re-recorded the Michael Masser composition on her sophomore RCA project "Silk Electric", changing the feel of the song and its title to "In Your Arms". Though I don't think there were any litigious issues that time, Beyonce is yet again standing on Ross' shoulders.  

When Diana Ross performs "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" in her concerts, she usually exclaims "GO FOR YOUR DREAMS! REACH AND THE THEIR YOURS". When I interviewed director of "Dirty Laundry" J. Maurice Jamal for UNEQ Magazine (www.UneQmagazine.com) back in December (www.dirtylaundrythemovie.com), he mentioned his what's next was co-writing the adaptation of "B-Boy Blues" into a feature film with the original novelist James Earl Hardy. As this is a book I read before I even came out of the closet (in the mid-90s), I immediately asked to be a part. Since that time, our interview has come out and Mr. Jamal is off and running with "B-BOY BLUES: THE MOVIE" (www.bboybluesthemovie.com). Once the open call for casting hit my inbox, I quickly realized that I am not 20 (nor in my 20s) anymore... and though I boast a 29-inch waist that I've maintained since high school (and I enjoy the looks of shock from bouncers and servers when I am carded), but starring as Mitchell, Raheim, or any of the gang is likely not going to happen. Granted, with some tweaking on the character and situational adaptation from book to film, they could work it around me a la Diana Ross' Dorothy in "The Wiz". But from the closer inspection of the character breakdowns, I figured I should hold out for a "cameo" while forwarding the sheet to my Anthony, who is an actor and falls more in line with several of the characters. (He has since auditioned and is being considered in his own right, which is a HUGE STRETCH and just the beginning of all the AMAZING things that are unfolding for him). Meanwhile, we happened to run into J. Maurice Jamal last Thursday and he - without nudging or mention - told me that he does still want to talk to me about something that may be a good fit for me in the film. I hope my 'laws of attraction' are at work and this truly does unfold into my BIG SCREEN DEBUT.

With that, there was lots to celebrate on Friday (on the heels of that news and Anthony's audition), so instead of Disneyland, we popped one block up to the Madison Square Garden to behold Diana Ross' SOLD OUT show at the famous venue's THEATER. But not before hooking up with my Amazing Grace Nichole and her niece Daylin, who was in town to hang out with her aunt for the week. We met up at the spot (http://www.karaoke17.com/) as I got us ready for the main event by performing Diana Ross' greatest hits. Daylin - of course - gave us the best that Chris Brown, Lloyd, and the young gang had to offer. And Nichole did her best impersonation of a jazz singer (a la "Sister" from Sparkle). As always, KARAOKE rules!

From there, Nichole and Daylin dropped Anthony and me off to the Madison Square Garden. We met up with Tata and Michael, both of whom received the balance of our tickets. But at this much- anticipated event, I saw so many friends - old and new. Many of my fellow Diana Ross Fan Club mates were in the house and this provided our first time to meet. My buddies - like Frankie, Marlon, Murphy, etc. - were in the house and we went so far as to get a picture taken together afterwards. Nile Rodgers - half of the team (CHIC) behind Diana's best-selling album ever "diana" (with "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out") - was there. James Lipton, who chatted Miss Ross up for two hours (and change) on BRAVO's "Inside The Actor's Studio" was there. L.A. Reid (President of Island Def Jam Records) was there with his family and I'm told "loving him some Diana Ross", who he even commented on maybe signing to his label to play a role in elevating that label's cache. Reid pointed out in a Rolling Stone article a couple of years ago that he's always searching for the "... next Diana Ross" and feels he always falls short. Maybe signing her and choreographing her a studio comeback of original material could be his way of fulfilling that desire.

But let's be clear: As Diana's show reflected (and the crowd that stayed on its feet for hit after hit after hit), she need not ever record another chart-topper ever again as she has so many already. And though she entertained us with a good dozen or so of them, there are many more that we could have heard that night. Her set list was as follows:

Overture

I'm Coming Out

More Today Than Yesterday

Where Did Our Love Go?

Baby Love

Stop! In the Name of Love

Touch Me in the Morning

Love Hangover

The Boss

It's My House

Love Child

Upside Down

Ease On Down the Road

Fine and Mellow

Don't Explain

Why Do Fools Fall In Love?

Why Do Fools Fall In Love? (Reprise)

Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Reprise)

I Will Survive

I Love You (That's All That Really Matters)

I Will Survive (Reprise)

On Monday, Anthony and I ventured down to Red Bank, New Jersey to see Ross one more time. Again, to a SOLD-OUT audience, she delivered in a way that made me proud, though she switched out "MORE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY" for "MY WORLD IS EMPTHY WITHOUT YOU". The reviews for all the shows so far have been SMASHING! And I look forward to hearing more about Miss Ross as she travels the states and then Europe next month. And I'll let you know what's going on...

Ironically, as a P.S., Anthony and I went about listening to an artist whose project we landed from Nathan at SPLASH last Tuesday. Her name is Amy Winehouse and the CD (on Universal Republic Records) is titled "Back to Black". On her artwork she looks white, but the music is "old school soul"-style a la Etta James with a some bluesy Dinah Washington to boot. I liken her vocal tones to Lauryn Hill and India.Arie. But Amy is truly an original. (www.amywinehouse.com) and on TRACK 7, "TEARS DRY ON THEIR OWN", she had the good taste to sample Ashford & Simpson's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". As DIANA says "GO FOR YOUR DREAMS. REACH AND THEIR YOURS". Why not use a little help from her catalogue to catapult that?

This has been a week of SPRING AWAKENINGS (a shout out to the Broadway musical my friend Tamara Tunie is producing. Please check it out: www.springawakening.com/), playing themselves out alongside near-freezing temperatures in April. Like the winter into the reluctant season that follows, I feel like I'm thawing out slowly and surely, but not quite fast enough to finally feel the energy from the inevitable heat that promises to warm my body and heart. Does that make sense? It's like the lyric from my Diana's "SUMMERTIME" (".... when will you come. I want to put my light things on. I want to put my winter life away. SUMMERTIME I need a sunny day...". REMEMBER THAT? It's from her 1987 RCA swan song Red Hot Rhythm & Blues.). 

Fortunately, in my life, there continue to be moments that reflect the layers of JOYFULNESS that I choose to stand inside and create, even when the day is not the best or I'm not feeling the best or I'm inside of angst and anxiety around things past, present, and future. I CHOOSE JOY and CHOOSE TO BE LOVING, VULNERABLE, and OPEN... just because. And knowing that those WAYS OF BEING are showing up in the world and shifting those in my life is MORE THAN ENOUGH (the OUTWARD FOCUS). The JOY that comes to me is icing on the cake... and I might be having a diabetic coma for all the SWEETNESS that continues to come my way.

In a recent entry, I referenced that my man Anthony had graduated the BASIC course of MOMENTUM EDUCATION (www.momentumeducation.com), a highly-recommended four-day course that offers its participants to take a closer look at their lives and how they show up in the world. He chose to continue on with the work and has -  since that writing - completed the ADVANCED course, which is a more intense, five-day course that challenges its participants to GO FOR THEIR DREAMS and have them SHOW UP inside of a CONTEXT of WIN-WIN and WHATEVER IT TAKES. It's a POWERFUL work that I will continue to recommend to anyone who is looking for any level of SHIFT in their lives. For me, MOMENTUM continues to be an experience I channel and reconnect to when possible as a reminder of what is truly POSSIBLE in my  ABUNDANT life. And on that inevitable day when things aren't going MY WAY, there's still someone I can BE (in the way of ACCOUNTABILITY and RESPONSIBILITY) to have that 'frown' turned 'upside down' and AMAZING results show up in the world.

Just Saturday, for example, I had the chance to show up in a way that I didn't think - in my mind - I had the energy to pull off. On Friday night/early Saturday morning, I got an 11th hour dispatch to Toronto, where I was to conduct a quick interview and return to New York that  same afternoon. Quite a JOLTING request, considering I didn't get much of a heads up as I spent the bulk of my Friday offline and off-the-clock from any of my clients. Then, to do a quick e-mail check before bed introduced these URGENT (yet casually presented) requests of my services. I took a deep breath and CHOSE THE STRETCH. Still, nothing seemed to be going right for me to get prepped in the four hours that I had to get this trip off and popping - from drivers/car services who couldn't accommodate my need for a ride to the airport to determining the distance from the Toronto airport to where I needed to meet the subject in an Ontario suburb, etc. In the end, I made it to Canada, giggling when the Canadian Customs guy asked who I was there to see. I was so minimally prepared, I didn't even know and had to comb through the little information I did have handy to figure it out. In the end, everything truly worked out and I found inspiration actually from the quick story I was there to get. Moreover, I finished in record time to be able to get an earlier flight back to New York City, but that flight unfortunately would have mechanical issues. Still, I landed back in New York City in time to meet my friend Michael K. Watts at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (bbkingblues.com/) to see the amazing songstress Ledisi, whose two independent albums, Soulsinger and Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue, have moved over 160,000 copies and continue to be the most hard to find independent albums to date (http://www.ledisi.com/).  Ledisi has enrolled a cult following of fans who truly adore her. (I've been a fan since Fall 2001 when I had the chance to interview her in Los Angeles on the "Levi's Engineered-Jeans Self-Engineered Tour" with The Roots. I knew she was something special then). From there, she has continued to pierce her talents into the universe, "the mainstream machine" notwithstanding. Feeling Orange received a 2003 California Music Award for Outstanding Jazz Album and Soulsinger has received high praise since its initial release in 2000 and was re-distributed by Tommy Boy Records in 2004. After being an independent artist for six years, Ledisi had her first major break after appearing as a guest artist on GRP’s Grammy® nominated album, Forever For Always For Luther (2005).  Audiences got a taste of her singing on "My Sensitivity" being one of only two singers (Lalah Hathaway being the other) featured on this wonderful instrumental tribute album. And after many years of being an independent artist, Ledisi has now leaped into a new phase of her career and has signed with the Verve Music Group (www.vervemusicgroup.com). That project, excerpts of which she introduced to us on Saturday night (including a song titled "Joy"), comes out this summer. And in addition to her powerhouse vocals and songwriting prowess, she is an accomplished actress. She has performed in theater on and off Broadway, most recently in the Tony Kushner/George C.Wolfe production of  Caroline or Change and has done some work with The Color Purple.  And I am thinking THE WORLD is really getting ready to know LEDISI as her voice has no limitations and yet - unlike some big-voice divas - she doesn't abuse her range. Instead, she takes hold of a lyric and a melody and takes a song on a rollercoaster ride of understated pleasure right alongside the overexpressed ecstasy that comes out of her mouthpiece and vomits (in the most elegant of ways) all over the stage and the audience. And to show she's not a show-off, she welcomes "sing-a-longs" that she directs as if in front of the young adult choir at any-church USA. Then, there's her MESSAGE that echoes the INFINITE  POSSIBILITIES I stumbled into in my MOMENTUM studies. She pulls from her own TESTIMONIAL of how she worked in somebody's office from 9-to-5, putting her art as a singer on the side. She says that SPIRIT called her to BE BOLD and GO ALL THE WAY as the SINGER she is on this earth to be. She quit her job and the rest is about to be HISTORY. Of course, as I know from my own LEAPS of FAITH, there are a number of struggles to pay bills and stay afloat, and yet - inside of her TRUSTING her POWERFUL CHOICES - it all works out. I am excited about LEDISI's future and my future in being able to hear her more and see those around me enjoy her inspired VOCALS and MESSAGE.

At this show, one of MOMENTUM's own got the honor of showing up inside of his (and LEDISI's) own stretch. Leslie "BUTTAFLYSOUL" Taylor, poet/spoken word artist, host, vocalist, actor, producer and director, got the chance to sing background for LEDISI, simply by being in the right place at the right time. As the legend is told, he was waiting in line with LEDISI's many other fans, when news broke that her background singers were not going to be able to make it. BUTTA and two others jumped right in to score the challenging, layered vocals that LEDISI's songs sometimes require with little to no rehearsal time. And as a singer myself, you can't expect it all to go perfectly when moments like this happen. Instead, you can CHOOSE to show up and have it show up as it will. And I'm here to tell you, from my seat, BUTTA and the two other singers performed BRILLIANTLY and made the night the ORGANIC WONDER that any LEDISI experience will bring. IMPRESSIVE, it was as IMPRESSIVE, this native of Chicago, IL is. BUTTA has been featured on 98.7 Kiss FM, Boston Comedy Club, Blue Stockings, Club Decades, and the BET/Pantene Totally You Tour with Nikki Giovanni. He has also been featured at a host of poetry venues, churches, and universities. His spoken word artistry has also won him the Nuyorican Glam Slam Championship as well as the opportunity to open for Motown recording artist Donnie. He is currently one of the contributing writers for the Signifying Harlem Literary Journal and featured poet for the Nubian Heritage on line magazine. He prides himself on having the distinction of being one of the esteemed members of the Peabody Award winning Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam family. As a singer, his vocals have been showcased and featured in Chicago, Miami, Washington D.C., and New York City. He is currently featured on the dance single “Trouble Man Remix.” He is also the newest member of Deep Dickollective (DDC) a hip hop group based out Oakland. Together they tour colleges and hip hop venues a like sharing their brand of in your face hip hop lyrics. Butta has also been featured in Peace Out East in New York, and Peace Out West in Oakland. Though his heart is in gospel music, he easily makes the transition into R&B and Jazz. With his melodic sound, he continues to be a sought after and respected vocalist.   And as his STAND for the WORLD goes, he is committed to educating people on HIV/AIDS awareness especially in the African American community. He took the opportunity to share his gift of poetry and desire to change the community at large by facilitating the bibliotherapy group “Loungin In Giovanni’s Room” at The Gay Men's Health Crisis where participants utilize poetry as a tool to face daily issues or concerns around sexuality. The group is open to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Straight people of all ages. Many have become poets or writers and have been featured at venues that BUTTA has hosted. He is truly one to watch and know.

As SPRING AWAKENINGS go, EASTER SUNDAY is not always a holiday that makes me feel rejuvenated. The loss of my Kodjoe on this very day (not the date) has conjured up sadness in the last two years since his passing. Still, these year, since the actual date of his death (March 27th) was so far removed from the holiday, I CHOSE to look at what is RISING AGAIN in my LIFE and in my SPIRIT.  On the heels of a rough EASTER-eve, I was awakened by my Anthony with the news that we were invited to an EASTER BRUNCH that our friend MELONY was throwing in downtown Manhattan, just next to where the World Trade Center Towers burned down on 9/11. I got dressed and we picked up some wine from a shop that is now Anthony's favorite, The Greene Grape (www.greenegrape.com/). From there, we headed up to meet MELONY and her friends Debbie and Jonna. Melony, Anthony's and my friend who I've referenced before in this blog: "DREAMS SEE US THROUGH TO FOREVER" (PART TWO) and "LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER)" ) and Debbie are from South Africa. (Here, Anthony hugs Melony [left] and Debbie [right]. NOT TO MUCH, GIRLS... HE'S MINE! SMILE!): Debbie is a talented burst of energy who works in hospitality and tourism for South Africa (in New York City and all over the world). She too does great work around voice messages and helping people organize their lives via (www.debbiesvoice.com). In fact, she was instrumental in mediating a conflict between Anthony and me with LOVE, UNDERSTANDING, and BALANCE... and we had only just met her. THANKS DEBBIE! She and Melony created a lovely meal of South African delights, the names of which escape me. But one dish had mince meet (ground beef), eggs, milk, seasonings -- all baked in a casserole-style. It reminded me of what my dad sometimes makes with ground beef, scrambled eggs, onion, and peppers. He calls it FRICASSEE! Then, for dessert, we had a Malva Pudding, which put me in the mind of "carrot cake". My simple, southern taste buds adapted to something other than fried chicken and potato salad (especially for Easter).... and I enjoyed it. But more than the meal, we all came together as relative strangers except Anthony and me... and we BONDED with lovely sharing. The other guest JONNA is a talented artist here in New York City. You must check out her paintings at (www.jonnatwigg.com). Her sister CARRI, visiting from Columbus, Ohio, joined us as well. (Here, I'm pictured between them): We talked POLITICS, SEX, RELATIONSHIPS, ART, FASHION, ENTERTAINMENT, and even took some time to acknowledge the CONTEXT of the day as if JESUS ROSE, our LIVES were and are armoed to RISE as we all yearn for the lifting of the cold into a... SPRING AWAKENING! We are all confident we will get together again... and CELEBRATE LIFE, which I should add that Anthony and I had the chance to also do last Wednesday as we broke bread and toasted cocktails with our friends at N (the boutique in Harlem that carries so much of my favorite gear). (www.NHarlemNewYork.com). Owners Lenn, Larry, and Nikoa invited us to join them for the inaugural event for 2007. Belvedere Vodka was the sponsor of the evening and much of that was flowing. Since NO vodka agrees with me, I sipped otherwise. But I did enjoy meeting the multi-cultural initiatives event coordinator for parent company Moet-Hennessy USA, Jason Parker, who is responsible for hooking all of the flowing spirits up. Ginger (www.gingerexpress.com/) is where we enjoyed some of Anthony's birthday celebration last year and he again seemed to enjoy the cuisine - namely the "green rice". Additionally, it was great to see some folks who are doing awesome things in the industry - from Nia Flowers, publicist at The Apollo and Tracy Lynn Anderson, another publicist who has just completed work on Tamia's new project and is poised to celebrate her own birthday later this week (in Harlem, the invite says...). With the tease of spring and the ever-present reminder that winter is still here, the folks are beginning to come out as only we do in the spring. And SUMMERTIME will soon follow... 

I've decided to bullet some recent happenings in pop culture and inside of my reality. The last week and change has been filled with spontaneity, adventure, and fun. As Anthony and I acclimate to living under one roof, we too have had the luxury of being out and about in the city. We find ourselves running into all kinds of folks --- left and right, and gaining organic and inspired accesses that have us learning new things along the way. I'll "bullet" a few of those here:

* While dining at Isabella's Restaurant (www.nyc.com/restaurants/Isabellas_Restaurant.54131/editorial.aspx), Anthony and I happened to be seated next to Conan O'Brien. As we nibbled on peppercorn steaks and crabcakes, I couldn't stop looking over. Normally, if I have something pointed and profound to say, I will speak to a celebrity. I'm not usually starstruck. But I couldn't really think of anything to say without having what Tracee Ellis Ross recently called "the celebrity tick" when someone recognizes you and out of their mouth comes the first thing that comes to mind. In her case, they sometimes come up and yell: "DIANA ROSS!!!!". Though the 2nd eldest daughter of the legendary songstress (who recently celebrated her 63rd birthday) has a name, she acknowledges that sometimes people just don't know what to say. To avoid my "celebrity tick" with Conan, which might have been: "CONAN O'BRIEN!!!!!" (AWKWARD LAUGH), I continued to stare and stalk from the distance, kinda' like I do with Diana, though I have met her a time or eight.

* Meanwhile, Ross has been out and about lately in preps for her upcoming stateside and European tour. This past weekend, she escorted Muhammad Ali into his CELEBRITY FIGHT NIGHT XIII, after which she gave a showstopping performance under the musical direction of David Foster. Muhammad Ali honored Sharon Stone with the “Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award,” Donald Trump with the “Muhammad Ali Entrepreneur Award,” Steve Nash with the “Muhammad Ali Sports Achievement Award” and John Elway with the “Muhammad Ali Sports Legend Award.” This black tie event begins with cocktails and a silent auction with dinner, a live auction and entertainment on the back end of the evening. The Celebrity Fight Night Foundation established The Muhammad Ali Awards as a way to acknowledge leaders in the sports, entertainment and business communities who best represent the qualities associated with the Champ and his fight to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Each year dozens of celebrity guests attend the event that has raised more than $38 million dollars in twelve years.                                                     *Back to my reality, I took a meeting last week with Broadway newcomer Q Smith. This multi-talented woman with a mohawk and I met during Black History Month when I was asked to moderate a MTV panel on which she was a panelist. She says she was so impressed with how I asked my questions and engaged the participants and the audience, she wanted to pick my brain a little bit over coffee. This, before she went on stage to perform her matinee of "Les Miserables" (for which she is a "swing girl" - meaning there are eight women's roles she can play and understudies on any given day, depending on who is in and who is out. That's daunting and impressive, if you don't know) (www.lesmis.com/). Q is also a teaching artist and is currently  working on a book about the contributions of contemporary African American women to the art as well as the craft and business of theater. Check out her bio/background at www.qperstar.com. Afterwards, she took Anthony and me backstage at the The Broadhurst Theatre on West 44th Street (Btw. Broadway & Eighth Ave.). She gave us a comprehensive tour that led from the stage to backstage with the costumes to my good friend Norm Lewis' dressing room. Norm, who was also on that MTV panel where Q & I met, is Javert (and that morning had just performed with the cast for Rosie's birthday party on "The View"). With his rich baritone voice and charming smile, Lewis has become a favorite of critics and audiences alike, working steadily in New York for nearly a decade. Major credits include Side Show, Miss Saigon, Dessa Rose and Chicago. And he's getting ready to leave Les Mis to go on the road (stops including Denver over the summer) to star in "The Little Mermaid". Norm, who I met through actress friends Kimberly Jajuan and LaChanze, is the nicest guy you can know and when he saw who his surprise guest was (me), he was elated. He, Q, Anthony, and I fooled around backstage - shoptalking, watching public access TV (for laughs), and trying on some of his costumes (like the wig he placed on my head for laughs). It was an unexpected post-script to our afternoon that led to much delight and laughter. Thanks Q & Norm!!! 

* One of our other casual days that week, Anthony and I got the chance to preview the many new NIKE Athletic wear and footwear offerings for 2007. I met a young lady named Maggie Mahler in Chicago (at GLAMOURAMA, a Macy's- sponsored event I attended with Beyonce's "House of Dereon" as the featured designer). She's a friend of a friend. And she is a media relations manager for Nike.
During our private tour, we got a real sense of the method behind the magic of NIKE (www.nike.com). One thing you can all look forward to is the new NikeSportsTee. They are billing it as the World's Largest Sports Tee. And as I sit in my orange take-away of the shirt, I can assure you it's a good look and fit. Some of the other sightings that floated our boat included the athletic/casual footwear that Nike offers with the "story" of the Historically Black College or University, including colors and tints of Black Greek organizations. Also, there's a collection of Negro League Baseball Nike shoes, including the "white elephant" which is based on a Denver-based team about which Anthony was intrigued, given his Colorado roots. THANKS MAGGIE! We look forward to breaking bread with you.

* Meanwhile, last Friday, Anthony and I got the chance to hang out with our friend Melony. She's from South Africa and has become Anthony's and my collective "Amazing Grace" (best girlfriend). We met her at our friend Jabu's birthday party last November. Monica, one of Nichole's New Rochelle's neighbors, brought Melony that night. And she, Anthony, and I hit it off from our end of the long table back in November. Since that time, we've had the chance to hang out with her and find out that she is loads of fun and full of heart. In that it had been a minute since we all got together, we decided to create an evening of drinks at Opia (www.opiarestaurant.com/). Then, we met our Nichole on 58th and 1st Street at yet another Rosa Mexicana for margaritas and a hearty meal (www.rosamexicana).

* We enjoyed catching up with the girls before we graduated uptown to Harlem to hook up with my friend Greg Dunmore who was in town for an Aretha Franklin birthday party at "Tavern on the Green" where I understand 50 or so of The Queen of Soul's intimates celebrated her with great food, drinks, and entertainment (provided by none other than Ashford & Simpson, who reportedly called Freddie Jackson on stage for some collabo). It's always good to see Detroit-based Greg, who works with me closely on the National Association of Black Journalists' Arts & Entertainment Task Force. We met him at Pier 2110 (www.pier2110.com/) after he - on this night - saw "A Chorus Line". While at this Harlem-based seafood restaurant and bar, we ran into my good friend from the New York Association of Black Journalists Georgia Scott. Though I hadn't seen Georgia in a minute, she never fails to amuse me with her goings-on. By day, she is an associate art director at "The New York Times". By night and flight, she is an author ("Headwraps: A Global Journey" - PUBLIC AFFAIRS BOOKS [www.publicaffairsbooks.com]). She's also a cultural anthropologist. And she's a globetripper. As she hosted a friend from her St. Louis, MO high school, she told me she's hosting a T SALON at Chelsea Market (75 Ninth Avenue [at 15th Street]) on April 26th from 7 to 9 pm. It's $40 and includes dinner, specially selected tea, and the "Globetrippin Vacation Guide"). For more information or reservations, call 917/860-5629.

* After all the small talk and catching up, Anthony, Greg, and a friend of his (Jarvis), had to segue to Herve's birthday party. You'll recall, I met Herve at a screening of "Dreamgirls", but had an inkling he was someone about whom Greg had told me (after Herve shared he had done a New-Jersey production of "Dreamgirls"). It turns out (with little exchanged) that he was the person - in fact - that Greg had referenced. Additionally, it turns out Herve, the actor, is also an "organizer" or - as he would deem himself - "a space architect" (www.organizemenyc.com). But as he organizes people's spaces and places, he stays connected to the performer that is he. He just recently played the lead in a play by Lynn Nottage called "Intimate Apparel". He says it's a piece of writing that reminds him of "The Color Purple" or "Sula".  Also, in the "New York Living Magazine" (its recent issue on Harlem), you can read a story that features his point of view on Harlem along with other residents coupled with a cool picture. And his next stop is back into the studio with the producers of "The Miseducation of
Lauryn Hill"  for further production of his full album "The Seven Seeds of
Love". BUSY! CREATIVE! EXPRESSIVE! POWERFUL! HERVE! Though we missed the bulk of his set at his Harlem brownstone, we saw the many eclectic and exciting people as they left with smiles on their face (and a little disappointment that they were missing us as we came in). With that, we made our own after-set with Herve. He was a gracious host, despite his fatigue from having emptied his place of dozens of guests only to have four more come and not know how to go home. It's a laugh, thinking back. But it's also a good picture. SEE....?

* Meanwhile, I would like to shout out someone who has been really helpful to me over the last few weeks. I mentioned I was working on a Luther Vandross tribute for UneQ Magazine (www.UneQMagazine.com). It will come out this summer. In my quest for voices who may have known, I was led to a man named Terrance Russ. He's Chairman and President/CEO of
The Russ Group of Companies, a unit of 
New Origin Communications. He tells me he had been reading "A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY" as a referral from an employee who thought he would find it informative,entertaining and enlightening. He says he did. Moreover, once we spoke, he thought and thinks there can be some synergy given the projects I work on (including this blog) and the many things he does. The parent company,New Origin Communications is a firm which manages and/or consult's NFL ,NBA player's,motion picture and music producer's as well as book author's. Late last year, he devopled the new media leg, The Russ Group of Companies. The companies starting projects are a series of music and film
/video ventures with "Uptown Magazine" (www.uptown-magazine.com/), the first being "Terrance Russ Presents Uptown: Music and Vision" series. There may be an opportunity for me to put my singing vocals on wax via this project, says Terrance. The other is "Looker", a music album companion disc, inspired by the novel of the same name and written by actor, playwright, motion
picture director Stanley Bennett Clay, who too is co- composer on a number of Ashford-and-Simpson songs that are to be included in the upcoming "Invisible Life" Broadway musical. Stanley Bennett Clay is one of the people who contributed his testimonial to my "Luther" piece.

* Also, R&B singer and actress Alyson Williams contributed. Terrance led her to me. She will be doing
some songs on the aforementioned "Terrance Russ Presents Uptown: Music and Vision" series. She too is currently starring in the musical " My Brother Marvin" produced by Marvin Gayes sister Viola Gaye and features vocalist /actor Keith Washington and directed by actor
Clifton Powell.  I talked to her about more than Luther and here's a little of what she shared with me:

"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY": I've had the opportunity to see you so many times over the years. You always give A+ performances... in the pocket! And you're always generous to include with anything that you're currently working on that song, "Just Call My Name" and it always makes us so happy.

"ALYSON WILLIAMS":         Thank you! You're kind!

"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY": You're also on the road working in "My Brother Marvin", portraying Marvin Gaye's mother. Correct?

"ALYSON WILLIAMS":    Yes! Alberta Gaye!

"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY": ... tell me about that project. There's a lot of buzz about it.

"ALYSON WILLIAMS":    We are in the middle of a tour right now. We did our trial run in December of '06 and started our tour in Philadelphia with a two-week extension. We are now in Memphis, TV. It is headed to New York City... and it is the story of Viola Gaye's brother (Marvin) through her eyes. And it touches on the family aspect. The backstory. It gives closure to a lot of the questions and puts an end to a lot of the rumors, since most people don't know what culminated that day (when he was killed by his father). It's unthinkable to think that someone can come to the end of their life at the hand of a parent. This lets us know what the dysfunction was, how it came to be, how it is something that had culminated over the years. It's headed to the New York/New Jersey area in May and the west coast too. We're looking to be on the road through June.

"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY":  As we think about who you are and what you've represented to this industry over these years, I remember reading some quote from you where you always wanted to approach your artistry from the music and not so much from trends. How easy could it be for a seasoned woman of your character to be an "ex-disco diva", if you chose. But you've always chosen with integrity and chosen for the music. How do you describe the brand that is Alyson Williams and the way that you want the industry and your fans to see you. What does that look like to you?

"ALYSON WILLIAMS":    Ever-evolving and consistent. I don't ever want to be an ex-anything. Something you don't want to be anymore. I want to be a newer version of or the best of whatever that is because there's always a demographic of people who want to bask in what they like. If "disco balls" are what they like, they should go and find all of that and turn the light on and let the light shine as possible. If it's "50s/doo-wop", they should go find that. If it's R&B and classic soul, they will go and find that. When they want a mixture of what is classic R&B & soul, jazz with a flair for the theatrics & cabaret, then they will come and find me, Alyson Williams.