A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

Did you see my Diana on "American Idol" last week? What an EVENT! Her coaching with the kids was spot on and though some might deem her performance a little pitchy, she definitely demonstrated what it is to be a SUPERSTAR for any of the contestants who wish for longevity! Let's see them at 63, right? Well, so much has been said about the show(s), I'll just let it all speak for itself. But it's great to see La Ross back on the airwaves and to be exclaiming ENDLESS LOVE ("More Today Than Yesterday") and its healing message all over the world.

Meanwhile, LOVE was all around as MOMENTUM EDUCATION graduated its March BASIC class (www.momentumeducation.com), including my Anthony. As I've written in past entries, this life work has been such an integral part of my life since my late beloved Kodjoe introduced the work to me back in 2004. My Anthony, who has just moved here to the east coast to start his (and our) life anew, chose to take the course for power pieces on which he'd like to build. And on the heels of the four days, he says he experienced some breakthroughs that will allow him to take some BOLD stands for himself, his career, and us. It's powerful work. Tata joined us for the celebration as well as many of our Kodjoe scholars - including Yvette and D'Ambrose, who took many of these pictures. Afterwards, we went to Dos Caminos (www.brguestrestaurants.com/) to celebrate and to look forward to Anthony's next BOLD STEPS in his life. I STAND for him and each and everyone of his POSSIBILITIES. CONGRATS BOO! 

Last week, I also got the chance to spend some time with my good friend Michelle Hord and her fiance Neil G. White, who had a love-filled book party for his new tome of poetry "WORDED THOUGHTS" (iuniverse - www.iuniverse.com). It took place at Citrus Bar and Grill (www.citrusnyc.com/) on Amsterdam (across from Shark Bar). The picture above (with five people in it) includes a shot of Rodger (2nd from left), a friend of Michelle's who also did the MOMENTUM work this past weekend. Though she's not taken the work, Michelle was instrumental in getting Rodger into the class. Michelle and Kodjoe were best friends. He introduced the work to us both around the same time. Michelle recommended Rodger who signed up for the BASIC and ADVANCE back in 2004. Since that time, however, he had still not taken it. Now that he's poised to leave town and start a new life and career down south, he wanted to two years later fulfill this investment he'd made. Ironically, he did step one of the process in the same space as my Anthony. No coincidences! Meanwhile, as Rodger and Anthony were doing the work, Neil, whose book cover is designed by Rodger, was hosting a room full of love, music, and good food. Michelle has had a knack for throwing some great parties over the years. At those sets, all of her wonderful friends come together. As she is so busy these days with her career and planning the ultimate party - her wedding to Neil later this year, many in her crew haven't had the chance to be under the same roof in a while. It was so good to see everybody and to be gathered in the spirit of something new and exciting in the literary world. I'M SO PROUD OF MY FRIENDS who are out there BEING THEIR DIFFERENCE! It's EXCITING!Meanwhile, I am taking each day at a time. Two weeks since Anthony has moved in, things are going well. There are clearly adjustments, but we are identifying them as best we can and working through them. As the distinctions between 'my life' and 'the life of riley' go, I will likely not be going so far as to detail every play-by-play in our daily love life, but in testifying the breakthroughs and the moments that can inspire, I will share and keep you posted on what is working and not working and how we are managing to BE A STAND for each other... IN LOVE! That message, like MY DIANA and the love she expresses to the world - most recently demonstrated on "American Idol" - can never be said enough, shared enough, and experienced enough. NEVER TOO MUCH!  "Everyday's a new day. Every time I love you..."

 As I write this, "Lady Sings The Blues" and "Mahogany" are running on BET, inspiring REFLECTIONS of my last week. In fact, "Mahogany" has been a recurring theme, starting with the announcement that the movie is finally being released on DVD May 1st (http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp?userid=99365458688776&item_id=741424&searchID=45839), the same day as "Dreamgirls" DVD release, which promises lots of goodies and the promise of another "15" viewings (given my "12" [READ: 15] Days of Dreamgirls" on the big screen). With this release, there's a special "Showstopper Edition," which is a two-disc DVD that will feature bonus material: 12 extended and alternate scenes including a DVD-exclusive, never-before-seen performance by Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson of 'Effie Sing My Song.'; a feature-length documentary entitled 'Building the Dream' presented in nine chapters; behind-the-scenes featurettes on the costume design, editing and lighting of the film; cast member auditions and screen tests; previsualization sequences; an image gallery including more than 1,000 photos; and on and on and on! [YES! I AM MORE THAN EXCITED!!!]. By the way, a single disc DVD version will also be available, featuring 12 extended and alternate scenes including the Jennifer Hudson performance and a music video directed by Condon for the chart-topping soundtrack single 'Listen.' And here's hoping "MAHOGANY" - like "LADY SINGS THE BLUES" - has many EXTRAs too!!!! BUT I DIGRESS....

BACK TO LAST MONDAY: On a day when I should have been prepping my place for my Anthony's arrival, I instead had my Merry Maids come and do the deed earlier in the day (www.merrymaids.com). That freed me to take a couple of meetings with my dear friend Michelle who reported all things promotions, engagements, and happiness. I'M THRILLED FOR HER. We did our typical Houston's lunch in NYC (www.houstons.com). Then, I met up with my friend Terry Wynn II for cheesecake, champagne, and espresso (www.cafelalo.com). There, we caught up on all things romantic, professional, and happiness.  My Morehouse brother Khalid picked me up from there to accompany me to the Millennium Broadway Hotel's Restaurant Charlotte (www.millenniumhotels.com) for a meet-and-greet with the cast of COLLEGE HILL 4, BET's answer to MTV's REAL

 WORLD.  

My friend and Spelman sister Tosha Whitten-Griggs and her colleague (and my dear friend) Zabrina Horton invited me to join them. Also, my friend Michael K. Watts attended. Basically, we ate from the restaurant's menu (great seafood and pastas) and enjoyed the company of this very sexy and charismatic cast of real-life characters, who attend the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas. The collective was comprised of four "stateside" students and four "Caribbean" students. We met (in no particular order): 

The "stateside" cast members: 

The "meet and greet" provided lots of racy and provocative conversation from the cast members - especially Vanessa and Idesha. I think these girls are going to be "trouble" on the show. They didn't give anything away (as they sign confidentiality agreements), but I guessed much of the tension that MUST have been in the house during the six weeks they all lived together. And the twist of having the home split in half -- Americans to Caribbeans -- only added to the drama, I gleaned from the dynamics of the girls and guys during dinner. Afterwards, Khalid and I enjoyed some post-set cocktails and conversation with Willie and J.T., the two male American housemates.

These guys are the ones to watch. J.T. wraps and does comedy. Willie is an actor -- most comedic in tone. And above all, they are the nicest guys you could know. And apparently, there way is registering with the viewers. COLLEGE HILL 4's special one hour debut with two back-to-back episodes from the next night is now the most watched episodes in the series’ history on BET. Produced by Edmonds Entertainment and BET, COLLEGE HILL 4 surpassed last season’s premiere night ratings success garnering a 1.4 BET coverage rating during the 10 p.m. ET/PT debut hour (1.2 million households and 1.6 million total viewers), according to Nielsen Media Research. COLLEGE HILL 4 can be seen Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT on BET. Viewers can catch the first two episodes of COLLEGE HILL 4 during a special encore broadcast of episode one and two on Saturday March, 10th at 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, Sunday March, 11th at 10:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT and Tuesday, March 13th at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET/PT respectively. In addition, a marathon of the first four episodes will air on Saturday, March 24th from 12-2p.m. ET/PT.

The next day "... I got my ol' man back..." and the opportunity to start my life anew with Anthony. He moved from Denver to be with me, but to couple this love passion move with BIG life passion steps towards transforming his career into what he feels it should be. It promises to be an awesome adventure for him and us. However, we decided - since I was on a break from some of my busy work and travels - that we would enjoy this week socially and recreationally as we do our monthlies (with the intent of designing a schedule and way in which we will co-exist for the long-haul later). With that, as soon as he landed, we did a quick change and came to BET's "Rip The Runway", the yearly fashion show that BET puts on with hot music acts and fresh, cutting-edge designers. This year's show - hosted by Chris Brown and Ciara - took place at Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center Studios. Acts like Musiq Soulchild and rapper Lloyd performed as models (like Tocarra, Delicious [from "Flava of Love"], and others) walked the catwalk. Meanwhile, many VIPs and those who should have been inside (like me) were held up by the most unorganized, red-carpet scene I've experienced. Many players with the network and/or the show couldn't have been any less helpful to people who were clear they had tickets awaiting them at press check-in or will-call. Bouncers and security did nothing to sooth the freezing crowds. And as I observed friends I knew who were designers, press people, and even Tocarra (a model in the show) having hard times getting pass the uninformed authorities, I knew that there must be a better way to put on a production. Last I checked, it was not the Oscars or the Grammys. It was a well-intentioned evening of fashion and music to which people were invited and advised accordingly. And yet, there were no mechanisms in place as they had been advised. Quite frustrating. Fortunately - for Anthony and me - my friends Tosha and Zabrina showed up (with the cast of College Hill 4 in tow) and we were gestured in with them. When the kids from College Hill 4 saw me, they rushed out of their limo to give me a hug. Because I had bonded with them so the night prior, they too recevied Anthony warmly as they were excited to meet him.

["BLACK FOLKS DON' COME UP" (PPU) ]. Leslie Lewis Sword brings to life the true story of Immaculee Ilibagiza, a Messenger of Hope. Immaculee survived the 1994 Rwandan genocied - including the brutal murder of her own family - emerging as an international voice for peace and forgiveness. Co-created and directed by Edward Vilga, "Miracle in Rwanda" is a one-woman show performed and written by Leslie, who is daughter of the late, great billionaire Reginald Lewis. Leslie's mother and Carl co-hosted a dinner to introduce the news that this production, which did a sold-out, weekend run in Naples, Florida earlier this year, is coming to New York City.

They gathered tastemakers like Tony-award-winning choreographer George Faison (one of my favorite people); UPTOWN Magazine's Associate Publisher Jocelyn Taylor; Anthony, and me at the Lewis' New York City home, which sets on 5th Avenue overlooking Central Park. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING VIEWS!! Also, the original art that is all over the walls in each room in the bi-level, seven-bedroom home were also breathtaking. And from Romare Bearden to Picasso to Jacob Lawrence, we were all quite impressed with the collection, especially my Anthony who is an art afficionado.

We all committed to support the coming of this show, which is scheduled to run from April 5 - 29, 2007 at the Ohio Theatre (66 Wooster Street, SOHO NYC - between Spring and Broome). Tickets are available at 212/868-4444. A portion of all ticket sales are donated to "Left to Tell", a non-profit organization that benefits Rwandan Orphans. (Leslie, by the way, adopted two Rwandan children that she and her husband are currently raising).  On the 13th Anniversary of Genocied in Rwanda, a special Q&A with Immaculee is scheduled for Friday, April 6th. And a gala fundraiser around this event is scheduled for Friday, April 13th. Click on (www.MiracleInRwanda.com) to find out more, including a segment from CBS 60 Minutes that tells Immaculee's story.

death, births, and love.

Stephanie is dating a great guy named Jeff, who she wanted all of us to meet on this night.

Anthony was one-day into being my live-in partner and - VOILA! - "the pentav is complete!". I had a great time meeting Jeff and Stephanie loved having a chance to see Anthony in the flesh (She's seen many pictures). And some of our other mutual friends were also in attendance - like ESPN's Galen Gordon, who brought a college friend of his Adrienne Phillips with him.

She now is working for Kimora Lee Simmons' new company KLS (www.kls.com/) and was gracious to take Anthony, Khalid, and me to dinner with Galen, of course. We dined at Maroon's (maroonsnyc.com/) and learned a lot about Adrienne. Galen and I have known each other for a long time via our respective careers, but it was nice to get to know him better. I also stumbled into one of my favorite people Tony Shellman, founder of PARISH clothing line. He and his business partner Chaka Wilson invited Anthony and me to their new show/workspace the following day to check out the inventory and identify some pieces we could wear that will help get the word out.

On Thursday, Anthony and I did a little shopping after which we joined my Nichole, Marlynn, Jason, Marquise, Frankie, Lee, and many others I love, who came out to share the SUCCESS that is the thread of the classic film "MAHOGANY", which for one-night-only was screening at Chelsea Clearview Cinemas.

We decided to meet up at BBQ for wings and fixins before heading over to what was a packed, sold-out theater. Everyone wanted the chance to see this cult and camp and commercial classic on the big screen again. Personality Hedda Lettuce did a great pre-show of giveaways and great jokes. Meanwhile, we got there so late (though we had our tickets since earlier in the week), they had to bring fold-out, church chairs for us. They placed them in the handicap section and that was where we enjoyed the film. It was great to watch it in a theater with an enthusiastic audience which oohed, aaahed, clapped, laughed, and sang in all the right places. But most importantly, given the movie's most well-known line (of many) from Billy Dee's character Brian to Diana Ross' Tracey Chambers: "SUCCESS IS NOTHING WITHOUT SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO SHARE IT WITH...", how appropriate was it that all of my friends gathered to join Anthony and me - on this week in particular - as we begin to SHARE our SUCCESS with one another inside of our LOVE for each other. KISMET, I say! KISMET!!!!! Afterwards, Anthony and I met up with a friend of his who was visiting New York City from North Carolina. His name is Chris.

Over the last three days, we've been entertaining him throughout New York - from events that were already on our calendar, like my friend Dexter's birthday party that his partner Anthony threw for him in Brooklyn to some of the great social scenes in The Village.  On Friday night at Dayo (Anthony's favorite spot for Sunday brunch), we ran into my friend Theo who when we met asked me to dictate the lines from "Mahogany" to him as he wrote them on the paper tabletop cover. He then tore it off and took it home for reference.

As the weekend progressed, I got to see some of my other friends more than once.  

My Frankie and our favorite couple Jason and Marqise were at a party called PLUM that runs every second Saturday of every month in Washington Heights. It's always good to see them.

And as the week comes to a close (and I sit here and reflect) on its contents... but also as I look ahead at a POWERFUL week Anthony and I will be creating without evidence or a play-by-play manual for how it all is going to work, I am not surprised at the thread (pardon the pun) "MAHOGANY" has been this week - from the SUCCESS bit to the shopping to Theo's healthy obsession (like mine) with the film to its DVD RELEASE announcement to the "ride ahead" that may take on the speed of Mahogany and Sean McAvoy as he accelerates the porsche to his death. "SUCCESS (is truly) NOTHING WITHOUT SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO SHARE IT WITH". And I have a lot of it going around!

I've been a big fan of Patti Austin since the '80s, when her pop repertoire gave us the classic duets "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" and "Baby, Come To Me" - both sung with the soul-stirring James Ingram. They both came from the camp of Quincy Jones, who I knew was her godfather. Patti would go on to release a string of hits including "The Heat of Heat" (produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis); "Rhythm of the Street" (LOVED THAT VIDEO!); "All Behind Us Now"; and "It's Gonna Be Special". (And how can any of us forget her duet with Narada Michael Walden, "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme"??? Well, maybe you've forgotten it. But it was one of my favorites!!!!- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFwvMEdwXZg). But more than a pop hit or superstardom, Patti Austin is "a premier voice" that has checked its ego at the door. Given that, it sings "jingles" (from radio and TV commercials)... it sings background for icons like Diana Ross... it sings in the choir.... and it sings us lessons of American history, whether from the catalogue of Ella Fitzgerald or her latest (due March 6): "Avant-Gershwin", which pays homage to George Gershwin standads with new and adventurous arrangements to boot. I reached out to her for a feature I'm working on for UneQ Magazine (www.UneQmagazine.com) on Luther Vandross. Those tid-bits will be published in the Summer 2007 issue of that magazine. Meanwhile, "A Day in the Life of Riley: Pop Culture and Possibilities" is happy to share the rest with you. And even post-gastro-bypass and more than a hundred pounds lighter, Miss Austin is still "a voice" that reigns supreme.

"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY":
Yes, check into that. I just ordered it from the SoulMusic.com store. (http://www.soulmusic.com ) 
But also you're tackling the Gershwin catalog. So, where does your inspiration come from for this new project?

PATTI AUSTIN:
Oh boy, just my childhood. My life. I grew up in a house filled with music. My dad was a jazz musician. He played trombone with Lucky Millinder, Fletcher Henderson, and Father Hines. In addition to that, he was a tremendous music lover. When I was
about three-years-old, he bought me a record player a little victrola and a record collection that belonged to the same person that owned the victrola and it would happen to be a collection of 78s that were all Broadway show tunes. So, the first
music that I really attached myself to was Broadway music. That was when I was in my little play space. Now, when I left my play space and the music was being programmed by my dad, it ranged from Stravinsky's "Firebird" to Patsy Kline to Big Mama Thornton to Nat King Cole to Basie to Stan Kenton to Miles. It was pure...It was music....It was
all about music. Music...music...music...music all the time. So, that's like the foundation
of where I come from. And then, I get thrown into the entertainment business at four and
become a professional at five and worked with people like Dinah Washington who became my
godmother and Quincy who became my godfather and Sammy Davis Jr. who mentored me through
the earlier, earlier years of my career because he started out when he was at the same age and saw this kid kind of echoing whatever talent he felt he had. So he helped usher me in.....just amazing people Ray Bolger, Steve Laurence, Eydie Gorme, Patrice
Monsel...I mean just the list goes on and on and on of the people who said "Hey, kid come here let me help you up another notch." So, that's how I came to the business....And I turned 13 years old and I'm in the business and in the meantime, I have a godfather in the background who is saying to my parents "Don't let her get too big. Let her work at her craft in the summertime and on the weekends. But don't let encroach on who she is as a person. Let her be a person. Don't let her become a huge star. It will ruin her life. She wont have anything to look forward to as an adult. Let this just be her craft...not about her
being a star." My parents listened to that mantra and totally agreed. That's how my career was in
the business it was very much when there was free time, I got to do things that I loved to
do the most. So, my impression of being in the business was always a very joyous one.

And then, I turn about thirteen years old and Quincy has got his big band and we go with Quincy. We,  being my parents and I, go on the bus with all the guys in the band and their families will go to Newport, Rhode Island from New York City because Quincy is going to do Newport Jazz Festival. And if you saw the Ray Charles movie, you saw a scene where Quincy is talking to Ray in the tent at the Newport Jazz Festival...that was the Newport Jazz Festival that we were at. And Judy Garland was on the bill. Quincy said "I'm gonna go back and talk to Ray in the tent... You guys need to go check out Judy Garland." My parents and I looked at each like 'who the hell wants to see her' because at that time Judy Garland --- like a week before --- tried to kill herself, she had slit her wrist, she was boozing, and she was carrying on like a lunatic and in retrospect now, we can say she made Britney Spears look [tame in comparison]. She was just out there. Her voice was gone and her chops were shot...and 'who wants to hear this broke down woman sing?'. This is what I'm thinking to myself and my parents are thinking the same thing and we're looking at each other and we reluctantly go and sit down and she starts and by the end of the show of course we're on our feet and we're screaming and crying like lunatics because she was all that and a bag of chips. And I found out from that moment that "Wait a minute! There is something else to singing than singing songs. There is like this thing that you do. Where you're acting and you're telling this story and you're creating this relationship with an audience and you're pretty much standing on stage and draining your blood before an entire room full of people so that they will be able to access whatever it is inside themselves that makes them want to drain their blood. And Wow, is that ever powerful. Now, how do I access that and not have to want to be suicidal to do it." And so, that was an epiphany for me and Quincy. He knew me well enough to know that is exactly what it would be. And it really changed the way that I worked as a performer from that point on. I started to develop this idea that I wanted to sing like Ella and perform like Judy....and bring
all of that together. And the best music that accomplishes that is music that comes from
either film or originally/usually from theater. And a lot of jazz has come from music that was written for theater. It was about black musicians taking that music that was very sanctimonious and playing it down the first time exactly the way it was written and then saying "Okay, we have established your melody. Now here is mine." Since we have Charlie Parker you know just going crazy on some Cole Porter or Miles going crazy on some Gershwin. So, that's the idea of this project was to take the amalgamation of all that knowledge and wisdom... and being at a point in my life where I think I can tell a lot of these stories a lot better
than I told them 20 years ago. And get together with an arranger who understood all of that who I sat in a room with for two days with a piano going through each tune and describing what I wanted to hear with my ears but what I also wanted to see with my eyes if that makes any sense....When I walked into the studio the first time with the whole orchestra there and heard them play down the first arrangement, the first thing they played was "A Stairway to Paradise." I thought I was going to die because I knew what we had talked about. We picked the key and we picked the groove and I said you know just 'think ....Michael (Abene) think about all those great old Bugsy Berkeley movie numbers you've seen and make that but make it modern and put it on this groove...It's jazz..It's...It's we're trying to sell this to an audience that's heard it a million times done.' Like...I'll build "A Stairway to Paradise"....you know like an old Broadway bum ba ba bum-kinda of tune. We gotta get other people to hear this message. So, we want the people that have heard the message that have it fixed in their head how it is supposed to go not to be disgruntle by where we taking this...and we want this other generation that has never heard it before to go what the hell is that.

"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY":

So, you re-invented basically?

PATTI AUSTIN:
No, I do it all the time. I just did it in South Carolina and the show that I do that is the Patti Austin show is all of that and some Ella...and will be all of that and some Ella and some Gershwin.

"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY":
That's not coming back???
 
PATTI AUSTIN:
I don't think so. Unless Narada is in the audience and screams from the back row "Do "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme"!", then it might get done....He will have to come up on stage
and orchestrate it all impromptu. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFwvMEdwXZg

Oh! I am so busted....you have totally busted my ass. 

   

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THE SUMMER 2007 ISSUE OF "UneQ Magazine" (www.UneQmagazine.com) to find out what PATTI AUSTIN has to say about LUTHER VANDROSS.

Jason and Marqise wonder why they continue to be up in "... the life of Riley...". Well, they continue to be a STAND for me in ways that I so appreciate. I'm getting ready to embark on a huge, new chapter in my life. My Anthony is coming to town and we will live together. I am as excited as I am nervous. And Jason and Marquise who have been together for more than three years understand the possibilities and pleasure that await us alongside the potential for pain... growing pains...

In that spirit, Jason reached out and wondered if we might not get together for a night of cocktails and laughter. 212 RESTAURANT & BAR on East 65th Street near Lexington (www.212restaurant.com) was the location (Jason had his birthday brunch here while I was out of town). He gathered the troops which included Marquise and Troy. Khalid joined us. And if I didn't know better, I would think that Jason planned my special guest, who dined right next to us. It was Daniel Craig, the "new" James Bond. He and his party of four were already dining when we were seated, but as he got up to leave, he looked my way. I gave him a look of knowing. He nodded, smiled, and said "Have a good night!!!".   I hadn't paid him much mind before last night, but in that passing moment, I found him quite charming. Meanwhile, we all enjoyed a wonderful meal. I had the tilapia.

From there, we hit a spot called "Club Secret" in Chelsea near the many other clubs on Club Row i.e. "Crobar", "Bed", "Marquee", etc. There, the usual suspects included Nathan Hale Williams, Sean Johnson, drag legend Flotilla Debarge (as her primary ego Kevin) and other ones to know - including stylist Philip Bloch. We all enjoyed each other's company and a night of shared stories, random sightings, and friendship. As I found myself sometimes veering away from the conversation into my head as I anticipate this next big chapter in my life, it was comforting to come back to the voices and the faces of... my friends!

I met Maurice Marable when he was in 9th grade and I was in 8th grade. He - like me - was an Air Force brat and his Valdosta-native parents decided to retire in Savannah, which is the childhood home of my parents, who decided to do the same thing after my dad's 27 years of service. Initially, we didn't hit it off. Perhaps we were too much alike as well-traveled "black boys" who weren't exactly like our peers who were born and bred in Savannah. Eventually, we'd realize our commonalities were worth aligning and we'd be a support for each other that would transcend many of the shortcomings that Savannah (and society at-large) can sometimes project on black men. For example, Maurice is responsible for me getting my first job. Quite simply, on a day where most of our friends were looking for jobs at the mall, I decided to join Maurice at Baskin-Robbins where he was going to pick up his check. I ended up engaging his boss, the owner Rodney (who some might deem a "red neck"), in some non-descript chat about politics and such, and Rodney --- impressed perhaps because my subjects agreed with my verbs without a southern twang (like Maurice) --- offered me a job on the spot. I wasn't really looking, but checked in with my parents and accepted. I would join the 'ice scream scooping' team and go on to win the SMASH AWARD ("Sell More and Sell High"). No one could convince a customer to go for the triple scoop (or maybe even a quart of ice cream) like me. During these times, Maurice and I would talk about our futures and our lives with pop culture usually at the fore of most of our conversations. We admired Spike Lee and lived for "The Cosby Show" and though there were no mentors in front of us, who gave us the sense that this world could be our reality, we somehow believed --- without a sense of the mechanism --- that it could be.  

After graduation (a year before me), Maurice would go on to study Accounting in college. Admittedly, he was playing it safe. Not happy about the major, but afraid to confess his "dream" of writing for film and TV to his dad, he instead found a way to escape the doldrums of bean counting and please his father at the same time. Maurice joined the Air Force. During this time, Maurice reminds me that I was on the journey. I said I wanted to do news and by my senior year in high school, I was working at the local TV station as the teleprompter. I said I wanted to perform, I was singing and acting in many student productions, honing my craft. Maurice, on the other hand, ended up in Iraq in The Gulf War. I remember he'd send poems that would describe what he was seeing, but also what he was "dreaming" for his life. As I pursued my "dream" at Morehouse, Maurice says he became all-the-more convinced that if he made it back, he must begin the work of making his dreams come true.

As I was two years into my matriculation at Morehouse, Maurice came to Atlanta to study Film at Georgia State. We spent lots of time hanging out. I even starred in a couple of Maurice's student films. He hung out in my mass communications department, which was housed at Clark Atlanta University. And we collaborated and networked often. As I began my career in Atlanta at WSB-TV and FOX 5's "Good Day Atlanta", I would stumble across many opportunities that allowed us to elevate our respective games. I remember when Spike Lee announced he was coming to Atlanta to executive produce a joint called "Drop Squad". We all jumped aboard to be a part. Though I got the opportunity to do a walk-on role in the film (and to interview Spike and the players for "Good Day"), Maurice walked on the set and impressed the hell out of the New York City-based producers on the project. They loved him so much, they asked him to drive a truck of equipment back to New York City... and he never looked back.

Though Maurice argues I was like a "mentor" (even though I was a year younger) in that I went for mine, he became my "mentor" because he made it to the Big Apple first. However, a year later, I could call it home too. And he and I would continue to have "synergy" around our careers. His wife, Tracey Moore- Marable, is a casting director, acting coach, and director as well. She would take to me and through the bond that is Maurice/Patrick, she would give me opportunities to act and do on-camera voice/ personality work for projects like HBO's "Cosmic Slop", "New York Undercover", and Faith Evans' "You Used To Love Me". At a point where I decided to leave my fulltime gig at CNBC, Maurice made it possible for me to interview celebrities and produce entertainment projects for HBO, a gig he impressively landed that led to his working as a top-flight creative director of on-air promos for original programming. He did this before launching his directing career, which boasts credits like "The Dave Chapelle Show", "Six Feet Under", "The Dennis Miller Show", and BET.com to name a few. He has also directed the opening of the hit show "Entourage", a promo for the drama "Carnivale", and the "Grocery" promo for "Six Feet Under". Maurice was also nominateed for an Emmy  for the opening sequence of "Big Love" in 2006.

Along with Warrington Hudlin ("House Party" & "Boomerang"); Elaine Brown (HBO); and Maria Perez ("Gullah Gullah Island"), Maurice sat on a panel "Pioneers of Progress: Empowering and Inspiring a Generation Through Film". My friend Michael K. Watts hipped me to the panel. Since my schedule allowed, I just had to attend to surprise Maurice. Over these years of late, we see each other rarely. My work keeps me on the road (as "A Day In The Life of Riley..." chronicles). His work coupled with raising two kids keeps him busy as well. But when we get together, we just pick our friendship right on up and step right into the roles that have sustained our friendship for 23 years. When Maurice saw me, he received me warmly with a big hug. And during his time on the panel, he shouted me out. I got a kick out of how many people in the audience wanted to talk to me because they knew "... I knew Maurice when...". He took my friend Khalid and me to SOHO House (www.sohohouse.com/) for appetizers and cocktails. There, we reminisced on our days in Savannah and how far we've come. We caught up on the joys and struggles that continue in our respective families. We took some time to talk about what's going on in our current lives before calling it a night. We promise to see each other very soon. It may not happen until late this year. Maybe this month, since his birthday is coming up. I have joined him for many of his birthdays over the last ten years. Or maybe in November, which is my birthday. He joined a host of friends and me in 2005 to celebrate that special day. My point? We don't talk everyday nor do we have to. Our bond doesn't require it. And yet, our bond is one that weaves, amplifies, and celebrates his success and my success... wirelessly...