“NEWBOs: The Rise of America’s New Black Overclass”

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The Wedding of Evelyn Ann Miller and Thomas Carl Randolph, II

I felt like her father when I attended BRE VP of Marketing Monique Idlett Mosley’s wedding to Timothy Mosley in Aruba last year, little realizing that Monique was really taking me through the dress rehearsal for my own daughter’s wedding. On December 27, 2008, I walked the baby girl that had graced the five-year anniversary cover of BRE Magazine when she was only two down the aisle to marry her best friend, lover and soul partner, Thomas Carl Randolph, II. Composure was all over for me when I saw her walk down the stairs to Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon In the Sky,” and, when we danced the father-daughter dance to Luther’s “One Last Dance With My Father,” there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Fortunately waving my handkerchief and sashaying out to a New Orleans second-line parade kept my emotions in perspective as did the ladies’ spirited dance to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (You Should’ve Put A Ring On It)”—a new wedding anthem for today’s generation.

The well wishes of the many friends who gathered for this moment and the personal testimonies of the new married couple’s friends just intensified the moment. And my happiness was compounded with the official welcoming of my new son and his parents, Thomas and Jacqueline, to our family unit. My heart was full, my joy overflowed. This was my little girl, my beauty, the life that daily lifts my spirits, the love made in heaven…this time it was personal.

Photography by Allen King

Wedding Coordination by William Miller

 

The Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball

When I answered my phone, Suzanne Coston asked, “Are you available,” which is Tvspeak for you’ve got a job offer. I said “Who is it for?” She answered, “The Commander in Chief.”  “The Commander in Chief of what?” She sort of laughed and said, “The United States.” 

After about two seconds considering a big money job I was setting aside, I said, “When do we go?”  The reply: “Tomorrow—a week out.”

Blissfully excited, we had no idea what the next week would bring us.  We soon decided we’d lost our minds, but in the name of being part of history and in the name of Barack Obama, here we were, trying to translate what WHCA, PIC, AFIDS and all the other designations meant as we set course to produce the Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball, one of the ten official balls that was exclusively dedicated to the Armed Services, for live broadcast over The Pentagon Channel to all ships, barracks, hospitals and military installations around the world.

We had no production office, no production staff and only two acts set when we walked in the door. We knew other people in town and were able to borrow Ted Sroka from the MTV Ball for a quick run at script supervising. We got offers of other people, but being credentialed for one event doesn’t get you access to others without that mysterious something called the Underlay, which we learned was akin to the Holy Grail.

In hotel lobbies and banquet rooms, on dinner tables and couches with cell phones sometimes at both ears, we patchworked the event.  We called everybody in town who might be available to perform.  After we pulled them, we had to hope to get them through the Secret Service portal to be able to be allowed in the room. Meanwhile, since we had only one stage we had to figure out how to run them off and on and, by the way, do it live with no break-aways to the Pentagon Channel for commercials, since there is no such thing.

My head was spinning with the Presidential Inaugural Committee, all five divisions of the Military, the Secret Service, the Senior Enlisted guys who were co-hosting the event, big dogs from the Pentagon Channel (our favorite Lt. Colonel Melinda Morgan), and the various ranking people from Public Affairs–Major Andra Higgs, LtCommander Charles Summers and Tom Menegrin, who directed the show from a truck a football field away. Lt. Commander Brenda Steele and Lt. Karen Love hung in there with us. Hoorahs, Aye Ayes and Who-ah to Colonel Hiram Bell and all the other brass.

We squeezed somewhere to watch Sunday’s HBO event on the Lincoln steps. Tears came when 89-year-old Pete Seeger, sang  “This Land Is Your Land.” Half-a-million people there got to hear this old song we all sang in the ‘60s when protest was part of the air we breathed. “In the squares of the city,” Woody Guthrie wrote, “by the shadow of the steeple, by the relief office–I saw my people.”  Every day of the week, we did see our people–all social and economic strata, with their faces full of happiness, glowing with triumph.

On Inaugural Day, I walked out of our hotel, The Liaison, just about a block away from the Capitol and looked West. It was 4 am yet there was already an incomprehensible mass of peaceful citizens, gently trying to move forward, just wanting to be there when he Actually, Swear to God, Unthinkably, Gloriously became the 44^th President of the United States. Two-million people standing for eight hours and not one arrest, just tears, hugs and cheers.

Executive producer Suzanne de Passe, who committed us to the project under her newly formed iDream Productions banner, used her considerable personal clout and got George Lopez to host, Smokey Robinson to perform and Chris Tucker to do some stand-up during the ball. Coston had to wrangle Josh Groban, Jordin Sparks and Jon Bon Jovi. I had to figure out how to make their introductions relate to the crowd. Did you know that Bon Jovi is the son of two Marines? See what I mean?  We were given “the world’s greatest ‘70s tribute band named Right On. It was hysterical to see these guys in four-inch platforms and lots of gold glitter up there jammin’ away, but the crowd loved them.

At the ball of some 2,000 were more than 300 wounded warriors from Walter Reed Hospital. One young man sat in his dress uniform, medals pinned to his chest with no legs, one arm and a smile that couldn’t be extinguished. I could barely breathe standing next to him and walked to the teleprompter unable to read the screen for the tears, but  we were here to put on the best show for these young fighters and the families of the fallen heroes who had died in service.

 The President spent more than 15 minutes at this ball. W-a-a-ay more than any others. He joked with soldiers live from Afghanistan. He thanked all the troops  in the room. They were young and enthusiastic and cheered like crazy at their very first opportunity to salute their new Commander In Chief.

Luckily the beautiful old building we were in had a fountain right in front of our stage and we were able to cover it with the Presidential seal—a glorious backdrop for when Obama danced with his First Lady and then as they each danced with a member of the active military. Watching him up close, listening oh-so-carefully, it’s clear to me he is the President of Dr. King’s Dream and will make us all proud to be Americans again.

Radio’s Talkin’

Radio One Philadelphia OM Elroy Smith welcomed J Records artist Jamie Foxx to the Philly cluster: WPHI (100.3 the Beat), WRNB (107.9) and WPPZ (Praise 103.9) as he promotes his latest album “Intuition” and upcoming film “The Soloist.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boyz II Men stops by Clear Channel urban AC KHHT-FM (Hot 92.3) in Los Angeles 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gospel star Bryan Wilson recently dropped by the syndicated ”Yolanda Adams Morning Show” to promote his new radio single “Change in Me” from his latest CD, A Second Coming. Adams broadcast live from the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Photo Credit Bill Carpenter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Da Breakfuss Club Morning Show from Charleston, SC’s WWWZ-FM, (Z93.3. Jamz) with comedian/actor Mike Epps, who is starring in the anticipated March release of “Janky Promoters” with Ice Cube and Young Jeezy. Cube and Epps play shady concert promoters who book a rapper in a concert and don’t have the money to pay him (hello). 

 

 

 

 

 

Rapper/actor T.I., Lisa Wu Hartwell of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Grammy award winning producer Sean Garrett, teen star Doc Shaw of “House of Payne,” actor Gary Sturgis and rapper Bone Crusher joined forces with Atlanta-based non-profit organization It’s Cool To Be Smart and The People’s Station, WVEE-FM (V103), to inspire the kids at Princeton Elementary in Atlanta. They were also promoting the nationwide campaign, “Saving Our Daughters: From a Man’s Point of View,” based on the book of the same title containing different male celebrity contributions. T.I. is shown with elementary students.

 

 

 

BMI Honors Most Performed Gospel Song of 2008

BMI President/CEO Del Bryant presented an award for Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year to Pastor Marvin Sapp and his collaborator Matthew Brownie in recognition of their co-written hit “Never Would Have Made It,” recorded by Sapp on his Zomba Gospel album Thirsty. Hosted by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, the invitation-only 10^th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards were presented on January 16 in Nashville, prior to the Stellar Awards. In addition to Sapp and Brownie, this year’s trailblazers were Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans who were feted by homage performances by Kirk Franklin, Karen Clark-Sheard, Donnie McClurkin, 2008 Trailblazers honoree Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Israel Houghton, Kiki Sheard, Kim Burrell, DeWayne Woods, Crystal Lewis, Lejune Thompson, and Lalah Hathaway.  

Photos by Arnold Turner (AT Archives)

Uniworld Leads in Urban Wheel Awards

“Fashion, stars and cars,” the official theme of the 13^th Annual Urban Wheel Awards, delivered just that opening media week of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The green carpet leading to the Detroit Opera House expressed automakers’ new attitude to helping the environment as they honored those who have furthered the diversity in both their employment practices and in the community through marketing, employment, public relations, manufacturing and/or corporate activities in the automotive industry. Hosted by original “Dreamgirl” Sheryl Lee Ralph and “Ugly Betty’s” Tony Plano, the “Oscars of the Automotive World” recognized Jocelyn Allen with its Executive of the Year Award. The Ford Flex won urban truck of the year and Hyundai took home the award for urban car of the year for the Genesis. The UniWorld Group, Inc was a big winner with the African-American Diversity Broadcast Ad of the Year for the Lincoln MKS “Mad Crazy Love” and the African American Diversity Print Ad of the Year for Ford Flex  “Push It Good.”

 

Photos by Monica A. Morgan, International Photojournalist 

Change is Now: Renewing America’s Promise

Music and the President

Let’s face it, our young, brilliant new President makes history every time he steps out or speaks out.  For real, there was a history collision goin’ on in D.C. during Inauguration Week. No other American President has listened to his i-Pod or had a day-to-day “Music Guide” to his Inauguration. No other American President has had a grass roots movement or such a size-boggling Internet presence for his campaign. Social networking sites fueled the grass roots movement. There were new videos up on YouTube all the time from anybody with an idea. A recent survey says will.i.am’s “Yes We Can” video has been seen almost 30 million times online. Almost daily from one name artist after another, there were email chain letters telling us why we had to get involved in the process of making Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States. Then there was the first of its kind ever — an Official Presidential CD-DVD inauguration collector’s item from Hidden Beach Recordings, in collaboration with the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC).

When the Inauguration was about to happen, D.C. turned into the center of the world for a shining, breathtaking time.  It was cold and it was crowded beyond anyone’s imagination—look at the photographs from space of the Swearing In.  The captured shots from a zillion miles away gave us scope and breath but it was only up close, snuggled up against loving strangers that those in the crowd and at home felt the true humanity of the day—impossible to describe, although thousands of talking heads in hundreds of languages were describing it for their listeners and viewers back home.

In D.C., people were both crying and smiling at being part of history, grabbing up souvenirs of the event to someday show their grandchildren. Among the tickets, banners, flags, stickers and tee shirts, there was this official Presidential Inauguration Collection Commemorative CD-DVD, Change is Now– Renewing America’s Promise.  It was available for purchase at some stores around D.C. as well as on-line, at the PIC and some lucky celebrants got it as take-aways from the high-end parties.  In short, Hidden Beach was all over Washington, D.C.

 

Probably never before in modern history has a political campaign inspired so many artists to create art in the reflection of the themes, hopes, aspirations and ideals embodied in the movement that was created in its wake. This first of its kind album inspired by a presidential campaign and its supporters’ quest for a more perfect union contains performances by some of the most talented recording artists alive today expressing themselves through instruments and voice. 

 The eighteen artists on this album truly represent how our differences can come together to celebrate our common purpose.  We are grateful for their creativity and their musical contributions.”—Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC)

 

And there was no more appropriate home for this project than Hidden Beach. The Santa Monica-based boutique label from its inception had its own audacity of hope and its own “yes we can” state of mind. They followed the road less traveled from the ones populated by the behemoth record labels. There are many parallels in what HB was trying to do and the ambitions and hopes of the young Illinois Senator claiming Chicago as his homebase.  In fact, it could be something in the water in Chicago.  Obama and HB’s Steve McKeever are fast friends from back in the day when they were dreaming of making the world better through community activism, Harvard Law School and music that made a difference.

             McKeever admits this project “might be the hardest thing” he’s ever done. But early on there was a mandate to struggle through the Herculean task of being able to get all the ducks in a row with clearances, schedules, legalities and other impossibilities. Clearly many people of good purpose needed to do something.

McKeever spins the years backwards to recall, “The early believers tried to figure out a way to make the Obama dream a reality and that included music makers of all kinds, with new songs and old songs that mysteriously seemed to speak of hope and promise.” People on the campaign trail were forever having CDs and song lyrics thrust into their hands.  In the first set released, Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement (inspired by Barack Obama and His Movement for Change), McKeever talks of trying to put a collection together years earlier after receiving a call from Hans Reimer, then a youth field rep for the Obama campaign who wanted to brainstorm about marshalling the burgeoning grassroots movement which was beginning to express itself musically. But the obstacles and legalities seemed “insurmountable” so they decided to keep in touch and speak again if a brainstorm solved some of the inherent problems in such a project.

 Finally, there was the first CD, no doubt a baptism by fire for the package to come. Right above its track listing are these words: 

“Probably never before in modern history has a political campaign inspired so many artists to create art in the reflection of the themes, hopes, aspirations and ideals embodied in the movement that was created in its wake. This first of its kind album inspired by a presidential campaign and its supporters’ quest for a more perfect union contains performances by some of the most talented recording artists alive today expressing themselves through instruments and voice.”   

The first part of the mission was underway big time.

            McKeever, with emotion in his voice, recounts his own struggle and the battle of his “Team Mission Impossible” to deliver the CD, what they wanted to do and the timeframe of having it ready for the Inauguration.  Just sorting through the thousands of submitted tapes and the thought process of what songs would actually make it onto the CD was hard to wrap their heads around. Then came the actual recording process.  “It was unbelievable trying to get everything finished on time. We had artists in every studio, flying in and out on such crazy schedules that I actually took a nap on the bare carpet in places.”

 The list of credits and accolades is long. McKeever cites his long time associate and invaluable project manager Bruce Walker whose name kicks off a roster that reveals double duty for Walker and many such as Meaghan Burdick and Kim Alfred for PIC and the Change Is Now Squad; Ron Gillyard for half a dozen credits in the A&R and Talent categories. Right there too is Bonnie Greenberg and PamRobinson who show up in the Art Squad and Talent divisions. Erik Steigen is listed as Precinct Captain and in Talent.  Dale Voelker was big in the Art and Design credits. On a somber note, listed in a different color from all the other names is the Project Angel: Jheryl Busby (May 5, 1949-November 4, 2008). Candace Bond McKeever is on the Change Is Now Squad and there’s a note that Berry Gordy provided Special Inspiration and Advice. There are also about 300 thank yous and then the big one–Special Thanks to Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden and Jill Biden.

            The artists included on this official inauguration collection are enough to give you hope and let you know that HB believes in inclusion. This is a once in a lifetime, instantly collectible package. Did you ever think you’d see a compilation featuring both Jennifer Hudson and Death Cab for Cutie or Ozomatli and James Taylor?

            Was the Senator involved from the beginning?  No, McKeever quickly says, “I’m not sure at what point he even knew about it.”  Tracing any given point might be difficult, but what McKeever does know is that it’s never been done before. But the people involved with President Obama, back when he was still just Barry, seemed to be instilled with an elixir of daring dreams.  I remember McKeever calling me to come to a fundraiser at least five years ago. He was in it early and was rooted in his knowledge that this man was going to be President. 

“Just listen to him, Ruth,” he said. 

Ok, now it’s your turn. Listen to him here. There are nine iconic speeches starting with the campaign announcement for President in Springfield, Illinois on February 10, 2007. Next is the Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Des Moines on November 10, 2007. Thenthere’s the Iowa Caucus Victory Speech on January 3, 2008. In New Hampshire on January 8, he delivered his Primary Speech.  Next is the speech most often called the “Race Speech” given in Philadelphia on March 18, 2008, actually entitled “A More Perfect Union.”  And who thought a man who wasn’t even the nominee yet could draw hundreds of thousands to Berlin on July 24, 2008 for his “A World That Stands As One speech?”

Brilliant, brilliant strategy. 

The last two are “The American Promise” delivered in Denver, Colorado on August 28, which was chilling in its power, and lastly is the Election Night Victory Speech in Chicago. Listening to him again brings back the memory of a weeping Oprah, the sea of faces and the sobbing of those who could only gasp, “I never thought I’d live to see this day.”

            The speeches time out at three hours, but watching evokes so many personal emotions, the time hardly seems that long.  There are even excerpts from some speeches included in the song selections, such as will.i.am’s “It’s a New Day,” Melissa Etheridge’s “God is in the People,” Maroon 5’s 2009 version of “Pure Imagination” and a bonus track by Lionel Richie called “Eternity.”

Many of the 18 songs on the CD-DVD are newly recorded. Highlights include Stevie Wonder’s “All About the Love Again,”  BeBe Winans’ “Born for This” and Death Cab for Cutie’s “Grapevine Fires.”

            PIC made the comment, “The eighteen artists on this album truly represent how our differences can come together to celebrate our common purpose.  We are grateful for their creativity and their musical contributions.”

            This Obama victory has been music to the ears of countless millions. This special collector’s CD and DVD provide the opportunity to savor again and again the Change that Has Come to America.

Sounding the Trumpet Again

Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. president/CEO Xernona Clayton, a former advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and executive under Ted Turner at Turner Broadcasting, executive produced the 17^th Annual Trumpet Awards on January 25^th in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Hosted by Sherri Shepherd, co-host of “The View,” and Anthony Anderson, star of “Law and Order,” the show was taped for later broadcast on TV One on April 12.

This year’s honorees included Dr. Alvin Crawford, Medicine; Raven-Symone, Pinnacle Award; Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Living Legend Award; Pastor Paula White, Humanitarian Award; Chief Richard Pennington, Law; Michael Roberts, Business; Johnathan Rodgers, Corporate; Chris Tucker, Entertainment and the Tuskegee Airmen, Heroes.

Performers included Teena Marie, Raheem DeVaughn, Keyshia Cole, EnVogue and Dietrick Haddon, among others, who were joined by presenters that included Lou Gossett, Jr., Ambassador Andrew Young, Holly Robinson Peete, Lisa Leslie, Gloria Allred, Roland Martin, Tom Joyner and comedian Earthquake.

photo credit Photos by Arnold Turner/AT Archives  

 

Welcome to Miami’s ‘Home of the Hits’

Miami-based label Slip-N-Slide Records has opened the doors of its “Home of the Hits,” South Beach-based high-tech recording studio to the other singers, songwriters and producers for pre-production and post-production. This marks the first time the studio, used exclusively to record Slip-N-Slide hits by the likes of such artists as Plies, Trina and Rick Ross, will be available to those in the music industry to record with the label’s producers and engineers.  

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