Friday, June 30, 2017

Elegant Lena


Lena Horne ... 100

TGIF


Keep smiling, through the pain, breaking isn't an option. Growth comes from planting seeds. Utilize the Power that lives within you.  #TGIF

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

At One

Remembering Phyllis


Timeless - Its hard to believe that Phyllis Hyman took her life 22 years ago.  The troubled vibrant beauty, had vocal range for the GODS.  Hyman sang of pain, love, loss, desperation and depression.  Battling Record companies executives, booze, drugs and food dependency.   She attempted suicide several times in her life, but on June 30, 1995 a week before her 46th Birthday, she succeeded.  The world mourned her life, seemingly on upswing, of conquering her depression, she relapsed.  She always felt that her life was hers to take.


Phyllis Linda Hyman born July 6, 1949 – June 30, 1995, was an American singer and actress. She is best known for her singles from the late 1970s to the early 1990s: "You Know How to Love Me", "Living All Alone" and "Don't Wanna Change the World". Hyman also performed on Broadway in the 1981 musical based on the music of Duke Ellington, Sophisticated Ladies, which ran from 1981 to 1983. The musical earned her a Theatre World Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.


The 'You Know How To Love Me' project is one of my all time favorites, by Hyman, that long extended note that producer James Mtume,  forced her to hold,  gets me HIGH, It's STILL makes me smile and feel good.  I was fortunate to see her perform LIVE on many occasions, her wit, charm, sense of humor, charisma, crass and class, are things that I will always remember about her.  The vocals were always the featured delight, with and occasional whistle here and there.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Whitney ... 'Can I Be Me'


Whitney Houston ...

Wonder Women


Wonder Twins ...
Lynda Carter still Reigns ...

TLC Returns


Chili and T'Boz still winning ...


Sweet Victory


Feliciano Lopez completed the perfect preparation for Wimbledon by beating world number seven Marin Cilic to win the Aegon Championships at Queen's.

Lopez has never gone past the quarter-finals at the All England Club but after winning his sixth ATP singles title the Spaniard will be one of the form players in Friday's draw.

For comparison, Andy Murray's early exit means he has played two competitive grass-court sets ahead of the third grand slam of the year while Lopez, having reached the final in Stuttgart last week, has 27.

He battled back from a set down and saved a match point in the deciding tie-break to win 4-6 7-6 (7/2) 7-6 (10/8) against 2012 champion Cilic, to whom he lost in straight sets at the French Open last month.

But that was on clay and this on grass, Lopez's favourite surface, where the world number 32's bending left-handed serve and sizzling slice backhand can be exploited to the full.


For Cilic, this was a surprise loss but he too will head to SW19 full of confidence after an excellent week, which had seen the likes of Murray, Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka all falter in the first round.

At 35 years old, Lopez is enjoying something of an Indian summer in his career and after knocking out world number three Wawrinka on Tuesday, he can add Cilic to an impressive list of scalps.

He spurned a match point before losing to Grigor Dimitrov in the final three years ago but this time held firm to secure the trophy.

"Wow, I cannot believe I have finally won this trophy," Lopez said.

"It was tough to put that match (against Dimitrov) away from my mind. I was serving for the match again and it was difficult to handle my nerves. I was waiting so long so I'm so happy today."

Serving to stay in the opening set, three errant Lopez groundstrokes gave Cilic 0-40 before the Spaniard drifted a backhand wide.

Lopez took a tumble in the second set when serving at 6-5 but regained his footing in the tie-break, marching into a 6-1 lead before a long Cilic forehand sent the match to a decider.

The momentum, and crowd, seemed now with Lopez, who won a 22-shot rally at 3-3 in third after a net-chord prompted Cilic to fire out.

An agitated Cilic held on for another tie-break and this time it was neck and neck, Lopez whipping away a winning forehand off one foot for a 5-4 lead only for Cilic to pat a passing shot inside the baseline for 5-5.

A big serve gave Cilic match point but Lopez saved it with a reaching volley and then released an ace for his own championship point.

Cilic saved it with another ace for 7-7 but a forehand wide gave Lopez a second match point, this time on serve.

A punching Cilic volley, however, and the chance was missed but Lopez opened up 9-8 and match point number three with an ace.

This time he converted as a Cilic forehand landed wide and a visibly relieved Lopez finally was able to celebrate.







Sent from my iPhone

Friday, June 23, 2017

Truth Standing


Colin Kaepernick says, " I have made my decision I will not be participating in this organization called the NFL anymore they don't value what I stand for so I must leave because my activism and the love I have for my people and most importantly building these kids minds with confidence and love for self, Means more to me than any Superbowl Ring. I want black kids to see me and think, 'Okay, he's carrying himself as a black man, and that's how a black man should carry himself. I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed." 🏈👑👑👑👑✊✊✊📚📚📚📚#Justice #Oppression #BlackLivesMatter #SpeakUp #FuckBeingSubmissive #Genocide #Warrior #SpeakTheFuckUp #nomoresilence #FuckFear #Poltical #neverliveinfear #Black #colinkaepernick #nomorepolicebrutality #NFL #Boycott #nflmemes  #Activist #activism #BMore #baltimore #dmv #Decolonize #HueyPNewton #BlackExcellence #49ers #Sanfrancisco #PhilandoCastile #BlackPanthers #TheBlackPanthers #BlackPantherParty

TGIF


Don't trust everything you see, Deception lurks everywhere in all shapes, tastes and sizes.
Stay Woke. #TGIF

NBA's #1 Draft Pick 2017 ...

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Reigning Ross


Supreme Radiating - Legend-Trailblazer-Icon Mother-Producer-Singer-Actress-Divine-Class Royalty all things that easily define the dynamic  Diana Ross.  Currently on tour and Headlining this years Essence Festival in New Orleans.  The mother of five with a Net worth of over 300 million dollars.  This class act, shows NO signs of slowing down.  Paving the way for girl groups like The Emotions, En Vogue, Destiny's Child, SWV, Xscape, The Jones Girls, Three Degrees, Wild Orchid. and female singers like Natalie Cole, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, Erykah Badu and countless others.  



Diane Ernestine Earle Ross was born March 26, 1944.  Ross was raised in Detroit, Michigan, and rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group The Supremes, which, during the 1960s, became Motown's most successful act, and is to this day the United States' most successful vocal group, as well as one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. Ross' success as lead singer of The Supremes made it possible for future African-American R&B and soul acts to find mainstream success.  The group released a record-setting twelve number-one hit singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, including "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby Love", "Come See About Me", "Stop! In the Name of Love", "You Can't Hurry Love", "You Keep Me Hangin' On", "Love Child", and "Someday We'll Be Together".



After going solo in 1970, Ross went on to solo success and film acclaim starring in the Billie Holiday story 'Lady Sings The Blues' which earned her an academy award nomination for Best Actress

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Untimely ...


Untimely - Within a blinking of an eye, the life of Selena, Aaliyah and Lisa 'Left-Eye' Lopes.   The untimely tragic passing of these three young ladies, whose star was on the rise.  So much promise, so much hard work and dedication.  Their smiles, beauty, laughter, brought us all to tears when the news hit of their tragic ending, a young life interrupted.

I often wonder if they were still here ... if Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce Knowles and Nicki Minaj would be the mega stars that they are today.  Clearly that absence open doors.  Talk about Super Nova's lights that shine so brightly, the wattage, bound to fizzle out.  The grace that they left us with, continues to live on, in our hearts ,minds, and memories.




Sunday, June 11, 2017

Vamos ...


10 - French Open King Rafa Nadal wins his 10 French Open Championship in three sets 626361 against Stan Wawrinka. VAMOS!!!!

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Missing You


Happy (59) Birthday Prince ...

Country Pop


Classy, Hot or Tainted - American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and Miranda Lambert, which one do you find to be either.  Underwood has beauty and powerful vocals. Taylor Swift is a singing songwriter dynamo and Miranda Lambert is Country America's sweetheart, especially with The world witnessing her heartbreak and divorce from Blake Shelton.  All three ladies have found their niche and are competing in the same market places. All are competing to be the 'it' factor country/pop singer. Their audiences are loyal, radio seems to adore all three.  Seemingly are are media darlings, some loving the attention more than others, when it's all said and done who is the Classy one, The Hot one and the Tainted one??? 




Monday, June 5, 2017

Neo Soul

Neo Soul Kings - The counter parts to Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, India Arie, Zhane' of the Neo Soul movement ... Heavily based in soul music, neo soul is distinguished by a less conventional sound than its contemporary R&B counterpart, with incorporated elements ranging from jazz, funk, and hip hop to pop, fusion, and African music. It has been noted by music writers for its traditional R&B influences, conscious-driven lyrics, and strong female presence.


The Neo Soul Movement was developed during the 1980s and early 1990s, in the United States and United Kingdom, as a soul revival movement. It earned mainstream success during the 1990s, with the commercial and critical breakthroughs of several artists, including D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Maxwell, India Arie, Rahsaan Patterson, Bilal and Donnie their music was marketed as an alternative to the producer-driven, digitally approached R&B of the time.


Since its initial mainstream popularity and impact on the sound of contemporary R&B, neo soul has been expanded and diversified musically through the works of both African-American and international artists. Its mainstream presence declined during the 2000s, although newer artists emerged through more independent means of marketing their music.  The various incarnations of Neo Soul artist has helped to redefine the boundaries and contours of black pop.  Some say that soul music is a dying breed, but I tend to differ.


Praying ...


Friday, June 2, 2017

Cray Cray



TGIF


Make peace with the past, it's the only way to achieve growth and healing for the Future. #TGIF

Beyond The Stars ...


Beyond ...


The ...


Stars ...

CAPTIVATED - The Rise, The Fall, The Men, The Business, The Demons, The Demise.  All of these highly successful females are from various decades, but their stories are very similar.  What glitters isn't always gold.  The entertainment Industry is a tough place to survive, ESPECIALLY if you don't know who you are, or your worth.  The support group around you, can't be opportunistic hanger on types, the foundation has to be firm, genuine, sincere, honest and strong.   These wonderfully talented beautiful ladies, are no longer with us, but undoubtedly left their mark, and will forever be remembered.    
ALL Gone Too Soon!!!