tag:ipushradio.com,2005:/blogs/blog?p=4BLOG2024-01-24T19:45:12-05:00PUSH Radiofalsetag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/73396692024-01-24T19:45:12-05:002024-01-24T20:21:05-05:00India Arie: A Beautiful Surprise in Atlanta<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/194236/1d42969e109450c888fc33e024b4687c9f0a3cb4/original/indiaarie2.webp/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p><strong>Belle Morgan</strong> January 24, 2024</p><p>Singer, songwriter India Arie has announced a rare and special intimate Valentine's season performance in Atlanta on February 18th at the Center Stage Theater. Fans were surprised by the announcement from her camp and quickly began to call for more dates in different cities. India responded, “Sadly, I'm rarely paid enough to tour. When I'm offered what my show is worth, I'll go anywhere. Until then, I do what I can. I gotta take care of ME too."</p><p>She went on to encourage fans to “move with intention” and purchase tickets as the event will only happen once. We heard you India and will be there to witness your magic next month.</p><p>Purchase tix here: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0E00602BEA122532" target="_blank">https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0E00602BEA122532</a></p><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/194236/c06470c179bde612450ecca5fc2f83c5f476bc06/original/india-arie1.webp/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p><p> </p><p> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/64061222020-08-09T23:06:17-04:002023-12-10T11:53:37-05:00Judas and the Black Messiah Is Coming To Theaters <p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/579f83fb56992806f4c4861904891c82c3139866/original/leeroytheartist-leeroytheartist-15970263857609.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong>Belle Morgan</strong> August 9, 2020</p>
<p>Warner Brothers has released the first official trailer for Judas and the Black Messiah. Social media has been set ablaze by the powerful first look. Daniel Kaluuya stars as Fred Hampton, chairman of the Black Panther Party. Hampton, betrayed by fellow panther William O'Neal, was ambushed and assassinated by the government on December 4, 1969. He was 21 years old.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="sSjtGqRXQ9Y" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/sSjtGqRXQ9Y/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sSjtGqRXQ9Y?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Judas is directed by Shaka King and produced by Ryan Coogler ("Black Panther," "Creed," "Fruitvale Station") and Charles D. King ("Just Mercy," "Fences")., Zinzi Coogler, wife of Ryan Coogler is one of the films executive producers.</p>
<p>The film is slated for theater release in 2021.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/f48430a0861f2814d69b31987bbb8a9e8a4a400a/original/musicfilmdiva-1597026625622.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/62006102020-02-02T15:07:51-05:002023-03-10T08:36:14-05:00Raphael Saadiq brings the 'Jimmy Lee Tour' to Atlanta<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/e6a845a01c80da539d8f051247e25cc2e372139d/original/raphael-saadiq-promo-e1569435229228.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Belle Morgan </strong>February 2, 2020</p>
<p>Raphael Saadiq traveled to the Dirty South last night and did not disappoint. Fans were treated to a trip down memory lane as Saadiq sang classics from his groups Tony Toni Tone' and Lucy Pearl. Tunes such as "Anniversary," "Just Me & You," "Feels Good" & "It Never Rains (In Southern California)" delighted the ATLIEN audience at The Tabernacle. The rock inspired remix of "Let's Get Down" felt good and, if the sea of head nods across the venue were any indication, Saadiq should definitely keep this one in his set.</p>
<p>Saadiq went on to explain that the project is named after his heroine addicted brother and reminisced on the closeness of their relationship despite his brother's illness. "Something Keeps Calling" is about that addiction. It is Saadiq's attempt to articulate musically how his brother must've felt during his battle for sobriety. Saadiq muses that Jimmy Lee raised him and, while explaining their 16 year age gap, joked that his father often told him that he was a mistake.</p>
<p>While the world is still reeling from the tragic death of NBA giant, Kobe Bryant, Saadiq paid tribute to the Black Mamba during his show. Using both hands, the Oakland native held up the number 24 and sang in soft refrain "this is so heavy on me." The line is from "Something Keeps Calling," a track from the <em>Jimmy</em> <em>Lee</em> album. Indeed, the moment was heavy; you could collectively hear the room sigh as the gravity of the moment sunk in. Again.</p>
<p>At 53, Saadiq remains as youthful on stage as he was in the early years. He spoke on his 32 year career in the music industry and the countless hits that he has written and produced for others. Showcasing his skills on keys, guitar and drums he launched into a must-have catalogue playlist: "Kissin' You" (Total), "Cranes In The Sky" (Solange), "Love of My Life" (Erykah Badu) & "Lady" (D'Angelo). By the time that he struck the familiar chords of "Untitled (How Does It Feel)," the crowd was in a near frenzy. To the delight of the audience, he then<em> </em>shouted "that's MY shit" and pointed proudly to his chest. </p>
<p>We love it and we<em> love</em> Raphael Saadiq. Check him out in your city on the Jimmy Lee Tour: <a contents="Raphael Saadiq" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.raphaelsaadiqmusic.com/" target="_blank">Raphael Saadiq</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/1069daa6b8c4b0d962ccd8417ffa79d2837155f1/original/merlin-158717568-eb6e9fbe-fce1-4d57-8d2a-492bf0425b92-articlelarge.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/62005402020-02-02T13:20:26-05:002022-07-18T02:24:19-04:00The World Mourns NBA Legend Kobe Bryant<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/d32b42216d3eb8e13b533d3a7f3cefd2ef910cec/original/kobe-bryant-obit-plasma-2020-1580082165.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Belle Morgan</strong> January 26, 2020</p>
<p>Time stood still today as the terrible news spread across the globe. NBA legend, businessman, husband & father, Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash. He was 41. What we know is that there were nine passengers aboard the aircraft. Bryant's daughter, Gianna (13) - a WNBA aspirant who was being groomed for greatness by her father- was also tragically killed. Other victims were John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Peyton Chester and pilot, Ara Zobayan.</p>
<p>The helicopter was traveling to Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a girls basketball game. </p>
<p>The crash came one day after Lebron James passed Bryant for third on the NBA scoring list. The Lakers team found out about Bryant's death while on the team plane flying home from Philadelphia.</p>
<p>Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016 but remained busy. He won an Academy Award for the animated short, "Dear Basketball" in 2018. He also created a children's book series that became a New York Times bestseller.</p>
<p>Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa and their daughters, Natalia (17), Bianka (3) and Capri (7 months).</p>
<p>We mourn this tremendous loss along with the rest of the world.</p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/61487272020-01-22T20:25:00-05:002023-12-10T12:36:02-05:00Roberta Flack To Receive GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/998378480f5f4de737b5d4c54419ce6992ac1cc8/original/roberta-flack.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Belle Morgan</strong> January 22, 2020</p>
<p>Roberta Flack will be presented with her Lifetime Achievement Award at the Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards ceremony and concert event, taking place April 18 in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. </p>
<p>This Special Merit Award is presented by vote of the Recording Academy's National Trustees to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording."I am humbled and honored to be recognized in the company of such esteemed and diverse talents," says Flack. "The dreams and love that we sing of connect our hearts -- reaching across oceans, generations, and time. Our music is the legacy we leave to our children, the world's future." </p>
<p>"I am humbled and honored to be recognized in the company of such esteemed and diverse talents," says Flack. "The dreams and love that we sing of connect our hearts -- reaching across oceans, generations, and time. Our music is the legacy we leave to our children, the world's future."</p>
<p>Classically trained on the piano from an early age, Ms. Flack received a music scholarship at age 15 to attend Howard University. Discovered while singing at the Washington, DC nightclub, she was signed to Atlantic Records. Her string of hits include, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Where Is the Love (a duet with Donny Hathaway), Killing Me Softly, Feel Like Makin' Love, The Closer I Get to You and, Tonight I Celebrate My Love, Ms. Flack has built an impressive musical legacy. </p>
<p>Other 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are the late Isaac Hayes, Chicago, punk pioneer Iggy Pop, folk singer-songwriter John Prine, influential hip-hop group Public Enemy, and late gospel/blues musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe.</p>
<p>Roberta Flack will also make a rare appearance at the 2020 GRAMMY Awards to be held January 26 in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.</p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/57034602019-04-01T23:23:03-04:002023-12-10T11:48:15-05:00The Alphas of Atlanta host the 5th Annual Alpha Derby<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/ffae825188d8a18cb8ad7e928372d85fb954df59/original/alphaderbyweekend-general-flyer.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong>Belle Morgan</strong> | April 1, 2019</p>
<p>The Alphas of Atlanta have done it again.</p>
<p>The 5th Annual Alpha Derby Weekend is scheduled to take place in Atlanta from May 3-5, 2019. The <strong>#AlphaDerby, </strong>a fundraising event series, is centered around the style and pageantry of one of the most well-known horse races in the world, The Kentucky Derby. </p>
<p>Alpha men from chapters located in Atlanta, Morrow, East Point, Conyers, Gwinnett, Cobb, Henry, and DeKalb have collaborated to host a first-class experience that will benefit local non-profit educational foundations. This is the true definition of a party with a purpose.</p>
<p><strong>PUSH Radio</strong> had the opportunity to speak with event co-founder and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., <strong>Robert Cunningham,</strong> about the signature fundraising event. Hear the interview below.</p>
<p>For more information about the <strong>#AlphaDerby</strong> go to: <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.alphaderbyweekend.com" target="_blank">http://www.alphaderbyweekend.com</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Scenes from the 2018 #AlphaDerby</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/41b9190a04f01df19f739066da41b100f2b46796/original/20180505-alphaderby-087z.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/d00edc0f4f8ac65540256ce0e3076054080f635e/original/20180505-alphaderby-092z.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/f6b0d8d73d903d0b9c8290c997ea1e4325fa58b0/original/20180505-alphaderby-085z.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>15:44PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/55716882018-12-27T23:43:23-05:002023-12-10T11:44:24-05:00Jordan Peele's 'Us' Trailer Steals Christmas <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/4ebb2576f20b52036a22e836630f9d5d4a7b66f3/original/jordanpeele-1545845092496.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Belle Morgan December 26, 2018-</p>
<p>Jordan Peele dropped the trailer for his forthcoming horror flick on Christmas Day and social media has (collectively) lost its mind. Peele has delivered once again. His latest thriller is set to be released March 15, 2019. The film stars Black Panther cast members, Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke as Adelaide and Gabe Tyler. The couple take their family on a summer beach getaway and the nightmare begins when darkness falls. The film, written and directed by Peele, is produced by his company Monkeypaw Productions for Universal Pictures.</p>
<p>Watch the trailer here: <a contents="Us Movie" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNCmb-4oXJA&t=3s" target="_blank">Us Movie</a></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/55624452018-12-20T05:54:50-05:002022-06-01T21:03:41-04:00'Love Is_' Canceled <p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/2405485fbe3579f6eb06a7c821301ec9102b8f5a/original/maraakil-1545303198004.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Belle Morgan</strong> December 19, 2018-</p>
<p>OWN has decided to cancel the popular series 'Love Is_' amid the domestic violence allegations levied against producer, Salim Akil. The lawsuit alleges that Akil was involved in a nearly 10-year extramarital affair with Amber Dixon Brenner and was verbally, physically and sexually abusive towards her throughout that time. Brenner alleges that the idea for the show is based on their tempestuous relationship and that the idea was stolen from her after she submitted the script to Mr. Akil.</p>
<p>"OWN has decided not to move forward with second season of 'Love Is_,'" the network said in a statement released today.</p>
<p>Mr. Akil denies all allegations.</p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/55558622018-12-15T20:24:27-05:002023-12-10T11:46:19-05:00Remembering Nancy <p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/165b0b095530e78c1bf0ef09694ddb83d8a297da/original/img-20181214-081925.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></strong><strong>Belle Morgan</strong> December 14, 2018-</p>
<p>The music industry mourns the death of icon, Nancy Wilson. The three time Grammy-Award winner was 81. Born in 1937, Wilson states that she knew by age four that she would become a singer. Her debut single, a cover of <em>Guess Who I Saw Today </em>would become her signature song. She rejected the label of "jazz singer" throughout most of her career choosing instead to refer to herself as a "song stylist." Wilson, a mother of three, died of unknown causes in California.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/c5dfef806cdef87d442328c4586fc274e5bf8c8b/original/19c734d99214fcc8d2e081a32fcc8691.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_center border_" /></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/55417952018-12-08T14:16:05-05:002023-12-10T11:55:40-05:00Sheryl Underwood joins PUSH Radio Family<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/4476fe1d9dfd8e299b7749734a67ee3de2e541d0/original/sur-banner.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><strong>Belle Morgan</strong> December 8, 2018</p>
<p>PUSH Radio has become an affiliate of Sheryl Underwood Radio. Beginning December 10, PUSH Radio listeners can enjoy Sheryl on our airwaves. Download the LIVE365 app from GooglePlay to listen or go to <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ipushradio.com" target="_blank">ipushradio.com</a> to listen.</p>
<p>Sheryl Underwood Radio is entertaining and features one of the funniest and smartest comedians working today – Sheryl Underwood – and a crew of seasoned radio and entertainment veterans. The show is formatted to fit any time slot. Sheryl Underwood Radio is smart, and speaks to the issues and interest of the Urban (18-34) and Urban Adult Contemporary (25-54) listener. Sheryl Underwood Radio is relevant, tackling the hot topics of the day in a snappy, engaging, informative format. The innovative Sheryl Underwood Radio show provides the energetic conversation about relationships, entertainment, sports and hot topics of the day, and YOU provide the music your listeners want to hear. </p>
<p>Sheryl Underwood Radio airs on over 294 radio affiliates, with an estimated reach of over 14 million listeners by the combined reach of the signals strength of 294 affiliates.</p>2:21PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/55426412018-12-06T19:29:46-05:002022-07-28T07:45:40-04:00Black Nativity Extends Atlanta Run<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/03e5b9e1c0948daa2b8398f1c4684b438e9c819d/original/21-black-nativity-atlanta-ga-show-11-30-18-photo-credit-tyson-horne-1-11.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><strong>Belle Morgan</strong> December 6, 2018</p>
<p>Due to popular demand and after sold out performances, two additional <strong>Black Nativity </strong>shows have been added in Atlanta.</p>
<p><strong>Black Nativity</strong> is a soul-stirring rendition of the Christmas Story that fills the theatre with thrilling voices, exciting dance and glorious gospel music. Originally written in 1961 by poet Langston Hughes, the unique performance piece is the powerful retelling of the nativity story from an African-American perspective. The one act version of the oft-adapted production takes the audience from the traditional black church to an africanized Jerusalem. Through movement, powerful spirituals, anthems and toe-tapping gospel numbers, the story of Mary and Joseph's journey culminates in the birth of Christ. The appeal and importance of Black Nativity is inclusion. It is a show written for all, despite racial and religious differences, and is a well known holiday staple in many metropolitan areas including: New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco and Las Vegas.</p>
<p>Tickets for the adaptation of Langston Hughes’ original Broadway song-play w/<strong> Q Parker </strong>(Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum recording group, 112),</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/69c735e9b6966c3a9c264b89a8b5ad3900dc2006/original/q-parker1.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Latrice Pace</strong> (Stellar and Grammy-nominated gospel group, The Anointed Pace Sisters), </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/6dbdcd35f10dae0b80c63b39d5316fe6cb21841d/original/latrice-pace1.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">and <strong>Zebulon Ellis</strong> (Runner-up, Sunday Best All Stars) went on sale today. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/1274248f7710b502d7ad387f863038b65eab84b8/original/9.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Encore performances for this family event are on December 20th and 21st at 8pm at the <strong>Ferst Center for the Arts</strong> in Atlanta, GA. Visit: <a contents="Black Nativity " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.dominionent.org/theatre-2/black-nativity-new/" target="_blank">Black Nativity </a> to purchase tickets and find more information on a show near you.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/91514f85f144a4919c1fa5ff39c61ffd39436f93/original/6-black-nativity-atlanta-ga-show-11-30-18-photo-credit-tyson-horne.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/52196242018-05-06T11:35:40-04:002022-08-08T07:37:24-04:00This Is America<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/87c669096b83d5df78194284aef2d32f8e973b5e/original/screen-shot-2018-05-06-at-12-51-44-am-630x318.png/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> May 6, 2018</p>
<p>Childish Gambino, the alter ego of cultural influencer Donald Glover, has set social media on fire with his latest video for the single, "This Is America." The surprise offering was dropped last night during his appearance on SNL as host and musical guest. The video, set in a warehouse and directed by Hiro Murai, who also directs the cult favorite "Atlanta," follows a shirtless Gambino as he, literally, dances though chaos. His indictment of the violent, racially charged, oppressive space that America has become is disturbing, brilliant and poignant. Isaac Hayes III remarks that Gambino is "who we thought Kanye was."</p>
<p>Judge for yourself.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="VYOjWnS4cMY" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/VYOjWnS4cMY/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VYOjWnS4cMY?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>For information on Childish Gambino and his upcoming #ThisIsAmerica tour, go to: <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.childishgambino.com" target="_blank">http://childishgambino.com</a></p>
<p> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/52144142018-05-03T00:55:22-04:002023-12-10T11:42:58-05:00Colors Of Love With Brian Culbertson<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/3c5c02f294469bf0aece6bd889e04febf6bfab90/original/23331145-890067564479584-6942592929841151336-o.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> May 2, 2018</p>
<p>Brian Culbertson is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer known for his distinct brand of genre-crossing contemporary jazz, R&B and funk. Inspired by the iconic R&B-jazz-pop artists of the 1970s like Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, Chicago, David Sanborn and others, Culbertson started composing original music for his seventh grade piano recital and hasn’t stopped since. He has amassed 31 Billboard No. 1 singles and has a deep catalogue of 18 albums, most of which have topped the Billboard contemporary jazz charts. With love, romance and his recent twentieth wedding anniversary serving as his inspiration, Culbertson crafted thirteen new songs that were released as his fifteenth studio album, “Colors of Love,” on Valentine’s Day.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> What is the story behind the name Colors Of Love?</p>
<p><strong>BC:</strong> Well it actually started this past year in October when I celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary. So earlier this year when I started writing music, I was definitely in more of a romantic mood as opposed to the funkier things that I'd been doing for the past few years. I started writing these songs and they each had a different romantic feel or flavor to them. I started to think about how love is multi-faceted, you know? It's all over the place. From when you first meet somebody and you are both in that infatuation stage to growing old together. All of those thoughts and feelings are incorporated in this record. Colors meaning, the different flavors of love. For the tour we chose three different colors to represent that: silver, red & blue. When you see the show, you'll get it. We have a lot of surprises [laughs]. This is the first time ever that we're bringing full production in terms of lighting, we have video walls. Big crew to every city, every night. It's a full multi-media show. I thought this record was cinematic and I wanted the show to reflect that visually.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Do you have a favorite song to perform?</p>
<p><strong>BC:</strong> Good question. One of the fan favorites is On My Mind. That came out in what. '97? And in the middle of the show is a funk set. I got folks asking me if the tour is gonna be sleepy. Nope. [laughs]</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> You're on a 70 city tour, recorded 18 albums and you have been married for 20 years...how do you balance it all?</p>
<p><strong>BC:</strong> You definitely have to schedule time off to recharge so don't call me in July [laughs]. Basically when I'm on, it's 110%. Everyday. It's pretty intense. When I have time to shut it down, we just totally chill out. Like, we head out of the country and it's bye bye. You have to do that kind of stuff to keep the balance. Honestly, I need two weeks, out of the country, with no itinerary. That's how I truly refresh.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Do you have a favorite memory of performing in Atlanta?</p>
<p><strong>BC:</strong> I love Atlanta. The crowd there is always insane. One of the craziest shows that I ever did there was at Mable House Amphitheater. About 10 years ago, there was a massive thunderstorm that rolled through. We started playing and the rain started coming in sideways under the roof so hard. I kept trying to move the keyboard back and, at one point, it had so much water in it, I had to tip it sideways and dump the water out of it. The crowd was bananas. I wouldn't stop the show. We were soaking wet [laughs]. Craziest show I ever did.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Was that your Diana Ross in Central Park moment?</p>
<p><strong>BC:</strong> Absolutely. We didn't care, we just kept it going.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> After so many albums, how do you continue to create music that sounds unique?</p>
<p><strong>BC:</strong> I think it's a combination of what's going on in your life mixed with what's going on in the world around you. I'm constantly listening to new music and I'm always inspired by it. As an artist I think it's your job to keep up with what's going on around you. This album is very different sonically for me, in terms of track production. If you strip off the piano, it's very pop and there are even elements of hip hop thrown in there. Things are so crazy right now in the country, I felt like we needed something positive to put out there. It just felt like the right time to do it. This is a very personal, intimate record. I didn't co-write with anyone this time. I went with my gut and this is what I was feeling at the time.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> What is your definition of grown folks music?</p>
<p><strong>A:</strong> I think there's a certain sophistication that's there. A certain integrity. It is music that will stand the test of time. Music that you can sink your teeth into. That you can look at and say, yeah, those are real musicians playing real notes [laughs]. It feels good too. Grown folks don't want anything that doesn't feel good at this point, right?</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/5434692cd25d5de8a70e0e7ddd0d69aa660b02da/original/463258-139133122906369-166730310-o.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Do you remember the very first time that you were the opener?</p>
<p><strong>BC:</strong> I spent many, many years as the opener. Of course I remember those days [laughs]. That was the early 2000s. I mean, you're nervous. There's less time to set up because the headliner takes up most of it [laughs]. You're hurrying, trying to get ready. And then the doors open and the fans are coming in. And a lot of times, they don't even know who you are. And, it's like they get mad because there's an opening act [laughs]. However, you just go for it. I did almost 2 years opening for Barry Manilow in arenas. I still remember that very first show with him in Philadelphia. He had not had an opening act in years so his fans were used to coming to the show and at 8pm sharp, there's Barry [laughs]. Well, on this tour, he asked me to open because he liked me and wanted to expose his fans to my music. I'll never forget that after they announced me, I looked out and the entire audience was looking like huh? What? I still remember that this dude in the front row turned to his wife, threw up his hands, and looked at his watch [laughs]. I had 30 minutes to convince these people that I deserved to be there. At the end of my time we had the entire audience on their feet singing along. You just gotta do what you do. Opening is definitely a humbling experience but it is also rewarding. To this day, I still have Fanilow's [laughs]. So that's cool.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> How did you become Brian Culbertson the musician?</p>
<p><strong>BC: </strong>I was that kid at 2 years old who had the pots and pans banging on them with wooden spoons. I started with traditional piano lessons at 8 years old. I got a drum set at 9 and took drum lessons. I still love drums. At 10, I joined the school band and played trombone. Trombone became my main instrument throughout high school and college. I worked really hard to learn traditional jazz trombone, learning jazz solos. I was still playing piano on the side and writing songs though. When I got to college I decided to put together a demo of my original music. I sent it to the only person I knew in LA and I got a record deal when I was 20. When the record came out, I was still only known as a trombone player. Everybody was shocked because the record was all piano [laughs].</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> You've already accomplished so much, what would you say the musical highlight of your career has been?</p>
<p><strong>BC:</strong> Oh wow. The people that I've been able to work with, so many legends and heroes of mine. It's such a great feeling being able to work with them. Working with Maurice White (of Earth, Wind & Fire) on that first funk record was such a thrill for me. I can't tell you how amazing it was. We spent three months in the studio together. Everyday. Just the wisdom that was there and what he brought to that project was unbelievable. And then having random pop-ins from people. I was performing in LA and in the middle of a song, Stevie Wonder walks on stage. With his harmonica. And starts playing [laughs]. There's moments like that that are so surreal. You get random phone calls from people. You don't realize who's listening and who's touched by what you're doing. I got a random call from Bill Withers recently. Now we just randomly talk. That is just so cool. I love talking to other musicians, especially the ones that I grew up listening to and have been inspired by.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> You've worked with everyone, is there still anybody out there that you'd love to work with?</p>
<p><strong>BC: </strong>Oh, of course. There's a billion artists. So many talented musicians out there. I've always been a big fan of Sting, Sade, Charlie Wilson and...I'm spacing out right now [laughs]. I remember getting a call from Elton John. Somehow he got my cell number but I didn't recognize the number so he went to voicemail [laughs]. I checked my messages and it was Elton. I was like, whoa, and I immediately hit redial. And he actually answered. So that was pretty awesome. Maybe I'll do something with Elton one day. Who knows? I did get to jam with Prince one night. That changed my life. The feel of that stage and the intensity and tightness of the band was just like, mind-blowing. I was like, oh boy, I'm in a whole 'nother echelon right now. That is so inspiring. It makes you, as a musician, want to try harder and harder to be the best that you can be. There have been lots of moments like that in my career and I'm just grateful.</p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>When you were a young boy and you discovered your musical gift, is this the life that you envisioned for yourself?</p>
<p><strong>BC:</strong> No. I never set out to be an artist. I always knew that I wanted to be a songwriter and producer of some sort. I initially looked up to David Foster who was writing and producing for everybody and still is. I initially thought about going that route. However, when I did that one demo in college and decided to put piano on the melody instead of hiring a different singer, it changed my course. I was definitely a reluctant artist in the beginning because I had never played any live shows on keyboards. I was very nervous in the beginning. After the first album was released, the label was like, get a band together and go on tour. I was like, what? I was so green. I didn't know anything [laughs]. I didn't want to at all. I was trombone player in a jazz band, right? I didn't know anything about fronting a band, let alone talking to an audience. But over the years I've grown into it and love it now. My wife definitely helped me with that. She was an opera singer at the time and was used to being on stage. She coached me through how to engage and audience. And here we are.</p>
<p>See <strong>Brian Culbertson</strong> live in Atlanta at Wolf Creek Amphitheater May 5th along with Najee, Norman Brown & Josh Vietti.</p>
<p>For more information on Brian or to purchase tix go to: <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.brianculbertson.com" target="_blank">http://www.brianculbertson.com</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/eb2a379d52fa4eb1b07c9c3e9d4d21d02680e683/original/27972971-624819744516090-4071779574813542902-n.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/51453302018-03-26T10:39:00-04:002022-05-13T03:56:36-04:00Racism From The Eyes Of A Child...A Candid Conversation With Mathew Knowles<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/54a243f857e2b6a2cb16d7175b6651a29bc8010b/medium/untitled16.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> March 26, 2018</span></p>
<p>Man. Husband. Father. Educator. Philanthropist. Mogul. Visionary. Mathew Knowles is many things and yet, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when given the opportunity to chat with him about his most recent book, <strong>Racism From The Eyes Of A Child</strong>. Yes, I'd seen the excerpts from the book and witnessed the subsequent media frenzy. Yes, I thought it was a bold (and necessary) move that will, hopefully, advance the national conversation about race. Yes, I greatly admired his business acumen and curriculum vitae. But, in my mind, Mathew Knowles has largely remained an enigma. Sure, we've watched him beam with pride as his eldest daughter became a living legend. We've watched him successfully navigate through the maze that is called the music industry. We have even watched him overcome some very personal lows. And while there exists lots of commentary about who Mathew Knowles is, it's mostly speculation. During our conversation what I noticed was that, above all else, Mathew Knowles is human. Incredibly warm. Sometimes funny. Sometimes vulnerable. Extremely candid. Always teaching. And, like me, he sometimes forgets his children's names. It was my honor and privilege to speak with the proud Omega man.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> What inspired you to write this book?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> A number of things motivated me to write this book. I wanted to tell my story of growing up in Gadsen, AL. and the experience of being one of the first to integrate junior high, high school and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I wanted to research my roots because I never really understood my family on the Knowles side. I knew my grandparents but I didn't know my great grandparents. I wanted to explore that information and share that. I also wanted to write a book that would begin dialogue abut racism and colorism in our community and across the globe. I wanted to be vulnerable and share my defining moments after years of therapy and encourage black men to utilize that resource. And because I am an educator, I write. As educators we are encouraged to do so.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Do you think that the perception of what a beautiful black woman looks like has changed?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> First and foremost, all black women are beautiful...regardless of their shade. Do I think things have changed? No. Do I think we've progressed? Yes, but we still have a long way to go. Colorism was imposed on us during slavery but it's not just a black community thing. Colorism affects the whole world. You see it in Mexico, the UK, India, Africa. You see it with the prevalence of skin bleaching globally. And it's all related to money, power and control. The lighter you go up the spectrum of color, the more money, power and control you're supposed to have. At least that's the perception.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Did colorism and racism impact the way that you presented Destiny's Child to the world?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> What impacted my decision with Destiny's Child, quite frankly, was demographics. When we look at the American population we have approximately 240 million whites, 60 million hispanics and 40 million blacks. So, from a business perspective I had to look at the numbers and understand them. And I also had to understand who my audience was and how to get <em>all</em> of that audience, which included white people. I realized that I had an uphill battle at Columbia Records and Sony. Back in, we're talking 1997, you had the black/urban music department. That's what existed, I mean, there was segregation within those labels. I had to maneuver through that to get pop radio to play Destiny's Child. So from that perspective, yes.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Did colorism affect how you raised your children?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> I can tell you that colorism affected <em>me</em>. When my mother told me not to bring any nappy-headed girls home, I internalized that. That influence and prohibition influenced many of my decisions. </p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Can you give an example of how the internalization affected you?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> I thought that she meant that I shouldn't date black girls so, in high school, I primarily dated white ones. In college I dated a lot of white women or black women that were very light skinned. When I initially met my former wife at a party, I thought that she was white. Now certainly after talking to her, I realized that she was a black woman but, yeah, that's how I internalized it. That's why therapy was so helpful. It helped me understand how my mother's words affected me.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> During your undergraduate studies, did you find that your views about race & color were challenged or were they similar to what you observed on campus?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> Good question. My first two years of college were at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I was actually one of the students who desegregated that campus. Of 15,000 students, there were maybe 25 of us that were black. I played basketball and like a lot of the other athletes, I dated white girls. Well, one December, while school was out, the coach caught me in my dorm room with one of those white girls. He wanted to expel me but later decided not to. That's why I transferred to Fisk University. Not because I wanted to but because I had to. But then when I got to Fisk... I had never been to a black school in my life. Can you imagine that? I had never seen anything like it. I have a chapter in the book called <em>Fisk Out Of Water </em>[laughs]. I was really surprised when I got there. That was the last year of the brown paper bag test. You know, when you applied you had to submit a photo and they took a brown paper bag and held it up to your picture. If you were darker than the bag, they wouldn't accept you. The exceptions were if you were an athlete or if your family donated a substantial amount of money to the university. So I experienced undergrad on two opposite extremes.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Was there one experience that you valued more or were they of equal value to you?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> I valued my HBCU experience at Fisk University the most. By far. It took me a while to get comfortable because I hadn't been around my people. I can't say that enough. You know, it's interesting because in junior high and high school I couldn't go to the black parties because I would get beat up. They called me an oreo. And I wasn't being invited to the white parties so I was isolated. I had a very unique experience and that's why I wanted to share it. I wanted to share my story. And it's not just me. There were six of us who integrated Litchfield Junior High. I also went on to help integrate Gadsen High School. Fisk was the best, by far, for me. I'm proud to say that I graduated from Fisk University.</p>
<p><strong>PR:</strong> HBCU's matter [laughter]</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> I teach at an HBCU, right? I'm a professor at Texas Southern University.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> I understand why you wrote the book but why now? Was this something that you've been wanting to do for a long time? Were you compelled to have that conversation because you had daughters? Was the desire heightened by the birth of Blue Ivy? </p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> When I wrote this book there was definitely a strategy. I wanted to transition out of the music industry. I also wanted to teach at Texas Southern so I went to Cornerstone Christian Bible College and got my MBA and PhD. My first book was <em>The DNA Of Achievers</em> because I didn't want to write a book about music. <strong>Racism From The Eyes Of A Child</strong> had been in my head for maybe four or five years but you're right, part of it was that I wanted Beyoncé & Solange to know about their grandparents and great-grandparents. I had no idea that my grandmother Hester had twin brothers, Sidney & Gidney, which explains why, through DNA, Beyoncé had twins. I learned a lot researching this book. I've had a very blessed life. Working in corporate America for 25 years and being the number one sales rep worldwide at Xerox three out of four years. It's interesting...my professional life was just like my childhood. At Xerox there were only two black sales reps. And I didn't sell copiers. I sold breast cancer detection technology. I was one of the first, if not the first, black sales rep to sell CT/MRI scanners in America back in 1988. And then I went on to be a neurosurgical specialist for Johnson & Johnson. You don't really see too many black neurosurgical specialists either. My third book is halfway finished and it's called <em>The Emancipation of Slaves Through Music </em>and my students are the co-authors.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/3727900ccab9608842ba150861d8c1bfd1d41794/medium/knowles.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Why do you feel that young children need to understand racism?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> One of the things about racism is that it wants the power to erase our history. If you erase our history then we don't have knowledge. If we don't have knowledge then we don't have power. Power comes from knowledge. An example of that is this current president. He wants to erase everything that Obama did. That's part of racism. There are so many kids who have no idea that we had colored water fountains and colored restrooms. They don't realize that we couldn't eat at certain lunch counters or go to certain doctors. They have no concept of beatings, electric prodding or being spat on. I just think that young (and old) people should know our stories. In my book, I talk about my cousin who lived in Cleveland. When she would come down to Alabama it was like night and day for her. In Cleveland her dad, my uncle, worked for Republic Steel and she lived in a mixed neighborhood. Her perspective was very different. That's what I hope this book does...shows another perspective.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> What would be three tips that you would give our youth today when dealing with racism and inequality?</p>
<p><strong>MK.</strong> Feel good about yourself. And that's up to parents to help with that one. When I give my talks across the country at black college expos and we talk about social media, I'm blown away by how much they've bought into the idea that they have to be liked. It hurts me when I ask the students how many of them have contemplated suicide and, out of sixty or seventy people, seven raise their hands. And it's mostly because of bullying on social media. The second thing would be to surround yourself with positive people. The third tip would be to maintain close and open dialogue with your family because, at the end of the day, that's what's important.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> What has the media and the public gotten wrong about Mathew Knowles?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> Well, they don't know me. People don't really know me. The media has painted a picture, like they do, about most black men. You can look all around us to see that. But when people get to know me they will, oftentimes, say "I didn't know you were this smart" or "I didn't know you were this tall" or "I didn't know you were this handsome." You know? My students know me. The people in my business know me. My family knows me. The outside people? They don't know me. Today, we live in a world of soundbites. At the end of the day, the media sells advertisements and I understand that. So from that perspective, because I do understand, I know that they need content that will bring in the numbers needed to sell advertisements. Journalism used to be real. Today? Not so much. That's why I'm proud and thankful and grateful that you have taken the time to talk to me and really get to know me.</p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>Solange said that she learned a lot about how racism and colorism affected you during the recording of your interlude on her album, A Seat At The Table. Any thoughts on that?</p>
<p><strong>MK: </strong>So I wanna drink some Lemonade while I have A Seat At The Table [laughs]. Man, I laugh at myself sometimes. Gotta have fun with stuff [laughs]. Solange has always been a great writer. That album was genius...how she tells stories through each song. And the skits? It was great. And Master P did an exceptional job kinda emceeing the whole thing. If you listen to the songs she says exactly what I'm saying. She talks about when she goes home and gets to the gate where she lives, she has to go trough this whole thing where she has to prove that she lives there. A lot of black folks in America have had that happen. I experience the same thing on airplanes. I have to prove that I belong in first class. Solange is a really good penman. You know, I didn't know until recently that Tina, my former wife, whom I consider to be a friend, didn't know I was gonna be in the studio to record. I knew she was gonna be there so I'm not sure what that was all about [laughs]. That was a great moment.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> What did you take away from that particular gathering to record those interludes?</p>
<p><strong>MK: </strong>I took away that Tina could have been a Black Panther [laughs]. I love what she said about not understanding the offense of Black History Month because all we've ever been taught is white history. I thought that was genius.</p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> What do you want the conversation to be once <strong>Racism From The Eyes Of A Child </strong>has been read?</p>
<p><strong>MK:</strong> I hope that the take away would be that they've learned a lot about the trauma that black people endured in the 50s, 60s and 70s in the South. In my book, I have four guests. My signature style of writing is that I don't like to write the whole book, I like to have guests who give their own perspective. I hope they learn a lot from these stories. One of the guest authors is my first cousin who was honored by President Obama. I am very proud of him. I hope that the dialogue for men is that you're not weak if you go to therapy. Therapy is not a bad thing. I hope that's the dialogue of men. I also hope that some men learn about eroticized rage and consider that, maybe, that's why they mainly date white women. I hope that women get together and share their perspectives on colorism and their own insensitivities. Mostly, I hope that we can finally tell white people how we feel about them and they, in turn, can tell us how they feel about us. You all know that when we're in mixed company we get very quiet. We have to stop doing that. It's time that we speak up in those shared spaces. That's what I hope comes out of this book. Damn, that sounded good, did you get that? [laughs]</p>
<p>I got it.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/0fca82d236423336aac3c9b6edf821406098508d/medium/front-cover-racism-child1800.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" />Racism From The Eyes Of A Child is a personal reflection on racism in America through a childhood lived through the country's most separate past. Growing up during the burgeoning civil rights movement, music mogul Mathew Knowles experienced one of many firsts from integrating all-white schools in the south, up through the corporate, and later music, world. Knowles examines the backdrop of discrimination by tracing his family's roots from post-slavery up through the civil rights era, on into the present racial climate.</p>
<p>For more information on Dr. Mathew Knowles, please go to: <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://mathewknowles.com" target="_blank">http://mathewknowles.com</a></p>
<p> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/51313142018-03-19T02:11:34-04:002022-05-12T08:01:31-04:00On Life, Love, Music and Detours...Meet Esnavi<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/fcf789b8fb5a9b4fa0903a1b78e3dffc867aa9be/medium/ee.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> March 19, 2018</span></p>
<p>She is as driven as she is talented. She is as intelligent as she is beautiful. Meet singer, songwriter, wife, mom, model and businesswoman...Esnavi. The indie soul singer has returned to the music scene with her latest single, The Way, from her forthcoming project and second album, Detour. She recently took the time out to dish with PUSH Radio and two things are clear, Esnavi knows what she wants and she makes no apologies for any movement in that direction. We like that. A lot.</p>
<p>Q. Congrats on the release of The Way. Is this the lead single from Detour?</p>
<p>A. Thank you. I released two singles previously but this is the last and final single leading up to the album release. We're doing a really big push for this record. We've been getting really good feedback too.</p>
<p>Q. Do we have a release date for the album?</p>
<p>A. No, we don't have a release date yet. We're shooting for fall, winter at the latest.</p>
<p>Q. Is there a video coming for The Way?</p>
<p>A. Possibly. We have some things in the works but it's not 100% guaranteed that we're going to. I'll keep you posted though (laughs).</p>
<p>Q. When I was listening to your music I was definitely getting Leela James-esque vibes. Have you ever heard that before? As an artist, do you mind comparisons?</p>
<p>A. No, I've not heard the Leela James comparison before but I am familiar with her as an artist and I think she's a dope vocalist. I don't necessarily mind comparisons especially when it's an artist that I admire or one that I'm aware of and I like their vibe. I feel like comparisons are a good thing (sometimes) because people need something to relate to. If you're a Leela fan and your friend is a Leela fan and I'm coming to town and you say, Esnavi has that Leela James vibe, that now opens him or her up to come check me out. I'm totally cool with that.</p>
<p>Q. You released your first album, Exit E, in 2011 and I'm sure there's been growth and evolution since then. How have you changed and what can your fans expect on this album?</p>
<p>A. I always write from a real place, I like to share real life experiences and my real emotions. With the first album, the sound was smoother. Back then I kinda had this expectation that things would be a lot easier than they have been. I don't know why I thought that when the music industry is one of the most challenging industries in the world (laughs). We had a top 40 record and I was questioning why certain things weren't happening. It caused me to question myself, my purpose and my path. I experienced some great highs and some real lows. The concept behind Detour is how you travel on the highway, you know your exit but when you get there the exit is closed so you have to find another way to get to your destination. That was my life. Detour is much more aggressive and in your face because that's what life was doing me. I've had my faith and my character tested. I'm much more vulnerable and raw on this record than Exit E. I wanted to create an album to reflect those experiences but in a melodic, musical way. The music isn't mean and hard and rough (laughs). I showcase another side of myself and I've evolved as a person and as a songwriter. Exit E was definitely smoother. Listening to both projects you can definitely tell that I was going through some things on Detour. Not all bad things, either. I share some beautiful experiences as well.</p>
<p>Q. Can you tell us about the producers that you worked with?</p>
<p>A. I work with one producer. His name is Michel Kunz. He produced Exit E. Very talented. He's able to flow with the versatility of where I want to go musically and it just works.</p>
<p>Q. Do you have any desire to sign with a major? Do you enjoy the indie artist path?</p>
<p>A. I don't have a desire to sign with a major label but I do have the desire to have a major label budget (laughs). I definitely enjoy the creative control that I have as an independent artist. That's part of the reason that I have remained indie. I have been approached by a major label in the past and, truthfully, I did entertain the idea but having creative control is a priority for me. The thought of someone coming in to tell me what I should sing about, how I should sing, what my image should be... I would not enjoy someone telling me what to do to sell a record. I feel like if you are authentic and singing from a real place, there's a fanbase for you.</p>
<p>Q. If you had an unlimited budget and unlimited access, who would you most want to work with? What artist? Producer?</p>
<p>A. I can tell you that my dream would be to record a live album with The Roots. The Roots are everything to me. I've always loved Bilal and how free he is. I just love his vibe. I'm a fan of hip-hop and I just recently saw Nas perform with the National Symphony Orchestra. I would love to do something like that. That would be so musically dope.</p>
<p>Q. Do you produce?</p>
<p>A. No (laughs). I dibble. No production skills. Once upon a time I thought about it but as I discovered the process, no. It's a lot. I have OCD with just writing and recording, I can't imagine what I'd be like as a producer. I'd probably never release any music (laughs). It would probably take me 30 years to release something. I'm very hard on myself. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I'll just stay in my lane. Production? Not for me.</p>
<p>Q. You have a degree in Marketing. How has that helped you as an independent artist?</p>
<p>A. Oh, it's helped me tremendously. That's what I do. We have a small team but as an independent artist, I feel like marketing and promoting yourself is so important. I don't care how many people you have working with you: manager, publicist, lawyer, whatever; you have to know how to promote yourself. Especially in this climate. When people see you going hard for yourself, they'll either join your team, support you or you'll start to be noticed. Social media is huge. Behind the scenes my team is always figuring out how to present who I am as a person and as an artist. Everyday I wake up thinking, what can I do to push Esnavi along?</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/64c9702cff553b13b01e0e5d0075b7e04c4ae829/medium/esnavi1.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Q. You're from Milwaukee. How'd you land in NYC?</p>
<p>A. I moved to NYC after one visit. I just knew this was where I needed to be. It was around the time I was graduating from college and although I had a degree, the 9 to 5 just wasn't what I wanted for my life. I didn't want to live life wondering what if, you know? I felt like I'd regret not pursuing music. It was great to know that I had the marketing gig to fall back on, just in case. I had every confidence that if I had to do the corporate thing, I could probably be a CEO somewhere but did I really want that? No. I could just feel it in my soul. That wasn't my vibration. I had actually narrowed it down to Atlanta & NYC. I already had connections in Atlanta. It was familiar. NYC was so foreign to me. I know it sounds cliché-ish but I really felt like if I could make it in NYC, I could really make it anywhere. I reached out to a producer here, came out for a week to work on music and made the decision during that visit. I came back on a one way ticket and that was that.</p>
<p>Q. That took guts. Did you have a lot of support?</p>
<p>A. My family was so supportive. My parents were instrumental in the move. Everyone already knew that I was singing so they were happy that I stepped on out there instead of living in regret. I wouldn't change a thing. I feel like my purpose is being served and I'm so thankful for my family. I'm glad that I made that decision to move.</p>
<p>Q. What was the lag time between you moving and you completing your first project.</p>
<p>A. It was a few years. It wasn't immediate. I did have some label interest at that time..</p>
<p>Q. What does it feel like to have a 1M streams on Spotify?</p>
<p>A. It's huge. Streaming has completely taken over the industry. To reach that milestone, especially as an independent artist, is major. Streams matters. It's a huge benchmark for me.</p>
<p>Q. You're not just an artist, you're a wife and mother too. How do you juggle the different hats that you wear?</p>
<p>A. It is challenging. The minute he was born I knew my life was no longer mine. All the priorities that I had for myself immediately shifted and life was all about him. He comes first. I don't care what it is: a show, an event, a rehearsal, he comes first. Everything is maneuvered around his schedule. That was a huge shift for me. I don't know how I find balance but somehow, we get it done. Early on it was impossible because I was breastfeeding but it's gotten easier as he's gotten older. I basically gave myself a year off and was in fulltime 24/7 mother mode. I just wanted to enjoy him as much I could. The time flew by, I can't believe he's a year-old now. I worked on music quietly and slowly began to try and figure out how to do those things that I needed to do as an artist. It's challenging but you find a way. I have an extremely supportive husband and we have each others back. That's the only way this is gonna work. He's an entertainer and entrepreneur as well. At all times we have our sons best interest at heart. I do a lot before he wakes up and when he goes to sleep. He's a child model now so that's another layer. So now I'm a momager (laughs). I told you that I have OCD but one of the things that having him has taught me is that you can't control everything. He dictates the schedule and I've let a lot of things go.</p>
<p>Q. I feel like falling in love and becoming a parent softens you in a way that nothing else can. It's always interesting to hear artists talk about how those milestones have changed them. What I learned was not to be so rigid (laughter).</p>
<p>A. Let me tell you. That is absolutely it for me. Absolutely. It's almost like a 180 switch. Meeting someone that I felt was worthy of having me for the rest of my life. Our lives. That was huge. I found myself in that place of knowing real love. I mean, I always knew I was deserving but I'd never met anyone who deserved me.</p>
<p>Q. What was it about him that made you say, yeah, this is it?</p>
<p>A. He possessed everything that I was looking for in a man to be my husband. He satisfied me.</p>
<p>Q. Was there an ah-ha moment or was it more of a gradual knowing?</p>
<p>A. Gradual and then an ah-ha moment. I was a very "wall-up" person. I didn't really let anybody in like that. You know, I was the I'm giving you the side-eye the whole time, waiting for the other shoe to drop, person. Elijah was able to break that wall down. As we were dating and going through different things I'm watching how he handles life and I'm thinking, this is husband material. And not only is this husband material, this is father material. And that's huge because I didn't grow up like, I can't wait to fall in love and get married. That wasn't me at all. I was very headstrong, stubborn in a lot of ways, very independent. I was content to do life and date ten people at a time until I found someone who was worthy of getting all of me. I'm a lot. And not in a good way all the time. I'm a lot of energy to deal with for one person. So gradually I was just like, wow, he does exist. He is an amazing man. It's hard to find someone who wants to go through life with you and not play games. It just made sense. We just made sense.</p>
<p>Q. I think it's beautiful the way the two of you love out loud for lack of a better term. It's great to see healthy black love flourishing.</p>
<p>A. We don't flood timelines or anything but we do like to let people know we're still here. We're still doing it. The imagery is so important because people are so used to bad things happening to couples. It's good to see that black love exists, two artists can exist together and raise a family in this industry. We both come from love. Both our parents have been together for a very long time. That is a wonderful foundation for our son.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/afa1b12b18ab4dbda8cea92c6f5088a7d42a2b95/medium/20626389-2036273989943457-1021170582907582262-o.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Q. What's next?</p>
<p>A. We are going to take this single to the next level, release the Detour album, increase my fanbase and overall public awareness of Esnavi. I'm currently working on becoming an author. I'm also looking into television, radio and beauty opportunities. I don't know if you know but I was the first African-American face for Alison Raffaele Cosmetics and I also have my very own nail collection called Esnavi Live with Dazzle Dry- VB Cosmetics.</p>
<p>Q. Are you coming to Atlanta?</p>
<p>A. I would love to come to Atlanta, I haven't been in a minute. I have family and a fanbase there. Atlanta is definitely a city where we need to drop in and do a show. I will keep you posted. </p>
<p>Q. One more thing. Are you Wakanda Forever? Have you seen Black Panther? Any thoughts?</p>
<p>A. Yes. I wore my dashiki. Elijah wore his Africa shirt. We were in the theater with all kinds of smiles and pride. I'm not a movie person so it doesn't matter how good the movie is, I will fall asleep. Well, I didn't fall asleep on Black Panther (laughs). For me, it's probably the best movie that I've seen this decade. The storyline was dope. The cinematography. Where ever Wakanda is , you wanted to go. It was beautifully done. The unity, the beauty of the men and women. We are going to see it again. If anyone reading this hasn't seen it, you need to go see it and be a part of history. I was floored. It was an amazing movie. Five stars... It was so impactful. To see a primarily black cast in all of their natural glory like that. It was just amazing to see.</p>
<p>Q. Any parting words for your fans?</p>
<p>A. To all of my fans, I love and appreciate everyone of you. For anybody reading this interview who might become a fan, I thank you in advance for even allowing that to be a possibility. I really appreciate this opportunity.</p>
<p>And there you have it. #WakandaForever</p>
<p>You can catch Esnavi live March 30th at Rockwood Music Hall. For tickets and more information on Esnavi please go to: <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.esnavi.com" target="_blank">http://www.esnavi.com</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/50738102018-02-20T00:21:28-05:002022-05-20T06:44:38-04:00A Conversation With James Mtume<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/3053793e490b1e605cba17bac547f2d3aa6b8a48/medium/unnamed.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> February 20, 2018</span></p>
<p>James Mtume needs no introduction to students of music. Having worked with legends and countless industry heavyweights, his musical roots are deep. With an impressive resume that spans decades he boasts collaborations with Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Phyllis Hyman, Roberta Flack and many, many others. While he may be best known for his R&B hits with the Mtume Band he insists that, at his core, he is a jazz musician. The singer, songwriter, producer, musician, composer, radio personality and activist wove seamlessly from anecdote to anecdote during our colorful conversation. At 71 years young, he is hip, has his ear to the streets and is still making music. It was my absolute honor and privilege to speak with and learn from this musical treasure.</p>
<p>Q. Tell me about your love for jazz.</p>
<p>A. I always say that jazz is not my background, it's my frontground. I came up in a very musical family. Since I was a child, I grew up listening to Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Yusef Lateef, John Coltrane. Obviously, that was also a magical time with the emergence of Motown. One ear was always in jazz, the other ear was in R&B and funk.</p>
<p>Q. When did you realize the significance of that upbringing?</p>
<p>A . I would be lying if I said I realized the significance of my upbringing at 9 or 10. One thing I did know was that I grew up around people that were special. Can you imagine? As a child, I'm listening to Coltrane talk to my father? I was always fascinated by the intellect of jazz musicians. In my career, I started out as a jazz musician. The highlight of my career and fortune was when I stood next to and played with Miles Davis. I stood next to him for five years. People ask me where I studied music and I say Miles Davis University.</p>
<p>Q. Any words of wisdom from Miles? Anything you still hold onto?</p>
<p>A. One thing he always told me was that when you cross a musical bridge, burn it. So you never even have the opportunity to go backwards. When you burn the bridge, you don't have a rearview mirror. All you can do is go forward. Keep expanding the music. Don't just keep repeating what you already know. And Miles changed the entire direction of music like, 3 or 4 times so I thought that was profound. The other thing he would always say was that what you don't play, is more important than what you do play. Give space in your melody. You don't have to use a lot of notes. Use the notes that mean something. Most people play in paragraphs. That's too many notes. You need to learn to play in quotations. Miles was brilliant at playing economically. He played the essential notes. I always carried those lessons with me.</p>
<p>Q. Are you self taught? </p>
<p>A. Yes.</p>
<p>Q. Can you talk about that?</p>
<p>A. At around 9 or 10, I started tinkering. There was always a piano in the house. I found that I could hear records and go to the piano and, many times, figure out what the chords were. People call that having a natural ear. I don't recommend everybody being self taught, I was just very fortunate. Being that way I was able to go from being a musician to a songwriter to a producer and then, ultimately, to score television & film. That's a rare road to travel but I always felt that the only music that I wanted to play was my own. I didn't want to play other peoples music.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/028662ac9a289056212468888e99a62443f3a52b/medium/unnamed-2.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Q. You've worked with everybody. Is there anybody left out there that you'd really like to work with?</p>
<p>A. Kendrick Lamar (laughs).</p>
<p>Q. Really?</p>
<p>A. Yeah, really (laughs). I said I was old, I didn't say I was ancient. He knocks me out. The honor would be mine.</p>
<p>Q. What's next for you?</p>
<p>A. Back in the studio with Tawatha Agee. She was the lead singer on Juicy Fruit and You, Me & He. She actually played with the Roots last night so I'm a little hoarse from screaming (laughs). She tore the joint up. Her project should be ready this summer. We've also embarked on a tour that started February 9th.</p>
<p>Q. Will you be coming to Atlanta?</p>
<p>A. Hopefully. If we do, I'll be there (laughs). I actually just left Atlanta. We just finished taping interviews for Unsung. I turned them down for like, 8 years. I finally just said okay. My son, Faulu, said come on let's do it. It took a lot of planning to get that done. We covered a lot of ground. Whew!</p>
<p>Q. Mtume is like, a part of the soundtrack of my childhood. Who came up with the concept of Juicy Fruit?</p>
<p>A. Well, I did. We had just finished recording that album. The album was finished but for some reason I called a session. Everyone had gone home and I looked over and saw this Linn drum machine. I told the engineer to hook it up and let me mess with it. I got going and heard (makes drum sounds for Juicy Fruit intro). So I said, wow, that's kind of interesting. I called the band back, it was like 1 or 2 in the morning. Everybody came back to the studio and we laid it down. Tawatha was on tour in Europe so I called her once, you know, I had the music down. When she had a couple days off, she flew in from London. We laid the vocals in one night and she flew back. We mixed it and that was it for the music part. But here's a little inside story that most people don't know. When I took Juicy Fruit to Epic Records, they didn't want to put it out. They said it was too slow and the lyrics were too risqué. I was like, oh really? They finally agreed to release it but only after 12 midnight for what they called back then, the Quiet Storm (laughs). After one week they were getting so many calls from all these radio stations that they were forced to release it as a single. How about that?</p>
<p>Q. You had a similar story with a Roberta Flack track, right?</p>
<p>A. Oh yeah, that was another one (laughs). We did The Closer I Get and they were having the listening party which back then meant you went to the studio and all the executives were invited. The president of Atlantic Records was there and Roberta had invited me. Well, the president didn't know who I was. I was just some square sitting on the couch, right? We listened to the whole album and he turned to Roberta and said, "I loved everything on this record except The Closer I Get. It's boring and it's repetitious." And I will always thank Roberta Flack. She fought the president of the label to keep that song on the album. He finally relented. The irony is that he said it would never be a single. That shows you how much record people know (laughs).</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/dbe74e379f2663c797cc84d8f89a73a8f7682768/medium/unnamed-1.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Q. Let's talk about sampling. Was Jay Z the first to sample you?</p>
<p>A. No. He wasn't the first person to sample me. He sampled a song that I'd written in 1976, it was called Inside You. He sampled that record for Reasonable Doubt. It was a song called Coming Of Age.</p>
<p>Q. I'm sure that you were aware of what was happening in the industry as hip hop grew in popularity. When you were first approached by a rapper or a label to sample what was your reaction? Were you with it or did you have to be convinced?</p>
<p>A. That's a good question. I was with it. Back in the day there was a song by Stetsasonic called Talking All That Jazz. Well, that record was about me. Daddy-O heard me doing an interview on the radio where I said there was nothing wrong with sampling. My only thing was, if you're gonna sample my music, then you're gonna have to pay me. Back then a lot of people were being sampled but they weren't getting a check. And I said, nah, that ain't right. So when I was scoring the music for this show, New York Undercover, I don't know if you remember that show or not, but I was with Andre Harrell who was co-executive producer. After a meeting Andre said "Yo, Puffy wants to talk to you." Of course, I already knew Puff. He came in and said "I have this new artist named Biggie and he's outside. He really wants to meet you." I said sure. Biggie came in. We hugged. It was beautiful. Beautiful brother. We talked about sampling Juicy Fruit, worked out our deal and the rest is history. I'm just thankful that our music, through Biggie, was able to be translated to the next generation. As a band we were really fortunate to create music that the next generation could feel and identify with, you know?</p>
<p>Q. How did New York Undercover happen?</p>
<p>A. Well, the Mtume Band recorded an album, Theater Of The Mind, in 1986. We featured a rap group, Jekyll & Hyde, on a track called Deep Freeze. Andre Harrell was a part of Jekyll & Hyde. We were the only R&B band that had ever done that. Obviously, I dug rap. I brought rappers onto our album.</p>
<p>Q. Did you feel like the Jay Z sample did your music justice?</p>
<p>A. I loved it. I came out of jazz. Jazz is always about looking forward and expanding your palette. We always respected the fact that each generation creates its own music. So when hip hop came along, that's the music of your generation. What my generation brought to the game was expanding the concept of funk. One of the things that I do feel bad about is the absence of black bands. When I was coming up we had Parliament, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang, Isley Brothers, all these greats. And now, there are no black bands. It's sad. It's really sad, man.</p>
<p>Q. What do you attribute that to?</p>
<p>A. A lot of it I attribute it to record companies. I've always believed that they wanted to control black music without black people. There are very few young, black R&B singers. I like Justin Timberlake but come on. Whoever controls the image controls the definition. Without the images of black people performing the music, young people don't have a reference point. You always had people like Pat Boone doing R&B but we also had Little Richard. We knew the truth. We had Al Green and Sly Stone. We had James Brown. Right now there's a lot of confusion about what the truth is. There's a lyric in Deep Freeze that speaks to this, "<em>On my radio some other voice I hear. It's the same game, just a different name. And on your MTV you make it very clear. You want R&B but not from me. It's a deep freeze</em>." That's '86. And that's what were thinking about. Sounds familiar.</p>
<p>Q. You've always been aware. Why did you feel it was important to use a dark skinned woman in the You, Me & He video?</p>
<p>A. When Juicy Fruit came out they weren't doing a lot of black videos. Because the song was so big, we had to. We shot it in one day. The lead in that video was Asian looking and that was cool but right after that video I began to notice that the other videos had light skinned women too. I didn't see no chocolate. And my youngest daughter is chocolate. So one day we were home watching a Prince video, I think, and my daughter said, "I guess I'll never be in a video." That hit me right in the heart. So I demanded a chocolate sister as the lead in our next video. And we did that. I saw what was going on. Dark skinned women were never considered. I had to flip the script.</p>
<p>Q. How can we change the silence in our music about social injustice?</p>
<p>A. Music can only reflect what's going on in society. Society is the thermostat that sets the temperature. Music is the barometer that tells you the temperature. In the 60s we could have a Say It Loud (I'm Black & I'm Proud) because society had this great movement in black power and white kids who were dealing with the anti-war movement. Right now, what's our conversation? I don't give a damn about Kim Kardashian's $40K dress. I don't care about those things but that's where society is. We're now living in a reality show. We got a reality show President. Once society gets serious about having real discussions, trust me, it will be reflected in the music.</p>
<p>Q. Do you feel like your generation did a good job passing the baton onto the next generation?</p>
<p>A. Absolutely not. There was a breakdown in cultural continuity when hip hop came along. Most of the older blacks were talking about "that ain't no music." Remember when Rev. Butts ran over all those CDs with a bulldozer? I'm old enough to remember when white people burned Little Richard and Fats Domino records saying that R&B was infecting their children. The point is that the music became the vehicle for that pain and expression. A lot of us were angry because we were no longer being signed by record companies. Fortunately, the Mtume Band didn't have to deal with that because we all went off to do something else. A lot of black men dropped the ball though. They weren't raising their kids. More often than not, grandparents were doing that because the parents were absent. We started looking at y'all like you weren't ours. And that was the painful thing. Children are a reflection of you. And it's a mirror. Rather than look in the mirror, we tried to break it.</p>
<p>And there it is. Much respect.</p>
<p>For more information on James Mtume, please go to: <a contents="James Mtume" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.jamesmtumeonline.com/" target="_blank">jamesmtumeonline</a></p>
<p> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/50422892018-01-26T00:37:40-05:002021-11-09T23:52:04-05:00A Healing Voice<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/e3ee720f9da20f9431a02d5b2b68911ff14e18d3/medium/2-ayanna-gregory-photo-credit-henri-fisher.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> January 26, 2018</span></p>
<p>Candid. Witty. Real. Ayanna Gregory, daughter of legendary comedian and human rights activist, Dick Gregory, is all these things and more. Recently the singer, dramatist, educator and activist sat down with PUSH Radio to discuss who she is and how she hopes to be a healing voice. It is no easy feat to straddle artistry and activism but Miss Gregory shared with us the inevitability of it all. Molded from a young age to stand for something, she has embraced the rich legacy of her father and continues to use her gifts to make a difference.</p>
<p>Q. Was there a defining moment when you knew that you would pick up the torch of activism?</p>
<p>A. There was never really a defining moment. Our lives in activism were really not by choice (laughs). We were born into it. I grew up in a family where it was a badge of honor to get arrested and go to jail for what you believed in. That was just the family we were in. We grew up with death threats and phone taps. It was a wild ride. Our house was a pretty bold and exciting place to be at any and all times. He was so ahead of his time and he was figuring it out as he went along. I'm not my dad. I'm not a comedian. I'm not an activist in the way that he was. The music was a beautiful way for me to connect with my father's legacy. Through the music I was able to bring that healing connection in and still be a freedom fighter, educator and activist in that way. The way that I'm continuing his legacy is as a healing agent of change. Since his transition my sense of responsibility has definitely heightened. I realize that we are his seeds and we are the continuum of his legacy. I want him to know that it's been put in good hands.</p>
<p>Q. What was it like growing up with such an outspoken, socially conscious, activist father?</p>
<p>A. We lived a very dichotomous life. There was life with dad on the road and then there was life with mom (and dad) at home. We started out in Chicago in more of a black environment and then we moved to Massachusetts to an all white environment. That was an interesting transition. Dad was a combination of things that the world had never seen. He was a really big household name in the 50s & 60s. And while on his way to becoming even more of a household name, he pretty much jumped ship and said this is not nearly as important to me as the movement. He gave it all away. He used his platform to talk about racism, black life and politics and that was unheard of. Growing up with him there was Hollywood and then there was the movement. We would literally be in a five star hotel surrounded by celebrities one minute and the next minute we would be in Alabama marching. Wondering if we were gonna die. There were times when I didn't want the responsibility. Sometimes as a child my brain was scrambled. I would just feel like, this is a lot of information for a child (laughs). I was so inundated with information that I stopped reading at one point. I thought my brain was gonna explode (laughs). Music was a beautiful thing for me to transition to because it was intuitive and less about information. It was a direct spiritual line for healing vibrations.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/fafb6013547dc67b2789e068782271cd392f4cba/medium/6-ayanna-and-her-dad-dick-gregory-photo-credit-free-benjamin.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Q. Can you tell us about Daughter of the Struggle?</p>
<p>A. Daughter of the Struggle is a one woman play about my father's life and my life growing up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement. I am really excited about bringing it back to Atlanta because of the historical presence of Dr. King in the city. Several years ago Martin Luther King III saw it and cried because it brought back so many memories. He was reminded that my father had very much been a father figure to him in the physical absence of Dr. King. I didn't really know that. There are lots of references to Dr. King in the play. Dr. King and Medgar Evers were tremendous influences on my fathers transformation. Daughter of the Struggle will return to Atlanta this February at <a contents="Morehouse College" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.morehouse.edu" target="_blank">Morehouse College</a>.</p>
<p>Q. How does meditation/prayer connect you to your music?</p>
<p>A. In a major way. As children we did a lot of meditating and praying. When I'm on stage I feel that the ancestors come through me and it becomes meditation. Oftentimes, I get off stage and I feel like I've been to church because that's what church is to me. Sometimes when I'm singing what comes out of my mouth isn't mine. My gift is intended to open up the heart center and I most want to be remembered as a healing voice. The common thread woven between singer, motivational speaker and activist is my healing voice. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/82125c48d61aea7a2168f5de13c1c143a4669443/medium/1-ayanna-gregory-photo-credit-selom-welday-photography.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Gregory remains in demand and continues to share her healing voice with the world. Earlier this month, she performed at The King Center's Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Ecumenical Commemorative Service in Atlanta where speakers included Dr. Bernice A. King, Pastor David Yonggi Cho, Dr. Deborah A. Bartlett, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.</p>
<p>She later performed at High Heels With High Tea, a proud tradition of the Trumpet Awards that combines the elegance of high tea, high heels and high fashion to honor a select group of distinguished women. It was hosted by Rashan Ali of Sister Circle TV.</p>
<p>Her most recent recorded work is a soulful tribute to her mother, Mama This One's For You, released in 2014.</p>
<p>For more information on Ayanna, please go to <a contents="Ayanna Gregory" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ayannagregory.com" target="_blank">ayannagregory.com</a> or <a contents="Ayanna Gregory" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/imayannagregory" target="_blank">Ayanna Gregory</a></p>
<p> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/47102202017-05-18T03:25:14-04:002018-04-17T21:11:18-04:00Ray Of Sunshine<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/84191a14dbea427a4d1bc2449bacbc002b949851/medium/fb-img-1494626793274.jpg?1494906419" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> May 18, 2017</span></p>
<p>We recently had the opportunity to catch up with three indie soul queens hailing from the DMV area. Listen as <a contents="Gwendolyn Collins" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.gwendolyncollins.com/" target="_blank">Gwendolyn Collins</a>, <a contents="NIa Simmons" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://niasimmons.com/" target="_blank">Nia Simmons</a> and <a contents="Blèz" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.blezmusic.com/" target="_blank">Blèz</a> discuss their latest single,<strong> Ray of Sunshine</strong>, what's on the horizon and who's got next.<br> </p>36:52PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/45602132017-01-29T21:45:14-05:002018-04-17T21:09:33-04:00There's Just Something About Avery*Sunshine<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/a5eeefbd96d206d41101de9db80bd744a00ad0a3/medium/1-avery-sunshine-photo-credit-derek-blanks.jpg?1485176453" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> January 29, 2017</span></p>
<p>Sometimes an artist comes along whose light shines so brightly that you can't help but absorb the rays. Enter <a contents="Avery*Sunshine" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.averysunshine.com" target="_blank"><strong>Avery*Sunshine</strong></a>, the bubbly and talented singer, songwriter, musician best described as a friend in our heads. You know...the homegirl with the warm smile and quick wit that you liked instantly upon meeting. The fact that she can sing most under the table is just an added bonus. Her latest offering <em>Twenty Sixty Four</em> is the love story of she and husband, Dana Johnson. She recently shared with us that after he proposed she asked God to give her (at least) until the year 2064 with her now husband. How sweet is that?<br><em>Come Do Nothing</em>, the lead single is classic <strong>Avery*Sunshine</strong>. The infectious groove touches on the quandary of missing an ex-lover and fighting through all of the natural feelings following a break up. Fear, guilt, longing. Facebook stalking, even.<br> <iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="mGrNyFOxe8s" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/mGrNyFOxe8s/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mGrNyFOxe8s?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br>Earlier this month, <strong>Avery</strong> was awarded a Women of Impact Award from IMPACT Magazine in Atlanta, GA. The Chester, PA native stated "I'm excited and grateful to be acknowledged for doing something that I feel that I'm supposed to do." If you've ever seen this phenom perform you'll agree that center stage is exactly where she belongs. <strong>Avery*Sunshine</strong> is undoubtedly one of the most important indie soul voices to date. Catch her<b> </b>during the 22-city <a contents="NuSoul Revival Tour" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.nusoulrevivaltour.com" target="_blank">NuSoul Revival Tour</a> that kicks off in Raleigh, NC on Feb. 3rd. The line-up features Musiq Soulchild, Lyfe Jennings & Kindred the Family Soul. Also appearing in select cities are Dwele and the Foreign Exchange. The tour seeks to send the message that <strong>Good Music Still Lives!</strong> and to also bring awareness to Alzheimer's disease which affects over five million Americans.</p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/45378372017-01-04T23:35:21-05:002021-06-05T04:12:04-04:00Teri Tobin Returns<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/8e527f4a8695ba58648eb859381d216999cc0bf0/medium/teri-tobin-artist.jpg?1483503519" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> January 4, 2017 </span></p>
<p><em>Kindred spirits. Girlfriends. Familiar.</em> All words that come to mind when I think about <strong><a contents="Teri Tobin" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://teritobin.com" target="_blank">Teri Tobin</a>.</strong> We recently had the opportunity to speak heart to heart about life, love & music.<i> </i>The songstress opened up about her struggles, her triumphs, her journey and her inspiration. Candid, funny and totally relatable, it easily felt like a conversation between two old friends. Take a listen as we discuss her latest single 'I Know My Worth' from her forthcoming album and what's next on the horizon for the soul singer.</p>35:56PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/45161952016-12-18T13:14:14-05:002018-04-17T20:52:38-04:00Acoustic & Personal<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/6f06388aa9709eb291044b4c28249111aec5211e/medium/15492048-10154450580474678-8544212807716769422-n.jpg?1482084828" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><span class="font-small">Photo credit: Zo!</span></p>
<p><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> December 18, 2016 </span></p>
<p>In an intimate setting last night in Atlanta, we spent some quality time with Zo! & Carmen Rodgers at 800 East Studios. Backed by the incomparable Collective Peace, we were treated to a musical ride through Zo!'s new album SkyBreak and Carmen Rodger's Stargazer LP. Highlights of the show were tributes to Earth, Wind & Fire (with surprise vocals by Saxappeal), Rod Temperton & Prince. Audiences were also treated to guest appearances by Jermaine Hardsoul & D Maurice (DMo). What we found most striking was that the headliners appear to be much more than fellow musicians. They are <em>family</em>. And last night, by extension, so were we. If you have not checked out the live show of these phenomenal artists & musicians, make sure to place them on your 2017 'to do' list. You won't be disappointed by these indie gems. <br><br><a contents="Zo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://zo3hree5ive.com" target="_blank">Zo</a><br><a contents="Carmen Rodgers" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://iamcarmenrodgers.com" target="_blank">Carmen Rodgers</a><br><a contents="Collective Peace" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://twitter.com/collectivepeace" target="_blank">Collective Peace</a><br><a contents="D Mo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.dmosoul.com" target="_blank">D Mo</a><br><a contents="Jermaine Hardsoul" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.hardsoulsound.com" target="_blank">Jermaine Hardsoul</a></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/42524862016-06-27T21:17:14-04:002021-11-11T05:50:55-05:00Who Is Aryn Drake-Lee?<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/23fa3611ce27cac6b718b58adf636f6e121b03bd/medium/jesse-williams-aryn-drake-lee.jpg?1467075798" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> June 27, 2016</span></p>
<p>By now you've seen the amazing acceptance speech from Jesse Williams at last night's BET Awards. Without question Williams set the internet on fire in his call to action for our community stand up.<br>But who is the woman beside the man? Who is Aryn Drake-Lee? Drake-Lee is a multi-lingual real estate broker who attended Barnard College at Columbia University. The Ivy-league graduate is fluent in both French and Spanish. She met Williams when he was a NY public school teacher and was supportive of his transition into acting.<br>Married in 2012, they are now the doting parents of two, daughter Sadie & son Maceo. Williams told USA Today in 2010 "she's stuck with me through thick and thick and thick and thin. We know each other in & out."<br>Hailed as the modern day Harry Belafonte, we expect to see (and hear) great things from this couple as Williams remains on the front lines as a prominent civil rights activist. We applaud you both.</p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/42505302016-06-26T18:52:46-04:002018-04-17T20:57:27-04:00Jill Scott Weds<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/5308cfb7a8adac32e030dac23d650fc5da65cada/medium/fb-img-1466955562227.jpg?1466981446" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> June 26, 2016</span></p>
<p>Jilly from Philly is officially off the market! The Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, poet & actress wed her beau, Mike Dobson, yesterday in a private ceremony in Nashville. This is the second marriage for Scott. The 44 year-old divorced from Lyzel Williams in 2007. Williams was the muse for Scott's beautiful offering, Who is Jill Scott? Released in 2000, it is considered by many to be a classic. We are sure that more amazing music is on its way. <br>The happy couple has not commented yet but we wish them a lifetime of happiness.</p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/41850552016-05-17T17:19:58-04:002020-08-15T01:39:29-04:00We Have A Beautiful Problem<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/05b139fa058ba0f22fe1b9ebd505ccb4e4d5cacd/original/13177618-10209769960265457-2463506461350356191-n.jpg?1463518240" class="size_l justify_center border_" />(May 17, 2016) SOULheads everywhere know the inimitable voice of <strong>Anthony David</strong>. Fans who have patiently waited since 2012's <strong>Lo<strong>ve </strong>Out Loud </strong>can now breathe a collective sigh of relief. His forthcoming release, <strong>The Powerful Now</strong>, is coming soon and it's sure to be a banger as the lead single, <strong>Beautiful Problem</strong>, well, <em>knocks</em>. Six albums later and we are still rocking with one of the best to ever do it. Indie style...This Savannah native has solidified his place in soul history and captured the hearts (and ears) of loyal fans everywhere. He is kinfolk. And we have a beautiful problem.<br><br>Check out the new single here: <a contents="Beautiful Problem" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/anthony-david/beautiful-problem">Beautiful Problem</a><br><br> PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/41476982016-04-21T15:26:32-04:002022-05-23T05:07:25-04:00Nothing Compares 2 U<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/b527fff74581e90b63fcd409b3d49256b17b2a20/medium/052a584a2f02252e30a5bb8e9f989af7.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_center border_" />(April 21)- The music world mourns the passing of musical legend, PRINCE ROGERS NELSON, at his Paisley Park home in suburban Minneapolis today. The seven-time Grammy award winning star, admired for his youthful appearance was just 57. "It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer Prince Rogers Nelson has died," his publicist Yvette Noel-Schure, wrote in a statement.<br>At 5-foot-2, the diminutive Minneapolis native burst on the scene in the late 1970s, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry. Known for stilettos, flowing hair, risqué lyrics and photos, the self taught musician crafted an image and sound unlike any we'd heard (or seen) before. In 1984, his breakthrough smash movie and soundtrack, <em>Purple Rain</em>, catapulted the singer into musical orbit where he remains. Even in death.<br>Nelson is credited with jumpstarting the careers of Vanity & Apollonia 6, Morris Day & the Time, Sheila E. and Sheena Easton. His brand of funk, oft imitated but never duplicated, remains as relevant today as it was when first released. Known for hits such as <em>1999, Controversy,</em> <em>Wanna Be Your Lover, Do Me Baby, International Lover, Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U, Adore and Scandalous</em>, his music remains on playlists across the globe. The singer, songwriter, musician, producer, actor and activist was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2004 and has sold more that 100 million records during his career.<br>A devout Jehovah's Witness, Prince married twice and had no living children.<br>While details are sketchy surrounding his death what we know is that the singer suffered a medical emergency on April 15th after performing two sold out shows in Atlanta. He emerged the following day to assure fans that he was okay and reports were that he had been battling the flu.<br><em>Man</em>. This one hurts...<br>You will be missed, Prince.<br>Rest in power.<br> PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/41306592016-04-11T13:29:00-04:002022-02-28T01:45:53-05:00Remembering Doug Banks<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/016b52949f0fc435b5893774bb3539e6e11e0dd1/original/doug-banks-750.png?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>(April 11) We're sad to report that radio personality, <strong>DOUG BANKS</strong>, has passed at the age of 57. The host of <em>The Doug Banks Show</em> began his career as a high school student in Detroit. His career would take him to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco before he would eventually settle in Chicago. Buoyed by his popularity at WGCI, Banks would become a household name with his nationally syndicated radio show in 1994.<br>Earlier this year, he disclosed that he suffered from diabetes and kidney disease that required weekly dialysis treatments. He leaves a wife (Wendy) and two daughters. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the industry vet at this time. Rest well.<br><a contents="Doug Banks Radio Show" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.dougbanksradioshow.com" target="_blank">Doug Banks Radio Show</a>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/41283782016-04-09T08:54:54-04:002022-05-25T04:22:47-04:00Black Girls Rock! 2016<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/bc5ea5e5fc3eecedb8754409b3e4991d7207c9e3/original/gettyimages-518647926.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" />(April 9) BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2016 was so necessary. In a society that constantly tells women of color that we are less than, <strong>BLACK GIRLS ROCK!</strong> is an affirmation. It is a reminder that we are excellent and beautiful and important. Magical, even. This year marks 10 years of the Black Girls Rock! event, and this year’s honorees embody the tradition of black excellence. They include legendary soul singer Gladys Knight (Living Legend Award), superstar Rihanna (Rock Star Award), television mogul Shonda Rhimes (Shot Caller Award), actress Amandla Stenberg (Young, Gifted & Black Award), actress-playwright Danai Gurira (Star Power Award), and Black Lives Matter co-founders Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi (Community Change Agent Award). Viewers were also treated to soul stirring musical performances by vocal powerhouses Brandy, Jazmine Sullivan, Andra Day, Marsha Ambrosius, Corrine Bailey Rae, Monica and Lauryn Hill.
<p>BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit youth empowerment and mentoring organization established to promote the arts for young women of color as well as encourage dialog and analysis of the ways women of color are portrayed in the media. <br>Thank you Beverly Bond for creating what you wanted to see. We need you!<br><br>Catch the re-air on Monday, April 11th on BET at 8:30PM/EST.<br><br><a contents="Behind The Scenes Promo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bet.com/video/blackgirlsrock/2016/exclusives/host-promo-behind-the-scenes.html" target="_blank">Behind The Scenes Promo</a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/41012142016-03-23T08:59:37-04:002023-12-10T11:33:07-05:00You On Point, Phife<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/9d4b7cadca6c3ecef2a0c7ae6dcbeb1b7c872e71/medium/images.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" />March 23- The hip hop world mourns the loss of Malik "Phife Dawg" Taylor at 45. The 5 foot rapper, a member of the much lauded group <strong>A Tribe Called Quest </strong>is best remembered by this writer for his verses in Electric Relaxation. I have vivid memories of cruising in my mom's Cutlass blasting the <em>Low End Theory</em> and <em>Midnight Marauders</em>. Though southern by birthright I am a hip hop enthusiast bred on NY hip hop and ATCQ meant, well, <em>everything</em> to me. While the evolution of hip hop continues, Phife and his crew helped elevate the hip hop game to a whole new level. Much respected and oft admired, his legacy will undoubtedly stand the test of time.<br>While details of his death are uncertain, we all knew of his long battle with diabetes. He leaves a family, a crew and a countless number of fans to mourn and reflect on what his passing means. If you haven't watched the ATCQ documentary <em>Beat's Rhymes & Life</em> you should probably do that.<br>Me?<br>I'll be listening to Tribe all day.<br>Remembering.<br>Rest well, Phife.<br><br><a contents="Electric Relaxation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://youtu.be/WHRnvjCkTsw" target="_blank">Electric Relaxation</a><br><a contents="Award Tour" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://youtu.be/P800UWoE9xs" target="_blank">Award Tour</a><br><a contents="Scenario" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6TLWqn82J4" target="_blank">Scenario</a><br><a contents="Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://youtu.be/aTebg8o24ck" target="_blank">Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest</a>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40959682016-03-19T09:26:12-04:002021-05-25T01:48:39-04:00The Tuskegee Airmen <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/894b11b3be2b3761fa8f9cdf716b32d5357ac32f/original/ta-640x260-r1.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><p>March 19- On this day in 1941 civil rights organizations and the black press exerted pressure that resulted in the formation of an all African-American pursuit squadron based in Tuskegee, Alabama. Prior to this time there were no African American military pilots. They became known as the <strong>Tuskegee Airmen</strong>. “Tuskegee Airmen” refers to all who were involved in the so-called T<em>uskegee Experience-</em> the Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircrafts. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all the personnel who kept the planes in the air. The airmen were dubbed the <strong>Red Tails</strong> because of the distinctive crimson unit identification marking on the tail section of the unit's aircraft.<br><br><strong>Tuskegee University</strong> was awarded the U.S. Army Air Corps contract to help train America's first Black military aviators because it had already invested in the development of an airfield, had a proven civilian pilot training program and its graduates performed highest on flight aptitude exams. The all-Black, 332nd Fighter Group consisted originally of four fighter squadrons, the 99th, the 100th, the 301st and the 302nd. From 1941-1946, some 1,000 Black pilots were trained at Tuskegee. The Airmen's success in escorting bombers during World War II – having one of the lowest loss records of all the escort fighter groups, and being in constant demand for their services by the allied bomber units.- is a record unmatched by any other fighter group.<br><br>To commemorate the 75th Anniversary Fathom Events is partnering with Bryton Entertainment to present “In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen - The 75th Anniversary” in select U.S. theaters, for the first time ever, on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at 7 p.m. local time. This one-night cinema event features emotional interviews, rare photographs, archival footage and computer-generated recreations. Audiences will also experience an exclusive panel discussion captured at the National Air Force Museum with Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. George Hardy, Former Administrator of NASA Col. Fred Gregory, as well as the producer Bryan Williams and director Denton Adkinson. Tickets for “In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen - The 75th Anniversary” can be purchased online by visiting <a contents="Fathom Events" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.fathomevents.com" target="_blank">Fathom Events</a> or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in nearly 200 movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network.<br><br>Learn more about the Tuskegee Airmen here: <a contents="Watch here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMPLpExgkGg" target="_blank">Watch here</a></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40899852016-03-16T08:08:38-04:002021-10-09T04:17:03-04:00Remembering Daryl Coley<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/ad2222a30451feb217bc367d5bd48dd66b322249/original/darylcoley.gif?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The entertainment industry mourns the death of gospel great, Daryl Coley. Known for his intricate vocal riffs and jazz-like arrangements, Coley was known as a <em>singer's</em> singer. The gifted vocalist recorded such classics as “Beyond the Veil,” “He’s Preparing Me,” and “When Sunday Comes.” Coley, who had been in hospice care, transitioned on Tuesday evening surrounded by family. His presence within the gospel community will be missed. <a contents="Watch video " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2HxcIZBAaE" target="_blank">Watch video </a></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40884392016-03-15T05:53:18-04:002022-05-31T03:58:14-04:00BET Honors 2016<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/3c64b75ebd4169e43b35cad5c92923a660db07b4/original/12814630-10153342185810404-3683308313276144992-n.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" />What does extraordinary look like? Last night the BET Honors aired and we saw some of the biggest names in entertainment, business and politics gather to honor black excellence. Hosted by Arsenio Hall and taped at the Warner Theatre (Washington, DC), honorees included Academy Award-nominated director Lee Daniels, creator of the hit television show Empire; Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments, one of the largest African-American-owned money-management and mutual fund companies in the U.S.; Eric Holder Jr., the first African-American U.S. attorney general; Grammy Award-winning vocal powerhouse Patti LaBelle; and music mogul L.A. Reid, chairman and CEO of Epic Records.<p>Performances included Usher and Toni Braxton (in tribute to L.A. Reid), who sang a collection of their hits from the 1990s and 2000s; Eddie Levert and Fantasia in two powerful tributes to LaBelle; Jussie Smollett (who received a standing ovation for his dedication to the #BlackLivesMatter movement) in tribute to Daniels; Ledisi, who honored Natalie Cole; and Jazmine Sullivan and Raheem DeVaughn, who performed a tribute to Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire.<br><br>Catch the re-air on BET.</p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40864152016-03-13T23:10:21-04:002017-01-15T22:02:37-05:00This One's For Me And You<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/671e36a62094b6fccee6c560767055faf52771d0/original/new-edition-640x405.png?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" />R&B lover's are in for a treat. Musical giants New Edition are featured on the latest single from Johnny Gill's album 'Game Changer' and it is hot, hot, hot! NE fans can once again enjoy the smooth vocals of Gill, Ricky Bell and Ralph Tresvant. The song is a love letter to the women in their lives and a nod their signature dance moves.<p>“There’s a resurgence of great established and new R&B artists and songs happening. It’s just a matter of us coming together to keep pushing the boundaries; to be respected and get back to a place where people will listen and understand that R&B should not be at the bottom of the totem pole,” Gill said.<br><br>See the fellas and those famous NE moves April 23- May 1 during Tom Joyner’s Annual Fantastic Voyage Cruise. <a contents="Watch Video" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3x7iYDedFI" target="_blank">Watch Video</a></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40844902016-03-11T21:21:04-05:002022-04-19T08:27:58-04:00Picture Perfect<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/31b63a9f107171b6c5780b2a98c779cf056bc324/original/statedinner.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" />March 11- A beautiful moment in time captured on film forever. The Obama family is pictured at the White House state dinner held in honor of Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, on March 10th. This was the first state dinner for Malia (17) and Sasha (15). The First Lady wore a strapless midnight blue floral gown by Canadian-raised designer, Jason Wu. Malia and Sasha were radiant in Naeem Khan dresses.<br>During his final state dinner remarks the President reflected on his time in office with his own daughters. The countdown to the end of the Obama presidency continues.PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40762442016-03-07T10:06:59-05:002022-01-17T09:05:18-05:00The Sofa Series<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/e30b76afb4033a9ebcb784deb25500db8133e4bf/original/12804779-1245869118759812-7634539308374800315-n.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">(Image courtesy of Shannon Comage)</span></div>
<p>March 7- Something special happened in Atlanta this past Saturday. In an obscure location, late at night, far from the hustle and bustle of downtown, we saw something magical happen on a stage. Fueled by positive energy, good food, spirits and southern hospitality we experienced The Sofa Series. Four women with four distinct personalities took the stage and offered four unique experiences. The smooth sounds of <strong>Veronique Musiq</strong> opened the show and set the tone for what was to come. The bubbly, funny, jazz inspired <strong>Candy Soul</strong> followed and blew us all away with her take on Crazy In Love. Beyonce Giselle would be so proud of her interpretation of the megahit. Memphis was in the house as powerhouse <strong>Tonya Dyson</strong> captivated the audience within the first few notes of a Chaka Khan classic. Moving seamlessly from song to song she took the audience on a musical joyride that seemed to end too quickly. Funny how time flies when the singing is good. What was the most magnificent surprise of all was <strong>Twin Spirit</strong>. The smiling face that welcomed me to the venue and helped me find a seat was the closer. And <em>close</em> she did. From the moment she hit the stage we knew whose house it was. At least for the evening. The petite vocalist's set was thoughtful and candid. Inspirational, even. Commanding our attention from start to finish, <strong>Twin Spirit</strong> <em>owned</em> that stage Saturday night. Sidenote: the infectious groove<em> '</em>Naked' is now on repeat in my car. The background vocalists soared sweetly while <strong>DJ Funknatra</strong> kept us grooving between sets. Thank you <strong>Twin Spirit</strong> for an amazing concept with great execution. Keep shining my Aries sister, you have our support. #iPUSH<br><a contents="The Sofa Series" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://thesofaseries.com/" target="_blank">The Sofa Series</a><br><a contents="Candy Soul" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.candysoulonline.com/" target="_blank">Candy Soul</a><br><a contents="Tonya Dyson" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://tonyadysonmusic.com/">Tonya Dyson</a><br><a contents="Twin Spirit" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://epresskitz.com/kit.php?p=bio&u=135" target="_blank">Twin Spirit </a><br> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40753962016-03-06T12:00:55-05:002022-05-08T15:14:04-04:00Represent Your HBCU<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/5e600e021053f57a0cc962826042d5fec17f5953/original/tumblr-inline-nol1mzmcqb1sg403z-500.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><p>The Home Depot reaffirms its commitment to HBCUs announcing its 2016 Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant Program. Now in its seventh year, the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer utilizes the program to offer Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) the opportunity to apply for grants that provide sustainable renovations to their campuses. </p>
<p>This year, the total winnings for the Retool Your School program has increased to $300,000 in grants for nine accredited HBCUs. The schools will be categorized in one of three clusters based on student population. Each cluster will have three winners vying for one $50,000, one $30,000 and one $20,000 grant. The breakdown will be as follows: Cluster 1 will be based on schools with student enrollment of 4,000 or more; Cluster 2 will be based on schools with student enrollment of 3,999–1,251 students; and Cluster 3 will include schools with 1,250 students or less. Since the program’s inception, over one million dollars in grant money has been awarded.<br><br>During the online voting period HBCU supporters can cast one vote per day for their favorite HBCU project. Following the online vote, a panel of distinguished judges will also evaluate each school’s project proposals within the qualifying brackets. Judges will consider the depth of each proposal and the school’s ability to execute the project within the specified budgets. Proposals for all three grants must highlight how each project will make a lasting, positive impact on the HBCU campus.<br><br>Online voting will take place from February 26 to April 24, 2016 at www.retoolyourschool.com. The winners will be announced on May 18, 2016 in Atlanta. <a contents="Vote here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://retoolyourschool.com/" target="_blank">Vote here</a></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40634362016-02-27T11:28:07-05:002017-01-15T22:02:37-05:00A Sacred Space<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/47823a7342ada8f3e3b0ef66f3b8234284bdc6a7/original/oprah-winfrey-and-kym-whitley-610x397-36.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Something very special happened February 25th in Beverly Hills. A star-studded room of women (and men) gathered at the ninth annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards luncheon to celebrate their own. Honorees for this year's Black Women in Hollywood include <em>Black-ish</em> actress Tracee Ellis-Ross, who received the Fierce & Fearless award, director and choreographer Debbie Allen was bestowed with the Legend award, and entertainment attorney Nina Shaw took home the Lincoln Power Award.
<p>For the second year in a row, TV viewers will get a look inside the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood event, courtesy of Oprah Winfrey. OWN will air a primetime special tonight at 10 p.m. with a look inside the ninth annual pre-Oscar event celebration, featuring highlights from the big night and will include exclusive celebrity interviews. Celebrants included Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rimes, Garcelle Beauvais, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tia Mowry & Zendaya. We love it. <a contents="Watch here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8GlD-9bvII" target="_blank">Watch here</a></p>
<p> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40571112016-02-23T23:14:23-05:002021-05-31T06:00:05-04:00Forever Young<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/d1c45196df9855c3162e8e0576550797c873c771/original/02-22-16-virginia-mclaurin-3.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" />By now you've seen the video of Virginia McLaurin. At 106 years-old, she has fulfilled her dream of visiting the White House and meeting President Obama and the First Lady. The diminutive media sensation has stolen our hearts with her joyful spirit, bright smile and spunky dance moves. McLaurin has worked as a volunteer throughout the D.C. area for decades and currently serves as a foster grandparent and mentor to special needs students. We can only imagine the things that her brown eyes have seen over nearly eleven decades. Keep dancing, Miss Virginia! <a contents="Watch here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSlWDlXCelk&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Watch here</a>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40519682016-02-21T09:27:47-05:002022-04-06T00:39:54-04:00All We Wanna Do Is Take The Chains Off<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/f472a29b8eaedc9ceda56e8a3359498fd4ee2a15/original/faith-evans.png?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" />There are voices and then there are, well, <em>voices</em>. <strong>Faith Evans</strong> is arguably one of the most talented r&b singers to ever lace a track. At times her soprano is soft like rain. Other times it is strong like a monsoon, capturing you with every notes' bend. Listen as she beautifully interprets J. Cole's, 'Be Free' as only she can. Recorded at Black Girls Rock! in 2015, as part of a medley with Lalah Hathaway and Fantasia, the lyrics were especially poignant as the international spotlight shined brightly on police brutality in this country against people of color. <a contents="Watch here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bet.com/video/blackgirlsrock/2015/performances/pillars-of-justice-medley-faith-evans-fantasia-lalah-hathaway.html">Watch here</a>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40514602016-02-20T09:01:14-05:002017-01-15T22:02:36-05:00The Unstoppable Jesse Owens Legacy<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/8fefb59fb83fbc1a43cd48f2ae4bebfd95ceae3b/original/race-still.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><p>History is written by those courageous enough to make a difference. Watch Stephen James bring the incredible story of gold medal champion <strong>Jesse Owens</strong> to the big screen. RACE- now playing everywhere! <a contents="Watch trailer" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E31LnSw47xo">Watch trailer</a></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40512162016-02-20T00:48:24-05:002023-12-10T11:50:58-05:00Grace Under Pressure<a contents="Watch here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2617871-monty-williams-talks-forgiveness-to-driver-who-killed-wife-at-funeral"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/46958efe4f92093f7bce3ddb8ef2260a83b30c5a/original/monty-williams-wife-dies.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><br>Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams remained poised and dignified while speaking at his wife's funeral Thursday. Ingrid Williams, 44, was killed February 10th in a car accident. The wife and mother of five was lovingly remembered by her husband who recalled their days at the University of Notre Dame. Williams shared that it was her faith that carried the student couple through some very tough times . There has been an outpouring of love and support from not only the NBA but Oklahoma City Thunder fans as well. Both have embraced the Williams family during this tragedy. Respect. <a contents="Watch here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2617871-monty-williams-talks-forgiveness-to-driver-who-killed-wife-at-funeral">Watch here</a>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40479432016-02-18T11:13:35-05:002022-04-27T06:03:10-04:00New Music Alert: Ledisi: Nostalgia Movement No. 1Vocal powerhouse<strong> Ledisi </strong>has delivered a treat to her fans in the form of her latest project: <em>Nostalgia Movement No. 1. </em>
<p>"The idea came about because I always see people covering the same songs over and over. I thought to myself why not tribute the R&B Music I love, give a little bit of a new flair to the arrangements, and educate the listener all at the same time. My prayer is that my version of these songs will make the listener want to go back and hear the original. That is my way of paying homage to those who came before me." -<br><br>All three covers are lush and reminiscent of a much simpler time in r&b. When it was all about the lyrics, the music and that <em>feeling</em>. You know the feeling that you get when you're holding the one you love? Late at night? When the rest of the world is quiet? Yeah, that feeling.<br><br>Take a listen to her homage to Patrice Rushen, Natalie Cole & The Isley Brothers and share it with somebody...<br><br><a contents="Settle For My Love" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/therealledisi/settle-for-my-love-remix-produced-by-bnb-production" target="_blank">Settle For My Love</a><br><a contents="Love On My Mind" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/therealledisi/love-on-my-mind-remixed-produced-by-rex-rideout" target="_blank">Love On My Mind</a><br><a contents="Once Had Your Lovin" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/therealledisi/once-had-your-lovin-remix-produced-by-erick-walls" target="_blank">Once Had Your Lovin</a><br> </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40473412016-02-17T21:30:08-05:002022-05-21T11:51:20-04:00Ain't We Lucky We Got 'Em?<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/f1051ead1d88e20aaadd14aaef76b684f2461ffc/original/gallery-ustv-good-times-portrait.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> February 17, 2016</span></p>
<p>It's been 40 years in the making and the cast of Good Times has finally reunited. The surviving cast members have banded together and launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the project and we think that is dy-no-mite! Wouldn't it be great to see James, JJ, Michael, Thelma (and you too, Willona) onscreen one more time? <a contents="Read more" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1378706694/the-original-goodtimes-cast-movie">Read more</a></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40431492016-02-15T20:03:48-05:002022-04-16T05:51:50-04:00After The Love Is Gone...<p><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> February 15, 2016</span></p>
<p>We're over it. <br>Like, really, really over it.<br>Slights. Omissions. Oversights. Obvious bias. Anemic attempts at inclusion. Half-hearted extensions of the olive branch.<br>What a shame that the legacies of Natalie Cole and Maurice White won't be honored in a way befitting musical royalty during the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2016, should we really continue to take seriously an awards show that fails to recognize the (obvious) contributions of <em>all</em> of its musical brothers and sisters?<br>Meh.<br>At this point, it's a respect thing...<br>So what are we gonna do about it? Not sure what the answer is but the answer certainly isn't 'continue to wait' on validation from someone else. <br>Create what you want to see. Let's celebrate ourselves. Lift and support each other. Go to shows. Buy music and merchandise. Tell somebody about the dope indie artist you found at the coffee shop.<br>We already have everything that we need to be great. So let's go and, well, be great. <br><br>No diss to the Grammy's but we won't be watching. At least not until we can see a true reflection of the entire musical landscape. A landscape that includes <em>all</em> of us. </p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40400862016-02-13T11:54:04-05:002022-04-16T03:40:26-04:00Spend Your Own Money<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/194236/6b57be3758de9b7b0f43556c6827e1c0d27fedc7/medium/nate-parker.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_center border_" style="text-align: center;" /><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> February 13, 2016</span></p>
<p><span style="text-align: center;">It's always interesting to learn about the origins of businesses and entrepreneurs and entertainers. How they made it to where they are now. What obstacles they had to face. Somehow those stories encourage us to keep pressing toward whatever it is we're trying to achieve. Well, this story is no different.<br>Meet Nate Parker, filmmaker/star of "Birth of a Nation." It took him seven years and $100,000 of his own money to bring the story of Nat Turner’s rebellion to the big screen—and make history. </span><a contents="READ ARTICLE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/01/28/the-birth-of-a-nation-meet-nate-parker-the-revolutionary-filmmaker-behind-the-sundance-smash.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">READ ARTICLE</a></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40400812016-02-13T11:39:26-05:002022-03-17T07:04:04-04:00The Loss of a Legend<p><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> February 13, 2016</span></p>
<p>The music world has lost a legend and great inspiration to many. Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, has passed away at the age of 74.<br> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yG4ktUqqPHE" width="480"></iframe></p>PUSH Radiotag:ipushradio.com,2005:Post/40360762016-02-11T08:17:53-05:002018-04-17T21:01:53-04:00The Struggle Is Real<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QdS5227bmkA" width="640"></iframe><br><span class="font-small"><strong>BELLE MORGAN</strong> February 11, 2016</span></p>
<p>Actress Viola Davis talks about her dad's death, her struggle with low self esteem and the realization of what matters most.</p>PUSH Radio