Niecy.....
About a week ago I was at an event where I met a Howard student. She was a singer and had been trained in all styles of music, including opera. She counted Stevie Wonder as one of her chief influences. Everyone was trying get her to sing something, throwing out songs...sing this, sing that, sing some Anita, sing some Whitney. So I of course said, sing "Free" by Deniece Williams, and her response was "Who? Who is that?"
:(
(P.S.......If you know about Stevie Wonder, you should know about Deniece Williams....do the research on that....)
Unfortunately, this response is all too common, for one of the great female artists. Due to the fact that she doesnt tour, and left the spotlight behind, her legacy is not one of say...Teena Marie, who tours constantly. But this woman from Gary, Indiana has a catalog that trumps most of her counterparts. She has a soft but extremely powerful voice, and can hit a high note like a punching bag. Despite her success in R&B and Pop music, Niecy returned to her gospel roots in the mid-1980's and had an incredible career there, including 4 Grammy Award for her gospel work.
With hits like "Lets Hear It For The Boy", "Free", "Silly", "Its Gonna Take A Miracle", "Black Butterfly", "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late", Niecy was a force to be reckoned with. Next to Sade she is my favorite female singer ever. I am on a mission to collect her entire discography, both secular and gospel. I currently have 8 or 9 albums of hers....And I'm not even close to owning them all. The quest lives on.....So here are 3 of my favorite songs of hers.
Deniece Williams- "Free"
Deniece Williams- "God Is Amazing"
Deniece Williams- "If You Don't Believe"
......And for you trivia buffs....Deniece Williams is the mother of Hip-Hop producer and label owner Jazze Pha (the fat dude who is always wit Ciarra)
(Edit 12-13-05)
So it seems we have been tricked. Jazze Pha, who's father is James Alexander of the Bar Kays, is NOT the son of Deniece Williams......Deniece Williams the singer. Apparently his mother's name indeed is Deniece Williams and in interviews he would say "My dad is Jamer Alexander of the Bar Kays and my mama is Deniece Williams". But not Niecy...the singer, even tho that is what was being printed in the magazines. Quite deceptive on his part. Well, it was found out and now all seems to be straight. I know his father is James Alexander of the Bar Kays, cuz I saw them on television together. Why would you decieve us Mr. Jazze? I feel so hurt....
Incredible
This journal entry will be dedicated to my favorite singing group. Some people at work have acused me of being obsessed with them, cuz I have their picture on my cabinet, and the desktop wallpaper for my computer, and as my instant messenger icon. What can I say?
And how can you blame me....
Sisters Tina and Erica make up the group Mary Mary. Their new self titled album comes after a three year hiatas in which time both Tina and Erica became mothers. This is their most ambious project to date, as they experiment with several different styles of music. Fresh off his appearance playing on Kanye West's Late Registration album, group producer (and husband of Erica) Warryn Campbell produces the Kanye-esque first single "Heaven". While "Biggest Greatest Thing" is like a 1940's Big Band Jazz Tune.
My favorite songs are "The Real Party(Trevon's Birthday) which reminds me of a New Orleans 2nd Line with its horn arangement and call and response. And "What Is This", which is one of the stronger ballads they've ever done.
"The Real Party(Trevon's Birthday)"
"What Is This"
While not their best album of (That would be 2002's
Incredible). It is most definately their most polished, and most memorable, as each track takes you on a different journey (much like
Outkast's Stankonia album). At 11 tracks, the album is much shorter than I would like, however there are no skippable tracks. Gospel music is largely ignored due to the fact that has the stigma of all sounding the same. This album sounds different than any other gospel CD i've heard.
2 thumbs up...yuh...
Last Day of Summer
Today marks the official end of Summer. I was thinking about doing a summer album recap, but the truth is I can't remembe what all I bought (burned/downloaded/ripped/borrowed) this summer. I guess that's what happens when you spend your summer in front of a computer instead of doing "Summer stuff".
I've listened to that Herbie Hancock/Christina Aguilera song no less than 30 times since yesterday. Its amazing. So I was thinking for the next week I would highlight some of my favorite female singers and at the end of the week have the Grand Finale Sade Extravaganza. All Sade....all the time.
While debating on who to highlight first, I got an e-mail from this particular person, asking me a music question, so I decided I would highlight her first. And her name is Deborah Bond (De-BOR-ah). I heard her CD a while back and I immediately loved it. With the sheer volume of music I come across, if I'm still listening to a CD a week after I've gotten it, that means its pretty good. And if I'm listening to it months later that means I think its excellent. Judge for yourself from these 2 songs.
From the album "DayAfter"Deborah Bond"-See You In My Dreams" Deborah Bond-"A Message"Then when I got the chance to meet her, I found out that she is a wonderful person as well as a wonderful artist. And now I am serving as her hip-hop coach, trying to raise her hip-hop IQ....lol. Do yourself a favor...and BUY IT
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/266343/103-9755436-5021420
http://www.deborahbond.com/
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R.I.P.
Willie Hutch 1946-2005
A Day To Remeber
Today is a day I will tell my children about (in the event that a woman ever gives me permission to touch her).
And this is why....
An Autographed Herbie Hancock album. Amazing. I sat in on a live recording by one of Jazz music's greatest talents of all-time. And just listened. Listened to the stories about Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, Sly Stone, etc.... The older folks was hating on me something serious yo. Like SERIOUS. I came up in there wit the vinyl and older kats was like "How old are you?" "You don't know nuthing bout this..." "You prolly went out and bought this yesterday"....and then after I got it SIGNED, they was heated, you could feel it. "You should give it to me cuz you wasnt even born when that came out". Actually, it was just the black folks. The older white kats was just chill, like "Yo thats really cool", The black folks was the ones hating....how sad is that....
Since I don't think I've bought a CD this month will highlight one of Herbie Hancock's most famous recordings.
"Cantaloupe Island"
And a song i spent about an hour listening to today
Curtis Mayfield- "The Makings Of You"
Enjoy.......
