Whitney:  On the Wings of Love

by Joann Pettiford Brooker

We mourn the loss of a beautiful songbird – Whitney Elizabeth Houston, known to her family and friends as simply “Nippy”.  A woman of international renown and pride of the African-American community; once again we say goodbye to a legend who is gone too soon.  This is my loving remembrance of Whitney.  I will not focus on her troubles, but more on her triumphs.  And Lord knows she had many triumphs.

Whitney’s music was part of the soundtrack of my life.  Her incredible voice transcends time and she was the voice of a generation.  Her body of music will last a lifetime and many of her songs will go down in music history as classics.  I can tell you that for me Whitney was one the greatest singers of all time.  Rooted in gospel music and part of a famous musical family, her voice was one of two that could actually make me cry – the other voice being that of her godmother, Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.  Not only was Whitney an incredible vocalist/song stylist, she was also a model, an actress and a producer who for a long time ruled the music charts.  She was graceful, poised and stunningly beautiful.  This sista’ had the whole package.  And I cannot believe that I am speaking of Whitney in the past tense. 

I have fond memories of Whitney and clearly remember the first time I saw her perform.  It might have been back in 1983 or 1984 when I went to see Cissy Houston perform at a club in New York City called Sweetwaters.  On background vocals were a young guy and this lovely, very petite young lady.  She sported this short, curly hairstyle and had the most beautiful, delicate features.  During a moment in the show where Cissy introduced the background singers she said “this is my daughter Whitney and she says she wants to be a professional singer, she wants to get in the business”.  Whitney did a solo and the audience just erupted.  At that time I was a young lady myself and was completely mesmerized by Whitney’s incredible voice.  None of us in that audience could believe what we were hearing – this petite, model-looking young lady blowing like there was no tomorrow.  After that show I called a close friend of mine and excitedly told him about this new singer named Whitney Houston.  I was so impressed. That night I got to see a star in the making.  The next thing I knew Whitney took the world by storm!  Her first album “Whitney Houston” was full of hit records – You Give Good Love, Saving All My Love, Greatest Love of All, How Will I Know and Thinking About You.  I must have played that album so much that it was beginning to warp. And, as history shows, she didn’t stop there.  To date, Whitney has sold over 150 million records; some say over 200 million.  But you do the research and check out all the facts and figures.  Either way, millions of people all over the world loved them some Whitney. 

Saturday, February 11, 2012 was my birthday and the day Whitney left this earth.  I suppose for the rest of my life I won’t forget the day that Whitney got her wings and went home to God.  It’s on my birthday how can I forget?  As I write this remembrance it’s not even two days since she passed and I am still crying but smiling at the same time.  I’m smiling because I believe in God and know that Whitney is at peace with her maker.  I’m smiling because I am part of a generation that fell in love with her and was blessed with her gift.  I’m smiling because for the rest of my life I get to listen to all the great music that Whitney left for us – it remains. Isn’t that great?  I use to call her a BAP, which is a Black American Princess. Which she was, you know?  Coming from Newark, New Jersey and making it all the way to the top of the world music arena is a great accomplishment.  In all her videos she looked beautiful, she was poised and classy and sweet.  She was one special person. 

No one will live this life and not have some type of hardships – no one will escape that.  And we all know that Whitney had her fair share.  I don’t know why Whitney is gone from us at only 48 years old.  But one thing I know for sure is we need to live life to the fullest, do the things that fill us with joy and make us happy.  Love one another today because as the saying goes, tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  Lets learn something from our sista’ Whitney’s passing.  And let’s lift up in prayer her daughter Kristina, her mother Cissy, her two brothers Gary and Michael and the rest of her family.  If we fans are feeling this grief, imagine what her family is going through.  I know it is very difficult for all of them at this time. 

I say farewell to a beautiful Black woman, one whom I will never forget.  Thank you songbird for all the great music – I love you!  Fly Nippy! :)

I was on Facebook when I first read that Whitney Houston had died. I was hoping it was another one of those fake hoaxes, but when I saw it on Reshonda’s page, I knew it was the truth. I immediately turned to CNN and watched footage after footage about Whitney. Whitney’s only 5 years older than me so I feel like we grew up together; via her music; although I didn’t know her personally. My heart goes out to her daughter, family and fans who loved her.

I simply adored Whitney. She inspired my book about an R & B singer making a comeback.  Her beautiful voice and spirit will be missed.

Last night, Jennifer Hudson did a tribute to Whitney at the Grammy’s.

Here’s Whitney. One of my favorite songs by her.

What is your favorite Whitney song?

JORDIN SPARKS  NEW SINGLE “I AM WOMAN” AVAILABLE NOW ON ITUNES HERE  

CONFIRMED TO DEBUT SINGLE WITH PERFORMANCE ON AMERICAN IDOL THIS WEEK ON MAY 12TH    

SPARKS TO JOIN NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK & BACKSTREET BOYS AS SPECIAL GUEST ON HISTORIC NKOTBSB 2011 SUMMER TOUR      

(New York, NY) – Grammy nominated, platinum recording artist, Jordin Sparks has released her new single “I Am Woman” today, available on iTunes HERE. The 19 Recordings/Jive Records artist will perform the hot new single on American Idol May 12. Jordin will also join the New Kids On the Block and the Backstreet Boys as a special guest on the highly anticipated NKOTBSB upcoming North American concert tour in Rosemont, IL on May 25th 2011.

“‘I Am Woman’ is exactly what it means,” Jordin explains about the song title. “I just turned 21, I’m breaking out and the world is my canvas! The song is for me and all the young women who are discovering who they are and are proud of it!” “I Am Woman” wasproduced and co-written by hit-making producer Ryan Tedder (of the group One Republic) who also produced her Top 10 pop hit “Battlefield” from her 2009 sophomore effort of the same title.

Post-Idol, Jordin’s star has continued to rise. She’s received rave album and concert reviews and has established herself as an accomplished, popular singer in her own right. Jordin’s self-titled platinum 2007 album debut spawned three Top 5 hits on the Pop Singles charts – including “Tattoo,” the Grammy-nominated “No Air” and “One Step At A Time.” Her released singles (including those from her sophomore album) combined have sold over eleven million tracks and ringtones cumulatively.

www.jordinsparks.com
www.twitter.com/THEREALJORDIN 
www.facebook.com/jordinsparks

“Pieces of Me”: Audio | iTunes

“This project is more layered,” says Ledisi. “All of the songs reveal aspects of the confident woman I am becoming. It’s a discovery of another side of me.”

With her new album Pieces of Me, Ledisi undoubtedly proves that she is a woman to know. Loaded with emotion and charged with unparalleled soul, this record adds another dimension to the persona the singer has been sharing with audiences since her explosive entrance on the music scene a few short years ago. “Imagine some of the characteristics of Shug Avery from The Color Purple,” Ledisi says playfully. “She is fiery, expressive, spiritual and uninhibited. Well, I would say this is my Shug Avery-like project,” she adds with her trademark laughter. Anyone who’s seen her dynamic live show or follows her on Twitter knows this lively and clever side of the singer and Pieces of Me delivers many more.

“This project is more layered,” says Ledisi. “All of the songs reveal aspects of the confident woman I am becoming. It’s a discovery of another side of me.”

Following her last two critically acclaimed albums—2007’s breakthrough hit Lost and Found, which was nominated for two Grammy® awards including Best New Artist, and 2009’s rock & funk, attention-stealing Turn Me Loose, which also garnered two Grammy® nods and a No. 1 debut position on the Billboard R&B chart—Pieces of Me is a natural progression for a singer possessing an involuntary penchant for growth. Bursting with songs of love, intimacy and self-assurance and delivered by an unmatched voice at the top of its game, this album marks Ledisi’s shining moment.

The poignant title track is an introspective look at a woman discovering her unique offerings to the world. Co-written by Ledisi and in-demand songwriter Claude Kelly (Fantasia, Carrie Underwood), she sings “Like every woman I know/ I’m complicated for sure/But when I love/I love till there’s no love no more.” “That’s what a woman does,” she states. “That is power and strength. It’s okay to celebrate being a woman.”

“So Into You” is a late-night groove with a sweeping sensuality. “I am addicted to how we make love/What you’re giving me is never too much/It’s like a carnival/And I’m ready now to go for a ride,” she sings on the track she produced along with long time collaborate and co-executive producer, Rex Rideout (Luther Vandross, Kem, Angie Stone). “This song is very sexy and romantic,” she offers, slightly blushing. “It’s supposed to feel cool and hot, like Patron on ice!”

On “I Gotta Get To You”—produced by Ivan & Carvin (Jill Scott, Keyshia Cole) — Ledisi takes a ‘by any means necessary’ approach to getting to her man. “There is distance between us/making me feel like/I’m about to take a bus, plane, train or bike/Just so I can have you/right by my side,” she sings with deliberate urgency.

“Coffee,” an amusing, in-your-face, wish-list jam about the type of man she dreams of—crafted by veteran hip-hop/R&B producer KayGee (of Naughty by Nature)—displays Ledisi’s more flirtatious side. “At first, I was freaking out because I did not think I could sing this song! But I realized that it’s sassy and fun and I found a certain freedom in singing it. It’s okay to express what you want and what you don’t want.”

“I Miss You Now,” written for her by multi-platinum singer/songwriter John Legend, is a raw account of the aftermath of a breakup. It expresses what people oftentimes are unwilling to admit. Quite the opposite,

“Stay Together,” a duet with Jaheim (co-written by Ledisi and Rideout), is an affirmation of commitment. As passionate as Rick James and Teena Marie’s quiet-storm classic “Fire & Desire” and as joyous as Ashford & Simpson’s legendary “Solid,” Ledisi and Jaheim create their own timeless, feel-good embrace.

Demonstrating that she can be just as confident as she is loving, Ledisi flips the script on “Hate Me,” a bluesy, juke-joint-worthy track, singing “I know it’s hard to understand/Sometimes a woman wanna act like a man/And when it feels like I’m running things/I know you ‘bout to lose your mind.” “There is great honesty in this song. There are some independent women out there who don’t need permission to be themselves. Writing this song helped me to be okay with the more dominant side of myself.”

For Ledisi, it was a long journey to that “a-ha” moment.

Born in New Orleans and raised in Oakland, CA, where she says she developed ambition, drive and an appreciation for opera, gospel and R&B, Ledisi struggled for years. After constant rejection from recording companies, she and a partner formed their own label on which they released two independent albums, both of which gained national attention, resulting in her 2007 major label deal with Verve. Pieces of Me is a culmination of the challenges she’s experienced and lessons she’s learned.

“Before I started working on this album, I had to figure out what I wanted to offer, not only musically, but also spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. That meant I had to finally embrace the totality of me. Now, I see the greatness in me and that I have much to offer to this world.”

Many of the songs on this album are evidence of this new attitude, including the barefaced “Shut Up,” produced by Mike City (Bilal, Kelly Price). “I wrote this while driving in L.A., listening to the track which I’d had for two months. Someone cut me off on the freeway and I was irate. For some reason, I started thinking about what I wish I could have said to all of the people who said I was never going to succeed by being me. Now, I have a song for all of the naysayers.”

Claude Kelly also lent his platinum pen to two other cuts, including the celebratory “Bravo”—which finds Ledisi declaring her new outlook on life—and “Shine,” a celebratory ode to relationships. “This song is not about the obvious,” she reflects. “It’s not about one relationship, but many. It’s a song I wrote for the people who help me be who I am today.”

The uplifting “BGTY,” co-written with Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Jazmin Sullivan) and produced by Remi, is one of her favorites. “When I arrived to the studio, Salaam had already begun writing it based on the last thing I had tweeted to my followers earlier that day: “Be good to yourself.”

“Raise Up” encapsulates Ledisi’s entire message: “Time for you raise up/get up/stand up,” she sings with conviction. “This was my mantra to rise above anything that comes against me. You have to stand up for what you love and for the person you want to become.”

It is clear who Ledisi has become: a complex and colorful woman who is open, self-assured, creative, unafraid and, most of all, inspirational. Pieces of Me defines this moment in her life. “Recording this album was my therapy. Every aspect of it is who I am. But…not all of me…just Pieces of Me.”

Hi Everybody,

Between writing and writing, I’ve been busy lately. Here’s a raw sample of one of the projects I’m working on. Thanks to producer Manchu and singer Melanie for bringing my words to life.

Rena Scott’s music is what I call sultry smooth R & B.  After listening to her new CD, “Take Me Away,” I have to agree with Eurweb.com when the writer said, “…this is definitely grown folks music, a female voice for those folks that have fallen in love with Adult Contemporary star Kem.”

I hope that you will purchase her CD from one of the retailers below.  She’s an advocate against Domestic Violence and will be donating a $1.00 for every physical CD sold to a Domestic Violence Foundation.

In the meantime, also enjoy an excerpt from an interview I once did with the dynamic singer.

 Where To Buy “Take Me Away”:  http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RenaScott and www.itunes.com/renascott 

Interview Excerpt:

Shelia Goss: You’ve worked with so many people over the years as well as toured all over the world. Tell me about Rena Scott.
Rena Scott: I’ve been doing this since I was a little girl [since I was 5 or 6]. I started off singing church songs. Nobody paid attention until I was about 12 years old. I joined church and got in the choir. I was in Detroit.

One of my favorite songs to sing was Walk Around Heaven. My first time singing in front of anybody, people in the church went crazy. One of my choir members enrolled me in a major contest – the Motown Revue Shows. This big radio station in Detroit would sponsor at the Fox Theater. I was one of 10 out of the 500 contestants that was picked. It was great. I appeared with the original Temptations. After that point, my mother discovered I could sing and began getting me club gigs around Detroit.

I made my first record when I was 15. I got signed to Epic. I made my second record when I was 17. I kept singing in choir and at school.

Michael Henderson was looking for someone to do a duet. His wife saw me perform and told him about me. We met and did the song “Take Me I’m Yours.” I went on tour with him for a long while. Aretha Franklin was looking for someone to replace one of her background singers and at the time her brother Cecil was sort of semi-managing me.
Aretha was one of my #1 idols. When he asked me, I turned flips. I got a chance to do a major concert in Michigan at a ski resort. Afterwards, I went to California for the first time and sang background vocals on one of her albums and then we went to New York and did Carnegie Hall.

You can’t imagine singing with your idol. I had did clubs in the past, but never major concerts with full bands. It was so incredible. I toured with her for a couple of months and after that I got a record deal.

Buddha Records asked me first and I did my first full album with wonder producers like Mtume. Buddha started having problems. Gladys Knight was on their label too. Buddha went bankrupt and my album got dissolved in that situation but I continued to sing in clubs. I later got an opportunity to do shows in Las Vegas.

About 4 months after getting to California, I got a chance to go to Europe and tour with the Jazz Crusaders and take Randi Crawford’s place. I ended up with them on their European/American tour. Street Life was one of the popular songs.

I got a second record deal. It was called Love Zone. It was with an independent label. Everything was going fine until the distribution label went bankrupt. I was like Lord what is going on here. It was a long time after that before I got another record deal.

I did commercial jingles and got a chance to do soundtracks for movies. I continued to write.

There were times I felt like I couldn’t deal with the music business with the ups and downs and getting discouraged. My husband encouraged me and was like “you’re too talented not to continue.” We decided to do our own record label and started Amore Records.

Shelia: Sounds like you have a lot to offer. Although you went through a lot to get to this point, you persevered. In fact, you’ve had a successful musical career. There are plenty of singers who wished they had accomplished some of the things you have up to this point.
Rena: I just thank God. I’ve come a long way. We grew up in the projects. I’m a little girl from Detroit from the projects with a good husband and children. We all support each other. I’m a very spiritual person. I wouldn’t be here right now without the Lord. I thank Him every day. The Lord is awesome.

It took me a minute and I had to go through a lot of things, but I’m okay with who I am. God is working with me everyday.

Shelia: The audience is still there. Some people want to hear songs that remind them of the classics. People want to hear singers who can truly sing.
Rena: I love good melodies. I love a good story. That’s why I love country and blues because they tell a story. I want to be classic, have music that lasts forever. Not here today but gone tomorrow.

 Places you can find Rena Scott on the net:

Website: www.renascott.net
Facebook Fan Site: http://www.facebook.com/singerrena.scott#!/pages/Rena-Scott-Fans/287789372766 

Twitter Site:  www.twitter.com/renascott
Myspace Site:  www.myspace.com/renascott

A few years ago I got a chance to interview Teena Marie. Last night,  while preparing to go hang out with some of my friends from high school, I received a text that she died. I couldn’t help but think about our conversation and how I grew up listening to some of her music. I’ve followed her career over the years and enjoyed her newer music as well.

In honor of her memory, I’m going to re-post the interview I did with her. She had such a sweet spirit and my condolences go out to her family, friends and fans.

Teena Marie Sapphire Interview

Shelia Goss: I’ve been listening to you sing for years. My all time favorites are “Dear Lover,” “Square Biz” and “Fire & Desire.” Off your La Dona album, the duet with Gerald Levert, “I’m Still in Love,” “Rose by Any Other Name” and “Off the Chain.” Needless to say, I’ve been a long time fan of yours. I can go on & on with the songs that I like.
Teena Marie: My record was pretty much already finished. It fell into the hands of Ronald Williams. They heard the record and asked me if I would come to New Orleans and I was like “Cash Money and Teena? That’s different.” They were like “We’re not trying to get you to do us. We want you to continue to do what you do. We heard your record and we really like it and we would like to start a classic label and have you as the first official artist.”

My first question for you today is how did Lady Tee end up on the Cash Money Records label?

Shelia: I got a chance to hear your first CD La Dona on Cash Money. I thought it was classic Teena.
Teena Marie: Thanks. Have you heard the new one?

Shelia: I haven’t had a chance to listen to Sapphire yet.
Teena Marie: You’ll like the new one better than the last one. At least that’s what folks say anyway.

Shelia: What’s different between the Sapphire album and La Dona?
Teena Marie: I used a lot more real musicians as opposed to machines…I still used machines, but more real musicians. You can also hear a lot of the Rick & Teena influence in this. I feel like he was writing with me. Like the tracks “Make it Hot.” We influenced each other. Like the ballads “You Blow Me Away” or “Somebody Just Like You.” The Smokey Robinson song “Cruise Control” came out real beautiful. He’s very much influenced my writing career. It was very exciting to be able to work with him after all this time. That was pretty awesome to me; to be in the studio with your idol.

Shelia: Yes, that would be exciting.
Teena Marie: My early music sounded like Smokey. I studied his music as a young girl because I wanted to write those kind of songs.

Shelia: Do you have any other duets besides the one with Smokey?
Teena Marie: I had Kurupt on “Who’s Is It.” I did a duet with my daughter. She was only 13 at the time it was recorded. The song is called “Resilent (Sapphire).” It’s the very last song on the album. My best friend’s grandmother died and then the stuff happened with Hurricane Katrina. It was my tribute to the people of the south and how resilent they are.

Shelia: I’m from Louisiana so I will definitely listen to that track.
Teena Marie: I was there. I was on one of the last flights out of New Orleans.

Shelia: It affected so many people. The fact that some in the music community has donated their time, money, and other efforts means a lot.
Teena Marie: That particular track, the money from it will go to a foundation that restores music of Louisiana.

Shelia: It sounds like you have something on your CD for everyone.
Teena Marie: It’s nice. I’m very happy about it. I like it and that’s important. I haven’t always liked everything I’ve done.

Shelia: There are so many female singers and groups that come and go and we never hear from them again. How do you explain your longevity?
Teena Marie: I’m a songwriter though so it’s kind of different with me. I actually write my own songs. I never had to search for songs. It’s a little harder, when you’re an artist or group when you don’t write. I’m still very passionate about music and life. I’m blessed that God gave me a gift that I can channel what I see with words into songs.

Shelia: I like listening to slow music. Dear Lover, Fire & Desire and several others is what I like listening to when I’m going through something or in a relationship. Dear Lover is one of my favorites.
Teena Marie: “Dear Lover” is one of my favorites too when I do my live concerts and the song “If I Were a Bell.” That session is my favorite part of the show.

Shelia: Will you be in Dallas any time soon?
Teena Marie: I think so. Probably some time this summer. We’re putting all of our dates together right now.

Shelia: Do you have a website folks can go to?
Teena Marie: Yes. (http://www.teenamarie.com/)

Shelia: What do you want the listener to walk away with after listening to Sapphire?
Teena Marie: I really want them to feel the Rick & Tina sound. I think what we had was very magical. It’s really a love album. It makes you feel that way. It’s very much about love and I think we really need that; especially right now.

Shelia: Did you & Rick remain friends over the years?
Teena Marie: We had our falling outs, but we were like brothers and sisters. We were family. We really loved each other. I never bought into the stuff he was doing and I wasn’t one of those that didn’t say anything. Sometimes we banged heads. He was my family. I was like his little alter ego. He tried to get away, but we loved each other very much. I miss him.

Shelia: We all do. This question is for those of us who simply can’t get enough of the duet “Fire and Desire.” When you all were recording the song, did you or Rick think that it would be one of those slow songs that would stand the test of time?
Teena Marie: I think we knew it was really powerful. But I don’t know if we realized 30 years from now, it would be one of the top ballads of all time on the radio. People still lose it when I do it in my show.

It was really amazing to perform it. We didn’t even have to sing a note. Time the music started and people would see him walk out, it was like oh my goodness…here they come…it was awesome.

Shelia: What do you think is the difference between the love songs of that time and the ones that are coming out today?
Teena Marie: When I think back to the old days, the groups I grew up on were like the Delphonics. I think a lot of love songs from today are overtly sexual…not saying our music wasn’t…our music was very sexy but with an undertone. Our songs weren’t so in your face and it wasn’t graphic.

Shelia: Charlie Wilson said something similiar.
Teena Marie: Charlie has some great ballads.

I think there are a lot of great love songs out now. I love Keyshia Cole. Mariah Carey does beautiful love songs. Beyonce had some beautiful ballads on her solo project as well as the ones with Destiny’s Child.

Shelia: We have similar music tastes. Besides those, I love Mary J Blige’s too.
Teena Marie: I love her songs.

Shelia: How do you feel about your daughter singing?
Teena Marie: It’s not something I would have chosen for her, but whatever she does, I’ll support her. She doesn’t want to come out with a record for a couple of years; which I think is very smart.

Shelia: Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
Teena Marie: Just thank you. It feels really wonderful to still be able to do what I love to do and I really appreciate the fact that people still love me.

TEENA MARIE
1956-2010

This is a video of one of my favorite duets. Teena Marie & Rick James: