"That first cruise,
we had Edna (Wright) and her daughter...this cruise it's with two new girls," said Shelly Clark-White,
an original Honey Cone member about the group performing on the Soul Train Cruise (January
29 - February 5, 2023) with new members Kathy Merrick and Wendy Smith-Brune. "Kathy's
husband is the drummer for Earth, Wind and Fire and Wendy's husband...is Romeo he plays guitar." Shelly, who
is married to bass player Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire, was talking about drummer John Paris (Kathy) and guitarist
Romeo Brune (Wendy) who will accompany Honey Cone on the cruise, along with bass player Tony Boyd, who serves as the musical
director for the group. "I make them work hard," Shelly laughed a little about Kathy and Wendy
when I mentioned how active and on-point they are on stage. "We did get a choreographer...Darrien Henning...very talented.
Does videography too." "All of us have had dance training. Kathy is a full-on ballerina. I started
out as... <Read the full January
28, 2023 column here...>
The Pulse of Entertainment: Brian Thomas
Releases Debut ‘On the Bone', Featuring Saxophonists Mike Tucker and Scott Mayo
"I had written so
much for other projects...thought it was time," said Soul/Jazz trombonist Brian Thomas about his solo
debut "On the Bone" featuring Johnny Trama (guitar), Darby Wolf (organ), Tom Arey (drummer), and
Yahuba Garcia-Torres (percussionist), with special guest Mike Tucker (sax) and Scott Mayo (sax). "They're my core unit
I've been playing with for over two decades. I knew they would capture that Soul-Jazz vibe." The "On
the Bone" project is to be released January 27, 2023. It is the 11th album he has played on. It was recorded live by
Alan Evans and produced by Thomas. He co-wrote and co-produced many projects for others such as one for BT ALC Big Band (Akashic
Records) and for Duochrome. Brian will be co-producing BT ALC Big Band's "Hearing the Truth" album to be released
later this year. He also worked on projects for Vintage League Music record label's artists. "The title
track was... <Read the full January 17, 2023 column here...>
NEWS
Get on Board! Honey Cone returns to the Soul Train
Cruise
(Los Angeles, CA) -When Billboard hitmakers Honey Cone sets sail
later this month aboard the hippest ship on the sea, the Soul Train Cruise, it continues a legacy between
the R&B/soul vocal group and the landmark television series that dates back over fifty years. Honey Cone was riding high after scoring back-to-back Billboard No. 1 singles,
"Want Ads" and "Stick Up," when Soul Train debuted in 1971. The show's creator and host Don Cornelius
booked the award-winning trio to perform on the very first episode of the series. Although the show ended production in 2006,
Honey Cone reestablished their relationship with the brand in 2014 by performing on the Soul Train Cruise. After a sweet year
that included concert dates from Hollywood to Atlantic City and from the Rose Bowl to the Hard Rock Café, Honey Cone
readies to return to play the tenth anniversary Soul Train Cruise that sails January 29 through February 5, 2023.
Gospel Superstar Erica Campbell Inspires Listeners
To Embrace Joy On New Single 'Feel Alright (Blessed)'
(New
York, NY) - Multi-platinum rising Gospel legend,
Erica Campbell, is kicking off the new year with a bright and sunny new single "Feel Alright
(Blessed)." The new single is an up-tempo affirmation of the power you find in choosing joy even when life is
messy and unpredictable. In addition to her new single and Grammy nomination, the My Block Records recording artist is celebrating
her nomination for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song for her chart-topping single, "Positive."
"Uplifting Minds II" Enter Conference - Nov 5th - (562)-424-3836
Life is like a waterfall, forever flowing
SPOTLIGHT
of THE WEEK
"Cece Winans-Love"
(Los Angeles, CA) - The year 2022 was filled with record
breaking moments for Gospel singer, CeCe Winans. The chart-topping soloist completed a national sold out
tour; released her 6th book- "Believe For It: Passing on Faith To The Next Generation" (K-LOVE Books), taped 10
episodes for season two of her popular YouTube Show, Generations; hosted her first annual Generations Women's Conference that
drew thousands of registrants to Nashville, TN on Mother's Day Weekend and wrapped the year on a high note with a special
tribute performance at the Kennedy Center Honors. Her hit single, "Goodness of God" is streaming over 1.3 million
views per week; and if all that isn't enough, Winans received GMA Dove Awards top honors: Artist of the Year and Song of the
Year for the singer's first live album, Believe For It, that doesn't appear to be losing any steam.
Now CeCe Winans is ready to hit the road, once again, for the second
leg of the "Believe For It" Tour that will cover another 18 cities. The tickets go on pre-sale January 20th and
on sale to the general public, Monday, January 23rd. Last fall, the BFI Tour saw lines form and wrap around venues hours
before the doors opened. The much anticipated concert dates sold out very quickly on the heels of a successful live recording
that continues to have a presence on the Billboard Gospel Charts. Transparent Productions, one of the largest producers
of Christian concerts, tours and festivals across the U.S. provides the marketing and promotion wheels behind the Believe
For It Tour, partnering with Winans to ensure she connects with all of her fans. Compassion International is back onboard
as sponsors this spring. For ticket information and more tour details go to www.cecewinans.com.
The "Believe For It" Spring Tour: March 9 - Jacksonville, FL -
Trinity Baptist Church (Rescheduled date due to Hurricane) March 10 - Myrtle Beach, SC - Palmetto Pointe Church March
11 - Hampton, VA - Liberty Live Church March 16 - Birmingham, AL - Church of the Highlands-Grant Mills Campus March
17 - Durham, NC - World Overcomers Christian Church March 18 - Jacksonville, NC - River of Life Church March 22
- Grand Rapids (Hudsonville), MI - Fair Haven Church March 23 - Columbus (Grove City), OH - The Naz Church March
24 - York, PA - Genesis Church April 20 - Texarkana, TX - FBC Texarkana April 21 - San Antonio, TX - Oak Hills Church
- Crownridge Campus April 22 - Jackson (Flowood), MS - Word of Life Church April 28 - Milwaukee, WI - Evolve Church April 29 - Louisville, KY - St. Stephens Baptist Church May 4 - Memphis, TN - Hope Church
