"I put the funk," said Bluey, founder and leader of the UK group Incognito that gave
us Maysa and other industry singing sensations. The funk that Bluey talks about is found in his newest Incognito
CD project titled "Transatlantic R.P.M." recorded in celebration of 31 years in the business for the popular assembly
of musicians and singers. Bluey is highlighting new talents such as Vanessa Haynes, Tony Momrelle and Mario Biondi. "Transatlantic
R.P.M." also includes some familiar voices such as Chaka Khan and Maysa. "Mario is an Italian
singer that knows no English," Bluey said in his thick UK accent. "He's #1 in Italy and #1 in Germany. Quite amazing...the
Barry White of Italy." Mario Biondi is featured on one of my favorite songs on the album titled, "Can't
Get Enough," which has Bluey on piano. To me Mario sounds like an Isaac Hayes/Teddy Pendergrass mixture and for him to
not know any English, I see why he is #1 overseas - what a great artist!...Read the full September 3, 2010
Viver
Brasil's ‘Alaafia/Harmony' gave an emotional performance at the Ford Amphitheatre production
Viver Brasil invited me to review their 8th season at the Los Angeles Ford Amphitheatre
of their production "Alaafia/Harmony" - the culture, music, dance and history of Afro-Brazilians, with the story
of Yoruba (a concept of peace and total well-being). The dancers and music was so emotional and clearly communicated that
Afro-Brazilian culture that, to me, is reminiscent of traditional African dance combined with contemporary modern dance. The performance included six acclaimed Bahian dancers courtesy of The Brazilian Ministry of External Relations
and the Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles, along with dancers Vera Passos and Nildinha Fonseca. Jose Ricardo Sousa
was composer and Vania Amaral was on vocals....Read the full September 3, 2010 column...>
Lucinda
Moore releases new CD project, 'Blessed, Broken and Given'
Tyscot Records releases a new recording project for Gospel vocalist Lucinda Moore titled
"Blessed, Broken and Given." Moore gives a passionate and inspiring performance on the CD. "The
concept came first," Lucinda said about the CD. "I was going to battle abuse...for the Abuse Shelters...causes I've
gone through. That was my objective in doing this project." Moore said Jo Jo (one of the executive
producers on the CD) brought to her the title track and she knew that that was the song. Lucinda confessed that she started
out singing and, "now I'm preaching." Preach she does on this "Blessed, Broken and Given" album with her
inspirational songs that uplift, inspire and education...Read the full September 3, 2010 column...>
NEWS
El Debarge on tour with Mary J. Blige, first tour
in 12 years
El DeBarge is all about R&B
romancin' and he returns to the stage for his first tour in a dozen years. Opening for the iconic Mary J. Blige on her East
Coast concert swing kicking off October 2, 2010 in Atlanta, DeBarge will both celebrate his early hits remembered by
his long-time loyal fans and embrace a new generation with sensational new songs. Among the highlights of the tour will be
shows October 11-12 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Also appearing will be Jazmine Sullivan and Miguel.
Fantasia's "Back to Me' debuts at #1 on Billboard
chart
Fantasia's third studio album,
"Back To Me," debuts at #1 on Billboard's R&B Albums Chart and #2 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart, according
to Nielsen SoundScan. With over 117,000 units sold since its August 24, 2010 release on J Records, "Back To Me"
marks Fantasia's first #1 R&B album ("Free Yourself" debuted at #2, "Fantasia" at #3) and her highest
Billboard Top 200 chart ranking (Free Yourself debuted at #8, Fantasia at #19).
Multi-Grammy Award nominee Jasmine Sullivan premiers
'Holding' You Down' music video
Seven-time
Grammy Award nominee Jazmine Sullivan premiered her brand new video "Holdin' You Down (Going in Circles)" on
BET's 106 & Park and across the VEVO Network, which includes VEVO.com and VEVO on YouTube.
Directed by Marcus Raboy, the video follows Jazmine as she and her girls prepare to attend a 90's
Hip-Hop house party with cameos by Missy, Doug E Fresh, Pepa from Salt N Pepa, Pete Rock and Kwame.
"VIDEO OF THE WEEK"
Incognito releases new project 'Transatlantic R.P.M.' featuring vocals from Chaka Khan,
Maysa, Mario Biondo, Vanessa Haynes, Leon Ware and spoken words from Ursula Rucker. See below Incognito perform a
song from the new CD titled "Express Madureira."
SPOTLIGHT of THE WEEK
"HOLLYWOOD
COMES OUT FOR TRUEFUL CD RELEASE CONCERT"
French Royalty Entertainment, in association with Bigg Whale Distribution,
will host a red carpeted CD Release Concert, "Old Skool Meets New Skool," with Silk, Dru Hill, H-Town and French
Royalty artist R&B singer/songwriter Trueful. The concert will be held Saturday, September 18, 2010 at the Los Angeles
Convention Center (West Hall) starting at 8 p.m. Red carpet arrivals start at 7:00 p.m. and a pre-show of young talent starts
at 7:30 p.m. - After Party and "Meet and Greet" starts promptly after concert.
As a rising star Trueful has made many friends in Hollywood and some of them are coming out in support
of his ‘Old Skool Meets New Skool" concert event with platinum recording artists Silk, Dru Hill, and H-Town. The
list of celebrities in attendance is long but those attending the concert will get a chance to see their red carpet arrival:
comedian/actress Luenell (Borat, The Rock), comedian/actor Michael Colyar (The Princess and the Frog), Lee Bailey (Radioscope/EURweb.com),
Irene "Mama" Stokes (You Got Served), comedian/actress Annie McKnight ("iCarley," The Soloist ), actress
Suzette Tomlinson ("Ocean Front Property"), Louis Price (former Temptation), Porsche Coleman (BET Spring Bling),
Fay Hauser ("Ghost Whisperer" ), Melissa Grimmond (Zane Chronicles), Vincent M. Ward (True Blood), Isa Hall (The
Lottery Ticket), rapper/actor Zane " Lil' Zane" Copeland, Jr. (The Fighting Temptations, Dr Dolittle 2), Ernest
Thomas ("Everybody Hates Chris"), actor Quinton Aaron (Blindside), and Allan Maldonado (Live Free, Die Hard) - just
to name a few.
Trueful's sophomore CD release "Taste of Class"
hits stores (and iTune, Amazon and Rhapsody) September 18, 2010. His debut in 2008, titled "Truth Be Told," reached
#13 on the R&B charts and it garnered him qualification status for a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist. Trueful
will be performing songs from his new CD, "Taste of Class," such as the first single "Feeling You" and
his second single release "Beast." This popular entertainer will be joined by the French Royalty Dancers (Jazzy
and D. Valentine). Also an actor Trueful will appear in the Screen Gems film Easy A - with his stylist/sister Ms. Styles -
movie in theaters September 17, 2010.
Multi-Platinum R&B group
Dru Hill (Sisqo, Jazz, Nokio and Tao) is currently promoting their fourth CD titled "InDRUpendence Day" The current
single is a passionate love song, "Back to the Future." Multi-Platinum R&B group Silk - members Timothy Cameron,
Jimmy Gates, Jr., Jonathen Rasboro, Gary Jenkins and Gary Glenn - is currently promoting their new CD project, "Silktime,"
and Platinum group H-Town - members Solomon "Shazam" Connor and Darryl "GI" Jackson (Keven Conner - deceased)
- are also promoting a new album, "Child Support," which features Jodeci and Pretty Ricky on the single "Knocking
Your Heels."
The "Old Skool Meets New Skool" CD Release
Concert with Trueful, Silk, Dru Hill and H-Town is sponsored in part by the L.A. Watts Times weekend edition and www.EURweb.com,
with support from KJLH Radio. KJLH jocks Kevin Nash and Tammi Mac will be hosting the event.
For tickets to Trueful's CD Release Concert "Old Skool Meets New Skool" featuring Silk,
Dru Hill, and H-Town visit www.Ticketweb.com or call (866) 777-8932 - hurry up tickets are selling fast. For more information on Trueful log onto www.myspace.com/betrueful; for Dru Hill log onto www.DruHillOnline.com; for Silk visit their www.myspace.com/Silk, and for H-Town visit their www.facebook.com/H-Town. (Photo Credit Vinnie Ratcliff)
