Who is your favourite Male R&B singer to have emerged between 1987-93?
Today the charts are saturated with the likes of Akon (is that really singing?), T-Pain (Please!), Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Omarion, Bobby Valentino, Mario, Lloyd and countless others. Where is the singer who will be remembered for his vocal ability alone amongst the current crop of R&B stars? John Legend is the probably the only voice to have emerged from a major label in the past few years to do well. All the other great voices to be heard on the charts are established artists from the 90’s like Brian McKnight, Joe, Anthony Hamilton and Carl Thomas for example. This must be the poorest set of R&B vocalists ever! The talent must be out there, but the market has changed so much there is just no place for them. It is not about vocal ability anymore, but marketability. Major labels would rather stay with the tried and tested, established artists with Platinum records behind them in this adult contemporary area rather than find new vocal talent and build a fan base for them.
There is too much emphasis on being an “entertainer”. Michael Jackson was the ultimate entertainer, but he has an outstanding voice along with his other talents. The same can’t be said for the MJJ followers like Bobby Brown, Usher and the new challenger for the title, Chris Brown. They do not have great voices by any stretch of the imagination. There is always room for such an artist, and I have nothing against them, it is just nearly everyone is going for this all dancing, all singing approach at the moment. Just sing dag nam it! You have to rate Beyonce as at least she has pipes for days, the Male equivalents don’t however (and nor do many of her Female rivals like Rihanna for that matter, but that is another discussion).
So what is out there besides the Independent artists trying to make an impact. Look out for CJ on Capitol and Noel Gourdin on Sony. Their albums are a long time coming, but these boys can really sing and hopefully their labels do the right thing by them.
To follow on from the above, I wanted to take a look back at my era as a youngster as a comparison (but you could take any prior era).
Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s New Jack Swing brought some serious new vocal talent with it. Before the emphasis switched to just looks and dancing ability, straight up singers like Aaron Hall, Big Bub, Darryl ‘Dezo’ Adams (of Basic Black) & Christopher Williams sprung up whilst Johnny Gill blossomed into a tour de force with New Edition after his earlier albums. You also had the softer voices of Al B. Sure!, Kevon Edmonds (of After 7) and Tony Thompson of Hi Five (RIP). Every other solo artist or group contained a special voice in some form or another and that is where a lot of the emphasis lay.
The likes of Luther, Alexander O’Neal & Gerald LeVert continued to shine in this era and many other great Soul voices appeared… Raphael Saadiq, Stokley (of Mint Condition), Keith Washington, Rodney Mannsfield, Gene Rice, David Peaston, Frank McComb & Eric Gable. Real singers with great voices that could send shivers down your spine and cover you in goose bumps like the greats of the past.
As the New Jack era faded out the next phase of R&B singers just kept on coming as a result… K-Ci & Jo-Jo, Kenny Greene (of INTRO), Horace Brown, R.Kelly, Dave Hollister, Levar “Lil Tone” Wilson (of Ladae), Gary Jenkins (of Silk), Jason Champion (of Men At Large), Brian McKnight, Eric Benet, Wanya Morris (of Boys II Men), Joe, Dino (of H-Town), Tevin Campbell amongst countless others.
I won’t even continue into the “Neo-Soul” generation that brought us D’Angelo, Rahsaan Patterson, Bilal, Maxwell, Kenny Lattimore, Solo, Malik Pendleton, Jamie Hawkins & Anthony Hamilton either. Some truly stunning voices amongst them and some of the late 90’s/early 2000’s R&B singers were no slouches either. I wanted to keep this next question strictly to artists who emerged between 1987-93.
Who is your favourite Male R&B singer to have emerged between 1987-93?
To answer my own question – HORACE BROWN – The impression that man’s voice had on me and my Brother is ridiculous. When I first heard “Taste Your Love” in 1993 it blew me away. He may not be everyone’s choice, but he is bar far and away my favourite.
Let me know your answer!
Cheers,
Greg
Save Net Radio: Day of Silence & Call to Action
We need your help to save the music!
The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger! Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on July 15 – retroactive to Jan 1, 2006! To protest these rates and encourage the millions of net radio listeners to take action and contact their Congressional representatives, a national Day of Silence will be held today, June 26. Webcasters across the United States will observe this day of silence in a number of ways, including dedicating entire programs to the campaign to save Internet Radio and broadcasting complete silence.
Help Us With A Final Push!
We urge all friends, listeners, artists, mangers, and music lovers to support us in this effort to lower these rates to a fair level. For an easy way to help keep diversity in music alive on the internet, please visit:
Isn’t saving the music worth 1 minute of your time…?
Prince releases “Guitar” from forthcoming album “Planet Earth”
Prince returns to Columbia Records with his new album “Planet Earth,” in stores July 24th.
Columbia Records is proud to work once again with Prince in the release of “Planet Earth” — the latest full-length studio collection from the multi-platinum Grammy-winning artist — available in North America on Tuesday, July 24, the culmination of a worldwide launch beginning July 16.
To read the press release, click here.
Listen to Prince’s new single here.
iPod iSland
If I had an iPod and got stuck on an island, I pray these twenty albums were on the Pod;
1. Anthony Hamilton – Ain’t Nobody Worryin’
2. Bob Marley and the Wailers – Legend
3. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
4. Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced
5. Jimi Hendrix – Axis: Bold As Love
6. Jimi Hendrix – Electric Ladyland
7. Jimi Hendrix – First Rays Of The New Rising Sun
8. Lenny Kravitz – 5
9. Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way
10. Lenny Kravitz – Lenny
11. Lenny Kravitz – Let Love Rule
12. Lenny Kravitz – Mama Said
13. Lionel Richie – The Definitive Collection
14. Martin Luther – Rebel Soul Music
15. Michael Jackson – History: Book I and II
16. Prince – The Very Best Of
17. Raheem DeVaughn – The Love Experience
18. Sade – The Best Of Sade
19. Stevie Wonder – Song Review : A Greatest Hits Collection
20. Van Hunt – Van Hunt
_________________________________________________________
If I got lucky, these ten honorable mentions would be on it too.
1. Anthony Hamilton – Comin’ From Where I’m From
2. Carlos Santana – Shaman
3. Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head
4. Corinne Bailey Rae – Corinne Bailey Rae
5. Ricky Martin – Ricky Martin
6. Seal – Best : 1999 – 2004
7. The Beatles – 1
8. Tony Toni Tone – House Of Music
9. Usher – Confessions
10. Van Hunt – On The Jungle Floor
ALBUM REVIEWS: James Day’s “Better Days” and Victor Valente’s “New Life”
This week I had the opportunity to hear new albums by two artists whose work and reputations are currently gathering steam. While their respective styles and approach have fundamental differences, their shared homebase (Massachusetts) and passion for their art warranted a dual review.
Remember those days, in the prime of the ‘Quiet Storm’ era, when Quincy Jones would assemble a barrage of great talent, and showcase them to maximum effect on an album? That was only one nostalgic aspect of many to be found on songwriter James Day’s new release, BETTER DAYS. It seems I’m not the only one pining for those days.
While Q had the likes of Patti Austin and James Ingram at the helm of his songs, Day has put together a collection that gives a fresh crop of vocalists a lush, admirable springboard for their talents. One listen, and it’s obvious this is a guy who MUST have his songs delivered by a great singer, and no less.
And he finds them. The voice most constantly present (roughly half the album) is that of the terrific Audrey Wheeler, who skillfully navigates through uptempo (”Brick By Brick”, which somehow manages to be both inspirational AND sexy) and ballad (she’s particularly touching on “She’s Not the Girl”).
The other guests on the album are a credit to Day’s songs, as well. A bright, affectionate nod to those mid-tempo R&B cuts that Luther and Freddie Jackson excelled at is “Don’t Waste the Pretty”, featuring a commanding vocal from Jeff Ramsey (and a noteworthy background vocal by up-and-coming artist Anthony Dixon). Ramsey is likewise in fine form on “Can’t Argue Like This”, a duet where he is matched by Brown Baby Girl’s phenomonal Lorenda Robinson.
With additional contributions by Jill Zadeh and Catherine Russell (who provides a tender vocal on the wistful “Remember When”), among others, BETTER DAYS is overall a welcome album, for those who might also be pining for a time when music was simple, clear, and resonated strongly. Day proves that, sometimes, it still does.
On the other end of the musical spectrum lies saxophonist Victor Valente’s NEW LIFE, followup to his debut, OFF THE CANVAS. For those who had opportunity to hear that album, I cannot express enough that this is no sequel. Appropriately titled, OFF THE CANVAS played at times like a brief, Jazz Opera version of ROCKY, with all its’ grit and rough edges; a man fighting to bounce back, to conquer both love and the world, with the element of Valente’s Hip Hop-influenced past figuring prominently.
On NEW LIFE, Valente fashions a more polished landscape, without dispensing of the raw appeal that made OFF THE CANVAS an enjoyable listen. The artist is still evolving, but life experience has handed a greater sense of depth, of knowing. Few experiences change a person more than the birth of their first child, and Valente is no exception. This becomes obvious in the opening cut, “Nyjuan Lee” (named after his newborn son). Alone with his sax, outdoors, he could be busking, or just playing for his own pleasure. Regardless of the scenario, the mood is clear- joy.
The tone of his instrument is more contemplative and measured this time around, and as evidenced on cuts such as “Message From Heaven” and “To the Man Behind the Stars”, alternately mellow and charged. The album closer, “No One in This World”, sweetly veers toward the mellow, smoothly gliding off into the night (or day, depending on when you’re listening).
NEW LIFE features a more organic feel, largely through the participation of collaborator Peter Arteaga. It also has the same brevity that made OFF THE CANVAS compelling without straying into tedium. The result of all the effort involved is an enjoyable glimpse into the life of an artist who, as evidenced on NEW LIFE, has every reason to joyfully play on.
(James Day can be seen and heard at http://www.myspace.com/jamesdaybiz. His album is currently available at http://www.cdbaby.com/, and will be distributed through Ryko next month.)
(Victor Valente can be seen and heard at http://www.myspace.com/37710458. You can also visit his homepage, http://www.victorvalente.faithweb.com for show updates and info on his album release.)
New Jill Scott single: Hate On Me
Hidden Beach has just released a new single from Jill Scott’s forthcoming album, The Real Thing. My take: Jilly from Philly does it again. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the new album.
All About the Legends
I’m a little behind this month…so forgive my delay! I’m gearing up for my own live gospel recording next month…so things are a bit awry! But…here’s some projects you need to be bumpin’…
Anybody that’s read this column over the past few months knows that I love the history of this thing called soul…and it doesn’t get any better than Maria Muldaur’s tribute to the blues women: “Naughty, Bawdy and Blue”. It contains 12 covers of songs written and recorded originally by Ma Rainey, Sippie Wallace and Bessie Smith. Bonnie Raitt makes a cameo and Maria does the music proud. She’s on the road promoting this album as we speak…and as one who has witnessed her live show, I suggest you catch it. More info on www.mariamuldaur.com.
I love me some Rick James. I was hooked from the first time I ever heard “Bustin’ Out” and the first installment of the music in his archives is finally available for us to hear. I heard one of these tracks a few years back on a UK compilation (”Taste”) and knew we were in for a treat if this album ever saw the light of day. It is introspective and rich…not the bravado or persona that the world has connected with Rick. “Sapphire” is my favorite cut…but again, don’t sleep on it. Rick will have you bumpin’ on the funk edged tracks as well. More at www.rickjames.com.
On the gospel tip, I’m loving my fellow Nashvillian, Benita Washington’s, new release “Renaissance”. If you’ve never heard Benita before, this is the project to get. It is a live recording (a real live recording…not the fake ones gospel artists try to pass off these days as live) and you can feel the fire in every note. My favorite cut is “Song of the Lord”…followed closely by “I’ve Seen Him Work”. More at www.myspace.com/benitawashington.
“Perfect Song”
I’ve begun a new periodic blog entry, inspired by the PJ Morton Band’s new album, Perfect Song. This month, my Perfect Song pick is…
Runnin’ by The PJ Morton Band
Why? Simple: beautiful melody, nice tempo, great vocals, and the LYRICS?! Outstanding…and can apply to multiple folks and situations.
“Runnin’ “
Gonna make some changes
Might leave some scars
And it just might change the very thing that you are
Sure it can make you famous
But don’t you think it’s dangerous
Not to be exactly what you were created for
Seems like I’m runnin’
I’m runnin’
I’m runnin’
Runnin’ for my life
You gotta get away
Away from all the vultures
And by that I mean everybody tryna bring you down
Just wanna stay true
But it’s so hard to do
When you live in a world that’s so harsh and so cruel
Nothing really matters
Matters anymore
Nobody has anything they want to stand for
Sometimes I feel alone
Standing by myself
But I’ll keep on fighting even if there’s no one else
Seems like I’m runnin’
I’m runnin’
I’m runnin’
Runnin’ for my life
Give this “perfect song” a listen at the PJ Morton Band’s MySpace profile.
Deb Hinds panelist for Media Post-Imus town hall meeting
“Deb Hinds to serve as panelist for “Race, Gender, and Media Post-Imus” town hall meeting April 26th”
The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists and the Department of Journalism at the University of South Florida present a town hall meeting April 26, 2007, bringing together area radio, journalism and academic figures within the community to discuss stereotypical images in media and the firing of radio host Don Imus.
Songs for Writers: Writer’s Block
Although I have officially been writing songs for about six years, I remember the first song I ever wrote. I had to have been around seven or so, and I was in the grocery store with my mom. As we were waiting in line I made up a song about marriage called “Kiss the Girl.” Ah seven…the age of innocence 
.
Now that I am much older, my lyrics are representative of nature. There is always some reference to the Sun, moon, stars, clouds…air…etcetera in my songs. At times I get tired of my nature themed lyrics because they are so different from what is being 
heard today in “mainstreamland.” My songwriting seems like it came out of the sixties mainly due to my internalization of Jimi Hendrix and early Lenny Kravitz songs. Even the spirit of The Beatles and Janis Joplin can be felt in my writing…talk about being born too late. I have tried to write more up-to-date, contemporary songs, but it’s not my throwback style.
I’m the type of person who likes to take pictures of the outdoors because it gives me a chance to, if even temporarily, get away from it all and visually get lost in the scenery. I have a very vivid imagination, so for me a great song needs to take me there, wherever there is. I tend to visualize songs I hear, so much so that I have created several video concepts for them.
From listening to countless songs over my lifetime, there have been many songs I wish I had written. Songs of that nature seem to sum me up, and say what I would or should have said. Great lyrics can be used as an anthem, a personal motto, and even to fill in the blank when one word just won’t do. Who knows; maybe one day my nature themed lyrics will change the world.
Performed by Rahsaan Patterson
Produced and composed by Jamey Jaz and Rahsaan Patterson
Copyright (c) 2007
Used by permission.
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