Leon Huff was born on April
8, 1942 in the New Jersey
city of Camden. Huff began
playing the piano at age
five, which later led to his
becoming an accompanist for
the junior choir of the 10th
Street Baptist Church in
Camden. Later, he could
frequently be found
performing on street corners
with "doo wop" groups. He
enjoyed minor early success
with a group known as The
Dynaflows, who after
becoming The Lavenders,
enjoyed a regional hit with
their recording of "The
Slide."
In the late '50s, Huff
became a commuter between
Philadelphia and New York
City. He became a well-known
figure on the recording
studio scene in Manhattan
and got to know a host of
major league
songwriter/producers such as
Jeff Barry and Ellie
Greenwich, Jerry Leiber and
Mike Stoller and Phil
Spector.
Taking his cue from these
acknowledged stars of their
craft (Barry, Greenwich,
Leiber and Stoller are all
Songwriters' Hall of Fame
inductees), Huff began
concentrating on his
songwriting skills. His
first recording as a writer
was the number one hit, "The
Boy from New York City," by
the Ad Libs.
Later, he wrote the hit
song, "Mixed Up, Shook Up
Girl," recorded by Patty and
the Emblems. At about the
same time, already
recognized in New York for
his playing, he became
active again in Philadelphia
as well, as session man,
songwriter and neophyte
producer.
Already tasting significant
success, Huff also found
himself in the same building
as Kenny Gamble. In 1965, a
series of chance meetings in
the elevator resulted in a
decision to try working
together and the two soon
formed a production company
which later resulted in such
hits as "Expressway to Your
Heart," and "Cowboys to
Girls," and later brought
the pair into the orbits of
such prominent hitmakers as
Wilson Pickett, Dusty
Springfield, Jerry Butler,
Nancy Wilson, Joe Simon and
Archie Bell and the Drells.
In 1971, the team of Gamble
and Huff formed Philadelphia
International Records, a
company that would have
tremendous impact on the
course of pop music-around
the world in the years to
come. Signed to a
distribution deal by CBS
Records, the company turned
out hit after hit after hit,
writing and producing such
entries as "Back Stabbers"
by the O'Jays; "Me and Mrs.
Jones" by Billy Paul; "If
You Don't Know Me by Now"
and "The Love I Lost," both
by Harold Melvin and The
Blue Notes; and "Love Train"
and "For the Love of Money,"
by The O'Jays.
Huff is the proud owner of
more than 300 gold and
platinum records, has been
nominated for a number of
Grammy Awards and has
received numerous
Philadelphia and Camden area
civic awards.
His latest project on the
brink of being released is
an album entitled Groovy
People. With over 15 years
in the making Leon Huff is
finally ready to share it
with the world. The album
consist of remakes of some
old time favorites songs
such as Hey There Lonely
Girl originally sung by
Eddie Holman. And also The
Way You Do The Things You
originally sung by The
Temptations. Also featured
on the album Mr. Huff's
latest group R&B sensation
Ju-Taun as well as new
ballads that you are
guaranteed to enjoy.
New Music From One Of The Greatest Living Soul Singers Of
Our Time
Mighty Sam McClain
Check out Mighty Sam
McClain in a great live performance of "Betcha Didn't Know" in
Halle, Germany.
Mighty Sam will be releasing his
first CD since 2003. "Betcha Didn't
Know" will be released in the US and
Europe in July 2009. It will be
released on the Mighty Music
label and distributed by City Hall
Records. In Europe our distributor will be
Mokambo Music (www.mokambomusic.de). This
is an upbeat CD, perfect for
today's market. This is an
upbeat CD, perfect for today's
market. It is a different MSM sound,
with his signature "Mighty Horns"
but, with a bit more Funk and Soul and
Hip-Hop for a more contemporary
audience.
In
recent years, he has been involved
in community works and benefit
projects as well as songwriting in
the interim. His latest released
project Is "Give US Your Poor" a
serious compilation of major
recording artists (Pete Segar,
Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen,
Sweet Honey and the Rock, Natalie
Merchant and others) He performed on
a track with Natalie Merchant and
wrote and recorded, "Show Me The
Way" with Jon Bon Jovi. The
proceeds from this project will
benefit the national initiative to
raise awareness about homelessness
in the US called Give US Your
Poor. This song won third
place recognition in the
International Songwriting
Competition - 2008 from over 15,500
songs submitted!
His
songwriting has led to the CD "Too
Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey),
which was completed and recorded in
2007-2008. It is unreleased as yet
but songs from it can be heard at
www.mightysam.com. The title has
aroused much controversy. Listen to
the song to see what you think! He
continues to collaborate with his
guitar player, Pat Herlehy and a new
project is almost ready to record.
Last
August, MSM signed a contract with
20th Century Fox for the video
rights to his song "New Man In Town"
which appeared in 12 episodes of the
Ally McBeal Show. It is now
available in video around the world!
Mighty Sam also has signed a
contract for an exciting project to
be recorded in June with Norwegian
producer Erik Hillestad at
CedarHouse Sound and Recording in
Sutton, NH, where Sam has been
recording for years. The collection
of duets will be sung by MSM and
Iranian pop sensation Mahsa Vahdat.
The CD. "Love Duets Across
Civilizations" will be released in
the US, Europe and the Middle East
in the fall.
The
story behind the delayed release of
"Betcha Didn't Know" is good
press, indicative of the state of
the industry. For press interest or
booking contact :
sam@mightysam.com /
www.mightysam.com.
Media Guru
Angelo Ellerbee
Extols Music
Artists To Clean
Up Their Acts
NEW YORK, NY
(04/12/11) — Mr.
Angelo Antonio Ellerbee
has prided himself on
being the etiquette
coach to the stars and
being an advocate for
the true development of
the artist for the past
36 years. In 36 years,
Angelo has seen and
heard it all, from
artists who can’t read
or write to artists with
rude manners and to the
simply put, uneducated
people that are running
rampant nowadays in the
music industry. In
recent months, with all
of the upheaval caused
by Chris Brown,
Angelo feels that it is
time once again to take
on the music industry
and challenge its
artists to act like
artists.
Angelo Ellerbee
was very public about
the big commotion that
was caused just two
years ago when Kanye
West ran up on stage
during Taylor Swift’s
acceptance of her MTV
VMA to express his
dismay at her winning.
Ellerbee was appalled
and said that the
industry had been taken
back 40 years, to before
greats like Berry
Gordy invested time
in developing an artist,
not just to sell
records, but to conduct
themselves as
professionals. Ellerbee
was featured in Out
Magazine and said this
when asked about
teaching celebrities
manners as opposed to
non-celebrities: “There
is absolutely no
difference. It is
manners. It is
respect. It’s just
an extension of what
their mothers and
fathers should have
taught them -- the
difference between right
and wrong and how to sit
at a table.”
Fast forward two
years later and it seems
we are back to “artists”
who don’t know how to
behave. Chris Brown
recently let his anger
get the best of him at
Good Morning
America when he
got angry about
questions regarding his
abuse of ex-girlfriend
Rihanna. In a
fit of rage, he trashed
his green room and threw
a chair through a
high-rise glass window,
potentially endangering
the lives of people
walking on the street
below. Something as
simple as how to act in
an interview seems to
have been lost in artist
development and this is
a prime example of
that. These are things
that have to be the
foundation of all
artists, according to
Angelo Ellerbee. He
leaves you with these
thoughts on artist
development and the lack
there of -- “Life is not
a cup of instant coffee.
It’s brewed
coffee. It’s brewed over
time. That’s called the
development of an
artist. You can’t just
grab an artist and have
them record. This isn’t
a part-time job -- this
is a full-time job! You
have to raise the bar
across the board. And
that’s what we get so
afraid of. And then we
get afraid of, 'Is my
check going to get
cut?'” Ellerbee is here
to set the facts
straight about the lack
of artist development
today and where artist
development needs to go
in the future.
Angelo Ellerbee
is a dynamic
motivational speaker.
He tells it like it is,
period. His 36 years of
experience working with
many high profile
artists such as Mary
J. Blige, Dionne
Warwick, Ginuwine
and DMX have only
strengthened his
knowledge of the music
industry. Ellerbee was
recently asked to speak
at the prestigious
Berklee College of Music
in Boston to impart his
knowledge and wisdom on
the up and comers in the
music industry, our
youth. There he was
received with open minds
and ears from the
students who, to his
surprise, were extremely
unfamiliar with the idea
of artist development
the way it was done in
the past. It was this
realization that
encouraged Angelo to
re-educate the public on
the importance of not
only artist development,
but also being committed
to your talent, loving
yourself and being an
upstanding model
citizen.
Mr. Ellerbee is a
popular, in demand guest
speaker for various
seminars, events,
universities and
schools, where he
imparts his insightful
wisdom to those ready to
listen.
About Angelo Ellerbee
Angelo Ellerbee,
the CEO of Double
XXposure Public
Relations firm is a
veteran of the
entertainment business,
whose expertise in the
industry turned into a
full service public
relations, image
consulting and artist
development company.
He has represented such
clients as Michael
Jackson, Lionel Richie,
Mary J. Blige, DMX,
Ginuwine, Shabba Ranks,
Gang Starr and many
others.
If you would like more
information on Angelo Ellerbee
please visit his site at
www.dxxnyc.com
or to have Angelo share
his wisdom as a guest
speaker at seminars,
events, universities and
schools please contact
Double
XXposure
at 212-629-9404 or email
at
inquiries@dxxnyc.com
.
David M is not an
artist that you'll
easily forget. His
velvety voice and
uplifting messages will
linger in your heart
long after the last note
has been played. David M
was destined to make
music. Though his career
endured numerous
setbacks, none have
deterred him from his
dream of becoming an
internationally
recognized recording
artist.
Starting out on the
piano at age six, he
spent most of his
childhood singing and
playing in front of live
audiences. Says David,
"my early days were
characterized by music
lessons twice a week and
playing piano in the
orchestra or playing at
festivals or shows on
Saturdays." It wasn't
long before David's love
for playing and singing
would leave him to write
and produce his own
songs. But his plan to
pursue music as a career
would have to wait until
he graduated from
college and completed
his schooling at Norman
Manley Law School in
Jamaica. Shortly after
leaving Norman Manley -
law degree in hand -
David's father passed
away and the
singer-turned lawyer
shifted gears and took
over the reins of his
family's waste disposal
and janitorial business.
Once again music had to
take a backseat much to
David's disappointment.
"It was frustrating to
again put my musical
career on hold," he
says, "but it was a
necessary commitment to
my family and our
business."
In the early 90s David
hooked up with Anchor
Recordings honcho
Augustus Clarke, a well
know music impresario
who was often referred
to as the Berry Gordy of
Jamaica. While with
Clarke, David wrote
songs for such artists
as Gregory Isaaca,
Freddie McGregor, Coco
Tea, and JC Lodge. But
after a couple of years
of penning hits, he once
again abandoned music to
take on the rigors of
the family business. "My
life has taken many
twists and turns," says
David, "but music has
always been my passion.
No matter how many
detours my life has
taken, music has always
been there. It has
always been that special
place that I come home
to a the end of the
day."
Now, with nothing to
stand in his way, David
M has returned and he's
ready to make his
presence felt on the
world stage. With the
release of two notable
singles, "Lest We
Forget" and "Here Comes
Your Life," David is
already catching the
eyes and ears of radio
and television. Written
in 1994 on the eve of
the inauguration of
Nelson Mandela as
president of South
Africa, "Lest We Forget"
resonates with words
that are as relevant
today as they ever were.
"The feeling that I had
on that day has been
renewed many times over
the years," says David.
"From the election of
Barak Obama to the many
other achievements by
men and women of African
descent, I am proud of
our achievements and
humbled by the
opportunity to pay
homage to them in song."
This soul-searching
world beat song, which
opens with excerpts from
Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr's famous "I Have A
Dream" speech, not only
speaks to the Civil
Rights Movement and the
hard work of Dr. King,
but also gives credence
to the work and
sacrifices made by
stalwarts such as Marcus
Garvey, Rosa Parks,
Malcolm X, Nelson
Mandela, Steven Biko and
others who have been
instrumental in the
struggle for equality
and justice, paving the
way for positive change.
David M bubbling
enthusiasm and musical
artistry has seen him
perform on the Rochester
Music Festival in
Rochester, New York in
July 2009. His music
video for the single
"Lest We Forget" was
featured on BET J, Music
Choice, Tempo and BET
"Lift Every Voice"
respectively. As the sky
is the limit for this
rising star, his latest
single "This is Our
World" (an environmental
song) has been chosen by
the United Nations as a
theme song and is
presently featured on
their web site
www.playersforpeace.org
.
Furthermore, David M, it
appears that all the
dreams of his past life
are now coming true and
not a moment too soon.
"I've waited a long time
for this moment," he
says, and he is, without
a doubt, poised to take
his place among the
great songwriter/
artists of this
generation.
Years ago, I
used to always
say, "If there
was a ever a
music group in
the history of
recorded music
deserving of
wider
recognition I
would vote for
The Isley
Brothers."
Ronald
Isley's
voice is one of
the most
distinctive
voices in music.
After 50 years
in the music
business, his
voice is still
strong and
distinct.
Ron Isley
(not sure if he
still goes by
the name "Mr.
Big), recently
completed
serving a
37-month prison
sentence for tax
evasion.
He is working on
a new album set
for release by
the end of this
year (2010).
One of the
highlights of
the album is his
collaboration
with the once
very reclusive
Lauryn Hill,
who I must say,
still has "it."
Her voice is
unique and
distinct as
well. Take
a listen to the
Isley-Hill
duet of the Burt
Bacharach
classic song
"Close To You."
K. Michelle -
"I Just Can't Do This."
David M.
If
you're not familiar with
David M's name yet, here
are some very
interesting details
about him. The
velvet-voiced
singer/songwriter hails
from Jamaica, West
Indies and though he had
the music bug since a
child of six, playing
the piano, became a
lawyer and a
businessman, taking over
his family business when
his father passed on.
Yet, music won him back
over, leading him
initially to write hit
songs for artists such
as Gregory Isaacs,
Freddie MacGregor and JC
Lodge.
David M says he is
enjoying life at the
moment. And as for
the conscious-minded
singerthere is no
stopping him now, as he
has a hot new video for
his latest single, "Lest We Forget,"
which you can watch
at the end of this
article.
David M. is an eclectic
artist, who deals in
both social commentary
and romantic vibes. His
socially conscious, soul
searching song, "Lest We
Forget," is on Sirius XM
Radio, with its video
being featured on BET-J,
Music Choice, Tempo and
BET's "Lift Every
Voice." Featuring a
world beat, the
song/video begins with
snippets from Martin
Luther King's famous "I
Have A Dream" speech.
His
"This Is Our World", an
environmental song, was
chosen by the United
Nations as their theme
song, and is featured on
their website, at
www.playersforpeace.org.
He is already part of
the historic lineup for
their Players For Peace
Humanitarian Concert,
scheduled for
Missouri in September
2010.
The
versatile David M's
current hit single is
the sizzling,
sexy, Summer tune,
"Girls Night Out."
His
upcoming new CD, "Here
Comes Your Life," which
he wrote entirely, also
features "Heart of
Everyone," his homage to
the late Jamaican
superstar Bob Marley.
David M recently
performed at the 2010
Puerto Rican Day Parade
in New York City and at
the Rochester Music
Festival in July 2009,
wowing audiences.
An
international music
sensation, David M is a
talented, fascinating
artist, who is
definitely one to
watch.
Toni Ann Semple
is an electrifying
singer, dynamic
songwriter , a
consummate professional
and a composer who has
successfully married
contemporary world
music with her Native
American rhythms and
musical instrumentation
to create such
commercial songs like “I DON’T WANNA TALK
ABOUT IT”, “FOR ME”,
“SUMMER BREEZE” AND “SIT
BACKAND
RELAX” that not
only is playing in
rotation in the United
States on such radio
stations as 98.7 Kiss
FM New York and
others, but also in the
United Kingdom, Germany
and around the world.
All this without a
record deal.
Radio Dee Jays worldwide
are showing the love and
anxiously waiting for
the Album to drop so
that they can spin their
favorites and be taken
away to the swaying
sounds of a cool breeze
and the sultry voice of
an angel.
Toni Ann Semple started
composing music,
teaching herself how to
play many instruments
and performing at a very
young age. It was the
eye and ear of her
mother who first noticed
the talent and supported
her daughters career by
purchasing her first
guitar. Well it was that
very Guitar and Mothers
love that ignited the
very fire in her that
soon moved Toni Ann to
teach herself how to
play the guitar, piano,
trumpet, flute and a
host of other
percussion instruments.
Toni Ann says It’s the
love of music and the
gifts that the universe
send you that has moved
this young rising music
star to write, arrange
and produce her own
music for years, but it
is with all the emotion,
beauty, joy, pain and
Native American Soul
uniquely crafted and
supported by her mothers
unrelenting persistence.
Toni Ann fully embraced
her Native American
musical roots and
artistry as her mother
wished after her mothers
transition from this
world to the spiritual
one occurred.
So when you hear her
sing, her voice, her
sound, her music you
know right away it has
real meaning for her and
as a listener it is that
real emotion, passion,
power, tenderness and
true originality which
moves and evokes
sensations through you
touching your very soul.
This young composer is
stirring up the pot in
the industry for fresh
new original music.
She’s the real deal,
with the ability to
perform and power to
sing thirteen songs
straight during her own
showcases while leaving
you in a trance.
Las Vegas look out...It’s
the many years in the
industry performing with
such greats as *Will
Downing, *Jazz Pianist
Mark Adams* Al B. Sure,*
Merlene Ward,* Bassist
extraordinaire* Freddie
Cash, *Toshi Kankawa,*
Ty Stephens,* Tom
Barney,* The Random*
Schwartz Leslie Ford
Connection to name a
few.
This truly beautiful
artist and her beautiful
music invokes the Eros,
the emotion, the
heartbreak , the joy of
flight with the calm of
the seas or a summer
breeze, so sit back and
relax world and just be
refreshed and inspired
by
NATIVE AMERICAN MUSICS
“NEW” CONTEMPORARY
PIONEER BECAUSE IT’S A
DONE DEAL ...ONE LISTEN
AND YOU WILL be TAKEN ON
A FLIGHT…
You can take your own
musical flight and
listen to Toni Ann
Semple’s music on
www.toniannsemple.com.
For
more information about
Toni Ann Semple, contact
Mary L. Moore of
So Much Moore
Communications at
973-675-6992.
Avani: The Real
Thing
Avani is a UK
soul-singing diva,
brought up in and around
South London. She likes
to say she first opened
her mouth to sing at the
age of seven, and hasn't
shut it since!
Avani's early years were
difficult, as she grew
up in care and foster
homes from the age of
eight. This was after an
accident meant she had
to leave home to go to
hospital and she never
returned. This also
meant that she never saw
her real mother again
either. Her mother had
been sick for a long
time and she died when
Avani was nine. "But it
made me a very strong
and independent person.
I grew up very quickly
as I was on my own and
only had myself to rely
on", Avani says. " I was
individual and always
stood out. I decided at
six that I wanted to go
to America one day and
from the age of
seven, when I discovered
I had a voice, I wanted
to be a singer. People
would laugh and say it
wouldn't work; they
never took me seriously
but that was my main
focus of what I wanted
to do in life and have
as a career".
When Avani was 16, she
formed a local band,
using this time to
further hone her song
writing and arranging
skills. But after a
couple of years the band
broke up. During this
time, one of the people
who had seen them and
been impressed by her
vocal ability and stage
presence was
legendary UK manager
Tony Hall.
In her teens, Avani used
to perform at talent
shows and contests at
places like the Oval
House Cafe in Kennington
and Singers Paradise at
The Civic Centre on the
Old Kent Road in
London. She liked to
perform cover versions
of songs, like Lalah
Hathaway's "Baby Don't
Cry" and also do backing
vocals for some of the
other acts who appeared.
Writing her own songs
came about after she
realised that she wanted
to make a career out of
music. She actually used
to write stories at
first. Then when she was
ten, she wrote her first
song. She had felt that
writing stories seemed
to be too much of a long
winded way to get her
ideas across. Plus, she
realised that she didn't
just want to be a
singer, singing other
people's songs and if
she wanted to sing she
would need
material-nobody else was
going to write it for
her. So, song writing
became a passion as well
as a necessity.
As a songwriter, Avani
has worked with various
other vocalists, rappers
and producers, both male
and female, in a group,
recording duets as well
as doing her own backing
vocals on her tracks and
backing vocals for other
people. She's also
worked on various types
of music (such as dance
music-
Equilibrium-Anthony and
Georgio;this track is on
the Ministry of
Sound-Dance Nation 5
album (mixed by Pete
Tong and Boy George),
Adam F (studio session),
the Trubble-Dancing Baby
track; As seen on Ally
McBeal, and the Robbie
Rivera track: The Hum
Melody, Soul Music: Avani
has worked with Jazzy B
from Soul II Soul and
Carl McIntosh from Loose
Ends (studio sessions
and live gigs). She
has also toured with
Bryan Ferry and Roxy
Music on their 2001 tour
and after that she was
working both on stage
and in the studio
incorporating session
work and pursuing solo
projects over the years
doing her own original
material. During this
time, she also did stage
shows and performances
alongside artistes such
as: Nate James, Terri
Walker, Nathan, Estelle,
Mica Paris, Omar, Don E
and Rahsaan Patterson to
name a few. Then, while
being managed by
legendary music manager
Tony Hall and highly
accredited UK former
soul artist, Paul
Johnson, Avani finally
got to release her own
solo album, The Real
Thing, through Dome
Records on which she
collaborated with Don E,
Carl McIntosh from Loose
Ends and Rahsaan
Patterson.
Her voice is unlike any
other vocalist around,
whether from the UK or
the US. She has the
sheer vocal power to
perform a song like
"Don't U Worry"-the
opening track of her
debut album, "The Real
Thing", then she can
conjure up a totally
different and subtle
mood on the intimate,
soulful ballad, "Best
Friend's Lover", which
is about a love
triangle, told from a
different perspective.
Avani writes all of her
own songs and when
recording, she also
does her own backing
vocals as well.
"I really like writing
songs", she says "I love
the creativity and the
feeling of creating
something new from
scratch. Not all my
songs are written from
personal experiences,
sometimes it's from
things I've seen in life
or stuff that other
people have told me
about their lives or
problems they've had. I
found that I became an
agony aunt listening to
other people's problems
and offering advice! The
nice thing about that
was when they would come
back to me and say that
my advice had helped
them. But because I'd
never had someone to
talk to about any
problems I may have had,
who would listen to me,
my way of expressing my
feelings was to write
songs".
So, what now for this
talented miss?
Avani is currently
looking for a new record
label to call home and
for new management as
well.
"I'd like to continue on
to the next phase in my
career and achieve new
heights of success", she
says "I believe my time
will come with the right
people and support
network behind me. There
is so much more I want
to do and not just in
music but in the
community and around the
world as well."
So, any record labels
out there interested in
working with this
creative and unique
artist, please get in
touch.
I
flew out to Las
Vegas for the
Floyd Mayweather,
Jr. vs. Shane Mosley
fight. I was
tired
as I had 3 hours of
sleep the entire
day. I walked
into my suite at the
Treasure Island
Hotel and Casino,
unpacked my clothes
and was ready to go
to bed, when my cell
phone rang. I
answered the phone
and the voice on the
other end said,
"Hey Gary, this is
Ghalib. I
heard you were in
town. Walk on
down the street to
Harrah's and join me
for my second set.
I start in 15
minutes."
From the point on
the conversation
went something like
this:
Gary: "Ghalib,
I just got off the
plane. I've
only had 3 hours of
sleep."
Ghalib: "Gary
this is Vegas.
Nobody sleeps.
C'mon down the
street."
Gary: "OK man.
I'll be there in 15
minutes."
When one of the most
talented jazz
musicians personally
calls you to hear
him play, you do it!
Ghalib Ghallab
is no joke.
His unique blend of
RandB and Jazz is a
musical blend of his
influences.
Folks, this is not
jazz for dummies.
This is Roy
Ayers, Duke
Ellington, Sinatra,
Quincy Jones, Miles
Davis, Louie
Armstrong, Bill
Withers, Donny
Hathaway and
Luther Vandross.
Now that's a mixture
for your ass.
Listening to
Ghalib Ghallab
is an experience, a
jazz experience with
Latin rhythms and an
infusion of RandB and
the blues.
Ghalib Ghallab's
latest CD is "Toya's
Song," available
via iTunes.com and
Amazon.com.
Ghalib is currently
headlining at the
The Range Steakhouse
at Harrah’s Hotel.
To learn more about
Ghalib Ghallab
visit his official
web site at
http://www.ghalibghallab.net.
Watch and listen to
the video below and
see for yourself why
Chicago's own,
Ghalib Ghallab
is the best kept
secret in jazz
music.
People Are Talking About...
Little Richard
with Wilson Pickett, Lloyd Price
and Billy Preston (on Piano)
Singing "Didn't It Rain"
(1985)
Lalah Hathaway – “Self Portrait”
Singer
Lalah
Hathaway
smashed the SoulTracks
monthly download record in June with
her track "That Was Then." The
track comes from her new, critically
acclaimed album, Self Portrait,
which has been called by many the
best solo release of her nearly two
decade career.
With
SELF PORTRAIT, (Stax
Records/Concord Music Group)-- her
fifth studio album, including the
Joe Sample duet, and on which she
co-wrote and co-produced, Hathaway
is poised to express who she is, where she is, today, at
this very moment.
Leading the 12-song collection is
"Let Go," a
dance-oriented, up-tempo number she
produced with Rex Rideout and
wrote alongside Rahsaan Patterson.
And just as the title suggests, the
song is about acknowledging and
releasing whatever's not working to
make room for the next experience.
"I've had to let go of quite a few
things, quite a few situations and a
couple of mindsets," she admits
about the origins of her first
single. "Every so often, I have to
remind myself to just let some stuff
go - from people and relationships
to an old pair of jeans."
Born to
Donny Hathaway, one
of the most influential soul artists
of the eighties, and Eulaulah
Hathaway, an accomplished
musician in her own right, the
Chicago native first put pen to
paper, "with
the music," as a 10th
grader. Later, as a student at Berklee College of Music, she
recorded her self-titled debut in
1990, which spawned the hits "Baby
Don't Cry," "Heaven
Only Knows" and
"I'm
Coming Back."
Although she has created a space for
herself, it's not surprising that
Hathaway remains connected to her
late, great father and his classic
sound. "I am his daughter," she
says, softly, "and that's the truth
of who I am, every day. When I was
15, and then, 20, I didn't get why
people were asking me how I felt about him and his
music. But when I turned 25, I began
to understand. Like my father, I
want to leave a legacy of music that
makes people really feel something,
whether it be happiness, sadness,
grief or heartache. I also want them
to appreciate my humor which I know
can be difficult to interpret in a
song."
You can
learn more about Lalah Hathaway
by visiting her official web
site at:http://lalahhathaway.com.
For
additional information media
information contact:
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