residual income: judell.qhealthbeauty.com (quixtar.com) (ask if you don't know about it)
babyhappyhand.com (mention me if you're buying one)
BESTO PESTO DIP/SAUCE/SPREAD @ www.myspace.com/thebestopesto BestoPesto, Want some?
..
Town Wellness Music @ myspace.com/townwellnessmusic
***THIS MONTH'S TOP 40 FEATURES SOME VERY EXTRAORDINARY FEMALE ACQUAINTANCES***
I'm also interested in all things positive, beautiful & creative. GOD. My roots. Getting paid to do what I love and build God's Kingdom simultaneously. As of Saturday, May 12, 2007, I finally became a Bay Area Critical Mass Health Conductor for the African-American community. My Health Conductor # is 393. What is a Health Conductor? Click on Wellness' photo in my Top Friends category......
I'm interested in getting at least 1 new bass, the hottest of which are Michael Tobias Design Basses
I'd like to meet:
*God, Bill Britt, my soulmate, Andrae Crouch, those looking to network in business, the arts, music, poetry, educating young people, spreading the Good News.
Music:
Brother Psalmist (Poem For Andraé)
From sultry Jesus love song to funky praiseI'll never forget the Andraé daysNurtured with melodies before birthCries graduated to awesome mirth
Unaware of anointed flowFanaticism had me like, "Whoa!"Attention unfocused at timesUntil horns announce and triangle chimes"Thank You, Lord" intro
Ol' school yellow LP label hypnotizes meEven to this day but as young as "3"Colored rings hula-hooping each otherSending me straight to the vortexLittle did I know that's whereThe music ministered to me
Reminded of the years whereSimple things meant much more whereI'd shut out the chaos byClosing the tape player doorMashing play button as ifMagic twinkles came dusting aboutBrother Psalmist drew me in no doubt
Purchasing my own music before grade oneAndraé was top choice, never outdoneBefore the lollipop, the candy barWhile fastened to the seat in the carMy mission was clear:Andraé Crouch & the Disciples!
This thing had a brutha possessedAt least I was relieved of childhood stressHighness from sugary treats not my aimThat 70's gospel came to claim…ME
The era that rose from quartet vibeTo driving bass riffs, Rhodes keys and wah-wah strumsSomehow, the mix was now deeper on the kick drumJust had the head noddin'But Hodge nor hip-hop was even out yet
How could I ever forget theMost powerful influence in my musical life…theOne who took me there whenI didn't know where "there" was…theMastermind behind many so-called"Hits" in the gospel music and film industries,Mix-downs, songwriting, producing, arranging,Of course his albums butA team of accomplished artists as well
Who do you know with songs in hymnals worldwide… You know, that's still living?Give it up! Props are due up in here!I still hunt for collectibles on eBayCall me crazy but this fever had me before I was bornI need Andraé's version of gospel like I need to breathe
What about it intrigued me so?I'd have to say:Mainly the whole testimonial-fiery background vocals-spine-chilling-tambourine-rag-time piano-blaring horns-big-band-"ooohs" "aahs" "well, well, wells" "mmm-mm-mms"-woofer-rattlin' tom fills-withutmost sincerity and conviction…And that's only on one or two cuts!
Maybe I give that impression butI swear I ain't tryin' to convinceEither you feel me or you don'tBut I challenge you to experience
No one has a vibe like hisGift of song like King David hadWritten on the spot right before your eyesWhat a raw deposit from the DivineBut not without the experience
My young mind didn't always relateBut I felt the man's heartThe heart of a psalmistLoving the Most High in songLike He connected in ways most do notThat's powerful!
Biggups to the man himselfMaestro Andraé CrouchMy greatest influence next to God AlmightyThe reason why I connect with music the way I doMy Tribute to himBut to God be ALL the glory…This is just one of the things He has done.
(Nov. 30, 2005)
Love that new Cornel West album! Please go get it! Love Goapele...She's got a message for the peoples...First of all, all music & creative art forms are derivatives of Mother AFRICA...More recently, I've become careful w/ what I put my ear to because I'm easily inspired. Music has powers that many folks don't understand, both good & bad, and it's because the words & the music gets distorted somewhere between God providing the inspiration & what is actually laid down. But as a musician I love just about everything: foremost gospel, also most instrumental, salsa, various soul, conscious rap, dancehall and roots-reggae, African vibes and all forms of jazz.
Those artists that are hard to classify get my attention faster than anything. To be honest, I listen to everything from Jewel to gospel rap, from blu-bop to ol' school soul, from international/world music to, well, Amy Grant...so it all comes full circle. Mainstream is too played: I can't even keep up w/ who's who in (so-called) R&B and hip-hop anymore...way too many artists, way too much competition for the ones holding true, raw talent. (If it isn't honest music, I can't appreciate it.)
I have much love for local musicians representing any genre. I believe God is the originator but not always at the center of it. Oh...and I love EWF, Mint Condition, Bilal (just too funky), Van Hunt, everyone Andrae's produced/worked with: Danniebelle, Donnie Mac, Jessy Dixon, Bili Thedford, Reba Rambo, Sonlight/Konoinia, The Winans, James Felix, Kristle Murden Edwards, The McCrary's, Clark Sisters, Take 6, LALAH! (peep the album), Marcus Miller, George Duke, Joe Sample, Norah Jones, Janet J (about as mainstream as it gets for me,) Bob M, Oakland's own Tony Toni Tone, Hawkins' Family, Lizz Wright (WHAT A VOICE FOR BEING SO YOUNG), etc., Stevie W, Ricky Minor Band, babygirl right here, Amy Winehouse... ....see what I'm sayin'? I luv it all!
Props to all the musicians I've ever played with on any occassion: You are all amazing!!! You know who you are...esp, James W, (my fam: Brandon S, Ed U, Erick M, Cassie Mae...), those filthy young cats from that church in Sac, Toussaint, Kele, Simon, Levar, Tobias, Damian, Lynette, Thomas, Felix, Living Space band members, Dewayne W, Derrick H, Jason (bof'um), Calvin K, Curtis M, Timm W, Larry J, etc. And to all those I will play with in the future...much respects. BIGUPS TO ALL THE BASS PLAYERS IN THE WORLD! WE KNOW HOW TO REPRESENT DON'T WE?
**SLIDESHOW MOMENT> Here are some of my early influences and a few others**
Movies:
(actually working on writing a script right now) Color Purp, Rosewood, Shaka!, some Black cinema, '80's cinema, Spike Lee cinema, Bruce Lee cinema, All Dogs Go To Heaven, most comedies & suspense, some drama, documentaries, action. Parkway & Grand Lake Theaters...yeah, they get props.
Television:
These days? Not much really. Mostly DVDs.
Books:
CURRENTLY:
He-Motions,
We Real Cool,
Holy Bible,
Prayer Confessions to Dominate in the New Millennium,
Being A Child Of God (Your Guide for the Adventure),
The Magic of Thinking BIG
Heroes:
THE TRINITY, ANCESTORS, grassroots activists, Freedom Riders, all civil rights leaders past & present, momma, daddy, grandmomma (bo'fum), Harriet, Martin, Malcolm, Marcus, Fredrick, W.E.B., Medgar, Bill Britt, Quixtar IBO's, Mel Gibson, Andrae Crouch, Ralph Carmichael, James Jamerson, social justice educators, 94.1 KPFA(B) radio personalities & supporters alike, men & women who aren't afraid to be true to themselves & anyone around them, Tavis Smiley...
...and Tim Wise (a wise man taking the truth to those who feel they need to hear it from a white man)
