My first solo "gig" was at Karamu House way back in the day. I sang one song with my eyes closed the whole time. I don't even remember who played for me, but it was some Dionne Warwick tune. (I know. That was really an oldie!) I also sang a lead role in Scott Joplin's Opera Treemonisha, for which I received an Actor's Guild Award. But more recently, I've been on some of the nicest jazz and blues venue stages in the area, from Fat Fish Blue, The Bop Stop, Club Isabella when it was open, Nighttown, Fire Food and Drink on Shaker Square, Signature of Solon, Cain Park, The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, for the Cascade Locs Association in Akron, Cite Grille in Canton, and The Cleveland Athletic Club, to Laurello Vineyards and Grand River Cellars in wine country out east, just to name a few.
Standards are my strongest repertoire, but I also have added songs typically done by Bill Withers, and other R&B and pop artists, as well as vocal works by Chick Corea that may not be as familiar to most listeners, and some of what I call gospel/jazz. My bachelor's degree is from The University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. I've been told that my classical training is evident when you hear me. That's cool, but it also has meant that I've had to actually study styles and adapt. My experiences also include reggae at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Dubflex, and I once did background and lead vocals for a local country western artist's CD project. I've sung with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Blossom Festival Choruses, including performances at Carnegie Hall and in Chatauqua Lake, New York. I currently sing with Danny Mac and Friends (Praise and Worship music) and Yarbrough and Company, which includes lots of music a cappella. Singing out there without instrumentation to back you really forces you to be on top of your game! Because of my classical background and low speaking voice (speech-level training with Robert Becker from the Cleveland Music Settlement!), I've been blessed with range, and due to many years of music theory classes as a child, I have a good ear. The musicians that I've been blessed to work with are many, and they continue to grow as I do. They are fabulous artists and have been tremendously helpful. I'm afraid to list them all at this time because I may forget someone, so I'll wait! Over the past couple of years, I've been writing songs, which I hope to have available for your listening pleasure within a couple of months. And as a result of many years of dance training (mostly West African), and some wonderful opportunities and experiences over the years, I'm loving dancing almost as much as singing!
Dancing is my secret love from my childhood! My current experiences are in sacred settings and consist of both performance and choreography. All of my Praise Dance choreography is strongly influenced by West African movement. Some of the professional dancers that I've been blessed to learn from are Chuck Davis, Linda Thomas-Jones, Louis Naylor, Terence Greene, Sabrina Gregory, Talise Campbell Drame, Sista' Jewel, and numerous dance masters from West Africa such as Marie Basse-Wiles, and twins Assane and Ousseynou Koyate. Now, in the meantime, some smartie wanted to know how come I don't have my originals done yet... Well, OK. Y'all know I'm an RN, been one for a long time. That's what's occupied a huge part of my career for years: nursing school, school nursing, ICU, neurology, etc. 12-hour shifts, raising kids, and being married. Give a sista' a break; I was crazy (busy)... But I'll have it ready in a minute... My goodness... Stuff's changed for the easier and the better. And "everything is all good..."!Now about my sons, those two lovely little children in that "friends" picture below from back in the day, under the heading of "Malcolm"... They're all grown up now! My oldest son Kareem now lives in New York City and is an artist model while he trains in a variety of visual art methods under the tutelage of several prominent New York artists. He's had his work in several art shows. He and a couple of his friends also have an online radio station, WTNRRADIO.com! He plays funk, jazz, rap, reggae, electronica, and more on his show on Wednesday evenings from 10pm to 6am. On Mondays from 2pm to 6pm, you can hear "We Got the Jazz", which is devoted solely to jazz (and I mean some straight ahead jazz)! So tune in to KB and his friends on WTNRRADIO.com!
My youngest son Malcolm is also an artist. A lot of what he does now is stencil art, but he plans to try his hand at some other mediums as well. He's also had his art up in a couple of shows, and he designs CD covers, T-shirts, posters, etc. They're both very creative and get their artistic gifts from both sides. I used to do pencil, charcoal, and some watercolor; still do bead and fabric work. Lately, I've tried my hand at acrylics (I need some practice on that!) and will be breaking open the oils this summer!
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