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Thursday, April 21, 2016

PRINCE ROGERS NELSON - JUNE 7, 1958 - APRIL 21, 2016



NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS! MY HEART HAS RECEIVED NO LET UP SINCE THIS YEAR BEGAN. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE JAM SESSION IN THE HEREAFTER? WHITNEY, MICHAEL, LUTHER, DAVID, MAURICE, NATALIE, PRINCE'S PROTEGE VANITY...NOW PRINCE. YOU TAUGHT THESE PRESENT YOUNGSTERS HOW TO ROLL LITTLE RICHARD, JIMI HENDRIX AND JAMES BROWN INTO ONE COOL DUDE. REST IN POWER, MY MAN.YOU SERVED DAMNED WELL!

Throwback Bands with front men who went on to greater success than their groups – Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes & The Commodores

The Philly group, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes always had a smooth, silky way. With the addition of Teddy Pendergrass, its sound became distinctive. The group was one of several of the era whose members dressed in identical, finely-tailored suits and followed sharp choreography. Like all famous groups, in-fighting was no stranger either. Egos, tempers flared. T. P. was a standout. He was not a stay-in-the-background sort of singer. He had the chops and charisma to go solo. And he did. The group survived and Teddy flourished as a solo act. Since the parting of ways, Harold Melvin has passed but the group still performs in some incarnation today. Teddy suffered paralysis after a car crash along Philly’s West River Drive in the 80s. It, more or less, ended his rising career, but he still performed from time to time. After a life full of success, drama, pain, and redemption, Teddy died at the age of 59 in 2010. My absolutely favorite T. P. song, the one which makes me turn the radio up and screech along is a bouncy, breezy, up-tempo break up song, where he reads his ex like a book. Yes, I Don’t Love You Anymore is one of the greatest eff-you songs ever.

Some Harold Melvin music
 If You Don't Know Me by Now, The Love I Lost, Wake Up Everybody, I Miss You, Where Are All My Friends

If You Don't Know Me by Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GigA7EqnFe0




Some Teddy Pendergrass hits
 Turn Off the Lights, Close the Door, Life Is a Song Worth Singing, Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose

I Don't Love You Anymore -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWgxSjf9VgY


 





The Commodores, that Southern soul/funk group born of Tuskeegee college freshmen friends’ jam sessions was late 70s-early 80s gold. Skyler Jett, Walter Orange then Lionel Richie were all front men but Richie broke out and went on to greater fame. The two forces together ruled the music charts way into the 80s. Funk, ballads, dance tunes. You name it. They did it. Of course, egos were not left at the door and to this day, bad, though not as vocal, blood still exists. Oh well, I still love Brick House and Zoom.

Some Commodores hits
 Zoom; Sail On; Lady, You Bring Me Up; Too Hot Ta Trot



 

(Jheri Curl and a mullet?)
Some Lionel Richie hits
All Night Long; Stuck On You; Say You, Say Me; Dancing On the Ceiling; Hello; Running with the Night

All Night Long

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

EXCERPT - GAMBIT, bk 5, THE FELIG CHRONICLES



The following is a PG-rated, calm-before-the-storm snippet from my latest book in my FELIG CHRONICLES series. GAMBIT shows Nate and Tina trying to get a long needed rest after an intense year of fighting an alien invasion, and taking their relationship off the front page of every news paper and online blog. And trying to get Nate's mother in their corner. It also follows how their thinking is wishful at best as the Felig has other plans and Nate's mother is a tad unhappy that Tina is not...Jewish.



EXCERPT

“We’re taking the summer off! The show will not be on the road.”

Grumbles went through the clubhouse’s assembled.

Larry, a crew member, raised his hand and asked, “Does that mean we’ll be laid off?”

“No, Larry, it does not,” Nate replied. “I’ll need you guys. You’ll have jobs. I did the math. With Wiley Devilbiss’s generosity, I’ll still be able to cut checks. Everyone can take their scheduled vacations. The sole change is I’ll be around. That’s unusual for this time of year.”

“What about Avner?” Larry continued.

“He’s taking advantage of the break to visit his family. He’s earned the rest. He’ll speak to you before he leaves. Carlo will be in charge. Report to him starting the day after Father’s Day. Anything else?”

“Tina’s good?” Tim, a new member, asked. “We missed her.”

The question brought a smile to Nate’s lips. “She’s excellent as always. She’s been through a lot and is still getting her bearings and will come over to say hello soon. You may bump into her before then. I’ll tell her you asked about her. More questions?”

Tim piped up again. “Excuse me, Mister Lowe. I’m new and didn’t go on the rescue mission. Was it as hairy as I’ve heard others say?”

“Unnervingly so. Being in close quarters with Felig is always dangerous. I’ve never gotten accustomed to it. Nor would I want to. You may find out on your own one day. Stay alert.” Bright eyed and hopeful, Nate repeated, “Anything else?” He encountered silence. “All right! Look forward to a blow-out of a pool party at summer’s end. I’ll keep you updated. See you around.” He left a room that erupted into several conversations. Outside, he strode the path near the firing range and met Tina coming out of the building.

“Hey, twinkle toes! I hear a male revue somewhere needs a dancer.” Tina greeted him with a hug. Nate returned her action, which swiftly morphed into a pat down. “

Where’s the vest I told you to wear?” He frowned and added, “It’s for your safety.”

“Nate, I’m strapped. That’s enough. It’s too much for me to wear that thing. The vest is only good for body shots. What if some ass is aiming for my head? Fat lot of good a vest would do. When they make one I can wrap around my head, I’ll consider wearing both around here. The thing is uncomfortable, bulky, and flattens out the little I have.”

“I don’t get it. You’re more worried about looking like you’re boosting and thrusting than being safe?”

“It’s a woman thing. Besides, all the vests and guns couldn’t stop the Lord Advisor from busting his way into our house and taking what he wanted.”

“Wearing it will give you a fighting chance against the human assholes.”

“You say that, and all I can see is you in a pool of blood after Paul Justus had his way with you. You were coming out of the damned shower, and that prick knifed you! He was already in the house. You can’t wear a bullet-proof or knife-proof vest while bathing. Have faith. Live for now, like you always tell me.”

“My own freakin’ words coming back to haunt me,” Nate said.

“Boo!” Tina paused to run her thumb over the spot of hair under his lip. “I’m with your mom on this. Don’t get me wrong. It looks hot, but it also looks like you’re trying to grow something or forgot to shave something off.”

“Knocking my grooming skills?” Nate grinned. He took her by the hand and stood perusing the blooming shrubbery and budding trees. In the distance he spied some rabbits scurrying around low brush and what appeared to be a pair of deer roaming a far corner of his spread. He pulled Tina closer and mouthed Thank you into the lush void.

“Nate? Nate? Tina gazed up at him. She snapped fingers in front of his face. “You in there?”

Feeling overwhelmed, he re-focused on her and could only nod in the affirmative. Nate repositioned one of his arms around her shoulder, relieved her of her duffle and tossed it over one of his shoulders.

Tina slipped an arm around his hips, hooking a thumb in one of his jeans belt loops. Side by side, they meandered down a side path that led to the farmhouse back door. She stopped, pressed Nate to her fiercely and whispered “I’m really home, aren’t I?”

“You are. You are."

Tina gave him a contented smile. “You know, I feel summer is gonna be wonderful.”



http://www.amazon.com/Gambit-Felig-Chronicles-Book-5-ebook/dp/B01DQ8I6LC/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


Monday, April 4, 2016

Celebrating the 47th year anniversary of the establishment of Swing Phi Swing, a social fellowship and female counterpart to Groove Phi Groove

http://blackamericaweb.com/2016/04/04/little-known-black-history-fact/


Founded on the campus of Winston-Salem State University Apr. 4th, 1969, a year after the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. the group promotes academic excellence, community service, social change and community engagement. There are various chapters across the country.








Friday, April 1, 2016

FINALLY! GAMBIT, book 5 of THE FELIG CHRONICLES is here!

This installment of my Sci-fi series has taken FOREVER to get here. And its release date is appropriate. It's out today at my publisher, eXtasy Books and goes wide in a week at other e-retailers!! 
 http://www.extasybooks.com/gambit/?search=gambit&sub_category=1

I believe this is the best book in this saga so far. But that's just my hubris talking, and if I don't toot my own freakin' horn...Who will?

Yes, the quips and the barbs fly and that's just the aliens. Nate and Tina go at it too with a healthy dollop of Tina's mother, the deceased Miz Mattie chiming in. No, it's not all shits and giggles. Those Felig, who have regrouped under a new brand, are still the death of the party and still want Nate and Tina dead. Except now that desire extends to ALL who frequent the couple's stronghold. And now a certain status of human. Venture out at you own risk, people. Fold in too many people living at the compound with aliens who don't know when to quit and who have no notion of the concept, a rich kid rebel, a dethroned Felig leader who joins forces with Nate and Tina to bring down his former buddies, and two budding romances in the midst of chaos....Yeah, that's a day in the life of those living in a FELIG CHRONICLES era
 
When the stakes are high and lives are in the balance, it comes down to knowing when to risk it all to win the game.


 For our Felig-battling couple, Tina and Nate, the fight is far from over. After they learn that the Felig invaders, now under a new more ruthless leadership, have concocted yet another, harsher future for Earth, the pair and their crew jump into action. The lovers, together with their friend, the wealthy society rebel Wiley Devilbiss, and the disgraced, dethroned former Felig leader, Lord Advisor Leltin, will have to forge a peculiar alliance fueled by revenge and gamesmanship to outwit the indefatigable Felig.