Category Archives: Tribute

Day 91: Happy Birthday Michael Joseph Jackson

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Image courtesy of the Eurweb site.

Today would’ve been icon Michael Joseph Jackson’s 54th birthday.  It’s been over 3 years since his untimely passing.  His presence and influence are just as strong now as they were before.  Jackson was a supremely talented being that blazed trails and inspired generations of fans and stars alike.  With each release, he delved deeper and deeper into himself.  He bared his soul, opened his heart, and provided us with what many would consider the soundtrack of our lives.  His albums went beyond music and entertainment.  They were events—monumental, genre-bending, shape-shifting events.  I don’t know how many fits I had in the record store as a child because I wanted latest Michael Jackson album.  

Aside from Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, and Jody Watley, his music shaped much of my childhood and young adulthood and love of the arts.  Jackson’s (along with the aforementioned artists) videos changed the game, revolutionizing the visual presentation of musical artists (with everything from fashion, style, choreography, overall stage presence, special effects, and cinematography to name a few).  I, like many I’m sure, would break my neck to see Jackson’s music videos.  Glued to the screen, I was totally in awe of the sheer talent, artistry, and ingeniousness of it all.  Still to this day, I can’t help but be pulled in completely whenever one of his videos comes on TV or one of his songs is played on the radio.  The feeling, the soul, the spirit just goes right through you.  

Jackson gave so much of himself to us through his art and philanthropic efforts.  It’s unfortunate that he had to go out the way he did.  But he was called home.  He fulfilled his destiny.  But the legacy he left behind will be cherished for decades to come. 

So today, let’s celebrate the icon that Michael Joseph Jackson was/is.  The King lives on!!!

Also check out, Day 1: MJ’s This Is It and Day 58: In Remembrance – MJJ (Repost).

Day 78: Donna Summer – Tribute To A Bad Girl

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Image courtesy of last.fm site.

In May of 2012, the world lost one of its most gifted, innovative, and influential queens of music—Donna Summer.  Summer was a singer, songwriter, producer, artist, and actress who became the Queen of Disco, but made music that transcended genres and categorization.  She, along with her longtime producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, crafted a sound that highlighted some of Disco’s best musical moments—along with incorporating technology and musical instrumentation that fueled innovations within Pop, Rock, New Wave, R& B/Soul, Dance, House, Techno, and Electronica.  You’ll not only hear this on songs like “I Feel Love,” “Our Love,” “Sunset People,” “My Baby Understands,” and “Can’t Get To Sleep Tonight,” but you’ll also hear the influences on Madonna, Kylie, and Beyoncé to name a few.  Had it not been for the strides and achievements made by Summer, music wouldn’t be the same and many of today’s biggest divas might be irrelevant.

Summer was a Boston native, one of seven children, who grew up singing in the church.  She knew, after giving a performance in church one day, that she was blessed with an amazing gift and that it would bring lots of notoriety.  As the world would come to know, Summer’s voice was a force of nature.  She could growl with fervor, sensually coo, and wail like a first class diva.  Her colorful multi-octave voice was a soulful instrument that could make you feel any and every emotion.  Summer could move within the various registers of her voice with great ease and control.  She knew how to sell a song.  She knew when to exercise vocal restraint and just when to let loose.  And to top it off, Summer could sing any genre of music.  

By the time Summer was in her early twenties, she had several successful runs in a series of musicals in Europe such as Hair, Show Boat, and God Spell.  Summer released her first two singles, a German version of “Aquarius” from Hair and a cover of The Jaynetts’ “Sally Goes ‘Round the Roses” in 1968 and 1971 respectively.  Her debut album, Lady of the Night, was released on the Groovy Records label in 1974.  The title track and “The Hostage” were released as singles to great success in several European countries.  This was just the beginning for Summer though.  Summer would set the music industry, dance floor, and world ablaze with the first single from her sophomore effort.  This song was her seductive 17-minute opus “Love to Love You Baby” (1975).  Using her acting chops, she imagined herself as a character (à la Marilyn Monroe) in a state of ecstasy.  Summer’s orgasmic performance cemented her stardom.  “Love to Love You Baby,” was a No. 2 hit and would mark the beginning of a very successful period for Summer.  She would score a total 20 top 40 pop hits, of these 14 were top 10 hits—with four going to No. 1.  

Summer’s albums were often thematic.  On her Four Seasons of Love (1976) album, Summer sang of a love affair using the seasons of the year as her metaphors.  Her album I Remember Yesterday (1977) was an ode to music of yesteryear.  The album featured jazz from the late 30s/early 40s, R&B/Soul and Doo Wop of the 50s, Motown of the 60s, and Funk of the 70s, and Pop/Dance of the day and beyond (with the early electronica leanings of “I Feel Love”).  And her Once Upon A Time (1977) album, lauded as being one of her best (double) albums, is a fairytale–a Cinderella love story set to Disco and early electronica.

We tend to frown upon double albums today.  This sentiment is mostly because very few artists have been able to maintain the audience’s interest beyond the close of the first of the two albums.  Summer wasn’t one of those artists.  In fact, several of Summer’s crowning achievements have been double albums.  Aside from Once Upon a Time, other double albums included 1978’s Live & More and 1979’s Bad Girls.  With Bad Girls, Summer, Moroder, and Bellotte looked beyond the confines of Disco.  They incorporated electronic instrumentation and elements of rock, soul, country, and pop to push the musical envelope.  Bad Girls(then) proved to be her most versatile effort to date.  The album went on to sell over four millions copies worldwide, and spawning two Billboard No. 1 pop hits (“Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff”), one No. 2 hit (“Dim All The Lights”) and one top 40 hit (“Walk Away”) in the US.  Her record label decided to release a greatest hits compilation the same year, On The Radio: Greatest Hits Vol. I & II (another double album).  On The Radio was another smash, going double platinum in the US and spawning the No. 1 hit duet with Barbra Streisand “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” and the No. 5 hit “On The Radio.”  

As Donna Summer went into the 80s, she distanced herself from Disco and began exploring different musical territory with solid success.  1980’s The Wanderer had more of a New Wave/Rock appeal, while 1982’s Donna Summer(produced by Quincy Jones) showcased even more of Summer’s versatility with its Rock, R&B/Soul, Gospel, and Jazz leanings.  1983 saw Summer return to her pop/dance roots with She Works Hard For The Money.  The empowering title track went on to be one of Summer’s biggest hits, peaking at No. 3 on the pop charts. Summer would release three more albums before she had another top 10 hit single, “This Time I Know It’s For Real,” from Another Place And Time (1989).  The 90s saw the release of two studio albums—1991’s Mistaken Identity and 1996’s I’m A Rainbow (an album she recorded in 1981 that Geffen shelved), one holiday album—1994’s Christmas Spirit, and one live album—Live & More Encore (1999).  17 years after the release of her last official studio album Mistaken Identity, Summer released the triumphant Crayons (2008). Crayons spawned three No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart.  

Over the course of her 40+ year career, Summer earned a total of 22 No. 1 singles on the Disco and Dance Club Play Charts.  She was the first solo artist to score three consecutive No. 1 (platinum) double albums and the first female artist to have four consecutive No. 1 singles in the span of one year.  Summer was also the first female artist to have a single and album reach No. 1 simultaneously and the first female artist two have two singles in the Billboard Top 3 at the same time (both were feats she accomplished twice).  She received a total of five Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, and was the first black artist to be nominated for an MTV Music Video award.  Though she’s been nominated several times, she has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  This is a bit disappointing considering the many contributions she’s made to music (especially when you see the list of artists who were inducted before her).  Jon Landau, chairman of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, said it was regrettable that she was never inducted (New York Times). UPDATE 12/14/12: Donna Summer will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 (2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees).

As influential as Donna Summer was, it still doesn’t seem like she’s received her just due (even after death).  The coverage she received in Black press has been paltry at best.  This is yet another disappointment because Donna Summer was one of our Queens of music and entertainment.  Being one of the few Black artists to crossover without major support from the Black community, it shouldn’t be a question about identity.  For some, it may be a matter of their ability or inability to identify with Summer.  She was not your typical Black diva and did not limit herself to only singing R&B music.  However, she could sing R&B and any other genre of music soulfully and masterfully.  Summer knew who and what she was and never forgot where she came from. 

Summer faced many obstacles (depression, addiction, and the trials and tribulations of the music industry machine to name a few), but she overcame them.  She counted on her faith, stayed true to herself, and never took her gifts for granted.  Summer brought so many people together with her music—people of different backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, class, and sexual orientation.  She left an indelible mark on history, the music industry, and so many of her fans lives.  And this is why Summer should be celebrated.  She was an iconic, legendary entertainer.  And let’s not forget—she was also the original Bad Girl!




Day 74: For Amy (My Tribute to Amy Winehouse)

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Image courtesy of The Vigilant Citizen site.

Divided soul,
An artist that many didn’t know or understand completely well.
Timeless voice,
A style and sound that was every bit throwback as it was contemporary.
Her music spoke with a raw, brutal honesty seldom seen in mainstream (as of late).
The draw, the connection was instant.
The impact indelible —
Soul and emotion lacking pretense,
And an aura that was intriguing and intense.
Didn’t think they made singers like this anymore —
      But they still do.

But you’re gone now.
Another talented soul gone before the world knew or appreciated just how talented you      

     were.
Family, friends, and fans watched the meteoric rise,
And the seemingly meteoric descent.
We watched as the media reported
And blasted your issues every chance they got —
Dragging you down further and further into the muck.
Yours was an experience many did not and may never comprehend.
You were taken for granted,
      disrespected.
While the coverage may come with the territory because of the industry,
      The lack of compassion was inexcusable.
We took you for granted,
And in your untimely demise the coverage has changed.
You’re being celebrated for your artistry,
For ushering in the retro-soul era,
For using music as a canvas you painted openly and frankly with your life.
You didn’t allow your art to be subjected to the machine or the man.
You did it authentically.

It’s sad that you’ve gone on.
It’s a shame the world won’t get the opportunity to see just how truly gifted you were —
To lay to rest the rhetoric that the magic was gone.
      It never left.
And you knew that.
Your true supporters knew that.
And we were holding our breath —
Just to see how you’d blow our minds the next time.
But the Creator had different plans.

In your passing, there’s a void that will never be filled.
But your light will always shine —
In the hearts, minds, and souls of those who loved, appreciated, respected, and were 

     inspired by you.
We are thankful we had you for the time we did.

Let us rejoice in the extraordinary iconoclast that was/is AmyWinehouse!

~ BuddahDesmond

Day 71: Nothin’ But Love for Whitney Houston

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Image courtesy of the Vibe Vixen site.
There isn’t a day that goes by when Whitney Houston does not pop into my mind.  Her music plays in my head daily.  The impact of her passing hit me greater than I ever would’ve expected.  But how could it not?  No, we weren’t related.  She wasn’t a close friend or even an acquaintance of mine.  However, there was a familiarity about her spirit and relatability to her music that made me connect with her instantly. I grew up listening to and loving Whitney Houston.  Since the age of 4, I was hooked.  A singer and music lover even then, she influenced me in ways I wouldn’t come to understand, respect, and truly appreciate until much later.  
Houston was a goddess.  Her captivating, larger-than-life voice—pitch perfect, smooth, pure, passionate, and powerful—was the voice of a generation.  I, probably like others, couldn’t get enough.  While studio versions of her songs were pristine, the live versions tended to be paramount.  Practically overnight, she became an awe-inspiring, unstoppable force within the industry.  She broke down barriers and broke records.  She gave hope to so many that they too could achieve their dreams—not only within the entertainment industry but within any industry.  When Houston died, it became all too clear that an era had ended.  While her music and spirit remain with all of us, physically we will never be graced with her presence again.
I’ll never forget the day the news hit.  My spouse and I had just gotten back in the house from hanging out with some friends.  We were planning to go out with another friend later that evening for dinner.  Just before we left the house, we started receiving text messages and phone calls that Whitney Houston has passed.  I didn’t believe it.  I refused to believe it.  So I turned on CNN.  Within moments the news was confirmed.  I broke down.  Almost couldn’t contain myself.  I’m glad my spouse was there to console me.  It truly felt like a portion of my childhood and young adulthood had died with her.  After Etta James’ and Don Cornelius’ passing just weeks prior, Houston’s death seemed to hit home in a very extreme way. 
While some could say that Houston’s death was inevitable given her history of drug use, I don’t think anyone can say that they expected her to go so soon.  I have no intentions of pontificating on her drug use, as I believe the focus on this, her marriage to Bobby Brown, and the latter years of her life have been used to paint a very negative picture of her.  She was human.  She made mistakes, had issues, and went through trials and tribulations just like all of us.  Unless we lived within her, it will be difficult for us to truly know, understand, or be empathetic to what she went through, what she had to sacrifice, and why she did the things she did.  But it’s clear—she did what divine power set out for her to do, and she did it well.  She believed in herself and her talent.  She gave everything her all (and then some).  She relied on her faith in god and the love of her family and friends throughout her life.   And she never forgot where she came from. 
When remembering Whitney, it’s important that we do not let the negative portrayals of her life cloud the beauty of what she gave to the world.  Her legacy is what should be the focal point.  She inspired an entire generation of singers/entertainers and will inspire several generations more to come.  Had it not been for Houston’s many accomplishments, it’s quite possible that the careers of many of today’s beloved stars would be in a completely different place.  She brought joy and light into so many people’s lives.  Let’s celebrate her for that.  I’ve got nothing but love for Whitney Houston.  And I’m sure many of you do, too.   

Day 67 – Remembering Luther Vandross

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As of this month, it’s been 7 years since Luther Vandross’ death.  And I think I can speak for many of his beloved fans (myself included) by saying that we still miss him dearly.  His catalog of music is rich, vast, and seemingly more relevant now than ever.  A true balladeer, Vandross sung about love and relationships with such passion, tenderness, and intensity.  His music touched a cord with many, because there was a soulful sensitivity and vulnerability within his voice that made him immediately relatable.  Like Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross was in a class all by himself.  There never will be another like him.  We will forever sing his praises.

Below, I’ve include a poem featured in my book Prevail written in tribute entitled, “Luther is Love.”

Luther Is Love

Luther—
Or Loofah, as some of us called you—
Still in denial about your passing on,
Doesn’t seem real.
Gone too soon,
But never, ever forgotten.

Luther—
The silky smooth voice,
Flawless,
Full of passion and emotion,
Consummate artistry and professionalism.
A rare commodity,
Especially in the world of contemporary music.
You will remain in a class all your own!

Luther—
Exemplifying class and grace on and off the record.
Media seems to want to “out” you now,
But whatever your sexual orientation, it wasn’t and isn’t an issue.
Media also seems to want to make a big deal about your weight,
But that was just as insignificant with us as well.
It’s the contributions you made that matter;
It’s who you were as a person that matters.

Luther—
You sang in a way that made us feel like you were singing only to us,
Expressing all that we were feeling.
It was a musical connection that became deeply personal and spiritual.
You’ve touched us in so many ways.
For you, we are forever grateful.

Luther—
You spoke of love in all of its splendor.
You are the balladeer of love,
One of the greats.
Your music and spirit will continue to move us eternally.
You will always be loved,
For you are love.

Luther is love!

© 2012 BuddahDesmond

Day 16: Round Midnight: A Tribute to Great-Grandpa

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On the afternoon of March 14th, my great-grandfather died.  He was 95 years old.  He’d been sick for the last several months.  He was semi-comatose during the last several weeks of his life.  But up until that time – he was still hanging, still going strong.  He lived a long happy life.  Not many people live that long.  And it’s truly a remarkable thing.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather.  He was a supporter, inspiration, mentor, and role model.  He was a military veteran who took pride in serving his country and worked in the federal government for 33 years.  He was also a self-taught jazz musician who didn’t read music.  He had several instrumental and vocal bands that toured the East coast.  Music was his passion.  Though he didn’t get to completely follow his passion due to his love and commitment to his family, his passion for music and his talent never ceased.  He is one of the reasons why my love for music (jazz in particular) and singing is so strong.  He gave me a deeper appreciation for jazz and musicianship.  So this one’s for Jazzman Gus, one of many names he was affectionately called.  Here’s a classic jazz tune, “Round Midnight” written by the phenomenal pianist/composer Thelonious Monk and performed by Sassy/The Divine One, Sarah Vaughan.

R.I.P. E. Lynn Harris

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I was stunned when I heard that E. Lynn Harris died. I thought it was just another hoax. But sadly, his passing was in fact true. Harris was a tremendous talent. He was the voice of a community that had often been silenced, nonexistent, or unacknowledged in the literary world. Harris’ work inspired dialogue, and opened minds and hearts. His contributions helped pave the way for many of today’s black gay contemporary writers. He was a treasure and will forever be missed.

Thank you, E. Lynn Harris, for inspiring us. Thank you for sharing our stories. Thank you for helping me, and I’m sure many others, who–at a young age–was struggling with my sexuality but learned to accept and embrace it. 

E. Lynn Harris, rest in peace. We love you!

~ BuddahDesmond

The P/H Factor – Phyllis Hyman: Tribute to a Sophisticated Lady

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Gonna make changes
Gonna make minds aware
Moving together
Willing to share
There’s power in the masses
Collectively we can win

~ Phyllis Hyman, “Gonna Make Changes”, Somewhere In My Lifetime, 1978
I couldn’t let this week end without paying tribute to one of my all-time favorite vocalists, the late, great Phyllis Hyman (July 6, 1949 – June 30, 1995). The music industry hasn’t been the same since her untimely passing. If you are unfamiliar with her music – do yourself a favor and please check it out. It’s a rarity even to this day that someone comes along as gifted and talented as Hyman was. The singer, songwriter, model, actress and businesswoman would’ve turned 59 this year.

The P/H Factor

The angel with the resonant, rich, beautiful voice;
The Goddess of Love,
Commanding the stage like a queen;
Regal, striking, almost intimidating,
Queen of the blues, pop, soul, jazz, and gospel.
A true Sophisticated Lady,
In a class of her own,
In fact, ahead of her time;
Critically acclaimed yet under-recognized,
A mind-blowing woman with many talents
Who never achieved the stardom she truly deserved.
Yet, she is a legend.

Although you’re no longer with us in the physical sense,
Your spirit lives on in your music.
Each time one of your songs plays, you are born again.
We relive the joy and wonder in our memories of you.
You touched us deeply
With your songs of love—
About its many facets, the ups and downs, the joys and the pain.
You took us there;
We were with you each step of the way.
With each note on the musical scale
You left us enraptured,
Capturing us in your mesmerizing essence.
You spoke to us and we could definitely relate.
That’s why we will never forget you
And the many gifts you gave to the world.

Phyllis Hyman—the woman, the actress, the fashion model, the singer, the songwriter, and the performer:
You will always remain special,
You will always have a place in our hearts,
And a significant place in history.
One of the world’s most beautiful women, with one of the greatest vocal instruments,
You are truly appreciated.
You will forever go on.

Phyllis, you were and still are loved.

Phyllis Hyman’s music at Amazon

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

© 2012 BuddahDesmond

—————-

Now playing: Phyllis Hyman – Complete Me via FoxyTunes

Buddah’s Thoughts

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I had some things on my mind that I wanted to share. Some of which are related to the events–political, personal and otherwise–of the last few weeks.

1) I’m sure several millions of people are happy that the Democrats are in control of both chambers of Congress. Considering the events of the last four years, it was a sweet victory that many were predicting and anticipating weeks/months before the elections. The people finally spoke. They were sick of all the lying, cut-and-run shenanigans, and hypocritical philandering. The people finally woke up. And I guess you could say the Democrats finally woke up too. After all, it only took four years for the Democrats to get some balls and stand up for what they believe in. And now that the Democrats have control of Congress, the crème de la crème here is whether they will actually use their power to make a difference. Several reports have been written (see USA Today for 11/10/06) about how both parties are committed to working together to make a difference. Call me a cynic or pessimist, but I find it hard to swallow this premature joining of forces. How can both parties collectively join forces when they can barely do it independently? Maybe I’m being too hard on our representatives. But as citizens it is our job to be hard on our elected officials. Especially when they are slipplin’ and trippin’. Let there be any scandals in the Democratic Party and we’ll probably be in the same place all over again. I’m not going to jump on this bandwagon anytime soon. I’ll believe the rhetoric when I see some results. All I can say is the next two years should be quite interesting.

2) And in lieu of the Democrats recent victory, I’m convinced Donald Rumsfeld was fired. They can say whatever they wish when they address the public during press conferences, but we all know the real deal. Again, that idiot did not resign he was FIRED!!!

3) There really is no need to start worrying about who’s going to run for President in 2008. We need to focus on the here and now. Besides, whoever inherits the mess that the Bush administration has left behind will have their work cut out for them. I’ll be praying for them.

4) I was so happy to see the recent pictures of Whitney Houston at the 17th Carousel of Hope Ball. She looks amazing. I really hope (as I’m sure many others do) that she pulls through this time. Getting away from Bobby may be just what she needs to do it. And good news for all Whitney Houston fans is she’s already in the studio working on new music. And if all goes well, it will be another great triumph in her legendary career and yet another of the music industry’s greatest comebacks.

5) I don’t know if it’s just me or not but didn’t you find many of the high profile, highly anticipated releases of the year been downright mediocre (at best)? Save for a few, I have not been impressed by much of the much released this year. What happened to R&B/Soul music this year? Where is Maxwell? Where is Musiq? Where is Erykah Badu? Where is Lauryn Hill? Has anyone seen D’Angelo? A few years ago, it seemed like everytime you turned around a new release by a major or up-and-coming artist was being released. Or maybe the industry is saving all the good stuff for the holiday shopping season.

6) Justin Timberlake should be very thankful and grateful to Timbaland for lending his creative genius to his latest release LoveSexy/FutureSounds. Cause he may not have had two number one hit songs (“SexyBack” and “My Love” feat. T.I.) out the box otherwise. And while we’re on the topic of JT…. It has to be said – Justin Timberlake did not bring sexy back. It never left!!!

7) And where are all of the male soul singers? Not these mediocre, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson wannabes that get played every five minutes—but the real soul singers. There’s Will Downing, Rahsaan Patterson, Urban Mystic, Jaheim, Kenny Lattimore, Gerald LeVert (RIP), and where do you go from there…. Many of the aforementioned artists don’t get airplay on top 40 or major urban stations. I guess there’s no interest in people with real talent and who make real music in the mainstream anymore.

8) Why do long distance relationships have to be so hard? I’ve been in a relationship for almost a year now (it’ll be a year in December). Of the time that we’ve been dating, we’ve been together physically in the same state for only four months. We are 5 time zones and several thousand miles apart. It’s really starting to get on my nerves. I can’t stand it! If I was thinking with my other head I could’ve said fuck it a while back and played the fields. But I don’t get down like that. And besides, I’m not trying to mess up a good thing. If anything, our time apart has helped the situation. It’s made things stronger. And our time of being apart is coming to close next month, right around our anniversary, and this time it will be for good. Thankfully, cause I don’t either of us would be able to stand being away from each other that much longer.

9) After getting my first big job after graduation and moving into my own place I’ve learned that being on your own is not easy. I’m beginning to see why so many people stay with their parents, live with or depend upon others for so long. And I now know what my mother meant when she would say she was broke and I would ask for something and she’d say we didn’t have any money for that…. She would tell me that what I was asking for was a want and not a need. If it didn’t have anything to do with keeping a roof over our head, food in our stomachs, and clothes on our backs, it wasn’t a priority. I don’t know that I understood it completely when I was little but I definitely understand it now. Budget, budget, budget!!!

10) After I finish traveling for work, I’ve convinced myself that I need to join a local gym and get back on my workout regimen. I’ve been off of it a few months and it is starting to show. And I’m not liking it one bit. I may go all out this time and get a trainer. I have some goals and I know what it is that I have to do but I do need some motivation. Eventually I’d like to have a home gym. I’ve got some space so it could work.

11) And sadly…. Rest in peace to two beloved people that we lost this week – Ed Bradley, a pioneer for Blacks in journalism and Gerald LeVert, one of the greatest soul singers/performers of his generation. They will truly be missed.