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Monday, February 25, 2013

Hitsville, U.S.A. - Motown Studio A / Control Room

Motown - Studio A / Control Room- This is the studio where almost every Motown recording you have ever heard was recorded - from the early 1960's to the early 1970's. Also known as "The Snakepit" - What could be more exciting for a Motown lover than standing on the exact spot where the Supremes' first issued the command to “Stop in the Name of Love” ... Original instruments and equipment, dating from 1959 through 1972, stand ready for the legendary producers, singers and musicians to return for the next recording session. - Imagine Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Smokey Robinson or Lamont Dozier at the helm of the recording console in Hitsville U.S.A.’s Control Room as the Temptations, Miracles or Marvelettes, backed up by the Funk Brothers, tuned up for another jammin’ session in Studio A. -The recording equipment displayed in the Control Room dates back to the early 1960s. Many of Motown’s earliest hits—”Shop Around,” “Please, Mr. Postman,” and “Do You Love Me? (Now that I Can Dance)”—were recorded using this console. Although the company’s headquarters moved to downtown Detroit in 1968, Studio A continued to be used as Motown’s principal recording venue until 1972.
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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Black History Moment: Whitney Moore Young Jr.


Whitney Moore Young Jr. (July 31, 1921 – March 11, 1971) was an American civil rights leader.
He spent most of his career working to end employment discrimination in the United States and turning the National Urban League from a relatively passive civil rights organization into one that aggressively fought for equitable access to socioeconomic opportunity for the historically disenfranchised.  Young was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, on July 31, 1921 to educated parents. His father was the president of the Lincoln Institute, which was where Whitney was raised and educated. Whitney's mother, Laura Young, was the first female postmistress in Kentucky, the first African-American postmistress in Kentucky, and the second in the United States. Young earned a bachelor of science degree from Kentucky State University, a historically black institution. At Kentucky State, Young became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. During World War II, Young was trained in electrical engineering at MIT. He was then
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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Turn up your Love frequency level

What frequency level are you allowing for your life? When people come into contact with you, what vibes are they receiving? Are you sending out signals of love or fear?

Today is a good day to turn up the vibration levels of love and goodwill in your space.  Allow people to get close to you, to know what you bring to the universe....to see into some of the places of your soul.  Be careful of where those invitations float, because everyone doesn't necessarily deserve a front row seat in your life, but each person could probably use a smile while on the journey.

Love is what everyone seeks.  They might not be holding a sign, wearing the t-shirt or screaming it from the top of their lungs, however, their actions will oftentimes dictate a lack of what is needed by their dispositions or displayed consequences of some of their fearful choices.

Allow your spirit to reach out and Love randomly today.  Not just today, but since today is a 'day of Love' as known in the commercial realm, let's kick it up a notch and turn the frequency level up for those who need to know that they are special and that they are indeed "Loved" - Happy Valentine's Day!
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Monday, February 11, 2013

Remembering Whitney Houston


Remembering Whitney Houston today on the one year anniversary of her eternal rest. Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time. Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 200 million records worldwide. She released six studio albums, one holiday album and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know" influenced several African American female artists to follow in her footsteps.....Never to be forgotten.

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This Day in History: Nelson Mandela released from prison


 This day in History (23 yrs. ago): Nelson Mandela, leader of the movement to end South African apartheid, is released, after being imprisoned for 27 years, on February 11, 1990.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a South African anti-apartheid activist, revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first to be elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. In 1944, Mandela, a lawyer, joined the African National Congress (ANC), the oldest black political organization in South Africa, where he became a leader of Johannesburg's youth wing of the ANC. In 1952, he became deputy national president of the ANC, advocating nonviolent resistance to apartheid--South Africa's institutionalized system of white supremacy and racial segregation. However, after the massacre of peaceful black demonstrators at Sharpeville in 1960, Nelson helped organize a paramilitary branch of the ANC to engage in guerrilla warfare against the white minority government.....
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Thursday, February 7, 2013

Black History Moment: Janet Collins, prima ballerina


Photo: Black History Moment: Meet Janet Collins, prima ballerina and the first African-American artist to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. (Marian Anderson performed in 1955, whereas, Ms. Collins performed in 1951) - She was one of the few classically trained Black dancers of her generation. In 1932, at age 15, she auditioned with success for the prestigious Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, but because she was required to paint her face and skin white in order to be able to perform, she chose not to join the company. Janet Collins (March 7, 1917 in New Orleans, Louisiana – May 28, 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas) was a ballet dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She performed on Broadway, in films, and appeared frequently on television. After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 4, Collins, received her first dance training at a Catholic community center. Collins studied primarily with Carmelita Maracci, Lester Horton, and Adolph Bolm, who were a few ballet teachers who accepted black students. Janet Collins was one of the few classically trained Black dancers of her generation. In 1951 she won the Donaldson Award for best dancer on Broadway for her work in Cole Porter's Out of This World. She also performed in Aida, Carmen, and was the first Black ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera. She could not tour in parts of the Deep South due to her race. In later life she taught dance. Janet Collins was among the pioneers of black ballet dancing and paved the way for others to follow. (Arthur Mitchell, for example, joined the New York City Ballet in the year Collins retired.) In 1932, aged 15, she auditioned with success, for the prestigious Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, but as she was required to paint her face and skin white in order to be able to perform she did not join the company. In 1948, she moved to New York and got the chance to dance her own choreography on a shared program at the 92nd Street YMHA. Janet Collins struggled time and again against racism, which did not spare the world of professional ballet dancing. Not many African-American dancers and performers achieved the successful career she was able to attain. In 1951, Janet Collins became the first African American to be hired full-time by the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Marian Anderson, the first to sing there, did not perform until 1955. Janet Collins' dance reputation today resides primarily in her role in breaking the color barrier; the constraints on Black classical dancers were too strong for her to have a vibrant performing career. However, her original choreography, which she performed in solo tours, was clearly of note, although few records survive. In her late forties she retired, turning to religion and finding comfort as an oblate in the Benedictine order. She was also an accomplished painter. Janet Collins died in 2003 at the age of 86, in Fort Worth, Texas. In recognition of her great work and dedication, her renowned cousin Carmen De Lavallade established the Janet Collins Fellowship which would honor aspiring talented ballet dancers.Photo: Black History Moment: Meet Janet Collins, prima ballerina and the first African-American artist to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. (Marian Anderson performed in 1955, whereas, Ms. Collins performed in 1951) - She was one of the few classically trained Black dancers of her generation. In 1932, at age 15, she auditioned with success for the prestigious Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, but because she was required to paint her face and skin white in order to be able to perform, she chose not to join the company. Janet Collins (March 7, 1917 in New Orleans, Louisiana – May 28, 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas) was a ballet dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She performed on Broadway, in films, and appeared frequently on television. After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 4, Collins, received her first dance training at a Catholic community center. Collins studied primarily with Carmelita Maracci, Lester Horton, and Adolph Bolm, who were a few ballet teachers who accepted black students. Janet Collins was one of the few classically trained Black dancers of her generation. In 1951 she won the Donaldson Award for best dancer on Broadway for her work in Cole Porter's Out of This World. She also performed in Aida, Carmen, and was the first Black ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera. She could not tour in parts of the Deep South due to her race. In later life she taught dance. Janet Collins was among the pioneers of black ballet dancing and paved the way for others to follow. (Arthur Mitchell, for example, joined the New York City Ballet in the year Collins retired.) In 1932, aged 15, she auditioned with success, for the prestigious Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, but as she was required to paint her face and skin white in order to be able to perform she did not join the company. In 1948, she moved to New York and got the chance to dance her own choreography on a shared program at the 92nd Street YMHA. Janet Collins struggled time and again against racism, which did not spare the world of professional ballet dancing. Not many African-American dancers and performers achieved the successful career she was able to attain. In 1951, Janet Collins became the first African American to be hired full-time by the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Marian Anderson, the first to sing there, did not perform until 1955. Janet Collins' dance reputation today resides primarily in her role in breaking the color barrier; the constraints on Black classical dancers were too strong for her to have a vibrant performing career. However, her original choreography, which she performed in solo tours, was clearly of note, although few records survive. In her late forties she retired, turning to religion and finding comfort as an oblate in the Benedictine order. She was also an accomplished painter. Janet Collins died in 2003 at the age of 86, in Fort Worth, Texas. In recognition of her great work and dedication, her renowned cousin Carmen De Lavallade established the Janet Collins Fellowship which would honor aspiring talented ballet dancers.
Black History Moment: Meet Janet Collins, prima ballerina and the first African-American artist to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. (Marian Anderson performed in 1955, whereas, Ms. Collins performed in 1951) - She was one of the few classically trained Black dancers of her generation. In 1932, at age 15, she auditioned with success for the prestigious Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, but because she was required to paint her face and skin white in order to be able to perform, she chose not join the company.
Janet Collins (March 7, 1917 in New Orleans, Louisiana – May 28, 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas) was a ballet dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She performed on Broadway, in films, and appeared frequently on television.

After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 4, Collins, received her first dance training at a Catholic community center. Collins studied primarily with.....
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Monday, February 4, 2013

Happy Birthday Rosa Parks: Mother of the "Freedom Movement"



Today would have been Rosa Parks’ 100th birthday. On Dec. 1, 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of resistance led to a 13-month boycott of the Montgomery bus system that would help spark the civil rights movement. May we never diminish her legacy by recalling only a single day, but cherish her courage and dedication and recall her lifelong history of resistance and get to know who Rosa Parks truly was....One of the greatest Americans of the 20th century!  Parks' act of defiance and the Montgomery Bus Boycott became important symbols of the modern Civil Rights Movement. She became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation. She organized and collaborated with civil rights leaders, including Edgar Nixon, president of the local chapter of the NAACP; and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a new minister in town who gained national prominence in the civil rights movement.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks
Biography: http://www.biography.com/people/rosa-parks-9433715?page=2
Remembering Rosa Parks on her 100th Birthday: http://www.biography.com/bio-now/remembering-rosa-parks-on-her-100th-birthday-21114273
Photo: Today would have been Rosa Parks’ 100th birthday. On Dec. 1, 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of resistance led to a 13-month boycott of the Montgomery bus system that would help spark the civil rights movement. May we never diminish her legacy by recalling only a single day, but cherish her courage and dedication and recall her lifelong history of resistance and get to know who Rosa Parks truly was....One of the greatest Americans of the 20th century! <3
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Sunday, February 3, 2013

Ravens Win Super Bowl XLVII, Defeating 49ers 34-31 In Superdome Thriller

Photo: Congratulations Baltimore Ravens ~ Ravens Win Super Bowl XLVII, Defeating 49ers 34-31 In Superdome Thriller!!!- Alright Baltimore.....time to plan that parade/handle that trophy with care....Way to go out Ray Lewis! <3

Neither the electric offense of the San Francisco 49ers or the bizarre power outage at the Superdome could deny the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.
Despite nearly squandering a 28-6 lead in the second half, John Harbaugh's Ravens held on for a thrilling 34-31 win.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw three touchdowns, without once being intercepted, as he racked up 287 passing yards. Called "dull" by his own father during the buildup to the game, Flacco completed a masterful postseason by winning the championship and being named Super Bowl MVP.  - continue reading rticle - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/03/ravens-win-super-bowl-xlvii-49ers_n_2613058.html
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