Dru Hill

In this weeks news....K. Michelle keeps the buzz surrounding her forthcoming debut album going by releasing a 5-tracks sampler. The set includes the touching low self-esteem record “I Don’t Like Me,” the single mother anthem "Can't Raise A Man," and "Damn," a record about the sorrows of love. The sampler sees K. Michelle swimming in the soul of R&B as she fuses her experiences with heartfelt records. Look out for Rebellious Soul on August 13. (singersroom)

First there was Stevie Wonder, then there was Mary Mary, now Eddie Levert has joined the "boycott Florida" bandwagon in the wake of the Stand Your Ground law, a mandate on the books which helped the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin.  “I, Eddie Levert will not play Florida until they change their gun laws,” Levert revealed on Twitter. “I’m going to join Mr. Stevie Wonder in his boycott of Florida.”The number of performers who refuse to perform in the Sunshine State is growing. Do you think it will it be effective in changing the lawbooks? (singersroom)

Raheem DeVaughn has released a song called ‘Trigga Man’ featuring Styles P in honor of the slain Trayvon Martin. The song finds DeVaughn singing from the perspective of Martin on the fateful night he met his killer. Singing as Trayvon DeVaughn speaks directly to George Zimmerman, or as he calls him, “Trigga Man.” The song is about the hopes and aspirations a teenage boy had before losing his life prematurely. Styles P tackles systemic racism from a broader picture in his verse. The song ends with a news clip detailing the story behind the shooting death of seventeen-year old Jordan Davis, who was shot and killed by Michael Dunn in Jacksonville a few months ago despite being unarmed. The message is simple yet powerful: the shooting death of Trayvon Martin was not an isolated incident and should not be treated as such. Listen to the song below. (boombox)

This weeks Playlist, Sunday 28th July 2013



Hour One
Brandy - Missing You
Al Green - God Blessed Our Love
Gerald Albright - Burmuda Nights (inst)
Stevie Wonder - Ngiculela - es una Historia
Chookie Booker - Games
Maysa [Leak] - Sophisticated Lover
Woody Cunningham - Intermate Connection
Anthony David - Body Language
Joe Leavey feat: Julie Morris - We Go Up
Howard Johnson - I'm Taking A Chance
Big Robb - Cacaroni And Cheese Song
Dylan Janet Collins - Could It Be

Hour Two
'Three-Inna-Row:' Dru Hill
1 She Said
2 Whatever You Want
3 Old Love

Candy Bowman - Since I Found You
Garfield Flemming - Don't Send Me Away
Charme - Georgy Porgy
Case & Joe - Faded Pictures
Sianai - Get Up On The Floor
Lot - Ain't Got Time
Alex Latimore - Rising To The Top
Sylvia Tella - Special Way
Sister Sledge - Thinking Of You (DMC mix)

Dru Hill Biography:

Dru Hill is an American singing group, most popular during the late 1990s, whose repertoire included R&B, soul, and gospel music. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, and active since 1992, Dru Hill recorded seven Top 40 hits, and is best known for the R&B #1 hits "In My Bed", "Never Make a Promise", and "How Deep Is Your Love". Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin was the group's founder; his bandmates included lead singer Mark "Sisqó" Andrews, Larry "Jazz" Anthony, and James "Woody Rock" Green. Signing to Island Records through Haqq Islam's University Records imprint, the group released two successful albums, Dru Hill and Enter the Dru, before separating for a period from late 1999 to 2002, during which time Sisqó and Woody released solo albums. While Woody's Soul Music LP was a moderate success in the gospel music industry, Sisqó's debut album, Unleash the Dragon, and its hit single, "Thong Song", were major pop successes, and established Sisqó as a household name outside of Dru Hill. His second album, Return of Dragon, wasn't much of a success. He is currently working on his third album, Last Dragon. In 2002, by then part of the Def Soul record label, the group reunited and added fifth member Rufus "Scola" Waller to the lineup for their third album, Dru World Order. The album was a huge disappointment which forced the group to be released from Def Jam and go on a second hiatus. In 2010, the group signed to Kedar Entertainment Group and released their fourth album, InDRUpendence Day, with new member Tao, after Woody left for the second time.(wiki)

Floetry

 

Dionne Warwick Joins Boycott of States w/ Stand Your Ground Laws

Earlier this week we reported that Stevie Wonder had decided to boycott Florida and other states that have “Stand Your Ground” laws on the books.
Now, Dionne Warwick has joined Stevie. Warwick’s statement of support reads in part:

i am certain most if not all of you have been bombarded with CNN and the news of the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman trial and i must say i was stunned at the verdict of NOT GUILTY……..it took a while for this to settle in my brain since Zimmerman admitted killing this youngster………my very dear friend Stevie Wonder has decided to keep his incredible talent from those states that carry the “Stand Your Ground” law here in the United States (30) of them and i am going to join him as i feel as seriously concerned as he does that we have to start caring more about each other and conversing with regard to the values we ALL should share with regards to our lives and the well being of each other………….it’s really a shame that we feel the need to have to carry a weapon to feel safe around each other………….i will miss those states that have supported my career for these past 50 years but i feel absolutely compelled to show solidarity with Stevie showing him he is not alone in feeling the way he does.

Playwright Invites All to Express Their Feelings About Trayvon Martin and Emmett Till

-- Janet Langhart Cohen Would Like You to Join Her to Express Your Reflections On Racism To Honor Trayvon Martin and Emmett Till, Two Teenage Boys Who Were Taken Too Soon -- .
 

[Click To Enlarge]

Washington, DC (July 17, 2013) -- At no time has the memory of Emmett Till been so relevant, on the heels of the Trayvon Martin murder trial. Emmett Till, a 14 year old Black boy, was brutally murdered in Money, Mississippi in 1955 for whistling at a white woman. His murder galvanized the modern Civil Rights movement. Had he lived, Emmett Till would be 72 on July 25.

Janet Langhart Cohen, playwright of "Anne and Emmett," an imaginary conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till, would like people to join her in remembering them both by sharing a message of reflection on their deaths, the state of Civil Rights and how the movement has changed or progressed in the last 50 years. Janet's message is "Emmett Till is not forgotten; the struggle continues with memories of Trayvon Martin." "Little has changed in over half a century," said Cohen, "Sadly, many people cannot see beyond the color of a person's skin and judgment is passed accordingly. All we can hope for is peaceful and galvanizing change using words instead of hands or weapons. I hope that the Martin case is a lesson, not a reason for people to be destructive or take up arms." (blacknews.com)

The Late Angel A

An Angel A Tribute Dance page has been launched on PCRL's web site, thanks to Mr Merry. It features Rankin' Bev, Lady Destiny (Female Connection), Daddy Guanty, Crazy G (Chic Squad), Daddy GT & Mikel Brown (Wassifa Sound) & Mr Merry himself (Luv Injection) Listen to four hours of musical tributes to the life of the late Angela Lewin, replayed nearly ten years after her parting.  www.pcrlfm.co.uk

 
Playlist for Sunday 21st July 2013



Hour One

'Marley done in  Bossa'

Beyonce & R.Kelly - Have Your Way
Kenny G - If I Ain't Got You
Rhythm - Skippin
Aretha Franklin - If She Don't want Your Lovin'
R.Kelly - Your Body's Callin'
Joe - Baby
Jaheim - Looking For Love
Cee-Lo Green - My Kinda People (album vers)
Angie Stone - No More Rain (In This Cloud)
Justin Timerlake - That Girl
Randy Crawford - Endlessly
Amazonics - Redemption Song
Ituana - Waiting In Vain

Hour Two
Thee-Inna-Row: Floetry
1 Hello 2 Coser 3 Butterflies (remix)

The Chil-Lites - Heavenly Body
Esher Philips - S.O.S
Billy Paul - Bring The Family Back
Dusty Springfiled - Am I The Same Girl
The Jacksons - Heartbreak Hotel
Loose Ends - Gonna Make You Mine
Mc Llyte - It's All Yours
Windjammer - Tossin' & Turning

First album

Floetry's Biography:

Floetry was an English R&B duo comprising Marsha Ambrosius ("the Songstress") and Natalie Stewart ("the Floacist"). The group recorded two studio albums, one live album, and sold over 1,500,000 records worldwide. Formed in 1999, Floetry started on the performance poetry stage. In 2002, the duo released their first album entitled, Floetic. The album sold over 864,000 copies in the United States. The album spawned the singles "Floetic", the top ten song "Say Yes", and "Getting Late". Following their success, Floetry released their live album Floacism, featuring the single Wanna B Where U R (Thisizzaluvsong). In 2005, Floetry released their second album Flo'Ology. Two singles were released from this album, "SupaStar" and "Lay Down". Ambrosius left the group in 2007. (wiki)

Joe

Tina Turner musical has heart & Soul. It's the classic rags to riches tale  encompassing rivers deep and  mountains high, grand passions  and terrible heartache, all set to  some of the most powerful music  of the late 20th century. So perhaps the only surprise is why  the life story of singing superstar Tina  Turner, and her Svengali-like husband  Ike, hasn’t made it on to a stage before  now.  “We talked about it a long time ago,”  admits John Miller, co-writer of Soul  Sister which is heading for Liverpool  next month after a successful run in the  West End. “But we decided that it  wasn’t really appropriate to try and do a  stage show while Tina Turner herself  was still touring or performing.”  And it seemed Tina didn’t want to  give up the spotlight.  But then five years ago she did her  50th anniversary  and last tour, and after  that John and fellow writer Pete Brooks  swung into action to create the show  which charts the 73-year-old star’s life  from its beginnings as Anna Mae  Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, to  global Queen of Rock. More: Liverpool Echo.

R&B newcomer, Netta Brielle, has released her introductory mixtape, ‘Will You Go With Me?.’ The mixtape pays homage to the music and artists who played an important role in shaping who Netta has grown to be as an artist, while also giving listeners a taste of what they can expect from her forthcoming debut album. The Bay Area bred singer/songwriter has been hard at work on the LP, which will be released on El Seven/Atlantic Records. Last week, Netta premiered the music video for her buzz single, “More To A Kiss.”  (R&B News)

It's a World Youth Record for Yanique Thompson, who produced a magical 12.94 in the girls 100m hurdles to win Jamaica's first gold medal at the IAAF World Youth Championships inside the RSC Olympiyskiy, in a day of mixed results for the Jamaicans: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=46394

Shortly before the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan still live on the 100 currently detained at Guantanamo Bey political prisoners on hunger strike in the United States. About 40 of them are currently being force-fed. After the military instructions for this practice were published on the Internet, was now Yasiin Bey, better known as Mos Def, endure for a sex education film of the human rights organization Reprieve this procedure under the conditions noted there about yourself. The result is a very intense, almost 4-minute video, which probably might seem disturbing for one or the other viewers and to shake his goal over the still predominant in Guantanamo prison conditions, do not miss this clip (Florian Fuchs/Guardian)

This weeks Playlist Sunday 14th. July 2013

Hour One

Jon B - Cocoa Brown
Whitney Houston - Exhale (Shoop, Shoop)
Boney James - Wait For Love [Welcome]
Harold Melvin - You Know How To Make Me..
Soul Papers feat:Coco - One Love
Omar - There's Nothing Like This (remake)
Joe Leavy - I Heart You
Maze & F.Beverley - Call On Me
Al Green feat: Devatee Could This Be Love
Donnell Jones - Forever (new 45)
Betty Wright/Roots/Jos Stone - Whisper..

Hour Two
Three-Inna-R'ow': Joe [Thomas]
1 Baby
2 Sexy

3 Mary Jane

Jill Scott & A Hamilton - So Is Love
Nicola Renee - Strawberry
Kenny Thomas - Turn It Up
Lisa Stansfield - Never, Never..
                   .. Gonna Give You Up
Brian Culbertson ft K Latimore - Another Love
Siani - Get Up On The Floor
Jean Carn - Don't Let It Go To You Head
Johnny Watson - Don't Wanna Be A Lone-ranger

Joe's Biography:

Joseph Lewis Thomas (born July 5, 1972), usually credited simply as Joe, is an American R&B singer and record producer. Joe is a native of Morris, Georgia and later moved to Opelika, Alabama.

He signed to Polygram/Mercury and in 1993 released his album debut, "Everything." This album produced a minor hit for him and he was subsequently released from his contract. Joe then signed to Jive Records for his 1997 album, "All That I Am." This proved to be his breakthrough album, reaching #13 on the. Billboard 200 album charts and number 4 on the R&B charts. The hit singles from this album included the Top 5 R&B/Top 20 pop hit "All the Things Your Man Won't Do", the Top 5 R&B/Top 40 pop hit "Don't Wanna Be a Player", produced by Rodney Jerkins, and "The Love Scene". "All That I Am" eventually went platinum in the US.

In April 2000, Joe released his third album, "My Name Is Joe," which became his most successful album to date, reaching the top of the R&B album charts and #2 on the Billboard 200, eventually selling more than three million copies. The single "Stutter", was #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks charts. The "Better Days" album was released in 2001, reaching #32 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on the R&B chart. It featured two singles, "Lets Stay Home Tonight", which reached #18 on the US R&B chart, and "What If A Woman".

Joe recruited high profile guests for the "And Then ..." album released in late 2003. "And Then ..." reached #26 on the US album charts and #4 on the R&B charts. Joe's sixth album, "Ain't Nothin' Like Me," was produced by Tim & Bob, The Underdogs, Cool & Dre, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Sean Garrett. The album featured guest appearances by Nas, Fabolous, Papoose, Young Buck and Tony Yayo; and was released on April 24, 2007.

Joe released his highly anticipated album "Joe Thomas, New Man", independently on September 23, 2008. The album debuted at number 8 on the billboard charts on the week of 29/9/08. 56,733 copies were sold in the first week. His second independent album, titled "Signature," was released on July 14, 2009 in Japan and the US. The album debuted #7 on the Billboard 200, #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #1 on the Independent Albums chart. (starpulse)

Ann Nesby

Yes it's finally time to enjoy the Birmingham sunshine. Make sure that you take your FM radio with you or listen to us on your mobile app. At last some decent temperatures have arrived, 27C on Saturday and Sunday expected to be even hotter and the good stuff should be with us for at least a week, so the forecasters tell us. 

Lots of nice places to enjoy the weather here in Brum, and the Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston is once such place! also Selly Manor in Bournville, Key Hill Cemetery in Hockley (my Grandad is buried there, by Joseph Chamberlain!), The Temple Of Relief a tongue-in-cheek name for a large, green cast iron urinal that was erected in the Jewellery Quarter in 1883 and considered a unique example of Victorian street furniture. There is always the old favorites like: Gas Street Basin and Canon Hill Park, all very nice on a hot summers day.

 
Rolling Stone magazine has reported that Stevie Wonder is working on not one, not two, but three new albums. During a concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Wonder indicated that he would be returning to the Bowl next year in support of the album When The World Began, on which he is working with producer David Foster (Celine Dion, Natalie Cole) and an orchestra. The album would include new looks at classic Wonder material as well as some new songs. Wonder also indicated that he is also working on a Gospel album that is a tribute to his mother, Lula.  Finally, he has a project tentatively titled Ten Billion Hearts, that appears to be more R&B focused. Wonder gave no indication of the release dates of the albums, other than "soon." (soultracks)

Well done Andy Murray at Wimbledon, our first men's tennis champion since 1936.

Finally born on this day in 1915 was the Black poet Dr. Margaret Walker. Her poem 'For My People' was an anthem for the Black Community, she died in 1998. She also shares her birthday with Harlem Renaissance poet Helen Johnson who was born today in 1906. The full poem:  For My People

Ooh one more thing, Mr Merry has unearthed an old recording of the late Angel A. (Angela Lewellin) farewell party, she was a much loved DJ on PCRL radio station in the late-80's, it includes tributes from all the famous Birmingham Sound Systems, we'll be bringing it to you soon.

Track listing for Sunday 7th. July 2013



Hour One
Miz Sassy - Testimony
Teddy Pedergrass - I Don't Hurt Now
Spyro Gyra - Morning Dance [welcome bed]
U.Jones & Robert Brooks -
     -  The Way You Make Me Feel
Cooly's Hot Box - Take It
The Impressions - Mistral & Queen
By All Means - I'd Rather Be Lonely
Soulpersona & Deborah Jordan - Weightless
L.J. Reynolds - Say You Will
Cie - When I Thing
D. Reed & Jay Michaelz - See You
Prince - Future Baby Mama

Hour Two
Thee-Inna-Row: Ann Nesby
1 Where Would I Be
2 He Took Away All My Pain
3 In The Spirit

Oliver Cheatham - Saturday Night
People People - Are You Spoken For?
J.T. Taylor - Feel The Need
Tashan - Save The Family
Luther VanDross - See Me / My Sensitivity
Dexter Wansell & Terri Wells - The Sweetest Pain
Anita Baker - Feel The Need

* Newsyle website & Internet was down this week

Ann Nesby Biography:

Ann Nesby is an American R&B, gospel, and dance music singer and actress. She is the former lead singer of Sounds of Blackness; a songwriter with credits including hits sung by Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight; plus she co-starred in the 2003 romance musical The Fighting Temptations with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé Knowles. Nesby had various appearances on the hit television series American Idol. Nesby has been nominated four times since her departure from the Sounds of Blackness, most recently for her 2007 album This Is Love; plus the lead single "I Apologize" was nominated for a Grammy at the 2008 Grammy Awards.

Nesby joined Sounds of Blackness in the late 1980s. The Sounds of Blackness were awarded two Grammys in 1991 and 1993, and Nesby sang on a number of their tracks including "I Believe," "Optimistic," "I'm Going All The Way," "Soul Holiday," and "The Pressure."

In 1996 Nesby released her debut album, I'm Here for You. Her "Witness Ep peaked at #42 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1996.

Tyler Perry cast Nesby in a lead role in his 1998-2000 stage production, I Know I've Been Changed. By 2002, Nesby released her second album, Put It on Paper. The lead single of the same title featured Al Green, leading Nesby to her first solo Grammy nomination in 2003, and the album included Nesby's first #1 song "Lovin' Is Really My Game," a cover version of the 1977 hit dance tune by Brainstorm.

She appeared in the 2003 film, The Fighting Temptations. Nesby subsequently garnered three additional Grammy nominations between 2004 and 2008.

Her latest album, The Lula Lee Project debuted at #13 on the US Billboard 's Top Gospel Album Chart and #57 on the R&B chart. Nesby’s latest nominations include - Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group with Vocal for her duet with Calvin Richardson, "Love Has Finally Come at Last" and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for "Sow Love". (wiki)