Charlie Wilson

Fake?

This week brought us.....'Beyone Branded 'A Fake'' for miming. Read the headline this week She is renowned for having one of the best voices in the business, but according to reports, pop singer Beyonce mimed the US national anthem at President Obama’s recent inauguration.Fans around the world praised the 31-year-old for her pitch-perfect performance, however, recent images on her Tumblr page have caused many to criticise the singer, with some branding her a “fake.”

Beyonce posted several pictures of what appears to be her rehearsing the anthem in a studio accompanied by the Marine Corps Band – even though they did not play at the ceremony. Twitter users were shocked at the revelation she mimed, calling her “Queen Fraud” and comparing it to when “I found out Santa Claus wasn’t real … how can do you do this humanity?” While Beyonce is still yet to confirm the reports, soul singing legend Aretha Franklin said she never even considered lip-synching when she performed at Obama’s first inauguration ceremony in 2009.“I wanted to give people the real thing and pre-recording never crossed my mind,” she told ABC News.“When I heard that [she mimed] I just really cracked up. I thought it was really funny, but she did a beautiful job with the pre-record.” However, not everyone was as quick to criticise Beyonce – Jennifer Lopez defended the singer, saying that some situations call for miming.“In certain venues they do pre-record things because you’re gonna have that terrible slapback,” she said on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show recently.

 Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, leader of the funk band the Ohio Players, has died at the age of 69. No cause of death has yet been reported. The Ohio Players had seven Top 40 hits in the 1970s, including "Love Rollercoaster," "Fire" and "Skin Tight," and helped define a movement that included Parliament Funkadelic and Kool & the Gang. The band's success stemmed partly from Bonner's playfully commanding lead vocals and gusto. The oldest of 14 children, Bonner ran away from home as a young teenager and played the harmonica on street corners for change. A few years before he died, he took to his Twitter the night that a documentary about his band was broadcast on television. "I am happy doing what I love," he wrote. "This IS pure heaven. The fans out there are like family to me. Every night is like a homecoming."

BJ & The Chicago Kid A giant question mark has loomed over the R&B lately- is the form changing? Not in the eyes of BJ the Chicago Kid. As the latest balladeer to burst out of the windy city's blossoming music scene, it's all about the motivation. "The soul man, where I sing from," he says while posted up in an office at Island Def Jam. "That will never change, the place where I come from when I sing, that will never change." Last year was life-changing for BJ. He released his mixtape Pineapple Now-Laters in February and by August he'd inked a recording contract with Universal/Motown. He dismisses the term alt-R&B, and says his influences range from Jodeci to indie rockers Kings of Leon. "I'm such a fan of different types of music and how they pour their heart into it," he says. "Their recipe of coming up with this finished product. It's all about the individual and what inspires them, what gives them their individuality and how they show that. I think that's what begins to create the branches of the tree." As for BJ's branch, it stems from a much more traditional blues and jazz background. Still, Pineapple Now-Laters includes cuts with rising Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar, and he's got a noticeable hip-hop swag. "We did like three or four records for good kid, m.A.A.d city," BJ explains. "Those records I have will come out after good kid... and everyone loves his record! I don't look [at the songs not making it onto his album as a] negative at all. I got called there to work. Kendrick, if he called me today, I'd be there today. That's how we work." 2013 has a lot in store for the young singer as he works on his major label debut and adjusts to life as a full-time artist. Which is, well, an adjustment. "I put out projects and released music without a label before," he says. "That was work. It's still work here now. It just continues; the grind increases. The hours increase. Less sleep, of course. [But I have to ] put the proper time where it's needed." Download his latest mixtape Pineapple Now-Laters here  (theboombox.com). Onto this weeks radio show - enjoy......


Today's playlist Sunday 3rd February 2013

Hour One
Monday Michiro - No Woman No Cry
Norah Jones - Don't Know Why
Rhythm - Skippin' [welcome bed]
Aretha Franklin - If She Don't Want Your Lovin'
The Impressions - Gypsy Woman
Anthony David - Body Language (rmx)
Jermaine Jackson - There's No Better Way
Quincy Jones feat: John Legend - Tomorrow
Donell Jones - This Luv
Kenny Lattimore - Weekend
Jaheim - Hush
Joe - Very Special Friend

Hour Two

all tracks found here

'Three Inna Row': Charlie Wilson
1 Show You 2 Our Anniversary 3 I Still Have You 

Collage - When You Smile
Side Effect - Midnight Lover
Richard Fields - After I Put My Spell On You
The Manhattans - Crazy
Curtis Mayfield - She Don't Let Nobody
Larry Grayham - I Just Have You
The Whispers - Let's Go All The Way
Keni Burke - Hang Tight

(my pcast is in mono this week - sorry)

Charlie Wilson Biography

 Charles Kent "Charlie" Wilson (born January 29, 1953) is an American R&B singer-songwriter-producer and the former lead vocalist for the Gap Band. As a solo artist he has been nominated for six Grammy awards, received a 2009 Soul Train Icon Award, and was a recipient of a BMI Icon Award in 2005. In 2009, he was named Billboard magazine's #1 Adult R&B Artist, and his song "There Goes My Baby" was named the #1 Urban Adult Song for 2009 in Billboard Magazine.

Wilson is the national spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. As of July 2009, the PCF has raised over $380 million for research and funded more than 1,500 research projects at nearly 200 institutions worldwide. The PCF has set up a Creativity Award in Charlie's name which donates hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to researchers across the country. The Creativity Award allows for the development of creative science that conforms to PCF funding principles but is short-term and designed to allow development of otherwise unfunded ideas.    

Intro

In this weeks news..... R&B superstar Ne-Yo is giving his British fans the chance to join in the fun on his tour bus as he performs across the U.K. later this year 2013. The Monster hitmaker is heading to Britain for a string of gigs, kicking off in Newcastle, England on 3 March 2013. He has teamed up with credit card giant Mastercard to give one lucky winner a behind-the-scenes concert experience, which includes riding on his tour bus and joining him onstage at one of his concerts. In a video to his devotees, he says, "My fans have put me here and I wanna put something back. So I'm gonna give one of you the opportunity to join me onstage at my next tour. "Thanks to Mastercard, you'll get to see what life is like on the road on a Ne-Yo tour. You can check out the tour bus, you can come to the soundcheck and watch the show."

Cissy & Whitney

Cissy Houston arrived at her trouble daughter's home in Georgia in 2005 (Whitney) after a call from her son Gary, who feared the star's drug issues were going to killer her. But she was left frightened by the chaotic scene she witnessed after she was let into the home, as strange images had been painted on the doors - and Houston's own face had been cut out of family portraits. Opening up about the incident in her tell-all book, Remembering Whitney, Cissy writes, "I flew to Atlanta and rang the door of the house she shared with her husband, Bobby Brown. "I knew if she was in half as bad a state as that house, she really was in trouble. I'd never seen any house that looked like this one, much less a multi-million dollar home. "I stood in shock. It was dirty and messy, but that wasn't it. The things I saw sent a chill through me. Somebody had spraypainted the walls and door with big glaring eyes and strange faces. Evil eyes, staring out like a threat. Who would do such a thing? It seemed crazy. "In another room there was a big framed photo of Nippy (Houston's nickname), Bobby and their daughter, Kriss - but someone had cut Nippy's head out. It was beyond disturbing, seeing by daughter's face cut out like that. It was frightening." Cissy returned to the home with local cops with a court order to take her daughter into rehab, and she believed her superstar daughter never forgave her for the intervention. She adds, "Because of the court order, Nippy had no choice. She stayed in rehab the whole four weeks... Eventually she stopped being angry at me and later told people I saved her life. But I'm not sure she ever forgave me. I think some part of her couldn't stand that I had made her reveal her worst side to me." The singer was found dead in a bathtub in her Beverly Hills hotel suite on 11 February, 2012. The book hits shelves on Tuesday (29Jan13). 

Alicia Keys rang in her 32nd birthday at a music awards show in Spain and left with a special present after accepting a career achievement prize. The Fallin' star, who turned 32 on Friday, marked her special day early on Thursday by attending the 40 Principales Awards in Madrid, Spain, where she was presented with the honor for best American artist/composer of the last decade.  Keys performed at the ceremony and while she was on stage, the crowd serenaded her with a rendition of Happy Birthday. The singer posted a picture of the special moment on her Twitter.com page, with the caption, "Awwww!!!! All these people just sang me Happy Birthday to help bring in my day!!! Such a beautiful memory to have of Madrid!! Thank u thank u Spain!!"  Other guests at the ceremony included French star David Guetta and pop singer Taylor Swift, who performed and picked up the prize for best international artist. She tweeted after the show, "Tonight was my first time at the 40 Principales Awards in Madrid and it was amazing! Thanks to the fans for the International Artist Award."(RNBNews/ContactNews) On to this weeks show...

Tracklist for Sunday 27th January 2013

Hour One
Anita Baker -  Sweet Love
Mongo Santamaria - Groovin' [welcome bed]
Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Kisses Don't Lie
Dina Carroll - So Close
Luther Vandross - She Loves Me Back
Joe - Love Don't Make No Sense
H-Town - A Thin Line Between Love And Hate
Jazz Samba Project - Waiting In Vain
Wornell Jones - Must Have Been Love
The Jones Girls - Who Can I Run To
Syleena Johnson - Chapter 3
Wish & Blue Lovett - Your Love

Hour Two
Intro x 3
1 Strung Out On Your Lovin' 2 Ribbon In The Sky 3 My Love's On The Way
Betty Wright - I Like Your Lovin'
Teddy Pendergrass - Believing In Love (remix)
Alex Lattimore - Rising To The Top
Dylan Janet Collins - Coul It Be
Teena Marie - I Need Your Lovin'
The SOS Band - No One Is Going To Love You
Diana Ross - It's My House
R-Kelly - Share My Love


Intro's Biography

 Clinton “Buddy” Wike, Jeff Sanders, Kermit Quinn and original member Kenny Greene, who passed in 2001 from complications due to AIDS.

Buddy and Kenny met as U. S. Army soldiers while being stationed in North Carolina and formed “Intro” (originally a rap group) along with another soldier named Nelson. During that time the group landed a music deal that Buddy felt unpleasant about. Soon after, Kenny was discharged from the service and moved back to Detroit, while Buddy deployed overseas to the Gulf War.

After Buddy returned to the states he soon reunited with Kenny. Buddy was then introduced to Jeff Sanders who replaced the former member Nelson and the group continued on in search for success. It was until one night the guys went to Club Red Zone located in New York and were discovered by the late Heavy D.

This led them to Eddie F who was the founder of Untouchables Entertainment Group who assisted "Intro" in signing a record deal with Atlantic Records in 1993. Soon after, Intro moved forward into fame and fortune within the music industry.

During Intro’s music career they composed the following songs for Mary J. Blige “Love Without A Limit”, “My Love”, "Reminisce” and “You Don’t Have To Worry” along with having a single on the platinum movie soundtrack “Jason’s Lyric”. Intro also recorded songs with Stevie Wonder, Johnny Gill and Terrance Trent Darby which are featured on the Curtis Mayfield’s tribute album.

Intro recently performed May of 2011 at The Paradise Theater located in Bronx New York at the SNS Productions “90’s Explosion Show” featuring Guy, Christopher Williams, Changing Faces and Horace Brown. Intro also just released their 3rd album and continues to tour around the world. The group will soon be touring U.S. international military installations to perform for the troops and families. Bookings 

Roy Ayers & Ubiquity

West

In this weeks news...Rapper Kanye West doesn't want his children to follow his footsteps as far as their career was concerned. He says he would prefer if they study seriously and launch a business career thereafter.West, 35, is to become a father for the first time with his partner Kim Kardashian."Kanye wants his son or daughter to be educated at a top US university such as Harvard or Yale before embarking on a career in business," a source told dailystar.co.uk."He doesn't want the child to become a pop star," added the source.West has even banned rap music in his house ahead of the birth. He believes listening to classical music will make his baby more intelligent.

While he may not want his toddler to become a rapper, it was earlier said West had booked a studio and was planning to record a track with Kim while she is pregnant, as a memento for when their child grows up."Kanye's really soppy. He wants Kim to lay down some vocals while she's carrying his child. He thinks it will be cool for his son or daughter to listen to the track when they're older," the source said.

Prince

Prince will become the third recipient of the Icon Award at this year's Billboard Music Awards, joining Stevie Wonder and Neil Diamond. Prince will be honoured with an Icon Award at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. The ceremony is seen as one of the most prestigious in the world behind the Grammys, and it will honour the 'Purple Rain' pop star at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on 19 May. Prince, 54, will mark the occasion with a rare live televised performance on the show, which will be produced by Don Mischer. The legendary musician will become only the third artist to be honoured with the award, joining inaugural winner Neil Diamond (2011) and last year's recipient Stevie Wonder. Before the 'Superstition' singer was presented, he was joined by Alicia Keys for a set featuring 'Higher Ground' and 'Overjoyed', and a  stripped-down version of 'Empire State of Mind', Alicia's hit with Jay-Z. At the event, Stevie paid tribute to the late Donna Summer, who died 17 May last year, and Bee Gees Robin Gibb, after news of his passing broke hours before the awards. At the time, he said: ''We live in a world with changes happening more rapidly. We won't see them ever again. ''That's a heartbreak. The blessing is we're able to feel the pain, which means we were able to feel some love from that person; feel the experiences the music gave us.''

Obama

President Obama has released the official playlist for his inauguration in an effort to hype up expectations for the star performers.The list, released via his Inauguration-focused Twitter account, include well-known group of Obama favorites like Beyonce, Stevie Wonder and Katy Perry, all of whom have attended multiple fundraisers for the President in the past, the Daily Mail reported.Newer acts like the band fun. and Far East Movement were also included, with their songs 'Carry On' and 'Turn Up The Love' singled out respectively.The list of Grammy Award-winning acts has already been publicized, Thursday was the first day that the President's tech-friendly staff have released a playlist using Spotify.All of the singers featured on the playlist- from James Taylor and Brad Paisley to Smokey Robinson and Nick Cannon- will perform in one of the two parties being held for 35,000 revelers. (info: ContactNews/RNBNews)

The inauguration playlist in full:
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)- Stevie Wonder
I Was Here - Beyonce
Mi Gente - Marc Anthony
Carry On - Fun.
New Day - Alicia Keys
Mud On The Tires - Brad Paisley
Turn Up The Love - Far East Movement
Edge of Glory- Glee Cast Version
Your Smiling Face - James Taylor
Ordinary People - John Legend
Firework - Katy Perry
Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
My Mic featuring Biz Markie - Nick Cannon
Something Special - Usher
Higher And Higher - Walt Whitman
Get Ready - Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
Future - Mindless Behavior (ANI)

Impressive...Don't forget you can catch myself and my recent studio guests, The Notebenders at  the Symphony Hall this Saturday (full details, bottom of the page) ..Onto this weeks show...


Sunday  20th January 2013 Playlist
Hour One
Leon Ware - Rockin' You Eternally
Dionne  Warwick - So Amazing
Boney James - Sweet Thing [welcome bed]
Gerald Levert - String, Strings
Dexter Wansel feat: Jones Girls - The Sweetest Pain
Jerry Woo - Help Yourself
The Whispers - Is It Good To You
Bobby Womack - How Could You Break My Heart
Patti Austin -  Your Too Much Apart Of Me
Gerald Levert - Greater Later
Magic Lady - Misty Eyed
John Legend - Stay With You

Hour Two
'Three-Ina-Row' - Roy Ayers & Ubiquity
1 - For Real 2 - Everybody Loves The Sunshine 3 - Love Will Bring Us Back Together
Womack & Womack - Tear Drops
Ben E. King - Street Tough
LJ Reynolds - Key To The World
Yarborough & Peoples - Special
80's Ladies - Turned On To You (Roy Ayers produced)
Randy Crawford - Endlessly
Yvonne Elliman - Love Me
The Jacksons - Blues Away
Maze feat: Frankie Beverly - While I'm Alone


Roy Ayers & Ubiquity Biography

Born 10 September 1940, Los Angeles, California, USA. A popular jazz vibraphonist and vocalist, Ayers reached the peak of his commercial popularity during the mid-70s and early 80s, crossing over into the mainstream charts. He is also justly celebrated as an important influence on the latter decade's acid-jazz movement.

Ayers played piano as a child and took an interest in the vibes after meeting Lionel Hampton. In high school he formed his first group, the Latin Lyrics, and in the early 60s began working professionally with flautist/saxophonist Curtis Amy. Ayers' first album under his own name was West Coast Vibes on United Artists Records, a 1963 recording session which featured Amy. He also worked with Chico Hamilton, Hampton Hawes and Herbie Mann, with whom he first gained prominence between 1966 and 1970. After recording three albums for Atlantic Records in the late 60s, Ayers formed Roy Ayers Ubiquity and signed to Polydor Records, incorporating funk and R&B styles into his jazz. Using a number of prominent sidemen such as Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Sonny Fortune, George Benson and Billy Cobham, Ubiquity's albums helped to popularize the jazz funk crossover style. The group reached the R&B charts with several albums and singles during this period, including the Top 20 disco-influenced R&B hit "Running Away". The album track "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" remains a perennial club favorite into the new millennium.

Ayers dropped the Ubiquity group name in 1978 and continued to have chart success with both his solo albums and singles into the late 80s. After touring Africa, Ayers recorded Africa, Center Of The World with Fela Kuti and also set up the Uno Melodic Records label with the Nigerian musician. He switched to Columbia Records in 1984 but released records less frequently as the 80s came to a close, concentrating on composing and producing for other artists. Since the late 80s, Ayers and the resurrected Ubiquity have enjoyed a successful collaboration with Ronnie Scott's jazz club in Soho, London, acting as the official house band. In 1993, Ayers guested on the first installment of Guru's Jazzmatazz project, a self-styled "experimental fusion of hip-hop and jazz'. Two years later Ayers secured a contract with RCA Records and the Groovetown label, for whom he recorded 1995's well-received Nast‚. He has subsequently appeared on albums by Masters At Work (1997"s sublime Nuyorican Soul project), Erykah Badu and Eric Ben‚t, and re-established his own record label under the name AFI CDs.

 SYMPHONY HALL SAT 27th. JAN 

Join Mr Merry and The Notebenders Big Band

In The Foyer Lounge

Kick Off 1.30pm

Free admittance for all!

Come One Come All

Karyn White

In the news this week .....Halle Berry is being honoured at the BET HONOURS 2013 tonight (12.01.13). The 'Cloud Atlas' star is just one of high profile stars that will be celebrated at the prestigious event in Washington, DC, where Alicia Keys is performing along with a host of other R&B and soul stars.
The 'Girl On Fire' singer is appearing alongside Erykah Badu, Wayne Brady, Brandy, Mint, Jimmy Jam, Ledisi, the SOS Band and Terry Lewis at the event in the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C.
Halle's prestigious honour comes after a difficult few months for the Oscar winning actress.
Her fiance Olivier Martinez was involved in a physical fight with the father of her daughter Nahla, four, Gabriel Aubry in November. The 46-year-old recently resolved her custody battle with the 36-year-old Canadian model and spent Christmas in Paris with her French actor boyfriend. This year's honorees also include music executive and entrepreneur Clarence Avant known to many as the 'Godfather of Black Music', spiritual educator T.D. Jakes, ten-time GRAMMY award winner and international music icon Chaka Khan who will be celebrating 40 years in music and entertainment and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie.
Hosted by actress Gabrielle Union, this year's star-studded show will recorded tonight but will be broadcast on February 11, during Black History Month.

Two men who hacked Sony Entertainment's servers and downloaded thousands of songs, including some unreleased material from Michael Jackson, have escape jail today (Jan 12) after a court hearing in the Leicester, UK. The two men, James McCormick, 26, and James Marks, 27, met online before eventually collaborating together to break into Sony's vast musical database and helping themselves to the spoils, which also included Elvis Presley and Beyoncé as well as MJ. They were arrested in May 2011, after Sony identified the security breach, but not before helping themselves to over 7000 songs, as well as artwork and videos. The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) said that the two had also conspired to sell the files on after they had been stolen, after chat-logs recovered from the pair's computers offered some rather incriminating evidence for the prosecutors to consider. (contactnews.com)

On to this weeks show...


Playlist for Sunday 12th January 2012

Hour One
Isley-Jasper-Isley - For The Love Of You
Shirley Jones - Do You get Enough Love
Gerald Albright - Tyring 2 Find Away (welcome bed)
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes -You Know How To Make Me feel
Kenny G - Hi, How You Doing
Millie Jackson - Wanna Be Your Lover
CeCe Rogers - I Think (I Love You)
Lou Reed - Walk On The Wild Side
Lisa Stansfield - When Are You Coming Back?
Soul II Soul - Missing You
R-Kelly - Single Ladies (Remix)

Hour Two
'Three-Ina-Row' = Karyn White
1 - Love Saw 2 - Sista Sista 3 - Slow Down
Miles Jay - Start Over Again
The Vibrations - Shake It Up
Sylvia St. James - If You Let Me Love You
Archie Bell & The Drells - Don't let Love Get You Down
Lattimore - Sweet Vibrations
Jean Carne - My Love Don't Come Easy
The Jacksons - Give It Up
Randy Brown - We Oughta Be Doing It
Joanna Gardner - Pick Up The Pieces


 Karyn White Biography

White was born in Los Angeles to Vivian and Clarence White. She is the youngest of five children. She sang in a church choir and worked as a backing singer, then sang on Jeff Lorber's single "Facts of Love" before signing to Warner Bros. Records.

White married Terry Lewis in 1992 and together they had a daughter, Ashley Nicole and adopted son Brandon. Lewis brought to the marriage children Trey and Chloe. They eventually divorced in 1999, and she later married producer/musician Bobby G[citation needed].
Music career

White's self-titled debut album Karyn White was released in 1988. It was produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface and achieved platinum status. Karyn White contained the hit singles "The Way You Love Me", "Secret Rendezvous" (#6 in the U.S., her biggest hit at the time), "Superwoman" and "Love Saw It" a duet with Babyface. White was nominated in the Best R&B/Urban Contemporary New Artist category for the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards.She was also nominated for two Grammy Awards.

 She became the first female artist to have their first three solo releases hit #1 on the R&B charts. White left Warner Bros. Records in 1999, and dropped out of the music public eye for many years to start a family. White resides in Rocklin, California, a suburb of Sacramento, and runs a successful interior design and real estate business. In 2006 she recorded a new album, titled Sista Sista; which was slated for release in 2006, but was shelved. Two tracks, "All I Do" and "Disconnected", were later released on the best of compilation album, Superwoman: The Best of Karyn White. She was also slated to appear on the Soul Train Music Awards in 2009 as a tribute to Babyface Edmonds. However, this performance was canceled when Edmonds and Reid withdrew from the Soul Train ceremony, declining the honor. Currently, White plans to release her first album after a seventeen-year break, Carpe Diem, in 2012. (extract from Wiki)

 SYMPHONY HALL SAT 27th. JAN 

Join Mr Merry and The Notebenders Big Band

In The Foyer Lounge

Kick Off 1.30pm

Free admittance for all!

Come One Come All

Marques Houston

R Kelly

In this weeks news.....R&B star R. Kelly has released a song in tribute to the victims of last month's (Dec12) Connecticut massacre and vowed to donate the proceeds to the devastated families. Suspected gunman Adam Lanza, 20, opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on 14 December (12), killing 26 people before allegedly turning the weapon on himself. The singer was deeply shocked by the death of 20 young children and six adults so he wrote a moving ballad to express his sadness. Kelly recorded the song, titled I know You're Hurting, with a children's gospel choir and vowed to give the proceeds to those affected by the shooting. The song, which is available via digital retailer iTunes, features the lyrics: "I know you're hurting/ I hear you crying, but come tomorrow, there's a place you can go/ Find the blue skies/ Hear the choir sing/ Feel the power of a miracle".

CD & DVD sales are down. Digital downloads of films, music and video games have reached one billion pounds for the first time, official industry figures have confirmed.The Entertainment Retailers Association said that a quarter of the entertainment market is now digital.Although overall sales rose by 11.4 per cent from 2011, hitting 1.03 billion pounds, sales of CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray and video games fell by 17.6 per cent, the Telegraph reports.

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West will not have to provide evidence of their baby's

Kim & Kan

Paternity. According to California state law, a couple must be living together, or "cohabiting," for the state to automatically recognize a woman's husband as her baby's father.

"California law is clear that when a child is born to a married couple the presumption of fatherhood is in favor of the husband, but that assumes they are living together, cohabitating in legal terms," attorney and founder of Men's Family Law, David T. Pisarra told The Huffington Post. "Since Kim and Kris are separated the presumption of Kris as the father would not apply. I imagine that when baby Kimye is born, Kim will name Kanye as the father and he will sign a Declaration of Paternity just like thousands of other unmarried couples do to protect the rights of the baby to have both loving parents in his/her life forever."

There you have it, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West will not have to provide "clear and convincing evidence" that the rapper is the father of the reality star's baby. (Huffington post)

Anyway on to my playlist for this week....


Sunday 6th January 2012 tracklisting: (adds/news free)

Hour One
Barry White - Early Years
Etta James -  At Last
Gerald Albright - So Amazing [welcome bed]
Bobby Valentino feat:Raphael Saadiq  - Just Me And You
Ryan Leslie - Just Rescue U
Luther Vandross - Wait For Me
Hill St Soul - Strickly A Vibe Thing
Jamie Foxx - Sexy
Joe - Closer
Smooth - Do Ya
Solo - Keep It Right Here

Hour Two
'Three-Inna-Row': Marques Houston:
1 - Always And Forever 2 - Cancel  3 - Wonderful
J.T. Taylor - Feel The Need
Five Star - Surely
Matt Covington - We Got One
Whispers - I'm Cruising In
Whispers - Is It Good To You?
C-Nario - Body Fusion
L.J. Reynolds -  Say You Will
Betty Wright/Joss Stone - Whisper In The Wind
Alex Lattimore - Rising To The Top

Marques Houston Biography

Houston

Marques Barrett Houston (born August 4, 1981) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. A member of the R&B singing group Immature/IMx until 1992-2002,2010–Present, he went solo in 2003. Born in Los Angeles, California to Michael and Carolyn, Houston lost his mother to lymphoma in 1997. Houston became a founding member of the R&B group Immature, known from 1999 as IMx. The group included Jerome "Romeo" Jones and Don "Half Pint" Santos (later replaced by Kelton "LDB" Kessee), with Chris Stokes acting as their manager. At this period Houston went by the nickname "Batman".  In 1999 the group underwent a name change but continued on to release two albums under the name IMx: Introducing IMx (1999) and IMx (2001). The group also branched out into film (such as House Party 4: Down to the Last Minute) and television (such as A Different World) before disbanding in 2002.n 2003, Houston began pursuing a solo career. Houston has since released five solo albums. (Wiki)

Aaliyah

 Hey check-out the great new single from Bigg Robb, after the success of the Macaroni Cheese Song I played a few weeks back he's remade the old Lattimore Brown classic "Let's Straighten It Out," and it's been given the Bigg Robb treatment!

Brandy had an amazing 2012, and to show some love to her starz, the R&B diva liberated a new, unreleased track, “How High.” The mid-tempo cut even features a verse from her rap alter-ego Bran’Nu. There will be more to come from her great album Two Eleven in the new year, so stay tuned. Follow the jump to stream and download “How High” now! Down

Birmingham's very own Jamelia showed off her general knowledge and helped to raise $35,200 (£22,000) for a charity during an appearance on a festive Tv quiz. The Superstar hitmaker joined actor Craig Charles, funnyman Dom Joly, and journalist Lorraine Kelly to pit her wits against a trivia expert on a celebrity special edition of The Chase. Jamelia outwitted her opponent to win $4,800 (£3,000) for the team's pot, and they went on to triumph overall, scooping $17,600 (£11,000) - which was doubled to $35,200 by the US show's producers. The money was donated to Text Santa, which helps to support British charities during the festive season.

Janet Jackson has reportedly got engaged. The 46-year-old singer accepted billionaire boyfriend Wissam Al Mana's proposal earlier this year and the smitten couple are set to tie the knot in a lavish ceremony in Qatar next year. According to Us Weekly magazine, Wissam, 37, gave Janet “a huge, expensive ring” but she keeps it locked up because “she's afraid it will get lost”. Wissam doesn't want any expense spared when it comes to the wedding - which will reportedly “cost millions” - and is flying all of Janet's friends and family in from America on private jets. Another source added: “He wants to get a top chef to create a custom menu.” Once the wedding is over, Janet - who has been dating Wissam for around two years - is keen to start trying for a family. The source said: “She wants kids. If she can't have them, she will adopt.” Janet has been married twice before, once to R&B singer James DeBarge and the other time to music video director Rene Elizondo.On to this weeks show........




 My playlist for Sunday 30-12-2012

Hour One
Barbara Mason - Me & Mr Jones

Donny Osmond - Breeze On By
George Benson - Breezin' [welcome bed]
Foster McElroy - Waiting On You
Intro - Come Inside
The Sounds Of Blackness - I Believe
Stephanie Mills - Keep Away Girls
Justin Timberlake - Until The End Of Time
Gwen Guthrie - Stop Holding Back
Earth, Wind & Fire - On Your Face
Curtis Mayfield - Baby It's You

Hour Two
'Three In-A-Row' - Aaliyah [Haughton]
1-Erica Kane/ 2-Street Thing/ 3-Come Over
Angie Stone - Do What U Gotta Do
Marques Houston - Wonderful
Jean Carne - Don't Let It Go To Your Head
The Chi-Lites - Running Around
Milton Wright - Keep It Up
Lou Ragland - Making Love
I-Level - In The Sands
Randy Brown - We Oughta Be Doing It

Aaliyah's Biography

Born Aaliyah Dana Haughton, 16 January 1979, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA, d. 25 August 2001, Marsh Harbour, Abaco Island, Bahamas, West Indies. Although she grew up in Detroit, Michigan, Aaliyah pronounced Ah-Lee-Yah ("highest, most exalted one" in Swahili), initially came to attention as part of the "new jill swing' movement in the mid-90s. Her early career was fostered by R. Kelly (although rumors of a personal relationship are still disputed), and 1994"s debut Age Ain't Nothing But A Number included the US Top 10 singles "Back & Forth" and "At Your Best (You Are Love)". She traveled to Kelly's home in Chicago for the sessions while she was still a student at the Detroit High School of the Performing Arts. She remained a "straight A's" student throughout the first stage of her recording career, persevering with her education despite commercial success.

After breaking her partnership with Kelly, Aaliyah released 1996's superior follow-up, One In A Million, on which she worked with hotshot producer Timbaland. Soundtrack work followed, with contributions to Anastasia ("Journey To The Past") and Dr. Dolittle ("Are You That Somebody?"). Aaliyah also began filming on her screen debut in Andrzej Bartkowiak's Romeo Must Die. "Try Again", taken from the movie soundtrack, went to the top of the US singles chart in June 2000. The following year's self-titled third album demonstrated a new maturity and confidence, with Aaliyah publicly bidding farewell to her teenage years and fashioning a bold new sound with collaborator Timbaland.

Tragedy struck in August 2001 when, after filming a video in the Bahamas, Aaliyah and various members of her record company attempted to fly home. The small light aircraft crashed killing Aaliyah and her entourage. Her third album posthumously climbed to the number 1 position in America, while in the UK "More Than A Woman" reached the top of the singles chart in January 2002.

 A final sad note to 2012 

The last ten days of December have been the most shocking for a quite a few years with singer loses of; Linda Howard (group: High Inergy) 17th, Terry Huff 19th, Jimmy McCrackin 20th, Marva Whitney 22nd. and now Fontella Bass 26th. All gave us much musical pleasure - RIP

PS - Happy New Year to all my listeners

Brian McKnight

  Beyonce & John Legend demand end to Gun Crime
In the wake of last weeks unimaginable tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, many of Hollywood’s biggest stars united to convey and speak up for the cause to end all the horrific gun related killings.

Beyonce and John Legend joined many famous faces such as Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Steve Carell and Ellen Degeneres in the black-and-white clip, to help spread a powerful and personal message for the ‘Demand a Plan’ campaign against gun violence.

“Demand a plan…for the children of Sandy Hook,” says Bey. Watch the powerful clip and join the cause here.

The emerging group LakeShore, who was founded by Grammy-nominated songstress and ‘R&B Divas’ reality star Syleena Johnson, has released a video for their rendition of the Christmas classic, “Noel.” Group members, Malone, Sandy Redd, and Tommie B. are currently in the studio recording, as well as on the road preparing fans on what is to come in 2013. Watch video. (credit: thisisr&b.com)

Extra tragic this week with the death of soul singer Marva Whitney she was 68. (b. Marva Ann Manning, Kansas, Missouri, U.S.A./d. 22nd December 2012, Kansas, Missouri, U.S.A.) Probably best known as one of the series of fine singers enlisted to the ranks of James Brown’s performing entourage, she was also best remembered for her solo funk anthem ‘It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who to Sock It To)’. Some of her songs, including ‘Unwind Yourself’ have been sampled by many deejays and rappers. The track was featured on the DJ Mark the 45 King, 1987 track ‘The 900 Number'. It was also sampled by DJ Chad Jackson, DJ Kool, Sway and Mac Miller. (credit: soultracking)

A 'Mr. Merry' Christmas to all my listeners,  now please enjoy this weeks music....




Playist for Sunday 23-12-12

Hour One
Aretha Franklin - How Long I've Been Waiting
Natalie Cole - When I Fall In Love
Euge Groove - Just My Imagination [hello bed]
Curtis Mayfield/Linda Clifford - Love Sweet Sensation
Eric Benet - Don't Let Go

15 year-old Dylan Jenet Collins

Dylan Jenet Collins - Could It be
Anita Baker - Angel
Anthony David - Body Language
Mike Winans - You Deserve A Break
The Sounds Of Blackness - He Took Away All My Pain
Shirley Jones - Do You Get Enough Love
The O'Jays - Loving You

Hour Two
'Three Ina-row:' Brian McKnight
1- If It Was Cool 2 - The Only One For Me 3 - On The Down Low
The Manhattans - Crazy
Charlie Wilson - There Goe's My Baby
Maze feat: Frankie Beverly - While I'm Alone
Alure - Enjoy Yourself
Bigg Robb - The Macaroni Cheese Song
Darwin Hobbs - Everyday
Maze feat: Frankie Beverly - We Are One

Brian McKnight biography

Born 5 June 1969, Buffalo, New York, USA. The younger brother of Claude V. McKnight of a cappella gospel outfit Take 6, R&B singer Brian McKnight began his musical career in and around Buffalo, performing self-written material with his own band. Attracting the attention of Mercury Records, he recorded a self-titled debut set which reached the Top 20 of the US R&B album chart, although its sales returns were modest. "Love Is", a duet with Vanessa Williams taken from the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, crossed over to the pop charts, reaching number 3 in May 1993. Another single, "One Last Cry", climbed to number 13 later in the year. His second effort, I Remember You, sold more than half a million copies and included five Top 20 R&B singles. With his reputation and image established, Mercury decided to pull out all the stops for his third album, the immaculately produced Anytime.

Involved in its creation were star names such as Sean "Puffy" Combs (production), Ma$e (rapping) and Mary J. Blige and Diane Warren (songwriting). The first single to be taken from the album, the US number 17 hit "You Should Be Mine (Don't Waste Your Time)", featured Ma$e, in an attempt to convert sections of the hip-hop audience to McKnight's work and expand his growing fanbase. However, the single was hardly representative of the mature R&B and romantic balladry that comprised much of the album's contents, which is where McKnight's true talent lies. Anytime was rewarded with a US Top 20 chart placing. McKnight switched to Motown Records for the Christmas album, Bethlehem. The highly successful Back At One followed. The title track spent several weeks at number 2 on the US Hot 100 chart.

Merry Christmas

Whitney Houston

Toni's Ill

Toni Braxton, who has battled the autoimmune disease Lupus for several years, has been hospitalized in Los Angeles. Braxton tweeted last night (December 7) "Hey guys, I'm in the hospital for health issues related to Lupus & Blood clots, I will be home soon...Thanks for all the love & support!

Meanwhile with the fast pace success of Tamar Braxton’s new single “Love and War” the songstress is showing no signs of slowing down. The still-untitled project will be released on February 12, 2013. Tamar’s “Love and War” debuted at No. 57 on the Hot 100 & No. 12 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, as well as No. 1 on Heatseekers Songs.

Yesterday Tamar Braxton visited with CBS ‘The Couch’ and gave a stellar performance.

Cassie's gift

Cassie 'The Unreleased Classics' Trilogy Mix Release From Cassie's team....

Velvet Night is a collection of dark, seductive songs, a mixtape of minimalist R&B showcasing Cassie’s sultry, sexy vocals gliding over the music, creating a spellbinding effect Dope & Diamonds is a collection of dark electro songs. Cassie’s icy-cool, detached vocals are immersed in stabbing synths, ice cream beats, heavy bass & tribal-jungle inspired production. Supermodel is a pure pop collection of starburst synths, bubblegum beats, cotton-candy production. Her versatile voice shines belting ballads & chanting club anthems in this diverse mix.

Download all 3 albums here : http://cassiecollective.tumblr.com/

Kem contributes to the holiday season with the new music video for “A Christmas Song For You.” The heartfelt Xmas ballad is from his recently released holiday album What Christmas Means on Motown. Get in the loving holiday spirit and watch the video below…

This weeks Playlist:

Hour One
The Isley Bros. - Between The Sheets
Millie Jackson - I Need To Be Myself
Mongo Santamaria - Groovin' [welcome bed] *
Nikita Germaine - All Over Me All Over You
The Jones Girls - I Just Love The Man*
By All Means - I'd Rather Be Lonely
Alexander O'Neal - Look At us Now
Teddy Pendrgrass - The Whole Town's Laughing At Me
Brenda Russell - A Little Bit Of Love
Will Downing - Love We Share
CeCe Rogers - I Think I Love You

Hour Two
Whitney Houston (Three inna Row)
1 - Why Does It Hurt So Bad
2 - To Give Good Love
3 -  Exhale (Shoop Shoop)
Diana Ross - It's My House
Sisters Sledge - Easy To Love
Tashan - Save The Family
Audrey Wheeler - If You Need Someone
Rosie Gaines - Good Times
Zhane' - Request Line
Jean Terrell - How Can You (Live Without Love)
Aretha Franklin - You Got All The Aces

* The recording of this weeks show was lost, so a back-up has been used with some small hic-ups!

Short Whitney Houston Biography

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born into a musical family on 9 August 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of gospel star Cissy Houston, cousin of singing star Dionne Warwick and goddaughter of soul legend Aretha Franklin.

She began singing in the choir at her church, The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, as a young child and by the age of 15 was singing backing vocals professionally with her mother on Chaka Khan's 1978 hit, 'I'm Every Woman'. She went on to provide backing vocals for Lou Rawls, Jermaine Jackson and her own mother and worked briefly as a model, appearing on the cover of 'Seventeen' magazine in 1981.

She began working as a featured vocalist for the New York-based funk band Material and it was the quality of her vocal work with them that attracted the attention of the major record labels, including Arista with whom she signed in 1983 and where she stayed for the rest of her career.

Her debut album, 'Whitney Houston', was released in 1985 and became the biggest-selling album by a debut artist. Several hit singles, including 'Saving All My Love For You', 'How Will I Know', 'You Give Good Love', and 'The Greatest Love of All', were released from the album, setting her up for a Beatles-beating seven consecutive US number ones. The album itself sold 3 million copies in its first year in the US and went on to sell 25 million worldwide, winning her the first of her six Grammies.

The 1987 follow-up album, 'Whitney', which included the hits 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go' and 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody', built on her success but it was the 1992 film The Bodyguard (1992) that sealed her place as one of the best-selling artists of all time. While the movie itself and her performance in it were not highly praised, the soundtrack album and her cover of the Dolly Parton song 'I Will Always Love You' topped the singles and albums charts for months and sold 44 million copies around the world.

Daughter Bobbi Kristina

That same year she married ex-New Edition singer Bobby Brown with whom she had her only child, their daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown in March 1993. It was about this time that her much documented drug use began and by 1996 she was a daily user.

Her 1998 album, 'My Love Is Your Love' was well reviewed but the drug abuse began to affect her reputation and press reports at the time said that she was becoming difficult to work with, if she turned up at all. She was dropped from a performance at The 72nd Annual Academy Awards (2000) (TV) because she was "out of it" at rehearsals. Her weight fluctuated wildly - she was so thin at a 'Michael Jackson' tribute in 2001 that rumors circulated the next day that she had died - and her voice began to fail her. She was twice admitted to rehab and declared herself drug-free in 2010 but returned to rehab in May 2011.

Her 2009 comeback album 'I Look To You' was positively received and sold well, but promotional performances were still marred by her weakened voice. Her final acting performance was in Sparkle (2012/I) (a remake of the 1976 movie, Sparkle (1976)), released after her death.

She was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel room on 11 February 2012.(imdb)

Gwen McCrae

Jamie Fox

Welcome, in the R&B news this week...Jamie Foxx made his return to Saturday Night Live last night as the guest host for a second time. The multi-talented star opened the show with a “How Black Is That” monologue impersonating President Barack Obama’s dance moves, and was joined by 2 Chainz for a impromptu musical performance.

During the show Jamie played a karate dojo owner in the J-Pop Christmas skit, the host of ‘Bitch Game Show,’ impersonated Terry Perry playing himself and Madena in ‘Alex Cross 2,’ a rapping Ding Dong in the wake of the Hostess bankruptcy, a court officer in a Maine civil case and a former porn star.

The late Teena Marie had a voice that was truly one of a kind and the new single “Luv Letter” proves that her legacy will always live on. This is the first single from her upcoming posthumous album, ‘Beautiful’, due January 15, 2013.

John Legend

Ohhh this is crazy. Quentin Tarantino’s much-anticipated film Django Unchained will hit theaters on Christmas Day, while the soundtrack will be available December 18. One of the many featured cuts is this new offering from John Legend and Paul Epworth (Adele “Rolling in the Deep”), entitled “Who Did That To You.” The R&B singer-songwriter really takes the story to heart on the sinister track, looking to avenge the woman he loves.

“Quentin Tarantino’s movies have such a specific sound to them, where the music plays such an important role,” said Legend. “When I first learned that Quentin was making ‘Django Unchained,’ a film set in the South two years before the Civil War, I felt a strong connection to the story, and I knew that I wanted to write a song for it.”

Dee Harvey

“The scene where the song plays is such a powerful moment in the film, a moment of redemption,” Legend continues, “and we wrote a triumphant and heroic song that underscores Django’s mission.” John is currently finalizing his new album Love in the Future, which is due out next year. (thisisr&b.com)

Finally again some sad news this week, this guy, soul singer born Dee Harvey, 1965, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. has died on the 1st. December 2012, California, U.S.A. The former Motown recording artist Dee Harvey has died at age 47. He was suffering from an undisclosed illness. At Motown, Dee recorded the self-penned ballad hit ‘Leave Well Enough Alone’ in 1991.

On to this weeks show that's including Andy Hamilton's Notebenders live & a Courtney Pine interview....

Playlist for 9th. December 2012

The New Album

Hour One

Keni Stevens - You

Quincy Jones/John Legend - Tomorrow

Courtney Pine at Andy Hamilton's Tribute Show

The Notebenders - Mas Que Nada

Gwen Paltrow/Babyface - Just My Imagination

Angie Stone - Do What U Gotta Do

The Notebenders - The Nearness Of You (bed)

Bilal - Soul Sista

S.W.V. - If Only You Knew

The Notebenders - Blue Bossa (bed)

Betty Wright/Joss Stone Whisper In The Wind

The Notebenders

Hour Two 
'Three-inna-row' Gwen McCrae
1 Maybe I'll Find Somebody New
2 I Can Only Think Of You
3 For Your Love

Lamont Dozier - You Make Me A Believer
A Few Good Men - Tonight
Mary J. Blige - Before I Let Go
Maze feat: Frankie Beverly -  Before I Let Go
Teddy Pendergrass - Joy
Dwele - Frankly My Dear
Rahsaan Patterson - I'll Go
Luther Vandross - My Sensitivities

Gwen McCrae

Gwen McCrae Bio

Born 21 December 1943, Pensacola, Florida, USA. The wife of George McCrae, Gwen made her mark in the mid-70s with a delightful series of southern-style soul numbers produced by Steve Alaimo and Clarence Reid for Henry Stone's Miami-based TK operation. She first found success with a remarkable remake of the old Bobby Bland gospel blues, "Lead Me On" (R&B number 32, 1970). The record was recorded for TK Records, but leased to Columbia Records. The following year, now on TK's subsidiary label Cat, she followed with an equally remarkable remake of the Ed Townsend oldie, "For Your Love" (R&B number 17). McCrae had her only pop hit with "Rockin' Chair" in 1975, when the number 1 R&B hit crossed over to reach the US Top 10. "Love Insurance" (R&B number 16) was a respectable follow-up in 1975.

TK collapsed in 1980, and McCrae moved to New Jersey, and while there signed with Atlantic Records, after which she entered the charts with "Funky Sensation" (number 22 R&B) in 1981. McCrae's last US chart record was in 1984, but in the UK she had a hit with "All This Love That I'm Giving' (number 63, 1988), an old single taken from 1979"s Melody Of Life. Her status on the UK's northern soul scene led to a new recording contract with the Homegrown label, who released McCrae's Girlfriend's Boyfriend in 1996. Further recordings followed for the revived Goldwax Records label in the USA, and in 2004 McCrae released her first gospel album.

Faith Evans

Braxton

Welcome back...... In the news this week: Toni Braxton talks bankruptcy  Playboy & Heath. If you caught Toni Braxton’s feature on Vh1′s ‘Behind the Music’ you are well familiar with her rocky past. While building her career back to prominence the R&B diva was featured on ABC News’ 20/20 Friday night, for an interview about her career and personal life. 

Toni shared more details about her addiction to fine house-wares, feelings about doing Playboy, her health, and on a positive note, European touring gigs and new music.

Brian McKnight finally returns with new music, following the whole crazy adult song situation, with a new single titled, “Sweeter.” A smooth, simple love song, backed by a string-heavy production.

Bilal has been quietly working on new music, as usual, and today the soulful crooner reveals, “Too High.” A buzz single off his forthcoming mixtape, “The Retrospection,” which drops December 5th. ‘The Retrospection’ serves as the precursor for Bilal’s upcoming third album A Love Surreal, which is set for release February 12. 

Bobby V

Bobby V conducted another interview for the web, well they just put it up this week, but the boy went a lil crazy. Showing his comedic personality like never before. Maybe too much coffee in the am? Whatever the case he explains why his album is titled “Dusk Till Dawn,” how he chose to do a duet titled “Put It In” with K. Michelle, has he ever done it in a hourly motel and most importantly why he loves his mothers spaghetti. (r&bnews.com)

Finally sad news, guitarist Mickey Baker died this week, he played on sessions with The Drifters, Ray Charles, Ivory Joe Hunter, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Louis Jordan, and Coleman Hawkins. He then teamed up with Sylvia Robinson (later 'Pillow Talk' and Sugarhill Records in the 70's) He was 87.

Enough news onto this weeks show.....njoy!

Track listing for Sunday 2nd. December 2012

Hour One

01 - Ray, Goodman & Brown - Mood For Love

02 - Donna Allen - Renew The Love

03 - Gerald Albright - Trying To Find Away (sax bed)

04 - Stephen Bishop - On And On

05 - The Emotions - Eternally

06 - Aretha Franklin - Something He Can Feel

07 - Jermaine Jackson - You Like Me Don't You/ There's No Better Way

09 - Michael Franks - Love Duet

10 - Anita Baker - Sometimes

11 - Jazz Samba Project - Waiting In Vain

Hour Two

        'Three-in-a-row'

12 - Faith Evans - Life Will Pass You By/ Ain't Nobody/  I Love You

15 - Gerald Albright (same as above sax bed)

16 - Richard 'Dimples' Fields - Jazzy Lady

17 - Junior Giscombe - Morning Will Come

18 - Chante Moore - Love Takes Over

19 - The Gap Band - Keep Holding On

20 - Curtis Hairston - Chillin' Out

21 - R.J's Latest Arrival - Please Stay

22 - Juicy - Sugar Free

23 - Roberta Gilliam - All I Want Is My Baby

Faith Evans Bio

Born 10 June 1973, Lakeland, Florida, USA. Married to hardcore rapper the Notorious B.I.G., urban R&B singer Faith Evans originally rose to prominence by singing background vocals and co-writing songs for Mary J. Blige, Color Me Badd and Tony Thompson.

She broke through as a solo artist in the mid-90s with the release of her winning debut single, "You Used To Love Me". Mixing slightly lisped rap sections with soulful singing of her predominantly romantic concerns, her self-titled debut album followed expertly in the tradition of Blige, with a wide cast of producers and collaborators. 

Without ever demonstrating the originality to separate her from a host of "new jill swing' peers, Faith was sufficiently contemporaneous and lavishly executed to arouse interest throughout the R&B community. It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard R&B album chart, and number 22 on the Top 200. Following Notorious B.I.G."s murder in March 1997, Evans appeared on the international number 1 tribute single "I'll Be Missing You" by Sean "Puffy" Combs. 

Her own minor hit "Love Like This" (US number 7/UK number 24) was built around a sample from Chic's "Chic Cheer", and premiered the US Top 10 album Keep The Faith.