Latest on MUSED - 'Truth. Be. Told.,' Refreshing New Docu-series Highlights Black Queer Visionaries

Image courtesy of MUSED.

Truth. Be. Told. is a documentary series which "seeks to reclaim the birthright of queer black  visionaries within our families and communities by providing a platform for out, Black LGBTQI-SGL-TS people to tell their personal stories of challenge, radical self-inquiry, transformation, and triumph."  Created by filmmaker, writer, photographer, activist, and communications professional Katina Parker, Truth. Be. Told. will highlight the multifaceted experiences of several visionaries and innovators and provide a comprehensive representation of Black Queer identity.  To find out more, read "'Truth. Be. Told.,' Refreshing New Docu-series Highlights Black Queer Visionaries" on MUSED. 

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering "digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about" (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.

Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 

Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

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Chaka Khan, A Birthday Tribute to the Queen of Funk-Soul

Image courtesy of Centric.

They tell me I've loved Chaka Khan since I was a baby.  Whenever her music was played, I'd apparently get excited, get up in my crib and start dancing.  Even then I was enchanted by this fiery, bold as love, soul sista.  As I got older, my love, respect, and admiration for her and her talent only grew.  She is and will always be one of my all-time favorite singers.   

Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall/For a chance to be with you/I'd gladly risk it all/Through the fire/Through whatever, come what may/For a chance at loving you/I'd take it all the way/Right down to the wire/Even through the fire ~ Chaka Khan, "Through The Fire," I Feel For You (1984)

I'll never forget the first time I got to see Chaka Khan live.  It was late November 2011 at The Birchmere in VA.  I was with my partner, mother, and grandmother.  And was it an experience!  While I knew Chaka would bring it like no other, I had no idea the show would impact so deeply.  Within the first few minutes, I was in tears.  Entranced.  Enraptured.  Captivated.  Spellbound.  I was emotionally and spiritually overwhelmed.  Here I was, sitting in the audience being serenaded by someone who I loved all my life.  Her soulful wail pierced my core and I was rendered helpless.  I surrendered to the Queen of Funk-Soul.

Chaka took us on a musical journey, singing a wondrous selection of her greatest hits and covers of tunes by some of her favorite artists.  The concert was as eclectic and vast as her rich catalog.  She sounded and looked better than ever.  It was quite clear to me that Chaka could put many of her peers (past, present, and future) to shame after this concert.  I didn't want it end (and neither did anyone else).  It was musical bliss.  We could've easily spent the rest of the night calling Chaka and her band back for more encores.  But that's what dreams are made of, right? 

Make my journey, make it short in space/Let me lose this hardness that I got now, Lord/Water, wash away all traces of hate/I will do what you say/If you just show me how, river/...Roll me through the rushes like Moses/Roll me through the rushes/Just like Moses on the Nile ~ Chaka Khan, "Roll Me Through The Rushes," Chaka (1978)

2013 marks two major milestones for Chaka Khan:  her 60th birthday (March 23, 2013) and 40 years in the entertainment industry.  Chaka will be unveiling a series of projects to commemorate these milestones.  Following the release of the March 16th "Stars Tribute" issue of Billboard Magazine, Chaka launched the 100 Days of Chaka campaign.  Introduced via an Augmented Reality app, the 100 Day of Chaka campaign "marks the 100 days from her birthday (March 23) to the anniversary of the release of her first recorded album with Rufus, Rufus (July 1, 1973) 40 years ago. This timeline will highlight daily, a series of historic moments in Chaka’s career, mixed with celebratory current events.  The 100 Days of Chaka culminates with the release of The iKhan Project: Alive! The Commemorative Edition, in stores July 2" (Soul Talkin' With Chaka).  

Later this year, Chaka will release The iKhan Project: Jazz, an album produced by renowned musician and composer Robert Glasper.  Fans can also look out for the I'm Every Woman Tour; television specials; an updated version of Through The Fire, Chaka's memoir; the relaunch of www.chakakhan.com; the relaunch of Chakalates, her signature gourmet chocolates; the launch of her Khana Sutra candles, and much, much more.  I must say, 2013 is gearing up to be a celebration fit for a legend!  Chaka deserves every moment of it (and then some).

A mama's cryin'/'Cause another young man has gone and died/He's not some statistic/He's another awesome destiny denied/So I've got to stand tall/I'm gonna live a super life/For the rest of my life/I'm gonna live a super life/Super life, super life, yeah ~ Chaka Khan, "Super Life," Funk This (2007)

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary, Chaka Khan!  Thank you for sharing your spirit and your boundless gifts with us.  We will forever be moved.  Here's to a fabulous 2013 and beyond! 

 
Related Post:
Day 47: Black Music Month - Chaka Khan

A Tribute to Our Beloved Writers

 

Performance artist, poet, playwright, and novelist Ntozake Shange. Image courtesy of Tumblr.

Your words have moved us—

Warmed us in ways only the gods could.

Yours were the voices of nations—

     speaking for others who had been silenced,

     or for those who hadn't quite found their voice yet.

Your stories evoked emotions—

     some we never imagined anyone could tap so literally within us.

But you're the catalysts,

     the messengers,

     transparent vehicles for lessons of a higher kind.

And we—the recipients of your gifts—

     continue to stand in awe, honor, and praise,

     for the art of your words dutifully expresses our humanity.

© 2012 BuddahDesmond 

Latest MUSED Articles - Steamy New Short Film 'Pause' & Marriage Equality Support from the GOP

Image courtesy of MUSED.

Eight Peace Productions, LLC has created a steamy new short film entitled Pause, as part of The Pause Campaign.  The Pause Campaign is a social marketing campaign done in collaboration with AID Atlanta's Evolution Project.  Pause centers around a group of gay men and uses the decisions they make to illustrate their connection in four intertwining tales.  The film expresses the importance of contemplation prior to making life decisions.  To learn about about Pause, read "‘Pause,’ Short Film Encourages Contemplation Before Decision-Making (VIDEO)" on MUSED.

When news hit last week that Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) had changed his stance on marriage equality, I'm sure it raised a few eyebrows.  Originally a staunch supporter of "traditional marriage," it was his son, who came out to his parents in 2011, that heavily influenced his change of mind.  Only time will tell if Sen. Portman's support will cause a ripple effect in the GOP.  But if the Supreme Court overturns California's Prop 8 and the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in two upcoming cases, the debate over marriage equality may soon come to end.  To read more, check out "Say What? More Republicans Coming Out In Support Of Marriage Equality" on MUSED.

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering "digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about" (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.

Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 

Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

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Five Inspirational Jams that Lift Me Up

Music has always been a constant in my life.  During the ups and downs (and all that lies between), music has served as an extension of my moods and emotions.  Speaking to me in ways almost like nothing else, the sweet sound of music has inspired me—giving the push I needed to go on.  Here's a list of five inspirational jams that never cease to keep me lifted.

Sounds of Blackness - "I'm Going All the Way" from Africa to America; The Journey of the Drum (1994)

"Now I know better/It’s time to move on/My determination/Is what keeps me strong/Oh I believe in myself/Like never before/Faith is the key/To unlock the door/Whatever it takes to make it/I’m going all the way/I may be down sometimes/But I won’t be down always..."

Africa to America; The Journey of the Drum by Sounds of Blackness, is a moving album with inspiring songs of history, faith, love, and soul. With Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis at the helm, they created inspirational/gospel music without boundaries.  Songs like the pulsing, rhythmic single "I'm Going All The Way" proved that inspirational/gospel could be relevant and contemporary without forsaking its message.  Fueled by Ann Nesby's rousing lead vocal, the song channels the reality that life may not always go the way we want it to.  But no matter what comes our way, we must go forward.  We cannot give up or give on..."We must hold on to [our goals]." We must go all the way.

Mary Mary - "Go Get It" from Go Get It (2012)

"You were made to live a good life and that's what I believe/So hit the floor say a prayer start working you got to do something/It's alright to crawl before you walk it's alright to walk before you run/But if you wanna get what you never got gotta do something that you never done/Go get it, Go Get it, Go get it, Go get it, Go get it/
Go get yo blessing..."

As soon as I heard "Go Get It" on Mary Mary's We reality series, I was immediately moved by the urgency of its music, vocals, and message.  Without a doubt, it's one of Mary Mary's best songs.  Produced by longtime producer Warryn Campbell, the song tells us that we can't achieve anything if we do not go after it.  We can't sit around and wait for our lives to change.  If we want something we have to make it happen.  Count it on faith, if you play your part—the blessings will follow.  Whether you're a Christian believer or not, the message is undeniable.

Whitney Houston - "Step By Step" from The Preacher's Wife (1996)
"And this old road is rough and ruined/So many dangers along the way/So many burdens might fall upon me/So many troubles that I have to face/Oh, but I won't let my spirit fail me/Oh, I won't let my spirit go/Until I get to my destination/I'm gonna take it slowly cuz I'm making it mine/Step By Step (you know I'm taking it), bit by bit (bit by bit, come move),
stone by stone (yeah), brick by brick (brick by brick by brick by brick mmm...)."

"Step By Step" was the second single released from The Preacher's Wife soundtrack.  The album found Houston returning back to her roots.  Primarily a Gospel album, The Preacher's Wife also contained R&B/Soul and Pop tunes of love and inspiration.  "Step By Step" is a funky, uptempo tune written by the iconic Annie Lennox.  Musically and vocally stellar, the song encourages us to remain faithful, steadfast, and committed while on our journey.  We can't let anything detract or or get to us.  We've got to keep moving.

Janet Jackson - "Strong Enough" from The Velvet Rope (1997)
"I know that it's not been easy/Trying to make it in this crazy world/People 'round you try to stop you/Stomp you saying that you don't belong/...You must remember that/You were born with blood of kings and queens/And can't be stopped/Stay stronger my brother you can't be stopped/No, you can't be stopped/Don't ever let nobody tell you you ain't strong enough/Strong enough, don't let nobody tell you you ain't/Strong enough, don't let nobody tell you..."

"Can't Be Stopped" is the hidden bonus track on Janet Jackson's critically-acclaimed, artistic triumph, The Velvet Rope.  The song is a lush, uplifting jam featuring Ms. Jackson's assured, layered vocals, socially conscious lyrics, and a soulful sound reminiscent of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues."  In this life, we may come up against forces designed to try to keep us complacent, down, and out.  If we give in, the negative forces will win.  But if we proceed and persist, we will be successful. We will be victorious.  We will be unstoppable.

Vesta Williams - "Better Days" from Seven (2013)

"Today it didn't rain/The sun came out again/The cloudy days seem to be over/It's like I found a four-leaf clover/And changed misfortunes of mine/Troubles on my heart/Things falling apart/The fight in me was slowly dying/But never did I give up trying/To find my moment to shine/Better days are coming my way/Heaven smiles and I'm still okay/Better times will be yours and mine/And I think it's going to be just fine..."

"Better Days" is Vesta's most recent single from her final studio album Seven.  The smoothed out groove of the music (straddling the line between R&B/Soul and Contemporary Jazz) and Vesta's emotive, yet somewhat restrained vocal performance makes this a welcomed addition to any fan's music collection.  Released in the fall of 2012, I was drawn to its message of perseverance and faith through it all.  No matter how dark or how long the days get, we must trust and believe that better days are not too far behind.  But we must it through the bad days before we can enjoy the fruits of better days.

 

Latest MUSED Article - Should We Ditch ‘LGBT’ For ‘GSD’ (Gender And Sexual Diversities)?

Image courtesy of MUSED.

 
In my latest article on MUSED, I ponder whether we should change "LGBT" to "GSD" (Gender and Sexual Diversities.  Pink Therapy, a London-based advocacy group recently featured in The Huffington Post, suggested that we use GSD as an alternative because it is more inclusive and speaks to the larger groups who may not fall into or easily identify with LGBT.  For more of my commentary, please check out "Should We Ditch 'LGBT' for 'GSD' (Gender And Sexual Diversities)?" on MUSED.

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering "digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about" (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.

Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 

Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

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Mint Condition - The Definition of a Band

Image courtesy of the Centric.

I was beyond pleased to see Mint Condition featured in an episode of TVOne's latest season of "Unsung."  Dubbed "the last great Black band," Mint Condition has carried on a musical tradition that burgeoned in the 1970s and 1980s with groups like Earth, Wind, & Fire, The Ohio Players, and Slave.  For over 20 years, they have captivated audiences with high-energy performances and "Gumbo," a term they use to describe their music (which is a seamless blend of R&B, Funk, Rock, Jazz, Latin and Caribbean music).

I've been a fan of Mint Condition since the age of 9.  The first tune I remember hearing was their No. 1 signature hit, "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)."  In the early 90s, there was nothing on the radio that sounded as organic and soulful as that tune or the follow-up Top Ten R&B hit "Forever In Your Eyes."  Though competition in the 1990s with groups (like Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Silk, and Shai) was quite fierce, Mint Condition remained true to themselves and made music that spoke to their souls.  Their music is affirming, heart-warming, and emotionally acute.  To this day, songs like "If You Love Me," "What Kind Of Man Would I Be," "Someone To Love," "U Send Me Swingin'," "Single To Mingle" "This Day, This Minute, Right Now," and "You Don't Have To Hurt No More" give me the chills.  That's the effect of music when it's real, heartfelt, and timeless.

Many musical trends have come and gone, but Mint Condition's music is as vital and relevant as ever.  Like many groups/bands, Mint Condition has experienced its share of trials and tribulations.  Yet, they've remained committed to themselves and the music.  After 8 albums and several hit singles, it's easy to say the best is yet to come!

Mint Condition Releases:
Meant to be Mint (1991)
From the Mint Factory (1993)
Definition of a Band (1996)
Life's Aquarium (1999)
Livin' the Luxury Brown (2005)
Live from the 9:30 Club (2006)
E-Life (2008)
7... (2011)
Music @ the Speed of Life (2012)

Compilations:
The Collection: 1991-1998 (1998)
20th Century Masters: The Best of Mint Condition (2006)

Related Post:
Day 55: Black Music Month - Mint Condition

Latest MUSED Article - Looking For Black Leadership? The Savior Lies Within

Image courtesy of MUSED.

In my latest article for MUSED "Look For Black Leadership? The Savior Lies Within," I propose the (urgent) need to look within ourselves to find the leadership we so desperately crave.  Some of us have penchant expectations that our leaders are the answers to fix the many ills which plague our community.  While leadership is an important part of the process, we cannot deny the power we have to create the change we wish to see.  For more, check out my article on the MUSED site.  Feel free to share and comment!

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering "digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about" (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.

Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 

Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

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Latest MUSED Article - Upgraded Charges in FAMU Robert Champion Hazing Death Case

Image courtesy of the GLSEN Blog.

New developments came in the FAMU Robert Champion hazing death case.  Charges were upgraded to manslaughter for 12 of the defendants this week.  Robert Champion was a FAMU drum major who was viciously beaten to death by his fellow band members on a parked bus in Orlando, FL in November 2011.  There are claims that Champion, who was a vocal opponent of hazing and openly gay, may have been brutally beaten also because of his sexual orientation.  To find out more, read my article on MUSED, "Upgraded Charges in FAMU Robert Champion Hazing Death Case."

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering "digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about" (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.

Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 

Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

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The Music Of Life (from 'Prevail')

 
Life is so complex,
Like the rhythms and melodies of jazz.
It’s ambiguous,
Always open to interpretation,
Constantly moving and changing, like the syllables of improvisational scats.

Each hour marks a line
Which all compile to create each day’s song:
Sometimes fast,
Sometimes slow,
Sometimes upbeat and jubilant,
Sometimes moody and melancholy.
The lyrics tell your story.

The situations, tasks, and events of the day are the notes.
You embody an instrument that plays accordingly.
Some days you may be at the top of the charts;
Other days you may not even chart at all.
Nothing ever really stays the same.
That’s the joy of opening your eyes to a new day.
One never knows what lies ahead.

So when you get right down to it,
Life is a series of albums that detail
The colorful phases of your growth, development, and experiences,
All of the hits and misses,
All of the highs and lows.
That’s the music of life.

© 2012 BuddahDesmond 

"The Music of Life" is featured in the "Life" section of Prevail: Poems on Life, Love, and Politics. Prevail is available at iUniverse, Amazon (Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle), Barnes & Noble, Book-A-Million (Paperback | Hardcover), and other retailers.    

Related Post:
101 Days Project: Prevail

Happy Birthday Teena Marie

 Image courtesy of the That Grape Juice site.

Music is meant to inspire/To elevate you and to take you higher/Like the prophets spoke words to my soul/Letters of love like silver and gold/...Sign myself to you forever. ~ Teena Marie, "Luv Letter," Beautiful (2013) 

I spent countless days spinning Teena Marie LPs as a child.  Funny how not much has changed even as an adult.  Her performances on songs like "Cassanova Brown," "Shadow Boxing," "Portuguese Love," "Deja Vu (I've Been Here Before)" and "If I Were A Bell" held me captive.  Her sophisticated funk on "Square Biz," "Lovergirl," "Playboy," "Midnight Magnet," "It Must Be Magic," and "Behind The Groove" rocked me deeply.  There was something about her that was so special and unique, that it emanated from every note she wrote, played, and sang.  You could feel her soul in each musical thread from 1979's "Wild and Peaceful" to 2013's "Beautiful" (her final studio album).  These threads wove a beautiful tapestry that will live on beyond her years.

Her artistry is/was amazing.  Known as the "Ivory Queen Of Soul," her music, with its poetic lyricism, encompassed so many genres—R&B/Soul, Funk, Hip-Hop, Latin, Jazz.  It transcended categorization and race.  If her mission was to bring people together with her gifts, she accomplished it quite well.

Inspired by Smokey Robinson, Al Green, Aretha Franklin,  "Sarah Vaughan, Johann Sebastian Bach, Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, and Nikki Giovanni just to name a few," Lady Tee's music was as diverse as her inspirations.  If you listen to her catalog, you'll hear that she placed no limits on herself or her music.  She went where the spirit moved her.  In a career that spanned over 30 years, the progression was astounding.

While Motown was not initially on board with giving Teena Marie complete creative control, they changed their tune after two successful albums produced by Rick James, Wild and Peaceful (1979), and Richard Rudolph, Lady T (1980).  Marie wrote, produced, and arranged her third and fourth studio albums, Irons In The Fire (1980) and It Must Be Magic (1981).  These albums are regarded as some of her best work, and featured the hit singles "I Need Your Lovin'" (her first top 40 hit), "Young Love," "Square Biz" (one of the first songs to bring hip-hop to the forefront by melding it with contemporary R&B/Soul music), "It Must Be Magic," and "Portuguese Love."  Legal disputes with Motown would later hinder Marie from releasing music.  A lawsuit ensued, resulting in the creation of "The Brockert Initiative," which made it illegal for record labels to withhold releasing music from their artists while still under contract.

Marie would later leave Motown for Epic Records, where she would go on to release five studio albums—Robbery (1983), Starchild (1984), Emerald City (1986), Naked to the World (1988), and Ivory (1990).  It was with Epic that Marie would achieve her greatest commercial and crossover success, with her platinum-selling Starchild album and its lead single "Lovergirl" (#9 R&B/#4 Pop/#6 Dance).  Naked to the World featured her biggest R&B single "Ooh La La La" (#1), a song that would later be sampled on The Fugees' 1996 hit single "Fu-Gee-La" (from The Score).  Her final Epic release Ivory, featured the R&B hits "If I Were A Bell" (#8) and "Here's Looking At You" (#11).  

 Image courtesy of Last.fm

In 1994, Marie independently released the fan-favorite Passion Play on her Sarai Records label.  Though she continued to perform, she devoted most of her time to raising her daughter Alia Rose, a singer and songwriter in her own right known as Rose La Beau (featured on Marie's Sapphire, Congo Square, and Beautiful albums).  It would be 10 years before releasing her next studio album.

Marie later signed with the Cash Money Classics label, and released two stellar albums, 2004's La Dona and 2006's Sapphire.  The gold-selling La Dona was her highest charting album on the Billboard 200 (#6), and featured the Grammy-nominated single "Still In Love" (#23 R&B/#70 Pop) and the sultry, Quiet Storm jam "A Rose By Any Other Name," featuring the late great Gerald Levert (#53 R&B).  Sapphire featured "You Blow Me Away," a tribute to Rick James, two duets with Smokey Robinson "God Has Created" and "Cruise Control," a tribute to Hurricane Katrina victims "Resilient (Sapphire)," and the funky, mellow-smooth lead single, "Ooh Wee" (#32 R&B).

Image courtesy of the Soulbounce site.

Marie's final studio albums 2009's Congo Square and 2013's Beautiful (released posthumously) are arguably two of the finest and most accomplished efforts of her career.  Congo Square featured collaborations with George Duke, Howard Hewett, Shirley Murdock, MC Lyte, Faith Evans, and Rose La Beau (to name a few).  When discussing Congo Square in an interview with Blues & Soul magazine, Marie said,

I wanted to do songs that reflected the things that I loved when I was growing up. Every single song on the record is dedicated to someone, or some musical giant that I loved. 'The Pressure' is dedicated to Rick James; 'Can't Last a Day' is dedicated to the Gamble & Huff sound – the Philly International sound. Then 'Baby I Love You' and 'Ear Candy' are dedicated to Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield – with memories of riding down Crenshaw in LA in jeeps and bumping to music on the 808. While 'Miss Coretta' is, of course, dedicated to Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the late wife of Martin Luther King. 'Solder' is for the soldiers. 'Congo Square' is for Congo Square - it's for the slaves and the great musical geniuses and giants that have come out of new Orleans, and the great Jazz era. And Louis Armstrong...

Beautiful, the album Marie was working on prior to her passing, is everything the its title implies.  It's practically a perfect artistic depiction of who she was—an amazing woman and mother, and a versatile, passionate, soulful, ever-changing, multi-talented singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, and producer.  She was a musical genius.

Though she didn't always get the kudos she deserved from the mainstream, Lady Tee will always be regarded by fans, musicians, and contemporary R&B/soul critics alike as one of the best to ever do it.  Here's to you Teena Marie! The Tee lives on!

   

Related Post:
"Beautiful," Teena Marie's Final Album To Be Released 1/15/2013

Happy Women's History Month

Author and Spiritualist lecturer, Harriet E. Wilson was the first African American to publish a novel in North America. Her autobiographical novel, Our Nig: Sketches From The Life Of A Free Black, was published in 1859.

Happy Women's History Month!  During the month of March, we honor all women who've made (or are making) significant contributions not only to the fabric of our society but also to the world.  

The origins of Women's History Month date back to the very first celebration of International Women's History Day (which is March 8th) in 1911.  In 1981, Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28, which officially recognized the second week of March as Women's History Week.  Congress, after being petitioned by the National Women's History Project, passed Pub. L. 100-9, which officially recognized March as Women's History Month.  According to the Women's History Month site, "Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month" between 1988 and 1994.  March has been observed annually as "Women's History Month" in numerous proclamations by Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama since 1995.

During Women's History Month, we reflect on the extraordinary accomplishments of women and honor their role in shaping the course of our Nation's history.  Today, women have reached heights their mothers and grandmothers might only have imagined.  Women now comprise nearly half of our workforce and the majority of students in our colleges and universities.  They scale the skies as astronauts, expand our economy as entrepreneurs and business leaders, and serve our country at the highest levels of government and our Armed Forces.  In honor of the pioneering women who came before us, and in recognition of those who will come after us, this month, we recommit to erasing the remaining inequities facing women in our day. ~ President Barack Obama, Presidential Proclamation - Women's History Month, 2011

 So let's take a moment to honor the women past and present who have made tremendous strides for all of us, not just during the month of March, but every day.