The Legacy of Don Cornelius

Posted on February 4, 2012 by skip

In our present day world of YouTube, Vevo and a wireless Universe of audio, video and written word, I find it all too easy to forget the days when we looked to Soul Train for what was sometimes our first look at that new artist or band moving up the R&B charts. In fact, one of the first shows I really was excited to view with our home’s first color TV was Soul Train. The fact that any syndicated show could run for over 35 years is a testament to the relevance, demand and need for Soul Train.

Regardless of the reason a legendary figure in his middle 70’s would choose to take his own life, what’s hard to deal with is how such a sad end could come to a man who brought so much joy to so many.

Don Cornelius saw a need and filled it. He did not have the backing of television networks and millionaires as his rival Dick Clark and American Bandstand did with ABC behind them. Cornelius started his show with Black hair products and worked his way up to larger sponsors like McDonalds. In fact, given the little he had to work with, his contributions surpassed many others who received more fame and popularity.

While a proud, confident person, perhaps Don Cornelius didn’t know how gifted a marking guru he was. I remember as a child going to visit relatives and always seeing a Soul Train 8 Track, cassette or CD representing a specific year or “best of” compilation from the show. And Don’s features including the World Famous “Soul Train Line” or “Scrabble Board” helped influence our culture ranging from high school dances to the fashion industry.

Soul Train was also “all inclusive”. In the early 70’s as the Civil Rights struggles of the 60’s were just beginning to cool, Cornelius welcomed people of all colors including artists ranging from KC & The Sunshine Band to Elton John. As long as Black people were “grooving” to it, you’d find it on Soul Train. Cornelius’ Soul Train also was among the very first entertainment media to embrace hip-hop, welcoming artists who were considered by others to be a “fad”. Cornelius also occasionally featured young, African American comedians helping to launch the careers of non-musical talents including Arsenio Hall.

As for artists old and new; just about everyone in R&B over the age of 40 has Don Cornelius to thank. From Prince, to Rick James, to Jody Watley, Atlantic Starr to New Edition, if you wanted to be seen as well as heard; Soul Train was the “You Tube” of the 70’s, 80’s and much of the 90’s. And when MTV wouldn’t air videos by Black Artists when it launched in 1980, Soul Train “chugged along” capturing R&B lovers of all races across the globe.

Don Cornelius was born Donald Cortez Cornelius in Chicago on September 27^th 1936. After high school he served 18 months in Korea as a U.S. Marine. After fulfilling his duties, Cornelius returned home to Chicago holding numerous jobs ranging from selling automobiles to a stint as a Chicago Police Officer. After taking a broadcasting course, Cornelius landed a job at Chicago station WVON where he served as a DJ and news announcer. Soul Train began as a local TV show fulfilling Don’s dream to have a “soul review” where artists of color could showcase their music. Don served as host eventually syndicating his show Nation-wide in 1971. Soul Train made history as the longest running syndicated TV show ending in 2006.

Don Cornelius’ legacy will live on through an unmatched archive of music and memories spanning almost 40 years. Finally, Don Cornelius may rest knowing he is now receiving the recognition and appreciation in death that seemed to elude him in life.

SUPERBOWL SURPISE!

Posted on January 29, 2012 by skip

AS THE WEALTHIER GIANTS FANS AMONG US PACK FOR A PARTY IN INDIANAPOLIS, THE REST OF US GEAR UP FOR A MOST UNLIKELY SURPRISE.

THE GIANTS WILL PLAY IN SUPERBOWL 46!

WHAT A PRO FOOTBALL SEASON THIS YEAR! AFTER MONTHS OF NOT KNOWING IF WE’D EVEN HAVE FOOTBALL DUE TO A LOCKOUT THAT SEEMED LONG (UNTIL THE NBA SHOWED US JUST HOW LONG ONE COULD GET), WE GOT A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE THAT KEPT US GUESSING EACH WEEK.

THE “SPORTING NEWS” 2011 FOOTBALL ANNUAL ACTUALLY PICKED THE NEW YORK JETS TO REPRESENT THE AFC WITH THE DALLAS COWBOYS TAKING THE NFC’S SIDE FOR THIS YEARS BIG GAME. BOTH TEAMS FOLDED RELATIVELY EARLY DESPITE HIGHLIGHTS AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE SEASON.

WHAT WE ENDED WITH WAS A TEAM (THE PATRIOTS) WHO COULD BE EXPECTED TO CONTEND FOR THE SUPERBOWL IN ANY RECENT YEAR. AND WE WOUND UP WITH A TEAM FEW WOULD HAVE PICKED TO BE THERE — OUR GIANTS.

THE GIANTS PLAYED THIS SEASON WITH UPS, DOWNS AND MOSLTLY UNCERTAINTY. FROM UNDERPERFORMING DEFENSIVE EFFORTS, TO RECIEVERS FEW HAD CONFIDENCE IN, THINGS SEEMED TO BE HEADED SOUTH UNTIL THE GIANTS CAUGHT FIRE JUST IN TIME TO SQEAK INTO THE PLAYOFFS. AND BY THE TIME THE 49’ERS WERE WALKING OFF THE FIELD ON JANUARY 22^ND, THE GIANTS LOOKED MORE LIKE THE TEAM THE JETS WERE PICKED TO BE AT THE START OF THE SEASON.

THAT’S HOW LIFE WORKS SOMETIMES. WE STRUGGLE AND JUST WHEN THINGS LOOK UP, OTHER OBSTICLES ARISE. HOWEVER TRUE CHAMPIONS KEEP PRESSING ON, EVENTUALLY TAKING THE LEAD WHILE EVERYONE’S LOOKING ELSEWHERE. AND THIS SEASON IT SEEMED THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEWHERE ELSE TO LOOK:

*FOOTBALL ANALYSTS AND BLOGGERS SPENT THEIR TIME TALKING ABOUT COLT PAYTON MANNING’S INJURED NECK AND MULTIPLE OPERATIONS TO CORRECT IT. ELI, OUTSIDE OF GIANTS FANS, GOT LITTLE ATTENTION UNTIL THE PLAYOFFS.

*THE BRONCOS TIM TEBOW PROVED HE “COULD” PLAY IN THE NFL AND INDEED PLAY VERY WELL. HOWEVER, HIS VERY PUBLIC AND NUMEROUS EXPRESSIONS OF HIS RELIGIOUS FAITH DREW PLNETY OF CONTROVERSY THAT EXTENDED FAR OFF THE FIELD. AMONG THE MANY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DEBATE INCLUDED A SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE SPOOF IN WHICH JESUS CHRIST PAID A VISIT TO THE BRONCOS LOCKER ROOM DURING A GAME.

*CAM NEWTON BECAME AN NFL STAR OF THE FUTURE IN HIS DEBUT SEASON WITH THE CAROLINA PANTHERS. THE HEISMAN WINNER PUT QUESTIONS TO REST ABOUT HIS ACCURACY, COMITTMENT AND INTEGRITY, SHOWING A VERY MATURE GAME FOR A ROOKIE THAT HAS CAROLNA FANS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY SEASONS.

*IT WAS FUN WATCHING TEAMS USED TO LOSING BEGIN GETTING WINS. MOST NOTABLE WERE THE SAN FRANCISCO 49’ERS, DETROIT LIONS, HOUSTON TEXANS AND CINCINATTI BENGALS.

LIVING THE DREAM

Posted on January 17, 2012 by skip

Once again MLK Weekend reminds us of the struggle and sacrifices Dr. King endured in order to make a difference in America and the World.

I was thinking about the advances we’ve made towards the realization of King’s “dream”. Certainly there’s plenty of good news to report.

President Barak Obama has taken numerous challenges as President head-on and while there’s a lot he needs to get done quickly, he’s head and shoulders above anyone the Republican Party has fielded to run against him in 2012 so far.
Here in New York African Americans continue breaking new ground on Broadway and entertainment including Alicia Key’s supported and critically acclaimed play “Stickfly”. And the fiction drama imagining Dr. King’s last night alive, “Mountaintop” has extended it’s run. Also just getting underway, a newly revised version of the famous George Gershwin Opera “Porgy & Bess” is poised for success, directed by the young, and amazingly talented African American Suzan-Lori Parks.
Black spending power in America is quickly approaching One Trillion Dollars! It’s an astonishing feat that puts a large chunk of the U.S. economy in our hands. On the other side of the coin however the distance to victory seems at times like we haven’t left the starting line;
African American unemployment is nearly “double” the overall National average. Some analysts place our rate as high as 16.7 percent when the National average overall is closer to 8 percent. Meantime; Federal, State and Local non-profit programs seeking to bridge the gap continue to be first on the chopping block when budgets run short.
Gun violence in predominately African American neighborhoods from New Orleans to Brooklyn is once again on the rise. And due to lax laws along with lobbying from the National Rifle Association, guns are easier to come by than ever. Last year for instance, law enforcement officials traced an astonishing 2500 gun crimes in Inner-City Washington DC to ONE Southern Maryland gun store.
Public Schools in predominately Black communities Nationwide continue to lag behind. Access to a quality, diverse education for every American remains far from being realized outside of a few bright spots. And while charter schools have been touted as a solution in lower-income areas, results continue to be mixed at best.
Health Care remains another obstacle. Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity and HIV/AIDS continue to disproportionally impact our communities. Health insurance costs, outdated hospitals and clinics combined with a lack of quality grocery stores in many urban areas continue to devastate many.
And while we’re making all this money, not much is being invested back into our communities. We need more minority business including construction, retail and financial institutions that will actually “loan” money. And we MUST own a piece of the “digital” universe. Hi-tech companies that put the “smart” into smart phones, “apps” on our tablets, music to our ears and video to our eyes generate profits and create today’s greatest opportunities.
We must continue to stand against racism and hate. It’s hard to believe that in 2012 we must contend with housing discrimination and predatory lending. We also must stand with our brothers and sisters of Jewish ethnicity who continue to fall victim to senseless hate crimes, most recently in Northern New Jersey where several families came home to Nazi symbols spray-painted on their homes. And popular area Rabbi Nosson Schuman suffered minor burns during a firebomb attempt on his home. How does this kind of hate continue to exist?

We’ve got plenty of work ahead of us. Dr. King’s dream is certainly an ongoing task, but one the human race is certainly capable of achieving. Each and every one of us possess gifts and talents that can close the gap. From mentoring to tutoring, from funding initiatives that make a difference to voting; this year let’s all find something we can do that will bring positive change wherever we see the need.
We haven’t forgotten you Dr. King. Your “Dream” indeed lives on. Once again MLK Weekend reminds us of the struggle and sacrifices Dr. King endured in order to make a difference in America and the World.
I was thinking about the advances we’ve made towards the realization of King’s “dream”. Certainly there’s plenty of good news to report.

Great Artists Who Left Us in 2011

Posted on December 31, 2011 by skip

ROLL CALL!

Heavy D and Skip Dillard

ROLL CALL!

Moving into 2012 we won’t forget great artists who left us in 2011. My mind goes back to last year’s freak Northeast Snowstorm that closed out 2010 coupled with the loss of a Teena Marie, who was still making new music and performing her classics with a passion seldom seen by an artist so many years into the game.

The legends continued to leave us in 2011 faster than we’ve been able to find “new legends” to replace them. Thank God these great artists will live on through their music.

Heavy D-44 Years young and still in his prime, his passing from heart complications due to a blood clot is still hard to accept.

Phoebe Snow-Her song “Poetry Man” summed up a life filled with challenges and the ability to convey them to the World through her music.

Sylvia Robinson-Artist, CEO, Mentor and Pioneer who heard the sounds of the New York City Streets and made sure everyone else took a listen.

Nick Ashford-With his wife Valerie, this “perfect pair wrote and performed music that touched the heart.

Clarence Clemmons-The flamboyant sax virtuoso of Bruce Springsteen’s “E Street Band”

Gil Scott Heron-An Activist who spent his life in pursuit of peace and justice through music.

Amy Winehouse-Super-talented British R&B vocalist unable to escape her demons.

Glady’s Horton (Marvelettes)-Another Motown “voice” gone but not forgotten.

Vesta Williams-A true R&B Diva! Her 1989 Top-5 Hit Congratulations became a women’s anthem.

Nate Dogg-Proved that “Gangta Rap” could still have a “smooth side” as well.

Pine Top Perkins-Born in 1913, he was among the last of the great Blues artists who paved the way for Rock N’ Roll.

Wake Up and Smell The Right!

Posted on November 18, 2011 by skip

With College Football BCS Bowl implications abound on Saturday, November 12^th, it’s likely that evening’s Republican Debate may have gone pretty much unnoticed. And I have to admit I too wound up reviewing highlights after football was done for the day.

This time the debate focus was foreign policy and judging from the overall tone for the evening, one can only wonder what a Presidency under Cain, Mitt, Perry or the others would look like.

First off, the common theme appeared to be a sort of a “one size fits all” approach; figure out what Countries are actually “friends” of America, and treat them accordingly. Texas Governor Rick Perry even went so far to suggest that EVERY Nation receiving aid from America should be “wiped out” and put under “review” including long-term U.S. Allies like Israel.

Presidential hopefuls Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann came out in support of the return of “waterboarding” as a source of getting information from those alleged to be terrorists regardless of whether it’s considered torture or not. Backmann even bizarrely accused the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of running the CIA under the Obama Administration (an apparent jab at the post-Bush belief that alleged terrorists and International criminals must still be afforded basic human rights).

For Mitt Romney, this debate continued his week-long rhetoric that a vote for a President Obama in 2012 was a vote for Iran to have nuclear weapons. But while several candidates mentioned the possibility of war with Iran, no one had any definitive ideas on curtailing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

As for the bizarre (and no I’m not talking about his alleged behavior towards women); Herman Cain said he believed President Obama allowed the Arab Spring to “go on too long”! Cain was referring to the uprisings around the Middle East including the one ending Egypt’s 30 plus year reign of Hosni Mubarak. This is truly ironic given the Republican mantra or spreading “democracy” even to the point of “meddling” in the affairs of Countries that pose no threat to the free World. Newt Gingrich seemed to echo Cain stating the Obama Administration’s unwillingness to fight to keep Mubarak in Power made it look as if; (The United States)..”will abandon you in a heartbeat if they feel like it”.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard enough. The truth is, foreign policy isn’t black or white, it’s most often “gray”. Foreign policy isn’t “common sense governing” as Herman Cain likes to use as one of his buzz phrases. Foreign policy decisions require a lot of thought, careful planning, and most of all, the EXPERIENCE of traveling abroad frequently and we’re not talking about vacation destinations like Jamaica, Cancun, the wine growing regions of Italy, the beaches of Southern France and Hawaii.

Today we live in a vast Universe where being bi-lingual, educated, informed and a good listener, are all vitals keys to success. When candidates like Mr. Cain try and make us believe creating jobs and securing our Country have little or nothing to do with Foreign Policy, I smell a “dumb-down” a mile away!

Thanks to our increasingly “wired” World, we’re all connected. Whether it’s China’s frequently questioned trade agreements, the resignation of Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Libya’s revolution or Greece’s debt; their issues ultimately become ours. And we need a President, House and Senate with experience, skills, morals, education and a willingness to engage our World head-on; even when the results of our actions and decisions may not be fully known for many years to come.

Give me a James Baldwin, Bobby Kennedy, Dorothy Height, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Winston Churchill, Mary McLeod Bethune. Albert Einstein, Frederick Douglas, and yes I said it, BARAK OBAMA any day over Herman Cain, Sarah Palin or anyone else who jumps in front of us saying we need “simple”, “common sense” or a “State’s Rights” answer to everything. Knowledge is STILL power and anyone who tells you they can run our Nation without it is pretty much trying to convince you it’s “cool to be ignorant”.

That doesn’t pass the smell test with me.

“TAKING IT TO THE STREETS”

Posted on October 4, 2011 by skip

Back in Mid-September, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a comment his weekly radio show that America could face riots in it’s streets. His comments, which received much media attention, referenced recent uprisings in Cities ranging from Cairo to London. Given where we are at the beginning of October, the Mayor appeared to be glancing into a “crystal ball”.

Fast forward two weeks and we see almost 700 persons arrested in New York after ongoing “Wall Street” protests expanded to include a traffic-snarling march to the Brooklyn Bridge.

What’s most interesting here is unlike those “tea-party” activists, these “Wall-Street” protesters range from college students to baby-boomers and come from a variety of backgrounds and races. And, while these protestors lack the focus of a leader, political party, or organization serving as an umbrella for a group of organizations; there are plenty of points that unite them;

*As Mayor Bloomberg noted, there are far too many recent college grads unable to find work. At the same time, many Americans with years of experience are still unable to find jobs or are underemployed.

*The financial sector seems to have rebounded very well, in fact, better than most other industries, yet it’s harder for the “average” American to get loans, re-financing for their homes, small business or other financial assistance that was all too available just several years ago.

*The President is now calling on wealthy corporations and individuals to pay their “fair share” of the tax burden. In the 80’s much of the economic basis of “Reaganomics” involved the “trickle-down” theory; “give the wealthy folks and their businesses big tax breaks and they’ll create more jobs”. We saw then, as we see now, this formula doesn’t exactly work as planned. And today, those with money fight to make more and keep all of it if possible.

*The cost of food, healthcare, education and other essentials continue to rise. A New York Times Article on September 28^th says health care premiums are up 9 percent in 2011 with the average premium cost for a family through an employer hitting an all-time high of $15,073 in 2011. The article also states that most employers expect premiums to rise another 5 percent on average before many of President Obama’s heath-reform items go into effect in 2012.

In Detroit Michigan, residents took to the streets for the start of October as Reverend Jesse Jackson joined Michigan Congressman John Conyers for a protest of a new bill authored and signed by Republican Governor Rick Snyder putting an immediate cap on “welfare” benefits paid by the State. This “cap” comes after a March 2011 bill the Governor signed making Michigan the “shortest” unemployment benefits State in the Nation cutting jobless benefits by 6 weeks to 20 versus the National Average of 26 weeks.

The new “welfare cap”, limits a Michigan resident to total of 4 years of “cash” benefits paid by the State during their lifetime. According to the Detroit Free Press as of this writing, 41,000 residents (29,000 of them children) in Michigan were scheduled to lose their cash payments. In a State that’s seen a virtual “meltdown” of the American auto industry and it’s suppliers over the past 20 years, the impact to a State struggling to retrain it’s workforce could be devastating.

Are we seeing some kind of threat to capitalism? Or course not! Even with our problems, there’s still a far better chance of living a decent life here than we’d have in Cairo, Tripoli, Tel Aviv, Johannesburg or even London for that matter. But it doesn’t mean we Americans are going to necessarily stay quiet either.

Since the election of President Obama, we’ve seen the rise of the mostly right-wing “tea party”. Perhaps the time has finally come for a much larger, moderate, and more sensible group of voices to be heard as well.

Let’s hope the President’s “jobs bill” and numerous other “stimulus” plans are put in place now. The protests locally on Wall Street show no sign of ending soon and with many out of work with little hope of finding employment in the near future, New York and may Cities across our great Country could be in for a long winter.

A Prayer for the 9/11 Generation

Posted on September 10, 2011 by skip

It’s truly amazing how fast 10 years can fly by. And it’s amazing how after 10 years the pain still lingers on.

The 10^th anniversary of one of the worst acts of terrorism in World History leaves a lot of wounds that show no signs of healing. A good reminder that life forever has changed for me was just getting home from work tonight. Both the FDR and West Side Highway were a virtual parking lot, littered with flashing lights, cars, cabs and trucks forced to the side of the road for random searches. This, a day after authorities received “threats” made against New York City and Washington DC, served as a stark reminder that as much as we’d like to believe we’re safer and perhaps done with such insanity (President Obama did hunt Bin Laden down and kill him didn’t he?), there are still those in this world who feel so hopeless, so miserable and are so angry, they’re receptive to “distorted” interpretations of our great religions, promises of salvation and dreams of having their names remembered, revered and feared by many for years to come.

My point? This sounds like a lot of the promises our children receive from gang members, drug dealers, hustlers and conditions including poverty that continue to lead our young people astray. While we remember 9/11, let’s not forget just last week we were trying to make sense of the numerous Labor Day weekend shootings that seemed to serve as a wrap up to an unusually violent summer. This is a great weekend to spend with our children. What are they thinking about these days? Perhaps we didn’t spend enough time with the children who witnessed 9/11/2001. When one thinks of the mass horror and violence that took place on that day, it’s not that hard to envision why a 24 year old in present-day South Bronx or Newark, sees “violence” as little more than a necessary part of their existence.

By reaching THIS generation of children, perhaps we can begin to make amends for the damage inflicted upon the “9/11 Generation” and truly honor the memory of those who lost their lives on what began as a uncommonly warm, sunny, September morning, 10 years ago.

WE REMEMBER HURRICANE KATRINA

Posted on August 30, 2011 by skip

The following is a copy of a press release sent to me from Congressman Charles Rangel

August 29, 2011

Congressman Charles Rangel

RANGEL: WE REMEMBER HURRICANE KATRINA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Charles Rangel issued the following statement in remembrance of the 6th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, August 28, 2011:

“This past weekend, we saw President Barack Obama, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA Director Craig Fugate, and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg lead millions of people into safety as Hurricane Irene hit whirled through the East Coast and New York City. Thanks to their leadership America was able to mitigate potential catastrophe by applying the important lessons we have learned from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Even as we celebrate the successful response of our government to Hurricane Irene, America cannot forget that tragic day on August 28, 2005 when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, tearing through homes, businesses, schools, and neighborhoods and leaving behind a massive trail of destruction in its wake.

We saw the nation come together prepare for Irene. We will come together to repair the damages it has caused. As we emerge from the experience and continue our daily lives, we will also stand stronger in support of the people in New Orleans who have lost their livelihoods and loved ones from the trauma caused by Hurricane Katrina. We will never forget you.”

Skip Dillard: This is a well written message reminding us of a city and people still feeling the effects of a hurricane long gone.

Music From The Soul

Posted on August 29, 2011 by skip

Ashford and Simpson

The passing of Nick Ashford on August 22^nd at 70-years-old brings back memories of the days of great songwriting from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s that artists built their careers on.

Nick Ashford along with his long time writing partner and later wife Valerie Simpson, wrote songs that did more than become “hits” of the moment; these songs became standards of R&B and Pop still sung over and over from re-makes and commercials, to American Idol.

Although Ashford & Simpson began writing independently, it was a chance to join Motown and their amazing roster of artists that gave them a chance to jump into the history books.

Here is just a partial list of what these two amazing individuals wrote together and the artists who made them famous:

Glady’s Knight & The Pips: Didn’t You Know You’d Have to Cry Sometime, Taste Of Bitter Love, Bougie Bougie.
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Who’s Gonna Take The Blame
Marvin Gaye/Tammie Terrell: Your Precious Love, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing, You’re All I Need To Get By,
Diana Ross: Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

The Duo eventually wanted to record some of their own music but Motown Execs weren’t receptive to the idea (surprising given both had great looks and would eventually develop excellent stage presence) so they eventually set out on their own.

Into the 70’s and 80’s Ashford & Simpson adapted well to the changing sound of R&B. Their own hits included “disco” flavored songs like Found A Cure and It Seems to Hang On. Love Ballads were a specialty including Send It, Is It Still Good To You and Happy Endings. But it was probably the early 80’s that best proved this “dynamic duo” worthy of inclusion among the greats. The songs Street Corner and chart-topping crossover hit “Solid” were favorites of not only radio and clubs, but street DJ’s who mixed and remixed those two records at a time when the sounds of the streets including rap were beginning to influence R&B.

Ashford & Simpson’s songs were unique in that they went deep into love, long-term commitment and human emotion. There were catchy hooks, but also a sense of purpose, structure and redemption, a far cry from the “quick sex/quick break up/no good man” songs we’ve become all too used to from many of today’s popular song-writers and producers. And Ashford & Simpson were not afraid to make a statement in their songs with one of their finest examples, I’m Every Woman, performed by both Chaka Khan and later Whitney Houston who’s rendition wound up on the soundtrack of the box office hit, “The Bodyguard”.

Nick Ashford was born in South Carolina, raised in Michigan and attended college for a short time at Eastern Michigan University before moving to New York to earn a living as a dancer. In 1964 after hitting hard times Mr. Ashford wound up seeking help at Harlem’s White Rock Baptist Church where he first encountered Valerie singing in the choir. They sold a batch of songs together later that year, kicking off a long career including a marriage in 1974 and numerous ventures including hosting a daily top-rated radio show for several years and ownership of two club-restaurants including NYC’s popular “Sugar Bar”.

These two seemed to find success at every turn and we as music lovers were the better for it.

Rest in peace Nick Ashford. Thank you!

When Nothing Seems To Be Going Right

Posted on August 20, 2011 by skip

Over the past several weeks we’ve seen it all come to a head. A last minute “debt ceiling” agreement is reached, only to have Standard And Poor’s, downgrade it’s own Nation’s credit rating. MTA says it needs to now “DOUBLE” the fees we pay at our bridges, tunnels along with commuter transit in order to maintain our region’s “infrastructure”. And, it goes on and on.

Something’s got to give. Commuting in to work every morning, there seems to be no shortage of newly released Porche Sedans, Audi A7’s/A8’s, AMG Mercedes and 7 Series BMW’s passing the bus I take to the station. And there’s not a weekend where I look in the real estate section of the Times and don’t see pics of someone’s recently purchased 15 million dollar Manhattan Apartment or Brooklyn Brownstone. Fact is there are many people living far beyond the average our wildest dreams and it’s not only America. In the UK, a British designed Super-Yacht was just completed adorned with 100 tons of GOLD (not making this up, just Google)! This beyond-luxury boat is listed for sale at over 4 Billion Dollars! And, a recent article in the Washington Post reviewed a new over the top hotel in IRAN of all places that features an ice-cream dessert in one of it’s penthouse restaurants adorned in “edible gold” for $250.00 per person.

On the other side of the income gap; our public schools continue to lay off teachers. Once proudly employed people from Newark, New Jersey to Baltimore Maryland struggle to find work. Food banks in our region continue to see record numbers of un-employed and under-employed added to their already swollen ranks. And banks struggle just to keep up with the paperwork for the number of homes and condos they’re attempting to foreclose on.

It’s tragic and hard to fathom that as bad as things appear these days that many companies continue to report record profits, pay record bonuses to top executives, while those that make it all possible share in none of that success.

The good news is people are fighting back.

This August in Wisconsin, voters went to the polls in historic elections to “recall” politicians from top to bottom that worked to cripple the power of unions in their State. And, if you can’t get support for a problem with your Verizon internet or smart phone service, it may be due to the fact that 45,000 Verizon employees are out on strike.

It’s more important that ever that we blog, march, write/call our politicians and unite to ensure not only we, but our children have a chance at the basic human rights and opportunities our parents and ancestors fought so tirelessly to obtain for us. I believe these times, as Jesus Spoke of in Luke 11 is our, “Knock At Midnight”. Just when we were content in our existence, comes a time where we ALL have to speak out. We can no longer believe others will look out for our best interest.

Let’s raise our voices (and votes) in unison! It’s time to get back on track!

Music People and Politics

a blog by Skip Dillard