5/14/15 O&A Throwback Thursday: Rick James- Super Freak and Give It to Me Baby

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Rick James was influenced by singers such as Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson, James started singing in doo-wop and R&B groups as a teenager in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. 1981’s Street Songs, launched him into superstardom thanks to the hit singles, Give It to Me Baby and Super Freak, the latter song becoming his signature song for the rest of his life, and the basis of MC Hammer’s biggest hit, U Can’t Touch This.

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His biggest crossover hit, Super Freak, which peaked at number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100, and sold over a million copies. 

Super Freak

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Give It To Me Baby

 

5/10/15 O&A Mother’s Day Song Of The Day: The Intruders- I’ll Always Love My Mama (1973)

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I’ll Always Love My Mama is a 1973 single by the Philly soul group The Intruders. Written by Gamble & Huff and co-written by McFadden & Whitehead,  song was inspired by Kenny Gamble’s mother, Ruby. Released from their album Save the Children, it is a song commonly played on Mother’s Day.  Continue reading

5/10/15 O&A Gospel Sunday- Happy Mother’s Day: I Remember Mama- Shirley Caesar

GOSPEL SUNDAY

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Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams, known professionally as Shirley Caesar is known as   First Lady of Gospel Music. The singer, songwriter and recording artist career has spanned over six decades. Caesar is a multi-award winning artist, with eleven Grammy Awards and seven Dove Awards to her credit. 

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5/8/15 O&A Music: Kenya- “Music = Air”…Without It, She Simply Doesn’t Breathe

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Vocalist/Songwriter Kenya delivers smooth soulful vocals. Her jazz influence creates music that embodies a contemporary groove and has charted on the US R&B Billboard Chart as well as the Top 10 UK Soul Chart and other European radio charts. Inspired by American singer/songwriters such as Stevie Wonder & Lalah Hathaway and international groups like Incognito & Brand New Heavies, Kenya admits that “Music = air”…without it, she simply doesn’t breathe. Continue reading

5/7/15 O&A Throwback Thursday: Donna Summer- Love To Love You Baby and MacArthur Park

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Donna Summer, a five-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter gained prominence during the disco era of the late 1970s. Summer has reportedly sold over 140 million records, making her one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. She hols the distinction as the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach No. 1 on the United States Billboard album chart and four number-one singles in the United States within a 12-month period.

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Love to Love You Baby is a song by American singer and songwriter Donna Summer released in 1975. It became one of the first ever disco hits to also be released in an extended form. The final recording lasted over sixteen minutes, and contained the sexiest “simulated” orgasms ever found on vinyl. According to the BBC, the song contained 23 “orgasms”. In an interview in 1976, Summer responded to a number of questions that she claimed she’d been asked about the process of recording the song: “Everyone’s asking, ‘Were you alone in the studio?’ Yes, I was alone in the studio. ‘Did you touch yourself?’ Yes, well, actually I had my hand on my knee. ‘Did you fantasize on anything?’ Yes, on my handsome boyfriend Peter.

Love To Love You Baby-Soul Train (1976)

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MacArthur Park is a song which Jimmy Webb originally wrote and composed as part of an intended cantata. Webb initially brought the entire cantata to The Association, but the group rejected it. Among the best-known covers are Donna Summer’s disco arrangement from 1978. In the autumn of 1978 Donna Summer released a multi-million selling vinyl single disco version of MacArthur Park. This reached number one on the American pop music sales charts for three weeks during 1978, and it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Summer was also nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female at the American Music Awards.

MacArthur Park- Live (1978)

5/4/15 O&A With WaleStylez Song Of The Day Mariah Carey – Angels Cry ft. Ne-Yo

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Angels Cry by Mariah Carey from her twelfth studio album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009). The remix version featuring  Ne-Yo released as a single by Island Records on February 23, 2010. Continue reading

5/3/15 O&A Gospel Sunday: The Clark Sisters

GOSPEL SUNDAY

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The Clark Sisters, Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark-Terrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard are a gospel vocal group. The sisters are the daughters of legendary gospel musician and choral director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. They are credited for helping to bring gospel music to the mainstream and are considered as pioneers of contemporary gospel. Continue reading

5/2/15 O&A Its Saturday- Anything Goes: Diana ! Diana Ross Special Featuring The Jackson 5 (1971)

It is Saturday

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Diana! Diana Ross’ first solo TV special, which aired on ABC on April 18, 1971. The special featured performances by The Jackson 5, and Jackson 5 lead singer Michael Jackson’s solo debut. Other guests included Danny Thomas and Bill Cosby. Continue reading

4/30/15/ O&A Throwback Thursday: Jeffrey Osborne Love Ballad – Live Concert

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Jeffrey Osborne started his music career in 1970 with a band called Love Men Ltd., who would later become known as L.T.D. The band recorded hit singles such as (Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again, Concentrate on You, and Love Ballad. Continue reading