Throwback Thursday: Labelle- Lady Marmalade (1975) Plus Encore Performance

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Patti Labelle and the Bluebells changed their name and their musical style and reinvented themselves as Labelle in 1971. The group is remembered as a trio featuring Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx, but originally the group also included Cindy Birdsong.  Their funk rock recordings of that period were cult favorites and gained notoriety for their brash interpretation of rock and roll and for dealing with subject matter that was not touched by black groups. Continue reading

5/31/15 O&A Gospel Sunday: It’s Not Over- Israel And New Breed featuring Yolanda Adams

GOSPEL SUNDAY

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Israel & New Breed featuring Yolanda Adams sings “It’s Not Over (When God Is in It)” from the album “Jesus At the Center” at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. (2012) Continue reading

5/28/15 O&A Throwback Thursday: Minnie Riperton

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Minnie Riperton, singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single Lovin’ You.  She was one of the first celebrities to go public with her breast cancer diagnosis, but did not disclose she was terminally ill. In 1977, she became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.  She received the American Cancer Society’s Courage Award in 1978, which was presented to her at the White House by President Jimmy Carter.  She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph from 1972 until her death in 1979. They had two children: music engineer Marc Rudolph and actress/comedienne Maya Rudolph. She died at age 31 on July 12, 1979. Continue reading

5/24/15 O&A Gospel Sunday: Kim Burrell

GOSPEL SUNDAY

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Kimberly Burrell calls her musical style jazz gospel. Though she is comparatively new to the gospel music industry, having only performed since 1989, she has quickly become one of the most influential voices in the genre, often called “this generation’s Ella Fitzgerald.” In 2010, she founded The Love & Liberty Fellowship Pentecostal Overcoming Holy Church, where she serves as Senior Eldress/Overseer-Bishop. Continue reading

9/27/17 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Lisa Fischer- How Can I Ease the Pain

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How Can I Ease the Pain is a song by Lisa Fischer, from her album So Intense. In 1992 the single won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Female and it also won a 1992 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The hit song spent two weeks at number-one on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and is Fischer’s biggest and most well-known hit. Continue reading

5/20/15 O&A Song Of The Day: Gladys Knight – Free Again / I Will Survive ( From Sister In The Name Of Love)

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Free Again / I Will Survive was one of the highlight of the 1986 made for television concert Sisters In The Name of Love starring Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight. Continue reading

5/18/15 O&A Song Of The Day: How Many Licks?- Lil’ Kim (Featuring Sisqo)

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How Many Licks? is a song recorded by rapper Lil’ Kim for her second studio album The Notorious K.I.M. (2000). The song is about Lil’ Kim bragging about the various men she has been with and the effects her “dolls” have on men. The single features R&B singer Sisqó. Continue reading

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. 

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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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