Black Violins, Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste, who go by the stage names Kev Marcus and Will B are two classically trained violinists living their dream. The Florida natives began experimenting with playing stringed melodies over mash-ups of popular hip-hop songs. The duo had no idea this sound was something craved by a wide audience. Continue reading
Tag: Aretha Franklin
12/30/15 DIVA ALERT! Aretha Franklin (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Kennedy Center Honors 2015

Aretha Franklin, the reigning and undisputed Queen of Soul, performed at the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 6, which honored singer-songwriter Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actress and singer Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa, and actress and Broadway star Cicely Tyson. Franklin (73) was the highlight of the evening with her iconic rendition of Carole King’s (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. The awards were broadcast on Dec. 29. Long live the Queen! Continue reading
12/19/15 O&A NYC Song Of The Day: Aretha Franklin Joy To The World

Aretha Franklin sings Joy To The World on the live NBC television special Christmas In Rockefeller Center. The annual televised tree lighting ceremony took place on December 2, 2009. Continue reading
7/2/15 O&A Throwback Thursday: Aretha Franklin- Chain Of Fools Live (1968)


Chain of Fools is a song written by Don Covay. Aretha Franklin first released the song as a single in 1967 and it appeared on many of her albums. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart, staying there for four weeks, and went to number two on the pop chart in January 1968. It won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and later a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Continue reading
10/6/14 O&A Throwback Thursday: Dusty Springfield


Dusty Springfield was born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien on April 16 1939. She was an English pop singer and record producer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s. Springfield was renowned for her distinctive sensual sound, and was dubbed “the blue-eyed soul singer“.
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10/1/14 O&A DIVA ALERT: Aretha Franklin Sing Adele’s Rolling In The Deep On Letterman

Aretha Franklin was the guest on last night’s David Letterman, where she performed her cover of Adele’s Rolling In The Deep that was released yesterday (which also contains a bit of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”). For the performance, she was joined by a choir (which included Cissy Houston) and a large back up band. Continue reading
9/21/14 O&A Gospel Sunday: Amazing Grace- Aretha Franklin from the Women of Soul White House Performance

Women of Soul: In Performance at the White House is a PBS music special taped in the East Room of the White House, celebrating the great “foremothers” of American music, with songs expressing the struggles and achievements of women. President and Mrs. Obama hosted the event on Thursday, March 6, 2014. The all-star concert will include performances by Tessanne Chin, Melissa Etheridge, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, Patti LaBelle, Janelle Monáe and Jill Scott, with Greg Phillinganes as music director. The program finale was Aretha Franklin performing Amazing Grace. One of the song Franklin has performed throughout her “amazing” career. Continue reading
9/18/14 O&A Throwback Thursday: Aretha Franklin


Aretha Franklin began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at age 18, Franklin embarked on a secular career. Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success to gain the title The Queen of Soul by the end of the 1960s decade.
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