VEGAS IS MY KIND OF TOWN

What's better than hot fun in the sun? Going to a JabbaWockeez show at the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre. Yea boy...JabbaWockeez tore up the stage with the first ever Hip Hop dance show on the strip.

Chillin' at the timeshare in Vegas...this is how we roll!

We shopped, we swam, we chilled out on the patio...this is my kind of mini-vacay. Can't wait for another visit to the desert, hangin' with my family!

BLUE SIX

I was shopping for shoes this weekend and went downtown Los Angeles to check out some cool boutiques I saw a few months ago. I went into this one boutique and was grooving to what I was hearing on their sound system. I "had" to know who the artist was, so the sales girl gave me the 411 and today I bought the album on line. Yeah!! The song playing was "Sweeter Love"by Blue Six.

This music is considered "Electronic/ Techno/House Music " but I don't care...it takes me away with it's ethereal beats and soothing melodies. The vocalist is so awesome too.

Here's the bio on the creator of Blue Six:

Musician, producer and remixer Jay Denes, better known as Blue Six, was born in Newark, NJ. After moving to N.Y.C., the newcomer failed to get seriously involved in the local music scene until hip-hop producer Bob Power hooked him up with Dave Boonshoff. Jay Denes began working on his own freestyle project soon after naming himself Blue Six. Released by Naked Music, his debut full-length record called Beautiful Tomorrow delivered a mix of electronic music, soulful pop, and smooth jazz, featuring contributions from multi-instrumentalist Marc Anthony Jones. ~ Drago Bonacich, All Music Guide

I'm loving what I'm hearing on this album, "Beautiful Tomorrow." I love it when I find gems like this.

SWEET DREAMS

On April 15, 2009 many hearts were pained to hear that muscial prodigy, Robert L. Brookins, passed away.

This local hometown hero was a legend in the music industry. He was like my little brother, and his family is my family. I've known Robert since he was 7 years old. His brother, Michael, and I were childhood sweethearts.

From the tight knit Northern California community of Del Paso Heights, "Little Robert & The Fondells" were legendary performers and were as popular as The Jackson 5 in our neighborhood. Our schools, and community were put on the map because of them.

Robert's credentials are far and wide in the music biz. He was a consumate entertainer; singing, writing and arranging for so many great musicians, and managing to have his own solo career as well. Earth, Wind & Fire take credit for launching the break off group, "Afterbach", but a proposed spot on the Ed Sullivan helped launch Little Robert & The Fondells. They never made it on, but were the talk of the town for many years.

Hometown heroes to all of us, Little Robert & The Fondells won talent show after talent show, and traveled all over California performing at State Fairs and other noteworthy venues. B.B. King was one of Robert's favorites to perform with, and they made sweet music together.

Robert cultivated a relationship with Stephanie Mills in the 1980's and recorded a duet with her, remaking the classic Donny Hathaway & Robert Flack song, "Where is the Love?". Thus began his ascent to stardom. Many may not have known his name, but many knew his talent as it was later revealed. George Duke, Stanley Clarke and other reknown musicians routinely worked with Robert and admired his arrangements and musical adeptness. He was a musical genius that the world never fully embraced.

I was thrilled to see him perform on stage with Earth, Wind & Fire when he visited DC back in the late 1990's. We had so much fun reminiscing. He left a legacy that most muscians only dream of.

Right before his death, he created his band and they began playing in Sacramento at a local club owned by Basketball player, Chris Weber. Robert was also the band leader for a late night talk show from Las Vegas featuring DL Hughley, George Lopez and other well known comedians.

His CD, "Sweet Dreams" was his final work, and we're grateful to have his words and music for as long as we live.

Sweet Dreams indeed Robert...rest in peace until we meet again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

I received some very lovely flowers (and cards) for my birthday this March 21st. I even took a day trip to Vegas and won a few bucks. I had a great week celebrating my birthday this year.

That's right, bring on the flowers for this SPRING BABY!

THANK YOU FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!

BOB FOSSE & GWEN VERDON

I am a huge Bob Fosse fan. I was fortunate to find the above video clip of Bob's wife Gwen doing some classic "Fosse" choreography and I couldn't resist posting it. You've gotta love these ladies and how they move and groove to the music. They've got these bumps and pelvic thrusts down to a science and they're not afraid to use them. Talk about Lethal Weapons.....I am not mad at them! This kind of dance was so liberating and free, and I just love the whimsical (you know me and whimsy) head and body correlations. It's "coolness" at its finest.

In a previous post on Beyonce's "Get Me Bodied" music video, I stated how the choreography was from "Sweet Charity" and how much I loved that movie.

Well, I posted another video clip showing how Beyonce has again used Fosse moves in her "Single Ladies" music video. The video shows Beyonce and Gwen side by side doing these Fosse moves. I guess Beyonce's choreographer is a big fan too 'cause they sure keep (stealing) using them.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Are you still on high from the inauguration of our 44th President? I sure am. I have been feeling the love man, from all corners of the globe and it's so cool. Who would have thunk this man could generate such greatness, such hope, such support as he's done?

He's so adept and he's got so much intelligence and style. That's why everyone loves him....he's going to be just fine.

House Republicans or not...this is his time to show the world how it should be done.

When I say I was in heaven on Jan. 20th, I was. Sheer joy covered me while watching all the pomp and circumstance. Carry on Mr. President Obama.

ARTIST MARK WAGNER

Statement on Collage with Currency: "The one dollar bill is the most ubiquitous piece of paper in America. Collage asks the question: what might be done to make it something else? It is a ripe material: intaglio printed on sturdy linen stock, covered in decorative filigree, and steeped in symbolism and concept. Blade and glue transform it-reproducing the effects of tapestries, paints, engravings, mosaics, and computers-striving for something bizarre, beautiful, or unbelievable... the foreign in the familiar."

The dollar has never looked better. Very cool indeed!