Shortly after the word ‘diva’ left the confines of opera terminology, the term came to describe female performers of any genre with an incredible voice, undeniable charisma and the ‘it’ factor. For most Baby Boomers, those singers-turned-superstars included Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan; women who raised the… Continue reading Faith Evans & The “R&B Divas,” Advance ST CD Review
Category: Contemporary Soul/R&B
Antoine Dunn: Cleveland Roots & A Soulful Legacy (ST Interview)
Thanks to being raised in the church, discovered in the choir and able to craft his debut with a legendary producer while touring with established hit makers, success seems practically guaranteed for singer, songwriter and Cleveland native Antoine Dunn. A former choir director with an opera-singing older brother and a gospel-singing aunt (Adrian Dunn and… Continue reading Antoine Dunn: Cleveland Roots & A Soulful Legacy (ST Interview)
Michael Jackson, “Bad” 25th Anniversary Edition, ST Review
1987 had to be a daunting year for Michael Jackson: the good news was that one-man-musical machine was the hottest entertainer on the planet, reaping the rewards of an artistic gamble he had made eight years earlier when he hand-picked the iconic Quincy Jones to collaborate with him on his first post-Motown solo projects, Off… Continue reading Michael Jackson, “Bad” 25th Anniversary Edition, ST Review
Dwele: New Single, Old Panties & His “Greater” Impact On Neo-Soul
In the twelve years that Dwele’s evolved from selling self-made demos in his native Detroit to becoming one of the most popular purveyors of Neo-Soul, the multi-instrumnentalist, producer, singer and songwriter has developed a devoted fan base, heightened his profile and continues to create incredible music, evidenced by the release of his latest CD,… Continue reading Dwele: New Single, Old Panties & His “Greater” Impact On Neo-Soul
Mint Condition: A ST Chat About Longevity and “Music @ The Speed of Life”
Thanks to societal trends evolving at the speed of a hash tag and many performers counting hot hooks or well-placed arm-candy to stay relevant, it’s easy to see why longevity is considered such an accomplishment. If a couple of hits were Mint Condition’s only goal, they would’ve been a memory long before reaching the… Continue reading Mint Condition: A ST Chat About Longevity and “Music @ The Speed of Life”