Pragmatic Obots Unite!

Friday Open Thread

2012-02-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Obots!

The Fun Facts: Black Celebs Who Attended Ivy League Schools series concludes today with Courtney Vance and two rising stars.

COURTNEY B. VANCE

Harvard University, BA, History (1980);Yale University, MFA, Drama (1986).

Best known for his role on Law & Order: Criminal Intent as ADA Ron Carter, Vance discovered his niche in acting during his time in Yale’s graduate drama program. Vance has earned two Tony Award nominations, each in Tony Award-winning productions. He was nominated for his role in August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences and for his lead role in John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation.

An accomplished performer, he’s also well known for his roles in Dangerous Minds (1995) and The Preacher’s Wife (1996). Vance married fellow Yale colleague, Angela Bassett, in 1997. He and Bassett have authored a book, Friends: A Love Story.

Ryan Leslie

Harvard University, BA, Government and Economics (1998)

Scoring a perfect score of 1600 on his SATs at the age of 15, Leslie went on to deliver Harvard’s “Harvard Oration” at his graduation ceremony when he was just 19 years old. Joining Cambridge’s elite jazz group, The Krokodiloes, the child prodigy discovered his love for music.

Since then he as written music and produced for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment, Donnell Jones, New Edition, Cheri Dennis and more. Transition, the second album released by Leslie was nominated for a 2011 Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. It was released nine months after his self-titled debut album.

Still recognizing the importance of education, Leslie recently hosted a “mini-music seminar” for Harvard’s Black Student Law Association called “The Bizness Behind the Business.”

Aisha Tyler

Dartmouth College, B.A., Political science (1996)

At Dartmouth, Aisha co-founded and sang in the all-female a capella group, The Dartmouth Rockapellas, a group devoted to spreading social awareness through song. After briefly working for a San Francisco advertising firm, she toured the country pursuing a comedy career before finally moving to Los Angeles.

Success came Tyler's way in the summer of 2000 after she took the lead at auditions for the job of emcee for E! Entertainment Television's popular Talk Soup, where she got the job, replacing former host Hal Sparks. A hip satire, the show drew its choice bits from daytime television talk shows. In March of 2001 Tyler joined Robert de Niro, Rene Rousso, and Eddie Murphy in the film Showtime. Tyler plays the love interest to Murphy, with whom she also appeared in 1997's Metro.

Thursday Evening Thread: Martin Bashir's verbal takedown of the GOP Candidates!

2012-02-23T19:10:00.000-05:00

Martin Bashir's verbal takedown of the GOP candidates:

Clear the Air
It’s now time to clear the air and if there’s anything more anathema to some Republicans than having to witness a black man being president, then it is the idea that someone of another religious faith, or no faith whatsoever, might possibly be in the White House. And so, having failed disastrously in that preposterous attempt to suggest that the president is not an American, they are now reviving their effort to imply that the president is not a Christian.

But how does anyone prove that they are a Christian, beyond saying that they are? There is no birth certificate to produce, but there are some very clear signs. Sixty years ago, almost to the day, the great Oxford academic CS Lewis published a book entitled “mere Christianity.” The book was based upon some BBC radio talks that he gave during the Second World War. This is what he said:

“If conversion to Christianity makes no improvement in a man’s outward actions – if he continues to be just as snobbish or spiteful or envious or ambitious as he was before – then I think we must suspect that his conversion was largely imaginary. Fine feelings, new insights, greater interest in ‘religion’ mean nothing unless they make our actual behavior better.”

So let’s apply Lewis’ approach to three individuals – all of whole claim to be devout men of faith, all of whom want to be president.

First Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney earlier this month said this about the president:

“The newly elected President Obama told America that if Congress approved his plan to borrow nearly a trillion dollars he would hold unemployment below eight percent.”

That’s an outright lie. The president never, ever said such a thing. In fact, that was a speculative projection written by Christina Romer and Jared Bernstein about the possible impact of a stimulus package and it was written before the president was even inaugurated.

Mr. Santorum is selling himself as the most Christian of all the candidates. He says Satan is attacking the institutions of America. He talks repeatedly about the great men and women of faith who serve this country through self-sacrifice and generosity.

But when it comes to his own personal commitment to charity, Mr. Santorum is remarkably quiet. And that’s because, in 2012, Mr. Santorum earned almost a million dollars and gave just 1.7 percent to charity. During the same period, the President and the First Lady gave almost 15 percent.

So, the devout Catholic is apparently a hypocrite. And finally, Newt Gingrich. A man who believes that the Christian sacrament of marriage – lifelong monogamy – actually means sleeping with one woman at a time. So, there you have it: the liar, the hypocrite and the adulterer. And remember what CS Lewis wrote:

“If conversion to Christianity makes no improvement in a man’s outward actions, then I think we must suspect that his conversion was largely imaginary."

(h/t to Nellcote and Rikyrah)
The President of the United States is a Christian – but as for those three – in the words of Franklin Graham – “I don’t think any of us can be categorically certain.”

Thursday Open Thread

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning Obots!

Today, "The Fun Facts: Black Celebrities Who Attended Ivy League Schools" series features the incomparable Angela Bassett.

Angela Bassett was born on August 16, 1958, in New York. Along with her younger sister, Angela was raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, by her mother, Betty Bassett, after her parents divorced.Angela attended Boca Ciega High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she became the first black student at her high school to be accepted into the National Honor Society.

Bassett attended Yale University and received her B.A. degree in African-American studies in 1980. In 1983, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. At Yale, Bassett met her future husband Courtney B. Vance, a 1986 graduate of the drama school.

Angela's professional accomplishments are well-documented. Here, she shares a story with Oprah Magazine about education, acting, passion and her mom.

Angela Bassett's Aha! Moment

"From the time I was in first grade, I knew I was going to college. I didn't even know what college was back then, but my mother made it clear to my sister and me that going to one was a given. She was a single parent who hadn't taken high school seriously. She now knew that emphasizing education was the key to our futures, and she wouldn't allow us to compromise them by settling for less than a college degree.

I always got As and Bs in my classes; then, in seventh grade, I got my first C. It was in physical education, but still I knew that was not going to fly with my mother. I needed to come up with a compelling argument to convince her that the grade was nothing to get upset about. "Getting a C isn't bad," I tried to explain to her. "It's average, the standard." In this one instance, I was the norm; I didn't see any harm in that.

My mother, however, did. She just looked me in the eye and said, "I don't have no average kids." In that moment, a sense of pride developed in me. I was not average, nor should I ever settle for being such. I had already shown the potential to excel. If my best happened to be average, then fine. But if my best was excellent and I knowingly gave less, then I was not giving the full measure of my abilities, and that, in my mother's mind and now my own, was unacceptable. I never got another C.

That is, until I got to Yale.

At the university, I wanted to major in theater. But my father's sister, who was the only person in my family to go to both college and graduate school, told me, "Angela, please don't waste your Yale education on theater." She was afraid I wouldn't be able to make a living for myself as an actress. I had nothing but the utmost respect for my aunt, so I listened; I went back to school and chose a different major, administrative science, a business and sociology degree.

But in my junior year, I found myself on the brink of failing one of my classes. I was giving an average effort again, although I realized that now I was doing it because I was forcing myself to do something I didn't love. I wasn't as passionate about business as I was about theater. There was never a time when I wouldn't give myself fully when it came to acting. It was as if the final piece of the puzzle presented itself and everything became clear: If you do what you love to do, then you won't do it in an average way.

From that point on, work became a joy. I made choices based on what I believed in, and I had no regrets. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself: Of the many different lives that can be lived, which is the one that's going to inspire you?"

Courtney Vance, Angela Basset and the couple’s children, son Slater Josiah and daughter Bronwyn Golden

Wednesday Evening Thread: President Obama Sangs The Blues!

2012-02-22T19:49:00.000-05:00

Check out President Obama singing "Sweet Home Chicago" during last night's “In Performance in the White House: Red, White and Blues”! That brotha got talent!

(h/t Nellcote via The Obama Diary)

POU Weekly Health Thread: Put Down The Soda!

2012-02-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

If you have that urge to drink a soft drink everyday, have a soft drink in your fridge right now, perhaps sipping on one as you read this..........................this is for you.

Soda, pop, cola, soft drink — whatever you call it, it is one of the worst beverages that you could be drinking for your health. As the debate for whether to put a tax on the sale of soft drinks continues, you should know how they affect your body so that you can make an informed choice on your own.

Soft drinks are hard on your health
Soft drinks contain little to no vitamins or other essential nutrients. However, it is what they do contain that is the problem: caffeine, carbonation, simple sugars — or worse, sugar substitutes — and often food additives such as artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives.

A lot of research has found that consumption of soft drinks in high quantity, especially by children, is responsible for many health problems that include tooth decay, nutritional depletion, obesity, type-2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Marion Nestle
Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health (California Studies in Food and Culture):

Soft drinks are the single greatest source of caffeine in children's diets; a 12 ounce can of cola contains about 45 milligrams but the amounts in more potent soft drinks can exceed 100 milligrams - a level approaching that found in coffee."
Soft drinks have replaced milk in the diets of many American children as well as adults. School purchases reflect such trends. From 1985 to 1997, school districts decreased the amounts of milk they bought by nearly 30? and increased their purchases of carbonated sodas."
The relationship between soft drink consumption and body weight is so strong that researchers calculate that for each additional soda consumed, the risk of obesity increases 1.6 times."
Adolescents who consume soft drinks display a risk of bone fractures three to four-fold higher than those who do not."
Sugar and acid in soft drinks so easily dissolve tooth enamel."
Americans drink 13.15 billion gallons of carbonated drinks every year."

Think diet sodas are better?? Think again!

The health effects of diet soda
You may come to the conclusion that diet or sugar-free soda is a better choice. However, one study discovered that drinking one or more soft drinks a day — and it didn’t matter whether it was diet or regular — led to a 30% greater chance of weight gain around the belly.

Diet soda is filled with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin. These artificial sweeteners pose a threat to your health. Saccharin, for instance, has been found to be carcinogenic, and studies have found that it produced bladder cancer in rats.

Aspartame, commonly known as nutrasweet, is a chemical that stimulates the brain to think the food is sweet. It breaks down into acpartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol at a temperature of 86 degrees. (Remember, your stomach is somewhere around 98 degrees.) An article put out by the University of Texas found that aspartame has been linked to obesity. The process of stimulating the brain causes more cravings for sweets and leads to carbohydrate loading.

Wednesday Open Thread

2012-02-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning Obots!

The Fun Facts, Black Celebrity Ivy League Grads series continues with Mr. Hill Harper.

Hill Harper was born in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Harry Harper, a psychiatrist, and Marilyn Hill, who was one of the first black practicing anesthesiologists in the United States. He has been acting since the age of 7.

Harper graduated magna cum laude from Brown University and also graduated with a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. During his years at Harvard, he was a full-time member of Boston's Black Folks Theater Company, one of the oldest and most acclaimed black theater troupes in the country.

While a student at Harvard, Harper befriended President Barack Obama. Harper and President Obama met on the basketball court and became good friends during their first year as law students.

Harper has appeared in over 30 feature films including The Skulls, In Too Deep, Beloved, He Got Game, and Get on the Bus. His television credits include critically-acclaimed television movies such as HBO's Lackawanna Blues and One Red Rose, which he also co-wrote, for Showtime, as well as stints on Showtime's Soul Food and HBO's The Sopranos.

Harper co-starred on the CBS series, The Handler. In his current role as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes, a forensic pathologist who is also a crime scene investigator on the hit CBS series CSI: NY, Hill defies the stereotypes of black males as he has in his own life.

Harper authored the 2006 New York Times bestselling book, Letters to a Young Brother and won two NAACP Image Awards in March 2007 for Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author and Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teens. Hill followed the success of Letters to a Young Brother with a companion book, Letters to a Young Sister, also a New York Times bestseller, which includes contributions from Gabrielle Union, First Lady Michelle Obama, Angela Bassett, and others. Additionally, Hill penned the 2009 New York Times bestselling book, The Conversation: How Black Men and Woman Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships.

Harper's foundation, Manifest Your Destiny, demonstrates Hill's mission to positively impact the lives of our youth through motivation and empowerment. He is also a spokesperson for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He campaigned to support his friend and Harvard classmate, Barack Obama, in his successful run for Presidency.

Hill Harper calls potential voters and caucus goers at the Obama campaign headquarters in Iowa, 2008.

Tuesday Evening Thread: Suffer The Little Children

2012-02-21T18:39:00.000-05:00

Can you really blame them?

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum , a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, speaks during a Sunday service at the Worldwide Christian Center in Pompano Beach, Fla., Jan. 22, 2012. (Stephen Crowley/The New York Times)

Tuesday Open Thread

2012-02-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Obots!

Today's Black celebrity who attended an Ivy League school is Sanaa Lathan.

Sanaa Lathan was born on September 19, 1971, in New York. Her mother, Eleanor McCoy, performed on Broadway with the likes of Eartha Kitt and her father. Stan Lathan, worked behind the scenes in television for PBS.

Academically gifted, Lathan attended the University of California at Berkeley majoring in English. Nearing the end of college, Sanaa considered law school but her fate was sealed as she was encouraged to apply to the Masters program at the Yale School of Drama by a recruiter.

During her three years at Yale, Lathan was able to visualize how she could effectively combine her talents, gifts and intelligence to express herself through acting. She gained a love for the stage and the drama greats like Shakespeare by performing in school productions such as "Othello," "Romeo and Juliet," "The Winter's Tale," and "Twelfth Night."

Early Acting Career

Upon her own initiative, without the help of her accomplished dad, she was able to get notable appearances in television on shows such as In the "In the House" (1995), "Moesha" (1996), "NYPD Blue" (1993), "Family Matters" (1989), and the made-for-TV movie, Miracle in the Woods, playing the younger character opposite Della Reese. Her first movie role came in the action movie Drive (1997), where she played the estranged wife opposite Kadeem Hardison. Other brief but substantial roles came in the the comedy/drama The Wood (1999), where she played the adult girlfriend opposite Omar Epps.

Stardom

The chance meeting with Epps provide the opportunity for them to build a friendship and real life romantic relationship. Upon completion of The Wood (1999) shoot, Sanaa went to New York to join the ensemble cast for The Best Man (1999). In 2000, she lent her acting talents under the direction of her brother Tendaji Lathan in his award-winning film short The Smoker (2000).

She also appeared in the acclaimed romantic drama Love & Basketball (2000), where she played the lead role opposite her real life boyfriend Omar Epps. Lathan played the lead role in he made-for-television HBO movie Disappearing Acts (2000) based on the best-selling novel by renowned author Terry McMillan.

In 2002, Lathan starred in the romantic comedy, Brown Sugar, alongside Diggs, Queen Latifah, and Mos Def. Lathan’s performance earned an NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. In 2004, Lathan starred on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun with Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, and Phylicia Rashad. Lathan received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress. Several years later, Lathan reprised the role in a critically acclaimed ABC Network production of A Raisin in the Sun.

Lathan subsequently starred in several major Hollywood films, including Alien vs. Predator, which was Lathan's biggest role to date. Alien vs. Predator was a major success grossing over $171 million worldwide. Out of Time was also an important role for Lathan as she shared the screen with protagonist Denzel Washington. In 2006, Lathan co-starred with Simon Baker in Something New, a romantic comedy about an interracial relationship. In 2011, Lathan co-starred in the thriller Contagion.

Monday Evening Thread: Happy President's Day!

2012-02-20T18:31:00.000-05:00

Happy President's Day to President Barack Obama!

Michelle Obama @MichelleObama

Happy President's Day to my personal favorite, @BarackObama. –mo

All together now.......awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Monday Open Thread

2012-02-20T06:45:00.000-05:00

Good morning Obots!

This week's series is Fun Facts: Black Celebrities who attended Ivy League Schools.

Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, Yale, Columbia and UPenn comprise the Ivy League. Some of today’s most notable and creative African American celebrities have walked their hallowed halls.

John Legend was born on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio.A child prodigy, he began playing the piano and at the age of seven, he performed with his church choir. At the age of 12, Legend attended high school and graduated salutatorian when he was 16.

Following high school, Legend was offered scholarships to Harvard, Georgetown and Morehouse. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied English with an emphasis on African American literature. While at Penn, he lead the Counterparts, a co-ed jazz and pop a cappella group as president (1997–1998) and musical director (1998–1999).

Legend was also a member of the prestigious Sphinx Senior Society while an undergraduate at Penn. While in college, Legend was introduced to Lauryn Hill by a friend. Hill hired him to play piano on "Everything Is Everything", a song from her album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Before the Fame:

Despite his musical aptitude, Legend's first job after graduating from Penn was not in the music business - he worked for the Boston Consulting Group. Just months before starting work on his hit CD Get Lifted, he ended a nine-year tenure as music and choir director at Bethel A.M.E. Church, located just outside Philadelphia. While still working toward mainstream success, Legend often performed on the nightclub circuit in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

Working Toward the Mainstream:

While performing as an independent artist and distributing live LPs, such as his 2000 self-titled demo and 2001's "Live at Jimmy's Uptown," John recorded under his birth name of Stephens. Eventually, Legend's roommate and former classmate at Penn, Devon Harris, introduced Legend to then-emerging hip-hop artist Kanye West. Since then, Legend and West have collaborated frequently. In late 2003, Kanye West signed Legend as the first artist to his production company, KonMan Entertainment.

Commercial Success:

After signing with Kanye's production company, a deal with Columbia Records soon followed. And in 2004, Legend's Get Lifted album was released and eventually reached #4 on the US album charts. This led to three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist. Once Again, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, followed in October 2006 and eventually went platinum. October 2008's Evolver spun off the sprightly crossover hit "Green Light" and achieved gold-selling status. Legend followed it with September 2010's Wake Up!, in which he was backed by the Roots.

Sunday Open Thread

2012-02-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning Pragmatic Obots!

"I Love the Lord" from the Preacher's Wife Soundtrack. R.I.P. Whitney.

Homegoing Services for Whitney Elizabeth Houston (1963-2012)

2012-02-18T11:49:00.000-05:00

Saturday Open Thread: Famous Black Couples

2012-02-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

GOOD MORNING P.O.U.! We hope you're enjoying your weekend!

To close out our Famous Black Couples series....

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA

Alex's Lounge Is Open

2012-02-17T18:30:00.000-05:00

Apples and Oranges...

The Calvados Cocktail

1 1/2 oz Calvados Boulard Apple Brandy
1 1/2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice

3/4 oz Cointreau
2 dashes bitters

Timeless Music

Friday Open Thread: Famous Black Couples

2012-02-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY FRIDAY P.O.U.!

We continue our look at Famous Black Couples.

CELIA CRUZ AND PEDRO KNIGHT

Celia Cruz (born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso on October 21, 1924 – July 16, 2003) was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums. She was renowned internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" as well as "La Guarachera de Cuba."[1]

She spent most of her career living in New Jersey, and working in the United States and several Latin American countries.

Celia Cobo of Billboard Magazine once said "Cruz is indisputably the best known and most influential female figure in the history of Cuban music." Cruz once said in an interview "If I had a chance I wouldn't have been singing and dancing, I would be a teacher just like my dad wanted me to be"

Cruz was born October 21, 1924 in the diverse, working-class neighborhood of Santos Suárez neighborhood in Havana, Cuba.[2] She is the second child of fourteen children[3] born to Catalina Alfonso and Simón Cruz. Simón worked in the railroads as a stoker, and Catalina took care of the extended family.

While growing up in Cuba's diverse 1930s musical climate, Cruz listened to many musicians that later influenced her adult career, such as Paulina Alvarez, Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo, Arsenio Rodríguez, and Arcaño y sus Maravillas. Celia Cruz also studied the words to Yoruba songs with colleague Mercedita Valdes (an Akpwon santeria singer) from Cuba and Celia made various recordings of this religious genre singing even back up for other female akpwons like Candita Batista.[4]

When she was a teenager, her aunt took her and her cousin to cabarets to sing, but her father encouraged her to keep attending school, in hopes that she would become a Spanish language teacher. However, one of her teachers told her that as an entertainer she could earn in one day what most Cuban teachers earned in a month. Cruz began singing in Havana's radio station Radio Garcia-Serra's popular "Hora del Té" daily broadcast, she sang the tango "Nostalgias", (and won a cake as first place) often winning cakes and also opportunities to participate in more contests. Her first recordings were made in 1948 in Venezuela. Before that, Cruz had recorded for radio stations.

Thursday Evening Thread: (Parody) Adele Disses Newt Gingrich At The Grammys

2012-02-16T18:30:00.000-05:00

This is NOT Adele singing, just the good folks at Venga Productions having funny at Lil' Leroy's expense.

P.O.U. Book Club

2012-02-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

Calling all P.O.U. Bookworms! P.O.U will starting a book club. Twice a month we will discuss and read a book. The books will range from non-fiction to fiction. Majority of the authors highlighted will be African-American, but there will be some who are not. The books will cover a range of topics and interests.

In the end, we hope to help you build a fantastic library as well as gained new knowledge and information.

The first book that we will discuss is The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

Book description: Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl, prays every day for beauty. Mocked by other children for the dark skin, curly hair, and brown eyes that set her apart, she yearns for normalcy, for the blond hair and blue eyes that she believes will allow her to finally fit in.Yet as her dream grows more fervent, her life slowly starts to disintegrate in the face of adversity and strife. A powerful examination of our obsession with beauty and conformity, Toni Morrison’s virtuosic first novel asks powerful questions about race, class, and gender with the subtlety and grace that have always characterized her writing.

Our first discussion will start on March 1st and it will cover the first section of the book which is entitled, "Autumn". If interested, please make sure to join in on the discussion.

Thursday Open Thread: Famous Black Couples

2012-02-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

GOOD MORNING P.O.U.!

We continue our look at Famous Black Couples

MARILYN MCCOO AND BILLY DAVIS, JR.

(Photo: Bentley Funk The Original)

Marilyn McCoo (born September 30, 1943) is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group The 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series Solid Gold. She is the wife of singer Billy Davis, Jr., the founder and co-member of The 5th Dimension, whom she married in 1969.

McCoo was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to Waymon and Mary McCoo, who were both doctors.[1] At the age of seven, she moved with her parents, two sisters, and brother to Los Angeles, where she commenced singing, piano and dance lessons. At the age of 15, she joined Art Linkletter's Talent Show and began modelling.[2] After graduating from high school, she enrolled in UCLA, where she earned a degree in business administration. In 1962, McCoo entered the Miss Bronze California beauty pageant where she came in first place.[3] At this event, she met Lamonte McLemore, a part-time vocalist and photographer for Jet magazine. Her photos, taken by McLemore, were featured in the magazine's Jet Beauty of the Week section.

In the early and mid-1960s, McCoo was a member of the Hi-Fi's, who often opened for Ray Charles. She had been invited to join the group by photographer Lamonte McLemore, who would himself join McCoo in The 5th Dimension. Other Hi-Fi members included Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, who would go on to form The Friends of Distinction. She met Billy Davis, Jr. in 1966 when he established The 5th Dimension, then called The Versatiles, which would also include Ron Townson and Florence LaRue (who had won the title of "Miss Bronze California" in 1963). The group's first big hit was with 1967's "Up, Up and Away", written by Jimmy Webb. The song won four 1968 Grammy Awards and was the title track to 5th Dimension's first hit LP. A year later the group covered Laura Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic". A medley of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (from the musical Hair) reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April to May 1969 and won the Grammy for 'Record of the Year'. The group's cover of Nyro's "Wedding Bell Blues", featuring McCoo's most prominent vocal of that period, topped the Hot 100 in November 1969.

Billy Davis, Jr. (born June 26, 1938; St. Louis, Missouri)[1] is an American musician, best known as a member of The 5th Dimension. Along with his wife, Marilyn McCoo, he had hit records during 1976 and 1977 with "I Hope We Get to Love in Time", "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)". Davis and McCoo were married in 1969, and were the main entertainers of a television program, The Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Show, in 1977. That same year, "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" won a Grammy Award.

In 1975, McCoo and Davis left The 5th Dimension and began performing as a duo. Landing a contract with ABC Records, they recorded their 1976 debut album, I Hope We Get to Love in Time. The first single was the title track, which was a mid-chart hit. Their follow up, "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" was an even bigger hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1977. McCoo and Davis were awarded a gold single and a gold album as well as a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. They also hosted their own television program, The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr Show, on CBS in Summer 1977. After one more album on ABC in 1978, the pair signed with CBS Records the following year and released their last album as a duo until October 2008 when the pair released The Many Faces of Love, a collection of hit songs from the 1960s and 1970s.

Marilyn was the first to record "Saving All My Love for You" in 1978, later sung by Whitney Houston. The album "Marilyn and Billy", featured that track as well as a disco hit, "Shine On Silver Moon". The pair decided to go solo professionally in the early 1980s with McCoo hosting the popular American syndicated television series Solid Gold from 1981 through 1984 and again from 1986 through 1988. She also created a successful nightclub and concert act, and went on to appear as Tamara Price on Days of our Lives in 1986, as a friend of Marlena Evans who sang at her wedding. Tamara later became involved with James Reynolds' character Abe Carver. McCoo left the series in 1987.

Her 1991 album, The Me Nobody Knows, was nominated for a Grammy. She also released a Christmas album in 1994. McCoo won her eighth Grammy for her contributions to Quincy Jones' Handel's Messiah.

(SOURCE: Wikipedia)

In this 2009 interview with The Christian Broadcasting Network, McCoo and Davis talk about how their faith is a source of their lasting marriage:

Wednesday Evening Thread: Well Go Head PS22!!

2012-02-15T18:32:00.000-05:00

Remember the young girl and her friends on the Target commercial during the Grammy's ?? Well here she is with the school choir of PS22!

Learn more about Denise and her classmates here! And be sure to check out their other videos on YouTube!

POU Weekly Health Thread

2012-02-15T10:00:00.005-05:00

The African Heritage Food Pyramid

It may be controversial to suggest that African Americans need a food pyramid tailor-made for them, but then again, this group has experienced the greatest surge in obesity and related illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

Getting back to home-cooked basic dishes -- based on staples from the American South, Caribbean, South America, and, yes, Africa -- was the thought behind the new African heritage diet pyramid created by Oldways, a nonprofit nutrition education organization based in Boston.

Just like Oldways’ Mediterranean diet pyramid and the federal government’s My Plate, the African diet pyramid focuses on fruits and vegetables -- with greens including collard, mustard, and kale taking the most prominent spot at the base of the pyramid, which means they should be eaten at every meal. Fruits such as papayas, bananas, and watermelon, and root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots are directly above and should also be eaten in plentiful amounts.

Dairy, though, is found near the top -- right under sweets -- with recommendations to eat limited amounts, once a day or several times a week. That’s in striking contrast to the federal government’s recommendation to drink milk or eat dairy with every meal, which has come under fire from Harvard nutrition experts.
The emphasis on less dairy is a nod to lactose intolerance, according to Oldways, which affects up to 75 percent of African Americans.

“We worked with culinary historians to put this pyramid together, drawing on foods that are central to traditions such as greens, yams, homemade marinades, seafood, and to a lesser extent poultry, dairy, and meats,” said Oldways president Sara Baer-Sinnott.

What about all those deep-fried foods that are hallmarks of Southern cooking?
“Crisco isn’t exactly ancient,” said Baer-Sinnott, “so we emphasized preparing foods in a healthier way” by baking, grilling, and broiling -- all methods that harken back to centuries past when obesity was rare in black communities.

In choosing a panel of nutritionists, historians, and sociologists to put the pyramid together, Baer-Sinnott added, “our idea was that heritage would be a motivator for change. We needed to try something new because other things don’t seem to be working.”

Just how much impact the new pyramid will have remains to be seen, but registered dietitian Vivien Morris, who helped develop it, told me it has been well received by African-American church groups that she’s met with in the Boston area.

“I think a lot of people are eager to get back to their common roots,” she said. “I grew up in North Carolina, and we used to keep sweet potatoes around as a dessert food. We snacked on peanuts and always had kale since it had such a long growing season.”

Yesterday, Oldways announced that it received a $100,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to get the word out about the new pyramid via supermarket tours, cooking classes, and nutrition lectures to be held in Boston and elsewhere.

h/t The Boston Globe

Wednesday Open Thread: Famous Black Couples

2012-02-15T06:00:00.002-05:00

HAPPY HUMPDAY P.O.U.!

We continue our look at famous Black couples.

EARTHA KITT AND SAMMY DAVIS, JR.

In the early 50's, rumors were flying that the late chanteuse Eartha Kitt and entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. were an item and engaged.

(Photos courtesy of Vieilles_Annonces Photostream)

Tuesday Obot Link Review | Afternoon Open Thread

2012-02-14T15:30:00.004-05:00

POTUS News: President Obama on Tuesday welcomed signs of progress in extending a payroll tax cut but urged Americans to continue to press their Congressional representatives to quickly approve the tax break before it expires at the end of the month. Read more here.

Pure Comedy News: Republican Newt Gingrich says he's in the presidential contest for the long haul, dismissing calls from rival Rick Santorum and others to drop out. Gingrich spoke to reporters Monday after addressing a Hispanic leadership event near Los Angeles. The former House speaker is spending most of the week in California attending fundraisers. Read more here.

S-H-O-P Shop Til You Drop, Bishes!!! News: Americans rebounded from a weak holiday season and stepped up spending on retail goods in January, an encouraging sign for the strengthening economy. Retail sales rose at a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Consumers spent more on electronics, home and garden supplies, sporting goods, at department and general merchandise stores and at restaurants and bars. Read more here.

Possible Breakthrough In HIV/AIDS Research News: In a pioneering research, scientists claim to have identified a protein that can knock out HIV, which causes AIDS, by starving it of raw materials it needs to reproduce. An international team, led by the NYU Langone Medical Center, says its research has in fact revealed a mechanism by which the immune system tries to halt spread of HIV, and harnessing this mechanism may pave the way for therapeutic research aimed at slowing the virus' progression to AIDS. Read more here.

Happy Valentine's Day POU family! Check out the links and come back to discuss. Now for today's Tuesday Trivia....

What 1968 love song is Method Man sampling in his 1995 hit single, "I'll Be There for You" featuring Mary J. Blige?

To get a pass from the “bad chair/Lay-Z-Boy/sofa/sectional/lounge” you must provide the song title and artist first (without using “teh Google” or “teh Wiki”). If no one is able to guess the correct answer by 6:00pm EST, I am keeping the pass for myself.

Can't recall the answer? Take a listen and see if you can figure it out...

Tuesday Open Thread: Famous Black Couples

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY P.O.U.!

Last month, fellow trustee Miranda posted the beautiful story of Herbert Carter and Mildred Hemmons. I thought Valentine's Day would be the perfect day to revisit this love story.

Tuskegee's Historic Love Story

Tuskegee, Alabama (CNN) -- Herbert Carter and Mildred Hemmons had no time for dating in the early months of 1942.

He was training to become a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation's first military program for African-American pilots.

She was the bold, daring woman who caught his eye. At 18, she'd become the first black woman in Alabama to earn a pilot's license. She had hopes of becoming a military pilot, too.
Flying was intoxicating. It provided Herbert and Mildred a sense of freedom -- to be themselves, to dream big. The in-your-face racism of the segregated South was gone, if only for a while. In the air, the sky was literally the limit.

It takes pioneers to force change. Herbert and Mildred would play their part in the years ahead. But in those early days, they didn't see themselves as trailblazers. They were young and in love.
More than anything, flight provided a rare opportunity to see each other. He'd call her up on Fridays: "Are you gonna be flying this weekend?"
"Of course," she'd say.

They'd pick a time to meet. Their rendezvous point: 3,000 feet above a bridge at Lake Martin, 25 miles away. He'd be flying a repaired AT6 trainer. She'd be in a much slower Piper J-3 Cub.
"When I'd get to Lake Martin, I'd see this bright yellow Cub putt-putting along," he said. "I'd be real proud: She was on time and on target."

He'd pull down and fly in formation with her. They couldn't communicate by radio; her Cub didn't have one. All they could do was smile, wave and blow kisses.

Seeing each other in flight created a bond. When they flew together, it was as if they were holding hands in midair. At the end of their aerial encounter, he'd peel away, only to circle back. He'd sneak up behind her, pull in front and leave her in a trail of airwash. Her tiny craft shook mightily. She'd come to expect it every weekend.

"It didn't faze me," she'd say. "I was the better pilot. ... I just didn't fly the fastest aircraft."

The two would become known as the first couple of the Tuskegee Airmen. Herbert would go on to earn the rank of lieutenant colonel in a 27-year Air Force career. He remains one of the few men in U.S. history to be a fighter pilot and a squadron maintenance chief, a designation he notes with pride. Rarely is a pilot also charged with making sure the squadron's planes are airworthy.

Read the rest of this wonderful story here.

POU Live Chat: BET Honors 2012

2012-02-13T20:30:00.001-05:00

Phenomenal Woman

Chat for Websites

Monday Obot Link Review | Afternoon Open Thread

2012-02-13T15:30:00.002-05:00

This Keeps Getting Better & Better News: Did the GOP establishment steal the Maine caucuses away from Ron Paul? That’s what some Paul supporters are grumbling this morning. They suspect that another Republican campaign conspired with the Maine state GOP to suppress Representative Paul’s vote. Read more here.

Ho, Have A Seat News: Lady Gaga has Jo Calderone. And now, Nicki Minaj has Roman Zolanski. Minaj unleashed her inner — disturbed — child in a showy debut of new single "Roman Holiday" at Sunday's Grammy Awards, but her latest button-pushing move is generating a whole lot of grown-up chatter. Read more here.

Meanwhile.....In Syria News: Syrian security forces have resumed their crackdown on the protest hub of Homs and other cities, a day after authorities in Damascus rejected an Arab League plan calling for U.N. peacekeepers. Activists said tank fire and artillery shelling hit two rebel-held Sunni Muslim neighborhoods in Homs that have spearheaded the 11-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. Opposition groups also reported clashes between government troops and army defectors in the central city of Hama and southern Daraa province. Read more here.

Lemme Hold Five Dollas News: The Powerball lottery jackpot hit $336.4 million on Saturday, and one ticket -- bought in from Rhode Island -- gets to claim the whole thing. But so far, no one has stepped forward to claim the prize, lottery officials said Monday. The stereotypical reaction to winning the lottery -- Powerball or otherwise -- would involve lots of jumping up and down, not to mention hollering from the rooftops. In reality, winners -- especially of enormous jackpots -- often do the opposite. They hunker down. They lawyer up. They crunch numbers to decide whether it's better to cash out the ticket up front or take annual payments. Read more here.

Happy Monday POU family! Check out the links and come back to discuss. We lost a true talent this weekend and instead of the usual Monday MJ mashup, I am posting a playlist of some of her greatest hits. Instead of thinking about how she passed, let's celebrate her voice and her music. Enjoy.....

Monday Open Thread: Famous Black Couples

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

GOOD MONDAY MORNING P.O.U.!

In honor of Valentine's Day, which is tomorrow, this week's series is dedicated to famous Black couples.

First up....

OSSIE DAVIS AND RUBY DEE

In this 1998 NY Daily News article, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee talk about their first impressions of each other, his proposal, their wedding and their "firsts":

How they met:

They met in December 1945, during the rehearsals of the play "Jeb." He, an aspiring writer moonlighting as an actor, was the lead, and Ruby was the understudy for Libby, Jeb's significant other.

Young Ruby quickly assessed Ossie as a "country bumpkin innocent, good-natured and not too intelligent," while Ossie, when asked what he thought of Ruby on first sighting said, simply, "Nothing."

"Out in the auditorium was this little girl with big eyes and long shiny hair quite beautiful I thought sitting next to the young man who was my understudy," Davis recalls. "But I paid no particular attention to her."

No attention, that is, until they were cast shortly thereafter in the play "Anna Lucasta," in which they toured for nine months. It was Christmas Eve 1947 when, slow-dancing to Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song," they realized they were in love.

They married Dec. 9, 1948, and had three kids Nora, Guy and LaVern (her Muslim name is Hasna) and stayed happily married.

The Proposal and Wedding:

She had said time and again that they should be married, and so he finally broke down and sent her a telegram from Chicago telling her something like, "In order for you to calm down, I might as well go on ahead and marry you."

She quickly answered back, "Don't do me no favors."

Five months later, they stole away from rehearsals in New York to Jersey City to get hitched. His brother was the best man, her sister the matron of honor. The preacher was a short, fat man with eyes that pointed in two directions.

And when the minister asked, "Do you take this woman to be your lawful, legally wedded wife" one of his eyes was focused on the bride, the other on the bride's sister the bridegroom wasn't sure which woman he was referring to. So he just said, "I do."

That's how Ossie Davis, actor, and Ruby Dee, actress, became husband and wife.

"I didn't know which of them chicks I was married to, but they both looked good so I said, `I do to whichever one you're talking about,' " booms the legendary actor/activist.

He laughs a deep, hearty baritone like soft thunder.

"I couldn't lose," he adds.

For the record, the preacher was talking about Ruby and when Ossie and she said "for better or worse, for richer or poorer, till death do us part," they meant every word.

Surely, they must have, because that was 50 years ago today, and Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis are still together living, laughing and in love.

"Marriage is really an exciting adventure," Dee says.

[...]

"You think, Can anybody be this happy? Can anybody experience love like this?" Dee says. "Isn't it wonderful? How can everyone feel this same ecstasy this same joy?

"It is so calming, marriage," she continues, burrowing her body next to her honey, who is simply smiling. "It's a marvelous thing enjoy it."

Their "Firsts":

First Date: Looking to impress Ruby, Ossie, who had won a sharpshooters' medal in the Army, steps to a game booth on Broadway, pays a quarter, and shoots down most of the fake ducks. Ruby then takes up the rifle and, as Ossie puts it, "brought down all the damn ducks." Says Ossie: "I said, 'Wow! How is she ever going to get a man intimidating him like that?' I was tempted to let that child go, but I decided to give her another chance."

First Kiss: During an impromptu rehearsal for "Jeb" at Ruby's hotel room in Philadelphia. "It seemed appropriate to kiss this chick," Ossie says. "She seemed kissable."

His First Gift to Her: A purse and brooch from Woolworth's. Total cost $1.25.

Her First Gift to Him: A scarf she knitted.

First Car: A blue Oldsmobile that belonged to Ruby's father.

First Home: Located at 5 Cooley Place in Mount Vernon, the Davises' first home was purchased with a GI loan from the black-owned bank Carver Federal Savings and Loan. Ossie's 100-year-old mother lives there today.

First Piece of Furniture: The Davises ate off of orange crates until they had enough money to go to the Salvation Army to "purchase a few pieces," Ossie says.

First Meal He Cooked for Her: Grits and tuna with scrambled eggs.

First Meal She Cooked for Him: A really nasty apple pie. "I don't remember having any major regrets about her meal, but that first time when the child cooked the pie ugh," Ossie laughs, his face crinkled. "That was a strong test that she flunked completely."

Sadly, on Feb. 4, 2005, Ossie Davis passed away at the age of 87. After Mr. Davis' passing, Ms. Dee sat down for an interview with former Essence editor-in-chief Susan L. Taylor where she talked about her relationship with her husband, as well as their "open marriage":

In your book With Ossie and Ruby, you both discussed having had what was called an open marriage for a short time during the 1960’s. You allowed each other to have outside lovers. That’s a huge leap for Black folks.

Ossie couldn’t lie. He refused to lie. He felt strongly that extramarital sex didn’t destroy marriages, but that lies and deception did. Of course this was before AIDS and at a time when ideas about sex and marriage were changing rapidly. We both understood that there were absolutely marvelous, beautiful people in the world, that there were temptations to be with them, and that we two weren’t the only ones we’d be attracted to. So we gave ourselves permission to have other partners if we wished to, as long as we were honest, kept it private, and didn’t expose the family to scandal or disease. Ossie prided himself in not being a jealous person. “The most miserable thing,” he would say, “is to love and not trust.” And he was such a loving and giving person. Not just to me and not just in a romantic sense.

How did this period in your marriage end?

It didn’t last long, and when Ossie put an end to it, I was glad it was over. He saw that it could hurt many people and break up families. It’s too dangerous; you could come up on somebody you can’t let go of. We saw that what you treasure most could be lost. And Ossie and I had matured. We began to understand that it is possible to be married to one person and be faithful to that person all your life, and that in a marriage loyalty and fidelity and trust cannot be compromised.

Any regrets?

If there is anything I could ask forgiveness for, it is this.

What do you think Ossie would say to brothers today about infidelity?

I think he’d say that no matter what you may feel for someone outside your marriage, he realized that you can’t mess up your family, you can’t mess around with love because there are serious consequences. There really is no such thing as an innocent affair. Preserving the family means everything to our community now. One of Ossie’s sayings was, “You can rise no higher than where you have your feet planted in the community.”

At this tender time, what would you say it was that made the fullness and longevity of your relationship with Ossie possible?

The fact that we worked together, thought a lot alike, and came from the same background. Ossie, his soil was the South, in Waycross, Georgia; mine was the North, in Harlem. But we both came from like soil in different places. And we both loved words and ideas. Some of our best times were just talking to each other, and as we got older, we talked about everything. There was nothing we couldn’t tell each other, nothing too private for us to share.

What advice would you give to us sisters and brothers that will help us walk the long road together?

Get to know each other as human beings. Black women have to know the historical and everyday struggles of Black men, and our men have to know the struggles of Black women in America. Even before I knew Ossie, even before we fell in love, I knew the man, because I knew the situation of Black people. You have to help each other know who you are. You have to sanction each other’s gifts and encourage each other. “I want you to be the best you were put here on this earth to be, even if it costs me,” Ossie would say, and he lived it. He told me on so many occasions, “I love you means I want you to be the best you can be, whether it benefits me or not.”

How does it feel to have loved so deeply for so long and to have been loved so deeply in return?

I have an incredible feeling of thanksgiving. When I feel like complaining, I remember how blessed I am to have been married to Ossie. I miss him incredibly, especially in the mornings. He would get up early and read the papers and discuss it all with me over breakfast. At night he’d wait for me to come to bed and sometimes I’d be messing around, doing this and that, and by the time I got to bed, he’d be asleep. I’m so sorry I didn’t hurry up. We just loved being together. When I wasn’t working, I started going to work with him. I’d visit the set, and it was great being in hotels together. It was like our little honeymoon.

Did you know he was leaving?

I knew because I could see him wasting away. He had a pacemaker and only one kidney, and his breathing was being affected. I think it was his heart. I do miss him so, I can’t tell you. I still have him upstairs; Ossie was cremated. He just wanted an urn big enough for both of us.

What will you have inscribed on the urn?

“We’re in this thing together.” Ossie made that up.

POU Live Chat: 2012 Grammy Awards

2012-02-12T19:30:00.003-05:00

That time of year again! The 54th Annual Grammy Awards! Who'll take home what??

You can also log into your twitter or facebook account to access the chat!

Chat for Websites

The Incomparable Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012

2012-02-12T07:31:00.000-05:00

We'll miss you Nippy

Words cannot begin to describe "the voice". Clive Davis said "If the voice is a musical instrument, here is a Stradivarius." Nuff said.

Your favorite Whitney songs, duets, movies?

Sunday Open Thread: Sunday Jazz Brunch

2012-02-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

GOOD MORNING P.O.U.!

As you enjoy your Sunday breakfast/brunch, enjoy the sounds of the late, great Etta James singing "A Sunday Kind of Love":

Saturday Open Thread: The 25th Infantry US Army Bicycle Corp

2012-02-11T07:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the Weekend Obots!

In doing my research for the Extreme Sports topic, this bit of black history about a corp of Buffalo Soldiers came across my monitor:

25th Infantry US Army Bicycle Corp

Formed in 1896, the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps at Fort Missoula, Mont., was established to test the practicality of bikes for military purposes in mountainous terrain. The idea had been kicking around for years, as bikes already had been put to military use in Europe, and cycling for sport, recreation and transportation gained tremendous popularity on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1890s.

Gen. Nelson A. Miles, born in Westminster, Mass., began advocating for bicycle couriers in the Army after seeing a six-day bicycle race in Madison Square Garden in New York in 1891. He wrote that unlike a horse, a bike did not need to be fed and watered and rested, and would be less likely to collapse. Furthermore, a bike is smaller and quieter than a horse and thus could help a soldier sneak up on the enemy, he argued. It was Gen. Miles, who became known as "the patron of military cycling," who approved Lt. James A. Moss' request from Missoula to form the bicycle corps.

The 25th Infantry regiment was made up of black men, known as buffalo soldiers, commanded by white officers. Its Bicycle Corps began with eight riders using one-speed Spalding bicycles on loan from the manufacturer in Chicago. Their exploits are detailed in the book "Iron Riders: Story of the 1890s Fort Missoula Buffalo Soldiers Bicycle Corps" by George Niels Sorensen.

Their first major outing was a four-day, 126-mile trip to Lake McDonald and back. Each bike loaded with gear weighed about 76 pounds.
The lieutenant listed their rations: "1 jar Armour's extract of beef, 1/4 lb.; 7 cans beans, 19 lbs.; 2 lbs. salt; 5 lbs. prunes; 6 lbs. sugar; 5 lbs. rice; 2 lbs. baking powder; 1 can condensed milk; 20 lbs. bacon; 3 cans deviled ham; 2 lbs. 2 ounces pepper; 2 lbs. coffee; 35 lbs. flour; 3 cans corn, 5 1/4 lbs.; 1 can syrup, 12 lbs.; 3 lbs. lard. Total, 120 lbs."

At times the dirt roads were so muddy and the grades so steep, the men walked the bikes along railroad tracks. After crossing Mission Creek, the soldiers had to re-cement loosened tires onto their wooden rims. Despite breakdowns and delays, their commander considered the trip a success and immediately planned a longer, tougher one.

This time the soldiers covered 790 miles in 16 days, visiting Yellowstone National Park. They dealt with mud, headwinds, rain, punctured tires, stomach ailments and other suffering, but the riders all kept a positive outlook, according to Lt. Moss' account.

The following summer, 1897, came the Bicycle Corps' most remarkable adventure, a 1,900-mile trip from Missoula to St. Louis, Mo. In 34 days of riding, 20 soldiers averaged 56 miles per day. Their average speed registered 6.3 mph. Newspapers carried daily updates on their journey, and the Army & Navy Journal quoted Lt. Moss at the conclusion:

"The trip has proved beyond peradventure my contention that the bicycle has a place in modern warfare. In every kind of weather, over all sorts of roads, we averaged fifty miles a day. At the end of the journey we are all in good physical condition. Seventeen tires and half a dozen frames is the sum of our damage. The practical result of the trip shows that an Army Bicycle Corps can travel twice as fast as cavalry or infantry under any conditions, and at one third the cost and effort."

Sorenson's book puts the Bicycle Corps' accomplishments into perspective by exploring the role of blacks in the U.S. military, the attitudes leading up to the bicycle experiment, the Western setting in which the troops were stationed, and the rapid changes taking place in America at the time, including the evolution of the bicycle itself.

In 1974, 10 bicyclists honored the Buffalo Soldiers Bicycle Corps by retracing their route from Missoula to St. Louis. The ride was organized by two professors, Pferron Doss and Richard Smith, from the Black Studies Department at the University of Montana. They borrowed the motto of the original 25th Infantry: "Onward."

Of course, the 20th century riders encountered a changed nation. But when viewed over the handlebars, some things were hardly different. One of Doss' reflections on the Bicycle Corps odyssey:
"It was not until we were pedaling down their shadows that we could fully appreciate what they had endured. Though 77 years' progress boasted the luxuries of paved freeways and high-caliber equipment, the steep hills, weather and snakes proved to be equal opportunists in evening the score."

From "Iron Riders tested bikes for army" by Lynne Tolman

Alex's Lounge Is Open!

2012-02-10T18:30:00.000-05:00

A variation on gin and juice

Salty Dog

5 oz grapefruit juice
1 1/2 oz gin
1/4 tsp salt

Music and Trivia: What 1986 hit is Toni Braxton sampling in "Tell Me?"

Friday Open Thread: African-Americans In Extreme Sports

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday Obots!

In 2010, the California African American Museum opened an exhibit on the history of African-Americans in Skateboarding, "How We Roll". Covering four decades, it surveys the history and achievements of the art, photography, and culture of skateboarding as an all inclusive sport.

Now, I admit....I had no idea about all of these skateboarders. I knew about Terry Kennedy which prompted this topic in the first place. However, there are quite a few AA professional skateboarders (which by the way is an $11 billion dollar industry) - with sponsorships and skateboard lines of their own, its quite a lucrative sport. I will highlight a few, but please read more on these incredible athletes.

Darren Harper

While many young African American athletes living in the nation's inner-cities aspire to become professional athletes in the NBA or NFL, you rarely hear professional skateboarding enter the conversation.

Meet professional skateboarder Darren Harper (aka "D-Streets"). Born and raised in the rough parts of Southeast D.C., Harper defies many of the stereotypes, as he is one of the few premier African American skaters. As Barack Obama recently became the first African American President-elect and has inspired many young African Americans to follow in his footsteps, Harper also hopes to one day make skateboarding a popular career choice among his younger brethren.

Read the rest of Darren's journey from his hard childhood to skateboarder extraordinaire here.

Terry Kennedy

Twenty-seven-year-old Terry Kennedy came from humble beginnings in Long Beach, CA, where he started to skate at age 14 because it was an alternative to drugs and violence. TK is a flamboyant pro who didn't do his first pro contest until June 2008. It was the Copenhagen Pro, where he finished 15th. He has since done X Games (finishing 18th in 2008) and X Games Mexico (10th place). He has a rap group called Fly Society and has appeared in music videos, including ones for Snoop Dog and Drama.

Stevie Williams

Stevie Williams grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and started skateboarding at the age of 11. He has become one of the most well known and admired skateboarders in the world.

Williams is the owner and founder of DGK Skateboards, a Philadelphia-based skateboard company. In 2004, Williams' manager, Peter Golden, sold Reebok the idea and master plan of how to enter into the already multi-billion dollar skateboarding market with the signing of his superstar client and skateboarding legend Williams. Golden along with Williams helped Reebok design a complete product line including DGK Skate Shoes and clothing. Williams was the first professional skateboarder to be sponsored by Reebok. He was subsequently asked to give some advice for the "Flipside" Air Jordan skate sneaker.

In 2006, Williams opened the skate shop L&K Limited in Oceanside, California, together with Nick Lockman,and in 2008, he opened the skate shop Sk8tique in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Spades: The History of Blacks in Skateboarding
Director: Ernie Brown

The Spades looks at the transformation of African-Americans in skateboarding and their ever growing position in the changing face of the sport. The film opens with the infamous historical AP news footage of motel manager, Jimmy E. Brock, pouring acid on black and white protestors in the pool in a little part of the Civil Rights movement seldom talked about

The film will then starts journey from the infamous ""Dogtown", California, with the first professional Black skater, Z-Boy Marty Grimes and then the film will follow the evolution of African-Americans in modern skateboarding through its 70's heyday, the ASPO contest series, a series of contest held between Southern California skate parks, to its decline during the 80's, to the streets of the 90's and its eventual, and highly lucrative, resurgence in the new millennium.

Trailer:

Thursday Evening Thread: President Obama on Landmark Housing Settlement

2012-02-09T18:40:00.001-05:00

The President announces a landmark settlement between the government and the nation’s largest banks that will speed relief to the hardest-hit homeowners, end some of the most abusive practices of the mortgage industry, and begin to turn the page on an era of recklessness that has left so much damage in its wake.

POU Weekly Health Thread: Harlem's Runner Lady, Going Strong At 88!

2012-02-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

Sorry I'm a day late, apparently I need whatever Ms. Lucille is taking so I can keep up! Go head Ms. Lucille!!

Harlem's Runner Lady Going Strong At 88!

Lucille Singleton runs everywhere she goes. It doesn’t seem like a big deal until you realize she’s almost 90. Singleton has run three New York City Marathons and finished in the top 10 for her age group all three times.
“I just love running. It makes me feel so good,” said Singleton.

Around her Harlem neighborhood, everyone recognizes her as he senior citizen who runs. The door attendant at her senior building asks how her running is going. And when she shows up at her gym at the New York Sports Club, she can barely make it to the weights because everyone wants to hug her.

Singleton gets up at 4 a.m. to run three miles and still hits the gym three or four times per week. She’s recently had some age-related kidney problems and now needs regular dialysis. Even that hasn’t stopped her running.
“When I finish dialysis, I like to run home,” said Singleton.

Her efforts are simply inspiring, says neighbor and friend Sylvia White.
“She runs four days a week, goes to aerobics twice a week. When you see this woman you … do a double take because she looks half her age. She defies the common expectations for seniors,” said White.

Singleton is proof that it’s never too late to accomplish your goals in life. At 71, after a career as a home health aide, she became a construction worker. The manager gave her the job of a flag person but Singleton wanted more. She wanted to lift and carry things. And that’s just what she did, helping to build 19 Rite Aid stores.

Singleton also didn’t run her first marathon until she was 75 years old. A friend’s daughter was running, and Singleton, remembering her high school running days, decided to give it a try. She finished fifth in her age group.

Now, Singleton feels her running is an inspiration to others. That’s why she has no plans to stop.
“When I get out and run in the morning, the cars blow their horns and the people wave,” said Singleton. “I have fans out there so I can’t stop.”

See the video story on Ms. Lucille here!

Thursday Open Thread: African-Americans In Extreme Sports

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Obots!

Today's featured extreme sports star is into BMX Biking!

Nigel Sylvester

At first, Nigel Sylvester was just a boy on his bike in Queens, NY. He's still on his bike years later, but this time it's a bike he designed and he's getting paid to be on it. Now sponsors like Nike, Gatorade and G-Shock are helping Sylvester on his journey to the top of the BMX game.

The 24-year-old is known for his street tricks, which include riding over railings, taxicabs and maneuvering in between buses, cars and people all over New York City streets.

Sylvester was discovered performing tricks on his bike as a teen, and stays close to the street bike scene through performing in cinematic-style web videos for his sponsors.

Nigel Sylvester is making history as ... a talented African-American BMX rider who has taken his street tricks to new roads, from the guardrails of New York to other cities across the U.S. While Sylvester seldom competes, he has managed to get sponsorships from some of the biggest sports-related companies in the world to continue filming his rides.

What's next for Nigel?
Sylvester recently parted ways with one of his sponsors, bike company Mirraco. There are rumors that he may be in the process of working with another company to head their brand or develop his own.

Nigel Sylvester teamed up with Gatorade to release three videos in a series that shows his unique life as a pro BMX rider. The videos all of which were conceptualized and written by Nigel and Glenn PP Milligan. The videos show just how crazy Nigel's life is on and off a bike, and has a cool storyline woven throughout the three videos. This is the three videos combined:

Wednesday Evening Thread: GO FLOTUS!!

2012-02-08T18:52:00.000-05:00

Michelle Obama beats 'Late Night' host Jimmy Fallon in fitness challenge

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michelle Obama and "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon turned the White House into a playground to promote the first lady's "Let's Move!" fitness campaign.

Mrs. Obama and Fallon did pushups and twirled hula hoops. They competed at dodge ball and tug-of-war. And the first lady triumphed over the comedian in a climactic potato sack race.

Wednesday Open Thread: African-Americans In Extreme Sports

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Hump Day Obots!

Today's Extreme Sport feature is a freestyle rollerblader!

Ramelle Knight

Ramelle Knight grew up on the tough streets of the Bronx, New York. He played a lot of basketball as a kid, but always had a fascination with rollerblades. B-ball did not give him the thrill he was looking for, so Ramelle started rollerblading at the age of 15 as a way to get around. A natural athlete, he quickly picked up the sport and almost instantaneously was able to skate on rails, stairs and ramps. Not long after he started skating, he was already featured in videos where he would show off all of his crazy tricks.

After years of making a name for himself in the underground action sports circuit, people started to take notice. His unbelievable skating talent mixed with his natural charisma and hip-hop style made him one of the most unique talents in all of extreme sports. In 2006, Jim Jones - the president of Diplomat Records - partnered with Ramelle and his skating team and formed Dipskate. The idea of the Dipskate Team is to combine freestyle rolling and hip-hop music and culture.Ramelle believes that Dipskate and freestyle rolling are the future of action sports and plans on bringing it to the same level as skateboarding and snowboarding. Aside from skating, he is involved in several other ventures. He is involved in the modeling of a clothing line called b.Unique & Co and for Jim JJones' Nostic Apparel. In the near future Ramelle and Dipskate are coming out with a skating movie called The Project, which is due out in 2008. Ramelle is also a rapper and plans to debut his mixtape album in 2007. Business aside, Ramelle is involved in the community. He wants kids in neighborhoods similar to the one he grew up in to use the sport to stay out of trouble.

Razors Sample-- Ramelle Knight from Ramelle Knight on Vimeo.

Tuesday Evening Thread: Let's Do It Again!

2012-02-07T18:24:00.000-05:00

Let's Do It Again (Obama 2012) - Teens in Orlando Making a Difference!!!

The boys have pledged 10% of t-shirt sale profits to the President Obama re-election campaign. The remainder goes to purchase new microphones, speakers, and mixers needed for performances. To buy a shirt, visit http://letsdoitagainobama.storenvy.com/

Tuesday Open Thread: African-Americans In Extreme Sports

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Obots!

Today we feature a barrier-breaker in the world of snowboarding!

Stevie Bell

Stevie Bell is the first and only African American professional snowboarders of his time to break into the industry in 2005. His love for snowboarding and his passion to excel earned him a spot on the Forum Pro snowboarding team in 2006. He starred in his first snowboarding film with Forum called “That.” This film was a breakthrough point in his career because as one of the first African American snowboarders, he knew that had to prove himself. In an interview conducted by Transworld Snowboarding, Bell was asked about his part in “Forum or Against Em” where he poses the question “Am I just pro because I’m black.” Stevie responded by saying, “It’s just something I’ve heard before, so the crew at Forum and I thought we would address the situation. And so we did, as my intro.” Bell continued to impress both the public and major sponsors with his consistent handrail tricks and daring stunts in the backcountry.

A Utah native, Stevie Bell grew up snowboarding on the slopes of Park City Mountain Resort where he is known for his part in the documentary “I Ride Park City.” This film features top riders such as Shaun White, Torah Bright, and Scotty Arnold. As stated in Transworld Snowboarder, his outgoing and energetic personality coupled with his extensive appearances in major snowboarding films will allow him to reach to the next level and continue to be successful.

Monday Evening Thread: President Obama's Interview with Matt Lauer

2012-02-06T18:38:00.000-05:00

In a wide-ranging interview at the White House, President Barack Obama talks to TODAY’s Matt Lauer about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the presidential race, the economy and more.

Monday Open Thread: African-Americans In Extreme Sports

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Obots!

This week we will take a look at some young pioneers in their own right, those African-americans that have broken barriers in what is known as Extreme Sports: Skateboarding, MotorCross, Snowboarding and more!

James Stewart

Born in 1985, James “Bubba” Stewart has been called the “Tiger Woods of super motocross” because of his domination of a sport as an African American with mostly Caucasian competitors. A better term for Stewart might be the “Jackie Robinson of super motocross.”

Like Robinson, and unlike Woods, Stewart is the first African American in the big leagues of his sport, and like Robinson, Stewart came from humble beginnings and has had to withstand racial slurs and bigotry while winning events.

The racism Stewart faced was profiled on ESPN in April 2009. According to Stewart in the report, he endured foul language questioning his heritage and family. Before that, his father, James Sr., collected cans for recycling and worked multiple jobs in order to support his son’s super motocross racing ambitions. The elder Stewart built a 40-acre track near their home in Haines City, Fla. so young James would have a place to practice.

James Sr. entered his son into his first race when James Jr. was just four. By seven, James Jr. was winning races as a sponsored rider. He won multiple amateur national titles all before the age of 16, James made a name for himself as one of the most promising future stars of the sport.

Because of his multiple amateur titles, his pro debut for the 2002 racing season was one of the most anticipated debuts in the history of the sport. While crashes and rookie mistakes kept him from winning the 2002 125 West Supercross title, he was named the 2002 AMA Rookie of the Year. He was also named one of "20 Teens Who Will Change the World" in the April 2003 issue of Teen People magazine.

For 2005, he moved up to the premier 450cc class for both the Supercross series and the Outdoor National Motocross series. While Stewart immediately showed that he had the speed to race with the top riders in super motocross, a practice crash that resulted in a broken wrist at Round 2 in Phoenix meant that he would have to wait before he notched his first career super motocross win.

On April 2, 2005, at Texas Stadium (in only his third race), Stewart captured his very first career super motocross victory. Stewart would go on to win the 2007 Supercross Championship. While “Bubba” Stewart continues to win races as a pro, he has also started to make big bucks in endorsements. Stewart's sponsors include Kawasaki, Gatorade and Oakley, and he also has a role in an MX2002 game for Sony Playstation. Some estimates place his earnings from racing and endorsements at more than $10 million per year. He is well on his way to becoming an inspiration for other African Americans to participate in super motocross.

The rare combination of Stewart’s abilities on the track, his business success, and his pioneering spirit has made him a joy to watch and root for in the African American community. Much like African Americans in the 1940s and 1950s who did not have to be baseball fans to root for Robinson, Blacks today do not need an inherent interest in super motocross to root for Stewart to continue to dominate a sport that was not accepting initially, but is now helping to provide him with unimagined wealth.

POU Comments Of The Week!

2012-02-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

For the week Jan 29 - Feb 4

It is rather entertaining to watch the gridiron battle of the GOP Primaries. No offense to the Giants and Patriots, but its gonna be hard to put on a show today that tops Gingrich's press conference from last night and I don't think Belichek's gonna bench Tom Brady because "everybody's talking bout him!" like Romney benched his debate coach. The Grand Ole Party in 30 seconds could clearly top the commercials we'll see tonight.

Now on to the comments!

"So Why Do You Want To Be President Again?" Comment of the Week

Town, Tuesday Open Thread

Romney wants to be president for the same reason McCain, Palin, Cain, Gingrich, Santorum, Bachmann, Huntsman etc. wanted to be president:

For the prestige, the honor, the smoke blowing up their asses. But none of them want to actually WORK. None of them actually want to learn. None of them want to take that 3 am call. They just want their name in the history books, and Air Force One, but none of the responsibilities that come along with it.

"You Didn't Quite Think It Through Huh?" Comment of the Week

Ummm, we ummmm, well ummmm, we kinda need to re-think some things here in Kansas. Ummm, can ya help a redstate out?

Daltex82, Tuesday Open Thread

Dear Mr. Kansas Secretary of Agriculture

HELL FRIGGIN NO!!! YOU PISSED IN THE POOL, NOW SWIM IN IT.

However, we should be receiving the resume of some out of work Texas engineer from his bigoted/ignorant/disrespectful wife shortly we will pass it on to you for consideration.

Signed the Federal Government.

"The Stupid. It Burns." Comment of the Week

Really? You're really asking me about this bullshit? Really?

Daltex82, Tuesday Open Thread

Ditto Ms. Kitty, because my reply would have been "I keep the proof on the bottom of my shoe, bend over and I will share it with you". The next White House press briefing would have been to announce my replacement.

"Oh, You Sure You Wanna Go There Son?" Comment of the Week

Now why you wanna come jump in the conversation? You think we forgot?

AxelFoley, Tuesday Evening Thread

Does Bobby really want to bring back memories? Does he really want to go there? Because I remember even Tweety knew he was a joke as soon as he walked onscreen to give his rebuttal to President Obama a few years back.

As Tweety said, and I quote, "Oh, God.."

You're Just Like The Black Panthers? GTFOOHWTBS Comment of the Week

Ebogan63, Thursday Evening Thread

OK if they have 'roots in the BPP, where is Occupy's school lunch program? Free Clinics? Sickle-Cell Anemia screening? How many folks have run for city offices? You see, I was living in the Bay Area in the late 60's, and while I was young(early teens) I distinctly remember all the above and no, these layabout, rag-tag leftist mofos ain't nuthin' like the real deal, relevant Holyfield, Black muthafuckin' Panther Party!! I am so sick of these trifilin' jackasses, they can go run really fast to the edge of the SF-Oaktown Bay Bridge, and jump the fuck off!! Nobody but they family members will miss they sorry azzes.

The War On Women Didn't Just Start Comment of the Week

Tafr, Friday Open Thread

This is a bunch of BS. Hey Maddow, Keith and the rest of you clowns. While you are busy bashing the president the gop is busy taking down planned parenthood. What a bunch of idiots the prof left is. The right is not going to stop until planned parenthood is taken down for good. Oh but the occupy wall-street needed all our support and donations this fall. Meanwhile planned parenthood is being attacked. This issue with planned parenthood did not begin overnight, this is just like the union mess in WI, this is typical of the so called left. The right wing throws them a shiny new ball, they play with it, all the while they are being distracted and robbed. Then they expect us rational folks to help them get their furniture back. I cannot wait until this election is over.

Tweets of the Week!

Official Wanda Sykes @iamwandasykes

These conservatives who think Planned Parenthood is just a "pro abortion" place, let's u know that's the only thing they've been there for.

One Female Canuck @onefemalecanuck

I think Ron Paul is high and drunk. I also think he likely wets himself regularly. #honestrape

LOLGOP @LOLGOP

To: Republicans. From: Every musician except Ted Nugent. Don't use our goddamn music. Thanks.

Andy Borowitz @BorowitzReport

At her #SuperBowl halftime show, Madonna will give us a sneak preview of Lady Gaga's halftime show in 2032.

Andy Borowitz @BorowitzReport

"Abort!" -- overheard at Komen headquarters #Komen

Andy Borowitz @BorowitzReport

The bad news for Mitt: people liking you more than Newt Gingrich is not the same as people liking you. #FLPrimary

Andy Borowitz @BorowitzReport

Most of the job-killing Obama has done has been to al-Qaeda.

a series of tubes @shandy_d

Given his nebulous concept of #HonestRape, what further evidence do we need that Ron Paul is a time-travelling gold miner from 1850?

Sunday Open Thread: NFL Super Bowl Gospel Player's Choir

2012-02-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Good Super Bowl Morning!

The NFL Players Choir made its debut at the 2008 NFL Super Bowl Gospel Show with more than 40 active and former players under the direction of Grammy Award-winning gospel artist, Donnie McClurkin. The Choir has included league stars and longtime event supporters such as Pro Bowlers Drew Pearson (Cowboys/Retired), Eugene Lockhart (Dallas/Retired) Tim Brown (Raiders/Retired), Darrell Green (Redskins/Retired), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Leonard Weaver (Eagles) and Tommie Harris (Bears) to name a few. The NFL PLAYERS Choir recently performed for the first time outside of Super Bowl Gospel Celebration at XLV Countdown Live From Cowboys Stadium, the official kick-off for Super Bowl XLV, singing a soulful rendition of America the Beautiful

Check out these past performances!

Afternoon Open Thread | West Wing Week

2012-02-04T16:31:00.002-05:00

This week, the President made history by holding the first completely virtual interview at the White House on Google+. He also tackled the rising cost of tuition at the University of Michigan, welcomed the President of Georgia, convened a cabinet meeting, stopped by the Washington Auto Show, announced a major refinancing plan for responsible homeowners, and attended the National Prayer Breakfast.

Saturday Open Thread- Black British Invasion

2012-02-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

This week's open threads have highlighted Black British musicians and singers. To conclude the week, today's thread will focused on several different artists.

Crazy - 1990

Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel was born February 19, 1963 in Paddington, London, England. He is popularly known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an MTV Video Music Award. Seal is known for his numerous international hits; the best known being "Kiss from a Rose", which appeared in the soundtrack to the 1995 film Batman Forever. He has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide.

Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel was born to a Nigerian mother Adebisi Samuel and Brazilian father Francis Samuel. His name, Olusegun, means "God is victorious" in the Yoruba language.He was raised in a district of the City of Westminster in inner London by his foster family. He received a two-year diploma, or associate's degree, in architecture and worked in various jobs in the London area. Although there have long been rumours as to the cause of the scars on his face, they are in fact the result of a type of Lupus called Discoid lupus erythematosus – a condition that specifically affects the skin above the neck.

Seal was positively received by critics. The singles "Crazy", "Future Love Paradise", and his own rendition of "Killer" performed well on the charts. In particular, "Crazy" became an international hit in 1991, reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart and number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.

His second album, also self-titled Seal was released in 1994. A success, the album featured the singles "Prayer for the Dying" and "Newborn Friend", later receiving a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. "Prayer for the Dying" became a minor pop hit in the U.S., peaking at #21 on the Billboard charts. A third single, "Kiss from a Rose", performed modestly when released but was later featured to much wider popularity when it was remixed for the soundtrack to Batman Forever. "Kiss from a Rose" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1996, becoming Seal's best performing single on the US market (it topped the Billboard Hot 100 in late August 1995) and hit number four in the UK.

Fill Me In -2001

Craig Ashley David, born 5 May 1981, is an English singer and songwriter. He has released five studio albums: Born to Do It,Slicker Than Your Average, The Story Goes..., Trust Me, Signed Sealed Delivered and a Greatest Hits album. Craig David has sold over 13 million albums worldwide.

David was born in Southampton, Hampshire, the son of Tina (née Loftus), a retail assistant at Superdrug, and George David, a carpenter. David's father is Grenadian and David's mother is English and related to the founders of the Accurist watch-making company; David's maternal grandfather was an Orthodox Jew and his maternal grandmother a convert to Judaism. David's parents separated when he was eight and he was raised by his mother. He attended Bellemoor School andSouthampton City College.

David's father played bass in a reggae band called Ebony Rockers. As a teen, David began accompanying his father to local dance clubs, where DJs let him take the microphone.

I've Been Waiting -2008

Incognito is a British band, as well as one of the members of the United Kingdom's acid jazz movement. Their debut album, Jazz Funk, was released in 1981, with thirteen more albums following, the last of which, Transatlantic RPM, was released in 2010.

The band's frontman, composer, record producer, guitarist and singer is Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick. Other notable band members have included the singers Jocelyn Brown, Carleen Anderson, Tony Momrelle, Imaani, Maysa Leak, Kelli Sae (of Count Basic) and Joy Malcom.

The band has had intermittent success in the UK Singles Chart. Their song "Need to Know" is the theme song for liberal radio and television news program "Democracy Now!"

You Gotta Be -1994

Des'ree (born Desirée Annette Weeks, 30 November 1968) is an English pop/soul singer, who was popular during the 1990s. She is well known for her hits: "Feel So High", "You Gotta Be", "Life", and "Kissing You" (from the soundtrack of the film William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet). Des'ree has not released any new material since 2003's Dream Soldier.

And lastly...
Mark Morrison (born 3 May 1972) is a British R&B singer. The first black male solo artist to reach #1 in the 1990s, his single, Return of the Mack, became a #1 or Top 10 hit in several European countries in 1996. The song peaked at #2 in the United States the following year.

Return of the Mack -1996

***All information courtesy of Wikipedia***

Friday Evening Open Thread | Tuskegee Airmen visit the White House

2012-02-03T19:46:00.001-05:00

The President and the First Lady host Tuskegee Airmen along with cast and crew members of the movie Red Tails for a screening at the White House.

Alex's Lounge Is Open

2012-02-03T18:30:00.000-05:00

Super Bowl Inspired Cocktails

From left to right: Brady Bomb, Gronk, Big Blue, The Manning)

For Patriots fans, try The Brady Bomb, an explosive and game-changing cocktail made with cherry vodka, Red Bull energy drink and grenadine syrup, or go for The Gronk, named after their prolific tight end and towering with tequila, white creme de cacao, blue curacao and cream.

For Giants fans, try The Big Blue, a variation on the classic Manhattan cocktail, a blueberry garnish and splash of vermouth. Or opt for The Manning Special instead.(Recipes)

Music and Trivia: Please name the funk/r&b band that recorded "Heaven Must Be Like This" in 1974.

Black Unemployment Drops From 15.8% To 13.6%!

2012-02-03T12:07:00.009-05:00

If you see members of The Sole Patrol and Blacker Than Thou, Inc., looking sad and pitiful, here's why....

The January 2012 jobs numbers are out and with the addition of 243,000 jobs, the total unemployment rate dropped from 8.5% to 8.3%! But look at the stats for Black unemployment:

Total Black unemployment rate DROPPED from 15.8% to 13.6%

Black Male unemployment rate DROPPED from 15.7% to 12.7%

Black Female unemployment rate DROPPED from 13.9% to 12.6%

Black Teen unemployment rate DROPPED from 42.1% to 38.5%

(Click to enlarge image)

Bruce Dixon: "Damn you, Obama, you pretty muthf*kka!"

(Table: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Friday Open Thread- Black British Invasion

2012-02-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

This week's focus has been all about Black British musicians and singers.

Floetry was a British R&B duo comprising Marsha Ambrosius ("the Songstress") and Natalie Stewart ("the Floacist"). The group recorded two studio albums, one live album, and sold over 800,000 records worldwide. Formed in 1999, Floetry started on the performance poetry stage.

In 2002, the duo released their first album entitled, Floetic. The album sold over 864,000 copies in the United States. The album spawned the singles "Floetic", the top ten song "Say Yes", and "Getting Late". Following their success, Floetry released their live album Floacism, featuring the single Wanna B Where U R. In 2005, Floetry released their second album Flo'Ology. Two singles were released from this album, "SupaStar" and "Lay Down". Later in 2007, Natalie Stewart ("the Floacist") left the duo and was later temporarily replaced by femcee and MTV2 personality Amanda Diva. Diva is no longer associated with the Floetry brand.

Floetic - 2002

Ambrosius and Stewart met due to their love of basketball. Stewart, who hails from London, was a superstar on her court, while Ambrosius from Liverpool wowed fans in her local English neighborhood. They were competitive, but not rivals, so a friendship was formed. Music was also a passion. Stewart relished in her reggae roots while Ambrosius had been raised in the funk and soul tradition. While attending The Brits Performing Arts School, Ambrosius studied business and finance, but made room for courses in voice, performance technique, and recording. Stewart, who was voted 'Student of the Year' majored in Performance Arts and English. Later, Ambrosius and Stewart headed to college.

Ambrosius planned to attend Georgia Tech on a basketball scholarship, but injury forced her to bow out. Still, the two kept in touch and raved about music. It wouldn't be until Stewart's poetry group, 3 Plus 1, broke through on the spoken word scene in London that Stewart would invite Ambrosius onto the stage. In 1999, Ambrosius became an honorary member of 3+1 and joined them on the performance poetry circuit in and around London. It was on these stages that Floetry was born. A year later, they were invited to Atlanta. A trip that led to a traveling to Philadelphia where the Neo Soul scene was thriving.

Since moving to the US in 2000, they have written for Jill Scott, Jazz of Dru Hill, Glenn Lewis (Marsha only), Bilal, and Michael Jackson, for whom Marsha penned the hit 2002 single "Butterflies". In 2002, they signed with DreamWorks Records and released their debut album Floetic, which featured the singles "Floetic", "Say Yes ", and "Getting Late". The album was also released in the UK with additional tracks, one of which features British singer/songwriter and producer Sebastian Rogers. Their song "Where's The Love" was featured in the film "Bringing Down the House".

Floetry released a live album titled Floacism in 2003. The two-disc set consisted of a CD and DVD and included the single "Wanna B Where U R (Thisizzaluvsong)" featuring rapper Mos Def. Their third and final album Flo'Ology was released in November 2005. The album debuted at #7 on Billboard's Hot 200 and #2 on the Top R&B charts, and sold over 77,000 copies in its first week. The album included the single "Supastar" featuring rapper Common.

Flo'Ology was the third and final album with original member Natalie Stewart, who was replaced with Amanda Diva for tours in 2007. Soon after Floetry finished promoting its newest member, the group separated. Marsha Ambrosius was later signed as a solo artist to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.

Say Yes -2003

***Information courtesy of Wikipedia.org***

Thursday Evening Thread: The Fittest First Lady!

2012-02-02T18:48:00.000-05:00

The First Lady visited "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" where she accepted a push-up challenge from the talk show host. Jackets were shed and the two women hit the stage. Watch what happens below:

video platform video management video solutions video player

Michelle bested Ellen by five push-ups and wasn't even out of breath by the end. To be fair, Michelle is six years younger than Ellen. It was definitely an impressive showing by both! The First Lady has been on a tour promoting healthy eating, and she's living proof!

h/t TooFab.com

And don't forget to check out the Fabulous FLOTUS in this month's More Magazine!

Thursday Open Thread - Black British Invasion

2012-02-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

This week's open thread focuses on famous Black British singers and musicians.

Corinne Bailey Rae (born Corinne Jacqueline Bailey on February 26, 1979) is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist from Leeds, who released her debut album Corinne Bailey Rae in February 2006. She became the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at number one. Bailey Rae was nominated for Grammy Awards and BRIT Awards, and has won two MOBO Awards and one Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her work as a featured artist in Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters. Bailey Rae was married to fellow musician Jason Rae from 2001 until his death in 2008. Bailey Rae released her second album, The Sea in January 2010, after a hiatus of almost three years. She has sold over 5 million albums, with her two albums combined, worldwide. Bailey Rae was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year for The Sea.

Bailey Rae was born in Leeds to a Kittitian father and an English mother as the oldest of three daughters.
Bailey Rae began her musical career at school where she studied classical violin before she turned her attention to singing: "I started off singing in church, I suppose, but people think it must have been a gospel church because of the whole, you know, black assumption," she says in reference to her multiracial background. "But it wasn't gospel at all, it was just your regular Brethren church, very middle-class, where we would sing these harmonies every Sunday. It was always my favourite part of the service, the singing."

Put Your Records On -2005

Performing in church broadened Bailey Rae's musical horizons, and her love for making music was solidified after the church youth leader offered to lend her the money for her first guitar. In her mid-teens, she was highly influenced by Lenny Kravitz, and through him she discovered rock legends Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Bailey Rae formed an all-female (barring the drummer) indie group called Helen, which was inspired by similar acts such as Veruca Salt and L7. The group raised eyebrows on several fronts; in the white male-dominated world of indie music, they were a mainly female group, fronted by a mixed-race singer from Leeds. The moniker "Helen" also drew attention, albeit for not all the right reasons.

The group played many gigs around Leeds and whilst unable to attract offers from any UK labels eventually were approached by US based heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records, home to acts such as Slipknot, in 1998. This deal disappeared before it was even signed however after the bassist became pregnant and the group disbanded.

Bailey Rae studied English Literature at the University of Leeds where she graduated in 2000. While at University, she began work as a hat check girl on an evening in her local jazz club. Permitted to sing on stage with the jazz band when business was slow, it was there that she discovered a different type of music that sent her on a different musical path.

In the three years after she got married, Bailey Rae began working on solo material—this time steering away from her indie past and embarking on a more "soulful" path. She collaborated with Leeds-based funk group The New Mastersounds on the track "Your Love Is Mine," featured on their 2003 album Be Yourself, released via One Note Records. The following year she again worked with another Leeds-based group, Homecut Directive, on the song "Come the Revolution", which was the first single from the group's debut album. In 2004, Bailey Rae got a breakthrough when she was signed by Global Talent Publishing and then approached by Craig David's mentor Mark Hill, from the duo The Artful Dodger. The resulting collaboration, "Young and Foolish", was released in April 2005 and brought Bailey Rae to the attention of the major record label bosses. Bailey Rae released her debut single, "Like a Star", in November 2005 and her first album, Corinne Bailey Rae, in February 2006. It debuted at number one in the UK and entered the top ten of the U.S.Billboard 200, peaking at number four and spending 71 weeks in the chart from 2006 to 2008. The album sold 1.9 million copies in the United States alone.

The lead single, "Like a Star" became a hit in the UK and US. Follow-up single "Put Your Records On", her biggest hit to date, rose to number two in the UK, and sold close to 1 million downloads in the U.S.

Corinne Bailey met Scottish-born Jason Rae in a jazz club in Leeds where she had a part-time job as a cloakroom attendant. She married him in 2001 at the age of twenty-two and changed her name to Bailey Rae. Jason Rae (born in 1976), a musician, played saxophone for the eight-piece group called Haggis Horns, and had recorded with Bailey Rae. On March 22, 2008, Jason Rae was found dead in a flat in the Hyde Park area of Leeds. He died from an accidental overdose of methadone and alcohol.

***Information courtesy of Wikipedia.org***

Wednesday Evening Thread: President Obama Launches African Americans for Obama

2012-02-01T18:22:00.004-05:00

Today, we're announcing the 2012 launch of African Americans for Obama.

There's no better time than African American History Month to consider the tremendous progress we've made through the sacrifice of so many—or a better time to commit to meeting the very real challenges we face right now.

Visit AfricanAmericans.BarackObama.com for more information about all the ways you can get involved—from attending HBCU organizing workshops to becoming a Congregation Captain—and say you're ready to keep making history. Thanks, and see you out there.

The Obama Administration’s Accomplishments for the African American Community

President Obama is focused on creating jobs and restoring economic security for African Americans and all Americans. He understands that too many African Americans have been hurt by a decade of declining wages and unemployment and he’s fought for policies that give everyone a fair shot and the opportunity to succeed.

That’s why he’s pushing for job training and education reforms, ending health disparities and cracking down on credit card and mortgage abuses by the biggest banks. He knows that the American people live up to their responsibilities each and every day and it’s time that their leaders in Washington live up to theirs.

Download this fact sheet to learn more about the Obama administration's accomplishments for the African-American community.

Mitt Romney: "I'm Not Concerned About The Very Poor"

2012-02-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

Willard Mitt Romney stays putting his foot in his mouth:

POU Weekly Health Thread: Fast Food Fright

2012-02-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

Now really? I'm trying to imagine telling my Mother what I wasn't going to eat.............................
*screen fades to black*

So forgive me if I have no sympathy for this mother that allowed her child to eat McDonald's Chicken McNuggets EVERYDAY. I have sympathy for the child, and hopes she gets better and adopts a healthier lifestyle...but Mom? You couldn't make a toddler eat right? GTFOOHWTBS!

(CBS) Talk about being a picky eater. A British teenager reportedly has eaten "practically nothing" but chicken nuggets for the past 15 years. And now she's paying for it.

Seventeen-year-old Stacey Irvine didn't think her nugget habit was a big deal - until she collapsed one day work, The Sun reported. When Stacey arrived at the hospital, doctors were horrified to find she had eaten chicken nuggets every single day and "never" ate fruits or vegetables.

"My main meal is always chicken nuggets every day," Stacey told the paper. "I share 20 with my boyfriend with chips (fries)."

A 20-piece chicken nuggets meal contains 58g of fat and 926 calories, which exceeds daily recommended intakes of 56g fat, and is almost half of the daily recommended 2,000 calories a day, according to The Daily Mail.

There is a tiny bit of variety in Stacey's diet, according to The Sun. Once in a while, she'll eat a slice of toast for breakfast or snack on potato chips.
Doctors diagnosed Stacey with anemia and swollen veins in her tongue, putting her on an emergency vitamin regimen. Stacey's high salt, high fat diet also raises her risk for future chronic health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

"She's been told in no uncertain terms that she'll die if she carries on like this," Stacey's mom Evonne said. "But she says she can't eat anything else." Since Stacey's taste for nuggets started at age 2, Evonne has tried everything, including trying to starve her daughter to get her to eat something healthier.
"I am at my wit's end," Evonne said. "I'm praying she can be helped before it's too late."

Read the rest of this bizarre story here.

And after this revelation, can't say its been a good week for ole Mickey D's. But fast food, be it of the drive-thru variety, or popping a meal into a microwave...its not healthy. What it is...is FAST. In today's "I want it now" society, many of us have been suckered into believing that any meal taking longer than 10 minutes to cook is a hassle....and then we wonder why those pounds keep creeping up, why we feel lethargic and why climbing one flight of stairs is an act of suicide.

So Obots, what would you say to this mother? What would you say to the person that swears they have no time to cook? How can we get healthy as a community with a fast food joint and convenience store on every corner?

Wednesday Open Thread- Black British Invasion

2012-02-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

This week's open threads are dedicated to popular Black British musicians.

Dame Shirley Bassey, DBE (born on January 8, 1937), is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the late 1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century".In the US, in particular, she is best known for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979), and is a UNESCO Artist for Peace.

Shirley Veronica Bassey was the sixth and last child of Eliza Jane Start(English) and Henry Bassey(Nigerian) in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales (now called Cardiff Bay). Bassey's mother also had four children from previous relationships, two of whom lived in the Bassey household. Eliza had married previously, to Alfred Metcalfe, and upon her marriage to Bassey, Eliza Jane Metcalfe listed Alfred Metcalfe as her father on the marriage registry. It has thus been theorized that she never divorced Alfred, and that her marriage to Bassey was bigamous. Eliza and Henry's second child died in infancy, so Shirley was born into a household of three sisters, two half-sisters, and one brother. A year later her father was arrested and charged with having sex with a minor, was tried, imprisoned for five years, and then deported. After Henry's arrest, Eliza and the children moved to the nearby steelworking district of Splott.

Diamonds Are Forever - 1971

As a preteen attending Moorland Road School, Bassey's strong voice was noticed by teachers and students In 1955, a chance recommendation of her to Michael Sullivan, a booking agent, put her firmly on course for her destined career. He saw talent in Bassey, and decided he would make her a star. She toured various theatres until she was seen by Jack Hylton whose interest in her put her firmly on the road to stardom. He invited her to star in Al Read's Such Is Lifeat the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End. During the show's run, Philips A&R and record producer Johnny Franz spotted her on television, was impressed, and offered her a recording deal. Bassey recorded her first single, entitled "Burn My Candle", and Philips released it in February 1956, when Bassey was 19. Owing to the suggestive lyrics, the BBC banned it, but it sold well nonetheless, backed with her powerful rendition of "Stormy Weather". Further singles followed, and in February 1957, Bassey had her first hit with "The Banana Boat Song", which reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart.

During that year, she also recorded under the direction of American producer Mitch Miller in New York for the Columbia label, producing the single "If I Had a Needle and Thread" b/w "Tonight My Heart She Is Crying". She then travelled to Las Vegas to make her American stage début at the El Rancho Vegas. In mid-1958, she recorded two singles that would become classics in the Bassey catalogue. "As I Love You" was released as the B-side of another ballad, "Hands Across the Sea"; it did not sell well at first, but after a chance appearance at the London Palladium things began to pick up. In January 1959, it reached No. 1 and stayed there for four weeks. It thus became the first number one single by a Welsh artist. Bassey also recorded "Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me" at this point, and while "As I Love You" raced up the charts, so too did this record, with both songs being in the top three at the same time. A few months later, Bassey signed to EMI's Columbia label, and the second phase in her recording career had begun.

Goldfinger

In the early and mid-1960s, Bassey had numerous hits on the UK charts, and five albums in the Top 15. Her 1960 recording of "As Long As He Needs Me" from Lionel Bart's Oliver reached No. 2, and had a chart run of 30 weeks. On November 13, 1960, Bassey made her début performance on American television, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. Other Top Ten hits of the period included her second No. 1, the double A-side "Reach for the Stars"/"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" (1961), "I'll Get By" (also 1961), and a cover version of the Ben E. King hit "I (Who Have Nothing)" in 1963. During this period, Bassey appeared on the cover of Ebony magazine, and sang at a Washington gala celebrating the end of President Kennedy's second year in office.

In 1965, Bassey enjoyed her only U.S. Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit with the title song of the James Bond film, Goldfinger. The single peaked at No. 8, while the original soundtrack of Goldfinger hit No. 1 in the U.S. that same year. From 1964 onwards the "Goldfinger" single had a lasting impact on her career.

Bassey's UK comeback came in 1970, leading to one of the most successful periods of her career. In this year, she returned to the UK with a record breaking run of performances at the Talk of the Town nightclub. Also in that year, she released the album Something, which showcased a new Bassey style, a shift from traditional pop to more contemporary songs and arrangements (the single of the same name was more successful in the UK charts than the original Beatles recording - the only artist to have achieved this), though Bassey would never completely abandon what had been her forte, standards, show tunes, and torch songs.

Throughout most of the 1980s, Bassey focused on charitable work and performing occasional concert tours throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States, having ended her contract with EMI-United Artists and taking what she referred to as 'semi-retirement'. In 1982 Bassey recorded an album entitled All by Myself and made a TV special for Thames Television called A Special Lady with guest Robert Goulet. In 1983 she recorded a duet with Alain Delon, "Thought I'd Ring You", which became a hit single in Europe. Also in 1987, Bassey provided vocals for Swiss artists Yello on "The Rhythm Divine", a song co-written by Scottish singer Billy Mackenzie.

She was rushed to hospital in Monaco on May 23, 2008 to have an emergency operation on her stomach after complaining of abdominal pains. She was forced to pull out of the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute concert because of her illness. A biography, Diamond Diva, was published in 2008. In 2009 her granddaughter appeared on The X Factor.

Bassey has been married twice, her husbands being:
Kenneth Hume (died 1967), a gay film producer, whom she married in 1961. The couple separated in 1964 and divorced in 1965, in the wake of the singer's affair with actor Peter Finch. Bassey then announced to the press that she and Finch would not be marrying. A year later, Hume sued the actor and another man, John McAuliffe, for being "indiscreet" with the singer.Both Finch and McAuliffe were cited as co-respondents in the Hume-Bassey divorce. For her part, Bassey was named as co-respondent in 1965 when Finch's wife, South African actress Yolande Turner, divorced the actor.

Sergio Novak, the assistant manager of the Excelsior Hotel in Rome, Italy. Bassey and Novak were married from 1968 until they divorced in 1979. Novak served as Bassey's manager throughout this time. With Novak she adopted her grand-nephew, Mark.

The fathers of Bassey's two daughters, Sharon Bassey (aka Sharon Novak, born 1956) and Samantha Bassey (aka Samantha Novak, born 1963) are unknown. However, Bassey's first husband suggested that Samantha, born during the couple's marriage, was the result of an affair between Bassey and Peter Finch. In 1965, according to an article in Jet, "There is a big dispute in London over who is the father of tempestuous singer Shirley Bassey's baby. Although one-time boy friend English actor Peter Finch agreed that the child may not belong to Shirley's divorced husband, Kenneth Hume, Finch insists it does not belong to him ...

In 1985, Samantha Novak, age 21, was found dead in the River Avon in Bristol, England. Bassey has always maintained that the death of her daughter was not a suicide. On March 24, 2010, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they were undertaking fresh inquiries into the death of Novak, and specifically claims that the convicted killer Michael Moffat was involved in her death. However, in October 2010 it was reported that the investigation came to an end and concluded that there "is no evidence of any criminal act involved" in Novak's death.

Bassey's granddaughter Tatjana Novak-Kimsey, daughter of the singer's one-time estranged son, Mark Novak, was a contestant on The X Factor. (In a 2009 interview, Bassey stated that she and her son had reconciled).

Bassey currently resides in Monte Carlo.

***Information courtesy of Wikipedia.org***

Tuesday Obot Link Review | Evening Open Thread

2012-01-31T19:00:00.000-05:00

Time To Show Some People Power And Donate To The Obama Campaign News: American Crossroads, the Republican “super” political committee that plans to play a major role in this year’s presidential campaign, raised more than $51 million along with its nonprofit arm last year, The Associated Press has learned. The figures from Crossroads — the group backed by former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove — were among the first financial reports being made public Tuesday, the deadline for super PACs and presidential candidates to file financial reports with federal election officials. Read more here.

I Hope Newt Stays In This Race For The Long Haul News: Florida’s nasty primary race didn’t get any nicer as the votes were being cast Tuesday: Mitt Romney said his chief rival, Newt Gingrich shouldn’t “whine” about being the target of negative campaigning, The Boston Globe reported. In a Tampa news conference, Romney said he had simply been fighting back against the barrage of negative attacks coming from Gingrich’s camp. “If you attack me, I’m not going to just sit back,” Romney told reporters. Read more here.

I Wonder How Many More Colleges Are Doing This, But Just Haven't Been Caught Yet News: Claremont McKenna College, a liberal arts school near Los Angeles, said a college official had reported inaccurate SAT entrance exam statistics since 2005. The SAT scores for critical reading and/or math were generally inflated by an average of 10 to 20 points each year, according to a letter to the college community by Claremont McKenna President Pamela B. Gann. The school belongs to the group of seven schools known as the Claremont Colleges. Read more here.

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww News: McDonald's says it will no longer use a particular additive in its hamburgers. The filler is made from beef trimmings that are treated with ammonium hydroxide to kill bacteria. The process is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The additive has recently come under fire. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver campaigned against the use of the filler, which some food experts call pink slime. McDonald's says the decision to stop using the additive due to a focus on food safety. Read more here.

Happy Tuesday POU family! Check out the links and come back to discuss. Now for today's Tuesday Trivia....

What 1983 quiet storm classic is Outkast sampling in their 2003 single, "Ghettomusick"?

To get a pass from the “bad chair/Lay-Z-Boy/sofa/sectional/lounge” you must provide the song title and artist first (without using “teh Google” or “teh Wiki”). If no one is able to guess the correct answer by 9:00pm EST, I am keeping the pass for myself.

Can't recall the answer? Take a listen and see if you can figure it out...

Tuesday Open Thread- The Black British Invasion

2012-01-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

This week's open thread theme focusing on Black British musicians and singers.

Willow - 1976

Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE (born 9 December 1950) is a British singer, songwriter and guitarist. Armatrading is a three-time Grammy Award-nominee and has been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist. She also received an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996. In a recording career spanning 40 years she has released a total of 17 studio albums, as well as several live albums and compilations.

Joan Armatrading was born in Basseterre, on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, in 1950, as the third of six children. Her mother was born in Antigua and her father was from Saint Kitts. When she was three, her parents moved with their two eldest boys to Birmingham, England, and she lived with her grandmother on Antigua. She joined her parents in a largely white district of Birmingham in early 1958, at the age of seven. Her father had played in a band in his youth, later forbidding his children from touching his guitar. Armatrading began writing lyrics and music at the age of 14 on a piano that her mother had purchased as "a piece of furniture". Shortly thereafter her mother bought her a guitar from a pawn shop and the younger Armatrading began teaching herself the instrument.

Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16. She performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs. In 1968, Armatrading joined a repertory production of the stage musical Hair. There she met the lyricist Pam Nestor in 1970, and they worked together on Armatrading's debut album Whatever's for Us, released by Cube Records in 1972. Nestor wrote the lyrics to eleven of the fourteen songs on the album, while Armatrading wrote the lyrics to three of them, performed all the vocals, wrote all the music and played an array of instruments on the album. Although Nestor was credited as co-lyricist, Cube considered Armatrading to be the more likely star material. These events produced a tension which broke up the partnership.

In 1973 Armatrading's first single "Lonely Lady"(with lyrics by Nestor), a song that had not been included on the album, was released by Cube on the Fly Label. It was unsuccessful in the charts. A period of inactivity for Armatrading followed, while she extricated herself from her contract with Cube Records. The single was subsequently withdrawn by Cube and re-released as a promotional single in the US by Armatrading's new label A&M Records.

In 1975, Armatrading was free to sign with A&M Records, and issued the album Back to the Night, which was promoted on tour with a six-piece jazz-pop group called The Movies. Armatrading credited English singer Elkie Brooks on the sleeve notes as she had cooked for Armatrading and the band in the studio while they had been making the album, which was produced by Brooks' then husband Pete Gage. A major publicity relaunch in 1976 and the involvement of producer Glyn Johns propelled her next album, Joan Armatrading, into the Top 20 and spawned the Top 10 hit single "Love and Affection". The album mixed acoustic work with jazz-influenced material, and this style was retained for the 1977 follow-up Show Some Emotion, also produced by Glyn Johns, as was 1978's To the Limit. These albums included songs which continue to be staples of Armatrading's live shows, including "Willow", "Down To Zero", "Tall in the Saddle", and "Kissin' and a Huggin". A live album entitled Steppin' Out was released in 1979.

In 1980, Armatrading radically revised her playing style and released Me Myself I, a harder pop-oriented album produced by Richard Gottehrer, who had previously produced albums for Blondie. The album became Armatrading's highest ever charting album both in the UK and the US, while the title track became her second UK Top 40 hit single. The same pop style, now coupled with synthesisers, was also evident on the 1981 album Walk Under Ladders and 1983's The Key. All three of these albums were Top 10 successes in the UK. To capitalise on her success, A&M released the best of compilation album, Track Record in 1983.

Armatrading's next studio album was 1985's Secret Secrets. The album was a top 20 hit but failed to yield any hit singles, cementing Armatrading's status as an "album artist". Taking over production responsibilities herself, she continued to record the albums Sleight of Hand (1986), The Shouting Stage (1988) and Hearts and Flowers (1990) for A&M Records, which all made the UK Top 40 but failed to achieve the level of success of her earlier works despite successful national tours (a show from her 1988 "Shouting Stage" tour was also filmed for television).

In 1991, A&M released the compilation The Very Best of Joan Armatrading which returned her to the Top 10. However, her following studio album for A&M, 1992's Square The Circle did not replicate this success and would be her final recording for the label. Following her departure from A&M, a label she had been with for almost 20 years, Armatrading signed with RCA for her 1995 album, What's Inside. Despite various television appearances and a full tour (which included a string quartet in addition to her stage band), the album was not a commercial success, becoming her lowest charting studio album in 20 years.
Later work

In 2003, no longer attached to a major label, she released the album Lovers Speak. Though it was her first album in eight years, it met with little commercial success.

Me, Myself, I - 1980

Her 2007 album Into the Blues debuted at #1 on the US Billboard Blues Chart, making Armatrading the first UK female artist to earn that distinction. Into the Blues, which Armatrading calls "the CD I've been promising myself to write for a long time", was nominated for a Grammy Award, also making her the first female UK artist to be nominated in the Grammy Blues category.

Armatrading has been nominated twice for a Brit Award as best female vocalist and has received an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996 and in 2006 received an honorary degree from Aston University, Birmingham. In 2008 she was part of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour 2008.

In March 2010, she released a new album, This Charming Life. The album peaked at #4 on the US Billboard Folk Albums chart. She embarked on an international tour to promote it, and a concert from this tour in April 2010 at the Royal Albert Hall in London was released on the CD/DVD album Live at the Royal Albert Hall, along with two tracks from a concert in Denver, Colorado, U.S., in February 2011. In November 2010, "This Charming Life" was played on the season finale of Sons of Anarchy, the hit television show on FX. In 2011, "It Could Have Been Better" was featured in the British film Kill List.

Armatrading's music is considered to be mostly pop with forays into rock, folk, jazz, blues, soul and even reggae.

Armatrading is reluctant to discuss her personal life in interviews. In a 2003 interview with David Thomas of The Daily Telegraph, she said:

"People who like my music have a legitimate interest in me, but I need to retain some privacy, not to be telling people what's going on, or what I feel. When you go home, the reason it's beautiful is because it's personal to you and the people you want to include in it."

In addition to her music career, in 2001, after five years of studying, Armatrading gained a BA (Hons) degree in History from the Open University, of which she is now a trustee. In April 2011, it was reported that Armatrading and her girlfriend Maggie Butler were to enter a civil partnership on May 2, 2011, in the Shetland Isles

Joan Armatrading- Present

***Information courtesy of Wikipedia.org***

Monday Evening Thread: And A Muppet Shall Lead Them

2012-01-30T18:28:00.000-05:00

Miss Piggy: Attack on Muppets movie ‘as laughable as Fox being news’

Monday Open Thread- Black British Invasion

2012-01-30T06:30:00.000-05:00

This week's theme will focus on Black British singers/musicians and their contribution to crossing over to American audiences.

Leslie Sebastian Charles(aka Billy Ocean) is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular musicperformer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&Bsinger / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s. After scoring his first four UK top 20 successes, seven years passed before he accumulated a series of transatlantic successes, including three U.S. number ones.

He was born in Trinidad and Tobago to Grenadian parents in 1950, and moved to Romford, London, England with his family at the age of eight. Ocean's musical influence came at an early age of his life, as his father was a musician, and realized he was in line to follow those ambitions as he was growing up. During his teenage years, he sang regularly in London clubs while also working as a tailor in London's Savile Row. He released his first single in 1972 on Spark Records as Les Charles.

He took his stage name from the Ocean Estate, Stepney, where he was living at the time. In 1976, he recorded his first album, Billy Ocean, with its first single release, "Love Really Hurts Without You," charting at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and number 22 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. He enjoyed club success from the songs "Are You Ready" and "Stay The Night" from the album City Limit. More successes ensued, including "L.O.D. (Love On Delivery)". In 1981, he scored the U.S. R&B chart with "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)".

Ocean's period of greatest success began with Suddenly during 1984, and its main single, "Caribbean Queen". The song's title and lyrics were changed for different regions, such that the song is also known as "African Queen" or "European Queen". The song won Ocean the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1985 Grammy Awards. The album's title track also became a success, peaking at #4 in both the US and the UK and the song "Loverboy", while also being a #2 US success in 1985.

Loverboy -1985(strange video)

His 1986 album Love Zone also sold well. It included the successful singles "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (the theme from the film The Jewel of the Nile); this was a number one success in the UK and a number two in the U.S.; and "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" (a U.S. number one, and also a major UK success). Also included were the title track and "Love Is Forever", which were #10 and #16 U.S. successes for Ocean, respectively.

When Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going -1986

Ocean's next album, Tear Down These Walls (1988) featured another number one single, "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car", while the album was certified platinum.

His 1993 album Time to Move On failed to produce any major successes, but his 1989 Greatest Hits collection has been a steady seller over the years, and his 1997 compilation Love Is For Ever made #7 on the UK album chart. Ocean's last studio album for Jive Records was Time to Move On, which he recorded in Chicago with R&B star R. Kelly. It turned out that R. Kelly had been a long-time admirer of the way Ocean was able to mix the more emotive soul style with a crossover popular style.

In 2002, the University of Westminster in London awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music. He continues to tour and record in Europe. He lives in Sunningdale, Berkshire with his wife of 27 years, Judy; and their three children Cherie, Antony and Rachel. Ocean is now a patron for Tech Music Schools in London, made up of Drumtech, Vocaltech, Guitar-X and Keyboardtech. He regularly visits to hold clinics and seminars for the students.

In 2004, "Caribbean Queen" was re-released as a digital single for its 20th anniversary, shooting up to #25 on the Billboard digital singles chart and garnering radio play across the US and UK. A remix of the single by Will.I.Am was released in 2005.

In October 2007, Ocean commenced his first UK tour in over 15 years. In February and March 2008 he toured Australia and the Far East. His album, Because I Love You was released in February 2009.

In July 2011, Ocean became a Companion of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. His title was presented by Sir Paul McCartney.

Billy Ocean- Present

Information courtesy of Wikipedia.org and www.billyocean.co.uk.