There are so musicians, bands and songs that inspire me as a
vocalist. It is always pleasurable for me to listen to music and to discover new sounds and
artists.
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to
the mind,
flight to the imagination, & life to everything”
-Plato
Spotify has this challenge to create a playlist of the top
100 songs and I can say that I have been listening more and more to the
different artists and music on Spotify lately; especially since I currently have
a new project on the platform entitled “We Are People United” on there.
You can check out the album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3BWB0RVMeXhAnWORuEzHLf
You can check out the album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3BWB0RVMeXhAnWORuEzHLf
Prompts and Ideas
I am always up for a good challenge or ideas to be prompted
by; especially in writing because I want to be able to write as much as I can.
Through the process of trying to gain ideas, I came across this book that has
benefitted me a lot to put pen to paper and write new songs, poetry, blog posts
and more. The book is entitled 365 Journal Writing Ideas Plus 400
Quotes: A Year of Daily Writing Prompts, Questions & Actions To Fill Your
Journal With Memories, Self-Reflection, Creativity & Direction by
Rossi Fox and I really like it.
It is sorted by the day of the year and has prompts that can make you reflect and gain ground in storming. This is always a good benefit for any writer in my opinion because this is a way to prevent writer’s block when getting into the process when scribing is necessary. For me, it seems like it is a need everyday as is water and sleep because, I can honestly say that there is not a day that goes by without me writing something. This book helps with more directional writing if needed. Perhaps it can help to enhance your writing as it has for me in many ways.
It is sorted by the day of the year and has prompts that can make you reflect and gain ground in storming. This is always a good benefit for any writer in my opinion because this is a way to prevent writer’s block when getting into the process when scribing is necessary. For me, it seems like it is a need everyday as is water and sleep because, I can honestly say that there is not a day that goes by without me writing something. This book helps with more directional writing if needed. Perhaps it can help to enhance your writing as it has for me in many ways.
One of the prompts read like this: List your favorite musicians, bands and song. And so, here we go, exploring
my favorite five on my favorite topic that the world has to offer; music.
Five of My Favorite
Musicians
“I was born with music inside of me. Music was one of my parts.
Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart.
Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the
scene.
It was a necessity for me. – like food
or water.”
- Ray Charles
1. Sarah Vaughan
I have loved her for a very long time. Her voice was
amazing. I don’t think that there is anything that she couldn’t do with her
voice. Her range was amazing. And my favorite thing about her voice was her low
tone.
2. Prince
I think Prince was amazing. There are so many layers to him
and so much music by him that I am discovering. I think he was a genius at
writing and getting into the groove of the music. His songs are tight and so
enjoyable. And I really like his voice.
I read a book on his life entitled I Would Die 4 You by Toure and it was excellent reading about his life, musical journey and everything about what made him who he is.
I read a book on his life entitled I Would Die 4 You by Toure and it was excellent reading about his life, musical journey and everything about what made him who he is.
3. Miles Davis
I have always loved listening to the way
that he played his music but I don’t think I liked him as much as I do now
after conducting research to write my college thesis on jazz, identity and
racism, came across his book Miles: The Autobiography and
read some really interesting things about his life and his personality. I loved
his response to stigmas and I appreciated how he came across growing as a musician
and individual in the world. He played that trumpet so well and I really
like listening to his music.
4. Whitney Houston
I can’t think of a day that I did not love Whitney Houston.
I don’t think I was as devastated hearing of a musician’s passing as I was when
she did. I cried as if she was a family member because I have lived her since I
was a little girl.
If I could credit to anyone for the big voice I have that can carry very loud and fill an auditorium without a microphone, I would give it Whitney Houston. I used to spend entire afternoons singing her songs to the four walls of my basement and used to always choose songs by her to go out and sing in live settings.
I have every album she has ever made and can actually claim as my truth that I will always love her voice, her movie The Bodyguard and the songs that she was known for; especially Saving All My Love which is still my favorite song by her.
If I could credit to anyone for the big voice I have that can carry very loud and fill an auditorium without a microphone, I would give it Whitney Houston. I used to spend entire afternoons singing her songs to the four walls of my basement and used to always choose songs by her to go out and sing in live settings.
I have every album she has ever made and can actually claim as my truth that I will always love her voice, her movie The Bodyguard and the songs that she was known for; especially Saving All My Love which is still my favorite song by her.
5. Dizzy Gillespie
I love Dizzy Gillespie. He was an amazing musician and I
love the music that he contributed to the world. I have grown to love his personality more and more as I watched many documentaries or interviews where he was speaking with an
interviewer. I love how he spoke with such knowledge, intelligence and attitude. I also read
a few excerpts from his book To Be or Not to Bop and I
really loved some of things he talked about in regards to the culture of jazz and its music. I listen to his music a lot
and I admire what he contributed to the world as a world-class musician.
Five of my Favorite Bands
1. Wilerm Delisfort
Project
This is a current band that is often performing live at
Smoke Jazz and I love the music that I hear coming from them. Slick sounds and
fresh to the ear.
If you have not heard them yet, you definitely need to get down to Smoke Jazz located at 2751 Broadway in Harlem, NY for their Sunday late night session to see them live.
I think you will really enjoy them.
If you have not heard them yet, you definitely need to get down to Smoke Jazz located at 2751 Broadway in Harlem, NY for their Sunday late night session to see them live.
I think you will really enjoy them.
2. Paradyce
A nice group of musicians who recently released a studio
project entitled East to Egypt featuring seven really cool jazz tracks of
songs that you will just be bopping to. The NYC based group features
keyboardist Steve Palmer, drummer David Griffin and saxophonist Saxy Ric. I recently
had the opportunity to interview them on my radio show, Jazz on the JNote which
originally aired on WNYE 91.5 FM on August 6, 2017. You can check out Part one of the
interview here: https://youtu.be/QIobFFVze4c
3. Sade
Who doesn’t love the group Sade? And who can say that they
do not enjoy listening to the lead singer Sade Anu sing away? I think I can
sing all their songs back and forth and I love everything that they do. Such
cool songs and a great, mellow vibe that comes from them. This is one group
that I never get tired of listening to. Beautiful tone, amazing songs.
4. Out of Eden
I love out of Eden and I can listen to their music all day
long. Out of Eden is an all-girl Gospel group of sisters which featured Lisa
Kimmey, Andrea Kimmey-Baca, and Danielle Kimmey. I learned about them years ago
through this music promotion site who would introduce artists and their music,
I think the site was called What’s Hot Now.
But anyway, they have some amazing soulful Gospel songs sung
to R&B influenced beats that I just love. I was even able to teach a few of
their songs to the youth choir at Mt Moriah Baptist church when I was the choir
director there and the young people loved it.
They had six studio albums which I have all of them, with my favorite being No Turning Back: an album that featured ten up-beat and beautiful songs that I simply love.
They had six studio albums which I have all of them, with my favorite being No Turning Back: an album that featured ten up-beat and beautiful songs that I simply love.
5. Earth Wind &
Fire
I love, love, love Earth Wind & Fire and everything that
they sang and the fire they brought onto the stage with them each time that
they performed. I never get bored listening to their songs with my favorite
being Sing a Song because that is my favorite thing to do;
sing. LOL!
I also appreciate many of the songs that they wrote for many of the artists I enjoy listening to such as Deniece Williams and the Emotions.
I also appreciate many of the songs that they wrote for many of the artists I enjoy listening to such as Deniece Williams and the Emotions.
Five of My Favorite Songs
1. Who Ja Bless by
Qew Lunel
Beautiful words. Very uplifting. Nice sound. Great song. https://open.spotify.com/track/1PW2SEzE4l7Ej518M2aJTB
2. Wherever You Are
by Stephanie Jeannot
Still a favorite of mine. I think I love that I wrote and
produced the entire song it is such a special tune for me. I love performing it
and it is one of the few tunes I have shared at a live setting here and abroad.
3. Courage by Sarah
Vaughan
I love the words on this song. Such a pretty tune. I love
the way Sarah sings this song and every time I hear it, it leaves a beautiful feeling
inside.
4. Back for Good by
Take That
I have loved this song since I was in high school. The job I
worked at used to play 106.7 Lite FM all day long and this tune was constantly
being aired. I have adored it ever since. Such a pretty melody. I love it a
lot.
5. Aint Misbehavin by
Fats Waller
I love this song. I started liking it when I first saw my
favorite movie Stormy Weather and saw the composer of it, Fats Waller, being his humorous self on the piano, tickling away and singing this song. Awesome tune and once of may favorites to
perform live.
Et Vous?
It would be wrong of me to not include you into this musical favorites theme. I would love to hear about the musicians, bands
and songs that you love the most. Care to share?
Perhaps you can guide me on a new path of discovery. I
would love to hear your favorites. Who do you love to listen to and what are
your favorite songs?
