Aretha Franklin & Chaka Khan Speak on the Passing of Donna Summer
The passing of Ms. LaDonna Adrian Gaines better known as the "Queen of Disco", Donna Summer has been a great loss to many. Among those in mourning for their friend are Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. Here's what they had to say regarding the recent news:
I will miss her very much. My love goes out to her family. I’m here for them. Donna and I had a friendship for over 30 years. She is one of the few black women I could speak German with and she is one of the few friends I had in this business.
-Chaka Khan
So shocking to hear about the passing of Donna Summer. In the 70s, she reigned over the disco era and kept the disco jumping. Who will forget “Last Dance.” A fine performer and a very nice person. She was a delight to the industry. She and Giorgio Moroder made sales and musical history in the 70s.
-Aretha Franklin
According to TMZ, it has been reported that Summer was battling lung cancer. Several sources believe she contracted it by inhaling toxic particles after the 9/11 attack in New York City. While reports have not been completely confirmed of how or when the singer contracted cancer, we know she will be dearly missed. A staple of the 70's and 80's dance scene, Summers was best known for hits like "She Works Hard for the Money", "Bad Girls" and "Last Dance". Her achievements include three Multi-Platinum albums, six American Music Awards, 5 Grammy Awards and named the first female African American to receive an MTV Video Music Awards nomination. In later years, Summer continued to rock the top ten hits on Billboard's Dance Chart with hits like "I'm a Fire", "Stamp Your Feet", and "Fame (The Game)". In addition, Summer also performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, in honor of United States President Barack Obama in 2009. Though the Queen may be silenced in voice, her influence will continue to speak through the pulsing genre of dance and pop she proudly built.
Song of the Day: Parliament: "Chocolate City"
In "Chocolate City", our Artist of the Month is dreaming out loud about his desire to put a little "chocolate" on our nation's capital. He even assigns the Cabinet: Muhammad Ali as the President; Rev. Ike as the Secretary of the Treasury; Richard Pryor as the Minister of Education; Stevie Wonder as the Secretary of Fine Arts and Ms. Aretha Franklin as the First Lady of the United States. All this probably sounded like comedy set to funky beat in 1975, but look at 2008--a "chocolate" man and woman became the President and First Lady of the United States. Aretha Franklin sang at the inauguration; as did Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder was also honored by President Obama at the White House as the second recipient of the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize. Not that big of a "trip" after all... "Chocolate City" from the 1975 Parliament album of the same name.
New Stevie Wonder Live DVD - Live At Last
First, Stevie at the White House and now this! It's a beautiful day.
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Mariah Carey at the Neighborhood Ball
Check out Mariah doing what she does best at the Neighborhood Ball on Tuesday, performing "Hero" for our new president -- powerful and yet understated performance.
Yes We Did, 44!
Wow. What an amazing day, moment and time we're blessed to experience. There's not muchthat I can add to the many discussions, thoughts and emotions that have been expressed today. I'll just say, that as great as this moment is, we have not arrived, but only just begun. We've got A LOT of work to do, and it's incumbent upon each one of us to fulfill our obligations to ourselves, our families and our communities.
"In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted – for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.
Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things – some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
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Hidden Beach Presents: Yes We Can: Voices Of A Grassroots Movement
Just in time for Christmas. Buy 1, buy 5, but 10!! Support Real Artists & Real Music.
From Hidden Beach:
The Perfect Present
Dear Friends and Family --
Thank you for being a part of the Hidden Beach Family and for supporting Real Artists & Real Music...
As you may or may not know, "Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement" is the only official musical release approved by the Barack Obama presidential campaign and is now on sale.
"Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement" is a collector's item featuring musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, Ozomatli, Jill Scott, John Mayer, Los Lonely Boys, Shontelle, John Legend, Lionel Richie and many more.
This season spread the positive messages of "Change" and give the gift of music to your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and loved ones. This CD makes a great stocking stuffer, too!
Currently, we are offering a few special promotions only available at The Hidden Beach Shop.
* Gift Wrap & Send "Yes We Can" CD for $13.48 (Save 10%)
Use the coupon "GIFT" in our store to receive this discount. Specify an alternate Shipping Name & Address and we will wrap the CD and send it as a holiday gift from you to the person on the shipping address. We can also send the CD to your address.
I'm just sayin..
Sam Cooke- "A Change is Gonna Come", Ain't That Good News, (RCA), 1964
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEBlaMOmKV4
Cold Play "High Speed", Blue Room, (EMI), 1999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w52UO2w6g0
On the eve of this historic election.....
What must it feel like?
To carry the hopes and dreams of so many people on your shoulders?
I can't take credit for this one, pic or caption, but it was too powerful not to share.
Source
Good lookin' out Nabs.