WayBack Wednesday - Holiday Edition

Got a lot on the way for 2016...in the meantime enjoy this selection of R&B Holiday tunes.  Peace.

RIP Cynthia Robinson

If you saw Unsung 100 last night with ageless Donnie Simpson, you're probably like me and wondering where you were when the tributes were named.  Cynthia Robinson, trumpet player for Sly and the Family Stone and later Graham Central Station, lost her battle with cancer at age 71 (or 69, according to Rolling Stone).

This lady was truly underrated, as women and wind instruments are rare, especially in pop or soul music.  Check out her contributions at 3:25, as part one of the most underrated music act...period.

Way Back Weds - Unsung: Lakeside

If you have TVOne and noticed that the annoucer said two NEW episodes of Unsung but keep seeing the same Chante Moore ad, the other act is Lakeside.

I miss their ability to bring non-offensive party music to the FM dial and the fact that, even with the internet today, no scandals during their many years together.  And I just learned they still do live shows today.

Now, I don't know what Unsung will cover but here is one of my favorites from back in the days of Now and Laters, $40 designer jeans and the roller rink.

The Brother from Sha Na Na Dies at 66

If you grew up in the 70s, you remember that trip back to 50s nostalgia with Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley.  Anyway, you also remember that all 3-4 network channels had a load of variety shows.  Well, Sha Na Na brought the best of both worlds.

But there was this one lone brother, Denny (or Dennis) Greene who wore this tight gold lame outfit and always seemed content in the background.  As a kid growing up in Inglewood, I really wanted for him to have a solo...but now he gets to perform for the angels. RIP

A Special Wayback Wednesday...tribute to Barry White

This dude was waay underrated during his time but 9/12/15 will make his 71st birthday.  He didn't just make music for making babies but for everybody to enjoy.  Mr. White also had a fun side.  Not only was he on an early episode of the Simpsons but also starred years earlier as a voice on the 1970s blaxploitation cartoon Coonskin.  They moved the Boondocks and I don't know if Black Dynamite is coming back to TV, so if you like animation with Black characters, here's something for you.

Prayers For All

This summer is exceptionally hot in L.A.  Smog mixed in with southern humidity and traffic is a sad combination.  Somebody on another blog stated that they did not feel safe with all of the recent violence.  These days, I seldom feel safe anywhere outside of my home, and this includes "good" neighborhoods where my dark skin is either a novelty or disregarded because it is assumed that I am poor, lack sense, as well as the resources to move up in society.

Yet, I still work at being the best bad-ass I can be...and I encourage others to do the same.  It may seem naive but there is nothing wrong with enjoying life.  Anyone can have it without bringing harm or threat to others.  Feel good about helping others in need without pretentiousness, let go of excess and take care of home.

People want to pray or meditate when things go wrong but often a clear head can prevent mistakes made.  While IT still happens, communities can be stronger by lending a hand.

Wayback Wednesday..The Bill Cosby Remix...tells 70s kids NOT TO DO DRUGS!

Oh my freak....I was trying to take a break and ran into this Bill Cosby Yahoo story en route to checking my email.

Then I had a flashback to my childhood in Inglewood, CA.

You know that one friend with a wack record collection?  I was the opposite being an only child (though I was the big girl back then) and the fact that my mother was one of the youngest on the block who knew her way around VIP Records well.  And because of the latter I was always forced to hang with the homey girl (Mom's got things to do and people to see).

One day at her house, a bunch of us kids were bored.  Too young to go to mall without a parent.  To old to hang out at the park.  So we decide to dance to keep from thinking about boys.  So Tara pulls out Bill Cosby.  I'm thinking 'This fool's more square than she is...who plays him at the disco?'

This ish right here is about 5.5 minutes of a Parliament-inspired instrumental, then it goes into Bill giving his .02 to kids about the dangers of drugs. Then he repeats a chorus of "I don't take no bad drugs", until about the end.

The video above has a catchy beat and of course it's sad because me, like other kids from the 70s and 80s respected Bill...even if we liked Richard Pryor or Eddie Murphy better.

Fast forward to about 5:56 and the jokes will write themselves.