Ko Ko Taylor Passes Away at 80

I have not been blogging much lately, but I thought I should pay due respect to a true pioneer of the blues genre, Ko Ko Taylor. I once had the pleasure of seeing Ms. Taylor at the Blue Cafe in Long Beach, California. When she belted out "Wang Dang Doodle" I had never heard anything quite like it. Born Cora Walton on a sharecropper’s farm just outside Memphis, TN, on September 28, 1928, Koko, nicknamed for her love of chocolate, fell in love with music at an early age. Inspired by gospel music and WDIA blues disc jockeys B.B. King and Rufus Thomas, Taylor began belting the blues with her five brothers and sisters, accompanying themselves on their homemade instruments. Legend has it that in 1952, Taylor and her soon-to-be-husband, the late Robert “Pops” Taylor, traveled to Chicago with nothing but, in Koko’s words, “thirty-five cents and a box of Ritz Crackers.

In Chicago, “Pops” worked for a packing company, and Koko cleaned houses. Together they frequented the city’s blues clubs nightly. Encouraged by her husband, Koko began to sit in with the city’s top blues bands, and soon she was in demand as a guest artist. One evening in 1962 Koko was approached by arranger/composer Willie Dixon. Overwhelmed by Koko’s performance, Dixon landed Koko a Chess Records recording contract, where he produced her several singles, two albums and penned her million-selling 1965 hit “Wang Dang Doodle,” which would become Taylor’s signature song.

After Chess Records was sold, Taylor found a home with the Chicago’s Alligator Records in 1975 and released the Grammy-nominated I Got What It Takes. She recorded eight more albums for Alligator between 1978 and 2007, received seven more Grammy nominations and made numerous guest appearances on various albums and tribute recordings. Koko appeared in the films Wild At Heart, Mercury Rising and Blues Brothers 2000. She performed on Late Night With David Letterman, Late Night With Conan O’Brien, CBS-TV’s This Morning, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, CBS-TV’s Early Edition, and numerous regional television programs.

Over the course of her 40-plus-year career, Taylor received every award the blues world has to offer. On March 3, 1993, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley honored Taylor with a “Legend Of The Year” Award and declared “Koko Taylor Day” throughout Chicago. In 1997, she was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame. A year later, Chicago Magazine named her “Chicagoan Of The Year” and, in 1999, Taylor received the Blues Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2009 Taylor performed in Washington, D.C. at The Kennedy Center Honors honoring Morgan Freeman.

Koko Taylor was one of very few women who found success in the male-dominated blues world. She took her music from the tiny clubs of Chicago’s South Side to concert halls and major festivals all over the world. She shared stages with every major blues star, including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy as well as rock icons Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

Taylor’s final performance was on May 7, 2009 in Memphis at the Blues Music Awards, where she sang “Wang Dang Doodle” after receiving her award for Traditional Blues Female Artist Of The Year.

Survivors include Taylor’s husband Hays Harris, daughter Joyce Threatt, son-in-law Lee Threatt, grandchildren Lee, Jr. and Wendy, and three great-grandchildren.

This Is Dedicated To The Party People

Well it is Friday once again. I didn't know what to do with this theme, so I decided to do a disco/dance party theme. Who better than Donna Summer, KC and the Sunshine Band, and CC Music Factory (Martha Wash). So get your party on and have a Wonderful Friday Gang!

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

And The Winner Is...Kris Allen

This makes the second upset in a row on American Idol. Last year David Cook was the dark horse when he won over the other David Archuleta. I have to say that I am actually pretty happy, because it might just be me, but Adam Lambert was a little bit too over the top! The crowd was star-studded, including numerous winners and runner ups of past seasons. I saw a slimmed down version of Reuben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, and even first season runner up Justin Guarini.

I enjoyed the teaming up of celebrity entertainers with the idols, including Keith Urban with Kris, Lionel Ritchie with third runner up Danny Gokey, and all of the contestants with the great Santana. Kiss and Adam took us back to an earlier time of Rock and Roll. What was up with Queen Latifah, the performance with Lil was wonderful, but what was up with the cat suit? She has a gut for heaven's sake.

Well it's confirmed, there will be an 9th season of Idol and the producers are coming back to the Dallas area to recruit. I was just thinking about something, has a northerner ever won the title of American Idol. Below is my favorite performance by Kris Allen. The video has been removed because of a terms of use violation, so just enjoy the audio.

Wayman Tisdale Dead at 44

Legendary basketball player and guitar great Wayman Tisdale died today at about 8 a.m. in Tulsa. After three years at Oklahoma, the 6-foot-9 Tulsa native spent 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, then became an award-winning jazz musician, with several of his albums making the top 10 on the Billboard charts.

Tisdale first learned he had cancerous cyst below his right knee after he broke his leg in a fall at his home in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2007. He said then he was fortunate to have discovered the cancer at an early stage. "Nothing can change me," Tisdale told The Associated Press last June. "You go through things. You don't change because things come in your life. You get better because things come in your life."

His leg was amputated last August and a prosthetic leg that he wore was crimson, one of the colors of his beloved Oklahoma Sooners. He made a handful of public appearances in recent weeks, including on April 7 at an Oklahoma City Thunder game, at which he received the team's Community Hero Award.

Also within the past month, Tisdale was honored in a ceremony at the Greenwood Cultural Center in his hometown and presented with the Legacy Award. During the ceremony, he spoke about his fight with cancer, saying "In my mind, I've beaten it." Last month, Tisdale also learned he had been chosen for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Enjoy the smooth sounds of Tisdale.

Old School Friday - Who Is The Greatest?

This is the toughest Friday yet! I mean, how do you pick the best of all time? There are just too many ways to go on this theme, but I am going with the person in which Johnny Mathis and BeBe Winans considered the best singer in the world, Gladys Knight. I can't wait to cruise the blogsphere and check out who the rest of the OSF bloggers are choosing. Happy Old School Friday to all and to all a good day!

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Chuck Daly Succumbs to Cancer at 78

Everyone who knows me personally knows that my favorite sport is basketball and the I am a die hard Detroit Pistons fan. I know that got swept in the first round of the playoffs (I digress). A huge part of my love for this team is because of their coach during the 80's and the 90's, Chuck Daly. Chuck passed away today, a victim of pancreatic cancer.

Growing up in lower Michigan we spent an abundance of time watching or attending sporting events. From the Tigers to the Red Wings, there is something magical about the teams and the fans of Michigan. Detroit had never been a real power house on the basketball front, but that all changed when Chuck Daly showed up on the scene and took a group of very diverse (some would call misfits) individuals to championships, not once, but back-to-back! Chuck accomplished with such style and grace. He was one of the greatest coaches of all time in my humble opinion. I mean after Chuck, nobody else was ever able to truly coach Dennis Rodman.

Not only did he coach the "Bad Boys", but he also coached the 1994 Olympic "Dream Team" to a gold medal. In fact he was the first coach to win both NBA and Olympic titles. Daly was voted one of the 10 greatest coaches of the NBA’s first half-century in 1996, two years after being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Daly had a career regular-season record of 638-437 in 13 NBA seasons. In 12 playoff appearances, his teams went 75-51. He led Detroit Pistons’ in regular-season and playoff victories.

NBA commissioner David Stern said, "Chuck did much more than coach basketball games, he positively impacted everyone he met, both personally and professionally, and his love of people and the game of basketball helped develop the next generation of coaches". Daly also made the right moves for the Pistons, who were notorious for their physical play with Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn leading the fight, Rodman making headlines and Hall of Fame guards Isiah Thomas and Dumars lifting the team to titles in 1989 and 1990. Through it all Daly was able to take the team to the highest levels of play and taught his players what teamwork is all about. He laid the foundation for a style of play that still exist among today's Piston team.

With all of his accomplishments, one of the attributes that sticks out in my mind was Chuck Daly's style. His dress was impeccable. He wore the nicest suits and everything was always color coordinated down to the socks! Former Piston John Salley gave Daly the nickname Daddy Rich for his impeccably tailored suits. The National Basketball Coaches’ Association created pins with the initials “CD” that many coaches and broadcasters are wearing as it dedicates this postseason to Daly. The organization also established the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be given annually.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Chuck's family in this time of mourning. Rest in peace Chuck.

The SOOOUUULLLL TTTRRRAAAIIINNN!!!

I watched this show in the pre cable days of my youth, when I had to dance while adjusting the antenna to keep the picture from disappearing. I use to fantasize about moving to California just to get on Soul Train. I wanted to hang out with Francesca, Little Joe, Fawn, Tyrone "The Bone" Proctor and Damita Joe Freeman.
Alas, I grew up. When I saw the show in the 90's it was but a shell of what it once was. I imagine that Don Cornelius' retirement had a lot to do with it.

I went with performances by Al Green and Joe Tex (the last performance has a dance solo by Damita Jo Freeman).

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Fanily Reunions, Nicpics, and Barbeques

As summertime approaches we start getting prepared for the festivities the season brings. Rather than go with the obvious I thought I would share a little J.T.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Old School Fridays - Blogger Appreciation

Well another Friday has rolled around and what makes Friday the best day of the week? Why participating in the Old School Friday meme of course! Since it is my choice this week, I decided to go with my favorite "living" male singer, Jeffrey Osborne. He can "Woo, Woo, Woo" me anytime.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Has Burger King Gone Too Far

I was perusing the Internet when I came upon this controversial commercial. It seems that the Burger King is "scatching, cutting, and dancing" to Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back". Burger King is using this latest marketing strategy to sell to the "Sponge Bob" set. In the commercial Burger King proclaims that he loves square butts! The advertisement is a partnership endeavor between the Burger King Corporation and Nickelodeon Television Network. Susan Linn, the director of the Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood said: "It's bad enough when companies use a beloved media character like SpongeBob to promote junk food to children, but it's utterly reprehensible when that character simultaneously promotes objectified, sexualized images of women." When I saw the commercial I found it humorous, but then I don't have an impressionable six year old. Do you find the commercial offensive?

Old School Friday - If My Mama Only Knew

Thank God it's Friday! This was a difficult theme because in my day there was not a lot of music around that we had to snatch off the turntable when our mothers walked in the room. This is a stretch, but I went with Marvin Gaye's You Sure Love to Ball. I cannot wait to roam the blogsphere and see what others have to offer :-P

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man

I received the below email from Barbara P. Carson, who say that her copyrighted title of "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" is the name of a book she wrote back in 2004 about empowering women. I don't know why she sent me the email, but I will share it with you. You can hear an interview with Ms. Carson by clicking here I urge you to listen to the interview, which I found very intriguing.

The email reads:

Original Author of "Act Like a Lady Think Like a Man" Says Steve Harvey is using her original title and theme to send a distorted message of empowerment to women.

Chicago, Ill. April 5, 2009 -- Author Sharon P. Carson of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, says the Steve Harvey's book of the same name is a misrepresented take on her original work. Carson, who is pursuing her rights under unfair competition laws, secured a copyright for the title in 2004, and then established www.actlikealadythinklikeaman.com.

Harvey's book, published in January of this year, copies the title and theme of her work, says Carson, and takes some of her authentic thoughts and conclusions and contorts them into a detrimental message for women. Carson says his approach is a distorted view of her original vision.

Carson says her self-published book was written, "To encourage women to accept and appreciate who they are both inside and out and to respect themselves and demand respect from their male counter part." She also felt women need to be as tough minded as men are in relationships, which is how she created the title, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.

Harvey has stated the title for his book came through an editor, but originally contained the word "girl" instead of "lady," a substitution for which he takes credit.

An excerpt from Carson's book discusses the unnecessary concept of women changing themselves physically for their partner: "Why should women become someone they hate in order to please someone they think they love? What if the relationship ends, will they have to change again to please the next man?"

An excerpt from Harvey's book, on p. 207, mirrors Carson's point: "But if you’re telling your man you want a nose job and he sees nothing wrong with the nose you already have then maybe you ought to think about leaving your nose alone. Why run the risk of something going wrong when your man is already happy with the way you look? Why lose the extra weight if your man is happy with you the way you are?"

In addition to reworking her original ideas, Carson objects to the anti-empowerment message of Harvey's take on a successful woman, per p. 182: "If you’ve got your own money, your own car, your own house, a Brinks alarm system, a pistol and a guard dog and your practically shouting from the roof that you don’t need a man to provide for you or protect you, then we will see no need to keep coming around."

Carson asks, "How does this message empower us as women? Should we prepare for success so that we can provide and protect ourselves or should we forgo that and wait for a man come along and do it for us?"

While Carson is looking into protecting her own rights as an author, she also is concerned about getting her message out there—that women are their own authority, they are complete with, or without, a man.

Fans of Carson's book frequently react with praise and the desire to pass on the book's message. One reader writes, "You were right ON point w/this book! I learned these things the hard way, but I am gonna give a copy to my daughters to read! And your insights really helped me build more effectively with my son! Thank you!"

For more information about Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, contact Sharon Carson or visit www.actlikealadythinklikeaman.com.

About Sharon P. Carson

Sharon P. Carson is a gifted author and poet, and has published four books in her lifetime, including the poetic volume Not By Bread Alone and Go Tell The Children. Carson, a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser, is the mother of two children, and lives in Chicago, Ill. With her husband of 41 years.

Contact:

Sharon P. Carson

773-568-2274

sharonpcarson@gmail.com

http://www.actlikealadythinklikeaman.com

Old School Fridays - Songs With The Word Baby In Them

Hi Everyone! Glad to be back. It has been a while and I really missed blogging, especially my "Old School Friday" friends. Today I chose a double shot from the tempting Temptations, "My Baby" and "Since I Lost My Baby"

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Old School Fridays - Song With The Word Heart In The Title

Well it's Friday once more. I had a really hard time with this theme for some reason; however I came up with the perfect song. Anyone Who Had A Heart, originally performed by Dionne Warwick (unfortunately I could not find the original) and two covers of the song, one by Luther Vandross and the other by Dusty Springfield. I found Ms. Warwick performing the song (sort of) with Cliff Richards dubbed in.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

I got a last minute add!

25 Writers That Influenced Me

Sojourner tagged me! She wants to know twenty-five authors that have influenced me. Here goes in no particular order!

1. Patricia Hill Collins
2. Assata Shakur
3. El Hajj Malik El Shabazz
4. Nikki Giovanni
5. Ida B. Wells-Barnett
6. Terri McMillan
7. John Saul
8. George Jackson
9. Angela Y. Davis
10. Joyce A. Ladner
11. Alex Haley
12. Henry Lewis Gates Jr.
13. Alice Walker
14. Gil Scott Heron
15. Langston Hughes
16. Maya Angelou
17. Sonya Sanchez
18. Ntozake Shange
19. W.E.B. Dubois
20. Dorothy Roberts
21. Zora Neal Hurston
22. Randall Robinson
23. Molefi Asante
24. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
25. Lorraine Hansberry

Old School Friday - Songs From Sophomore Year

1972 was a very good year. Check out the player below to find out why. This was a year of classic R & B music. Click here and you will understand the I make this proclamation. This week I am going with James Brown who WAS the 60's and 70's, The Staple Singers, and Al Green.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Idol's Four Panel Jury A Bust?

I have been half-heartedly watching American Idol this year. One reason is that for the most part the talent has been mediocre at best and secondly, I do not understand the necessity for the fourth judge. When I first heard that there would be a new judge on the Idol scene, I will admit that I was curious. I wondered what type of personality the new judge would have and what she would bring to the table as far as judging is concerned.

I was really hoping that it would be someone with an extensive musical background that would be qualified to judge a contest such as this with impartiality and prudence. While the new judge, Kara DioGuardi does have a musical background (songwriter), I find nothing intriguing or exciting about her. Paula Abdul must agree with me because she has publicly stated that the fourth judge slows the show down and interrupts its flow.

Are there any fans of Idol still with the show in the 8th season and if so, what do you think of the addition of the fourth judge?

The Return of South Central

TV ONE is broadcasting eight episodes of the series South Central on Monday, February 23rd at 1:00 AM CST. The series, set in South Central Los Angeles, dealt with the lives of an African American family, the Moseleys, and issues, such as gang violence, drugs, dating, sex, school, and employment. Joan Moseley (Tina Lifford) is a divorced mother, raising three children without any financial assistance from her former husband. The financial situation becomes even more complicated when she is laid off from her job at the neighborhood market. Her children include Andrè (Larenz Tate), Tasha (Tasha Scott) and foster son Deion (Keith Mbulo). Rounding out the casts was Joan’s friends, Dr. Ray McHenry (Ken Page) and Sweets (Paula Kelly).

South Central featured many guest stars including Jennifer Lopez, Shar Jackson, Michael Beach, and Maia Campbell. This show provided a realistic portrayal of urban life and was very popular among critics. In retrospect the series might have been too real airing not long after the Los Angeles riots. I remember one episode that showed Tasha outside in the yard singing under a helicopter (ghetto bird) spotlight. The show aired on Tuesday nights following Roc.

Due to a decline in ratings of the entire night of programming, FOX cancelled all of the shows on that night, which included The Sinbad Show and In Living Color. The cancellation of the series, which had a predominately black cast, prompted Jesse Jackson to call for a boycott of the network for what he called their institutional racism. FOX maintained that the series were low rated and the decision to cancel was not racially motivated. Thanks to TV ONE for bringing back a show that never really had a chance. I found this clip of Tasha Scott and a scene with her acting opposite CCH Pounder is contained here.

Old School Friday - The Jackson Family

Well it's Friday yet again. This is probably my favorite family group of all times (sorry Sylvers and Debarge). We have been inundated with Michael Joe videos over the years, so I decided to go with The group as a whole. one by Jermaine, and one by Janet (sorry Latoya and Rebe).

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Drunken Negro Face Cookies!

Am I the only one to find the idea of a bake good named "Drunken Negro Face Cookies" offensive? I received the below video in an email and it made me angry enough to "chew bricks". The cookies in question were supposedly used to celebrate the Inauguration of President Obama. On that day the cookies were referred to as "Obama Heads". The Greenwich Connecticut baker who sells these cookies does not see why anyone would have a problem with these cookies and that the women (who happen to be Caucasian) who reported the story are overreacting. What do you think? Should all people find this appalling and racist or am I being overly sensitive?