celebrities
Music celebrities in the growing entertainment industry.
GN'R
When I was 15-years-old, there was something about the rock band Guns N' Roses that connected with my soul immediately. I remember being introduced to the band's rock music in the early 1990s. My cousin Keith had the "Appetite for Destruction" album and we listened to it over and over again. We would sneak out away from our family gatherings and listen to explicit lyrics that our parents considered "inappropriate." We would make sure to be out of ear shot in order to be able to vocalize all of the inappropriate words. Guns N' Roses was rock music, and it was meant to be played loud. Keith and I would belt out "Welcome to the Jungle!" as we imitated Axl Rose's identifiable voice. I thought Axl was incredible to watch as a lead singer. He was a loose cannon and was sometimes displayed aggressive behaviors, but I admired him for some reason and his music brought something out of me. He sings from his heart, and no matter what someone is singing, I cannot help but listen. Axl spoke to me in those days with some of his lyrics. I was a teenager, and I felt that the world never seemed to give me a fair shake because of my age. I did not have the confidence that Axl had to fight back in song, but it somehow comforted me to know that someone else felt the same angst. Aside from Axl Rose, one particular band member of GN'R always caught my attention more than the rest of the group. Slash, the lead guitarist, became a significant influence in my life. He wore his signature black top hat atop his long curly black hair. His hair covered much of his face and he frequently wore mirrored sunglasses. He would frequently be seen with a cigarette hanging from his mouth while jamming on the electric guitar. He was the epitome of cool to me for some reason. I played the flute, and was a strong musician, as I had played since I was in the third grade. I knew that I had the ability to play that guitar like Slash, but always dreamt of standing on stage and inspiring others with impressive riffs. I can play easily "by ear," and even messed around with a guitar early in my life and learned a few chords. My girl friends were all listening to boy bands and top 40 hits, and I wanted desperately to be a lead guitarist just like Slash. It was as if Slash did not care in the least what others thought, and was totally incognito. When playing the guitar it appears he is making love, and his passion for music is evident and written all over his face. Even only seeing his lips, he is puckering and almost talking to his guitar as he effortlessly plays. He is an incredible guitar soloist. When the band would pose for their poster photos, many of which hung from my wall when I was a young girl, Slash was the chill guy. I could imagine how incredible it would be to play guitar like that, while captivating and exciting a large audience. To this day, his guitar solos make me close my eyes and revisit my dreams of being a confident musician, playing rock music and inspiring a large crowd of onlookers.
By Christine Lynne Noll5 years ago in Beat
Inside The Mind Of Nicki Tha Great
Poughkeepsie Born and New Jersey Raised Vocalist Nicki Tha Great has been living and breathing music since she could remember. For some, music is a hobby, or a pastime, but for Nicki, it’s a lifestyle and her greatest passion in life. Nicki Tha Great’s music carries a timeless feeling to it, and immerses the listener fully into the talented artist’s creative mind. Nicki delivers never ending innovative sounds accompanied with unmatched cinematic visuals, showcasing that this is Nicki’s world, and we’re just living in it.
By Alaska Grey5 years ago in Beat
Vocal creators learn a lesson from Michael Jackson
Writing is an art form and those who create with the pen or the click of the keyboard are artists. There is much that we can glean from the life and death of entertainer Michael Joseph Jackson. In the movie, "The Jackson's an American Dream' there is a scene where an 18 year old Michael is talking with his mother Katherine. He tells her how the music just keeps coming to him, especially in the wee hours of the night. If you are a natural-born writer you have probably experienced story ideas coming to you at any point during a 24 hour day. If you are not where you can begin creating an article you can at least get it started. If you are not near your laptop you can used your cell phone to at least get the title and perhaps a few lines in print and work on it later.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Beat
Donny Osmond continues to inspire
Donald Clark Osmond was born on December 9, 1957. and is a singer, dancer, former teen idol, actor, and television host. During the 1970s he became a heartthrob while performing with four of his older brothers as The Osmonds. The singing family got their start thanks to the father of singer Andy Williams. Jay Emerson Williams saw four of the Osmond Brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay perform as a barbershop quartet on a Disneyland television special, and the brothers were invited to audition for The Andy Williams Show.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Beat
Marlon Jackson then and now
When Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, some of his younger fans said they were not aware that he was black and did not associate him with the famous singing siblings from the 1970s. This article is to acquaint those who don’t know with his brother Marlon who was one year older than the king of pop. Marlon David Jackson was born on March 12, 1957, at St Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana as the sixth of 9 children belonging to Joseph and Katherine Jackson. He and his twin brother, Brandon, were several weeks premature and Brandon died 24 hours after their birth. Later Marlon said he was especially close to Michael and considered him as a replacement for his deceased twin.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Beat
Randy Jackson then and now
The Jackson 5 officially became a group in 1965 with brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. Some fans may have believed that the other siblings have accomplished nothing on their own in recent years and were hanging on to Michael's coat tail but this is not true. Consider Randy, the youngest brother who was not allowed to join his siblings at this time because of his age. Seven Randall Jackson was born October 29, 1961 and is the youngest Jackson brother and the second-youngest Jackson child with his sister Janet Jackson being number 9. Randy first appeared with the J5 live in concert during a 1971 Christmas show that was held for blind children.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Beat
Dancing, Dreaming, and Romancing
When it comes to the movies you have to admit that Hollywood transports us to incredible places and brings out many emotions from us when we sit there in the dark and that giant screen lights up. We wind up so wrapped up in what is happening on the screen that we live along with the story and often times find ourselves both laughing and crying and just plain wanting to cheer. The only thing we cannot do is to dance in the aisles but some songs from the movies have made us want to do just that and isn't that a wonderful feeling?
By Rasma Raisters5 years ago in Beat
The Darknesses: An Elegy for DMX
Earl Simmons deserved better in life. He had talent by the boatload. He created a base of supporters in the millions with his original sound, and held audiences of thousands in the palm of his hand wherever he performed. The Yonkers, New York representative was a complicated man. He rapped, but he really was more of a bluesman with Timberland boots and a bandana, cocked to the side at just the right angle on his bald head.
By Skyler Saunders5 years ago in Beat
