celebrities
Music celebrities in the growing entertainment industry.
Women in music
Music is very influential to people. It is a form of expression. It’s everywhere we go and involved in almost everything in the media. Whether it’s in the background of something or highlighting the artist making it there is no escape. Almost everybody listens to music and there are many different genres of it. The existence of music has been traced back to the beginning of civilization. There are many talented women who have made an impact with music and that have had an influence over music as its been reshaped over time. From behind the scenes to in the spotlight there are many women that have contributed to the success of the music industry we know today.
By Mystery Writer5 years ago in Beat
Women Who Rock My World
Of all the stunning black female singers in the world, the women who pull on my heartstrings the most by far are those who have also mastered instruments. As somebody with zero musical inclination, I never fail to be fascinated by anybody with the level of skill required to play with both their voices and their hands. Transcending a multitude of barriers, these women have truly blessed the universe with their unimaginable talents. While modern day black singers are all incredible on their own merit, musicians of multiple talents are, and always have been, thoroughly underappreciated for their phenomenal contributions to the arts.
By Ashleigh Harris5 years ago in Beat
The Fridge Again!!
I’m board at home, stuck inside trying to avoid Covid outside and I’m at the refrigerator, again looking for a snack. A song pops into my mind and I close the door without taking anything out. I am playing that viral song from KD French in my head and now it is stuck up there, on repeat.
By Vicky DiMichele5 years ago in Beat
All Hail The Queen
To say that Aretha Franklin was one of the greatest American artists of all time is an understatement. Her multi-octave voice moved millions around the world during an unrivaled career that spanned six decades and garnered the singer-songwriter every achievement and honor imaginable. Her reign as the Queen of Soul was a most deserved title, and one only she holds. Say outloud to ANYONE (old enough to know) "the Queen of Soul" and most will smile and say; yes, she is, was, and always will be. I first heard Aretha sing when I was a poor 13 years child growing up on the hard side of town with an alcoholic mother. I found that I could escape my life through music, and I did every chance I got! Actually let me rephrase that, I had heard her before on the radio and knew a few of her songs but I first REALLY heard her sing when I was invited to the upstair apartment to listen to music with a very sweet woman and her husband, they were known back then as lowriders, and they were quite heavy into oldies like, Mary Wells, Etta James, Al Green, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Diana Ross, The Jackson Five, Nat King Cole, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, The Platters(I idolize them), and of course the amazing Aretha Franklin. This was just a small list of the hundreds of songs I listened to in that apartment. They asked me to come up and stay in the house with thier 3 year old baby while they ran over to a friends house for about an hour. Told me to eat whatever I wanted and listen to any music I wanted that the baby would be sleeping the whole time they would be gone, to just look in on her every half hour. They must have had 300 cassette tapes of every oldies artist ever recorded. I was thrilled to babysit. They had the double cassette player so that I could put two tapes in at a time and while one played I could cue the second tape to play right after, it was the latest in technology in 1980. I remember putting Aretha Franklin's, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You cassette in, and fell in love with her! I already loved music and I sang every song on the radio, I sang commercials, I sang anything and everything, but the Queen of Soul made me want to really sing! I started out singing Never Loved A Man, til I could sing every single note perfect! Then I asked the upstairs neighbor if I could get a copy of all of Aretha's music that she had and she said she would be happy to, I had six tapes three days later, two were Aretha and one was a mix tape of all of the songs I loved most. She would regularly invite me up to listen to music with her, and I didn't realize, until she told me one day "you know I love you like a sister, but I gotta be honest, I invite you up all the time because I love to hear you sing, your voice is badass for a kid"! I had no idea that anyone listened when I sang! I turned red in the face and smiled when she told me that. She also said she never heard a young white girl sing with so much soul. I love all of the oldies, and I am honored that when I sing Aretha Franklin in a karaoke bar, I channel my inner Aretha and I get people on thier feet. I have won several contests singing Chain of Fools, Respect, Never Loved A Man and Natural Woman, and I do them all in perfect Aretha form every single time because the Queen deserves that, and I have so much respect for my queen. I was honored in 1993 to see her at the MGM in Reno, NV with such artists as B.B. King, Elvin Bishop and Jimmy Vaughn and his fabulous Thunderbirds! Aretha was so amazing, and she was such a huge presence on stage, I felt like I had to be like her, so she taught me stage presence as well, which got me over my fear. I have continued to sing the music of some amazing black artists over the years from Etta James, Whitney Houston, Chaka Kahn, Tina Turner and many more. I am constantly being told that I am a black woman in a white woman's body. I take that as a compliment, my fans lovingly call me "Pipes" or "Lady Soul", and I am proud to say that I do have a bit of a following. I will also continue to respect the struggle black singers went through to get to the honorable place they hold in the industry today, it is so well deserved and I am proud to continue to give it a voice.
By C. M. Sears5 years ago in Beat
Erykah Badu
My #1 Pick When I was (first) notified about the opportunity to honor a 'black woman's contributions to music’, Erykah Badu was the first name in my thoughts. She influenced me as a creative artist, a musician, a writer, a singer and a free-thinker. I’d be remised if I didn’t nominate Erykah Badu on this platform—where being 'VOCAL' is an admirable characteristic. I didn’t need to look any further for a woman who encapsulates divine femininity and whose name wreaks of honorable principles. Erykah Badu is not just one of my biggest influencers, when I found out she's keeps a low-key second career as a Doula (and more recently, as a certified midwife). I was blown away. She's even known to her clients as "Erykah Badoula". I’m a writer. My 390K-word novel series INEFFABLE is based on the natural birthing of the main character - Michelle. So much of Erykah’s energy and ethics revolve around who I am and how we should (all) see the world. Erykah Badu has always inspired me and her music is very therapeutic to me. No other artist can compare to her.
By R. L. LASTER5 years ago in Beat
'UK Hun?' A Campy, Fun 'Drag Race UK' Hit
If you haven't already, you really need to "clap for the bing bang bong." The most recent installment of #RuPaulsDragRaceUK saw the queens being told that they had to suspend filming immediately and go home due to the #COVID19 crisis. There was a seven-month hiatus where the queens had to determine other means of making money, if they didn't have a day job, before filming resumed in late 2020 with safety protocols in place. As they returned, they noticed they were one short - #VeronicaGreen, who had tested positive for #coronavirus - and had the opportunity to vote to bring one of the queens back, and #JoeBlack was the lucky winner and got to participate in the RuruVision contest. It was a parody of the Eurovision Song Contest, and the queens were split into two different groups - the United Kingdolls (#Tayce, #LawrenceChaney, #BiminiBonBoulash, and #Awhora) and Bananadrama (#TiaKofi, #JoeBlack, #EllieDiamond, and #SisterSister).
By Christina St-Jean5 years ago in Beat
First Lady of Song
The First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, Lady Ella: these loving nicknames have been bestowed upon arguably one of the greatest singers of all time, Ella Fitzgerald. And for good reason, too. I grew up listening to Ella’s sultry voice thanks to my music-loving father, who has a particular soft spot for the classics and oldies. Although, I never truly appreciated the importance and impact of her long musical career until I was much older. I just loved the way she sang and how her songs made me feel. It was only when we began to take an in-depth dive the civil rights movement in school did the gears begin to turn and things clicked into place for me. By every right, Ella was an incredibly talented singer; however, for her to have such a successful career during the late 1930’s through 1960’s takes her to a completely different level of powerhouse.
By Emily Scott5 years ago in Beat
Mya: 23 Years In The Music Industry
Mya Harrison is an award winning singer and song writer that has been the magazine cover girl for almost ever urban hip-hop magazine of the early 2000s. She is also is the owner of an independent record label called “Planet9.” Mya is a catalyst for a vegan detox with Queen Afua that helps people heal themselves in many ways and I’m one of the people that helped get over a hindering sense of existence. They sent me down a road of healing and I’m forever grateful. Mya is also a wine connoisseur and she owns her own vegan wine brand called “Planet 9 Fine Wine” that she sells from her website online store at www.myamya.com.
By Curtis Greene5 years ago in Beat
Jay-Z: The One Who Made You Want More 💰
Jay-Z like most of the black men forced to rise from the hopeless living circumstances of the America’s ghettos has a compelling story. Not only did he escape a life of crime and poverty he literally became a billionaire, philanthropist, A-list socialite, record mogul, corporate executive, and king maker in the process. I’ve been inspired by Jay-Z the entire time he’s been in the mainstream. Ever since I bought his first album “Reasonable Doubt“ back in the summer of 1996 from “Damon’s records” on Plymouth rd Damon’s records was a legendary black-owned record store located on Detroit’s westside.
By Curtis Greene5 years ago in Beat
#FREEBRITNEY MOVEMENT
I finally got to watch the documentary "Framing Britney Spears", it aired on Hulu last night and was on my list of things to do for today. As I watched it all these emotions got stirred up, I literally went from sitting on the couch to pacing around my apartment like a "nutty buddy". If you haven't watched it yet, let me catch you up a bit.
By Jacqueline Medina5 years ago in Beat
Despite All the Hate This Is Why Justin Timberlake Is Still Great
The spotlight has once again been on Britney Spears lately thanks to the New York Times documentary that’s showcased the shady side of things going on in her circle, and it’s also brought a lot of negative attention to her long-time ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake. In his earlier years he was a little ruthless when it came to airing out some of their dirty laundry, however if you really look back at it you realize he was only 21 and definitely feeling some kind of way from his first big break up with his teenage sweetheart.
By Mandy Raquel5 years ago in Beat
