My Underrated Black Music Artist List (It's Black Music Month)

Yep, it is Black Music Month! To commemorate I decided to make two opinionated list. The Underrated music artists.

Now, let me define Underrated.The artists that pop culture just plays with and never give them shine. Some of you guys see them but because you have to move from the machine that tells you what is cool, sometime you ignore them. Oh, the video on top? That's just my latest overplayed song on my playlist. It is called
Purse First" by Bob the Drag Queen. He won this past season on RuPaul's Drag Race. He's black. And I am a fan.

My grandfather told me a story of a church musician that really challenged them to sing. Her complaint was, "All y'all wanna do is pat your a-word and holler". Isn't that what go goes for today's music. Well, 'Purse First" does that to me so, Enjoy!!!

5. Kem  I can't explain why he is underrated. He has a nice voice and his music seems very universal. I love" I Can't Stop Loving You" & "Share My Life". It was weird when I heard him more as a ringtone on my sister's phone than I did on the radio. Now, I am feeling him as a feature on Gregory Porter's song Hold On.

4. Tweet This past week she was the topic of this week's Being. I missed it because I was out but everyone I asked about was so eager to talk about who she is currently dating. Umm excuse my gossip craze, she has a new album out called Charlene. And Won't Hurt Me is great. So many (included me) have said, we wished Tweet come out with one more good album. Tweet is good. I knew it when I heard her harmonize some lyrics in "Motel".

♫Go to hell baby

Cause I know I saw you go into a motel♫

OMG, I was a fan. Now, she has a new album. ♫Do whatever you feel you gotta do it♫ but stop sleeping on Tweet.

3. Raheem Devaughn Y'all are funny. He sings the perfect balance of sex & love. He had song called "BOB" (Battery Operated Boyfriend) on an album. He even had a real raunchy video to the song, "Single" come out a few years ago. Even K. Michelle put you guys onto When You Love Someone and thought y'all loved her whatever popular reality show she is on. Maybe he's going to ditch the love stuff, smack the "Customer" on her butt while she is a BOB. But then I won't like her. Don't change Raheem, never mind.

2. Corinne Bailey Rae All music can't make you feel good. I feel like that church musician for earlier, Yes, I a fan from the start with "Put Your Records On". My rollers sets were called The Corinne Bailey Rae at that time.

I loved that she melodically sung her pain in "Do It All Again". Her husband had just die and I understood. While she telling people even though all this happening, she is still not giving up on love, folks were complaining that it was to dark. *sigh*  Rae went away and while the masses are sipping Lemonade, she is dropping music. Have you seen Green Aphrodisiac? No, you haven't because nobody is wondering why she is wearing or holding a gold marijuana plant. I have and I have questions. I think the song is about being high on life.

1. Lalah Hathaway Let this woman win another Grammy in ceremonies earlier than the live show and I will scream. I know "But she has the awards". Lalah Hathaway should be winning the awards that are seen by the masses. Y'all know my favorite singer is Twinkie Clark. Lalah Hathaway is next. Her song is pure & innovative. Y'all know I love that in an artists. I have been a fan of her since the 90's when, she came out with Baby Don't Cry. Back when she snapped her fingers & did the side to side step the whole video. Her voice is hear in some many genres from Gospel to Jazz. Have you heard her version of "Ultimate Relationship". You will cry out "My God". Lalah's voice should be heard on not just Adult Contemporary radio but Pop radio. Mirror is out, now. I wish the masses would stop hiding their ears, so they could hear her.

If I could have honorable mentions, it would be Luke James & Michelle Williams. 

So, this is my list of the Top 5 Underrated Black Music Artists that I Love. I hope you guys go listen to them, if you don't already. Who's on your list? Leave then in the comments below.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Oh I'm Eclectic Now But... (African-American Music Month)

As Kerry Washington’s character in the “I Think I Love My Wife’ might have said, I used to have N-word Ears when I was younger.

And though I may be eclectic now, I will Always Love Black music. I don’t ever remember not Loving Black music. I grew up in a home & a community where music was played all the time. Most times (except Saturday afternoons when Lawrence Welk reruns and A Gaither (The daddies to the Oak Ridge Boys) Gospel Hour came on) it was Black music. We got dressed to it. We cleaned to it. We got our hair done to it. It was played at all the picnics, luncheons & barbecues. In my home we even slept to it. There was a blues juke joint on the corner of my street. My Foundation church is a 6 minute walk from my home. Across the street from it is a COGIC church. I was in the 6^th grade with the little girl who was their drum player. You could hear her play all outside of their church. She was good. (I’m going to ask her on FB does she still play sometimes) I grew up surrounded by black music.  My first memories of loving a song was a black song.

When I was preschool age, you couldn't tell me I was not Evelyn Champagne King. I knew all the words to Love Come Down. I could dance like her on the video. Yes, I had the two two-step sway down. Matter of fact I still do that move. At school while the radio was playing, I would sing along happily to this song.

I said at school because unlike parents now my mother didn't take kindly to children signing “Adult” songs out loud. She would ask in a minute “So what does that song mean” in a minute. My siblings and I would never be on YouTube, World Star, or Ellen singing “Super Bass”. We would be signing “Let It Go” or “HAPPY”. To my mom, Children should sing children songs, gospel included. Back then we had soulful children singers and somgs so we didn't lack in that experience. Oh but I loved that song. King had a pure voice that was telling a story (That I didn't know the meaning of until I was a teenager. Yes, I was Shocked too) about love whole heartedly.

Black music still plays a significant role in my life. Even the newer stuff out. Happy by Pharrell makes me Happy like everyone else. Oh and Drake is turning the rap game around for me. Yes, Jimmy of Degrassi: The Next Generation has my ear. I get dressed to Fancy and Worst Behavior just like these young girls, too. The guy has flow. Then there is Jhene’ Aiko with a song called The Worst. As the kids say, that song gets me all in my feelings. The hook says:

I don't need you

I don't need you

I don't need you

I don't need you

I still want you

I don't mean to

I don't mean to

I don't mean to

I don't mean to

But I love you

Oh I like it. This Picture Quote describes my feelings for the song perfectly.

Oh I love to hear new music by the older artists. The new Michael Jackson (without Justin Timberlake version) Love Never Felt So Good http://youtu.be/GJDdBbgJafU is a banger. Some company has it in a commercial and I stop and bop around every time I hear it. LoL Then there is Prince with Breakdown http://youtu.be/iE6g-jnEhew & Breakfast Can Wait http://youtu.be/GHbyNrGXpAA. I don’t know a Prince song I dislike. You know “Purple Rain” is 30 years old. Once I was old enough to understand the lyrics to Purple Rain & Darling Nikki 

 I declared him The Musical Genius.   

Love Come Down can come on now and instantly I turn into that little girl in day care. Swaying thinking I had a flower in my hair and a flowing dress. That’s the kind of feelings Black music gives me.

My N-word Ears still left me a memory clone or two of themselves as I ventured into other music. I’ll never abandon them as the music has never abandoned me. Bobby Womack passed this weekend. RIP He sang a song called No Matter How I Get http://youtu.be/4cvQMmsGkLg. It’s my favorite song by him. Well, Black Music that song is for you. No Matter How High I get…

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Help Me Understand: The Proud Songs of Adultery (African American Music Month)

Now you guys know I can’t go without fussing at people at some point. African-American Music Month is No Exception. Hey, if you didn't want me to “Soap Box” you, then “Make It Stop”!!! Thanks to one of my Favorite web show commentary shows, “Things I Learned This Week”, I learn "Dumb B-word" maybe subliminally said in Piece of My Love by Guy. You can hear it at 3:17 - 3:23 on this video. I believe it. I Loathe this song. The first verse starts with

You can have all of me. 

But I’m not going to be free

As my grandmother says, “He’s bad news”. I Loathe all songs of its genre I call, “Adultery Music”. If you follow me on Twitter you know I down right Detest “Adultery Music”. It’s very easy explain with one question. “What is so Melodic about having an affair”?

Oh I don’t blame Guy for putting out a song of such stature because there many songs, many made in the 70’s - 80’s, which promote such behavior. As young child, I heard the song You, Me and He by Mtume. The chorus said:

You, Me and He

What we gonna do, baby

Clearly there are too many people in this relationship. Then the female lead sing,

There's somethin' I wanna say

Try and understand

There's another in my life

He's my lover and I'm your wife

Do what? Did she tell her Husband that she is sleeping someone other than him and to be cool about it? Later in the song you find out it is about a husband and wife discussing their issues so they can eventually work them, okay. But the song walks a slippery slope in my mind. Then I started paying attention to the Saturday Morning Housework/At the Salon Old School mix and my eyebrows would raise up more. Billy Paul’s Me and Mrs. Jones and Luther Ingram’s (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right would be playing, I would listen and my mouth would drop. They said “Learn to Listen and Listen to Learn” so that what I was doing. I was learning the people lived so foul lives and liked bragging on it. What is the craziness is people adore these songs. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right was even used a clever quip in a few sermons I have heard over the years. Why be upset with Pastor Jamal Bryant for using Loyal by Chris Brown in a sermon? Clearly he was in good company when using foul lyrics to make a good point. Oh wait I’m getting sidetracked.  I’m talking about “Adulterous Music” not “People who like to jump on Christian preachers for Everything they do Not So Right”. No Plans for a blog on that but be warned.  I am still wondering how many crazy “Mr. Jones” out there thought Billy Paul was talking about loving on their wives in 1972. How many if any, "Mr. Jones" committed acts of domestic violence because of this crazy song? Frightening to think about. Adultery can be dangerous.

Those are not even the songs of Adultery that Grate my nerves the most. Two songs make me give the world side eye. Poor Whitney Houston! She couldn't rest in peace the day after we found out she left this world without me rolling my eyes at her. Why did I roll my eyes at her? The song Saving All My Love was being played. Oh I know Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr first recorded it but the song is one of Houston hits, so she gets the blame. The songs says she is waiting for a man who is already someone else’s husband & father. What? The lyrics of the first verse clearly say,

A few stolen moments is all that we share

You've got your family, and they need you there

Though I've tried to resist, being last on your list

But no other man's gonna do

So I'm saving all my love for you

Sound like the woes of the side piece, to me. We detest side pieces. That’s why folks hate “Scandal” and “Being Mary Jane”. Oh but it okay for folks to belt out this song. This is disturbing. I remember when Steve Urkel sung it to Laura Winslow on the American sitcom "Family Matters". I felt like I was the only person who thought this song was wrong. Still there is another Adulterous song, you guys love the Belt Out even more. As We Lay has to be the most Beloved Adulterous song known to man. Well, at least in the realm of Black Music. I only know one person who is disgusted by this song like I am. My mother will change the TV or radio when this song comes on. When Kelly Price remade this song originally sang by Shirley Murdock and she was livid. “Why would that girl waste her voice on such a gross song”, my mother said. The song is gross and folks love to sing it. No, people love to sing the heck out of this song. So many talent shows with such graceful and melodious voices have been marred in my eyes with this song. I would hear someone perform this song on the Amateur Night section of Showtime at the Apollo and I wanted to act like my mother and change the channel. Fun Fact: The lyrics “We should have counted up the cost but instead we got lost” was added by Shirley Murdock during recording the song. She didn't think the song was remorseful at all.

I just don’t understand the craze of songs that are about Marital Affairs. I also don’t understand the lesser amount of songs telling married folks off in music. Husband by Shirley Murdock on a later album (http://youtu.be/SYyVMFgsW68) is a Clear example of what you say to some of these low down People that want to creep. You be straight with these married people wanting to be in a relationship with you. Oh because noticeably thanks to Aaron Hall they are still quietly calling you a Dumb B-word when you date them despite their marital status. Ooh I'm going to make a song "Out my Face, You're Married". Going to be a Chart Banger. LoL

Songs of Adultery or Cheating are dying down. The only “current(ish)” song by black singers I could think of is Unfaithful by Rihanna. Y’all are free to tell me more of them in the comments. The song topic can die and not resurrect. There are enough out there and no more room is needed for any more.
Oh and Pop & Country music, this not you month but, the message of the post is for you also. Stop Proudly signing about Cheating and having an Affair like it is something cute. And Don’t shake the Scandal finger at me, go take that some finger and click on one of my blog posts about Scandal.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

B-Sides & Indies (African-American Music Month)

Is there a person that is friends with Everyone but you Only fool with them when they are with your friends? You don’t dislike them but they irritate you enough for you not to like them. What irritates you about them? They are always talking about the same stuff. They are just a repeat of a repeat of a repeat. That is my rapport with the Radio. I don’t listen to the radio. I don’t mean to be the music weirdo but the radio plays the Same Music all the time. I hate that about the radio. Everybody does. I am just true about my feelings and boycott listening to it. I know I don’t know “the new” most time. If you every see me at a trendy night spot and something new & popular, I’m sitting there clueless while Everybody else is bobbing along.

Like my movie choices I like the obscure track of the popular artist (I call those the B-sides. (From when we had tape single and lesser known hot song on the other side of the song that you actually bought the tape for) I usually like the B-side song also) and of course music from Indie (I don’t understand why they are not discovered. (Blame Pop Culture) Artists. I think I’ve always like been a music fan like that. I remember in high school I had Another Bad Creations’ Second album and nobody else did or even asked to borrow it. Who know Jamie Foxx First song and video was Infatuation in the 1990's (http://youtu.be/ECXLvAmAP48). I loved this Jamie Foxx Way better than the one blaming his actions on alcohol. His voice was so pure. That is what I love about the non-popular music by popular artists and indie artists. It's pure and not tainted by pop culture. It is also not played to death by radio DJ’s. I’m just a sucker for good unadulterated music.

I love channels like VH1 Soul and Centric for having shows, like Sub Soul, VH1 Soul Player, Centric Hits & Soul Sessions that introduce/ give us a listen to artist and songs that main stream radio is Not playing. Bounce TV also has a show called Bounce Beats that shows some of the “not as popular” artist’s videos among those of the popular.

Here are some ditties for you guys to jam out to. The video is Ms. Sunshine Anderson. We rocked out to her hit “Heard All Before” (http://youtu.be/NGMInHRR2Fo) “I had shut yoouu doowwn”. LMBO Well Lunch or Dinner is my “Mentally Flirting” Theme Song. Because in my mind, my “flirt game” is flawless. Yeah, I said in my mind. More like “Speechless” (http://youtu.be/qOpXYcNDyqU) by Kelly Price (Yeah I hate to still like this song after her “antics” on R & B Divas LA but good music is good music) is my “flirt/lack of game”. Yeah if smile, blush, and look away when he sees me is game, then I’m on it. The chorus of the song is my perfect line in my mind.

Since I'm who you want

And need in your life

Then we should do lunch

Or dinner sometime

I love this song. It’s in my “Getting Dressed Secular” playlist. One day I’m going to use that line. LoL Here is there of the list of some of my favorite “non-popular” songs.

Robert Glasper Experiment Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.) [feat. Ledisi] (Yeah that Ledisi!!! Oh the beginning beat!!! It's Two Stepping Time!!!)
http://youtu.be/nlWXsfjHeA8

Charlie Wilson Without You (I feel in love this gem my first year at Lamar University. He has song called "No Words" that I like, also.)
http://youtu.be/2PPpTNjYUgw

337 Caramel Cutie Keith Frank (I know Zydeco fans who don't know this song)
http://youtu.be/4Ic3O0AC--g

Avery*Sunshine All In My Head (Love this Self-Checking song)
http://youtu.be/pvB1FYVDdng

Lalah Hathaway Naked Truth (I Love this song by Lalah Hathaway!!!! Who is probably my Favorite Secular Artist)
http://youtu.be/wyJccJv1ABw

BVSMP I Need You (A DJ played this song in Beamers once a few years ago and I think only the DJ and I Knew this Oldie but Goodie Indie)
http://youtu.be/4WtAFUdbr4c

ANQUETTE I Will Always Be There For You (One more Oldie but Goodie Indie. I think this might have inspire a few notes to an old crush or two)
http://youtu.be/K7ojf7z_Zds

Esperanza Spalding  Fall In (She upset Beliebers by getting the Grammy in 2011. She's performed at the White House. Have you heard this lady on the radio?)
http://youtu.be/lWmypu1N8_4

Raheem Devaughn B.O.B (Battery Operated Boyfriend)  (I still don't understand why this song is Not popular. Every Male Revue should be playing this song. Can you imagine the cash flow from just this song.)
http://youtu.be/0C9-d9hYbvE

Leela James  Fall For You (She will be on R&B Divas LA and my BFF Love doesn't know who she is. *sigh* There is a problem Here is her newest song)
http://youtu.be/CjOIQnCbDU0

Heather Headley Wait a Minute (While we all were to jamming "He Is" & "Gotta Go", I was jamming this too)
http://youtu.be/HaNqe1N-Syg

Jermaine Paul Butterfly Kisses (How do you win a National contest, The Voice, yet get no radio play? *sigh* Had it not been for Bounce Beats on Bounce TV, I would've missed the sweet little song)
http://youtu.be/1zmj_AdF0po

I could on and on. You know I can. So, you know I’m going to ask. What are your favorite “indie”, “B-side” or “non-popular”? Leave them in the comments below. I’m always “in tuned” for hearing good pure music.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Line Dance Music (African-American Music Month)

Oh the music & dance style that is appropriate for all ages, religions, creed, gender, sexuality, and races, Line Dance. I love to line dance. I even go (when I am focused) to line dance aerobic classes .They are always popular & trendy. Actually Line Dances never get old. I guess my first line dance was the "Hokey Pokey". LoL What? Oh you call that a Action Song. Ok semantics, semantics. Then my first official line dance was The Electric Slide. I am Shocked at anyone that can't do the The Electric Slide. Matter of fact that's how I realized I was judgmental. In middle school, during the dance portion of P.E., I couldn't believe and understand the kids that didn't know how to do the Electric Slide. LoL It was one of the respectable dances we were allowed to do a the youth socials at Foundation church. Foundation church was where I learned it. The teachers being the Youth Directors, including my own mother. I know, she's that kind of cool.

I am listing users on YouTube that I follow that give line dance instructions. I use them a lot especially when I feel to sluggish to go to aerobics but not so sluggish not to want to dance.
dallaslinedancing101
https://www.youtube.com/user/linedancingindallas/videos

Steph's Line Dancing
https://www.youtube.com/user/StephsLineDancing/videos

JandJSoulfulSteps
https://www.youtube.com/user/JandJSoulfulSteps/videos

linedancedr
https://www.youtube.com/user/linedancedr/videos

StepInTheNameOfLife
https://www.youtube.com/user/StepInTheNameOfLife/videos

thearchiebexperience
https://www.youtube.com/user/thearchiebexperience/videos

There so many line dances out there at this point. So here are a few of my current favorite songs. Same Ol' Two Step (Above) is my favorite of the current stuff. In my mind, I am the cutest person doing that dance. LoL It's so easy too.

Zydeco Bounce
http://youtu.be/rZFxt1tMgRs

Sanctified Slide (I can imagine if this was out when I was younger at the youth socials...)
http://youtu.be/yvmiEaRX1n8

Bunny Hop (Do y'all know I had been dancing to this song for years at parties and didn't notice the profanity until like 3 years ago. To Busy bopping, I guess LoL)
http://youtu.be/f3NtLug739E

Wobble
http://youtu.be/3lCJWB8JYbI

Hallelujah Slide
http://youtu.be/J751U2mpmAQ

Cupid Shuffle (He has a new dance (Wham Dance) and Yes, I'm learning it)
http://youtu.be/h24_zoqu4_Q

Gospel Slide
http://youtu.be/ecmfT6oH6ts

What are some of you favorites? Let me know in the comments. Alright get to dancing. Don't blame me when you're getting side eye and funny looks on the floor messing up the dances. LMBO

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

My Favorite Singer of All Time Salute (African-American Music Month)

When I was a little girl, I wanted to play the organ. I love the sound of the organ. In my mind, Twinkie Clark & Billy Preston cannot be beaten. Then I saw Twinkie Clark and her sisters (The Clark Sisters) on my TV screen on Bobby Jones Gospel on Sunday night.  I had heard their songs all my life on the radio but this was the first time I saw them. As a  little chubby light-skinned black church girl, I saw myself all in The Clark Sisters especially Twinkie. She was playing the organ almost effortlessly. So, I “researched” playing the organ. I found that one had to learn how to play the piano first. Well with my 4-year-old mind, I gave up then learning how to play the organ. I didn't see the correlation then. I was 4. I decided when we went over to my great aunt's house and was allowed to play church, I’ll play the organ there. It was for the best. I have rhythm issues sometimes. They only instrument I play is the Recorder. Awesome" is my favorite song by her. The song I provided in this blog is called “My Soul Loves Jesus”. This song highlights her skills on the piano. This song features her sisters and R&B & Gospel singer, Shirley Murdock. I do have a favorite line though. “I can't sleep, ‘less I dream of him”. How many times have you were experiencing a sleepless night and you decided to prayed and worshiped the Lord to sleep? Well, if you haven’t let me tell you it is a great feeling. I understand that lyric wholeheartedly. It gets a Diva stamp of approval.

I still have mine. I can still play a mean “Twinkle, Twinkle”. What I didn’t give up on was being a fan of Twinkie Clark. You can’t tell me anything bad about her. She writes such sweet & simple music about God. "

So let’s go to Wikipedia to learn about my favorite singer. Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark is a two-time Grammy award-winning American gospel singer, composer, musician, and evangelist. She is a member of The Clark Sisters, an influential gospel vocal ensemble active since the late 1960s. She has been dubbed "Queen of the Hammond Ivory Super CX-1 & Hammond B-3 organs" and "The Mother Of Contemporary Gospel." According to sister Jacky Clark-Chisholm, their mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, began training Twinkie on the piano as an infant and by the age of four, she could play full songs. Around the age of nine, Twinkie began showing interest in the organ and began training. At 12, she made her professional debut as an organist on the Southwest Michigan State Choir's album A Closer Walk with Thee. Twinkie would serve as Dr. Clark's personal organist until Dr. Clark's death in 1994. She has been the force that shaped the sound that has become the Clark Sisters' hallmark (more affectionately known as the 'Clark Sound') since their mother Mattie Moss Clark turned over control of the group to her in the early 1970s. As the 1970s turned into the 1980s, Twinkie gained increasing notoriety through the popularity of The Clark Sisters albums He gave me Nothing to Lose (1979), Is My Living in Vain(1980), You Brought the Sunshine(1981) and Sincerely(1982). Those albums featured the Twinkie penned classics; "Nothing To Lose", "Is My Living In Vain", "Pure Gold", "Expect A Miracle", "Name It Claim It", "Endow Me", "Walking In The Spirit" and the Clark Sisters crossover smash "You Brought The Sunshine." In the summer of 1981, "Is My Living In Vain" stayed atop the Billboard Gospel Songs chart for 13 weeks while the accompanying album would hit #1 and remain there for over a year. Twinkie wrote and produced three more albums for the Clark Sisters: 1986s Heart and Soul, 1988 Conqueror and 1989 Bringing it Back Home-Live. From those albums "Jesus Is a Love Song", "Pray for the USA", "Balm In Gilead", Jesus Forevermore", "My Redeemer Liveth" and "For The Love Of The People" were played on air. Twinkie amassed other hits in the 1980s ("I Tried Him and I Know Him", "The Anointing Breaks the Yoke", "Lord, Let Me Hear From Heaven") from her continued songwriting on her mother's convention records.

Twinkie left the Clark Sisters in 1989 to focus on ministry and family. She continued her solo career recorded the independent solo album Comin' Home in 1992. Twinkie was featured on the COGIC International Choir's Leaning on Jesus album on the hit duet with Richard "Mr. Clean" White's "Accept What God Allows" and in 1996, she produced the album Twinkie Clark Terrell presents the FAMU Gospel Choir which was a staple on the Gospel charts well into 1997. Twinkie and the Clark Sisters were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999. The Clark Sisters received high honors at the 2007 Stellar Awards when they were presented with the award for Most Notable Achievement. Twinkie reunited with The Clark Sisters on July 8, 2006, to record a new live album, The Clark Sisters did a live recording in Houston, Texas entitled Live... One Last Time. The recording was released as a CD on April 10, 2007, on EMI Gospel, followed by a CD/DVD Special Edition release on June 19, 2007. In support of the reunion album, The Clark Sisters embarked on a 25-city Concert Tour. On January 16, 2009, Twinkie Clark was honored at the 10th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon Friday, January 16 in Nashville, TN.

Twinkie has written and/or arranged over 200 songs that have been recorded by the likes of Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers, James Cleveland, Dave Hollister, Kelly Price, Rev. Donald Vails, and others. Richard Smallwood, Jennifer Holiday, Kim Burrell, Shirley Murdock, Donald Lawrence, R&B singer Coko, Missy Elliot, and Fred Hammond count Twinkie was influences/inspirations.  Clark's influences include jazz, reggae, classical, funk and blues. This is evidenced by listening to her first two solo albums Praise Belongs to God and Ye Shall Receive Power recorded for Sound of Gospel Records while still with The Clark Sisters. Twinkie Clark is a Stevie Wonder fan and hopes to one day do a duet with him. You Brought the Sunshine is actually pattern after Wonder's hit "Master Blaster".

What an accomplished lady!!! So I Salute pianist, organist, writer & singer, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark, on today. Maybe this recorder player and you can jam out to “Twinkle, Twinkle” one day. LMBO.

Okay, who is/are your favorite singers of all time? Leave them below in the comments. I'm off to listen to some Clark Sisters.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

June, June, June!!!

First let me thank you all for the condolences, prayers, & love shown to me in the passing of my beloved friend, FootBall Nerd. With God, I am breathing through it. *BIG* hug

If I had a Favorite month, it would probably be June!!!

June is Big month for me. It's my birthday month!!! I think I just want to have Sunday Brunch or Lunch at Taco Casa (I have an unfulfilled Taco craving) and go see "Think Like a Man Too" (That I feel like should have been called "Act Like a Lady", IMO). I usually share plans with my friend, T.T. so I'll see what she might have planned also. I do know what we won't be doing. We won't get to line dance at happy hour. Our favorite dance spot closed last month. Farewell Beamers!!! Midnightish will be different. Football Nerd usually was first to tell me Happy Birthday. Somehow I know he will give me birthday wishes on that day around "Midnight".  June 4 would've been Football Nerd's 38th birthday. Happy Birthday, Baby!!! I'm going to spend it in quiet reflection and write him a letter with Everything I need to tell him. I wore my pearls to his services. Pearl is the traditional birthstone for the month of June. *wink*

In June we celebrate Father's Day. By now you know I was raised by a single mother but had great father figures in my life. Well, I am going to release a piece that stirs inside of me this time of the year called "Grateful to be a Deadbeat's Daughter". Stay Tuned for that.

Juneteenth is June 19. In Texas, we celebrate the day the slaves were emancipated here. Yes, Texas slaves didn't find out they were free until two years, six months and nineteen days after most of the country. No, in my home we don't bust out the watermelon and cut a jig. We do watch old black movies like Stormy Weather or Green Pastures and eat a "Soul Food" style meal on that day.

June 27th is National HIV/AIDS Testing Day!!! Know your Status!!! Go to find a clinic for free testing. You have No excuse not to know. Also you can read this Blog when someone straight up told me I had No Excuse.

Finally, June is African-American Music Appreciation Month. It was originally started as Black Music Month by President Jimmy Carter, who on June 7, 1979, decreed that June would be the month of black music. Since then, presidents have announced to Americans to celebrate Black Music Month. For each year of his term, President Barack Obama has announced the observance under a new title, African-American Music Appreciation Month. I will be celebrating it Outspoken_Diva Style. I will be Saluting my Favorite Singer & Pianist of All time. If you follow my blog or know me offline. You should know who this is. Also every week, twice a week I will be featuring some of my favorite music. Trust me in true OutSpoken_Diva style, you are in for a treat. So stay tuned and get to know me musically. Because if you really want to know how I feel, look at the music I am listening to. That can tell you a lot about my mood, because if you ask I will say I'm Fine.  (Yeah I stole that quote)

So that's and much more is what you can look forward to in June.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms