Don't know what to say or where to begin, but so much on my mind.
A night in Bridgeport, Connecticut turned into a night of insightful reflections and welcome suggestions. ONUTSS has really taken me to places I'd never imagined and put me in situations and conversations that I'd only dreamed of.
It's funny how your view can change in a matter of hours -- I was seriously going to tell Pam to do this thing solo cause I'm not good with rejection. I'd rather quit at the top of the heap than to let the heap make me quit after I suffocate.
Make sense?
Prob not -- *shrugs shoulders* -- makes sense to me!
Lamone is so sweet -- not that sweet -- but just really personable and warm. Sings from the stage and makes eye contact with you as though he's really singing those words to you. And damn, can he sing! (If you DO NOT have a copy of "Eclectically Speaking" -- take a trip over to ONUTSS' page and click on Lamone's link -- get it! Get it! Get it!)
Gordon Chambers -- man! He made me step out of character -- you should've been there to see it go down! Aww nah -- not like that, I actually stepped on stage (yep, Jeff -- Troy -- ya'll should have seen me -- and I did it TWICE) and asked him to do his medley of award winning songs that he's produced for others. He did that and then kicked off his set with "I'll Miss You Most" and just went on from there. All I know is that at the end of his fourth song, I was on my feet. Clapping. Yelping. Gordon was on fire -- absolutely.
I believe in giving props where due. Gordon has supported ONUTSS where lesser known artists who could have truly benefitted from our love shunned us or poked their noses in the air about our terms. Everyone has terms, right? Or should we just let you walk in and decide who we should be? Anyway, Gordon's performance warranted that I climb back on that stage and get back on the mic.
I don't even remember what all I said -- I just spoke from my passion -- spoke from my heart! I reminded people that independent artists aren't artists that you'll hear on the radio. And most still work 9-to-5 jobs. Making music is secondary and our support of their projects makes all the difference in the world. So make it your business to leave an event with at least one cd for your library.
While I'm on my soapbox let me tell you what else I did tonight!
I got up from my seat when I couldn't take it any longer! I went right to that table of chics and told them to lower their cackles. How rude is it when someone is singing their heart out onstage and some talentless gweep is having a conversation OVER the music. I can't -- I can't -- I just can't! At our events, I have been known to get onstage, ask the artist to STOP and bless the crowd out right then and there. I think it's just hurtful and thoughtless to be so damned inconsiderate.
But enough of my droning --
I'm floating!
Ask me, Finnicky Frannie to name my favorite singers and I'll rattle off the following:
Donny Hathaway ~ Rahsaan ~ Stokley ~ V ~ Fred Hammond ~ Eric Roberson ~ Rick James ~ PJ Morton ~ Frank McComb ~ Phyllis Hyman ~ and I'll probably throw in some more men. Somebody asked me tonight about women -- female singers and I couldn't think of one other than Phyllis and Erykah that I'd call a favorite.
So imagine my glee when one of those listed above participated in a back and forth dialogue with me and said yes with no hesitation when I asked HIM to work with me on a project.
Hot damn! Ooowee
ONUTSS ~ I love you!
