This year, there are many tributes celebrating the life and music of “The King of Pop”, and Jeffrey Paul Bobrick, my friend and fellow musician was invited back by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network to once again share his song with MJ fans.

Jeffrey, a long-time Michael Jackson fan, performed his original song “Michael (The One and Only” at a Memorial Service at the Harlem State Office Building on Friday, June 25th, 2010. Check out the video below.

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Nia Long recently shared her two pennies about musical folk who expand their creative potential from singing into acting:

“I didn’t see ‘Obsessed’, so I can’t comment,” says Long, when asked by UK magazine Pride about Beyoncé’s acting skills. “But,” she continues, “it’s just not about how talented you are any more. It’s about ‘How much box office revenue will this person generate?’”

“When you see certain people — we won’t name names — they just don’t have the skill, and no one in their team has said: ‘You need acting classes’.”

“If you’re a singer not an actress, you should sing. If you’re a rapper, you should rap. If you take time to develop your craft, God bless you. Jamie Foxx is an example of both.”

This is not the first time that an actor has gone on record to complain about singers taking their acting jobs. I understand where they’re coming from, but I don’t see this trend changing any time soon. Film companies want to make money, and if they believe that a recording artist will have a bigger draw than a regular actor, they’re making a choice that will affect their bottom line.

My advice to Nia: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. There are thousands of fans out there who love Nia Long’s work, so why not go to them directly? If you’re not working as much as you like, then that means that you have time to Twitter, Facebook, et cetera. Build your own fanbase, create a YouTube channel, start your own newsletter, whatever! Just get over yourself, and do what needs to be done. You’ve already succeeded as a well-known, well-paid African-American actress in a very competitive industry. If you can accomplish that, you’re already ahead of the game. Leverage your current level of success, and dare to go further.

Complaining about stuff you can’t change is a waste of energy that would be better spent on building your own database of diehard fans, and learning to produce a film on your own. We may not always like it, but the times, they are a changing, Girlfriend.

In other words: Don’t hate the player. Instead, change YOUR game!

And that’s my two pennies!

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Billboard Award winning singer/songwriter/pianist Jeffrey Paul Bobrick has composed a Michael Jackson tribute song, “Michael”, which was produced by Rick Warren. Jeffrey will perform it live on Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network Radio Show on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The radio show can be heard in NYC on 1190 AM at 9-11am. Jeffrey is scheduled to perform at 9:30am. If you do not have access to this station, you should be able to listen live on the Internet through the National Action Network Live Stream.

A long-time fan of Michael Jackson, Jeffrey was compelled to honor his musical hero in song after the star’s sudden death on June 25th. “Michael was one of my greatest influences and inspirations,” he says, “I saw him perform live multiple times and even had the opportunity to meet him on two occasions. He was incredibly warm and generous during our meetings.” When Jeffrey learned that Reverend Al Sharpton’s radio show would be honoring Michael Jackson this weekend, Jeffrey immediately submitted his song’s lyrics to the show’s producers for consideration. Almost as quickly, Jeffrey was invited to perform on Sharpton’s National Action Network Radio Show.

Born and raised in New York City, Jeffrey started writing music at a young age and was performing frequently by the time he reached high school. He read Shakespeare at Oxford University, trained in theater at the British America Drama Academy in London and graduated with a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. After studying as a classical singer and enjoying a successful career as an actor (Off-Broadway, national tours, indie films), Jeffrey released his demo EP “When You Are Free,” which won him songwriting honors from Billboard Magazine.

Every Saturday morning since its founding, the National Action Network holds its weekly live action rally and radio broadcast which has been critical to its development. National Action Network (NAN) is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the nation, with numerous local chapters around the country. NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes one standard of just and decency for all people regardless of race, social justice for communities, and the improvement of race relations.

A friend of the Jackson family, Rev. Al Sharpton recently traveled to LA to help with funeral arrangements. During his weekly rally at the National Action Network, Sharpton called for fans to celebrate the star’s life and music, and said that he knew Jackson was at peace: “When you get to heaven,” he said, looking skyward, “turn around and moonwalk through the gates.”

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Billboard Award Winning singer/songwriter/pianist Jeffrey Paul Bobrick performs throughout the east coast and is creating a buzz with his “very clever, bright, intelligent songs” (Joey Reynolds, WOR radio). His demo EP, “When You Are Free,” is now available. Jeffrey is also in pre-production for a full length CD, slated for release in 2009.

For music samples, news and performance information, go to:
http://ILoveJPB.com

JPB LOVES YOU…keep listening…

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7/5/09: JUST ADDED – Here’s a video of Jeffrey singing his MJ Tribute song on the NAN show

Michael Jackson Tribute Live on Rev. Al Sharpton with Sharp Talk at National Action Network

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This is the coolest thing EVAH! Get your own Billboard cover!

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Besides, there are not enough words to express what the world is feeling right now.

Instead, I’ll just feature one of my favorite songs sung by Michael Jackson: “Who’s Loving You”, which was recorded by The Jackson 5 when Michael was still a young pup. Whenever I hear this song, I am blown away by Michael’s musical gifts. No matter what name you could ever throw at me, to this day, I’ve never heard this kind of singing talent in anyone so young.

The world is in shock and mourning today because of Michael Jackson’s legacy as an entertainer. His music and performances have the power to move us, and touch us deeply. He was truly “The King of Pop”.

My sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the Jackson Family.

-CLH

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Koko Taylor, 80 year-old Grammy Award-winning blues legend, died on June 3, 2009 in her hometown of Chicago, IL, as a result of post-surgical complications. On May 7, 2009, the critically acclaimed Taylor, known worldwide as the “Queen of the Blues,” won her 29th Blues Music Award (for Traditional Female Blues Artist Of The Year), making her the recipient of more Blues Music Awards than any other artist. In 2004 she received the NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award, which is among the highest honors given to an American artist. Her most recent CD, 2007’s Old School, was nominated for a Grammy (eight of her nine Alligator albums were Grammy-nominated). She won a Grammy in 1984 for her guest appearance on the compilation album Blues Explosion on Atlantic.

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. n 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.

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.

Obituary adapted from KokoTaylor.com

Koko Taylor – I Cried Like A Baby

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Travis – star of MTV’s ‘Meet The Barkers’ – and DJ AM had performed Friday night at the Five Points block party in Columbia alongside Perry Farrell, the former Jane’s Addiction singer and Gavin DeGraw.

Witness reports suggest sparks were seen coming from the plane on take-off before it went off the runway and crashed through a gate onto a nearby road.

Read rest of story here.

Our prayers go out to Travis Barker, Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein, and the families of the plane’s crew members.

Travis Barker Remix Soulja Boy “Crank That”

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“I’m fascinated by Usher firing Benny Medina and returning to his mother for management. The question arises…should you stay with who got you there, or switch allegiance to the big swinging dick?”

Lefsetz brings up a good point. Your first manager will most likely have tons of passion, which can make up for experience. But once you reach your goal of success, should you trade up for a Big Gun manager?

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I love the blogosphere, can I tell you? I just found a great article about digital media is the future from musician/producer Quincy Jones’ son, Quincy “QD3″ Jones. Wow.

In QD3’s blog, he writes: “I can see artists figuring out a way to go direct to consumer, creating sites and virtual worlds where they can present their undiluted vision to their audience (with user input of course). Upon building a nice-sized audience, they may possibly have their albums and videos underwritten by brands that feel their products are aligned with the creative direction of the artists.

Instead of pre-packaged albums, perhaps the artists upload songs, videos, and taped live shows periodically on their site as they finish them, and you, the consumer, can create your own track listing. Imagine your favorite group periodically releasing songs, using your input in part to make creative decisions, and thus having a more personal relationship with their fans. That could be pretty cool.”

That is poetry! Read the rest of his post from his QD3 Blog here:

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