Powerhouse Radio Newsletter
Return to the list of newslettersMarvin Gaye Remembered May 12, 2004
This issue includes...
1) National Hip Hop Political Convention
2) The Powerhouse Radio Toolbar
3) HD Radio is coming to the USA
4) Music News: Usher and John Whitehead
5) Concert Dates: Who's on Tour?
6) Mercy, Mercy, Me: The Art Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye
7) Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood: Chicken Tender Lyrics
8) Chicken Games
9) Top Ten Listening from the last 30 Days
10)Your Feedback
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1) National Hip Hop Political Convention
The Democrats and Republicans are in the spotlight this
year with conventions in Boston and New York City to
support the presidential election in the USA.
Another summit gaining momentum is the National Hip
Hop Political Convention, June 16 - 19 in Newark, New Jersey.
Organizers describe it as a national gathering of the
Hip Hop generation to vote on, adopt, and endorse a
political agenda.
For more information about the convention, including how to become a delegate, visit:
2021 Update: Link removed. HipHopConvention.org is now ESports
2) The Powerhouse Radio Toolbar
Here's a toolbar created with you in mind. The brand new Powerhouse Radio Toolbar will increase your ability to find everything you want on the web, easily.
I'm excited about it, and you will be too, so go to:
2021 Update: Toolbar is sunset.
and read all about it. If you use Google, Yahoo!, or MSN to search the web, don't miss out on this terrific time saver.
3) HD Radio is coming to the USA
Hot in the UK for more than a year, (because of new programming supplied there by the BBC), HD radio, also called high definition digital radio, is coming to America in a big way.
Here's yet another choice in the crowded space currently occupied by terrestrial radio, Internet radio, and satellite radio.
I heard the actual HD radio system at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year in Las Vegas on a local station piloting the technology with a radio manufacturer.
Two words, it's awesome. Music on AM sounds just like FM quality. This is no joke. Music on FM is reproduced with CD quality.
Of course, your current radio won't pick up the digital signal. The first HD radios are out now, and cost between $400 - $500.
However, just like those new dedicated Internet radio boxes, and satellite radios, over time, HD radio prices will drop.
Most AM & FM stations in the USA will be converting to HD radio over the next couple of years. Many have made the conversion early. Here is a complete list:
2021 Update: Link removed. It turns out HD radio was a bust!
Another big benefit: you get the meta data display, currently available only on new analog radios, Internet radio players, and satellite radios. This is the text display giving you the song, artist, and album title.
HD radio will also allow your favorite local station to broadcast two different channels of programming on the same frequency at the same time. One station can now turn into two.
Wireless Internet radio will probably be in automobiles by the time HD radio takes off big time. We'll see what happens.
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Written by King
4) Music News: Usher and John Whitehead
Usher
-----
His new album, "Confessions," sold over a million copies in
less than a week, making it the highest selling album debut
since 2001. This is a record-setter for an R&B artist,
according to his record label, Arista.
John Whitehead
--------------
One half of the famous McFadden and Whitehead song writing
team was shot dead in Philadelphia, PA, Tuesday evening,
May 11.
Along with Gene McFadden, the duo wrote lots of hits for
the artists of the Philadelphia International roster.
Whitehead was working on a vehicle in the West Oak Lane
neighborhood of Philadelphia, when three men approached
and shots were fired.
"Back Stabbers" may be the most famous song written by
McFadden and Whitehead. The Jacksons, Harold Melvin and
the Blue Notes, Archie Bell, Lou Rawls, Freddie Jackson,
Melba Moore, and others have recorded their songs.
One song they didn't give to another artist, was "Ain't No
Stoppin' Us Now," a big R&B and pop hit sung by McFadden
and Whitehead in 1979.
There are four versions of "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" that
feature the original Philly International rhythm track that
I'm aware of. I have these four in my personal collection:
a) The 12" vinyl single, 10:30 approx. time
b) The 7" vinyl single, 3:29 approx. time
c) The version for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team
d) The version by Doug Henderson Sr., Philly DJ known as Jocko
The Powerhouse Radio version is a special edit I did on
the 12" vinyl single bringing the run time to 7:19.
McFadden and Whitehead were a very creative writing team.
They flourished under the mentoring of Kenny Gamble and Leon
Huff, the owners of Philadelphia International Records.
Condolences to John Whitehead's family.
5) Concert Dates: Who's on Tour?
Janet Jackson
Saturday, May 15, 2004
The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
War
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
7:00pm
George Benson
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Wembley Arena, London, United Kingdom
Diana Krall
Thursday & Friday, May 27 - 28, 2004
Hummingbird Center, Toronto, Canada
8:00pm
Teena Marie
Friday, May 28, 2004
Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
8:00pm
James Brown
Saturday, June 5, 2004
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, Canada
7:30pm
Smokey Robinson
Saturday, June 5, 2004
Hilton Hotel, Minneapolis, MN
George Benson
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Grand Rex, Paris, France
Macy Gray
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Pier 62/63, Seattle, WA
7:00pm
Prince
Monday - Wednesday, July 12 - July 14, 2004
Madison Square Garden, NY, NY
7:30pm all three nights
Natalie Cole
Friday, July 16, 2004
Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
8:00pm
Earth Wind & Fire
Friday, July 16, 2004
Pier Six Concert Pavilion, Baltimore, MD
8:00pm
CeCe Winans
Friday, July 23, 2004
Savvis Center, St. Louis, MO
Al Green
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Madonna
Sunday & Monday, August 1 - 2, 2004
American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
8:00pm both nights
Prince
Monday & Tuesday, August 9 - 10, 2004
Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
7:30pm both nights
Lionel Richie
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Le Zenith, Paris, France
6) Mercy, Mercy, Me: The Art Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye
Mercy, Mercy, Me: The Art Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye,
written by Michael Eric Dyson.
Published by Basic Civitas Books, 2004.
Our review was written by Dorothy Ferebee for the Powerhouse
Radio Newsletter.
------------
Twenty years after Marvin Gaye's death by his father's hand,
we are still talking about him and still inspired by his music.
He is very much a part of our lives.
As a commemoration of his life and death, Professor Michael
Eric Dyson offers up this "biocriticism" dividing Gaye's
life into three dimensions: his art, his loves and his
demons.
For those of us who are unfamiliar with Gaye's life, this
book will only heighten our sense of loss. To know more
about Marvin Gaye will not ease the pain of separation.
While Dyson brings to light the fractured and dysfunctional
relationship between Gaye and his father, which ultimately
resulted in Gaye's death, he also offers up a feast of
remembrances and recollections that illuminate the genius
of Marvin Gaye.
We are given a behind-the-scenes look at the man, the music
and Motown by icons such as Leon Ware, Kim Weston, Johnny
Bristol and Martha Reeves.
Dyson examines the effect of Marvin Gaye's music on the
socio-political climate of the sixties, seventies and
eighties.
Each decade of Gaye's music was a direct reflection of
where he was at that point in his life.
During the sixties, his music reflected his doo-wop roots
and his ability to cross over to mainstream audiences.
It was also the time of his duets with Tammi Terrell, who
collapsed onstage in his arms and eventually died of a brain
tumor.
The seventies saw Gaye's music take a social and political
turn with hits like "What's Going On," "Inner City Blues"
while moving into the eighties with more personal and sexual
songs like "You Sure Love to Ball" and "Sexual Healing."
Dyson attempts to unravel the mysteries of Gaye's loves and
passions for Anna Gordy and Janice Hunter, his two wives and
his reputed romantic relationship with Tammi Terrell.
He also reveals that Marvin Gaye fathered a son with his
wife's 15 year old cousin.
This book goes a long way to satisfy our need to understand
the man who continues to influence contemporary musical
artists and whose musical legacy can never be erased.
Still, it leaves us wanting more.
----------------------------
Review written by Dorothy Ferebee for the Powerhouse Radio
Newsletter.
Dorothy is the author of the book "How To Create Your Own
African American Library."
Read her other reviews and visit her website at:
2021 Update: BooksforBlacks.net is sunset.
7) Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood: Chicken Tender Lyrics
Have you misunderstood any song lyrics lately?
Here are some real gems submitted by real people
courtesy of The Archive of Misheard Lyrics at
amiright.com
Sam Cooke, "Twistin' the Night Away"
Misheard Lyrics:
"Dancing with the chicken slats"
Correct Lyrics:
"Dancing with the chick in slacks"
Barry White, "Let The Music Play"
Misheard Lyrics:
"One chicken please"
Correct Lyrics:
"One ticket please"
Commodores, "Brick House"
Misheard Lyrics:
"Chicken Cow, Chicken Cow, Chicken Cow Now"
Correct Lyrics:
"Shake it down, shake it down, shake it down now"
Will Smith, "Gettin' Jiggy With It"
Misheard Lyrics:
"Kickin chicken with it"
Correct Lyrics:
"Gettin' jiggy with it"
8) Chicken Games
More fun than training your dog or cat. Teach this chicken
to be obedient at:
2021 Update: Link removed. Burger King (ha ha!) has vaporized their online subservient chicken into sunset land.
Is that the San Diego Chicken? The chicken mask download
is also a riot. Check it out.
9) Top Ten Listening from the last 30 Days
A couple of times a year, we give you an update about the community of Powerhouse Radio listeners.
Music lovers from 92 different countries have launched the
stream and listened in the last 30 days.
Here are the current "top tens" in three categories of total
listening hours:
* By city, ranked from highest to lowest
1) Washington, DC
2) New York City, NY
3) Los Angeles, CA
4) Atlanta, Ga
5) Philadelphia, PA
6) Boston, MA
7) Dallas, TX
8) Chicago, IL
9) Raleigh - Durham, NC
10)Detroit, MI
* By state, ranked from highest to lowest
1) CA - California
2) VA - Virginia
3) TX - Texas
4) GA - Georgia
5) NY - New York
6) NJ - New Jersey
7) PA - Pennsylvania
8) DC - District of Columbia
9) IL - Illinois
10)NC - North Carolina
* By country, ranked from highest to lowest
1) United States
2) Canada
3) United Kingdom
4) France
5) Japan
6) Mexico
7) Germany
8) Barbados
9) Australia
10)Virgin Islands (USA)
10) Your Feedback via email to King at Powerhouse Radio
Robin aka LadyRob writes:
"Your station is on point!"
King replies:
Thanks LadyRob.
I visited LadyRob's site, and she is a young singer,
songwriter, producer and accomplished musician, and
independent artist.
She is a two time winner of the Best R&B Drummer for
the City of Buffalo New York's music awards.
2021 Update: Her webiste lucrock.com is sunset
You can listen to three of her songs on her site.
Graham sent this email:
"I'm e-mailing from Minster Kent in the UK. It's about time
I have found a classic soul station as I'm into northern soul
here in the UK and we don't have the stations and your music
is much better. Many thanks."
Sherri says:
"I love Powerhouse Radio! Do you take requests? If so, I
would like to hear Leon Haywood's "I want to do something
freaky to you." If you don't take requests, keep up the good
work anyway. (Smile)"
King replies:
No problem. The song is in our library and we just added it
to our playlist. It's one of those songs that will air
occasionally. What we call in radio land, "light rotation."
----------
Don't be left out, because we're listening. Leave your
comments or feedback here:
https://powerhouseradio.com/contact.html
----------
P.S.
Lionel Richie on MSNBC TV's "Tonight with Deborah Norville,"
in a recent one hour interview, about his life, his career,
and his new CD...
"There are two types of artists, those that are created,
and those that are creative."
---------
Now that's the voice of experience talking!
******************************************************
Copyright 2004 by Powerhouse Radio
All rights reserved
Powerhouse Radio
https://powerhouseradio.com
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More 2004 Powerhouse Radio Newsletters:
| December - | Holiday Gift Suggestions for the Old School Fan |
| November - | Broadband Wars: Cable vs. DSL and Internet Radio |
| June - | Ray Charles on the Radio |
| March - | Chaka Khan's Triumph |
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