Labelle

Janet Jackson

Faith Evans

Ollie Woodson
The Internet is, of course, one of the greatest, most popular, useful and pervasive creations of all time. And one of its most amazing side benefits is YouTube.

If you are not aware of this (free) phenomenon — and I know most of you are — by logging on to YouTube.com, you can watch all of the newest videos as well as the old ones, enjoy clips from TV shows and movies (old and new), hear seemingly any song you can think of, view vintage performances by artists from past decades so rare you will find yourself wondering, “Where did this come from?”

Also, you can easily e-mail performances to others or save them for yourself. And we can’t forget the homemade videos people place on YouTube, many of them “wildly entertaining.” (Key word: “wildly.”)

I kid you not, I have watched 2,449 videos, television clips, etc., since January! I love YouTube with a passion, and everyone I introduce it to gets “hooked” too! This website is a blessing. Make a point of visiting YouTube.com if you haven’t already.

IT HAS BEEN talked about for a long time, but the three ladies who comprised the powerful futuristic-soul group Labelle (Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash) are reuniting. The album (as yet untitled) is tentatively scheduled for late September release, produced by Black rock star Lenny Kravitz and the legendary Kenny Gamble-Leon Huff team.

It seems that every time you turn around, LL Cool J, rapper, actor and more, has something new going on. He is now producing a television show (a drama) that will be on the CBS fall schedule. In addition, he has a new digital distribution company that he says is mainly focused on giving new artists exposure, although it will also play a key role with the promotion of his own music. If interested, go to Boomdizzle.com.

We all have our pet peeves. I hate the fact that even some of the most accomplished and respected news anchors are now saying “gonna” instead of “going to.”

Between now and mid-October, look for new albums from Ne-Yo, Syleena Johnson, Michelle Williams, Common, Steve Cropper of Booker T. & the MGs and Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals together, Coolio, Eric Benét, T.I., Natalie Cole, Isaac Hayes, Musiq Soulchild, Jennifer Hudson and Al Jarreau.

SO NOW we again visit the “Reflections” e-mail box.

Jade C. Woodson is a major and longstanding fan of superstar Janet Jackson. She believes the recent dip in sales (and subsequent lack of full record company support) is due to more than being older, the Super Bowl “scandal,” having new competition, etc.

Woodson is of the opinion that artists such as Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey should “own up” to their age, both in song selection and clothing choices. Trying to be “a 16 year old,” she says, is “so ridiculous.”

Also, Woodson feels Jackson should return to being produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, where she had her greatest successes. “They listen to their artists and they know what works,” she said.

In a recent tribute story to the great Luther Vandross, I wrote that Roberta Flack, with whom Vandross was working at the time, told him that he was “too good to be a background singer.” Reader Tony Tsar reminded us that Flack actually “fired” him.

“She made that drastic move to compel him to go to the forefront,” wrote Tsar. “And thus, history was born.”

FAITH EVANS, known for hits such as “Love Like This,” “Soon As I Get Home” and “I Love You,” and for having been married to the late rapper Biggie Smalls, has written her autobiography. “Keep the Faith: A Memoir” is expected to be in bookstores in late August.

Ollie Woodson (did you know he was born in Detroit?) certainly has had an interesting, and rather strange, show business history. He was in the Temptations from 1984 to 1986, and again from 1988 to 1996, both times replacing Dennis Edwards.

He began a solo career, then formed a Temptations-type group called Ollie Woodson & the Emperors of Soul. He later joined the Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards. He is no longer there. He also appeared in a play and reportedly at some point had a “Temptations” group of his own, in addition to working as part of Richard Street’s “Temptations.” Right now he is a solo artist again, but that could change at any time.

Famed, and now retired, entertainment gossip columnist and broadcaster Rona Barrett once made a statement that is applicable for all entertainment writers. She said, “I am not friends with the stars because if I were, I couldn’t tell the truth about them.”

Best wishes to season two “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard on his recent marriage to Surata Zuri McCants.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW ….that Cissy Houston recorded “Midnight Train to Georgia” before Gladys Knight & the Pips.

MEMORIES: “Burn Rub-ber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me?)” (the Gap Band), “Special Lady” (Ray, Goodman & Brown), “Do Me Right” (the Detroit Emeralds), “Young Hearts Run Free” (Candi Staton), “One in a Million You” (Larry Graham), “(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean” (Ruth Brown), “Pillow Talk” (Sylvia), “I Want You” (Marvin Gaye), “Hold On Baby” (Sam Hawkins), “Make It Like It Was” (Regina Belle).

BLESSINGS to Linda Burgess, Stephen Singleton, Cheryl Myhand, Sylvia Quarles, Chuck Bennett, Carolyn Crawford, Monique Bryant and Tony Braceful.

WORDS OF THE WEEK, from a song sung by Tony Bennett and written by Sam-my Fain: “What good is what you’ve got if you’re not having any fun?”

Let the music play!
(Steve Holsey may be reached at Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.)