Reflections
http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/2935/1/Reflections/Page1.html
Steve Holsey
By Steve Holsey
Published on 07/23/2008
One of my favorite things is Black professionalism. Class without being snooty. It just makes me feel good, and goes a long way in offsetting those among us who are an embarrassment.
Deborah Roberts
One of my favorite things is Black professionalism. Class without being snooty. It just makes me feel good, and goes a long way in offsetting those among us who are an embarrassment.
That’s why I am such a supporter of Barack Obama, Diana Lewis, Dennis Archer, Oprah Winfrey, Dave Bing, Tiger Woods, Kym Worthy and many others.
Not a lot is said or written about Deborah Roberts, but for nearly two decades she has been a familiar face on television — as correspondent on “20/20,” substitute anchor on “World News Tonight Weekend” and anchor on “Good Morning America.”
Watching “Good Morning America” is part of my morning routine, and I always enjoy not only Roberts, but also Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts (no relation, and another wonderful Black pro), Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion.
Deborah Roberts, in case you didn’t know, is married to popular “Today Show” meteor-ologist Al Roker.
IT IS COMMON for people, no matter how successful, famous, accomplished and wealthy, to nevertheless be in awe of others, sometimes even to the point of feeling slightly inadequate. For example, Will Smith recalls being at a dinner a few years ago, and on one side of him was Muhammad Ali, and on the other, Nelson Mandela.
Jennifer Hudson says she believes that people will be “pleasantly surprised” when they hear her debut album, due in late September, because it “shows a side no one has heard before.” You may have heard the first single, “Spotlight,” which is a nice song with meaningful lyrics.
Had to laugh about something Ringo Starr said on Larry King’s TV show. The former member of the legendary Beatles (one of my top five all-time favorites) had just turned 68, as hard as that is to believe (and he looks great). The elderly King mentioned Ringo’s age repeatedly, prompting Starr to say, “Thanks for saying that so many times. How old are you, 102?”
RIHANNA must be smiling right now. Her year-old album “Good Girl Gone Bad,” which peaked at No. 2 on the national charts and has been certified Platinum, eventually slid down to below No. 100, but has blasted back into the Top 10 (R&B and Pop) thanks to the hit single, “Take a Bow.”
Speaking of that song, I love the line, “Don’t tell me you’re sorry ’cause you’re not. You’re only sorry you got caught.”
Got a call from one of the legends of R&B and the possessor of one of the genre’s most powerful voices, Chuck Jackson. His great hits include “I Don’t Want to Cry,” “Tell Him I’m Not Home,” “Beg Me,” “I Wake Up Crying” and the classic “Any Day Now.”
Jackson, who is adamant about eating right and exercising, is in top shape and still performs when he wants to. He will not, however, appear on “oldies” shows, and unlike many on that circuit, still gets paid top dollar. (He would love to have the opportunity to perform in Detroit again, as he did so frequently back in the day.)
Chuck is also a special events organizer for the Apollo Theater. The day we talked, he was preparing for a trip to Bermuda to entertain and support that country’s independence celebration. Jackson invites his fans to visit his website, chuckjackson.org.
We certainly wish Natalie Cole, one of the all-time greats, the very best in her battle with hepatitis C. We’ve got “full recovery on our minds.”
NOW WE delve into the e-mail box.
Wendy Brownlee went to a Gil Scott-Heron concert in Charlotte, North Carolina, and reports that it was “an awesome experience.”
Meanwhile, Thomas A. Wilson Jr. thoroughly enjoyed George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic at Comerica Cityfest. “The Funkateers were out in full force,” wrote Wilson, “and Dr. Funkenstein didn’t disappoint.”
Some people think that it is beneath the Four Tops to do commercials for Happy’s Pizza, but Myra Gage disagrees. She writes, “I see nothing wrong with the Four Tops appearing in a Happy’s Pizza commercial. It was Martin Luther King Jr. who said that any work that is legitimate is worthy of respect.” (Steve’s note: I think Ms. Gage stretched this matter a little too far.)
Larry Buford caught a great Smokey Robinson show, describing the legendary singer as “Americana.” Buford concluded that, “This night, amidst all the division and discord that exists in the world, there was togetherness and harmony as we all sang along with the miraculous Smokey Robinson.”
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW ….that Maurice White from Earth, Wind & Fire was at one time a member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio.
MEMORIES: “He Will Break Your Heart” (Jerry Butler), “L-O-V-E (Love)” (Al Green), “You Are” (Lionel Richie), “Joy and Pain” (Maze featuring Frankie Beverly), “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (Prince), “Jim Dandy” (LaVern Baker), “I Feel For You” (Chaka Khan), “Function at the Junction” (Shorty Long), “All This Love” (DeBarge).
BLESSINGS to Dorothy Simpson, Ed Phillips, Virgil Wyatt, Michael Price, Katherine J. Adams, Eddie Allen, Hari Paris, Deborah McIntosh and Lavonia Dixon.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Richard “Dimples” Fields: “Don’t worry about getting older. Sometimes you have win the game in extra innings.”
Let the music play!
(Steve Holsey may be reached at Svh517@aol.com and P.O. Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.)
One of my favorite things is Black professionalism. Class without being snooty. It just makes me feel good, and goes a long way in offsetting those among us who are an embarrassment. Cheers for Deborah
Deborah Roberts
One of my favorite things is Black professionalism. Class without being snooty. It just makes me feel good, and goes a long way in offsetting those among us who are an embarrassment.
That’s why I am such a supporter of Barack Obama, Diana Lewis, Dennis Archer, Oprah Winfrey, Dave Bing, Tiger Woods, Kym Worthy and many others.
Not a lot is said or written about Deborah Roberts, but for nearly two decades she has been a familiar face on television — as correspondent on “20/20,” substitute anchor on “World News Tonight Weekend” and anchor on “Good Morning America.”
Watching “Good Morning America” is part of my morning routine, and I always enjoy not only Roberts, but also Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts (no relation, and another wonderful Black pro), Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion.
Deborah Roberts, in case you didn’t know, is married to popular “Today Show” meteor-ologist Al Roker.
IT IS COMMON for people, no matter how successful, famous, accomplished and wealthy, to nevertheless be in awe of others, sometimes even to the point of feeling slightly inadequate. For example, Will Smith recalls being at a dinner a few years ago, and on one side of him was Muhammad Ali, and on the other, Nelson Mandela.
Jennifer Hudson says she believes that people will be “pleasantly surprised” when they hear her debut album, due in late September, because it “shows a side no one has heard before.” You may have heard the first single, “Spotlight,” which is a nice song with meaningful lyrics.
Had to laugh about something Ringo Starr said on Larry King’s TV show. The former member of the legendary Beatles (one of my top five all-time favorites) had just turned 68, as hard as that is to believe (and he looks great). The elderly King mentioned Ringo’s age repeatedly, prompting Starr to say, “Thanks for saying that so many times. How old are you, 102?”
RIHANNA must be smiling right now. Her year-old album “Good Girl Gone Bad,” which peaked at No. 2 on the national charts and has been certified Platinum, eventually slid down to below No. 100, but has blasted back into the Top 10 (R&B and Pop) thanks to the hit single, “Take a Bow.”
Speaking of that song, I love the line, “Don’t tell me you’re sorry ’cause you’re not. You’re only sorry you got caught.”
Got a call from one of the legends of R&B and the possessor of one of the genre’s most powerful voices, Chuck Jackson. His great hits include “I Don’t Want to Cry,” “Tell Him I’m Not Home,” “Beg Me,” “I Wake Up Crying” and the classic “Any Day Now.”
Jackson, who is adamant about eating right and exercising, is in top shape and still performs when he wants to. He will not, however, appear on “oldies” shows, and unlike many on that circuit, still gets paid top dollar. (He would love to have the opportunity to perform in Detroit again, as he did so frequently back in the day.)
Chuck is also a special events organizer for the Apollo Theater. The day we talked, he was preparing for a trip to Bermuda to entertain and support that country’s independence celebration. Jackson invites his fans to visit his website, chuckjackson.org.
We certainly wish Natalie Cole, one of the all-time greats, the very best in her battle with hepatitis C. We’ve got “full recovery on our minds.”
NOW WE delve into the e-mail box.
Wendy Brownlee went to a Gil Scott-Heron concert in Charlotte, North Carolina, and reports that it was “an awesome experience.”
Meanwhile, Thomas A. Wilson Jr. thoroughly enjoyed George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic at Comerica Cityfest. “The Funkateers were out in full force,” wrote Wilson, “and Dr. Funkenstein didn’t disappoint.”
Some people think that it is beneath the Four Tops to do commercials for Happy’s Pizza, but Myra Gage disagrees. She writes, “I see nothing wrong with the Four Tops appearing in a Happy’s Pizza commercial. It was Martin Luther King Jr. who said that any work that is legitimate is worthy of respect.” (Steve’s note: I think Ms. Gage stretched this matter a little too far.)
Larry Buford caught a great Smokey Robinson show, describing the legendary singer as “Americana.” Buford concluded that, “This night, amidst all the division and discord that exists in the world, there was togetherness and harmony as we all sang along with the miraculous Smokey Robinson.”
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW ….that Maurice White from Earth, Wind & Fire was at one time a member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio.
MEMORIES: “He Will Break Your Heart” (Jerry Butler), “L-O-V-E (Love)” (Al Green), “You Are” (Lionel Richie), “Joy and Pain” (Maze featuring Frankie Beverly), “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (Prince), “Jim Dandy” (LaVern Baker), “I Feel For You” (Chaka Khan), “Function at the Junction” (Shorty Long), “All This Love” (DeBarge).
BLESSINGS to Dorothy Simpson, Ed Phillips, Virgil Wyatt, Michael Price, Katherine J. Adams, Eddie Allen, Hari Paris, Deborah McIntosh and Lavonia Dixon.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Richard “Dimples” Fields: “Don’t worry about getting older. Sometimes you have win the game in extra innings.”
Let the music play!
(Steve Holsey may be reached at Svh517@aol.com and P.O. Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.)