What it is world? In today’s entry B stands for Blowing!
Not in the pornographic or narcotic sense. I love me some good sangin’ man! I mean it really revs up my engine. My love affair with good sangin’ began at Greater Macedonia Baptist Church in Houston Texas as a child.
You’ll find some of the most phenomenal vocalists on the planet in the most obscure little churches. My church, GMBC, had a few that could draw the tears from your eyes. Some of my favorites were Ms. Thelma Dalfrey and her daughter Elaine, Ms. Linda Aldridge, my Mama(Grandmother) Mrs. Anner L Roberson, my cousins Angela and Felix Alfred and their father Pastor I.V. Alfred Jr, and Mr Lester Whiting. Man, they could really sang baby.
Our youth choir was pretty bad too. Feecee Perkins was a beast. The Thomas road crew, including Adolph Dalfrey who was Ms. Dalphrey’s son, was ice water cold. I mean people from all over the city knew that boy could wobble. Adolph and his nephew Witt, Smokey, and Smokey’s big brother Maurice decided to start their own group called the Fabulous 4. I ended up joining the group a couple of years later. This was the beginning of my singing career.
We traveled all over Houston singing at different churches which exposed me to all kinds of unbelievable singers for a few years. This exposure helped me develop my current sound and delivery style.
Of course, I was also influenced by voices from the radio. Over the years I took bits and pieces of those influences and fused them to craft what I now bring to the table. Some of my favorite singers were Ray Charles, James Brown, Aretha, Rev. Paul Jones, Marvin Gaye, Charles Tyrone, MJ, Prince, Tina Turner,Mo White and Phillip Bailey of EWF, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks of the Temps, Sly Stone, K-Ci Hailey, Whitney, Sam Cooke, Stevie, Steven Tyler, Gladys Knight, Charlie Wilson, Aaron Hall, Al Greene, D’Angelo, Howlin’ Wolf and frankly too many more to name now that I think about it.
That’s what I want to bring to the game from my end. I want to continue the legacy of great singers. Not saying that I’m a great singer, but I aspire to be known as one before I cross that great river into the land of the ancestors. Anyways my people, go cut you on some good music and let them sing away your woes and aches. Be blessed. Peace