A Surpise Diva

Self,

Saturday evening I had the pleasure to attend one night of the Mercedes-Benz Wavefest concert series here in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre.

For me the head-liner of the night was Vanessa Williams. I have rather forgot that she has been on the scene for over 20 years. She looks great. Sounds FANTASTIC! It was for that reason that I'm surprising myself and putting her in the true diva category. The surprise isn't that she is a diva, but more that I wasn't ready to do another post on a diva nor was I intending to do one so soon on a contemporary diva again. But after seeig her live...well I just had to do it.

Y'all she looked beautiful. I made a comment to my friend who went with me that for years I had been kinda jealous/mad at her for snagging Rick Fox (that's the baby daddy,Whew!)...but that night watching her on stage......for a brief period....I think I was actually jealous that he had snagged her! lol In the words on Prince Esquire and our friend, Dallas Black (PapaBear as I call him,) "She could get it!"

It was a two-night event and I attended the second night. The line-up for that evening was a Canadian guitarist named, Jesse Cook. In addition to Ms. Williams, soprano saxaphonist, Kenny G, also performed. Believe it or not that man helo a single note for it seemed like 7-10 minutes. He explained that he is able to do that by having learned how to inhale short gasps through his nose while still exhaling through his mouth into the sax. He put his nose up to the microphone so the audience could hear him breathe.

The first night of the event stared Brian McKnight and Al Jarreau.

Sincerely,
Pharaoh

The Next Diva

Self,

I have to say that in a way I am just winging my way through this Diva series. I hadn't quite decided who would be represented next. In the back of my mind, I think I had anticipated it being a contemporary of The First Divas.

However when a friend showed this clip to me I knew this to be a DIVA moment. I also knew that it would be very appropriate to acknowledge this Diva who is still MAKING her mark and presence known.

Since September was and still is in some cases the month that makes the begining of a new academic school year I thought this clip was additionally fitting besides just showing the divas talent. And to raise it just one more notch, today is the first Sunday of the month which pays tribute to the genre of music the diva sings in this clip. When the talent is there...you just got to shout! Here's a Diva whose name you gotta call twice - Patti Patti. LaBelle that is.




I don't think Beyonce could have done that!

Sincerely,
Pharaoh

DIVA DUEX

Self,
Well here is another installment in the TRUE Diva series.
I can't finda clip of what I want to show (


But here we go;




And an encore

As Promised

Self,

As promised to my Bahamian Papi who's tending the "gaytes." Here is the first installment of the True Diva Series. For a while it was hard to decide who should be the first person that I recognize as a true diva. The answer finaly occured to me when I remember something from my childhood. My first trip to Washington DC was with my mom and brother we toured the US on Amtrack (a fantastic experience that I think would be great to recreate with Prince EsQuire for our 30th anniversary of friendship.) Well, we were only in DC for a day, and just could hit the "hot spots," all the things that tourist do. One of those hot spots we went to was the Smithsonian. (I mean who wouldn't it's the US National Museum, right) One of, if not the only exhibit that I remember from that visit was dedicated to "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald. I don't know if the exhibit is still up, but the link goes to a website that reminds me what the exhibit looked like at that time. I'll either have to take a trip to investigate or have to appreciate hearing from any loyal subjects residing there that would be kind enough to report back.
Anyway, so who is more deserving to be honored first as a true diva than someone the government has already bestowed it's greatest honor. (Click on the link and there's a paragraph stating that Miss Ella was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.)


With that said, I give you a moment with ....Ella Fitzgerald!

Enjoy!




OK here's an encore.



Sincerely,
Pharaoh