The Death of an Angel

Where were you Saturday February 11, 2012? This will be a day that the world lost one of the most influential voices in music--Whitney Houston! A bona fide pop icon and global superstar is what Whitney was and will forever be remembered for being. I can honestly say I never thought I would have to be writing about the untimely death of the voice of the 80's and 90's. She took the world by storm with her debut album "Whitney Houston" in 1985. That album produced seven consecutive No.1 Billboard singles such as "Saving All My Love", "You Give Good Love", "How Will I Know and "Greatest Love Of All". Her voice and beautiful looks were all a breath of fresh air for the then 19-year-old! She was what the world needed and we all embraced her. Whitney paved the way for all female-artists that have followed her. None of them can't say that they didn't admire and looked up to the "Diva" simply known as Ms. Houston! Despite all of Whitney's fame and admiration from fans around the world she still battled her demons. They always say that the ones who are super-talented always suffer from something within that ultimately eats them up. Whitney had her issues with drugs, alcohol and of course her tumultuous and unusual marriage to Bobby Brown. But throughout all of that we thought we would get "our" Whitney back. But instead all we got was the shell of that woman that became the best-selling female artist of times, the woman who starred in "The Bodyguard" and had everyone singing "I Will Always Love You".

It saddens us all when we see our heroes fall or struggle and we can't do anything but stand-by and watch. Throughout it all Whitney Houston blessed us with her love, music and beautiful spirit. We must now not reflect on the latter years of Whitney's life but embrace all of what she did that made her the best-selling female artists of all-time! There will never be another and no one should ever try to copy an original. My thoughts and prays go out her daughter and family. So DMV let us relish and reflect on all the joy and love Whitney brought to our lives. As a fan I mourn her passing with her music that will live on forever! Her voice is undeniable and can never be duplicated. Thank you, Whitney for your mark and impression you put in my life, may God hold you tight and release you of all your pain and fears that you carried all of these years.

Forgotten Gems!

Do you remember rocking your radio in the 80's and 90's to nothing but the hotness!? Remember wondering if Tracie Spencer really had "Tender Kisses" or if New Edition would "Count You Out". Well, let me take you down a musical memory lane of some of my favorite joints we just don't hear anymore. Enjoy!

New Music Tuesdays!!

Well look at what I stumbled upon!! Peep out this track from RaVaughn Brown called "Same Ol BS," she is the new signee to Ne-Yo's Compund U label on Columbia Records! This dude can write the hell out of a song and he doesn't disappoint on this one either. RaVaughn can definitely sing and this right here will be ladies anthem for the spring. Tell me what you think!



Bonus Track: "No Where"  I'm loving this song as well!

Follow on Twitter @itsRaVaughn

Heavy Rotation Song

We all know how relationships can be a burden or blessing. This song really describes the the up's and downs of being in love. I know by first hand the complexities of dating and failed relationships. If there is one thing I can say about Drake and that's he knows how to write the hell out of a song. Not to mention having Stevie on the track is on point. Enjoy!

Saturday Mornin' Cleaning Music

I can remember when I was a kid and on Saturday mornings my Mom would have the radio on while she cleaned. That was one of my first and early introductions to music. After some cartoons and cereal I would groove around while the radio played the hot joints. So here is just a taste of songs that had me pumped! Now we all know noboby cleans their house to music anymore but here you go! LOL!

Midnight Star - No Parking On The Dance Floor


Luther Vandross - Bad Boy/Having A Party


Club Nouvea - Why You Treat So Bad


Ashford & Simpson -It Seeems To Hang On

Uh-Huh, Another Case of a "MSJ"- Missing Slow Jams

Listening to current Slow Jams today make me laugh at times at how corny and extra-suggestive they can be. The other day I found a old-school Slow Jam CD that I made back in '97. The first track on that piece was Luther Vandross "Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me". Hands down maybe the best R&B slow jam written! At the very beginning of that cut Luther sets the mood for a song about a man yearning for his long gone love.

I wanna tell you, baby
The changes I've been goin' through
Missin' you, missin' you, oh...oh...
Till you come back to me
I don't know what I'm gonna do
N-n-n-no, n-n-no

I miss songs like 'Sensuality (Parts 1&2)' by The Isley Brothers, Maxwell's 'Lifetime', Marvin Gaye's 'Distant Lover' (the live version is a beast) or Prince's 'Adore'. Don't get me wrong today's slow jams are great to bump for the beat and such but, the content within the songs don't carry any weight. When R. Kelly made his solo debut in 1993 with '12 Play' the world was caught on fire! Yes, his lyrics of sex and lust were not hidden well but his pen game was so tight that they were eventually overlooked. 12 Play spent nine weeks atop the R&B charts during this period. Hell, you can't even get a single to stay number one for ten days nowadays. Songs like 'Sex Me (Parts 1&2)', 'Your Body's Calling' and 'Bump N Grind' may not have had the sincere and tasteful approach of a Marvin or Stevie Wonder song but they did help redefine and shape the Slow Jam genre. 

How do we define what makes a good Slow Jam? Ask yourself that question. Some may answer that they want a romantic song that they can make babies to or something they can play at their wedding for the first dance, and others just say they want a soft-smooth song to play at work. I guess over the years songs have parted away from the object of love in general and focused on the act of just getting some. Singers like Anthony Hamilton, Eric Roberson and Lalah Hathaway are throwbacks in the sense of creating great songs that simply exhibit the art of the Slow Jam. 

It is funny that over my years of being in radio and just a lover of music in general, that I always find myself gravitating back to the classics, or to songs that capture those characteristics. Hell, I know over the years music goes through it's changes and folks got to eat--I get it. But can we just find another way to express "love and emotions" through song rather than wanting to have the neighbors know our names? Well, I'm off to listen to some Carl Thomas, MJB, SWV, Aretha Franklin, MJ and Donnell Jones amongst others. I guess this case is still cold until we find that ever elusive Slow Jam.

Click Here for some of the best Slow Jams

Share your thoughts with me and email at Stretch@radio-one.com

Twitter: Stretch166

What are some of your favorite Slow Jams?

Morning Meditation

My mornings always start off with a good prayer and some silence with the Lord. During my commute to work I normally listen to sports talk but today the Holy Spirit encouraged me to listen to one of my favorite gospel songs by Kurt Carr. I hope you enjoy and this brings a blessing to  you.

Watch "Kurt Carr - Thats Why I Praise You" on YouTube