Combat FusionJazz Band
Feb 5, 2012 Bands, Beyond The Music, Home Page, Stars with a Pen
Combat FusionJazz Band is the brainchild of John Dubiel.
John Dubiel resides in Chicago and is the Producer of the Band. Not only is he the producer, but he is the song writer and arranger for the Band. The CD, Gotta Say GoodBye, has been a labor of Love. It is a compilation of seven beautiful smooth jazz with wonderful vocalists.
Throughout John’s life, he has been a producer, songwriter, and keyboardist with a passion for music. Being a Veteran who received the Purple Heart after being wounded during the Vietnam war, his other passion is the Veterans and with his new Band, he wants to help all our Vets suffering with PTSD. Part of the profits from this CD is going to help these brave men and women as they return home from combat.
John has come alive with the Combat Fusion Jazz Band’s first album “Gotta Say Goodbye” a smooth jazz, fusion, R&B arrangement. A soulful mix of musical genres.
John has been in the music industry for over thirty years, first producing for Mercury & Ovation records in the 70′s and in the 90′s opening a Jazz Club, The Jazz buffet of Chicago presenting top entertainment like Sheila E., Warren Hill , and Jimmy Smith just to name a few.
John also Wrote and Produced a musical Play titled, The Pack is Back, a fictional portrait of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin which ran successfully for two years at Piper’s Alley Theater in Chicago. However, when all is said and done, John returned to what he loves most, playing the keyboard and producing music.
John is dedicated to making great music with the Combat fusion Jazz Band and helping our brave men and women serving our Great Nation.
Take a Listen to the Interview, enjoy the music and then go buy the CD for your collection from Amazon.com or CDBaby.com
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Tags: arranger, Band, composer, giving back, independent, independent record label, Jazz, motivation, music, musician, Old School, producer, smooth, vintage, writer
William “Smoke” Howard
Jan 29, 2012 Beyond The Music, Stars with a Pen, The Business of Music, Today's Stars
Do you remember the Ebonys? If you do, then you remember the Lead Singer, Mr William “Smoke” Howard.
There are some guest who make the process of interviewing effortless. Smoke Howard is one of those. It was extreme pleasure chatting with him this past Saturday, January 28, 2012 (which just happens to coincide with WDGP’s second anniversary, and we couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate it) The name of the show is Conversations and that is exactly what we did. Smoke is a man of strong conviction and that comes across in conversation. Take a listen to the interview and get a glimpse of this talented gentleman and enjoy the music, then go add it yo your collection.
“Smoke” has his second Solo Project completed entitled Give Me Your Heart. Smoke continues to reside in the Philadelphia area and works to keep the Philly sound alive. Join us as we chat with Mr Howard and explore the project.
You can follow Smoke on ReverbNation as well as Facebook
Music is available on CDBaby
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Tags: arranger, composer, encouragement, funk, giving back, Gospel, happy, Harmony, independent, independent record label, motivation, music, Old School, RnB, singer, singing, smooth, songwriter, Soulful, Talent, Uplifting, Vocalist
African Jamaican Culture
Jan 22, 2012 Bands, Home Page, Spiritual Life
On Saturday January 21, we had the pleasure of speaking with Duruh-John, half of the founding team of African Jamaican Culture Band. John explained how the band started as a percussion band in 1998. The Band has since evolved into a full band. John admits that he never saw himself as a singer, but also admits that he loves it. He also shared that he writes all the songs for the Band. 
The band tours around Germany and has quite a following there. John says the Band would love to come and perform in the United States. We are very pleased that He chose Conversations and WDGP to make his first venture into United States territory. We wish African Jamaican Culture Band nothing but success in their all their endeavors You can purchase their music and follow African Jamaican Culture on their website and on Facebook.
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Tags: arranger, Band, independent, Jah, motivation, music, musician, percussion, performer, Reggae, roots, Soulful, writer
SteamyTrails Contest Winner
Jan 8, 2012 Beyond The Music, Contests, Stars with a Pen
It is so nice catching up with old friends and it even nicer when they come with good news. On December 7, 2012, that is just what happened.
As you know, SteamyTrails ran a promotion to give away a couple of gift baskets including some great reads and the trimmings to help you enjoy them. Ms Katrina Gurl was on hand to do the honors and in addition to that wonderful news, she shared that there will be more contests to come. She also shared a poem from her book, The Balcony View: Introduction to the Lovers and we also had the pleasure of Nike Binger Marshall’s renditions of two of her spoken word pieces.
It’s always fun to talk to Katrina
and we wish her much continued success on her poetry, her novels, the publishing company and her show, SteamyTrails Speaks. Tune in on January 21, 2012 on Blogtalk Radio.
Congratulations to the contest winner Ollie Moss.
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Tags: encouragement, giving back, happy, motivation, novels, performer, poetry, poets, publishing, shows, smooth, Spoken Word, Talent, writer
Act Against Injustice – New York
Nov 13, 2011 Beyond The Music, Worthy Charities
Last night’s interview with Ambassador to AAI (Act Against Injustice) was a great start to increasing awareness about Child Trafficking. We received an email from Executive Director John Wearne,
thanking us for doing the interview with Tommie and sharing more details about the Concert that is to take place in New York on January 6, 2012. We are sharing that information with you as well as a link to keep updated on developments.
Child Trafficking Awareness Concert New York, USA
Act Against Injustice is now pleased to announce that we will be hosting a Child Trafficking Awareness Concert in Buffalo, New York, US on the evening of January 6, 2012
The Concert will be held at The Riviera Theater in North Tonawanda, New York and the headline artist is Lenny Revell (Michael Douglas once proclaimed “his voice is amazing, and his piano skills are kickass!”) He will be performing a set piece on a 7.6 foot Concert Grand Piano too.
There will be a guest speakers from Act Against Injustice and Nationally recognized Anti-Trafficking experts as well as a voice-over from acclaimed Blues artist and AAI Ambassador Tommie Brewster
Other Performing artist include Electroacoustic singer, songwriter Robert Robinson (AAI CEO and guest artists Jill Towers, Jack Fowler (whose track Caliente was recorded by Niam Thomas and went to #1 in Europe and Mexico) and many more artists. Executive Director of Act Against Injustice John Wearne and our special guest speaker, and trainer to the NYPD, Dottie Laster.
Additionally, we’ll also be using a piece of music for our intro to the concert written a few years ago by top international artist Gary Numan.
We will also announce a lucky ticket holder and winner of a $1000 prize.
We are pushing ahead with our Isaiah 1:17 mandate and we are calling on New York to step forward in faith and email us info@actagainstinjustice.org if you would like to be considered for involvement in the evening.
If you would like to be part of team AAI, or even challenge AAI themselves, then just send us an email.
We are also looking for volunteers, faith based organizations, schools and community groups on the East Coast USA to help us create that awareness to help trafficked children, some as young as 5 years old, escape from slavery and abuse networks.
Let us know if you can support AAI with volunteers for promotion, marketing and on the evening, join us, for the children, in creating a memorable evening that may stir a passion in you that you never knew you had.
United against trafficking!
Tags: children, encouragement, fundraiser, giving back, motivation, music, protection, World
Let There Be Light
Nov 11, 2011 Beyond The Music, Stars with a Pen, Worthy Charities
Tommie Brewster is crowned Queen of the Blues in New Zealand, but she proudly wears another title. Tommie is Ambassador for the United Kingdom’s Act Against Injustice.
Act Against Injustice is a charity that fights child trafficking worldwide. Tommie, as Ambassador, and Act Against Injustice are trying to raise funds to build safe houses in various places in the world for the children.
Tommie is passionate about the cause, she says, “What could be more important than children? Currently 2,4 million children disappear each year into this black hole of misery. It’s an organized business and they recruit people all the time. Horrendous.”
Tommie released “Let There Be Light” at the beginning of 2011 and gave it to Act Against Injustice. The song can be downloaded from their website for $1 and the money will go to the charity to aid in their mission.
You can get your copy here. Act Against Injustice can also be found on Facebook.
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Tags: arranger, charity, children, composer, encouragement, giving back, independent, motivation, performer, producer, protection, safe, Soulful, Talent, Uplifting, writer
Do You Like What You See?
Nov 6, 2011 Beyond The Music, Home Page, Stars with a Pen, Worthy Charities
Glenn Gordon is a longtime friend to WDGP and when he approached us to inquire if we would help him spread the word out his recent campaign, we didn’t hesitate. Glenn, who has been among the homeless, not once but three times, had a dream that he must see to fruition.
He wants to pay it forward from all the help he received when he was on the street. He says he made attempts to pay folks back but they wouldn’t accept it, so instead he is developing items for sale revolving around the song and concept that came to him in a dream. Do You Like What You See is truly an inspiration. The track is available for download from his website GG’s Music and CDBaby in the near future. Glenn is also planing to sell T-Shirts and other items and will donate 20% of theses proceeds to organizations that aide the homeless.
We feel this is a very worthy cause and commend Glenn Gordon for his efforts. Take a listen to the song and pay particular attention to the lyrics, although simple there is a distinct message in them.
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Tags: arranger, Band, bassman, composer, encouragement, giving back, independent, independent record label, motivation, music, musician, Old School, performer, smooth, songwriter
The Dopeless Hope Fiend
Nov 1, 2011 Business Helping Others, Stars with a Pen
The Dopeless Hope Fiend is a autobiographical book written by Michael Charles Givens
Michael was our guest on Internet Marketers Network Business Hour. He shared how the book came to be as well as why he wrote it. Michael spoke of the group he started on Facebook, Hope Fiends as well as his up and coming book of Devotions. In addition, he gave away a free book. You can befriend Michael on Facebook and like his page, The Dopeless Hope Fiend. Most important, buy his book. Get your copy by sending Michael an email to : thedopelesshopefiend20@yahoo.com
And by all means, listen to the interview and become inspired.
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Tags: addiction, encouragement, giving back, inspiration, motivation, online, poet, recovery, support, Uplifting, writer
Gloria Ry’ann the Songbird
Oct 9, 2011 Stars with a Pen, Today's Stars
On October 8, 2011, Conversations was pleased to a sit down with Ms Gloria Ry’ann. Gloria is a phenomenal singer, writer, arranger and sweet person.
She has taken the talent God gave her and honed it to the marvelous instrument you heard on her remake of Inside My Love, which is one of several gems to be heard on her EP Just Glow. Which is due to be released on November 11, 2011 in digital format, which means it will be available from you favorite music download site.
We caught up with Gloria right before her show in Springfield Mass. She told us that they were about to rock out in Springfield, we are positive that she did. Gloria shared that she has been singing all her life, according to her Mom, she was a singing baby. All we know is that she has a very very broad range. We have heard other vocalist try Minnie Rippleton’s Inside My Love, but she is the first one we have heard who might even surpass Minnie’s range. Take a listen to the interview and decide for yourself. You will be surprised at what she practiced to prepare for this feat. Once you have enjoyed the interview, head on over to her website to keep up with what’s going on in the world of Ms Ry’ann.
There is more good news. Gloria has agreed to return to WDGP next month for a formal Listening Party. We will keep you posted on the finalized date.
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Tags: arranger, composer, Harmony, independent, independent record label, motivation, music, Old School, performer, RnB, singer, singing, smooth, songwriter, Soulful, Talent, Uplifting, Vocalist
Jeff Majors
Sep 25, 2011 Beyond The Music, Legends, Today's Stars
Conversations was graced with the presence of DC’s Native Son Jeff Majors
As a native of Washington, D.C., music flowed throughout the household of JeffMajors courtesy of his mother Annie P. Fitzgerald — a talented jazz trumpeter in her own right with a circle of friends which included legendary actress and singer Pearl Bailey.
At age 15, JeffMajors had a dream in which he saw himself strumming the harp; an instrument he had never played before. Inspired, he used the dream to fuel his passion for music and literally change the course of his life. With the harp hand-made for him by a local music store owner, he began to pursue mastery of the
He spent the next several years in Los Angeles studying under the wings of jazz pianist and harpist Alice Coltrane, wife of jazz legend John Coltrane. He later teamed up with legendary jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby. He returned to the Washington D.C. area, where he formed several jazz bands and became a radio personality at Radio One. This led to the opportunity to host “Sunday Joy,” the semi syndicated inspirational and gospel on-air ministry that can be heard on Magic 95.9 and 102.3 in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia area. From there he evolved into the vice presidency of gospel music programming for the Radio One network of
Hailed as an inspirational jazz / gospel producer and renowned harp master JeffMajors has touched the hearts of millions through his television program, TV One’s “Gospel of Music with JeffMajors,” along with his faith-affirming, soul-stirring Sacred series and outreach initiatives that include his annual nationwide free concert tour “JeffMajors Blankets for the Homeless,” and most recently “Hiphop for the Homeless.” During which there are performances and provision of clothing, blankets and other items necessary for surviving life on the
After being welcomed to perform on her talk show, media mogul Oprah Winfrey stated that the music of JeffMajors, “…energizes my faith and transports my spirit. For me, it is the best way to start my day.” And when he was hand-picked by the Martin Luther King Family to perform at Coretta Scott King’s memorial service, JeffMajors demonstrated that his music could console a Nation
Today, he appears in more than 40 million homes through “The Gospel of Music with JeffMajors,” the flagship program on TV One. The hit show provides a venue for diverse well-known and emerging talent, and has showcased some of the biggest names in the industry, including James Ingram, Mavis Staples, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams and Gerald Levert in his last television appearance.
It was my extreme pleasure to have this Gentleman on Conversations. It was even more special to know we are not only from the same city, but share the same values. If you are in any of the cities that will house Jeff Majors National Homeless Tour, I hope you will get involved in whatever way you can. Remember, For He who is much is given, much is expected. As Mr Majors said, “Give from the heart and you will be Blessed…”
Enjo the interview and keep up with Jeff Majors via his website.
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Tags: arranger, composer, encouragement, giving back, Harmony, harp, independent, independent record label, motivation, music, musician, Old School, performer, smooth
