Today is a very beautiful day for a very beautiful person. I want to wish @Jodywatley a very Happy Birthday. I just have to share a few moments from such an amazing event in celebration of Jody, her work and her birthday. I stood backstage watching video highlights of all her accomplishments and was reminded of her dedication to breaking new ground always. I can’t really express how proud I’ve always been of our collaborations. We created so much magic together and when she invited me to join her on stage for the 35th Anniversary of the release of her hit Looking For a New Love we created even more magic. So thank you Jody and Happy Birthday. 🌺🎶❤️
Those of you who know me and those who are getting to know me know I don’t chatter much but when I was asked to sit down at a campfire during the pandemic and talk a little about music, my history and my past I had to do it. Turns out the campfire was in a state of the art rolling Studio but was still fun..Join me whilst I reminisce and drop a little funk knowledge.
It was The summer of George Floyd, it’s the fall of Breonna Taylor and if we don’t get justice it might very well be the beginning of the end of America.
Black lives Matter...
No justice No Peace...
Make no mistake, This was NOT justice.
My prayers and strength go out to Tamika Palmer and the family of Breonna Taylor.
Aside from its continuing racial problems, "Minneapolis is a beautiful city," says the North Side-bred funk-rocker.
Life is a series of choices and every choice affects where you are in any given moment.
There have been times where I had to choose which road to take and often took the road less traveled. Sometimes I think about that journey and I honestly have no regrets. Of course if I had followed the path so often taken by many to chase the fame and the label backed hits, if I had “played the game”, I might have a bigger platform to speak from, but life keeps telling me that I stayed true to my path, true to my message and it is the bigger platforms that need to meet me where I am, not the other way around.
I always imagine that the songs I have written in hopes of touching people and getting the world to pay attention to injustice long overdue for reform, will become a reflection of a time that no longer exists, but that hasn’t happened.
Black Lives Matter was released in 2017, written in 2015, Our World Is on Fire was written in 2019 and they feel as if they were written for today.
I am grateful that Jon Bream and the Star Tribune asked me to do a concert for their virtual State Fair Event. If you close your eyes and picture the last time you walked through the Minnesota State Fair, I think you’ll remember that it was all of us, from all walks of life, every race color and creed, coexisting together.
It means a lot to me to have the platform to share these songs with everyone especially right now. We have to change where we are at. I hope you’ll watch, listen and enjoy it and reflect on our shared journey.
Thank you to everyone who has purchased “Our World Is On Fire” and for helping us donate to three organizations doing seriously important work for our times.
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