Now and then, an artist (be it a musician, painter, or writer) can inject a much-needed burst of joy into your everyday life. Here for today (July 10th), Chaka Khan gave me that shot of much needed joy. Note, I did not write a dose of happiness. I wrote joy. There is...
Happy Birthday Bill Withers!
by MHill | Jul 4, 2023 | Marion's Favorites, Music Reviews
Happy 85th Birthday to Bill Withers! Bill left us five years ago but his musical legacy as one of America's greatest singer-songwriters is permanent. He is one of my all-time favorite singers and his soulful, storytelling style of music carved out a unique career....
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 104: Angel On My Shoulder by Natalie Cole
by MHill | Apr 28, 2022 | 2022 Book Reviews, Black History Month, Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Marion's Reading Life Blog
"As you walk your own journey, keep your eyes open, listen well, and if you look real hard, you just might find an angel on your shoulder." Those words are from the last paragraph of the late Natalie Cole's autobiography, Angel On My Shoulder published November 2000,...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 79: Respect-The Life of Aretha Franklin by David Ritz
by MHill | May 2, 2021 | 2021 Book Reviews, Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
Sometimes after reading one book will make you want another book with a similar topic. My previous review was a fictional music documentary in a novel titled The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton. Opal Jewel was one half of a groundbreaking punk rock...
Marion’s Favorites: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
by MHill | Mar 9, 2021 | Marion's Favorites, Music Reviews, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
If Cookout Music was a musical genre, then Maze featuring Frankie Beverly would be the standard bearers. For most of my life, the majority of cookouts I have ever attended would have music by Maze playing. Their silky, elegant style of R&B reached its peak in...
Marion’s Favorites: Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions
by MHill | Feb 28, 2021 | Marion's Favorites, Music Reviews, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
One of the positive attributes of the internet is that you can be sent down a rabbit hole and pique your curiosity unexpectedly. A few days ago, I went down that aforementioned rabbit hole and wanted to find out more Stevie Wonder's Classic Period Albums from 1972 to...
Marion’s Favorites: Hearsay by Alexander O’Neal
by MHill | Mar 24, 2020 | Marion's Favorites
When it comes to male R&B vocalists, many people mention Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Luther Vandross as their favorite if you are going old school. Others mention Kem, Maxwell, Anthony Hamilton,...
Music Review 2: Bill Withers
by MHill | Feb 15, 2011 | Music Reviews
"Your love its like a chunk of gold, hard to get and hard to hold" (The Same Love That Made Me Laugh) "Grandma's hands soothed a local unwed mother Grandma's hands used to ache and swell Grandma's hands used to lift her face and tell her Baby, Grandma...