Thursday, March 29, 2012

Ruben Studdard (Letters from Birmingham)


The world fell in love with Ruben Studdard in 2003 when he was a contestant on American Idol T.V. show. Ruben Studdard was born Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard on September 12, 1978 in Frankfurt, Germany. Ruben grew up in Birmingham Alabama, he began singing at the Rising Star Baptist Church he was three years old he when he sang for the first time. Ruben received a scholarship to Alabama A&M University in football while he was playing at Huffman High School. While Ruben was growing up he was listening to his mother’s Donny Hathaway and Fred Hammond albums. He decided he would pursue a career in music. Ruben joined the men’s music fraternity of America Omicron Delta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Ruben was nicknamed the “Velvet Teddy Bear” when he was on American Idol and that name truly fit him. Ruben’s career took off after winning American Idol the single “Flying Without Wings” the song he sung on the finale show and one of the songs on his debut album “Soulful” released in 2003. This is still one of my favorites songs. Ruben went on to release a gospel album in November 2004 entitled “I Need an Angel” which was number one on the Gospel Charts in the first week and number twenty on the Billboard charts. Ruben went on to release two more albums in 2006. His third album “The Return”, he collaborated with Ne-Yo. On this album and in 2009 “Love Is” was released. I still enjoyed both of these albums. Ladies, Ruben Studdard is a single man again. His marriage to Sutra Zuri McCants lasted less than three years and with this said his new album “Letters From Birmingham” has been released and it is Ruben Studdard at his finest. My favorite songs on this album are “Do It Right (Feat. Chrisette Michele)”, “Turn U Out”, “What’s The Reason”, “Twisted Love” “Love Skies” and “ June 28th (I’m Single)”. Ruben Studdard pours his heart into this album and the diversity of this album is very appealing. You Can listen to songs form Ruben Studdard’s album “Letters from Birmingham” on Streetwise Radio or live365, MyGen365, Athena365 and iTunes.

LM

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Some Critics Say R&B Music Is Dead


I don’t think so! There are so many great R&B artists out there. What happened to our true R&B entertainers with rich and exceptional voices? Like Stevie Wonder, Patty Labelle, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway Luther Vandross the list goes on. They’re out there; R&B is not dead! New R&B artist are being played on internet radio. The masses except the crap that is being played on the on-air R&B radio stations all over the country. I can’t stand the on-air R&B radio stations; they don’t play enough new artists all they play are the most popular artists that every ones heard of. On-air R&B radio stations are dead to me! Once the masses get tired of the crap that is being played on the on-air radio stations they will turn to internet radio. I like listening to internet radio, because you hear new artists that can really sing. The Dj’s on internet radio don’t have to adhere to the on-air radio station play list they can play whatever they like. My favorite internet radio station is Streetwise Radio the Dj’s play artists that you have never heard of like Melissa Untalon, Esperanza Spaulding, Cleveland P. Jones, Sa-Ra, Sean Oliver, Darrius Willrich, Boog Brown, Ruff Endz and Jeffery Smith. Streetwise radio keeps adding new artists to its playlist, artist that can sing! So when you get sick of the same old crap the on-air radio stations are playing tune into internet radio for some new talented R&B artists. You can tune into Streetwise radio on iTunes, MyGen365, live365, Athena365.
LM