GOODBYE REV. IKE "Luxury-loving Rev. Ike is dead at 74"

REV. IKE WAS A PART OF NEW YORK LIFE WE ALL MADE JOKES ABOUT HIM BUT HE WAS A PART OF MOST OF OUR LIVES COMING UP AS KIDS IN THE 1980'S WE ALL PRAYED OUR MAMAS AND AUNTIES AINT SEND HIM NO MONEY. HE USE TO SAY ON HIS SHOW "DONT SEND ME NO CHANGE CHANGE MAKES ME NERVOUS" IT WAS RUMOURED HIS CHURCH UPTOWN HAD SOLID GOLD ALTERS!!

Luxury-loving Rev. Ike is dead at 74

The Rev. Frederick Eikerenkoetter, known as Rev. Ike to a legion of followers here and across the nation to whom he preached the blessings of prosperity while making millions from their donations, has died. He was 74.

A family spokesman said he died Tuesday in a Los Angeles hospital, two years after he suffered astroke from which he never recovered.

Rev. Ike's ministry reached its peak in the mid-1970s, when his sermons were carried on 1,770 radio stations to an audience estimated at 2.5 million.

He also preached his philosophy of self-empowerment on television and the Internet, in books and magazines, and on audiotapes and videotapes.

From the stage of the former Loews movie theater on 175th St. in Washington Heights, which he restored and transformed into his United Church Science of Living Institute, Rev. Ike would tell thousands of parishioners "this is the do-it-yourself church. The only savior in this philosophy is God in you."

He then would exhort the believers to "close your eyes and see green ... money up to your armpits, a roomful of money, and there you are, just tossing around in it like a swimming pool."

As payback for spiritual inspiration, Rev. Ike asked for cash donations from the faithful - preferably in bills not coins. "Change makes your minister nervous in the service," he would say.

Critics called Rev. Ike a con man, saying the only point of his ministry was getting rich from the donations.

They noted that he made a show of sumptuous clothes, jewelry, posh residences and exotic cars. "My garages runneth over," he would boast.

But his supporters said Rev. Ike's love of luxury had roots both in the traditions of African-American evangelism and the philosophies of mind over matter.

Rev. Ike was born in Ridgeland, S.C., to a father who was a Baptist minister and a mother who taught elementary school. They divorced when he was 5.

At 14, he became an assistant pastor for his father's congregation. He briefly preached in Boston before coming to New York.

He leaves his wife, Eula, and son, Xavier Frederick.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/07/30/2009-07-30_luxuryloving_rev_ike_is_dead.html#ixzz0WnIdvgON

B4 the election

Is this what they mean when they say that a lot of pavement gets laid just before an election ?

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 17, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco (pronounced [ˈluːpeɪ], LOO-pay), is an American recording artist, producer and CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. Prominent hip hop mogul Jay-Z describes him as a "breath of fresh air"—in a new hip hop world that is characterized by mainstream pop and glamor, he is a throwback to the lyricism-focused rap of the 1990s; critics have called him a "hip-hop Generation Next vanguard

1982–2005: Early life and career beginnings
Fiasco was born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco on February 17, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois.[2] Born of West African descent,[3] he was one of nine children to Shirley, a gourmet chef, and Gregory, an engineer.[2][4] His father, who was a member of the Black Panther Party,[5] was a prolific African drummer, karate teacher and owner of karate schools and army surplus stores.[6] Fiasco was raised Muslim on the West side of Chicago.[7][8] At the age of three, Fiasco began taking martial arts classes.[9] By age 10, he earned his first black belt.[4] He attended Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois.[10] He initially "hated" hip hop music for its use of vulgarity.[7] He began rapping when he was in the eighth grade, and upon hearing Nas' 1996 album, It Was Written, began to pursue hip hop.[8][6][11]

Growing up, Fiasco was given the nickname "Lu", the last part of his first name, by his mother. "Lupe" is an extension of this nickname, which he borrowed from a friend from high school. "Fiasco," he says, "came from the Firm album. They had the song, 'Firm Fiasco'. I just liked the way it looked on paper."[10]

At age 19, Fiasco was in a group called Da Pak. They signed to Epic Records and released one single before splitting up.[12] Fiasco later signed a solo deal with Arista Records, but was dropped when president and CEO L. A. Reid was fired.[12] During this time, he had guest appearances on singles on Tha' Rayne's "Kiss Me" and "Didn't You Know" and also K Foxx's 2004 "This Life". He also released the song "Coulda Been" on a compilation of MTV's Advance Warning.[13] In 2005, he was featured on Kanye West's single, "Touch the Sky".

[edit] 2006–2007: Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor

Fiasco at the 2006 Intonation Music Festival in IllinoisDuring this time, rapper and mogul Jay-Z heard Fiasco and assisted him in the production of what would become his debut album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor.[14] Soon after, he released his first single "Kick, Push", a song heavily influenced by skateboarding. As his popularity steadily increased, so did anticipation for his upcoming album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. The album was officially released on September 19, 2006. The album featured production from Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mike Shinoda, The Neptunes, Prolyfic, and more. Singles from the album were "Kick, Push," "I Gotcha" and "Daydreamin'" featuring Jill Scott. The critically lauded album was later nominated for three Grammy Awards including Best Rap Album. In the same year, he was voted by GQ magazine as the "Breakout Man of the Year."[15]

[edit] 2007–2008: Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
In 2007, Fiasco announced his second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, a concept album that expands on the story of the track of the same name on his first album. While recording the album, Fiasco's father had died and his business partner, Charles "Chilli" Patton, was convicted of attempting to supply heroin and was sentenced to 44 years in prison.[5] The album was released in December 2007 in United States. The first single and video from the album, "Superstar", featuring Matthew Santos, was released the first week of November 2007. Baseball's Hanley Ramirez, Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Zimmerman, Gerald Laird and Ryan Braun have used "Superstar" as their at-bat song.[16] The song has also been featured in HBO's Hard Knocks TV show. The songs "Put You on Game" and "Little Weapon" are featured in the movie Street Kings in the latest trailer.[citation needed]


Fiasco performing in Melbourne, Australia, 2009Also in 2007, it was revealed that Fiasco, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams had formed a group known as Child Rebel Soldier.[17][18] CRS has so far released one single, entitled "US Placers" and featuring a Thom Yorke sample. Since its release and the ensuing Glow in the Dark Tour, the group has not yet been spoken of any further.

In an interview with The Village Voice, Fiasco revealed that he was writing a novel about a window washer[19] aptly titled Reflections of a Window Washer. In 2008, Fiasco and his band 1500 or Nothin joined West's Glow in the Dark Tour, which also features Rihanna and N.E.R.D. The tour stopped in several cities, including his hometown of Chicago. In 2008, MTV named Fiasco the 7th Hottest MC in the Game[20] and announced that he was remixing The Cool with French electro house act Justice.[21] Fiasco's "Superstar" has been included in the video game Lips.[22]

[edit] 2009–present: Lasers

Fiasco performing in Melbourne, Australia, 2009Fiasco announced at a Chicago concert late in 2008 that his next and most likely final album will be a three disc album and that the first disc "Everywhere" would come out in June 2009. The trio was going to be named LupE.N.D.[23] On January 30, 2009, Lupe Fiasco originally announced that LupE.N.D. will be postponed indefinitely. Instead, he would release three albums; The Great American Rap Album in June 2009, two following albums in December 2009 and June 2010, with LupE.N.D. following afterward.[24] However, it was announced by Fiasco that his next album would instead be titled, "We Are Lasers"; yet later his official rep announced and confirmed that it would instead be titled simply "Lasers".[25] On June 26th, Fiasco announced at the Chicago Theater that the album would be released fourth quarter 2009, most likely in December.[26] The album's first single, "Shining Down," features Matthew Santos and is produced by Soundtrakk.[27] The single was released on July 7, 2009.[28] There were a few snippets of songs that have been released as of August 24, 2009. The songs unofficial titles are "Army Girl," "Ladies And Gentlemen," and "2 Ways."[29]Lupe Fiasco has a bonus track called Solar Midnite on iTunes for the New Moon soundtrack. On October 7th 2009, Lupe released a song in response to the release of MTV's 2009 "Top 10 Hottest Rapper List," on which he was absent. The track, entitled "Fire", is as Lupe stated, a taste of why he will take the number 1 spot on next years list.[30] In October 2009 Lupe released two freestyles. The first titled "Turnt Up" and the second over the Timbaland song "Say Something".

[edit] Ventures
Fiasco is the co-founder and vice-president of 1st & 15th Entertainment, a record label under Atlantic.[6] Fiasco serves as the current CEO. Singer Matthew Santos, as well as Lupe himself are two of the most visible members. In November 2009, Lupe Fiasco "... got rid of the entire First and Fifteenth Record Label." In an interview with Ruby Hornet, Lupe Fiasco stated, "I got rid of, you’re the first to know, I got rid of the entire First and Fifteenth Record Label. Me and Sarah Green are the only artists on the label, like I got rid of the whole label. It was just such a ‘this isn’t right for you right now. This isn’t gonna work for you right now. You need to be focused on you. Do you really want that, do you really have the capacity to do it?’[31]

In January 2006, Fiasco signed with major footwear and apparel corporation Reebok becoming part of the "O.G" marketing campaign, where rap artists such as Lil Wayne and Mike Jones designed their own personal colorway of the Reebok "O.G" model.[32] Fiasco also runs his own fashion label under the name "Trilly & Truly".[33]

BLACK AMERICA LET US BE PROUD INTRODUCINGPilot Officer John Henry Smythe (1915-1996). An unsung hero.

I AM SHARING THIS BLOG WHICH I AQUIRED FROM A FRIENDS BLOG ON MULTIPLY http://shanewilson.multiply.com/journal/item/128/Pilot_Officer_John_Henry_Smythe_1915-1996._An_unsung_hero.

I WAS AWESTRUCK AND FULL OF PRIDE YOU WILL BE TOO!

They served faithfully in a war that was not their own for the good of all humankind.

Had Hitler and his Nazis won WW2, the consequences for black people everywhere would have been too hideous to contemplate - - - Hitler believed that all black people should be eradicated. Johnny Smythe read Hitler's Mein Kampf before joining the RAF

Pilot Officer John Henry Smythe (1915-1996)

John Henry Smythe was born in Sierra Leone. He served with the Sierra Leone Defence Corps before volunteering for the RAF as a navigator. On the night of 18th November 1943 he was the navigator aboard a Short Stirling III heavy bomber of No 623 Squadron, one of 395 aircraft dispatched to attack the German city of Mannheim. The aircraft was crippled by anti-aircraft fire, and the crew was forced to parachute from the stricken aircraft. They were captured and spent the next 18 months in a prisoner of war camp. After the war Smythe stayed in the RAF until 1951 and in 1978 he received an OBE. He died in 1996 in Thame, Oxfordshire.

Johnny Smythe did not have to go to war.He was one of 55,000 people from Africa who volunteered to help Britain stop Hitler’s Germany. After Johnny’s plane was shot down over Germany, he spent 18 months in a Prisoner of War camp. He remembered what happened after the Russian Army liberated his camp. ‘They took me to a town near the camp and
I watched as they looted. A pretty German woman was crying because they had taken all her valuables. I wanted to help her but the Russians wouldn’t listen. I had hated the Germans and wanted to kill them all, but something changed inside me when I saw
her tears and the hopelessness on her face.’

Johnny was a Royal Air Force navigator who helped pilots flying planes like these Lancaster bombers stay on course during bombing raids. He was shot down over Germany on his 28th mission. Johnny volunteered to join the RAF because he hated Hitler for his racism. Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics but Hitler refused to shake his hand because he was African American. When he was captured, Johhny remembers; ‘The Germans couldn’t believe their eyes.
I’m sure that’s what saved me from being shot immediately. To see a black man – and an officer at that – was more than they could come to terms with. They just stood there gazing.’

Looking down on a Lancaster Bomber attack,Hamburg, 1943 ‘We were flying at 16,000 feet when the fighters came out of nowhere. They raked the fuselage and there were flames everywhere. Then the searchlights caught us. I was hit by shrapnel.


Pieces came from underneath, piercing my abdomen, going through my side. Another came through my seat and into my groin. I heard the pilot ordering us to bail out! We had some rough ones before but this seemed to be the end. I have tried to forget that night for 50 years.’ Stalag Luft I was a prisoner of war camp for almost 9,000 Allied airmen. Johnny helped other
prisoners try to escape but did not try to break out himself. He said, ‘I don’t think a six-foot-five black man would’ve got very far in Pomerania.’ Today there is a memorial at Stalag Luft I. In 2001, veterans and their families from America, Britain, Germany and Russia met at the camp in the spirit of reconciliation.

1915 Born in Freetown capitalof Sierra Leone.1940 Arrives in UK as RAF volunteer
1941 First mission 1943 On 28th mission over Germany, Smythe’s plane gets shot down
1943–1945 Stalag Luft I. POW camp. After the war, worked at Colonial Office
1948 travelled with Empire Windrush to bring 500 West Indian ex-servicemen and workers to UK
1950 Passed law exams; 1951 Married fiancée from Grenada. Sailed back to Freetown;
1961 Solicitor General of Sierra Leone. 1963 Lecture tour of the eastern United States
1978 Receives OBE –Order of the British Empire. 1993 Moved back to England
with his wife and 5 children; 1996 Died in Thame, Oxfordshire.

(Courtesy Imperial War Museum)

ALTERENATIVE LIFESTYLE VERSION "LE REVUE DE COLOUR HOMME"

TWO VERSIONS OF PROMOS ARE USUALLY MADE THIS IS THE ALTERNATIVE TO LE REVUE DE BURLESQUE TITLED " LE REVUE DE COLOUR HOMME' please remember this an a alternative lifestyle video i.e. gay ( the persons appearing in clips are not nessasarily gay or advocate that lifestyle)

More photos from april 20 2009 Brooklyn, NY

The Taxi (this is so thought provoking please enjoy and share!)

To Love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart...
And to sing it to them when they have forgotten.
(Anonymous)
The TAXI:

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets..

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman..

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'..
'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said.. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued.. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.

'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life..

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Thank you, my friend...

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Coming home from work (pictorial)

Today was just.....perfect

After work I decided to stop at Starbucks on 7th ave and stopped at the park to chat with a few friends the weather in NY was beautiful!!!

I LOVE STORE WINDOWS THIS ONE WAS In THE WEST VILLAGE

WEST SIDE HIGHWAY....THEY HAVE DONE WONDERS WITH IT! IF YOU KEEP DRIVING DOWN SOUTH YOU PASS WHERE THE WORLD TRADE CENTERS ONCE STOOD...

I LOVE AFTER WORK TO LOOK OVER THE WATER AND SEE NEW JERSEY THO I DONT REALLY CARE FOR NEW JERSEY ITS NICE TO LOOK AT

THISIS THE PIER AND TODAY AFTER WORK THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL AND THE PIER WAS SO PEACEFUL. I LIKE PEACE AFTER A HARD DAY

SOME OF MY CO WORKERS LIKE TO SIT HERE AFTER WORK AND HAVE BEER BUT ONCE I WAS TOLD YOU COULD GET A TICKET. I DRINK ARIZONIA ICE TEA AND HAVE JUST AS MUCH FUN (LOL)

YOU CAN SEE THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING FROM HERE. I USE TO LIVE THREE BLOCKS FROM THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING! DO YOU KNOW I NEVER WENT IN THERE TILL I NEEDED TO GO TO THE BANK!

I RODE THE SUBWAY HOME...SLEPT MOST OF THE WAY...TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY!

THE ORIGNAL QUEENS OF RAUNCH

THE QUEENS OF RAUNCH AND R&B FEATURING MILLIE JACKSON (FU*K YOU SYMPHONY, THE ORGINAL QUEEN OF COMEDY LaWANDA A GREAT SHOW ORGINALLY AIRED JUNE OF 2009

GET TO KNOW US! (PROMO) 2009a

A PROMTIONAL MADE 4 FOR TRUE URBAN HAVOC ENTERTAINMENT IN OUR EARLY DAYS. WOW! REMEMBER TUPACS "I GET AROUND" never posted due to last Name mix ups

LE REVUE DE BURLESQUE 4 TRUE URBAN HAVOC

I HAD SO MUCH FUN MAKING THIS PROMO!!!!!


IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A REAL BURLESQUE HOUSE THAN LET THE VIDEO BE YOUR FIRST INTRODUCTION.


IT WASNT WORK AT ALL!! FOR THE GROWN AND SEXY!!!

WELCOME TO THE ADULT WORLD WHERE HOUSE MUSIC MEETS BURLESQUE. PERFORMERS INCLUDE THE CREM DE LA CREM FROM THE WORLD OF BURLESQUE MATCHED TO THE TANTILIZING HOUSE GROOVES OF DJ. DARK GABLE RAMIEREZ. PERFORMERS INCLUDE. DITA VON TEESE FROM HER SHOW AT THE MOULIN ROUGE, THE NEW BOIZS, LA DIVA (BLACK POLE DANCER EXTRODINARRE) STRAWBERRY FIELDS.. TRACKS INCLUDE: LETS GET OUR FREAK ON, LISA MARIE EXPERIENCE, AND MORE

BURLESQUE AT ITS BEST " DITA VON TEESE" FOR WONDERBRA UK

THE POWER OF SHOUT! (2 FUNNY)

ADVENTURES IN COUTURE " THE BILLIE HOLIDAY COLUM DRESS OMG"

UNIQUE!



Oh My Gosh!! This exiting column dress is made with an original silk screened Billie Holiday photo print.



Full length beauty with short train. It's all stretchy and comfortable to wear. Invisible side zipper! Circle cut bell bottom.





*

Designed by Swiss Native, NYC based designer Idil Vice:



www.idilvice.com





Famous for equipping many superstars (eg. Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Paris, Sarah Jessica Parker, Erykah Badu and even Carrie Underwood !!) with cool Tribute wear.





Here is an opportunity for all you Glamour Fans & Billie Lovers to fetch this unique find. It is really exceptionally handcrafted, beautifully tapered and has a smooth inside and an amazing fit!



Originality & Exclusivity!$449.00 USD

A size large fits around US size 10. Available in size XXS (2), XS (4), S (6), M (8) also. It is hand made with high quality stretchy satin fabric. This dress should be hand washed in cool water hang dry and touched up with a cool iron on the reverse side.





Excellent craftsmanship, soft and comfortable. Brand new with tag.

Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.





Measurements for size L (relaxed - they will definitely stretch another inch or 2 more):



chest: 38"

waist: 29"

hips: 41"

length front: 59"

length back: 61.5"





Happy Glamorous Shopping!!

NICK CANONS "EX" SELITA EBANKS (MODEL VICTORIAS SECRET)

CLICK TO ENLARGE PICTURES
Selita Ebanks (born February 15,[1] 1983) is a Caymanian fashion model. She is best known for her work with Victoria's Secret and as a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2005-2009.

Selita Ebanks was born on February 15, 1983 in George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory. She was raised in a large family that includes seven brothers. Influenced by her brothers, Ebanks played many sports growing up, such as basketball, soccer and tennis. The Ebanks family was quite poor, living in what she described as "a little blue, zinc-roof shack on Walkers Road".[citation needed] Often, Ebanks didn't have shoes to wear to George Town primary school.[citation needed] Her family, her mother in particular, encouraged her development through extracurricular programs.[2]

Ebanks moved to the United States, and settled in Staten Island, New York. After moving to New York City she was accepted at Spelman College, Columbia University, and New York University.[2] However, she graduated from none of these institutions. She had planned to study Law before she started modeling.[citation needed]

At 17 years old, while walking through the turnstiles at Six Flags Great Adventure, Ebanks was scouted by an agent from Elite Model Management.[3][4] Ebanks worked with some of the world's most noted photographers, including Peter Lindbergh, Bruce Weber, Steven Klein, Carter Smith and Mikael Jansson, and for some of the most quintessential American fashion campaigns, including Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi's and Tommy Hilfiger.

Ebanks first modeled for Victoria's Secret for their Ipex Bra line, before being signed as an Angel.[4] She and fellow up-and-coming model Izabel Goulart made their major débuts in the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show,[4] working as an Angel until early 2009. She views Tyra Banks as a mentor.[citation needed] In 2005, Tyra Banks said she was proud of Ebanks to be representing for black women at Victoria's Secret.[5]



Ebanks made a special guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother (episode: "The Yips") on November 26, 2007 with her fellow Victoria's Secret supermodels (Miranda Kerr, Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Marisa Miller, and Alessandra Ambrosio).



She made her first appearance on Sports Illustrated's 2007 Swimsuit Issue.[3]



She has recorded some music[2] and appeared on the UPN-series South Beach.



Selita, while promoting Victoria Secret, was booed at Gillette Stadium while at a New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles game in Foxboro for a Victoria's Secret promotion. [6][7]

Ebanks was engaged to rapper, actor, and comedian Nick Cannon.[8][9] On October 4, 2007, People magazine announced that the couple ended their engagement.

More photos of Brooklyn NY these were taken in April 20, 2009 Bedford Sty (click to enlarge)

BEFORE I TAKE PICTURES ITS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE A FANTASTIC BREKFAST!!

WAFFLES, JAM AND WHIPPED CREAM WITH 3 SCRAMBLED EGGS WORKS FOR THE BOI! AND YEAH IM STILL A 30 WAIST!!!

FRANKLIN AVE AND FULTON STREET

FRANKLIN AVE AND FULTON ST

BED STY

OG'S RALLAH AND MZ. DORIS NOSTRAND AVE AND FULTON (A TRAIN STOP)

WHEN FRIENDS MOVE AWAY

RECENTLY ONE OF MY OLDEST FRIENDS MOVED TO TAMPA FLORIDA. I USE TO LIVE THEIR TOO AND I MISS HIM! NOT ENOUGH TO MOVE TO FLA BUT MISS HIM.

THEY SAY THE INTERNET HAS MADE THE WORLD SMALLER....HMMM


TEXTING ISNT THE SAME AS HANGING OUT. OR BEING ABLE TO RAZE HELL! SO NOW IM DEPRESSED HIS GIRL IS MOVING NEXT WEEK...I GOTTA FIND TWO NEW MAIN PEEPS... THAT WAS MY CLUB PERSON!!

ONE NIGHT WE HIT 28 JUDUS HOLES ( LIQOUR HOURS/AFTER HOUR SPOTS/GAMBLING DENS IN BROOKLYN ALONE!!!!! AND WE WERENT FALLING DOWN DRUNK!

HOW DO U REPLACE THAT?

PLUS WE BOTH FINISHED COLLEDGE SO ITS NOT LIKE WE HAVENT DONE THE RIGHT THING ITS JUST THEY DONT TAKE THEMSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY...SOME PEOPLE DONT U KNOW JUST PPL THAT CAME FROM SHIT AND WANNA BE SOMETHING MORE THAN TAKE THEMSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY AND MISS OUT ON LIFE AND THE JOY OF LIVING!

Now is this Christmas Spirit or what?

check out the house on the right!

WHAT ARE THE BEST SPOTS IN NYC TO PARTY?

THE CHINA CLUB IN TIMES SQUARE NEW YEARS EVE PARTY IS $65.00 SEATED VIP IS 145.00 ITS A GREAT CLUB AND YOU WILL SEE CELEBRITYS.

TRUTH BE PERSONALLY TOLD? I LIKED MARS 2012 BACK IN THE EARLY 2K i USE TO WORK ON 51ST STREET AND ITS RIGHT THERE ON BROADWAY AND 51ST. GREAT MUSIC THEN. PEOPLE STILL GO BUT ITS NOT HOT SO THEY SAY. THEY ARE SOLD OUT FOR NEW YEARS EVE ALREADY THOUGH. BASICALLY STR8 BUT ANYBODY IS IN THERE. HELL i WAS THERE

THE SHADOW ON 28TH IS COOL. I SAW WENDY WILLIAMS THERE ONCE. ITS A KOOL CLUB ITS PREDOMINATELY STR8/MIXED THERE ARE ALOT OF DL DUDES (BARF) THERE AND SOME ALMOST A STAR HIP HOP HEADS POP THRU. HEY ITS RIGHT IN MIDTOWN. ITS ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT ONCE WAS BUT YOU STILL GO THERE! WARNING THEY LIE THEY MAY SAY ITS HIP HOP NIGHT OR SOMETHING AND ITS BULLSHIT AND THE VARTENDER DOESNT MAKE A DECENT MARTINI. TO ME THEY WERE A BIT SHADY WHEN I CAME IN WITH MY CREW BUT WHEN I CAME THRU WITH MY WHITE AND LATIN FRIENDS....IT WAS A DIFFRENT STORY. I HAVENT BEEN IN A YEAR AND CHANGE...GABE GOES I BELIEVE ...THIS IS A ANYBODYS BAR CEPT I NEVER SEEN A DRAG QUEEN THERE SO ALMOST EVERYBODY WELL MAYBE THEY WERE REALLY REAL LOOKING?? HMMM



NOW IF YOUR GHETTO AS HELL(U KNOW YOU-IS) AND YOU WANT THEE BK PICK UP (THINK CRAIGLIST BOYZ) THEN THE STARLIGHT IN BROOKLYN ON NEW YEARS EVE IS YOUR CHOICE. THAT CLUB IS GHET TO THE O!!

ME GOMEZ USE TO GO AND EVERYTIME



WED GO WE WOULD BE MISERABLE.



ITS A HOOD GAY BAR BEEN AROUND FOREVER. THE STARLIGHT REVUE IS WORTH THE TRIP AND KAROKEE THURSDAYS



JUST DOMT ORDER ANYTHING GRANDER THAN A BEER OR FREAKIN COSMOPOLITIAN . THATS ALL I'M SAYING...



ALSO REMEMBER THE HOMELESS SHELTER IS AROUND THE CORNER AND SOME OF THE HOMELESS TRADES HOPE TO PICK UP A OLD THIRSTY QUEEN AND FIND NEW SHELTER FOR THE WINTER...THATS ALL I'M SAYING. THIS IS A GAY BAR



LANGSTONS IS A POPULAR SPOT I STILL THINK I LIKED THE BROOKLYN CAFE BETTER BUT ITS CLOSED. HELL I KNEW THE SECURITY THERE AND ID GET IN FREE DAMNIT..BUT LANGSTONS I THINK WAS NAMED AFTER LANGSTON HUGHES THE GAY HARLEM RENNASANCE POET? I THINK...ITS OK GREAT DJ'S IF YOU LIKE PARTYING IN BROOKLYN THEN LANGSTONS IS 4 U. I HAVENT BEEN IN EONS SO I CANT COMMENT TOO MUCH. BUT A FEW OF MY FRIENDS STILL GO FAITHFULLY. THIS IS A GAY BAR BUT GIRLS GO THERE TOO U KNOW.

EVERYONE HAS BEEN TO THE WEST VILLAGE HAS SEEN THE MONSTERS THATS THE NAME OF THE BAR NEXT TO SHERIDAN PARK. ITS A MOSTLY WHITE BAR BUT BLACK KIDS GO, DRAG QUEENS, HUSTLERS OLDER PPL. I LIKE THE SHOWS DOWNSTAIRS. I LIKE THOSE DRAG QUEENS I FIND IT GOOD FUN. THEY MAKE EXCELLENT MARTINIS OH MY GOD! I HAVE GOTTEN PLASTERED THERE LISTENING TO THE PIANO PLAYER UPSTAIRS AND DRINKING THOSE 10 DOLLAR DRINKS BUT THE BARTENDERS ARE TOP RATE. MUST SAY SOME OF THE DRAG QUEENS ARE FROM BROADWAY SHOWS AND SING LIVE 2. ITS A NICE SOMEWHAT MIXED AMBIENCE CABARET MUSIC UPSTAIRS DISCO DOWNSTAIRS.

I TALK SHIT ABOUT CHI CHIS ON CHRISTOPHER STREET BUT ME AND SHAWNSKI USE TO GET PLASTERED THERE. HES A SINGER AND A GOOD ONE TOO. BY THE WAY THEY SELL CHICKEN WINGS THAT ARE SOO GOOD. ALL THE BLACK KIDS ARE THERE. THE SOCIAL WORKERS, THE WELFARE CHILDREN, THE HOMELESS KIDS, THE YOUNG SET THE OLD SET.. ITS THE LAST STOP ON CHRISTOPHER EVERYTHING 4 US IS GONE. U WILL FIND COOL AND SHADY PPL THERE HOLD YOUR OWN. WHEN I WAS WEARING THE SNOOP DOGGY DOG LOOK THIS BIG FAG CAME 4 ME FROM NJ SAID I HAD A WEAVE! YOU DO KNOW I HAD TO CHECK HIS ASS. MY PROBLEM IS WHEN I GET LOADED I TAKE SO LIL SHIT SO NOW I'M HARDLY DRINKING LOL AND RARELY GO THE VILLAGE. OH AND ME AND THE QUEEN? WE BECAME COOL FOR A MINUTE BUT THEY WERE FROM nj AND USE TO COME ALL THE WAY TO NY LOOKING FOR A DAMN MAN. WE FINALLY FELL OUT I TOLD THAT FOOL IF HE TRIED WALKING FROM DAMN JERSEY EVERYDAY HE WOULDN'T WEIGH 300 LBS AND HE MIGHT FIND A MAN. HE TOLE ME A MAN WOULD HAVE 2 TAKE HIM AS HE IS...HES STILL SINGLE! TOLE THE DAMN BITCH TO EXERCISE. I SAW HIM SUNDAY AT STARLIGHT I SAID "HELLO" LOL IA INT SHIT SOMETIMES LOL

ESCULITAS ON 39TH AND BROADWAY THE NEW ESQUILITAS IS A NICE SPOT. LATIN MAJORITY AND FUN...SIMPLY FUN! I REMEMBER SEEING TIGER TYSON AND TIGRESS REMEMBER HER? AT THAT SPOT AND THEY RIPPED. THAT WAS SOME TIME AGO. THATS HIM WITH LADY BUNNY. HE DOESNT LOOK SO YOUNG ANYMORE OUT OF THE STUDIO. THATS JUST MY OPINION. HES BEEN AROUND I WONDER HOW OLD HE IS? I BET HES MADE A HEAP OF MONEY IN THE PORN INDUSTRY. PPL LOVE HIM

NOW I LOVE AND IF YOU LOVE DRAG AND CAMP U WILL LOVE LUCKY CHENGS! 25 FIRST AVE HOME OF THE WORST SPAGHETTI AND BEST DRAG SHOWS IN NYC I WONT CARE I SAID IT! I KNOW THEY MAY SAY THEY ARE RACIST BUT THERE ARE BLACK PERFORMERS THERE TOO.

SO ENJOY THERE ARE ALOT OF OTHER SPOTS BUT THATS IT 4 TONIGHT! ONE DAY ILL WRITE ABOUT THE JUDUS HOLES THOSE ARE THE UNDERGROUND CLUBS BUT I PROBABLY WONT CUZ THEY ARE ILLEGAL BUT THEY ARE LIKE GAY LIQUOR HOUSES AND CASINOS ONE IN CROWN HEIGHTS LOOKS JUST LIKE LAS VEGAS!!! OPEN ALMOST 24 HOURS I PLAY THE SLOTS HEIR SOMETIMES BUT I HAVENT BEEN SINCE I WON 400 DOLLARS AND 300 WAS COUNTERFIT! YES!!! I WAS RIGHT BACK UP THERE WITH MY COUSINS AND GOT MY SHIT FROM THEM DAMN DOMINICANS. AHH GOOD MEMORIES

frankie jaxon jazz singer female impersonater

Frankie Jaxon (1895 - 1944) jazz singer, female impersonator.




Frankie Jaxon was born in Montgomery, Alabama, orphaned and raised in Kansas City, Missouri.



At age 15 he became a singer. He worked in medicine shows in Texas and then worked regularly in Atlantic City, Chicago and later New York as a singer, comedian and female impersonator. He was known as “Half-Pint” because he was only 5’2” (1.57m).



He was a female impersonator in Harlem in the 1920s, at the same time as he was a jazz singer appearing with King Oliver, Tampa Red and Georgia Tom Dorsey.





He had a small part in the Duke Ellington film, Black and Tan, 1929.





In the 30s, he was often on radio with his band, the Quarts of Joy. The shows included bawdy humor, and Jaxon often played the women’s roles in the songs. He had a convincing female voice.





In 1941 he retired and worked for the Pentagon in Washington. In 1944 he died in a veterans hospital.





•“Frankie ‘Half Pint’ Jaxon”. Red Hot Jazz. www.redhotjazz.com/jaxon.html.



•“Frankie Jaxon”. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Jaxon.

This YouTube clip is of the Midnight Rounders in Chicago on October 9, 1928 --- Frankie Jaxon on vocals.

BARS THAT WERE.....THE GRAVEYARD!

Im having fun going down memory lane!!!

This page is dedicated to all the Bars and Nightclubs that are no longer with us.


If you are looking for a place to party in Tampa Bay and you know you have been there before but you don't see it listed on the main Bars and Clubs page, chances are it will be listed here in the Bar Grave Yard.

Annex

In Tampa on Kennedy Blvd. Died in 1997. If you liked The Annex, you will like Metropolis.



Angel's

In Tampa on South Dale Mabry. Died in July 1998.

Backstreet Mall

In St. Pete on Fifth St N. Died in the eighties. Backstreet Mall once, Brothers is no longer.



Bedrox

In Treasure Island on Gulf Blvd. Died in the 1997. Bedrox was one of a kind - the only Bar and restaurant in Tampa Bay right on the beach. If you are over on the beach, check out The Backroom Bar.



Bridge Club

In Tampa on Hillsborough. Died several years ago. Bridge Club was the only after hours bottle club in the area.



Brothers

In St. Pete on Fifth Street. Died a long time ago. It was Backstreet Mall after Brothers. Today, Grand Central Station is in the same general neighborhood.



Carousel

In Tampa on Platt. Died a few years ago. The Carousel was a sleazy stripper/cruise bar (the best kind).



Chaps

Chaps was a Country Western bar originally in Pinellas Park on 49th Street (I think it used to be a straight club called 49th Street Mining Company) then moved to Gandy Blvd by the dog track.



Club, The

On Central Ave in St. Pete. Died in the Eighties. Downtown St. Pete currently has one club called Grand Central.



Copa

The Copa was where Chaps (by the dog track) was. The Copa was well known for it's Sunday T Dance. It turned into The Saint, then Bender's and it's now called Club DeNile.



Cove, The

In Tampa on Henderson. Died a few years ago. The Cove changed owners and was then The Wet Spot. Later, it became The Jungle, complete with a big tree behind the bar. In the same building today is City Side. The big tree is now gone.



Dallape's

In Dunedin on Main St. Died several years ago. Dallape's is now 1470 West with new owners and a new look.



El Goya/Tracks

In Tampa's Ybor City on Seventh Ave. Died in the early eighties.



Engine Room, The

In downtown St. Pete. Died many years ago. We are dating ourselves now! Downtown St. Pete currently has one club on Central Ave. called Grand Central.



Flamingo

In downtown Clearwater. Died in the Eighties. Flamingo was a nice little bar and restaurant. There is currently nothing like it in Clearwater.



Flavour

In Ybor City. Died several years ago. Flavour was not around for long. To some, it was around longer than it should have been! It tried too hard to be everything, but not hard enough to be anything.



Golden Arrow, The

In St. Pete. Died late 2001. Was a regular hangout for the over 30 crowd with significant bias towards leather. A bear watering hole, the Arrow was a fun place to hang out, play pool, play darts and meet men. The bar and the infamous play house behind the bar were bull-dozed and removed.



Impulse

In Tampa on S. Nebraska. Later, it became the Tampa Eagle, and then Rain.



Jack's 809

On Pass-a-grille. Was around in the late sixties. The Hurricane (well-known by straight tourists) currently stands in it's place.





Sue remembers:



"[It] had an outside bar open during the days in the summer and on the weekends all year round. Small, intimate club with small light-up dance floor, A place where everybody knew everybody else

-like a neighborhood club. My first gay bar and real "coming out" right after college. I ended up working in the outside bar on weekends there '71-72. A warm and friendly place that really contributed to a positive coming out for me. I really miss that intimacy and friendliness!"



Lighted Tree, The

In Pass A Grille Beach. Died several years ago. This was one of the best beach bars ever. I was a fixture there every Sunday. Although there is currently nothing like it, check out The Backroom Bar in Madeira Beach.



Mangos

In Clearwater on US 19. Died in 1997. This space is currently vacant. The closest thing to Mangos in existence is The Pro Shop.



Marilyn's

In St. Pete. on 4th Street North. Died several years ago. In its place now is The Hideaway (formerly Hank's Hideaway).



Mariposa

In Redington Beach. Died in '97. This place wasn't around very long and I'm not quite sure what happened to it. It was Fort Knox and now is again.



Moody's

In Tampa on Moody (first) then combined with Baxter's on S. Dale Mabry. Died several years ago. Moody's was a restaurant and bar. Currently, the closest thing Tampa has conceptually is Tropics.



New Connection, The

In St. Pete on 31st Street behind the post office. Georgie's Alibi, who gutted, disinfected, and remodeled the building is now in it's place.



Northside Lounge

In Tampa on N Florida. Died in 1998. Northside Lounge is now called Joey's.



Oasis

In Tampa on Dale Mabry. Died in 1997. Oasis was a bar for the ladies. Check out Sahara, Cherokee Club, The Hideaway, or The Sportspage Pub.



Old Plantation (The OP)

In Tampa on Kennedy. Died in the Eighties. This was my first gay bar - and it was for a lot of people. It changed hands and names to Village Station in the Eighties. Neither exist today.



Paradise

In North Tampa on Nebraska. Died a few years ago. No longer in existence. Check out Keith's in the same neighborhood.



Parthenon

In Downtown Tampa. Died several years ago.



Puzzles

In Gulfport on Gulfport Blvd. Died several years ago. It is now called Sharp A's.



Rainbow

In St. Pete. on Gandy and then on US 19. Died several years ago. Rainbow was a club for womyn. Womyn now go to The Hideaway and Sportspage Pub.



Rascals

In Tampa. Died in '99.



Red Zone, The

In Downtown Tampa. Died several years ago. Well known for its Sunday T.



Rene's

In Tampa on Kennedy. Died many years ago. This was once Tampa's premier Drag Queen Club which featured an outdoor swimming pool. There is nothing like it today anywhere!



Sherwood/Wedgewood, The

In downtown St. Pete. on Beach Drive. Died many years ago. A reader who remembers The Sherwood fondly writes:



"The Sherwood was downtown St. Petersburg on Beach Drive, across the street from the St. Pete Yacht Club.



Very popular in the 70's and early 80's. Many LTR got their start there. It was owned by two successive straight couples, Mary and Joe. Then Ed and Sharon and Sharon's parents. Nice people.



The bar clientele was mostly upscale, well-behaved and nicely dressed. It was no dive. The decor was campy Sherwood Forest murals and heavy velvet drapery. It had been a restaurant - "attached" via dumbwaiter to a straight restaurant, 10 Beach Drive, next door.



David Wood, a large and jolly person was a very popular pianist at The Sherwood. He was later killed in an auto crash near Sebring, FL. His death began the demise of the institution. He was wildly popular both as a musician and bringer-together-of-people.



Many older people from out of town always remember The Sherwood and many probably still wonder what ever happened to it. It was a gentleman's bar and, sadly, it's gone. There will probably never be another like it."



Another reader fondly remembers the Wedgewood:



"The Wedgewood was also an old motel. It had a large, glassed in dance floor, and a stream going through the property. One night they found an alligator in the yard! Wedgewood's was where I was taught how to dance the tango. . . all of the upscale dance teachers went there. Of course this was in 1977 (don't tell anybody, Please! I am dating myself!) But it was an exceptionally nice bar. With the piano lounge separated by a large space to the dance floor, it was an excellent place to have come out right out of high school for me! Oh, for the old days!"



Another reader remembers:



": . . .the Wedgewood was where I met my first Love (it may have been a mistake and I do regret the nude pictures) but I could tell you about some of the best times in the world."



Side Trax

In Clearwater on Gulf to Bay Blvd. Died several years ago. This was a video/stripper bar.



Silks

In Downtown Clearwater. Died several years ago. No longer there, but The Pro Shop still is!



Solar

In Downtown Tampa. Died in 1997. Solar was a fun place to dance in Tampa.



Stuffed Pepper, The

In Downtown St. Pete. Died several many years ago. It was then D.T's. It's now called Grand Central..



Triangles

In Clearwater on Roosevelt. Died several years ago. It was then Lost and Found, then Lost Boys..



Turtle Club

In Clearwater by the Airport. This was a straight club that was gay on Sundays and then on Tuesdays. It was bull-dozed and removed.



Wet Spot

In Tampa on Henderson. Died in 1997. It then became The Jungle (with the big tree). In the same building today is City Side, which is nothing like the Wet Spot was.



V.I.P.

In Treasure Island. Died in 1997. This was a combination Mexican Restaurant/gay bar. We really don't have anything quite like it today. On the beaches, check out The Backroom Bar.

TIFFANY ARRIEARGUS AT THE COPA

OH WOW, THIS IS TIFFANY ARRIERUGUS I HAVE A PICTURE OF HER FROM BACK IN THE DAY. THIS PERFORMER WON MISS FLA CONTINENTAL COOL AND SHE WAS ON MIAMI VICE. SHE WAS REALLY PRETTY IN THE 1990S I IMAGINE SHE HAS TO BE "A QUEEN OF A CERTIN AGE" CAUSE THEY WERE FULL GROWN ADULTS WHEN I WAS A KID BUT THEY ARE STILL HERE! HOW COOL

PENNY HOLIDAY

THIS WAS A PERFORMER ATTHE OLD MELODY CLUB IN GAINESVILLE FLA. I LIKED GAINESVILLE! IM SURPRISED SOME OF THE PPL ARE STILL HERE. GOD IS GOOD. PENNY USE TO WORK ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS AND THEY LOVED HER SHE USE DO ALL THE OLD SONGS LIKE THE POINTER SISTERS AND STUFF. THESE SHOWS WERE THE EQUIVELENT TO THE NYC BALL SCENE. I NEVER RALLY GOT TO KNOW HER MUCH I WAS JUST A KID AND I WASNT REALLY IMPRESSED FOR SOME REASON I GUESS THE MUSIC WAS OLD BUT AS I KEPT GOING I SAW SHE WAS REALLY GOOD AT WHAT SHE DID....

TIFFANY ROSS

I MET TIFFANY ROSS WHEN I LIVED IN GANIESVILLE FLA. I'D CUT SCHOOL AND THEIR WAS THIS HOUSE ON 5TH WHERE ALL THESE GAY GUYS LIVED A SHIT LOAD OF EM. TIFFANY WAS COOL. OLDER THEY WERE ADULTS I WAS IN 10TH GRADE...THIS IS "HER" NOW. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID THEY SNUCK ME INTO THEMELODY CLUB AND I SAW HER WIN THE MISS GAY GAINESVILLE PAGENT. THIS WAS A VRY NICE PERSON. I AM GLAD THEY ARE STILL ALIVE AND DOING WHAT IT IS THEY LIKE TO DO

WHY I LOVE BILLIE HOLIDAY

WHEN I WAS ABOUT TWELEVE I REMEMBER GOING TO THE LIBARY AND THE LIBARY WAS FOR ME WAS SUCHA MAGICAL PLACE! I WOULD READ EVERY AND ANYTHING. I WOULD GO BACK IN TIME SOMETIMES TO THE EARLY 1920'S. iD READ ABOUT SILENT FILMS, HITLER AND SO MUCH MORE!

ON THIS PARTICULAR SATURDAY I WAS LOOKING AT PAPER BACKS AND I SAW A WOMAN WITH A FLOWER BURNING IN HELL AND SINGING IT WAS THE BOOK "LADY SINGS THE BLUES"
I KNEW NOTHING OF BILLIE HOLIDAY OR HER MUSIC OR HER WORLD BUT I OPENED THE BOOK AND READ " MOM AND POP WERE JUST A COUPLE OF KIDS WHEN THEYGOT MARRIED HE WAS 19 SHE WAS SIXTEEN AND I WAS THREE"

WHAT THE HELL???

I HAD NEVER READ SUCH BEFORE! I WAS ALMOST 16 MARRIED, BABIES? WHAT IS THIS. I READ THE ENTIRE BOOK IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS MAYBE THREE ABD TOOK IT HOME.
COMMON SENSE HAD ME HIDE IT MY MOTHER DIDNT APPROVE OF ANYTHING WITH THE FIRES OFHELL ON THE FRONT COVER.(DRAWING ON RIGHT BY TONY COLON BRONX NY 1995)

THIS WOMAN WROTE OF DRUG ADDICTION, JAIL, PROSTITUTION, JAZZ AND IT ALL...SEEMED SO GLAMOROUS TO MY 12 YEAR OLD MIND. I REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF "IM GONNA EXPERIENCE EVERY THING LIFE HAS TO OFFER"

IN THE BOOK WERE THE WORDS TO THE SONG "GOD BLESS THE CHILD" I NEVER HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE. IT WOULD BE MANY MONTHS UNTIL I GOT THE CHANCE.

I REMEMBER ASKING EVERY ADULT "WHO WAS BILLIE HOLIDAY? DID YOU KNOW HER?" POP THOMAS WHO LIVED TO BE 99  LIVED AT 415 EDGECOMBE AVE  HE OWNED THE BUILDING THE WHOLE DAMN APT BUILDING! TOLD ME HE HAD MET HER MANY TIMES HE WAS A MAIL MAN. HE LIVED IN HARLEM AND HIS WIFE BLANCHE HAD DIED SHE WAS A PIANIST AT ST. PAULS CHURCH IN HARLEM I BELIEVE.

HE GAVE ME A 78 RPM RECORD CALLED "BODY AND SOUL" I THINK IT WAS BY BEN WEBSTER AND HE GAVE ME ANOTHER RECORD I CANT REMEMBER.. I CHERISHED THAT DAMN RECORD UNTIL ONE DAY IT WS ON TOP OF THE MONOPOLY GAME WHICH WAS ON TOP OF THE REFRIGATOR AND I WENT TO GET THE BOX AND THE RECORD SHATTERED.

I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD THE RECORD PLAY CAUSE I DIDNT HAVE A 78RPM RECORD PLAYER THEY WERE OLD OUTDATED MACHINES.

STILL NO BILLIE. STILL NEVER HEARD JAZZ!! MY MOTHER WAS A NAT COLE FREAK AND MY FATHER DIDNT LISTEN TO NOTING AT ALL! MATTER OF FACT HE NEVER LISTENED TO MUSICTHAT I REMEMBER. HE LIKED HYMNS THO AND HED SING THEM HIMSELF SO THEY WERENT TO JAZZED UP AND WORLDLY.

I FINALLY GOT A HOLD OF A 33RPM RECORD AND IT WAS A COLUMBIA 3 LP SET CALLED BILLIE HOLIDAY THE GOLDEN YEARS VOLUME 3. I GOT IT AT A STORE FOR LIKE 4 BUCKS NEW. I REMEMBER GOING IN MY ROOM, CLOSING THE DOOR AND PUTTING ON THE RECORD.

WTF????

IT SOUNDED LIKE THE SOUNDTRACK TO THE LITTLE RASCALS TV SHOW !

 IT WAS SOOOOOOO CORNY! SO DATED...THE SONG WAS CALLED "BACK IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD" AND I HAD NEVER HEARD SUCH SHIT IN MY LIFE I WAS SO MAD! BUT I HAD SPENT 4 BUCKS I ONLY GOT 5 DOLLARS A WEEK ALLOWANCE!

SOMEWAY, SOMEHOW I STARTED TO DIG HER.

I REALLY DID!

I DONT KNOW WHY!!!

OR EVEN HOW...

MY MOTHER OMG, SHE WAS COOL AT FIRST BUT SHE DIDNT PARTICULARY CARE FOR LADY DAY A WHOLE LOT. SHE LIKED LOVERMAN WHICH I HAD NEVER EVER EVEN HEARD AND MY FATHER WAS A BIG FAN OF MY MAN, AND I CRIED FOR YOU. I SHARED THAT I LIKED "TIME ON MY HANDS" ID SING IT ALOT ALONG WITH "SWING BROTHER SWING" SHE DIDNT LIKE LENA HORNE EITHER MY MOTHER WAS A PRODUCT OF HER TIME. IN HER DAY BLACK WOMEN WERE SORE THAT LENA MARRIED SOME WHITE GUY A BAND LEADER NAMED LENNY HAYTON. PPL DONT REMEMBEER BUT LENA FELL OUT OF FAVOR WITH BLACK AMERICA FOR SOMETIME DURING THE LATE 40S. WITH TALK OF HER PURTO RICAN HERITAGE AND THE HUSBAND THEY THOUGHT SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS BETTER THAN...WITH BILLIE SHE FELL OUT OF FAVOR WITH BLACK WOMEN CAUSE HER LIFE AND PAIN MIRRORED THEIR OWN. RE SHE WAS A LIGHT SKINNED, BEAUTIFUL WOMAN A BIG DEAL IN HER DAY AND SHES OUT THERE GETTING ARRESTED AND ACTING THE FOOL...MY MOTHER COULDNT STAND HER SO SAID...SHE LOVED ETHEL WATERS..

MY BEST FRIEND WAS A BI RACIAL CAT NAMED DANNY WERE BEST FRIENDS AS HE LIVED NEXT DOOR HE DIDNT UNDERSTAND MY NEW FOUND LOVE FOR BILLIE HOLIDAY AND WED SIT IN MY ROOM AND LISTEN OVER AND OVER BUT HE NEVER DUG HER HE DID LIKE COUNTBASIES AND BILLIE HOLIDAYS "SWING BROTHER SWING" BUT NOT 2 MUCH.

SOON EVERYDAY I WAS LISTENING TO BILLIE HOLIDAY AND I WAS A FAN...I DIDNT KNOW SHE WAS EVEN DEAD.

MY MOTHER SAID " HONEY SHE BEEN DEAD SINCE WAY B4 YOU WERE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE YOU WAS BORN. WHAT IS IT WITH YOU AND HER??? UHHHH YOU DONT KNOW WHAT GOODMORNING HEARTACHE MEANS OR WHAT "DONT EXPLAIN IS TALKING ABOUT. BUT ONE DAY YOU WILL AND U WILL SEE IT ISNT ABOUT HAPPINESS"

WHAT???
DEAD???


CRAP!!!!

MY MOTHER EXPLAINED SHE (LADY DAY) WAS A WOMAN WITH EXCESSES. SHE TOOK DRUGS AND DRANK LIQOUR AND PROBBLY DIDNT GO TO MASS. SHE ACTUALLY SAID THAT. SHE ALSO SAID "BILLIE HOLIDAY WAS A DISGRACE TO NEGROES"

I ONLY LOVED HER MORE I WAS FASINATED!

YEARS LATER I ASKED MY MOM WHY SHE SAID ALL THOSE MEAN THINGS ABOUT BILLIE HOLIDAY. SHE SAID, SHE WAS WORRIED THAT I LIKED HER TOO MUCH. SHE DINT WANT ME TO TRY AND BE LIKE HER. SHE SAID I EVEN COULD SING LIKE A LIL AND THAT WAS TRUE I  DID A GOOD INPERSONATION OF HER TO ANYONE WHO DARED LISTEN. I WAS A KID WITH A NASAL VOICE LOL

MY AUNT LINDA LOVED HER TOO AND SHED BORROW ALL MY RECORDS AND TAPED THEM SHE WAS CHEAP! SHE TOLD ME SHE LISTENED AND SAW HER MANY TIMES AT CLUBS IN HARLEM AND SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. SHE COULD NAME ALL THE OLD CLUBS TOO. ALSO ESTHER TREDWELL, A PIANIST WHO WAS MARRIED TO A MUSICIAN NAMED GEORGE TREDWELL HE HAD MANAGED SARAH VAUGHN I WAS TOLD AND WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF SINGER JOYA SHERELL WOULD BORROW MY RECORDS AND TELL STORIES OF BILLIE HOLIDAY 2 ME. SHE LIVED IN SAINT ALBANS NY AND SHE SAID BIILIE USE TO LIVE THERE WITH HER MAN/MANAGER. ST ALBANS WAS A BIG DEAL IN THE 1940S SO I HEARD.
I SOAKED IT ALL IN I WAS IN HEAVEN

AS TIME WENT ON I HAD A BILLIE HOLIDAY SCRAPBOOK AND PEOPLE/FRIENDS WHO WERE ARTISTS WOUOLD DRAW PICTURES OF BILLIE HOLIDAY FOR ME.

BUT, WHEN I TURNED 16 BILLIE HOLIDAY SAVED ME FROM BECOMING A DRUG ADDICT. HERION WAS A BIG DEAL AND EVERYONE WAS DOING IT. THEY WERE SHOOTING IT WITH COKE IN THE LOWER EAST SIDE OF NEW YORK. MY BEST FRIEND GOD REST HIS SOUL GOT HOOKED AT 15 AND WE USE TO HANG OUT IN ALL THE BIG TIME DOPE SPOTS IN THE LES AND IN HARLEM. BIG CLAW AND LINDAS ON 115TH STREET, CALVIN CLEINS IN BROOKLYN, MYUNCLE HENRIS ON E 2ND. AT 15 I KNEW EVERY HOE ON HOUSTON STREET, 125TH AND 3RD, AND 11TH AVE IN NYC. ID MAKE RUNS FOR ALL THOSE GIRLS BACK THEN. ID CARRY  THEIRDOPE AND EVERYTHING. I USE TO RUNAWAY IN THOSE DAYS BOT BECAUSE I DIDNT LIKE HOME BUT BECAUSE THE WORLS WAS SO INTERESTING. ID SMOKE REEFER, HASH, DRINK LIQOUR AND I WAS YOUNG AND EVERYONE LIKED ME. I WAS SO HAPPY!

IN HER BOOK(BILLIE HOLIDAY) SHE SAID " DOING DOPE WILL KILLYOU THE LONG SLOW HARD WAY AND THOSE YOU LOVE" SHE WAS DAMNNED RIGHT! IT KILLED MY UNCLE HENRY HE WAS A PIMP IN THE 70'S AND 80'S AND A MAINLINER HE CAUGHT HEPITITUS. HE TRIED TO SHOOT ME UP AND I SAID "NO" HE TRIED TO BEAT ME UP. HE HAD TWO BEAUTIFUL HOES BUNNY AND I CANT REMEMBER THE OTHER ONE.  HE WASNT A REAL UNCLE HE WAS A FRIEND OF FAMILY. ID RUN AWAY AND HED LET ME LIVE THERE. HE'D TRIED TO MOLEST ME WHEN HE WAS HIGH. BUT HE NEVER DID. HE WAS AN EVVIL OLD BASTARD. A WELFARE CHEAT AND AN ABUSER OF WOMEN AND YOUNG MEN AND A PEDOPHILE. HE WAS A SICK PERSON . WHEN MY MOTHER CAUGHT WIND SHE WAS GOING TO TURN ME OVER TO BE A WARD OF THE STATE INSTEAD THEY SOLD THEI RHOUSE AND MOVED ME AND THEM OUT OF NY FOR A WHILE.

I NEVER GOT INTO THE DOPE....THANK GOD BUT I LOST 16 FRIENDS IN THE 1990S TO AIDS AND DOPE

THEKLA HOLDER
CHRIS KEYES
LEON KESSLER
BRIAN VAUGHN
B. WHITE
RAYMOND M
CHARLES
PATASSA
AND THE LIST GOES ON.....

BILLIE HOLIDAY S WORDS SAVED MY LIFE THATS WHY TILL THIS DAY I LOVE HER SO....

THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED IN LOVING MEMORY TO MY NANA 1923-2008...WHO ALAWYS TRIED TO SHOW ME THE WAY TO BE A DECENT PERSON...SHE ALSO TAUGHT ME HOW TO IGNORE THE HATAS ...AND MAKE EM HATE EVEN MORE WHILE YOU WENT ON WITH THE TASK OF LIVING..THANK YOU I LOVE YOU....