I doubt there is anyone who appreciates YouTube more than yours truly. And no one could argue with the organization promoting itself as “the world’s go-to music destination.”
However, one more music awards show just adds to the surplus.
It was announced recently that the first annual YouTube Music Awards will take place on Nov. 3, primarily from New York.
The problem with having so many award shows is that it diminishes the significance of winning any of them.
Let’s see, there’s the Grammy Awards (still the most important), the American Music Awards, the Soul Train Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, and on it goes.
There might be another one by the time you read this.
IT’S INTERESTING how major success comes to some people, while for others success is much more limited, and so often talent is not the issue.
On season three of “American Idol,” there were three powerhouse Black female vocalists — Fantasia (the winner), Jennifer Hudson and LaToya London.
Hudson, of course, became a megastar and won an Oscar, and Fantasia has had a huge amount of success as well, personal problems notwithstanding.
But it has been a different story for London, as she wryly pointed out, comparing her success to theirs. London had a moderately successful album (“Love & Life”), did a stint in “The Color Purple” during its Chicago run, and is currently working in South Carolina.
Still, London’s ship has not come in — at least not a big ship. But there is still a chance for career elevation for this outstanding songstress who turns 35 in December.
One way she could look at it is that Bill Withers was almost the exact same age when he had his breakthrough.
KEM IS still floating on a cloud as a result of working with one of his heroes, the legendary Ron Isley. “My Favorite Thing,” which you’ve likely heard, a KEM composition (he capitalizes his name) is the first single from Isley’s “This Song Is For You” album. It was recorded as a duet, at Isley’s request, and was produced by KEM as well.
“It was one of the greatest moments of my life, let alone my career, to have Ron Isley singing my song,” said KEM, who hopes to have the lasting impact of Isley.
“This has truly been an honor for me to work with him. Sometimes I had to stop and be in the moment and recognize that I was working with a legend.”
Isley was equally enthusiastic, saying, “Working with KEM was like working with Marvin Gaye, and like Luther Vandross because of the way he cares about the music and producing the record. I put everything in his hands and everything turned out fantastic. He’s a real artist.”
TICHINA ARNOLD is best known for having been Pam on the long-running sitcom “Martin” starring Martin Lawrence and later as Rochelle in the nearly as popular “Everybody Hates Chris.”
She is all for a reunion of “Martin” but there is a problem — the bad blood between Lawrence and Tisha Campbell, who played girlfriend Gina. She filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Lawrence and departed the show before the end of its run.
Because he is in his mid-forties, Will Smith had said he wouldn’t be making any more rap albums, but has changed his mind and is working on a new one right now.
It is difficult to be satisfied with commercial radio once you have experienced SiriusXM satellite radio.
Amazingly, there are more than 150 stations. Every kind of music you can imagine (vintage R&B, rock, gospel, classic jazz, dance, blues, contemporary R&B, classical, pop, Latin, country, Broadway, etc.) plus news, comedy, sports and more.
However, there is a cost factor.
Viola Davis and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, who worked together in “The Help,” will do so again in the James Brown biopic, “Get On Up,” opening very soon.
Chris Brown’s new album, “X,” is scheduled for Nov. 19 release.
Got an e-mail from former Supreme Scherrie Payne. She was making preparations for a series of appearances in Sydney, Australia. She sings in a group alongside Lynda Laurence, another former Supreme, and Joyce Vincent, formerly of Tony Orlando & Dawn.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that Louis Armstrong is the oldest person to have a No. 1 hit on the national Pop charts. It was “Hello Dolly!” in 1964.
MEMORIES: “Easy” (the Commodores), “Stay With Me” (Lorraine Ellison), “Our Love” (Natalie Cole), “The Second Time Around” (Shalamar), “All This Love” (DeBarge), “The Way You Make Me Feel” (Michael Jackson), “How Will I Know?” (Whitney Houston), “Come and Get These Memories” (Martha & the Vandellas), “Make It Like It Was” (Regina Belle), “Just the Way You Are” (Billy Joel),” “I Feel a Song (In My Heart)” (Gladys Knight & the Pips), “Love Is Life” (Earth, Wind & Fire).
BLESSINGS to Anthony Neely, Brenda Perryman, Rogers Foster, Ali Majid, Carol Prince, Montez Miller, L.J. Reynolds, Derek Thornton, Frankie Darcell and David Humphries.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Alan Cohen: “Say yes when you mean yes, no when you mean no, maybe when you mean maybe, and I don’t know when you mean I don’t know.”
Let the music play!
Steve Holsey can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
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