http://soulinterviews.com/ en-GB (c) 2010 yes no The podcasts from soulinterviews.com The podcasts from soulinterviews.com FIRST HOUR Current Releases: 00 - Astral22 - Soulswede Theme Song (Monodeluxe Souly Radio Remix)01 - Angela Johnson - On The Radio02 - Slique - Addicted (Promo)03 - Terrell - That Girl (Promo)04 - Alicia Keys - Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)05 - G-Incarna - All For One06 - George Duke - 6 O'Clock Revisited07 - Elisabeth Withers - Everything's Gonna Be Alright Featured Interview: 09 - Ledisi Interview presented by Soulinterviews.com SECOND HOURQuiet Storm and Downtempo Soul: 01 - The Affair - Some Things Never Change02 - Gary Taylor - Take Control03 - Will Downing - Sometimes I Cry04 - Rene & Angela - You Don't Have To Cry05 - Mikki Bleu - Tonight's The Night06 - Freddie Jackson - Love Is Just A Touch A Way07 - Miles Jaye feat. Roy Ayers – Let's Start Love Over (Extended Version)08 - Boyz II Men - Pass You By09 - Lalah Hathaway - For Always10 - Ronnie Laws - Every Generation11 - Calloway Brothers - Set The Table12 - Avant - SailingSky Digital Channel 0129 and Solarradio.comUS SLOT: Sundays at 9 pm (Eastern) 8 pm (Central) 6 pm (Pacific)UK SLOT: Mondays at 2 am (GMT)JAPAN SLOT: Mondays at 11 am (JST)   FIRST HOUR Current Releases: 00 - Astral22 - Soulswede Theme Song (Monodeluxe Souly Radio Remix)01 - Angela Johnson - On The Radio02 - Slique - Addicted (Promo)03 - Terrell - That Girl (Promo)04 - Alicia Keys - Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)05 - G-Incarna - All For One06 - George Duke - 6 O'Clock Revisited07 - Elisabeth Withers - Everything's Gonna Be Alright Featured Interview: 09 - Ledisi Interview presented by Soulinterviews.com SECOND HOURQuiet Storm and Downtempo Soul: 01 - The Affair - Some Things Never Change02 - Gary Taylor - Take Control03 - Will Downing - Sometimes I Cry04 - Rene & Angela - You Don't Have To Cry05 - Mikki Bleu - Tonight's The Night06 - Freddie Jackson - Love Is Just A Touch A Way07 - Miles Jaye feat. Roy Ayers – Let's Start Love Over (Extended Version)08 - Boyz II Men - Pass You By09 - Lalah Hathaway - For Always10 - Ronnie Laws - Every Generation11 - Calloway Brothers - Set The Table12 - Avant - SailingSky Digital Channel 0129 and Solarradio.comUS SLOT: Sundays at 9 pm (Eastern) 8 pm (Central) 6 pm (Pacific)UK SLOT: Mondays at 2 am (GMT)JAPAN SLOT: Mondays at 11 am (JST)   http://soulinterviews.com/podcasts/solarradio30082010.mp3 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:00:37 +0200 Who is AVERY*Sunshine? "I am a self-proclaimed therapist! I want to start the conversation that will lead to individual healing which will in turn affect our collective healing. Let's get people talking about their experiences so that we can learn from them, grow from them and more importantly, move on from them. " AVERY*Sunshine is a native of Chester, PA where she nurtured a natural talent by singing in church and leading and directing choirs. A former member of the renowned Wilmington/Chester Mass Choir, she honed her vocal instrument and sharpened her ability to play piano in her hometown, then headed south to Atlanta, GA where she attended Spelman College. Though far from home, she was never far from her one true love – music. She embodies it. She lives to express through it. But AVERY's talent couldn't be contained within the walls and stained glass of the church for very long. Making her mark on the Atlanta-soul music scene, she and her Spelman sister, Broadway talent Maia Wilson, teamed up to form the singing duo DaisyRew. After an amicable split, Avery went on to establish herself as a full-fledged artist. Some of AVERY's credits include: lending her voice to the soundtrack for Paramount Pictures' THE FIGHTINGTEMPTATIONS and being lead keyboardist for Tyler Perry's stage play MEET THE BROWNS in 2005. Two years later she was sought out by vocal great Jennifer Holiday to be choral director for a revival of the Tony Award winning DREAMGIRLS during the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta. AVERY*Sunshine also made history with daily performances at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO and four private events during the 2009 Inauguration of President Barack Obama. In addition to that, she has had the esteemed pleasure of performing with and/or for Rachelle Ferrell, Roy Ayers (who is featured on her debut album) Michael Buble, Anthony Hamilton, gospel icon Karen Clark-Sheard and the one and only David Foster. AVERY was recently cast, with a principal role "Grandma", in the contemporary opera I DREAM- the story of Martin Luther King, Jr. which will premiere at the ALLIANCE Theater in Atlanta July 9-31, 2010 and is co-produced by Chaka Khan. With vocals and lyrics that are thick and strong yet jazzy-smooth, it's easily recognized that AVERY*Sunshine has been singing all her life. However her sound and her music is perfected in collaboration with her musical partner, Grammy award winning songwriter/producer/manager Dana Johnson. They are currently awaiting the U.S. release of her self-titled debut album that is already making incredible strides in Europe and South Africa. What started in church at a young age has been refined by experience as AVERY*Sunshine stands ready to proclaim her own story with this first CD project. She's intent on getting her SHINE ON and wants others to do the same. Get your shades ready 'cause it's about to be a brighter day! Playlist (Incl. background music and snippets): 00 - Astral22 - Soulswede Theme Song (Monodeluxe Souly Radio Remix)01 - Avery Sunshine - All In My Head02 - Avery Sunshine - Like This03 - Avery Sunshine - Pinin'04 - Avery Sunshine - Ugly Part Of Me05 - Avery Sunshine - Blessin' Me06 - Roy Ayers - The Third Eye07 - Avery Sunshine - The Most08 - Avery Sunshine - Just Not Tonight09 - Avery Sunshine - I Need You Now10 - Avery Sunshine - I Got Sunshine More information:Avery Sunshine's Official SiteAvery Sunshine on MySpaceBuy Avery Sunshine's CD on Amazon.comDownload the album on iTunes Who is AVERY*Sunshine? "I am a self-proclaimed therapist! I want to start the conversation that will lead to individual healing which will in turn affect our collective healing. Let's get people talking about their experiences so that we can learn from them, grow from them and more importantly, move on from them. " AVERY*Sunshine is a native of Chester, PA where she nurtured a natural talent by singing in church and leading and directing choirs. A former member of the renowned Wilmington/Chester Mass Choir, she honed her vocal instrument and sharpened her ability to play piano in her hometown, then headed south to Atlanta, GA where she attended Spelman College. Though far from home, she was never far from her one true love – music. She embodies it. She lives to express through it. But AVERY's talent couldn't be contained within the walls and stained glass of the church for very long. Making her mark on the Atlanta-soul music scene, she and her Spelman sister, Broadway talent Maia Wilson, teamed up to form the singing duo DaisyRew. After an amicable split, Avery went on to establish herself as a full-fledged artist. Some of AVERY's credits include: lending her voice to the soundtrack for Paramount Pictures' THE FIGHTINGTEMPTATIONS and being lead keyboardist for Tyler Perry's stage play MEET THE BROWNS in 2005. Two years later she was sought out by vocal great Jennifer Holiday to be choral director for a revival of the Tony Award winning DREAMGIRLS during the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta. AVERY*Sunshine also made history with daily performances at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO and four private events during the 2009 Inauguration of President Barack Obama. In addition to that, she has had the esteemed pleasure of performing with and/or for Rachelle Ferrell, Roy Ayers (who is featured on her debut album) Michael Buble, Anthony Hamilton, gospel icon Karen Clark-Sheard and the one and only David Foster. AVERY was recently cast, with a principal role "Grandma", in the contemporary opera I DREAM- the story of Martin Luther King, Jr. which will premiere at the ALLIANCE Theater in Atlanta July 9-31, 2010 and is co-produced by Chaka Khan. With vocals and lyrics that are thick and strong yet jazzy-smooth, it's easily recognized that AVERY*Sunshine has been singing all her life. However her sound and her music is perfected in collaboration with her musical partner, Grammy award winning songwriter/producer/manager Dana Johnson. They are currently awaiting the U.S. release of her self-titled debut album that is already making incredible strides in Europe and South Africa. What started in church at a young age has been refined by experience as AVERY*Sunshine stands ready to proclaim her own story with this first CD project. She's intent on getting her SHINE ON and wants others to do the same. Get your shades ready 'cause it's about to be a brighter day! Playlist (Incl. background music and snippets): 00 - Astral22 - Soulswede Theme Song (Monodeluxe Souly Radio Remix)01 - Avery Sunshine - All In My Head02 - Avery Sunshine - Like This03 - Avery Sunshine - Pinin'04 - Avery Sunshine - Ugly Part Of Me05 - Avery Sunshine - Blessin' Me06 - Roy Ayers - The Third Eye07 - Avery Sunshine - The Most08 - Avery Sunshine - Just Not Tonight09 - Avery Sunshine - I Need You Now10 - Avery Sunshine - I Got Sunshine More information:Avery Sunshine's Official SiteAvery Sunshine on MySpaceBuy Avery Sunshine's CD on Amazon.comDownload the album on iTunes http://soulinterviews.com/podcasts/averysunshine.mp3 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:43:34 +0200 Abbey Lincoln: "You Won't Forget Me"By Deardra Shuler Africa was imprinted within the soul of Abbey Lincoln. Sometimes you might see her moving with a catlike grace across the stage, other times as still as a Sphinx. Always wired to the earth rhythm so deep it went to the very roots of Africa and came out through the swirl of her hair and the recesses of her soul. Her voice entwined with the lyrics moving the melody and forming a rhythm that rose and fell to compliment her heartbeat and the strings of the bass. Her body unconsciously swaying to a beat that lived within her. Her husky vocal instrument swelled and filled the air around her with her magic and secret world. A world that lay within. Lincoln was unique, passionate and full of pride for her culture. She was so simple she appeared complex. Always original, beautiful and seeking to have a voice, Abbey Lincoln was very much in tune with her music and humanness. An African Queen on a foreign soil enriching it with the very essence of her Africanness. Lioness. Beingness. Abbey Lincoln went under several monikers, each symbolizing a part of her experience, a time in her life wherein she sought to identify with the moment. Born Anna Marie Woldridge in the Morgan Park section of Chicago in 1930. She was the 10th of 12 children comprised of 6 girls and 6 boys. Her parents Evelyn and Alexander Woldridge encouraged her art or at least left her alone to pursue it when she started playing the piano at age 4. As she matured, Lincoln began playing piano in her church Sunday school. She also sang in the choir of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Lincoln once said while being interviewed by "Like It Is" TV producer Gil Noble that she was a soloist most of her life. "I am a singer. Part of my being a singer came from learning how to hear the music. The singer is an instrument," commented Abbey. "Fortunately, my ears have developed so I don't depend on what is on paper. As a singer, you can either read music or hear it. Both help," said Abbey who became a professional singer at age 19. "I discovered the stage in high school. Having grown up in the country in Michigan, I wasn't exposed to many things so had no idea what I wanted to do in life or what I wanted to be. I never saw myself early on doing the things I later came to do. The singing and the work has taken me to many places. Its been magic" reflected the introspective performer, poet, songwriter, model, actress and civil rights activist. When Abbey began singing she met other musicians who helped her get work in night clubs. She started off singing the songs of the greats like Sarah Vaughn, Lena Horne, Dinah Washington and others. But there was something within Abbey that stirred her to reach for more; not in the monetary sense but as a bid to express her humanness. Abbey sang songs that had meaning. That reflected the society around her and promoted her inner voice and spirituality. "When I was introduced to jazz music, it gave me a sense of sociability. It was via that sound I met awareness," said Lincoln who also gained social awareness through her association with drummer Max Roach whom she married in 1962 and later divorced in 1970. "I don't think you can create music unless you know who you are and where you are. Music is a culture and way of life," explained the jazz singer. "A lot of things opened for me when I met the music via Max Roach. Max introduced me to Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins. These were aware people who were cognizant of the social climate around them. I listened and then began to think. I started thinking for myself. It's a funny world we live in. I think as a black people we often talk about what is wrong with this world. However, we don't really know what we want in this world. I notice that people seem to want what others have. They become jealous and envious. This disappoints me. This type of behavior says to me that my people think so little of themselves they want what another has instead of taking time to reflect on our African spirit. We are better than that," remarked the gifted, pensive, and civic minded singer. "Personally, I am tired of living in hand-me-down houses, wearing hand-me-down clothes and living within a hand-me-down culture. Especially since it was African people who built the apex in terms of culture. We must remember that our ancestors gave us a lot. The very reason I sing and dance is because my ancestors sang and danced four thousand years ago. This is as much a part of me as the color of my eyes," continued Abbey who saw culture as a way of life, formulated and thought out in terms of the land we came from and which remains as we continue to forge ahead as a black race in America. Lincoln felt that America with its multi-cultures should act as a peacekeeping force, embracing America's many cultures rather than imposing control over them. The fact that Africa was steadily becoming self-governing gave Lincoln hope that Africans across the Diaspora would strive for self-governance, ruling themselves and accepting responsibility for their own lives "There cannot be any other scapegoats outside of ourselves" said Aminata Moseka (Abbey's African name). The 10th child among 12 siblings, Abbey Lincoln came along at a time when black people took pride in their heritage. They researched it, talked about it, lived it and sang about it. She worked with and was in the company of such artists as Miles Davis, Hank Jones, Kendra Shanks, Cassandra Wilson, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Joe Lovano, Rodney Kendrick, and Randy Weston. An actress, lyricist, poet, songwriter, singer and civil rights activist Abbey was a woman of her time. She recorded "We Insist! The Freedom Now Suite" with her husband, drummer Max Roach, and famed playwright and poet Oscar Brown Jr., as part of her stance on civil rights. Abbey penned many of her own songs. She released albums such as Golden Lady, Abbey Sings Abbey, It's Me, Over the Years, A Turtle Dream. She sang songs like "First Song," "The Music is the Magic," "Love Has Gone Away," "Down Here Below," and "Being Me." Abbey Lincoln starred in "For the Love of Ivy," with Sidney Portier, Carroll O'Connor and Beau Bridges for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. She appeared opposite Ivan Dixon in "Nothing But A Man" and in Spike Lee's film "Mo' Better Blues." Abbey received many civic and community awards including the National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master Award. In recent years Abbey Lincoln resided at Amsterdam Houses, located in Harlem, where she met her demise at the age of 80, on August 14, 2010. She was cremated. Abbey Lincoln will not be forgotten. She goes down in the annals of history as an African American music great whose uniqueness of form and style is unequaled.More information:Abbey Lincoln on WikipediaRandy Weston's Official Site Abbey Lincoln: "You Won't Forget Me"By Deardra Shuler Africa was imprinted within the soul of Abbey Lincoln. Sometimes you might see her moving with a catlike grace across the stage, other times as still as a Sphinx. Always wired to the earth rhythm so deep it went to the very roots of Africa and came out through the swirl of her hair and the recesses of her soul. Her voice entwined with the lyrics moving the melody and forming a rhythm that rose and fell to compliment her heartbeat and the strings of the bass. Her body unconsciously swaying to a beat that lived within her. Her husky vocal instrument swelled and filled the air around her with her magic and secret world. A world that lay within. Lincoln was unique, passionate and full of pride for her culture. She was so simple she appeared complex. Always original, beautiful and seeking to have a voice, Abbey Lincoln was very much in tune with her music and humanness. An African Queen on a foreign soil enriching it with the very essence of her Africanness. Lioness. Beingness. Abbey Lincoln went under several monikers, each symbolizing a part of her experience, a time in her life wherein she sought to identify with the moment. Born Anna Marie Woldridge in the Morgan Park section of Chicago in 1930. She was the 10th of 12 children comprised of 6 girls and 6 boys. Her parents Evelyn and Alexander Woldridge encouraged her art or at least left her alone to pursue it when she started playing the piano at age 4. As she matured, Lincoln began playing piano in her church Sunday school. She also sang in the choir of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Lincoln once said while being interviewed by "Like It Is" TV producer Gil Noble that she was a soloist most of her life. "I am a singer. Part of my being a singer came from learning how to hear the music. The singer is an instrument," commented Abbey. "Fortunately, my ears have developed so I don't depend on what is on paper. As a singer, you can either read music or hear it. Both help," said Abbey who became a professional singer at age 19. "I discovered the stage in high school. Having grown up in the country in Michigan, I wasn't exposed to many things so had no idea what I wanted to do in life or what I wanted to be. I never saw myself early on doing the things I later came to do. The singing and the work has taken me to many places. Its been magic" reflected the introspective performer, poet, songwriter, model, actress and civil rights activist. When Abbey began singing she met other musicians who helped her get work in night clubs. She started off singing the songs of the greats like Sarah Vaughn, Lena Horne, Dinah Washington and others. But there was something within Abbey that stirred her to reach for more; not in the monetary sense but as a bid to express her humanness. Abbey sang songs that had meaning. That reflected the society around her and promoted her inner voice and spirituality. "When I was introduced to jazz music, it gave me a sense of sociability. It was via that sound I met awareness," said Lincoln who also gained social awareness through her association with drummer Max Roach whom she married in 1962 and later divorced in 1970. "I don't think you can create music unless you know who you are and where you are. Music is a culture and way of life," explained the jazz singer. "A lot of things opened for me when I met the music via Max Roach. Max introduced me to Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins. These were aware people who were cognizant of the social climate around them. I listened and then began to think. I started thinking for myself. It's a funny world we live in. I think as a black people we often talk about what is wrong with this world. However, we don't really know what we want in this world. I notice that people seem to want what others have. They become jealous and envious. This disappoints me. This type of behavior says to me that my people think so little of themselves they want what another has instead of taking time to reflect on our African spirit. We are better than that," remarked the gifted, pensive, and civic minded singer. "Personally, I am tired of living in hand-me-down houses, wearing hand-me-down clothes and living within a hand-me-down culture. Especially since it was African people who built the apex in terms of culture. We must remember that our ancestors gave us a lot. The very reason I sing and dance is because my ancestors sang and danced four thousand years ago. This is as much a part of me as the color of my eyes," continued Abbey who saw culture as a way of life, formulated and thought out in terms of the land we came from and which remains as we continue to forge ahead as a black race in America. Lincoln felt that America with its multi-cultures should act as a peacekeeping force, embracing America's many cultures rather than imposing control over them. The fact that Africa was steadily becoming self-governing gave Lincoln hope that Africans across the Diaspora would strive for self-governance, ruling themselves and accepting responsibility for their own lives "There cannot be any other scapegoats outside of ourselves" said Aminata Moseka (Abbey's African name). The 10th child among 12 siblings, Abbey Lincoln came along at a time when black people took pride in their heritage. They researched it, talked about it, lived it and sang about it. She worked with and was in the company of such artists as Miles Davis, Hank Jones, Kendra Shanks, Cassandra Wilson, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Joe Lovano, Rodney Kendrick, and Randy Weston. An actress, lyricist, poet, songwriter, singer and civil rights activist Abbey was a woman of her time. She recorded "We Insist! The Freedom Now Suite" with her husband, drummer Max Roach, and famed playwright and poet Oscar Brown Jr., as part of her stance on civil rights. Abbey penned many of her own songs. She released albums such as Golden Lady, Abbey Sings Abbey, It's Me, Over the Years, A Turtle Dream. She sang songs like "First Song," "The Music is the Magic," "Love Has Gone Away," "Down Here Below," and "Being Me." Abbey Lincoln starred in "For the Love of Ivy," with Sidney Portier, Carroll O'Connor and Beau Bridges for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. She appeared opposite Ivan Dixon in "Nothing But A Man" and in Spike Lee's film "Mo' Better Blues." Abbey received many civic and community awards including the National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master Award. In recent years Abbey Lincoln resided at Amsterdam Houses, located in Harlem, where she met her demise at the age of 80, on August 14, 2010. She was cremated. Abbey Lincoln will not be forgotten. She goes down in the annals of history as an African American music great whose uniqueness of form and style is unequaled.More information:Abbey Lincoln on WikipediaRandy Weston's Official Site http://soulinterviews.com/podcasts/randyweston.mp3 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:34:27 +0200 Dru Hill was fone of the most popular vocal groups of the 90s, a group that bridged old school and new school, but which never reached its huge commercial possibilities due to internal and external strife. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, Dru Hill consisted of Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin, Mark "Sisqo" Andrews, Larry "Jazz" Anthony, and James "Woody Rock" Green. Mark Andrews and James Green met each other in middle school, and both later became acquaintances of Tamir Ruffin when all three began pursuing careers in the music industry. Ruffin, nicknamed "Nokio" (an acronym for "Nasty on Key in Octave") enlisted Andrews and Green (whose respective nicknames of "Sisqo" and "Woody" came from their childhood) to form a singing group. The trio added Larry "Jazz" Anthony, an opera student, to complete their lineup. The group was named "Dru Hill" after Druid Hill Park, a popular park on the West side of Baltimore. Most of their early repertoire was made up of gospel music; the group eventually switched to the more commercially viable genre of R&B. Dru Hill's big break came in 1996, when manager Haqq Islam arranged for them to perform at the Impact Convention in May. The group was signed to Island Records' "Island Black" division shortly afterward through a production deal with Islam's University Music, and immediately began recording their debut album. The self-titled Dru Hill album was released in 1996, and became a gold-selling album. The first single, "Tell Me", was featured on the soundtrack to the Whoopi Goldberg film Eddie, and was a Top 5 R&B hit in the United States. Stylistically, Dru Hill was the middle-ground between the smooth, gentlemen-like Boyz II Men and the self-proclaimed "bad boys of R&B," Jodeci. Dru Hill received a lot of criticism, especially from the members of Jodeci, for what was perceived was a direct appropriation of Jodeci's style, particularly in frontman Sisqo's K-Ci Hailey-esque lead vocals. All four members took turns singing lead, with Sisqo making the biggest impression on audiences with his dancing style, David Ruffin-styled emoting, and bleached-blond hair. The Sisqo-led "In My Bed" was the group's first Top 5 pop hit and first #1 R&B hit. Jazz took the lead on the third single, "Never Make a Promise", which became a second #1 R&B hit. Between their first and second albums, Dru Hill contributed "We're Not Making Love No More," a #2 R&B hit, to the Soul Food soundtrack and "Big Bad Mama," a remake of Carl Carlton's 1981 hit "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)," to the 1998 Bill Bellamy film Def Jam's How to Be a Player. Dru Hill's second album, Enter the Dru, another platinum smash that featured the Top 5 pop hit "How Deep is Your Love," a hip hop styled track which was included on the soundtrack to the Chris Tucker film Rush Hour. Between November 1999 and November 2000, each member released a solo album: Sisqo a pop album, Jazz a traditional R&B/soul album, Nokio a hip hop album, and Woody a gospel album. Sisqo's album Unleash the Dragon made the biggest impression via the smash novelty single "Thong Song." The solo careers of the members soon stalled and the group reunited for Dru World Order, adding Rufus Waller, who performed under the name "Scola", as a fifth member. Dru World Order was released on November 26, 2002. The lead single "I Should Be...". "I Should Be..." was a Top 30 pop hit and a Top 10 R&B hit, but the follow-up "I Love You" made only a moderate showing. By 2005, Dru Hill had been released from their Def Soul contract and had disappeared from public view. Def Soul released a greatest hits compilation, Dru Hill: Hits, on October 11, along with a corresponding DVD collection of the group's music videos. Both collections included Sisqó's biggest solo hits, "Thong Song" and "Incomplete" alongside the Dru Hill songs. During the summer of 2007, Scola released a slow jam compilation CD entitled Scola's Lost Treasures. He is also working on a solo project called From EA 2 Cali, scheduled for release in 2010. In early 2008, the original quartet version of Dru Hill began touring alongside fellow 1990s R&B acts Tony! Toni! Toné!, Bell Biv Devoe, and their former producer Keith Sweat. On March 6, the group appeared on WERQ, a Baltimore radio station, to promote their reunion. In the midst of their interview, however, Woody announced he was quitting the group again to dedicate himself to his gospel ministry. A YouTube video shows Sisqó walking out on the interview as a result, and Woody and Nokio fighting while Jazz and the manager Kevin Peck tries to break it up.The group held a contest in their native Baltimore for a replacement for Woody, settling upon a new singer, Antwuan "Tao" Simpson. The group never said why they did not keep Scola in the group, although it was later stated by Nokio that "five people [mess] up the money." Before then, Scola however came out and said the reason is that Woody didn't want him in the group anymore because they had a falling out over money issues. InDRUpendence Day is Dru Hill's fourth album and will be released on June 29, 2010. It will feature the group's new member, Tao. The album has released two singles, "Love MD" and "Back to the Future" It is under the label Kedar Entertainment.Biography courtesy of Chris Rizik and SoulTracksPlaylist: 01 - Dru Hill - In My Bed (Radio Edit)02 - Dru Hill - How Deep Is Your Love (Feat. Redman)03 - Dru Hill - I Love You (Radio Edit) (Snippet)04 - Dru Hill - State Of Emergency05 - Dru Hill - Back To The FutureBackground music during the interview:Dru Hill - Tell Me, Dru Hill - Never Make A Promise (Radio Edit), Dru Hill feat. Foxy Brown - Big Mama (Radio Edit), Dru Hill - We're Not Making Love No More, Dru Hill - These Are The Times, Dru Hill - I Should Be...(Radio Edit), Dru Hill - Makin' Luv, Dru Hill - Remain Silent, Dru Hill - Love MD, Dru Hill - She Wants Me More information:Dru Hill OnlineDru Hill's Official SiteDru Hill on MySpaceDru Hill on FacebookBuy Dru Hill's music on Amazon.comDownload InDRUpendence Day on iTunes   Dru Hill was fone of the most popular vocal groups of the 90s, a group that bridged old school and new school, but which never reached its huge commercial possibilities due to internal and external strife. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, Dru Hill consisted of Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin, Mark "Sisqo" Andrews, Larry "Jazz" Anthony, and James "Woody Rock" Green. Mark Andrews and James Green met each other in middle school, and both later became acquaintances of Tamir Ruffin when all three began pursuing careers in the music industry. Ruffin, nicknamed "Nokio" (an acronym for "Nasty on Key in Octave") enlisted Andrews and Green (whose respective nicknames of "Sisqo" and "Woody" came from their childhood) to form a singing group. The trio added Larry "Jazz" Anthony, an opera student, to complete their lineup. The group was named "Dru Hill" after Druid Hill Park, a popular park on the West side of Baltimore. Most of their early repertoire was made up of gospel music; the group eventually switched to the more commercially viable genre of R&B. Dru Hill's big break came in 1996, when manager Haqq Islam arranged for them to perform at the Impact Convention in May. The group was signed to Island Records' "Island Black" division shortly afterward through a production deal with Islam's University Music, and immediately began recording their debut album. The self-titled Dru Hill album was released in 1996, and became a gold-selling album. The first single, "Tell Me", was featured on the soundtrack to the Whoopi Goldberg film Eddie, and was a Top 5 R&B hit in the United States. Stylistically, Dru Hill was the middle-ground between the smooth, gentlemen-like Boyz II Men and the self-proclaimed "bad boys of R&B," Jodeci. Dru Hill received a lot of criticism, especially from the members of Jodeci, for what was perceived was a direct appropriation of Jodeci's style, particularly in frontman Sisqo's K-Ci Hailey-esque lead vocals. All four members took turns singing lead, with Sisqo making the biggest impression on audiences with his dancing style, David Ruffin-styled emoting, and bleached-blond hair. The Sisqo-led "In My Bed" was the group's first Top 5 pop hit and first #1 R&B hit. Jazz took the lead on the third single, "Never Make a Promise", which became a second #1 R&B hit. Between their first and second albums, Dru Hill contributed "We're Not Making Love No More," a #2 R&B hit, to the Soul Food soundtrack and "Big Bad Mama," a remake of Carl Carlton's 1981 hit "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)," to the 1998 Bill Bellamy film Def Jam's How to Be a Player. Dru Hill's second album, Enter the Dru, another platinum smash that featured the Top 5 pop hit "How Deep is Your Love," a hip hop styled track which was included on the soundtrack to the Chris Tucker film Rush Hour. Between November 1999 and November 2000, each member released a solo album: Sisqo a pop album, Jazz a traditional R&B/soul album, Nokio a hip hop album, and Woody a gospel album. Sisqo's album Unleash the Dragon made the biggest impression via the smash novelty single "Thong Song." The solo careers of the members soon stalled and the group reunited for Dru World Order, adding Rufus Waller, who performed under the name "Scola", as a fifth member. Dru World Order was released on November 26, 2002. The lead single "I Should Be...". "I Should Be..." was a Top 30 pop hit and a Top 10 R&B hit, but the follow-up "I Love You" made only a moderate showing. By 2005, Dru Hill had been released from their Def Soul contract and had disappeared from public view. Def Soul released a greatest hits compilation, Dru Hill: Hits, on October 11, along with a corresponding DVD collection of the group's music videos. Both collections included Sisqó's biggest solo hits, "Thong Song" and "Incomplete" alongside the Dru Hill songs. During the summer of 2007, Scola released a slow jam compilation CD entitled Scola's Lost Treasures. He is also working on a solo project called From EA 2 Cali, scheduled for release in 2010. In early 2008, the original quartet version of Dru Hill began touring alongside fellow 1990s R&B acts Tony! Toni! Toné!, Bell Biv Devoe, and their former producer Keith Sweat. On March 6, the group appeared on WERQ, a Baltimore radio station, to promote their reunion. In the midst of their interview, however, Woody announced he was quitting the group again to dedicate himself to his gospel ministry. A YouTube video shows Sisqó walking out on the interview as a result, and Woody and Nokio fighting while Jazz and the manager Kevin Peck tries to break it up.The group held a contest in their native Baltimore for a replacement for Woody, settling upon a new singer, Antwuan "Tao" Simpson. The group never said why they did not keep Scola in the group, although it was later stated by Nokio that "five people [mess] up the money." Before then, Scola however came out and said the reason is that Woody didn't want him in the group anymore because they had a falling out over money issues. InDRUpendence Day is Dru Hill's fourth album and will be released on June 29, 2010. It will feature the group's new member, Tao. The album has released two singles, "Love MD" and "Back to the Future" It is under the label Kedar Entertainment.Biography courtesy of Chris Rizik and SoulTracksPlaylist: 01 - Dru Hill - In My Bed (Radio Edit)02 - Dru Hill - How Deep Is Your Love (Feat. Redman)03 - Dru Hill - I Love You (Radio Edit) (Snippet)04 - Dru Hill - State Of Emergency05 - Dru Hill - Back To The FutureBackground music during the interview:Dru Hill - Tell Me, Dru Hill - Never Make A Promise (Radio Edit), Dru Hill feat. Foxy Brown - Big Mama (Radio Edit), Dru Hill - We're Not Making Love No More, Dru Hill - These Are The Times, Dru Hill - I Should Be...(Radio Edit), Dru Hill - Makin' Luv, Dru Hill - Remain Silent, Dru Hill - Love MD, Dru Hill - She Wants Me More information:Dru Hill OnlineDru Hill's Official SiteDru Hill on MySpaceDru Hill on FacebookBuy Dru Hill's music on Amazon.comDownload InDRUpendence Day on iTunes   http://soulinterviews.com/podcasts/druhill.mp3 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:26:43 +0200 FIRST HOURCurrent Releases:00 - Astral22 - Soulswede Theme Song (Monodeluxe Souly Radio Remix)01 - Kendrick Jackson - Perfect 1002 - Wadz feat. Leon Beal - We Can Make It03 - Kenny Wesley - Serenity04 - Walter Christopher - So Amazing05 - Inaya Day & Ralf GUM - Lose My Worries (Original Mix)06 - Karen A Clark - Passing Through My Ghetto07 - Bigg Robb feat. Kurtis Blow & Sure2B – Money08 - Sway Peñala - I'm A WreckFeatured Interview:09 - Richard Earnshaw Interview presented by Soulinterviews.comSECOND HOURQuiet Storm and Downtempo Soul:01 - Keith Sweat - It's All About You02 - Keith Washington - Make Time For Love03 - The Manhattans - Why You Wanna Love Me Like That04 - Alexander O'Neal - If You Were Here Tonight05 - The S.O.S. Band - Tell Me If You Still care06 - Change - Say You Love Me Again07 - Robert Brookins - Come To Me08 - Robert Brookins - Hold On09 - Robert Brookins & Stephanie Mills - Where Is The Love10 - Gladys Knight - If You Only Knew11 - Howard Hewett - I'm For Real12 - Liz Hogue - Dream Lover13 - Glenn Jones - Show MeSky Digital Channel 0129 and Solarradio.comUS SLOT: Sundays at  9 pm (Eastern) 8 pm (Central) 6 pm (Pacific)UK SLOT: Mondays at 2 am (GMT) JAPAN SLOT: Mondays at 11 am (JST) FIRST HOURCurrent Releases:00 - Astral22 - Soulswede Theme Song (Monodeluxe Souly Radio Remix)01 - Kendrick Jackson - Perfect 1002 - Wadz feat. Leon Beal - We Can Make It03 - Kenny Wesley - Serenity04 - Walter Christopher - So Amazing05 - Inaya Day & Ralf GUM - Lose My Worries (Original Mix)06 - Karen A Clark - Passing Through My Ghetto07 - Bigg Robb feat. Kurtis Blow & Sure2B – Money08 - Sway Peñala - I'm A WreckFeatured Interview:09 - Richard Earnshaw Interview presented by Soulinterviews.comSECOND HOURQuiet Storm and Downtempo Soul:01 - Keith Sweat - It's All About You02 - Keith Washington - Make Time For Love03 - The Manhattans - Why You Wanna Love Me Like That04 - Alexander O'Neal - If You Were Here Tonight05 - The S.O.S. Band - Tell Me If You Still care06 - Change - Say You Love Me Again07 - Robert Brookins - Come To Me08 - Robert Brookins - Hold On09 - Robert Brookins & Stephanie Mills - Where Is The Love10 - Gladys Knight - If You Only Knew11 - Howard Hewett - I'm For Real12 - Liz Hogue - Dream Lover13 - Glenn Jones - Show MeSky Digital Channel 0129 and Solarradio.comUS SLOT: Sundays at  9 pm (Eastern) 8 pm (Central) 6 pm (Pacific)UK SLOT: Mondays at 2 am (GMT) JAPAN SLOT: Mondays at 11 am (JST) http://soulinterviews.com/podcasts/solarradio16082010.mp3 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:20:27 +0200