Akosua Report: Stephanie Mills

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March 22, 2013

Songstress Stephanie Mills. (Google Images)

“I’ve been up and I’ve been down , until you helped me put my feet on solid ground ; I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor, then you showed me that there’s so much more  than the rat race and the fast pace  could ever offer me.” Lyrics from the song ‘Something in the Way You Make Me Feel’

STEPHANIE MILLS, SINGER

Stephanie Dorthea Mills, Grammy Award winning singer and Broadway star, was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 22, 1957. Mills appeared in her first play at the age of nine and two years later won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times. Mills made her Broadway debut in 1968 in the musical “Maggie Flynn” and in 1973 she recorded her first single, “I Knew It Was Love.” Mills’ career took off in 1974 when she portrayed Dorothy in “The Wiz,” for which she received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a musical. Also in 1974, Mills released her debut album, “Movin’ In the Right Direction.” In 1979, Mills had her first gold album with “What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin” and that was followed by “Sweet Sensation” (1980). That album featured “Never Knew Love like This Before,” which earned Mills a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, female.

In the 1970s, Mills was briefly married to Shalamar’s Jeffrey Daniels and dated legendary singer Michael Jackson. Mills had several hits throughout the 1980s and 1990s including “I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love”, “I Feel Good All Over,” and “The Comfort of a Man.” Mills, a born-again Christian, withdrew from the limelight in the 1990s, reemerging in 2000 with singles featuring BeBe Winans and rap artist DMX. In 2004, Mills independently-released the album Born For This on Expansion Records in the UK. She tours regularly.

The Akosua Report: Facts on The African Diaspora, is written by Akosua Lowery. Follow her on Twitter @AkosuaLowery.

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Chinua Achebe: African Literary Giant Dies at 82

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TheBurtonWire

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March 22, 2013

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African literary giant Chinua Achebe has died after a brief illness. He was 82.

Jonathan Kandell of the New York Times is reporting that literary great Chinua Achebe has died after a brief illness. Kandell writes:

“Besides novels, Mr. Achebe’s works included powerful essays and poignant short stories and poems rooted in the countryside and cities of his native Nigeria, before and after independence from British colonial rule. His most memorable fictional characters were buffeted and bewildered by the conflicting pulls of traditional African culture and invasive Western values.

For inspiration, Mr. Achebe drew on his own family history as part of the Ibo nation of southeastern Nigeria, a people victimized by the racism of British colonial administrators and then by the brutality of military dictators from other Nigerian ethnic groups.

Mr. Achebe burst onto the world literary scene with the publication in 1958 of his first novel, “Things Fall Apart,” which sold millions of copies and was translated into 45 different languages.”

There are few details surrounding the literary giant’s death as this story is still developing. Mr. Achebe was 82.

Read more at The New York Times. Check back later for an original post about Mr. Achebe’s work on The Burton Wire.

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Lianne La Havas Talks Musical Journey: 'There's Art in Me'

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TheBurtonWire

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March 22, 2013

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Rising star Lianne La Havas discusses her musical journey. (Alex Lake) — Rising star Lianne La Havas discusses her musical journey. (Photo Credit: Alex Lake)

At first glance, Lianne La Havas’ Instagram and website show photos of her audience. Even more impressive, after her shows, she takes pride in taking time to interact with the very same people.

To the 23-year-old Greco-Jamaican, South London-born singer/songwriter, the fans come first. Onstage, she gives her all: bristly poofy curls and a Danelectro Silvertone guitar by her side. Her vocals are rich with flavor: pouring a buttery smooth, vibrato-heavy jazz style over raw, syrupy chord deliveries.

On her cascading first single, “Lost & Found,” La Havas delivers a heartbreaking performance singing about low self-esteem resulting from a failed relationship. Her debut LP, Is Your Love Big Enough?, combines freshly-squeezed folk, rock, pop, gospel and R&B/soul elements into a delectable musical spread, and it’s paying off. She received the 2012 Barclaycard Mercury Prize, BBC Sound of 2012 nominations and ranked as iTunes Album of the Year for 2012.

Speaking via phone with La Havas who had just performed in Manchester, UK, the multitalented performer, with infectious spirit and a delightful British accent, spoke excitedly about her 18-city U.S. tour. La Havas has her heart set on making new friends, one day meeting President Obama and winning a Grammy Award. “It’s me singing about my life using my voice the best way I know how. I sing with the rhythms. There’s art in me. It’s all a part of being creative,” says La Havas.

La Havas originally played piano as a child but graduated to the guitar at age 18. She originally wanted to be an art teacher: enrolling in Croydon’s Norbury Manor Business & Enterprise College for Girls. Ultimately deciding to pursue music full-time, La Havas sang background for singer/actress Paloma Faith and recorded two EPs, Lost & Found and Forget, in 2011. Her transition from art teacher to performer is continuing to pay off.

La Havas’ talents landed her an invitation to jam with Prince in Minneapolis at Paisley Park. Stevie Wonder sat in on one of her gigs and expressed his admiration. Another one of La Havas’s idols, Jill Scott, gave the singer praise after hearing her cover of “He Loves Me (Lyzel in ‘E’ Flat).”

Along the way, La Havas has opened for Bon Iver, Robert Plant, Alicia Keys and Erykah Badu. “It’s all about connecting with the people that support the records. I sing the songs to the best of my ability. I make it so that the music and the lyrics are the most important things.” says La Havas.

La Havas would like to eventually produce and develop new artists. Even with unquestionable drive, ambition and enthusiasm, her success all comes as a shock to her. “It’s such an amazing concept that so many people have discovered music in some way and want to come and hear it. I always can’t believe that people all came to the show in the first place. Sometimes when I think I haven’t played that well, I still feel happy. I would like to be making music as long as possible,” says La Havas.

Christopher A. Daniel is a pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.

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Lianne La Havas Talks Musical Journey: ‘There’s Art in Me’