Labelle (Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash) once recorded a song with a powerful message titled “Good Intentions.”
The lyrics said bluntly, “If you can’t come through when the going gets tough, your good intentions just ain’t good enough.”
How true that is. Talking a good game is one thing. Delivering what is needed is something altogether different.
The unbelievably horrendous Haiti situation has resulted in certain wealthy celebrities showing what they are really made of, and that is wonderful.
Hats off to Oprah Winfrey for donating $1 million, and to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (together), Sandra Bullock and George Clooney for doing the same. Tiger Woods reportedly contributed much more than that.
Among others who have put their money where their mouth is are Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Timberlake, Quincy Jones, Ben Stiller, Madonna, Adam Lambert, Sting, Matt Damon, Lindsay Lohan and Sting.
Praises to them and other “monied” celebrities.
But it always disturbs me a little that rich White celebrities have a tendency to more quickly reach into their wallets and pocketbooks than their rich Black counterparts.
Let’s hope that many of them have given generously, but done so anonymously or with the stipulation that it not be publicized. That, too, would be admirable, but often when people hear that famous people have made donations, it inspires them to do likewise. And every dollar counts.
IT WAS a surprise to hear that Donnie Simpson would be ending his 32-year run on WPGC-FM, in Washington, D.C.
Simpson, of course, started out as a “Soul Teen Reporter” on WJLB, representing Denby High School, and later became one of that station’s most highly rated personalities. From there he went to Washington (WKYS, then WPGC) and for many years also hosted the “Video Soul” program on BET.
Unfortunately, Simpson and WPGC had a falling out, so it wasn’t an amicable separation.
Interestingly, Donnie “the Luv Bug” Simpson’s first print publicity was in this newspaper, the interview conducted by yours truly. I knew he was going to be a radio (and TV) star. He was perfect for it.
JILL SCOTT is among the music world notables who can be fully appreciated because she is something that is not as common as it should be: She is a true artist.
Scott’s fans will not have to wait too much longer for a new album. “The Light of the Sun” is set for summer release.
It is interesting that when Brian McKnight performs at Caesars Windsor on March 6, his special guest will be Take 6. Brian’s brother, Claude V. McKnight III, is a member of the incredible a cappella group.
One of our readers thinks it would be intriguing, and musically groundbreaking, if Prince were to perform with a symphony orchestra. I agree.
Keena Green, who was the amazing and unique lead singer of the Detroit-based group Sweet Obsession, is expected to have an album in the stores sometime in the near future. Hopefully sooner than later. She is awesome.
SHAUN ROBINSON, as beautiful as she is talented and ambitious,