Beyoncé, alone and with Destiny’s Child, has been turning out hit records since 1997, and as they used to say on radio back in the day, “the hits just keep on comin’.”
When you examine the sales and chart performance of those singles, you find that Beyoncé’s Top 10 hits are: 1) “Independent Women,” 2) “Irreplaceable,” 3) “Baby Boy,” 4) “Crazy In Love,” 5) “Check On It,” 6) “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” 7) “Jumpin’, Jumpin’,” 8) “Say My Name,” (9) “Lose My Breath,” 10) “Survivor.”
SPEAKING of “greatest hits,” those two words have been commonplace in the recording industry for a very long time, but they were first used in 1958.
The legendary Johnny Mathis had a huge-selling album titled “Johnny’s Greatest Hits,” and the words caught on immediately. And it should also be noted that the album stayed on the national best-selling albums chart for a phenomenal 490 weeks!
Another legendary singer, Chaka Khan (real name: Yvette Stevens), got the thrill of a lifetime recently when a street was named in her honor in her native Chicago.
“This is the biggest honor I have ever received,” said the 10-time Grammy winner.
“To have a street named after you in the third largest city in the country is a big deal. I never would have imagined that I would have been granted this honor.”
VISUALLY speaking, one of he oddest television pairings is that of Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, co-hosts of “Live! With Kelly And Michael.” He’s this giant, Black former pro football player, and although she is 5’ 3”, her petite build makes her look tiny next to him.
It’s hard to imagine any woman or girl wanting a rear end as oversized as that of the “colorful” Nicki Minaj, but apparently she thinks there are some. That’s one of the reason she has made an exercise video called “Extreme Twerk-Out.” (Yes, that’s the title!)
Said Minaj: “If you want to look amazing, you can’t just work out, you’ve gotta twerk-out!” (Yeah, right!)
Michelle Williams, singer-actress and former member of Destiny Child, noted that being on the road in show business results in large sacrifices having to be made with one’s family and friends back home. Such as missing weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
IT’S STRANGE and sad that the iconic Harry Belafonte has had a falling out with the family of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and is, in fact, suing the King estate.
Belafonte was planning to put up for auction some documents given to him by King, but Dexter, Bernice and Martin III blocked it.
Dr. King would be so disappointed by the poor behavior of his power hungry, greedy children. But one also has to wonder why Belafonte wanted to sell these historic gifts. Hopefully, the proceeds were been earmarked for charity.
LL Cool J and Chic are among the 16 acts nominated for 2014 inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And it’s nice that Barry White recently got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but it would have been a whole lot nicer if the honor had come while he was still with us.
Which brings to mind how Kanye West could possibly believe that his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, deserves a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce turned her down because she is a reality TV celebrity rather than an accomplished actress, singer, director or whatever.
Sorry to hear about the health challenges being faced by LaToya Pearson, best known as the commentator for the “Hair Wars” shows. We have been informed that a fundraiser/tribute is being planned for Nov. 24 at the Key Club in downtown Detroit. More details are forthcoming.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that Kenneth “Babyface” Edmunds got his nickname from William “Bootsy” Collins.
MEMORIES: “Miss You Like Crazy” (Natalie Cole), “Boogie Oogie Oogie” (A Taste of Honey), “Very Special” (Debra Laws), “All Around the World” (Lisa Stansfield), “I Was Made to Love Her” (Stevie Wonder), “You’re Number One (In My Book)” (Gladys Knight & the Pips), “I Love Your Smile” (Shanice), “Enjoy Yourself” (the Jacksons), “Treat Her Like a Lady” (the Temptations).
BLESSINGS to Kimmie Horne, Anthony Braceful, Robin Larkin, Milton Larkin, Ronald E. Childs, Edgar Vann, Gerald W. Smith, Sylvia Moy, Brian Spears, Marie Bryant, Herb Boyd, Leni Sinclair and Barrett Strong.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Jay Leno: “You can’t stay mad at somebody who makes you laugh.”
Let the music play!
Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.