People are still talking about gospel singer Erica Campbell’s tighter-than-tight white dress, to be featured on her upcoming solo album. She and her sister, Tina, comprise the hitmaking contemporary gospel duo Mary Mary.
Campbell’s detractors say the dress, hair and boots are distracting and project sex.
But Campbell, 41, fired back, “I’m taking it in stride and I’m keeping it moving. When we took the picture, I felt beautiful, I felt confident, I felt sexy and I felt strong. But it obviously offended some people, which was never my intention.
“This is about confidence and realizing that God made you and that you are beautiful just the way you are. I think that young girls shouldn’t only get sexy images from people who are not proclaiming Jesus.”
Then she added jokingly (?), “But I am, and I’m cute too!”
Campbell is supported by the lovely gospel superstar Yolanda Adams who said, “We can’t walk around wearing sheets and moomoos.”
Sex appeal, though seldom discussed, is nothing new in the gospel world. When the iconic Sam Cooke was a popular gospel singer in the 1950s, young ladies used to fantasize and scream at his concerts.
SCHERRIE PAYNE, formerly of the Supremes and Detroit’s own, sent yours truly a video clip of the legendary and truly amazing Nicholas Brothers performing with Michael and nearly all of his brothers and sisters (Marlon, Tito, Rebbie, Jackie, Randy, La Toya, Randy and Janet) on their variety show that aired in 1976-77.
The only one not there was Jermaine who was still under contract to Motown at that time.
The performance is nothing short of incredible. If you want to see it, just go to YouTube.com and enter “Nicholas Brothers and Jacksons.”
Watching it once will not be enough.
BEYONCE is likely to have the most successful album in the history of her solo career with her self-titled visual album. Amazingly, she recorded 80 songs for consideration, ultimately choosing the 14 “that were effortless for me.”
Speaking of young ladies who make a lot of money, Quvenzhané Wallis, the 10-year-old actress who is the youngest to ever receive an Academy Award nomination in the Best Actress category, for her work in “Beasts of the Southern World,” will be paid $750,000 as the lead in the Black remake of “Annie.”
Also in the movie are Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. Will they both make as much as the little star? Just asking!
As the legendary Tina Turner sits back and enjoys her semi-retirement, something she will never forget is that 1988 concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she performed for an audience of more than 180,000! Now that’s what you call a massive turnout!
Dr. Lisa Masterson has left the popular daytime TV show “The Doctors,” but in her place is another African-American female doctor, Rachael Ross. Masterson was there from 2008 to 2013.
Detroit’s own Dianne Steinberg Lewis, singer-educator and daughter of the legendary Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg, performed in Las Vegas recently. She hopes to perform in Detroit sometime soon.
Singer-actor Tyrese (Gibson), most recently seen in “Black Nativity,” revealed recently to EurWeb that he is not interested in being “an A-list star” because of all the pressure that comes with it. However, he also noted that he hopes to have the career longevity of megastar Denzel Washington. He said, “I won’t feel like I’ve made it as an actor until I work with Denzel.”
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that the 1966 national superhit “Cool Jerk” by Detroit’s Capitols featured Motown’s famed house band, the Funk Brothers. That “kinda-sorta” makes it a “Motown” record.
MEMORIES: “The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage” (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles), “Here and Now” (Luther Vandross), “I Can’t Stand the Rain” (Ann Peebles), “Mighty Love” (the Spinners), “17” (Rick James), “Don’t Play That Song” (Aretha Franklin), “On and On” (Gladys Knight & the Pips), “Your Song” (Elton John), “Save the Best For Last” (Vanessa Williams), “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” (the Dramatics), “Hello Stranger” (Barbara Lewis), “Kiss and Say Goodbye” (the Manhattans).
BLESSINGS to David Humphries, Louvain Demps, Eric Merchant, Donafay Collins, Kathleen Smith, Austin Sanders, Rhea Sanders, Ken Donaldson, Carol Smith Dixon and Charles Clark.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Alan Cohen: “Stand in your power and be what you are. The people who care about you will respect you for your integrity. And as for the others, do you really need their approval?”
Let the music play!
Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
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