We are pleased to welcome Blues Journey to Our Family of Independent Music Shows.
Tommie Brewster has been a musician all her life, since reaching up to the piano keys before age 4 and going on to study classical piano and gain a doctorate in music. She plays several other instruments and creates, sings and plays her own original music. She has released two blues albums, a double album of other genres and a spoken word album all on CDBaby. Find Tommie on Facebook.
Blues is the genre that speaks loudest to Tommie and she is proud to be an inducted member of the US Blues Hall of Fame and have her work added to the National Cultural Archive of New Zealandwhere she lives. She also is a professional member of the British Academy of Songwriters and has a catalogue of over 400 songs.
Tommie has been broadcasting blues shows and interviews for eight years and is particularly keen to present to her audiences the many different styles and eras of blues from way back when to right now, with an emphasis given to including her fellow independent musicians in the shows. There is a dedicated website at ttmradionetwork for her Blues Journey shows.
We couldn’t think of a better person to spend time with on the show of Conversation 2015. We had the pleasure of speaking with and getting to know R&B Icon Chris Jasper.
If you are familiar with THE ISLEY BROTHERS, then you have heard the music of CHRIS JASPER, who was primarily responsible for writing and producing all of THE ISLEY BROTHERS music during this time, including such beautiful love songs as “For The Love of You” and “Between the Sheets” and uptempo funk such as “Fight the Power.” His arrangements and instrumentation as a classically-trained musician, and his expertise on the keyboards and synthesizers, are the foundation of the legendary “Isley Brothers Sound.” When the six members of THE ISLEY BROTHERS disbanded (1984), Marvin and Ernie Isley joined CHRIS JASPER and formed ISLEY-JASPER-ISLEY. Without this crucial musical component, THE ISLEY BROTHERS were no longer a self-produced, self-contained group.
CHRIS JASPER brought his “unique sound” and musical talents to ISLEY-JASPER-ISLEY, and topped the charts singing lead vocals on “Caravan of Love” (1985), a song that was covered by English recording group, the Housemartins, an international #1 pop hit. “Caravan” was also used in commercials as part of a Dodge Caravan advertising campaign. He was also awarded a CEBA Award For Excellence for a Miller Brewing Company commercial. The music for that commercial formed the basis for “Brother to Brother” from the “Different Drummer” album, which supported the anti-apartheid struggle going on in South Africa at that time. His music has also been used in radio and television commercials, most recently “Who’s That Lady” (Swiffer) and “Between The Sheets” (L’Oreal).
When ISLEY-JASPER-ISLEY disbanded (1987), CHRIS JASPER brought his “unique sound” to his own solo projects, topping the charts with “SuperBad,” a song promoting the value of education. CHRIS JASPER has continued to write songs and produce his own R&B/Gospel music, as well as other artists, for his independent record label, Gold City Records (www.goldcitymusic.com).
It was a treat t discuss his music and music in general. We can’t wait to hear music from is son, Mike Jasper. Enjoy the interview and then go buy the music. You can find out more by liking his Facebook page. or visiting the Gold City Music Website.
It was such a pleasure to welcome Frank McComb to Conversations, It was like seeing an old friend after a long absence, even though we’d never met. That’s the personality of the Man. He is a people person. He has been on stage and in studio with some of the Musical Elite, yet, he’s just Frank McComb. Take a listen to the interview, then check out more Frank McComb via these links,
I had the privilege of being at Sugar Bar when some of these scenes were shot, unfortunately I was all the way in the back having gotten a late start from Maryland but I saw it and I did get to meet Valerie Simpson, I would have loved to meet Natalie Cole but Sister had an early morning back in the DMV. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. Take a look and a listen and then go get your copy from CDBaby.
