Posts Tagged ‘Monica’

New LL COOL J Song Featuring Brad Paisley “Live For You” Released From LL’s Upcoming Album AUTHENTIC Out On April 30, 2013

AUTHENTIC comes to life with rock-hip-hop anthems, crazy club jams, tender tracks, personal tributes, and hard-hitting commentary addressing the current hip-hop climate.

NEW YORK, April 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Grammy^®-winning recording artist LL COOL J has released his new song ”Live For You,” featuring Academy of Country Music Award winner Brad Paisley, from LL’s upcoming 14^th studio Album, AUTHENTIC, out on April 30, 2013.

To hear the unexpected love song, which features a soulful guitar and bass-leaning mid-tempo Hip-Hop/R&B sound, visit: http://bit.ly/LL-LiveForYou. The song was written and produced by LL COOL J and Jaylien.

The multi-platinum artist returned to the studio and kicked the volume up to create a powerful new album that came from his true passion for music and would speak to his fans. AUTHENTIC features a diverse and wide array of legendary and new artists that underscore the Album’s roots of being born out of the true love for music, including, Brad Paisley, Bootsy Collins, Chuck D,  Charlie Wilson, Eddie Van Halen, Earth, Wind & Fire, Monica, Snoop Dogg, Seal, Travis Barker and many more. Collectively these artists have achieved tremendous success in music, including many Grammy^® Awards, multi-platinum albums, American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions and nominations, NAACP Awards, and Country Music Awards, among many other accolades.

AUTHENTIC comes to life with rock-hip-hop anthems, crazy club jams, tender tracks, personal tributes, and hard-hitting commentary addressing the current hip-hop climate. The Album, out on 429 Records/The Savoy Label Group, is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com, iTunes and Target. Fans have gotten an early taste of the musically diverse and genre defying AUTHENTIC with the release of the Album tracks “We Came To Party” feat. Snoop Dogg & Fatman Scoop and “We’re The Greatest” featuring Eddie Van Halen and Travis Barker, a thunderous rock/rap anthem which includes symbolic lyrics, frenetic, over the top guitar licks played with reckless abandon and solid drum beats.

On the heels of the release of LL’s new album, LL will tour this summer all across the country in support of AUTHENTIC. For a full list of LL’s dates and cities, and to purchase tickets, visit here.

First introduced to the world in 1984 as a Def Jam Records flagship artist, LL is the first rap artist to amass ten consecutive platinum-plus selling albums.  The multi-platinum artist and two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee is currently tied for third place for the most Billboard chart debuts by a rapper. For three decades, LL has continued to influence hip-hop with rap ballads that captivate generations of audiences. Since then, the veteran rapper has evolved his scope of work across entertainment appearing in numerous television and film roles, among many other projects.

AUTHENTIC was recorded in Los Angeles and is Executive Produced by LL COOL J. 429 Records and LL COOL J, Inc. joined together to release the Album. For more information, details and updates, visit ­­­­www.LLCOOLJ.com, Facebook.com/LLCOOLJ, Twitter.com/LLCOOLJ and Twitter.com/TeamLLGoat.

ABOUT LL COOL J
LL COOL J is an entertainment icon who has found great success crossing into multiple mediums.  A two-time Grammy^® Award winner, recording artist, talented actor, New York Times best-selling author, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur and philanthropist, LL continues to display his wide range of talents with every project.  LL currently stars on one of the consistently highest rated shows on television, the CBS hit primetime drama series, “NCIS: LOS ANGELES.” His performance on the show has garnered him a NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series” three years in a row (2011 – 2013) for his role as ‘Special Agent Sam Hanna,’ which can now be seen in more than 200 countries.

ABOUT 429 RECORDS
429 Records is a unit of The Savoy Label Group (SLG).  SLG is the North American based division of Nippon Columbia the oldest music company in Japan.  The Savoy Label Group has evolved into a Grammy Award winning and chart topping independent music company consistently outperforming competitors in key music categories as monitored by Billboard Magazine. The Savoy Label Group is led by Steve Vining and is based in Los Angeles, CA. For more information visit: www.429records.com

SOURCE 429 Records

Web Site: http://www.429records.com

See larger image Authentic (Audio CD) List Price: $15.98 USD New From: $8.70 In Stock Used from: $7.29 In Stock Release date April 30, 2013.

Family of R&B Singer/Songwriter Vesta Williams Speaks Personally Upon Her Passing

Beloved Singer Suddenly Passes Away Prior To Moving Into New Home – Funeral Services To Take Place on Tuesday, October 4th in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 29, 2011

"As a entertainer, performing artist and singer - "V" (Vesta Williams) was the total package." - Manager, Iris Perkins

On Thursday September 22, singer/songwriter Vesta Williams (53) was found dead in her El Segundo, California hotel room. Best known for her 1988 classic “Congratulations” (#1 R&B in Radio & Records #5 Billboard), Williams was staying in the hotel as she prepared to move.into a new home that weekend.

In a statement prepared by Williams’ family, they express:

“After many years of sharing her God-given gifts and talents with the world, we have lost our beloved daughter, sister and mother, Vesta. Due to the uncertainty of her passing we are awaiting toxicology and autopsy results to shed light on what may have caused her death. We take extreme comfort in the cherished times that we shared with Vesta over the years, and the knowledge that her life brought joy and happiness to so many people around the world. Our family requests that the media please respect our privacy during this difficult time. Although she is gone, her music lives on. Vesta will never be forgotten.”

Born Mary Vesta Williams on December 1, 1957 in Coshocton, Ohio, she was the first born child to Hugh Williams and his wife Joan. In the mid 60’s Mr. Williams a disc jockey/ broadcaster went on to become the first African American to anchor TV news in Los Angeles. In the `70s, Vesta put her powerful 4-octave vocal range to work first as a member of the show group Wild Honey led by Ron Townson of The 5th Dimension followed by tours with Bobby Womack, the Commodores and Chaka Khan and session singing that stretched from Anita Baker to Gordon Lightfoot, Julio Iglesias and Sting..

A chance meeting with executive John McClain evolved into Vesta signing with A&M Records. Williams bowed in 1986 with the album Vesta and single “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” Her second album, Vesta 4 U (1988) yielded her signature, “Congratulations,” co-penned by Vesta, Gary Prim and Tena Clark. Additionally, it was Vesta’s concerts – which showcased her comedic instincts, celebrity impressions and defiantly flirty nature…for a “big girl” – that won over fans. More hits followed such as “Sweet, Sweet Love,” “Special”, (#2 R&B in Billboard) and “Always,” but Vesta’s gifts were taking her places.

One was the big screen where she played saloon singer “Vera” in the 1993 western “Posse.” On the television sitcom “Sister Sister,” she played “Monica.” Her voice enlivened commercial jingles such as Diet Coke, Baskin-Robbins, and Nike and the most memorably with jazz vocal icon Al Jarreau singing “The Big Mac Scat” for McDonalds. Vesta also took a six-figure job as a member of a radio morning show team at KRNB-FM 105.7 in Dallas..

A slim, trim and positive Vesta returned in 1998 on guitarist Lee Ritenour’s i.e. music imprint with the concept album Relationships. Vesta co-composed 10 of the 11 songs plus sang “You and I” by one of her greatest musical influences, Stevie Wonder. In smooth jazz, Vesta toured with Fourplay and graced recordings with Will Downing, Najee and Norman Brown.. In straight ahead jazz, Vesta recorded with Christian McBride.

Inspirational at heart, Vesta flexed her gospel roots in concert with the great Bobby Jones and also recorded the touching “Bless This Child” for the Christmas CD, Mother & Child reuniting her with Tena Clark.

Vesta’s last CD was 2007’s Distant Lover for Shanachie singing soul classics. She also recorded an as-yet-unreleased CD for Stimuli titled Seven. In between, Vesta remained on the road. Iris Perkins, Vesta’s friend and longtime manager reminisces, “Even without a record deal, we were able to keep Vesta’s concert calendar booked solid. ‘V’ was the total package.”

TV One’s “Unsung” is devoting an episode to Vesta, she was in the mist of completing her interviews at the time of her sudden death, the show will air in the fall.

Gifted, funny, sexy, generous, ever-so-real and oh-so-underrated, Vesta will be deeply missed.

Vesta Williams is survived by her daughter – Tandia White, her mother – Joan W. Tate, her sisters – Margaret Wilson, Martaé Collins and Marlena Robinson, and her grandchildren – Taya McNeil, Alexia McNeil and Brendon White.

Funeral services are as follows:

West Angeles Church of God and Christ
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
11:00AM
3045 Crenshaw Blvd. (North Campus)
Los Angeles, CA 90016

For gifts other than flowers, please contact: 951.278.9634

Monica Adds More Rhythm and a Touch of Blues to Reggae Rhythm & Blues in NYC

Grammy-Award winning singer added to Labor Day Weekend music festival.

New York, NY (PRWEB) August 14, 2011

Grammy award winning singer, actress and entrepreneur Monica is set to heat up the inaugural Reggae Rhythm & Blues Festival in the Big Apple this Labor Day weekend. The soulful siren will take the stage with ten-time Grammy award winner Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds as the festival’s Rhythm & Blues headliners at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens on Sunday, September 4th.

Monica, whose latest single “Anything (To Find You)” with Rick Ross and Lil Kim is burning its way up the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart, established herself as a musical force when her break-out hit “Don’t Take It Personal” topped the R&B/Hip Hop chart in 1995. At the tender age of 15, she became the youngest female ever to have two singles back-to-back hit #1 on the Billboard R&B chart. To date she has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, earning aGrammy Award for 1998’s “The Boy is Mine” with Brandy, and a spot on Billboard’s Top Artists of the Year chart in 2010. She has been featured on television sitcoms Living Single, Beverly Hills 90210, and Felicity, and in 2009 landed a reality series of her own, Monica: Still Standing, on Black Entertainment Television (BET). Her 2010 album Still Standing debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200.

In addition to Babyface Edmonds, Monica will share the Reggae Rhythm & Blues stage with Dancehall superstar Mavado, acclaimed Roots Reggae crooner Tarrus Riley, and Soca King Machel Montano. The ‘King of the Dancehall’ Beenie Man will make a special Reggae Rhythm & Blues appearance to collect a lifetime achievement award.

“Monica is great addition to Reggae Rhythm & Blues – she has a soulful, yet sassy style that crosses several genres,” says Reggae Rhythm & Blues organizer Robert ‘Bobby’ Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Media Group. “Monica is Soul/R&B singer with a Hip Hop edge, which provides the perfect balance between Babyface Edmonds and Mavado. She fits in perfectly.”

Reggae Rhythm & Blues is a day-long celebration of New York City’s melting pot of sound, held the day before the City’s annual West-Indian American Day Carnival. The festival kicks off on Sunday, September 4th at Roy Wilkins Park in Jamaica, NY. For tickets and more information, contact 888-474-3692 or visit http://www.reggaerhythmandblues.com

For media inquiries, contact Raine Martin at 877-898-0078 or media(at)rainepr(dot)com.