In many circles, Bernie Worrell needs no introduction. From his work as a founding member and Musical Director of Parliament-Funkadelic to his contributions to the Talking Heads, Worrell has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Indeed, songs such as “Burning Down the House” and “Flashlight” wouldn’t have been the same without him, and Worrell’s keyboard prowess has only grown since those classic recordings. As one of the most sampled musicians in history, Worrell’s funky licks have graced hit songs by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, Ice Cube, En Vogue and more. “One generation needs to segue to the next generation. So now I work with the sons and daughters, and we coincide.”


Interview by Scott Preston read more on Cincy Groove

LEROY burgess latest return to public awareness is a double-headed affair ? first as co-writer, with his regular partner Sonny Davenport, on the new single from Intrique (he also wrote their 1985 debut, "Fly Girl") which is entitled "Together Forever" and released on the Cooltempo label while, secondly, he teams up with his two old buddies the Aleem brothers for their new album together on Atlantic entitled "Love Shock". Aleem aside for one moment ? something that is a bit too easily done on the new album for my liking ? the Intrique project is a classic example of how Leroy has used his wealth of experience and talent to keep his name buzzing around the R&B scene to good effect for such a long time.

It's one of those times in Larry Blackmon's pretty long, fairly illustrious career when everything must seem to be happening so frustratingly slowly.

Last year saw his band Cameo consolidate ten years of powerful, consistent music with their biggest selling album to date, "Single Life" — not to mention their first hit singles in the U.K., "Single Life" and "She's Strange" — and it now seemed that, at last, Cameo were destined for true international recognition.

The phone rings at exactly 2:30pm on a sunny L.A. afternoon, and for any interview to begin precisely on time is, to say the least, unusual. On the other end of the line is Reginald McArthur, lead singer of The Controllers, the Alabama-based group whose recording career began in 1975 with the ever-soulful "Somebody's Gotta Win, Somebody's Gotta Lose".
Minutes later, we're joined by baritone Lenard Brown for a three-way conversation centred around the release of the quartet's first album for Capitol Records, appropriately entitled, "Just In Time".

The music we listen to is an ever-changing thing with shifts and moves that can be as logical as they are confusing, but there will always remain throughout the evolution certain constants ? things that will remain familiar and reassuring.

Grover Washington Jnr's music is one of those constants and for well over a decade the great saxophonist has been creating a sound that has transcended fads and fancies and remained simply ... Grover.
Grover is currently plying his music around a good proportion of his country's fifty-two States and it was the morning after one such date in Georgia that we caught up with the Buffalo, New York native to discuss a brand new album for a brand new label.

Pieces Of A Dream is emerging as a highly pertinent tag for the supremely talented group of musicians who create music under that banner.

For the generation of black music fans of the last decade, it has been a personal pleasure to watch this band emerge and develop 'before our very eyes', so to speak.

They came together as teenagers under the guiding hand of mentor Grover Washington Jr. (probably as big an inspiration as any for the enthusiast who's spread his wings wider than the commercial edge of the genre), and started playing a form of jazz that introduced all the musical aspects this generation has enjoyed into one sound. Pieces Of A Dream almost personified what — in this country at least — was considered best in black music, and they became as a mirror for the music's followers.

This week I saw a nice interview with Teddy Riley in a music magazine of 1992.  He talks about  Michael Jackson, Guy, {safm}Bobby Brown{/safm} and the keyboards, drum computers he used in various New Jack Swing productions. A nice interview to read. Especially if you like Teddy Riley.

 Mark

It's not very often that a group hits the top spot on any chart with their first record but Levert (Sean and Gerald Levert and Marc Gordon) did just that last year with "(Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind" when the record, taken from their debut album entitled "Bloodline", became a black music No. 1. A little over a year later, with a solid stint on the road behind them, Levert are threatening to repeat their initial success with "Casanova", the insistent, hypnotic ditty produced by Reggie Calloway.

Michael's (Jackson that is) more-then-ever anxiously awaited album is said to be now scheduled for an April release. If that is the case, the first single offshoot might possibly be a track called "Bad" which is featured in the new Jackson Pepsi ads which are shortly about to be screened nationally across America.
However, another "well informed" source suggests that Mikey will return with a duet which leads to speculation as to what odds the duet he allegedly recorded with Barbra Streisand. The whole world waits with bated breath!

• Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops, despite picking up excellent reviews as the voice of the people-eating plant Audrey II in the American hit film 'Little Shop Of Horrors', has no plans to pursue a movie career and discounts rumours about a sequel. The veteran singer insists that he is and always will be a Top first and foremost but was grateful to the other group members for the time off to record the role.
Levi admits that he was sceptical at first of his ability to satisfy the general technical demands of the work which involved adopting the voice of a pod that grows to sixty feet!
Movie producer, David Geffen, picked the Top for the role after seeing the group on Live Aid. Seemingly, he wanted someone with an earthy, streetwise approach but who could also be nice and cuddly at the same time. Meanwhile, Levi and the other Tops are preparing for their forthcoming Motown album — their 35th!

•  The first annual Soul Train Music Awards are scheduled to take place later this month at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles and will focus on all popular forms of black music and will be co-hosted by Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross. Performances by Whitney Houston, Al Jarreau, Cameo, Run DMC, George Duke, David Sanborn and the James Cleveland Singers are scheduled.

•  Some very positive reports coming through from varying sources for the new Al Green album on A&M. Aptly titled "Soul Survivor", indications are that the soulster is heading for a major return to popularity following a period of low profile during his gospel-only recordings. First single from the album is "Everything's Gonna Be Alright".

•  Veteran Charles Brown, who recorded several R&B standards — "Merry Christmas Baby", "Driftin' Blues" and "Please Come Home For Christmas" — is back Stateside with "One More For The Road" on Blue Side Records.
The singer, whose peak period was between 1946 and 1952 when he notched up nine top ten hits, is said to have influenced many artists including Ray Charles, Bobby Bland and Sam Cooke no less.
•  Patrice Rushen debuts on Arista with an album "Watch Out" which includes the title track single.
•  Prince's upcoming album is the double set "Sign O' The Times" which, according to US reports reverts back with some effect to his earlier and many would say superior albums "Controversy" and "1999".
•  Included on the upcoming Dionne Warwick album on Arista are duets with Kashif and Smokey Robinson.
•  Aficionados of the classic 'Animal House' film will recall the splendid performance of Otis Day & The Knights and their lively version of the Isley's "Shout". So successful was their appearance in the movie that the group fronted by Otis Day (alias actor DeWayne Jessie) have been in constant demand in clubs and fraternity parties ever since. That success is now hoped to become consolidated on vinyl with a new recording deal with MCA Records. The debut recording will be supervised by none other than . . . George Clinton.
•  Jackson, Tennessee soulsters, Lanier & Co have their first British release out on Threeway Records, the Willie Mitchell-written and produced "I Don't Know".
•  And a lot of very positive vibes for the upcoming Isley-Jasper-Isley album "Different Drummer". Reportedly, the folk at CBS Associated labels have yet to select a single due to the vast number of contenders available. Word is that the trio will return to the platinum status they enjoyed as part of the Isley Brothers during the 1970's.

•  Pete Waterman of the Stock/ Aitken/Waterman writing and production team is to write and produce the new single for Prince Charles and The City Beat Band for Carrere Records who have completed a licensing deal with Prince Charles' manager Tony Rose's Solid Platinum Records and Productions. Carrere will release the group's latest single "I'll Be There For You" and "I Can't Stop Loving You".

•  Robert Cray and his band will act as support on all the upcoming Tina Turner dates across the UK in June. The two met in 1986 when Cray guested on her TV Special 'Breaking All The Rules' which was screened just after Christmas. Cray, who won a prestigious Grammy recently for Best Traditional Blues Recording for his part in the "Showdown" album which brought together Cray, Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland, is currently scoring on both sides of the Atlantic with his own album "Strong Persuader".

•  Controversial chanteuse Grace Jones has her new single just released on Manhattan. Entitled "Party Girl" the track is taken from Grace's current "Inside Story" album and is written by the lady herself with Bruce Woolley. Grace also contributed o the production — but with that old campaigner Nile Rodgers overseeing things.
The stylish singer has recently opened a French restaurant in her Manhattan, New York base which features such delights as La Salade Victor, Slave To The Rhythm Pate and I'm Not Perfect Frogs Legs on the menu!
Haywoode returns to active duty with her single release, a version of the James & Bobby Purify classic "I'm Your Puppet" which has been produced by Nick Martinelli in Philadelphia. The British singer is scheduled to appear on numerous television shows in the near future in support of the single.
• Having undergone what he describes as a period of transition and development, David Grant has now emerged with his new single "Take Us Back" which is a liaison between David and Bob Carter, co-producer and writer for Linx.' See interview elsewhere in mag

You may be forgiven if you think 'Deja' has a sort of familiar ring. The name may be new, but the duo boast a partnership spanning more than ten years. And though the name alludes to something we've seen before, Curt Jones and Starleanna Young are looking forward to the future, not back to the past. Dropping the name Aurra is a positive move to exorcise ghosts from the past, and start afresh with a whole new sound.

AFTER a long hiatus and a label change, Steve Arrington is back in the land of the recorded living! The ex-front man for Slave marks his switch from Atlantic/Cotillion to Manhattan with what most critics feel is his best and, even more importantly, his most commercial effort yet "jam Packed".

It is safe to say that, if sheer talent and vocal ability, was ever the true yardstick of an artist?s popularity someone like David Sea would be massive, a worldwide musical phenomenon.

However, as I?m sure you know, the world of soul music is littered with talented figures who have not had the recognition their special gifts merited and, without indulging oneself in that age old myth about suffering and ?paying ones dues?. The life of David Sea is one of the definitive soul survivor, a remarkable vocalist, remaining faithful to his roots despite any setbacks or negatives that the world could throw out.