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Entertainer, Music Producer Ernesto Phillips Dies at 50

Thursday, April 1, 2004; Page B06

Ernesto McKenzie Phillips, 50, a Columbia resident who was a musician in pop rhythm-and-blues groups and then produced a series of local entertainers, including singers Toni Braxton and Kimberly Scott, died March 25 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore after a stroke. He had hypertension.

Mr. Phillips, a native Washingtonian, was raised in Crownsville and graduated from Arundel High School in Gambrills. He was a self-taught guitarist, and during high school he attended the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore to study trumpet.

He was a graduate of Anne Arundel Community College and attended Howard University, where he intended to study medicine as his father -- a psychiatrist -- had. He decided instead to make music his career.

With his four brothers -- George, Lloyd, Orlando and Gregory -- Mr. Phillips formed Licyndiana, an R&B group named after his mother and his sisters. Ernesto Phillips sang and played guitar. He also wrote songs and did production work.

Singer Renee Diggs, who was Mr. Phillips's longtime companion, and musician-songwriter Kayode "Ky" Adeyemo later joined Licyndiana.

Mr. Phillips had greater success as leader, co-producer and primary songwriter of a successor pop R&B band called Starpoint, which included the same members except for Lloyd.

The band toured nationally, opening for such performers as Luther Vandross, and appeared on "Soul Train," "Solid Gold" and other television programs. Its album "Restless" (1986) sold more than 500,000 copies, according to news reports, and included the hit song "Object of My Desire."

At the 1990 Washington Area Music Awards, Starpoint was named best R&B/urban group. Mr. Phillips, on guitar, was named best instrumentalist.

The group disbanded about 1990 as members went in different directions professionally. Until his death, Mr. Phillips worked as a producer. He owned and operated Longevity Records and Pearl Studios, both in Columbia.

"I pledged that once we made it, I was going to prove there is a lot of talent in this area," he told The Washington Post in 1995.

His best-known find is Braxton, the Grammy Award-winning singer whom he met through a friend.

In recent months, he worked as a counselor for teenagers at Sheppard Pratt psychiatric clinic in Ellicott City.

Survivors include his mother, Ana Phillips, of Columbia; four brothers, George Phillips and Lloyd Phillips, both of Columbia, and Orlando Phillips and Gregory Phillips, both of Annapolis; and two sisters, Diane Laguerre of Elk Ridge, Md., and Lisa Phillips of Columbia.

Gerald Levert, the son of O' Jays Eddie Levert, is no longer here. He passed away on 10th of november at age of 40 due to a heart attack.

Gerald started with the group Levert back in 1985 where he recorded the album 'I Get Hot' and followed by Bloodline in 1986. Levert consist of the trio Gerald Levert, brother Sean Levert and Marc Gordon. The Big Throwdown, and Just Coolin', released in 1987 and 1988, respectively, both received gold certification. Beginning in the 1990s, Gerald began dividing his time between LeVert, and his solo career, but the band released three more albums.

During his solo career Gerald recorded nine albums, such as Private Line, Groove on, Father & Son with his father Eddie, Gerald's World and Gerald's last album Do I Speak For The World. Gerald also participated in LSG the project with Johnny Gill and Keith Sweat in 1997 and 2003.

He also produced several tracks for artists like Miki Howard, James Ingram, Geoff McBride, Keith Washington and others.

In the eighties and ninetees he was, for me, one of the biggest musical creaters and inspirators. My heart and Condolences go out to the Levert Family.

Rest In Peace Gerald.

Mark @ SoulAndFunkMusic.com

Doug Lovelace of Laced Media directed the following music video. This song is 'Let's Ride' the first single on the upcoming CD by Wayman Tisdale. It’s The Fonk Record featuring 11 original songs, Tisdale’s own funky vocals and a crew of down-and-dirty musicians, The Fonk Record also boasts three guest stars with extensive funk résumés—George Clinton, George Duke and Ali Ollie Woodson.

To those who knew him best, it seemed only natural that Tisdale would craft a funk project. “He always wanted to make funk music,” says Derek (DOA) Allen, who produced The Fonk Record and was one of Tisdale’s closest friends. “People are going to see a whole ‘nother side of Wayman on this record—he was on a mission to play as hard and funky as he could.”

Robert Wilson, a member of R&B/funk group the Gap Band, died at the age of 53 on Sunday (Aug. 15). Wilson, known as the "Godfather of Bass Guitar," suffered a heart attack in his Palmdale, Ca. home.

Wilson formed the Gap Band with brothers Charlie and Ronnie in the early 1970s, and the Tulsa group expanded upon the funk sound of George Clinton and Earth, Wind & Fire. The band's hits include "You Dropped a Bomb On Me," "Party Train" and "Early in the Morning."

"My brother Robert was a bad boy on the bass," Charlie Wilson said of his brother in a statement. "We shared a bond as brothers, musicians and friends. I loved him and losing him is difficult for both Ronnie and I. The music world has lost a very talented man."

Wilson, who was scheduled to perform at Tulsa's Timeless Music Festival on Aug. 28, is survived by his wife Brenda and two daughters, Robin and Latina Wilson.
Source Billboard.com

MOTOWN GIVES BACK TO DETROIT STUDENTS WITH DONATION TO DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION DETROIT – Musician and Motown enthusiast Drew Schultz, 24, and Motown musical legends gave back to Detroit students through the Detroit Public Schools Foundation with sales from debut album “Back to Class.” Prior to The Four Tops’ performance at the Motor City Casino Soundboard Theater on Thursday, Dec. 13, the musicians presented their first $1000 donation of proceeds from album sales to the DPS Foundation. The Four Tops, Spyder Turner and James Jamerson Jr., among many others, were in attendance to celebrate the first donation to music programs for Detroit students funded by the DPS Foundation.

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	I want to introduce to you the soulful sounds of Jayanti, an independent singer-songwriter from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Jayanti was 1 of 4 fresh faces of July on YouTube’s Music Tuesdays channel. Along with this feature on YouTube’s home page, Jayanti’s no-budget video “Girl from Mars” earned over 200,000 views!
In addition, I also wanted to share with you Jayanti’s beautiful rendition of “Inside My Love” - a tribute to songbird Minnie Riperton? More info can be found on Bandcamp and www.jayanti.me. Jayanti’s single “Girl from Mars” is now available for purchase on iTunes.

SOULANDFUNKMUSIC.COM Presents Back To The Old School Soulandfunkmusic.com teamed up with Back To The Old School and from now on we provide together a solid web-stream to you. We play a lot of vinyl grooves to get you in the mood. Fine grooves on vinyl like: T-Connection, Melba Moore, Kashif, Dazz Band, Lillo Thomas, SOS Band, Change, Luther and many more.