Singersroom Home

Celebrating Black Music Month: Asia'h Epperson Talks Mariah

Date Added: 2010-06-22 | Staff | Comments: (2)

With the mantra, "Babyface's newest protege," newly signed Sodapop/Def Jam recording artist and a former American Idol contestant, Asia'h Epperson is celebrating Black Music Month in an exclusive Singersroom premiere. As she remembers artist like Mariah Carey, Asia'h also delivers an impromtu accapella that will capture new fans around the world...

So W...

Black Music Innovators: Usher

Date Added: 2010-06-24 | Njai Joszor | Comments: (0)

With a career that now spans sixteen years, Usher has become an undisputed force in R&B and pop. Following in the footsteps of legendary performers including Michael Jackson, Prince and James Brown, Usher has carved a path not only for himself since his self titled 1994 debut but, for other R&B male artists proving that they are just as valuable as their chart-topping pop counterparts. <...

Black Music Innovators: Janet Jackson

Date Added: 2010-06-22 | Karina Martinez | Comments: (0)

Janet Jackson is a legendary performer, singer and actress.  She has over 28 years of experience in the business, with countless record hits, ground-breaking choreography, amusing videos, and starring movie and TV series roles.  Janet is without a doubt an icon.  She has established a place that no other artist can fill, but can only follow.

Janet was born with the expecta...

Black Music Innovators: Kirk Franklin

Date Added: 2010-06-18 | Njai Joszor | Comments: (0)

It takes true courage and perseverance to deliver a message that you hope will touch hearts, minds and souls through unconventional means. From the moment he delivered the bass heavy and radio friendly “Stomp” with Salt N’ Pepa’s Cheryl (Salt) and a similar recording “Revolution,” Kirk Franklin redefined the definition of Gospel music and what it stands for in the new millennium. Seventeen years...

Black Music Innovators: R. Kelly

Date Added: 2010-06-16 | Crystal Tate | Comments: (10)

When R. Kelly left the group Public Announcement and went solo in 1993, he took R&B music to a level it had never been before—lyrics went from sexually suggestive to straight sexual, and songs came to life in his as-real-as-it-gets videos. R. Kelly quickly rose to stardom not only as an R&B singer, but also as a producer and songwriter. His hits include “Bump n’ Grind,” “I Believe I Can ...

Black Music Innovators: EnVogue

Date Added: 2010-06-14 | Imani Pope | Comments: (0)

In the seams of a colorful and vibrant style influenced by Diana Ross and Dorothy Dandridge were four soul glamour-esque women. They rose throughout the industry known as En Vogue. Back in 1989, they were formed and discovered by the production team of Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.  They wanted a group that had a classic, but sexy look and sound. En Vogue became a top African-American f...

Black Music Innovators: Tina Turner

Date Added: 2010-06-11 | Crystal Tate | Comments: (0)

Tina Turner has been a household name for many generations, and there are few other music artists who have achieved as much success as she has. Named “one of the greatest singers of all time” by Rolling Stone and dubbed the “Queen of Rock and Roll”, she has paved the way for many talented female R&B artists who have experienced an undeniable fame and longevity since her reign.

She beg...

Black Music Innovators: Jodeci

Date Added: 2010-06-09 | Imani Pope | Comments: (5)

“Every time I close my eyes, I wake up feelin' so horny, I can't get you outta my mind, sexin' you be all I see, I would give anything, Just to make you understand me, I don't give a damn about nothing else, freek'n you is all I see.” – Freek ‘N’ You

The 1990 craze of four men revolved around, sex, love, pain and sweaty bodies; that bad-boy image was brought in by Teddy Riley, formerly of...

Black Music Innovators: Mary J. Blige

Date Added: 2010-06-07 | Karina Martinez | Comments: (0)

Mary J. Blige is the Queen of R&B Soul for many reasons, as she has played a major role in defining what a female R&B artist is.  Through her heartfelt lyrics and music, she has allowed her fans to share her world.   From women searching for “Real Love” to being “Fine”, all women can relate.  

We watched her grow professionally as an artist and spirituall...

Unsung Black Music in Family Television, featuring Mishon

Date Added: 06/15/09 | Njai Joszor | Comments: (1)

The art of creating stellar television programming can be complicated due to variables including casting, writing, lighting, camera angles, set design and a host of other factors. One of those factors, particularly in family oriented television, is music. Setting the mood for everything from suspenseful moments to exciting family vacations in Hawaii, family series such as My Wife and Kids, The C...

The Rise and Fall of Video Based Music Television featuring 106 & Park

Date Added: 06/15/09 | Lauren M Walker | Comments: (1)

Do you remember the time when you could just turn to Video Soul or Yo! MTV Raps to get your fill of the hottest new videos from your favorite artists? The reality in today’s Music Television world is that classic music video countdown shows are becoming extinct. They are like Windows 95, nobody is running them anymore. When even the new age cult classic Total Request Live or TRL has closed its d...

The Rise of Black Music and Reality Television: featuring Day 26

Date Added: 06/15/09 | Lauren M Walker | Comments: (0)

We can all pretty much agree that Reality TV has officially taken over the airwaves. With the wide variety of shows out there the most popular would have to be the music competition genre of reality shows; to include Making the Band, American Idol, Brothers to Brutha and so on. But with all of this conjured up group harmony building along with an “America’s Next Top Model” style of music recruit...

Black Music and Comedy: Composers, Artists Behind Major Sitcoms

Date Added: 06/15/09 | Njai Joszor | Comments: (0)

They make us laugh, cry and even phone a friend with their comedy but, sitcoms like ‘Girlfriends,’ ‘The Parkers,’ The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’, ‘Martin,’ The Wayans Brothers, Jamie Foxx Show and ‘The Game’ are also jam packed with black music. Beyond traditionally placed music from artists including Gerald Levert, Musiq Soulchild, Donnie McClurkin and Cheryl Lynn, black musicians and composers i...

Daytime Meets R&B/Hip Hop: featuring Ne-Yo, Mary J. Blige and Rihanna

Date Added: 06/15/09 | Njai Joszor | Comments: (1)

Known for never ending twists, turns and the ever lasting family tree, daytime soaps have long been a staple in television. Dating back to the 1940s, in the United States in particular, soap operas have not only carried through generations as much of a guilty pleasure, they’ve also featured some of R&B music’s most prominent stars. In some cases, soaps have even birthed artists like Lauryn Hil...

One Album, One Legacy: City High

Date Added: 06/10/09 | Njai Joszor | Comments: (0)

Wyclef Jean made history with the Fugees in the mid 90s but it was his proteges ‘City High’ that spun real life troubles into a trio of hits in the early 2000s.

City High, paralleling the Fugees, consisted of two male singer/songwriters (Ryan Toby and Robby Pardio) and one female singer/rapper (Claudette Ortiz), broke onto the scene in 2001 with the major single “What Would You Do”. The s...