Happy Birthday To The Original Raconteur

Hey Soul Mates,
Today, I'm celebrating the birthday of one of America's greatest story tellers. He's an actor, playwright, musician. And he happens to be my Dad. My father has always been the best teller-of-tales I've known. No one can bring a story to life like him. Funny thing is, his genre is non-fiction. Oh, all griots embellish. Why not? Who's to argue or counter a plot point or a bit of detail? Especially when it's said with spirit and gusto. But he really doesn't need to because the stories are so vivid already.

I hope that Dad will soon put his stories to tape. But like a jazz artist, recordings still wouldn't capture all the aspects of the performance. Each telling has it's own breath and cadence. It's own weight, but also it's own ease. It isn't surprising that he wrote a play called "Street Rhthym."

Maybe that's why, with no effort at all, Dad held court last night at the Georgia Tech game. Half-time. Chit chat. Small talk. Right. My brother Nathan introduced a young gentleman called Andre Benjamin to Dad mentioning that Dad was an actor and writer. That's all Mr. Benjamin had to know and they were off. For the rest of the intermission, Dad regaled Mr. Benjamin with tales from the set. In return, the latter asked questions about the craft of acting, about choices that actors make, good sources for inspiration and blueprints for bringing life to a character. Mr. Benjamin attentively noted Dad's film recommendations and anecdotes, stories of growing up in Depression era Harlem, etc. while politely greeting other well-wishers. It must have been quite a scene, but not unusual for my father. It will simply become another story to relate to the next listener.

Nate snapped a photo of the two thespians together. Oh, Mr. Benjamin? You might know him better as Andre 3000. Andre seems to have a good grasp of past and present (see Idlewild), so I'm sure that my Dad was a perfect fount of information.



Well, Happy Birthday, Dad! Some of you fans may remember my father who was in L.A. this time last year for our show at B.B. King's. Remember? If you've met him, you'd never forget.

Love, Power, Peace

Good Times: Nile Rodgers Is Alive And Well

Hey Soul Mates,
for me it's a day to raise a glass to toast Chic founder member, Nile Rodgers on his 54th birthday. You know what a big fan of his I am. After all, I just framed Chic's album C'est Chic for my new art project (see previous blog).

Nile's work with Chic is part of the foundation of the Rush Hour Soul-thing. Le Freak is still in my top 5 of the most exciting songs of all time. And without Good Times, there would be no hip-hop for better or worse, depending on who you ask). But it's important for me to celebrate Chic, and especially Nile. He is the last surviving member of the fraternity that made up the group's core. Sadly, both drummer Tony Thompson and bassist Bernard Edwards are gone.

Nile also produced a number of artists' biggest hits, including: Madonna, Duran Duran & David Bowie. That ain't shabby. Of course, he is on the shortlist of dream producers for us to work with. I had an opportunity to meet Nile at a seminar and he was full of great stories about his life in music, including his early influences and odd musical acts he's worked with (the B-52s).

To learn more about Chic/Nile read my blog ("The Chic Choice") from Oct. 28, 2005. This was my pro-Chic stump speech for their election to the Rock Hall. Didn't work, but maybe I'll dust it off and revamp it for this year's vote.

Happy Birthday, Nile!
Love, Power, Peace, Freak Out!

Video News "A Talent For Loving," What's Next for RHS and a Creative Project For You!

Hey Soul Mates,
just wrapping up a good weekend here in SoCal. The Browns lost today. Oh well. But RHS has more than 900 plays of "A Talent For Loving" on YouTube since it debuted. Thanks again to all you viewers out there. We've gotten some really nice e-mails from fans and peers commending us. But we're not being complacent. What's next for Rush Hour Soul, you ask?

As you know we are aiming to go back to the UK very soon. Our return is still very much in the working stages, so nothing we can officially report yet.

What I can tell you is that I had a long conversation with animation director Andrew St. Marie and he is going to helm our next music video! He mentioned his desire to work with us and I said, "It's on!" Andrew and I chatted at the studio commissary Friday and gave the greenlight to the project. We are anticipating a November release date. We're going to be a cartoon! How supercool. Andrew is currently wrapping up work on his 2006 Slamdance entry "The Adventures of Fried Chicken and Wattamelon (A.s-M. forgive me if I've misrepresented the title)."

Here's a new segment I like to call Norm's Kreative Korner Arts 'n Craff Project.

I like to spend days in record stores. Who doesn't? One of the best in my neighborhood is Amoeba on Sunset @ Cahuenga. They've got tons of music. Literarily. Now, I like to look at album covers. Can do it for hours. Have. But why not look at album covers... at home! Here's where the creativity comes in. First, go through your old record albums, you still have some, right? No, well then trot over to the nearest used record shop. Go through the stacks of vintage vinyl. Most places have $1 bins. Or you can splurge and get an album for $6, like me. Pick out an old favorite or just an interesting cover (don't worry about the music or the condition of the LP inside. You're not actually going to play the record. You don't have a record player any more!). Me, I grabbed Chic's 1978 platinum smash C'est Chic. Well composed pic of an elegantly dressed band and the track listing is on the front.

Next, find a place that sells frames to fit 12x12 photos. Some stores actually have "record cover" frames. Put your new purchases together, preferably with the LP front cover facing out of the frame. And voila! Instant art. A conversation piece or provocation for someone to storm out of your place in disgust. Either way, your walls will thank you. No more outlet mall-purchased prints of Van Gogh's Starry Night or That Blurry Couple Kissing photo. And all for less than $20 and in the amount of time it takes to go through a few dusty crates of vinyl. You're welcome.

Have a great week everybody. We hope to start getting you some really cool inside info very soon.
Love, Power, Peace