Teena Marie

Being an entertainment photographer of many moons has afforded me the opportunities to be in the company of some of the greatest human beings that have walked the earth in my time...The biggest thrills of my life have mostly always involved music...
I was a teenager when Teena Marie entered the music scene Wild n Peaceful...easily one of the best lps ever made. I was a new lifetime fan (never did care for that word fan tho)...I just loved Lady T... I can honestly boast I own her entire music catalog...except the last release...(tough economic times ya know)
I've enjoyed the pleasure of seeing Teena Marie live on at least four occasions. Even more thrilling is I had the position of being on stage photographing her as she performed back in early 90's at AFRAM, here in Baltimore. Photos were published in Right On! Magazine. "-0)
More recent 2009 I stood front and center as she did her thing at the same festival with a different name.
Four years ago as I left work early (a job I'd been working at 7 days a week) knowing Teena Marie was in town was a perfect reason for me to take a break and head to ArtScape, another great summer festival that i love my home town for. My buddy Jenie and her friend had found a perfect spot on the grass right down front... Summertime grooving never felt so good... Teena Marie was about to go on...I'd gotten there just in time...Had to get the special ok from my friends for the people on the grass blocking my passage to let me thru...lol...gotta love Bmore folks...
Having just purchased a video camera I was able to film her singing Deja Vu... My most popular youtube video from the moment I loaded to the site over 2 years ago
My heart is heavy...Teena Marie, man I grew up on Teena Marie's music...she has smiled for my camera and songs for my heart. Sure am gonna miss Lady T.

Stevie Soul Interviews Sy Smith On Soul Discoveries!!!
Stevie Soul Interviews Sy Smith – “Musically Speaking”



Sy Smith is unique. She has style. She is an artist that easily sails from genre to genre without missing a beat. Her vocal range soars. Watching a Sy Smith performance is like kicking it with family at a backyard BBQ and the star of the family has taken the spotlight. Sy controls the stage. You will be entertained. Rocking and grooving to the beat as she gives you what is her. You will laugh, sing along and you may even cry. Her music is based in Truth. Musically summed up in three cd’s (Psyko Soul (Plus), Syberspace Social and Conflict) as of this writing are stories of love, society’s woes and more love. She sings from her heart and soul.

Sy Smith is honest, highly intelligent, humble, hilarious and beautifully human.

I am a BiG fan of Sy Smith and could go on and on but here are just a few things I was curious about.

01. How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a professional entertainer and how did that begin to manifest

. Sy Smith – I think I started appreciating the performing arts at a very early age, around 5, and I mean really appreciating the performing arts. I was really into voices, characters, movement, and of course, music. As a kid, my main source of entertainment was the Children’s Television Network (Sesame Street, Electric Company, Mister Roger’s Neighborhood), etc. So my manifestation of performing was based on what I saw in these shows. I used to make up characters and give them back stories and distinct voices. I’d write songs that all sounded like something a puppet would sing (and most of the themes had to do with how much playing I was planning to do on the playground…) However, it took many years before I knew I wanted to become a professional performer. I don’t think I truly made that decision until my junior year at Howard University. Even after years of studying piano, competing in classical voice, participating in choirs galore, I really didn’t decide on this path until I was about 20.

02. What’s your schedule like now and what can we look forward from you as your next step?

. Sy Smith – I don’t really have a schedule from day to day. It’s more like what I have going on for the next 3 weeks. I tend to deal with things in threes. I have a single coming out called “Truth” with Mark de Clive-Lowe (MdCL) in July on Strictly Rhythm, we shot a video, and we’re gonna be doing some shows together. July 24 in ATL, July 30 in DC. Then I’ll be doing some solo shows (with a live band) – July 31 in Chicago, August 5 in Los Angeles. I’m planning to take a week in August and live in the studio with some musicians I’ve been working with and finish recording some things I started a while back. Different kind of material for me, but I really dig it… I’ll keep you posted!

03. What’s the most important things you can do as an entertainer/black woman?

. Sy Smith – Gee whiz. I think the most important things I can do as an entertainer/black woman would be the same things I’d do as a human being. Or at least the things I try to do. Live in truth. Treat other living beings kindly. Be good to the earth. Be thankful to the Creator. Love myself wholly and unconditionally – and spread that love in whatever ways it chooses to manifest.

04. Scale of 1-5 how nervous are you before a performance?

. Sy Smith – If 1 is not nervous and 5 is quite nervous… Usually 1. But sometimes I’m at a 1 and then right before I start I’m at a 3! Haha! Usually I’m nervous weeks ahead of time. But by the time I choose my set list and rehearse with the band, I’m back to 1.



05. What’s your all time favorite song…hope picking one isn’t too hard.

Good grief, this is difficult! I Know You, I Live You – Chaka Khan. That song just makes me feel so so so so happy! I never get tired of hearing that song in a club!



06. If you were granted 3 wishes what would they be?

. Sy Smith – This is tough.

I’d wish that my mom would be able to use her legs again. I wouldn’t need any wishes after that.


Check out my artist spotlight featuring Sy Smith:(

http://steviessoul.podOmatic.com) featuring some of my favorite Sy songs as well as her many collaborations with other artists and producers.


www.myspace.com/sysmith

www.sysmith.com

Sy Smith’s music is available at CDbaby.com, Amazon.com, MobileUnderground.com and iTunes! See the latest video for “Conflict” on BETJ’s “Soul Sessions”!

I Was Just Thinking

Thru Dj Frances and neosoulcafe.com I received my official introduction to the indie soul music scene, October 2005, my cousin, Aaron (rip) who'd been feeding me indie music for years ala Ledsi & Goapele but I didn't realize it was a movement that I would soon be apart of. Not until Summer of 2007 did I become a part of this vibrant scene. After seeing the incredibly fantastic, talented hardest working woman in the biz Sy Smith(google her) perform did realize something was going on that I was missing. About a month later Yahzarah (met her months ealier in Dallas @ The I Got Soul Music Conference presented by Dj Frances Jaye and her then partner Velisa Crayton) hit me up on myspace to inquire if I was coming to see her perform...I asked her when and she told me in Sept 9th if I can recall correctly... I know I bit my lip...Amel Larrieux was performing that same night in DC... and when she told me who else was performing I knew Amel was gonna have to take the L on this one... I told my DC road dawgs T &Minty we were going to see Sy Smith! Can A Sister Rock A Mic(Casram) presented it's friday evening event that starred Yahzarah, Carol Riddick & Sy Smith.
As my girls and I got closer to the door after waiting outside in line for this event I saw a woman in dark shades and a cape, she smiled and waved to me... I informed my friends that was Sy Smith. Durning the show my friend T was hitting me on my leg to let me know she was excited about Sy's performance too. I picked up my camera(out of retirement)..actually I went ahead and brought a real digital camera and looked at Sy's schedule for the rest of the year took at vacation day at work here and there and made my flight reservations.
I am a photographer, podcaster, videographer, artist manager and promoter for the indie soul movement. Sy Smith tells me I'm the Van Gogh of the movement...I do what I do out of love and I love what I do and I have pretty good taste...
I only roll with the Best!
Welcome to Stevie's Soul

Love 101 Chapter 7

Love 101 Chapter 7
Spring has Sprung. In the last 45 days I'd say I've been on such a great adventure...being in the company of Erykah Badu, Roberta Flack & Ashford & Simpson, Angie Stone,Alyson Williams, Leela James, Eric Roberson, N'dambi, Navasha Daya, Rhonda Thomas, Marva King, Yahzarah, Calvin Richerson, Ra-Re Valverde, Jesse Boykins III...etc...and amazing new artist Gloria Ry'ann, makes this music fan do nothing but have a big ole cheezy grin on her face...After 2 weeks with out my Macbook Pro who's harddrive took a nose dive...after only being in my possession for only a year...Thanks to Nam Friddle (DMV check him out on FB) the best comp repair guy ever I'm back up and cranking. Musically here we go: Back With You- Gloria Ry'ann Shine- Jesse Boykins III I Like The Way It Feels -Carol Riddick Love- Carmen Rogers Marathon- Raheem Devaughn f/Floetry Inside My Love- Gloria Ry'ann Beautiful - Joy Jones Water- Rahsaan Patterson Star- Sy Smith OooBaby N'Dambi Maybe I'm Not The Man- Marcell & The Truth Embrace- Shae Fiol Complicated- Ra-Re Valverde Love 101- Fudakochi
Dig The Music: Love 101 Chapter 7

This Is Stevie's Soul

The Soul Music INdependent Artist Scene is explosive!
Here's brief overview of my 2 year discovery of it and just a few of the people that make it pop!
Shout out to DJ Frances Jaye & NeoSoulcafe.com for leading me to scene one song at a time...
And to my cousin Aaron K Robinson (rip) who'd been feeding me indie music for years aka Ledsi & Goapele but I didn't realize it was a movement.
Love Ya Much!

Erykah Badu

One friday nite early March, I received a call...well at least I think it was Friday nite... I was sleep early and missed calls and texts were flooding my phone...Something had to be going on... Finally I was awaken by the ringer...I'd been trying to catch up on sleep I had not been getting in my own comfortable bed...with all my running back and forth to NY and Philly & Dc my pillows were missing me.
I answered the phone which had oddly enough been laying right beside me...Whew I had to have been really tired to not have heard it all the other times.
"Stevie" the caller chirped "UH?' was my response. "Where you been?" "Sleep what's up?"
"Stevie I need you to wake up."
" Ok I'm awake whats up?"
Thats when the news of Erykah Badu inviting ChinahBlac to perform at her private NYc CD Release Party... I was like UH???!!!
W H O A! Yes Lawd Thank you for the blessings that flow in abundance. We were going to the party!!!
March 26, 2010..Friday Night In NYC @ The Dash Gallery...EBadu...Private Release Party... YES!