*“It’s still giving hope,” said Grammy Award-winning CeCe Winans in an interview about the continuation of her “Believe For It” Tour, starting 2023 for me and ThePulseofEntertainment.com with hope. The year 2023 in review was full of interviews with upcoming talents I know will brighten the future of the music industry. Even the talent showcased at my 24-year-old Uplifting Minds II Entertainment Conference were hot acts this year, so watch out for rapper Lil Hyste. The Cece Winans interview started in 2023 but I interviewed Cece in 2022 when her “Believe For It” album on PureSprings Gospel/Fairtrade was released. I felt truly blessed to get another interview with her so soon.
Since the Covid pandemic, most projects I’ve highlighted in my entertainment column are about inspiring, encouraging, and uplifting people. Another memorable interview was with Emmy Award-winning Earnest Pugh about his “Keep Hope Alive” single on Shanachie Entertainment, his new record label. An interview with Japanese Jazz pianist Keiko Matsui followed and it too was memorable. Keiko is such a talented artist internationally; I was so honored. She released a new album titled “Euphoria” off the Shanachie label. Not only that, when her tour came near where I live, she invited me to the concert that had Kirk Whalum as a special guest. Whalum was a featured artist on the “Euphoria” project along with Lalah Hathaway and John Beasley.
An interview with Jerry Mannery, the director of the Grammy Award-winning Mississippi Mass Choir, followed. We talked about their new single “The Promise” off Malaco Records featuring Stan Jones as the lead singer. Talking to Grammy-nominated Jazz guitarist Jonathan Butler was truly an honor too. We talked about his new album “Ubuntu (Humanity Towards Others)” off of the Mack Avenue record label that features Stevie Wonder, Marcus Miller, and Keb’Mo’.
Another highlight in 2023 was an interview with Jazz keyboardist Kayla Waters, daughter of saxophonist Kim Waters, about her new album “Presence” and new record label Shanachie Entertainment. The album features assistance from her dad Kim Waters and Grammy-nominated Chris “Big Dog” Davis. Country legend Kelly Lang was a highlight for me in 2023. A singer, as well as a songwriter who has penned hits for Barry Gibbs, T. G. Sheppard, Crystal Gayle, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Oakridge Boys – to name a few – we talked about the release of her “I Think Its Jesus” single. Then later in 2023, I interviewed her again about her headlining performance at the Grand Ole Opry’s Opry Goes Pink Concert.
Tristan Mack Wilds, a Grammy Award-winning artist, talked to me about his role in the sports/drama Swagger. The series is about the life of NBA’s Kevin Durant. Wilds’ character is returning for a second season. Even though he is an award-winning Hip-Hop artist Tristan’s role as an actor includes “The Wire” and Red Tails. An interview with singer/songwriter John Ellis followed. We talked about him re-releasing his 1964 hit single “(She’s) Some Kind a Wonderful” which is the 3rd most played song in the world and has been covered by 73 artists. John also honored me by singing the hit song at my Los Angeles Uplifting Minds II Entertainment Conference in 2023. An interview with one-half of the YingYang Twins (“Saltshaker,” “Whistle While You Twurk”) followed, with D-RocYing (D’Angelo Holmes). We talked about the release of his solo album “America’s Most Wanted” off of the 2Lit Records imprint. The project had assistance from Mr. Collipark and DJ Krispy Kreme.
The year 2023 closed out with memorable interviews with 15x Grammy nominated Donald Lawrence, Gospel’s Kim Person, saxophonist Boney James, comedian/film producer Dexter Tucker, and the iconic Florence LaRue of the legendary band/group The 5th Dimension. Lawrence talked about his new album “Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark” (Verity/Provident/Song Music) featuring vocal assistance from Yolanda Adams, PJ Morton, The Clark Sisters, Kelontae Gavin, J Moss, Shirley Murdock, and Kierra Sheard.
I talked to Grammy Award-nominated Boney James about his “Detour” tour arriving in my home state of Maryland at Rams Head on Stage. Contemporary Gospel singer Kim Person, a 5x Stellar Award nominated artist was next. We talked about her new album “Speak Life and Live” which debuted at #14 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums Chart. I was honored to interview Chris Tucker’s brother again, Dexter Tucker, also a comedian. We talked about his role as an executive producer of films – his latest Wide Open: The Andre Rison Story is airing on Tubi, Apple and Prime TV. The film is about the life of 5x Pro Bowler/Super Bowl XXXI Champion Andre Rison, whom he calls Dre. The last highlight for 2023 was my interview with Grammy-winning Florence LaRue, the only remaining active original member of The 5th Dimension (“Up, Up and Away,” “Stone Soul Picnic.”). We talked about the release of her first book, an autobiography self-help book titled “Grace in Your Second Act (WestBow Press).
Looking back on the year always inspires me and reaffirms that, like the name of my column, I am still feeling the pulse of entertainment. Published twice a week, by request, my syndicated column The Pulse of Entertainment has an average weekly readership of one million. Its website ThePulseofEntertainment.com, which serves as not only the archive for my columns but as a digital magazine, has on average 160,000 hits a month and 16,000 visitors a month. I am also looking forward to 2024 to see what it has in store for The Pulse of Entertainment. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com www.UpliftingMinds2.com
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com EVENTS: “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 25th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 20, 2024, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 9, 2024. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $19,000 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.comor to RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email [email protected].
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