*“That first cruise, we had Edna (Wright) and her daughter…this cruise it’s with two new girls,” said Shelly Clark-White, an original Honey Cone member about the group performing on the Soul Train Cruise (January 29 – February 5, 2023) with new members Kathy Merrick and Wendy Smith-Brune. “Kathy’s husband is the drummer for Earth, Wind and Fire and Wendy’s husband…is Romeo a guitarist.”
Shelly, who is married to bass player Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire, was talking about drummer John Paris (Kathy) and guitarist Romeo Brune (Wendy) who will accompany Honey Cone on the cruise, along with bass player Tony Boyd, who serves as the group’s musical director.
“I make them work hard,” Shelly laughed a little about Kathy and Wendy when I mentioned how active and on-point they are on stage. “We did get a choreographer…Darrien Henning…very talented. Does videography too.”
“All of us have had dance training. Kathy is a full-on ballerina. I started out as a dancer as well. Got with Tuna Turner…I learned how to be excellent because of her,” Clark-White said when I asked.
When we were talking about her husband she said, “He loves being on stage. We learn by watching him.”
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The Honey Cone group made their forever mark on the music industry with the #1 Billboard Chart topping hits “Stick Up” and “Want Ads.” Don Cornelius launched “Soul Train” the television show in 1971 and had Honey Cone perform their hits. He also had them perform during the first Soul Train Cruise in 2014. This time the Soul Train Cruise is sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam leaving from Fort Lauderdale. Along with Honey Cone, other performers include Babyface, The Commodores, George Benson, The Spinners, Peabo Bryson, Deniece Williams, Evelyn “Champagne” King, One Way, Sounds of Blackness and more.
“We are also the host of two Soul Train Cruise wine events…where you dress up,” she said excitedly.
Honey Cone has been performing their hits for over 50 years! They were inducted into the Soul Music Hall of Fame, along with Gladys Knight and the Pips in 2021. They have a catalog of hits produced by the legendary hit making team Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland (Motown), which includes “Stick Up” and “Want Ads.” www.HoneyCone.biz
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations and Business Management 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 24th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 15, 2023, and to Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 11, 2023. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Industry 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 $17,500 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com for more information or to RSVP for Zoom Access email [email protected].
www.GoFundMe.com/Uplifting-Minds-II-Entertainment-Conference
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