BKS1 Radio Network

Special Guest: Kazzie Pop

When New Jersey MC Kazzie Pop is ripping mics, you can hear the indisputable hunger in his voice and see the uncanny cockiness in his swagger. It’s undeniable. “One thing about music, you can feel it. If you don’t then it’s not real,” says the 19-year-old wordsmith whose buzz worthy new single, “Roll Out” has his ever-growing fan base eager for his forthcoming mixtape, LMAO. “I want people that are listening to my music to feel exactly where I’m coming from.”

Kassan “Kazzie Pop” Sherman was born and raised in Newark, NJ, on 19^th Street and South Orange Avenue, just a block from where Garden State rap dignitary Redman is originally from. Fortunately, Kaz avoided the ill street blues that plagued his rough and tumble neighborhood and found rapping as an outlet at an early age. By the time he was 11, the aspiring spitter was traveling up the block to Red’s old stomping ground and turning heads during the regular ciphers that would take place there. “It was always guys out there rapping, going back and forth,” recalls Kazzie. “They would get us out there battling against the older guys. I went out there and I was beating adults.”

In 2009, the 6-foot-6-inch rapper linked up with New Jersey indie imprint Nu World Era Music Group and formed a movement with emerging star Driicky Graham called, Popular Kids. The group was short lived but birthed the exorbitant radio single, “We Robbed Gucci” featuring Gucci Mane in 2010. Since going solo, KP has taken center stage touring with legendary producer and industry luminary, No ID as a part of his No ID Tour, as well as building a buzz for himself on the national circuit hitting the road with The Party Boyz and Dorrough. He has also torn down stages as the opening act for the likes of Jadakiss, Juelz, Sheek and Jim Jones in his home state of New Jersey, and worked the crowd into a frenzy at various “Summer Jams” around the country. Further showcasing his lyricism, Kazzie stepped up his viral visibility by dropping searing freestyles over Lil Wayne’s “Mega Man” and 2 Chainz’s, “No Lie,” on YouTube.

Currently crafting his debut mixtape, LMAO, the towering wunderkind is striving to make more than just a jovial statement. “The concept is, no disrespect to the artist but, [some of their music] makes me laugh,” states Kazzie. “You got to bring your A game.” The upstart MC plans on using his aggressive mic skills to do just that. Spearheaded by the sizzling club single, “Roll Out” which is currently gaining momentum in clubs around the Tri-State area. The mixtape offering will feature Billboard charting lablemate Driicky Graham (“Snapbacks and Tattoos”) and recognized songwriter and producer, Yung Berg. Contrary to the title, it’s no laughing matter.

“I’m not an artist that’s going to play with people’s time or money,” says Kazzie. “I’m serious with what I do. People are going to be like, ‘I see why he’s going so hard and why you can hear it in his voice.’ I’m not playing.”

Pop off.

Tonight on the Live In The Vocal Booth team reviews Eddie Levert new release I Still Have It. Eddie Levert is a legendary figure in the music industry, from being the lead singer in the O'Jays and father of the late Gerald Levert and Sean Levert, as well as Eddie Levert Jr.. Lets see if Eddie Levert can continue to deliver the music that he has been known to deliver.

Read More Eddie Levert Bio: www.allmusic.com/artist/eddie-levert-p98018/biography

Tonight's Topic: Why is Life So Hard?

"In each life, some rain must fall".  These famous lyrics ring true for us all.  Although we know we will always experience ups and downs on our journeys, we don't question much while enjoying the "mountain top" experiences.  However, when those "valley" ordeals surface, there is one simple question that's not so easy to answer..."Why is life so hard?"

What gets you down in the dumps?  What steals your joy?  Tonight, let's peel back the layers of this complex topic.  With all that's happening in the world, most of us are dealing with some stressful and dark realities.  Let's have an open and honest discussion tonight that may help those who are struggling with life.  Why is life so hard?  The answer may not be as hard as you think.

Keep it locked, tonight, on "Live in the Vocal Booth".

Artists Review: Lionel Richie

Tonight the Live In The Vocal Booth team brings you Lionel Richie's latest release Tuskegee. A blind of country music and r & b music Tuskegee is Lionel Richie's 10th studio album. From being a member of the Commodores to solo artist Richie has delivered multiple classic songs. Lets see if Tuskegee keeps up with the tradition of quality music Richie has been known for to deliver. Read more about Lionel Richie.

Tonight's Topic: Ending It All - Part II

It's the most haunting news you'll ever hear, and unfortunately we've all heard it before.  Someone has committed suicide.  Tonight, we're tackling an issue most shows won't even touch.  When someone takes their own life, the questions as to why stop you in your tracks.  What kind of pain can drive someone to take their own lives?  Why didn't they reach out to someone for help?  How do you pick up the broken pieces and carry on?

Join us as we have a heart-to-heart about losing loved ones who couldn't defeat their demons.  We will discuss how depression can drive someone to a choice they feel is the only way to escape their inner turmoil. We'll also learn how the statistics stack up demographically in our society when it comes to suicide.  Does it affect one race, gender, or age group over another?  Listen in as we talk to family and friends who have been left behind in the aftermath of such a devastating loss.  Most importantly, share your own stories of how suicide has affected your life.  Are you contemplating ending it all?  While you may be hurting, we want to help.   Tonight on "Live in the Vocal Booth".

Call 646-233-1302 with your thoughts, opinions or tell us if you have battled through these issues or currently battling with them. Your story and experience may help out someone who is going through them. Join the BKS1 Radio experience! Like our Facebook fan page: Best Kept Secrets Entertainment and follow us on twitter: @bks1radioent

Special Musical Guest: Kat Doray

Kat Doray is a phenomenal talent who was signed at the young age of 16 and has written songs with the best of them including Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson, Ester Dean and many more. A life changing event required her to step away from the pursuit of her musical dream for a brief time. For the past two years Kat has been growing and developing herself as an artist and is ready to show the world what she has to offer.  Check out her first video for her single A Broken Home and tune in to hear more from Kat Doray.

Tonight on Bks1 Radio we have a special show for you. First we review Tank's latest release This Is How I Feel. Then following the Tank Review we bring you the Premier episode of Tatum Talks, Bks1 Radio's newest show added to the line up.

Artist Review: Tank

Tank delivers his 5th studio release with This Is How I Feel, lets see if he can continue to bring the soulful sounds that he is known. Here is an excerpt about Tank from (www.therealtank.com):

Tank is one of the most recognizable names in modern R&B, known for vivid storytelling and sensual love songs. He’s an icon in the making, with four albums and eight Grammy nominations under his belt. He’s also a singer who carries the torch of masters like Marvin Gaye and Al Green, while redefining R&B for a new decade. For singer/songwriter/producer Tank—about to release his Atlantic Records debut Now or Never, his first album in three years, and the one he describes as his most confident yet—the secret is simple. He remains true to who he is, as a man and an artist.

“My music is the real me,” says Tank. “I’ll either live by that or I’ll die by that in this business, but I’ve got to be me.” He’s famous for sexy yet relatable love songs that are at once thoroughly modern and yet steeped in the sounds of classic soul. Though fans know and love Tank for smash hits like “Maybe I Deserve” and “Please Don’t Go,” they may be surprised to learn that he is also behind such chart-toppers as Rubben Studdard’s “Change Me” and Omarion’s “O.” What’s more, Tank served as an associate member of the hit-making production team, The Underdogs, with further credits including the smash soundtrack to the 2006 musical film adaptation of Dreamgirls (in which he also made a cameo). Since releasing his previous album Sex, Love, & Pain in 2007, Tank took a moment to step out of the spotlight, but not necessarily out of the studio. He formed the Los Angeles-based production company Song Dynasty, and began shaping the sound of modern R&B with songs for a diverse roster of artists including Keyshia Cole, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Chris Brown, and Keri Hilson. Though he has enjoyed crafting hits for these artists, Tank is ready to step into the spotlight yet again, and returns with an incredibly personal collection. “I put a lot of my personal business into my music because people relate to it. I sing based upon the things that I’ve been through. I don’t just sing about the pain, I sing about getting through it. Whether I’m singing about sex, relationships, or the occasional party, the songs are still about classic R&B themes.”

Read more about Tank at www.therealtank.com

World Premier: "The Tatum Talks" - The Great Debate: Do Momma's Get Too Much Credit?

Do both society and the media market motherhood to be the end all, be all?  Whether it's the uproar behind celebrating Mother's Day, to countless songs paying tribute after tribute to the family matriarch...are we going too far?  Are you fed up with hearing about the drama-ridden plight of single mothers and the sacrifices they make,
all the while only being force fed nothing but negative perspectives about our single fathers?  Who has the most crucial influence to their child?

Tonight, we introduce to you a preview of BKS1Radio's newest show, "The Tatum Talks", where we'll be offering you the most controversial topics debated against the clock.  Join us as both sides of the coin discuss just how strong a mother's role is to the family unit, and whether we downplay the contributions fathers make due to stereotype. It's Mommy versus Daddy, tonight on the 1st "The Tatum Talks".

Special Guest: Comedian G.L. Douglas

Comedian GL Douglas joins us tonight to talk about her current event Laugh it up 2 and more.

Artist Review: Rebecca Ferguson (Bio taken from: www.amazon.com)

Everyone knows that TV talent show auditions are mostly for having a laugh at the people whose confidence far outweighs their abilities, or else getting teary over someone’s sad life story. So viewers watching the start of the tenth season of Britain’s “The X Factor” might have had the impression that the willowy young woman waiting outside the audition hall was just one more hard luck story – pregnant at 17 and again at 19, she was a young mother who had to abandon her dreams of being a singer. Later, when it was her turn to perform, she took the stage looking like she was a bundle of nerves, though she did manage a shy smile when asked her to introduce herself.

And then Rebecca Ferguson sang Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.” Her eyes glued to the floor, her shoulders hunched defensively, she sang with a voice so unexpected – a mix of Aretha Franklin, Norah Jones and Sade, with a refined hint of Macy Gray -- that “X Factor” judge Simon Cowell told her point blank, “I think potentially you have an incredible voice.” He and the other judges warned that her lack of self-confidence could hurt her. “The problem is, it’s like you’re singing to yourself,” observed Nicole Scherzinger. “You need to start looking people back in the eye again, don’t you?” asked Cowell. Still, she got four “yes” votes and moved to the next round.

Her drama slowly unfolded over the next 10 Saturday nights – would Rebecca, so often tearful in the beginning, be able to stand the pressure? Would her talent be enough to carry her to the end? And, well, could she possibly be any lovelier, more charming, down to earth and humble? The audiences rejoiced and the judges praised her elegance and poise – “You are pure class,” said one -- not to mention her “subtle, understated and gorgeous” vocals. After a series of stunning performances, the “X Factor” audience was completely enthralled with the once frightened, now luminous young woman from Liverpool.

When it came down to the wire, though, Rebecca was the show’s runner-up. “I’d be lying if I said that, when I was standing on that stage in the final, I didn’t want to win,” she admitted in an interview with the Telegraph. “Everybody wants that petal drop. But, in the long run, I knew it would be better for me. It gave me time to get things right.”

She used the year after “The X-Factor” envisioning, writing and performing her album, “Heaven.” As her first single, “Nothing’s Real But Love,” is released in the U.K., the reviews have been glowing. "Her gorgeous debut single puts Rebecca Ferguson in the same league as Aretha Franklin," wrote the pop music critic for the Telegraph, who went on to call “Heaven” “a gritty collection of soulful, self-penned songs about real emotional issues.”

Though Rebecca says her direct musical influences are soul based, she admires a wide variety of performers including Ray Charles, Tupac, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Florence and The Machine, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj and, of course, Adele. “She’s been such a support and said such lovely things about me,” she says of her fellow chanteuse. “She even admitted she voted for me over 80 times when I was on the show. She means every word she sings, which I love.”

For her first album, “I spilled my soul out. A lot of it comes from writing about relationships I’ve been in, so I think everyone can probably relate to the lyrics – we’ve all been there.” A self-confessed perfectionist, Rebecca, who has always written her own material, wrote a song every day for months. “People just made an assumption, ‘She came off The X Factor, she won’t be able to write. We’ll just write her songs.’ Then as time passed they realized, ‘Oh, she can actually do this!’”

Joining her in the studio were some industry heavy-weights who were eager to collaborate: Eg White (Adele, James Morrison, Duffy) Fraser T Smith (N-Dubz, Tinchy Stryder, Cee Lo Green) and Claude Kelly in New York (Britney, Whitney Houston, Jessie J). She admits that creating it wasn’t always easy. “Some days in the studio I’d been crying and say ‘OK, I’ve had a really bad week, I’m not going to lie but we’re going to write about it, and hopefully something good can come out of that. Someone can listen to it, and think, ‘She’s been there too. She knows how I feel.’”

Creating this album has also rewarded Rebecca with a new level of assertiveness and self-belief, “I refused to re-vocal some of the songs on the album. I meant every word of those songs when I sang them, and I’m not going to do them again, and not mean it. I don’t care if that makes me sound like a diva.”

The key line in the chorus of “Nothing’s Real But Love” -- “No money, no house, no car, can beat love” – has great significance, says Rebecca. “People used to say to me ‘Being rich doesn’t make you happy.’ And I’d think, I’ve got no electricity, nothing -- tell that to my empty fridge. But now I’m doing okay, I realize, they were right. It doesn’t matter what you’ve got, as long as you’ve got love. I know that sounds cheesy, but that’s everything.”

Rebecca grew up in a chaotic single-parent household, with three brothers and two sisters; she used music as her escape. “I didn’t have a very easy childhood to be honest and to get away from that I dreamt my life away; dreamt of singing.” Even as she was learning to talk, Rebecca could see her future: “I used to write songs [at] age three,” she laughs, “There’s pads and pads of lyrics I wrote as a teenager at my mum’s house.”

She admits she didn’t enjoy school, mostly because she was always wondering why she was there when she knew her destiny was in music. She had more than a few roadblocks. “My mum was really strict and I was only allowed to listen to Christian music,” Rebecca remembers. “But I remember one of her friends who knew I loved singing giving me two tapes -- Cher and Whitney Houston. I’d sit there for hours and hours listening to those two albums on repeat.”

There wasn’t enough money for Rebecca to follow her passion for singing, so at 14 she got a job in a clothes shop to pay for singing lessons. Performing Arts college followed, but then at 17, everything changed when she got pregnant with her first child, Lillie May, followed by Karl two years later. “People would say to me, ‘Well your life’s ruined now!’ For a while I started to believe it, but you don’t have to get rid of your dreams just because you have kids. They’ve just pushed me to succeed, to want to do better for them. And for me.” She studied to be a legal secretary as something to fall back on, but decided to make another stab at being a performer by signing up for that fateful “X Factor” audition.

Because of social media, Rebecca’s “X Factor” performances have been viewed by millions of people around the world; her audition video has had more than 3 million views on YouTube. Being on the show “completely changed me as a person. I’m strong now. Singing used to just be a dream, now it’s my focus. I had begun to give up hope and then the show happened and now, with this first album, I just wanted to get to a point where my voice and my songs are as good as they can possibly be.”

Tonight's Topic: What's your pet peeves?

No matter how calm or collected a person may be, everyone has particular things that drive them bananas. Whether it's in someones actions or lack of action, we all have pet peeves. But how often do we talk about these issues, especially to the individuals that bring the worst out of us? Let's talk about it today right here on the  Live In The Vocal Booth show.

Special Musical Guest: Larry Dunn of the Legendary R&B Group Earth, Wind, & Fire

For many of us, Earth, Wind & Fire has been an elemental part of our musical experiences since childhood, making us dance, sing and, more often than not, inspiring us to simply pause to observe or think. Among the many names and faces associated with the legendary band, Larry Dunn is one that stands out in the minds of fans, tastemakers and musicians.

As the band’s keyboardist and musical director, Dunn helped to meld soul, jazz, R&B, funk and rock into a sound that became the band’s signature. It was a sound that transformed Earth, Wind & Fire into one of the most successful bands in the world, with sales of more than 100 million albums worldwide, six GRAMMYs, 13 GRAMMY nominations, four American Music Awards, 32 gold and platinum/multi-platinum records and albums, a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2000) and the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010).

Barely 18 years old when he joined the band, Dunn started “beating on an old tore up upright piano” when he just a tot. He met fellow Denverite, Phillip Bailey when he was 13 (Bailey was 15) and they struck up a bond that remains firm to this day. Along with Bailey, Maurice White, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson and Al McKay Dunn founded Earth, Wind & Fire, lending his musical expertise on organ, synthesizer, piano, keyboards, and clavinet for over a decade. As a writer, he contributed to many of the band’s most memorable hits, including "Shining Star," "Spirit," "Be Ever Wonderful," “Keep Your Head to the Sky,” "Runnin'," "See The Light," "Let Me Talk," “Got to Get You Into My Life,” "And Love Goes On," and "Jupiter.”

But EWF wasn’t the only outfit that reaped the benefits of Dunn’s talents. The musical multi-tasker found himself in high demand by other artists as a keyboardist, synth programmer and composer. He worked with The Emotions, Level 42, Ronnie Laws, George Duke, Lenny White, Paulinho Da Costa, Foley, Ramsey Lewis, Caldera, Hubert Laws, Stanley Turrentine, Dianne Reeves, Brian Culbertson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stanley Clarke and Deniece Williams, among others.

While Dunn’s tenure with Earth Wind and Fire ended in 1983, his love for music never went on hiatus. Since 1988 he and his wife Luisa, through their company Source Productions, have been involved with production projects, writing music for Japanese television commercials, film, and studio work. Dunn says he enjoys sharing his gift on the world stage. “What I love about the Japanese culture and European culture as well is that they don’t trip on your age or skin color. Knowing me from Fire, they knew that we were going to give it to them on the highest level.”

In 1996 Dunn released his first solo CD, “Lover’s Silhouette,” an album that blends contemporary music and new age while adding a twist of funk. Says Dunn, “My goal is to reach as many people as possible through music. That’s why we not only released the album here but in Japan as well.” Dunn said the album encompasses “true World Music” and features  eleven powerful tracks that pick up where he left off with EWF. One of the album’s standouts is Luisa’s performance of the emotionally stirring "Don't It Make You Want To Cry."

Among the greats featured on “Lover’s Silhouette” are Phil Upchurch, Ronnie Laws, Marcel East, Hilliard Wilson, Steven Dunn, Derf Reklaw, and original Earth, Wind & Fire band members Ralph Johnson and Al McKay. Dunn’s most recent CD, “N2 the Journey,” was released last October and, like its predecessor, features a roster of top notch musicians: Hubert Laws,  Munyungo Jackson, James Ingram, Foley, Ronnie Laws, Stanley Clarke, Sheldon Reynolds, Procton Bonnell, Jay King, Steven Dunn, Paulinho DaCosta, Rahmlee Michael Davis, Michael Harris, Hilliard Wilson, Andre Delano, Jorge "Jeo" Evans, Steve Baxter and, of course, his wife and partner, Luisa.

Dunn stresses that the album also features an array of styles, a fact that he is extremely proud of.  “I love that we’re able to do all different types of music,” he says. “Some people who didn’t know my background and capabilities are now realizing that I do more than ‘Shining Star’ and if they really knew EWF they would know that we were bigger than that anyway. I’ve done everything from straight ahead opera to jazz to hip hop and I love that part because you get to be an artist.”

Dunn’s artistry was fed early on -- way back in Denver, Colorado. “I remember hearing an array of music on my mom’s side of the family,” he says. “She was Italian and they used to sing Italian folk songs on the weekends. Mom listened to and sang country and western and popular music. Pops played piano, upright bass and guitar....By the time I was 15 I had already played guitar, bass, baritone horn, trombone and violin.”

On “N2 the Journey,” fans will get a taste of classic EWF laced with a hint of jazz, an ingredient that Dunn attributes to jazz organist Jimmy Smith. “He was one of my influences,” he says. “When I was 11 years old my folks got me an organ. I would turn the turntable down to 33 and a third and learn those jazz licks and play them just like him.”

Just as EWF defied musical labeling, Dunn says his musical landscape is vast. “We need to come up with a new genre,” he says, “but if I had to call it anything I would call it adult contemporary. Most people when they hear it will call it grown folks music.”

Despite his solo success, Dunn is forever part of the Earth, Wind & Fire family. In January 2011, he joined the band on stage during the annual Monster Retailer Awards and Concert and their CES 2011 Convention in Las Vegas. He jumped on the keyboard for their performances of “Spirit,” “September,” “Shining Star,” and “That’s the Way of the World.” And, much to the delight of EWF fans,  he recently reunited with the band for the recording of their latest single “Guiding Lights,” the lead single from the band’s “Now, Then and Forever,” CD released in January 2012. With Dunn on keys, the song is being lauded as a welcome throwback to the group’s vintage sound.

After more than fifty years of ‘beating on’ one keyboard or another, Larry Dunn shows no signs of slowing down. Like the elements, his creative genius remains timeless, universal and uncontainable.

Join the live in the vocal booth team as we review Usher's new release Looking 4 Myself. A legend in the R & B world Usher has always delivered quality music for the world to hear. Looking 4 Myself is Ushers 7th studio album. Lets see if he can continue the trend of hits he is known to deliver. Read more info on Usher at www.usherworld.com

Tonight's Topic: Ghettofabulousness

"GHETTOFABULOUSNESS" Is it ever ok to lose your class? Have you ever been so mad that "Ghettofab" took you out your character? Some people let "Ghettofab" tell them how to get over and they end up getting caught and embarrassed at the same time! Maybe you were raised to believe it was ok but someone pulled you to the side and told you what you did was not proper but "Ghettofab." What is being "Ghetto?"

Can anyone be Ghettofabulous? Tonight on "Live In the Vocal Booth" we have a little fun talking about being "GhettoFabulous" Is there a thin line between being "GhettoFab" and boojie? We invite you to laugh it up and tell your stories of "Ghettofabulous people and situations you know of tonight Live In The Vocal Booth bks1radio.com! And don't park your car in front of your neighbors house and use their WiFi on your laptop cause you didn't pay your bill! That's GHETTO!!!

Tonight on the Live In The Vocal Booth Show we bring you Eric Benet latest release The One. Followed at 11 pm est with another hot topic: Is Blood Thicker Than Water? Is this still true these days, Are your family members there for you more than your friends? How has your back and by your side when the times are the toughest? Let us know tonight on the Live In The Vocal Booth Show!

Artist Review: Eric Benet

R&B Crooner, songwriter and actor Eric Benét has successfully released five albums and is releasing his sixth album entitled The One on June 5th, 2012. Very appropriately named, Benét’s new album The One marks a moment of positive transition in his life and lyrically speaks to the many new beginnings developing in his career and family. The One will also be the first album released on Benét’s newly formed record label Jordan House Records, which he created in partnership with EMI.

“Real Love” (available on iTunes) is the first single off Benét’s new album The One and was the #1 added song to Urban AC when shipped to radio in October 2011 and is currently #5 on the Urban AC chart and climbing. This new single is a taste of only one-half of what to expect on Benét’s new album, which he describes as a “very contemporary approach to old-school songwriting integrity” with Benet’s signature mid-70s soul groove, but modernized with a bit of funk, hip-hop swagger and feel. On the new album, there are a variety of instruments from strings to horns plus featured artists, a confirmed duet with his first daughter India and even a lullaby at the end of the album dedicated to his new baby girl Lucia Bella.

Eric Benét was also nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for “Best Traditional R&B Performance” for his single “Sometimes I Cry”. CeeLo Green’s “Fool For You” feat Melanie Fiona won the category. Additionally, Benét was nominated for a 2011 Soul Train Award for “Best Male R&B/Soul Artist” and also performed during the award show’s tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire, which aired November 27th on BET.

In addition to a new album, single & record label, Eric Benét also has a new marriage and baby girl. Eric married Manuela Testolini on July 31st, 2011 in Newport Beach, CA and the newlyweds had their first baby together on December 20th, 2011, naming her Lucia Bella and weighing 6 lbs 5 oz. Previously, Eric was married to actress Halle Berry from 2001 – 2005 and has one daughter named India from a prior relationship with his longtime girlfriend Tami Marie Stauff, who tragically died in a car accident leaving Eric as a single father to their daughter at age 1. India is now 21 years old, attending USC and very musically gifted. Testolini also familiar with being in a Hollywood marriage was married to Prince prior to Benét.

Read More Eric Benet Bio: www.ericbenet.net/about

Tonight's Topic: Is Blood Thicker Than Water?

It's been said that friends come and go, but family is forever. How true is that statement for you? How many good friends do you have more of a bond with then your actual blood relatives? When you've been at your worst and really need assistance, is it family or friends that have been there for you the most? Should you always choose your family over your friends no matter what? Let discuss this right now here on Live In The Vocal Booth.

Special Guest: Ronald Alston, My Father Knows Best

Join CEO Ron Alston for a Cancer Awareness event on Friday, June 29, 2012 at Kays’ Sports Lounge located at 193-197 Western Parkway, Irvington NJ at 6pm.

There will be music, food and much more!

Donations are being requested for this event. Hot Dogs, Hamburgers; whatever donation you can contribute is appreciated.  

If you would like to volunteer for this event, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or sign-up online at the MFKB website: www.myfatherknowsbest.org. Click the volunteer link.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door! Please call  973 399-5153.

My Father Knows Best Organization was created in 1988 with a mission to improve father and son relationships. CEO & FOUNDER Ron Alston developed this organization through sacrifice and twenty-six years of being a dedicated community activist. His motivation continues to press toward positive changes for his community. 

Visit www.myfatherknowsbest.org to learn more about the organization.

Artist Review: R. Kelly

In an era of declining songwriting skills and auto tune crooning R. Kelly embodies the best traditions of American music as a vocalist, songwriter and producer. He uses classic materials to create music as contemporary as Siri’s iPhone voice. Despite selling millions of recordings and writing classic songs for himself and many others, this Chicago based singer-songwriter continues to push his art forward with Write Me Back, a dynamic twelve song collection that is part of his extraordinary 2012 -- The Year of the R.

Along with his remarkable new album, R. Kelly is publishing his first memoir, Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me, and signed with the IFC Channel to add chapters to his innovative hip hop opera Trapped in the Closet, which was an early 21st century cultural phenomenon.

Write Me Back continues the homage to classic soul/R&B that distinguished 2010’s critically acclaimed Love Letter. But where that album celebrates the music of the ‘50s and ‘60s, this has a wider collection of musical inspirations, going to sounds that echo Ray Charles, while evoking the passionate magic of Teddy Pendergrass, Barry White and Michael Jackson among many others. The content and the title of this new recording were definitely inspired by the triumph of the previous album.

The songs on Write Me Back do not simply pay homage to older styles, but evoke a myriad of influences at the same time and in the process create something pleasing and new. “I have many directions I still wanna go in musically,” he says of where he is creatively. “This just happened to be a direction I choose for now because the first album did so well people started asking me if I was gonna be doing any other songs like that.. Through those questions I found a second wind of inspiration in the area of doing the classic R&B type of songs.”

Read More R. Kelly Bio: www.r-kelly.com/content/biography

Tonight's Topic: After The Death Of Rodney King..Why Can't We Still Get Along?

This is the twentieth Anniversary of the LA Riots and black on black crime is still prevalent in many black communities. Police brutalities still exist and black genocide among our nation’s young black men is happening every day.   Rodney King's recent passing coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of the riots and his words that still ring “Can’t we all just get along?”  What is the answer to this question?  Join us Live in the Vocal Booth for this hot topic.  Jump in the live chat or call in 646-233-1302. Bks1 Radio, where your voice matters.

Artist Review: Chris Brown

Chris Brown (born Christopher Maurice Brown; May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer and actor. Born in Tappahannock, Virginia, Brown taught himself to sing and dance at a young age and was involved in his church choir and several local talent shows. In 2004, he signed with Jive Records, and released his self-titled debut album the following year. The album peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, and featured the hit single "Run It!", which topped the Billboard Hot 100, making Brown the first male artist as a lead to have his debut single top the chart since Diddy in 1997. Chris Brown was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Read More Chris Brown Bio: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Brown

Tonight's Topic: Like A Virgin

In this day and age, maintaining one's virginity until marriage is a foreign concept.  Why do we consider people who decide to keep their sexuality sacred taboo?  You may be surprised to find out the number of Americans that are still virgins.  Are there any reasons outside of religious choices to maintain a sexless lifestyle?  How much does the media encourage or pressure people into having sex?  Let's discuss the pluses and minuses of being a virgin tonight on "Live in the Vocal Booth".

Special Guests: The Ultimate Power Couple, Robert & Nicola Jackson

"If you dream it, you can achieve it!" That's the motto of one of Atlanta's most admired power couples, Robert and Nicola Jackson.

Both serial entrepreneurs, the Jacksons each have more than two decades of entrepreneurial experience. Together, they lead a multi-million dollar sales force of over 200,000 in more than 30 countries world-wide.

They are leaders in the health and wellness industry and together hold the coveted position of Platinum President, in one of the fastest growing health and wellness companies in the world, Ardyss International. Robert also runs a successful contracting company while Nicola is a licensed real estate agent and investor. She also owns a successful hair line, Nikki J Hair Collection and is author of the book, “Inside the Millionaire’s Vault”.

Challenges and obstacles don't hold this couple back, they only make them stronger. In addition to running their successful companies, they are also parents of 4 sons, one of whom has Cerebral Palsy. This has fueled their passion for and commitment to the cause to find a cure for this debilitating disease through research. Robert and Nicola also participate in numerous community and charitable events, offering support and empowerment to other families who have children with disabilities.  Stars on the BET Centric hit reality series, Amateur Millionaires Club, Robert and Nicola hold true to their Christian faith, putting God first in every area of their lives. Using kingdom values and principles, they share with millions of people around the nation how to manage a household, maintain a strong marriage and create a multi-million dollar empire.

The Jacksons have won many awards and have been featured in several national publications including Success From Home Magazine. Nicola has also been featured in Sister to Sister Magazine and Essence Online. She was the Chozen Awards 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year and was selected to be a part of the 2012 planning committee for former Mayor of Atlanta and Ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young's 80th Birthday Celebration. Currently the couple travels the world speaking to thousands on how to be successful entrepreneurs. They are also being featured as the Power Couple Honorees at the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation’s (TWEF) 2012 Annual Leadership Conference.