BKS1 Radio Network

This Edition of LIVE In The Vocal Booth Show we rate and review along with YOU the listener Melanie Fiona's new release "The MF Life"

Here is our rating system:
5 Stars: It's blazing hot – on fire
4 Stars: It's a hot song – pump it up
3 Stars: It's alright-good song
2 Stars: Thanks for the album cut-what's next
1 Stars: I won't tell nobody about that if you don't…lets keep that a secret

Melanie Fiona | The MF Life

Melanie Fiona crossed many bridges to arrive at The MF Life. Conceptual bridges. Spiritual bridges. Actual bridges. Stadium-thumpin' bridges. Hard-lovin' emotional bridges. The MF Life, the Grammy-nominated soulstress’s second album for SRC/Title 9/Universal Motown, evinces the charmed life of an immensely gifted vocalist in forward motion, hurtling up the road, the radio dial, and the charts to a unique place where myriad listeners can soothe their souls and hear the beat of their own hearts.

With the release of The Bridge, Melanie Fiona emerged as one of 2009’s finest new breakout stars, appearing everywhere from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to Live with Regis and Kelly, The Wendy Williams Show, and Last Call with Carson Daly. The album’s breakthrough ballad, “It Kills Me,” topped Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for nine weeks and earned Fiona her first Grammy nomination in 2010 for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance. Popular favorites such as “Give It to Me Right” and “Ay Yo” demonstrated Fiona’s unique ability to mix classic R&B/soul influences with a street-smart attitude and hip-hop swagger, resulting in an entirely fresh sound all her own, which she has developed into an electrifying live show. In fact, in 2010, Melanie Fiona was the only artist to be invited to perform on BET’s Rising Icons program for the second year in a row, and she has toured with Kanye West and Alicia Keys, in addition to co-headlining the 2009 Heineken Red Star Soul Tour and the 2011 BET Music Matters II Tour.

The maturity Melanie Fiona displays on The MF Life is underscored by her remarkable versatility and cosmopolitan panache. The album showcases a stunning mix of vibrant new sounds from a host of A-list R&B producers and songwriters, each partaking of the originality that has made Fiona a sought-after collaborator by everyone from Cee-Lo Green (“Fool For You”) and John Legend & The Roots (“Wake Up! Everybody”) to reggae superstar Stephen Marley (“No Cigarette Smoking (In My Room)”) and U.K. rapper Tinchy Stryder (“Let It Rain”). “The MF Life is definitely less retro-sounding than my first album,” says Fiona, who credits her parents, Guyanese émigrés to Canada, with giving her a solid foundation in the time-honored classics of Sam Cooke and Stevie Wonder, among other greats. The transformative impulse is one Fiona relishes. “Making the leap from Canada,” she explains, “I was recognized for two things: Being a powerful vocalist and an emotional storyteller. It’s clear to me that with those traits in place, the sky’s the limit. I think if listeners feel that they can believe what you’re singing, they’ll stick with you no matter what you try.”
Clearly, The MF Life points the way forward for a boldly captivating new voice with an auspicious future.

Tonight's Topic: Facing Foreclosure.....The Facts You Need to Know!

Many Americans are caught in the cycle of owing more than there home is worth.  The rescission has left many jobless which has resulted in the loss of homes, cars and mounting debt.  The bank and car industry got there bail out of financial ruin, but what about Middle America?  Tonight your “Live in the Vocal Booth team discusses the foreclosure process and the resources you need to know when you are facing Foreclosure.  What options do you have?  What are your rights?  Don’t run from the situation Face Foreclosure and Fight Back.

Join the Live In The Vocal Booth Team as we discuss this serious matter that is facing a lot of American homeowners! Call in 646-233-1302 or chat live with our chat rebels. Follow us on twitter: @BKS1RadioEnt and Like our facebook fan page: Best Kept Secrets Ent.

On The next Live In The Vocal Booth Show, we celebrate Fathers across the world. Let’s be real, many fathers these days don’t get the recognition they deserve.  Dads get applauded if they are simply seen with their children in public and are considered saints if they are actually married to their child/children’s mother!  Not tonight…tonight, we are celebrating dads of all kinds.  Married dads, single dads, dads of all races & creeds; if their doing what they are supposed to do, we’re celebrating you. We’re celebrating daddies tonight on “Live in the Vocal Booth”!

Grammy Award Winning Artist Mýa, is celebrating 13 years in the entertainment industry as an internationally known, respected singer, songwriter, producer, dancer/choreographer, actress, designer, model, activist and philanthropist. In Fall 2009 Mýa entertained the world and impressed millions as the highest scoring contestant on ABC’s Season 9 of Dancing With The Stars. Mýa also created her own label, Planet 9, and released the first of a series of independent music compilations, Sugar & Spice LP and “The Perfect Edition” double disc in Japan in 2008 & 2009.  Mýa finished out the decade as one of Billboard’s Hot 100 Artists Of the Decade, and was featured on a number of diverse charts & top 10 lists from Fuse‟s Sexiest Videos of All Time to VH1 Latin America’s Top Videos of The Decade. In 2010 we will see various musical releases from Mýa including collaboration with Cedric Gervais of Ultra Records, the world’s top dance label, titled “Love is The Answer.” In 2010 Mýa also reprised her role as National Spokesperson for The North Shore Animal League‟s Tour For Life and is featured in the Wyclef Jean remake of We Are the World, to benefit Haiti.

Read More Mya Bio Here (www.myamya.com)

How To Blend The Blended Family

" The Blended Family " What do you do when two people are in a relationship and its like your in heaven? He knows and fulfills your every need. She knows what you like and want before you do and makes it come true. Life is really good. UNTIL its time for the family's to meet. Hear come uncle Joe drunk as a skunk and your aunt Sharon is no angel either, with her low cut shirt and high rise dress. Can you say Cougar? Like in the movie ( Jumping The Broom or Four Christmas ), How do you explain your families little secrets and make the transition to one happy family. Lets talk about it tonight on Bks1 Radio. Tell us your story.

Tonight's Topic: Is Today's Workplace Legalized Slavery?

Is Today's Workplace a form of Legalized Slavery? With unemployment still at such a high rate today's employers seem to feel you should be grateful to have a job. Do you walk on eggshells wondering is today my last day? Are you asked to work longer hours with no regards to your family or personal life? Do they also ask you to do so without getting paid at times? Even with the current state of the employment market, we need to know we have right's as employees. If your employer is like a slave master you need to know you have rights. Let's talk about what you can do to get off of the "Plantation", on Bks1radio.com.  Call in 646-233-1302 or become a chat rebel. Join the BKS1 Radio experience!

Special Guest: Singer/Song Writer Tiffany Monique

Joining the live in the vocal booth show tonight is the very talented Singer and Song writer Tiffany Monique.  Who better to describe Tiffany than the Legendary Beyonce, with whom she has toured the world with and performed countless times:

"Tiffany's voice has effortless strength, sass, seduction, and heart with a tone that puts you at ease. I am very lucky to have worked with her for many years and I am proud that she now has such a wonderful piece of work to share with the world."

-Beyoncé

Best known to the general public for being one-third of Beyoncé’s background singers – famously known as “The Mamas”– vocalist/songwriter Tiffany Moníque stepped out of the shadows as a solo recording artist with her debut EP, Nemesis,  in 2010. The five-track gem not only highlighted Tiffany’s stylistic diversity, but solidified her place as a superstar on the rise. In less than two years since the launch of her debut, Tiffany Moníque has amassed an impressive international fan base of thousands, including none other than her former boss, Beyoncé:

"Tiffany's voice has effortless strength, sass, seduction, and heart with a tone that puts you at ease," said Beyoncé. "I am very lucky to have worked with her for many years and I am proud that she now has such a wonderful piece of work to share with the world."

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Tiffany’s mom moved the family to Newark, New Jersey in 1983.  At the age of three, Tiffany became actively involved in church and began to lay the foundation of her musical career through the church choir. “I went with my grandmother every Sunday and was involved in every ministry,” she pleasantly recalls. By the time she was in high school, Tiffany was a director in the church’s music ministry. While she knew well the songs in her hymnbook, Tiffany also found joy listening to seasoned soul singers on the radio. Listening to artists like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Whitney Houston, Vesta and Chaka Khan, for whom her Aunt Beverly once sang backgrounds, Tiffany was inspired.

Read More About Tiffany Monique at www.tiffanymonique.com

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.

Are there rules after you break up?

Do you have to sever all ties with your EX's family? Should you break up with them as well?
How vested should you be? When you are invited to that cook-out or Wedding and you are no longer a part of that family, should you accept?  Do you get rid of photos that you Ex is a part of because the new person in your life might feel some type of way? Should you stop responding to text messages and stop accepting phone calls after the break up, remember this person is now your ex? If one of his or her friends asked you to hang out is it okay to go out with them. Let's Talk About It...

Special Musical Guest: Vangela Crowe

Back to bless Bks1 Radio with her powerful soulful voice. Vangela continues to deliver outstanding songs with a powerful message. Her latest single Peace is another testament to how talented a singer/writer/artist Vangela has become. Find out what Vangela has been up to, current projects, shows and more as she joins The Grown Sexy Situation! Check out the video for her single Greener and Vangela's latest single Peace can be heard at : http://soundcloud.com/azucar-digital/vangela-crowe-peace

Special Guest: Model/Actor/Director/Producer Shaheed Shaheed

The multi-talented Shaheed Shaheed joins The Grown Sexy Situation to discuss his latest project The Red BowTie. From Modeling to Acting and Directing Shaheed has been a part of the entertainment industry for some time and a major force in the game. Hear what he has to say about his experiences and learn from the knowledge that he will pass on about the industry and succeeding in the field.

Check out a sneak peak from The Red BowTie:

Being a parent is never an easy task, especially when one must go "it" alone. There are countless statistics that show the reason so many children are being raised in single-parent homes yet the least amount of attention is paid to the child.

Exactly how are children being raised in single parent homes fairing to their (some would say) "more well equipped" counterparts. This Friday from 11pm-1am join the ladies of OWWHH as they to tackle the debate of single-parent households - what happens to the children?

Find out..... only on www.bks1radio.com

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DO YOU WANT TO BE A MALE PERSPECTIVE? Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

If you are in the NYC/NJ area send us the following information and someone from our team will contact you! We would love to have you join us in the studio as a male perspective on one of our shows.

-Name
-Address
-Contact Number
-Interest, hobbies
- The reason you would like to join the ladies of O.W.W.H.H. and be a male perspective on the show!

DO YOU HAVE A KNOCK IT OFF? CALL 646 929 1530

Is there something that bothers you and you just want to tell the world to knock it off? If so, then call into the show at 11:59pm ET on any Friday from anywhere and tell us how you are feeling!!!!

Tonight Saturday 6/16 on “Live in the Vocal Booth” the team will be discussing our Fathers and the impact our fathers made in our lives.  We invite you to share what your dad means to you.  We know dads are important and whether we have good or bad experiences it impacts who we are in such a major way.  Many have grown up without their father, if that is you how did that make you feel?  Maybe you feel like your father was simply a sperm donor and doesn’t deserve the title father.  Maybe you were blessed and your dad was Superman, whatever your experience we want to hear from you because at BKS1RADIO.COM your voice matters!!! Tune in tonight 11:00 pm (EST) on www.bks1radio.com call in 646-233-1302 or jump in the live chat.

The list of jobs and the housing market crash has put lots of Americans in a place they never imagined. The face of the homeless has changed. No longer are the homeless just people deemed as not wanting to work; lazy, or on drugs, but today we see people with college degrees, former business owners and just everyday hard working people faced with the threat and for some the reality of homelessness.

The “Live in the Vocal Booth Team” will tackle the new face of homelessness and how we can help those in need and stay away from becoming homeless ourselves. Tonight we have a special call in guest Taneisha Sanders who will tell her story of how now she too has become one of the millions who have become homeless. Join us Live in The Vocal Booth on Bks1radio.com.

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.