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TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 1

99 & KATO: THE RADIO EXPERIENCE ONE TIME FOR“ YOUR “MIND!!!

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TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 2 99 & KATO: THE RADIO EXPERIENCE C ONTENT • MichaelMuse • StinkyDinkPictorial • Frank“Scooby”Sirius • RIPMauriceWhite • Top BoyontheUMC • CHDAwareness • She’sSingle...OnValentine’s Day • #SandyStillSpeaksinBaltimore • TheWanda PrattStory • BlackHistoryFunFacts • TheCrooner 42 40 32 28 24 22 20 18 14 12 8 FEBRUARY 2016 Publisher Kato Hammond

Creative Director Tahira Chloe Mahdi Marlon Green

Contributing Writers Maiah Coles Jennifer Angellatta-Moore Tahira Chloe Mahdi Preston Blue

Photos Michael Mustbnice Bell Preston Blue Chip Py Don Wilson Memories Are Worth Keeping Tia Warhall

Graphics & Layout Kato Hammond

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FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

Kato Hammond

The Crooner The club scene is crowded, but it’s not a boisterous one. Just about everyone has a drink in their hand, and is engaged in quiet conversation, or perhaps just silently enjoying the evening. Setting the mood is an old-school crooner; a gentleman all dressed up and filling the room with his witty banter and warm, jazzy singing. It’s a classy and romantic environment, helped in large part by the charismatic guy on stage.

The Crooner is an American epithet that was given to singers of jazz standards, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band or by a piano. The silky-voiced singer of these senti- mental jazz favorites, particularly a male singer, were especially popular from the late 1920s until the early 1950s. The increased use of microphones and radio broadcasting made it possible for them to sing softly and emotionally even when backed by a band.

Although many people in American music culture, such as Frank Sinatra, were ad- amant about de- nouncing that title, many vocalists in Photo of Bryant "Luther" Roberts the black music culture not only wore it as a crown, but also took it more soulful levels over the past 50 years. These were artists such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Smokey Robin- son, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, Ronald Isley, Barry White, Johnny Mathis, Marvin Gaye, Philip Bailey, Luther Vandross, Prince, Lionel Richie, El Debarge, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Usher, KC & JoJo, Keith Sweat, D’Angelo, Rapheal Sadiq, Jahiem, Anthony Hamilton, Lyfe Jennings and so on. Photo of Tony Sharpe And just like all the other sectors of Black American Music genres, Go-Go has also produced its share of crooners. People such as Chuck Brown, Eric Handon (EU), Tyrone “Jungle Boogie” Williams (Rare Es- sence), Lawrence West (Rare Essence), Michael Muse (Rare Essence), Tony Sharpe (Class Band), Junie Henderson (EU), Bryant “Luther” Roberts (Little Benny & The Masters), Michael Strong (Junkyard Band), Gene Pratt (Junkyard Band), Leon- ard “Hugg” Huggins (Northeast Groovers), Weensey (Backyard Band), Bruce Bailey (Backyard Band), Charles “Shorty” Garrett (Rare Essence), Kennie “KC” Lee (Junk- yard Band), Adebayo De’ De’ Folarin (Suttle Photo of Gene Pratt

Thoughts), Frank “Scooby” Sirius (L!s- sen), Michael Thompson (L!ssen), Steve Roy (Suttle Thoughts) and so on.

Back in the early days of go-go, the middle of the show was usually the main time given for the crooner to shine. After playing for about 45 minutes straight, the band would finally stop and shift into a slow groove. This was the moment that allowed Photo of Kennie "KC" Lee the crooner to single handedly get his shine. Although many aspects of today’s formatted standard have actually shifted from the middle of the show to the actual opening of the show, the standards and principles of it remained the same. 

Photo of Weensey Photo of Steve Roy

by Maiah Coles

Potato chips were invented by a black man. In 1853 a restaurant customer sent his French fries back to the kitchen because they were too thick. The chef George Crum cut a bunch of potatoes as thin as he could. He fried them crisp in anger and voila, the potato chip was born.

Sarah Boone was an Afri- can-American inventor who was awarded a patent for the ironing board.Born in the Deep South—in Summit, Pike County, Mississippi—in the 1860s or 1870s, Sarah Boone made her name by inventing the ironing board. Boone was a rarity during her time, a female African-Amer- ican inventor. In her patent application, she wrote that the purpose of her invention was “to produce a cheap, simple, convenient and highly effective device, particularly adapted to be used in ironing the sleeves and bodies of ladies’ garments.” Prior to that time, most people ironed using a board of wood rested across a pair of chairs or tables. She was living in New Haven, Connecticut, when her patent was granted in 1892. She died in 1900. On April 19, 1866, the African American citizens of Washington D.C. celebrated the abolition of slavery. 4,000 to 5,000 people assembled to the White House addressed by Andrew Johnson. Led by two black regiments, the spectators and the procession proceeded up the Pennsylvania Avenue to Franklin Square for religious services and speeches by prominent politicians. The sign on top of the platform read:

“We have received our civil rights. Give us the right of suffrage and the work is done.”

A black man from Newark, New Jersey, by the name of Charles B. Brooks, invented the U.S.’ first self-propelled street sweeper truck and patented it on March 17, 1896.

Historically, prior to Brooks’ truck, streets were commonly cleaned by walking workers, picking up by hand or broom, or by horse-drawn machines. Brooks’ truck had brushes attached to the front fender that pushed trash to the curb. Seat Pleasant’s Own Kevin Durant’s Mom Gets Lifetime Biopic

by Kato Hammond

The mother of NBA star Kevin Durant will be the subject of an upcoming Lifetime original movie to be executive produced by Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere’s Flavor Unit.

Cassandra Freeman (Inside Man, Single Ladies) will star in the biopic, tentatively titled “The Real MVP: The Wanda Pratt Story.” The film will follow her journey as a single mom who struggled and sacrificed to raise her two sons, Tony and Kevin.

When he was named 2014’s NBA Most Valuable Player, Kevin Durant singled out his mother as “the real MVP” for all of her sacrifices that allowed him to pursue his dreams. Tracie Thoms will play Pratt’s best friend and confidant. Pauletta Washington will play Pratt’s mom Barbara, while actors Daniel Bellomy and Nic Few will play the adult Kevin and Tony, respectively.

Production is currently underway in Van- couver on the film under director Nelson George. A&E Studios is producing the film, which will premiere on Mother’s Day,  Sunday May 8, on Lifetime. Photo of Cassandra Freeman In an era of declining songwriting skills and auto tune crooning... Michael Muse embodies the best traditions of R&B/Soul music as a vocalist, songwriter and producer.

Hard hitting yet smooth and haunting vocals and music

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 16 GoGo Music!!! Displaying the various styles of GoGo recorded on the Bag of Beats Label!! over the past 15yrs. This is the Best of Bag of Beats!!! “Its Whats in the Pocket that Counts!!”

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 17 #SandyStillSpeaks at Baltimore’s “Be a Voice, Not an Echo”

by Tahira Chloe Mahdi Diversity Institute (by LeVern Danley III) BALTIMORE, Maryland (January 30, 2016) that included some of Sandra Bland’s — Sharon Cooper spoke to a packed own words and images from her Sandy house at Red Emma’s on Saturday eve- Speaks video series. ning about her sister Sandra Bland, who died in police custody last July. The event “We are expecting that if we are told “Be a Voice, Not an Echo” was spon- something and if we are fed something, sored by UMBC (University of Maryland, we are to take it as fact; and that is just Baltimore County) and Taharka Brothers not true,” said Ms. Cooper. She went on Ice Cream. to compare mainstream media’s misrep- resentations of her sister to the mislead- The importance of everyday citizens con- ing coverage of Baltimore in the wake of trolling and reporting their own narratives Freddie Gray’s death in police custody. was the major theme of the evening, as the “Control the narrative,” Ms. Cooper said, majority of questions and answers pointed “There is nobody who can speak up for to the problem of misinformation in main- you and speak in your place.” stream media. Ms. Cooper told of how reporters distorted facts about her sister, About the moment she decided to take often without speaking to the family. Au- control of this narrative, she says, “I real- dience comments highlighted the glaring ized very, very quickly — because this is negativity in news stories about Black in- at the time when the social media traction dividuals and referenced the centuries-old started picking up — so I realized very false narrative of black criminality found in quickly: if we are silent now, we will al- media and entertainment. ways be an echo and not the voice.”

Countering the falsifications surrounding Sandra Bland’s mother also attend- her sister’s story, Ms. Cooper present- ed, and her powerful words brought the ed a video made for the Sandra Bland program to a close. Geneva Reed-Veal

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 18 crowd as she declared the need for Black women to be “Unapologetically Black,” as Sandra Bland revealed herself to be in the Sandy Speaks videos.

The event was led by the efforts of UMBC professor Dr. Kimberly Moffitt. Dr. Mof- fitt was Sharon Cooper’s very influential Africana Studies professor at DePaul Uni- versity some years ago.

UMBC will host another event on its campus this Monday, February 1st, en- titled “Black Lives Matter: More Than a Hashtag! It’s a Movement!” A pan- el and breakout discussions will feature activists Makayla Gilliam-Price, Tariq Toure’, Lady Brion (also performing), Ericka Alston, and Nicole Cousin-Gos- sett. The moderator will be Lisa Gray of UMBC Student Life’s Mosaic Center for Photo of Sharon Cooper Culture and Diversity, which is co-spon- soring with B’PAR (Baltimore Participa- spoke of the public perception of her fami- tory Action Research), a UMBC graduate ly’s strength as they continue to grieve for student organization.  her daughter and to fight for justice. Using a comparison of the five fingers on one hand to individuals each using their own means to stand against injustice, Ms. Reed-Veal stressed that change is created by all of our efforts, whether it be a letter written to offi- cials, a poem recited, social media activism, a song, or other means. She has heard the victim-blaming declarations that her daughter would still be alive if she had behaved differently. Instead of asking why Sandy didn’t “shut up,” Ms. Reed-Veal wants us to ask, “Why don’t we wake up?” She also implores us to learn the life stories of the FIVE OTHER WOMEN BESIDES SANDRA BLAND WHO DIED IN POLICE CUSTODY, JUST IN JULY 2015.

Worth mentioning is the event’s opening po- etic piece “From Sojourner, to Ida, to San- dy, We Must Speak” by a UMBC doctoral student known locally as the poet Lyrical Tay. She began, “Who would have thought that self-love was revolutionary?” and elic- ited positive, energetic responses from the

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 19 TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 20 by Jennifer Angellatta-Moore

If you’re single, does the calendar flip to February make you cringe? Do you put off buying groceries because you don’t want to see those damned chocolate heart boxes all over the store? Or the enormous greeting cards that are conveniently placed all over the store that seem to mock you because you ain’t got no man?

Well, before you think that your only option for Valentine’s Day is a date on your couch watching movies with two brothas named Ben and Jerry, take a minute and rethink your situation.

If you watch too much TV, it’s easy to buy into the mindset that your worth is measured by your relationship, then the size of your ring (and if he went to Jared) If you’re single, the TV will tell you that better sign up for a free assessment from whatever .com dating site so you can find the love of your life, but I’m telling you that the love of your life is standing in the mirror.

Too often, we settle for someone who is not really what we need just to have someone in our life. We look at a single woman and think, “what’s wrong with her? Why is she single?”

Being single by choice doesn’t have to mean that you have to hate Valen- tine’s Day. Make the day yours. Take advantage of some of those couples specials, but take a girlfriend. Go enjoy a spa day, or a male review show if you’re naughty. Go to a club with a big group and take over the VIP section.

Go to CVS and stand behind the rows of clueless men trying to buy cards at the last minute, if you still need a laugh. Sorry fellas, but you should see yourselves.

Don’t forget the day after... you can buy yourself any gift you would had wanted for half-price. 

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 21 February is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month. CHDs(as they are more commonly known) is the most common birth defect, and the Number one birth defect related cause of death for infants. One in every 110 babies in United States is born with a heart defect.

There is no cure, and most children will require at least one open heart surgery during their lifetime.

While CHDs kill more children than all forms of childhood cancer combined, there is still there a little funding for research. That is why spreading awareness is so important. Please spread the word.

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 22 TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 23 by Kato Hammond

During one of my usual searches of independent movies and programs through the Urban Movie Channel website (UrbanMovieChannel.com) I stumbled across a series entied “TOP BOY.” And let me just say this the find was turned out to be a real jewel for me. Because this production was truly incredible!! There are approximately 2 seasons up there with 4 episodes per season. Check this series when you get a chance.

ABOUT TOP BOY:

“Top Boy” is a British television drama series about the streets that takes viewers into the housing estates of East London. In fact, when it comes to drama, I would definitely put this on the same level as the HBO drama “The Wire.” There is tension between the drug gangs that operate almost openly and those who strive to live honest lives against the odds in the crime-riddled area. And very much like “The Wire,” that tension is explored through the interlocking stories of 20-something drug dealer Dushane, who along with his

TOP BOY ON THE UMC

partner Sully, is determined to become the area’s Top Boy, and good-natured but vulnerable teenager Ra’Nell, who is forced to grow up quickly following his mother’s breakdown and enforced absence. This program combines elements of a tense gangster thriller with subtle social realism, some tender- ness, innocence and humor. 

DCBrand99.com by Kato Hammond Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White, whose horn-driven band sold more than 90 mil- lion albums and made hits like “September,” ”Shining Star” and “Boogie Wonderland, died on Wednesday February 3rd at his home in Los Angeles.

Earth, Wind & Fire, a nine-piece band centered featuring the two White brothers, singer Phil- ip Bailey and the distinctive horn section, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. The band’s most successful period started with the 1975 album “That’s The Way of The World” and continued through the rest of the decade. Other hits included “Serpentine Fire,” ”That’s the Way of the World” and a cover of the Beatles’ “Got to Get You Into My Life.”

White said in an interview with The Associated Press in 2000 that he wanted the band’s music to inspire instead of just entertain.

“That was the whole objective, to try to inspire young people to believe in themselves and to follow through on their ideas,” he said. “We’ve touched so many people with these songs.”

A former session drummer, White founded the band Salty Peppers in the Chicago area in the late 1960s andTMOTTGoGo had some Magazine modest success | February in 2016 the Midwest. | Page 28 After relocating to Los Angeles and ditching all of the band members except Verdine, he renamed the outfit Earth, Wind & Fire after the three elements in his astrological chart.

The band’s early sound was jazzy, but evolved into an exuberant, horn-driven mix of jazz, funk, gospel and Big Band music. Their appeal wasn’t just on records but on stage, their concerts a whirl of dancing, fog machines, multi-colored lights and glittery costumes. Earth, Wind & Fire performed everywhere from the Super Bowl to the White House.

The band performed in the movie, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and had hits with the ballad “After the Love Has Gone,” ”All ‘n’ All,” ”Let’s Groove” and “Fall in Love With Me.” The band took a four-year hiatus in the 1980s and then returned, its primary success then on the road.

“We live in a negative society,” White told Newsweek at the height of the band’s success. “Most people can’t see beauty and love. I see our music as medicine.” 

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 29 Marlon Green Presents...

Children’s Book Series

LittleMarlon.com TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 30 Author Marlon Green

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 31 Frank “Scooby” Sirius

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 32 Frank “Scooby” Sirius Smoove-n-Subtle by Kato Hammond

Sure you are familiar with him –- one “The brightest star in the night sky over- of the lead singers for the famed flowing with intrinsic luminosity” – we trend-setting Go-Go band Lissen, introduce, FRANK SIRIUS. as well as bands such as OP Tribe, Team Familiar and The TMOTTGOGO: What is your name? Chuck Brown Band. Penned the “Godson of Go-Go”, and the mo- SCOOBY: Well, I was born Frank, but tivating factor of many sellout perfor- my family has always called me Scoo- mances across the east coast, his soul- by, so that stuck with me until I got ful, heart pounding melodies and his older & my girlfriends would demand I smooth vocal styles cannot be denied. be called by my real name… lol. But, I started calling myself Frank Sirius back This amazing entertainer is soon to in 2009 to better reflect the intellectual be re-discovered as he embarks on a side of my growth as a person/man/mu- break-out solo career. He has emerged sician/artist. from the lead of an award winning band to become the next hottest solo artist to TMOTTGOGO: Where are you from? mount out of the DC metropolitan area. With his new solo album coming soon, SCOOBY: I am from SE Washington fans are anxious and curious to hear DC. A proud product of the DC public what masterpieces he will create on school system. An Eastern High grad- his own. A combination of sounds from uate. musical geniuses such as Donnie Ha- thaway, Marvin Gaye, and George Ben- TMOTTGOGO: Thanking back to early son, he is undoubtedly the next musi- childhood, what was your first experi- cal superstar, crossing over R&B/Soul, ence with music for the first time like? Pop, and Hip-Hop genres, and giving What song do you remember most as life to the forgotten acoustic sound. a child?

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 33 SCOOBY: Well, with me growing up like, every neighborhood had a band. around music all my life, I really can’t And we had a band called superb or remember the significant point where I something like that… lol. We started out first heard music, but I can tell you I re- playing on buckets and cans, then our member my dad’s singing group always parents got us some equipment and we practicing in the basement, harmoniz- were off and running. ing. And I was always intrigued and fas- cinated by the harmony they would do! TMOTTGOGO: How did you become As far as the song I remember most, it’s involved in the type of music you play a song my father wrote for his children, now? and it was only 1 verse but he would take turns putting our names in it. We SCOOBY: I grew up on Go-Go music, would all sing that song together, so so when we started our band, it was no that’s always been a pleasant memory question what kind of music we would for my brother & sisters! play. But back then it was more R&B influenced. TMOTTGOGO: What made you first realize that you wanted to pursue a ca- TMOTTGOGO: How would you de- reer in music? scribe your music/art/entertainment for

a public audience who may have never

I grew up on Go-Go seen you before? music, so when we “ SCOOBY: I would say it’s “LIVE” first “ started our band, it was and foremost. It’s Entertaining, and if no question what kind you listen to the writing, it’s very intui- tive! I like to write about things that may of music we would play. help someone listening.

TMOTTGOGO: Who is Scooby and SCOOBY: I would have to say in High who is Frank Sirius? School when I met the members of L!S- SEN. Our name was Smoove-n-Subtle SCOOBY: Scooby is the kid around back then, and we thought we were go- the family. In fact, if you call me Frank ing to be the next Boyz II Men… lol. We around any of my family, they’re going went on to win at Apollo, but when the to look around like, “who’re they talking leader of the group, Ed McQueen, was to?” LOL. I’ll always be Scooby. Now, killed in a car accident, we took a few Frank Sirius is more of the artist that I’d months off and came back as L!SSEN. like the world to get to know. I think I’m And that started a incredible journey in a bit of an idealist. A guy who wants to this town. A journey, for me, that has talk about the issues of the community, led me to where I am now... still making the country, and the world. And hopeful- music. ly inspire people to open the dialogue on issues plaguing our people and our TMOTTGOGO: How old were you planet. when you started getting involved in music? TMOTTGOGO: How many musical in- struments do you play? SCOOBY: Probably around 5 or 6. I tried the youth choir thing for a second, SCOOBY: I honestly don’t know, be- but I really got involved in music at 9 cause there’s a difference in playing an years old. See, back then, it seemed instrument, and being able to get paid

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 34 to play an instrument… lol. So, let’s count the ones I’ve gotten paid to play. The guitar, the piano, congas/percus- sion, trumpet, and drums.

TMOTTGOGO: Can you give me a brief rundown of the experiences that you have had in the music industry (i.e., groups, bands, other projects leading to where you are today)?

SCOOBY: Wow, that’s a loaded question. I started doing it professionally with a band called OP Tribe. Since then I’ve played with or shared the stage with so many incredible artist like; Chuck Brown, Team Familiar, L!SSEN, UCB, Raheem Devaughn, Wale, Kanye, Fan- tasia, Anthony Hamilton, Jada Kiss, Slick Rick, Doug E Fresh, John Leg- end, Marsha Ambrosia, Lyfe Jennings, Lil Scrappy, Kenny Lattimore, Dru Hill, DJ Kool to name a few.

TMOTTGOGO: What can people ex- pect to see at your live performance?

SCOOBY: A lot of energy as well as vocal range. I like to improvise and keep a live show “LIVE” and interesting. In DC fashion, involve the crowd as much as possible… and PLAY GOGO MU- SIC!!!!!!

TMOTTGOGO: What do you feel dis- tinguishes “an artist” from just a musician?

SCOOBY: In my opinion, I think a musician is good at playing music, while an artist delivers the music in his/her interpretation. It’s like a painter, dancer or any other kind of artist, you can tell everybody to paint the same thing, but each artist is going to deliver it the way that comes from their heart and imagi- nation.

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 35 TMOTTGOGO: For as long as you SCOOBY: I would first say practice and have been in this go-go music indus- work on your craft as much as you work try, what can you say are some of the on becoming popular, actually more changes that you have noticed over the than being popular. If you’re good, the years? popularity and recognition will come.

SCOOBY: I’ve noticed that the city has TMOTTGOGO: If you had only five lost the connection to a kind of “farm minutes on earth to perform one song system” for the music. We’ve always that could leave a great impact on the had younger bands, in their own inter- world today, what song would you per- pretation, work on being go-go artist form and why did you choose this par- that fed into what the older bands were ticular piece? doing for the most part. But for that period of time that music was taken out SCOOBY: That would be a song I re- of the school system, I think it hurt the made with The Chuck Brown Band, by musicianship of the younger genera- Ziggy Marley, called “Love is My Reli- tion. But with that being said, I think the gion”. It embodies what I feel about the enthusiasm is still there for the music, world and what we need to try to ac- it’s just sounds different than what we complish as humans. grew up on, and nothing is wrong with that. Every genre of music evolves. And TMOTTGOGO: Just for fun... finish the go-go should be no different. I embrace sentences! the new sound, as long as there’s some original music being made. I’ve also no- Without music… I would be a ticed that the business of the music has politician. changed. At least to me. Music is… a life saver, and the one TMOTTGOGO: How do you think you true universal language. would like to be remembered by everyone when all is said and done? My music makes me feel… all kinds of emotions. I try to write and sing about SCOOBY: He gave it everything he had all kinds of topics. But it mostly makes on that stage, and he made some mu- me feel liberated. sic that can be played over the span of forever. I write the songs because... I feel like I have to get them out of my head and TMOTTGOGO: What do you think on paper and eventually to the world. makes you and your style unique from other artists? Support music because… it’s the first line of defense to hate. When love is ex- SCOOBY: That’s easy. It’s where I’m pressed thru music, it’s easy to ingest. from. DC has a sound and feel that’s so hard to duplicate, and I embrace it. It’s Thank you kindly!! the one thing we have, that nobody else -KH in the world has my trump card.

TMOTTGOGO: Art & Music has an impact on both young and old. Everyone loves a celebrity, so what advice do you have for the youth of today?

TMOTTGOGO: Where are you from? In an era of declining songwriting skills and auto tune crooning, Michael Muse MICHAEL: Originally born in Welch may probably be the most recognized West, VA. Moved to S.E., DC when I (and mimicked) singing voice in the his- was 2 years old, where I was raised. tory of go-go. Since his early days with Rare Essence up until now with his own TMOTTGOGO: Thanking back to early projects, Muse has always embodied childhood, what was your first experi- the best traditions of R&B/Soul music ence with music for the first time like? as a vocalist, songwriter and producer. What song do you remember most as His velvet voice is unique and mesmer- a child? izing, captivating audiences across the nation. MICHAEL: The song or songs I remember first hearing and feeling were With the new solo release of his antici- all those 70’s Philly Soul songs by pated CD “The Love of You,” Muse has groups like The Stylistics, Delfonics and gathered all the experiences has en- Blue Magic. countered over the years into one com- plete package. And just as anticipated, TMOTTGOGO: What made you first the superb Falsetto and natural smooth realize that you wanted to pursue a ca- tenor that makes him a true extraordi- reer in music? naire balladeer radiates. MICHAEL: Realizing I could actually So, without further ado, Ladies and sing and sound like those Philly Soul Gentlemen, we bring to you the incredi- songs kept me imagining as a child ble MICHAEL MUSE. of one day being in a group and sing- TMOTTGOGO: What is your name? ing alongside friends. I MICHAEL: Michael Darren Muse didn’t just

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 42 Often Imitated... Michael Muse But Never Duplicated

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 43 hear the music. It moved my spirit in a MICHAEL: A 30+ year tenure with way I could not explain at that time. bands in the DC area such as Rare Essence, Lil Benny & The Masters, TMOTTGOGO: How old were you Proper Utensils, First Touch, DC Bad when you started getting involved in Boys (which was a group of DC cats music? who formed a go-go band in Norfolk VA in the late 80’s), Familiar Faces, and MICHAEL: I was 15 years old when I even sang Gospel for about a year with finally got the courage to sing in front of Patrick Lundy and The Ministers Of Mu- a live audience. sic. Now I am doing it as a solo artist and loving it all over again. TMOTTGOGO: How did you become involved in the type of music you play TMOTTGOGO: What can people ex- now? pect to see at your live performance?

MICHAEL: The type of music I sing MICHAEL: My live performance give now is exactly the same stuff that the audience an artist with superb touched my spirit when I was a child. stage presence, personality and vocal Love songs mostly from the Philly Soul wizardry, along with the tightest musi-

era. After being in Go-Go for so many cians in the area backing me.

A musician plays TMOTTGOGO: What do you feel dis- music, but an artist “ tinguishes “an artist” from just a musi- “ cian? creates and becomes MICHAEL: A musician plays music, but music itself. an artist creates and becomes music itself.

years and playing 2nd fiddle to different TMOTTGOGO: You have been in this folks in charge I just finally had enough go-go music industry damn near since and decided to do it my way. the beginning of it. What are some of the changes that you have noticed over TMOTTGOGO: How would you de- the years? scribe your music/art/entertainment for a public audience who may have never MICHAEL: The beat has certainly seen you before? slowed down. Showmanship is lacking and the originality is gone. MICHAEL: I’d say my sound is very melodic, smooth and haunting. It’s TMOTTGOGO: How do you think you like expensive brandy that goes down would like to be remembered by every- smooth but will knock you out if you’re one when all is said and done? not careful. MICHAEL: Would love hopefully be TMOTTGOGO: Can you me a brief run- remembered for having a great voice. down of the experiences that you have But equally as important I’d like to be had in the music industry (i.e., groups, remembered for being the first person bands, other projects leading to where to make the singing position relevant in you are today)? a go-go band.

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 44 TMOTTGOGO: What do you think makes you and your style unique from other artists?

MICHAEL: I could be wrong but I’ve been told I’m the only singer in Go- Go whose style was ever mimicked by others. Lots of singers just sing, but I display tons of personality in my performance and delivery.

TMOTTGOGO: Art & Music has an impact on both young and old. Everyone loves a celebrity, so what advice do you have for the youth of today?

MICHAEL: I think the greatest thing anyone can tell a young person is to trust in God and treat people the way you’d like to be treated at all times. No matter what. It’s just that simple.

TMOTTGOGO: If you had only five minutes on earth to perform one song that could leave a great impact on the world today, what song would you perform and why did you choose this par- ticular piece?

MICHAEL: “Love Is The Answer” by England Dan & John Ford Coley. The answer to why I’d choose this song is in the title? It’s a beautiful song.

TMOTTGOGO: Just for fun... finish the sentences!

Without Music... I’d be empty inside.

Music is... part of my spiritual being.

Music makes me... feel eternal.

I write songs to... try and stir up positive feelings in people so that they may feel eternal as well.

Thank you kindly!! -KH

TMOTTGoGo Magazine | February 2016 | Page 45 www.TMOTTRadio.com/advertising

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