Old School Friday: Freshman Year High School

The lyrics say it all:"I needed someone to understand my ups and downs; You were better to me than I was to myself; I want to stop and thank you....How Sweet it is to be loved..."

Otherwise, I never could have made it. Grace and Mercy.

Branded Black Owned: OSF The Sophomore Year

Everything about the music of Motown - it's sound, the style and fashion of its artists, it's simple sophistication, it's market and cultural dominance, and perhaps most of all the model of black economic independence, entrepreneurship, and self-determination exhibited by founder Berry Gordy - captivated my attention and put its stamp upon me.

To this day, I still have quite an affection for the Motor City. Back in the day, a young player was caught up and just trying to learn to play and play right. These are some of the sounds still indelibly embedded upon his mind.

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell


The Temptations


Martha & The Vandellas

Drama Highway: OSF Remakes

Love songs are easy subjects for remakes because of the drama encountered on the journey of finding a love that will last. Have you traveled that road? Arriving at the conclusion that the thrill is found in compatibility and companionship can make the trip worth the while.

Old School Live version



Youngblood Video Version



Marvin & Gladys Throwdown/Collabo

Being Cool Acting A Fool: OSF Partee-ing

My most memorable (as well as forgettable) party experiences occurred during college as an undergraduate during the days of large lapels and wide collars, elephant bell bottom pants and platform shoes, afros, tikis, dashikis, and Black Power. This is some of the music that is embedded in my mind as I tried to negotiate this new space for me where knowledge, racial pride, love, hate, and cool all intersected at once and tried to overwhelm a young brutha. Here it is, sometimes chillin' and sometimes thrillin':

The Persuaders: A Thin Line


Marvin Gaye: Inner City Blues


Roy Ayers: Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Old School Friday #38: A Night To Remember

Thank God it's over and the first African American president of the U.S., leader of the free world is elected on November 4, 2008



Shalamar: Jeffrey Daniel, Howard Hewitt, Jody Whatly

And a Classic, Marvin Gaye: Got To Give It Up



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