Celebrate the life and music of Disco's First Lady of Love, Donna Summer this spring!

Previews start March 28th and officially opens April 23rd, 2018

"Donna Summer" (she was born LaDonna Adrian Graines on December 31, 1948) originally from Boston, Massachusetts the third of seven children would become the woman with a seductive, powerful, voice would captivate audiences in the 1970s and 1980s  she won and was nominated for many awards NAACP Award Image Awards, American Music Awards, and Grammy Awards  take people by storm with her talent. She actually grew up in the Methodist church and was singing in choir originally.  She was discovered when she was filling for someone in the choir and gave her first solo performance.

She was considered to be the queen of disco and one of the women and founders who were behind the electronic dance movement.  Her captivating model looks, angelic voice was featured and was that added ingredient you needed on songs discussing a variety of topics from love, self-empowerment, female empowerment, and also just having a good time and wanting to get out there and dance. Her story  I enjoyed hearing her rise and how she was so determined to break out and become a star you would be surprised some of her early accomplishments were pretty remarkable for a woman who started out singing in the church at first. I admire that although she was a global successful superstar she never forgot her spiritual connection to God, her religious connection, her values all of those pieces make you a complete woman and human being. You have so many pieces that can tear you down or build you up. It’s a matter of figuring out what will make you stronger, better, and ultimately how to perfect your craft too. Donna’s connection with God rehabilitated her when she first broke out in the 1970s as an artist. She was dealing with a grueling schedule, high demands from her entourage, managers, working around the clock inside the studios. She was producing some of the biggest hits during her career but inside she was not feeling 100 percent herself. She needed something to ground her, to make her feel whole again, to ease her mind, she was suffering from anxiety and pressure from the shows, the expectations of the media. So she did something that always gave her peace and solace. She reconnected to her religion. As she did that some of her biggest hits were produced at the same time. It’s amazing what a little prayer, faith, guidance, and direction can do to turn around your whole entire career.

            Donna originally started out singing in her boyfriend’s band in the late 1960s as his lead singer, then she was offered an opportunity to join the German production of Hair the Broadway musical.  She then fell in love while living in Germany and her daughter, Natalia Pia  Melanie “Mimi” Sommer’s father first and she raised her daughter there. During that time she was discovered by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellote while she was working part-time modeling and a backup singer.  Her demo tape was discovered at that time in 1974 and when someone misspelled her name on the tape writing “Donna Summer” and her cover artwork instead of her former married name (Sommer) the moniker stuck and she used the name going forward as her stage name in her career.  Summer’s career has been one that should be acknowledged and recognized in the music industry, the arts, and entertainment. 
She received over 30 nominations, AMA, Grammy, and NAACP Image awards within her 4 -decade career until she passed in May of 2012 and still continues to shine on with her music. She has worked with incredible musicians, producers, and artists to this day from Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, and many more legendary performers and producers who have contributed to her career with their songs, skills, and much more. She received the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Award as well. Summer her legacy continues through her three daughters, "Mimi", Amanda Sudano, and Brooklyn Sudano who is a very well known actress as well and model and through her husband, Bruce Sudano group member of "Brooklyn Dreams" was married to Donna since 1980 and they were married 32 years. 

The beautiful late, Donna Summer with her husband Bruce Sudano were crazy in love and married 32 years!!! Her legacy is survived through him, her family, and her beautiful daughters, and of course her music and paintings. 

 Donna is back this spring with previews will start March 28 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater and will officially open on April 23, 2018 her Broadway play and life story is coming to the stage.  Summer initially started working on her play about 15 years ago actually while working on her album and she began producing and writing music for the play already.  

Donna Summer she will be played by three actresses: La Chanze will play “Diva Donna”, while Ariana DeBose will play the Disco Donna during Donna Summer’s 1970 decade heyday when she first broke out and became a recording artist. Storm Lever will appear as “Duckling Donna” all three roles will showcase the rise and start of Donna Summer’s career, her upbringing, and life.

I am excited to see this show considering that I had an idea to write a musical featuring just her music and hits. The story line was going to be different though not biographical discussing her life and career. You never know but glad that someone is discussing her story, her journey, her impact on music still has a huge presence even in the 21^st century. You can hear samples of her music in R&B, Pop, Soul, and even in commercial jingles and movie soundtracks too. For more information on the play visit http://www.thedonnasummermusical.com . Also information on Donna’s artwork and her personal website visit http://www.fineartamerica.com , and http://www.donnasummer.com

Loving this series , Tough Love on YouTube

Caleb Davis executive producer and creator of Tough Love 

Roni Davis creator and executive producer of Tough Love 

The cast of Tough Love these two play Monica and Jason

Jordan Samuels the sophisticated tough lady played by Verina Banks 

The corporate guy with a dark side, Jackson

 So now let's escape from the luxurious world of the Royals  from “Royal and Regal Love” to “Tough Love”

So many of you out there in the Vlogging and production world have been giving so much helpful, supportive, amazing advice that I had to build a YouTube family. So here's one of my newest members who I love they are really talented. 

I was browsing YouTube last month and I stumbled across a gem this is a fantastic production of millennial life for twenty and thirty something millennials who may be facing relationships whether you are just casual dating, in a long-term relationship, and if you are trying different ways to find that love whether online dating, through friends, family, co-workers, and other social groups.  How did I not know about this very well written and artistic series, “Tough Love”.

The cast of Tough Love 

Caleb and Roni Davis the executive producers of "Tough Love"

The web series was developed by real life married co writers, Roni & Caleb Davis, and executive producers both originally from Los Angeles, CA they relocated to New York City. The series stars up and coming actors and actresses Jordan Barton who plays one of the lead actors as Quincy Scott a twenty something millennial who is inspired to start his own business he creates a dating blog that features the lives of his girlfriend and his friends. The business is up and coming looking for advertising to make the website and blog more successful, Ebony Obsidian, Natalie Jacobs, Verina Banks, Bradley Clarke, and Devin Coleman. It discusses their dating ups and downs you will see them go through many different relationship challenges, some may even look familiar to you if you are casually dating or in serious relationships. The series has a huge following of 1 million viewers and 98 percent of Google users who are connected through YouTube are the viewers. Critical acclaim has been very high for this web series and I am definitely one of those people on the bandwagon with this new, informative, fun, stylish, cool, and hilarious. Well known publications like Essence magazine writers and editors have given “Tough Love” huge praise. I can see them expanding into an actual series or a film with right script and production there’s a lot that can come out of this cast. They tackle so many different social issues: Millennials in the workplace, societal pressures, racism, sexism, gender issues, body image issues, romance issues, and more. 

I connected immediately with the series because it is filmed right here in New York City and with my age group, my past dating and current dating situations and relationships I could see myself in each of the characters. There’s something about the web series for the Millennial generation I find inspiring and able to connect with because of the way people have changed the game with dating and relationships. It’s no longer who can set you up in your social circle, people have tried other ways by connecting and meeting people. Through social media, dating apps, family members, co-workers, even stepping out of the ordinary places too can spark relationships to start too.

I suggest you all visit the website for more information, watch the series and stay tuned.

Roni and Caleb fantastic job and congratulations on the Emmys Award for daytime creative arts! I personally would love to collaborate with these two just as  a writer cause I can see with them there’s a lot they can bring to the table. Please keep it up and I will be watching.  Of course my readers I included some clips and photos for you too. Visit http://www.toughloveseri

It's February Love Month let's celebrate with Royal Love Stories

Love is in the air it’s February Love Month along with Black History Month, and many other celebrations. I wanted to focus on the celebration of love in relationships that have gone through challenges and obstacles. They have had to overcome different tough situations to make their relationship work. They fought to keep it together as well.

Prince William and Prince Harry's Great Grandmother 6 times over, Queen Sophie Charlotte who happened to be connected to an African Bloodline. 

King George the third and Queen Sophie with their children (they produced 15 heirs)

The Crown it's a great series I am watching literally now!!! Download the Netflix app to watch

Photos from the Netflix series, "The Crown" starring Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth the second

 

This past fall in November of 2017 announcement of Prince Harry of Wales and American biracial actress Meghan Markle created shockwaves all around the world with their engagement announcement this has been of course a long time coming. This story is unique, special, and historic for people all over the world that a commoner of African American descent will have an opportunity to marry into royalty. The couple have known each other for a few years since Harry split from his relationship with Cressida Bonas, Chelsy Davy, and Camilla Thurlow.  He found someone who has more experience in the relationship department, more sophisticated, mature, she’s completely outside of the royalty realm and image. She represents a woman who has enjoyed her life as well. There’s something about their love story that represents true love can come in all different forms. It’s a modern love story for the 21^st century.

Decades ago when the spotlight was focused on Queen Elizabeth and her husband King Phillip there was a time when love had its challenges. I have read many stories about the royal family and their relationships. I was found it pretty fascinating because their relationships focus on not only just the love, building a family and a legacy. Have you noticed that most of the relationships in the public have had always been speculated about, have always had some challenges to overcome too. I have been watching the huge Netflix hit show, “The Crown” the series premiered in November of 2016 I believe and it is a huge hit. I love how it was filmed and it looks like a miniseries but the film really should have become a movie focusing on the early days of Queen Elizabeth her childhood, adolescence, her history of her family, the marriage, and the days leading all the way up to her coronation. I love the show because it gives you details of what was happening with the world during that time. It also focuses on everything we get to see as a whole when it comes to the royal family. There were two love stories that really hit home with me I noticed right away. 
The first love story was the one between Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret’s uncle and his wife. The family completely disapproved of their relationship especially even more after he refused to become king. Queen Elizabeth became his successor and obviously took over after her father, King George passed away. Now there’s something about that story that hit me because her grandmother, Queen Mary disliked her son’s wife, she disapproved all the way up until the day she passed away.  The next love story I noticed was Princess Margaret and the love of her life and she was smitten by him. He was considered a commoner, beneath the princess, they didn’t believe in her marrying him either. He also was previously married and the Royal family disapproved. Yet she still wanted to marry him and have him in her life. 
 Her sister fought hard to stand behind her sister so they would have an opportunity to marry privately and have a chance to live their lives in peace without the media. Yet the British press and media engulfed the story and although Margaret handled it very well she was torn inside. She had to fight for her marriage to her husband, she also had to prove that he was the right match for her. The point of this is that many people within the royal family had to go through so many different challenges to marry the people they loved.

This brings me back to the story of Harry and Meghan how they are living in a world where some people may disapprove, they may judge, or have personal opinions. It just goes to show us today in the end Love wins. That people who deal with fighting for love, being ignored, judged, people may disapprove of you inviting them into your family or life. You have to realize what you deserve is happiness. It’s not about pleasing them and making them happy. Ultimately it’s about your life and your choice to live a life with someone to share your life with them and to most of all love this person unconditionally as well.

I am very proud of both men, Prince William who’s Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ eldest son who found love with someone who was a commoner, she wasn’t royal at all but a simple woman who was educated, intelligent, beautiful, and well-rounded. She didn’t seek this lifestyle he sought her out initially and they eventually fell in love, married in a massively televised and publicized wedding in April of 2011 and produced two beautiful children, George who will be 5 this year and Charlotte who will be 3.

There’s one more story I wanted to share the namesake of who George and Charlotte share the names of their great-great-great-great-great grandparents generations before them. There was a queen her name is Sophie Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (May 19, 1744-November 17, 1818) who is of African descent was the Queen of England and birthed 15 children 2 who passed in the 1700s who married King George the third  and she was the woman who people speculated and wanted to turn away from\ in the past too. At the same time she was magnificent she spoke several different languages, played instruments, and she also discovered child prodigy, Mozart when he was 8! I wanted people to know this story many may already know but it’s just incredible to me that in reality. The British monarchy has African blood running through their veins. So with that being said it doesn’t matter who you love it’s about what they can contribute and give in your life and to your family. A person who comes into the royal family must have a background and expertise that is based on giving back to the community, society, upholds herself in a manner of class and dignity, she/he must have provide, and most of all believe in loyalty and respect of family as well.

Moreover it shows society that this is nothing too new for the royal family it’s a new chapter and beginning for them but it is one that shows that opening the doors, the Buckingham palace doors, the monarchy to a new tradition of people who can contribute greatly to the world’s society, and can change the life of people from all backgrounds. This will make the world also realize you can come from any background or status. It’s ultimately about who you love and who will choose and loves you genuinely from the heart.

So this year for Valentine’s Day think about who you love whether in a romantic relationship, your family, friends, what you have overcome, what you plan to achieve.  If these couples can survive a family who can achieve obstacles through generations of war, power, change, tragedy, and so much more you can survive anything in your relationship too. To all of you have a very Happy Love Month and Happy Valentine’s day, and Happy Galantine’s Day! Love you first, love others, and make sure the one you give the key to your heart will never shut you out or lock their heart.  Also by the way make sure you look out for the Royal Wedding is this spring 2018 in May stay tuned I am sure we will all know details in a matter of weeks and the Lifetime Network is producing a film starring Parisa Fitz-Henley and Murray Fraser who will star as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.  Also make sure you watch the Crown on Netflix! Enjoy the music and tributes to you my generous readers.