Say A Little Prayer For The Queen Of Soul

Was distressed to hear the announcement earlier this week about Aretha Franklin being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  

While that particular form of cancer is deadly, as is evidenced by two of my fellow Houstonians succumbing to it such as our crusading consumer news reporter Marvin Zindler and Patrick Swayze, there have been people such as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Apple CEO Steve Jobs who have beaten the odds.

It's also a prevalent form of cancer among African Americans.   If it is caught early ebough, people diagnosed with it have a 15-18% survival rate with surgical intervention.


In the meantime, as you say prayers for the sick and shut in at church today, say one for the Queen of Soul as well.

Happy 45th Birthday Karyn White!

During the late 80's and early 90's Karyn Layvonne White was not only on a Grammy nominated roll musically, more than a few brothers in that time period thought she was one sexy lady as well. .


I'd heard about her thanks to me being a jazz music fan and loving Jeff Lorber's music. In 1986 he produced his Sand Castles CD that featured the then little known Los Angeles born backup singer.

A cut on the CD White sang lead on called 'Facts of Love' took off, and the rest was history.

She was appearing on the Arsenio Hall Show and two years later was releasing her own self titled LA Reid and Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds produced album.   The Karyn White CD went platinum with songs such as 'The Way You Love Me', 'Superwoman', 'Secret Rendezvous' and a duet with Babyface called 'Love Saw It'. 

She's a mother running a successful interior design and real estate business in northern California these days.   She did record an album called Sista Sista in 2006 which hasn't been released yet.   If it does, I'll definitely be adding it to my music collection.

Happy birthday Karyn White!    May you have many more, and hopefully we'll get to see you on stage performing again soon.

Tona Sings National Anthem

I will say this until they bury me six feet under my beloved Texas soil.

If we chocolate flavored transpeople are given the opportunity and the chance to do so, we can do anything we put our minds to and excel.

BTW sis. Jealous of you being sandwiched between two handsome men in this photo.

I've told y'all over the years about my baby sis Tona Brown and how she has it going on musically.

She was invited to speak and sing at a Department of Agriculture event in Washington D.C. recently, and I'll post that YouTube video later.

But enjoy her rendition of our national anthem. Hopefully you'll have many more opportunities to do.

Happy Birthday, MJ

Today would have been the 'King of Pop's' 52nd birthday. Still hard to believe that the only way we'll see him perform ever again is on video and not in a concert.

One thing is certain. Michael Jackson's music will live on for generations to come.

Louisville Shoutout-Bootsy Style

As the date for Carla Wallace's Lawn Party gets closer, missing all my peeps in Da Ville. Just wanted to post this and let you wonderful people know I'm thinking about y'all.

This is from a 1978 Bootsy's Rubber Band concert in Da Ville which has a Louisville centric version of 'What's The Name Of This Town?' Calicard turned it into a video tribute to his hometown that made me smile when I saw it.

1986 Phyllis Hyman Performance and Interview

Y'all know how much I love Phyllis Hyman and hate the fact she's no longer on this planet gracing us with her singing talents. We recently passed the 15th anniversary of her death on June 30.

While searching through video for my Facebook page VJ stint I stumbled across this 1986 appearance and interview of Phyllis on David Brenner's 'The Night Life' show.

So you know I had to post this video for your (and my) viewing pleasure.

Remembering A Sophisticated Lady

It's hard to believe that 15 years has passed since singer Phyllis Hyman committed suicide on this date a few days short of her 46th birthday.

She was one of my favorite singers in addition to me loving the fact that this strikingly beautiful sister was six feet tall without her heels.

And she could rock some hats in addition to being my fictional guardian angel in two short stories I wrote for the blog.

The Pittsburgh native had a career that spanned Broadway, did a cameo in the Spike Lee movie School Daze in addition to having hit records such as 'Betcha By Golly Wow', 'Living All Alone', 'Somewhere In My Lifetime', 'I Don't Want To Lose You' and The Answer Is You' in addition to my favorite songs by her 'Don't Wanna Change The World', 'Can't We Fall In Love Again', 'I Refuse to be Lonely', 'Meet Me On The Moon' and 'You Know How To Love Me'.








Even 15 years later, you are still loved and missed by your fans.

Um People, I'm NOT Evangelist Denise K. Matthews

On the occasion of her 50th birthday last year, being a big fan of hers back in the day (and still am), I wrote a post wishing Evangelist Denise K. Matthews a happy birthday and much success in her life. She's overcome a lot of relationship drama, recovered from serious medical issues, drug addiction and along the journey rediscovered her spiritual roots.

She now tours the country in her Fremont. CA based ministry as an evangelist preaching the Word, and I have much love and respect for her doing so.

But ever since I wrote that milestone birthday post for and about her I have had some people for whatever reason think this is Denise's blog and sending yours truly comments meant for Ms. Matthews.

Exhibit A from ineedjesus

HI MS Matthews i read your story it make me want to flow Jesus i wish i can meet you do u have a site i can go to hear he preach the word of God if this is ready you can u reply back

News flash to you peeps...this is TransGriot, not the Evangelist Denise K. Matthews site. I discuss a wide range of things here including religion, but first and foremost it is a blog focused on African descended transgender issues.

I'm mystified as to why people keep sending me comments clearly intended for Ms. Matthews. I have a sympathetic ear, I am a Christian, I look good, but I definitely don't resemble her in any way.

If the medical technology were available for me to look like her, I definitely wouldn't mind, because she is a stunningly beautiful sister both inside and out.

But just an FYI. If you have any questions, comments or concerns that you wish to direct to her, hit Ms. Matthews up on her website to do so.

TransGriot is designed to be a site for peeps who wish to learn more about trans issues from an African flavored perspective.

If you or even Evangelist Matthews wish to stop by for a while, peruse the blog and leave comments, then that's all good as well.

Still Miss You 'Lufer'

Today would have been the 59th birthday of one of my fave singers back in the day, Luther Ronzoni Vandross. He was born on this date in New York City in 1951.

Wow. Has it been five years since he heft us on July 1, 2005? Doesn't seem like it's been that long, but yep, it has.

The man left behind a musical legacy that will be hard to match. There are also probably a lot of people born in the 80's and 90's who probably owe their existence to being conceived while their parents were getting busy while listening to his music.

Anyway, happy birthday 'Lufer'. You are still missed by your fans, and no one as of yet has stepped up to fill your considerable shoes.

Happy Birthday To The Queen Of Soul!

Time for everyone to bow and curtsy in the direction of Detroit because today is the birthday of Her Royal Soulness, Aretha Franklin.

She was born on this date in Memphis, TN in 1942.

She has had a long and distinguished career in the music industry, winning 18 Grammys. She was the first female artist inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and has had 20 No. 1 hits on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart, starting with 'Respect' (one of my fave songs) in 1967.

She became on June 28, 1968 the second African American woman to appear on the cover of Time magazine.

She has also garnered a long list of honors culminating in being named the Number one singer in the rock era by Rolling Stone magazine. She beat out Number 2 Ray Charles, Number 3 Elvis Presley, Number 4 Sam Cooke, and number 5 John Lennon for the honor..

She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 and sang at President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. The hat she wore that day is now housed in the Smithsonian.

PETA may not like the Queen of Soul, but who cares what they think? The rest of the planet loves and respects her.

Happy Birthday, Aretha!

Happy 70th Birthday Smokey Robinson!

Today is the 70th birthday of legendary singer and Motown executive William 'Smokey' Robinson, Jr. who was born in Detroit on this date in 1940.

He was an original member of Motown Records' first vocal group The Miracles and a solo artist who delivered thirty-seven Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987.

He was also the second most influential person involved in the formation of Motown Records behind founder Berry Gordy, and served as the company's vice president from 1961 to 1988.

He is one of iconic singers and a music legend. Happy 70th Birthday, Smokey!

Smokey interview



The Tears Of A Clown



Tracks of My Tears



Ooh Baby Baby

Nat King Cole-The Christmas Song

To me, it isn't Christmas unless I'm hearing this as part of my classic Christmas songs with soul. Enjoy the legendary Nat 'King' Cole

Oh Hell Naw! PETA Disses The Queen Of Soul

I have zero respect for PETA, and their latest stunt is guaranteed to send me in the direction of my friendly neighborhood KFC to chow down on some Original Recipe.

While PETA's mission is noteworthy in terms of advocating against cruelty to animals, their tactics are reprehensible.

Renee at Womanist Musings called out PETA in a recent post for their propensity to use every 'ism' in the book to promote their agenda.

She highlights as an example in her post PETA dissing Aretha Franklin last year for wearing fur.

PETA has a bad habit of attacking African American celebs for wearing fur

Beyonce was ambushed outside a New York restaurant in 2006.

Mary J. Blige flat out warned them in 2007,“Those PETA people don’t want to mess with me, they don’t want to throw paint on my coat because it’s not just going to be throwing paint. It’s going to be Mary in the news the next day, you know what I mean? What gives them the right to destroy someone’s coat because their opinion is that you shouldn’t wear animals? Understand what I’m saying?”

Amen, sis. If you threw paint on a fur coat I spent my hard earned money on, you'll be surgically extracting my pumps from your colon after I was done going medieval with you.

The more PETA engages in behavior that pisses people off, the more they drive away people that might be sympathetic to their cause.

Missing You, Michael

Today would have been Michael Jackson's 51st birthday, and it still seems surreal to talk about him in the past tense.

As the events of his last day begin to unravel and the stories get out, we're learning more about what led up to his untimely death.

But it still doesn't change the fact that when he was onstage, he was the King Of Pop and a first class entertainer.

But it speaks to the fact I was spoiled. I didn't realize the quality type of music I had growing up and the sheer volume of music legends that graced my teen and early adult years. I'm becoming aware of it as these peeps leave us and what we have currently pales in comparison to them.

And it's sad to realize that not only is Michael Jackson gone, there won't be another singer like him in my lifetime.

'Purple Rain' 25th Anniversary

Damn, has it actually been 25 years since that hot Houston summer day my brother and I rolled up to the Almeda 8 and bought tickets to see Purple Rain?

The movie opened 25 years ago today, but was preceded by the release of the soundtrack album on June 25. The award winning album sold 11 million copies in the US.

When the movie was released on July 27 it grossed $70 million in US domestic ticket sales. It also catapulted Prince to a level of stardom in the 80's rivaled only by Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Purple Rain is still one of my fave movies especially since Morris Day and Jerome Benton's antics had me cracking up, except for the one scene in which Jerome slam dunked a sister in a dumpster who was berating Morris for standing her up.



This 'The Password Is What' routine is the classic Abbott and Costello 'Who's on First' baseball comedy routine hilariously remixed for the 80's.

The movie is still one of my fave all time ones. It was worth every penny I spent on it then at my local multiplex and all the subsequent cash I spent on the VHS and DVD tapes.

It's also amazing to note the fact it's been 25 years since it first debuted.

Michael Jackson Memorial

Watched the moving Michael Jackson memorial from Los Angeles. Cried like a baby when I saw his daughter Paris' tearfully speaking about her father.

But I definitely have to give a Hi 5 and say AMEN to Rev. Al Sharpton

Happy Birthday, Phyllis

Y'all know how much mad love I have for Phyllis Hyman.

I fell in love with her ever since I heard 'You Know How To Love Me' play for the first time on KYOK and Majic 102.

This multi-talented lady was a star on Broadway in addition to being a sought after model and consumate singer. She even made a cameo appearance in Spike Lee's School Daze.

Today would have been Phyllis' 50th birthday, and it's sad to think about the fact she's been gone from us for over a decade now.

You are still loved and missed by all who cared about you, including your fans.