07/29/2026
***LONG POST ALERT***
Now that I've had some time to rest, I have to give my recap on my weekend!! One word describes it for me... ABSOLUTELY AMAZINGLY STUPENDOUSLY UNREAL!!! (That was one long word😊) Alicia Reece, thank you for allowing us to be a part of this awesome program!! And for us to be called her, "House Band"!!!! That gave me chills!!!
2nd Wind Band, we did our thang and had a ball doing it!! We had some changes made to our opening set on the fly, but we handled it!! Aretha Chapman, you did you tasks with dignity and class!! I saw just a snippet of what both you and Edwin Butler were doing and I applaud you both!! Jermaine Gentry, thanks for that video capture... man.. thank you!! Rodney Jr. Napier, I hope I made you proud with my JB impression ! David Robinson, not only did that guitar make "A Man's World" sound authentic but you killed every solo like you always do!!! Ariel Wade, I'm so proud of you!! Keep learning, watching and growing... you got this!! 💯
It's almost indescribable to say how it felt to sing with the incomparable Regina Belle... she is gracious, kind, loving and the epitome of a class act!! I was on could nine in sound check singing with her... but during the show, I was somewhere in the upper stratosphere!!! Singing the song, "A Whole New World" with you is something I will never forget... EVER!!! No, I'm not Peabo Bryson(RIP), but I definitely did my best to make him look down from heaven with pride.
Doing a tribute for James Brown... I was NOT sure if the splits were gonna happen... but I'm one who gives his all on stage.. so at 56, I can STILL get down... AND get on up!!!!
And Heatwave, that iconic band... and the song that is continuing to move people to this day, "Always and Forever" was so special to me!! I knew that if I didn't hit that ONE note in the song... I might as well of just walked off stage with my head down... but my fellow vocalists and that amazing audience was behind me whole time. I could feel them pulling for me... so THANK YOU ALL!!
I know that was a lot... but if you felt what I was feeling... you'd write a book too!! Lol But after it was all over... all I wanted to do was hug my family.. Kristie Moore & Tonya Moore Franklin thank you for finding my mom, Nancy Stroud and my sister, Connie Cabbage Stroud outside enjoying the living legends, Midnight Star Band. When I saw my mom, I held her and just cried!! Big alligator tears of joy and elation!! Yes, grown men CAN cry!
Last and definitely not least, I thank GOD for my gifts and talents! He put this drive and will in me to sing until I can't sing anymore!! And that is just what I'm going to do!!
If you read this far, you're definitely a true fan... and know that we(local and national artists) can't do what do without you!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
