Political commentary from civic activist Ed Gray. The BEST VIDEO BLOGS IN AMERICA.Commentary from a common sense ,bipartisan ,centrist philosophy.Combining Pop Culture entertainment with politics.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Vonda's Vault Box: Ushay Super Mix 22
Photo courtesy of Charmayne Price-Glaze Pictured with Ed Gray and Hamah King
The Vault door was not locked and we have some spirits in here. Its the spirit of Mad Cap Mollies , Starz, RJ'S ,and Studio 67 ! It's the music and clubs that we grew up with! It's The Mad Connection ,it is the greatest DJ of Dallas !It"s Ushy -RIP ! You will always have us to "Work that Neck". Let's have our mind wander ,and our neck work to a distant past of clubs and the greatest DJ of Dallas !
What about Monopoly's,Joey Eaze ,Bernards,now you know it !
Its just like a Razor - cutting it up in here. South Dallas ,Oak Cliff,and the Grove knockin those puppies in the head !Ushy was the best DJ !
Body Talk got all the gigaletees screaming at Club 220,and City Lights !
Well I've got to go back to the future 2010. It's been a quick 30 years ,I will have to lock up my memories and the spirits in Vonda's Vault Box for another week.Glenn Jones hits the chords once more as we stroll around the club of our youth,singing'Show Me",the closing song of the night. Till next week ,may your dreams never die as your youth lives forever.
This Friday we start a new series on music. It's the Caravan of Dreams Friday session.My frat brother,Kelvinal said I was leaving that part of the Ed Gray experience out on the blog.Not wanting to leave anything out we take a trip back to the Caravan of Dreams. For those of you who missed it, the Caravan of Dreams was the best jazz club in Dallas-Ft.Worth.It was located in Ft.Worth's Sundance Square.
Peter White wrote this as a tribute to the great jazz venue ,and you are there live.
Kelvinal offered this innagural playlist and for that we give you Jonathan Butler ,Rachelle Ferrell and George Duke. Another great artist who peformed at the Caravan Jonathan Butler who brought down the house with "Sarah,Sarah " !
Chaka Khan is the intro picture of this blog! You didn't know she sung Jazz,check her out her as she sings "My Funny Valentine".
Great artists come along once in awhile sometimes they stay for season and the seasons are great.Miles Davis is a all time great! Never saw him live,I wish I did. David Sanborn and Miles Davis perform that great Miles Davis tune "TuTu" .
One of the best concerts I saw at the Caravan was Kirk Whalum.He always stayedafter the concert to speak with his fans.I am proud that he helped me with my Jazz Term paper @ SMU.Thats all for next week ,because this is "All I DO".
While looking thru the The Carter section of the vault ,I found a lot of funksters sitting in the corner not faking the funk !If those who listen and look at the blog ,don't know what I am talking about,it's a little like this ! They said they want the Funk ! Glen , lets give them the Funk !
Its looking like a Class Reunion in here ,we got Damon,Chapman,Rhonda,Carnell, Anthony,and Charmayne,and Kathy in here partying like its Calico Time ! If you got to ask you don't know ! Look at them 'dO tHAT sTUFF "
And now a funkdafied commercial !
I see Anthony,Chuck,and yeah is that Vonda stretchin out in their funky groove of classmates !Its knee deep in here with funksters !
I see ,Roy, Gina ,and Gina come off that wall let's funk ! Before it was Eminem and Vanilla Ice it was Underwood !
My generation created the funk, you better recognize, bow down ! We got some youngsters partying with us is that Chloe over there ,and what Ice Cube! Now thats not him ,its Bluitt playing with the boys !
I am getting tired, time to stretch out with Renee ,Felecia ,Victor and Bootsy Collins!
To those who cold not make it ,because Eternal Glory has called you home ,you were missed.
30 years and one night of Funk ! All Hail the Carter High Class of 1980! Good night and a better tomorrow!
Thank you Lord for all you have done for me ! This morning as I go about my way I know God is with me.This blog provides a format to get a political /entertainment messageto you and many others.However this would mean nothing without God in my life! Thank you Lord !
This week we feature the songs of Walter Hawkins (1949-2010) from Oakland , California.I remember listening to the Hawkins family sing every Sunday as I prepared to attend church as a young man. As I prepare for this Sunday's rituals,I listen to him again a we salute his life as a servant of God.
Walter Hawkins (May 18, 1949 – July 11, 2010) was an award-winning gospel music singer, and a pastor. Hawkins became an ordained bishop in 1992. He was a founder along with his brother Edwin Hawkins "The Edwin Hawkins Singers".The Hawkins family also consisted of his wife Tramaine Hawkins.Bishop Hawkins is gone but he is finally at rest and at home.God bless him,his memory, his family ,and you ,this Sunday Morning.
"What is This " is one of my favorite songs. A real question with a real answer:Jesus
Walter Hawkins advice to us was as we go through the Life ." Don't Wait Until The Battle Is Over To Shout Out ".God is with you ... One of these old mornings you will look for me, "The Battle Will Be Over". Thats why we must shout now!
Bishop Hawkins is gone to be with the Father. He has gone away ,and is finally at rest! The Battle is over ,Thank you Lord ! It won't be long ,and soon and very soon we will see the King!
Vonda's Vault Box is open for buisness , after talking a 2 week holiday to look through the treasure trove of funk and roll . We see lots of stuff in this trunk of funk!We going to give you 5 minutes of funk with Whoodini !
I have a attack of Cameosis ! Yeah,thats Cameo folks ,let's get ready to be attacked by the sounds of Larry Blackmon and Cameo ! Word UP !
We interrupt this blog to bring you a commercial break from Michael Jackson and Pepsi!
Some folk were introduced to El at the BET Awards show ! We at the vault say he never left and We Like It !!!
If you want this best on you tube clips on the blogosphere "Come Get To This "! Marvin Gaye and more in the the vault box !
We were going to go , but we got a encore call !Let's go with Cheryl Lynn! See ya next week at the Vault !
Is the Tea Party Racist? Well,some of the people are.Thats no doubt.The Tea Party is not anymore racist than the Republican party or the Democratic party. The respective parties consist of people with various agendas.I am not that naive to believe that all Democrats are prejudice free and have not subscribed in the past to anti black comments or statements.
and I do not believe that all Republicans do not like black people.
Nor does the press treat offensive terms from Republicans and Democrats alike. Governor George Allen of Virginia was castigated for calling a Indian a"macaca". That would be a black monkey.We saw this story week after week.
Meanwhile Vice President Biden articulated about the number of Indians working in convenience stores.A short news story that created little attention.
Two different stories,one a politician in attack mode, and another politician in gaffe mode.
Recently a good friend sent this to me and it gives me food for thought. What if the shoe was on the other foot. Would the Tea Party still be a active participant in the political process if it was a black organization ? The letter I received said in part:
Let’s play a game, shall we? The name of the game is called “Imagine.” The way it’s played is simple: we’ll envision recent happenings in the news, but then change them up a bit. Instead of envisioning white people as the main actors in the scenes we’ll conjure - the ones who are driving the action - we’ll envision black folks or other people of color instead. The object of the game is to imagine the public reaction to the events or incidents, if the main actors were of color, rather than white....
Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters —the black protesters — spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protester — these black protesters with guns — be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most as a danger to the republic? ..... Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did in Washington.
I have several friends that are members of the Tea Party.My friends and I are civil with our discourse but I will say that no political party or organization has a monopoly on common sense or idiocy.Idiots come in all sizes,colors,and political orientation.Our challenge as Americans is to treat each other civil and with respect.
Vonda's Vault Box : Happy July 4th ! Music For U !
Its the 4th of July weekend the vault is closed in observance of the 4th.We do however have our tribute to living in America! Looking thru the vault box we see James Brown ,the GodFather of Soul!
The Whitney Houston reendition of the Star Spangled Banner finally cooled out the vault.Remember when were on the verge of war -and this song brought it home.
The late great Ray Charles sung a soulful version of "America the Beautiful". No one had more soul in this version than Brother Ray !
As we leave the vault we see Marvin Gaye walking up to the mike,Oh Lordy ! This is my favorite patriotic version of the Star Spangled Banner ! Happy 4th of July to you and yours from the Ed Gray 4 America!
Civic Leader in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Volunteer on several civic boards / commissions,and charities.
Historian, Sociologist, Political Scientist , Citizen journalist .
