Ed Bradley: The Essence of Cool

I was sad yesterday; another black, postitve figure passed away, Mr. Ed Bradley. I sat at my computer in bewilderment. "How can the coolest man in the world die?" I couldn't get that at all. He was cool, so cool that I wanted to be like him. I loved watching his indepth, but relaxed interviews, Tavis Smiley reminded me of him in many ways. I used to love seeing how relaxed and relatable he was in his intervierws on 6o Minutes. I was blown away by his charm, intellignce, since of style, and his humerous and humble nature. He was the essence of cool. For a black man to wear a golden loop in his left ear and be a journalist of an internationally known network, that was amazing to me. He was a role model to Black America.
He has flirted with Lena Horne, joked with Muhammed Ali, and has challenged the grandson of Carolyn Bryant (the accuser in the Emmett Till case) and Timothy Mc Vey. He was a genius. Oh, how blessed are the people who were able to be in his presence to talk with Mr. Bradley. I wish I could have met this man. I wish I could've asked him story upon story. I wish I could have asked his advice on being a black man in America. I never knew how much he's impacted me until today, the day of his death. I remember now, he was the only reason I watched 60 Minutes. Everytime I watched him I was learning a new lesson on how to be an effective, intelligent, black man. He was a man who broke down racial barriers. He lived with the desire to be a role model to black, young men. "The pressure is there," Bradley said. "It's been there everyday of my life."
The legends are dying and passing their legacies down to us. It is our obligation to not let them down. The music out today does not have any lasting or impactful power like it once used to. That's wrong. We are not keeping up our end of the bargin. We are not carrying on the legacies of our legends. I cannot leave this earth without impacting and inspiring people all over this world. If I leave this world without upholding my end of the bargain, to carry on the legacy, it is my fault and my shame.

Pray for the family of Ed Bradley. If you are not familiar with his legacy, please click on this link.

Let's quit playing and impact the lives of others.
RA

Kurt Elling is the MAN!!!

The concert last night was amazing! I sat in the audience like a kid in the candy store, mouth was wide open. I couldn't believe that I was experiencing this. Seeing Kurt Elling was like I was getting a chance to sit in on a master class. The way he phrased his words and the way he injected emotion in every song kept me captivating. The man, can do so many things with his voice, it's crazy. I was up there taking mental notes all through the show.
He sung alot of original compositions and many Jon Hendricks style vocalese. The man was amazing. I've been wanting to see him live for the longest time. I remember when I first heard his music. I was passing some students in the hall way of the music department of my old school University of Missouri- Kansas City. The man had a certain tone that had me thinking that he was a brotha. When I saw the cover of his CD he was white as ever (lol) I was hooked.
After the show, I stood in the lobby to see if anything would pop off. Kurt Elling came out signing autographs. I was trying to get my words together before I approached him. He was the coolest cat; he had a lot of wisdom. I told him that I admired his music and that I wanted to learn from him. There I go again, wanting someone to take me under their wing and invest in me. "Man, I would love to, but I don't live in New York," he said. "You have to work harder than everyone else. Practice, perform and study." I was taking it all in. He told me that he was going to listen out for my name in the industry. Man, that was so cool. I put my headphones and started singing all the way back home. I was singing so loud that people probably thought something was wrong with me.
Well, dreams are coming true. Keep praying. Until next time, take care.
Ra

P.S. Check out Kurt's music www.myspace.com/kurtelling

Raffeal and his Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

The day was long with many of winding turns. I spent all day at Verve today. I was there from 10:30-7:00; a brotha was tired. I could feel the week old stress all over my body. I was a little overwhelmed with all that was going on throughout the week; it caught up with me.
After I left Verve, I walked down the street for pizza, because I was famished (big word). It was dark and rainy outside, I do believe that my attitude was a reflection of it. Just as I was standing, waiting for the light to change, a taxi zoomed by and christend me with New York Yuckness. It was just like the movies. Was I having a "terrible, no good, very bad day" today? (That's before your time! What do y'all know about that book?) I was in the play some years ago. I though you ought to know (lol).
So there I was, walking into Ray's pizza drenched. I was so hungry. I thought "Pick on Raffeal Day" was growing nigh, but, boy, was I wrong. I reached to sprinkle some garlic on my pizza and what do you know? I opened the wrong end and all of the garlic dumped itself onto my plate. I was borderline "postal" by this time.
So I sat down to eat my garlic topped pizza and it was mad cold. I could feel the smoke coming out of my ears and nostrils. I put my headphones on to help me ease my mind. I had my tracks set to shuffle; I wasn't aware of what song would be played next. God was the DJ for my Ipod today. As soon as I pressed play, Kirk Franklin's "More Than I Can Bear" started to play. I closed my eyes and took it in. I knew at that moment that God was trying to remind me of His faithfulness and peace. He wanted me to be still and know that He will never give me more than I could bear. What was I trippin' for?
At 8:30pm, I will be attending Kurt Elling's concert at Carnegie Hall. I'm sooooo excited! I will not leave this earth without performing at Carnegie Hall; it's my dream!!! I can't believe that I'm going to see Kurt Elling; the man is amazing!! If you don't know who he is, educate yourself and check out his myspace. (www.myspace.com/kurtelling)
I'm hustlin' up here in the land of hustlers. Sammy Davis once said, "if you want to be the best, baby, you better work harder than everyone else." I'm exhausted, but I know God will sustain me. I want to perform so bad that I'm constantly restless. I pray that God would extend His grace towards me tomorrow; I have to go to work at 4:4m am. Y'all know that I'm not a morning person.

Until next time.

Peace,
Ra

New York State of Mind

Ok...kill me, kill me...I know that I haven't updated you in a minute, but I can explain. I've been mad busy; trying to get that "New York State of Mine." I know, corny right? Well, today I just started my 1st day at Starbucks; it was cool. It feels good to be able to have some income coming in. This particular Starbucks is small and more laid back. I can see myslf enjoying it. I have to get used to it though; I have 4am shifts. I can't be a night owl anymore.
I have decided to stay in New York. It was one of the biggest decision I had to make. I had to pray hard and specific to get my answer. I can't fear this new chapter in my life. Each day I'm learning that it is imperative to trust, no, have faith that God would protect, provide, and revive me. I have to be a grown man (lol). I have to go for my dream.

Ok...... now I have to recap and dig up stories from 3 or four weeks ago. My friend Mia, from school, told me that she and Maestro (school buddy and pianist) were coming to visit me on fall break. I was so excited. Anyway, they told me that they were coming in town, but they failed to give me the details about what time their flights were arriving. I didn't know if I was supposed to meet them at the airport or what. With the lack of knowledge about their whereabouts I just chilled.
Around 2, I decided to walk up the street to return some books to the library. While walking, I happened to look up and there was Mia, Maestro, Crystal, and Wendy walking across the street with their luggage. "Y'all lying!!" was the only thing that came out of my mouth. These crazy people surprised me. I just talked to Crystal 2 nights before; she told me that she wasn't able to come until New Years. They pulled a fast one on me; I had no idea. Later on that evening, Alvin and Will (from school) joined us. It looked like Belmont was taking over the Big Apple.

It was so refreshing to be around some people that knew me and wanted to hang with me. Shoot,I was starting to feel like a stranger in New York. I took them to my favorite restaraunts: BBQ's and Amy Ruth. When I say we through down, we through down. We cleaned those plates. It was so wonderful.

I had to endure many long, long hours of purse shopping with the girls on Canal street. Thank the Lord that I had my boys to keep me company. :)They were going crazy to find that perfect purse; I didn't get it, all the purses looked alike to me. They really enjoyed themselves and I enjoyed, even that experience, with them.

Later on we road a train all the way to Red Bank, New Jersey to see our friend, Rebecca Covington (Belmont Alum) perform in Ain't Misbehain'. She was amazing! She was the youngest person in the cast. The older actors couldn't hold a candle to her. That girl was shining!! To us, she already made it.

Two days later, we got the opportunity to experience the broadway debute of our friend Daniel Watts (new roommate) in the hit musical The Color Purple. The show was amazing. Mia stood in line early in that morning and got us tickets for the 2nd row. The tickets were $25. That's crazy, huh? It was amazing! Daniel was amazing! That musical left me feeling inspired and moved. Mia was balling her eyes out. I felt like God was giving her a glimpse of her future. Broadway is where her heart lies. I beleive that God is going to bless her with an opportunity to grace a Broadway stage someday, I can feel it.

Well, there you have it. I hope I didn't leave anything out. Again, I ask for you guys to keep me in your prayers. Pray that God would continue to grow me up and keep me consecrated to Him and His will. Pray that we find a reasonal apartment by December. Pray for the health and the spiritual well being of my family. Pray that God would protect me financially. Pray that God would continue to put amazing people in my life to help further my Christian walk and my career as an artist. Until then I'll be patient...ooh pray for that. In between blessing are killers. I'll be all right, I'll be fine. I am joint heirs with Christ; He will not forsake me.

Peace,
Ra