Alicia Keys – Divabetic

03/27/202403/27/2024

Divabetic Salutes Cindy Mizelle

“I have mad respect for athletes and have penned a few songs with more to give all the way around,” says my friend, singer, and songwriter Cindy Mizelle.

Cindy Mizelle is the proud mother of three children. Her two sons are professional athletes. Devin Fuller, a wide receiver with the Atlanta Falcons, and Jordan Fuller, a safety for the Carolina Panthers, have had distinguished careers in the NFL.

Her incredible career includes Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Seeger Sessions Band, Steely Dan, Billy Ocean, Whitney Houston, Dave Matthews, Duran Duran, Freddie Jackson, Carly Simon, Alicia Keys, and Luther Vandross.

Cindy told Rolling Stone Magazine that growing up, she knew a singing career was in her future, “I just said, “I know how to do this.” I played the flute, too, and I knew scales. Everything was a musical thing for me. And once I found that power, I was like, “I’m going!”

I first met Cindy on Luther Vandross’s Never Let Me Go tour in 1993. Cindy toured and recorded with Luther Vandross for over twenty years. She admits working with Luther felt like family. “I loved everything about him. I could relax and be myself, and he was so supportive. When it came down to my kids, he got them their first shoes.”

Between gigs with Luther Vandross and the Rolling Stones, Cindy managed to squeeze the recording of her debut album, Cindy Mizelle, on Atlantic Records. My favorite tracks include the lead single, “I’ve Had Enough,” ” Smile, and “Back To Emotions.”

Through Cindy, I met the talented performer Katreese Barnes, who was the musical director for SNL and won an Emmy for ‘Dick In The Box.” I styled Katreese for several shoots and co-produced her show, Rocket Man, featuring the music by Elton John.

A few years later, in 1995, Cindy gave me the gift of a lifetime when she sang lead vocals on the dance song I co-wrote with Keith Haarmeyer, “That Man Of Mine.” The amazing Brenda White-King also performed backing vocals on the record.

I’ll always remember the day we recorded the song in Keith’s one-bedroom apartment in New York City. After Cindy looked at the lyrics sheet, she asked me if I had a specific idea of how I’d like her to sing the lyrics. Then, to my astonishment, she said the chorus line five or six different ways, varying her tone and phrasing with each variation. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever witnessed. I still have goosebumps thinking about it. The power and control she has with her voice are incredible, too.

I’m not Cindy’s only fan, either. Mariah Carey praises Cindy Mizelle in her memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey: “To me, she was one of the absolute greatest. “Cindy Mizelle was the background singer. She sang with the most gifted vocalists of all time—Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, and the Rolling Stones. She was a real singer’s singer. Cindy was that girl to me. I looked up to her so much.”

It was also a thrill for me to design costumes for The Lovely Ladies (Tawatha Agee, Brenda, and Cindy) when they were on tour with Dave Matthews Band. Most recently, my boyfriend Joe and I filmed Cindy for Nils Lofgren’s “Ain’t The Truth Enough” music video.

Music is definitely part of her DNA. Cindy Mizelle is the cousin of the famous Mizell Brothers (they dropped the word “e” out of their name), who wrote songs for the Jackson 5 and A Taste of Honey. She’s also the cousin of the Ronettes!!! She told Rolling Stone magazine, “I looked them up and was like, “Oh, my gosh!” That was my motivation there. I’d play their records and figure out what they did. I started singing in the basement and in bands after that.”

She mentions how Ronnie Spector always supported her in her career. It’s truly a pleasure to spotlight this amazing woman whose heart is as big and beautiful as her voice.

Join us for our Luther Vandross: Never Too Much birthday celebration featuring a Music Panel, Fashion Show, Luther Trivia Games, Live Performances, Style Vendors, and a Live DJ.

Come dressed in your Big 80s Bling!

Luther Vandross was known for wearing rhinestones, silk tuxedos, and tailcoats on stage and Versace, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Tom Ford off-stage! He wasn’t afraid of bright colors, animal prints, geometric patterns, and fringe. His style and incredible showmanship brought him legions of fans worldwide.

We’re celebrating the Glitz, Glamour, and Romantic Elegance that made his concerts memorable and set him apart from other entertainers.

MUSIC PANEL: Luther’s Vocalist, Cindy Mizelle, Luther’s Choreographer, James Ervin, and Graffiti Glamour Makeup Artistry Founder Alicia Mitchell give us a closer look into the Shine of the Rhinestones, Big Luscious Hairstyles, Bold Makeup, Graceful Moves, and Tight Harmonies comprising Luther’s iconic stage shows. Hosted by Max Szadek.

FASHION SHOW: Designers showcase their gorgeous creations inspired by Luther Vandross’s romantic elegance. See the latest styles from Harlem’s Heaven and Modafleur, among others! Hosted by Catherine Schuller.

LIVE PERFORMANCE: Luther’s most iconic songs performed by Luther’s most iconic songs by vocalist Keith Anthony Fluitt.

STYLISH VENDORS: Shop for apparel, jewelry, and teas from a dazzling array of small entrepreneurs.

COCKTAILS & LITE BITES: Enjoy signature cocktails and delicious appetizers.

06/24/202106/24/2021

You Don’t Even Know My Type of Diabetes!

Diabetes is one of the most widely misunderstood conditions around, which is surprising considering its widespread.

There are four main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes. But there are many types of diabetes, including Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). There’s even a proposed term for Alzheimer’s disease because of the strong link between Alzheimer’s and blood glucose levels in the brain. Some experts suggest that there should be a Type 4 diabetes to describe cases of type 2 diabetes caused by aging rather than diet or genetics.

Unfortunately, these new discoveries haven’t hit the streets yet. In fact, the general public seems to be completely unaware that there is more than one type of diabetes. Add to that, some leading public health organizations aren’t helping to clear up the matter.

NPR reports a 2016 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) failed to ask respondents to clarify which type of diabetes they live with.

“Comingling of the data, particularly from the leading national public health institute of the United States, perpetuates the myth that diabetes is one disease sharing a name, while the reality is that Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are actually two different diseases in the diabetes family,” TD1 Exchange’s executive director Dana Ball and chief medical officer Dr. Henry Anhalt wrote in an open letter.

More than 34 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 5 don’t know they have it. More than 88 million US adults—over a third—have prediabetes, and more than 84% of them don’t realize they have it. “

Lack of awareness from both patients and healthcare providers can play havoc with someone’s health. Many people are misdiagnosed with the wrong type of diabetes and struggle to manage their health and related issues of fear, confusion, and shame.

Healthline reports that research published in the journal Diabetologica in 2019 found evidence that more than one-third of adults over age 30 who receive an initial diagnosis of T2D may actually have T1D.

n a commentary about those research findings, Dr. Naveed Saleh wrote that “misdiagnosis… may persist even years later and lead to adverse health outcomes without proper treatment.”

Alicia Keys’ hit song, You Don’t Know My Name inspired this blog post.

I feel strongly that you can’t really be treated appropriately for your diabetes health unless your doctor knows who you are, starting with your name!

To me, it takes two to tango. It’s up to you to share personal information about yourself at your doctor’s appointments. How you feel physically, emotionally, and mentally is the starting point. But opening up about your daily routines, habits, personal idenitity, feelings of loneliness, and social isolation can help your healthcare provider personalize your care.

It makes sense, right?

To provide the best care, your doctor must understand you and know what your life is like.

Sometimes this can feel uncomfortable.

Today, I know that sharing my sexual identity with my doctors is critical to my care. But that doesn’t negate that I struggled with coming out to my doctors back in the late ’80s. Hopefully, my journey and Alicia Keys can inspire you to be open and honest with your doctor. It will help them to understand your medical conditions fully and recommend the best treatment choices for you.

Let’s not forget that knowing how to describe your symptoms accurately is helpful too.

01/07/2017

Don’t miss Diabetes Late Nite inspired by Alicia Keys this Tuesday!

We’re getting up close and personal on two big issues concerning your diabetes health on Diabetes Late Nite scheduled for this Tuesday, January 10, 2017, 6 PM, EST.

Our music guest, Alicia Keys’ make-up free movement is inspiring us to take an unfiltered look at food waste and food safety as well as some of the new innovative solutions to solving the biggest food and agriculture concerns with President and Founder of Food Tank Danielle Nierenberg. Food Tank, a nonprofit organization focused on building a global community for safe, healthy, nourished eaters.

We’re also going with speak to Mary Ann Hodorowicz RD, MBA, CDE about President Elect Donald Trump’s potential reforms and provisions to the Affordable Care Act – Obamacare.

Although, neither President-elect Donald Trump nor Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who met with House and Senate Republicans at the Capitol, offered lawmakers details about their repeal plan, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Thursday he expects to have legislation to replace, as well as repeal, the Affordable Care Act this year.

“Our legislating will occur this year,” Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, said at a news briefing. “What date all of this gets phased in on is something we do not now know,” partly because the administration is not in office yet.”

Plus, The Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle), Mama Rose Marie and Poet Lorraine Brooks will be joining us. And our INSTANT WINNER will receive a prize package featuring 6 months free access to mysugr pro, a Cabot Cheese gift box, an assortment of Dr. Greenfield’s Diabetic Foot, Hand & Body Creams and Nu Naturals samples.

Alicia says her makeup free crusade has served her well as an a self-empowerment tool. She said, ”I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.”

She even talked about it in one of her new songs, “When a Girl Can’t Be Herself,” quoting the line “Who says I must conceal what I’m made of / Maybe all this Maybelline is covering my self-esteem.“

Let Alicia Keys help inspire you to push past your fears and face the issues that concern you most about your diabetes self-care this year!

Throughout this podcast will be playing selected songs from Alicia Keys’ sixth studio album,“Here” courtesy of SONY Music.

TUNE IN: Click on this link to listen to Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Alicia Keys scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 2017, 6 PM, EST.

12/26/2016

George Michael Dies at 53

Singer George Michael has died at his home at the age of 53.

The star, who launched his career with Wham! in the 1980s and had huge success as a solo performer, “passed away peacefully” on Christmas Day in Goring, Oxfordshire, his publicist said.

His manager, Michael Lippman, said he had died of heart failure.

George Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in north London, sold more than 100 million albums throughout a career spanning almost four decades.

He first found fame with schoolfriend Andrew Ridgeley in duo Wham! – reaching number one in the UK singles charts on four occasions. One of the band’s most enduring songs “Last Christmas”, is currently number 16 in the UK singles chart.

Solo albums followed, including the multi-million selling “Faith” in 1987. The follow-up “Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 outsold Faith in the UK but led to Michael losing a court case with record label Sony over his frustration at how the album has been marketed.

George Michael never shied away from sharing his own personal struggles in his music including a number of references to his sexuality. For example, “I Want Your Sex”, caused some controversy, particularly on US radio stations. Many refused to play it at all while others played a version substituting the word love for sex. In any event the single reached the top three on both sides of the Atlantic.

In November 1994, Michael released the single, “Jesus to a Child”, a tribute to his dead lover, Feleppa. It went straight to No 1 in the UK.

As a solo artist, Michael scored a further seven number one singles in the UK with songs including “Careless Whisper” and “Fastlove”, collaborated with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Elton John, and won three Brit Awards and two Grammys.

Let George Michael’s sudden unexpected death related to heart disease serve as a ‘wake up’ call to inspire you to learn more about your diabetes health.

Women with diabetes are at greater risk of heart disease than are men with diabetes. And did you know that many women may have a heart attack without chest pain? The most common heart attack symptoms in women are neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort. These symptoms can be more subtle than the obvious crushing chest pain often associated with heart attacks. Women may describe chest pain as pressure or a tightness. This may be because women tend to have blockages not only in their main arteries but also in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart — a condition called small vessel heart disease or coronary microvascular disease.

Women’s symptoms may occur more often when women are resting, or even when they’re asleep. Mental stress also may trigger heart attack symptoms in women.

Women tend to show up in emergency rooms after heart damage has already occurred because their symptoms are not those usually associated with a heart attack, and because women may downplay their symptoms. If you experience these symptoms or think you’re having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Don’t drive yourself to the emergency room unless you have no other options.

Let the music move you to live well with diabetes.

Our free monthly Diabetes Late Nite podcasts feature a mix of expert advice on living well with diabetes, games, prizes and music by today’s hottest stars courtesy of SONY Music.

TUNE IN: January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music by Alicia Keys scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 6 -7 PM, EST. Alicia Key’s ‘no makeup’ mantra is inspiring us to talk about bare essentials in living well with diabetes including the future of Affordable Health Care Act and food safety issues. Alicia Keys stop wearing makeup as part of a journey towards empowerment for herself. Let us help empower you!