Divabetic Salutes Meli’sa Morga

“I learned a lot about discipline when I was a backup singer,” Meli’sa Morgan recalled in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “You really need discipline and control. You have to know what your voice can do and know how to use it just right.”

Singer-songwriter Meli’sa Morgan is perhaps best known for her #1 hit in the eighties: “Do Me, Baby,” an original recording by Prince. She has sung backup and collaborated with Chaka Khan, Kashif, and Whitney Houston.

“I idolized Chaka Khan; she was the ultimate, so cute, feathery, big hair, leather-wearing singer of all times. I wore my style after how she presented herself, and what she had that was becoming legendary,” she told Chocolate Voice. “Every Black female singer in America sang “Sweet Thing” at a talent show somewhere.”

She studied music theory at the Julliard School of Music.“I do lyrics and melodies,” she told the Los Angeles Times.

Her vocal ability landed her a record deal at Capitol Records in the 1980s. She took the music industry by storm, releasing hit after hit, including “Do You Still Love Me,” “Fools Paradise,” and “Love Changes,” a duet with Award-winning singer-songwriter Kashif.

Music critics mention her knack for saturating a song with passion and sensuality. Whether she sings up-tempo funk or a silky smooth slow jam, she pours her soul into a song.

Years ago, I saw her electrifying performance when she opened for Freddie Jackson in Rochester, New York. Her trademark hair was on full display. She admits she loved Chaka’s Big Hair and gave it her twist.

But let’s go way back to her amazing vocals on the dance hit “Keep In Touch (Body To Body) by Shades of Love. This New York City group of stelllar vocalists included  Meli’sa Morgan, Lisa Fischer, Claudette Polite and Jean Steals.

About a decade later, Junior Vasquez and Johnny Vicious dominated the dancefloors in Gay clubs with her monster remix of this song. I still get up to dance every time I hear it.

Two years ago, the scarlet-red-haired singer released the single “Footprints Of An Angel” on her independent record label, Asilem Productions. The song is a movie theme with the same title. Meli’sa Morgan co-stars as a mother who loses her daughter to cancer. “Footprints of An Angel” was a solid hit on the UK Soul Charts and the Independent Urban Influencer R & B/Soul Charts. 

I had the chance to interview Meli’sa Morgan for Divabetic’s Studio d podcast. If given the chance, she admitted that she would love to cover Luther’s “Bad Boy/Having a Party” song. Meli’sa Morgan maintains her health by following a strict diet and making time for herself.

When asked about the challenges of navigating a five-decade career in the music industry, Meli’sa Morgan said, “The easiest part of the business is, once you’re there, performing for your fans is the fun part. You embrace them, and they embrace you. But getting to the stage is the hardest—the political games, getting the gigs, promotion, the money, and all of that.”

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 on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

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.

31 Days Of Divabetic Podcasts: Day Six

Divabetic (Divabetic.org) presents a month-long showcase celebrating 10 years of diabetes podcasting. Each of the featured podcasts spotlights our favorite guests, topics, poems, games and/or musical inspiration. Enjoy!

On Day Six of ’31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts’ we’re spotlighting Studio d: R & B Icon: Meli’sa Morgan from September 2011. The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic interviews the Princess of R&B Soul Music, Meli’sa Morgan, an American vocalist and songwriter, who has worked with a number of major recording artists, including Whitney Houston and Chaka Kahn.

“I was so starstuck to interview her,” said Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “I’ve been a huge fan since I saw her open for Freddie Jackson in his concert in Rochester, New York. I love ‘Fool’s Paradise’.

https://youtu.be/BP3Wrbr2gFg

Meli’sa Morgan had a string of urban contemporary hits starting the mid–1980s through the mid–1990s. Morgan most notable songs includes her cover version of Prince’s “Do Me, Baby”, “Do You Still Love Me” and “Still in Love With You”.

Hear herstory and learn what inspires and empowers this diva to live healthy and well.

 

 

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Scavenger Hunt on Zoom with special guest, Best-Selling Intimacy & Diabetes co-author, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:35 PM, EST. 

The Quiet Storm, Diabetes & Nocturnal Hypoglycemia

Ever since last week’s Luther Vandross Tribute podcast I’ve been listening nonstop to Luther’s ballads and several other of the ‘Quiet Storm’ radio favorites. Songs like Anita Baker’s  ‘Sweet Love’ , Meli‘sa Morgan’s ‘Do Me Baby’ and Luther’s ‘Dance with My Father’ are inspiring me to discuss the health risks related diabetes ‘after dark’.

 Dead in Bed Syndrome (DIB) describes the sudden unexplained deaths of young people with type 1 diabetes. The syndrome is characterized as when someone with insulin dependent  diabetes has gone to bed seemingly perfectly fine and has been found dead in an undisturbed bed.

Clinical reports strongly suggest that nocturnal hypoglycemia (which also occurs in people living with type 2 diabetes)  is a likely prerequisite of the event, but that the death is sudden and probably caused by cardiac arrhythmia.

Nocturnal hypoglycemia is a low blood sugar that occurs overnight while you are asleep. It is common to sleep through a low blood sugar when it occurs during sleep.

You many be asking why doesn’t the person experiencing nocturnal hypoglycemia wake up?

There reason may be the phenomenon of hypoglycemic unawareness, which is defined as a hypoglycemic episode without warning symptoms of the decreasing blood glucose level.  Most often, this is quite asymptomatic and the person does not wake up with hypoglycemic symptoms. Often the glucose value returns to normal or even high in the morning (so called  Somogyi  phenomenon) so this pattern is difficult to discover without taking nighttime tests every now and then

What can cause Nocturnal Hypoglycemia?

One cause could be taking the wrong type of insulin before going to bed. For example, if a large dose of bedtime insulin (not uncommon in puberty/prepuberty) is replaced with a similar dose of regular or rapid-acting insulin, this will lower the blood glucose considerably and could presumably trigger a severe hypoglycemic reaction which in turn could be further complicated by cardiac arrhythmia.

What can be done to avoid this from happening?

Checking your blood sugars before going to bed. Discuss with your health care provider a safe blood glucose target for bedtime. Many people feel comfortable if their blood glucose is at least 100 mg/dL before going to sleep.

If you use pen injectors, make sure the pen for your bedtime insulin looks and feels quite different from the one you use for daytime meal doses (not just another color that may be difficult to observe in the dark). If you use syringes and vials, store daytime and bedtime insulin in different places. When mixing insulin, be extra careful not to take the often higher bedtime dose of the wrong type.

If you like to exercise at night make sure to check your blood sugars before going to bed. Remember to decrease the bedtime dose after more strenuous exercise, especially if you do not exercise regularly.

If you have problems with nighttime hypoglycemia, ask your diabetes team for a continuous glucose monitoring device that may help you to detect nighttime glycemia patterns and help adjusting your insulin doses to avoid this.

Did you know that both legendary New York City disc jockey Vaughn Harper and Luther Vandross suffered strokes related to type 2 diabetes?  Vaughn Harper was referred to as the architect of the Quiet Storm and Luther’s ‘House Is Not A Home’ was part of his blueprint by design.

The ‘Quiet Storm’, characterized by an enticing mix of unabashedly romantic songs, often fused with jazzy overtones, mellow dynamics, slow tempos, and relaxed rhythms.

We’re celebrating Luther Vandross, his musical legacy and raising awareness for diabetes health-related complications (such as stroke) on this Luther Vandross Tribute podcast.

In the years since Luther’s passing, one constant has remained to define his life and musical success: the voice. Like any great singer of the past 100 years, Luther Vandross’ voice and distinct singing style led to not only monumental success, but an instant recognition when you hear him singing–through your stereo, car radio, on TV or in a movie. Coupled with that voice was Luther’s unique ability to write and sing about love and the shared emotions we all feel in that search for and enjoyment of love. Through his songs, for the last two generations Luther Vandross became a staple in the most joyous moments of people’s lives.

Featured guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Luther percussionist Steve Kroon, Luther vocalists Tawatha Agee and Pat Lacy, Luther historian Leon Petrossian, members of ‘The Luther Re-Lives Experience’, friends and fans.

Throughout the  podcast we will be featuring selected songs from the album entitled ‘Luther Vandross’ courtesy of SONY Music.

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