Pop Goes Country, and I Love It!!

Billboard Magazine posted an article about Pop Goes Country on the heels of Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs’ epic ‘Fast Car’ duet that symbolized how music bridges cultures and unifies us.

Sadly, at a moment when we feel hope that people can set aside their differences and come together, there are people to keep us apart.

I was upset hearing about a Country Radio station refusing to play Beyoncé’s new song, “Texas Hold ‘Em.” They should be thrilled that this incredibly talented songwriter, producer, and singer is creating music for their audiences.

I’ve heard the song, and I love it!

What’s so surprising about Beyoncé making country music? She’s from Texas! And she’s not the first musician to create music for multiple radio formats. 

According to the story, Lionel Richie’s hit “Stuck on You” topped the Adult Contemporary chart but also reached No. 24 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1984. By the way, on a Michael Jackson World Tour, I had one of the most romantic nights of my life singing this song at a Karaoke Bar in South Korea.

Lionel In 2012, Richie (who was also the sole writer on the Kenny Rogers hit “Lady”) released the album Tuskegee, reworking several of his own hits as collaborations with a slew of country artists. 


I am someone who grew up on R&B radio. I’ve endured a lot of nasty nicknames over my lifetime for my love of Soul Music.  One Christmas, I remember Santa brought my brother, Bob, a “Supertramp” album, and I received the original soundtrack to “The Wiz.”

The memory still makes me laugh. I can’t explain why or how this music appeals to me. 
Thankfully, people’s taunts and awful name-calling didn’t stop me from pursuing my dreams. I feel fortunate to have worked with talented entertainers like Luther Vandross (who wrote the song “A Brand New Day” for the Wiz), Lionel Richie, and Maxwell. I’ve also written songs with some very talented songwriters, producers, and vocalists, including Ivan Hampden Jr., Cindy Mizelle, Paulette McWilliams, and Crystal Penny.

Back in the 90’s, I wrote the lyrics to a dance song, “That Man Of Mine”, that made on the Billboard Dance Charts.

One of my songs, “Mama’s Kitchen Table,” landed on the UK Soul Chart.

Another one of my songs, “Standards,” made it to #2 on the BCfm Soul Chart last Summer. This song is about how my love of popular ballads from the Quiet Storm radio format influenced my thoughts and attitudes about love.

I want to hold on to the feeling I had watching Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs perform. I know plenty of us in the world believe we can all get along. 

Toast the Holidays with New Christmas Song, Pink Champagne!

Please help me toast the holidays by listening to my new Christmas song, Pink Champagne, by Ivan Hampden Jr. and Paulette McWilliams

The song is a passionate story of self-love and a woman’s journey from victim to victor at Christmastime. A mindset that I hope anyone who feels brokenhearted can find comfort in.   

Breakups are hard. But the holidays seem to magnify the loneliness of heartaches: parties with everyone coupled up, romantic Christmas music and movies, and those annual Christmas letters brimming with friends’ burgeoning families. The airwaves are filled with upbeat holiday classics leaving little room for sadness and contemplation. 

Take it from me, you can’t experience the joy of the holidays unless you let go of the painful emotions instead of holding them in. Hopefully, Pink Champagne can help bring joy and help those of us experiencing the same to move on during the holidays.

If you like my new release, Pink Champagne. please ‘like’ and share