Divabetic Salutes Shirley Brown

“You can go around all your life singing stuff that’s just basically a song,” Shirley Brown said. “But I think you are supposed to relate to what’s happening—inner feelings.”

Shirley Brown sang in church in West Memphis, Arkansas, until she was discovered at age 14 by Albert King, blues guitarist, and singer, singing at the Harlem Club in Brooklyn, Illinois.  She worked with Albert for nine years (where he was her manager) and rubbed elbows with Soul luminaries such as Johnnie Taylor and Little Milton.


Blues legend Albert King persuaded Shirley Brown to sign with Stax Records and release her smash single “Woman To Woman.” 

Soul Express Magazine describes Woman to Woman as a milestone in the history of Southern soul music. Starting with a dramatic rap, it tells of a woman determined to hold on to her man and tell it over the phone to her rival. 

Hello, may I speak to Barbara. Barbara, this is Shirley. You might not know who I am, but the reason I’m calling you is because I was going through my old man’s pockets this morning and I just happened to find your name and number. So, woman to woman, I don’t think it’s being any more than fair than to call you and let you know where I’m coming from.”

Woman to Woman, lovingly referred to as the soul soap opera, was written by James Banks, Henderson Thigpen, and Eddie Marion. The songwriters offered the song first to Inez Foxx, who passed on it. “She didn’t want to do it. She felt like the rap part in the beginning of the song was for a male artist, and a song like that with a rap would be better for a person like Isaac Hayes,” James Banks told Soul Express. 

The song’s recording took more than one session. But Bobby Manuel, who played guitar on the sessions, said, “The recording session (for Woman to Woman) was magical. We all knew it was a hit record. Everybody was really excited.” 


Shirley was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Performance, Female, but Aretha Franklin and Ain’t Nothing like a Real Thing won that year.

Millie Jackson, who was also nominated in the same category that year, told QuestLove on his podcast that Aretha should have been excluded from being nominated in that category because her recording failed to meet the qualifications. 

“Woman to Woman” reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and No. 22 on the pop charts. The song proved so popular that Country Music legend Barbara Mandrell covered it, and Lonnie Youngblood talked to Barbara and blew his horn on the mid-tempo answer song, Man to Woman. A year after the song’s success, Stax Records folded.  


Shirley Jones chased her dreams to New York City, where Clive Davis signed her to his Arista Records label. . “I was one of the first soul singers he (Clive) signed. I was there before Whitney and Aretha. Clive said that if we could ever get the right material, we could have a hit. But he felt that the material was too Southern. He didn’t want that Southern soul sound. 

Clive and Shirley Brown didn’t agree on the direction of her music. “Clive Davis wanted me to do a Bette Midler song or something like Barbra Streisand. I could probably sing those kinds of songs, but I didn’t feel them.”


In early 1977, Shirley’s first Arista single, a soul ballad called Blessed Is the Woman (With a Man like Mine) was released.  “I’ve always been a great admirer of Aretha Franklin,” Shirley Brown admits. Some people feel that Shirley Brown and Aretha Franklin are similar to the Isaac Hayes/Barry White situation.”


Some speculate that Clive felt she sounded too much like Aretha Franklin, and he jeopardized her career to boost Aretha’s.   


“Clive wanted to make Shirley like Whitney, “says Bobby Manuel. “He wanted to take somebody that had those chops, who could sing like that… and take them pop.  The marriage really didn’t work.  He was sending us pop songs, and she just wasn’t into them.”


Luther Vandross loved Shirley Brown. I would buy up all her albums in the UK for our tour bus and his dressing room. 

After Shirley left Arista, she signed with several other labels. She continues to make beautiful music. Some wonderful songs in her catalog include “I Ain’t Gonna Tell”, “Love Is Built On A Strong Foundation,” and the soul ballad “I Need Somebody to Love Me.”

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 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.

Divabetic Salutes Stephanie Mills



Stephanie Mills’ voice is so distinctive that it is hard to mistake it for anyone else’s. She has been nicknamed “the little lady with a big voice,” but this hardly does justice to her status as a living legend. Although her impressive string of hits in the ’80s and early ’90s might qualify her as an R&B icon, it was her electrifying performance as Dorothy in the Broadway show “The Wiz” that made her a household name.

Did you know an up-and-coming songwriter named Luther Vandross penned “A Brand New Day“, also known as “Everybody Rejoice“? 


If you do a few Google searches,  you’ll find “The Wiz” wasn’t her first foray into showbiz. At the ripe old age of nine, she achieved considerable success in a background role for the 1968 musical “Maggie Flynn. After that, she won amateur night not once, not twice, but six sensational times at Showtime at the Apollo. 

Her Broadway success in “The Wiz” led Stephanie Mills to be signed with 20th Century, scoring her first top 10 R&B hit in 1979 with “What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin’.” From there, she segued to Casablanca and then MCA, where she recorded five No. 1 R&B singles, including “I Feel Good All Over” and “Home.”
She freely admits, “I love all my albums [but] I think my prime album would be the Home album because I put a lot of thought into re-recording ‘Home‘ and the songs on that album. But each of my albums [has] a story of a time in my life [and] what I may have been going through at that time.”

Although we’re glad to hear she loves her albums and still tours, we can imagine the time, dedication, drive, and diligence it takes to be at the top of your game for over six decades. “I sing every day, but I get a lot of rest. I sleep a lot, but I love touring,” she said in an interview with one of our favorite websites, Rated R&B. “It’s not taxing. I’m older, so when I come home, I am tired, but it’s a good tired because I love leaving everything I have on stage with my audience.”

Recently, Stephanie Mills chose to fund her own recording. She explained to the White Mountain Independent, ” “I’m doing this on sheer will, faith, and my experience in the business. I didn’t set out to do this on my own; it just happened. But I believe in this.”

When asked what keeps her inner rhinestones glowing, Stephanie Mills said, “Seeing the audience’s faces and seeing them enjoy my singing. I take pride in trying to sound as close to my records as I can. In fact, when I sing, I sing to my original recording. People pay their hard-earned money to come see you. That’s big. That’s a lot.”On social media, Stephanie Mill has no problem speaking her mind. She’s shared her feelings regarding the R&B whitewashing and defended her friend, the late Michael Jackson. 

Her recording of Angela Winbush’s “I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love” is a standout. Her voice is rich, clear, and powerful. She pours emotion into every line of lyrical sentiment that speaks to your heart. It’s one of my most beloved Quiet Storm ballads. You don’t hear songs like this anymore. 

“I’ve had a fabulous life and fabulous career,” the legendary singer confidently told Rated R&B. Asked what she credits for her longevity in the music industry, she said, “Never following a trend. I’ve always done my own path and stayed on my own path. I didn’t listen to a lot of noise of what people say: “Oh, you should do this, you should do that.” I took the best from whatever they said that I felt was best for me and would work for me and I would do that. I always took my time and just slowly did the slow walk. I didn’t do a fast run. I did a slow walk.”

We can’t forget that our friend, singer, and songwriter Tawatha Agee penned the monumental duet “Two Hearts” for Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass. Released in 1981, the song reached #3 on the Billboard R & B Charts.


After working in showbiz for half a century, Stephanie Mills must feel content knowing that people still enjoy watching her perform. It’s difficult to imagine the numerous setbacks, disappointments, and frustrations she has faced throughout her career. From the singles that failed to make it to the top of the charts to auditions for roles that she didn’t get, Stephanie has likely endured more challenges than most of us could handle. Therefore, we celebrate her longevity steeped in excellence with great admiration.

Divabetic remembers Luther Vandross (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) with this special podcast. Luther Vandross was a musical master whose style has influenced an entire generation of today’s vocalists. His distinctive brand of satin-smooth vocal magic moved international audiences and continues to touch people today. Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek, who worked with Vandross for more than 14 years, hosts this tribute podcast featuring Luther’s former vocalists Paulette McWilliams, Pat Lacy, Tawatha Agee, Cindy Mizelle, and Kevin Owens, band member Bryon Miller, Vandross family member, Seveda Williams, friends Darren Margo and David Jones, the Luther Vandross historian, Leon Petrossian and Luther super fan, Jane Goodman from Great Britain. Throughout the podcast, we will play selected Luther Vandross songs that he recorded during the 1990’s courtesy of SONY Music.

What’s the First Thing you Say to Yourself in the Morning?

What’s the First Thing you Say to Yourself in the Morning?
Do you feel good every morning? Does each morning bring with it another ray of hope, a reason to fight for your dreams and keep your spirit alive? Well, it should, and here is one of our favorite self-talk examples to tell yourself every day, first thing in the morning, for a better, happier, healthier day, every day.
 
“I am the best version of me. I am unique, I am priceless and I am amazing and nothing can change that.”
 
Our friend, Yoga4diabetes Founder and Author Rachel Zinman shares her morning self-talk on Divabetic’s podcast with music by Teddy Pendergrass. Arthur Aston, and Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDCES.  Rachel will be presenting a guided mediation you won’t want to miss!

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?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Valentines-themed Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef and Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller on Wednesday, February 9, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST on Zoom.

The Diabetic Pastry Chef prepares her Valentines-themed Sugar-Free Cake Pops Recipe and shares Expert Baking Tips for using Sugar Substitutes, and her Favorite Kitchen Tool! Join us on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST

REGISTER NOW 

Are You On Team REESE or Team INA?

Whose TEAM are you on? Team REESE or Team INA when it comes to habits????

We get it INA, it’s hard to start healthy habits. It’s super easy to slip back into old habits.  But when it comes to building healthy habits, small decisions add up over time.

Drinking more water instead of soda, iced tea or any other sugar-sweetened beverage is a great way to start.

Water will not raise blood glucose levels, which is why it is so beneficial to drink when people with diabetes have high blood sugar.

Water also helps keep your temperature normal, lubricates and cushions joints, and gets rid of wastes through urination, sweat, and bowel movements.  If plain water isn’t your favorite, you can add flavor to your water to help up your intake.

We feel the way to make healthy habits stick is by imagining the future, rewarding yourself, being patient, and above all, treating yourself with kindness

Listen to Divabetic’s free monthly podcast on-demand featuring music from Teddy Pendergrass‘s album, Life Is A Song Worth Singing, and guests: Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES,  Build Jake’s Place Executive Director Arthur Anston, and Yoga For Diabetes Author and Founder Rachel Zinman

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?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Valentines-themed Baking Party on Zoom with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, February 9, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST.

During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a Valentine’s Day Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in your favorite recipes.

Over 150 people registered for our recent Divabetic Baking Parties on Zoom so don’t miss out!

REGISTER NOW 

Oven Roasted Sweet & Savory Sweet Potatoes By Divabetic

Last weekend, I made these sweet and savory sweet potatoes and served them with grilled pork chops. It was my first attempt at creating a savory and sweet flavor using Splenda. They were easy to make and delicious!

Oven Roasted Sweet & Savory Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Ingredients
3 medium-sized sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons of Splenda brown sugar blend
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes
pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Boil whole sweet potatoes for 15 minutes until soft

Let sweet potatoes cool.

Cut sweet potatoes into wedges, keeping the skin intact.

Mix sweet potato wedges with Splenda brown sugar mix and red pepper flakes. Drizzle olive oil over the mixture and toss to coat; pour into a shallow roasting pan.

Roast sweet potato mixture in a preheated oven, frequently turning, until the vegetables are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper before serving. Enjoy!

Listen to Divabetic’s free monthly podcast on-demand featuring music from Teddy Pendergrass‘s album, Life Is A Song Worth Singing, and guests: Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES,  Build Jake’s Place Executive Director Arthur Anston, and Yoga For Diabetes Author and Founder Rachel Zinman

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?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Valentines-themed Baking Party on Zoom with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, February 9, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST.

During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a Valentine’s Day Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in your favorite recipes.

Over 150 people registered for our recent Divabetic Baking Parties on Zoom so don’t miss out!

REGISTER NOW 

New Product Review: Starbucks’ New Zero Creamers

Starbucks’ New Zero Creamers contain 20 fewer calories and 6 grams less sugar per serving than Starbucks’ existing options.

The American Heart Association recommends capping daily sugar intake at 24 grams (6 teaspoons of sugar). If you consume two tablespoons of the regular creamer, you’re already reaching half of your recommended limit.

The new Starbucks’ creamers come in caramel and hazelnut flavors, inspired by their popular in-store drinks caramel macchiato and hazelnut latte, respectively.

The ingredients listed on the Zero Creamer bottles are nonfat milk, heavy cream, vegetable oil, buttermilk, salt, sucralose, gellan gum, and natural flavor. The regular liquid coffee creamer contains nearly the same ingredients with sugar instead of sucralose and slightly less salt.

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener and sugar substitute made from a chemical process that tweaks sugar to form a calorie-free sweetener 600 times sweeter than sugar. According to WebMD, sucralose is marketed as Splenda. The difference between Splenda and other sweeteners, like aspartame (Equal) and saccharin (Sweet’N Low), is that it’s actually made from real sugar. This gives it a taste that is generally more preferable compared to other artificial sweeteners.

Listen to Divabetic’s free monthly podcast on-demand featuring music from Teddy Pendergrass‘s album, Life Is A Song Worth Singing, and guests: Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES,  Build Jake’s Place Executive Director Arthur Anston, and Yoga For Diabetes Author and Founder Rachel Zinman

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?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Valentines-themed Baking Party on Zoom with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, February 9, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST.

During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a Valentine’s Day Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in your favorite recipes.

Over 150 people registered for our recent Divabetic Baking Parties on Zoom so don’t miss out!

REGISTER NOW 

Don’t Miss Divabetic’s January 2022 Podcast Tonight at 6 PM!

Tonight, on Divabetic’s free monthly podcast we feature music from Teddy Pendergrass‘s second album. Join me and my guests: Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES,  Build Jake’s Place Executive Director Arthur Anston, and Yoga For Diabetes Author and Founder Rachel Zinman starting at 6 PM, EST.
Teddy Pendergrass’s second album, “Life Is a Song Worth Singing” was an artistic, commercial, and creative triumph. It positioned him as a sex symbol and showcased his versatility and robust voice to an even greater range.
Teddy Pendergrass fought to educate people about how to treat people in wheelchairs with respect and raise awareness for the simple fact that disability doesn’t mean inability.
This year, Divabetic is championing compassion. Self-compassion is about turning towards difficult and painful feelings and taking action to ease pain and suffering, rather than ignoring it or judging ourselves.
In 1982 Teddy Pendergrass crashed his Rolls-Royce, suffering a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. His life was transformed in an instant. He went from giving sold-out concerts in Europe one week to lying in a hospital bed. He admitted it was devastating.

However, twenty-five years after the accident, he said in an interview that he was grateful for what happened and what didn’t happen in his life. He founded the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, which aids people with spinal-cord injuries. He spoke out on the issues facing people with spinal cord injuries with the determination that marked his aggressive, full-throated vocal style.
We believe in YOU and your abilities to live your best life.

Don’t Miss Divabetic’s Baking Party with The Diabetic Pastry Chef

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?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Valentines-themed Baking Party on Zoom with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, February 9, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST.

During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a Valentine’s Day Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in your favorite recipes.

Over 150 people registered for our recent Divabetic Baking Parties on Zoom so don’t miss out!

 

REGISTER NOW 

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris, known as The Diabetic Pastry Chef,  taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from a traditional bakery item.

“I started experimenting by using almond milk or whole milk mixed with water to cut down on carbs, then tried different flours, incorporating white whole wheat flour, soy flour, oat flour, black bean flour, and other alternatives into my brownies, cakes, and cookies,” she said in a How 2 Type 2 article.

She adds, ”To cut back on sugar, I started using all-natural substitutes, like agave nectar, and trying erythritol. I also bake with a store-bought blend of sugars that tastes delicious.”

The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Join us for Divabetic’s first podcast of the year featuring Rachel Zinman, Arthur Aston, and Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDCES on Tuesday, January 11,  2022, 6 PM, EST.

Our musical inspiration, R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass, who was not living with diabetes, overcame many obstacles and continued to sing after a car crash in 1982 that left him in a wheelchair.

Before the crash, Teddy Pendergrass’s explosive, raw voice earned turned him into an international star and sex symbol. His masculinity, passion, and the joys and sorrow of romance were featured in songs such as Close the Door, Love T.K.O, and other hits that have since become classics.

Teddy’s longtime collaborator Kenny Gamble said, “He had a tremendous career ahead of him, and the accident sort of got in the way of many of those plans.”

Mr. Pendergrass suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down – still able to sing but without his signature power. The image of the masculine, virile lover was replaced with one that drew sympathy.

But instead of becoming bitter or depressed, Teddy Pendergrass created a new identity – that as a role model, Mr. Gamble said.

“He never showed me that he was angry at all about his accident,” Mr. Gamble said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “In fact, he was very courageous.”

After extensive physical therapy, he resumed his recording career. He had Top 10 rhythm and blues hits and gold albums into the ’90s.

We hope Teddy Pendergrass helps inspire you to focus on the positive in the face of challenges related to managing your diabetes.

Throughout the podcast, we will be featuring music by Teddy Pendergrass courtesy of SONY Music.

 

Rachel Zinman Says She’s On A Balancing Beam, Not A Tightrope Managing Her Blood Sugars

“Usually, my first thought in the morning is what’s my blood sugar?” says our friend Rachel Zinman, who has been living with type 1 diabetes for thirteen years. After that, the Yoga For Diabetes author tells herself, “I have to get up, get my meter and check my blood sugar levels.”

Before she adopted diabetes psychologist Mark Heyman CDCES’s “diabetes might be challenging, but I’ve got this” motto,  Rachel viewed the numbers on her meter as judgments. Now, she sees her morning blood sugar levels more or less as just numbers. As a result, she doesn’t take them so personally.

“Working with my diabetes educator taught me to manage my diabetes in terms of a balance beam rather than a tightrope,” she admits.

Now, Rachel shifts her mindset when she experiences high or low blood sugars. “I don’t think I will fall off a tightrope. I’ve learned I’ve got room to change things and open up my range like I’m on a balance beam. That has really changed how I feel. I feel better. I feel like I have a lot more freedom with food and insulin.”

She confesses she’s blown away that she can enjoy her favorite breakfast food, avocado toast with normal blood sugars!

Rachel shares a guided meditation on January’s Divabetic podcast scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, 2022, with music by Teddy Pendergrass, as part of our New Year’s tradition to help center listeners’ minds, bodies, and souls.

Click HERE to read the three things that help Rachel Zinman start her day with a positive mind frame.