Music Lovers/Podcasting Fam

TGrundy here. I’m reaching out to you once again to invite you to participate in another in our series of podcast collaboration projects.

So far we’ve brought you the Cupid’s Hunt podcast in celebration of Valentine’s Day and the Mother Love podcast to celebrate Mother’s Day. This time around, as a bookend to the Mother Love event, we’d like to turn our attention and talents to Father’s Day in a podcast event that’s being called:

“Color Him Father”

This special podcast will be produced and available for download on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, 2008.

If you’d like to participate, simply do the following:

1. Choose a song that captures how you feel about “fathers and/or fatherhood”
2. Record the following: An INTRO to your selection, giving the song title+artist+why you chose it
3. Send the intro+song as an MP3 file(s) via email to tgrundy[at]gmail.com - no later than Wednesday, June 11th!

That’s it . . . we’ll do the rest. The podcast will be posted on 6/15 at RhythmsInBlackSatin.com - we encourage you to post it on your podcast site as well.

If you have any questions, concerns, etc. please reach out to me at tgrundy[at]gmail.com or IM me on GMail or leave me a comment/message on my page at the Soul Commune music community or in the SoulSites Podiverse group also on Soul Commune.

We look forward to your participation in this podcast honoring these special men who have influenced and shaped our lives!

(NOTE: for those of you who know me, you know I’m “graphically challenged” when it comes to logs and stuff! help me out here {smile})

–TG

Today’s post is all about something simpler and much more enjoyable. I’ve just finished another one of those 5 mixes in 5 days music marathons over on the MP3blog, Rhythms In Black Satin. This time around I selected 3 of my favorite “old school” funk groups: Mandrill, the Ohio Players and Kool and The Gang, and posted a mix a day over this past Memorial Day weekend. The theme was “funky” and “mellow” in order to highlight not only the fast and funky stuff that these groups have blessed us with, but also to draw attention to their sometimes overlooked “softer” side. All in all, I hope you enjoy these music extravaganzas. And of course, just like last year, we’ll do it all again with another RIBS 5-Mixes-In-5-Days Funk-A-Thon at the end of the summer for the Labor Day weekend!

For your convenience links to all 5 of the mixes are below.

2008 Memorial Day Weekend 5MN5D Funk-A-Thon links:

1. Mandrill, part 1: “Funky Monkey”
2. Mandrill, part 2: “Mellow Monkey”
3. Ohio Players, part 1: “Funky Stuff”
4. Ohio Players, part2: “Mellow Stuff”
5. Kool and The Gang: “Hot and Kool”

1. A Song For You (Temptations)
2. Open Up Your Love (Whispers)
3. Thelma and Jerry (Thelma Houston/Jerry Butler)

RIBS TPTD: Temptations, Whispers, Thelma and Jerry

Check it out and enjoy!

Soul is defined as:

The immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life; the quality that arouses emotion and sentiment; and a spiritual or moral force.

Commune is defined as:

To be in a state of intimate, heightened sensitivity and receptivity, as with one’s surroundings.

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Greetings Soul Communers,

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for being a part of the Soul Commune experience!

The idea to create SoulCommune.com stems from a conversation I had with my friend, an indie soul artist promoter and advocate in November. He brought to my attention the tremendous challenges faced by the many talented artists and promoters alike of this genre.

I was surprised that such great artistry was being overlooked, and we both found it unacceptable that fans of soul music and, particularly, the immensely talented artists of this genre continue to find it difficult to connect and make progress in today’s “music industry.” SoulCommune.com can be an impetus for the change and balance that needs to take place to allow this genre, in its many dimensions, to be properly recognized and continue to thrive as the unique and viable art form that it is!

I am still learning who many of you are, and I feel that SoulCommune.com is a great way for artists and supporters to become more familiar with one another. Many of you know me as the face and website administrator of SoulCommune.com-however, in reality, there are others working diligently to help me put this together, and of course, most importantly, there is YOU! It is your drive, creativity, talent and passion that is the “main ingredient” that has made this a truly unique experience thus far!

One of the goals of SoulCommune.com is to create the kind of synergies that can help further the cause of “real” music both artistically and financially. By pooling our resources, we can continue to bring together members across the many different subsets of the soul music world, from classic soul to hip hop, house to funk; go-go to neo-soul; underground to mainstream and more.
We are here to counteract the current trends that challenge the very existence of this most important and multi-textured genre!

Soul Commune.com will be the place where fans, artists, publishers,radio programmers, promoters, etc can commune without the creative constraints forced by the music industry status quo.

We here at SoulCommune.com are moving forward with many ideas to humbly serve the Soul Community. In the near future look for the following:

• Cyber Store — (Coming Soon)
  
• Online Listening Parties — Upcoming events include Angela Johnson (Purpose Records), Alison Crockett (Crockett Gallery’s), Paul Randolph (StillMusic) Water Seed (Water Seed Music Group) and other indie artists.
  
• REMIX Projects — Starting with Major Label, Motown Recording Artist, Kem. NOTE: During this sponsored event members who are producers will have the opportunity to submit remixed tracks to be considered for inclusion on Kem’s forthcoming Remix release on Universal/Motown release later this year. Stay Tuned for Details!
  
• Conversations/Online Chats — Members get a unique chance to dialogue one-on-one established artists, including recording artist, Kem, music producer, Mike Chav (Erykah Badu’s latest release), and other industry experts.
• Soul Commune TV/Radio — Exclusive live webcasts of concerts, performances, and other unique events (featuring not but showcasing talent/creativity emerging talent within our commune)
• Tour Updates & Show Reviews
• Artist News & Music Reviews

And much, much more!

Your feedback is welcomed and is absolutely essential to enhancing the experience for everyone - so keep it coming!

We ask that you continue to hang out with us as SoulCommune.com continues to flourish and as we move forward to build and expand our universe!

Many thanks to ALL of you who, over the last month, have helped spread the word about SoulCommune.com

Our gratitude goes out to some of those who have reached out to us and been very helpful and/or are members of the Commune:

Mint Condition, Kem, Toya Hankins, Erykah Badu, Phil Perry, Paul Randolph, SoulChoonz, Switzerland Soul, Frances Jaye and Velisa Crayton of I Got Soul and Neosoulcafe.com, UK Soul, Butta of SoulBounce, Chris Rizek of Soultracks.com,Nu-Soul Mag, Drake of Urban-Organic.net, Ty, Traci Latrelle of WHUR, Jodine of Jodine’s Corner,Stephanie Renee of Soul-Sanctuary, TGrundy, Jason Orr’s FunkJazzKafe, Fiona Bloom, Johnnie Evans, Pam and Detrel of ONUTSS, Terry Bello, George LittleJohn, HoneySoul.com, Elliot of Projectvibe.com, Gordon Chambers, Monica Blaire, Liv Warfield, Lonnie Liston Smith, Lalah Hathway, Amp Fiddler, Eric Roberson, N’Dambi (If we’ve missed your name, please insert here:____________)and the rest of the 1300+ Podcasters, Radio Programmers, Artists, DJs, Bloggers, Tastemakers, and Fans who have signed up in the last month.

Please continue to spread the word, and please introduce yourself to someone on the Commune who you don’t know.

Let’s continue to commune

Peace!

Donald Hardway

With that said, the new JSOB, “Jazz with a Side Order of Blues” mix has been posted over on RIBS. This time around we have, Stanley Turrentine, Koko Taylor and ZZ Hill:

RIBS JSOB: Stanley, Koko and ZZ

Check it out, you’ll like it!

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It is with tremendous sadness that we must share with all Buddy’s fans around the world that Buddy passed away peacefully and quietly at his home last night (Tuesday, February 26, 2008) in Austin, Texas surrounded by his family. Buddy will be greatly missed as a wonderful person and as a truly gifted musician who gave so much to so many through the years.

The family ask for your prayers and that you respect their privacy. A tribute show will be announced within a short period of time and all are welcome to come and share in the magic that was Buddy Miles.

Fans, friends and family will all join in a celebration of the life and music of this talented and big hearted musician, so we hope everyone can be a part of this fond farewell.

God Bless each of you, Buddy truly appreciated EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU.

Also, here is the obituary from the Los Angeles Times:
Buddy Miles, 60; Drummer with Hendrix, voice of California Raisins

Rest In Peace, Buddy.

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I believe that the SoulCommune community is just such an event… something wonderful is happening over there!

I just found out about the site a few days ago and joined up as member #215, the membership has more than doubled since that time. Well, since these are the kinds of things that pique my interest, I thought I would follow the growth of the SoulCommune site on a daily basis for the next week or so and see just how big (and fast) thing grows.

As of Sunday, February 24, 2008, 12:35PM the SoulCommune site has:

464 members

Anyway, slowly but surely we’re getting back to normal and we’ll be posting our ‘SoulSites” discoveries for you to check out and our weekly “Stars of the Podiverse” podcast roundup.

One Thing I did want to mention is a brand new (to me at least) soul music community/social site called: SOULCOMMUNE

Visit SoulCommune

This is a very well put together site that looks like it will be THE place to go online for those of us who are soul music fans. I’m sure I’ll be talking about this place a lot more in the near future, but for now go check it out I’m sure you’ll like it!