Betty Wright and The Roots are nominated for a Grammy this year for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Surrender”, from her album Betty Wright: The Movie; credited to Betty Wright and The Roots and co-produced by Questlove. No stranger to the Grammy Awards, Ms. Wright won a Grammy for Best R&B Song in the early ’70s and has been nominated, including this year’s nomination, three times since. An R&B legend–Ms. Wright had a gold record with “Clean Up Woman” by the time she was 18. In 1988 she made history by becoming the first black female to have a gold album on her own record label. Ms. Wright is a mentor to younger artists, a vocal coach and a vocal producer for such artists as Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez and Joss Stone.
The Roots is one of the best groups to ever do it, with an excellent blend of hip-hop and musicianship. The group is ten albums deep and going strong. And, who could ever forget the truth-telling, eye-opening video for the single “What They Do” in the ’90s. Including this year’s Grammy nomination for “Surrender” with Betty Wright, the group have been nominated for a total of 12 Grammy Awards and has won four. The Roots is currently the house band for the television show Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
To find out if Betty Wright and The Roots will win, tune in to the Grammy Awards February 12 at 8/7c on CBS.
“I Wanna Be Down” by Brandy was the first single from her debut self-titled album. Written by Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones, the song went to #1 on the R&B chart and to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Featured here is the ”I Wanna Be Down” (Human Rhythm Hip Hop Mix featuring MC Lyte, Yo- Yo, and Queen Latifah) video directed by Hype Williams as a trip down memory lane. This video is a cornucopia of ’90s goodness. It has female rappers we love. Young Brandy is rockin’ her signature braids and emulating (her then idol) Whitney Houston’s vocal stylings. Baby Ray J is trying to hang and look cool. And don’t forget Hype Williams’ signature slow motion shots featuring the artist making aggressive gestures and vying for a spot in the frame. Enjoy.
Raphael Saadiq is a music veteran. He started playing the bass guitar at the age of six. When he was barely 18, he auditioned and won a spot in Sheila E.’s backing band for Prince’s Parade tour. Raphael Saadiq is probably best known as one-third of the R&B group Tony!Toni!Tone!, which put out some bonafide jams in the ’90s like “Feels Good” and Anniversary”. Saadiq put out his first solo album in 2002 and since then he has been no stranger to Grammy nominations. This year’s nomination for Best Traditional R&B performance for the song “Good Man”, from the album Stone Rollin makes a total of 12 nominations of Raphael Saadiq. He has won one. To see if Raphael Saadiq will win this year, check out the Grammy Awards on February 12 at 8/7c on CBS.
Perhaps Gerald Levert and O’Jays fans may have already liked this song before they even heard it; given the magic Eddie and Gerald Levert made the first time around in 1992 on “Baby Hold On To Me”. And they didn’t disappoint the second time, as they came with an entire album for our listening pleasure. “Already Missing You”– one of the gems from the 1995 album Father & Son. Check out the bonus video below of Eddie and Gerald Levert singing “Already Missing You” live– it’s a treat.
“Knockin’ Da Boots was a #1 jam on the R&B chart for the group H-Town, which stands for the group’s hometown–Houston, Texas. The song is H-Town’s biggest hit and the group’s first single from the debut album Fever For Da Flavor on Luther Campbell’s (2 Live Crew Luke) Luke Records. Unfortunately, group member Keven “Dino” Conner died in a car accident in 2003.
“If You Love Me” by Brownstone went to #2 on the R&B chart and to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK charts. Interestingly enough, the song did go to #1 in New Zealand. “If You Love Me” was written by Gordon Chambers, Nicci Gilbert and Dave Hall for Brownstone’s debut album From The Bottom Up on Michael Jackson’s MJJ label.
Charlie Wilson, affectionately known as “Uncle Charlie”, has two 2012 Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for his hit song “You Are”, from his latest CD Just Charlie; a song on which is wife is also a co-writer. ”You Are” held the #1 position on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for 13 weeks.
Charlie Wilson’s music goes back to the ’80s when he and his brothers Ronnie and Robert put out funkalicious jams such as “Outstanding”, “You Dropped A Bomb On Me” and others as The Gap Band. His influence can be heard in the vocal stylings of R. Kelly and Aaron Hall. Although drug and alcohol drug addiction almost overcame him after the band broke up, Wilson has reemerged and triumphed as a revered artist who is sought after by Hip-Hop and R&B artists to collaborate on their music; thus introducing him to a new generation of fans. “Uncle Charlie” is truly the comeback kid– he was also nominated for two Grammys in 2010. To find out if he will win this year, tune in to the Grammy Awards February 12 at 8/7c on CBS.
