June 2007

In This Issue

:: Black History Month - Part 1 - Allen Johnston
:: Loretta Petit - The Music at WYLD-FM/New Orleans
:: Wow, and who knew there were so many uses for VODKA

You never know where your blessings come from...that is what they say. Myself, I KNOW!!!...God has places certain people in my life...I didn't look for them...they didn't really look for me...but we met!

One of these persons is the mother of my fav-o-rite Rap/HipHop CONSCIOUS recording artists...the Young Messengerrzz...Ophelia Douglas from St. Louis who I affectionally call..."Fee" is one!

Everyone who personally knows me...know I am not technically inclined...so does Fee. I received a "gift" that just knocked me off my feet, and that is something considering how big my feet are :)

You know I love "good drama"...so just let me play with you a minute...One evening, "Fee" and I were talking about Peepin' and mayhaps I could use a web site...Voila! within 24 hours...yes, I said 24 hours..I received my "gift". ..I am blown away!...and...hopefully you will too. WELCOME to the world of... WWW.PEEPINTHESCENE.COM!!!

Because this article is so informative, Peepin' felt that its audience would like to really digest it in its entirety...So we have taken the liberty in "carrying on Black Music Month" with a Part 2...coming in July!

Has it ever occurred to you to teach a youngster WHY they make music?
It is historically known that we as a people have used music as a tool for various reasons. Upon our forced migration to this country the 2 main sources of communication among our people were removed, our tribal language and the DRUM. Our combined creativeness coupled with the need to subversively communicate among one another started the musical work song tradition. Songs that were sung to the swing of the hoe, pick or axe and helped set a pace for combined work efforts, but also allowed subversive communication between families, and plantations.

Between 1660 - 1860 one of the greatest influences upon Black music was the religion that the slave masters forced on our ancestors. As slaves our ancestors were not able to meet in any groups outside of the workforce unless it was church. The first series of hymns that slaves were legally able to sing were songs created by Dr Issac Watts of England. The poetry of Dr. Watts took the religious world of dissent by storm. It gave an utterance, till then unheard in England, to the spiritual emotions, in their contemplation of God's glory in nature and his revelation in Christ, and made hymn-singing a fervid devotional force, something that fit right in with our people. With the onset of Dr Watts hymns came the camp meetings where our music developed tambourines, banjoes and the occasional drum. From these poor beginnings came the Spirituals, music that was made to describe the feelings of a group of individuals. This music also morphed into a version of music that describes a large portion of our culture the foundation of the Blue

After slavery two main influences helped shape the global convergence of American Black music. The first was the opening of Fisk University and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. These singers were the first internationally acclaimed group of African-American musicians who attained first recognition, then fame,artists sold a phenomenal number of records and ensured the survival of Columbia and other recording companies. and along the way, financed their school. The talented vocal artists introduced "slave songs" to the world and, in many opinions, preserved this music from extinction. The second was the creation of blues by post-slavery Blacks in Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, everywhere, which led to the first written blues, "The Memphis Blues," published in 1912, and great blues singers like MA RAINEY and BESSIE SMITH. February 14, 1920. MAMIE SMITH recorded the first major "race record," "That Thing Called Love" and "A Good Man is Hard to Find," for Okeh Records. BESSIE SMITH and other

Gospel and Blues developed along very similar lines and in fact several major contributors to Black music were known to play both styles. One of the most prolific writers and performers was Thomas Dorsey. Reverend Dorsey as he was known in his later years was a composer and pianist for Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, plus he wrote some of the most performed Gospel songs in history.

In the late 1890's a new sound was created by Blacks in Louisiana, Texas, Missouri and other places, followed by creative syntheses by great individual performers like BUDDY BOLDEN, JELLY ROLL MORTON, LOUIS ARMSTRONG and others. This was the collective creation of Jazz music. On November 11, 1925, Louis Armstrong recorded the first of the Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings that defined the rhythmic and improvisational foundation of jazz. Once again music had been created that attempted to describe the emotional and spirit filled anxiety of our race.

The first all Black owned record company based in Harlem and founded in May of 1921 Black Swan Records was created by Harry Pace. Fletcher Henderson was the recording manager and played piano accompaniment, while William Grant Still was arranger and later musical director. Artists on this label included · C. Carroll Clark, baritone, made the label's first record. · Four Harmony Kings, vocal quartet · Henry Creamer and J. Turner Layton, vaudeville duo · Katie Crippen, vaudeville singer · Kemper Harreld, violinist · Revella Hughes, soprano · Alberta Hunter, blues singer · Trixie Smith, blues singer, was second only to Ethel Waters in Black Swan sales. · Florence Cole Talbert soprano · Ethel Waters, blues and pop song singer. She had the label's first commercially successful records, and remained their best seller.

This company produced several firsts that can be seen manifested today. 1. Publishing house that became a record label 2. Created multiple genres of music, classical, instrumental, gospel and blues 3. "Mamie Jones" was actually a pseudonym on Black Swan for singer Aileen Stanley, perhaps the only Caucasian artist to record for the label (she was "passing for colored" on these records). 4. The company declared bankruptcy in December 1923. As a result, in March 1924 Paramount Records bought the Black Swan label. White owned record companies began to recognize the the demand for black artists to the point that major companies began publishing music by these performers. In addition, the Chicago Defender credited Mr. Pace with bringing major companies to begin targeting the black audience and advertising in black newspapers. Paramount discontinued the Black Swan label a short time later, but kept the artists recording under their label.

Now...you are just going to have to wait for Part 2 in the next issue!!!!!!

CONFERENCE SPEAKER * CERTIFIED COLLEGE OF MINISTRY INSTRUCTOR * PREACHER, TEACHER & SOUL REACHER!...

EXUBERANT & WITTY MORNING SHOW AIR PERSONALITY, Elder Loretta Petit is AM 940 WYLD RADIO STATION'S Assistant Program Director. Elder Petit is an entrepreneur, published author, interpreter for the deaf, reader for the blind and mentor for HOSTS with Jefferson Parish School System. *She is a Covenant Partner with the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International *A Partner in Hope with St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Elder Petit is a * MBA Candidate University of Phoenix. * Seminar and workshop leader

HONORED BY: *Greater St.Stephen FGBC College of Elders "Elder of the Year" Award 2006 *N.O. Jazz Fest Gospel Is Alive Award *YWCA & City of N.O. with Role Model Distinction *Who's Who Library

ALSO RECIPIENT OF **The Spirit of Greatness Award ** Women Making A Positive Difference Award **Gospelite Award **Among many others

She is the Co-Chairperson of Greater St. Stephen's College of Elders; Pastor of Big Brothers & Big Sisters Ministry and works with the church's Signs and Wonders Deaf Ministry under the pastorate of Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. and Elder Debra B. Morton.
Her personal contributions to the community is the formulation of her NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS Outreach where she has helped the less fortunate

What she wants you to realize: Life is to be celebrated, so get on with it What she wants for you: Salvation and An abundant Life What she believes: God's Grace is Sufficient What she stands on: The Bible What she stands for: Righteousness

Now wouldn't it be a much better world if we could follow her lead???..Feel free to reach out to her by email: lorettapetit@aol.com or callher at (504)6200-0991

1. To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The solvent dissolves adhesive

2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five minutes and wash clean. The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew

3. To clean your eyeglasses, simply wipe the lenses with a soft, clean cloth dampened with vodka. The alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.

4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.

5. Spray vodka on vomit stains, scrub with a brush, and then blot dry. (Now I can do without this one)- Peepin'

6. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.

7. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.

8. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle and spray bees or wasps to kill them (not necessary for inner cities-Peepin')

9. Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup water in a Ziploc freezer bag and freeze for a slushy, refresh- able ice pack for aches, pain or black eyes.

10. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.

11. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.

12. To cure foot odor, wash your feet with vodka. (what are you talkin' bout Willis - Peepin')

13 Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting just (I don't think I will have an occasion for this one - Peepin') ,p>14. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the urushiol oil from your skin (urushiol oil - huh???)_,p>15. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.
And dumb old me- - - I've only been drinking the stuff -Peepin'

A very dear friend of mine named Waren Lanier and I discussed the plight of our youth in today's world....He told me that his philosophy...and I definately want to pass it along... "The way you wear the brim of your hat is the way you walk through life...backwards or sideways"...I bet the next time I see on of our young black men with the brim of their hat in any other direction that forward...I will be compelled to tell them this piece of wisdom - AMEN!

email: awhspr2scrm@aol.com
phone: 702-878-0328
web: http://www.peepinthescene.com