Photos and story by Shelah Moody

The San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy hosted a lavish celebration for the Bay Area’s 2011 Grammy nominees on Jan 29 at the San Francisco War Memorial Performing Arts Center.

Ledisi and Sakai

New Orleans-born soul singer Ledisi, who moved to Oakland in 1990, tops the list with three with three nominations: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for “Pieces of Me.”

Other 2011 Bay Area Grammy nominees include:

• Raphael Saadiq, Best Traditional R&B Performance, “Good Man.”

• Los Tigres Del Norte, Best Banda or Norteno Album. “Los Tigres Del Norte and Friends.”

• The Lonely Island, Best Comedy Album, “Turtleneck and Chain.”

• Papa Hugs Band, Best Children’s Album, “Are We There Yet?”

• Adam Machado, Best Album Notes, “Hear Me Howl!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond as Recorded by the San Francisco Bay by Chris Strachwitz in the 1960s.

• Alec Palao, Best Album Notes, “The Music City Story: Street Corner Doo Wop, Raw R&B and Soulful Sounds from Berkeley, California 1950-75.”

• Philharmonic Baroque Orchestra—Best Orchestral Performance, “Haydn: Symphonies 104, 88 & 101.”

• El Mundo (Richard Savino, Conductor), Best Small Ensemble Performance, “The Kingdoms of Castille.”

• The Bay Brass, Best Small Ensemble Performance, “Sound the Bells!”

  
  

The 54^th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony will be held on Sunday, Feb. 12 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS.

Martin Luther

Local musicians, singers, songwriters, producers and other music industry professionals turned out to honor the Bay Area Grammy nominees and promote their respective projects. Guests included neo-soul singer/guitarist/songwriter Martin Luther, a San Francisco native who made his film debut in the Beatles themed movie “Across the Universe” in 2007. On Feb. 14, the two days after the Grammys are handed out, The Museum of the African Diaspora Vanguard, a young professionals' networking group, will present “An Intimate Evening with Soul Sensation Martin Luther,” at the MoAD in San Francisco. For information, go to mlmoadvalentines.eventbrite.com.

Sf Grammy Nominees

Oakland based singer/songwriter/producer Larry Batiste, musical director for the Grammy Awards pre-telecast in Los Angeles, was also in attendance. Batiste also sits on the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy and runs his own recording studio, LaSugar Bear Entertainment in Oakland. Soulful singer/songwriter Sakai, (www.sakaiworld.com) who has provided backing vocals for Stevie Wonder, Sting, Chaka Khan, Angela Bofill and Narada Michael Walden to name a few, lit up the event with her presence. Sakai, who lives in Oakland and is gearing up for the release of her solo album, is also on the board of the San Francisco Chapter and sang back up on Train’s 2010 Grammy winning album. Board member Suzanne Koga, of Oakland, who also manages legendary Grammy winning vocalist Roberta Flack, attended the event with singer/guitarist Jeri Jones, half of the San Francisco-based woman driven rock band, Blame Sally.

Geri Jones

Sakai, Ledisi, Grammy Executive, Larry Batiste 

The true star of the evening was Ledisi Anibade Young, who made her grand entrance accompanied by her road manager and stylist, Clyde Williams. Ledisi expressed her excitement about being nominated for three Grammys with the likes of Cee Lo Green, Kelly Price, Charlie Wilson and R. Kelly. This makes a total of seven nominations throughout her prestigious career. Ledisi said she’s had her eye on the music industry’s highest honor since she was a child.

“When I saw Michael Jackson win all of his Grammys in the eighties, I said, oh, I hope that’s me one day,” said Ledisi. “That’s when I started dreaming about it.

“Pieces of me is about celebrating being a woman and that’s celebrating being me,” said Ledisi, whose Yoruba name means “"to bring forth" or "to come here."

“Usually I write songs about struggling and change and things like that, but with this album, I just wanted to celebrate just being happy in my own skin and my own lane. The title of the album describes me; I’m very shy, vulnerable, nervous sometime and sensual—something every woman goes through.

“Pieces of Me” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McUj4t3TkPA&;ob=av2e) is nominated for three Grammys—that’s a great accomplishment considering that the Grammys have cut down on their R&B selections. I am excited; I am so blessed and so grateful.”

Naturally, a big question was who will Ledisi be wearing at the Grammy Awards ceremony? Ledisi is currently working with a Washington, D.C. based designer, Tasia.

“She’s incredible, and the ideas that she has for me are very glamorous and natural,” said Ledisi. “It’s Ledisi, but a little more glam this time. This time I’m going to have a lot of fun.”

During Grammy Week, Ledisi will perform with one of her idols, Mavis Staples. She took time to say a few words on recently departed R&B Blues legend, Etta James.

“Incredible voice, raw talent and a real person,” said Ledisi. “She will be missed but always honored, because without her, we would not have that energy that she gave in her music. I really wish that I was able to talk to her. She’s always been honest about her life, and that made us love her even more, not just her voice and the way she executed her songs. She just did not give a hoot; who cared, or what-- she was just Etta James and I love that. I hope that more artists learn from her, that it’s ok to just be yourself.”

Papa Hugs Band

Speaking of being yourself, David Sharpe, leader of the Papa Hugs Band, aim to empower young people through “Are We There Yet,” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAWYuTTftFw) which is nominated for Best Children’s album. Notable winners in this category include Ziggy Marley (2010) for “Family Time.”

Sharpe, who was accompanied by his nephew and drummer, Jeremy Hoenig, said he is excited about his first Grammy nomination. “Are We There Yet” is a collection of songs Sharpe wrote and performs for children around the Bay Area. Sharpe’s fun and environmentally conscious songs include “You are the Greatest Kid,” “Earth Boogie,” “Bubble Wrap” and I Have a Big Red Nose.” (http://www.davidsharpemusic.com).

“Our songs are fun, original, interactive, very colorful and visual type music for the children, which allow them to gain appreciation for music at an early age,” said Sharpe, father of two and grandfather of three.

Jade Steel

Dave Valentin

Bob McCall

For more information, go to www.grammy.com.

                                                     .

  By Shelah Moody

       This weekend, the music industry recognizes singer/songwriter Angela Bofill, one  of the true legends of soul. Bofill’s four day run at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco (Jan 12-15) coincides with the taping of a documentary of her life for TV One’s “Unsung”  series (http://tvone.tv). TV One is scheduled to interview Bofill, as well as several of her friends, musicians and family members, including Grammy winning producer Narada Michael Walden, Bofill’s longtime pianist Frank Martin and her longtime friend and esthetician, Kathryn Leverette, owner of Urban Skin Solutions in Oakland.

The Angela Bofill Experience, as narrated by the Grammy nominated artist herself, is an intimate celebration of R&B’s female unsung heroes. Bofill’s songs are performed by Grammy and Tony award winning actress Melba Moore and vocal powerhouse Jeanie Tracy, known for her work with Sylvester and Two Tons of Fun.  Bofill's  all-star band features musical director Frank Martin (piano), Billy Johnson (drums) and Troy Lampkins (bass) with special guest, Puerto Rican flautist Dave Valentin, Bofill’s longtime friend and musical collaborator.

During the early eighties, as Michael Jackson was ascending to superstardom with “Off the Wall” and “Thriller,” Bofill was establishing herself as one of R&B’s finest singer/songwriters. Born to a Puerto Rican mother and Cuban father in Harlem, NY, Bofill is known for her string of smooth jazz and R&B hits including “Angel of the Night,” “I Try,” “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” and “Too Tough.” 

Bofill was known for her crystalline soprano voice, which was capable of soaring to operatic heights. Currently residing in Vallejo, CA, with her family, Bofill is rebuilding her body and her career after suffering two strokes in 2006 and 2007.  In December, 2007, Walden, who produced Bofill’s albums “Something about You,”  “Too Tough,” and “Teaser,” rallied superstars such as Mary Wilson, Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt to raise funds for her health care at benefit concert at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. In the last two years, Bofill lost her beloved mother, Carmen, and nephew, Pablo Santiago.

 But she is a survivor. Bofill’s friends and colleagues are confident that she will sing again. Bofill was received with a standing ovation as she made her way to the stage on opening night. As she demonstrates during the Angela Bofill Experience, Bofill has a positive attitude and a fierce sense of humor, delighting the audience with stories of her new Grandson (“I’m Granny Diva now”) and her pet pug, Mo-Mo. Bofill played along on percussion as Moore belted out a fiery version of “Too Tough.”

“I’ve noticed that everybody’s destiny is in their name and Angela really is an angel and a messenger from heaven who brings this music and this love to touch us,” said Moore. “I wanted her to know that this is not just a job; it’s a privilege and an opportunity for me.

“I am so impressed with people who can write songs as well as sing and perform them,” said Moore, who delivered stellar renditions of “I Try,” “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” and “Angel of the Night.”

“Honestly, I was a little bit nervous and scared because I wanted to pay tribute to her life. I believe that she is going to sing again.”

The Angela Boofill Experience runs at the Rrazz Room, Sat, 1/14, 7 & 9:30pm

Sun, 1/15, 7pm, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco, www.therazzroom.com.

Streetwise Radio has brought to you faithful internet listeners around the world some amazing old and new artists. Michael Ealey the stations manager tries’ to find new artists that are not being played on traditional radio; some of these artists are very talented that is why Streetwise Radio brings you some great new talent. All of the artists that are focused on Streetwise Radio all have blogs written about them by are talented writers. Streetwise Radio has five categories of music there is the Ultra Mix, Big Splifs 420 Reggae, Soul City, Big Hop. In each of these categories an artists is featured. Some of the new artists that have been featured on Streetwise Radio are Arika Kane, Jae Franklin, Kaneik Tunes, Saxophonist Ranzell Merritt Jr., Violinist Daniel Davis, De Phazz, Ray Piper, Esperanza Spaulding, Groove 55, Greg Manning, Pamela Rose, Monday Michiru, Al Capone, Sa-Roc, Bei Maejo, Nina Ross, Leo37, Anuhea, Sharp, Sharon Tucker, Missy Foxx, Sherieta and Ras D. These artists that were listed are very talented. When you tune in to Streetwise Radio you will hear and read about our new and old featured artist. Streetwise Radio will continue to bring you musical artists that you have never heard of and old artists that have new albums out. Happy New Year and keep listening.

LM

http://www.streetwisesd.com/radio/