Defining Fabulous: Joyce "Baby Jean" Kennedy of Mother's Finest

What do you get when you cross Funk with Rock & Roll? You get Mother's Finest. While trying to decide what to do with my huge album collection, I came across their album, 'Mother Factor' and wondered what had happened to the them. I gave the internet surf and it appears that they are still rocking and rolling to fans all over the world who still support them.

When we close our minds to experience different things in life, we miss out on everything. While growing up I had so many experiences that shaped who I am and I hardly ever excluded anything from it, to include listening to Rock music. Whatever music that was created, we listened to it. 

Mother's Finest is one of those groups that was greatly under appreciated by a lot of people, but is greatly appreciated by true music lovers who don't look at outward appearances.

Joyce Kennedy is the lead singer of this group which hails from Atlanta, GA and she's still as beautiful as ever. Ask any man over 40 if they remember Joyce Kennedy. I'm sure they will and I'm sure they had one of her album covers on their walls. She may be a little older now but she still rocks and has the voice that can still hold a note.

Check out Mother's Finest and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

The New Queen of Fado: Mariza née Marisa dos Reis Nunes

Mariza-A Rainha do Fado

Mariza knows that on the shoulders of Amália Rodrigues she now stands as the reigning Queen of Fado by being an ambassador of sorts to spread the beauty of one of Portugal's national treasures, it's music.

Soulful and haunting, fado (meaning "fate" in Portuguese) captures something essential about Portugal. The songs are often about love and loss. Often a fadista is a woman dressed in black, singing with great dignity and drama, accompanied by a Portuguese guitar player and a classical guitarist.



The genre can be traced back to the 1820s in Portugal. Some say it came earlier from Africa, while others attribute it to the sailors and fishermen off the Portuguese coast. It took root in the working class bars of Lisbon and gave rise to 20th century stars like the unforgettable Amália Rodrigues. Today, a young generation of fado singers is embracing the centuries-old music, redefining and reinvigorating the tunes. And the reigning fadista is Mariza.

Mariza was born in what was then Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), Mozambique to a Mozambican mother and Portuguese father. The family emigrated to Lisbon when Mariza was three, and since then, she has been surrounded by fado; the singing never ceased in the Mouraria tavern her parents owned.
 


Mariza and another one of my favorites, singer, Concha Buika.

In 2001, Mariza released her first album, Fado em Mim. National and international recognition quickly followed. In 2003, she was selected "Best European Artist" by BBC Radio 3; the following year, she won the "European Border Breakers Award," an award sponsored by the European Union. In 2007, her album "Concerto em Lisboa" was nominated for a Latin music Grammy. Mariza also starred in the recent music documentary, "Fados," by director Carlos Saura.

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Photos: Getty Images

Need To Hear: Donn T

Singer Donn T

Check out the music from this new artist Donn T. I love music and the mellower the better. We've got so many talented singers out there who never get promoted, but definitely have music worth buying and listening to. Donn T's debut album is titled Kaleidoscopic, which merges soul, dance, electronica and funk all rolled up into one musical journey you'll never forget. This CD pays homage to the old hits of the '60s, '70s and '80's while giving the listener her spin on modernity.

 DONN T - KALEIDOSCOPIC - MAMLP001 by moreaboutmusic

Donn T splits her time between Philly and London, which I'm sure her music gets plenty of airplay there...we need to hear her music on the radios here. I'm a new fan of this very talented woman and I could listen to this CD all day long.

Donn T and her brother, Questlove.

The musical talent doesn't fall too far from the tree because this lady's brother is none other than one of the baddest drummers on the planet, Questlove of the The Roots fame. To learn more about Donn T check out her page on MySpace and be sure to purchase this incredible CD, I guarantee you'll be glad that you did!

Photos:Afrodelik and Donn T