Latin freestyle seems to go hand in hand with Friday, at least in my mind. If Friday is really the day to celebrate the weekend ahead then that means club songs, freestyle and old school house music are the very best way to kick it all off. Let me take you back to 1988 when Betty Dee and her girls stepped out from the shadow of Expose` and The Cover Girls and made their own mark in the dance world.
Sweet Sensation had the hair, the clothes, and all the moves. But they seemed like the chicks down the street. This was the girl group that you really could have gone to school with or partied with. And their music rivaled other dance floor anthems. Songs like "Take It While It's Hot" and "Hooked On You" were featured on Open House Party and Dance Party USA, making the ladies a pretty hot commodity leading up to their number one single, "If Wishes Came True".
Betty Dee, Jenae Colon, and Belle Ritter reunited a few years ago and on any given weekend you're likely to find Sweet Sensation hitting the stage somewhere on the east coast. "Sincerely Yours" remains one of their most popular hits. Check out the video below.
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ICYMI:
There are very few albums in my life
that I've liked from start to finish Exposure, the debut
effort from legendary girl group Exposé is still near the
very top of my shortlist of favorites. 1987 was a year of firsts for
me- the first job slinging fish in a fast-food restaurant. First summer
of freedom thanks to turning sixteen and having a bestie with a car. A first taste of heartbreak courtesy of a boy that I didn't honestly
even like. Exposé was there with me every step of the way. Whether
they were blaring from a boombox while my friends and I laid in the
sun covered in baby oil or were whispering through my Walkman
headphones about seasons changing while tears rolled down my cheeks
at 2am, they were there. And I was grateful.
Perhaps the best thing about the 80's
being so hot right now is hearing my kids walk around the house
singing the exact same songs that I was singing at their age. Why?
Because the music is fun and it holds up and that's precisely the reason why you can catch acts like Exposé (Jeanette Jurado, Gioia
Bruno and Ann
Curless) still lighting up the stage. Over the last few years
I've had a few opportunities to catch the ladies live and to connect
with both Gioia and Ann, both of whom I adore.
Jeanette has been a bit more elusive.
I'd liken it to catching a unicorn, you just know that if somehow you
can make it happen it'll be totally worth the time and effort. This
week I was finally able to chat with her one-on-one and was not
disappointed. She is deeply devoted to her family, including her
Exposé sisters, and has a sense of humor and a sarcastic streak that I
really appreciate. Most of all, Jeanette was totally present in this
interview and really dug deeper than even I expected. Check it out
below. Click the links and if you have an opportunity, go and see
Exposé live. I promise you'll love every minute!
Cate Meighan: It has been more than thirty years since you, Gioia
Bruno and Ann Curless
broke onto the music scene as Exposé, What is it that keeps you
still out there performing in 2017?
Jeanette Jurado:
First of all, I'm not at peace with myself or comfortable with myself
unless I'm singing somewhere. If I go too long without singing my
boys are like “Mom!!!” because I'm singing around the house or
I'm singing in the shower full blast (laughing). I have to have some
way to be able to get that out of me, it's like this built up energy
and if I can't go out and sing then I'm not a happy individual. The
second reason is actually getting together with Gioia and Ann. I keep
joking with them about how you hear of maybe once a year girl's
getting together with their friends and planning a girls' weekend. I
get to see them all the time and get paid (laughing)! What's there to
complain about? We go and stay at a nice hotel, enjoy dinner and
catch up on what's going on in each others' lives. The third thing is
the audience, of course. That moment when you first go out on stage
and you just feel the audience and the energy of that room. It really
is, quite addicting. It's really all of those things that keeps me
out there performing regularly.
(Photo: Robert Valesco)
CM:
Onstage I know that you refer to each other as “sisters”. Does it
really feel like a sisterhood to you?
JJ:
It's absolutely true. I have two real-life sisters, no brothers. I'm
the middle of the three. There's nobody that I argue with and love
more. In some ways you can kind of get away with stuff because you
love them so much that you know you're going to come back and work it
out. Ya know, you're sisters so you kind of have to. That's the same
way that it is with Gioia and Ann and I'm glad that we feel
comfortable enough to be horrible with each other sometimes
(laughing). I think it's a healthy thing and whenever there is a conflict between us I do think, “Okay, they're my sisters and I
know we're going to get past this just give it a little time.” and
in the end, we always do.
CM: The group really skyrocketed quickly (seven back-to-back top ten
Billboard hits) and you found yourselves on the road with your
sisters. Did you enjoy that part back in the early days of Exposé?
JJ:
That's a hard one. There was a time when we were in Europe
together, I think we were in Scotland and I was just so young and
homesick. Growing up I was never one of those kids that wanted to
travel the world, I was not even interested (laughing). I thought I
was going to get married and have children and stay in East LA for
the rest of my life so, surprise (laughing)! I was very young and I
was literally having a hard time getting out of bed. I just wanted to
stay in the hotel, order room service and watch CNN because it
connected me to the United States. Had it not been for Annie, who had
to literally at one point go and get a key to my room and force me to
come out- and she yanked me out (laughing) and made me leave. She
said I'd never get this opportunity again and that I had to get out
of bed because she had made reservations to go see this and that. I
think I was literally crying and she would often push me to go and
see things that I thought I had no interest in. Had it not been for
her I probably wouldn't have enjoyed half of the places that we
traveled to.
That
still really sticks out in my mind. I'm so grateful and I always
thank her because without Ann I wouldn't have done half the things
that I did. I'm much different now, but I think then I was just so
young and naive that I didn't realize the golden opportunity that was
right in front of my eyes that I fell into. I just didn't get it. I
just thought, oh this happens to everybody that wants to be a singer
(laughing). I think back now and it's comical, I thought it would
always be there and I'd always be traveling- you know, who doesn't
get a tour bus (laughing)? Because when you grow up and this is what
you wish for this is what happens, right? No. Now I look back and
realize the amazing blessings I had. Just the record company and
having Gioia and Ann and being able to travel. It was all a little
miracle in itself. Now I know! You're young and you think you're just
invincible until you grow a little more and realize you're not.
CM: Once Exposé started to
conquer the charts several other girl groups like Sweet Sensation
and The Cover Girls also started to break out. Did you keep
your eye on the competition?
JJ: I'd have to say I was pretty
secure (laughing) only because we were so busy that I probably wasn't
even paying attention. The three of us discuss that quiet often, how
we were so busy and just spinning in everything going on within us
and around us. Everything was so new to us so to tell you the truth I
was not paying attention. I was secure in a very naive way
(laughing). I had enough to worry about within Exposé to waste a
minute worrying about anything outside of Exposé. We were absolutely
in our own bubble and I don't remember having conversations about
what anyone else was doing.
CM:
When the group disbanded back in 1996, were you ready to move on?
JJ:
I was def ready. We were all
just so miserable in that contract. I didn't think that at the time I
was saying goodbye to Kelly (Moneymaker, who replaced Gioia Bruno in
the early 90's) and Ann. I knew that it wouldn't be goodbye for the
three of us so I was good with that. I knew that wasn't gonna go away.
But we were all just so tired of waiting to be told what we could or
couldn't do. We were also not as young as when we had first started
and so there were other things that had become important to us. Our
freedom being one of them(laughing). I was definitely ready to not be
in that position any more.
CM:
So then you fast forward a decade and you girls decided to reunite.
Was that an easy transition or did it take some pushing?
JJ:
It took a little pushing in the beginning. It was weird talking to
the girls about coming back. I think so much of it for me was
wondering if we would still have an audience, because I didn't know
for sure. I had met a friend that suggested we get back out there and
I called a few booking agents thinking that interest really wouldn't
be there. But once I had conversations with various people that were
still anxious to work with us, then I thought that maybe we were just
missing out on an opportunity to still be doing this. I think some
pushing came between the three of us, actually putting ourselves in
that zone after we had been on our own for so long. We are three very
headstrong women and getting together and making decisions can be
tough. Sometimes what's great for Ann and I may not be the best thing
for Gioia or vice versa and so it's always a compromise. Just like in
any marriage, it's a constant compromise and so it takes a lot of
putting your ego aside. Luckily, we were all ready to do that and so,
here we are. Ann and I still have kids at home to worry about. The
good thing is that Gioia is also a mom (her daughter is 29) so she
really understands those feelings and that love and how important it
is to be present. Somehow it all balances itself out. She knows that
this is the real gig, here at home (laughing).
CM:
I'm generally a B-side girl when it comes to music. What are some
of your favorite Exposé songs that maybe weren't released as singles
or haven't gotten the mainstream accolades as say, “Point Of No
Return”?
JJ:
A favorite of mine that didn't get as much attention. Funny enough,
“In Walked Love” I love doing and I love the adult
contemporary genre of our songs. I love being able to sing background
(laughing). I love sitting behind Gioia or Ann and supporting them
because I don't get to do it all the time. I get to sit back and
really hear their voices and work on blending backgrounds and those
are some of my favorite moments and songs. We rate our own
performances on whether or not it was a great blend or the volume of
the band. Those are all of the things I'm actually thinking of
(laughing) and we need to have the full band with us to really figure
out how to tweak our performances in general. We all discuss the
technical part when we get off stage.
It
depends on the audience that we're about to perform for how we pick
our songs and how we get to perform them. When we're doing the
freestyle shows and it's a bunch of people onstage then we only have
a short amount of time and I know the audience is there to hear the
hits. So it's like bam- bam-bam, I'll arrange the show that we're
about to do to please that audience. When we have a show where we
have a live band, then I know it's more relaxed and we have an
opportunity to play around with our arrangements and our song choices
as well. It's a much more personable audience and so we have to be
more personable as well. That gives us a better chance to talk to our
audience, maybe tell them a story about the songs and really just
play off of each other a little bit. I think the audience expects to
see that investment from us at that type of show.
CM:
Expose` shows are generally on the weekend and so what does a typical
weekday look like for you now?
JJ:
Right now my day consists of doing things with the boys because
they're out of school. When they're in school it's so much easier
(laughing) because when they're here it's like “Mom can
we do this, mom can we do that...” so there's a lot of planning
around them and cooking three times a day rather than just once.
Right now I'm also putting together another band and getting
all of the music together , talking to the guys. A lot of scheduling
and figuring out who is free for certain dates. There are new
arrangements for the live band shows that we're doing. That's my day.
I also talk to the booking agents and figure out if we want to do
dates or not. So it's a little of family and work. I'm all
encompassing of my family but I also get to do a little Exposé stuff too. It's important to the three of us that we all have a
responsibility in the group and so we've sliced it up in three
pieces. My piece happens to be the music part of it.
I
don't think that I'm any more technical than Gioia or Ann is but I
have the advantage of working regularly with the band. Most of the
time when we go out on the road I have a closer relationship with
them because I work with them from where I live. I rehearse them and
choose which band members we're going to use and so by the time we
get to the stage there's already a great relationship between me and
the guys. Ann and Gioia will sometimes just be working with them for
that day or two and then they're off. So I keep up the relationship
with phone calls so I'm kind of the link between the three of us and
them.
CM:
I think that our kids are about the same age. Is it as hard for
you to step back and let your boys become more independent? I know I
struggle with helicoptering myself.
JJ:
I struggle every single second of the day. It is so difficult for me
and the fact that my boys are both driving just like, drives me
insane. You pray every time they get in the car and it's so difficult
to let them fly on their own. I keep myself in check because I don't
want to ruin them by being too over protective. It's just hard
because there's no way that you can make sure they're safe once they
go out the door so I have to tell myself that I've done my best. I've
taught them, talked to them and then I shout things to them at least
12 times as they're walking out the door (laughing). These poor kids.
It's my hardest struggle of all, letting them go.
CM:
You so rarely speak on the record, what would you like to say to
all of the fans that still listen toExposé and venture out to the
live shows?
JJ:
Oh my gosh, it's going to sound so corny but I'm just so grateful to
them. I'm grateful that they have a desire to come and see us and
that it's important enough to leave their homes and spend their hard
earned money- whether it's for the first time or the fourth time.
Sharing that time with them means so much to me, now more than ever,
so I'm just really grateful. We did a show recently and it was a
city-run event. The audience wasn't as big as we're used to, the
advertising was a little strange and it was very hot. We performed
and then after the show we actually walked around after the show and
talked to the audience, which we never ever get to do. It was just
the best thing talking to them was so wonderful. It's just like when
I go to see a group that I admire or grew up with. When you meet them
you tell them the story of why they're so important to you and what
their songs remind you of. I love hearing all of that stuff and we so
rarely get a chance to really do it!Even if we're signing autographs
after a show it's not the same. This time we went out to talk and to
connect with as many people as we could as they were leaving. It was
so cool and I wish we could do that more often, have those actual
conversations
when things aren't so crazy and venues aren't rushing to get people
out the door.
The
people were introducing us to their kids that they brought along,those Exposé babies (laughing)It was just so great and I wish and
hope we'll maybe be able to do that more often. It's still weird to
think that our songs and our music means as much to people as some of
my favorites mean to me. So when we're reminded of our impact, for
whatever reason, it makes me more grateful now than I've ever been.
How can I not be? It just melts my heart knowing that it touches
someone.
I was always a disco kid. My first 45 single was Disco Duck, followed by Chic's "Le Freak" and Regina Ward's "Ring My Bell". My dad would let me choose the last song that he played on his stereo every night and for years it was disco, until Pat Benatar came along, anyway. Disco died a pretty fast death but in 1983 along came Shannon to remind us all that dance music was still cool.
"Let the Music Play" has the coolest syth and drum machine beat and it drives the song all the way through. Decades later, this is considered one of the first freestyle songs ever made. What I know for sure is that when it comes on now, 32-years after first hitting the charts, everyone still gets up to dance. It's legendary.
As for Shannon, well, she's still out there doing her thing. She is still performing those songs that made her a household name and a whole new generation of freestyle fans have embraced her. More often than not Shannon is seen performing in a Freestyle Explosion show that features a whole roster of popular 80's acts like Expose`, The Cover Girls, Nu Shooz and more.
Check out "Let the Music Play" the video that launched Shannon's career:
Valerie Day and John Smith, the masterminds behind the music of Nu Shooz, are always looking for creative ways to involve their fans in whatever they're doing and that certainly includes an active presence on social media. The band was first formed way back in 1979 and they were playing live gigs for years before that big breakthrough finally came. Back then Nu Shooz found it self working several nights a week onstage as part of Portland's pre-synth raging music scene. While the synth sound eventually was the catalyst that brought the bands' music to the masses (and earned them a Grammy nomination in 1987 for Best New Artist), their love for organic music and using real instruments runs deep. 1986's Poolside may be considered the most successful album for the Shooz, but their journey certainly has encompassed decades.
(Photo: Phil Isley)
While on paper it may seem that Valerie and John dropped off the radar for years, just the opposite is actually true. Valerie has performed with the Oregon Symphony Pops, several celebrated jazz artists and she has co-created a show called Brain Chemistry for Lovers beside Darrell Grant. John has been equally busy and his musical genius has kept him working in the commercial industry for more than twenty years. The 80's are one of the hottest genres out there right now and last Christmas Target decided to use "I Can't Wait" as part of their holiday advertising campaign. Admit it, you were singing along every time the commercial came on, weren't you?
The only thing bigger than the 80's right now are the tours circling the country that feature large roster's of some of the biggest names in old school music and so when the Freestyle Explosion show came knocking, Day and Smith were thrilled to jump on board. "It's amazing how strong the love for music from way back then still is. Social media also helps to keep us connected with our audience on a regular basis. It's neat to see fans from the 80's at our shows and they're now bringing their kids with them. We actually have different generations of fans waiting for autographs at meet and greets- that's a little surreal! We were told about a fun little tour (Freestyle Explosion) that would reunite Nu Shooz with a whole roster of other performers from the 80's and it's something that we've really enjoyed doing." explained Day in a recent interview with The Daily Boom.
(Photo: Mike Hipple)
Ironically enough, according to Smith, reconnecting with the diehard 80's fan base is what helped to breathe life into their latest album. "It was doing that tour that actually made us want to consider coming back with another Nu Shooz album. The love for that era of music is pretty amazing and the rush for us is still the same as it was back then. We decided that it was time to take ourselves maybe a little less seriously. We're definitely more confident both as artists and as people. Plus we have a really great band to play with. We have alumni band members now that have played our style for years. The cohesive mix makes for many “Life is good” moments. It was fun to have radio hits but nothing beats playing live."
"After making ourselves miserable musically we decided to make a record aimed at having fun and it has really worked for us. At one point John and I went to dinner with our good friends, Marv and Rindy Ross (of Quarterflash) and we were all feeling similarly about where we were at musically at that point in time. They were coming off the release of a more serious record (as were we) and Marv mentioned wanting to create an album that was just fun to play live. That idea really clicked with us and it felt like exactly what we needed to do as well." explains Day while contemplating why making this record has really worked for them.
(BagTown Cover Art: Malcolm Smith
The key to the magic that has unfolded really seems to be the fact that they have absolutely enjoyed the process. According to Smith, "BagTown is the funnest (yes, 'funnest' and 'funner' became the descriptive words for BagTown) album that we have made, maybe ever. With every record, the process of creation is different. Sometimes it's lyrics first, other times the music is written first. We made a city of bag people and started drawing on them and all of a sudden these bags were partying. The songs from BagTown actually came from creating this city and bringing it to life in our minds. Of course music for us is a two-way relationship and so the audience ends up being an equal partner in the whole experience."
Connect with Nu Shooz below so that you're kept up-to-date on everything that they're doing!
Here's one from the old school freestyle vault for you guys. Earlier this week Gioia Bruno posted a clip for the demo of Expose's song "I Know You Know". The track, off of their debut Exposure album back in 1987, is arguably one of Expose's very best. It was never released as a single but it is one that, to this day, the ladies love to perform live and audiences eat it up. Enjoy!
You are the sun, I am the sky Together we'll live in paradise Our hopes and dreams will come alive In paradise
Do you remember Laissez Faire? Gina, Marlo and Jennifer first got together in 1989 and eventually put out an album under Metropolitan Records. While Hands Off didn't do as well on the charts as they may have wanted, the ladies did develop a strong fan base within the freestyle community. "In Paradise" the groups' first single did do quite well on the dance charts and brought Laissez Faire enough clout to open for the then-huge Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.
This song is Laissez Faire's signature jam and they are still performing it. The ladies recently reunited for the first time in 15 years and pop up occasionally to perform at live events.
So, there was this one Saturday WAY back in 1989 that I can remember like it was yesterday because I had perfect timing (a rarity). I had arrived for a taping of Dance Party USA and the energy was crazy because one of the guests for that days' taping was Sweet Sensation. I loved them. I mean, we ALL loved them. If you were even slightly a freestyle fan than the opening to "Take It While It's Hot" probably made your heart race. Betty Dee put on one hell of a show even then. Sure she was all sparkles, leather, ripped jeans, and big hair but even more so, she was a performer.
When DailyBOOM first launched in the summer of 2015, I had a bucket list of people that I wanted to interview and Betty was on it. At the time Sweet Sensation was on hiatus but as luck would have it, they returned to the stage by summers' end. In the last few years, the ladies have crisscrossed the country, performing for freestyle fans that still know all of the lyrics to their string of hits.
I finally had a chance to chat with Betty this week and the only thing bigger than her laugh is her heart. I wish that everyone could experience a bit of time with her because Betty is one of those rarities that leaves people better than she first finds them. Well, unless she's really mad then you better start running! Seriously though, Betty is equal parts crazy, outgoing Latina and introverted cat lady. She is also ALL parts love, joy, positivity, and acceptance. The woman you see on stage is exactly who she really is, and that's a gift to all of us.
Cate Meighan: Can you believe that Sweet Sensation has been around for more than thirty years? Betty Dee: Sweet Sensation has obviously had personnel changes over the years. Since 1991 it has been me, Jenae Colon, and Belle Ritter. I've jumped in and out of the group a few times. The last time that we faded into the music background my dad was really sick and I was dealing with a bunch of other personal things. So I decided to step away from the spotlight and just live my life. In August of 2015, we got back together. I received a call from K7 of TKA, my work husband (laughing) asking me to come back. He said that we needed to return to the stage and start doing shows again. I couldn't believe there was interest but he has been my best friend for thirty years, and so I listened to him. I called the girls and just like that, we got back together. The first thing we did was meet for rehearsals and I can remember thinking, oh my god, I'm going to have to go and by lashes again (laughing)! CM: How do the logistics work now that you're all older and juggling other responsibilities? Betty Dee: We all live in different parts of the country. I work a crazy, very demanding, but fulfilling day job during the week, and then on weekends, I get to perform. My week is busy. I'm a mom to my kitties and my dog and I do the things that I need to do at home. Then on the weekend, I get to put on lashes, make my hair shiny (laughing), and then hop on stage and perform with my friends. I mix the two lifestyles and they're easy for me to balance because I'm a good multitasker. I need to be busy and performing is something that I really love to do. If we are in NY for a show then we travel into the city and gather at one location for a quick rehearsal. We'll get ready there, do the show and on Sunday we'll go our separate ways again until the next weekend. If we go out of town and have to really travel then it becomes more work but I love it and I wouldn't have it any other way.
CM.: How was it coming back this time around? Betty Dee: Coming back this time has been so different. We're older and we appreciate things more. I feel better now at 50 than I did at 30 (laughing). I'm more energized and I want to keep giving the fans more. I mean, there's a mortality thing of- okay how much longer can we really keep doing this? If I'm going to do it now then I'm going to give 1000% and I've got to give it my absolute all. I think other freestyle artists think the same way. CM: Freestyle fans are like no other. No matter where the venue is, it really is like a family at the shows. Betty Dee: The fans are the fuel. They're the gasoline that lights the fire for us. If we went out there and didn't have the support it would be totally different because that's what drives us. I speak for my work husband, my work wives, and all of the people that we do shows with. We see each other so often that we really are a family and we really do get together and talk about how amazing it is that we can still do this thing that we love so much. It's valuable to me and not just as an artist. I listen to them perform and it takes me back- like thirty years!
I remember what I was doing when Noel's "Silent Morning" came on KTU in NYC! We sang about love and dancing and heartbreak. I can't find a freestyle song that's not about one of those things (laughing). It's all about love and tears and that music created a bond 30 years ago and it's still there now. We all share that same bond now and I'm humbled by it. Understanding the genre and growing up with the people that listened to it, I totally get it. We hold on to this music and the time in our lives that it takes us back to until it's ingrained in our DNA. It's literally who we are.
CM: You look like you're in the best shape of your life right now and I've gotta ask, what's your secret? Betty Dee: I had spent years depriving myself of calories and running around like crazy until my metabolism slowed down. It was in starvation mode and so I was gaining weight instead of losing it. I was trying to stay in shape and I wasn't eating fatty foods and it just wasn't working so I decided to experiment and cut out leafy greens. I would eat more meat and some cheese instead. I also started to work out differently. Instead of being on the elliptical for like, ten hours a day, I started lifting weights and dancing. I was doing that and eating full meals throughout the day because the food was giving me fuel.
Once I started switching things around and feeding my body, it did me the service of getting really lean. So no more measuring and weighing food for nothing. Now I eat everything in moderation, including the healthy stuff. I have more energy and I don't feel sick every day. Here's the thing, you have to figure out what works best for you because there's not one set cure-all program CM: You're one of the happiest people that I think I've ever met. Where does the joy come from?
Betty Dee: We're on borrowed time and we all end up in the same place so don't take life too seriously. Do the things that make you happy and do them 1000%. Life is short and at some point, we lose each other so make the most of it. Be happy and make others happy too. That's where I'm at in my life and if that means going out on stage wearing sparkles and singing songs, then it's what I'm going to do.
We are flashing back to some of the best of the best content here at DailyBOOM.
ICYMI-
Jody Watley is just about as iconic as they come and she's also loaded with peace, love, and positivity. She'll be the first to tell you that "it's in the music" so you need to check out this recent interview about her brand new project- SRL- Shalamar Reloaded.)
When I say the name Jody Watley
a number of things may rush to the forefront of your mind. Grammy winner. Fashion icon. Soul Train and Shalamar. Eighties
dance diva and of course, those hoop earrings. Even now, if you
happen to catch her onstage during an energetic Freestyle
Explosion set she's all sass and class. Seeing Watley perform
live this past summer left me feeling like I had been handed a gift,
that it was a real privilege to see her do her thing onstage.
Offstage Watley exudes peaceful, Zen-like energy that you feel even
before you see that she has entered the room. It was an honor to be
able to grab a few minutes of her time this past week to discuss her
excitement over Shalamar Reloaded, her love for her kids, and
the need for people to lift each other up rather than bullying from
behind a computer screen.
Cate Meighan: You've raised some
eyebrows lately by finally addressing the rumors and internet trolls
that have chased after you for a long time. Why did you choose to
speak up now?
Jody Watley: Sometimes after you
choose to stay publicly silent for a while there comes a need to
speak. I needed to say what I needed to say because the lack of
fact-checking has led to lies being spread on the internet, radio, and television. I could only be thrown under the bus so much before I
had to address it. I decided to deal with it in a way that
establishes the fact that I have absolutely nothing to be angry about
because I've enjoyed a very successful career on multiple platforms.
I also wanted to try and disarm the notion that I'm some angry black
woman while looking at our society's need to stereotype strong
women as something negative.
C.M.: Your piece was clearly
written by a strong and well-educated woman.
J.W.: Thank you. My mom actually
called after reading that piece, to tell me that she thought that it
was well-spoken. I've always been a writer by nature and an avid
journaler. It was written at a point in time when our first lady was
taking some heat and some members of our women's Olympic gymnastic
team were under heavy scrutiny and comedian Leslie Jones had been
hacked and publicly shamed. I really hope that people will think
about the damage that a lie or negative perception can lead to,
especially when the target isn't given an opportunity to respond from
the very start.
That's one of the reasons why I
included screen captures of real hostility from real people that
have attacked me from behind their computer screens. It makes it a
little more real when you read the person's actual words rather than
just having them reiterated to you. A lot of it comes from other women
that are for whatever reason, disappointed in themselves and want to
bring others down with them. Women do this to each other instead of
spreading support and joy. It's a conversation that needs to be had.
C.M.: Tell me about your latest
endeavor, Shalamar Reloaded (SRL).
(Shalamar Reloaded Official Photo: Rosero McCoy, Jody Watley, Nate Allen Smith)
J. W.: Well, once I finally got
the trademark it finally put an end to all kinds of false
advertising. I knew that I wanted to take something familiar but put
a new spin on it so there you have Shalamar Reloaded. I wanted to
invest in new music videos and make a strong statement with whatever
we put out. I've known Rosero McCoy since 1998 and working
with him has always brought a lot of joy to my life. Nate Allen
Smith beat out hundreds of other talented guys. He is our
heart-throb (laughing). He is also just so humble and talented that
it makes him a perfect fit for Shalamar Reloaded. It's really a
collaboration when it comes to writing the songs. I feel like it's a
gift from the universe to have a group experience that is this
enjoyable. We really want to be together, we weren't just thrown
together by other people and told to make it work.
C.M.: SRL has a
new video coming out soon, right?
J.W.: Yes, “The Mood” will
be released on Monday, Sept. 26th. It was filmed in Hawaii
and was a lot of fun to make. We'll be teasing it a little earlier
than that. “The Mood" will be featured on our upcoming full-length album, Bridges.
C.M.: Aside from your work with
SRL, you've also popped up on the Freestyle Explosion tour now and
then with a bunch of other 80's divas such asExpose` and Lisa Lisa
(of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam). I caught the Philadelphia show and you
absolutely brought the house down.
(Freestyle Explosion- Philadelphia 8-2016)
J.W.: (Laughing) Thank you!
People often seem to be surprised by my performance on that tour. I
just bring in some dancers and try to create a contemporary moment
with some of my old music. I try to serve up fashion, fun, and fierce performance. I do remember that show and we really did have a
lot of fun. That whole experience is pretty amazing because this
group of artists with decades of success really does get along. We
enjoy doing these shows together because it's such a positive freestyle vibe. The audiences really get into it and that makes it a
lot of fun.
C.M.: You're always juggling a few different projects at once it seems. Is there a real plan
behind-the-scenes or do you just kind of go with it?
J.W.: Both (laughing). There is
always a framework to what I'd like to accomplish but then I do just
go with things as they come along. SRL is my priority right now and
finishing our album. But then Jody Watley as a solo artist is always
going to be around because as Nate and Rosero say, I'm “the engine
that makes it all go”.
C.M.: You've had so many huge,
career-defining moments that anyone can find out about if they take a
glance at Wiki. I've learned that the quieter, in-between moments
often mean more after everything is said and done. Has that been the
case for you?
(Classic family portrait: Jody with children Arie and Lauren)
J.W.: Yeah, you're right. Being
able to take breaks over the years so that I could raise my son and
daughter has just meant the world to me. Playing dolls and
superheroes, going to the park, and making Santa cookies- those things
have kept me grounded. My daughter is the first college graduate in
our family and my son is in college now as well, studying business and finance. To send two people out into
the universe to achieve their own dreams has been my bigger purpose.
It's such a challenge to work with kids but I didn't miss the most
important thing, being there along the way for them. Being popular
with my kids has mattered most of all. I'm a real mom and now I'm
getting to have fun with SRL!
C.M.: Tell me something that you
really want your fans to know.
J.W.: I'm a hell of a cook
(laughing)! Well, I am but... As long as we're alive it's never too
late to go down new paths and try different things. Our world is
so youth-obsessed, stop comparing yourself to others and find your
joy. Forget your age, feel good and enjoy your journey. Stay excited
about what's next because it's a gift to be here! Love and let
yourself be loved.
The world together, forever, I'll be all that you need
You and I were always meant to be
If you should leave and go your own way
I'll still love, I will survive but every night I pray
That you will find your way right back to me
I'll, I'll never let you go
I'll keep you on my heart"
I love Freestyle Friday here at Boom because it's one of my very favorite genres of old school music. Back in the fall of 1988 glam rock was everywhere and it almost made some of the dance tracks even more appealing since they were so completely different from the likes of, well, "Welcome To The Jungle". Sweet Sensation was one of several girl groups (Expose`, The Cover Girls, JJ Fad, etc.) that were doing battle on Billboard's charts. "Never Let You Go" was their first break out hit and after it hit number one on the dance charts mainstream radio also embraced the girls.
Betty Dee Lebron is the main voice behind the group and back in the 80's they had some of the best choreography around. The original line up of Lebron and sisters Mari and Margie Fernandez grew up together on NYC's lower east side and by 1988 Shelia Vega replaced Mari. Together the trio performed all over the world, bringing their Latin freestyle sound with them.
Sweet Sensation was one of those groups that helped convince me to take a break from the hair bands every now and then. My friends and I also figured out how to mix the huge headbanger hair with biker shorts, crop tops, and little ruffled skirts so that we could pay homage to both genres at the same time.
Betty Dee also performs the Sweet Sensation catalog regularly with Belle Ritter and Jenae Colon. Both ladies joined Sweet Sensation back in 1991 and have stuck with its' original lead singer ever since. The great news for freestyle fans (especially in the NYC area) is that you can still catch the ladies performing all of their classics live!
We are flashing back to some of the best of the best content here at DailyBOOM.
(ICYMI)
Here is a great recent chat with Sabrina Nieves of The Cover Girls.)
Isn't it interesting how some music just really stands the test of time? Being a DJ's kid I can rattle off songs and artists easily, My dad trained me well and a corner of my brain has 40 years' worth of music neatly filed away, just in case I need it someday. Then there are those groups and artists that for whatever reason really stand out. The Cover Girls are a big one for me. I can't tell you exactly what it was that initially made me pay attention, but "Because Of You" was my song back in 1987. Mixed in with my hairbands there was a bit of freestyle music and these ladies topped the list.
I can distinctly remember taping The Cover Girls off of Open House Party because they hadn't hit locally (yet) and even though I could have had my dad order their album I hedged on that because I had my rocker image to maintain. Any long-suffering fan of freestyle music knows that The Cover Girls went through a lineup change when Angel Sabater left as the lead vocalist and was swiftly replaced by Evelyn Escalera. What many don't know is that her departure was completely anticipated, so much so that Escalera had already been trained and was simply waiting for that phone call to come naming her as the new lead voice of The Cover Girls.
What's interesting is the fact that Escalera has been performing with the group regularly for the last 25 years and still takes heat for daring to replace a singer who left on their own accord. She has been joined onstage for the last 12 years by Sabrina Nieves and Lorraine Munoz and let me tell you, these ladies really kill it. After catching a recent freestyle show in Westchester County, NY where The Cover Girls performed, I had the privilege of chatting with Nieves for a few minutes and I quickly realized that while my teenage self loved the originals, my grown-up self is far more in tune with the class act that blew me away onstage a bit earlier.
While Nieves readily admits that there is often "noise" that surrounds them, she is completely humbled by the love that they do receive. The connection that these women actually share is pretty intense too. As it turns out, Nieves and Munoz actually go all the way back to 4th grade and they attended the same performing arts school together. In their earlier years, Nieves focused on dance while Munoz was more into voice training. While they naturally hoped to one day work together, neither ever could have imagined that they would spend over a decade together performing with The Cover Girls.
Cate Meighan: What is it like for you to still work with Evelyn and Lorraine after all of these years?
Sabrina Nieves: It's actually pretty amazing. I really respect what Evelyn has done, she is THE longest running Cover Girl! I think that she also really respects Lorraine and me, what we bring to the stage as well. We all really love and respect the Cover Girls brand and want our performances to be the best that they can be. But behind the scenes, we are all really just clowns (laughing). We have so much fun and nothing breaks the bond we share. Even if we are busy with our 9 to 5 jobs and don't talk for a bit, once we finally do get together it's always all good.
C.M.: Is there any new music on the horizon for Cover Girls fans?
S.N.: It's funny because we have written and we have recorded some other things! We also realize that we only get so long on stage and people really want to hear the classics. They come to a freestyle show to hear the old songs and we really understand that. As long as we can get out there and keep performing them then that's what we're going to do. There is a real sense of peace with where we are at now. It's good, really good.
C.M.: What is it like to perform the same songs for so many years?
S.N.: I love it! I'm a boss and a mother in my daily life so this is what gives me a chance to play dress up! There is a moment at the start of every show when Evelyn, Lorraine, and I are just standing there. When the music hits and the lights go on- that feels like it's my moment. It's funny because I also instantly look for a heckler. If I find him then I will work extra hard to try and change his mind about us (laughing). I also really love it when the crowd sings along with us. "Show Me" is my favorite song to perform and it's always last. It feels like a lot of people came just to hear that and to hear them singing the words with us is just the most amazing feeling!
C.M.: What would you like to say to the fans that come out to support The Cover Girls?
S.N.: Oh my gosh, the Cover Girls fandom is diehard! There are those people that really do follow us from show to show, so much so that I kind of look for them (laughing)! We are so very grateful for all that the fans have done to support us. We love that they have introduced our music to their kids and now we have another generation of fans following us. That's honestly what helps to keep the Cover Girls alive, so thank you!
Talking to Nieves makes it extra easy to root for these ladies. The talent is obvious. Escalera's live rendition of "Wishing On A Star" kind of rips the roof off of any building, but the grown-up Cover Girls are also role models. They juggle children, are businesswomen, have nursed broken hearts, and whatever else life has thrown their way, all with a little grace and a whole lot of class.
We are flashing back to some of the best of the best content here at DailyBOOM.
(ICYMI the first time...)
Some songs just stay with you. No matter how many years have passed since the first time that you remember hearing it on the radio, four seconds in and you recognize it as YOUR jam. Sure, it might be one of a handful of songs that you classify that way, but it's still YOUR jam. Pretty Poison's "Catch Me I'm Falling" has always registered as one of mine. It was just the right song at the right time for me, one that to this day leaves me dancing. It has worked that same kind of magic on a lot of people. I say that because, in between heating up dance floors worldwide, "Catch Me" has also found its' way onto the soundtrack of at least a dozen movies, as well as television shows like Breaking Bad.
I recently had an opportunity to catch up with Jade Starling, who has had a roller coaster ride of a year. She has helped to love and rally her bandmate through cancer, hit the stage on numerous occasions, and has found an enormous amount of personal healing in the #metoo movement. Every step of the way Jade has remained grateful, gracious, and infectiously positive. Keep reading and you'll find her just as endearing as I have!
Cate Meighan: It has been a while, so fill me in on what you've been up to. Jade Starling: As I reflect on the last year or so, it really has been a very busy and productive time. We've done a lot of tour dates this last year. We were out on the Lost 80's Live Tour and we shared the bill with some incredibly famous groups that I've idolized forever. Missing Persons, Berlin, Wang Chung, Naked Eyes, Spandau Ballet- just all of the really great music that I grew up with. Here I was, on tour with them and it was just such a great experience.
2017 started off with a challenge though because my longtime partner in the group, Whey Cooler was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer and he had to go through chemo and radiation treatments for about three months. I always knew that he was one of the strongest people, if not the strongest person that I've ever known in my life. What he went through was just the worst, but being a strong person and one that is blessed with unconditional love, he managed to find the strength to get through this. The support of his friends, family and fans was amazing. Everyone really rallied around him and lifted him up. I would say by May his treatments were over and we started going out on tour again. Honestly, he was just coming off of treatment and probably shouldn't have been on the road, but he wanted to go and I think in the end it was the best thing. He needed to get out there again. He was never someone that didn't do anything, so he was in the studio every day right up until those last weeks of treatment. He worked like he wasn't sick and I admire that so much. We had been working together for thirty years and so getting back out onto the road just made sense. As of today, he is almost back to normal and has been in remission for three months.
(Photo: Jade Starling Official Facebook)
Also our classic song “Catch Me I'm Falling” was featured in the movie "The Big Sick" (available on pay per view) this year. Having our song in the movie brought a lot of recognition and we've been sorting through more offers for tour dates and things like that so that song really is a gift that keeps on giving (laughing). Who knew that Catch Me would be such a blessing?
CM: "Catch Me "I'm Falling" was such a huge song and I think it's one that is instantly identifiable even 30 years later. Do you ever feel boxed in by the success of it?
JS: I don't feel boxed in by it but it's like the pinnacle of everything. People will always compare everything we do to our biggest, worldwide hit, I never like to dwell on the past. I'm grateful that the song keeps reinventing itself. It has been used in a dozen movies and it has been on tv shows like Breaking Bad. I'm not mad at that at all (laughing) because it's fantastic. But we are still working on new music and we've had amazing success at the dance or club level for the last decade or so. We've had over a dozen or so songs chart on Billboard's dance chart and six number ones on there. Also in the last few years, I released my first solo album called Captive and it spawned three Billboard dance hits. I think we're still relevant, especially in the dance community. I think our style is pretty diverse. We're actually award-winning songwriters. We've written songs for other people and have worked with other artists like Joss Stone.
Also, we're revered in the freestyle world. I don't know how that actually happened but I'm really glad that it did. I don't think that we're a freestyle act but we seem to be lumped in with that type of music and I don't mind that, it's another thing I'm not mad at (laughing). We get invited to do big arena freestyle shows and there are the same dozen artists or so that do these, so I'm happy to be part of that family.
(Photo: Jade Starling Official Facebook)
CM: The freestyle world really is like a family, isn't it?
JS: It's funny how the more things change the more things stay the same. All of the acts and groups on tour just do seem like more of a family. It's like a relationship with the family members that you only get to see a few times a year. It feels right and natural. There's nothing strange about how comfortable it all is. I prefer working with people that I like to be around. I like positive, upbeat people. I don't like drama and I really like to build people up, especially other women. I'm very supportive of other female acts in the industry. I feel that you get what you give in the music industry so I always try to put out the positive and hopefully that's what I'm getting back. I'm all about love (laughing). Think about the love of the fans when they're singing our songs! It's very touching and it warms my heart so I try to stay in touch with our fans. I do answer as many messages from them as I can. It's important to them and it's important to me to keep that relationship going. It's amazing what social media has done and can you imagine if we had it back in the day, how big things could have been? It just seems like the more that I'm out there on social media promoting myself and responding to even basic things, it really does so much. I can make someones' day, or they can even make mine. It just means so much. It's not that hard to be kind and what comes around goes around.
CM: Freestyle music really took off in Miami right?
JS: Yes. Pretty Poisonwas originally based out of Philly but we were doing the majority of our shows in the tri-state area. That's really where it started for us and then it spread out to Florida, especially Miami because that was a big dance hub for sure. It took a long time but I think dance music has finally come to the forefront. It's commercially viable especially with XM Radio and things like that you can just channel in on exactly the music you like and individualize each genre.
CM: You have been involved in the music industry for so long, how have the negative aspects of the business affected you?
JS: Well, during the 90's after our Virgin records deal ended we signed with a small label. The president of this record company was always groping me and touching me. He felt like he could have his hands on me. I ended up suing for sexual harassment and I won because we settled. The recent news coming every day with these people in power, you know you see what they want you to see. They look like these great people that are respectful and would never do anything wrong and yet, so many people have gone through the same thing that I have.
I've had a gag order to keep me from talking about it and for so many years I've suppressed those feelings. Now, with all of these other women coming forward because of #metoo, it's almost like the burden has been lifted off of my shoulders as well. It makes me feel vindicated and it has taken me a long time to be able to say that. I feel like I wasn't alone now and for so long I couldn't talk about it and I felt like I was having a breakdown. It was so embarrassing and I felt belittled and trapped. This person would threaten to take away a budget because I wasn't doing what he wanted me to do. It wasn't in private. He was touching me and making me feel uncomfortable in public and in front of other people.
CM: I think a lot of people think that this is a new issue rather than one that has been swept under the proverbial rug for so long. But it has always existed.
JS: I'm just happy to see so many people and women coming forward to tell the stories about their abuse by these creepy guys. It just messes with your head and it messes you up. I don't care if they're multi-millionaires, they are still despicable. That behavior is disgusting and should never be condoned. It's never okay, in any situation.
CM: What else have you been up to, besides the music?
JS: I work out a lot. I go to the gym because it's good for my head, my body, and my soul. I have to work out, gotta keep it looking good (laughing). I really do enjoy weightlifting, kickboxing, yoga things like that. I've also been working with people on developing skincare products. It's something that I'm really into. Natural things, natural ways to keep your skin looking young. That's something that I'm really working on and it's in the developing stages no so hopefully in the next year or two it'll come to fruition.
It's really important to get into good skincare habits when you're young otherwise you wake up one day, look in the mirror and say,' what have I done or what haven't I done?'. I'm happy to say that I've never done any kind of plastic surgery or injectables. I just don't believe in it unless things are totally falling apart (laughing) and I feel like there's no choice. I think sometimes people get carried away with it. If someone says that another person had work then I think they've gone too far with it. You don't want to look like you've had work, you want to look like yourself and that you haven't aged. I find that with some topical skincare products you really are getting lots of anti-aging and nourishment which is great. It also comes from the inside out. You have to feel joy and happiness in your heart because when you do it shows on your face. Smiling is like an instant facelift.
I just like to spread positivity. When you're with someone that's negative it just brings you down, it's contagious. Misery loves company. There are so many things that we're blessed with and it's not that there aren't hardships, everyone goes through them. But honestly, I praise God every day. I have strong beliefs and I just always tell people to pray. Use prayer, it helps. My best friend got through cancer and I truly believe it had a lot to do with positivity and prayer. When you think that you've hit that rock bottom and that all is lost, it really isn't. There is still that little spark of hope, so hang onto it.
CM: This really has been both a challenging and rewarding year for you. What comes next?
JS: We're very blessed and lucky. We have been working in the studio on new music and we're going to be releasing a new album in 2018. We're really excited about that. There have been opportunities for us outside of the group but we're still working very hard in the studio. I can't say when exactly but there will be a new single released in the first quarter of 2018 with a new album to follow. There will also be some new remixes of "Catch Me I'm Falling" thanks to some big-name producers and remixers we're working with.
CM: What would you like to say to the fans that have followed you and have really lifted you up this year?
JS: Oh great big special thanks to all of the fans for their undying continued love and support.They are the reason that we're still here doing what we love to do so much.
