On Sunday, October 9, 2011 – Civil Rights Activist and Leader in the Civil Rights Movement, Rev. Joseph E. Lowery celebrated 90 years of life. From Huntsville, Alabama Lowery is a minister in the United Methodist Church. He became the 3rd President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He also participated in the most important activities of the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s with the likes of: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ambassador Andrew Young, and Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy.

In 2004, Dr. Lowery was honored at the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. On January 20, 2009, Dr. Lowery delivered the benediction at the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Also in 2009, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

This was a special Birthday for Rev. Lowery. To celebrate 90 years of life, he was joined by many great friends: Stevie Wonder, Peabo Bryson, Jennifer Holliday, Rev. Al Sharpton, Bernice King, Martin Luther King, III, Cicely Tyson and Tramaine Hawkins, just to name a few. To wish him a special happy 90th birthday; President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou and 39th President Jimmy Carter wished him a happy birthday live via video.

Check out the live video of Rev. Joseph E. Lowry’s 90th Birthday Celebration:

“Legends are made, and never forgotten!”

Cutty Shark

In this phase of reality, my fantasy is a two-part series:

The documentary itself is about four friends who started a hip-hop band as teens and ultimately became true pioneers of hip-hop before their sudden breakup in 1998. The title was adopted from the groups’ fourth critically acclaimed album – Beats, Rhymes & Life. And, it describes their musically creative; emotionally tumultuous relationship to a tee. “The movie essentially is about four friends and their relationship,” Rapaport said. “It’s a love story. It’s a love story between me & hip-hop. It’s a love story between A Tribe Called Quest & hip-hop. It’s a love story between Phife & his wife. And… It’s a love story between A Tribe Called Quest.”

Michael Rapaport is a die-hard ATCQ fan, and made it his business in 2008 to tour with the group in order to get live footage of Greatness-in-Process. After their untimely breakup in 1998, it seemed as if we were missing one of the main ingredients of hip-hop. And we were (are)!!! The world misses A Tribe Called Quest’s conscious party anthems that make us think. We miss the touch of Jazz that embodies everything that Tribe does. We miss Native Tongues. We miss Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi White. But for 2-hours, the world gets to relive the magic that the group displays on the big screen. “Rapaport captures the story of how tenuous their relationship has become; how their personal differences and unresolved conflicts continue to be a threat to their creative cohesion. When mounting tensions erupt backstage during a show in San Francisco, we get a behind-the-scenes look at their journey and contributions as a band and what currently is at stake for these long time friends and collaborators.”(www.sonyclassics.com/beatsrhymesandlife).

Within the film, the following people gave input on ATCQ and Legendary DJ Red Alert (whom was present at the screening in Atlanta, Georgia): Monie Love, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, Common, Pharrell Williams, Busta Rhymes, Pete Rock, Beastie Boys, Mos Def, Kanye West, Large Professor and Ludacris.

Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest chronicles the life; the creativity; the music; and the personal relationship between four childhood friends that grew up in an industry of snakes, biters, and ‘phony rappers’. Viewers get an inside look at their extremely personal relationships, including the good, the bad and the ugly. I personally commend the members of ATCQ for allowing themselves to be seen inside and out; for them being so secure in their own vulnerability.

PART II

***I noticed that Stevie Wonder is one of your biggest inspirations. How does it feel to have met your musical mentor?***

Glenn Lewis:
“I have had the pleasure to meet the legendary one himself. In November 2008, he came to Toronto and played at the Air Canada Center. I called him because it was right around the time of my mother’s birthday, and I wanted to do something special for her and I know she hadn’t seen Stevie Wonder live before. As a matter of fact, I never had the opportunity to go to a Stevie concert either. I called him up and left a message, telling him that I wanted to come to the show. He hit me back, but I didn’t know who it was. I was like, “Who is this?” He was like, “Man if you don’t quit playing! This is Stevie, man!” So he hooked me up. I had the chance to take my mom, my son and the mother of my kids. Towards the end of the show he called me up on the stage. I was like, I’m actually about to perform on the same stage with Stevie for the first time; I’m actually about to sing with someone who has been such a big influence on me. Even through the music, but beyond the music; just as a humanitarian and an outstanding human being. It was incredible and hilarious to share the stage with him, but I was so nervous that I started forgetting lyrics. It was an amazing moment! Basically to be able to connect; to admire somebody for their work ethic is amazing. To be able to actually have a personal connection; to talk with him at times and to get to know him on a certain level has been a huge reward and a blessing within itself.”

***Your first album dropped in 2002 and garnered the hit “Don’t You Forget It”. Was that a surprise to you?***

Glenn Lewis:
“I’ve pretty much been blessed in my travels and encountering different people. That song in particular seems to have left a mark or resonates with a lot of people. I found that a lot of times when I’m approached, people’s story is that the song was so right on time. Even dudes approach me about the song. So I consider myself really fortunate & blessed that the song lives with people. The same way the music you love, lives with you. I’m ridiculously critical of myself, so I’m never satisfied with what I do. I can appreciate it when there is a little time and distance put in between when I first recorded it, but when I first record it all I can hear is what could be there or things that I can maybe change and stuff that could maybe be better. It was a feel good joint and I was like, “Ok, cool. On to the next.” And for it to turn out to be what it was is amazing. I didn’t quite get the number one spot, but I got to number four! The best part about it is that now my name is synonymous with Classics, and with quality, and with musical integrity. That’s what you strive for! I know it’s my way of making a living, but at the same time it’s deeper than that. It ain’t about money! When you love it, it’s passion; it’s a huge part of you. So, you put so much of yourself in and you share so much of yourself because you want to connect with people. You gotta dig deep and you gotta leave yourself vulnerable. The funny thing about “Don’t You Forget It” is that the story is actually about me, but I had to make it a conversation so I made it about a woman. It was actually something that I was going through. It’s funny because there are so many parallels with people. I mean we’re all individuals; we all uniquely have our own paths to follow, but interestingly enough; we all go through the same kinds of things. For people to be able to find that common ground; to see that, that’s why I do it!”

***It seems as though your Musical Life has come full circle. Explain.***

Glenn Lewis:
“You know it really does. I’ve learned through experience that timing is everything; that stars aligning is the real deal. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve heard people say, “Preparation meeting opportunity equates to success.” Yes, it’s important to be prepared, but you gotta be open and leave room to make certain adjustments. Because, if an opportunity comes up where it’s a shoe in; a no brainer for you, and it doesn’t happen you can’t let it discourage you. You still have to be prepared, but just know that it might not be your time. Now it’s like all the situations that I’ve been in and out of, I’ve had a lot of different experiences from the first album and it even got me to a point where I felt I had to take a break and regroup. You know, when it’s right it’s right! And, having the opportunity to reconnect with Vidal and Dre; we never missed a step. It’s just been a great vibe & energy. It’s been a really great process, and that energy just translated into the work. I really believe that it’s that time! Sometimes you experience a resistance in your life, and other times things just flow. That’s how it has been!”

***Judging from some of you new songs, it feels that this will be a real laid back R&B Album. What’s your thoughts?***

Glenn Lewis:
“I think my thoughts are that you want people to feel the growth if you have been away. For the most part of my mindset was that I really wanted to have a good time and I thought it was important to try to make something positive, and something that will be embraced as a breath of fresh air. People have been going through some tough times. I’ve been trying different things. That’s the one thing that I’ve been loving in the process of making this album. You know, stretching out a little bit and still keeping the fundamentals and basics. All I can do is me! But just being able to experiment with different things; you know to do my rendition of flowing to different arrangement is great. Whether it’s R&B or whether it has a Pop appeal to it; I’m just getting back to my roots: you know like soul kinda stuff. But all in all, the primary focus was just making good music. I’m just trying to create classics!”

***I’ve had a chance to listen to some of your new album. What are some of your favorite tracks on the new album?***

Glenn Lewis:
“I’m trying to decide the name of the album now; I still have a little time. As far as a favorite song, I have a few: ‘Earth Stood Still’, ‘Give it Back’ and ‘Wish You Were Here’. I also like, ‘Secrets’, ‘Good One’ and ‘Make Love’. It’s a couple of them man (laughs). I had a chance to collaborate with different writers. It’s a really personal project in the sense that, lyrically it’s very much where I’m at in my life; where I’m coming from, and what I’m sharing. It’s very much me!”

***Glenn Lewis is currently working on his new album to be released in early 2011. He has reconnected with super producers, Andre Harris & Vidal Davis (Dre & Vidal). The album is hot… Thanks to Glenn Lewis and Alyse Feldman for the talk.***

Follow Glenn Lewis on Twitter: @GlennLewis4Real