Louie Vega - Elements Of Life (Richard Earnshaw Vocal)

Alan King made me do it...well kind of!!! #FAMILY

I did not have any plans on writing a Blog today, then I ran across a stat by someone I hold in very high regard.

 "House music isn't just music. It's a way of life. And everyone in that life is family. It's a beautiful thing". AK----

...and ya know what!?! He is right! (BTW..YES I did copy and paste his stat to my Blog) I mean what is he going to do? Sue me?!-lol

No need for me to give you a background story on Mr. King and what he and a countless others have done for This Thing of Ours. I will say THIS, both he and Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodyman are SINGLE  handedly bringing "light skin" back in style. So for my light skin brothers...make sure to thank those two the next time you see them.

By now you all know when I do write, I put a little of myself in each Blog so let me tell you one of the many reasons I hold Mr. King to such a high standard..While Facebook stalking ( and don't act like its just ME, we ALL do it. ) I ran across a picture with Mr. King and the POTUS- that would be Obama..(ok maybe he too is bringing light skin back in as well) - ANYWHO, after seeing that picture I reminded myself of the time I first met Mr. King- he was leaning over the bar chopping it up with Terry Hunter at Club Waterfalls here in Detroit. So as a gentle play to introduce myself I, being the lady that I am placed my hand on his back so that my interruption of the conversation he was having would not be frowned upon. WELL>>> after seeing the pix of he and The Prez, I kept thinking " Oh my GAWD... I touched the man who knows THE MAN"  that was a surreal moment/memory for me.

Ok back to the Family thingy. There have always been in any great society, bonds, teams, groups of folks who share common interest. Ours happens to be House music and we ARE global., we are FAMILY. No matter your station in life, sexual orientation, we love ( or we SHOULD love each other) We form sisterhood and brotherhoods. Yes, there are some who don't get along, but when needed we are there for each other. We argue, fuss, fight ( well not fist fight) but I have seen it come close ( Tink Thomas) our resident" I will eff you up" DJ but in the end even he made up for his fiery temper. BTW only "I" can talk about Tink!!!

I too have had some issues with some of my House sisters. ( I am going to take a moment to address that)- Not now or EVER I have I said I hated ANY of my sisters. There are one or two I don't like and some that I feel are sneaky, and I have address that with them directly- but HEY every family has issues and beefs. Even though we don't speak and even though they don't know it. I have been in the background still looking out... still defending.. and I always will, because THAT is what family does for one and other.  We are bound by the music and the love we have for it.

We have some black sheep in the family, but we still LOVE them.. we talk smack but we still LOVE each other. The one thing that keeps us as tight as we are is (once again..the music).

We celebrate our love for this life at different houses ( clubs/venues) and just like with blood families there are some members houses that you would rather not go to, but you support them because we are FAMILY.

We have the elders( true they are NOT that old, but they ARE that knowledgeable) who started all of this, your Al Heaths, Steven Dunbars, Todd Johnsons ( no relation). Frankie Knuckles, Wayne Williams' etc...etc.. who tell stories of, how it use to be. LISTEN to them, there is a reason they are still in the game. Plus they tell some pretty funny stories. Without them where would we be? We learned from them and there is a level of respect we owe them. Just like we pay respect to our real family members who have seen said family grow beyond their wildest dreams.

If you think about it, the dynamic that makes up this House family is NO different from that of our blood family. We are all a part of a collective unit. We can not survive without each other.

I challenge each and everyone of you(myself included)..if you have had a falling out with your brother/sister in House extend a hand, talk out your differences. You may not get along even after that but...you have at the VERY least cleared the air.  Plus that is what family does..they talk!!!

No matter what land you are from always know you have a sister/brother here in This Thing of Ours. We may speak different languages, but our universal language is House and the dances we dance to when the music is played.

Thank you promoters..Thank you club owners, Thank you fans, Thank you music producers, Thank you DJs..and most important, IMO...THANK YOU FANS/FAMILY!!!

This family is beautiful and its BEST when we...

Let The Music Play,

P~

http://youtu.be/A2SfKTS-g8c

 

Tracey Marvin... The Shotgun!!!

Last night I went to what had to be one of the funnest... ( yes FUNNEST) parties to date. It was brought to you by B.P.T. They have a way of incorporating House and FUN all at the same time. Always bringing you something other than JUST a party.

In previous Blogs, I've written about both the B (Bruce Bailey) and the P (Phil Tha Mixx). I touched on the T(Tracey Marvin).. This Blog is mostly about the T(Tracey). Not only does that, "T" begin the spelling of her name. It also stands for..tough, team player, tenacious, and totally cool.

I always try to put a little of myself in each Blog, to allow the readers to get to know a bit more about me. This morning my mind was all a buzz of what I wanted to write and how I wanted the format to go. I was so full of thoughts and ideas. So full of what I had experienced the night before.

I am the product of a blended family, my father had 3 children before he met my mom and my mom brought two children with her. My siblings are ( in order of birth) Keith, Celeste, Paul( who passed away when I was 8), Phyllis (Andrea), Anita ( Bunny- she was born on Easter) and yours truly...MEEE.

My dad worked the midnight shift at Ford and kept, for his families safety a .38 pearl handle nickle plated pistol and a 12 gauge shot gun. He always told his girls, if something happened USE THE SHOT GUN. Cause no matter what, if you aim in the direction of the intruder you are going to hit your target. Only my sister Andrea and I were brave enough to handle the shot gun. I liked the .38 better though. While I love my sisters DEARLY my sister Andrea has ALWAYS been my favorite. Celeste is the smart one. Studying in France and going on to work for the Nigerian government. My sister Bunny is the homebody..the pretty one. My sister Andrea is the creative, adventure seeking, Scorpio.. and I, well, I am the spoiled, bratty lil sister that was always made to tag along., who will protect her sisters at any given time. ( I am the crazy one, and also sweet/nice one) ANYWHO... Andrea has always been there for me, even when I got on her last nerves, always supported me. She understands and loves me flaws and all. Not to say that she has not wanted to kill me at times but loves overcomes ALL.

 Ok by now I'm sure your wondering what does PJ's sister and Tracey Marvin have in common. Well, for starters they are both Scorpio's, they both LOVE life and adventure, can never EVER stay in one place at for any amount of time. Have to be in the center of things ( but not in a, "look at me, I'm the queen of the world kinda way"). They both have a, "can do" never give up attitude. They both love to keep people happy and will be there for you come hell or high water. But... will cuss you out in a heartbeat, hit you..and patch you up after saying, "you know I love you but I just had to fuck you up for that bullshit you pulled"! Lastly ( and in my opinion- most important) they have ME in common- lol, shameless plug.

This morning I was full of what I wanted to say about Tracey and what she has done for the House community here. So since we have like, the SLOWEST high speed Internet EVER. I called my sister Andrea and told her I was on my way..her Internet is super fast. I grabbed my computer, threw on some basketball shorts, turned my Detroit Tigers hat to the back. Grabbed my personal copy of Todd Johnson's, Nasty as I Am. ( I never leave home without it)-besides me and this one good eye are going to finish that book. Jumped in my car, threw in Earl Mixxin McKinney's Decompression CD and flew up 8 mile towards Oak Park. Side note: That CD always turns my Neon into a Porche 911. All the way here I was praying the state boys were not layin in wait for a 2002 Dodge Neon pushing 50 mph, feeling like 110 mph, cause as I just stated.. Decompression turns Neonda into a Porche, jetting to my sisters house. All to write about my sister in House. >>> and "NO, that was NOT a typo, I name my cars.

The reason for naming this Blog, Tracey Marvin- The Shot Gun, cause no matter what she aims for she is goin to get a "hit". I 1st became acquainted with TMarv ( as she is affectionately known) about 2 years ago and while it has come with some downs, the "ups" out weight them. You can't help but respect what she does and who she is. Always promoting fun and excitement. She is the fire that brings the Heat, part of the Tandem, and now..B.P.T.--- before I forget..did I tell you that THIS heffa is like 143 and can still do the splits, like the SPLITS?!?! Like the ones Cheerleaders do. In some tight ass jeans. Yes, she can do it all.

What is B.P.T.? ( well... see the intro to the Blog sillies) but, they are the promo team that supports something new, something different. Their goal?! Fun, low cost excitement, different venues. They make your feet sore, and on occasions might make you wake up to someone you don't even know the next morning. ( thanks to that "open bar" train of thought)- While the, B(Bruce) and the P(Phil Tha Mixx) spin, you will find the T(TMarv) greeting all those who have spent their hard earned money to attend one of the functions. Be it, bowling, boat rides, table tennis clubs, with them you get, "Housefun" (new word, please feel free to add it to your dictionary). With them, your thought the next day after the event is, OMG, I had so much fun. You see different people- some non House Heads even. Hey, its our secret plot to turn all of Detroit into House Heads. First Detroit...next THE WORLD #MOVEMENT!!!! You see the beauty that is House, my House sisters you ALL looked FAB last night, I got the chance to meet the beautiful Tracie Richardson and she is just as pretty inside as she is out!- keep that lip gloss close gurl. LOL.

Ok, Im going to change up for a minute. Last night.. we got to hear the DJ stylings of Terrence Parker ( y'all KNOW that just made my BFF- Tomika Murry, as happy as a hooker at a Baptist Convention)- But, the highlight of the night was, "HIM" yes..HIM... NOT TP, not Big Sexy aka Rick Wilhite, but.. "HIM", the man who made me make up a new word. "Swaggsiness".. that's Swag and Sexiness.. Mr. Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodyman. >>> I'm going to pause here and go get a bag of ice and put it, well you don't need to know where. Just know that its needed... Please hold! OK, I'm back..In my opinion when one of the following shows up at a party..you know you have something great on your hands. That's.. Vernon, Norm, Delano, Marcellus, and Moody if they show up... its a HIT!!!

Now, in my life right now I ABSOLUTELY ADORE the person who shares my inner most thoughts and feelings, but that damn Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moody Man well HELL...do I REALLY need to say more..NOPE, I don't. Not only is he MAD cool, a MASTERFUL DJ, ULTRA SEXY, profound Producer, he is also a REALLY nice man. He could eat Chitlins out of a slop bucket and make it look good!
 Oh...oh damn this is NOT about Moody, back to, not about Kenny...and, I digress...

B.P.T. will continue to bring change and move you like no others can. If you have not been to an event, please make a note to be at the next one. Last night, on my way out of DRIVE, I happened upon a conversation with a Dr. PhD. she RAVED about how much fun she had and could not wait for the next event. I advised her on how to keep abreast of the goings on, she gave me her business card. The point I'm trying to make is...no matter who you are, or your station in life.. different is good change is good, music and love of life and partying with your family is good. Open bar.. good. When you are here in Detroit, and there is a party hosted by the aforementioned persons..join them..You are bound to see the following.. Ced on the door, GREAT DJs on the box, music that moves you into a zone to which you will not soon return,  And my sister my friend ( and yes, sometimes we both want to grab each other and shake the gray matter out of each other) in the end we will both kiss and make up. We will fight each other and protect each other. Here's the great thing... The same thing she will do for me, she will do for YOU! She is equal across the board. I say this not for you to approve or disapprove of.. Tracey Marvin DOES throw the hottest parties and all are welcomed.. she holds no punches and loves all that love her, she does not throw "shade" and will not spill the "tea" she has an infectious smile, and 3 beautiful children..( that middle one is my fav)- she will stand up to anyone, but has love for everyone. Tracey understands that without YOU the people her gigs would be all for not.

She is, Tracey Marvin, she IS my sister, my friend. and my love/respect for her and what she does is beyond measure...

Let The Music Play

P~