NEWS
new liner notes
DONNA SUMMER: ENCORE
Donna Summer: Encore (33 CD box set)
label: Crimson Productions (2020)
features foreword by Giorgio Moroder plus new interviews with Pete Bellotte, Michael Omartian, Bruce Sudano, and more, plus exclusive 24-artist tribute
new feature
"She Wants Her MTV: How 'Private Dancer' Made Tina Turner a Video Queen
It took 37 years, but I brought together three acclaimed video directors, two legendary choreographers, four multi-talented dancers/artists, and MTV royalty to discuss TINA TURNER — PRIVATE DANCER, the 17-minute video featuring "Let's Stay Together," "What's Love Got to Do With It," "Better Be Good to Me," and "Private Dancer." The video made Billboard history as the first #1 release on the magazine's "Top Music Videocassettes" chart in March 1985 and was nominated for a GRAMMY ("Best Music Video, Short Form.") I'm absolutely thrilled that it is was the headline feature on PopMatters. You can read it here.
"Unscripted: Conversations with Christian John Wikane" Season 2!
Season 2 of "Unscripted: Conversations with Christian John Wikane" launched on April 30, 2021. To stay up to date on the latest interviews and video clips, subscribe to the Unscripted channel on YouTube here. [Pictured: Lisa Fischer w/ Christian John Wikane. Photo by Sekou Luke Studio / Rebel Media.]
film premiere
"Conversations with Christian John Wikane /
Season 1 Extra: Your Greatest Challenge"
"What's the greatest challenge you've overcome in your career?" That's a question I asked during my interviews with André De Shields, Nona Hendryx, Melba Moore, Ruth Pointer, Valerie Simpson, Kathy Sledge, Bruce Sudano, and Fonzi Thornton during Season 1 of "Conversations with Christian John Wikane." Photographer/filmmaker Sekou Luke documented their answers for the world premiere of a video that Sekou and I co-produced to wrap Season 1 of our video series on YouTube. We're grateful that each artist offered candid, personal insights about the challenges they've faced throughout their extraordinary careers in music and theatre. At a time when so many of us continue to face challenges of every kind, it is our hope that their words might be a source of inspiration. Watch the film here.