2D
A & E/!t)e Oarlottt $a«t
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Lyfe hurdles obstacles on way to solo career
Continued from page 1D
ents of Lj€e’s two cousins and
older brother, Jay
But it was prison where
Lyfe honed his musical skills.
“When I was in prison, I
started playing the guitai*,” he
said, “I just wanted my own
music.”
Lyfe said he was influenced
by artists like Tbpac Shakui*
Biggie Smalls and Mary J.
Bilge. His biggest influence
though, came finm Lauryn
HiU,
“She’s the reason why I
picked up a guitar,” he said.
Life for a black man fi^h
out of j ail tiying to find a reg-
ulai’ 9 to 5 is haixl. For Lyfe
finding a I'ecord deal after
doing time was difficult
“I did go throu^ pi*oblems.
When I first got out, it was a
money situation. I thou^t
about going back to hustling
but I would wiite a song
about how I felt wanting to go
back to hustling,” he said.
And in an industry not
known for taking chances,
Lyfe said doors were slow to
open because record labels
didn’t know what to do with
him.
“The songs that I wrote,
they said they were more
gospel orientated and they
didn’t know what to do with
me,” he said.
That all changed in Janu
ary 2003.
Lyfe had showcased his tal
ent to a nationwide audience
Comic goes solo with national TV appearance
on “Showtime In Harlem”
fix)m the Apollo Theatre. He
received a standing ovation
for his acoustic performance
of original material, and
made his mark by winning
the amateur competition five
times..
“Around New York, I won
every open mic that I had
ever been in and that was a
lot of open mics, so finally
Sony offered me a deal,” he
said.
Since the release of his sdf-
titled CD, Lyfe has been con
necting with audiences across
the coimtry Now that he’s
touring with soul sensation
John Legend, anyone who
doesn’t know Lyfe is about to
meet him,
“There are not a lot of peo
ple out there talking about
them bottom level situa
tions,” he said. “Everybody is
talking about the ice and a lot
of time people feel left out.”
Continued from page 1D
formers and became a staple
on the open mic set.
Wanting to expand his
career, Martin headed to
Washington, D.C., to audition
for BETs now-defunct come
dy show “Coming to the
Stage.”
At the same time, Combs’
show was holding auditions
as well. “I stayed on later that
ni^t and auditioned for ‘P.
Diddy piesents The Bad Boys
of Comedy”’
Out of 30 comics who audi
tioned, Mailin was one of two
to make the cut at the end of
the weekend.
Last year, Martin got a call
fi’oni the show’s pi'oducere to
film the show. Eighty comics
wei*e called and 36 were actu
ally filmed for the series.
“I am thoroughly blessed to
be on this show,” he said.
WJial: Dave \4artin.on P. Diddv
Presents The Bad Boys of Comedy
When: Friday. 11 pm.
Where: HBO. Time Warner
Channel 7
CONCERT REVIEW
Sounds of Legend, band worth listening to
By Cheris F. HcxJges
chtnsJiiid^i'\('*lln‘charl(iih'piistx-«i»
John Legend must love
Charlotte.
He’s peifonned heie more
than Anthony Hamilton,
who’s a native Charlottean.
But anyway. Legend put on
an OK show. He sounded
gieat, but didn’t do much for
me just sitting at the piano
banging on tlie keys. And he
talked a little too much.
But Legend was still worth
spending Satiu'day night
with, if only to see his band.
Yeah, Legend’s band makes
that show, makes him soimd
as good as he does. That’s not
to take anytlung away fix)m
the man-he is a gieat sh^er
and a bona fide stai’-but if he
didn’t have his band beliind
him, he’d be lame.
Thank goodness he recog
nizes that.
Legend basically sings his
entire CD. And what makes
his show special isn’t the fact
that he plays the piano. It is
%
Legend
the fact that his band takes
his songs and changes things
up a little. They gave ‘TJsed
to Love U” a reggae vibe and
Legend hopped off the stage
into a ax)wd of adoring fans.
Thank goodness he realized
that we love “Oixfinaiy Peo
ple” but yet yearned for some
thing different. Legend and
the band jazzed the song up,
sort of the same an’angement
as the time he appeared on
“The Tbnight Show. “
One of the best things about
Legend is the fact that his
live show soimds just as good
as his CD. He has a lich,
raspy voice that draws you in.
Maybe that’s why he doesn’t
have a “gimmick” for his
stage show. It wouldn’t hiut
Legend to learn how to dance
though. But he’s young and
all indications ai-e he will get
better the more he performs.
W^th one albmn under his
belt and the ability to sell out
shows in Chaiiotte three
times, well, dancing must not
be eveiything for concertgo-
Lyfe Jennings opened for
Legend and honestly before
seeing his performance, I
woiildn’t have called myself a
fan. I don’t nomially like grit
ty R&B - sir^ me a fairy tale.
But there was something
about the way Lyfe put his aU
into his songs. He almost
made me want to cry when he
sang “Cry”
He connects with audience
like it’s nobody’s business.
Despite looking like a rapper
and hopping aroimd the
stage hke he’s spitting fire or
a paif of some hip-hop posse.
Lots to see and do this summer
Continued from page 1D
VERIZON AMPHITHEATER
The new and improved Queen Latifah
plays Charlotte July 22.
Tom Joyner Sky Show
PHOTO/WADE NASH
Tom Joyner brought his morning show to Charlotte last week. Soul singer, Chaka
Khan headlined the “party with a purpose.”
(I to r) Myra J, Miss Dupree. Tom Joyner, J. Anthony Brown and Chaka Khan took the
stage to dance and sing to a packed house at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
Lyfe has a voice that’s raw
and gritty He basically had
the audience eating out of his
hand and when he began
strumming his guitai; it was
like watching a flower bloom.
Lyfe is going to be a star. The
best thing about him is that
even thou^ his star is on the
rise, he doesn’t take himself
that seriously
Cxtclsiior Club
921 Beatties Ford Rd. • 704-334-5709
Where Every Night Is “Alright”
• TUESDAY ...“FISH FRY’ ■ Only $5
Doors Open at 6pm • Disco at 9pm
• WEDNESDAY ... “IA2Z” -Onm
Admission Only $5—. - July 6th -
“SIXXX”
• THUR. “DIRTY THIRTY THURSDAr
Lets get this party started right note!
• FRIDAY & SATURDAY
The Best “DISCO” In Town
SUNDAY...Relaxing. Smooth Sailing With...
“Relaxing Music”
have a nice adult night out,” he said.
There will be three parties rolled into one with
two 4js and live music on the patio. The best white
outfit wins a fi^ trip to Miami for two.
For the cultui*al lover:
• The Afin American Cultm'al Center has work
shops and events pi aimed throughout the sunmier
including Hai-ambee Tiiesday on July 5 and 19. The
Fflnmiakere’ Workshop is a gathering of writers,
producers, and anyone who is interested in the film
industiy It will be held in Montgomeiy/Stained
Glass Gallery in the Afix>-American Cultural Cen
ter, fix)m 7-9 p.m. It’s fi'ee. For more infonnation,
call (704) 374-1565.
Meeting: The Wal’d
Writers, poets and serious minded thespians come
together to share works in progi’ess and to produce
a spoken word/theatrical showcase based on a
selected theme. This event is will be held in the
Black Box Attic Theatre in the Afixi-American Chil-
tural Center, fi’om 7- 9 p.m. Fi’ee. For more infor
mation, call (704) 374-1565.
Coca-Cola
Bottling Company
Consolidated
stride
Toward
Freedom
“JUSTICE AND THE GOSPEL”
38 th Annual
National Black Presbyterian Caucus Convention
Nothing Brings People Together Lii^ Coca-Cola Community Connection Events. So Grab An Ice Cbld C)ke,
Your Family, Friends and Neighbors And Check This C)ut, Cause There’s Plenty Coming Your Way.
it's All Brought To You By Your Coca-Cola Conurumity Connection Team. So Pick Up Plenty Of Great Tasting
Coke And Join In The Fun. If You'd Like To List An Event On The Coca-Cola Community Calendar. Fax Your
Infonnation To Terry Peterson 704-697-4054 Coca-Cola Community Connection... Keepin it Real.
“KEEPING IT REAL WITH ERIENDS AND EAMILY
COCA-COLA REAL”
“Here’s How You Can Be Connected”
Submit, in writing, on your organization’s letterhead, the title of your event, data location, contact person and
telephone number for your activity to:
Coca-Cola Community Connection
801 Black Satchd Rd., Charlotte NC 28216
Attn: Teny Peterson - Phone 704-697-4040 • Fax 704-697-4054 or Email terr\.peterson@ccbcc,com
•V