Wednesday, March 29, 2006
The Talent Pool
Periodically I'm going to use this space to shout out folks who are doing great things and making me proud. There are some extremely talented people in my life and they are not concentrated in one area. They are all over the world! That means that all you cool people that drop by my spot every now and then can experience them too. First big shouts to my buddy Roderick in Atlanta. I have to admit that I find ATL to be one of those cities that's great for a weekend, but no place at all to live. For years I thought that they [white citizens council] were trying to lure us all there so they could blow it up, but it's still there. The economy is not as good as it once was, but folks are still living well. It's just so damn sprawling and KUNTRY. All my cousins from rural Georgia now live in the metro area and these are folks who are still getting used to indoor plumbing... no shade. Anyway... my friend is the founder of a wonderful book club called Brothas Well Read.
Celebrating 5 years of
 Reading and Brothahood
Founded in September 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia by Roderick Tate, Brothas Well Read was started to share his passion for reading amongst his friends. He invited several friends to the first meeting, not knowing what to expect. As a result of the strong interest and support, Brothas Well Read was created. The group consists of African-American men with diverse backgrounds. Each member’s uniqueness and creative energy adds to the group’s success.
Brothas Well Read Book Club is for like-minded African American men to come together to discuss a variety of fiction and non-fiction books. It provides a warm comfortable atmosphere in which we can fellowship, engage in intellectual discussion, and enrich each other’s lives.
One of the great things I like about the organization is its membership criteria and selection process. In order to keep the meetings more intimate and personal, the group decided that membership will not exceed twenty members. Each member is encouraged to host at least one meeting in the Metropolitan Atlanta area.
Each month members are encouraged to bring suggested readings for the upcoming month. The suggested books are placed in a pool and randomly selected for reading. In some cases the group may strongly suggest a title and unanimously vote on reading that particular book for the month. The member who recommends the selected book facilitates the book discussion.
Dues are $5 a month and used to cover administration fees.
BWR is open to suggestions and welcomes inquiries. Simply contact Roderick Tate at info@brothaswellread.com.
 I'm extemely excited and proud to put my dear friend, LaVarnga Hubbard, on BLAST! I first met LaVarnga back in 2002 when she joined Just Friends, a gospel chorale that I co-founded with my friend Crofton. Just Friends was formed in late 2000 to back up Dorinda Clark Cole at the Monmouth University Gospel Explosion. LaVarnga was not an original member but once she came on board, the group took on a brand new energy. Her star potential was clearly evident. Last year she went into the studio to begin work on her first solo project. The result is Nobody Else Compares To You, realeased in February and fast on its way to becoming the runaway hit of 2006.
LaVarnga G. Hubbard, affectionately known as L.A., was born and raised in the city of Chicago. She is the oldest of ten children. L.A. began singing at the age of nine in a small church on the southside of Chicago; Christian Doctorine Missionary Baptist Church. She has been a member of Greater Mt. Carmel Church since 1989 where she served as the Minister of Music for five years, 1990-1995.
L.A. has been happily married for over 27 years, with two wonderful children who are also in ministry. You can hear her daughter (ReRe) singing on the title song "Nobody Else Compares To You," written by her son, Rodney Jr. It is sure to be a number one single!!
With more than 20 years as an accomplished soloist, L.A. has recorded numerous songs with other great gospel artists. Among them are: "The Chicago Mass Choir ("Call Him Up" which can also be heard on her debut CD!), Walter Howard & Dedicated to Christ ("My God's Got It" which was the title cut), and Bishop Larry D. Trotter & The Sweet Holy Spirit Church Choir ("I Got What I Needed").
Listen To " Don't Judge My Praise" Finally, my friend, Jason Webb, an accomplished composer and keyboardist at Greater Allen Cathedral of New York gave me the scoop on Pure Praise Sundays. Come celebrate Palm Sunday with MoJaCreations and Club Pure as they present Pure Praise Sundays in Yonkers, NY! On Palm Sunday, April 9th at 2pm, come and enjoy an all-you-can-handle Southern-style buffet and the hottest gospel performers in New York at 320 Yonkers Avenue inYonkers, NY, just off the Cross County Parkway at exit 3. Dinner and Live Performance is $20 with flyer and $25 without. Limited seating is available. For reservations, menu, directions and more information please call (866) 540-2044 or log on to http://www.purepraiseny.com/.
Posted by Rodney ::
1:34 PM ::
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