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Solid Gold Soul

June 15, 2007

Welcome to Solid Gold Soul

About Freddie Bell

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS - 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
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CARL THOMAS RELEASES INDIE PROJECT

Singer-songwriter Carl Thomas has severed ties with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy label after releasing two albums — 2000’s platinum Emotional, and 2004’s Let’s Talk About It. The singer recently released a Mike City-produced indie project, titled So Much Better. Thomas told MTV.com, “It was the perfect chance for me to get those records off that Puff never let me get off. This is like more of what you’re used to: It’s less experimental than my last album, Let’s Talk About It.”

The new project features guest appearances by E- 40, Brandy, Lalah Hathaway, and DJ Quik with some production help from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

Thomas has the right mentality to make the indie project work. In the past, he shared that he doesn’t really get caught up in sales numbers. The singer said: “I think those things are just set-ups, you know, it’s just a set-up, it’s a set-up or you know if God does something wonderful for you, if you have expectations or predictions then a lot of times, you know, you kinda take the joy out of it when it does happen for you.”

In related news, Thomas also shared his thoughts on some of the artists on the R&B scene. He said, “I love Amy Winehouse’s album. I picked up Ne-Yo’s album. I think it’s really dope. I’m waiting on this Jill Scott project that’s coming out soon, this next Usher album, I’m anticipating R. Kelly’s record. There’s a wonderful independent record by Anthony Hamilton that’s out (Southern Comfort, a collection of unreleased tracks recorded several years ago). Chris Brown, might I add, is a dope performer. He’s really on it.”

Thomas added, “I like what’s going on in R&B and that R&B is really making money again. A few years ago you couldn’t say that. Everything was predominantly hip-hop and the singers weren’t getting as much money as these rappers. Now these R&B cats are getting just as much gwap, or being able to go out and secure marketing deals just like the rappers. I was just talking to Ne-Yo about this a little while ago.”

SMJZ BAND HEADLINES FATHER’S DAY EVENT IN MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA

You’re invited to a Father’s Day, after-church Smooth Jazz Lunch Buffett. Bring Dad and the entire family this afternoon and join the SMJZ Band,along with MC Freddie Bell, at the Bluffs of Mendota at 801 Highway 13, 1/2 block east of I-35-E. This event honoring fathers takes place on Sunday, June 17th from 2pm to 6pm. The exact address is 801 Sibley Memorial Highway, West St. Paul, Minnesota. Admission for Adults is $25 and children are admitted for only $10 bucks. To reserve a space or for more information go to www.smjz-band.com or call 651-455-8380.
This event promises to be a Smooth Affair.

FABOLOUS SAYS GETTING SHOT WASN’T A GOOD LOOK FOR HIM

Brooklyn-based rapper Fabolous released his new album, From Nothin’ To Somethin’, on Tuesday (June 12th). The lead single from the project is “Make Me Better” featuring Ne-Yo. The album also features guest appearances by Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, and Junior Reid with production by Reefa, Jazze Pha, Timbaland, Just Blaze, and Steve Morales.

Last October, Fabolous was shot in the thigh while standing outside of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Justine Restaurant. On his way to the hospital, his car was stopped and officers discovered two handguns. Fabolous shared that the legal issues are almost resolved. He told New York’s Daily News, “We are in the final stages. I just hope to get this one cleared and get it out of my way.”

As for the actual shooting, Fabolous said, “They say people get shot and arrested for publicity, but that’s not what really works for me. The kind of songs I make don’t coexist with getting arrested and shot, you know what I mean? Maybe if it was 50 Cent it would be great, but for me it just doesn’t work.”

The rapper also shared that he sees himself as an underdog. He said, “I feel like I am the rapper that everybody likes but hates to say they like. It’s one of things where if maybe one person stood up and said, ‘Yo, I like him’ and it was someone that people respected, then people would say, ‘Okay!’ People are followers sometimes, you know what I mean?”

T.I. TELLS KIDS TO STAY IN SCHOOL

Rapper T.I. dropped out of high school to pursue a rap career but he recently urged a group of teenagers to go a different route. SOHH.com reports that while visiting West Philadelphia High School T.I. told the students, “When you leave out your house and go through your day, you see more people who don’t go to school than who do go to school. But that don’t make it right. I was a misguided youth myself. So whatever I can do to help them out, to help out the ‘hood, I got to be the first in line.”

The rapper added, “Ain’t nothing lame, ain’t nothing punkish about being smart. Ain’t nothing punkish about being 25, 26, 28 and never had a run in with the law. That don’t make you a punk man. That makes you a winner.”

In related news, T.I. is currently counting down to the release of his new album, T.I. v T.I.P., which will hit stores on July 3rd. The latest single from the project is “Big Things Poppin’.” The album will feature guest appearances by Eminem, Justin Timberlake, R. Kelly, Nelly, Akon and Lil’ Wayne with production Timbaland, Scott Storch, Mannie Fresh, Wyclef Jean, Danja Handz, the Runners and Just Blaze.

T.I. has explained in the past that T.I.P. is his tough guy alter ego while T.I. is the well refined rap star. The rapper explained TIP has a different value system. He said: “You know having his Mom go to the grocery store and people offer to put her bags in the car you know just because she know, because they know that she’s TIP son, I mean because TIP is her son. Like things like that is what T.I.P. hold valuable.”

T.I. further explained that: “You know what I’m sayin’ so you know it’s a balance of power.”

LL COOL J’S MANAGEMENT SAYS HE WILL TOUR THIS SUMMER

Rapper and actor LL Cool J will tour this summer in anticipation of his new album Exit 13. The rapper’s management has issued a statement confirming that he will perform at this year’s Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica on July 20th and that he will make his other scheduled performances.

The news comes on the heels of an announcement by organizers of Reggae Sumfest that the rapper pulled out of the event because of family issues and that he would be canceling all summer tour plans.

Exit 13 is due this fall and the project will be executive produced by 50 Cent.

R. KELLY LAUNCHING ‘I’M A FLIRT’ DUET CONTEST FOR FANS

R. Kelly fans will now have a chance to record a duet with the artist on his hit “I’m A Flirt” and compete for a grand prize. JamGlue.com is sponsoring the Double Up With R. Kelly contest, where fans can record their performance with Kelly, post their recording, and listen to versions recorded by others.

The Grand Prize winner will get their track posted on R. Kelly’s MySpace.com page, an autographed copy of Kelly’s new Double Up CD, and a poster.

For more information, go to jamglue.com/contests/rkelly.

R. Kelly’s version of “I’m A Flirt” with Bow Wow recently reached Number 11 on the national urban radio charts. Double Up also features a remix version with rappers T.I. and T-Pain.

JOSS STONE DISPELS RUMORS ABOUT ROMANCE

Singer Joss Stone is about to take a little break from the road, where she’s been performing at various venues to promote her new album, Introducing Joss Stone, featuring the single “Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now” with Common. She’s not scheduled to resume touring until late August, so maybe she’ll have time for romance.

The 20-year-old Brit’s nude pictures alongside Raphael Saadiq on the inside cover art for the CD gave rise to rumors of romance with her 41-year- old producer, but Stone says there’s no truth to them.

In the new June/July issue of Complex magazine, Stone explains, “That’s what I wanted to do. Even if they hated it, I wanted them to talk about it. Look at it as a piece of art, not as a sexual picture. I had to convince Raphael — he’s a little more conservative than I am. When me and Raphael make music, we’re not two separate people. I was trying to show that in the painting. Now he loves it.”

Recently Stone revealed that she does have a more modern view of dating habits, as she recently explained: “My mom brought me up to be old school about the dating thing. She says, you never ask a man out, they ask you. Well that’s all well and good, but if they don’t ask you, what do you do? (laughs) I don’t have time to wait.”

Stone wraps up the first leg of her U.S. tour with a show tonight (June 13th) at the Filene Center in Vienna, Virginia. She’s slated to be a presenter at Canada’s MuchMusic Awards on June 17th in Toronto, and will appear at one of the Live Earth concerts being broadcast on July 7th from Johannesburg. Stone’s second tour leg kicks off August 27th at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

WHOOPI AND BABBARA

Star magazine reports that Whoopi Goldberg is being considered as the front-runner to replace her friend Rosie O’Donnell on ABC’s gabfest, The View. A network insider said, “As far as everyone at ABC is concerned, she has the job.” What gives her the extra leverage over fellow contenders Kathy Griffin, Roseanne Barr, Ricki Lake and Gayle King? Whoopi has reportedly “won everyone over… she’s liberal and outspoken, but not crazy like Rosie.”

Black History Fact

In 1964, “Love Me With All Your Heart (Cuando Calienta El Sol)” by the Ray Charles Singers peaked at Number Three on the pop chart.
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall to become the first African-American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1967, the Aretha Franklin album I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You was certified gold.
In 1969, Soul Bowl ‘69, promoted as the biggest soul music festival ever, begins at the Houston Astrodome. Performers include Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and the Staple Singers.
In 1972, Clyde McPhatter of the Drifters died of a heart attack. He was 38. Elvis Presley had often said he wished his voice was the equal of McPhatter’s. McPhatter founded the Drifters before being inducted into the U.S. military. He launched a solo career upon his discharge, scoring eight Top 40 hits. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, 15 years after his death.
In 1977, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was recaptured following his escape three days earlier from a Tennessee prison.
In 1984, “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” by Deniece Williams was certified gold.
In 1986, the Janet Jackson album Control was certified platinum.
In 1989, “I Want Her” by Keith Sweat was certified gold.
In 1990, “The Power” by Snap was certified gold.
In 1992, Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Clinton sparked a flap when he criticized remarks by rap singer Sister Souljah about the Los Angeles riots. The Washington Post had quoted the singer as saying, “If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?”
In 1992, “The Best Things In Life Are Free” by Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson peaked at Number 10 on the pop chart.
In 1996, the Boyz II Men album II was certified 12-times platinum.

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Celebrity Birthdays

Raz B, formerly of B2K, 22
Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, member of S.W.V., 33
Marvin Tarplin, guitarist of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, 62

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Words To the Wise

Walk by faith
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Contact InformationFreddie Bell
PO Box 390521
Minneapolis, MN 55439
fbellsolidgoldsoul@gmail.com
888-639-9738