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Solid Gold Soul

June 19, 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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COMMON INKS DEAL WITH CONVERSE

Rapper and actor Common has agreed to be the face of Converse’s new (Product) Red Weapon sneaker, which will be sold exclusively at Foot Locker and at the sneaker maker’s website.

The rapper was recently shot for the sneaker’s print campaign, “Weapon of Change,” by photographer Bryan Adams in Los Angeles.

The new sneaker is the product of a partnership between Converse and (Product) Red, an organization that aims to raise awareness and money to help fight AIDS in Africa. Converse will donate up to 15% of the net sales from Converse (PRODUCT) RED to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Common said in a released statement, “Converse approached me to join the (PRODUCT) RED initiative and affect change. I have always felt my purpose is to do for people. Converse and (PRODUCT) RED are about people - educating and reaching out to people to help humanity. I do this through my music, activism and with people I come into contact with everyday. For me, Converse (PRODUCT) RED allows me to help affect change and have an immediate impact on people. Knowing the contributions from this initiative help people who need it makes it incredible because there’s no such thing as small change.”

The print ads will hit major publications in July. The sneaker is expected to retail for $75.00.

In related news, Common will release his new album, Finding Forever, on July 31st. The set will feature collaborations with D’Angelo, Kanye West, the late J Dilla, Will.I.Am, Bilal, Dwele, and UK pop singer Lily Allen.

FABOLOUS CLEARED OF WEAPONS CHARGES

Fabolous is celebrating the release of his new album, From Nothin’ To Somethin’, but the rapper has even more cause to celebrate now that a judge has dismissed weapons charges against him and three of his friends. The Associated Press reports that a New York judge dismissed illegal-weapons charges against the rapper yesterday (June 14th), stemming from an incident which occurred on October 17th.

Fabolous was shot in the thigh outside of New York’s Justine’s Restaurant and as he was being rushed to the hospital by several associates, they were pulled over and officers discovered weapons in the vehicle.

A prosecutor explained that authorities couldn’t prove that Fabolous or his three co-defendants owned the pair of loaded handguns that police found in the car.

The rapper’s lawyer, Alberto Ebanks, said, “He’s more relieved than happy. He should never have been here in the first place.”

In related news, the rapper’s new album features by Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, and Junior Reid with production by Reefa, Jazze Pha, Timbaland, Just Blaze, and Steve Morales. The lead single from the project is “Make Me Better” featuring Ne-Yo.

FOXY BROWN GETS GOOD PROBATION REPORT

Foxy Brown received a glowing endorsement from Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Melissa Jackson, who found that the rapper has been making progress with her probation. The Associated Press reports that the judge was impressed that Brown had “a positive probation report” and said that the rapper wouldn’t have to return to court. The judge told Brown, “I’m going to restore you to probation. It was a real struggle to get you on board. I want to see you finish this sentence and go on to a happy life.”

Brown has been keeping her appointments with her probation officer, has gotten permission before leaving the state, passed all her drug tests, and attended her anger management classes.

Brown was convicted of assaulting two manicurists at a Manhattan nail salon in 2004.

The rapper isn’t in the clear yet. She still faces battery and resisting arrest with violence charges for allegedly getting into an altercation with the owner of the Queen Beauty Supply store in Pembroke Pines, Florida, in February. Brown allegedly spit on the owner and threw hair glue on him after he asked her to leave the establishment. Brown says the accusations are false and that the owner is looking for a big pay day.

Brown is due back in court on September 24th to stand trial. If she is found guilty she could receive up to a year behind bars.

NE-YO SAYS HE STRETCHED OUT ON NEW ‘BECAUSE OF YOU’

Singer Ne-Yo says he’s happy that fans are accepting his sophomore album effort, Because Of You. The album stands at Number Five on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart this week after debuting at Number One. The popular singer-songwriter says it’s especially gratifying because he included more musical influences on this set than he did on his 2006 debut, In My Own Words.

Ne-Yo says he actually got to emulate some of his favorite artists this time out, including Prince: “I’m happy that people accepted me trying to channel my inner Prince on a couple of records, so some of them have a bit more of a rock edge than what is known from me. For one this whole record is paying homage to people I look up to the business, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Marvin Gaye. So I did songs in the realm of those artists.”

The title track from Ne-Yo’s album, “Because Of You,” is available in a remix version featuring Kanye West. Fans can get a taste by going to the defjam.com website.

CIARA, NE-YO, T.I., YOLANDA ADAMS, 50 CENT SET TO PERFORM AT ‘07 BET AWARDS

Ciara, Ne-Yo, T.I., Yolanda Adams, and 50 Cent will all perform on the ‘07 BET Awards, set for June 26th at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The BET event is the only award show that recognizes the achievements of musical artists, entertainers and athletes in 14 categories.

Presenters lined up for the show include Academy Award nominees Terrence Howard and Queen Latifah, TV personality and supermodel Tyra Banks, actor/comedian Katt Williams, Big Boi of Outkast, and five-time world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., among others.

Beyonce leads the pack of nominees with six category mentions, followed by Jay-Z, Ciara, Jennifer Hudson, Akon and Gnarls Barkley, among others.

Diana Ross will receive BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award, while actor Don Cheadle will be honored with the Humanitarian Award.

The ‘07 BET Awards, hosted by Mo’Nique, will premiere on June 26th on BET at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

PARIS BENNETT SINGS ABOUT HER DAD ON ‘PRINCESS P’

Former American Idol contestant Paris Bennett has been busy promoting her independent label release, Princess P, which features the single “Ordinary Love.” The daughter and granddaughter of well-known singers, Bennett has often spoken about growing up without her father, and even penned a song titled “Daddy” in which she grapples lyrically with how her father’s absence has affected her life.

Paris explained: “I wanted to put it out on Father’s Day. And some people say, ‘oh, that’s mean,’ but it’s actually a good thing because the majority of us girls and guys that are growing up now, we don’t always get that chance to say, and I’m speaking for the ones that don’t get the chance to say ‘Happy Father’s Day’ because they — we don’t know who he is or, (b), he hasn’t been in our life forever, or he just doesn’t want anything to do with us.”

Recently, though, the pint-sized powerhouse said that she had reconciled with her father, though they are still not close. She explained: “I actually met my dad and then started being around my dad at 13, but we’re not like this. But I mean, I definitely have already forgiven him and I forgave him when I was little for not being around, because him not being in my life only made me grow to be who I am right now. And if he had been in my life maybe things wouldn’t have been like they are right now.”

Bennett will perform June 22nd at the Splash Down Beach Water Park in Fishkill, New York.

OPRAH TOPS FORBES LIST OF POWER PLAYERS

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey once again tops Forbes Magazine’s annual “Celebrity 100 Power List,” which ranks entertainment power players based on both their earnings and their influence. Winfrey rose to the top of the pile after falling to third place in last year’s ranking. She last topped the list in 2005.

Winfrey reclaimed the summit with estimated earnings of $260 million over the past 12 months. Contributing to the extra pull is her Harpo Productions handling of celebrity chef Rachael Ray’s syndicated talk show, the production of Tony-winning Broadway show The Color Purple, and the forthcoming launch of its first prime-time series, Oprah’s Big Give, a reality contest in which contestants compete in philanthropy.

Golf champion Tiger Woods ranked second on the list, with earnings of $100 million and rap mogul Jay-Z placed ninth with earnings of $83 million. Rappers turned businessmen 50 Cent and Sean “Diddy” Combs placed 32nd and 43rd, respectively.

MORE MUSIC FROM RICK JAMES

The late Rick James managed to finish a brand-new album before his untimely death in 2004. The new set, titled Deeper Still, has gotten radio exposure through the title track, which landed in the urban AC top 20. Now his label Stone City Records is releasing a second single, the steppers’- styled “Taste.” The track will be available at urban AC radio next week.

Also available this month is the late punk-funk musician’s autobiography, Memoirs Of A Super Freak, published by Colossus Books, an imprint of Amber Communications. Memoirs Of A Super Freak was written while James was imprisoned between 1993 and 1995. The book offers his own no-holds-barred accounts of his self- described “sex, drugs, funk & soul” lifestyle.

Though James’ children can no longer spend Father’s Day with their outspoken Dad, at least one of his brood seems to be following in his musical footsteps. Before his August 2004 death, James got to hear a demo recording by his daughter, Ty, a fledgling rapper. Ty also appeared on the 2005 compilation Rick James Forever on Sanctuary Records.

In one of his final interviews, James said: “When I heard her album it brought tears to my eyes. Because she’s rapping, she’s articulate, she knows what she’s saying, she’s singing songs for women standing up on their own and not having to use a man, and she got a record on it called ‘My Daddy’ about me and it brought tears to me eyes. She re-did ‘Bustin’ Out’ and it’s just off the chain.”

PRINCE REFUSES TO PERFORM

Prince has delayed the start of his seven- week concert run at Los Angeles’ Roosevelt Hotel over contractual issues. HotelChatter.com reports the first of his seven Friday night shows did not go on as planned (June 15th), because his lawyers and the hotel bosses are still locked in talks, and the singer will not perform until everything is signed and sealed. Last month the Los Angeles Times reported the seven shows would take place in the Roosevelt’s Blossom room at midnight, and that Prince’s personal chef Lena Morgan would take over the hotel’s Dakota restaurant to host an after-hours club.

Black History Fact

In 1877, Henry O. Flipper becomes the first black graduate of the West Point Military Academy.
In 1921, Bessie Coleman reaches France as America’ s first black pilot.
In 1963, “Pride & Joy” by Marvin Gaye entered the Top 40 chart.
In 1968, Ellen Holly becomes the first African American on daytime television. She plays Carla on the soap opera One Life to Live.
In 1968, Aretha Franklin’s Number One hit single “Think” the R&B chart.
In 1971, Vernon Jordan, the former executive director of the United Negro College Fund, is appointed executive director of the National Urban League.
In 1985, Pryor’s Place, a children’s show hosted by Richard Pryor, airs for the last time on CBS.
In 1991, “Mama Said Knock You Out” by L.L. Cool J. peaked at Number 17 on the pop singles chart.
In 1991, Carl Lewis, one jump away from losing his 64-meet winning streak in the long jump, came through with a dramatic victory when he soared 28 feet, 4 1/4 inches, to pass Mike Powell by a half- inch at the USA Championships in New York.
In 1996, singer Ella Fitzgerald died in Beverly Hills, California at the age of 78. Born April 25, 1918 in Newport News, Virginia, Ella grew up in poverty, and got her big break as a teenager when she won an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater in New York. That led to a stint with Chick Webb’s Orchestra. While with Webb, Ella earned a major hit with “A-Tisket, A- Tasket” in 1938. She went solo in 1941, later scoring such hits as “How High The Moon,” and “Lady Be Good.” Her extraordinary voice and delivery earned her the nickname “The First Lady Of Song.”
In 2003, the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Jersey Nets 88-77 in game six of the NBA finals to win the series.

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Celebrity Birthdays

Ice Cube, rapper and actor (Three Kings, Barbershop, Friday), 38
Dusty Baker, former manager of the Chicago Cubs, 58

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Words To the Wise

It’s time to expect a change
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Contact InformationFreddie Bell
PO Box 390521
Minneapolis, MN 55439
fbellsolidgoldsoul@gmail.com
888-639-9738