there is nothing like good music to soothe the soul....hence the term..."Soul Music".

People ask me all the time..."Lee..do you remember the song by....?"
I just love people who love music.Music is the purest art form...and i'm all about the arts.I enjoy a nice painting,a creative sculpture....and the sound of song.I get asked the question all the time...who do i listen to when im not on the air.Well,that is a very long list...my music taste varies in as vast as the arts will go.Of course,my strongest affection is Contemporary Rhythmic music.That can go from the coolest of Soul music,to Classic R & B,and i love the up and coming R & B artists that really have strong voices.If a person can sing without a microphone thats a sign...that person can "sing"!
I love the job that have because i do live the lifestyle of the R & B and Old School Station.I am not just on the radio...i live and breathe it all.


When it comes to the history of what the contemporary artists have to say about the learning how to sing,or who influenced them,and it always comes back to some type of soul/r&b artists.


From JAMES BROWN to ARETHA FRANKLIN,these are the mainstream artists that many refer to respectively as the Godfather of Soul and the Queen of Soul...and respectfully so...but they are at the forefront of so many artists that came before them that may not have fit the image for some record companies of that time,which meant that so many great artists didtn even get recognized because they werent pretty enough or in other words,didnt have the "marketability" for the mainstream artists...even James Brown didnt get his due until his later years.....but on that note,i never forget about all the artists who played many a smoke filled room singing and playing their hearts out....the sign of a true artists.These days its so about money that its hard to distinguish true talent versus,digital a manipulated sound.

For those like me,and for those new to sound of V101.1,take some time and listen to your old cd's,and some cases,cassettes(smile),and even in other cases...ALBUMS(VINYL)yeah!

Keepin' the old school alive! Let me the first to tell you...old school will never die.Between the bands at your local nightspot doing the cover songs,to the Hip Hop artists,using "our" classics as the foundation for laying their sound.Take time and think about some of the music you listened to growing up.Remember going over a friends house and listening to music?For some reason,it always sounded good listening at someone else's house that at mine...did that ever happen to you??

Sometimes,i just have to make time to sit back and listen to some old Al Green....some Temptations,from the 70's like "Standing on Shaky Ground"..to the 80's when the Temps were produced by Rick James,and recording such favorites as "Standing on the Top"!

I have always had a special place in my heart for the harmonizing of groups.The Temptations were always musically pure,along with theWhispers,and the Manhattans...but something that struck me with these groups as well,was not only their melodic harmonies,but the "air of sophistication" that they carry.It not only made me proud in how they were being represented,but it gave me a sense of sophistication as a young age.

Now i do have some true eclectic tastes,from my college days listening to Gil Scott-Heron,Dee Dee Bridgewater,The Blackbyrds,and of course Dr.Funkenstein himself..."GEORGE CLINTON",and who can forget "BOOTY COLLINS!"
Of course when it comes to the funk.....there is nothing like the dynamic duo of the coolest rhythmic guitar and baddest funk thumping bass player ...none other than the guys who were in total obscurity as studio musicians for Quincy Jones,but their talents could not be supressed..im talking about the BROTHERS' JOHNSON! Oh those brothers as bad!I got a chance to listen to them doing a sound check a few years back when we booked them for our New Years Eve party...it was a true jam session...i had to pinch myself to make sure i wasnt in heaven.

Now when it come to the seven wonders of the world....there has been much debate as of late...let me be the first to say that the only wonder of the world in my mind is STEVIE WONDER...the GENIUS! One of the few to go from child star to one of the most respected men in the music industry.His lyrical genius along with his melodic musical compositions are second to none.His innovative synthesizer techniques rewrote the history books as to how the future of music was going to be impacted by this digital technology.

I can go on and on in trying to give a synopsis of Lee's music appreciation...but before i finish...i wouldnt be complete unless i mentioned the group i literally grew up on....the elements...the elements of sound....EARTH,WIND and FIRE !!!
Earth,Wind and Fire has so much meaning to me.I was first attracted to EWF when i heard one of their songs,and thought what a great sound....funky,smooth,but spiritual and positive.I thought the music was off the chain...but i began to listen to the lyrics from every song on the album,and i began to realize,there was a touch of mysticism.Of course in the 70's early 80's,every one was trying to find themselves,and i utilized their oneness to maintain the balance i was searching for.To this day...one of their songs from the "Spirit" album...the song was, "Burnin Bush".....such meaningful lyrics.I still use that song for inspiration when i need a pick me up.There is my inside to EWF,but then to catch one of their perfomances...takes you to another level.

now here this...the PURPLE KING of the World.... PRINCE !
A true pioneer...a legend...damn tha brother can sing...write...kicks ass!
There is a following of Prince fans that some people will never understand....who cares!?Prince is the man! He does it his way...sticks it to the man....and the ladies love him!That's my kind of star...

Now when we get to the 80's i can go on and on..."After 7"(one of the most underappreciated groups in the world)...what a mark Teddy Riley made.Guy...Blackstreet....
Then there's my favorites like D'angelo,Ready for the World,Avant,Montell Jordan,Kirk Whalum....and the gospel of Kirk Franklin!

As you can tell....i love the V101.1 Music...and i have just skimmed the surface of my music tastes,but i just wanted to give a little taste of who i am and how music has shaped my life....
One thing i can say about the music we play.i really love it when artists from other formats and genres does a copy(cover) of a old school classic....the music will never die.
I'll always do my part...and im asking you to do your part...."celebrate the music".