2012 Primetime Emmy Award Winners Announced

The 2012 Emmy Awards took place tonight.  The drama, "Homeland," which puts the battle against terrorism on American soil, won big. It was honored as best drama series, along with its stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis who both won statuettes for best actress and best actor in a drama series. Following is a complete list of the winners of Sunday's 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:

— Drama Series: "Homeland," Showtime.
— Actress, Drama Series: Claire Danes, "Homeland," Showtime.
— Actor, Drama Series: Damian Lewis, "Homeland," Showtime.
— Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad," AMC.
— Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey," PBS.
— Writing, Drama Series: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff, "Homeland," Showtime.
— Directing, Drama Series: Tim Van Patten, "Boardwalk Empire," HBO.
— Comedy Series: "Modern Family," ABC.
— Actor, Comedy Series: Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men," CBS.
— Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep," HBO.
— Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Julie Bowen, "Modern Family," ABC.
— Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family," ABC.
— Writing, Comedy Series: Louis C.K, "Louie," FX Networks.
— Directing, Comedy Series: Steven Levitan, "Modern Family," ABC.
— Miniseries or Movie: "Game Change," HBO.
— Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Julianne Moore, "Game Change," HBO.
— Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys," History.
— Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story," FX Networks.
— Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Berenger, "Hatfields & McCoys," History.
— Directing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Jay Roach, "Game Change," HBO.
— Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Danny Strong, "Game Change," HBO.
— Reality-Competition Program: "The Amazing Race," CBS.
— Host, Reality-Competition Program: Tom Bergeron, "Dancing With the Stars," ABC.
— Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central.
— Writing for a Variety Special: Louis C.K., "Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre," FX Networks.
— Directing, Variety, Music or Comedy Special: Glenn Weiss, 65th Annual Tony Awards, CBS.

Gregory Porter Heats Up The Mint in Los Angeles

 GREGORY PORTER

It was literally standing room only at The Mint Saturday night as jazz singer Gregory Porter took the stage and performed before an appreciative and enthusiastic sold out crowd.

In the tiny, but popular Pico Boulevard venue Porter, wearing his signature bow tie and black hat, didn’t disappoint as he flowed in, out and between some of his most popular songs.

It was already a warm, humid night in Los Angeles, but Porter brought even more heat with his luscious lyrics and tight band that included a bass, piano, drums and a bad-ass sax bringing up the rear.

His style has been described as shades of Donny Hathaway and Bill Withers and Nat King Cole.  That’s high praise, indeed.  However, Porter’s style is clearly his own.  His music has depth and emotion.

 Some artists are only good on their CDs after they’ve been enhanced with technology. Porter’s voice is clear and present. His showmanship and warm repartee with his audience makes him seem like an old friend.  Porter’s show was nothing short of impressive! 

A Los Angeles native who was raised in Bakersfield, but now resides in Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, Porter has two CDs to his credit, his 2010 debut, Water and his latest offering, Be Good. However, the evening felt like the tall, burly singer was presenting a decades-long discography.

Of course, he performed songs from both CDs.  His turn on the hip On The Way to Harlem, 1960 What and Be Good (Lions Song), sent the crowd whirling.

But they were just as excited to hear the intimate Illusion, as well as Real Good Hands and Painted on Canvas.

The Grammy-nominated recording artist is known for his simmering ballads, as well as up-tempo grooves. He’s just as effective doing both.

What a great night of music!!!

Some music critics have been skeptical about  where music is going. Jazz enthusiasts and critics can rest easy.  The genre is safe in Gregory Porter’s hands.

Urbanworld Announces 2012 Festival Winners

 

NEW YORK, NY (September 23, 2012) – The 16^th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, presented by BET Networks, has announced the winners of the narrative feature, documentary feature, narrative short, screenplay, teleplay and audience award categories. The five-day festival was held September 19-23 and concluded today with an awards reception at Tribeca Grill Loft, sponsored by Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO^® and hosted by actors Stephen Hill (Barbasol) and Tracy Heggins (The Last / First Kiss, Cherry Waves). Urbanworld, which screened 49 films this year (including 17 world premieres), is the largest internationally competitive festival dedicated to the exhibition of independent cinema by and about people of color.

The 16^th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival winners are: 

Best Narrative Feature

FOUR

Directed by Joshua Sanchez

Honorable Mention:

Wolf – Directed by Ya’Ke Smith

Best Narrative Short

RECORD/PLAY

Directed by Jesse Atlas

Honorable Mention:

“Forever In Hiatus” - Directed by Andy Nguyen

Best Documentary Feature

SOUL FOOD JUNKIES

Directed by Byron Hurt

Honorable Mention:

Jake Shimabukuro:  Life on 4 Strings - Directed by Tadashi Nakamura

Best Screenplay

“AGENT 12 & THE MESSIAH STONE”

Written by Peter Lord

Honorable Mention:

Escaping Bushwick - Written by Javier Ortiz

Best Teleplay

“NALA’S HEART”

Written by Pauline Gray

Audience Award

BARBASOL – Best Short

Directed by Ralph Scott

DOIN’ IT IN THE PARK – Best Feature

Co-Directed by Kevin Couliau & Bobbito Garcia

*******************************************************************

The 16^th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival Jurors are:

NARRATIVE FEATURES JURORS

• Dori Begley, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions, Magnolia Pictures
• Nikkole Denson-Randolph, Vice President, Specialty & Alternative Content, AMC Theatres
• Lisa Cortes, Producer, Cortes Films
• Rashaad Ernesto Green, Writer/Director, Mi Alma Films
• James Lopez, Senior Vice President, Production, Screen Gems / Sony Pictures Entertainment

NARRATIVE SHORTS JURORS

• Artel Great, Award Winning Filmmaker & Film Historian
• Nick Hall, Vice President, HBO Entertainment
• Niija Kuykendall, Vice President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures
• Tambay Obenson, Chief Editor, Shadow & Act
• Frida Torresblanco, Producer, Braven Film

DOCUMENTARY FEATURED JURORS

• Michael Eric Dyson, Author, Professor, & Cultural Critic
• Jackie Glover, Vice President, Documentary Films, HBO
• Carleen L. Hsu, Producer, The Kitchen Sync Group, Inc.

SCREENPLAY JURORS

• Franklin Leonard, Vice President, Creative Affairs, Overbrook Entertainment
• Connie Orlando, Vice President, Original Programming, BET Networks

TELEPLAY JURORS

• Jacque Edmonds Coffer, Executive Producer, Let’s Stay Together, BET
• Jocelyn Freid, Vice President, Original Programming, BET Networks
• Erica Montolfo, Executive Producer, The Game, BET

For more information on the Urbanworld Film Festival, visit www.urbanworld.org.

ABOUT URBANWORLD

The Urbanworld® Film Festival, founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes, is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind. The five-day festival includes narrative features, documentaries, and short films, as well as panel discussions, live staged screenplay readings, and the Urbanworld® Digital track focused on digital and social media.  Over the last fifteen years, Hollywood studios, indie film distributors, and established and emerging filmmakers have consistently chosen Urbanworld® to premiere box office and award-winning hits.  Urbanworld® has also provided a platform for some of today's leading brands seeking to reach key influencers across the industry and within the consumer marketplace.  The Urbanworld® Film Festival is an initiative of the Urbanworld® Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization that endeavors to consistently manifest its mission of redefining and advancing the roles of multicultural constituents in contemporary filmed entertainment.  By implementing initiatives that actively support and develop content creators of color, Urbanworld significantly contributes to the evolution of the media and entertainment landscape and the diversity that it reflects.  Gabrielle Glore serves as Executive Producer & Head of Programming for the Urbanworld Film Festival.  The festival website is www.urbanworld.org.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

Fox Searchlight Pictures Set To Release 'Hitchcock'

IN THEATRES ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2012

Directed by:
Sacha Gervasi

Screenplay by:
John J. McLaughlin

Based on the book:
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello

Produced by:
Ivan Reitman, Tom Pollock, Joe Medjuck, Tom Thayer, Alan Barnette

Cast:
Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, Toni Collette, Jessica Biel, Michael Stuhlbarg, James D'Arcy, Michael Wincott, Richard Portnow, Kurtwood Smith

HITCHCOCK is a love story about one of the most influential filmmakers of the last century, Alfred Hitchcock and his wife and partner Alma Reville.
The film takes place during the making of Hitchcock’s seminal movie Psycho.

The film will be a limited platform release.

Chrysler Group LLC Reports Sales Increase

Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 148,472 units, a 14 percent increase compared with sales in August 2011 (130,120 units), and the group’s best August sales since 2007.

The Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram Truck and Fiat brands each recorded year-over- year sales gains in August compared with the same month a year ago. The Fiat brand’s 34 percent increase was the largest sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand for the month. August marked Chrysler Group’s 29th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.

The Dodge brand produced three record-setting models while registering the largest sales volume of any Chrysler Group brand in August. The Dodge Journey full-size crossover, the most versatile and affordable crossover in America, set an all-time sales record while the sporty Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan and Dodge Challenger muscle car each set a sales record for the month of August.

The FIAT, Chrysler and Jeep brands also produced record-setting models in August. The Fiat 500 set an all-time sales record with its 34 percent sales gain while the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan and the Jeep Wrangler established sales records for the month of August.

“Our Iron Man streak continued last month as we posted our 29th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand and Head of U.S. Sales. “Our hard work over the past few years is starting to pay some dividends in our sales growth, quality awards and profitability. Not to mention, an incredibly resilient U.S. new vehicle sales industry doesn’t hurt either.”

Chrysler Group’s 14 percent increase in August was driven in part by sales of the all-new Dodge Dart compact sedan (3,045 units). Dart sales were up 294 percent in August compared with the previous month of July, as the Belvidere, Ill. assembly plant continues to ramp up Dart production.

The Chrysler 300 flagship sedan, with its substantial 65 percent increase, contributed to Chrysler Group’s August increase, as did the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans, each posting double-digit percentage gains for the month. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, with a 13 percent hike, had its best August in six years while the Ram pickup truck extended its lengthy streak of consecutive year-over-year sales gains with a 19 percent increase in August.

Chrysler Group finished the month with a 66-days supply of inventory (362,407 units). U.S. industry sales figures for August are projected at an estimated 14.6 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).

August 2012 U.S. Sales Highlights by Brand

FIAT Brand

FIAT brand sales, up 34 percent compared with the same month a year ago, were an all-time sales record in August. Sales of the Fiat 500 Cabrio were up 37 percent versus the same month last year, while the Fiat 500 Abarth, the ultimate high-performance small car, recorded a 22 percent increase compared with sales during the previous month of July. The Fiat 500 was one of three Chrysler Group models to rank highest in their segment in Strategic Vision’s 2012 Total Quality Index in August. The Fiat 500 was ranked first in the Small Car segment.

The FIAT Brand introduced the new 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo in August, the fourth model in the expanding FIAT brand product lineup and one of the most affordable turbo-charged vehicles in America. The Fiat 500 Turbo features a 135-horsepower 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine, sport-tuned suspension, track-proven brakes, dynamic exterior design and sport-styled interior. The new Fiat 500 Turbo answers the call for enthusiasts who are drawn to the Italian style of the Fiat 500 but want more power and performance for their daily drive.

Chrysler Brand

Chrysler brand sales were up 25 percent, the brand’s best August sales in five years and its 14th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. Sales of the Chrysler 300 flagship sedan were up 65 percent, the full-size sedan’s best August sales in five years. The Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan contributed to the brand’s sales gain by setting a sales record for the month of August. The Chrysler Town & Country minivan, which offers families versatility, luxury, and convenience at a value, logged a double-digit sales increase, its best August sales in six years and second best sales month this year.

Ram Truck Brand

The Ram pickup truck extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains to 28-consecutive months in August. Sales of the Ram pickup truck, Chrysler Group’s volume leader, were up 19 percent in August compared with the same month a year ago. It was the pickup truck’s best August sales performance since 2007. Of the Ram 1500 sales, the regular cab pickups posted the largest percentage sales increase in August, while the crew cab trucks led in volume. The Ram Light Duty, Heavy Duty and Chassis Cab pickup trucks posted year-over-year sales increases in August. The Ram Cargo Van posted a 53 percent sales increase compared with the previous month of July.

The Ram Truck brand, which recorded its best August sales in four years, introduced its new 2013 Ram 1500 to the automotive media in August underscoring the model’s best-in-class fuel economy, state-of-the-art technology, and class-exclusive features. Production of the Ram begins this month and is expected to arrive in dealer showrooms in October.

Dodge Brand

Dodge brand sales increased 13 percent, the brand’s best August sales since 2005 and its second best sales month this year. Dodge brand sales of 47,348 units represented the largest sales volume of any Chrysler Group brand in August. Sales of the all-new Dodge Dart compact sedan soared 294 percent in its third month of sales. As Dart production continues to ramp up in the Belvidere, Ill. assembly plant, a full, multifaceted marketing campaign will launch this month, following the 90-second “How to Change Cars Forever” commercial that debuted in July.

As sales of the new Dart heat up, three Dodge models set sales records in August. The Dodge Journey, the most versatile and affordable crossover in America, set an all-time sales record with its hefty 58 percent increase in August. The sporty Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan and Dodge Challenger muscle car each set sales records for month of August. Not to be outdone by the passenger cars, the Dodge Grand Caravan had its best August in seven years. In fact, the Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans each logged double-digit sales increases in August.

The Dodge Charger took home a Strategic Vision 2012 Total Quality Award in the Large Car segment, complementing its 30 percent sales increase in August, while the Dodge brand was cited as the most improved brand in the industry.

Jeep® Brand
Jeep brand sales were up 5 percent, the brand’s best August sales in nine years and its 28th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The Jeep Wrangler, the brand’s volume leader in August, set a sales record for the month of August. Sales of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most awarded SUV ever, were up 13 percent, its best August sales in six years. Sales of the Jeep Liberty were up 15 percent in August compared with the same month last year. It was the Liberty’s best August since 2006.

The Grand Cherokee won a Total Quality Award in the Medium SUV segment from Strategic Vision in August. Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Index reflects all aspects of buying, owning and driving a vehicle as a holistic measure, and encompasses positive and negative experiences including reliability, driving excitement, emotional attachment and overall sales and service satisfaction.

Gyllenhaal and Pena Star in End of Watch

 

End of Watch is a gritty police drama that follows the lives of two patrol officers played authentically by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena.

Gyllenhaal, who is an executive producer and Pena play bonded for life partners Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala, respectively. The two document their daily activities via a video camera as they patrol the streets of South Central.

Their mission as police officers is not only to protect and serve, but to also have each other’s back to make sure they both make it home at the End of Watch.

The raw action is in your face and the stories and situations aren’t very pretty. The officers have formed a bond that allows them to function as a unit in the face of danger, knowing full well, at any moment, they could be called on to lay down their lives.  The movie takes the audience into the city’s darkest, most violent streets and back alleys,

and the brave men and women patrolling them.

The movie is written, produced and directed by Michael Ayer (Training Day), who is no stranger to LAPD based gritting dramas. Ayer moved to the mean streets of LA as a teenager. The experiences of his youth helped shape his artistic vision and his inside knowledge and affection for the culture of Los Angeles can be seen throughout his work.

I caught up with Gyllenhaal (JG), Pena (MP) and Ayer (DA) to talk about the making of the film, set for nationwide release on Sept. 21. 

JAKE GYLLENHAAL & MICHAEL PENA

Q: How long did you do research for this film and what did you do to prepare?

JG: We spent five months on the streets with LAPD. We did ride-alongs. We did fight training. After five months of being around the community, it changed my life. My life as a person changed. This was a once in a lifetime experience.

MP: Well, actually we didn’t do fight training. We did sparring. That’s a lot different from fight training.

JG: Yeah, it is. I got beat up.

Q:  Was this like a boyhood cop and robbers dream for you?

MP: This is a movie I hold close to my heart. It’s not often you get characters like this.   It’s our movie. You don’t always get that.

Q: Was there a lot of rehearsal to prepare?

MP: We did  a lot of rehearsals to know what it’s like to be in the inner city.

JG:  David Ayer (the director) actually grew up as a white kid in South Central. He was raised in Hispanic culture. 

JAKE GYLLENHAAL & MICHAEL PENA

Q: What was your relationship while shooting the film?

MP:  We are completely different people. The first two months was difficult. The two months helpedme train in the streets and to do the fighting, um, sparring training.

Soon it became, you know, like chill. It wasn’t this Hollywood thing. It was such an experience.

Q: How long was the shoot?

MP: We shot in 22 days.  We shot in dangerous neighborhoods

Q: Describe some of those moments.

JG: There was a time I was lone. Michael had left just 15 minutes before because he needed to go get his son. There was some sort of shooting. When we got there we realized someone had thrown rocks through a window, but it looked like gunshots. We got a call about a stolen vehicle when it ran right past us.  So, it ended up on the tracks and a train was coming. I was thinking, “Am I in a Denzel Washington movie?”  They had to move the stolen vehicle off the track. I mean, it was literally 30 seconds out before the train would have hit.

JAKE GYLLENHAAL PLAYS BRIAN TAYLOR

In END OF WATCH

 

Q: So, talk about the ride-alongs.

JG: The first one I went on somebody was murdered. I went on ride-alongs where there was domestic violence and stolen vehicles. One time there was a domestic violence call between two dudes.

MP: I saw someone who was shot in the face.

Q: Your thought about police officers.

MP: You have officers who really want to take care of the neighborhood.  The criminals are a small part of it.

Q: Jake, talk about your experience making the film.

JG:  This movie was from the moment I started….it was like…well, I first met David (Ayer) his wife was cooking me a meal, the kids were running around, friends were around. This movie changed my life. It was such a family to me.  The culture was so inspiring.

Q: What do you think people will take away from the film?

MP: Maybe people will appreciate cops a bit more. 

DAVID AYER 

Q: David, this is an interesting film.

DA: This is cops filming themselves. I had never seen that before.

Q: David, why did you want to tell this story?

DA: (he turns to his friend, Jamie, who for eight years used to work the gang division in South Central) I did it for this guy, he says pointing to Jamie. This guy right here is why I did it. He worked gangs for eight years. He worked it with a friend of his named Darren, who was black. He got grief. He was told he’s not supposed to work with a black copy. Jamie didn’t care. He’s cool! 

Q: Who are you in all this?

DA: I grew up in South Central. I used to run from the cops. I got beat black and blue from LAPD.

Q: The partnership in the movie is white/Hispanic.

DA:  My wife is Mexican. It’s a culture. I’m familiar with the culture. It’s the changing  face of LAPD.

Q: You seem to have an affinity for this kind of film.

DA: I hope I can hang up my LAPD. I want to do a hardcore gangsta movie with no cops in it.

Q: What do you hear from police officers about the film?

DA: They say, finally somebody got it right.

Produced by John Lesher, Nigel Sinclair and Matt Jackson, with a cast headed by Jake

Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña, and featuring Anna Kendrick, America Ferrera, Cody Horn, Natalie Martinez, and Frank Grillo, END OF WATCH (Open Road) is a powerful story of family, friendship, love, honor and courage.

End of Watch is RATED R.

Siedah Garrett Talks About The 'Man In The Mirror'

 

 SIEDAH GARRETT

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson’s Bad album.

To commemorate the occasion the Bad album (Epic), which was released Aug. 31, 1987, is being re-released and will hit the stores on Tues., Sept. 18. In addition, noted filmmaker Spike Lee has directed a new documentary about the making of the album, with behind the scenes footage. 

One person prominently seen in that footage is the Grammy winning and Oscar nominated songwriter and vocalist Siedah Garrett whose song, Man In The Mirror, helped make the Bad album a huge success.

Other songs on the album included: “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Bad,” “Dirty Diana,” Another Part of Me,” Smooth Criminal,” “Leave Me Alone,” “Liberian Girl” and “Speed Demon.”

Five of the singles hit number one in the United States, while a sixth charted within the top-ten, and a seventh charted within the top-twenty on the Hot 100. 

 SIEDAH GARRETT & MICHAEL JACKSON

I caught up with Siedah to talk about Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror” and their friendship.

Q: Michael Jackson was a colleague and a personal friend. What was it like working with Michael Jackson?

SG: It was surreal. You’re in the room with the biggest pop star in the world and he’s busy making you feel that he has as much to learn from you and you did from him. He was just very gracious and generous. He was a very gracious and generous spirit. He was very giving of his time and of his energy. When he was into it, he was really into it.

Q: What is the biggest lesson you think you learned from Michael?

SG: I learned so much. He taught me so much about his perfectionism and his longing to make everything he does better and better. He wanted to make himself and those around him the best they could ever be. And those who had the privilege to be around him were, uh, felt very privileged to be in his space because of all that you had to glean from everything he did.

Q: You had a bird’s eye view.

SG:  I watched everything he did every night on stage. He was amazing every night and his fans would never know the difference. But, let me tell you, there were some nights when we on stage would be watching him like those in the audience. And, we on stage, had to just give it up. We had to clap. We were like, damn. There were some nights he was just off the charts. He was just ridiculous. Just watching that and watching was he does every night..it was an experience I’ll never, ever, ever forget. It has enriched my life to this day. I can’t not think of him everyday. There is music in my life everyday. And, whether I want to think of him or not…..I can be sitting in my car and somebody pulls up next to me with the windows down and his song is on the radio.  He’s everywhere. He’s pervasive in my life. And, I will never ever stop thinking about him because he’s everywhere.

Q: Where were you when you got the news that Michael Jackson had passed?

SG: I was in my kitchen making lunch for myself and I got a call from my friend. At the time there was an ambulance being called and no one knew anything. We didn’t know what was happening. My friend’s wife called, so he had to get off the phone. By the time he called back, I had turned on the radio and started watching the television. By the time he called back, I was a mess.  I was in complete tears. I was a mess.

Q: He was truly a treasure.

SG: He was a gift, yes!  It’s funny you said that because in my new song, that was released recently, it’s called Keep On Lovin’ You. It’s my tribute to Michael and my answer to I Just Can’t Stop Loving You. There is a line in the song that goes, ‘You were a treasure, still you were treated so unkind, it used to blow my mind.’ I deeply feel that way about him. He was a treasure. He was a world treasure, not our treasure, not a national treasure, he was a treasure for the world. He will be sorely missed.

Q:  So can we download the song off of ITunes?

SG:  You can download it off my website – www.siedah.com.

KEEP ON LOVIN’ YOU

By; Siedah Garrett and Dapo Torimiro

KNOW I WAS NERVOUS

IF YOU WERE FEELING NERVOUS, TOO

I DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE

BUT YOU WERE THE REAL THING

AND I FOUND IT SO REFRESHING YOU

TURNED OUT TO BE SO COOL

I REMEMBER LIKE YESTERDAY

EVERYTHING YOU SHOWED ME

AND ALL THE THINGS YOU USED TO SAY

I LOVED YOU THEN,

AND I LOVE YOU STILL

GUESS I ALWAYS HAVE

AND ALWAYS WILL

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

EVERYTHING ELSE MAY CHANGE

BUT, NO MATTER WHAT I DO

I’M GONNA KEEP ON LOVIN’ YOU

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

KNOW I WAS NERVOUS

IF YOU WERE FEELING NERVOUS, TOO

I DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE

BUT YOU WERE THE REAL THING

AND I FOUND IT SO REFRESHING YOU

TURNED OUT TO BE SO COOL

I REMEMBER LIKE YESTERDAY

EVERYTHING YOU SHOWED ME

AND ALL THE THINGS YOU USED TO SAY

I LOVED YOU THEN,

AND I LOVE YOU STILL

GUESS I ALWAYS HAVE

AND ALWAYS WILL

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

EVERYTHING ELSE MAY CHANGE

BUT, NO MATTER WHAT I DO

I’M GONNA KEEP ON LOVIN’ YOU

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

I’LL SMILE WHEN I HEAR YOUR NAME

AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO

I’M GONNA KEEP ON LOVIN’ YOU

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

YOU WERE A TREASURE

STILL YOU WERE TREATED SO UNKIND

IT USED TO BLOW MY MIND

SOMETIMES I FEEL YOU

WHEN I HEAR YOUR BLESSING IN A RHYME

YOUR SPIRIT’S STILL ALIVE

I REMEMBER LIKE YESTERDAY

EVERYTHING YOU SHOWED ME

AND ALL THE THINGS YOU USED TO SAY

I LOVED YOU THEN,

AND I LOVE YOU STILL

I GUESS I ALWAYS HAVE

AND ALWAYS WILL

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

EVERYTHING ELSE MAY CHANGE

BUT, NO MATTER WHAT I DO

 I’M GONNA KEEP ON LOVIN’ YOU

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

I’LL SMILE WHEN I HEAR YOUR NAME

AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO

I’M GONNA KEEP ON LOVIN’ YOU

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

YOU’LL ALWAYS BE RIGHT HERE

‘CAUSE THE MAGIC IN YOUR MUSIC

LIVES IN ME, YEAH 

FOREVER ALIVE IN MY MIND

PLAYIN’ LIKE THE SOUNDTRACK

FROM ANOTHER LIFE AND TIME

© 2012 Siedah Garrett and Dapo Torimiro, All Rights Reserved

Q: Seidah, I understand you were a new songwriter signed to Quincy Jones when he announced that he needed one more song to complete Michael Jackson’s Bad album. I understand you have a rather funny story about how you found the words “Man in the Mirror” on a notebook that you had written sometime earlier.

SG: Yes, yes, it’s a good story. Anyway, I found those words on a notebook. My writing partner was playing something on the piano when a got a call. I couldn’t believe he took the call during our creative session, but he did. I started looking through a notebook I had. Sometime earlier I was with another friend of mine who happened to say the words “Man in the Mirror.” I wrote the words down because I thought they were interesting. Fast forward, I pick up the notebook while my friend is playing the piano and I see the words man in the mirror. I knew right then that I had something. I started writing it immediately. I had it written in about an hour. It was on a Friday when I finished the song, but I couldn’t wait to give it to Quincy on Monday, so I called him and asked if I could come over. He said, “no,” he was having a meeting. I asked him again. Again he said, “no.”  I said, Quincy, please, can I just bring it by. He said OK. I went over to his house with the cassette. Yes, it was a cassette. He answered the door and I saw 12 suits. They were looking at me like – ‘this better be important.’  I went home. I was cooking dinner when two or three hours later, Quincy called and told me it was the best song he had heard in 10 years.  I was so excited.

Q: So, what happened next?

SG: It was incredible. I was called and asked to come in. I went in and Quincy was talking on the phone. Every once and a while I would hear this other voice. Well, it turned out to be Michael. He was telling Quincy and me the changes he wanted to the song. Then I was asked to come to the studio one day, but they wouldn’t tell me why. I got there and was told that I was singing with Michael. What? I was going to sing with my idol. I was standing next to Michael Jackson. I was going to sing “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” with Michael Jackson. He told me he liked my voice.

Q: So, talk about the Spike Lee project.

SG: He is one of my favorite directors. I appreciate his work. He wanted to document the making of the Bad album and to celebrate its anniversary. He has all this behind the scenes stuff that is fabulous. It’s really good. He really got into the making of the Bad album. People will get to see some good stuff. Spike did a really good job. I think people will like it.