3/12/17 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY- CELEBRATING WOMEN’S MONTH: Mahalia Jackson- How Great Thou Art

Mahalia Jackson sings How Great Thou Art. From her first million-copy seller in 1946 until her death in 1972 Mahalia Jackson (born 1911) was the face and voice of gospel music for millions around the world. These television appearances from 1957 to 1962 catch her at her vocal and interpretive peak.  Continue reading

8/24/17 O&A NYC DIVA ALERT! ENCORE PERFORMANCE: Tina Turner- What Love Got To Do With It- 1985 Grammy Awards Show

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Tina Turner taught the world how to walk in high heel shoes. At the 1985 Grammy Awards telecast Turner performed What’s Love Got To Do With It and made one of the biggest comeback in music history.   Continue reading

3/9/17 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH- THROWBACK THURSDAY: Ike and Tina Turner Revue- Proud Mary and River Deep Mountain High (original 1966 promo)


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Late in 1970, while on break from touring in Florida, the band recorded their cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Proud Mary. The song was released the following January and became the duo’s best-selling single, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling well over a million copies. The song earned the group a 1971 Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.  Continue reading

3/8/17 O&A NYC DANCE: Misty Copeland On Changing The Face Of Ballet

Misty Copeland said “I never thought I could make a career out of something I enjoyed doing something I was passionate about, something that gave me a voice”  Copeland is the first African Americans to become a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Continue reading

3/7/17 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY- CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Judith Jamison- 22nd Kennedy Center Honors

Morgan Freeman introduces honoree Judith Jamison at the 22nd Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. Continue reading

3/6/17 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH- SONG OF THE DAY: Billie Holiday – God Bless The Child


In her autobiography Lady Sings the Blues Billie Holiday indicated an argument with her mother over money led to the song.

She states that during the argument her mother said “God bless the child that’s got his own.” The anger over the incident led her to turn that line into a starting point for a song, which she worked out in conjunction with Herzog

Billie Holiday – God Bless The Child 

3/6/17 O&A NYC CELEBRATNG WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH- HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Lena Horne, Hazel Scott And Eleanor Powell in I Dood It (1943)

Lena Horne, and Hazel Scott played themselves in I Dood It the 1943 musical-comedy film starring Red Skelton and Eleanor Powell. Continue reading

3/1/17 O&A NYC CELEBRATES WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Lena Horne- Honeysuckle Rose With Benny Carter And His Orchestra (1943)

Lena Horne performs Honeysuckle Rose with Benny Carter And His Orchestra from the 1943 MGM musical Thousands Cheer. Continue reading

3/31/16 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH THROWBACK THURSDAY: Paula Abdul – Opposites Attract

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Celebrating
paula_abdul_recreate_2_1_1437649905Opposites Attract, recorded by Paula Abdul and written and produced by Oliver Leiber, appeared on her debut album Forever Your Girl.  In the music video Abdul dances with cartoon character MC Skat Kat, voiced by The Wild Pair, Bruce DeShazer and Marvin Gunn. The music video includes an intro rap performed by Romany Malco. Continue reading