WEBVTT - The Spirited Actor - Dyana Williams 0:00:00.080 --> 0:00:03.280 Hello, and welcome to the Spirited Actor Podcast with me 0:00:03.520 --> 0:00:06.440 Tracy Moore. I was a casting director for film and 0:00:06.480 --> 0:00:10.600 TV and commercials for over thirty years. I transitioned to 0:00:10.640 --> 0:00:14.200 a celebrity acting coach after I cast a film New 0:00:14.280 --> 0:00:19.400 Jersey Drive with executive producers Spike Lee and director Nick Domez. 0:00:20.040 --> 0:00:24.439 I auditioned every rapper from biggiees Balls to Tupac, and 0:00:24.560 --> 0:00:28.200 I realized that rappers and musical artists they needed help 0:00:28.280 --> 0:00:32.600 transitioning to acting. My clients consist of musical artists from 0:00:32.760 --> 0:00:37.400 Buster Rhymes to Eve, Missy Elliott, Angela Yee from The 0:00:37.440 --> 0:00:41.120 Breakfast Club, and Vanessa Simmons to name a few. I 0:00:41.240 --> 0:00:45.080 also coach sports stars and host as well. I feel 0:00:45.280 --> 0:00:48.720 I have the best of both worlds. As a casting director, 0:00:48.760 --> 0:00:51.320 I know exactly what they're looking for, and as an 0:00:51.360 --> 0:00:53.800 acting coach, I can coach you to be remembered in 0:00:53.880 --> 0:00:57.080 that room. Now I know, I know actors want to 0:00:57.160 --> 0:01:00.200 get the job. I get that, but being remembered by 0:01:00.360 --> 0:01:05.280 casting director that is powerful. And now it's time for 0:01:05.400 --> 0:01:10.440 meditation of the day. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. 0:01:11.720 --> 0:01:19.960 Sometimes it rains. Ron Shelton, I love that every day 0:01:20.240 --> 0:01:24.240 is a surprise, expect the unexpected. 0:01:25.240 --> 0:01:26.880 Nothing says the same. 0:01:28.000 --> 0:01:32.880 Like a basketball player that pivots through their moves, we 0:01:33.280 --> 0:01:36.399 need to learn how to pivot through life, Pivot through 0:01:36.440 --> 0:01:42.000 the obstacles, pivot through the hurdles, and the most important. 0:01:41.600 --> 0:01:45.759 Thing is to know that this too shall pass. 0:01:47.480 --> 0:01:55.320 And this is a teachable lesson, a teachable moment today, 0:01:57.640 --> 0:02:05.480 I will continue lifing in good spirits. Before we get started, 0:02:05.720 --> 0:02:08.840 I like to remind everyone to go to Krackical Network 0:02:08.919 --> 0:02:12.880 to view seasons one and two of my show Inside 0:02:12.919 --> 0:02:15.840 the Black Box that I co host with the great 0:02:16.320 --> 0:02:21.720 Emmy Award winning Joe Morton. Look out for news on 0:02:21.960 --> 0:02:26.840 season three soon. Welcome to the Spirited Actor Podcast with 0:02:26.960 --> 0:02:27.880 me Tracy Moore. 0:02:28.000 --> 0:02:30.040 I am always excited to. 0:02:30.080 --> 0:02:37.880 Meet legends, living legends, people that I am standing on 0:02:37.960 --> 0:02:42.840 their shoulders proudly and prayerfully and a good light because 0:02:43.320 --> 0:02:46.120 they paved the way. And these are people that you 0:02:46.320 --> 0:02:50.320 need to know and honor in this industry. And this woman, 0:02:52.000 --> 0:02:54.760 all I can say is that she is multi hyphenated 0:02:55.240 --> 0:02:57.280 and we it's a blessing that we'll be able to 0:02:57.320 --> 0:03:00.720 get all of us in but radio and television personality 0:03:00.919 --> 0:03:06.119 celebrity media coach and so so so many more. Oh 0:03:06.200 --> 0:03:08.960 my god, ladies and gentlemen, I want you to put 0:03:08.960 --> 0:03:13.000 your hands together, stand up for Deanna William. 0:03:14.360 --> 0:03:19.760 No, that's you, that's you. You. No, you sit down comfortably. 0:03:19.880 --> 0:03:27.240 We stand it up for you. Good day. Unbelievable. When 0:03:27.320 --> 0:03:31.600 I first read everything about you, it's. 0:03:31.440 --> 0:03:37.480 Not enough to squeeze into twenty eight minutes, And nor 0:03:37.480 --> 0:03:40.320 would I want to, because I would want to honor 0:03:40.400 --> 0:03:41.800 every step of your career. 0:03:43.080 --> 0:03:44.000 There's so many. 0:03:43.800 --> 0:03:47.880 Things that are important that especially this younger generation needs 0:03:47.920 --> 0:03:52.120 to know. And the first question that spirit said Tracy 0:03:52.280 --> 0:03:56.920 asked her is what type of work ethic do you 0:03:57.240 --> 0:03:59.600 need to accomplish. 0:03:58.960 --> 0:04:04.280 What you have and continue to accomplish in this industry? Well, 0:04:04.320 --> 0:04:07.360 according to my children, my grown children. 0:04:08.000 --> 0:04:10.760 And you need to have more time because my children 0:04:10.800 --> 0:04:13.680 are now telling me, and they're in their forties, Mama, 0:04:14.280 --> 0:04:15.520 you know you aren't there. 0:04:15.320 --> 0:04:15.840 All the time. 0:04:15.920 --> 0:04:20.560 I'm like, excuse you, young people, grown up? When I 0:04:20.640 --> 0:04:23.080 was seeing a concert, where were you? I asked my 0:04:23.160 --> 0:04:26.640 daughter this the other day? She said in the wings? Mommy, 0:04:26.680 --> 0:04:28.400 I said, and how long was I on stage? 0:04:28.520 --> 0:04:29.560 Only a few minutes? 0:04:30.160 --> 0:04:32.360 Or we were in your dressing room, or we were 0:04:32.360 --> 0:04:34.960 in the studio or we were home with Daddy. 0:04:35.440 --> 0:04:38.280 But I'm getting adult complaints that. 0:04:39.760 --> 0:04:44.000 Diligence, hard work and more time and learning of balance 0:04:44.120 --> 0:04:44.920 because if I had. 0:04:44.800 --> 0:04:46.880 To do it all over again, which you don't get. 0:04:46.800 --> 0:04:54.359 Dueovers, right, Just a very strong work ethic, diligence to 0:04:54.520 --> 0:04:56.520 accomplish whatever the mission is that. 0:04:56.440 --> 0:04:58.880 You have set out for yourself and your team. 0:05:00.040 --> 0:05:04.159 I just want to talk because you've accomplished in one 0:05:04.240 --> 0:05:07.200 lifetime at least. And I know people have said this 0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:10.880 like ten lifetimes, maybe more careers. 0:05:12.080 --> 0:05:17.760 You know, like what is and work ethic is so important. 0:05:17.760 --> 0:05:22.360 But to hold that vision of yourself in every aspect, 0:05:22.400 --> 0:05:22.760 how do. 0:05:22.720 --> 0:05:24.600 You do that well? 0:05:24.640 --> 0:05:29.520 I've been inspired by my achieving parents. My mother, a 0:05:29.560 --> 0:05:34.760 college professor, taught nursing. Public health was her area of specialty. 0:05:34.920 --> 0:05:37.880 She also was part of the team that contributed to 0:05:38.000 --> 0:05:41.000 writing the hippo laws when we go to the hospital 0:05:41.040 --> 0:05:44.640 of the doctor's office, our privacy. My mother was part 0:05:44.720 --> 0:05:47.960 of that team and she herself was a very very 0:05:47.960 --> 0:05:53.039 hard worker. So from observation of my parents of setting 0:05:53.080 --> 0:05:57.120 goals and achieving, my parents had goals very early and 0:05:57.160 --> 0:06:02.120 they married as teenagers. Home they bought a car, you know, 0:06:02.200 --> 0:06:06.400 the American dream, things that most of us pursue. So 0:06:06.560 --> 0:06:09.960 I learned from my mother's mother, who helped to raise me, 0:06:10.120 --> 0:06:10.920 was a homemaker. 0:06:11.240 --> 0:06:12.680 But what a profession. 0:06:13.160 --> 0:06:16.520 What a great cook and homemaker and attent to her 0:06:16.560 --> 0:06:21.080 family's needs, A righteous profession that we downplay in the 0:06:21.520 --> 0:06:27.680 different times. I come from a family of achievers, of 0:06:27.680 --> 0:06:32.479 of thinkers and doers, and they instilled in me the 0:06:32.560 --> 0:06:35.360 values and principles of dream. 0:06:35.920 --> 0:06:38.400 And you can achieve and do the work, and you 0:06:38.440 --> 0:06:41.760 can make it happen. And you've done the work. 0:06:43.160 --> 0:06:46.159 Let's talk about your love for music, because just in 0:06:46.320 --> 0:06:49.880 reading about you and your bio, I could feel your 0:06:50.040 --> 0:06:53.960 love and passion about music, Tracy that. 0:06:53.920 --> 0:06:54.920 Comes from my father. 0:06:55.040 --> 0:06:57.520 My father grew up and called Pepper Virginia in the South, 0:06:58.000 --> 0:07:00.760 and he was the music lover. Not to say my 0:07:00.760 --> 0:07:03.719 mother did not like music, because she does. I caught 0:07:03.720 --> 0:07:07.719 her singing the other day. But my father listened to 0:07:07.760 --> 0:07:10.640 the radio all the time and was in tune to 0:07:10.720 --> 0:07:14.320 the music of the times. So I heard Motown, I 0:07:14.400 --> 0:07:17.840 heard you name it. I heard it because my daddy 0:07:17.920 --> 0:07:21.240 was playing it in the house on the radio and 0:07:21.320 --> 0:07:25.080 in our car. So that instilled and planted the seeds 0:07:25.120 --> 0:07:28.080 and me for an appreciation, I might add more than 0:07:28.120 --> 0:07:31.120 an appreciation because it's it's a higher level than that. 0:07:31.560 --> 0:07:36.920 It's a passion, It's an obsession and a passion to 0:07:37.040 --> 0:07:40.800 get the majesty of black music, the culture that we 0:07:40.840 --> 0:07:44.040 have elevated, first of all created here in America, and 0:07:44.080 --> 0:07:46.000 that we've been all over the planet. 0:07:46.240 --> 0:07:49.040 And I might add tracy to other galaxies. 0:07:49.480 --> 0:07:55.160 Black music and soul is a yes, yes where throughout 0:07:55.200 --> 0:07:58.880 wherever there is life, black music is present and culture 0:07:59.000 --> 0:08:03.440 the culture that goes, which is the language, the fashion. 0:08:04.240 --> 0:08:08.000 I mean, you name it TikTok is on black dance 0:08:08.360 --> 0:08:09.000 and black people. 0:08:09.760 --> 0:08:11.320 Oh my god, I didn't. 0:08:11.160 --> 0:08:14.440 Talk about that enough, But that's the truth I have 0:08:14.520 --> 0:08:14.960 to say. 0:08:15.240 --> 0:08:18.520 And especially with I don't know if it's because of 0:08:18.600 --> 0:08:20.560 Chris Brown with sensation. 0:08:20.800 --> 0:08:23.720 But this viral effect of. 0:08:23.760 --> 0:08:31.240 African beats and the movement of African authentic African movement, Everybody, 0:08:31.440 --> 0:08:36.240 I mean everybody is embracing that movement right now. 0:08:36.520 --> 0:08:40.600 It's unbelievable how and I understand. 0:08:40.840 --> 0:08:43.640 But African music at the core, it is at the 0:08:43.720 --> 0:08:48.840 root when you consider that our ancestors were brought from 0:08:49.280 --> 0:08:54.400 the motherland in France, Africa. So the beat the presence 0:08:54.520 --> 0:08:58.959 the DNA, I should say of Africa is it is, 0:08:59.600 --> 0:09:04.880 It's and it's inside of all the genres gospel, R 0:09:04.920 --> 0:09:11.480 and B, jazz, hip hop. Black is African rooted? 0:09:12.080 --> 0:09:12.320 Right? 0:09:14.520 --> 0:09:21.319 Your voice is so trusting and cuity tell us how 0:09:21.920 --> 0:09:29.600 your radio career took off the beginnings, and because there's 0:09:29.640 --> 0:09:33.800 this thing about radio right and we don't have it 0:09:33.840 --> 0:09:36.160 as much as we used to in a sense of 0:09:36.640 --> 0:09:38.959 you know, I miss so many. 0:09:38.679 --> 0:09:40.360 Of my radio personalities. 0:09:40.440 --> 0:09:43.960 And you were from WBLS to kiss When I first 0:09:44.000 --> 0:09:46.200 came here, I was in eighty three. 0:09:46.520 --> 0:09:48.719 I was introduced to Franky Cracker and. 0:09:50.400 --> 0:09:55.160 So what because there's a different relationship that an audience 0:09:55.280 --> 0:09:58.840 has with a radio personality and we don't see you 0:09:58.880 --> 0:09:59.600 and we don't. 0:09:59.440 --> 0:10:03.360 Really kind of interact. What is that? 0:10:03.520 --> 0:10:07.560 And how can if we have future you know, VJs 0:10:07.640 --> 0:10:13.160 on right now, how do they how do they train? 0:10:13.320 --> 0:10:15.280 What is the protocol for that? 0:10:15.600 --> 0:10:18.280 Well, I would say so for me, I've been doing 0:10:18.400 --> 0:10:20.520 radio since nineteen seventy two. 0:10:20.720 --> 0:10:22.240 I've been doing it for a minute. 0:10:22.600 --> 0:10:25.439 And when I first started, there were very few black 0:10:25.480 --> 0:10:29.880 women in the in radio and broadcasting. There were two 0:10:30.080 --> 0:10:32.320 however that I got to listen to frequently. I grew 0:10:32.360 --> 0:10:34.520 up in Harlem in New York. I'm a name of 0:10:34.520 --> 0:10:37.040 New Yorker, although I've been in Philadelphia, which is. 0:10:37.480 --> 0:10:40.679 Well Philly too. Philly love Philly as well. 0:10:41.200 --> 0:10:44.880 But Kricky Crocker, when you mentioned him, he hired two women, 0:10:45.480 --> 0:10:48.560 Lamar Renee and Vy Higginson. And those were the two 0:10:48.679 --> 0:10:52.240 that I listened to first on w l IB FM 0:10:52.360 --> 0:10:56.920 before it became WBLS one oh seven point five, where 0:10:56.960 --> 0:10:59.960 I work when I turned twenty one. But I started 0:11:00.080 --> 0:11:03.800 at my broadcast career in Washington, DC. When I'm talking 0:11:03.800 --> 0:11:06.120 about when I got a check on the regular with. 0:11:06.200 --> 0:11:09.720 Help, that's important, yes it is. 0:11:10.280 --> 0:11:12.000 But the two women that I heard, and the woman 0:11:12.040 --> 0:11:14.640 that inspired me and motivated me the most tracy was 0:11:14.679 --> 0:11:19.600 by Higginson, who, from her theater background with directing and producing, 0:11:19.640 --> 0:11:23.880 Mama I want to sing on her sister Doris Troy. 0:11:24.520 --> 0:11:28.600 Just One Look was her big hit record, and so 0:11:28.640 --> 0:11:32.120 By Higginson is my person. And then very early in 0:11:32.160 --> 0:11:34.760 my career at w h R, I met a woman 0:11:34.800 --> 0:11:38.960 who would become one of the biggest imprints on me 0:11:39.440 --> 0:11:42.480 character wise, personally and professionally. 0:11:42.800 --> 0:11:44.240 And her name is Kathy Hughes. 0:11:44.360 --> 0:11:47.800 Kathy Hughes is the owner of Radio one, Urban one, 0:11:47.840 --> 0:11:51.600 TV one, most things with the one in it, including 0:11:51.640 --> 0:11:52.280 the dollar bill. 0:11:52.920 --> 0:11:54.959 Okay, she's got lots of those. 0:11:55.520 --> 0:11:59.280 And she and I met in nineteen seventy three when 0:11:59.320 --> 0:12:03.319 I started a whur and she is still to this 0:12:03.440 --> 0:12:06.280 day one of my biggest inspirations and a best friend 0:12:06.480 --> 0:12:06.920 as well. 0:12:07.080 --> 0:12:09.240 Wow, Kathy Hughes. 0:12:12.240 --> 0:12:16.320 When you both actually you and Kathy hust But in 0:12:16.440 --> 0:12:23.359 navigating through this industry in nineteen seventy two, how challenging 0:12:23.840 --> 0:12:28.280 was it as a black woman and what changes do 0:12:28.400 --> 0:12:29.280 you see today? 0:12:30.400 --> 0:12:32.079 Well, it was very challenging, Tracy. 0:12:32.160 --> 0:12:35.120 When I started, there were, like I said, very few women, 0:12:35.480 --> 0:12:37.880 and we didn't have the internet, so I had to 0:12:37.880 --> 0:12:39.880 go to the library to do research when I was 0:12:39.920 --> 0:12:44.560 sending my audition tape to black oriented radio stations around 0:12:44.559 --> 0:12:48.520 the country, and women then were not given the same 0:12:48.600 --> 0:12:52.040 level of consideration that they are given now. Back in 0:12:52.160 --> 0:12:54.760 the seventies, you would never put two women back. 0:12:54.600 --> 0:12:57.520 To back on the station. That just was. 0:12:57.679 --> 0:13:01.520 It was almost like an unspoken over to taboo. But 0:13:01.679 --> 0:13:05.800 now there are stations where you'll hear women in the 0:13:05.800 --> 0:13:09.400 morning do a morning drive to women back to back 0:13:09.440 --> 0:13:12.880 on the air for instance, here in Philadelphia wdas Patty 0:13:13.000 --> 0:13:16.080 Jackson has been on the radio for over thirty five years, 0:13:16.559 --> 0:13:20.440 and following her is another veteran, Frankie Darcel, who was 0:13:20.559 --> 0:13:23.440 really big in Detroit but has been in Philadelphia for 0:13:23.480 --> 0:13:26.320 the last decade. They're on back to back. That would 0:13:26.320 --> 0:13:29.120 have never happened when I first started in radio. So 0:13:29.200 --> 0:13:33.120 things have changed enormously, and again I would have to 0:13:33.120 --> 0:13:37.199 say with technology and the Internet, it changed things radically 0:13:37.360 --> 0:13:41.240 in radio, as you well know, Tracy. Now people can 0:13:41.280 --> 0:13:45.600 get their music through streaming services from Amazon Music, title, 0:13:47.559 --> 0:13:53.880 Apple Music, Bob. You know, people have options and even 0:13:54.080 --> 0:13:58.600 radio stations that they can program themselves or create playlist. 0:13:59.120 --> 0:14:00.920 So the landscape and. 0:14:01.040 --> 0:14:03.840 Radio is very different now than it was when I 0:14:03.880 --> 0:14:06.240 first started five decades ago. 0:14:08.040 --> 0:14:09.559 So I wanted to ask. 0:14:09.360 --> 0:14:12.840 You, because of music, your music background, what happened to 0:14:13.120 --> 0:14:17.360 R and B. I feel like something happened in the 0:14:17.559 --> 0:14:18.840 early nineties. 0:14:22.040 --> 0:14:23.960 Yeah, you're right, something did happen. 0:14:24.000 --> 0:14:26.960 It was called the hybrid and the merging of genres, 0:14:27.280 --> 0:14:29.560 and that merger was Mary J. 0:14:29.680 --> 0:14:32.760 Blige, R and B, hip hop soul. 0:14:33.480 --> 0:14:39.240 You know, at the beginning of more rap artists utilizing hooks, 0:14:39.360 --> 0:14:43.000 and R and B singers like Faith Evans. Even she 0:14:43.120 --> 0:14:46.640 was the first lady of bad Boy Records. She sang 0:14:46.680 --> 0:14:49.520 straight up R and B. But then her husband Biggie 0:14:49.560 --> 0:14:53.200 Small's hip hop and the elevation of artists like Tupac 0:14:53.360 --> 0:14:57.160 Nas jay Z. The list is long, and not very 0:14:57.160 --> 0:15:01.600 many women in that list, But the dominance of hip 0:15:01.600 --> 0:15:03.680 hop is what happened to R and B. And I 0:15:03.760 --> 0:15:07.200 might add that R and B has always continued. It 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:12.920 continues to exist as artists in this generation like October London, 0:15:13.800 --> 0:15:20.840 Friday from Philadelphia, Jasmine Sullivan still exist. It's just the 0:15:20.960 --> 0:15:25.200 number one genre worldwide is hip hop music all over 0:15:25.240 --> 0:15:29.400 the planet and it's just such a strong, powerful genre 0:15:29.520 --> 0:15:33.040 that it even dominated rock music, which at one time 0:15:33.560 --> 0:15:37.520 was the prevailing genre. So that's what happened to R 0:15:37.560 --> 0:15:41.440 and B music. It got diminished, but it potent genre 0:15:41.560 --> 0:15:45.360 in my opinion. And listen, I listened to it all 0:15:45.400 --> 0:15:48.280 the time. I listened to everything I'm listening to day 0:15:48.440 --> 0:15:51.400 right and Andre Day has a beautiful new album called 0:15:51.440 --> 0:15:53.720 Cassandra Girl. I was in the shower the other day 0:15:53.760 --> 0:15:59.280 listening to the Kravitz album Okay, how is that? Highly recommended? 0:16:00.080 --> 0:16:00.880 Okay Okay? 0:16:01.000 --> 0:16:03.120 Long Eleve album. 0:16:03.680 --> 0:16:05.760 And he felt in my house play it for me 0:16:05.880 --> 0:16:07.200 anytime he wants. 0:16:07.440 --> 0:16:08.920 Okay, you and Gail King. 0:16:09.040 --> 0:16:14.600 I'm just saying because out the way, Gail go go on, No, 0:16:14.760 --> 0:16:17.080 Sherry Shepherd is the one we got to be concerned about. 0:16:17.240 --> 0:16:22.160 Oh yeah, yeah yeah on Lenny Kravins. Yeah yeah, y'all 0:16:22.200 --> 0:16:23.680 got this a bitty world. 0:16:23.800 --> 0:16:27.840 I got a third but whatever, the album is great. 0:16:28.680 --> 0:16:31.080 Oh my god, I'm definitely gonna pick up because I 0:16:31.560 --> 0:16:33.440 was like, I got to get the new Lenny Kravins. 0:16:34.840 --> 0:16:37.840 You coming from a family, really it feels like so 0:16:37.960 --> 0:16:42.120 much at first or being a part of like monumental events. 0:16:42.400 --> 0:16:45.280 What how are you inspired to be a part of 0:16:45.320 --> 0:16:48.280 the black creating Black History Month? Because I feel like, 0:16:49.280 --> 0:16:53.400 you know, we have allegedly Black History. 0:16:53.160 --> 0:16:56.400 Month that just really flies by. I mean I. 0:16:57.440 --> 0:17:03.040 Don't feel I feel closer and more in tune with 0:17:03.200 --> 0:17:08.320 black music, yeah than I do Black Music Month than 0:17:08.320 --> 0:17:13.240 I do with Black History. So what was the inspiration? 0:17:13.400 --> 0:17:15.800 Because thank you so much, thank you for being a 0:17:15.840 --> 0:17:18.080 part and highlighting our music. 0:17:19.359 --> 0:17:22.120 Well, Black History Month is twenty eight days, that's why 0:17:22.160 --> 0:17:22.920 you might feel. 0:17:22.960 --> 0:17:24.040 So connected to it. 0:17:24.480 --> 0:17:29.560 And every year they recycled the same black Yeah, when 0:17:29.600 --> 0:17:32.760 the reality is there's so many more people living and 0:17:33.200 --> 0:17:37.480 who have transitioned that have made sizeable contributions to not. 0:17:37.400 --> 0:17:39.240 Just black history, American history. 0:17:39.280 --> 0:17:44.120 We know that American history and black history are one 0:17:44.160 --> 0:17:48.400 and the same, or although it's gotten diminished in our 0:17:48.560 --> 0:17:52.520 educational system teaching people about the contributions of black people. 0:17:52.520 --> 0:17:55.480 But to answer your question, Tracy, that it first must 0:17:55.520 --> 0:17:58.960 go to my ex Kenny Gamble, one of the architects 0:17:59.200 --> 0:18:02.120 of the Sound of Philadelphia with his partners. 0:18:01.800 --> 0:18:03.320 Leon Hot and Tom Bell. 0:18:03.760 --> 0:18:06.080 But it was Kenny Gamble who thought of the idea 0:18:06.560 --> 0:18:09.560 of having a month where we can highlight. 0:18:09.560 --> 0:18:13.240 It doesn't do that. After June we forget about black music. No, 0:18:13.359 --> 0:18:15.119 because we wake up to black music. 0:18:15.520 --> 0:18:18.439 We were driving in the car when we go to 0:18:18.480 --> 0:18:22.400 the dentist's office, the supermarket, you're hearing black music all 0:18:22.480 --> 0:18:26.840 day long, and it is used by major companies to 0:18:26.920 --> 0:18:31.760 sell us everything from toothpaste to beer, to cars and 0:18:31.880 --> 0:18:35.119 anything else that a consumer can purchase. So it was 0:18:35.119 --> 0:18:39.120 initially Kenny's idea. We were together at that time, we 0:18:39.119 --> 0:18:44.320 were a couple, we have three children, and he it 0:18:44.400 --> 0:18:49.040 was his idea and I ran with it even further 0:18:49.440 --> 0:18:53.119 to the point where many years after the establishment of 0:18:53.160 --> 0:18:56.720 Black Music I went to the White House as President 0:18:56.800 --> 0:19:00.600 Bill Clinton to host an event much like Presidentjimmy Carter 0:19:01.040 --> 0:19:05.080 had done June seventh, seventy nine on the south lawn 0:19:05.080 --> 0:19:07.880 of the White House. Jimmy Carter was the first American 0:19:07.920 --> 0:19:11.920 president to declare June Black Music Month, at the instigation 0:19:12.119 --> 0:19:17.400 of the Black Music Association, also established by my ex 0:19:17.520 --> 0:19:22.040 Kenny Gamble, and it's being re energized and reimagined right 0:19:22.080 --> 0:19:27.520 now by our oldest son, Khalif Gamble. He is revitalized 0:19:27.520 --> 0:19:32.760 Black Music Association. So that happened in nineteen seventy three. However, 0:19:33.640 --> 0:19:37.080 the White House encouraged me to get legislation saying you 0:19:37.440 --> 0:19:39.960 Black Music Month. I was able to do that after 0:19:40.000 --> 0:19:44.760 several years of knocking on doors, writing letters on Capitol Hill, 0:19:45.160 --> 0:19:51.120 walking into congressional and senatorial offices, the process of lobbying. 0:19:51.560 --> 0:19:53.600 But I will tell you this much, Tracy, I'm a 0:19:53.600 --> 0:19:57.600 pretty passionate sister when it comes to Black folk and 0:19:57.640 --> 0:20:00.959 our music in particular. And after several years of lobbying, 0:20:01.440 --> 0:20:05.760 I was successful, working with Congressman Shaka Fatav and Senator 0:20:05.840 --> 0:20:08.400 Arlen Spector, who by the way, was a Republican senator 0:20:08.600 --> 0:20:13.240 who gave his support to me, Wow, and we got 0:20:13.280 --> 0:20:18.280 it passed. And every American president since has issued a 0:20:18.280 --> 0:20:25.600 proclamation urging American citizens to show appreciation of our culture. 0:20:25.560 --> 0:20:26.480 And black music. 0:20:26.600 --> 0:20:30.040 And it's one of my proudest, most proud moments. So 0:20:30.280 --> 0:20:34.720 ed wright, Kenny Gamble, myself, his partner Leon Huff very 0:20:34.760 --> 0:20:38.399 supportive of the movement. And it is an opportunity for 0:20:38.520 --> 0:20:40.880 all of us. If you have a pulse, it's an 0:20:40.920 --> 0:20:44.280 opportunity for you to celebrate and recognize because you're a 0:20:44.320 --> 0:20:47.800 consumer and your part celebration of black music. 0:20:47.880 --> 0:20:53.200 Mom, I mean, I just honor you. I'm so grateful 0:20:53.320 --> 0:20:55.879 that you know, I know it wasn't easy, and I 0:20:55.920 --> 0:20:59.080 know it's something that you have to and especially government, 0:20:59.200 --> 0:21:01.080 you have to stay on and be persistent. 0:21:01.160 --> 0:21:02.400 So I appreciate love that. 0:21:02.880 --> 0:21:06.240 On your journey and they and just like you said 0:21:06.240 --> 0:21:10.760 at the appreciation, you know it's not when you think 0:21:10.800 --> 0:21:16.479 about the contributions of black people in America, you know, 0:21:16.720 --> 0:21:19.760 it's about being acknowledged, It's about being appreciated. 0:21:19.840 --> 0:21:21.080 It's about you. 0:21:21.000 --> 0:21:26.959 Know, you know, not taking the credit and you know, 0:21:27.119 --> 0:21:32.800 being greedy about sharing and wanting other people to prosper 0:21:32.880 --> 0:21:36.840 as well. So, and I have a homework assignment that 0:21:36.880 --> 0:21:39.639 you would love in my class, and I asked the 0:21:39.680 --> 0:21:44.280 actors to put together the soundtrack for their life. And yeah, 0:21:44.480 --> 0:21:48.280 and I do all the assignments I did in myself 0:21:49.600 --> 0:21:52.199 when I used to be on the road with my 0:21:52.280 --> 0:21:55.560 clients on films and traveling all the time. You know, 0:21:56.040 --> 0:21:59.840 I needed like this music at six o'clock, well four o'clock. 0:21:59.480 --> 0:22:01.320 In the morning to get me going and get my 0:22:01.359 --> 0:22:01.960 mind right. 0:22:02.720 --> 0:22:06.760 Brownstone, If you Love Me, that was my song that 0:22:07.000 --> 0:22:09.919 just got me, you know, in the car, out the house, 0:22:10.800 --> 0:22:15.359 and then you know, just sort of shaped it as that, 0:22:15.800 --> 0:22:19.680 you know, I have a go to that just guaranteed. 0:22:19.880 --> 0:22:24.760 So that's something that we do and I love doing that. 0:22:24.720 --> 0:22:28.040 Because I feel like music, especially in film and TV, 0:22:28.320 --> 0:22:32.040 is a character, you know, and what however we put 0:22:32.040 --> 0:22:33.840 it under the bed of the scene, it could drive 0:22:33.880 --> 0:22:38.800 the scene, scare you whatever. So I agree, music is 0:22:38.920 --> 0:22:43.000 just an amazing part of our life. It's every aspect. 0:22:43.040 --> 0:22:43.920 But I think about it. 0:22:44.240 --> 0:22:48.479 Yeah, it's a universal language that's overstood by people. 0:22:48.640 --> 0:22:49.240 I have gone. 0:22:49.760 --> 0:22:52.479 I remember when I first traveled to Japan, I was 0:22:52.480 --> 0:22:55.719 producing a USO tour with Philip Bailey, the lead singer 0:22:55.840 --> 0:23:00.240 of earth Wind, and we were there with a fire. 0:23:00.720 --> 0:23:04.119 We were there to entertain the troops. We went to 0:23:04.160 --> 0:23:09.000 five military installations and Guam and when we landed. When 0:23:09.000 --> 0:23:17.040 I landed, immediately I saw Japanese people singing lyrics to 0:23:18.119 --> 0:23:21.760 black music. But these people didn't they couldn't speak the language, 0:23:21.880 --> 0:23:27.640 but they so the feeling, the thief and the energy 0:23:27.880 --> 0:23:31.840 of the music conveys same thing. When I went to Brazil, 0:23:31.960 --> 0:23:35.159 I landed in Rio, and what did I hear? I 0:23:35.240 --> 0:23:37.720 heard earth Wind and Fire as soon as I landed. 0:23:38.080 --> 0:23:39.639 When I got out of the airport, I was like 0:23:40.640 --> 0:23:45.040 I went to Senegal into Akra and Ghana that I 0:23:45.080 --> 0:23:47.399 hear I heard American hip hop music. 0:23:48.000 --> 0:23:49.520 It's mind blowing when. 0:23:49.359 --> 0:23:53.679 You travel and you ask our music and you see and. 0:23:53.560 --> 0:23:57.240 You feel our culture awful. 0:23:57.320 --> 0:24:01.240 So I know that being an actor of this for 0:24:01.440 --> 0:24:04.840 our music and our culture is the right God I 0:24:04.840 --> 0:24:07.879 got fitted. God fitted me in that position to be 0:24:07.920 --> 0:24:12.679 an advocate. Naturally, it's my skill set with desire and 0:24:12.760 --> 0:24:17.879 passion and biess to advocate for this incredible force that 0:24:17.880 --> 0:24:19.360 we call black music and culture. 0:24:20.760 --> 0:24:23.880 And you know, again, we're so grateful to you because 0:24:24.240 --> 0:24:31.440 it sets, you know, with with everyone specifically you know, uh, 0:24:31.480 --> 0:24:34.800 these governors who are going into schools and taking out 0:24:34.800 --> 0:24:38.920 books and languages and history. It's so important that we 0:24:39.680 --> 0:24:44.720 hold on to our music history because there was It's 0:24:44.760 --> 0:24:47.600 the pulse of who we are, you know. 0:24:48.040 --> 0:24:51.280 And Duke Ellington, It's the Lena Horns, it's the sound, 0:24:51.640 --> 0:24:55.680 and it's the Grover Washington's. It's all of these great 0:24:55.720 --> 0:24:58.639 people who give us literally what I would describe as 0:24:58.720 --> 0:25:01.959 the soundtrack to our lives. It's like you described waking 0:25:02.040 --> 0:25:03.800