D'Lance Jones • Forever With You

The coolest thing about following people like JD Doyle of Queer Music Heritage, Len Rogers of OutVoice. Bill Northrup of Pride Schowcase, and Marlee Walchuk of RightOutTV, is the great new music and artists from the LGBT community they bring to my life. This morning, I have Marlee to thank for exposing me to D'Lance Jones, an artist with a great new song turning up the heat on marriage equality. And judging from the cover shot (seen above), he is just the man to get that done.

D'Lance Jones is an out and proud artist who combines R&B with Soul to make a rich experience for whomever is smart enough to purchase his music. "Forever With You" is both sweet and sexy, an amorous ballad that had me smiling, and maybe even feeling a little warmer than I was before I hit play. It is a love song for the ages, a proposal that will restore your faith in love. And the music video is a perfect complement, letting us watch two men in love, as they are about to join together on a journey that is made possible by marriage equality. The music video was directed by Theshay West, and features the handsome Jones, who wrote this beautiful song. I hope you enjoy D'Lance Jones on "Forever With You".

You know this one went into my playlists immediately. You can purchase "Forever With You" from iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about D'lance Jones, you can check him out on his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook and 'follow' him on Twitter.

Adam Joseph • Pride (A Deeper Love)

I am a big fan of the very talented Adam Joseph for a bit now, since I first came across his music video for "Flow With The Soul", his first single. As an out and proud gay man, Adam has never shied away from themes and topics that address his life. His sexy R&B stylings have kept me warm on many a winter night, and made some steamy summer nights a bit cooler. He recently posted a video on YouTube which celebrates moments in recent history that all members of the LGBT community should be proud to witness. And the song he wrote for the occasion is just magnificent. This is singer/songwriter Adam Joseph with "Pride (A Deeper Love)".

For more about Adam Joseph, visit him on his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter. Adam's latest album, 'Love Philosophy', is available for purchase on iTunes, or on Amazon. You can purchase his first album, 'How I Seem To Be', from iTunes, CD Baby, or Amazon. And don't forget there is plenty to be proud of, and to celebrate!

Adam Joseph • Love Philosophy

I remember several years ago when I first came across the music of Adam Joseph. I happened upon the music video for "Flow With My Soul" on YouTube, and just loved it. I had no option, I had to find out more. I went to iTunes and downloaded "How I Seem To Be", and devoured it with pleasure. It is an excellent album, and kept me on the look out for more from this talented young man. In 2007, I got the delicious "Faggoty Attention", and in 2009 there was the holiday treat, "Taking You Home (For Christmas)". Then, in 2011, he released a cover of "Finally" that was so sexy. And in 2012, he released "Turn Me Out", an driven dance track. But I was still waiting for that new album, watching reports of Adam playing shows in Europe, and contributing to the work of others, like Sir Ari Gold, Lem Springsteen, Alex Kassel, and several others.

But then I saw the announcement that Adam was back in the studio, working on a new album. It is called 'Love Philosophy', and it reminds me of the very reasons I fell in love with Adam and his music those years ago. 'How I Seem To Be' had a sexy and sultry feel, speaking from the heart and more. It started with the first track, "Get It". There is something so sweet and heartening to the song, but there is also the earthier side of the song, making me wanna "get it". With "Let Me", I feel his voice wash over me, at times a whisper, another time a rich call from deep inside. It truly showcases the versatility of Adam's voice. On "What's a Lover To Do?", the first single off the album, is a rich R&B song, and I can't get enough of it. I need to share it with you, so here is Adam Joseph singing "What's A Love to Do?"

As "Cigarettes" starts, I am taken aback by the softness of the song, despite the driving beat. That beat drives home the need, or maybe just some desire we try to keep at bay with other devices, like lighting up that cigarette. The next song, "Fantasy Dismissed", put me on notice right away, with a flirty feel bringing us back to love. And I can't believe I haven't heard this on my radio yet. Once the title track begins, there is a new feel, exotic and dreamy. Soon, a lyrical side of "Love Philosophy" come out, and I felt a whiff of smoke in the air, as a club started to come alive with the sound of featured artist Igmar Thomas and his trumpet taking over the song. There is something about "Vibe with You" that manages to both have a softness, as well as make me move my hips even as I listen now, sitting at my computer. Some imaginary soul is getting a great lap dance, if I do say so myself. From the first bars of "That's Life", here is a wonderful international feel, something interesting and new. This is Adam Joseph singing "That's Life".

There is a wonderful mix of influences I can hear for "Be My Lover", the final track of the album. the track features Carlos Alomar, a guitarist who had worked with many great names, including Ben E. King and David Bowie. When paired with Adam's voice, there is a wonderful soulfulness that is unmistakable, and so delicious I want to nibble on it. In fact, this entire album is a banquet, enticing my taste buds with sounds, textures and layers that make me hungry for more. And it is a meal I'd recommend for anyone who might be looking for that special meal. For more about Adam Joseph, visit him on his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter. 'Love Philosophy' is available for purchase on iTunes, or on Amazon.

Billy Porter • Show Me

Billy Porter recently became a name on the lips of everyone, having won the 2013 Antoinette Perry Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Lola in 'Kinky Boots' at the 67th Tony Awards. But that wasn't his only award for the role, as he also won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. But long before that, Porter had released an amazing studio album, one I am proud to have in my collection. In 1997, Porter released an eponymous album, although it is sometimes referred to as 'Untitled'. It is very hard to come by now, but it is well worth the trouble.

I have to admit I first learned about Billy Porter not from this album, but from the soundtrack of a 1996 film, 'First Wives Club'. The movie, featuring Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, and Goldie Hawn as funny, smart, and fierce women, featured a great song, "Love Is On The Way". The song was written by Peter Zizzo, Denise Rich & Tina Shafer, and was going to be featured on the 1997 album, until Midler heard it and decided it had to be part of the film soundtrack. It is an amazing song, and Bill performed it so well. Here is "Love Is On The Way", off the 'First Wives Club' soundtrack.

That song shined the light on Porter, and left the crumb trail for me to follow to the album. The 12-track collection is filled to the brim with R&B lusciousness, starting with the first song, "Show Me". The song was written by La La, and is a wonderful mid-tempo song that allows Porter to soar. Here is the music video for "Show Me".

The rest of the album is filled with new material, save a wonderful cover of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed". It starts off sweet and mild, and takes us on a wonderful journey. Speaking of journeys, his take on "Borrowed Time", written by Gary Haase and Brett Laurence, is a sexy and steamy song. It also features the depth of his voice, being able to show off a softness, some heat, and some beautiful strength. Enjoy the music video featuring Billy Porter singing "Borrowed Time".

The album is just filled with love, truth, and caring. I love it, and still play it all the time. While I can't find anywhere you can purchase this album online, he does have another album I love, 'At The Corner of Broadway & Soul'. It is available on iTunes and Amazon. For more about Billy Porter, you can 'like' him on Facebook, and to 'follow' him on Twitter. Both will give you links to learn more about what it is like to be the toast of Broadway, and give you the chance to let Billy know how much you appreciate his great musical talent!

Sam Sparro • Return To Paradise

After the startling success of his eponymous debut album in 2008, I would never have guessed it would take this long for a follow-up to be released, but it is at last here. Well, sort of, anyway. You see, while it was released in June in Australia and the United Kingdom, it has yet to be officially released here in the States. I know I first heard of Sam when I caught the second single, "Black and Gold". That was the second single off his debut, the first being "Cottommouth". Born in Australia, Sparro has lived both the the US and UK. Perhaps that was how he discovered soul music, which could be found in every track on his debut. Sparro has also been out and proud, never hiding his true self in exchange for success. And, by the way, that true self is kinda gorgeous and sexy.



So, after a long four year wait, Sam Sparro has released Return To Paradise. Overall, I think the album still brings the Soul, but with a bit more of a Pop edge. It kicks off with "Paradise People", which starts off with an eerie reminder of the first album. It quickly tells us Sam is keeping to his roots, delivering some Soul and R&B, the kind that just demands you move with the beat. The smooth drive of the song is a great counterpoint to his amazing voice. That is followed by the retro-groove of "Happiness". Check out this exciting live performance on Australia television's Young Talent Time.



The next cut off the album is "Let The Love In", with a smooth feel that makes me want to hit the dance floor with someone I love. There is a sultriness embedded deep in the soulful hook. "Yellow Orange Rays" starts off with a bold Motown feel, but quickly moves out, taking a slice of life today, with a spotlight on the "street life" in the light of day. The song adds a little texture to the album, a little crunch to the bite. The next track, "Hearts Like Us", adds a little industrial flavor to the mix. "I Wish I Never Met You" begins with a pared-back sound, the beauty of Sam's voice carrying the first minute or so. Check out this lyric video and tell me you aren't drawn in before thirty seconds pass.



The falsetto that starts "Shades of Grey" is a tad startling, and almost disconcerting. But we quickly learn it is perfect, as he goes deep inside to reach for the emotion of the song. "Closer" has a whole different sound, and has such joy, such freedom. It feels Retro and Disco, like Sylvester has returned to lay down a dance track that demands you move with the beat. Next up there is "The Shallow End", a bold song that screams out today. Check it for yourself.



And, finally, the album closes out with the title track, "Return To Paradise". They slow down the rhythm and soften up the sound, and soon Sam is whispering in my ear. And I have to say I like that. The chorus has an Earth, Wind & Fire feel, with Phillip Bailey at his best. Now, of course, these days no album truly closes out without bonus tracks. As far as I could tell, there are two, and both can be found on YouTube. The first is "Are You Alright", which immediately brings me to the late 1980s, with a little New Wave Electro-Pop feel. The mid-tempo song caresses my heart like a great song should. The other bonus is "Quarter Life Crisis", which kicks into Rick James brashness, so bold and in-your-face. There is a sexiness to the proceedings I love, too.



So, there is good news and bad news. The great thing is I really like this album. It is filled with life, spilling over with joy. Somehow, Sparro manages to instill his music with his love of great soul music, yet not loose the freshness,the feeling this is music made today. The bad thing is, at this point anyway, Return To Paradise is still not readily available to American fans of Sam Sparro. You can purchase the physical CD as an import from Amazon. Now, I can tell you I did, and it was worth it. But there is something about a music download, with the instant gratification factor, that I really enjoy. You can also spend a bit of time on YouTube and hear most of the songs in some form or another, with remixes, live performances and the like in abundance. For more about Sam and his coming and going, visit his official website. You can also follow him on Twitter.

Marshall Titus • Singles

I am not sure how I found the music of Marshall Titus. If I think back, I think I first saw a video on Nhojj's blog, back in March. Titus had released a cover of George Michael's "Father Figure". He delivered a sultry and sexy version that grabbed my attention. It wasn't until later that I discovered I had seen Marshall many years before, when he was a finalist on Star Search in 1985. But no matter when I first heard of Marshall Titus, I am a huge fan now, and I find my self compulsively listening to him. And it doesn't hurt to find out he is so damned handsome, either. So I thought I would give you all the chance to become just as addicted to him as I have been.



I thought I would start with "Falling Leaves", a beautiful song released in 2009. Lush and dreamy, the chorus is like a beautiful poem being delivered to perfection by Titus. It really just melts my heart.



You can find "Falling Leaves" on iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon.



I am just crazy about his 2010 release, "I Will". For me, it contains just the right amount of strength and faith to be a bit of an anthem, totally appropriate for the Pride celebrations happening across the country right now. Hell, I think I might adopt it as my own personal anthem, it just makes me feel so damn good.



You can find "I Will" on iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon.



The most recent released of this particular trio is "Even If", which was released last year. There is something so simple, and so very honest about this ballad. It starts stripped back, just a gorgeous voice over a piano. On the chorus, more instruments come into play, but they never overpower to delicate and sensitive vocals put out by Titus.



You can find "Even If" on iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon. You can purchase any one of these songs, but I would suggest you purchase all three, cause sooner or later, you will have them. Why waste the time? For more about Marshall Titus, visit his official website.

Great R&B Hits of 1964

Clockwise: The Supremes; Martha & the Vandellas; Betty Everett and Jerry Butler; and The Drifters.

I would love to have some clever tale to tell about how this music reminds me of a time when I was younger, but, to tell the truth, I was four years old when these songs hit the airwaves, and don't remember. I will tell you, though, that while I don't remember them on the first release, but many of these were records in my sister's collection, so I did hear them. Take, for example, the first song I mention, Let It Be Me. In truth, the song was first written and recorded in France in 1955 as Je t'appartiens. The music was written by Gilbert Bécaud, also the first to record it. The lyrics were by Pierre Delanoë. The English language version used lyrics by Mann Curtis, and first hit the shores in 1957. But in 1964, it was a big hit for Betty Everett and Jerry Butler, two great R&B singers of the day. Butler accounted for a couple of records in Kathy's collection. Give a listen to Let It Be Me.



Another great hit in 1964 came from a quartet, The Drifters. And it is the song for which they are perhaps the most known, Under The Boardwalk. The Pop song written by Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick, and The Drifters were the first to perform it. The Drifters started out as a Doo-Wop group in the 1950s, but grew with the music and became a top R&B group. The group went through many changes over the years, as managers paid little to get the most they coupld from the group, often leaving the real performers in the cold. But they had many great hits, including Under The Boardwalk.



Martha & the Vandellas were one of the early great girl groups signed by Motown. Headed up by the brilliant Martha Reeves, and registered hit after hit. In just a few years, they went from Martha & the Vandellas to Martha Reeves & the Vandellas. But what never changed was the quality of their music. Here is the 1964 hit, Dancing In The Streets.



Before she was The Boss, before Lady Sings The Blues, and even before Mahogany, there was The Supremes, one of the most celebrated girl groups of all time. Out in front of the group was the magical and talented Miss Diana Ross, a true star for the ages. In 1964, they had their second huge hit with Baby Love, and there were many more to come.

RightOut TV Awards - Best Hip Hop/Urban/R&B Video

RightOutTV announced their first winners in the inaugural awards to celebrate the depth and diversity of the music in the LGBT community. The results reflect an impressive array of talent in 13 different categories. Winning artists represent the United States, Israel, Australia, England and Austria, making this a truly global contest. Next I will feature the winner of the Best Hip Hop/Urban/R&B Video category.



The award was given to Lester Greene for his video, Russian Roulette. The video makes a big statement and should give all cause for pause.



You can find out more about Lester on his official website here and his Facebook page here. You can find the 2009 album No Bush, Straight Dicks at CD Baby here, on iTunes here, and on Amazon here. You can watch the music of RightOut TV online here.

The Music of B.Slade™

On July 19, B.Slade™ will release his new album, Diesel. Formerly known by the moniker Tonex [or TON3X], B. Slade is a musical powerhouse, a virtual tour-de-force who, on top of his own career, wrote, developed and produced for many other artists in the Gospel and secular world. He won many awards for his work, as well as the respect of many. And recently, he came out, to much less fanfare than others. That, however, did not slow him down, and he has been creating music that is just amazing to me. And last night I placed my Pre-Order for his Diesel, and was able to download 2 tracks right away. There is the title track, an amalgamation of R&B, old-time Gospel, Hip-Hop and a touch of performance art. Check it out here in Diesel: The Concept Video.



You can pre-order the Diesel album here. You will also get the track Accept Me, an astoundingly honest account of his coming out process. Like the other track, Accept Me has amazing textures and layers, with some interesting playfulness in the rhythms. Give it a listen now.



Still not sold? Well, you should check out Dance Floor Arsonist - The Jaack5on Magic Mix Tape here. It is great fun, and a FREE DOWNLOAD! It has music both literally by as well as inspired by Michael and Janet Jackson. I also have A Brilliant Catastrophe (beta), which you can find here. Check it out - there are 20 full-length songs for just $10. I also have A Brilliant Catastrophe (alpha), which you can find here. It is yet another great collection for just $10. His Mighty Real 2011 is worth the price of admission. B.Slade is making some of the truly most inventive and imaginative music happening. And once again, I've given out way too much information about my own collection. But, I've got to say, the blog is Soundtrack to my Day, you know? It can be yours too, if you'd only click the link and buy it for yourself. You can also learn more about B.Slade at his official website here.

Ari Gold - Wave of You

I can remember the first time I saw an Ari Gold video, for it was quite the experience. I had read about an out and proud Jewish man who refused to compromise with his music or his life, so I went online to search out his videos. I found Wave of You, and was instantly entranced. The song itself would have been enough, but coupled with the images of gorgeous men and beautiful transsexuals, I knew I had to seek out more.



I did, and I loved what I saw. So I quickly added Ari's albums to my collection, and love to hear it when he plays on my iPod. His latest album, Transport Systems, is so strong, including the song I Can Forgive You. Here is the video, directed by Christopher Ciccone.



For more about Ari Gold, check out his official website here.

And this concludes my series of some of my favorite artists. That is 28 arts in the past 37 hours, all in a celebration of the support the readers of Soundtrack to my Day have given over the past year. Thanks, and you enjoyed it.

Video - J.R. - Will You Marry Me Boy?

Found this via Joe.My.God, a wonderful blog. And because it is just my nature, I had to do some research. JR is an out and proud gay man of color, and I love it. For so long, folk has been the haven for gay men and women, and it is nice to see the landscape broadening.



You can find his website here. He also can be found on MySpace here, and you can find his music on CD Baby here. Here is an earlier video from J.R., Boys. I kinda like this song.



And here is the video for Dirty Little Secret. It is a very different story than the other videos tell. This one is more one of a closeted man, or one on the down-low - definitely someone in a different place in their development than the first video proposing marriage.

New Video - Guy B - Coexist

I am a recent convert to the magical voice of Guy B. I really hadn't heard his music, but had heard of him. He has a fascinating story. He was born in Israel to parents of Moroccan decent, and moved to California at age 3. This opened up a whole new world of music for Guy B, born Guy Baruch. Guy B loved the sounds of r & b, soul and pop, cause that is the music he makes, and me does that very well. And I would be remiss in mentioning something you might have already noticed: Guy B is also stunningly gorgeous. He is also out and proud, something that increases the hot meter for me.




Guy recently released his latest album, entitled CO-. I was shamefully unaware of it until I saw the video for the single Coexist. It is a collection of dance tunes he put out with both new material as well as some remixes with various DJs and artists, including Kazual and DJ Naughty Boyy. The latest release is the video for the single, Coexist.



His first album was named Within Me, released in 2007. Where CO- has a focus on dance music, Within Me definitely has more of a soul/pop vibe, with flavors of the Middle Eastern variety sneaking in from time to time. There is also a rock vibe that slides in.



Well, I certainly think I have to add Guy B to my list of performers I'd like to see perform live. To find out more of what Guy B is up to, go to his official site here. You can download his music off iTunes here, or go to CD Baby here.

New Music - Sam Sparro

I found Sam Sparro about a year ago. The out Australian singer is handsome and his singing is hot. His first CD was released last year, and the first single, Black & Gold hit the airwaves. He was signed in the UK, so it took a bit of time to cross the pond to get to the US.

The eponymous CD is an R & B flavored collection and certainly one worth purchasing for any music library. The songs Cottonmouth and 21st Century Life are particularly good, although Black & Gold is the jewel.

You can find out more about Sam Sparro are his website or his MySpace.

New Music - Ari Gold

OK, Ari Gold is an out musician, no matter what HBO wants to convince you to believe. In fact, he is one of the hottest musicians out there. The boy drips with sexiness and just makes me think dirty thoughts. I am telling you, drop dead gorgeous doesn't start to explain it for me. With that over with, Ari is also a talented singer and songwriter, with a couple of albums and hit singles to his credit. I've purchased his music, and listen to it without drooling over pictures, so he is doing something right.

His latest is a remake of the Human League song, Human. I've been wanting to do a full post about Ari - and I still will - but thought this was a great chance to drop a video on you and keep you wanting more. Oh, and did I mention that Ari is red-hot?

You can find out more about Ari Gold at his website, or his MySpace.

Great Music - Adam Joseph - How I Seem To Be

Adam Joseph is another of those MySpace finds I made - damn, I think I might spend too much time online. The first song I heard was Flow With My Soul, and while I am not a huge R&B/HipHop fan, this pulled me in. Yes, I bet no one is surprised I am a Pop/Folk/Rock guy, just from what I have covered so far. But I really like the music of Adam Joseph. But this song really got my attention, and the solid melody and strong vocals sold me. I went out and immediately purchased How I Seem To Be.



The CD also had You're Mine, and 2 Brothers, both very romantic R & B ballads. His voice and styling is so smooth, so heartfelt, just lovely.



However, he is not always so sweet and endearing. Adam did some work with comedian/singer Jonny McGovern of LOGO's Big Gay Sketch Show and the romping, stomping Soccer Practice. And there is Faggoty Attention, a ribald and naughty little number about picking up some str8 trade and making it all work out - 'You can get rough. Boy, I ain't a girl - I can take it like a man.' This video might not be all that safe for the office. LOL



You can find out more about Adam on his MySpace page.