David Raleigh • The Videos

Later on tonight, I will be in New York City to attend the launch of the latest from David Raleigh, the wonderful singer, songwriter, and pianist. I first discovered Raleigh about four years ago, when he worked on a project with some very talented men, but I will get to that shortly. Once I heard him, I needed to hear more, so I soon found his solo stuff. Man, am I glad I did. His music is just as special ass the man is, and I can't get enough. You want to know much I love David? I will be traveling to see him, and will be missing one of my favorite guilty pleasures, 'Sleepy Hollow'.

As I said before, I first found David by way of a project he worked on with some very talented men. David collaborated with Tony Award winner Billy Porter, the gifted Sir Ari Gold, and intriguing Alan Cumming on "That's What Friends Are For", a new look at the classic best remembered for the 1985 version by Dione Warwick and Friends, with Gladys Knight, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder joining Dione to raise money for AmFar. The song was written by Carole Bayer Sager and Burt Bacharach. Raleigh, Porter, Cumming and Gold revived it to also raise money, for the Ali Fortney Center, a New York City shelter for homeless GLBT youth. The song was produced by Nathan Leigh Jones. This is David, Billy, Alan and Ari with "That's What Friends Are For".

You can purchase the single from iTunes. I think the money will still go to the great cause. Watching this video, and purchasing the song, lead me to find other music by Raleigh, and I was able to do that fairly quickly. Not long on YouTube, and I had a great new music video I kept watching, time and time again. There is such joy and love emanating from the core of "I Do!", and I knew once again, I was addicted. This is David Raleigh with the great song, "I Do!".

I quickly found out that "I Do!" was just the first single off his recently released album, 'Beginning Again'. Once I found it, I purchased the album, and found a wealth of great music that warmed my heart, and inspired my soul. I was very excite when it was time for a second video to be released, and was thrilled it was the beautiful "One Together". The song is a stunning song that goes directly to the heart of love, and I just adore it. This is the official music video for "One Together".

I must admit, I was near giddy with excitement when I heard David would release "Do It To Me", the first single/video from the new album, 'The Equation of Love'. And once I heard it, I was understood why. The song once again as the joy and love I have come to expect from Raleigh's music, and more. It made me so eager to hear the rest of the album, and I am so glad that time is almost hear. This is the official music video for "Do It To Me".

This evening, I will be hearing many of the songs from 'The Equation of Love' played live, and be leaving with my own copy. For that, my friends, you can be jealous. Or you can join us! To learn more about David Raleigh, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook. You can find his music at your favorite online music stores. You can purchase 'Beginning Again' from iTunes and Amazon. Today is the official release date for 'The Equation of Love', and you can find it on iTunes and Amazon.

Sunday Morning with Billy Porter

Earlier this week, I was listening 'At the Corner of Broadway & Soul' and loving it, as I do whenever I hit play. Porter is an amazingly gifted vocalist, and I am constantly blown away by him. Whether he is singing music from Broadway musicals, or some great R&B, he always delivers. The first time I remember hearing his voice was when I heard "Love Is On The Way", best known as a theme song from 'The First Wives Club'. I also loved that he was part of the recording of "That's What Friends Are For" for The Friend's Project, along side David Raleigh, Sir Ari Gold, and Alan Cumming. The single raised money for the Ali Forney Center, whose mission is to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) youth from the harm of homelessness, and to support them in becoming safe and independent as they move from adolescence to adulthood. But when "Feel It To Heal It" started playing, I knew it had to be played on Sunday morning! It was written by Billy with Gary Haase, and is certainly uplifting.

There was another song on that album that is just perfect for this post, and I am happy to let you hear it. Porter sang the song written by Gospel maestro Kirk Franklin, "Why We Sing". It is beautiful and joyous, just what one wants from music on a Sunday morning.

Both songs can be found on the album 'At The Corner of Broadway & Soul', available on iTunes and Amazon. But I would like to add one more video for this morning. In 2010, Billy, Ari, David and Alan recorded the song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, amazingly talented songwriters. While it was originally sung by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack to the movie 'Night Shift', it was best known when sung by Dionne Warwick and Friends, featuring Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder. The song raised fund and awareness for AMFAR, American Foundation for AIDS Research. That cover was released in 1985. Twenty-five years later, it was recorded by the new group of friends, to raise money for the worthy cause. And as the Ali Forney Center suffered greatly during Hurricane Sandy, I thought now would be a great time to hear it once again. Here is "That's What Friends Are For", the 2010 version.

You can purchase the single on iTunes or Amazon. You can also donate directly to the Ali Forney Center at their official website.

That's What Friends Are For 2010

L to R: Alan Cumming, David Raleigh, Billy Porter & Ari Gold.

On the 25th anniversary of the Dionne Warwick (and friends) hit song, "That's What Friends Are For", David Raleigh, Alan Cumming, Billy Porter and blog favorite Ari Gold came together to remake it to raise money for the Ali Forney Center, a New York City shelter for homeless GLBT youth. David is a New York City-based singer/songwriter and piano player, and Cumming is an Emmy nominated and Tony Award winning actor and producer, Porter is a very successful Broadway performer and singer, and Gold is and independent Pop sensation. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, who have written so many great songs. Together, the group of men make magic here, and once I heard it, I just wanted have it on my iPod. Now I do! Here is the video for the song, produced by Nathan Leigh Jones and directed by Michael Akers.



The proceeds from each download go to Ali Forney Center, so go iTunes to purchase it. To find out more about the Center, check out their official website.