This post I placed before another but it has been long overdue. There has been the constant question of why do the good die young? I can't answer that question if I tried but can't fail to notice all of the Black artists that have passed, young, old...all greatly gifted. Some have died in tragic ways HIV, murder, drug overdose, heart disease, failed kidneys and more. Some in ways that I feel under the right conditions could have been prevented... but that's a whole other topic within itself for us to explore. Each individual has left a place in someones heart and each have family and friends that love and miss them. If nothing, many artist have and continue to leave hope-filled messages through their music, prescience, experiences and art. This is an ode of some sort to some of our fallen stars.
Musical notes from folks we hold dear and close
Knock the blazes out of the heavens in meteorites sailing through skies
Burning rings through clouds of a darkened hue and
Dissipating mists that cloud judgment and oppress free minds
Lighting up sky alerting everyone yet altering nothing but history
As truths melt lies in poetic song, dance and performance
For they were chosen to uplift spirits of all that notice
Exposing the innermost part of our hearts and igniting our souls reminding
That time has come to listen and learn once again
Like children around fires listening to stories told by the wise
So the ones that know share, daring to give souls a chance
That from what they feel within to act just might change focus
From what we were first led to believe… there are
Stars blazing, red giants to almost dead dwindling to dwarf ones
Spreading light throughout the universe and blessing the promising one we know as ours
Sending hopes, dreams and awaiting miracles in another blessed day
Through speech and teaching song keeping us thankful that way
Memories from performances, words & melodies
Soaked & saturating ever so deeply into our beating bleeding hearts
Rarely counted and sometimes although rarely discounted are our artists
Transcending all lines including this swift gift of time
Our lyrical creators, dancers, spirit shakers, chance takers and love makers
From our J-Dillas to Jam Master J, Half A Mil, Bernie Mac, Biggie Smalls, to
Rene Diggs, Aliyah and her angelic voice & Jimmi Hendrix and his speaking guitar
There are so many of our fallen stars
From Oscar Bobo Brown to Marvin Gaye reminding us to question what’s going on, James Brown taught us to Get on down to get up “HAAAY!!”
Michael Jackson setting trends and sending love, Brandon Mitchell & DJ Buggs
Lovely Lisa Left Eye to Unique ODB, Mousberg, Lil Ruckie, Huddy and Mr. C
Ellington “The Duke” a man like no other, Big Hawk, Charisma, Proof & DJ Screw
Lady Day to Moms Mabley reminding that we’ve only got two nerves and that there is humor in matrimony, Jackie Neal, Shirley Hemphill, Edmond Sylvers, Damien Dame, Dino Connor, Roger Troutman ahead of his time with computer love, Lynn Collins, Loyd Richards, Young Fool, DJ Train, Doc Doom, Scott La Rock, MC Breed keeping us “to the beat y’all,” Orish Grinstead, Apache, Billboard, Brandon Mitchel, Dolla, Father Lord, Miriam Makeba, Ray Charles only you can do it for some, Kid Hood, MC Trouble, Shakir Stewart, Lou Rawls, Big Moe, Fat Pat, Big Mellow, Yusef Afloat, Yaki Kadafi, Stretch, Subroc, Too Poetic, Static Major, Sean Taylor, Jack Johnson, Joe Lewis, M Bone
Tupac Shakur…Tupac Shakur…2Pac, Brotha Izz…Broda Izz, D’Angelo Wilson, Miles Davis… Miles Davis…Miles, Curtis Mayfield…thank you…Curtis Mayfield, Coug Nut
Stack Bundles, X1, Darrent Williams, DJ Buggs, Ron O’Neal, Big Pun, Artimus Bentley
Merlin Santana, Frankie Lymon, Katoucha Niane, Guru, Cowboy, Pimp C, Nina Simone… Nina Simone… Nina Simone… Nina, Easy E, Isaac Hayes La La Brown,
Mac Dre, Katherine Dunham there will never be another, Harold Melvin, Lynn Thigpen
Thelonius Monk… Thelonius, Sarah Vahn you still got it goin on, Nat King Cole…
Nat King Cole, Sekou Sundiata set the bar for me, Eddie & Sean Levert, Fela Kuti…Fela Kuti…Fela, Dennis Brown you’ve taught me so much, Bob Marley let us, Gave us, reminded us all to stand up for our rights and that we could be loved, Gill Scott-Heron... Today you left us... A soldier of truth among many, your words of truth will continue to bless us, Big L a heck of an MC, Dino Connor, Dorthy Dandridge you still do it for me, Peter Tosh taught me to be a soldier, Lucky Dube, Trevor Bebick, Donny Hathaway… Mr. Donny Hathaway if I could only play like you, reach people like you and speak for many I would my brother, Ella Fitzgerald YOU are the Queen in my book and Nina is your predecessor, Sugar Ray Robinson keeps knockin em out, and...
Without a doubt Eartha Kit has seduced the minds of many as well as touched hearts with her truth.
Who would dare tangle a tango of dispute refuting facts in acts accomplished as movers
True earth-movers and ground shakers splintering stages as our beloved fallen stars?
Fallen Stars
5-27-2011
