Okay, so yesterday my sis and I took my Mother to Yonkers Casino during the Thanksgiving holiday for her birthday. There was this live band there called "HighRoad" that was awesome and tight. The singers consisted of 3 lead singers, Mark Sly, and Billy D., and a female singer, in which they all took turns singing lead, and all were very good. Also, Kareem Walkes, sax player, a badass sax player, who some fans call "Lil Maceo" (In the meantime, you can check out Kareem Walkes, and see why they call him Lil Maceo) http://www.myspace.com/kareemawalkes According to his myspace page, some of his influences are: Maceo, Prince, Candy Dulfer, and Morris Day & The Time.

I have to say that the singer (Mark Sly), who is the guy 4th from the left in the pic below, has a nice singing voice. I found out from his myspace page, that during the WTC tragedy, that he made a promise to himself, that if he escaped the WTC tragedy, he would live his dream, and go into a career of music, which apparently he did. He also has an instructional DVD teaching people how to play guitar. He has a banging voice which would make Robin Thicke want to take some soul singing classes.

Anyway, during the 4 sets I stayed to listen to, I'm sure they went back on again, but it was getting late and had to drive back home. This band had people up on the floor dancing all night, they played 2 Prince songs and one by "Morris Day & The Time". They played "Musicology" which would have made Prince very proud; and they played "Kiss".

The other Prince-related song was "Jungle Love" by Morris Day and The Time. The "HighRoad" band is tight. To my surprise, they also played "Johnny Be Good" and "Shout", and I know Prince played a cover of "Johnny Be Good" several times in Vegas. They also sang "Without Love", not sure if Prince ever sang that cover, but I could have sworn he did during one of his past performances or I read it here that he did at one of his shows. HighRoad also played some Earth, Wind & Fire, and Stevie Wonder covers.

The female lead singer was very good too. When she sang "Respect", her voice reminded me of "Shelby J", because she has a very, strong voice like Shelby J.
and then they segued right into "Feelin Alright" and back into "Respect" which was cool how the two songs blended right in. They are an awesome group, and when you have people up on the dance floor dancing to your music, and drawing a crowd that stops to listen to you play, then you know you're good. Just thought I'd share that tidbit of info with you guys. That was the first time I heard anyone else other than Prince sing/play "Musicology".
Here's the band I'm talking about:


[Edited 11/30/09 9:53am]

yeah for the 'White' singer

japanrocks said:

Yes, woo hoo, changed it so you won't find a reason to whine ..happy now?
[Edited 11/30/09 9:42am]

Awesome!

"Without Love"'s actual name is "Long Train Running". But it's obvious the Doobie Brothers mis-named that song, because everyone calls it "Without Love", LOL.

RodeoSchro said:

Thanks Rodeo, I've always loved that song. Had no idea that was the original name of it. Mark Sly has a very, soulful voice. I really enjoyed listening to that band. Mark is the guy 4th from the left in that pic. They also sang "Feelin' Alright" which is another classic. They pretty much played some Stevie Wonder, Prince, Doobie Brothers, Aretha, Earth, Wind and Fire, James Brown, just to name a few.
[Edited 11/30/09 8:50am]

That Lil Maceo was AMAZING! Prince I Know some how is Proud.

2elijah said:

cool thanks.....and nice try at putting the blame elsewhere

but you know if i posted a thread about a white rock group that had a black lead singer and said something about the fact that he was pretty good at singing rock for a black dude ----- i would have the entire org and Al Sharpton up on my ass

but thanks for the edit
[Edited 11/30/09 19:52pm]

japanrocks said:

Thanks for what Dude? If you don't have anything constructive to post in regards to the topic of this thread, then I suggest you take your bait games elsewhere. Now stay on topic.
[Edited 12/1/09 12:45pm]

777Purple said:

Yes, I was also amazed by the way he plays that sax. A gifted musician for sure.
[Edited 12/1/09 10:04am]

2elijah said:

bait? nah

just watch what you say

japanrocks said:

Don't threaten me. If you have nothing to post in regards to the "topic" of the thread, then stop thread-jacking and race-baiting my thread and taking it off topic. I've already asked you once.
[Edited 12/1/09 19:33pm]

2elijah said:

would you like me to re-introduce your original unedited topic?

me thinks not because then we would have to move it over into the Politics & Race forum

you win...I'm out

japanrocks said:

I ask you again to stop your false accusations. There was nothing wrong with my original post just because I complimented the voice of a singer I admired at a show I attended, who happened to be white. I changed my original post so you wouldn't find an excuse to use my thread to race bait, and throw the thread off-topic, but apparently you did. I also don't think it was necessary for you to throw the "Al Sharpton" reference in my face because of it. What did you think you would gain by doing that?
[Edited 12/1/09 19:46pm]
[Edited 12/2/09 6:53am]

2elijah said:

Prince is a pretty good on guitar, for a black guy. Don't you think? Now, if I had posted this.....and been serious about it, what do you think would happen?

japanrocks said:

I wouldn't have been offended because I know that statement you made, makes no sense. There is no skin color requirement for picking up a guitar or any instrument to play or learn it. I've played piano, and some classical pieces, when I first learned how to play the piano. Surprised? Don't be. Seems you've been misinformed. My ex has been a guitar player for years, and still is. He didn't have to fill out a "skin color" application to do so or limit himself to what type of music he should play, based on someone else's silly and ignorant assumptions.

You are full of it, because my original post stated. the white singer whose voice I admired, had a "soulful" voice. Now you tell me what does having a "soulful" voice have to do with being "Black?? Apparently that is exactly what you thought immediately or you would not have attacked my thread when I mentioned that in my original post. Where do you get your definition of "soul" from?? Perhaps you shouldn't believe stereotypes, you should know better than that. If you wanted to question what I meant, then you should have been mature enough to ask instead of playing juvenile games with my thread.

Let me educate you: Someone who sings with a "soulful" is a voice where you can "feel" the emotion of that person's voice. Sometimes that "soulful" voice gives you chills, sometimes it makes you cry;sometimes it makes you want to clap your hands, snap your fingers, and tap your feet. Sometimes a "soulful" voice goes through your bones, because you can feel what the singer is singing about. A "soulful" voice gets your attention. That's what a "soulful" voice is to me, and not everyone has that quality or "gift".

"Soul" in singing, is a feeling, an emotion, not a color. Not every singer, no matter their race, has that quality to grab you with their voice. Now, please try and remember that, and not get your education from stereotypical nonsense.
[Edited 12/1/09 20:08pm]

japanrocks said:

Please stop with the derailing and thread jacking, coupled with turning this into race bait. Thanks.

luv4u said:

Thank you luv4U. It's a shame this thread turned into this, just because I admired and complimented a singer I saw perform live.
[Edited 12/1/09 20:10pm]

luv4u said:

sorry about that....i was just responding to his original post, which he later edited.....no worries