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    Holding Court: The Gift Prince's Mother Bestowed Upon Him

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    Anyone who worked at Johnson Publishing Company (JPC) before 2005 knew LaDoris Foster. With a career spanning nearly 50 years at JPC, she was vice president and director of human resources. Like me, she was born in St. Louis; however, by the age of 10, her family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. It was no secret to those who worked at 820 S. Michigan Ave. how much she loved basketball. Not only did Miss Foster--as everyone called her--have court side seats to every Chicago Bulls game, but she could also enjoy a seat in the company’s private suite if she so desired.


    Foster, who died April 21, 2005, is probably best remembered as a no-nonsense person with a tough exterior, though she had a softer side that few rarely saw. I can still see her face, glowing from sheer delight, as she once recalled to me her days as a teen in Minnesota. The conversation went something like this: “I used to play basketball with Prince’s mother, Mattie, and her twin sister, Edna. We played basketball for neighboring teams [from housing projects]. Mattie and Edna were known as ‘the Shaw twins.’ Everyone knew them because they were two of the best players.” She continued with a chuckle, “The girls did not like them because they were jealous. Not only could the Shaw twins play basketball well but they were very pretty with light skin and long hair. The girls gave them a hard time. But nobody could beat them on the court.”


    This story made me smile. Throughout the years, people heard how Prince played basketball in high school and often caught a glimpse of him sitting court side at various NBA games.  When Dave Chappelle did a comedy spoof in an episode of his “Chappelle Show” about an encounter with Prince during a basketball game, viewers loved it. The best part was that it was actually based on truth, involving Prince’s winning game between his crew and bodyguard-turned-comedian Charlie Murphy and his crew. But, if you thought Chappelle’s skit was funny, wait until you read what's below. Let’s just say Prince could hold ROYAL court with the best of them, especially the ballers in the hood! I guess one might say, "He got it from his momma."



    The following story was written by Harlan "Hucky" Austin, who served for seven years as Director of Security Services at Prince's Paisley Park Productions. The piece originated on his former site called TruePrinceStories.


    I used to play basketball with some of my boys from the hood. We’d get a few guys together to play every Wednesday night. These games were always a lot of fun, and could get pretty colorful in terms of smack-down talk. Prince caught wind of these games, and one day asked me, “How come you never invite me to play?” He asked if he could join in on a game. I was surprised, but I knew that Prince liked to play basketball, in fact his brother, Duane Nelson, was an All-State basketball player. Prince’s lyrics [in Lady Cab Driver], “I wish I were handsome and tall like my brother,” were truthful. Duane was a towering basketball star.


    Now, my crew and I were just “regular guys” so Prince’s request presented something of a dilemma. Because he’d become so famous, putting together a simple game of hoops was not just a matter of picking a court and playing. This task would require me to discover my inner “Julie McCoy”–you know, that girl from Love Boat–who was always putting together events and people? This gathering had to be on the down-low. No flash, no calling undue attention to the game. I made a private reservation after-hours so that Prince could play without any fans or bother. The Powder Horn Park Gym was happy to accommodate us. The next hurdle was choosing the right guys to make a full team; these had to be guys who wouldn’t blab to their friends or the media. I recruited my trusted buddy Gary Webster first off and asked him to help me find guys to play. Of course, there was Duane Nelson and Gilbert Davidson. The other guys we invited we’re Rob Johnson, Pat Adams, Scott Marsh and Marvin Bond. We needed just one more guy and Davie Lewis came to mind. Davie was a great athlete; I’d known him since 5th grade and he was a competitive dude. If you looked up the word “Testosterone” in the dictionary, you’d see a picture of him. It crossed my mind that he might be a bit of a problem, but we decided to go with him and set some specific “rules” for the game as a way of keeping him in check. Unbeknownst to me, this was like asking a bull not to charge when there’s a red cape flapping in the wind.


    The guidelines for the game were: no guests, no girls, no shit talking, and no getting overly physical. We were all big guys and our games could get pretty intense. We went over the rules again on the court before Prince arrived. They all agreed to them but as I found out later, Davie made the comment to Gary “I’m gonna block his shit as soon as we start playing.”


    The guys all arrived at the court in sweats and T-shirts, the usual basketball attire. We awaited Prince’s arrival at the appointed time. Well, a long blue limo pulls up (so much for keeping things on the down low) and Prince steps out with two friends. He was a vision in black. He wore a black shirt with long purple lace sleeves, black shorts with a belt around his waist that was 6 inches wide with a huge gold medal buckle the size of a dinner plate, long black tights under the shorts and what looked like Chuck Taylor shoes and socks. I turned to the guys, giving them all a significant evil eye that suggested they’d better not say a word.


    We start playing. Let me make this perfectly clear; Prince can hoop. What the guy might lack in height he makes up for in quickness and he has a nice jumper. Clearly, the guy’s got game. Davie is guarding him and Prince is schooling him. After awhile, the other guys on the team start talking smack and giving the big guy all kinds of grief about it. Prince is killing Davie and you can see he’s getting more and more frustrated. His nostrils were flaring; he’s stomping around clearly pissed off. The wisecracks continue until Davie can’t take it any longer. Toward the end of the game Prince goes up to shoot another jump shot and Davie charges. He hurls his 6 feet and 215 pounds of raging bull into the air to block it. He HAMMERS Prince and the basketball goes flying into the far wall as Prince falls into the bleachers and Davie hollers at the top of his voice, "THAT SHIT IS OUTTA HERE!"


    The silence that followed was deafening. Nobody moved; nobody said a word. All you could hear was Davie panting. Needless to say, he was ejected from the game. His departing words were, "I told you I was gonna block that fuckin’ shot." All-in-all, the game was a good time. I still laugh when I think about how “The Purple One” made Davie see red.


    LaDoris Foster played basketball as a teen with Prince’s mother and his aunt. She died in 2005 on April 21, the same day as Prince.
    Mattie Della Baker (Shaw) was Prince’s mother and had exceptional basketball skills as a teen. She died February 15, 2002.
    Prince is shown with his mother’s twin sister, his aunt Edna Mae “Renee” Collier (Shaw), who was also skillful on the court. She died seven months after her twin sister on September 14, 2002.
    Harlan “Hucky” Austin, Prince’s ex-bodyguard, learned the hard way that his boss was a beast in basketball.
    Austin once penned a story about how Prince schooled some guys playing street ball.
    I greet Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, who was Prince’s favorite basketball player. In 2013 I wrote an Ebony magazine cover story with Wade and, at that time, his two sons, Zaire and Zion.
    Tweets from Wade’s Twitter page, posted on May 2, 2016.
    Moral of the story: Never judge a book by its cover. Prince got his music skills from his dad but hoop skills rubbed off from his mom and aunt.

    True Love Never Dies

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    • During a 2002 Chicago concert shortly after the February 15 death of his mother, Mattie Della Baker (Shaw), Prince played Anna Stesia, his mom’s favorite song. The title is a play on words with anaesthesia, which is an induced temporary state of unconsciousness that produces numbness to relieve discomfort. Essentially, the song begins down a dark path into lust and sexuality with a man acknowledging how he’s using sex or drugs to numb pain.  Realizing that he is heading in the wrong direction, he turns to a woman named Anna, whom he wants to teach him about another kind of love that is more satisfying. He wants to learn about the love of God. The tune, featured on his tenth studio album, 1988’s Lovesexy, ultimately ends as a soul-stirring gospel melody.

    • Vanity (Denise Matthews), Prince’s ex-lover and protege who fronted the female trio Vanity 6, died at 57 on February 15, the same day that his mother succumbed 14 years earlier. I interviewed the singer formerly known as Vanity in Jet magazine’s November 26, 2007 issue. By this time calling herself Evangelist Denise Matthews, she told me he was the only man she ever truly loved. Denise, the birth name that she only answered to after turning her life over to Christ, read some of her writings to me and then said, “Prince loved to hear my stories. He likes the way that I write.” I could hear in her voice the love she still had for him. She even told me how she was struggling financially due to severe health challenges but turned down millions because she refused to do a tell-all book about their relationship. At the end of our conversation, Denise told me, “I look forward to hopefully seeing him in the future. I’m waiting for God to supernaturally hook us up. I would love to see his face. I’ve been praying for Prince a very long time and I believe he’s praying for me. God does supernatural things because He’s able.” During the opening night of Prince’s Piano and a Microphone solo tour in Australia on February 16, he paid tribute to her. He told the audience how her death was heavy on him; perhaps he also thought about his mother. One might not ever know for sure. Sadly, Prince died at 57 on April 21. Looks like Denise's words were prophetic, because she received her hook up and now sees his face. God does supernatural things indeed.

    DocM.A.C. signing off. Keep the faith and always trust the process. #OnwardUpward
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    Writing For Digital And New Media Course Makes History At The University Of Illinois At Chicago

    Meet The Pioneers

    Dulce Jazmin Hernandez "Sweet Opinion"
    Hristo Bojilov "The Architect"
    Francisca Corona "The Publicity Powerhouse"
    Miguel Andrade "The Motivator"
    Alondra Cambray Pena "The Ambitionist"
    Hugo Novales "The Architect"
    Chatelaine Dunord "The Visualist"
    Christian Henmueller "Snicker"
    Olga Ziminska "Cosplay Enthusiast"
    Tikia Travis "The Editor"
    Teddy Wilson Gargiulo "The Loganite"
    H. Jullie Han "The Stargazer"
    Richard Gonzalez "The Perfectionist"
    Maria Canchola "The Practical Introvert"
    Bernadine Williams "The Perpetuator"
    Jacob Annett "Introspective Investigator"
    Jean Choi "The Bookworm"
    Rachel Knowles "The Creative"
    Writing for digital and new media is a sure bet for big bucks.
    What story are you looking to write next?
    The ladies got information and in formation when it came to gathering content.
    Get prepared to go toe-to-toe for a bit of friendly competition.
    They entered the course this spring hoping to learn innovative writing techniques to produce a multitude of content online. It is safe to say they got that and a whole lot more when 18 students landed a spot in history at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) by taking the first-ever English 383: Writing For Digital And New Media course. The class is taught by lecturer Dr. Margena A. Christian.

    Students explore aspects of media convergence and methods for backpack journalism. They also examine journalism ethics, standards and law along with being required to produce original content, including a final feature writing project that includes a story, images and video footage.

    “When I first signed up for the class with Dr. Christian, I thought it would be just that: just another class,” said Rachel Knowles, a student in the course, “but after we began writing, I became so inspired that I went ahead and started my own blog – PrettyCityLiving. It’s been so fun to just get creative and have a voice. I definitely encourage others to take the course.”

    The culminating project, a website that includes a blog component, is designed and created by each student. To view online portfolios of each student, click on his/her image above.

    Richard Gonzalez, another student in the groundbreaking class, said,
    "This course gave me hands-on experience that no writing course at UIC has given me before."

    The university describes the course as teaching "rhetorical, practical and ethical aspects of digital writing; digital literacy, and the use of digital platforms in professional environment." Jacob Annett, also a member of the inaugural class, said, "Most English classes focus on abstract analysis and theory, but 383 gives me real tools outside of the classroom environment."

    To view online portfolios of each student, click on his/her image above.

    Before one can take English 383, the person must first complete English 202: Media and Professional Writing, which provides "media analysis and writing, including interviews, news, features, and public relations communications." Dr. Christian teaches the Tuesday/Thursday section. Below, click on each image to view online portfolios for her students.

    The English 383 class, implemented as part of the Professional Writing concentration under the English major and minor, will be offered again in Spring 2017.  In the meantime, three additional new courses in the Professional Writing program include the following: Editing and Publishing (ENGL 382), Technical Writing (ENGL 384), and Advanced Professional Writing (ENGL 381), a course also taught by Dr. Christian.

    For more information about this UIC course or any others listed, contact Dr. Jennifer Rupert at (312) 413-2217 or e-mail at Jruper1@uic.edu.
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    We want you! Let's keep making history.
    English 202: Media and Professional Writing
    Bernadine Williams
    Jaime Santana
    Sarah Wotaszak
    Hala Darayyad
    H. Jullie Han
    Nicholas Pozo
    Nicole Prorok
    Spencer Schamun
    Wyatt Augustyniak
    Rebeca Jurado
    Alex Kim
    Antoinette Clough
    Brendon Kolodziej
    Anthony Tran
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    Leon Henderson: St. Louis Educator, Administrator Who Was 30-Year Archetype of Excellence at Urban Private High School  (August 4, 1947-January 3, 2016)

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     Only about 2 percent of the nation’s teachers are Black men, according to the U.S. Department of Education. For the thousands of Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory (CRCP) students whose lives were touched and transformed at the private Catholic high school, Leon Henderson was that rare jewel. Lovingly referred to as Mr. Henderson or “Hen,” the longtime educator worked tirelessly to dedicate his life toward teaching students in north St. Louis.

    Most recently having the title President Emeritus, for three decades the Ohio native held positions as an educator and administrator. Many recall his days in the classroom as a leadership teacher, but his exemplary guidance beyond the confined walls with lessons about life and valuing one’s heritage were paramount.

    His mere presence was a blessing to all he came into contact with because he represented hope and possibility. During a time when there were so few African-American male teachers and role models at Catholic high schools in urban communities, it was life affirming to see a strong presence, strolling the hallowed halls on Thekla Ave. Though Henderson’s address changed when the school made history by building a $32 million new campus on Spring Ave. in 2003, everything about him remained the same. He was a faith-filled man with a sharp wit for comedy.  He had the uncanny ability to make his students learn and laugh because, above all else, most can attest that his fun-loving personality was incredibly infectious. He was more than an educator for any student who came into that building; he was a father figure, who directed us with his tough love.

    Possessing sociology degrees from Xavier University (Cincinnati) and St. Louis’ Washington University, Henderson was a master when it came to interacting with others. A man of action, he did not simply tell you how much he loved being Black but he showed it every day of his life. When the new campus was built, he made certain the art and statues adorning the hallways were by, for, or about African Americans. Paintings and religious figures, including Black Jesus and the Stations of the Cross, were prominently displayed throughout the building.  He told me it was important to instill racial pride in students by allowing them to see themselves reflected in their environment. Henderson even invited renowned scholar, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, author of the national bestseller Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys, to visit the high school and speak with students. Not only was Henderson proactive about mentoring his own, but he was equally passionate about providing guidance to those who attended schools without African-American leaders.

    I was invited to be the keynote speaker at a benefit gala for CRCP in 2014. Prior to the evening’s festivities, Henderson made it a point to have me address the student body earlier in the day before personally driving me to the television station to conduct two interviews about the event.

    “I never wear this blazer much but for some reason, something told me to put it on this morning,” Henderson told me as we got out of his car to head into the television network's lobby. Once there, we bumped into St. Louis Post-Dispatch pop music critic Kevin C. Johnson. He told Henderson how he had a few close friends who graduated from CRCP and often spoke about him. “It’s nice to finally meet you,” said Johnson as he shook Henderson’s hand. Johnson then asked, “So, you’re both here for interviews?” Henderson said, “No. I just drove her here. She is scheduled to be interviewed.” Without missing a beat, Johnson said, “But you’re the president! They should talk to you as well!” True to his laid back style and calm demeanor, Henderson shrugged it off. Before we knew it, Johnson made a mad dash back into the studio. A short while later he returned and we were informed that Henderson would be joining me for the second interview. Henderson looked surprised. With a smile, he told me, “In all the years that I’ve been at Ritter, we have not received this much coverage for an event and I have never been on television to talk about the school. Thank you.” I was in disbelief yet profoundly proud that we would share this platform to talk about CRCP together. That interview was definitely a crowning moment for us both. He was happy and so was I, but little did either of us know that this appointed time would signal his swan song.

    We talked a few months after the gala and he rocked my world by revealing that he was leaving the school but would serve as emeritus. It was bittersweet for him yet he candidly told me, “I’m no spring chicken. I can’t do this forever.” His greatest concern was for the young men at the school. “They see strong female role models in education all the time,” he told me. “They need to see more faces that look like them in leadership positions to show them how to be a man and how to survive as a Black male in this society. That is so important. That is my hope.”

    Jason Merritt had no problems conveying how much Henderson meant to him.  “I remember as a freshman that only three of us males out of maybe 30 or so had a passing grade to start the year,” explained Merritt, a 1998 graduate of CRCP. “He called us all to a room and said, ‘Not on my watch will I see you all throw your lives away. Life is not a game.’ Some words were kind while other words were more stern. Some of us listened and some of us did not. I will never forget that day. To show the leadership and compassion he expressed was like no other. To Mr. Leon Henderson, I THANK YOU for saving me that day, because I was one of those kids who was in danger of failing by playing around. But, I listened. I realized how you and others truly cared.”

    Last year former students and colleagues gathered for a prayer service in St. Louis at Henderson’s church, St. Alphonsus "Rock" Liguori Catholic Church. During this time his battle with a progressive neurodegenerative disease, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, was publicly disclosed. A few weeks later he moved to Louisiana to be with his family. He spent his last days there and at one point he was in a skilled-care facility, unable to talk. Quite difficult for any of us to fathom silence from the man who could make people laugh until they cried. It seems pretty unfair for silence to swallow a man whose words of wisdom inspired, encouraged and motivated the masses in and out of classrooms.

    Folks, this is the news flash. None of us are here forever. The mind is powerful and we must remember this stalwart man at his best. I am sure that is what he would want from us. Yes. Leon Henderson is gone physically but his spirit will never die as long as there is a CRCP student alive in this world who remembers his name. We are whole, we are better and we are leaders because of him. He showed us how to dream, how to open our eyes and how to dare go after it. We are family, forever bonded as “Ritter Critters,” because of him. We are lions and we roar.

    A painting with the saying “Miles Christi Sum,” which means I am a soldier of Christ, covers the wall at CRCP. On it is an image of Jesus hanging on the cross with a roaring lion behind him. Following a personal tour of the school, Henderson looked at the picture and told me, “Even on the battlefield, the lion will protect you.” I believe this courageous educator did this for every student he touched. He is with us in our minds and in our hearts. We are tasting tears, but when they dry and morning comes, each day thank Mr. Henderson, “Hen,” for being in our lives and for being a soldier in that 2 percent.

    DocM.A.C. signing off. Keep the faith and always trust the process. #OnwardUpward

    Note: A public memorial service will take place at the CRCP gym on Saturday, March 5, at 2:00 p.m. Let's show up and show out for his honor.


    Leon Henderson delivers a commencement address at St. Louis’ Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory (CRCP) in 2011. Wearing a Kente cloth stole, Henderson instilled pride in his students about our race and taught us the importance of honoring our rich history.
    While Associate Editor at Jet magazine in 2003, I was delighted when my former boss and mentor, pioneering publishing John H. Johnson, approved this full-page story in the weekly publication. Click on image to read actual story.
    This breathtaking painting is in the hallway at CRCP. Miles Christi Sum means I am a soldier of Christ. “Even on the battlefield, the lion will protect you,” Henderson told me.
    Fontbonne University in St. Louis recognized Henderson in 2011 for Distinguished Service in Education. A crusader for racial and economic justice, the former high school president once held positions at Wilberforce University and Xavier University of Louisiana.
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    Teresajenee: Singer With Synesthesia Credits Music With Providing Colorful, Life-Saving Energy

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    Most people hear music, while a select few actually see colors in response to sounds. This is known as synesthesia and only 4.4 percent of the population has the rare neurological condition, generally linked to creativity, in which auditory information is translated into the ability to see colors.  Late legendary pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington was a synesthetes. Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer Pharrell Williams has often candidly spoken about being one as well. Singer and musician Teresajenee should be added to that small list with big talent.

    The St. Louis native first won acclaim when she hit the music scene in 2007 with the international house music dance tune Remember featuring Osunlade.     Since that time, she has amassed quite a following after releasing two albums and two EPs, including last year's the Lower East Side Live EP, where it is just her mellow voice, seducing the piano while captivating a New York audience. Four years ago she was named St. Louis' Best R & B Artist by the Riverfront Times and has performed at festivals like SXSW.  Teresajenee says everyone seems to know her music but now she is ready to change some things. It is time to put a face with the sound.

    Do you answer by the titles singer and musician? Any others?         I'm a “Musician Singer Pen” on the internet, but I consider myself to be a musician first. I sang in talent shows as a little girl, but I got my start playing the organ and piano in church. Singing is a part of me but I would feel incomplete without my instrument.

    What upcoming projects are you working on? When might we expect them? I’m working on the second part of my Color Therapy Series. The first one was Electric Yellow (EY), about happiness and light. The second installment is Lavender: The Love Album. It's coming this year.

    You mentioned your color series. Is this symbolic of anything? I believe in the connection between mood, sound, and color. I didn't know what synesthesia was as a child, but when I played piano, every note had a color and an emotion attached to it. I practice aromatherapy daily to help me with my moods. My moods have color.  Chromotherapy is the formal term for color therapy. Color therapy alters your feelings through hue. I wanted to do an album trilogy with a color as a theme for each album. I'm even working on an aroma collection to go with each color to complete the experience. I want each album to give you a different and amazing feeling. 

    Where are you based these days? I float around a lot, but now I'm in Atlanta, working on the album.

    Why did you leave St. Louis? It was hard, you know. I lost my grandmother in 2008 and my dad in 2012. I lost my two best friends and I just kept working to cope. I was angry and I wasn't dealing with it. Then, I had a breakdown in July 2013. That was it for me.

    Did leaving St. Louis help you cope with so much loss? Yeah, I mean, it gave me a fresh space. I needed that space to process everything that happened.

    Where is most of your fan base or following? Europe by far. They show me so much love. They really keep me alive. New York, LA, Memphis, DC and Sydney, Australia.

    What songs are you most noted for performing? Tahitian Vanilla, In Your Eyes, Cleopatra Love & War. Breathe is a record I've never released.  I’ve only performed it live, but it'll be on the next project.

    You mentioned that people know your music more than your face. Does this bother you? It didn't bother me then because I didn't want people to see my face. I was in church and doing secular music wasn't acceptable. I was able to hide and it worked for me. Plus, I was scared of fame. I'm still scared. Now my records are being played in all these countries. My name is out there, but no one knows my face. I'm finally ready to step out and change that.

    You grew up in a strict Pentecostal family. In some ways did that make you want to rebel or walk the straight and narrow? I rebelled. I rebelled so much, the good kind of rebelling though. I'm sure my parents would've thought otherwise. Too bad they never knew.

    Your mom is a popular gospel radio announcer in St. Louis and she works heavily with gospel legend Bobby Jones. Does this feel awkward for you, considering you perform secular music? Um…I think it was more awkward for her because she came from that world. She was a soul singer before she came to church. She accepts what I do, but there’s still hope that I’ll release a gospel album.

    The competition is stiff these days in music. Describe your sound. Describe your fashion style. Soultronica and Rock are how I described my old albums, even EY. That's the best way I can say it. My brain goes a mile a minute. I can't stick with any one sound. I can't dress in one particular way. I evolve. My music and style does the same.

    What makes Teresajenee stand out from other artists in a sea of clones? I don't know. I don't know if I stand out to be honest. I think it's really about the music with me. I just think I give people music that connects to them and it works. That's all I can do.

    Who are some artists that you’ve opened for and/or performed with? Solange (twice), Eric Roberson, Hiatus Kaiyote and Black Spade

    You’ve  performed in New York. Is England on your radar anytime soon? I'm in New York a lot. They show love. I actually look forward to my first time performing in England after this next album drops.

    Finish this sentence. Music is what saved my life.

    Finish this sentence. If I didn’t have music, I would’ve died.

    How did music save you from possible death? I attempted suicide some years ago. I have a hard time speaking on it which is weird because it's so easy for me to talk about at my shows. You know, I thank God. I can't even imagine being alive without God above and music here to get me through.

    Finish this sentence. If I could perform with one person, it would be with my Dad.

    Finish this sentence. If I wasn’t a singer, I would be a teacher.

    Some say that music has healing powers. Do you agree?  Music is powerful because it controls the human spirit. It affects us in ways that is beyond us. Yes, I believe it evokes healing and building. I also believe, in the wrong hands, music can cause destruction. Not all sound is whole. I believe that. I’m very cautious of what I open my spirit to, especially music.

    Peace of God is a beautiful song. What inspired you to write it? My father was fighting cancer when I wrote it. I was emotionally dark during that time. It was also a lot going on with my music and people and it was too much. I just remember collapsing back into a chair in my living room after coming back from the hospital. I had nothing. It was silent when I was in the living room when I heard this song. Like, it was the full song, lyrics included. I was crying because it was so beautiful. I don’t take credit for writing  that song.

    Do you have a ritual or something you do before every show? I need silence. I need to meditate. If I can't get peace and quiet at the venue, I get it at my hotel before the show. And I always pray before I go on stage. That is important to me.

    What college did you graduate and what was your major? Tennessee State University. I have a B.A. in Speech, Communication, & Theater with emphasis in Mass Media.

    Do you think a college degree is important to be a musician? What made you want to finish school? I do not think a college degree is important to be a musician, especially today when so many musicians are successfully self employed. Finishing college was a big moment for me, but I did it for myself. I also knew that someday I would like to go back to school. I felt like my degree would open those doors for me.

    If you were stranded on a deserted island for the rest of your life, what three CDs would you take and why? Okay, this is difficult cause I hate listening to one thing for a long time anyway. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Choir is my favorite gospel choir. I would take their “Best Of” CD because I wouldn’t be able to decide. I would take N*E*R*D’s  Seeing Sounds even though my favorite album of theirs is Fly or Die. Seeing Sounds has Sooner or Later and I love that song. Erykah Badu Live because that is one of the great live soul music recordings of my generation and I never get tired of it.

    Is it a struggle being an indie artist? If so, how and in what ways? It's unstable. You get a lot of e-mails for opportunities. Some work out but many fall through. The ones that fall through, it sucks because those are the really good ones. It's not glamorous in indie land. I've slept on couches in Cali. I rode a Greyhound for 18 hours after a show on the east coast. You need to be a little crazy to be an artist, and grimy, especially if you're a girl. That diva shit won't work.

    Do you ever feel the need to work a 9 to 5 while doing your music? I do and I have. Many artists do this until their shows become consistent or they get relevant. We do what we have to.

    What kinds of  9-to-5 jobs do you or have you worked? I did retail as a side hustle sometimes. My main job was as a church musician. It kept me close to the music. Plus, I had the freedom to travel 5 days out the week for shows. I've been playing organ/keys for churches since I was 16.

    When did you know you could sing and how did you learn this? It was in me. Both of my parents were singers. My parents said I was singing as a baby. I was singing in church. When I was five, I was in my first talent show. It just went from there.

    What instruments do you play? Are you a self-taught musician? I taught myself Hammond organ, piano, and drums (a little). I studied all the clarinets and oboe in school.

    Who do people compare your sound most? Does it irk you when this happens? I heard Amel Larrieux a lot when I first started. Amel is one of my faves. I haven't heard anyone outside of her and I haven't heard that comparison in a long time.

    What is the best advice you ever received as a performer? From whom and how did it change your life? The best advice was a memory I had from when I was in theater at college. I had stage fright as a singer when I first started doing shows. I remembered that I was confident being on stage as an actress and to treat my shows like a play.

    You mentioned how your theater training helps with stage fright. How so? In theater, you have to get into character. You have to become this person you're portraying. I separated myself from Teresajenee. I treated Teresajenee as a character, even though Teresajenee is still very much me. That's how I got over the fright. Every now and then I have to go back to that place. 

    What is music missing today? Authenticity. People who believe in themselves enough to be themselves and not a trend.

    How can people find out more about you? My website is teresajenee.com.  I’m at facebook.com/teresajenee. My Twitter and Instagram are @stereoteeje. You can stay connected to me via email by joining my elist at teresajenee.tumblr.com/elist

    DocM.A.C.'s Top Pick:
    Peace of God    -If you've ever lost someone or something in your life, this song will help you learn to surrender. It speaks to the letting go and letting God process beautifully.     Change is inevitable. Embrace it.
     
    DocM.A.C. signing off. Keep the faith and always trust the process. #OnwardUpward
     

     



    Teresajenee considers herself to be a “musician singer pen.” The St. Louis native plays the organ, piano, drums, all clarinets and oboe.
    Growing up in the church, when people knew her music more than her face, this worked, at first, for her as a secular artist. Now she’s hoping to change that.
    Putting in studio work
    Being happy with Grammy Award-winning musician Pharrell Williams, who, like her, is a synesthetes, where he hears music and sees it in color.
    “As a teen I learned to guard my dreams and to keep my moves silent," she explains. "It's how I managed to leave my degree and my 'stable future' behind to live a life as an artist.”
    Guilty as charged. Teresajenee and fellow St. Louis native C. Jay Conrad are responsible for this hauntingly breathtaking rendition of Andre 3000’s tune Prototype. (click image to hear music)
    “Every time I hold an electric guitar it reminds me of you and the white one you played in church. I miss you every day, Pop.” She wrote the song Peace of God about her late father, who died in 2012. (click image to hear music)
    If she wasn’t doing music, Teresajenee would be a teacher.
    "Life ain't always perfect," she says. "Thank God for music."
  • Published on

    Dana Christian: St. Louis-Based Video And Filmmaker Works To Bring Hollywood Home

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    If you live in St. Louis, chances are that you know or have seen my brother. Some people recognize him as "the guy with the camera," while most know him as Dana Christian, the video and filmmaker who hustles hard to capture the story behind the story on film. He was probably destined for his own place in the sun because the former high school basketball star graduated in 1994 from Bishop DuBourg High School, making history as the first African American to be elected senior class president. A fellow DuBourg student, who was in a class behind him, was Jack Dorsey, co-creator of Twitter and CEO of Square. Since the day he graduated from college, Dana has never worked for anyone else but himself. It's a beautiful thing to own your own, to create your own, and to do all of it on your own terms. As head of  Breaking The 180, LLC, the road isn't always easy. For anyone who chooses a career in entertainment, you must be patiently persistent.  Dana knows this and is determined to show aspiring St. Louis filmmakers, and artists in general, that you do not always have to leave home to make your mark.

    Describe your duties and when did you get started? I direct, shoot, edit, produce and cast for film, TV, commercials and video productions. I got interested in my craft back in 1995 and have been professionally doing it since 1999.

    When did your "Aha" moment transpire and you knew this is what you wanted to do for a living? The one moment where I knew that I could make a living off my talent was when I was shooting behind-the-scenes footage for Nelly and the St. Lunatics. I was just casually talking with two record label reps about how the chemistry of the group really works and their roles as a unit. I went on to say that they should do a video of some sort, highlighting how the group members were and give the video out with the album. The label reps loved the ideal and had me write it all out and submit an invoice. When they cut my deposit check and flew me out to L.A. a month later, I knew this was it.

    When did you first take an interest in this kind of work? When I went to Prairie View A & M University, I filmed the Kappa (Alpha Psi Fraternity) beach party. This was my sophomore year and that's when I realized, going into my junior year, I wanted to change my major from architecture. I only did a half semester there before deciding to come back home to finish up college at Webster University. 

    What training and/or educational background do you have? I was volunteering at a local television station where the music video show I was a part of, Phat Clips, was being produced. I was getting on-the-job training in a real environment while studying for my bachelor’s degree in media communications at Webster University.

    Since graduating from college, you've only worked for yourself. What are the pros and cons of being the boss? I’m blessed to work for myself, coming right out of college and going into the field where I got my degree. The main pro and con is a catch 22. I create my own destiny, which means the financial gains are endless. However, with the line of work that I do, it may not always be in high demand, which means finances can be somewhat limited.

    What keeps you going when the grind gets tough? Have you ever thought about throwing in the towel to get a nine-to-five job? What keeps me going when the grind is tough is just my spiritual connection to the world and the positive feedback I get from clients and the people that follow my work. I never really thought about quitting, because I know this is my true calling; however, at times I have questioned if the path I’m taking is in vain. When this happens, usually I get a sign that says I have to keep going with the flow. For example, I have literally been down to my last project, with nothing in sight, and the phone rings. Then I’m back swamped with work. It’s a crazy approach that I wouldn’t recommend but that’s how I know I’ll be fine.

    Tell me more about the video show? How did it help St. Louis musically? I was a fan of a local hip-hop music video show called Phat Clips. When I decided to return home and finish my degree, I contacted the show’s producer at the time to see if he needed help. Luckily, he did. I was like a sponge and spent over 20 to 30 hours a week at the studio. Now this is when I was taking a full-course load in college and working a part time job. The show was dedicated to showcasing the newest and underground hip-hop music videos. Phat Clips had a huge following to the point where almost every major artist that came to St. Louis had to be on the show. I’m talking about Public Enemy, Nas, Outkast, Eminem, The Black Eyed Peas, Lil Kim, etc. I was an aspiring rapper at one point (and don’t ask me to rap), so I felt that if I had an outlet, I would be able to highlight my group and other artists. Well, I lost the desire to rap and became focused on who in St. Louis was worthy to be featured on the show, and that’s when I started showcasing certain acts in the Local Clip of the Week section of the show. The biggest names that came from me doing so were Nelly and the St. Lunatics and Chingy.

    Acclaimed video director and photographer Marc Klasfeld became your mentor. How did this happen and what did you learn from him? Marc Klasfeld was one of the premiere music video directors at the time; he was known for capturing rappers Juvenile, Jay-Z and Ludacris. What made him special was that he was able to film artists in unique and creative settings. I connected with Marc the same way I did with the label reps I told you about earlier. I was actually filming the documentary for the St. Lunatics at one of their music video shoots. Marc was there directing and we started talking about music videos in between takes. I was breaking down his whole style of shooting and I assumed he was impressed with that, because I got a call from a music video producer, saying I was referred by Marc to be the casting director for an upcoming video Marc would be directing in St. Louis. I was excited yet nervous because I never put together a casting before. It was learning on the job 101, and I was honest with Marc about not knowing how to do this, but he believed in me because 1) I understood his style and 2) I knew a lot of people. I eventually went on to cast over 20 major music videos and productions. But my biggest influence would be my sister Margena Christian, which happens to be you, because you led by example and proved that being passionate about your dreams will eventually pay off.

    What was your first big video that signaled your ‘break’? The first big video that helped gain some buzz was the Chingy Balla Baby Remix video. It hit No. 1 on BET’s 106 and Park Countdown and eventually was retired after being on the show for so long. That was cool to see my name in the credits on TV.

    You grew up around celebrities and going to concerts. What was the first show you recalled attending? The first concert I ever attended was at the Fox Theatre. It was the New Edition concert featuring The Fat Boys and U.T.F.O. Back then artists did two shows, a matinee and evening performance. I attended the matinee show with my sisters. It was a cool experience aside from my parents making me wear a brown suit with Hush Puppy shoes when the other kids at the concert were wearing polo shirts, Levis and Converse sneakers. I remember later going to the BBD concert. Johnny Gill and Keith Sweat also performed. In 2011, I ended up directing three Johnny Gill music videos, which were part of a trilogy: Just The Way You Are, It Would Be You and Second Place. It was two sample songs and one full-length song. I decided to tell a story and connect all three. 

    What companies have you completed projects for?     I’ve done work with Universal Records, Capitol Records, Pepsi, Red Bull, Jack Daniels and VH-1. I think the most relevant projects I have done to date, just due to where we are at in society, are two PSAs for the Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation. I directed and filmed Cedric the Entertainer and Nelly for the PSA spots to help raise money for a memorial of Martin Luther King on the mall in Washington D.C. It feels good to know that I had a hand in contributing to something so historic. 

    Do you find that it's a struggle to get people to take you seriously, coming from St. Louis, not necessarily considered a hot-button place for entertainment like New York or Los Angeles? Yes. It’s a bit of a struggle to get people to recognize that St. Louis has tremendous talent. But I’m an activist in the sense that I want people to know that I don’t have to leave home to go to Hollywood; I want to bring Hollywood to my home. You have directors like Spike Lee and Woody Allen that made a living doing films centered around their hometown. I want to do the same. I understand that I’m in a position to change lives for people, whether it’s giving an aspiring actor a part in a commercial, giving a lighting guy a job on a music video or filming a scene for a reality show at a local eatery. I want to be able to make an economic difference as well as a creative difference in my community.

    DocM.A.C signing off. Keep the faith and always trust the process. #OnwardUpward



    "I'm an activist in the sense that I want people to know that you don't have to leave home to go to Hollywood; I want to bring Hollywood home," says Dana Christian, a St. Louis-based video and filmmaker.
    Dana and King of Comedy Cedric the Entertainer, also a St. Louis native, filmed a 2010 PSA for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project.
    Rapper Heavy D autographs the inside of his Big Tyme cassette cover as Dana observes backstage before the Budweiser Superfest in St. Louis where Heavy D and the Boyz were headliners in 1989.
    He offers guidance on a set with his crew.
    Dana (c) is joined by St. Louis natives (l-r), rappers Jibbs, Fresco Kane, Chingy and Murphy Lee.
    "I want people to know that I don't have to be in St. Louis," he explains. "I choose to be in St. Louis."
  • Published on

    Louis Johnson: 'Thunder Thumbs' Broke Down The Bass, The Business He Learned About Music From Q

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    Bass player Louis Johnson, a founding member of The Brothers Johnson, along with his guitarist brother, George, were once managed by music icon Quincy Jones.

    I knew about Skype in 2009 but I was not using it. I did not have much reason to, but this all changed when I met bassist Louis Johnson, a co-founder and one half of the sibling funk duo The Brothers Johnson. He was in Holland at the time for what he described as an extended vacation. I needed to conduct an interview so Louis suggested I set up a Skype account, because it was free, easy to use and then his main form of staying connected with family and friends while in the Netherlands.


    Louis was anxious to talk and was impressed that I tracked him down. No one in the media, at that time, seemed to have been checking for the man christened Thunder Thumbs because of his jaw-dropping slap bass technique or his older brother, George, a guitarist with hands so fast he was known as Lightning Licks and a voice so mellow it was like butter. Their heyday in the spotlight had long faded since the mid-70's and 80's when they recorded a few albums but then retreated behind the scenes, winning reputations as celebrated studio musicians for others. I found it a bit unusual that no one was looking for them, considering a new generation of music lovers were being introduced to a bit of their sound each morning. The top-rated, syndicated radio show, the Steve Harvey Morning Show, aired Shirley Strawberry’s relationship segment, Strawberry Letter, with an instrumental portion of the pair's classic song Strawberry Letter 23.


    From the very start, it was evident that music was Louis' love and passion. Within a few minutes into the conversation, his encyclopedic knowledge of music was refreshing. He started the dialogue by going on and on about how much he loved Bjork’s music and how he thought she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Louis told me how he was so captivated by all things Bjork that he traveled to find her. He told me how excited he was when they collaborated on music together. He explained to me that the wonderful thing about where he was at that point in his life is that he could afford to do nothing, so Holland was his destination of choice to kick back and relax. Minneapolis, he mentioned, was where he was residing. Louis told me he never had to work another day in his life, because he was deliberate about putting in the time and hours as a young man to secure himself financially for the future. As he put it, he intentionally sought to work with “everybody and their mama” to be the No. 1 requested bass player.


    But no one gets to the top alone, he advised. Louis told me how George first got a break playing for Billy Preston, a musician sometimes referred to as the "fifth" member of the Beatles. When Preston’s bass player left, George put in a word and got his brother on with Preston's band. The brothers eventually played on the 1972 hit song Will It Go Round In Circles. Shortly after leaving Preston, they hit a brief dry spell before music maestro Quincy Jones started working with the skinny brothers with the big eyeglasses and even bigger afros. Neither George nor Louis knew what the other would say to me when we spoke, so I was impressed with how in sync they were, offering individual praises about Quincy. Both brothers explained how he protected them and educated them about the business of music as soon as he took them into his fold. Louis and George stated how Quincy could have gotten over on them but he did not. Instead, he managed them and taught them how to manage themselves as musicians. Both brothers told me they were basically set for the rest of their lives financially because of the foundation laid by Quincy. I heard so many horror stories about the cutthroat antics in the music business that I was moved to hear artists mention how someone helped them instead of hurt them. The brothers also played on albums for Herbie Hancock, Bobby Womack, Grover Washington Jr., and Bill Withers.


    Louis, who said they didn’t grow up playing sports but playing instruments, explained to me how he worked with Quincy on lots of Michael Jackson projects. He said Quincy taught him how to get co-writing credit for his contributions as a bassist. Quincy showed the brothers the value in being musicians and that they should be compensated for their mastery. Louis immediately told me how he heard Jackson’s Billie Jean for the first time and thought to himself that something was missing. Louis told me that’s when he came up with his famous bass line on the song’s introduction. He told me that’s how he got so many co-writing song credits in his catalog, because he was confident that his bass drove the songs. Billie Jean was a good song, Louis told me, but he said his touch made the song great. Needless to say, Louis did not lack confidence when it came to music. This man knew his gift.


    Training others how to play the bass was something he told me he enjoyed; it was his way of giving back. Louis thought it was amusing and was flattered that so many young men were on YouTube, trying to play the bass like him. He was touched that so many people, young and old, were playing his funk. Louis told me to watch one of his slap bass lessons on YouTube and then advised me to see a few people who were trying to do the same. He told me how he made custom bass guitars and how his slap bass style earned him the nickname of Thunder Thumbs, but it was Graham Central Station front man and founder Larry Graham, Prince’s mentor, Drake’s uncle and former Sly and the Family Stone member, who ushered in this style well before he did. Graham, Louis said, was the man noted as the Godfather of the Slap Bass.


    The bass was the heart and soul of music, Louis said. His homework assignment for me, in addition to watching the YouTube videos of his slap bass disciples, was that I listen to any song of my choice but that I should follow the bass guitar all the way until the tune's very end. He suggested I do this very thing for every instrument in order to understand the importance of what musicians contribute. Sometimes I still find myself doing this exercise.


    George first mentioned his brother’s passing on Facebook; a nephew informed the masses of it on Instagram as well. I was sad to hear the news. Back when I interviewed them, Louis made it known that he wasn’t on speaking terms with his brother. He said that Brothers Johnson fans need not hold their breath for a reunion if he had anything to do with it. Though he said he wasn’t talking to his brother, I teased Louis that it was interesting how he knew everything, even in Holland, that George was doing in Los Angeles. I told Louis this just goes to show that we have our ups and downs with our siblings, but when it is all said and done, we still have the other's back and continue to look out even from afar. Louis chuckled and said he agreed.


    Life is short and time waits for no one. Louis just turned 60 years old on April 13, but a month and 8 days later, he was gone. Hopefully Louis was on speaking terms with his brother before he made his transition. If he wasn't, George should know that his little brother was always keeping up with him in some way. Know that he will certainly do the same now in spirit. 


    Until next time. DocM.A.C. signing off. Keep the faith and always trust the process. #OnwardUpward