The Prime Minister is back in Chicago on the radio.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
Congratulations Marcella Jones
It is a great feeling for an instructor to see the success of a student or someone that was mentored. Marcella Jones gives me a great feeling as I watch and hear her become the "on air" Gospel Personality I envisioned over 7 years ago. Marcella and I met in the studio of WKKC. She was promoting a CD of the Choir she belonged to. She stayed in the studio and watched me have fun inspiring the people of God on WKKC FM. I guess that's when the bug hit her. She soon volunteered to work at WKKC FM getting up at 5:00 AM to perform on the Gospel Drive radio program.
Ms. Jones had no prior experience with radio but she had tremendous desire. I respected her for that desire because I could see that she was falling in love with radio and loved Gospel music. Most of all, I could see how genuinely she wanted to make the people of God feel good.
Marcella was faithful and throughout the experience on WKKC we would lock heads but I knew that she had something very special in her that would one day bless me. So I overlooked everything and took Marcella under my wing to train her.
Now she will be the first to tell you that working with me is no walk in the park. I am very passionate about radio. And sometimes that can make me a bit hard on a student. Being a personality is a great responsibility and a "gift from God." I am less tolerant when someone takes that gift lightly. Marcella endured all I dished out and stayed in there learning, learning, and learning.
In 2003, I became an assistant professor at Howard University, and Marcella continued to be faithful at WKKC as a personality. And just like I was rewarded for hard work and endurance she is reaping the fruits of her labor also. God is faithful and he sees all that we do. Especially the things we do from the heart. And Marcella always did things at WKKC from the heart. Believe me the salary was not all that.
In a recent conversation, I reminded her of how her friends and others would try to discourage her about voulunteering at WKKC. Because of her faithfulness God elevated her to a position of Gospel Music Director of WKKC FM which also got the attention of Mike Robinson program director of Gospel 1390.
The rest of the story is now history as Marcella has moved from the evenings to the mid-day the most "critical" day part position for Gospel Music. In my opinion, her spirit and personality are an excellent fit for the mid-day position on Gospel 1390. And I expect nothing less than the best from her.
Finally, this statement from Marcella says it all
Professor Miles:
"I still can't believe it, you saw something in me years ago and taught me everything I know and look what happened, I just told someone the other day that I used to watch everything you did from the way you talk and the delivery of your talk sets, to the music selection and the flow of the music. 2 things I will always remember you saying is failure to prepare is preparing to fail, and the famous always play skillfully (Psalm 33:3). Oh! one last one, talk to the people like you talk to your friend regina. Thanks for everything, I pray that I can make you proud. I love what God has blessed me to do.
Thanks Reggie,
Marcella you have already made me proud. Just keep doing what God has assigned you to do.
Thank You.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Professor Miles Teaches Radio Production 101 at GMWA Gospel Announcers Guild Convention
On Tuesday and Wednesday August 15 & 16 in Dallas, Texas, Professor Miles taught over 76 Gospel Announcers in the art of making a commercial by using a digital audio editor. The workshop was designed for the person with very basic audio and computer skills. Radio is changing and jobs are vanishing, however the knowledge of digital technology makes the average announcer indispensable.
The two day workshop informed students on the purchase of equipment, the philosophy of making a commercial, and the basic techniques used to design a multi-track commercial. The students left the two day seminar energized with knowledge to expand their announcing craft.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Professor Miles at NAACP ACT-SO Awards Ceremony
On Sunday July 15, 2006, Professor Reggie Miles worked as the FOH (front of the house) sound engineer at the 29th NAACP ACT-SO Awards Ceremony in Washington,DC. The Prime Minister along with four staffers from Howard University's student radio station WHBC assisted in the production of the annual event honoring some of the nations brightest African American high school students. The Howard student's Brian Young, Jessica Stugress, Karen Lawson and Jessica Harding received valuable experience as production assistants from one of New York's largest audio visual production companies. The students left with a positive attitude about the experience and Professor Miles was invited back as Sound engineer for the 30th NAACP ACT-SO Awards in Florida in 2007. You can view the ceremony and hear the audio engineering of Professor Miles at http://www.naacpwebcast.com/naacp2006/player_naacp06_01.asp.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
We Have Not because We Participate Not!!
For a voice in the media, networking and building relationships are essential. At Columbia College, the Community Media Workshop sponsored an event entitled "Making Media Connections." This annual event was held for two days and was well attended by many people except African Americans.
There is an old adage, "You have not because You ask not" well if you take that phrase and replace a couple of words you have the exact situation of African Americans in regards to media. "We have not because We participate not!" Since 2002, I have attended several forums regarding media and most of the African American participation/attendance came from the African American's who were invited as panelists which is totally disgusting.
Where were the African American voices speaking up for the concerns of African Americans? Organizations representing Hispanic concerns attended the event and questioned the direction of the media. The issue of immigration was mentioned at every turn.
Something has to be done to address apathy in the African American community. The powers that be will assume that African Americans don't care and overlook African American concerns when African Americans don't show themselves to be an active citizenry as opposed to consumers. A voice in and through the media is a good place to start. Attending forums that inform about the business of media and the power of its use are essential to the community. It's like not voting when so many people died for the right to vote.
We have not because We participate not !!
There is an old adage, "You have not because You ask not" well if you take that phrase and replace a couple of words you have the exact situation of African Americans in regards to media. "We have not because We participate not!" Since 2002, I have attended several forums regarding media and most of the African American participation/attendance came from the African American's who were invited as panelists which is totally disgusting.
Where were the African American voices speaking up for the concerns of African Americans? Organizations representing Hispanic concerns attended the event and questioned the direction of the media. The issue of immigration was mentioned at every turn.
Something has to be done to address apathy in the African American community. The powers that be will assume that African Americans don't care and overlook African American concerns when African Americans don't show themselves to be an active citizenry as opposed to consumers. A voice in and through the media is a good place to start. Attending forums that inform about the business of media and the power of its use are essential to the community. It's like not voting when so many people died for the right to vote.
We have not because We participate not !!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Hallelujah ! Gospel Radio Announcers Together on TV.
What a blessing it was to see some of Chicago's most influential Gospel air personalities in a forum discussing "Ministry in the Music" with Apostle Daniel H. Wilson on the Kingdom Vision Television broadcast which aired Monday evening on WJYS.
The program brought together Pam Morris, Mike Robinson, Darryl King, Sonja Blakey, and Marcella Jones sharing their views on Gospel music and their particular ministries. If this program is an indication of what's to come in Chicago, then the ministry of Christ will be richly served. Why do I say this? Hmmm! The participants were from three different radio stations and the politics and business of radio took a secondary seat to the liberating message of Christ.
Chicago with all its greatness has had problems coming together for a common good. (Too much/Too many EGO(s) "Edging God Out") However, this time the message of the Gospel and the ministry of each announcer as it relates to people in Chicago took center stage.
Of course, the preacher Apostle H. Daniel Wilson, put it all in perspective as to the significance of music and its use. Simply stated "music should bring the "hearer" to a level of preparedness to hear the word and worship God.
What do you think about the Ministry of Gospel Music on radio in Chicago?
The program brought together Pam Morris, Mike Robinson, Darryl King, Sonja Blakey, and Marcella Jones sharing their views on Gospel music and their particular ministries. If this program is an indication of what's to come in Chicago, then the ministry of Christ will be richly served. Why do I say this? Hmmm! The participants were from three different radio stations and the politics and business of radio took a secondary seat to the liberating message of Christ.
Chicago with all its greatness has had problems coming together for a common good. (Too much/Too many EGO(s) "Edging God Out") However, this time the message of the Gospel and the ministry of each announcer as it relates to people in Chicago took center stage.
Of course, the preacher Apostle H. Daniel Wilson, put it all in perspective as to the significance of music and its use. Simply stated "music should bring the "hearer" to a level of preparedness to hear the word and worship God.
What do you think about the Ministry of Gospel Music on radio in Chicago?
An Amazing Disgrace ?
Note: The Prime Minister... wholeheartedly agrees that Chicago should have its own Gospel Heritage Museum to recognize the many talented gospel pioneers from Chicago
Republished courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times
May 28, 2006
BY DAVE HOEKSTRA Staff Reporter
Chicago Sun-Times
The world's first gospel museum, hall of fame and educational center is being planned for Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
That's like having a surfing museum in Chicago.
Chicago is the birthplace of gospel music. Mahalia Jackson came of age in Chicago. The Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey lived his adult life in Chicago after being born in Villa Rica, Ga. As the "Father of Gospel Music," he wrote more than 3,000 blues and gospel songs. Dorsey mentored Jackson, James Cleveland, Albertina Walker and many other gospel greats at the historic Pilgrim Baptist Church, 33rd and Indiana, which was destroyed by fire in January.
There wouldn't be the uplifting Chicago soul of the Staple Singers, Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield without Chicago gospel. R. Kelly's music teacher at Kenwood Academy was Lena McLin. Her uncle was the Rev. Dorsey.
At the center of the Fort Lauderdale initiative is gospel superstar Dr. Bobby Jones. The museum will be named the Dr. Bobby Jones Gospel Complex For Education, Heritage and Preservation. Last week, Jones began moving portions of his operation from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale. Jones is host and producer of "Bobby Jones Gospel," which has aired on Black Entertainment Television (BET) since 1980.
"Nowhere in the world do we have a home for gospel music," Jones said in an interview from Nashville. "This will be the first, and it will be quite elaborately built. This will include a (1,100-seat) theater and a production studio. Fort Lauderdale had the desire to build this. I thought it would have been Chicago first, but if Chicago wanted it, it would be there by now."
The 22nd annual Chicago Gospel Festival kicks off on Friday. CeCe Winans headlines Saturday's performances in Grant Park, and Sunday closes with "The Gospel Champions" featuring The Caravans, Doc McKenzie & The Hi-Lites, and Joe Ligon & The Mighty Clouds of Joy.
Pam Morris has been the city's gospel fest coordinator since 1989. "We're not happy about Florida," said Morris, who also hosts a weekly gospel show on WVON-AM (1450). "Albertina Walker was doing it before Bobby Jones. She's from Chicago. I'm shocked. I'm not sure this was offered to Chicago, and Chicago is the mecca of gospel music."
Morris has been meeting with the Rev. Stanley Keeble, who is trying to find a home for a Chicago Gospel Music Heritage Museum. He has artifacts such as the tuxedo worn by the late James Cleveland when he received the first of his five Grammy awards, plus uniforms from Chicago's legendary Thompson Communiy Singers. "This is a crucial situation for gopsel music," the Rev. Keeble said on Monday. "And it is crucial for the city of Chicago."
Meanwhile, Albert Tucker, vice president of multicultural business development at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, said ground will be broken for the 60,000-square foot Florida project next year. He hopes a portion of the Jones gospel center will be open in 2008.
"We saw the need for the industry to have a permanent home," Tucker said. "And we are one of the major tourist capitals of the country. From an economic standpoint, we put our money where our mouth was."
Church and state
Earlier this month Florida State Rep. Christopher Smith announced $350,000 had been appropriated for research and development of the gospel complex. The money is in the state's new budget, awaiting approval from Gov. Jeb Bush. Ultimately, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau hopes to obtain between $5 and 10 million from the state. Tucker chairs the state's program for multicultural tourism.
Chicago's Rev. Keeble said, "My problem has been finding funding. Bobby didn't have any trouble finding funding. And he gets exposure from his television show."
The Rev. Keeble was a frequent performer on the "Jubilee Showcase" television show that ran from 1963 until 1984 on WLS-TV. By July he hopes to launch a Sunday morning "Chicago Gospel Jublilee" show on WCPX-Channel 38. ("Jubilee Showcase" tapes can be viewed at the Chicago Public Library Music Information Center in the Harold Washington Library.)
The key element in gospel coming to Fort Lauderdale is the bi-annual International Gospel Industry Retreat, hosted by Jones. Three years ago Jones, 67, moved his retreats from Las Vegas to Fort Lauderdale. Earlier this month, the 18th biannual retreat was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The next retreat will be Dec. 4-6 in Fort Lauderdale. Tucker said each retreat results in nearly $1 million for the local economy.
"He brings in just about all the major gospel artists for educational summits as well as television tapings," Tucker said. "Last time he had Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar." That three-day retreat drew 1,100 people daily, according to Tucker. "It's really focused on the industry," he said. "The numbers have gone up in the education component where youth participate. At one point it was only for artists and label people."
Geography vs. unity
Lifelong Chicagoan Darius Brooks appears at 5:40 p.m. Saturday in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion as part of this year's Chicago Gospel Festival. His mother, Ethyl, played piano for Cleveland and Mahalia Jackson. Brooks was the songwriter and producer for the late Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers. Brooks bleeds Chicago gospel, yet he understands Jones' initiative.
"Everybody in the gospel industry knows Bobby Jones," said Brooks, 43. "Any attatchment to Chicago would be awesome for him. The detatchment from Chicago would make eyebrows go up. Because of gospel, I would support him. I believe in unity. But there should be a museum in Chicago, and maybe this will open it up."
In 1989, a Jazz-Blues-Gospel Hall of Fame opened in the Chicago Public Library Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. The project was led by Charles Suber, former publisher of Down Beat magazine from 1955-62 and 1968-82. Initital inductees were Jackson, Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. The "hall of fame" moved to the Harold Washington Library when it opened in 1991 and is now available as part of the library's archival collection.
The Rev. Keeble's Chicago Gospel Music Heritage Museum idea has its roots in a computerized history kiosk at the DuSable Museum. This week the kiosk will be moved to Grant Park in conjunction with the gopsel festival. The Rev. Keeble has played with Inez Andrews and Jessy Dixon. In 1968, he formed his own gospel choir, the Voices of Triumph.
In the fall of 2002, the Gospel Music Heritage Museum was ready to launch out of a donated building at Michael Reese Hospital. But hospital president Steven Weinstein, who offered the space, was transferred to Washington, D.C., and the musem never opened.
"I'm looking at various sites," the Rev. Keeble said. "I don't know their avalibilty."
'This is going to happen'
The International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Detroit was founded in 1995. That effort includes a Web site (www.igmhf.org) with a digitized history of gospel music. A "Wall of Time" tracing gospel music from 1865 and the museum's touch screen exhibits can be seen inside the Dorohn Records studio, a gospel label at 18301 W. McNichols Rd. in Detroit. The group is also seeking funding for a permanent museum.
"There's no real building in Detroit," Jones said. "There's concepts all over the country."
Jones' television show is produced in Washington, D.C., and that will continue. He said he will also continue to use Nashville as the base of rehearsal for his choir. Jones also will book gospel talent for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The prestigious Stellar Gospel Music Awards has a hold on the 2,700-seat Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for its 2007 awards show.
The Fort Lauderdale gospel hall of fame will have inductions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Tucker said, "I've already talked to individuals from the Gospel Music Workshop of America [founded by James Cleveland], the Praise and Worship Conference. We have word out to Bishop [Kenneth] Moales in Connecticut who worked with Thomas Dorsey.
"This is going to happen," he continued. "There is nothing like this anywhere for gospel. Our convention bureau put in $100,000 for the feasibility study, and we continue to support the efforts of the retreats. We want to make sure that Dr. Jones not only has a location, but a true team around him, supporting him."
Republished courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times
May 28, 2006
BY DAVE HOEKSTRA Staff Reporter
Chicago Sun-Times
The world's first gospel museum, hall of fame and educational center is being planned for Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
That's like having a surfing museum in Chicago.
Chicago is the birthplace of gospel music. Mahalia Jackson came of age in Chicago. The Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey lived his adult life in Chicago after being born in Villa Rica, Ga. As the "Father of Gospel Music," he wrote more than 3,000 blues and gospel songs. Dorsey mentored Jackson, James Cleveland, Albertina Walker and many other gospel greats at the historic Pilgrim Baptist Church, 33rd and Indiana, which was destroyed by fire in January.
There wouldn't be the uplifting Chicago soul of the Staple Singers, Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield without Chicago gospel. R. Kelly's music teacher at Kenwood Academy was Lena McLin. Her uncle was the Rev. Dorsey.
At the center of the Fort Lauderdale initiative is gospel superstar Dr. Bobby Jones. The museum will be named the Dr. Bobby Jones Gospel Complex For Education, Heritage and Preservation. Last week, Jones began moving portions of his operation from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale. Jones is host and producer of "Bobby Jones Gospel," which has aired on Black Entertainment Television (BET) since 1980.
"Nowhere in the world do we have a home for gospel music," Jones said in an interview from Nashville. "This will be the first, and it will be quite elaborately built. This will include a (1,100-seat) theater and a production studio. Fort Lauderdale had the desire to build this. I thought it would have been Chicago first, but if Chicago wanted it, it would be there by now."
The 22nd annual Chicago Gospel Festival kicks off on Friday. CeCe Winans headlines Saturday's performances in Grant Park, and Sunday closes with "The Gospel Champions" featuring The Caravans, Doc McKenzie & The Hi-Lites, and Joe Ligon & The Mighty Clouds of Joy.
Pam Morris has been the city's gospel fest coordinator since 1989. "We're not happy about Florida," said Morris, who also hosts a weekly gospel show on WVON-AM (1450). "Albertina Walker was doing it before Bobby Jones. She's from Chicago. I'm shocked. I'm not sure this was offered to Chicago, and Chicago is the mecca of gospel music."
Morris has been meeting with the Rev. Stanley Keeble, who is trying to find a home for a Chicago Gospel Music Heritage Museum. He has artifacts such as the tuxedo worn by the late James Cleveland when he received the first of his five Grammy awards, plus uniforms from Chicago's legendary Thompson Communiy Singers. "This is a crucial situation for gopsel music," the Rev. Keeble said on Monday. "And it is crucial for the city of Chicago."
Meanwhile, Albert Tucker, vice president of multicultural business development at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, said ground will be broken for the 60,000-square foot Florida project next year. He hopes a portion of the Jones gospel center will be open in 2008.
"We saw the need for the industry to have a permanent home," Tucker said. "And we are one of the major tourist capitals of the country. From an economic standpoint, we put our money where our mouth was."
Church and state
Earlier this month Florida State Rep. Christopher Smith announced $350,000 had been appropriated for research and development of the gospel complex. The money is in the state's new budget, awaiting approval from Gov. Jeb Bush. Ultimately, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau hopes to obtain between $5 and 10 million from the state. Tucker chairs the state's program for multicultural tourism.
Chicago's Rev. Keeble said, "My problem has been finding funding. Bobby didn't have any trouble finding funding. And he gets exposure from his television show."
The Rev. Keeble was a frequent performer on the "Jubilee Showcase" television show that ran from 1963 until 1984 on WLS-TV. By July he hopes to launch a Sunday morning "Chicago Gospel Jublilee" show on WCPX-Channel 38. ("Jubilee Showcase" tapes can be viewed at the Chicago Public Library Music Information Center in the Harold Washington Library.)
The key element in gospel coming to Fort Lauderdale is the bi-annual International Gospel Industry Retreat, hosted by Jones. Three years ago Jones, 67, moved his retreats from Las Vegas to Fort Lauderdale. Earlier this month, the 18th biannual retreat was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The next retreat will be Dec. 4-6 in Fort Lauderdale. Tucker said each retreat results in nearly $1 million for the local economy.
"He brings in just about all the major gospel artists for educational summits as well as television tapings," Tucker said. "Last time he had Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar." That three-day retreat drew 1,100 people daily, according to Tucker. "It's really focused on the industry," he said. "The numbers have gone up in the education component where youth participate. At one point it was only for artists and label people."
Geography vs. unity
Lifelong Chicagoan Darius Brooks appears at 5:40 p.m. Saturday in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion as part of this year's Chicago Gospel Festival. His mother, Ethyl, played piano for Cleveland and Mahalia Jackson. Brooks was the songwriter and producer for the late Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers. Brooks bleeds Chicago gospel, yet he understands Jones' initiative.
"Everybody in the gospel industry knows Bobby Jones," said Brooks, 43. "Any attatchment to Chicago would be awesome for him. The detatchment from Chicago would make eyebrows go up. Because of gospel, I would support him. I believe in unity. But there should be a museum in Chicago, and maybe this will open it up."
In 1989, a Jazz-Blues-Gospel Hall of Fame opened in the Chicago Public Library Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. The project was led by Charles Suber, former publisher of Down Beat magazine from 1955-62 and 1968-82. Initital inductees were Jackson, Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. The "hall of fame" moved to the Harold Washington Library when it opened in 1991 and is now available as part of the library's archival collection.
The Rev. Keeble's Chicago Gospel Music Heritage Museum idea has its roots in a computerized history kiosk at the DuSable Museum. This week the kiosk will be moved to Grant Park in conjunction with the gopsel festival. The Rev. Keeble has played with Inez Andrews and Jessy Dixon. In 1968, he formed his own gospel choir, the Voices of Triumph.
In the fall of 2002, the Gospel Music Heritage Museum was ready to launch out of a donated building at Michael Reese Hospital. But hospital president Steven Weinstein, who offered the space, was transferred to Washington, D.C., and the musem never opened.
"I'm looking at various sites," the Rev. Keeble said. "I don't know their avalibilty."
'This is going to happen'
The International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Detroit was founded in 1995. That effort includes a Web site (www.igmhf.org) with a digitized history of gospel music. A "Wall of Time" tracing gospel music from 1865 and the museum's touch screen exhibits can be seen inside the Dorohn Records studio, a gospel label at 18301 W. McNichols Rd. in Detroit. The group is also seeking funding for a permanent museum.
"There's no real building in Detroit," Jones said. "There's concepts all over the country."
Jones' television show is produced in Washington, D.C., and that will continue. He said he will also continue to use Nashville as the base of rehearsal for his choir. Jones also will book gospel talent for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The prestigious Stellar Gospel Music Awards has a hold on the 2,700-seat Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for its 2007 awards show.
The Fort Lauderdale gospel hall of fame will have inductions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Tucker said, "I've already talked to individuals from the Gospel Music Workshop of America [founded by James Cleveland], the Praise and Worship Conference. We have word out to Bishop [Kenneth] Moales in Connecticut who worked with Thomas Dorsey.
"This is going to happen," he continued. "There is nothing like this anywhere for gospel. Our convention bureau put in $100,000 for the feasibility study, and we continue to support the efforts of the retreats. We want to make sure that Dr. Jones not only has a location, but a true team around him, supporting him."
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Professor Miles teaches at BCW Internship
Today, in Nashville, Tennessee I was honored to lecture journalism students from various universities across the country on sound capture and using a digital voice recorder. This is my second year working with the Black College Wire project which is an organization dedicated to teaching students how to be better journalists. How did I get here? Hmmm! this is an assignment from God! Working with academics Dr. Reggie Owens, and Dr. Valerie White, professionals Pearl Stewart, Richard Prince, and Jean Thompson is a great experience. I am honored to share with colleagues and teach students the knowledge God has gifted me with.
The Prime Minister's First Message
Well, today I reach out into the world of cyberspace on a mission to inspire. My work is intended to reach students where they are. Learning to use technology is vitally important in the realm of communications. This blog is intended for students of radio production, audio editing, sound for video, multitrack music production and announcers.
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