Grammy Surprise!

Again I am late. In my defense... the week this blog represents was a whirlwind. I had a travel show and SURPRISE... Russ was nominated for a Grammy. Who knew? We did not.

After a lot of panic and scrambling, we managed to get to both events.

Good times... Good times.

Then before you knew it...

Then they were playing Rick James in the arena!

How exciting that from now on, Russ will be "Grammy nominated Russell Graham!"

Much Love,

T

Showtime!

This... is why I have to focus and fall behind on my blogs sometimes.

What a great time! 

"Stone City Band won't you funk us on up..."

Yes. I believe they will. ;)

There are some amazing reviews that I will share as soon as I get the chance, but right now I have to fly because we're getting ready to do this again! 

Also... you will NOT BELIEVE what is coming up after that!!! Whew! Stay tuned y'all.

Love you!

T

The System

I was referred to a new doctor's office and called for an appointment. First I was told there was no doctor there by that name. I left a message for the referring doctor that I would need a different number.

Before I heard back, I called another number I found and was told that I just needed a script. Appointments were made with the staff under the doctor's direction and not with the doctor himself. I called the referring doctor's office back to change the message. As I began to explain, the answering service receptionist cut me off, left me on hold for 10 minutes, then came back and said she had left a message for the doctor to call me back. I tried to politely explain (mildly polite) that that was not actually what I wanted and made the correction. A new message was left for the referring doctor (third one).

The next morning someone called saying they were from a doctor's office and needed all of my information. Never one to trust questions on an incoming call, I said I would need to call the office back before giving out any personal details. After two or three tries, several messages and different numbers, I finally spoke to someone. She tried to look me up in "the system." 

After waiting and relaying my information twice, it occurred to me that whoever had called earlier was someone looking for my information to put in "the system" and that I probably wasn't in there yet. She said, "if they called you, you must be in the system already." I went with that. After not being able to locate me, she said someone would have to call me back.

I had to wait for the next day for someone to call me back, but by then I recognized the number on the caller ID. It was the new doctor's office in need of my information. She said she had to put me in "the system." 

After it was all done, I asked if I should call back the scheduling office to make an appointment. She said, "No. They will call you. We have a system."

They did not call me back to schedule yet, but the person who put me in the system called back to ask for the details again because she had missed a number and it wasn't working in the system as a result.

I have not heard back yet. I'm going to call them because I don't trust their system. 😂

In other news, an upcoming performance with "The System" had to be changed (due to unforeseen circumstances) and we (The Original Stone City Band / Bad Boys of Funk) hope to see Mic Murphy sometime soon. Stone City will still be performing that show with a host of other acts.

Blessed week... 

Love,

T

P.S.

Russ just told me it's Mic Murphy's birthday today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

Lions and Tigers and Bears...

The show was great! I always love rehearsals and being around the Stone City Band family. We rehearsed in Vegas before the Seattle show. I love this family. Randall and I had coordinated red tiger stripes (actually it may have been zebra).

Mark, Me, Randall

Me, Levi 

Danny, Me, Eddie

The traveling was a bit grueling. There were flight delays, flight changes, airport changes and long distance sprints to make it to new gates. When the show was over, I had the chance to sit and relax for a minute. Oscar and I made a few TikToks.

It wasn't until I finally packed up for the flight home and went to bed for the night that I realized my lion video had gone viral at a million views. When I woke up, it was over two million. Now, as I write this, it's at 4.8 million and counting. I'm going to have to do a follow up video. Also, who knew there was so much to learn about the mating habits of lions? LOL

The journey home was smooth until Chicago, where my final leg was delayed many times. When it went back as far as 7am the following morning and the airline was ready to send me to a hotel, I managed to race to another terminal to catch the last flight back to the NYC area. My luggage did not make it. That's alright. It should be delivered here to the house shortly and the COVID test was negative, so there's not that much to complain about in the grand scheme of things. Zachary was asleep with his favorite bear when I finally arrived back home. 

Here's wishing you a beautiful week. 

Love,

T

Getting Comfortable?

What a great time I had with Rick James' Original Stone City Band this weekend! They always bring a smile. I absolutely love the whole SCB family. What an amazing group of beautiful and talented people! It's truly a Blessing to know them and an incredible honor to be with them on stage.

With Mark

With Lanise

With Oscar

There was a lot of driving for me this week, but we are finally home and looking forward to getting settled back in. Maybe I shouldn't speak too soon though, because look at this guy:

I believe it's a male "Halloween Pennant" dragonfly and it was waiting for me when I got back. 

"In almost every part of the world, the Dragonfly symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization. The change that is often referred to has its source in mental and emotional maturity and understanding the deeper meaning of life." - Google

Fine. Bring it on! (Just as I was about to get comfortable.) Might as well have an adventure. 

Hope you all had a lovely holiday!

Love,

T

Wild Blue Yonder

 Is it Monday again? I've entered a whole new world.

I was that crazy lady spraying and wiping down everything I touched (even though I am fully vaccinated), but MAN was it good to be on stage once again!

And it was beyond beautiful to be with all these lovely people and fine talents!

With Mark

With Levi Ruffin, Nate Hughes

With Lanise Hughes

Lanise, Me, Nate, Cheri, Randall, Maxi, Tom, Eddie, Levi, Oscar

Two shows, three hotel rooms, and four planes later, I think I'm getting the hang of this new world of safety protocols. Hand sanitizer, wipes, spray and gloves are at the ready in various accessible pockets of my crossbody bag and I've got the use of public restrooms down to a science. 

SMH at how much of everything we took for granted, and how amazing it is that some of these kids coming up now will have never known a world before COVID.

May we all stay safe, healthy, happy and grateful.

Love you all, 

T

Flying High

 Sorry I'm late.

It's been a little hectic.

It was 113 degrees here in Vegas today! Whew! So glad to be here rehearsing again though! I can take the heat :) This week is going to be AWESOME! It's such an honor to work with Rick James' Original Stone City Band!

Blessed week everyone...

The sky isn't even the limit anymore ;)

Love,

T

Jam-packed

There was a gig,

With Gregory, Kristina #DancinMachine

With Gregory, Rob, Kristina #DancingMachine

an airport,

a fashion fair,

and my very first purchase for the new website boutique!

With Rafael #AlfredLane

There were awesome friends and dueling pianos!

With Kim #TheTwinsDuelingPianos

There were casinos, good times and basketball watching with some of my favorite people!

With Nate and Lanise #OriginalStoneCityBand

There were signs,

and more - much more. Now maybe there can be some sleep (as soon as I get done with these emails).

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! xoxo

Love,
T

Love Floweth

Ever get the feeling you are EXACTLY where you are supposed to be?

I can scarcely express the gratitude in my heart for everyone and everything responsible for getting me here to this point. I absolutely adored being a part of the Full Force show for WBLS / Circle of Sisters. It was an honor beyond words.

Then there's THIS:

and I am over the moon.

I may be in a dream. To be a part of these shows with Rick James' original Stone City Band means the world to me. I'm just in heaven.

Rick James and Teena Marie have shaped my life in immeasurable ways. I am overflowing with love and gratitude for them, their music, and all of the pieces of an amazing journey that have brought me to right here and now. #LoveFloweth

To everyone guiding this path: thank you.

Some pretty cool things have happened on the way...

again, thanks.

Love,

T

Into the Sun

I literally flew toward the sun.

Then traveled via car toward it.

I was moving toward something that I love...

and surrounded by good people.

Later in the week, I was talking to a friend about focusing on the positive aspects of what they were moving toward. (Smile.) I think I'll take my own advice and keep going toward the sun and all things happy.

A heartfelt wave of gratitude for my gig with The Original Stone City Band this weekend! It's an honor and a pleasure to be working with such talented and truly wonderful people. Love all you guys - and all you ladies working hard backstage too!

Here's to that moment when you're about to give it your all...

Namaste,
T

My Perfect World

I remember Robbie asking this leading question a long time ago:

"In your perfect world..." (Where would you be in a few years?)

Robbie has been the studio manager at several different locations where I've worked over the years, and remains a studio manager and a good friend (family, really) today. Robbie's question itself makes you define your goals. By answering it, you create the pathway for your dreams and goals to come true. You are saying it out loud, envisioning your future, taking the first step toward realizing those intentions.

Eddie Fluellen, Me, Nate Hughes

Nate Hughes

Me, Amelia Rose, Lanise Hughes, Steve Arrington

Me, Mark Love Gonsalves, Amelia Rose, Randall Bostick

Me, Mark Love Gonsalves

Levi Ruffin, Me

The last couple of weeks have felt like that perfect world for me. First, I performed in Las Vegas as a part of Rick James's Original Stone City Band. Words can scarcely describe how special and poignant that was for me. I started out on the music scene in Buffalo with so many of his musicians as my mentors. I was brought up, so to speak, in the musical family that lived and breathed his sound. It felt like home to be there with his band.

When I arrived back in Buffalo after that show, I was in what feels like my home away from home too. It was the studio - with Robbie, Russ, Joey and Paul. We recorded lead vocals on two tracks for what will be my second album. It was perfect.

Joey Diggs, Me, Paul Anthony, Russ

I'm positively basking in gratitude for all of my musical mentors and the amazing opportunity to work with them. So many people I cherish - all in a couple of weeks.

Sometimes... gratitude just overfloweth.

Have a most Blessed week! xo

Namaste,
T