80s r&b

Before he graced the covers of Right On! and Black Beat, O’Bryan was a church kid with a stunning tenor tone informed by years of listening to Stevie Wonder, Donny Hattaway, Phyllis Hyman, and the Delphonics, among others.

His vocal abilities impressed a string of influential people that guided him through his musical journey, from Philly Soul legend Ron Kersey to the mighty "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius, who later became co-writer of his songs and executive producer for most of his output with Capitol Records

For his first single release with Capitol, O’Bryan choose a masterful blend of sounds that signaled a shift in musical trends in the early 1980s. It was the first in a series of tunes that elevated him as one of the top Rhythm and Blues heartthrobs of his generation, creating an unbroken relationship with his devoted audience.

Show Tracklisting:

• I Want You Back (Jackson 5)
• Ben (Michael Jackson)
• Right From The Start (O’Bryan)
• Still Waters (Love) (O’Bryan)
• The Gigolo (O’Bryan)
• Soul Train’s A Comin’ (O’Bryan)
• Lovelite (O’Bryan)

O’Bryan on social media

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obryanmusic/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/IAMOBRYAN

Host and Producer: Diego Martinez

Executive Producer: Nicholas "NickFresh" Puzo

Audio Engineer: Adam Fogel

Follow us on social media: @choonspod

Subscribe to our PATREON: patreon.com/choonspod

Multiple tributes flooded social media channels and websites when Joyce Sims made her peaceful transition on October 13th, 2022, all noting the tangible influence she had on music and people's lives. 

This Rochester, NY native found her way from perfecting her craft to soaring the international charts with a heavenly mix of Hip-Hop, electronic beats, and R&B vocal stylings, thanks to her collaboration with Sleeping Bag Records producer Mantronix. That mix led to some remarkable singles in the mid-to-late 80s, including "(You Are My) All And All," and "Come Into My Life," the latter becoming her most-known tune.

Taking cues from one of her final interviews, we take a look back at Joyce's beginnings in music, her efforts to learn the process behind the engineering desk, her surprise rise to fame, and her last recordings before her passing.

Show Tracklisting:

• Come Into My Life (Joyce Sims)
• (You Are My) All And All (Joyce Sims)
• What You Won't Do For Love (Joyce Sims)
   

Interview with Joyce Sims (Courtesy of Halftime Chat)

https://youtu.be/_fIXHpFvGtU

https://youtu.be/QUqlpyo0NS0

https://youtu.be/V6H2ZlaZ0_U

https://youtu.be/r4Wv1jnSWAw

https://youtu.be/Mj2aJi49s4s

Donate or support the production of Halftime Chat

CASHAPP: £halftimechat

PAYPAL: nesoul

Host and Producer: Diego Martinez

Executive Producer: Nicholas "NickFresh" Puzo

Audio Engineer: Adam Fogel

Follow us on social media: @choonspod

Subscribe to our PATREON: patreon.com/choonspod

As the glamour of New Wave made its way through the UK music scene with acts like Visage, Duran Duran, and Spandau Ballet, a band made out of three black men was making the most, sashaying into TV studios with an extravagant image and hypnotic tunes to match. 

Vocalist Leee John, bassist Ashley Ingram, and drummer Errol Kennedy ruled both the charts and the dancefloors with their own silky and soulful "Imagination" sound, created in collaboration with innovative production team Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, later architects of pop classics recorded by Spandau, Alison Moyet, and Bananarama. 

In this special CHOONS episode, Leee takes a trip back to his days working the pub circuit and learning from the greats, his pre-Imagination recordings, the inspiration behind his first hit singles with the band, and the treacherous session that led to one of the most unforgettable floor-fillers of the 1980s.

Show Tracklisting:

• Just An Illusion - Nightdubbing Version (Imagination)
• Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet (Gonzalez)
• Walk On The Wild Side (Lou Reed)
• Body Talk (Imagination)
• Burnin' Up (Imagination)
• I'll Always Love You (But Don't Look Back) (Imagination)
• Flashback (Imagination)
• True (Spandau Ballet)
• Just An Illusion - Instrumental (Imagination)
• Just An Illusion (Imagination)
• In The Heat of The Night (Imagination)

Pre-order Imagination featuring Leee John "40 Years" Limited Edition Box Set Out February 2023: https://leeejohn.lnk.to/imagination40

Leee John on Social Media:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leeejohnofficial/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leeejohn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeeJohn
• Website: https://www.leeejohn.com/

Host and Producer: Diego Martinez

Executive Producer: Nicholas "NickFresh" Puzo

Audio Engineer: Adam Fogel

Follow us on social media: @choonspod

Subscribe to our PATREON: patreon.com/choonspod

Back in 1980, Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) had finally gained independence from the British, marking the end of racial segregation after a protracted war of liberation that claimed many lives. A year later, a young Alton Edwards became a prodigal son when his debut single climbed the UK top 20, one of the very first instances of a 12" single achieving success in the pop charts.

It was the culmination of a journey that took Alton from being a member of several bands to leading his own solo project in collaboration with innovative record producer Chris Cameron. Though his journey also included obstacles that ultimately curtailed his momentum, Alton continues to express his creativity with impactful projects. He's also immensely grateful for the dancey tune that put him on the map and that makes bodies shake to this very day.

Show Tracklisting

• Sanibonani (Dianne Chandler)
• Boogie Nights (Heatwave)
• I Just Wanna (Spend Some Time With You) (Alton Edwards)
• I Just Wanna (Spend Some Time With You) Michael Gray Remix (Alton Edwards)

Alton Edwards on Social Media:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altonedwards/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/altonedwards

Host and Producer: Diego Martinez

Executive Producer: Nicholas "NickFresh" Puzo

Audio Engineer: Adam Fogel

Follow us on social media: @choonspod

Subscribe to our PATREON: patreon.com/choonspod

Born Norman Washington Giscombe on June 6, 1957, Junior had been making the rounds of the London music scene, just as the Britfunk movement was bridging the gap of a racially-divided England with its friendly and inviting sound, one inspired by American R&B, soul and funk.

After dabbling in rock and even Disco, Junior found his groove with producer Bob Carter and tapped into the words of wisdom of his Jamaican mother to create a song that touched a nerve with audiences in the UK and the US.

With its universal message of love, knowledge, and self-acceptance, “Mama Used To Say” helped Junior make history as one of the first British soul singers to cross over to America, and served as inspiration and praise for a number of equally iconic performers.

Show Tracklisting

• Get Up and Dance (Norman Giscombe Jr.)
• Love Dies (Junior)
• Let Me Know (Junior)
• Mama Used To Say (Junior)
• Mama Used To Say - American Instrumental Mix (Junior)
• I Specialize in Love (Sharon Brown)
• Mama Used To Say - American Remix (Junior)
• Too Late (Junior)
• Oh Louise (Junior)

Junior on Social Media:

• Website: https://www.juniorgiscombe.co.uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juniorgiscombe_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juniorgiscombe
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuniorGiscombe

Host and Producer: Diego Martinez

Executive Producer: Nicholas "NickFresh" Puzo

Audio Engineer: Adam Fogel 

Follow us on social media: @choonspod

Subscribe to our PATREON: patreon.com/choonspod

Divas, Divos, and Divs! 

We are back from our winter slumber. A certain diva by the last name of Jackson is ready to reflect and share with the class..or is she? No, it’s not Legend-Toya. And her first name ain’t baby. 

Today we’re talking about Janet (Miss Jackson, if ya nasty). Angie and Steffi are back to break down Night 1 - episodes 1 & 2 - of Janet Jackson’s docuseries “JANET JACKSON.” (2022). We talk about our first impressions and whether this truly satisfied our inner Janet stan. Was Joseph Jackson a tyrant or strict parent? Was Renee Elizondo genuinely in love or calculating behind the scenes? Was there too much of big brother Michael? And more importantly…where was Legend Toya?! 

*Episodes 3 & 4 will be discussed in another episode. Stay tuned and make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast!

Logline: An intimate and unfiltered look at the untold story of Janet Jackson filmed over the span of three years featuring archival footage, never before seen home videos and star-studded interviews.

DIVA DAILIES SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify

*Email: divadailiespod@gmail.com

STEFFI’S SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok | YouTube

ANGIE’S SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

TIME STAMPS:

- Housekeeping/ Admin. (01:33)

- Oscar & Razzie Moment of the Week (04:35) 

- Opening Discussions: First Impressions of the Docuseries (17:48)

- Episode 1 Breakdown (36:35)

- Episode 2 Breakdown (61:40)

Raised in Detroit, Michigan and vocally trained by their mom, gospel singer Mary Frazier Jones, Shirley, Brenda, and Valorie Jones were a musical wonder from the very start. Their misty harmonies caught the ears of some of the greatest performers of all time—from Norman Connors to Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross— who hired them as their backing vocalists.

They became so damn good that Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff signed them to Philadelphia International Records and gave them all the attention they deserved with beautifully-crafted songs like “You’re Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else,” “At Peace With Woman,” and “I Just Love The Man.”

Their ride on the ‘love train’ reached its ultimate destination with a mysterious jazz-infused track written by Dexter Wensel and Cynthia Biggs El, inspired by a failed college trip to Egypt. It almost never made it to the PIR catalogue, but after the girls laid their vocals, “Nights Over Egypt” grew to become a Quiet Storm standard and source of inspiration for Hip-Hop and Rap artists, musicians, and music lovers everywhere, cementing the singers’ place in the industry.

More on Shirley Jones

• Website
• Instagram

Show Tracklisting

• Who Can I Run To (Xscape)
• Put A Little Love In Your Heart (Mary Frazier Jones)
• Oh I Feel Good (Mary Frazier Jones and the Jones Sisters)
• Almighty Fire (Aretha Franklin)
• Love Hangover (Diana Ross and the Jones Sisters Live at Midnight Special)
• You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else (The Jones Girls)
• I Just Love The Man (The Jones Girls)
• At Peace With Woman (The Jones Girls)
• Nights Over Egypt (The Jones Girls)
• I Won't Tell (Shirley Jones)

Host and Producer: Diego Martinez

Executive Producer: NickFresh

Audio Engineer: Adam Fogel 

Follow us on social media: @choonspod

Subscribe to our PATREON: patreon.com/choonspod