This Insider felt one other intestine punch when colleagues known as to relay information of the passing of publicist Juanita Stephens.
The ache resonated most with reflections of her impression on the music trade.
To those that might not absolutely comprehend the duties of her title, any particular person burdened by the identifier should liaise with media and influencers to advance their employer’s product.
Stephens mastered her craft.
Starting in 1984, she was the primary to advertise a mega-group of children dubbed New Version.
On the time, her company bosses had been MCA Information, the place she honed her abilities because the assistant to the director of publicity.
Though younger in age, the formidable newcomer spiraled to grow to be a director and vice chairman within the Black Music division earlier than exiting the hit-making enterprise six and a half years later.
Allegedly, whereas vaulting to success, she mothered the quintet a lot that one of many members inveigled her to relocate to grow to be his supervisor.
And why not? Maybe she had influenced him to embark on a solo profession, win a Grammy award, and even earn monikers, crowning him a two-time achiever of titles hailing him King of R&B and King of Stage.
Rhythm and blues royalty Bobby Brown definitely impacted her resolution to go away the label and transfer to Los Angeles, California.
“Juanita was a gorgeous and gifted sister,” Brown advised Billboard Journal, “We had many years of reminiscences, and I might at all times rely on her knowledge and kindness.”
He punctuated his assertion just lately by saying, “I really like you, Juanita. You can be deeply missed.”
On returning to New York, Stephens re-established file label affiliation, becoming a member of two different highly effective girls to launch the newly-created Unfastened Canon Information. Business insiders speculated the viability of a Polygram label headed by a girl, significantly one keen to signal controversial reggae deejay Buju Banton. Nevertheless, Stephens ensured the nicknamed Gargamel skilled his first style of world superstar by signing his first main file deal, which yielded “Voice of Jamaica.”
Stephens is credited with manicuring his tarnished fame, which was formed by a burgeoning area of interest discography in Jamaica.
Notably, Stephens superior her profession when the label folded by focussing on a steady of rap artists.
To that finish, throughout this similar interval of one other period that allows recognition of ladies, this Insider penned a whole web page to introduce readers to the chief who crossed genres.
The headline learn: Stephens, ‘The primary woman of Unhealthy Boy Information speaks for reggae, R&B and hip-hop.’
On the label, she refined the picture of its founder, Sean Puffy Combs, aka P-Diddy, and enhanced the profile of his roster.
Lately, Stephens gushed on the point out, saying, “Not solely did (the article) converse reality to energy,” but it surely additionally gave a nod to her function as spokesperson for the three reputed dangerous boys of reggae/dancehall, R&B, and hip-hop.
All through a good profession, Stephens additionally influenced the careers of Elton John, Dolly Parton, The Jets, Patti LaBelle, Jody Wattley, New Version, Chaka Khan, Brian McKnight, Stephanie Mills, and others.
Earlier than taking ailing, Stephens additionally toiled because the founding father of JS Media Relations, an impartial firm she established. The outlet listed Charley Wilson and Tito Jackson in her spectacular portfolio.
Stephens lived in Atlanta, Georgia.
She died there on March 1.
Mates, former associates, and colleagues will have a good time her wondrous life on April 12 at 3 p.m. on the Sugar Bar in Manhattan.
Civil Rights Chief Dr. Hazel N. Dukes Dies at 92
Social change could also be delayed with the passing of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, an NAACP advocate and Civil Rights activist.
From 1989 to 1992, she championed quite a few causes with the nationwide group however remained president of the NYS convention till her demise.
Dr. Dukes transitioned on March 1 at age 92.
A dependable advocate for justice, she solidly supported Black political campaigns all through her stint. She just lately stood with Black clergy and others to help Mayor Eric Adams, who was besieged with felony allegations earlier than receiving a pardon from Pres. Donald Trump.
Certainly one of her most distinguishing accomplishments recorded the historic achievement of changing into the primary civilian to manage the oath of workplace to a governor of New York.
Dr. Dukes commanded that feat on the swearing-in ceremony for Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The powerhouse activist’s funeral providers can be held on March 12 at 9 a.m. at Mom AME Zion Church, 140 West 137th St. in Harlem.
Flack And Followers Are “Again Collectively Once more”
A profound sigh permeated social media when singer Roberta Flack transitioned over the last weekend of Black Historical past Month.
Radio and tv shops and a grateful music fraternity coalesced to sing her songs.
Bequeathed a treasure trove of her hits, many wailed the lyrics to “Killing Me Softly,” “Nearer I Get To You,” “First Time Ever I Noticed Your Face,” “Really feel Like Making Love,” “The place Is The Love,” and hits she collaborated with Maxi Priest, Donny Hathaway, and Peabo Bryson.
Yearly, on my stints with American Forces Radio & Tv Providers, I repeatedly signed onto my radio present enjoying her joyful “Again Collectively Once more.”
Nevertheless, many Jamaicans dug deeper to mirror on her buy to amass a set of carvings from Kapo Reynolds, a Pocomanian priest and painter on the island. The celebrated soul singer sought the African-centered Jamaican and established a basis in his identify in 1974.
The 2 reportedly shared the precise Feb. 10 delivery date. Information studies from the Each day Gleaner additionally claimed that on one event, she handed him keys to a ‘model new air-conditioned Volkswagon bus.’
The singer visited Jamaica, recorded there, and even nurtured a friendship with Bob Marley.
Allegedly, he would cease into the singer’s West Aspect Manhattan condominium on visits to New York to trade musical notes.
When she met and married a neighborhood, gossip concerning the man’s standing as merely a avenue vendor ran rampant.
Following a protracted sickness, the singer/keyboardist died on Feb. 24 at age 88.
A homegoing ceremony slates March 10 for a memorial tribute at Harlem’s Abyssinia Baptist Church.
Jerry Butler “The Iceman” Left An Impression
Evidently, throughout Black Historical past Month, information of the transition of Jerry Butler additionally struck an oomph! to the belly. On reflection, his albums had been must-have properties and collector’s objects in lots of Jamaican households.
His lyrics had been repeatedly printed within the afternoon Star newspaper, and it’s no surprise youths of the period memorized each phrase for private karaoke classes. Butler appeared to be consoled when he led the favored Impressions. “I’m So Proud,” “Individuals Get Prepared,” “For Your Valuable Love,” “Solely The Sturdy Survives,” and “By no means Give You Up ” perpetuate the legacy he imprinted on generations of soul and rhythm and blues lovers.
The famend, nicknamed Iceman died in Chicago on Feb. 20 at age 85.
Voletta Wallace was “Prepared To Die”
Though Voletta Wallace by no means recorded a success track, her impression on the music trade endures because the mom of Christopher Smalls, aka Biggy Smalls, and the Infamous B.I.G., whose legacy skyrocketed after he died in 1994.
Born within the parish of Trelawny, Jamaica, Wallace penned a ebook about her well-known son, who helped to inscribe an imprint on hip-hop music when he recorded the eponymous rap tracks “Prepared To Die” and “Life After Loss of life.”
Following his stunning and premature homicide, the matriarch was pressured into the highlight as a result of her sons’ associates inspired her recollections and maybe as a result of he died simply shy of his twenty fifth birthday.
Within the ebook “Biggie: Voletta Wallace Remembers her Son, Christopher Wallace,” a nonetheless grief-stricken immigrant recounts her journey to America and the sacrifices she recalled.
Wallace witnessed avenue namings, monuments, documentaries, and her son’s induction into the Rock’ n Roll Corridor of Fame all through her storied life.
Wallace died on Feb. 21 at age 78.
Satirically, it was reported that the matriarch’s mom nonetheless lives in Jamaica at 100 years previous.
Keith Lynn Leaves “Empty Chair”
To many Jamaicans, the identify Keith Lyn remembers the nostalgia
of the heyday of Byron Lee & Dragonaires.
Lynn was a musician who collaborated on many hits with the favored band.
Nevertheless, he made his imprint when he wrote a track titled “Portrait of My Coronary heart” in honor of just lately deceased Carole Joan Crawford, Jamaica’s first Miss World winner. His rendition of “Empty Chair” stays a relentless reminder of Lynn’s contribution to the Jamaican music scene.
Ayers Vibed “Everyone Loves The Sunshine”
Most just lately, on March 5 in Ladies’s Historical past Month, vibraphone musician and jazz nice Roy Ayers quietly slipped away.
Dubbed the godfather of neo-soul, his jazz fusion with R&B enticed generations to the vibraphone, an infectious instrument.
His legacy as founding father of a grouping he named Roy Ayers Ubiquity stays an eternal testimony to re-listen. Among the many most memorable tunes he recorded, his 1976 basic hit “Everyone Loves The Sunshine” is the standout to rehear many times for frolicking, finger-snapping enjoyable.
Angie Stone Mentioned, “No Extra Rain (In This Cloud)”
A public memorial service for Angie Stone can be held on March 14 at Phrase of Religion Household Worship Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia.
A protracted record of celebrities has already dedicated to attendance, with actor Tyler Perry, gospel singer Kirk Franklin, and singers Anthony Hamilton, Musiq SoulChild, Stout, KeKe Wyatt, Tamela Mann, and Y’Anna Crawley main the galaxy of stars. A non-public ceremony can be held the next day in South Carolina.
Sadly, the neo-soul singer died in a devastating automobile crash on March 1 in Cell, Alabama.
She was the one fatality amongst a van stuffed with passengers returning to her resident state when the automobile flipped over earlier than colliding with a truck.
Stone was 63 years previous.
Among the many hits she can be remembered, “No Extra Rain (In This Cloud)” is indelible.
“It By no means Rains (in Southern California)”
There’s a quote attributed to author Johnathan Swift that sums up the simultaneous accumulation of challenges: ‘ It by no means rains however it pours.’
Loosely defined: when one thing damaging happens, others will occur concurrently.
Though the 12 months is simply three months into the 2025 calendar, many tragedies have befallen.
Only one week into March, information of 64-year-old D’Wayne Wiggins’s demise provides to a dialog about epitaphs to be written. Wiggins died on March 7. He was a co-founder (along with his brother and cousin) of the R&B trio Tony!Toni!Tone!
Collectively, the California-based group soared to reputation within the 90s with their hit “It By no means Rains (In Southern California).”
They grew to become New Jack Swing sensations and can stay trailblazers of a history-making music style.
Could all of them relaxation in everlasting peace, figuring out that their contribution made a distinction.
Catch You On The Inside!
