Man, oh man the challenges life will bring. No matter what don't change your course. Adversity doesn't come to necessarily sway you but to test you and more specifically your faith. I made the leap of faith to move to New York last year and I love it there but it had some serious difficulties. I assumed that since I was instructed to move there HE would allow everything to fall into place right? Wrong, not quite. There were way more positives than negatives but not as ideal of a situation as I anticipated…
Read moreIndependence Day
Almost let the day get by without mentioning an important milestone. I can hardly believe it's been 10 years! When I first got the instruction I struggled for over 6 months with it because I was like most people committed to "job security" & "financial stability". My first album had been released and all I could think about was how to promote it. God was saying it was time for me to leave my job in corporate America but I had bills and responsibilities and I didn't live in a ...fantasy world because I was…
Read more"A Father to the Fatherless: A Son's Memoir"
I don't remember a whole lot about November 11, 1988. What I do remember is the image of leaving the casket that contained my 37 year old father's body sitting alone in the rain as the funeral procession departed the cemetery. The internment had to be delayed because of the amount of rain that day. Being so overcome with grief it was extremely difficult for me to tell or even recall how badly it rained because I was crying so uncontrollably. The relationship I had with my dad was a very close one. When I…
Read more"How is Important is Your Brand to You?"
This can't be stressed enough in a society where people have images coming at them at every turn. When promoting your brand, product, event etc. ask yourself these questions, "Does this have appeal beyond family and friends?" "How does this compare to similar ads?" You want it to standout because it looks good, not because it looks bad.
Being very critical of advertising because I know how crucial it is to have broadened appeal, if I see an ad or promo for something that looks subpar (cheap, cheesy or…
Read more"HIT or MISS..."
I've been songwriting and producing for over 25 years and it's still a beautifully complicated process. As a songwriter for hire your focus is writing a HIT single for someone. As an album songwriter or producer the goal isn't to produce an album with all HIT songs. The goal is to write or collect great songs that connect or bridge the HITS or potential singles together to create a pleasurable listening experience devoid of "skipping" tunes to get to the HITS.
In that position I set out to craft great…
Read more"Miles Ahead" World Premier NYC
A couple weeks ago I had probably the most amazing night of my life. I went to New York City to attend the world premier of the Miles Davis bio-fic (I just made that up) "Miles Ahead" directed and starring Don Cheadle along with Ewan McGregor, Emayatzi Corinealdi & Keith Stanfield as it closed the NYFF53.
I play a musician in one of Miles bands and it was an awesome experience. I've been a Miles Davis fan since I was a teenager and a fan of Don Cheadle for almost as long so it was double honor to work…
Read moreA Father's Day Memoir:
My day began in a somewhat of a melancholy mood as thoughts of my dad ran through my mind and how much I miss him. There are so many days I wish I could pick of the phone and call or take a drive to go see him to seek his advice or wisdom about the things I go through as a man. He was so transparent and I appreciated that about him. I always got a little emotional whenever we had to part from my first day of kindergarten until I was a teenager. I loved him just that much. A perfect man he wasn't but he… Read more
What New Year's Means to Me
18 years ago yesterday I lost my "old" life to gain a "new" one by making the most important decision of my life. That decision was an exchange of sorts. I gave that "old" life to Jesus Christ and in return HE gave me a renewed life in Him. The path that had lead me to that point on the evening of December 31, 1995 was one that brought me to ruin.
I can tend to be very stubborn and strong-willed and God pressed me to the breaking point to save me from myself. When I made that long walk down the aisleway of…
Thinking About Dad
25 years ago today the Lord chose to call a hero home, my dad Alvin J. Frazier. I've never felt more lost in this life than I did on that fateful day. I remember thinking to myself being 13 at the time, "What's gonna happen to me now that daddy's gone?" I had been the man of the house for a few years by then and now I would be the man of the family. A lot to shoulder for a young man.
In the short 13 years I had with him, he shared so many things with me and those things have helped shape the man I've become.…
SEPTEMBER 11: A Commentary
12 years ago today, I awoke to prepare for work. The morning was seemingly typical for September in Cleveland sunny, cool, clear blue skies and a slightly brisk wind. I didn't watch TV nor did I turn the radio on during my drive that day. For some reason that I can't remember I was lost in thought. Riding the elevator in the parking garage I began hearing conversations about some sort of terrorist attack. Wasn't sure what I was hearing and didn't ask, but I could see the worry on the faces of those who…
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