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Happy New Year and Congratulations to January Winners of “A Year of Good Black News” Page-A-Day® Calendar 2022!

Happy New Year and Congratulations to January Winners of “A Year of Good Black News” Page-A-Day® Calendar 2022!

By goodblacknews on January 1, 2022

First and foremost, Happy New Year 2022! Congratulations on the perseverance it has taken to make it to another year during such challenging times.

Secondly, we’d like to congratulate the January winners of our “A Year of Good Black News” Page-A-Day® Calendar for 2022!  As a thank you for your readership and support, GBN has selected not one, not two, but five winners for December!

Congratulations to Sheila Collins, Fenesha Hubbard, William Walters, Charlotte White and Carla Brown! We will be contacting you each shortly via email to arrange delivery of your free calendars.

Thank you to everyone who entered the GBN Page-A-Day® calendar giveaway, and we hope our upcoming giveaways in the coming months will inspire you to do so again.

A Year of Good Black News for 2022 is filled with facts, history, bios, quotes, jokes and trivia in easy-to-read entries delivered on the daily, and if you still want to buy it for yourself, your family, children, friends, teachers or loved ones, use code: YAY21 at Workman.com to receive 25% OFF until January 3.

Or, if you prefer, you can also order from the retailers below:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1523514299?tag=goodblacknews-20

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/9781523514298

Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781523514298

Bookshop: https://www.bookshop.org/a/368/9781523514298

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781523514298?aff=workmanpub

Because interest in the calendar was high but not all who want it can win or by it, GBN is offering it in audio form day by day as Good Black News: The Daily Drop:

Good Black News: The Daily Drop is on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Soundcloud, Google Podcasts and rss.com. Or you can subscribe by the rss feed via any platform you like.

Onward and upward… and thank you for your support!

(paid links)

MUSIC MONDAY: Listeners’ Choice: Help Marlon Make His First Playlist for 2022!

MUSIC MONDAY: Listeners’ Choice: Help Marlon Make His First Playlist for 2022!

By goodblacknews on December 27, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Happy Last Monday of 2021! Hope you all have had a safe and pleasant holiday season, so far. This Covid era ain’t going away easy. So I was planning on my first GBN playlist of 2022 to be a collection songs that I found sustaining in the last nearly two years. Though I thought it would be nice to hear from some of you.

What songs have you played during ‘20 and ‘21 that helped keep your chin up? Were they tracks from back in the day that have always been your go to? It there a cut that that gained new meaning and poignance during lockdown? Have you discovered new music that has brightened these taxing times?

Let me/us know about ‘em in the comments. Help a brotha create a communal playlist of hope and tenacity.

Thanks, you all. And Happy New Year!

[Photo: Courtesy of Marlon West]

MUSIC MONDAY: An Afroclectic Christmas Playlist for 2021 (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: An Afroclectic Christmas Playlist for 2021 (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on December 20, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Happy Holiday Season, you all! I am thrilled to offer this “afroclectic” of music to round out 2021’s Christmastime. With more that a little help from my friends I’ve assembled another freewheeling collection.

There are tracks from fellow contributor, Jeff Meier’s ULTIMATE SOUL OF THE SEASON SOUNDTRACK, and our fearless leader, Lori Lakin Hutcherson’s A MERRY MOTOWN playlist, plus dozens of favorites and recent discoveries of my own.

Of course, Donny Hathaway, Sharon Jones, Nat King Cole, Marvin Gaye and other Christmas standard-bearers are present. Though there are 2021 holiday releases by Bill Will, Nao, Mandisa, José James, Shaggy and others as well. Here’s over thirteen hours of soul, jazz, reggae, gospel, hip hop, and more to for a Christmas musical journey.

Whether you are staying put, or travel far, please do have a wonderful, peaceful, and safe holiday season. It has been a pleasure and honor share music with you all here on Good Black News for another year.

Stay safe, sane, and kind. And I’ll see ya back here in the ‘22!

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: A Merry Motown Christmas Music Playlist (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: A Merry Motown Christmas Music Playlist (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on December 13, 2021

by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (@lakinhutcherson)

Less that two weeks away, Christmas 2021 is fast approaching. Which means (if we’re lucky), more shopping, more gatherings, more cooking, eating and more time with loved ones. Which in turn means –more holiday music!

This week, we’re offering a collection near and dear to our ears that includes classic and modern takes on holiday favorites by artists who recorded on the legendary Motown label:

From Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations, Four Tops, Jackson 5 to the Supremes, the Hitsville U.S.A. first gen hitmakers are doing their thing, as are next gen artists Ne-Yo, Boyz II Men, Kim Weston, Tiana Major 9 and more.

Wishing you all the best as we celebrate the season. Enjoy!

MUSIC MONDAY: Christmas Around The World Playlist 2021 (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: Christmas Around The World Playlist 2021 (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on December 6, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Christmastime is here, y’all. Hope you all are having a wonderful first Monday of December. Here is a collection of Christmas music from around the globe. This collection of artists from Jamaica, Africa, and various points around the world will put you in the holiday spirit:

Dig these tracks from Bob Marley, Jacob Miller, Calypso Rose, Angelique Kidjo, Yellowman, Boney M., and others are a showcase of originals and fresh takes on holiday standards. Happy Holidays!!

And as always, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC: Ultimate “Soul of the Season” Christmas Soundtrack – Deluxe Edition (LISTEN)

MUSIC: Ultimate “Soul of the Season” Christmas Soundtrack – Deluxe Edition (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on December 4, 2021
by Jeff Meier (FB: Jeff.Meier.90)

In my house today, we’re hopefully finally getting our Christmas tree decorated, and hitting up the internet to buy a few more A Year of Good Black News 2022 calendars for our friends and family.  And in the background, of course, we’ll absolutely need those holiday tunes.

Last holiday season, one of our most popular playlists was our “Ultimate Soul of the Season Christmas Soundtrack.“ The inspiration behind it was to capture the mood of those radio stations that take the month of December to turn all Christmas, all the time.

The playlist is comprised of best in soulful Christmas music, in addition to a variety of Black artists in other genres ranging from blues to jazz to pop vocals to country. If you didn’t get the chance to subscribe to it last year, this year we’ve upgraded and improved the playlist, with our special ‘Deluxe Edition’ version:

The playlist ranges from the 1940s to today, from obvious beloved faves (Donny Hathaway, The Temptations, Nat King Cole) to obscure gems that could have been hits.

Now, we’ve got more than 60 new songs woven into the mix, including veteran oldies that are new to Spotify, as well as great new 2020 and 2021 Christmas tracks from artists like Bryson Tiller, Black Pumas, Summer Walker, Ty Dolla $ign, John Legend, and Tamela Mann.

Promising newcomers include vocal coach Stevie Mackey, repped with multiple songs on our list. And Sabrina Claudio, whose recent Christmas collection managed to score duets with The Weeknd and Alicia Keys, both songs added to the list.

Of course, up near the top of the list, we’ve added Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey‘s lush new song with Khalid and Kirk Franklin, “Fall In Love At Christmas.” 

So, get the fireplace going, the cookies baking, the presents wrapping, and the stockings hanging by the chimney with care – with some soulful tunes to make the whole month festive.  Enjoy!

MUSIC MONDAY: “Cool Yule” – A Jazzy Christmas Collection (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Cool Yule” – A Jazzy Christmas Collection (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 29, 2021

by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (@lakinhutcherson)

With Thanksgiving firmly in our rearview, it is officially time to bring on the peppermint, egg nog and, best of all (at least in my mind), Christmas music playlists!

This season Good Black News is starting off with a playlist chestnut we dropped last Christmas Eve, perhaps missed by anyone who was traveling, already out and about or otherwise engaged in the spirit. So one more again, I am happy to bring to you “Cool Yule”: A Jazzy Christmas Collection:

From Take 6 to Duke Ellington to Geri Allen to Oscar Peterson, this playlist includes vocal and instrumental jazz renditions of traditional and modern Christmas and end-of-year classics for all to enjoy.

Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, Betty Carter, Dianne Reeves, Etta James, Dinah Washington, Esperanza Spalding and Billie Holiday are among the female jazz vocalists represented on “Cool Yule,” with Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole, Leslie Odom, Jr. and Louis Armstrong lending their deeper pipes to the playlist.

Also represented are jazz titans Miles Davis, John Coltrane, the Count Basie Orchestra, Benny Carter, Kenny Burrell, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, the McCoy Tyner Trio, Jimmy Smith, the Elvin Jones Quintet and the Ramsey Lewis Trio.

Wishing you all the best as we warm into the winter season, and in the coming new year. Enjoy!

MUSIC MONDAY: Redemption Songs – Thanksgiving Music for 2021 (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: Redemption Songs – Thanksgiving Music for 2021 (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 22, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

This week many of us will be with friends and family to give thanks, cherish each other, and delight in good eats. For most of us it will be the first time in two years.

Here’s another Monday Music offering of songs and music to enjoy on our national day to give thanks.

These tracks are spread across various time periods and genres. They are all about grace, redemption, thanks, and yes, good food.

Hope you enjoy this collection with folks you love.

Please take good care, and as always stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Smokin Out The Window” – The Best of 2021 Playlist (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Smokin Out The Window” – The Best of 2021 Playlist (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 15, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

As we head into the holidays and a brand new year, this Music Monday we’re taking a look back in the rearview at some of the best soul, jazz, hip hop and reggae releases of 2021.

This playlist offers Silk Sonic, “Apple Crumble” with vocals by Idris Elba, Doja Cat, The Weeknd, Leon Bridges, Drake, Tinashe, Diana Ross, emerging new Isley vocalist Alex Isley, Amber Mark, Jon Batiste, wonderful instrumental and vocal jazz from Ron Carter, Jose James, and others.

Please enjoy. And as always, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Boys to Men” – a Bangin’ R&B Boy Bands Playlist (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Boys to Men” – a Bangin’ R&B Boy Bands Playlist (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 8, 2021

by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (@lakinhutcherson)

In the post doo-wop era, the majority of male vocal groups were singing about the adult themes of romance, employment, travel or societal issues.

But when Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers aimed and hit a much wider (and younger) target audience with their laments on love and life (1956’s #1 R&B, #6 pop hit “Why Do Fools Fall in Love”), the group opened up the airwaves for generations of boy bands to come.

From the Jackson 5 to New Edition to Boyz II Men to Blackstreet, 3T, Troop, Ready For the World, Jodeci, Dru Hill, Shai and Guy, youth-oriented all-male R&B groups have used vocal blends and harmonies to create some of the best bangers, bops and slow jams ever recorded, as well as been springboards for several superstar producing and solo careers.

This Music Monday, GBN offers you 75 songs and almost 6 hours of the best of the genre from the 1960s through the 21st century.

So, as the Jacksons famously sang, enjoy yourself!