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Performing at Pride Fest

She released a remix of Britney Spears’ “Gimme More” to her SoundCloud in April 2020. In October and November, she released the singles “Self Destruct” and “Throatzillaaa”, respectively.

Slayyyter is from Kirkwood, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, where she has kind of lived her whole life. She went to private grade schools, and later continued her education in public school, where she was “offered great music classes for the first time.”

Slayyyter spent a year in college, studying at the University of Missouri. This time was an “expensive experiment” in which she started her career as a musician, writing “’80s lo-fi pop” that she herself produced and edited, but never published. She later dropped out and committed fully to her music career. Her most frequent collaborator, Ayesha Erotica, is from Southern California. The artists met through Twitter, which is where Slayyyter first developed a following. The artist credits Stan Twitter for introducing her to Ayesha.

After a 14-second snippet of the song gathered attention on Twitter with over 200,000 views, “Mine” was released on Valentine’s Day and in less than 24 hours reached number 38 on the iTunes pop chart in the United States.

In June 2019, Slayyyter embarked on her sold-out debut tour, entitled “The Mini Tour”. The tour began on June 24 in New York City, and concluded on July 27 in her hometown of St. Louis.

On September 17, 2019, Slayyyter released her self-titled mixtape, Slayyyter, on iTunes. The mixtape peaked at #4 on the US iTunes Pop Chart, and #14 on the US iTunes Albums Chart.

2021: Troubled Paradise & Troubled Paradise Tour Slayyyter’s debut studio album, Troubled Paradise, was released on June 11, 2021 through Fader Label. The title track and its music video were released on January 22. On January 26, Heidi Montag confirmed via Twitter that she would be collaborating with Slayyyter. On February 26, she released the song “Clouds”.

On April 9, she released another single called “Cowboys”. “Over This!” followed on May 7. On June 11, 2021 her debut album Troubled Paradise was released. Pitchfork’s Ashley Bardhan called the project “vibrant and ridiculous”. Slayyyter promoted the album by releasing VEVO Live performances for the tracks ‘Letters’ and ‘Troubled Paradise’. On November 5, 2021, she released the standalone single “Stupid Boy”, a pop-dance song featuring Big Freedia. Later that year, she released Inferno Euphoria, an EP of remixes from the Troubled Paradise Album.

Slayyyter’s “Daddy AF”, from her self-titled mixtape, appeared as the opening track in 2022’s black comedy horror film Bodies Bodies Bodies. In early June 2022, Slayyyter played a song on tour titled “Hollywood”. She played 2 and a half minutes of the song. On July 24, 2022, Slayyyter tweeted, “album almost done with a lipstick emoji”. On July 29, 2022, she tweeted “one sec im finishing it all!! with a clock & hand hearts emoji“ after replying to a fan asking for a status on the new music. On October 3, 2022, Swedish singer Tove Lo confirmed via Instagram that Slayyyter will be the opening act on the North American leg of her Dirt Femme Tour. On June 1, 2023, Slayyyter posted a link on her instagram story, captioned “IT’S TIME”, which led to a pre-save website and countdown, presumably for new music. Slayyyter will be performing at Chicago’s Pride Fest on Saturday, June 18, 2023.

South Africa

By Joey Amato

I first visited South africa six years ago with a group of friends. It was one of the most incredible journeys I had ever been on, and I knew I wanted to return. I fell in love with Cape town and of course, all the animals we saw while on safari, so when the opportunity came to visit the country again, I knew I couldn’t pass it up.

Cape Town is one of my favorite cities in the world. Words can’t describe how beautiful the city is, especially when you venture outside the city center and explore the beautiful scenic overlooks surrounding the Cape of Good Hope offering stunning views of the atlantic and Indian oceans.

I stayed at the Capital 15 on Orange, a modern boutique hotel located just outside of the city center which boasts a grand lobby, a fully equipped fitness center, and a wonderful restaurant. Most hotels in South Africa include breakfast so be sure to research those options before you book. The breakfast buffet at the Capital 15 was one of the best I’ve ever had. It will help you save a bit of money even though at the moment, the exchange rate is quite favorable for American tourists.

My favorite aspect of Capital 15 was the room. I’ve stayed in many hotel rooms over the years, and this one comes close to the top of my list. The room features a king-size bed with luxury linens, an enormous bathroom with a walk-in

shower and a separate soaking tub as well as unobstructed views of table Mountain, one of Cape Town’s most famous landmarks.

Speaking of attractions, the Victoria & alfred Waterfront is a must-see destination. Somehow, I skipped this on my last visit to Cape Town, but I quickly realized why it should be on top of everyone’s list. The area contains dozens of restaurants, shops, and entertainment options and is the perfect place to grab lunch or dinner while gazing out into the harbor.

This is also the launching point of our Cape Town helicopter tour. I had never flown in a helicopter before, so I was a bit nervous, but the team at NAC Helicopters made the process simple and kept us safe while we viewed the city from the sky. For being a travel journalist, I have a strange fear of flying, so being thousands of feet in the air is a bit unnerving, but the views were incredible.

South Africa is known for its incredible wines. If you are looking to visit some vineyards while in Cape Town, Jeep tours Cape town offers tours of the Stellenbosch region, just a quick 45 minutes from the city. We had the opportunity to stop by three beautiful vineyards and sample some of their world-class wines including Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, the signature grape of the region. Jeep Tours Cape Town have personal relationships with each vineyard they visit and therefore have access to private spots not available to the public. The woman-owned business can customize trips from a small party to a large group and if you would like to just visit LGBTQ vineyards, or those which employ LGBTQ winemakers, they can make that happen as well.

Gay culture is plentiful in Cape Town. Almost everywhere you visit will be welcoming to LGBTQ tourists, but if you are looking to grab a cocktail at LGBTQ-specific spots, try Café Manhattan and Beefcakes, where the servers are shirtless and offer guests the opportunity to take shots off their scantily clad bodies…or so I’ve heard!

The next day we flew out to Port elizabeth, just a quick one-hour hop from Cape Town, where we were met by our drivers to bring us to Shamwari Game reserve, a private game reserve that offers multiple 5-star accommodations, an animal rehabilitation center, and a Born Free Campus which rescues animals who were used in a circus or purchased for pets. Born Free operates in multiple countries throughout the world including Kenya, ethiopia, and australia.

Driving up to our resort on Shamwari was like a scene out of a movie. We passed zebra, and herds of impala and springbok as we cruised along the dirt road. The staff at long lee Manor was waiting for us with warm hand towels and refreshing beverages before showing us to our rooms, which came complete with a heated bed for those chilly safari nights as well as an outdoor shower so guests could feel at one with nature.

Monkeys love parading around the property with the intention of stealing food, so we were advised to never leave our doors open otherwise we may come back to stolen merchandise. Long Lee Manor is comprised of 18 private rooms, a pool and pool house, a spa, and a full-service restaurant. Guests can relax with friends and family while they play board games and stare out into the vast savannah hoping to spot wildlife that frequents the watering hole.

After a quick change into my safari outfit, we headed out for our first game drive in hopes to spot some of the Big 5, which include elephants, lions, leopards, cape buffalo, and rhinoceros. Animal sightings are never guaranteed on safari. The reserve we were on was almost 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres), so the chances of spotting wildlife can vary depending on the time of year, weather, migration patterns, and behavior. Our guide Jacques has been a ranger for many years and is able to spot wildlife from what seemed like a mile away. Our first sighting was a few warthogs, then as we turned the corner, we ran into a family of elephants. Seeing these majestic animals in the wild is just awe-inspiring. Although we kept our distance, we were still about 50 feet away, in striking distance if the animal wanted to charge us. Fortunately, we just sat in our vehicle and watched as the family ate their meal and interacted with each other. Elephants are one of nature’s most intelligent animals and develop feelings and bonds just like humans. Jacques told us a story of how he witnessed a calf being born and the others in the herd started trumpeting and dancing in celebration of the birth.

A few miles further up the road was a mother rhinoceros with her calf. The horn on the mother rhino was probably two feet in length and we were told spotting her with her young was very tricky as they hadn’t been seen in months.

As the sun began to set over Shamwari, we headed back to the resort for a Boma, a traditional African dinner that takes place outdoors around a communal fire. The meal consisted of a delicious soup and numerous types of meat. As we broke bread and recanted tales of the day’s activities, it was hard not to pinch myself in disbelief. I was on safari for the second time, and it was just as magical as the first. It was a moment I didn’t want to take for granted.

The next morning, we woke up with the birds and began the second game drive of our stay. The mornings tend to be very chilly, and we were advised to dress in layers as the temperature fluctuates throughout the day. The good thing about morning drives is this is when animals are the most active.

About 20 minutes into the drive, we spotted two male lions, a young nomad being chased out of the territory of the elder lion. The young lion ran through the grass knowing he was not welcome. After he no longer viewed the nomad as a threat, the elder lion took a rest as we watched the encounter from about a football field away.

More sightings quickly followed; cape buffalo, springboks, impala, hippopotamus, rhino, and three female lionesses taking a much-needed afternoon rest. They are the hunters of the family so saving their energy is always well-deserved.

As the day drew to a close, the staff at Shamwari had one last surprise for us, a sundowner, which is basically a cocktail reception in the bush. The staff set up a full bar, appetizers, and some chairs around a campfire. We spent the next hour sipping cocktails and watching the sunset over the mountains. Something so small meant so much to all of us and made for an experience we won’t soon forget.

Guests at Shamwari can also opt to visit the Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, which helps to rehabilitate and care for sick, injured, abandoned, or orphaned animals. Once these animals have been nursed back to health, they are released back into their natural habitat.

It’s not an interactive visit, but an informative and educational experience, to give animals the best chance at a successful release. The Wildlife rehabilitation Centre at Shamwari is a registered facility and as such, animals in need come from all over the Eastern Cape. The primary goal is to ultimately return all the animals back to the wild once they are healed.

As tired as we all were after our twoweek adventure through South Africa, we didn’t want to leave Shamwari. It's a truly majestic place that is well worth the visit. I vowed to return and share these memories with other friends and family.

Enjoy the Journey

Mental Health and Cancel Culture

by: Dr. Charla Waxman BS, MBA, EdD Director of Business Development Lake Behavioral Hospital

Social Ostracization. We used to just call it bullying. Now we have a new version, that, although it may have its positive points (and we will explore them here later!) is called “cancel culture”. It can be devastatingly damaging to mental health, physical health, social health, financial health…. and the list goes on.

It may have started as a means of holding people in power accountable. It may have begun to create social change and make clear that “we are mad as hell and we’re not going to take anymore” (morphed quote from the movie, “Network”). It may have meant to wake people up and make them think about what is happening around them, but now it may have gone too far.

There are no more second chances, folks, no forgiveness and no making a mistake. You screw up, or get this, someone just doesn’t like you, and it’s “Game on!” You’ll get shut down. Whether it is personal or professional, your business or your reputation, this method of dealing with each other can be painful and mentally draining and damaging. It is trauma- producing.

Cancel culture tones are emotionally charged. It brings some of us to the boiling point, polarizing us to a black and white mentality when we

inherently understand that the gray area is the sweet spot. Trying to force change rather than allowing some grace and consideration, is stress producing and whether you are the “canceller” or the “cancellee” the pain and discomfort are real.

Cancel culture is equal opportunity. Race, religion, socioeconomic… all are at risk. Adults and children have all been hurt. Some schools, in fact, have had to develop special rules and procedures around cancel culture infractions. These cancelling behaviors are far reaching and they may now be less about social justice and a whole lot more about just inflicting pain. Inflicting pain because we can, because we feel like it, or because we want to see just how powerful our interests in doing so may be. How many people can we get to be on our side? Cancel culture is a polarizing way of living, for sure, a competition for who can hurt someone the most.

Don’t read this article wrong, social injustices have been greatly impacted by people gathering as one and taking a hard stand for change.

Those who are marginalized by society have found accountability when what is right has failed. That is not what we are talking about here. We are talking about pushing for change or social isolation in a way that can make it almost impossible not to choose sides. Being a “fence sitter” and being called out for seeing the positives in both sides can also cause you to be “on the outs” and perhaps, to be the next victim.

When cancel culture ignores ideals and principles and simply cancels in order to publicly shame, the culture is not a movement for change it is a bully-fueled power play. Depression, real emotional pain, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress can be the horrible and long term end result.

In addition to the pain, is the idea that there are no opportunities for the perceived wrong-doer to make any changes, to learn or to grow. He/she is just shut out or shut down. Nothing gets better and no one has to have any real social interaction or gain from a good conflict and resolution. We’re missing out on what it means to be human and engage with others; having conflict and using our best skills to work them through. What a shame!

So what do you do? Here are some things that may help you navigate this potentially negative social trend.

1. Weigh the pros and cons before you jump on the cancel culture bandwagon. Think for yourself. What are the real intentions for the “cancelling”?

2. If there is an objection about a wrong someone has committed, think about whether you know the whole story or not. Is this a person you know and can speak with personally, rather than in public, about this? If this is not someone you know, should you be involved publicly?

3. Be tolerant and accepting of behavior. Everybody screws up and everybody should have a chance to say, “Sorry.” Show some grace.

4. Don’t be anonymous when you have a grievance. Stand up for yourself. Don’t automatically pull other people into your problem. Trust your own skills. You can probably solve it on your own.

5. Consider the fact that joining in on a “cancellation” may be using one incident to describe someone globally. If one mistake that you have made defines you in total, would that be ok with you? Think critically about what “cancelling” may mean to someone.

Cancel culture has impact, no question about it. Whether it is positive and productive or negative and destructive, is up to each one of us. Think about it; really think about it.

If you or someone you know has been bullied and is hurting and needs some mental health support, consider a level of care, confidential assessment at Lake Behavioral Hospital. Call 855 990 1900. They are here to help. By appointment or walk in, we can help you find the level of care that is right for you.

U Ne DI te D IN ter VI e W with TRAX Records Exec. & Recording Artist Screamin' r achael Part ON e

by Mike Macharello

Screamin’ Rachael, a hot mess or a true survivor? A villain or hero?

Hello Mike, it’s great to finally be interviewed by a magazine that will give me an uncensored platform. First of all I’d like to address your provocative introduction.

I guess you could say I’m all of the above. Let’s face it, aren’t most of your fabulously fun friends a hot mess some of the time? If they weren’t they would be boring, and then we wouldn’t have fun stories to spill the tea about! Some of you might know about my previous wild NYC club kid days. Think about James St. James, ernie Glam, rue Paul and even the the idol amanda lepore, well we were all around together during those hedonistic years. We made a living being hot messes because we made the PARTY! After all if you weren’t a hot mess Michael Musto most likely wouldn’t write about you, in his Village Voice column. That was back in the OG days before social media. Of course there was Michael alig, but let’s not talk about him right now. Well if this is not ancient history to you, start by looking up “Party Monster”, but I’d rather not go down that road at this time.

There was Chicago’s true Club Kid Jo Jo Baby, a shinning example of love and acceptance. His loss was devastating to me and the many people of all communities that he touched. His love wasn’t about gay or straight, black or white, Muslim, Jew or Christian. He truly showed LOVE to all people. I'm so glad that Clive Barker made a great documentary about his life and he mentions that he tattooed Timeless on his wrist, because that is what I told him he was.

Am I a villain? Well there are those that think of me as some rich bitch living in an ivory tower, social climbing on the backs of minions. Sometimes I wish that were

true, well, I mean the part about being RICH! Then again I have a somewhat innocent look about me, after all, I do think of myself as tinker Belle, lol. I love to have fun and sprinkle fairy dust, but mess with me and I will change into your worst nightmare. Here comes Maleficent! Some people who follow my story know about the Space Place, an underground 80’s rehearsal performance spot that I managed with the Harrington brothers. I still get letters and accolades about changing the lives of teens. Those people call me a hero. I also have dedicated many years to mentoring youth on the board of www. youthcommunicationchicago.org I stand up for people who don’t quite fit in, and need love and guidance, I can relate as I am still one of them… The true SURVIVOR part I’ll address a little later.

I have had a life with many ups and downs, and because of low self esteem I suffered a lot of abuse, but I want to say a couple of words about my early years. My mother was a lesbian, well mostly lesbian or I wouldn’t be here. I was bullied by kids because my mom never wore nice clothes, or makeup and had short hair. I had no idea of what gay or straight was. But what I can say is her friends came into my life, especially gay lovers Parker and Palmer, were some of the kindest people I ever knew. They gave me books about things that I was interested in, and they gave me lots of things while I was growing up. I will never forget those very special gifts. My mom was a free spirit, not prejudice against any races, or religion. I didn’t know any other way to be. I thank God cancel culture did not exist back then or maybe it was just on the down low, but I love all people until they hurt or deceive me.

Photo by Brian Sorg

I’m optimistic maybe to a fault, but that’s how I live my life. So since childhood the gay community has been the most supportive part of my life. They may have made fun of my hot mess days, but they have also stood by me and always supported my music, which is the one thing that has kept me going.

If you have read the May issue of rolling Stone Magazine, you might have read a lot about me. Before that issue all others just printed slander, from the Guardian, Pitchfork, News Week and many others. I just kept trying to even say a word about the accusations, with not even a call or a returned email. No one would listen except the Editor of Page 6. Many New Yorkers think about that column as pure gossip, but people still have a fascination about reading it. I want to thank Oliver Coleman for giving a fair view about what happened at traX records.

There was an attorney who called me a liar, a fraud and a forger. People think I’m thick skinned, but I had a breakdown and literally wanted to die. So Oli listened to me, and came to Chicago and did thorough research. I wouldn’t call the story complimentary, but it was fair and balanced. Lots of people finally learned the truth, and heard some of what I had to say. So I could hold my head up again. I’ve got to thank NYC film director eric rivas for putting a bug in his ear so that the story was published. I also love acting and have been in five of his films including Vamp Bikers. I'm most excited about the new one that we are working on now called enter requiem. You can view them on Amazon, Tubi and other streaming video apps. We have a great ensemble cast, kind of like what John Waters did. This includes apache ramos from The Warriors, angel Salazar from Scarface, and Michael Musto who is a terrific actor. His comic timing and expressive face fill the screen. He’s a real scene stealer!

Now, boiMAGazine is giving me a platform to proverbially let it all hang out. To tell it like it really is. Fuck cancel culture, and all

the people who hold themselves up as the politically correct crowd. They are the genuine frauds, who hide behind what they judge others to be, and use that power for their own gain.

The undertone of all these magazine stories paint a picture that none of them dare print. Besides being sexist, they paint me as a racist! There, I said it. It’s farthest from the truth! People that know me, know my best friend the designer Michael White is black, but I’m not trying to use the old proverbial cliché about some of my best friends. I’m going to say that I’m a woman in a male dominated business who dared to dream. And literally lost everything to save the classic TRAX catalogue, and keep it in America, specifically in Chicago. I believed that a woman could be a recording artist, and still run a label, after all there are people like Master P., Jay Z, and Luther Campbell, who are not female, but they're recording artists’ who run their own label.

One of the artists talked about how white owned music labels typically rip off black artists in Rolling Stone Magazine. All I have to say about that is, I wish all you haters had signed to Suge Knights “Death Row Records”. Some of the people even went to my friend Sinbad of Wicked Entertainment and literally said “ We aren’t going to let that white woman run things.” He always protected me and had my back. These are things the other magazines did not dare to print! Marshall Jefferson told me that people hated me a thousand times more than Marie Antoinette. Well she was just a scape goat too. Move over fellas it's time that WOMEN and LGBTQ+ people have power too. I’m sorry that sickens you to see that happening!

When asked about why a certain person who orchestrated a hate campaign against me and waited for 35+ years to complain about his record deal, his answer was “you don’t sue your uncle”, meaning Larry Sherman. The one they signed the contracts with, Sherman, but then 2 weeks after his death all haters circled around me like buzzards waiting to pick the bones off an injured animal.

So my questions are, why didn’t they go after the huge companies who didn’t pay them? Why did they keep bringing record after record to Larry Sherman? Why did they wait until after 17 years of litigation, and after the Pro-bono work that Lawyers for the Creative Arts did? They stood on the sidelines, pulled the race card and marginalized me for being a woman. I was the one who fought for their music, but that didn’t matter. No publication printed certain quotes made by those who supported me, because the words could be offensive, and worst of all, truth isn’t POLITICALLY CORRECT, nor is that what sells magazines. I may be small in stature, but I’m strong and Screamin’ Out Proudly! Not money, blackmail or bullies can silence me. I could have been paid a lot to simply go away. One of the opposing lawyers said they would make me a rich woman if I did that, to go away with money. I SAID NO!

Sadly, if they weren't so busy bulling and trying to destroy me with their lawsuit and lies, I could have really used their help. They had lots of power and money. However, crazy as it may sound, that was not what I was looking for. I have all the great talents, I’ve been signing since 2007, thanks to one of the most creative people my multitalented friend Jorge Cruz, who selflessly supported me with the creative work he did at the label. After the huge entity that I’m currently bound not to mention of who actually took over the old music catalog that everyone's fighting about, he gave me a chance to be creative, so we persevered.

I think my songs tell my story best, and thanks to him ‘The Queen of House album he created takes you on that journey. People thought TRAX was gone, dead and closed, but slowly over the course of a decade, we opened their eyes to new music and wonderful artists. His recent compilation STAR TRAX, shows off what we have continued to do for all these years. You see, the people who want to take over know nothing about the historic video and photo archives that I have. They also made it clear that they did not approve of our A&R policy, because we don’t go after and signup artists that have millions of followers on TikTok.

So when I asked what would happen to my artists on Trax Records if we became partners, I was told that they would need to go. Well I’d rather be broke and loyal. I’m so proud of Irene Michaels, your cover girl on boiMAGazine’s last issue. Then there's Jade electra, DJ thad X, late Night Dub addict and many others that you can hear on TRAX Records NOW! I hope you will support them and not only stream them, but buy their music even if only a download.

Q: Why are you called Screamin Rachael?

a: Because when I enter a room I’m SCREAMIN’ without saying a word! And also my favorite types of music besides House, are Punk and Blues. I like raw music, It’s got to be Screamin’ whether it's the message or the emotion. That’s me!

Q: How did you and Larry Sherman first get together?

a: Jay B. Ross was my Manager at the time. He saw me perform at a talent show and that was the start of it! He was shopping me around in NYC for a record deal without any luck. We kept being told what is this Crap, it’s not even a song? Or this sounds pretty good come back when the track is finished. My friend Michael White who is a designer went to meet JB with me at his office to talk about my image and he sketched up an outfit for me, to show Ross. We got to talking and Jay said he wanted us to meet someone important. So off we went to this big warehouse in the Bridgeport area of Chicago, Precision Vinyl Pressing Plant. It was big and there was no sign outside. when we got inside it was filthy oh my God! Michael and I looked at each other and it was like OH NO! Then Larry came out to greet us, he looked like a wreck and frankly really needed a shower. Well Michael and I were all about style and we were not impressed! He had these boxes of crummy looking records, containers of melted vinyl, a huge boiler and big vinyl presses. So I had been working on some music and JB said let’s do a deal with Larry.

At the time the records labels Precision Records, were yellow With brown print that looked really ugly and I did not want to be on a label that looked or was named that. We all went out to a diner to talk about business. I said that name has to got to go! And I hate those colors… Sherman said look Rachael I don’t give a crap if you call it Drippy Dick Records. So I said look we aren’t really doing songs I mean Its not verse chorus etc… Let’s call it Tracks Records. And a couple days later Larry said come down to the plant and You and Michael can help me do the layout. It’s your idea. Sometimes life creates happy accidents and Larry couldn’t spell.

It came out TRAX and that looked so much cooler! I loved it! And The name needed to fit nicely around the record so it got tilted. Michael knew we could really work with that logo so to this day he still makes me cool custom TRAX Records designs to wear. Larry said the name and logo would be mine. In the beginning the look was black with white letters. Later he started using mostly red ink with white letters. I've had the Trademark for 17 years and though Larry broke his word to me a lot of times. This was one time he kept it!

Q: I know you like big teddy bear type of guys, which Larry was, some people say you were a gold digger, and were after the Trax catalogue, so tell me about your marriage and relationship with Larry Sherman?

a: Well, if I was a gold digger I surely was in the wrong place. Larry had gone through a bankruptcy and when I came back to Trax after meeting him again in Cannes 1996 at Midem. I told Larry I’d come back as a recording artist if he would make me the President. When I got there, things were beyond bad. The electricity and the phones were turned off. There was a generator running the electric. After I made my first record at the beginning, I never got paid, not even an advance, though Larry told me that Vince Lawrence was supposed to pay me, and he must have just kept the money. I left a very fun wild life in New York, and if I had any common sense, I would have

turned right around and moved back. But I believed in the music. You see, in New York everyone was playing Trax and I assumed things would be great. Boy was I wrong, but somehow I was inspired by Sylvia Robinson of Sugarhill Records and I believed in myself.

Larry and I had a lot in common, being in the recording studio together also both of us were Disney freaks. There was a fun side of Larry, and the best part of our marriage was my Stepdaughter tessa. Things were financially bad so we sold things on eBay to make ends meet. Finally we got up and running and I even met a Billionaire who made a deal for the French territory, and then we had an office in Paris! So sometimes we had all the best, and other times, even though we lived at Lakepoint Tower, the electricity got shut off for about a day and a half, so we had to run an extension chord out from the hallway, so we could watch TV. I’d Have to write a book to tell you all of the crazy things that happened. All the ups and downs lead to bad business deals and then Larry lost his mind. He had untreated high blood pressure and he turned violent and scary.

We lost the entire label to a joint venture deal gone bad, so if it wasn’t for the probono work of lawyers For the Creative arts, all the classic music would be owned by a huge conglomerate in the U.K. I’m not free to name them, but there are lots of sources on the internet with that public information. Finally even though I had low self esteem, the violence with Larry was so bad, I couldn't take it and I eventually divorced him. At the time we owned nothing and just like all the other artists, I was not being paid anything! After 17 plus years of litigation on January 1st 2022 we finally got back control of the label again. Larry Sherman died before that and had never recovered financially. Thank God I met my big bear of a husband Mark, who looks like he just stepped out of the Sopranos, or I would have never made it through. He’s a great husband and loves Tessa, like one of his own.

PART TWO WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEXT ISSUE ALONG WITH AN EXCLUSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT

by Jack Santo

Worried about cyber crime?

Will law enforcement help you when you get hit? They will listen to you, and they will make a report, but there’s nothing they can do. There's not law enforcement people specifically trained and paid who are setup in an office to help you, that’s all in your head. It’s up to you, and each and everyone of us to protect ourselves.

The way to do this is somewhat simple. Change your password when anything suspicious shows up. Use a strong memorable password and for bank accounts, add extra a keyboard symbol or two, like # or ##.

Make sure you don’t open or click on any email that you don’t know, especially ones that look suspicious. Delete them immediately! Some are super suspicious, others have the same email address as your bank or store account. Don’t be stupid, big companies like Amazon don’t use gMail or any other email service like yahoo. If you see a big company sending you email that has @gmail or @yahoo or @hotmail at the end of their email tag, then it’s a big red flag! It could be fraudulent. So the best thing to do is to is call, visit or log in to your bank and see if there are any notifications. 9 out of 10 times, it’s usually a scam. Look to see and make sure it's coming from a trusted sender, one that you know and trust.

Do not order anything online other than from an official proven-safe website. Meaning, don’t click on anything in an email, go to a store’s website. Instead, just type it into your online browser, like Macys.com or Amazon.com. Then you know that you went directly to the store’s website and it much safer that way. However, make 100% sure you type the right web address, any mistakes can take you to an impostors site.

Do not visit porn sites or anything related to sex! If you must, then use a dedicated computer to do so. Make sure that computer doesn’t have any personal information on it. Back it up first, then if it gets infected, just restore it from the backup. Remember to clear out all those cookies. They leave a trail and can do some harm.

For contests, signups, app-trials, porn sites, etc. Setup a special email just for that. This way, you can track all those people tracking you from the emails they send you. Again, don’t open any that are suspicious.

Get yourself an Apple Mac computer. They are less likely to be hacked because most people use a PC and they are easier targets. The whole business world runs on PC computers and fraudsters know how to hack a PC computer.

Always shut down & reboot all your devices once a week to get new connections. This also applies to your iPhone or Android, and computers, including desktops, laptops, and iPads, you’ll be glad you did.