K.I.M. K E E P I T M OV I N G
Magazine
KIM BURRELL
ROAD TO REDEMPTION
May/June 2011
Spreads The Love
A YOUNG MAN’S JOURNEY TO MANHOOD
MORE THAN A JOKE THOMAS MILES aka NEPHEW TOMMY Tells All
6 Ways
To Stop The Stress
EDUCATE * EMPOWER * ENTERTAIN
Joe Torry
www.kimmagazine.com Complimentary Issue
KeKe Wyatt K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
Noel Gourdin 1
2
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
Letter From The Editor This issue we give you everything from music to laughs. We know that both of these elements heal the soul. They soothe the soul. Let’s face it. Music and laughter keeps us from cracking and falling apart most of the time. Studies have shown that listening to your favorite song and laughter can lower your blood pressure. Let us ease your mind, as you read this star studded issue. From singers to comedians, we give you their story in their own words. Learn about Thomas Miles aka Nephew Tommy as he tells us about his life as a comedian and businessman. Join singer, Kim Burrell, as she gives her love point of view. I want to thank you personally for taking this journey with K.I.M. Magazine. We have heard great things from many of you. It motivates us. It inspires us. With your continued support, we will become even greater. May this magazine educate, empower, and entertain you. Most of all, may it inspire you to Keep It Moving.
Monique Riley
President/Editor-In-Chief
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
3
6 Love Under New Management KeKe Wyatt tells about her new album & life 8 Lip Action Samona L. Perry gives some make up tips 10 More Than A Joke Thomas Miles aka Nephew Tommy shows us another side of his life 14 A Fresh Start Noel Gourdin speaks about regaining his momentum 17 Coming To The Stage Joe Torry Keeps It Real 18 Road To Redemption A Young Man’s Journey To Manhood 20 Operation: Spread Love Kim Burrell Talks Her New Album, New Ministry Join our Facebook Page Today! K.I.M. Magazine Follow us on Twitter! KIMmagazine 4
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
Credits President Editor-In- Chief Monique Riley Vice President Senior Art Director Clover Riley Publishing & Design Riley Media Group Business Development & Marketing Riley Media Group Distribution Riley Media Group Interns LeVandis Gray, Isaiah Riley, Terrance Riley of TLI Group K.I.M. Magazine is published monthly by Riley Media Group. 106 N. Michigan Ave. in Saginaw, MI. Copyright 2011 Riley Media Group. All rights reserved. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photos, or artwork. All printing done in the U.S.A.
Here is what K.I.M. readers had to say about the April issue. I can’t lie. This magazine absolutely rocks! Tony - Detoit, MI I appreciate the fact that you cover normal people doing things in the community as well as well as celebrity stories. Keep it coming. This magazine is putting us on the map. No doubt. Shanell - Saginaw, MI Kem’s story was so informational. I love him. I love his music. He and Fantasia put on a great show. Shannon - Saginaw, MI K.I.M. Magazine is taking over. I look forward to reading it every month. Candase - Dallas, Texas Tell us what you think. Visit us on facebook.com/K.I.M. Magazine.
Preview You have seen him in movies. You have seen him
on Def Comedy Jam. Now see him at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan on June 18th. Come ready to laugh. Don’t be surprised if you become part of the show. Joe Torry is known for making fun of people in the audience. It will be a blast, don’t miss it. See K.I.M. Magazine’s interview with Joe Torry on page 16.
@ The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, MI
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
5
KeKe Wyatt
Love Under New Management By: Monique Riley
KeKe Wyatt: That song is going to reintroduce me so yes it will be my first single. I really like the song. K.I.M.: How has your music evolved since your very first album Soul Sista until now?
We had a chance to talk to the lovely songtress, KeKe Wyatt. I remember the first time I heard her voice. She was singing a duet with Avant called “My First Love”. Her voice took you on a journey. It really made you think about your first love. Every since then she has been winning fans over with her transparent, surreal tone. KeKe’s journey has been unbelievable. She has overcome domestic violence and is working with The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to share her message with women all over the country. Today, she sees life in a new light and is in love under new management. 6
K.I.M.: So you have a new album coming out in June called Unbelievable. How did you come up with that title? KeKe Wyatt: My fans voted on it. They had the choice between that and some other names and they chose that one. It’s the name of one of the songs on the CD. We liked it, so we went with it. K.I.M.: I see you worked with Ruben Studdard, Kelly Price and Tweet on this album. The song “Saturday Love” that you did with Ruben Studdard is that going to be your first single?
KeKe Wyatt: Before, I was pretty much a guinea pig. I just did whatever songs the record company threw at me. I did that album in two weeks. This time around I selected my own songs and did some of the writing. I was able to play a huge part in the process. It was very well thought out. K.I.M.: K.I.M. Magazine does an annual event on date violence. We do it to raise awareness, teach women about the signs of a bad relationship and what to watch out for when comes to date violence. Many times you find some women stay in the abusive relationships for various reasons. I know you went through that as well in the past. What was your breaking point that made you say I have to get out of this situation? KeKe Wyatt: It was when I was thrown to the ground in the front yard while I was pregnant and holding my infant daughter in my arms. I was choked and I just got to the point where I said this isn’t my life and I got out. I’m so glad I got out because a lot of
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
people don’t. My best friend was murdered by her children’s father. She was not even with him. He was just jealous and did not want to let go.
K.I.M.: There is a song on your CD called “Love Under New Management”. Are you in a new relationship?
K.I.M: What would you say to a person who is in that situation going through that same thing in one way or another?
KeKe: Yes, I’m newly married. So I’m literally in love under new management, he’s managing me. I got out of that crappy situation and now I’m happy in love, I’m a new person now.
KeKe Wyatt: It’s not about what I would say but it’s about how they feel. You can tell someone a million times to leave the man alone. He’s not good for you and he’s going to hurt you. You can even help them out of the situation and then they go back to the idiot. All I tell people, if you really want out, call the emergency hot line get real help. It’s hard to break away from it. It took a judge telling me I was going to lose my kids if I didn’t get away. I have found a way to give back by working with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to help women and children. Our main goal is to make sure every home is a safe home.
K.I.M.: Was it hard to move into a normal relationship after all that you went through. KeKe: Oh yeah, I brought lots of baggage into this relationship. I’m damaged goods. I told him coming in, I’m like one of those damaged cans on the shelf all busted up and dented in but it’s some sweat peas on the inside. He has stood by me and supported me. We enjoy each other. Pick up KeKe Wyatt’s new album Unbelievable which hits stores June 14, 2011. Her music touches on life, love, and spirituality. We wish her great success. National Coaliton Against Domestic Violence (800) - 799-SAFE (7233) www.ncadv.org
6 Ways to Stop Stress We all know that stress is a part of life. If you allow it to overwhelm you, you can cause harm to your body as well as your mind. We see it everyday in the news where someone has gone off on the deep end. When it all boils down, it is partly due to stress. Life can weigh you down sometimes but you can gain control. A lot of stress can be avoided. Here we offer you a few ways to stop the stress in your life and remind you that it’s okay to breathe and smell the roses. 1) Learn to manage your time. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Don’t put so much on your plate that you become overwhelmed. Learn to categorize the things that you have to do from priority to non priority. There are only 24 hours in a day. This will stop a lot of stress once you understand this. 2) Eat healthier. Having a healthy body is the best defense against stress. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Drink water. 3)Get enough sleep. Sleep allows your body to heal and allows stress to exit your body. You need at least seven or
more hours of sleep. 4) Change your environment. Sometimes you have to take yourself out of stressful situations. Stop hanging around people who bring you down. Stay away from negative people. When you remove non productive people out of your life, you will be amazed at how smoothly life can go. 5) Think positive. This helps you cope with problems as they may arise in your life. Negative thinking can cause stress to trigger in your body. Stress could lead to hair loss, headaches, and more. 6) Relax your mind or lose your mind. Do things that relax you. Listen to some jazz or mellow music. Go to a comedy show or watch a good movie. Get a massage. Make time for yourself. We all need some time to unwind. You pour into everyone else. Pour into yourself.
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
7
Lip Action Greetings Ladies,
Beauty
Have you ever wanted to have the perfect lips? I know, I can hear some of you saying, “Perfect lips, yeah right my lips are too big” or “my lips are to small”, or “my lips are proportioned funny the top is bigger than the bottom.” It could be vice versa. Not to worry. You really can have perfect shaped lips. Here are some steps to getting the perfect shaped lips: • Keep your lips moist – Use a good lip conditioner or exfoliate your lips. Yes, exfoliate your lips if they are dry and cracked no matter how you shape them they will not look appealing. • Use a lip base – A lip base will keep your lips smooth and your lipstick or lip gloss will glide on gracefully giving you a wonderful glow. (Smile glowy lips are beautiful). • Line your lips – Before you put on your lipstick outline your lips with a lip liner, it will give you that perfect polished look. Lip liners can be the exact same color or a little darker, the preference is yours.
If your lips are too large and you want to give them a thin look use a slightly darker lip liner and line only the insides of your lips and fill in the color to the liner. If your lips are too small or thin use a slightly darker lip liner and line outside the very edge of your lips (please do not line around your mouth) line exactly around the top of your lips, then fill in the lip color. You will love the results. Until next time remember, “You deserve to live your best opportunity… live it, LOOKING GOOD!”
Samona L. Perry Creator and Founder of T’Mia Joi Cosmetics
A
MOTHER’S LOVE A mother’s love is like no other. She guides you and molds you. She knows when to scold you. She teaches you the difference between right and wrong. When you hurt yourself, she sings you a song. Her advice she gives, whether you want it or not. When friends and life turn their back on you, you realize she’s all you got. She wants you to succeed and conquer the world, so she can say to others, “That’s my girl”. Whether near or far you feel her kisses and hugs. For there is nothing like a mother’s love.
8
Models: Verna D. Brown & Daughter, Kiehla T.G. Banks
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
Be A Leader. Grow A Leader.
We are currently looking for energetic volunteers to become Girl Scout Leaders to mentor girls to reach their full potential. Have fun while teaching girls how to be leaders. If you are interested, please call us today at (989) 399-7250. Lisa Ingram - Community Outreach Specialist Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan - Saginaw Region 5470 Davis Road, Saginaw, MI 48604 - 989-399-7250 K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011 9 Visit Us @ www.gshom.org
Another Side of Thomas Miles aka Nephew Tommy
By: Monique Riley
Every morning he gives you a reason to laugh. Whether he is giving the daily tips, playing a phone prank, or just plain acting stupid as his uncle, Steve Harvey, says, you know that you are in for a treat. Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles is truly building an empire. While Thomas dishes out the funny to over 7 million listeners daily on the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, he is continues to work on ways to expand his brand. His rising success as a comedian, entrepreneur, and producer tells me that he is more than a joke. He is about his business. Recently, Nephew Tommy came to Saginaw, MI to do a comedy show. K.I.M. Magazine had a chance to hang out with him before the show. I can say that he truly has a passion for what he does. He kept me laughing but at the same time he spit some real knowledge. So here goes…… K.I.M.: So what are you working on? 10
Thomas: Well I just finished up with my one hour special. I’m signing off on everything. It should be coming out in July so I’m excited about that. K.I.M.: Will that be a special on TV or will it be available on DVD? Thomas: It will be a special on TV and then it will go to DVD. I’m finishing the DVD right now, signing off on the cover, signing off on this, signing off on that… K.I.M.: So what brought you to Saginaw? How did that get set up? Nephew Tommy: I always try to hit places that I haven’t been. When I repeat a spot, I like to make sure I’m going back with a whole new show. Last year, I hit a lot of places and Saginaw was one spot that I haven’t been. So I booked it myself. I put the
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
the money up myself promoted it myself. And then I hooked up with a guy I used to work for when I was doing stage plays out on the road. His name was Michael Mathews and he was the Tyler Perry of the 80’s and the 90’s p with a guy I used to work for when I was doing stage plays out on the road. K.I.M.: Oh with WDZZ in Flint? Thomas: Yeah, you’re familiar with him. That was my boss back in the day so he’s helping me with promotions in Saginaw. K.I.M.: Now how did you get started in comedy? I know you started out acting first right. Thomas: I studied theatre at Texas A&M. After I was through with school, I went out on the road doing stage plays. I did stage plays on the road for over 10 years. Well with stage plays, we work like school teachers. We’re off in the summers and major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. We didn’t work during those times. So in the down time one summer, a buddy of mine said, “Why don’t you do some stand up?” I refused. I told him I was a professional. I’m an actor. The next thing you know, he had me going out to this amateur comedy night where it was a prize for a couple hundred dollars. I actually won. After that, I started doing a little more stand up. Next thing you know I was hosting a comedy club. And that was just on my down time when I wasn’t doing stage plays. So I got a call one time from a guy I used to do the stage plays with. He got a call from his production manager who was actually the production manager for Luther Vandross. He told me that his standup guy who opens for Luther was going to be down for a week and they needed someone to stand in for him. He told me, “Send in your tape and we’re going to let Luther and his manager look at it”. They looked at my tape and they liked it. The next thing you know, I am opening for Luther Vandross. I did that for about a week. Then the guy came to me and said, “The boss wants to keep you.” I said, “You mean do another week?” He told me no and that they wanted to keep me for good. He said,“You’re on the road kid.” I just started crying. I said, “What about the other guy,”? He looked at me and said “The other guy? You worried about the other guy or you worried about yourself? What you gonna do kid?” I opened up for Luther Vandross for three years. Now I’m doing comedy full time. I went from a brother doing Shakespeare out of college, to doing full fledge standup comedy. After three years of working for Luther. He decided he was going overseas to Europe. So I’m thinking when he makes it over there he going to get somebody over there to open up for him. That’s normally what you do. But
Luther took me to Europe. K.I.M.: Did you have to change up your act? Thomas: Well the crew and the band scared me. They pulled me to the side and told me that I was going to have to get 20 new minutes because them people over there don’t care nothing about them country jokes you got. They said, “You talk to fast and you got a southern accent. You gotta get yourself together man.” So when I got there, after I checked into the hotel. I walked around that place for a day and a half with a pen and a pad. I wrote down everything that was funny to me. And I went out on that stage and did 20 minutes and those people were laughing their butts off. I got about a fifty percent standing ovation. But I said I didn’t do right because I wanted everyone on their feet. So I hit the streets again with a pen and pad. I did a lot of writing. I hooked up with a European comedian and we just talked for about five hours, drunk beer and talked crazy all night and he connected me with their lingo, he connected me with what I did not know about Europeans. So it’s now me looking at being European from a black perspective. So I went back out there and did twenty minutes and everybody was on their feet when I was done. When I walked off that stage, Luther looked at me and said, “You got it.” I said, No, I got twenty minutes. If you ask me to do twenty one minutes, we got a problem.” So that was a beautiful highlight in my career. K.I.M.: So how did you end up on the Steve Harvey Morning Show as a co-host? How did that all play out? Thomas: Well when we got back from Europe, I decided to go to Hollywood because we were going to be down for 6 months. So I was like let’s go back to the acting. I went to a buddies place in Hollywood. We called it the crash pad because this is where you got 6 – 8 guys all staying in the same spot. Everything in the refrigerator has a sticky note on it. If it does not have your name on it, dammit don’t touch it. You got a pillow and a blanket and that was your corner. We all lived together and it was like I would help you with your audition and you would help me with mine. We were just some brothers trying to make it. So when I got there I would always touch bases with Steve’s manager. His club in Houston, Texas is where I got started. He wasn’t Steve’s manager then. He was just a comedian and I would give him a call whenever I came to town. He would be working on various shows like The Parkers with
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
11
Monique and Sister Sister. You name it and he was Thomas: I’m big on current events. I’m big on a writer or a producer on it. So I gave him a call. I what’s going on in the news. I talk about Obama, told him that if he had any auditions to let me know. Tiger Woods, and whatever is When he would get me an audition, going on. Now that I’m 43 years I would nail it. I got the part to old, I do something called life guess star on The Parkers and Sisafter 40 and what a man goes ter Sister. So one time, I called him through when he gets that age to let him know that I was in town. and the different changes. It’s I wanted to see if he had any work some stuff going on in our bodies was available. I did this all the time. that we’re just not ready for. Our He called me back like two hours health gets bad. Gray hairs kick later and said, “Hey come on down in. At 43, you start trying to figto the radio station with your uncle ure out how do I get these hairs and just talk smack like the two of to stop growing out of my ears. you always do”. I said, “Alright, How do I stop this? That’s somecool what time?” He said, “5:30.” thing that starts happening when I told him I’ll eat an early dinyou get old. Sometimes you just ner and come on down there. He sit up on the edge of the bed and said, “No, no, no, Negro, I meant try to figure out what part of me 5:30 in the morning. I said, “Man is not going to work today beyou have lost your damn mind. cause everything don’t work like We don’t go to bed until around 4 it used to. Also, you learn how o’clock around here. We shoot dice to be your own doctor. You learn until 3:30. You gotta be crazy.” how to check your cholesterol, But I got on up and did it for about This new DVD comes out July 2011. blood pressure and everything. one week. And it was a hit. Me and my You know when it’s too high and you start trying to Uncle Steve were on the radio talking smack. They figure out how to get it down. And a big thing with loved it in L.A. It went from me doing it for one black people is, it’s something about we don’t want week to about nine years now of me being a part of to know. It’s that old slave mentality. If we go to the big Steve Harvey Morning Show. So that lead the doctor now, we can nip it in the bud. We like to to a lot more stand up and sellout crowds across not know. We do stuff like, if something wrong with the country which lead to my special that I’m doing your shoulder you say, “Well Robert had something now. That’s going to satisfy the acting bug. I’m getwrong with his shoulder. Let me call him. Hey Robting a few movies under my belt. I’m getting calls ert you got some shoulder pills?” We would rather for movies and that’s what I went to school for. It’s do that, than go to the doctor and see what’s wrong. always been my dream to do three or four films a year. So it’s all coming together. It’s my dream. It’s K.I.M.: For those that don’t know what great talent the shooting star that I don’t want to see fall. you have, tell me who plays Eugene? K.I.M.: Wow, so what inspires your material? Thomas: I am the voice of Eugene, he lives inside Where do you pull from? continued on page 17...
Nephew Tommy in action
Oatmeal getting his thug on
Eugene telling it like it is
The Steve Harvey Morning Show
By. Monique Riley
12
As Seen in Saginaw, MI
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
(Pictures 1-3)
By: Photographer Clover Riley K.I.M. Magazine of the
Riley Media Group
Meet Glen Thomas Rideout, new conductor of Saginaw Choral Society
Glen Thomas Rideout is the new ly appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the Saginaw Choral Society. He is an award winning conductor who obtained a bachelor’s degree in voice from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. K.I.M. Magazine had the pleasure of attending his debut concert on May 7, 2011. The concert, which was entitled Party Time, was held at the Temple Theatre. It definitely was a party, a new look and a new beginning for the Saginaw Choral Society and their new conductor.
Mr. Rideout is the first African American conductor of the Saginaw Choral Society. He is also the youngest person to ever hold that position. So it was a great historic event that ended with a huge standing ovation from the audience. This is a great way to reach a younger and broader demographic. Saginaw should certainly take notice and support what Glen Thomas Rideout and the Saginaw Choral Society are doing. Great things are happening.
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
Young Black Professionals Andrea Gibbs was born and raised in Saginaw, MI. She graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Entrepreneurship in 2005. Wanting to push further in education, she gained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Stayer University in Nashville, TN in 2009. Andrea currently works for the Dept. of Veteran Affairs as a rating veteran service representative. Her job is to assist eligible retired and disabled veterans in receiving compensation benefits. With a strong passion for veterans and helping people, Andrea is able to help those that have sacrificed their lives for our everyday freedoms. In her spare time, she likes to hike and attend Pilate classes. She enjoys travelling and volunteering with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Nashville Metro Alumni Chapter. “My time and efforts are put into projects and initiatives targeted for voter registration, social injustice, and Earth Day for the Social Action Committee”, says Andrea. Andrea told us that it is her faith in God and family that inspire her to keep it moving. My parents taught me the importance of eduction. Knowledge is needed to succeed in all areas of your life. “God has put me on this earth to make a difference, so I am not going to stop until I do”. 13
The world was introduced to Noel Gourdin on the Steve Harvey morning Show in 2008. Steve Harvey religiously played Noel Gourdin’s single, “The River”. It eventually became a hit that held the number one spot for over 5 weeks. Noel Gourdin gave us a song that brought good lyrics, feeling and meaning back to the radio. He recently performed his new single “Beautiful” when he was in Saginaw, Michigan at the Temple Theater promoting his new album Fresh: The Definition. K.I.M. Magazine sat down and talked to him about his new album and what we can expect from it.
Noel Gourdin
“The album is called Fresh: The Definition and it is in stores now. The single “Beautiful” is my tribute to women. I wanted them to know how much I love and respect them. The first CD was good but this one is better. We used real instruments with a live band so it has that real authentic sound. I did not lose my integrity with this album, I stayed true to myself.” His style is definitely unique. He is a younger man who has an old school sound. He attributes that to being “city born but country raised”. He certainly has the best of both worlds working for him. His sensual hybrid sound can be heard throughout the CD. When talking about his new album, he explained how he felt rejuvenated. Noel told us for a while he didn’t think a second CD would be coming out. This was in part due to him leaving Sony. He sank into a depression only to rise again with a different record label called Mass Appeal Entertainment & Entertainment One Music. It is with this new family that Noel is able to have more flexibiltiy. He has been given an opportunity to be more creative have some say in the work that he produces. The music industry can be tough but you have to be willing to stick with it. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. “It was the support of family, friends, and fans, that kept me going, Noel explained. They kept me grounded and showed me just how blessed I was. Things don’t always work out the way you want them to. Sometimes they work out better.” Fresh: The Definition is my redemption story. Noel Gourdin’s album is not only climbing the charts but it is getting back to the basis of real R&B. This is a must have album. Pick up Fresh: The Definition today! To find out more, visit www. noelgourdin.com.
14
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles… (continued from page 13)
my head. I do the voice for Oatmeal. Oatmeal is a thug and he lives inside my head too. Shirley Strawberry and my uncle Steve, say it’s the most genius thing they have ever seen when I have all three of them going at the same time and don’t none of them like each other. K.I.M.: What is it like working with your uncle, Steve Harvey and Shirley Strawberry? Andrea Dorsey was valedictorian at Saginaw High School in 2005. Fourit makes years later, she very graduated Thomas: It’s good someone good from Howard University, a historically black colat being spontaneous and quick because there’s legenoinscript. Washington, where she earned BA NobodyDC, writes anything for me aand Steve. So it’s like you have to just come from in Marketing with a concentration in International the top of your dome with jokes. All I need for Business. work is some hot green tea, some honey and a mic then it’s like we just sitting on the porch Sheback currently Exxon Mobil as a thought territory in the works countryforjust talking. I never manager. Andrea is in charge of 47 Mobil stations I would be in radio but here I am. I respect it in southern Connecticut, is corporate and I respect those thatwhere did it she before me. liaison to station owners. K.I.M.: What would you say is your favorite thing to do if you had toenjoys choose betweengolfing, radio, In her spare time, Andrea travelling, standup comedy or acting? exploring new cuisine, and event planning. Her goal is to one day start her own company. Thomas: Nothing beatsevent being on the stage Andrea to have greatbeats parents family doingisathankful stage play. Nothing thatand adrenalin.helped I’m currently a one show who to mold working her and on show her man the imporcalled, “The Night I Talked to God”. I’m playtance of education. ing three different people and all three people are going through something. They all are talking to God. So acting in plays or film is number one for me. That’s what I love the most. Radio pays the bills, so I can’t be mad at radio. And stand up has been a vehicle that has helped me to get here so I can’t shy away from anyone of them. K.I.M.: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to get started in standup comedy, acting or radio?
fanity is just supposed to colorize it a little bit. When you’re just doing it every other word you don’t have any jokes. K.I.M.: What about someone trying to make it in acting? Thomas: In acting, you gotta go get the skills. You gotta take some serious classes. If you’re younger, drama in high school would be good for you. That’s what I did. I did all the speech tournaments. I went to national competition in all those things. Then when I went to college I majored in theatre. If you really want to be an actor for sure and you’re in high school, I will say that’s the road to take. Now if you want to be safe, you can double major. Where you have one thing being your true passion but the other thing pays the bills. But either way go get the book knowledge of it go learn Shakespeare go learn to spit that stuff of the top of your head like…… “I heard myself proclaim and by the happy hollow of the trees. Escaped the hunt no port is free. No place that guard the most unusual vigilance. Does not attempt my taking. Whiles I may scape. I will preserve myself as I am bethought.” You understand what I’m saying? K.I.M.: Wow, you just did Shakespeare off the type of your head. That was good. Thomas: Thanks. Lastly, you need to learn the business side. Uncle Steve has always told me that there is no show without business. You don’t want to be the greatest actor or standup comic and not be able to cut the deal. Keep working and you can get to the top.
ls
Thomas: Well with standup if you’re really trying to do it for the long hall, you can’t quit. It will be some nights where you will be the worst person in the room. But in order to be the best person in the room, you have to keep coming back. You have to study. You have to watch some people on stage and see what they’re doing right as well as what they’re doing wrong. That is the only way to get better. It’s very difficult to see yourself but you can see a lot from watching others and seeing how the bit goes. When you look at a comic and you take all his Follow Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles, cuss words out. Is there really a joke there? If visit www.nephew-tommy.com or the not, you’re just relying on profanity. Take all Steve Harvey Morning Show daily. that off and tell me does the joke still work. ProK.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
15
Joe Coming to the Stage Torry
By: Monique Riley
I remember when I use to stay up late to watch HBO’s Def Comedy Jam. I had to sneak and do it because I had no business watching HBO that late at 12 years old. Needless to say, I have been following Joe Torry’s career since the 90’s. Coming to the stage is Joe Torry, who will be performing in Saginaw, MI on June 18th. We had a chance to talk to him about comedy and how he is building the Joe Torry brand. He told us that he is working on everything from production, apparel, ringtones with Universal Music, and more. 16
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
K.I.M.: What made you choose comedy? Joe Torry: I’ve been doing Comedy my whole life it’s something that just comes natural. The entertainment business has been a real good way to express myself. K.I.M.: Who are the comedians that you would say inspired your comedy? Joe Torry: The comedians I grew up on were the greats. Richard Pryor, Red Fox, George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Eddie Murphy. But the comedian that personally helped me the most was the late great Robin Harris. He took me by the hand when I got to LA and really taught me how to do this job. K.I.M.: Now you’re going to be overseas to the UK, What’s it like doing shows over there? Joe Torry: Well I’m not going to be as ghetto on stage over there but they pay to see me they know who I am. So I will just be myself. Humor is universal.
of Def Comedy Jam. But I didn’t have the street cred or the name back then. I had the funny though. Martin and I were good friends and they needed a host because Robin Harris was supposed to be the host but he died. So they were scrambling trying to find a host and they asked me. I remember the first time I met Russell Simmons. I thought he was some drunken bum. I threw his phone number away. He was mumbling. He told me that he thought I was funny then he wrote his number down on a piece of paper or something. When I found out who he was and how they had the idea for Def Comedy Jam, I almost tore my whole house down looking for that number. I found it. When it all got started I did the entire warm up, all the stuff you couldn’t see. I worked the crowd before Martin came out. Nobody wanted that job but I didn’t mind doing it because I was supposed to be doing it for Robin Harris. He’s the one who opened the door for all of us that whole brand of comedy. That front porch, living room, trash talking type of comic. He was like your uncle. He was so real.
K.I.M.: Will this be your first time coming to Saginaw?
K.I.M.: What advice would you give to someone trying to break into the comedy game? Joe Torry: Keep writing and be original. Share your pain through the comedy. Study, learn the game. I wrote a paper in college about different styles of comics. There are different styles of comedy, different facets of it. You have comedians like me, and then there are the impersonators and entertainers. You have to know your strengths. Jamie Fox is not a comedian. He is an impersonator. Jim Carrey is not a comedian. He’s an impersonator. That’s why they excel at what they do best. Jamie Fox is a great singer and performer. He’s an entertainer and mimicker. Someone like Conan O’Brien, he’s a comic. He tells jokes. I remember when I met Cedric the Entertainer, he was singing. He would sing for about 20 minutes and tell jokes in between songs. He’s an entertainer. That’s where the name Cedric the Entertainer came from because he wasn’t originally doing comedy. So I would tell anyone who wants to get into comedy find out what your strengths are and just keep sharpening them. To find out more about Joe Tory, visit www.mrjoetorry.com.
Joe Torry: I actually used to come to Saginaw a lot. When I came here I would do shows in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids or Grand Raggedy as they use to call it. I use to come around this area a lot but when the economy got bad those type of areas didn’t do shows like they once did. K.I.M.: Now let’s go back for a while. What was it like taking over Def Comedy Jam when Martin stopped being the host? Joe Torry: This is going to sound cocky but, in my mind I should have been the first host K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
17
.
Road to
Redemption
The road to redemption is defined as a path to fixing one’s life, to save, or reclaim. Everyone deserves an opportunity to redeem themselves. It is often that you hear bad stories of violence and crime in many communities today. We heard a story of a young man that was going down that very path. His name is Aaron Williams. Aaron was living life in the fast lane and hanging with the wrong crowd. He was struggling in high school and on the brink of not graduating. His counselor placed him in a program called Saginaw ISD Career Links Program. This is a program that is funded by the Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! and Michigan Economic Development Corporation serviced by SVRC Industries, Inc., and facilitated by the Saginaw County Business and Education Partnership. It was in this program that Aaron was mentored by his career manager, Autumn Scherzer. He was counseled on how to make the right decisions, how to control his anger, how to set goals for himself, and strive to achieve them. Autumn told K.I.M. Magazine that Aaron had no support system. He was a young father that grew up in the streets. He was leading a dangerous lifestyle. “Being in this program has assisted him in turning his life completely around. He has a completely different outlook on life. I am so very proud of what he has accomplished”, says Autumn.
What Makes a Dad God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete, And so, He called it ... Dad ~~Author Unknown
“Because I chose the right path, I was able to graduate high school in 2009. This program helpled me to complete an automotive technology program at Delta College and has helped me get a job at a local car dealership”, Aaron explained. Aaron told us that he has lost friends along the way to street violence. He is now motivated and driven to succeed in life to not only be a great father but a great man. 18 K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
Dr. Willie McKether speaks on African American Migration to Saginaw, MI
Dr. Willie McKether, professor of anthropology at University of Toledo, speaks to the audience at Saginaw Castle Musuem.
Dr. Willie L. McKether, Ph.D., spoke at the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History on May 10th. He gave a unique speech on the history of African Americans migrating to Saginaw during the early 1900s in relation to the automotive manufacturing industry. Dr. McKether received his MBA from Saginaw Valley state University in 1991. He received his doctorate at Wayne State University and he is professor anthropology at the University of Toledo. In his speech, he compares the Saginaw migration to the Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland migration. He provided evidence to show that nineteenth and twentieth-century southern to northern African- American migrations were not linear, but rather occurred in waves where each wave was comprised of similar patterns and social processes, or cultural change over time. Oral history interviews were conducted with 96 AfricanAmerican Saginaw residents who were either born or raised
in Saginaw between 1920 and 1940. Interviews were also conducted with residents who were born and raised in the south and migrated to Saginaw between 1940 and 1960 as adults. In addition to the oral history interviews, a number of secondary data sources such as the government census data, newspaper clippings, organizational and church records were used to shed light on both the migration process as well as adjustment to Saginaw. Data collection for the study was guided by a grounded theory methodological approach and the collected data was interpreted through cultural ecology and political economy theoretical perspectives. It was an extremely thorough and tedious research and data collecting process that Dr. McKether went through to put together the most educational history lessons you will ever hear about the history of African Americans migrating to Saginaw.
Embarrasing
M
stories
y family and I went to my uncle’s funeral out of town. He had been living a few hundred miles away from us for about 20 years. We always saw him on holidays. Because my uncle lived out of town, he had accumulated a lot of friends that we didn’t know. So when we got to the funeral we looked around and we didn’t see anybody we knew. I was looking around saying wow my uncle really knew a lot of people. When we walked through the door we had sad looks on our faces. People walked up to us and gave us hugs and told us it would be ok. We walked down the long line to make it to the casket. The first thing I noticed was that the casket looked pretty small. My Uncle was 6’4” 330 pounds. I was thinking, “How did they stuff him into that casket?” When I made it to the casket and looked in, my mouth nearly fell to the floor. That was not my uncle in the casket. We were at the wrong funeral. We immediately put up the church finger and began to exit. Do you have a story you would like to share? Send it to info@kimmagazine.com.
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
19
Kim
Burrell
Spreads The Love By: Monique Riley
I first heard of Kim Burrell’s CD “Everlasting” in 1999. I never really heard a sweet lyrical sound like that before. The runs and riffs were out of this world. The melody was so jazzy and beautiful. I knew instantly that this is a singer I could learn tips from. Then I was singing in a group called, “Ayron Lewis & The Next Generation. I found out we would be doing a concert with her and some of the singers would be selected to sing back up for Ms. Kim Burrell. Kayron Lewis, mother of Ayron and Stellar award winners, Rizen, was very meticulous about the selection. You had to be on point if you wanted to sing. You had to be the best of the best. I sat there in New Galilee Full Gospel Baptist Church with my fingers crossed praying to God I would be picked. Lo and Behold my name 20 was called. I would be singing for
Ms. Kim Burrell at age 18. What an honor I thought to myself. I had song backup for many gospel artists but, this was different. This was my new favorite gospel singer. Ms. Kim walked in the rehearsal and got right to business. She sang our notes to us in about ten seconds or less and it was on and popping. Her voice commanded attentionthen as it does now. Her Everlasting CD put Kim Burrell on the map. Her career took off. Her voice and presence have taken her around the world to many great venues where she has sang for the Pope and many others.
Love Album. This album is different than any of her previous works. In fact it has caused a stir in the gospel world. Kim has taken a mainstream approach with her message. While the world is anticipating her music, many in the church have felt otherwise. I would say this. Buy her CD first and you make the decision. You will see that Kim Burrell has found a way to spread her message and more. K.I.M.: Can you tell me about your album concept? What made you draw towards the subject of love?
Kim Burrell: The Love album is a conversation primarily to church It’s funny how things work. Now people. I want them to know that I am able to interview my favorite we can have conversations about singer, Kim Burrell, to talk about love that the bible talks about. It all her new CD which hits stores on starts with John 3:16. We can obK.I.M. May/June 2011 May 17th. TheMagazine CD is entitled The
“God’s love is such a universal language” serve our behavior in church when it comes to relationships. Sometimes it’s hard to see in congregations how people that are married met. It is hard notice their feelings for each other. Sometimes the body language hides their sentimental emotions; it’s not a good site for me. It made me think that when you got married and decided to have children, were you listening to the Greatest Hits of Mahalia Jackson? What ignited your love and what ignites your love? I wish I could see more love in church. I mean not to look at in a perverted way. That is my goal in music to remind those that are not in denial of music, that they like music that is not church music. I did some oldies but goodies, and then created some stuff and then it’s a conversation about God’s love and his ability through us to love each other without it being perverted. K.I.M.: So Ms. Kim, with you coming from a Church of God In Christ background, did you receive a lot of heat for going into mainstream music or would you just call it going into a broader audience? Kim Burrell: Yes, going into a broader audience I did receive a lot of heat. Well I can’t say a lot of heat but I did get a call from some officials of the church music department. They wanted an explanation of my attire
when I sang to Whitney Houston on the BET Honors show in 2010. Unfortunately, there are some religious beliefs and some dos and don’ts of the Church of God in Christ that are associated to what they consider holy sacred music and those accommodated with it. There are some things that down through the years, they don’t necessarily match with sacred music. I chose a dress that exposed my shoulder and to wear a $37,000 dress that my body a year before couldn’t even get into and I was singing to one of my greatest friends. I didn’t see any reason to concede that, but I did respond.
felt that way about God and church. Now, I feel so compelled to reveal what it is that I have learned about God and what he has done in my life, I‘m ready to tell anybody. I will go the prisons. I will go under a bridge. I am convicted because of my experiences with God and with his son, Jesus, dying for me, and my relationship with him. With my faith, I benefit from it inwardly from telling others about him that it shows on my outwardly light. I want to share his word with other people. I want to see other people try God, and to see that it will work for them too. It is more so a conviction, a kingdom K.I.M.: You looked beautiful by the mind than it is a church mindset. way. You whole look is really inspiring. You have lost a significant amount K.I.M.: That is great. Now on your of weight. A lot of women in the in- Love album, what is your favorite dustry are really taking the health ini- song or songs? tiative to another level. I applaud you on that. Kim Burrell: It is hard to choose. I would say the single, “Sweeter”. K.I.M. Burrell: Thank you. It’s hard to pick a favorite. “Pray for Love” is another. It really speaks to K.I.M.: Do you feel that God’s mes- the sentiments of what the Love Alsage is still able to get across or has bum is really trying to say. The first it become watered down? How do song that I actually wrote for this alyou feel about getting God’s message bum was “Let Us Make It to Love”. across to the broader audience? This was my compelling factor to release this project. Where is the smile Kim Burrell: Aw man, God’s love is or the hug? Where is the automatic such a universal language. He speaks touch? Let’s make it to real love and happiness and joy and all the things purity. I am talking about the kind that we are trying to accomplish here. of the love that cancels problems in God created the heavens, earth, Adam our interaction with each other. I am and Eve. That is all God’s love. We talking about the kind of love that are all recipients of that love and there reaches out to our young, love that is no reason that anything about God’s uses our talents to benefit each other, nature should be held back from any- and love that keeps us around each one, especially, those who have enough other whether we like each other’s confidence, relationship, and enough gifts or not. What happened to that interaction with God to feel worthy to kind of love? So my favorite song is even talk about him among each other The Love Album because it is all one in the church, and abroad. And people song to me. who are doing other things that are not things necessarily the same activity or K.I.M. : I totally agree. It seems to behavior of church people are being me as if it is all one song. I know told that they are going to hell. Un- your sister, Kathy, wrote three songs fortunately, a lot of religious folk have on the album. They are really nice painted that picture. Even as a child, I songs. How important is it to you to
Kim Burrell singing to good friend, K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011 Whitney Houston
21
keep your family involved in what you do and working with you? Some people forget, leave their family behind, and get the idea that they can develop a circle outside of their family. Kim Burrell: It is important and imperative. It is also necessary. To me Kathy, writes great songs. She has the Barry Manilow effect. She creates songs that make the whole world sing. I love love listening to her and her songs. Kathy writes from a very real place. See, I write from reflections of life. She writes from actualities of her personal life and it makes a song so much richer to me. Also, when it comes to my music, my older sister, Karen, is my business manager for our church and for the KB Crew Productions. It is just good to be able to have travelled as much as I have to all the places that I have been and bring that home so we can all put our fingers and toes in it. Instead of them trying to learn me, they are learning what has formed me into the me that I am. Then I can help nurture them and develop them as well. It is just a beautiful thing. K.I.M.: I know you mentioned your church. How is it going? How does it feel to be a pastor now? Kim Burrell: It is the greatest agreement with God that I have ever made in my life. I never ever thought that this much of my life would be fulfilled. About 7 years ago, God woke me up and told me to read Ephesians chapter 4. Every day we can find something that makes our lives better. As long as we live we should strive for that. When I got done reading this chapter, I wanted the whole world to know about it. So I started a conference that I have had done every year for four years straight. I took one year off because I went to Africa and was working on some other things. We are doing it again
22
this year in December in Richmond, Virginia. Ephesians chapter 4 helped me to understand outside of God and why he created us outside of Genesis chapter 1 in the bible with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and more. It explained to me the gifting that God has given us and why. That made me want to see God’s creation that have received gifts from Him flourish and pour into others. It made me want to
the church now and where is it located? Kim Burrell: It is called Love & Liberty Fellowship Church. Our motto is, “Where we are building each other to build God’s kingdom”. It is located at 16730 Hedgecroft Dr., Houston, Texas 77060. Services are every Sunday at 4:00 PM. K.I.M.: What made you choose PM?
step out as a leader. See there are a lot of leaders who have different motives. I have not experienced a leader yet that has been driven to see people become all that God wants them to be. I feel like I am that kind of person. I am that kind of leader. I am no micromanager. I yearn to see God’s creation completely bloom into why he created them. My interest in God is what keep’s me from people with bad personalities, idiosyncrasies, and shortcomings. It gives me patience to know that there is no way you can be created by such a creative God and not have flaws when we were born into sin and shaped in iniquity. How can I not forgive? I have my own flaws. My job is to help remind you of the greatness of God in you so when you get done living this life, you can return back to the one who created you. That’s where I stand.
Kim Burrell: The area where we are was so violent that it’s called Gun’s Point. We are right in the business industrial area. This area is known to have a lot of killings and violence. Most churches have 8 am or 11am services. I figured that for the people in this area that are clubbers, the gangbangers, and the dope dealers and whoever else is hanging out all night just might feel bad about the damage they have done. By Sunday, they may want to wake up and come to church. They can shake it off by noon and come to church at four. People that live outside of God’s covering eventually come to themselves later. That is why you have a lot of people in prison that find God in there. When they do come to themselves, they need to be able to find someone who had to come to themselves as well. There is nothing like feeling like the worst person in the world, only to find out that you are not. Therefore, my mission is to spread the love.
To find out more about Kim Burrell’s music and ministry, please visit www.kbcrew.net
K.I.M.: Now what’s the name of
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
Let us help us you get your message out! info@kimmagazine.com K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011
23
K.I.M. K E E P I T M OV I N G
Magazine ROAD TO REDEMPTION
A YOUNG MAN’S JOURNEY TO MANHOOD
More Than A Joke
THOMAS MILES aka NEPHEW TOMMY Tells All
6 Ways
May/June 2011
To Stop The Stress
KIM BURRELL Spreads The Love
EDUCATE * EMPOWER * ENTERTAIN
Joe Torry
www.kimmagazine.com 24 Complimentary Issue
KeKe Wyatt
Noel Gourdin
K.I.M. Magazine May/June 2011