Headlined Guests
Headlined Guests that have appeared on BBS Radio TV
Amelia Callie Teschner
13 year old singer/songwriter Amelia Callie Teschner started as the lead singer of the band Shattered Records at just 9 years old and continues to perform with the band at numerous venues including the Hard Rock Cafe, The Grove , The El Rey and at Los Angeles’ Night on Broadway. Amelia has studied at the Los Angeles Conservatory and continues to study with prominent teachers.
Amelia plays the piano, bass, guitar and ukulele but her favorite instrument is her voice. She wrote a song for the Orlando shooting victims titled “Me” about being free to be yourself. She sings in her school’s show choir and spends her free time writing songs and volunteering at LA Family Housing.
LISA MARIE WILSON
Lisa Marie Wilson is a writer, actress, and producer who was born in Michigan but currently resides in Los Angeles. Her first novel, Traveling Daisy, A Generational Cancer Story of Disease and Dysfunction, explores the question, “Did I cause my own cancer?” Her second novel, Dating for Dinner, Ordering Love, is about the dating scene in Los Angeles. She is currently writing her 3rd book, Love Letters From a Pickle Factory about her father who was an Elvis impersonator.” Lisa’s articles about cancer and dating can be found on the Huffington Post.
As an actress she has appeared on Ten Things I Hate About You, The Young and the Restless and Port Charles as well as many independent features and national commercials. Lisa wrote, acted in, and produced the TV pilot Over The Hills starring Robert Wagner and Tim Conway about struggling senior actors who create a reality show. She also produces music videos, industrials, short films, documentaries and commercials. She is the proud mom to her daughter Amelia who is a singer/songwriter.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Alan C. Lowe obtained his B.A. (1986) and M.A. (1988) in history at the University of Kentucky. In 1989, Lowe joined the staff of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California as an archivist. In 1992, he moved to the Office of Presidential Libraries at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, D.C. In the Office of Presidential Libraries, Lowe helped to oversee the many Presidential libraries located throughout the nation administered by NARA. During part of this time, he also served as interim Director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York.
From 2003 to 2009, Lowe served as the founding Executive Director of the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee. In that capacity, he created a host of public, educational, and research programs to increase civic engagement and promote a better understanding of policy issues. He also oversaw the completion of a facility for the Baker Center on the University of Tennessee campus.
From 2009 to 2016, Lowe served as founding Director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. In that role, he managed all aspects of the Library and Museum’s operations, and was part of the team that oversaw the design and construction of the new Bush Library and Museum facility on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
In July 2016, Lowe was appointed as Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. He oversees all elements of that agency’s operations, all with the mission of perpetuating and learning from the enduring legacy of President Lincoln and the rich history of Illinois.
Lowe was appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner as a General Trustee of the Lincoln Academy in 2017. He serves on the Boards of the Central Illinois Foodbank and the Illinois Association of Museums. He is a commissioner on the Illinois Bicentennial Commission
Lowe is a native of Bourbon County, Kentucky. He and his wife, Kathy, and daughter, Carolyn, reside in Chatham, Illinois.
Tisch is a New York based Astrologer with over a decade of experience. Based on your birthday, year, time, and place, Tisch looks at the current trends in your life. She provides time frames and dates for upcoming love, career, personal, and financial cycles. It is a great tool to maximize dates and make the most of your lucky cycles and transits. It is also useful to prepare and master the lessons from the more challenging cycles.
Jill Lublin is an international speaker on the topics of Radical Influence, Publicity, Networking, kindness and Referrals. She is the author of 4 Best Selling books including Get Noticed...Get Referrals (McGraw Hill) and co-author of Guerrilla Publicity and Networking Magic. Her latest book, Profit of Kindness went #1 in four categories. Jill is a master strategist on how to position your business for more profitability and more visibility in the market place.
She is CEO of a strategic consulting firm and has over 20 years experience working with over 100,000 people plus national and international media. Jill teaches Publicity Crash Courses as both live events and live webinars and consults and speaks all over the world.
Chase earned her Master Trainer, Master Instructor title while employed with the Department of Defense. Armed with a Bio-mechanical Engineer accreditation, she was responsible for designing specialized programs and the supervision of complete success regarding Force Readiness, unique mission responsibilities and Elite Force Protection. This was achieved by understanding the goals and requirements placed on physical and mental strength assignments that are demanded and expected for today’s Active Duty members and civilian anti-terrorist units. This includes assignments with Homeland Security and Private Sector Security Forces.
Schooled and certified as a Private Investigator, Chase consistently demonstrates the knowledge, technical requirements, legal parameters and the commitment to evidence based investigations using the latest technologies and methodologies deployed by professional Law Enforcement Officials in a modern and forward moving scientific environment.
She joined the Mutual UFO Network in 1996 and was selected as The Star Team Manager and Deputy Director of Investigations through 2011. She was responsible for the program design, protocols and investigation procedures for a national rapid response unit. This position included supervision of the most experienced investigators and access to the most sensitive and complex cases reported to MUFON. As of today, Chase leads the “Special Assignment Team” of experienced and specialized investigators in MUFON, responding to the reports that need specific and thorough attention. As an International CAG investigator, Chase focuses her attention on National UFO cases reported in Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Central America.
In November of 2016, Chase became a registered and official LOBBYIST for the UFO Field. This goal was realized through a progressive understanding that to truly influence change and offer a knowledgeable commentary on the realities of the UFO phenomenon, we must include our Nation’s elected and the very people that are trusted as our Lawmakers. Her efforts will focus on document declassification and an Ombudsman role for witnesses and those most effected by unknown technologies. This is done through “THE FIELD REPORTS: A Science and Technology Investigation Group.
Chase continues to be an active investigator, responding to reports and international cases. She has an extensive history in the field of Ufology and a diverse investigation background that includes MUFON Field reports to Ancient artifacts as demonstrated by her study and “hands on” forensic contributions to the Elongated Skulls and The Star Child Skull, in which she maintains the Lead investigator. The “evidence” available in UFO events remains the focus as she keeps the standards high and the ethical aptitude in all she does. There is NO compromise when the truth is at stake.
Chase is an Author of two popular books; “Admissible” The Field Investigators Manual with Richard Dolan & the first of its kind Children’s book, “Are Aliens Really Real?”. Both can be found on Amazon.com.
In her most recent TV appearance with Rob Lowe, Chase lends her expertise to the investigation of the Alleged Malibu Underwater Alien Base. The episode can be found at A&E On Demand.
Chase has been featured with Josh Gates on Expedition Unknown on the Travel Channel.
She and Josh investigate a breaking case for MUFON at the Board Camp Crystal Mine in Mena, Arkansas. The video evidence that was captured has made headlines!
My name is Michelle Jacobik and I’m a Financial Coach/Mentor.
My goal is to hel families & individuals stop living paycheck to paycheck and to start living the life they dream of!
'R A S C A L S' LEGEND
AND
ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAMER
F E L I X
C A V A L I E R E
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF MUSIC
The message has always been to stand for peace, love, and happiness. For legendary singer songwriter, FELIX CAVALIERE, making people feel good is primary to his illustrious 50-year career that includes the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriter Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and Grammy Hall of Fame. Few artists can claim they defined a generation; FELIX CAVALIERE continues to remind us to keep listening for the world’s beauty.
The classically trained pianist, born in Pelham, New York, idolized Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, and Sam Cook. FELIX CAVALIERE embraced the Hammond Organ and pioneered a fresh, rock and roll sound. Upon leaving Syracuse University to form the Escorts and become a backup musician for Joe Dee and the Starliters and later Sandy Scott, who knew that his legendary next stop would be the beginning of an illustrious hall of fame career.
Early in 1965, FELIX CAVALIERE formed the ‘Young Rascals’ with Dino Danelli, Eddie Brigati, and Gene Cornish. That October, they caught the attention of promoter/manager Sid Bernstein with their high-energy set at Long Island’s elite club, Barge. Signed to Atlantic Records, and now called The Rascals, the mega hit “Good Lovin’” struck No. 1 in February 1966. They followed suit with a string of hits like “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “Groovin’ (No. 1 in 1967), “How Can I Be Sure,” “A Girl Like You,” “A Beautiful Morning,” and “People Got to Be Free” (No. 1 in 1968). The Rascals are considered the best ‘blue-eyed soul’ group to come out of the 1960s, as well as one of the groups with the most record sales.
By the early 70s, The Rascals experimented with more jazz-influenced sounds, and moved to Columbia Records. The Rascals disbanded in 1972. FELIX CAVALIERE’s solo career thrived during this decade. He released his self-titled debut album with Todd Rundgren at the producer helm. His follow-up albums were Destiny (1974), Castles in the Air (1979) (Castle in the Air produced another Top 40 hit – “Only a Heart Sees” reached No. 2), Dreams in Motion (1994) and in 2008 he collaborated with Stax guitar legend, Steve Crooper, on the Grammy-nominated Nudge it Up a Notch and again in 2010 with Midnight Flyer.
FELIX CAVALIERE calls Nashville home base, where he is constantly collaborating and writing new material. He’s also finishing his memoir and has an active tour schedule with FELIX CAVALIERE’S RASCALS. Visit FELIXCAVALIEREMUSIC.COM.
Some people may not realize it, but The Rascals were the first rock band in the world — Steven Van Zandt
18 Top 40 Hits
5 Top 10 Hits
3 No. 1 Mega Hits
Hits include "Groovin'," "Good Lovin'," "Beautiful Morning," "How Can I Be Sure," and "People Got to Be Free."
Felix Cavaliere is The King of Blue Eyed Soul. His songs helped define a generation. He is a member of…
The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame
Grammy Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
For more information about Felix Cavaliere and the Rascals visit
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felixcavalieresrascals
And Twitter: https://twitter.com/FelixCavaliere
7 Secrets to a Profitable Profile-Get LinkedIn or be Left Out! Rhonda Sher is a published author, keynote speaker and business development consultant specializing in LinkedIn training, consulting, profile makeovers and business networking. Rhonda brings a wealth of practical, real-life expertise and presence into every consulting, coaching and speaking relationship. Having over 20 years of experience in an array of industries including law, insurance, direct sales and training, Rhonda’s philosophy is that you cannot teach what you have not practiced and learned firsthand, and her mission is to make a positive difference in the success of small business owners, entrepreneurs, CEO’s and those who run non-profit organizations. Rhonda’s clients choose her because they want to fill their businesses and practices with qualified prospects and referrals, and eliminate cold calling. Organizations have been calling on Rhonda since 2003 to help them get the right strategies to build a pipeline of prospects and referrals and leverage their base of loyal clients. Using powerful marketing strategies, Rhonda assists her clients in creating more revenue with less effort using the power of LinkedIn. She knows that by taking daily action one small step at a time large changes can occur.
Johanna facilitates transformative group work, providing solutions for the emotional patterns we all inherit from our families. She is committed to resolving the painful patterns that live out from generation to generation. Like a detective, she listens to the facts of your family history, down to the words you use to describe your challenges. These clues lead her directly to the most effective resolution for you. The intention in her work is to contribute to world peace, one family at a time.
Belle Crow duCray, BFA, grew up in the Tennessee Valley foothills creating art and dreaming of illustrating children’s books. She has always believed that what we can imagine we can create. Design is in Belle's lineage. She wishes to inspire passion for creativity and joy to children of all ages. She has illustrated seven award winning children’s books, which have won over 20 awards. She has also illustrated three books for adult audiences. Legends of the Grail: Stories of Celtic Goddesses recently won the Anthology Division of the London Book Festival. For queries contact:
belleducray@gmail.com
You can also find her on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/belle.ducray
SKIP HELLER
JILL GATSBY
Jill Gatsby just so happens to be a political translator for the most important entity in this entire solar system! She works for #YourMutha at “earthspeaksout” where she has animated the planet and given her a voice that’s a mix between Jason Alexander and Phyllis Diller.
#BadMutha is the latest music video Jill Gatsby produced for Earth Speaks Out, where she is playing a #BADMUTHA with co-star, her son, Gabriel Gocobachi!
Jill is one of the founders of The Sanford Meisner Center For The Arts and worked with Mr. Sanford Meisner for seven years in New York, Bequia and Los Angeles. She is also the founder of the SuperCellular Music, Science and Arts Program that is currently in development here in Los Angeles.
Jill Gatsby has been doing comedy since she came out of the womb and then continued on to the world famous Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd all the way back in 1886. I’m sorry. 1996. She really looks great for her age! These days she’s doing her stand up comedy on YOUTUBE and FACEBOOK LIVE when she’s got the time off from building content for SuperCellular.
Some of her comedic work includes writing both the one-man show & feature film, “Holyman Undercover” starring David White, Fred Willard and Pauli Shore. She’s also acted in a couple of very funny Henry Jaglom films with Tanna Fredrick, and she’s died in 6 bad horror films! Finally, she is rekindling her coma of a career by portraying YOUR liver as an adorable and relatable organ everyone wants to learn from! Meet Little Liver!
Jill is also an artist of recycled bottles and did an art installation last year in 2017 at the BEQUINOX ART FESTIVAL with her BELIEVE BOTTLE ART INSTALLATION where she transforms bottles headed for landfills into gorgeous LED Lighting systems that resemble alien oceans.
Visit Jill Gatsby on Facebook or look For FRESH MORNING NEWS on how to live with a sense of humor and love your Electrons … because face it, you can’t live without ‘em!
GABRIEL GOCOBACHI
Gabriel Gocobachi created SuperCellular, the first healing micro superhero for kids when he was only 2 ½ years old.
After meeting a young boy at the Woodbridge Park who was very sick, Gabriel came home and declared that the world needed a healing superhero for kids, because the ones that Marvel Comics made didn’t do anything for a rotten cell! LOL
He said the boy told him he had good cells and bad cells inside of him and the good cells had to fight the bad guys. This is how a two-year-old boy came up with the name SuperCellular!
The first book Gabriel made was called THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERCELLULAR and it’s been for sale on Amazon for 8 years now.
The 1st Adventures Of SuperCelular 2008 on Amazon
Over the past 8 years Gabriel has helped to create more books:
SUPER CELLULAR
HEALING MY HEART
FIGHTING CANCER CELLS WITH SUPERCELLULAR
GOING TO SLEEP WITH SUPERCELLULAR
STOPPING A HEADACHE WITH SUPERCELLULAR
COUNTDOWN TO CALM
Gabriel has also created 3 bravery awards for kids to help give them encouragement through tough times.
He’s taken these awards to the City of Hope Children’s Hospital and donated hundreds of them, but he’d like to see these bravery awards in the hands of all kids who have to go to the doctor or to the hospital to get shots or procedures.
Gabriel is currently starting a program at his school to teach other kids about Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and Adobe editing with animation.
Gabriel also co-starred with his mother in #BadMutha The Music Video where he plays an “overexposed” child exploited by his super liberal mother! #BADMUTHA MUSIC VIDEO with Jill Gatsby & Gabriel Gocobachi
DAVE CIPRIANI
Dave Cipriani is a highly accomplished guitarist, songwriter and composer based in Los Angeles who performs on classical, electric, and (20-string) Indian slide guitar.
He has self-produced 3 CD’s and has received awards from the Maryland State Arts Council and the Baltimore Office of Promotions and the Arts. Dave’s diverse background include studies with jazz great Charlie Byrd, classical guitarist Christopher Parkening, sitar master Jai Kishor, and Indian Slide guitar pioneer Pandit Barun Kumar Pal, a senior disciple of Ravi Shankar.
Dave holds an MFA in North Indian Music at California Institute of the Arts, which included studies with Balkan/classical/flamenco guitarist Miroslav Tadic, Indian masters Ustad Aashish Khan and Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, and classical guitarist Stuart Fox.
Dave leads the world fusion band Mahadev, and performs at concert venues and yoga studios in the LA area.
On This Live Broadcast, Dave Cipriani was accompanied by Drummer Chris Payne.
Dave Cipriani’s Personal Statement:
I have been on a constant quest to connect with deep spiritual/music roots while still being in the modern world. I try to find out what makes different aesthetic approaches speak within different musical and cultural systems and then combine them into something new that can still speak to each individual system with depth and authority, while remaining evocative for the musician and listener. On a practical level, this has meant independent study of african and folk music, and studying with masters of jazz, classical guitar, balkan and indian music often at very high levels.
Studying Indian classical has been pivotal to this, even as it has sharpened my relation with non-Indian music. From just a musical point of view, it has broadened the way I hear music, making connections to different styles of music that have hidden roots and connections, opening up new ideas of melody and rhythm. It has certainly also changed my ideas about how music is recorded and transmitted from one musician to another, and its relation to audiences, creativity and spirituality. But more importantly, it has helped to me to learn to listen with my heart on a much deeper level, and made me more interested in music that does seek to speak, rather than obfuscate, the emotions that every human being experiences.
This desire also springs from my years of studying Buddhist meditation, and trying to understand how it relates to creativity. In meditation we seek to be completely honest with ourselves about who we are, warts and all, and to stay present with that, non-aggressively, non-judgmentally, compassionately. This reveals tenderness and brilliance that we all hold as our basic being. This is what I am trying to speak to and reveal to myself and others in the music.
MARK S. SAUER, JR.
Mark Sauer is the Founder & CEO of AllOneWealth, a Socially Responsible & Impact Investment Advisory Firm. AllOne’s mission is to be a vehicle for change – to be the means of transferring money and energy from that which extracts value from our world, to that which creates value and contributes. Mark’s mission is to empower investors, giving them the tools they need to vote with their investment dollars so that we, collectively, can create a more prosperous and sustainable future for our communities and the world.
AllOne does not invest in products associated with alcohol, tobacco, firearms, war related products, gambling products or oil. AllOne utilizes ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) metrics to assist in further identifying socially conscious investment products.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Caitlin, and their fluffy black cat, Mia.
CA Ins. License: OL88386
My name is Russ Baker. For more than two decades I have been an investigative journalist, doing what I believed journalists were supposed to do — seek the truth and publish nothing less. Over the years, however, I have learned how the media gatekeepers, both “mainstream” and “alternative,” will not allow the biggest, most disturbing revelations to see the light of day.
I started WhoWhatWhy because I was tired of the cynicism, self-interest, and cowardice that I witnessed in the news media. I started WhoWhatWhy to show how good — and how consequential — journalism can be when the only mandate is to dig relentlessly, and reveal, without exception, what we uncover.
What we do
WhoWhatWhy embodies a form of investigative reporting that is rigorous, relentless and scientific — we call it forensic journalism.
Forensic journalism requires skepticism towards power and credentialed expertise; a determination to unearth the facts interested parties want to keep hidden; and an unflinching commitment to follow the trail wherever it leads. We are truth seeking-not quote seeking.
We take on controversial topics others will not touch and dig deep to uncover and name the institutions and persons shaping our world. Our organization is neither partisan nor ideological and only provides accounts based on extensive research and thorough sourcing.
In addition to producing rigorous investigative reporting, we seek to further the long-term survival and betterment of the news industry as a whole.
We pair senior reporters who have decades of experience with dedicated young journalists new to the field. We facilitate the transfer of values, methods and culture as our talented and varied investigators shape an improved and adaptive form of journalism to fit our times.
Provide us your ideas
We strongly encourage our readers to join us in our mission. If you know of a news, academic or literary source that relates to one of our stories, tell us about it. If there is a story of interest that hasn’t received coverage or documented facts we are missing, let us know! Consider yourself the media watchdog for the media watchdog.
Donate to Us
We are a non-profit organization. We need readers, supporters and citizens passionate about and committed to strong investigative journalism. Please consider a donation to help us produce the next story.
The People
THE BOARD AND STAFF
WhoWhatWhy is made up of a combination of full-time journalists, expert advisors and other specialists.
Chief Executive Officer and Editor in Chief Russ Baker
Russ Baker is an award-winning investigative reporter with a track record for making sense of complex and little understood matters — and explaining it to elites and ordinary people alike, using entertaining, accessible writing to inform and involve.
Over the course of more than two decades in journalism, Baker has broken scores of major stories. Topics included: early reporting on inaccuracies in the articles of The New York Times’s Judith Miller that built support for the invasion of Iraq; the media campaign to destroy UN chief Kofi Annan and undermine confidence in multilateral solutions; revelations by George Bush’s biographer that as far back as 1999 then-presidential candidate Bush already spoke of wanting to invade Iraq; the real reason Bush was grounded during his National Guard days — as recounted by the widow of the pilot who replaced him; an article published throughout the world that highlighted the West’s lack of resolve to seriously pursue the genocidal fugitive Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, responsible for the largest number of European civilian deaths since World War II; several investigations of allegations by former members concerning the practices of Scientology; corruption in the leadership of the nation’s largest police union; a well-connected humanitarian relief organization operating as a cover for unauthorized US covert intervention abroad; detailed evidence that a powerful congressional critic of Bill Clinton and Al Gore for financial irregularities and personal improprieties had his own track record of far more serious transgressions; a look at the practices and values of top Democratic operative and the clients they represent when out of power in Washington; the murky international interests that fueled both George W. Bush’s and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns; the efficacy of various proposed solutions to the failed war on drugs; the poor-quality televised news program for teens (with lots of advertising) that has quietly seeped into many of America’s public schools; an early exploration of deceptive practices by the credit card industry; a study of ecosystem destruction in Irian Jaya, one of the world’s last substantial rain forests.
Baker has written for The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, The Nation, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Village Voice, Esquire, and dozens of other major domestic and foreign publications. He has also served as a contributing editor to the Columbia Journalism Review. Baker received a 2005 Deadline Club award for his exclusive reporting on George W. Bush’s military record. He is the author of Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, the Powerful Forces That Put It in the White House, and What Their Influence Means for America (Bloomsbury Press, 2009); it was released in paperback as Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, America’s Invisible Government and the Secret History of the Last Fifty Years.
Board of Directors and Their Affiliations
Russ Baker
- Award-winning investigative reporter
- Contributor: The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, The Nation, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Village Voice, Esquire, and dozens of other major domestic and foreign publications
- Contributing editor: Columbia Journalism Review
- Deadline Club Awardee
- Author: Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, the Powerful Forces That Put It in the White House, and What Their Influence Means for America (Bloomsbury Press, 2009); in paperback as Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, America’s Invisible Government and the Secret History of the Last Fifty Years
Dr. John Michael Mooney is the clinical director of Premier Healthcare in Placerville, California. He received the Chiropractor of the Year award, is President of H.E.L.P., an organization that provides shelter and food for people in need and is a member of the Rotary Club. John spent 30 years collecting his favorite quotes while writing them in the margins of his Bible and then handing them out to patients. One Christmas, as a gift, his son compiled all the quotes into a book format. Thus, Treasures in Truth: Quotes to Nourish Your Soul came to be published by Innervisions Publications. John has a bachelor’s degree from Long Beach State University and a Doctorate degree from Pasadena College of Chiropractic.
'M E L A N I E'
S A F K A
SONGWRITER-MUSICIAN
AND
THE VOICE OF A GENERATION
Melanie Safka (Melanie) was once hailed as the female Bob Dylan. Her awe-inspiring lyrical connotations were accompanied by her majestic voice and an acoustic guitar. She was a lone entity onstage but radiated a powerful force that became the voice and spirit to one of the most important generations the world will ever know.
When I asked Melanie how she developed her unique and sensational singing style she said … “I went out to imitate Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf and got it wrong.”
Melanie was born in Queens, New York to a Russian-Ukrainian Father and an Italian Mother. Her musical career began in Greenwich Village and eventfully landed her first recording contract with Columbia Records. She released several singles on the label but retained greater success after signing with Buddah Records.
Her debut album Born to Be (1968) was acclaimed for her independent music styles. It became clear that there was an exciting new singer on the block. In 1969, the single “Bobo’s Party” a track from her debut album reached #1 in France. Her second studio release Affectionately Melanie (1969) spawned the single “Beautiful People,” the song became a Top 10 hit in the Netherlands.
Melanie’s songs began gaining momentum but she was still, for the most part, considered an unknown to the U.S. music scene until August 15th 1969. Melanie was invited to perform at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair held on a dairy farm in Brethel, New York. Her mother drove her to the event. She had been clueless to the size and significance of the concert until she witnessed Sly Stone walking around and Janis Joplin sipping Southern Comfort while being interviewed by reporters. After arriving at the hotel she was separated from her mother and rushed onto a helicopter. While descending towards the stage area, she was in total disbelief over the mass of people attending the three-day event. Melanie shared a tent with folk musician and composer Tim Hardin while she awaited her turn to perform at the most famous concert event in music history.
Several hours later, she was called upon to perform after Ravi Shankar’s set. Melanie was terrified … a lone woman performer with a guitar in front of a half a million people. Without a setlist to guide her, she opened with “Close to It All” followed by “Momma Momma,” “Beautiful People,” “Animal Crackers,” “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Tuning My Guitar,” and concluded with “Birthday of the Sun,” a song she chose simply because it was raining.
Before and during her performance, concert organizers had distributed candles throughout the crowd. The lit candles during her performance while it rained inspired her profound composition, “(Lay Down) Candles in The Rain” (1970 #6 Billboard Hot 100 singles chart). She also inspired the etiquette of raising candles and cigarette lighters at concerts while portraying an audience of fireflies.
After Woodstock, Melanie became the concert festival queen, performing at such outdoor events as The Isle of Wight, Strawberry fields Festival and Glastonbury Festival. She was also asked to perform on numerous Television programs including Dick Cavett, Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson.
“(Lay Dow) Candles in The Rain” was followed by “Peace Will Come (According to Plan)” (#32 Hit),” and her Rolling Stones cover, “Ruby Tuesday” (#52 Hit).
Melanie and husband/ producer Peter Schekeryk formed their own record label called Neighborhood Records in 1971.
Also in 1971, Melanie landed her biggest commercial hit entitled, “Brand New Key” (#1 Billboard Hot 100 singles chart). A song inspired after a stop at a McDonalds fast food restaurant.
Melanie also released “What Have They Done to My Song Ma’” which was also covered by The New Seekers and Ray Charles. The New Seekers also covered “Beautiful People” and “Nickel Song” composed by Melanie.
Melanie set a record for the first female performer to land three simultaneous Top 40 hits … “Brand New Key,” “Ring the Living Bell” and “Nickel Song.”
Melanie was awarded Billboard’s #1 Top Female Vocalist for 1972. She also became a UNISEF Ambassador that same year.
In 1973, Melanie spawned the hit “Bitter Bad” (#36 Billboard Hot 100 singles hit).
In 1989, she won an Emmy Award for writing the lyrics to “The First Time I Loved Forever” the theme song for the TV series 'Beauty and The Beast.'
Melanie’s songs have been covered by countless musicians over the years.
She has sold more than 80- million records to date.
Former Washington, D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt was born on January 30, 1944 in Washington, D.C. Pratt is the daughter of Mildred Petticord and Carlisle Edward Pratt. Pratt graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1961 and earned her B.S. degree in political science in 1965 from Howard University. Pratt attended Howard University Law School where she earned her J.D. degree in 1968.
Pratt served as in-house counsel for the Joint Center for Political Studies from 1970 to 1971. From 1971 to 1976, she worked as an associate for the law firm Pratt & Queen PC. In 1972, Pratt became a law professor at the Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C., and worked there until 1976 when she became the Associate General Counsel for the Potomac Electric Power Company, known as PEPCO. In 1982, Pratt directed the failed mayoral campaign for Patricia Robert Harris. That same year, Pratt married Arrington Dixon, a Democratic Washington, D.C. City Councilman. Pratt was promoted to the Director of Consumer Affairs for the Potomac Electric Power Company in 1979 and then later to Vice President of Consumer Affairs in 1983. In 1988, Pratt announced that she would challenge Mayor Marion Barry in the 1990 mayoral election in Washington, D.C. Pratt was elected Mayor of Washington D.C., the first African American female to hold this position. In 1994, she lost her bid for re-election as mayor to Marion Barry. From 1997 to 2001, Pratt served as the President of @ The Center, a start-up electrical marketplace for Africa. In 2002, Pratt began Pratt Consulting, working with companies and governments developing Homeland Security/Emergency Management Plans. She is also the Executive Vice President for BI Solutions.
Pratt’s past and present board memberships include: the Center For Creative Leadership, the Democratic National Convention, Society for PSP, Emmitsburg St. Mary’s College Board, Opportunity Funding Corporation and a trustee at Howard University. Pratt is also the recipient of the Presidential Award from the NAACP, Glamour magazine’s Woman of the Year Award, the Congressional Black Caucus’ Mary McCleod Bethune-W.E. Dubois Award and the Clean Cities Award.
The Executive Office of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the University of the District of Columbia are launching an Institute of Politics Policy and History. The Founding Director of IPPH will be former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt. MISSION Rediscovering District of Columbia history – and its consequential role in determining contemporary politics and policy.VISION IPPH, housed at the University of the District of Columbia, will encourage constructive, spirited dialogue about tough issues of the day; illuminating these conversations with insights from our city and our nation’s history. The Institute of Politics Policy and History, housed at the University of the District of Columbia, one of the country's oldest HBCUs, will encourage constructive, spirited dialogue around the issues of the day – illuminating these conversations with insights from our city and nation’s history. http://ipph.org/
Pratt is divorced, has two children, Aimee A. Dixon and Drew Willliams, and is also a grandmother.
Pratt was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on July 26, 2007.
