Re: [Prince-4ever] Backup singer tells why she loves working with the Purple One [myjet247.com]

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Re: [Prince-4ever] Backup singer tells why she loves working with the Purple One [myjet247.com]

he looks so young!

On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 3:02 AM, Jill <prince88@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Thanks PFL....j

"Beautiful lover, friend, I'll never leave you again
You and me, we're sticky like glue"

~Prince 2010~

cTg Homepage!
The ChiTownGeneration Yahoo Group
The ChiTownGeneration MySpace Page
ThePurpleUnderground

--- On Thu, 5/26/11, ~*[[PFL]]*~ <qaidsharif@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: ~*[[PFL]]*~ <qaidsharif@yahoo.com>
Subject: [Prince-4ever] Backup singer tells why she loves working with the Purple One [myjet247.com]
To: "The Live 4 Love Mpls Prince Yahoo! Group" <Live_4_Love_Minneapolis@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Thursday, May 26, 2011, 3:33 PM

ENTERTAINMENT/Take 5: Singer Shelby J

Backup singer tells why she loves working with the Purple One
By // Miki Turner

2011-05-23

Everyone knows that when you want to see a good live show with real music being sung and played that you need to look no further than Prince.

These days the Purple One is performing nearly every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. And as good as he is, every night backup singer Shelby J of NPG (New Power Generation) gives the Grammy winner a run for his money.

She's that tight.

The Greensboro, N.C.-born singer/songwriter talked about her boss, her musical goals and what she likes to do on her off days during an exclusive interview with Jetmag.com.

Q/ What's the coolest part about performing with Prince?

A/ He's very generous with his light. That touches my heart because he doesn't have to be. That's my brother. So, when I'm singing and looking at him we have a connection. Either you have it or you don't when you perform with people. I have so much respect and love for him and I know that he loves me as a sister. It's just real and I'm really thankful to be part of his band and doing what I love to do on this level and learning from him.

Q/ Your bald head makes a bold statement. What prompted you to shave your head?

A/ It was definitely like a rebirth and a cleansing. I just felt like I was really coming into myself and it was a really natural thing for me to do, and it was a healthy thing for me to do. I had done so many things to my hair—you know the things that we do—tugging and pulling and pressing and tacking. I just needed to free myself from all things that weren't natural for me.

Q/ How long have you been with Prince and how did the two of you hook up?

A/ I've been with him since the end of 2006. I was on break from touring with Anthony Hamilton and Santana. I took a gig with Larry Graham and we played at Prince's club in Vegas. That's when Prince saw me perform and that was it. We've just been kind of riding ever since then.

Q/ You've written songs for other people but do you have solo aspirations?

A/ Oh, absolutely! Right now I'm just being like water and flowing with everywhere I'm supposed to be. I have my own band Black Gypsy and we released a CD in 2009 (www.blackgypsy.com. The Shelby J Project is something that's been in the works for a while. I don't have an exact date when it's coming out. The cool thing about that is that they say everything in its rightful time. I just feel like this is the best time for the best of me to be put out there.

Q/ What do you do when you're not performing with Prince and NPG?

A/ Well, I am happy at home in North Carolina tending to my gardens and tending to my bees because I'm also a beekeeper. Everybody in the band loves my honey. I just recently got married in March, so I just like being at home with my family, writing songs and then gearing up for the next round of funk that we put on someone!

Here's Shelby talking about working with Prince: http://www.myjet247.com/Entertainment/Content.aspx?topic=Take_5_Singer_Shelby_J

Peace, Love & Light [& Stay Funky] ...
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFloridaNPG/
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NPG Member 4 Life ... [Live 4 Love]