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     This is not quite a confession, I am naming no names [I'm Baptist, anyway] and I’ve never considered myself a chick magnet, just thought it would be a clever title. However you perceive us front men/vocalists to be, there are numerous dimensions to what we do. At various times during performances, I have played the role of cop, healer, messenger, sage, catcher of falling bodies, even designated driver. I have also been jostled, grabbed, had my own microphone shoved damn near through my face by some drunken woman who wanted to have a moment, and challenged to fights by guys who want to flex beer muscles [lol]. I do not react in the way some feel that I should, but my thing is, if you violate me and my space, I will let you know. In my world, it isn’t part of the deal, despite what some say.

      I am not here to complain about the best part-time job I’ve ever had, singing, one of my passions, for a very popular Connecticut-based R&B Dance band, as well as my own 3-5 piece R&B/Jazz band. I get to do what I love, and though it is a tough grind, the joy is immeasurable. For me, the bottom line is the craft, the art, the work, the respect of your peers and the appreciation of the people, and the appreciation is shown is various ways, if you feel me, which speaking of feeling me, seems to happen quite often. Some of these ladies are very touch-feely, and for the most part, I do not complain, I do enjoy it, I must admit. With one band, dancing with the ladies is a small part of our performance thing, so due to the close contact with the public, a scenario or two can develop. I witnessed a Brazilian beauty spanking a Latino woman one night, playfully I might add, but the brazenness of the whole thing was crazy. I did the ‘Rick James’ to a lady one show, sarcastically demanding, ‘Show me your titties!’ .To my surprise, she whipped them out I do not make that request often, only when I wear my beaded Rick wig, and nowadays, it’s a big joke. I don’t want to press my luck.

     For a club gig with my band, the atmosphere is very different, in part because jazz and the smooth groove lend itself to a different set of behaviors. People tend to be a little more laid-back, and this project is more for the listeners, although we can make them dance if need be. There is a sophistication that comes with the type of music we play, classic ballads, standards, swing, 70’s soul, etc. People who have heard both bands tell me that I’m a completely different vocalist for both bands. And it’s a different mindset, as I’ve said. I don’t do much dancing, for sure; it’s all about my vocal interpretations of great songs, backed by a very talented rhythm section. It is more of a storytelling type of flow, with the audience getting to know me a little bit, and in turn, they get to know a little about the songs we do.

    The attention we get is a built-in dynamic of the biz. People are drawn to entertainers, women dig lead singers, and as Eddie Murphy said, ‘Singers get pussy’. Crude, you might say, but true. I recall a woman who was interested in yours truly, and when I told her that I was seeing someone, she set her sights on another band member. Recently, a young lady was trying to give it up to both lead singers, she didn’t get none here, because I saw what was happening in this case, as she was trying to play one against the other. I flirted with her, as I do with many ladies that follow us, but as with many cases, she was the initiator. I do not compete with band mates for attention from the ladies, I don’t have that kind of insecurity, and for me it’s all about the music. Truth be told, I’m used to attention, but not on this scale. My age and maturity have helped me navigate through this maze, and to be real, I’m too old for the bullshit. It is about handling situations that arise. For example, a cute, busty, but highly intoxicated woman attempted to undress me while I was executing a song, to the point of putting her hands in my pants, while telling me that she wanted to have sex with me. I ‘calmly’ told her that I couldn’t help her, because I was working, but I told her to see me when she sobered up, my way of checking her ‘realness’ meter. Next time I saw her, she remembered that wild night, but that’s where it ended.

    I tell that story to illustrate the reality I deal with in this profession. Whenever someone tell me that the ladies love me, my response is yes, it’s flattering and all, but, they love me between the hours of 9pm and 1am. After 1o’clock, they’re done, in other words, I don’t get caught up.

    I suspect that the ‘chick magnet’ thing stems from the fact that I am 6 foot 2 and 195 pounds, and I guess people are drawn to that. Again, I don’t get caught up, because I know how far I’ve come. I am extremely fortunate to be able to ply my craft, and I will continue to do so, God willing, in the face of all adversity. I love my job, I love the audience, and the love we get from the public, but the most important love is the love for the music. There is no greater love, other than the love of God, family, and friends. That is my confession.

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