R.I.P. to our greats

I was hurt when I found out about Etta James. I've always ranked her with Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn for me. She was different all the way. I loved At Last -a timeless song that will forever be a love song but my all time favorite is Sunday Kind of Love. Women today should listen to that and ask for the same thing. If a man really wants you and not what's in between your legs, he'll be there the next day and the day after that but that's another blog. Etta James was such a powerhouse.

Today I come into work in a good mood because Russ Parr was playing First of Da Month by Bone Thugs-one of my favorite songs and got a text that made my heart stop for a minute. Don Cornelius, 75, died -committed suicide from a self inflicted gun shot wound to the HEAD? WTH? I was on the phone and gasped. I couldn't believe it. Not only is he dead but it's possibly by his own hand? My mind is literally blown and heart is hurting right now. This is Don Cornelius -the creator of Soul Train, the man who brought the latest dance moves, fashion, and black pride to households. You could make sure your Afro was on point, see your favorite artist and pick out who your favorite dancer was. Now, I'm 29. Soul Train was created 11 years before I was born but I love watching episodes with Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Ojays, Rick James and Teena Marie. I insisted on having a Soul Train  line at my wedding. I think that's a given at any wedding, right? It's really hard to believe that he committed suicide but you never know what was going on.  I really couldn't believe when I heard about Heavy D. He was so full of life with a positive attitude. We are losing so many of our greats. I was trying to think who would be considered a great/legend from my generation. I love Gladys, Chaka, Tina Turner, Patti Labelle, Anita Baker but they are before me. I'm thinking Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Beyonce. I'm not sure about male singers. Before my generation, we had Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, The Isleys, Luther Vandross, Jackie Wilson, The Temptations. We've already lost my all time favorite-Michael Jackson. (Thanksgiving of last year was the first time I saw This is It.) I can't think of any one from my generation that would be considered a legend like that. When I was growing up, we still had a lot of groups (Boys II Men, New Edition, Jodeci, etc.) but I can't really think of any legends. We don't have any Don Cornelius' or any Sam Cookes. Maybe my generation Sam Cookes are hip hop artists like Doug E Fresh, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah?