Wanda's Picks: Anthony Brooks, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes

Anthony Brooks, known as Tony, hails from our nation’s capitol. Tony, as the late legendary Harold Melvin, keeps the smoothness there. His smooth dance style and voice complements the Baritone vocals of Donnell. Tony, along with Donnell Gillespie, Rufus Thorne, Jr., & John Morris will perform Wed., Sept.19-Sun., Sept. 23, at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. He says about special moments on stage, that a recent one was when Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes performed at President’s Obama’s Red, White and Blue Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC in January 2009! His favorite Blue Note song is the group's signature work, the song used in President’s Obama’s campaign, “Wake Up Everybody.” "My favorite time of the year is spring; it reminds me of the new beginnings and the work of the One who created the earth. Besides singing, I frequently workout. I love performing with the Blue Notes and working out keeps me in tune with the group. Given the opportunity to make a change in this world, I would change the education system and make it possible for everyone to get a good education. At no cost to the student, it would also include a minimum of four years of college."We close with storyteller Carolyn Alexander, who will share a story about Haiti.  We had to reschedule for another time. Instead we play an interview from Nov. 2010 with Rev. Liza Rankow, One Life Institute & Rev. Dorsey Blake, pastor at the Church for the Fellowship of All People, the Howard Thurman Church in San Franscisco.They talk about a new compilation of a CD set of Dr. Thurman's work.