CAT BEAR

Song by: Sam Smith
Song written by: Sam Smith
Intro by: Gail Nobles
Photo: pitpony.photography - Own
Usage: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
“Diamonds" is a song by English singer Sam Smith, released through Capitol Records on the 18th of September 2020 as the second single from their third studio album, Love Goes. The song was written by Sam Smith with its producers Shellback and Oscar Görres. A remix of the song by English DJ Joel Corry and an acoustic version were released on the 9th of October 2020. The song’s peak position was #39 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
I like the beat of the song and it's bass. It's a good song to dance to. I also like the sound of the guitar. The song Diamonds peaked at number one on the US Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart.
I’m Gail Nobles and you’re listening to The Cat Bear.

Podcast vocals: By Gail Nobles
Aaliyah wasn't the only one that died in a plane crash in 2001. I remember another singer being pronounced dead in a plane crash in 2001 named Melanie Thornton. She sang the song titled Love How You Love Me. On the night of November 24, 2001. Thornton was one of the 24 people who died in the plane crash of Crossair Flight 3597 near Zürich Switzerland at the age of 34.
The main cause of the accident was the Captain descending the plane too early causing it to crash into a forest area when it got too close to the ground. Thornton had given a performance in Leipzig and two hours later she took the flight from Berlin to Zürich for upcoming radio and TV appearances (among others, the broadcast Die Bar on TV3, which was cancelled) to promote her new single "Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)" (a Christmas ballad recorded for a German Coca-Cola TV commercial) and her album Ready to Fly. Thornton was laid to final rest in her native South Carolina, at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, in Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina.
Melanie Thornton was the lead singer of the Eurodance group La Bouche from 1994 to 2000, alongside American rapper and backing vocalist Lane McCray. Their two most successful singles, "Sweet Dreams" and "Be My Lover", were released in 1994 and 1995 respectively. After leaving the group, Thornton began a solo career and found success primarily in European countries before her death in 2001. Her solo songs include "Love How You Love Me", "Heartbeat", "Makin' Oooh Oooh (Talking About Love)" and "Wonderful Dream (Holidays are Coming)".
I’m Gail Nobles. You’re listening to The Cat Bear. Today’s topic: Melanie Thornton. Rest In Peace.

Song: Great Big Gap
Song by: Noel McKoy
Photo credit: Iquo E
Usage: CC BY-ND 2.0
https://flic.kr/p/G6ZGN
Keyboardist: Gail Nobles
Podcast vocals: Gail Nobles
Today’s topic is Noel McKoy.
I got an email from Fitz Roy of Soul Survivors Magazine that the Fitzroy’s Soul Survivors Show was giving a 2 hour homage to Noel McKoy who sadly passed away last week.
Noel McKoy was. British Soul Music singer. His music was a collection of soul, gospel, funk, and Northern Soul. The example I gave of one of his songs is entitled Great Big Gap from his album Brighter Day. Sometimes he reminds me of Motown, and sometimes Sam Cooke, and sometimes Curtis Mayfield. McKoy cited his influences as the Beatles, Dennis Brown, Chaka Khan, Marin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela.
His album, Brighter Day, was released in 2009 on soul label Tri-Sound.
His first album, Full Circle – Within A Social Soul was released in 1993, followed four years later by Mind Is the Keeper.
In 1998, he owned his own record label, Right Track Records, and released his third album, Please Take This Personal.
Brighter Day was his fourth Solo album of 2009.
To hear the homage to Noel McKoy from Fitzroy Soul Survivor Show go to Mixcloud.com/fitzroyfacey7/ .....And you can check out Noel McKoy’s Song Great Big Gap on Spotify.
I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you for tuning in.

Story: Vel Omarr
Info from: Vel Omarr's Bio
Songs by: Vel Omarr
Title Tracks: 1. How Can I Make You Mine
2. Hurry Back Home
3. If I Should Get to Heaven
4. The Power of Your Love
PERMISSION to play songs: Vel Omarr
Photo credit: Vel Omarr
Good morning everyone! It's time for some good old fashioned love songs. Coming up next Vel Omarr.
Vel Omarr, according to his bio, was born in Mississippi Delta. His mother moved to Chicago in search of better things. Vel remained in Mississippi with his grandparents. He attended church on Sundays and recalls traveling to neighboring towns participating in or sometimes observing the "Gospel Fests".
At the age of eight, Vel moved to Chicago and reunited with his mother. The first song he heard on the radio as the train pulled into the station was "You Send Me", by Sam Cooke. Vel discovered his love for singing at the age of 14, and upon graduating, he decided to entertain the idea of singing as a way of life. In the early 1970s, Vel boarded a plane bound for Los Angeles to reposition himself, focus, and to pursue his dream as an entertainer.
Vel joined the legendary R&B/DooWop group, The Robins, as their second tenor lead singer, for a reunion tour in 1991. In 2003, he joined The Olympics as one of their lead singers and has performed alongside other legendary artists like Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Penguins, The Coasters, Gene Chandler, The Flamingos, Zola Taylor of the Platters, and many more.
As a singer in Brenton Woods Sweet Old School Revue, Vel has also opened for and appeared with such legendary greats as James Brown, Etta James, and Little Richard just to name a few.
As a solo artist, he released an independently-released CD in 2001 called "Vel Omarr Sings Sam Cooke & More", which was inevitable since nobody can sound like Sam Cooke as well as Omarr. In 2008 he self-released the fantastic LP "How Can I Make You Mine". Two tracks, "Lover's De Ja Vu" "Stay Where You Are" featuring The Legendary Olympics who he is also the lead singer of.
Vel Omar is still singing and making music. Though he sings like Sam Cooke and credits him as his influence, Omarr is set to establish himself as an individual artist who just happens to bring back the spirit of Sam Cooke.
This morning Mr. Vel Omarr sent me some music for you to hear. I'm going to play a little bit of each song. You might also like to subscribe to Vel's YouTube Channel. Just look up Vel Omarr's "Soul Trilogy" _ Like and Subscribe. And to learn more about him, you can go to his website at Vel-omarr.com
Let's begin now with the first song, "How Can I Make You Mine" ...... (music)
Vel Omar, How Can I Make You Mine. You can get a copy of that at Amazon.com Also at iTunes, and Spotify.
Now, let's hear a little bit of the next song titled "Hurry Back Home" ... (music)
Yes, beautiful song. Get your copy today. I'm feeling the spirit of Sam Cooke as if he never left through Vel Omar. Now, lets hear other one of his songs titled "If I Should Get To Heaven". (music)
Oh Boy! Vel Omarr, "If I Should Get To Heaven" Get Your copy today!
There is one more song by Vel and it's titled "The Power of Your Love" (music)
Did you enjoy that? I love all of Vel Omarr's songs. If you would like a copy of his songs, don't forget to go to iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. I'm Gail Nobles, and you have been listening to the sounds of a new retro. Today's topic - Vel Omar. Goodbye friends!

Martin Luther King Quote: Martin Luther King
Speech: I've Been to the Mountaintop
Song Title: Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
Song by: McFadden and Whitehead
Keyboard music: Gail Nobles
Podcast vocals: Gail Nobles
Actor: Gail Nobles
Photo credit: By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28092659
Hello Everyone! Today's song for topic is "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden and Whitehead. I remember hearing that song on an AM station. The only AM station I remember that played soul music the most was a station called Magic 1380. But I'm not sure if that's the station I first heard the song. But I want to say Magic 1380. Regardless of the noise and buzz and interference, sometimes AM stations played the best songs and sometimes they were quite clear.
When I first heard the McFadden and Whitehead song, the radio disc jockey would play what I called a long version of the song. As he played the song, I heard a Martin Luther King speech.
(singing and music) ..
.. I heard the song something like that, and I wish I could have played part of the real Martin Luther King's speech. "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" is a 1979 disco song. The song spent a week at number one on the R&B singles chart. The single also made it to number 10 on the disco charts. It eventually went double platinum selling over 2 million copies.
"Ain't No Stoppin Us Now" is about succeeding despite having faced previous disadvantages (so many things that held us down). It was widely interpreted to be about the experience of the African American community and after attaining popularity, became referred to as the new black national anthem (the original being the 1900 song "Lift Every Voice and Sing")
When I heard "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now", I don't remember a lot of black radio stations. I remember hearing a lot of soul oldies from AM at the time that I heard the song. And I remember McFadden and Whitehead on the radio very clearly because their song was often played.
I'm Gail Nobles and you're listening to Radio History on the Cat Bear.