BOSTON GREATER NEWS/BOSTON PEOPLE'S VOICE CELEBRITY COVERAGE

Here are some of the countless celebrities that I had the pleasure to meet and interview. When I started in this business I never would have guessed that 99%
of them would be so nice. They made my job so easy. And I would be remiss if I did not mention that they all treated the newspapers that I worked for, The
Boston Greater News and The Boston People's Voice, with a very high level of respect. I would like to mention the people responsible for actually taking these
photographs. Jay Scott is the photographer of most of these photos. And not only is Jay the best photographer I have had to priviledge to work with, he is also
the best guitarist I've ever seen play. He was always ready to snap the perfect shot at the right time. Thanks to Barbara, Cliff and anyone else who helped me
freeze a moment in time.

Donna Summer told me that people used to pronounce her last name as "Sumpter" by mistake. So she was glad to actually meet a real Sumpter. Not as glad as I was Donna!	The Oscar nominated Queen Latifah held court with me. A true multi talanted artist.
Well, what can I say. It's Smokey Robinson. A legend. I was only truly in awe on a couple of occasions, this was one.!! I mean, damn. it's Smokey!!!	Simply the most fun I ever had interviewing anyone was time time I sat down with the imcomparble Barry White.
Jody Whatley was had success in the 70's (with Shalamar) and in the 80's as a solo artist. She actually won the Grammy award for best new artist in the 80's despite being a member of Shalamar for close to ten years. But she had to admit that being on her own was even more satisfying because it was her songs, her ideas and she was giving herself to the world	Remember the talented family? The Jets scored several big hits in the 80's. I'll always remember that they were all so happy to be on the radio. They had achieved local success but were just blown away by the amount of fans they had gained on the world wide stage.
Yes, it is true, I met the very beautiful and very talented Vanessa Williams. This photo was taken as she celebrated the sucess of her first album "The Right Stuff". Vanessa's career had been what most thought completely ruined over the Penthouse photos scandal. But in the end Vanessa had two redeeming qualities that could not be denied: BIG TIME TALENT and DRIVE!!	I worked on a great but short lived cable program named "Soundcheck". This live music/interview/ entertainment news show was a great experience which allowed me to report from many events in Beantown. Here I am interviewing Ralph Tresvant at the Boston Music Awards .
This is my KISS Concert special!! Before the Tweeter Center and Great Woods, the annual KISS concerts were held at the old Boston Garden. There I met Gregory Abbott (top left) of "Shake You Down" fame (oh by the way, he was married to Freda Payne for you 70's folks), the legendary Sunny Jo White (top right), who simply put the D in dance in Boston at WILD and WXKS and Ray Parker Jr. (Bottom) of "Ghostbusters" and Raydio fame.	No, no I just did not take pictures with the stars, I was a writer as well. Here is a copy one of many interviews. This one is with the Godfather Of Funk George Clinton. I spent three hours with George along with our staff photogragher, Jay Scott, and boy, did George keep us in stiches. He had many tales to tell.
I attended a Red Sox function in the mid 90's that turned into an impromtu "Hot Stove" question and answer session. I got to ask Sox Gm Dan Duquette if Roger Clemmens could actually end up a closer for the Sox as his career was widing down. Boy, I know neither the Duke nor I would have ever guessed that Roger would 1) leave Boston for Toronto where he'd win two more Cy Young Awards and then, 2) go on to the dreaded Yankees and then win two World Series Championships as a Yankee. Also in attendance was Mo Vaughn and Johnny Pesky, representing the Sox's past and what we thought would be part of it's future. But, alas, Mo left us for the Angel and now the Mets. He left his mark here and continues to support to communities of Massachusetts.	Any guess who this group is? They had monster hits in the 80's. Remember "Call Me", "High" and the party anthem "Skyzoo"? That's right, it's SKYY. I'm sitting on the far right with the producer of SoundCheck, Sharon Hinton next to me and the band next to her. We interviewed Skyy for her program.
Here's an great 80's shot. Me, along with WILD and Fox Sports' Coach Willie Maye and Boston Red Sox great Jim Rice. This photo was taken at the Metro, now Avalon. Big Jim had to be the quietest superstar this city ever produced. The guy simply did not "hang out" much. He was my favorite player so when I got word that he was going to be at this event, I went there hoping to meet this rather private Red Sox great. And what do you know, he was great. He spoke with me and took the time for this photo. Then simply went back to doing what he did best, dominate American Leauge pitchers.	The word entertainer is not used as much as in the past. And with good reason, they are a dying breed. In the 80's there was one entertainer that no one could argue about: Gregory Hines. He acted, "Cotton Club", "Running Scared" and "White Nights". He danced on Broadway to tremendous acclaim and success. And he sang. In town to promote his big hit with Luther Vandross, "There's Nothing Better Than Love", I met the brillant Gregory Hines.
KC Jones coached the Boston Celtics to two NBA Championships in five exciting years in the 80's. And remember KC had a "few" rings prior to that as a player with the Celtics in the 60's. Whenever I attended a Celtics practice I was always amazed how serious they were. I mean these guys were the best so why all the tension? But there is the answer: they were the best.	Sometimes you meet a singer who deserved a better fate. This guy was so nice, so cool, so funny that I always felt that he would be real big. But at least his only hit was a memorable one. Here I am with 80's star "Orange Juice" Jones. His hit "In The Rain" was great and funny. Remember "tricks are for kids!!"
I love this photo because it has I funny story behind it. I attended a Boston Celtics practice in 1986 and as the practiced ended I did what anyone who loves basketball would do. I took off my shoes grabbed a basketball and took a few shots on the famed "parquet floor"!! No one seemed to mind but then Bill Walton walked up to me and said, "Ten bucks says you miss." I was at the free throw line at the time. So I bounced the ball three times, set, bent my knees, extented my arms and beautifully released the ball at the basket. And------missed everything!! I mean I missed the basket, the net, the backboard, everything. An Air Ball. Bill just started laughing and walked away. That's him in the background. And there I am disgusted at myself. I guess I made one good decision that day--leaving basketball to the pros.	Before they had the No. 1 song in the country with "More than Words", I interviewed Extreme for Soundcheck. That's Nuno Bettoncourt (L) and Gary Cherone (far right) and the boys at the Boston Music Awards. Gary would, of course, go on to be the front man for another legendary band, Van Halen, but on this night Boston celebrated Extreme's early successes. Great time. Great time.
This artist had several big hits in the 80's. It's New England's own Kasif. As well as producing stars, he scored with "Help Yourself To My Love" and "I Just Wanna Love You".and	I love music!!!!! All music. And one of my favorite bands is the Allman Brothers band. They have done their part in keeping the blues/rock sound alive and well for over 30 years. I was honored to sit down with a man who has been there every step of the way. Jaimoe granted me an exclusive interview at the band's Great Woods show in 1992. As one of the two drummers in the Allaman Brothers band, Jaimoe, even today plays with the energy of someone new to the band.
Evelyn "Champagne" King was he first lady of dance in my Dorchester neighborhood of Calender and Oakhurst Streets, Woodrow and Jones Avenues. Boy, was life and the times different then. Anyway, I told Ms. King that with songs like "Shame", "Love Come Down" and "I'm In Love", "Betcha He Don't Love You" were major parts of the sountrack of my ole neighborhood.	Here I am with the woman who I personally consider to posess one of the most gifted voices I have ever heard: Ms Natalie Cole.