Blues & BBQ Tribute

Our family will celebrate two of the world's greatest Bluesmen Sunday 9/20 in Maywood, IL. Join us as we celebrate the lives & music of father & som the late Mighty Joe Young Sr. & Jr.

http://mightyjoeyoung.eventbrite.com

What's Goin' On

So much has happened since my last post. My new Internet based Reality Show Act2Reinvent is in the filming stage at last. We are working with a phenomenal young Producer/Director Mihir Desai of Light Box Designs & Film.

The pre-launch blog is up at http://www.act2reinvent.com, so please check us out. It's all about women in their fabulous 40's reinventing themselves.

Meanwhile, I am working with two wonderful web designers on the official show site which we will unveil shortly. It will be complete with an online community where women can share their stories and acccess limitless reinvention resources.

Stay tuned...

Mighty Joe Young, Jr.

Media Contact: Leah Young
Contact: leahunlimited at gmail.com
Date: June 11, 2009
3:00 a.m. CDT
Chicago, IL 60639

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



June 11, 2009 – Mighty Joe Young, Jr. a Chicago Blues notable quietly slipped away from us in the pre-dawn hours after 3:00 a.m. following a harrowing bout with terminal pancreatic cancer. The International Blues Community took two hits in as many weeks with first the legendary Koko Taylor’s passing last week and now Young’s untimely death.

Young was the son of the late Mighty Joe Young, Sr. (Blind Pig Records). His guitar can be heard on his father’s recordings. He shared the stage with the Queen of the Blues herself on more than one occasion, as well as with such powerhouses as Roy Hytower (the root doctor), his renowned father & many others.

Singer, Songwriter, Musician Mighty Joe Young, Jr. began his love affair with the guitar when his older brother Earl realized she wasn’t the girl for him and introduced the siren to his younger brother.

Like his famous father the late Mighty Joe Young, Sr., Joe was a natural and was wed to his music ever since. Flourishing under the tutelage of his father, Joe formed his first band while still in high school.

After marrying and starting a family, Joe traveled around the country with his father performing and honing his chops playing rhythm and lead guitar. His powerful sound has been featured on studio sessions for his late father Mighty Joe Young, Sr. and on varied projects for other artists.

Joe burned up the Chicago blues scene for several decades. Gifted with the phenomenal ability to play music by ear, Joe was at ease playing everything from cool jazz to hot soul, but the melodies of white-hot electric blues fueled his performances.

Joe’s band included some of Chicago’s best musicians who formed the Mighty Joe Young Rhythm & Blues Band. Continuing the family tradition, his own daughters Leah Chanelle & Chontella Renee along with his granddaughters Natalia Renee & LaDonna Chanelle often accompanied him on stage.

Throughout his career Joe headlined many events including the 24th Annual Blues Festival in June 2007. He played such stellar venues as the Isaac Hayes Club, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Famous Dave’s, Koko Taylor’s Celebrity, Blues Etcetera, Frankie’s Blues Room to name a few in the Chicago land area. He also played an assortment of national venues & corporate affairs.

Joseph Young, Jr. was born the second child to the late Mighty Joe Young, Sr. and Lorene Sneed Young in Milwaukee, Wisconsin November 14, 1948. Both parents made their celestial transition before him.

Joseph married in July 1967 to Lavera Levy and was later divorced. There were three children born to their union. Joseph & Lavera remained friends.

Joseph attended Richard Crane High School where he was a good student, but exhibited a much more keen interest in studying music than the three “R’s”. Throughout his youth “Joe Joe” (as he was affectionately called) competed successfully in numerous showcases and talent shows.

In 1999, Joe became a founding member of The Mighty Joe Young Blues Foundation where he served on the Board of Directors until 2002. Each year Joe spearheaded an annual Tribute Show in honor of his late father the legendary Mighty Joe Young, Sr.
Joe worked tirelessly on behalf of his many friends and family, very often forsaking his own needs. Joe impacted many lives positively during his lifetime and will be sorely missed.

Joseph leaves to celebrate his life with saddened hearts his cherished offspring Leah, Chontella (Arthur), Katrina (Jeffrey, Sr.), Joe (Kisha) & Joy; beloved grandchildren Natalia, Ned, LaDonna, Aaron, William, Jeffery, Jamarrion, Jovonte, & Jayla; darling great-grandchildren Nevaeh, Nikyrah, & Nathaniel III; dear siblings Diane, Brenda & Ricky; (Joe’s elder brother Earl transitioned this life before him); esteemed maternal aunt Beatrice; admired sister-in-law Betty; highly-respected step-mother Anne; a host of treasured nieces, nephews, cousins & friends.

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Communicatng for Love

Another blogger invited me to write a post of relationship advice and my favorite recipe. Here's what I wrote:

Communication is a key ingredient in all relationships, but particularly so in male-female romantic relationships. Most women have accepted that men and women think, interact and process information very differently, but we still tend to feel there is something wrong with it. I know I certainly have felt this way in the past. The newsflash is that different is just different.

So my first tip is this: accept that it is okay that we as women do things a certain way and men do things another. Tip number two is if he has done something that is driving you crazy, consider that he may have no idea why his behavior would drive you crazy or even that it has. Ask him why he is doing it and you may be surprised at his reasoning.

You know how we can talk to our girlfriend on the phone, dispense advice, direct child traffic and cook dinner at the same time? Ever notice how your husband or boyfriend can’t seem to watch football and listen to you vent at the same time? I know, it’s annoying but he isn’t less smart than you. No, there is a very different explanation for this.

Men are single-focused which makes them excellent hunters who can track an animal relentlessly for hours. While we have what’s called diffused awareness. This difference tends to make us great at multi-tasking. Tip number three is don’t ask him to pay attention to you and the football game. Agree upon a time when he is not doing something else so that you can gain his full attention.

Finally, if it is love you’re looking for then do not try to trade sex for it. Be yourself, be passionate, be confident and if he is Mr. Right you will find yourself basking in that delightful laser-like attention so characteristic of a single-focused man.


Soul2soul (A recipe for love)

2 Bags of Southern Mixed Greens (I buy them at Trader Joe’s)
1 large yellow onion
2 cloves of fresh garlic
1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper
1 pound of spicy chicken sausage (you may substitute andouille or chorizo)
1 quart of chicken broth
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (or substitute your favorite vegetable oil)
1 large non-stick skillet or wok
1 large saucepan

Chop onion & garlic finely, slice bell pepper into small strips, and heat olive oil in wok and Sautee the vegetable mix. Do not caramelize. Add in rinsed greens and cook until wilted (not fried or browned). Slice sausage and add greens and vegetables to the saucepan along with the chicken broth. Simmer mixture until greens are tender to taste. Serve on your best china with a lovely chilled Santa Margherita Pinot Grigot or Frances Coppolla Chardonnay. You may add brown or basmati rice and/or corn muffins. Bon apetit.

I Believe In Music, I Believe In Love

Music and love, two things I believe in and so does Jennifer Hudson. Tonight she sang those words alive in my soul. She sang those words moving me to tears and to join her in singing them.

My sister, also a singer like me, treated me to the fabulous soul stirring spectacle of Jennifer Hudson and Robin Thicke in concert. Mr. Robin "White Chocolate" Thicke was certainly entertaining and soulful. But Jennifer Hudson was a force to be reckoned with, showering her music and her love upon us her loving audience.

The tide of the emotion, the pure energy of the flow of feelings was palpable. I could hardly keep my eyes dry. This powerful young woman was basking in her healing and she was inviting us, no, more than that, she was drawing us in to the circle of that healing. We all came out the other side sanctified.

Music and love. Two names for that limitlessness which we call God.

Amen. Thank you, Miss Hudson.

Planetary Missions

In speaking with a very close friend of mine tonight we were discussing the work that I am doing right now and the light of synchronicity shined brightly.

I recently shared with my friend that I am producing a wonderfully transformative Internet reality show. Act 2: Reinvent follows women in their forties who are working to reinvent themselves. In fact, I will personally deal with some major life changing goals in the first season of the show.

As we conversed my friend asked me what I intended to achieve with the show's Dream Team of Coaches. In particular, we spoke about my desire to create a brand as an inspirational lecturer/performer. My friend is the Queen Bee of Inquiry and her question was what do you want to do with it? My answer: to inspire.

As it happens my friend has been involved in a transformational project of her own for the past year. As part of her process she was required to identify her purpose/mission on the planet. Once she did she had to appoint a Board of Directors to support her in that purpose.

My friend had chosen me as the Chairman of her Board of Directors because I have always supported her ideas not just as dreams but as viable realities. I have held her accountable for the deliverables of her ideas. In short, I have been an inspiration to her.

What an incredible feeling to know that my planetary purpose is being affirmed even when I am unaware of it. What a warm and virbrant feeling to knw the impact that my support has been to my friend.

Dream Team or Board of Directors? Either way, your planetary mission and mine must be honored and executed.

The Dream Team

Orchestrating a reality show is quite a project! Momentum is building and we have a stellar group of experts who have responded to the call. I am excited to begin filming in the next couple of weeks.

We can never have too many film crews, so if there are film students out there looking for a project or new producers looking to build their portfolios...please reach out to me.