"Many of my idols in popular music are women, this is not exceptional to me as it's all I know and I have always associated women with great music. It makes me chuckle when I hear Aretha Franklin mentioned as a great singer alone because she was also a consummate classical pianist/ songwriter and graduate of Julliard one of the most prestigious seats of learning Performing Arts in the World. As a young lady, Ella Fitzgerald became the leader of 'The Chick Webb Orchestra' on his death as well as its lead vocalist, effectively representing a successful commercial enterprise as a woman at a time before Blacks male or female could vote in America. She was also notably the first Black artist to win a Grammy Award in 1958. Not only was Gwen Guthrie a hit-making recording artist, she was also a much sought after session singer, accomplished producer, arranger and songwriter whose compositions were recorded by the legendary Ben E. King and Roberta Flack among others. Men may have created and owned the great record companies, but it was women who brought in a significant amount of profit due to their fierce ambition, strength, intelligence and talent. To love music, all music is to joyously celebrate one of the many contributions that women have made and continue to make to the rich artistic culture of planet Earth. I cannot conceive of life anywhere here without it".
Randall (The Stellar Soul Show)
