WELCOME TO STARPOINT RADIO

(March 25, 2023) Rissi Palmer has stories to tell. A music pioneer who in 2007 became the first Black woman in two decades to land a hit on the country music charts, she has experienced more than her share of ups and downs in the business and from the business, much of which is chronicled in the new episode of the PBS documentary series American Masters: In the Making.

(March 25, 2023) When relatives of a prominent artist release music, they are often compared to their famous family member(s).  While understanding such comparisons, they want to be recognized for their own body of work. David Ruffin, Jr. is no different. 

(March 24, 2023) Boy meets girl, girl clicks with boy in a relationship blossoms... until weeds of misunderstanding threaten their carefully cultivated garden of love. The dilemma is tricky but according to Stokely the solution is to break it down and spell it out, aka the title of his latest single, "Jeopardy: Verbalize."

Imagine layering 70s-era musicianship, doo-wop harmonies, cool falsetto runs in a dash of playful hip hop, courtesy of the multifaceted Snoop Dogg.

(March 24, 2023) Last Summer, the legendary vocal group The Whispers announced that they were taking control their musical catalog by re-recording some of their biggest hits, similar to the process that pop star Taylor Swift famously went through a couple years ago. The re-recordings would allow the group to retain the rights to the recordings. As group member Wallace “Scotty” Scott said, “We want to reap some of the financial benefits that record companies have enjoyed at our expense for decades.”

(March 2023) There have been lots of odd trends in music over the years, but one of the oddest – now seemingly reaching its peak – is the “sped up” song. Simply put, these are popular songs that find new life not with clever remixes, but simply re-issued in a form sped up by 1/3 or more. For those of you over age 50, it’s kind of like when you used to take your 33 1/3 RPM albums and accidentally play them at 45 RPMs.

March 23, 2023 – Married duo The War & Treaty are back, this time with their first major-label album Lover’s Game.  Their stock-in-trade remains an authentic, bluesy and comforting brand of country soul that makes you stop and listen.

We feature here the track “The Best That I Have,” a mid-tempo love song that floats gently over pedal string guitar and highlights the pair’s special gift for flawless, heartfelt harmonies.  Enjoy.

By Robb Patryk

(March 23, 2023) Throughout the decades, since the early 1990s with Motown and later Columbia (both solo and as part of Branford Marsalis’ band, Buckshot LeFonque) until finally going independent at the turn of the millennium, singer/songwriter/keyboardist Frank McComb hasn’t disappointed fans with his smooth R&B style.

(March 22, 2023) He was one of the great male vocalists of the 80s and 90s, and he has a permanent spot in many of our playlists. But now the great Alexander O'Neal is ready to end his touring days over the course of the next year, beginning with a multi-city UK tour. He posted today on social media:

(March 22, 2023) For a half century, R&B fans around the world have enjoyed the scorching funk and smooth nightime jams of ConFunkShun. And this classic band is showing no signs of slowing down in 2023.

ConFunkShun is readying the upcoming Summer release, Smooth Jukebox, fresh off the massive buzz that the band received last year when modern hitmakers Silk Sonic covered the classic slow jam "Love's Train." And ConFunkShun leads off the new album with another smooth love song, "Text Me Tomorrow."