The Dean's List

My Cardinals didn't even make the playoffs, so I'm not totally invested. Some of the things that do/will stand out for me: Arizona has been in the national spotlight all week and I think we showed up and showed out. We still have a long way to go, but are no longer the state that the 1993 NFL Superbowl boycotted for not celebrating the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday (the last state to do so). I've said in the past that the PGA shouldn't schedule play during the Superbowl. As always, the Phoenix Open and the Superbowl are held on the same weekend, but this year Phoenix is hosting both. The airport, hotels, restaurants, traffic and car rentals....WHEW!!!!  The revenue for the Valley will be historic, so that's a good thing.  On a positive note, sunshine and the 70's! Gotta love winter in Phoenix!  On a local note, NBC 12 Phoenix, Tram Mai gave the best coverage all week for the Superbowl! She had me laughing until it hurt! I love that during Black History Month, f

I originally wrote this editorial published over 20 years ago for the Democrat and Chronicle about the 25th Anniversary of WDKX Radio I know over the past several weeks, numerous media outlets have featured stories about 104WDKX celebrating their 25 th  Anniversary.  All of the stories have revealed the struggles and triumphs of  owner, Andrew Langston.  All of the stories have shown how a very small, but close knit family have created and maintained a very successful business.  The story that hasn’t been told is the one about the Langston Family, the people behind the business.   It was 1979 and I was 16 years old.  Without getting into too many details, I was growing up in a very strained home environment.  I was basically raising myself.  I went to DKX to look for a job because I always dreamed of working at a radio station.  I was in need of money to buy basic needs like clothes, shoes, lunch money, etc…  Mr. Langston himself greeted me at the door.  He sat me down in the conferenc

  I’ve known Mrs. Langston since I was 16. That’s when I started working at WDKX Radio as an intern. I didn’t work with her often, but would often type letters for her or do filing. I knew I had to be on point whenever I worked on something for her.   She was my boss then, but it wasn’t until I or year or two before I moved to Phoenix in 2002 that our friendship began.   I would often see her at the station while I worked on several events. I would help her with using the computer, but we never quite mastered text messaging. I helped in staging a property she was selling (yes, she was a realtor) and hired her as my realtor to sell my house prior to me moving to Phoenix. When she came to Phoenix for a National Toastmasters event, I moved into the hotel with her and accompanied her to all the events so she wouldn't be alone. We had such a good time! She loved the mountain views from her balcony.   Once I moved back to Rochester in 2008, we became very close. I attended Toastmas

On Monday night, I had the opportunity to see the man who contributed in a major way to one of the few memories I have of my dad (my dad died when I was 6).  It was such a blessing to receive when a blessing was truly needed!! The Maestro himself, Sergio Mendes! More on that later.....   As you have all read before, one of my dearest and longtime friends, Scott Mayo has traveled the world and performed with dozens of artists. Earth, Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, John Legend, The Rolling Stones and my personal favorite, Al Jarreau to name a few. For the last 12 years he has been not only touring with the incomparable, legend Sergio Mendes, he has been arranging. Scott called me a couple of months ago to let me know he would be performing here in Scottsdale and told me to save the date. I've seen him live numerous times. Seen him on countless award shows like the Grammy's and NAACP Image Awards. I've seen him on numerous reality shows like American Idol, The V

Woke up with an Earth, Wind & Fire hangover!!! Surprisingly, I'm not in much pain! Feeling so blessed since I danced, swayed, bounced throughout the entire 2 hour show!!!! What a show it was!!!! First and foremost, thank you Cheryl Kooijmans for not only buying the tickets, but buying 6th row center tickets!!!!! We were originally supposed to go last November, but the show had to be rescheduled because of Covid. Believe me....It was worth the wait!! The 2021 version of the band still includes original members Verdine White, Phillip Bailey and Ralph Johnson. Never forgetting the brainchild of the band, the late, great Maurice White, during some of the songs his picture/video of him was projected on the screen behind them. They've managed to put together a group of youngins, including Phillip Bailey's son, that capture the true spirit of the band. For over 2 hours, they took us down memory lane with their extensive discography. I had to look up the ages of Bailey and Whit

My Mayor, My Lovely I apologize for the length of this blog. I had so much to say… We are truly living in some tumultuous times. Local, state, national and world citizens are under siege – some more than others.  No need for me to detail the events in Rochester over the last 10 days. National media has covered it extensively! Instead of writing about the cold-blooded murder of Daniel Prude in Rochester, we all know the story, I want to share my story, my professional and personal relationship with My Mayor, My Lovely…. I was going to list some of her accomplishments like: Public Market enhancements,  Apartment projects the Stadium Estates, Charlotte Square, Winton Gardens and the Southeast and EL Towers,  Inner Loop completion and groundbreaking the La Marketa project.  Created and/or Supported the Commission on Racial and Structural Equity, Police Body Worn Cameras, ROC Holiday Village, Free Tax Filing, ended the Red-Light Camera program If I compiled a complete list of everything May