While Ms. Chante continues to search for a music deal in America, thanks to the Internet it is still possible to witness all of her greatest music moments. An in depth review of her music career rounds out this CYInterview.

Putting aside Ms. Chante’s music accomplishments, there is something compelling which she reveals in this CYInterview. Three years ago this week, Keshia Chante was reported by the worldwide media to have been cast in the role of Aaliyah, in a biopic about the late singer’s life. Subsequently, there were published Internet reports that the movie was set to begin filming.

Time passed and nothing came of it. So what happened with the Aaliyah movie? For the first time, Keshia has decided to tell the world. She knows that many fans want to know.

You can read the transcript and listen to the CYInterview below:

Listen to the entire Keshia Chante CYInterview:

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Chris Yandek: I want to say before we get into all the art, what do you want people to know about you that we don’t?

Keshia Chante: “Well, thank you, thank you for the interview. Something that I want people to know, I think for maybe your audience, people that might not be familiar with me, I would say that I have been an R&B singer releasing albums since I was 16. I’m 23 years old now, but I’ve been in music for about eight to nine years. I’ve seen some really exciting U.S. opportunities with my video Bad Boy that was on BET. I did the Chris Brown, Bow Wow, Shortie Like Mine video and a couple of magazine tours that took me across America to different malls and events. So I’ve been kind of bubbling under in the U.S. and I’m hoping to do something hopefully this year there.”

CY: Yeah. I always find the stories interesting of the artist like yourself who is based outside of America, in your case Canada, of course, and you know I was reading as I was going along and doing research for this interview, many people were wondering well, you know like, why don’t we see her more in America? You think you haven’t had enough of a chance yet to show your stuff in America?

KC: “I don’t think. I mean, I have to say, all my opportunities in America have just been based on my fans really going hard for me and certain people in the industry believing in me and giving me those opportunities. But at the end of the day, I’m a Canadian artist signed to a Canadian record label that has always been true. I’ve had a brief stint with an American label and that was all kind of politics and a little bit weird, but for me to even have any U.S. opportunities when I am a Canadian signed artist is not really common you know for all my peers that are Canadian artists they don’t, they haven’t had the same opportunities as me. So I’m definitely very grateful for what I have had. I would need to sign a deal in the U.S. to do that and we’re definitely shopping right now.”

CY: What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned along the way through your career and then, now, for yourself thus far?

KC: “Some important lessons, I think one, being a songwriter is extremely important as a singer. It’s important that people connect with you in a real way. You want to be able to share everything with people. People want to connect to something and sometimes people hide behind other strong writers who don’t really get to show what they want to say. So I think being a songwriter and working on that’s really important. I would say being strategic, being on time, being consistent. It’s a typical thing. Work hard, play hard and things happen for you.”

CY: Looked at some of your earlier stuff and I’m thinking to myself, you know, a lot of throwback to the 90s music, R&B, pop music that the people love you know thinking back 20 years ago and that’s where you started your career. And did you always want your music to be different and you know have a sound that reflected an earlier time.

KC: “Well, I don’t feel like my music has ever reflected a certain time just because I was always very current. When I first put out Unpredictable, that’s definitely a sample, I agree with that, Shook being a sample for sure. Bad Boy, Does He Love Me?, those were all, when those came out, there was nothing like that on the radio and they sound dated now because those were seven, eight years ago,, but I would say that I have always been just trying to be consistent with my age. I always did that even at 14.

I was never half naked. I was never talking about things I didn’t know. It was always very young songs. I met a boy at a parking lot and he wanted to go on a date with me and I always wanted to keep it age appropriate; because it’s what’s real. It’s what’s authentic and I think that’s what people my age, at that time would’ve deserved, would be real honesty towards them and nothing that would make them feel pressured to grow up or anything like that.”

CY: Well, I think your sound is definitely unique when you look at the artist of that music from that time and you think about what was out during that time and then you think about and, you’re like, there was nothing like it.

KC: “Yeah.”

CY: There was really nothing like it. And I was just like and I was doing research and listening to all your things the last few days, I’m like, you know, for the times that it was when she was coming up and just starting as a teenager, there was not any music like that.

KC: “No there wasn’t and there weren’t any teen artists. There were barely any. I remember Avril Lavigne came out right after and that was kind of the times. There wasn’t really anybody doing that. I know that we definitely did look past in 90s music and we were really thinking about that when I came out in I believe 2002 or 2003 to be exact. But I remember during that time we were definitely thinking about the Brandys and the Monicas and the Aaliyahs and what they were doing during that time. We were making really fun, really appropriate age music in my opinion and we wanted to keep that consistent.”

CY: What were you hoping to accomplish with Night & Day?

KC: “Ah, I wanted to, I definitely wanted to control what I was doing and I definitely accomplished that. I went in the studio, I had the exact idea of what kind of music I wanted to make, what I wanted to talk about from vocal arrangements to production. It was already in my head and I was lucky enough to have enough amazing people that knew how to make it happen. You know, amazing piano players or amazing drummer, guitarist, I had that, those musicians that I needed. What I wanted to accomplish was I really wanted the night side to be dance. I wanted it to be fun; I wanted it to be pop; I wanted it to be a 23 year old girl in Vegas. That’s what I wanted my night side to be.

And my day side, I wanted it to be R&B. I wanted it to be like my first and second album. I wanted to just kind of open the diary a little bit and make it a little bit more personable R&B music and I really feel like I’ve accomplished that and I’m hoping to work on part two you know. So I think that’s really fun. “

Keshia Chante's Latest Album Night & Day

CY: I think that looking at that scenario when you look at Shooting Star, it’s definitely Las Vegas, night life feel definitely. I think of that right away and I was thinking about that. It definitely, Shooting Star is a song of the times and you could tell that is from, you know, 2011, 2012. This is definitely a current song for the times. How would you compare your newer music compared to the music you did earlier in your career?

KC: “It’s really interesting because the way that the music industry and just the way that consumers were in 2000, 2002, 2004, around that time, it was different. Songs had more time. They had more of a moment. You’d hear a song and you’d probably listen to that same song for a year and a half. It would really live, it reminds you of a moment for I think that type of music. I feel like now, music is very next, next, next, next, next. It’s what’s new, what’s fast and it’s kind of, things don’t get to live as long in my opinion. But my previous songs, I feel like the singles especially R&B again, very teenager, driven, very young. I felt the new music compared to that again, 23 year old girl going through love, going through heartbreak, going through, you know table dancing, going all those things. But I think it’s definitely more mature, the subject matter is different.”

CY: Yeah. I agree with you 100 percent. And as far as just general society goes, I think it’s always in this society that we have today, you know, with the 24/7 news cycle, the 24/7 Facebook and Twitter cycle, everything is what’s next. It’s not just music. This is the world. Everything is what’s next.

KC: “No. For sure. 100 percent.”

CY: You know, I think looking forward now and we’ll talk about a few others things ‘cause I was quite interested because I’ve been following you for a very, very, very long time actually on your Twitter. Years actually.

KC: “Really?”

CY: And I thought to myself, you know you were just kind of always sitting there and then here we are today finally doing this interview and I was doing research and I’m like, it’s time to bring her through. Yesterday, of course, was Aaliyah’s birthday. She would’ve been 33. A few years ago there was talks of you know, playing her in a movie of her life and I just wonder for myself and everyone out there what really happened?

KC: “It’s kind of funny to talk about it just because it’s not something that I should be or supposed to be talking about, but I think you’re fabulous. So what I will say is, for me, being in L.A. and being in the acting world, having some really incredible agents, working with agents, obviously have Beyonce and Chris Brown on their roster, there’s been a lot of really cool opportunities that have come my way. I did meet a few people production company wise that are developing the Aaliyah movie and they spoke to me about playing her in the biopic of her life.

It got into the news and I remember I was actually on a flight, I was sitting on a flight, I can’t remember where I was going, but I was with my team at the time. And I was sitting at a flight and I remember my phone went off like crazy and people were like, ‘Oh my gosh, like, you’re in the movie. Blah, blah, blah.’ And I was getting all these links. It was like Perez Hilton, it was all these blogs and I remember I landed and I got a call from Aaliyah’s lawyer and Aaliyah’s family. And from my understanding, there are people trying to create a movie and Aaliyah’s family are still mourning her loss and aren’t ready to share her story and create a film. So there’s a bit of back and forth thing with her family and with creative people.

And I know that they would bless a movie being created, they’re just not 100 percent comfortable and unfortunately from my understanding they don’t have complete control of her estate. So a movie could technically be made without them green lighting it and I kind of think that’s unfortunate. So I want her family to be on board and to be happy with it. It’s still kind of lingering in the air. I would love to play the part. I know there’s a lot of things that I would want to do physically vocally to nail it. I think it. I’m a huge fan of Aaliyah. She was a role model for me, still inspires me to this day and I would want to do it justice and exceed people’s expectations of it.”

CY: I just want to say to you, you know this is a world outlet where we have presidential candidates [see here] and [here] and major stars and we had Robert Wagner [see here] exclusively remembering his great friend Liz Taylor. So we break things here. So for you to tell us what really is going on because on the Internet there are so many mixed messages about what happened with this, what didn’t happen with this and I thought to myself, you know, besides talking about your music, I’m like, we should really get a clear answer on this one. We really should.

KC: “Yeah.”

CY: And.

KC: “Yeah. And for me, I’ve always wanted to kind of talk about it, it’s just really, it’s uncomfortable. I don’t want to disrespect her family. I know that they’re, they don’t like it. They don’t like when they get calls from people, like, ‘Oh, I heard this about your daughter. I heard this.’ Because it’s painful for them. So I know that the lawyer and even them and even my team who have kind of like you know, it’s happy, it’s better for everyone to not really speak on it and I just feel like you know, I’m not supposed to speak on it, but I know in this situation, yeah, it’ kind of, it’s a long time coming and I know people really want to know what’s going on. So yeah, I definitely think this was the perfect time to tell you.”

CY: Thank you. And before we go on and moving along, I think that could be your Selena moment. Do you feel like that could be your big moment?

KC: “Oh my gosh, for me, you know, that would be amazing, but genuinely for me, I want my kind of moment, whatever that may be in terms of being international and getting a tour worldwide, which is something we’re working on, but I think for me, I really want to be known as Keshia and my music. I think if that was to do as amazing as Selena or exceeding that, I would be extremely grateful. But I definitely don’t want that to be my kind of moment in America, my first time nationally. If it happened that way, that’s the way God intended for it to be. But I mean it’s not something that I’m sitting there like, this has to be it. You know, I want to use this as my opportunity to make it happen, definitely not. But if it happens that way, you never know how the cookie’s gonna crumble.”

CY: I feel like you know and we’re sitting her you know the day after she would’ve been 33. I wonder if you feel for yourself is there any kind of bigger responsibility when people say you know, you’re carrying on the torch for Aaliyah or you are like her or you are the artist that resembles her today. Do you feel like any kind of bigger responsibility there?

KC: “Because I looked up to her so much like, I remember I was bawling. I remember I was in bed for the longest time, at least a week. Just like, it was so hard for me. I grew up with her and I wanted to be just like her. It was always weird because you know, my hair, obviously my hair’s real and it’s straight and it’s, that’s the way that it is and in school people would always say I looked like her and I never, I genuinely never tried to put any effort. Even in the Unpredictable video and my Bad Boy video, so many people were like, ‘Oh my gosh, she looks like Aaliyah.’ I was never, we never sat there and said, ‘Let’s try to mimic or find inspiration from that.’ It was always me being me.

But I do look at, I look at a lot of her work and she was so ahead of the times. She’s very futuristic. And I think it’s important if you’re gonna take anything from what she’s done, is to be authentically you. She was the only artist in kicks, baggy pants, dancing, even in videos she had snakes. She was doing things before all of our pop artists were doing them now. So I think if you’re gonna take anything away from that, it should just be authentically you and thinking outside of the box. That’s something that I admire from her and she just had swag. I loved her swag. It’s crazy.”

CY: Absolutely. Ok, a few fun things and then I’m gonna let you go.

KC: “Yeah.”

CY: One of my biggest supporters is Shontelle Layne and I told her I was gonna be interviewing you and she said, sometimes Americans fans confuse her for you and that Canadian fans are so annoyed by that. Ever heard that?

KC: “That we, no, you know what, I have never actually heard that. The most recent one that I heard, I always hear like different things. I’ve never heard the one about Shontelle which is so cool though ‘cause she’s an awesome, she’s an awesome artist. But I remember for example, I ran into Chantal Kreviazuk not too long ago and she got me confused for Keyshia Cole and I guess she had like a little tiff with Keyshia Cole in the studio. She kind of thought it was me for a second. So I think she has beef with me for a minute and then she’s like, ‘No, no, no. Oh. You’re Chante.’ I heard that which is kind of weird. But Shontelle, yeah, I know that especially my management team and me being Trinidadian, the fact there’s a lot of back rooting in the islands. And I know that my manager knows Shontelle very well. And I know even that Rihanna had my first album before she came out when she was still living in Barbados. So I know that I gotta make a trip to Barbados soon for sure.”

CY: Keshia Chante, thank you so much for joining me today, let’s wrap up with something fun. What are your hopes for the future?

KC: “Ooo, hopes for the future, will definitely be doing a tour worldwide, you know releasing albums in America, so many cool fans I’m dying to meet, like I really just want to meet them ‘cause they’ve been going hard for me for so long and hopefully get to do something special for them. I know that would make them really happy. Just living life, I feel really lucky to be making music and be making music for this long and living this dream of mine so I just want to keep doing that. I would love to get into fashion and films and filming and finding artists one day. But I have a huge list of goals. It would take a year to tell them all to you. You’d probably hang up the phone by then. There’s a lot of things.”

CY: I wouldn’t hang up the phone. We’ve done almost 90 minute segments here, but hey, I mean, you want to write out a list for me, you want me to publish that alongside the interview of your goals, I’ll be happy to tell them to the world to you, whatever you want to mention.

KC: “Aww, you’re so sweet.”

CY: I don’t have a problem doing that. It was great talking with you. Hang on with me, of course, and thank you for you know coming into my world, we break things here, we get people to tell the record straight and I’m glad that we figured out some things today and it was very great speaking with you.

KC: “Yeah. Oh it was a pleasure speaking to you. You’re awesome.”

You can purchase a copy of Keshia Chante’s album Night and Day here.

Keshia Chante’s official website is at www.keshiachante.com.

You can follow Keshia Chante on Twitter at https://twitter.com/KeshiaChante

You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com Chris is available for interviews to comment on anything featured on CYInterview.

You can follow Chris Yandek on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/chrisyandek

In our ongoing coverage of all things Michael Jackson, including speaking with his sister La Toya Jackson [see here] and [here], former choreographer for the This Is It Tour Travis Payne [see here] and our one hour interview remembering Michael in 2009 with former Sony executives Cory Rooney and Chris Apostle [see here], our CYInterview with Mr. Cascio covers MJ’s life on a day to day basis, over a period of years.

You can listen to the entire CYInterview below or read the highlights:

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Frank Casci believes he was one of the few who truly knew who Michael Jackson was. Frank met Michael as a young child through his father Dominic who was an employee at a hotel Michael visited on different occasions. Because Michael formed a friendship with Frank’s father, Frank got to spend a lot of time with the gloved one and would later go from being a friend to a working employee for Michael and dealing with many different business aspects of MJ’s career.

“I think I’m one of the few who actually knew this man and got to see so many different sides of him over a long period of time and you know, I’ve been blessed because Michael doesn’t bring many people into his life, especially for that long period of a time…If it wasn’t for my father being the person who he was, this would have never even been possible. It could have been anyone, but Michael took an affection to my father.”

Frank tells a story of one of his early experiences with Michael, recounted in My Friend Michael, about Madonna inviting the king of pop back to her hotel room. Cascio gives his thoughts on the story:

“Girls would throw themselves at Michael. But yeah, Madonna, that’s right, wanted to seduce, tried to seduce Michael and I remember Michael telling us that story. He admitted he was so shy with her because she was overly aggressive and Michael’s a very sensitive man.”

Frank shows a personal side of Michael, sharing stories about him kissing and dating numerous women. He agreed that Michael’s attraction to women was something that generally wasn’t focused on.

“It was downplayed. And I’ll tell you, Michael was private about that part of his life. Michael was attracted to women. He had a very particular type and it’s funny because people wouldn’t think it, but it’s a simpleton. He was dating this girl who he really cared about and you know and she cared about him and it was great to see, but it was also kept very private because Michael did not want to, you know, expose this girl and have the media from the outside ruin a relationship that he really was enjoying and you know, he likes slender, tall, simpletons, sweet, humble, soft-spoken girls. And I’m really happy that Michael actually found that in his life later on.”

As a minor, Frank Cascio traveled the world with Michael Jackson – with his parents’ consent – and saw many his of live performances around the world. Frank says Michael is not a pedophile and didn’t have any physical attraction to young children. He says those comments are hurtful:

“Michael has never ever once ever invited a child to stay in his room, sleep in his bed. Michael’s never invited a child to stay in his room. You know, it’s different. You want to stay with him. You wanted. It’s like hanging with your buddy. It’s like having a slumber party. And Michael was a child at heart. There was nothing sexual about Michael. He had no attraction to young children. It’s just disgusting. I’m so hurtful [sic] by those misconceptions, that in particular. Michael loves children for their innocence and their purity and that was his inspiration. It just hurts me because Michael is not a pedophile and has been falsely accused and that’s hurt him.”

Regarding Michael, Mr. Cascio does get into some stories about Michael Jackson’s use of prescription drugs. For a period of time, Frank states he was monitoring Michael’s prescription drug intake. He also believes there were doctors who took advantage of him. Cascio also speaks of Michael’s chronic back pain.

“I was concerned when I saw some doctors come in, give him medicine and how he would react to it and his state of mind. And you know, for a period of time, it was something that I was concerned about. He was also going through many, many things. He had back issues. He had, who’s trying to take money from him here. Who’s trying to accuse him of this on this end? Who’s trying to, you know, friends just let him down and go sell him out.

He had all these different factors coming in and what was going on. Yes, I was concerned and Michael resorted to some medicines more than I personally think he should of, but I’m not a doctor…I also believe that Michael was also manipulated by many doctors and was taken advantage of that because they saw him as a money pit… It was bad. He had constant back pain for years…After all these years, it [performing] just took a tool on his body and that’s where the chronic pain came from…Nobody can understand it, but your body takes a beating, it takes abuse and Michael’s body was abused after all these years of working, working, dancing, dancing, dancing and it took a toll on him and it caught up with him.”

Frank agreed that it’s hard for people to accept that Michael Jackson was just another human being, who dealt with issues and troubles like everyone else:

“I think it is because you would never know; because every time Michael was performing, or in front of you, you never saw that side of, you only saw the professionalist. You only saw the genius. You saw the brilliance. You saw someone very, very special and unique. And even, and I can’t say when the cameras were off or he’s on stage he wasn’t you know, special and unique, but he was, but there’s also a human side of him that he didn’t want, you know, some people to see immediately. Later in life he wanted everyone to see the human side of his stuff, to understand. Michael wasn’t very good at communicating and explaining himself to people. “

When it comes to some people believing Dr. Conrad Murray was the fall guy in the death of Michael Jackson, Mr. Cascio states that he believes Dr. Murray is the only person who was responsible for Michael’s death.

“Dr. Murray was the ignorant doctor, selfish, manipulated Michael, portrayed himself to be a doctor that he wasn’t. And out of negligence, ignorance and selfishness, we lost Michael Jackson because of Dr. Murray.”

In a story published, not that long ago, about Marlin Brando, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson driving across country together and ending up in Ohio after 9/11, Cascio says that story is completely inaccurate. He tells me that Michael was with his family in New Jersey after the events of September 11th, 2011.

“That’s completely, completely inaccurate. After 9/11, Michael and I, his family, his kids I should say, got in a car and went to my family’s house in New Jersey and we were there for a couple of weeks, maybe two or three weeks. We were in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. And that story is completely inaccurate.”

There is a quote on page 96 of Cascio’s book claiming the gloved one said to Frank, “All you have to do is study these pictures and these words. Look in the mirror and tell yourself what you want to happen. Do that every day and it will happen.” Frank elaborates on that:

“The key to his success first was in the form of do everything from a place of love and do everything that you do the best. And before The Secret and all these documentaries and books coming out, Michael understood the secret way before The Secret. Michael understood being connected with God, the universe, whatever you may want to call it and believing in yourself and it all comes from within.”

You can find more information and purchase a copy of Frank Cascio’s book My Friend Michael here.

You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com

Ms. Gordon approaches music with a stylistic diversity that separates her from many of today’s artists. Looking at her, you might think of Donna Summer or, perhaps, Janet Jackson. Whatever the case may be, Wynter brings originality to the music world. Her blending of genres might lead her to being the next big thing in music, think Rihanna, Beyonce or Lady Gaga.

Though the skies the limit for this beautiful, talented 26-year-old, she reveals in our conversation her numerous struggles with depression, crying in her closet, wanting to give up and sleeping on friend’s couches as she was trying to make a career for herself in the music world.

Wynter’s CYInterview is a great reminder of all the steps and struggles that come with holding onto your dreams and working to accomplish your goals. Our talk is also a chance to learn about the real woman behind the sexy persona in the Dirty Talk and Buy My Love music videos.

You can read and listen to the entire CYInterview below:

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Chris Yandek: I was pointed out to you a few months ago and then I listened to some of your stuff and I saw you had a variety of music styles. You got the music style of today combined with the styles from earlier music times. Was that your ultimate goal for your career to have a variety of style?

Wynter Gordon: “My goal is to just do music I love. I think I was kind of like blessed with all these different tones in my voice and all these different like, this passion for so many genres and I kind of like put them all in one. And I do have a fondest for the past and the music of the 90s, 80s, 70s and I just want to make good music pretty much. That’s my goal.”

CY: I think you’ve been able to take these various styles and create your own original stamp and thus that is the reason for you to have an effort to stand out. You think I’m right about that?

WG: “I think you are right. I think you are right. And I feel like I’m just now really tapping into who I am and really comfortable actually with who I am and making sure what I put out into the world is really me. You know, just like this year, it’s really been about that moment I’m like, oh my God, like I just realized really what I want to do, what I want to say.”

CY: Everything, of course, is a growing process as you mentioned and you’re still expanding your horizons, but I wonder for those who are first being introduced to you through this conversation with me if they haven’t heard your music before, what do you want people to know about you aside from the artist that you are?

WG: “I’m pretty much just your cool girl around the way. I’m super passionate about music. Like that’s, pretty much that and my family is the only thing I think about during the day. Kind of give my all. Is this a fun facts thing? I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t know.”

CY: Well, you gotta keep your voice and you gotta keep your vocals healthy obviously of course. I respect you for that.

WG: “Oh yeah. I do two days of silence per week. I only break that if I have to.”

CY: In reading about you, it seemed like you were going to do anything whether it was numerous jobs to support yourself for example to make your dreams come true. Isn’t that really the real reality in achieving a dream? We have to go through the struggles, do what it takes to keep the dream moving along and stick around long enough for the big moment to happen. Isn’t that really what you did and that’s the true reality for many on how a dream comes together that there isn’t some magical quick process?

WG: “No way. There’s like years and years and years of work and putting in time and effort before you know, anything really materializes. I think it’s, it’s really nice when that happens for like the very few, but for me I had to take on a lot of jobs because I wasn’t making money when I first started doing music, pretty much sleeping on my friend’s couches and just really doing whatever it took for someone to notice me.”

CY: I just wonder you know, as I’ve been continuing to expand my horizons for 11 years and over 1000 interviews, we’ve expanded to everything lately having everybody from Zoe Saldana [see here] to Herman Cain [see here] recently. I know what it takes to stick with it. You just have to believe in yourself. Was it more than that for you, you know while you’re sleeping on your friend’s couches trying to keep your dreams alive? How do you keep it inside yourself believing that this is still possible? ‘Cause I think that’s what a lot of people struggle with.

WG: “I didn’t always just keep it inside of myself. I wasn’t very confident coming up. Not even till recently was I really like sure of myself. A lot of times I would be like super depressed, like very, very depressed and I felt like giving up. I would cry and sit in my closet by myself and like really like sob and weep and I just felt like giving up. But then I would like see my family, you know where we came from and it was like, I didn’t want to stay there. You know, I didn’t wanna, I wanted to be the one to make it for my family and my family and it was just, I had to. I didn’t really have an option or a choice to give up.”

CY: Well, there you go. So then going from the person who writes the songs and the person behind the scenes to becoming the artist, so many spend their lives behind the scenes never becoming the person or the focus. And some of them want that ambition, some don’t. But I just wonder at any point like you might not be that girl in front of the mic when you were behind the scenes?

WG: “No. I always wanted to be an artist. I don’t think I always had the confidence to be an artist, to be in front of the camera and sometimes I still don’t like being in front of the camera. I don’t like doing stuff in repeats and things like of that nature. But I wanted my music to be known as my music. You know, that was important to me. You know, I didn’t necessarily want to be famous, but I wanted people to know where the songs came from and the messages. And it’s obviously, there are deeper songs that I have than Dirty Talk is what I mean. I wanted people to know that those songs came from me.”

CY: And then with that being said, after you have that number one dance hit in Dirty Talk in 2010, was that the moment where you finally started gaining that confidence?

WG: “No, no really it wasn’t. It wasn’t a song that did it. I was thankful for Dirty Talk because I knew I had the gift and I knew I had the talent. It just made people pay attention to me. You know, I don’t. I think that, I’m grateful for Dirty Talk because you know it was obviously a hit and it was that song, but it didn’t really feel like it really represented me in whole. It was just a small tiny piece of me, a little fun side, but I don’t put my career on that song. “

CY: Do you think that it’s kind of the point, we also focus on Buy My Love, you know these two different songs kind of like are what I like to call, current event, social commentary almost or you’re pointing out certain things that are social trends. Do you think that that’s kind of what you’re trying to, the message that you’re trying to send out through in these two different songs? Like, that you’re focusing on what’s going on in society today like kind of as social commentary?

WG: “No. No. Dirty Talk was really just a fun, really fun song, upbeat and I didn’t even think anyone would ever hear it honestly ‘cause I had so many songs that were never you know singles. So, really it was just for fun. Me and my girlfriend wrote it. And with Buy My Love, I was really trying to tap into the 90s with the hook. So I had that hook and really writing around the song was pretty difficult, but I had the hook immediately. I was really just trying to do something melodically 90s sounding. That was like last year.”

CY: I think you accomplished that by the way.

WG: “Yeah. Thank you. But I feel like the songs on the EP, some of them like Still Getting Younger and Back To You, those deeper songs really reflect more of where I want to go. But if I feel like every album or EP needs it needs its emotional wave. It needs the high, the fun, it needs the set, it needs the anger, it needs to talk about realness. So that’s what I kind of wanted to do. Where I think Buy My Love is just subliminal It’s kind of what, really women do want that. I don’t think a real woman is a gold digger, but we do want. We want chivalry again. We want to be spoiled. We want to be pampered and we also want to pamper our spouses.”

CY: Absolutely. As I always say on a side note before we finish up with this, men, it’s when you surprise a women when she least expects it that matters.

WG: “Exactly.”

CY: By what I read it seemed you grew up in a strict family background. How did that shape you?

WG: “How did that shape me? Wow. I don’t know about being shaped. I’m really happy that my parents didn’t let me do whatever I wanted to do. And my mom, she sent me to a really good school. In my neighborhood, the schools are not good at all. But she sent me far out to a school that was good. She didn’t let me really get into trouble. And for some people that would cause them to be rebellious, but it kind of inspired me to stay on the right path ‘cause there were so many times where I could’ve like, I could’ve became a slacker, you know. And I was too afraid to get a whoopin if I messed up in school. I was too afraid. You know, I was too afraid to get in trouble. So thank God my parents scared the shit out of me. It works for me.”

CY: Being from New York, I wonder what you think about all the protests going on in New York currently?

WG: “I feel like it needs to be more people. I don’t really think we’re gonna accomplish anything with not everybody joining in. Not enough people know about the facts. Everyone’s not really into it. I don’t think enough people care, but it’s nice to know that there are some people who are starting this process. I think we all need to join in. I’m a little ashamed I haven’t.”

CY: I’m all about first amendment rights and people speaking their mind because if we don’t question our government and we don’t stand up against our government, there will never be change. Speaking with the likes of Congress and Herman Cain and everyone else in the last few months it is all about the normal public speaking up and that’s what I try to do every day and try to bring some of that substance to conversations with you Ms. Gordon. In closing with you, if one day down the road you rise to the level of a Lady Gaga, Rihanna or Beyonce status, what would that mean to you? Do you think maybe perhaps you’re the next big thing in music? I think you might be. You have a lot of different originality going on.

WG: “I think I am. I think I am the next big thing and it would be very nice. I’m not looking for fame, but I would love for my music to reach the masses and I think that’s a huge responsibility because everyone’s watching you and everyone’s saying what you say. They’re speaking everything that you say into existence. So I think it’s huge responsibility and I think I’d be good to get there. Every musician’s life, they want to reach that point.”

Wynter Gordon’s official website is at www.wyntergordon.com

Wynter Gordon’s official Twitter is here.

Wynter Gordon’s official Facebook is here.

You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com

You can listen to the entire CYInterview below or read the excerpts:

Listen to the entire Mya CYInterview:

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Mya first talked with me about her intense training as she prepares for the 26 mile run. She’s currently raising funds for her participation in the marathon, which will go to benefit the North Shore Animal League America. It is the largest no kill animal shelter and adoption organization in the world. Mya is a spokesperson for the organization. You can find out more information and donate to her fundraising for this important cause here:

“I’ve actually adopted one of my animals, my cat Mellow, from the Animal League and it’s been very rewarding seeing pets get adopted…I ran 12 miles today [on Friday]. It’s been painful, but it’s been productive and I love new challenges. So I hope to run next year and actually have a target time because this year you don’t. It’s just about finishing the race.”

Back in May, millions of people saw the Grammy winner sing Happy Birthday to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on WWE Raw. Mya reflects back on her experience in the world of professional wresting and the larger than life athletes/entertainers she met:

“I am a fan of wrestling. My brother and I were huge fans and obviously The Rock is talented, super talented, super sexy, intelligent and I was happy to be able to wish him well on his personal new year…I got to meet lots of athletic built guys, but they were enormous from their height to their build. I really felt like an outcast actually. They were like 6’1, 6’5, seven footers and I had no clue that they were so enormous. So, oh yeah, it was very interesting, but very, very sweet guys. Huge teddy bears.”

As far as the future, Mya’s ultimate dream is still to go into space. Back in 2009, we discussed that in detail [see here]. Additionally, the talented singer/dancer says she has a bucket list. She shares one of the things on it, which she recently took on:

“To go to outer space, that’s my ultimate dream…I have a bucket list, so every year I have a new challenge, but every year I do something crazy. Last year, I brought in the New Year by jumping off a cliff in Brazil – going hang gliding, so adventure and taking risks and bringing people together, you know that’s my thing. So I enjoy it to the fullest I have to say.”

You can help Mya raise money for Team Animal League, which is participating in the upcoming ING New York City Marathon by clicking here.

Also, you can donate $10 supporting Mya’s efforts for the North Shore Animal League America by texting the word rescue to 27722 on your cell phone.

You can follow Mya on Twitter clicking here.

Mya’s official website is at http://www.myamya.com

You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com

You can listen to this CYInterview with Naturi, in its entirety, and read the highlights below.

Listen to the entire Naturi Naughton CYInterview:

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In speaking with Naturi, I wondered if the acting portion of her career, which has taken off in recent years, was always something she had focused on, besides singing. This was her response:

“My inspiration as a kid was Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey and things like that, but I wanted to be able to sing because it was my first love…I knew singing was something I always wanted to do, but I also had something inside of me that was drama driven. I was driven to do things, plays in my school…I wanted to do stage. I wanted to do movies. I just didn’t know how that was all gonna come together, but as my career grew and fortunately I was given opportunities through a lot of people who believed in me, I was able to make the transition and I’m really happy that I did ‘cause I love acting and I’m enjoying it very much.”

After leaving 3LW and continuing on her own journey, Naturi agreed with me that taking her career on an individual path has led her to a good place today. She tells me the most important thing she’s learned since leaving the group:

“Yeah. I do. That’s really perfect that you say that. I do think it’s a happy ending and it’s not the end. I’m still in the process, but I think it’s a happy beginning really for me because I get a chance to start again and continue on doing what I love outside of the group. ..I’m glad that I was able to get the support and continue moving upwards and onwards and upwards from my past…The most important thing that I’ve probably learned is to stand up for yourself and what you believe to be important whatever that may be…There’s so many people who will try to persuade or sway you and tell you what’s ok and what’s not, but you have to know that for yourself whether it be in a role or a performance.”

In landing the lead role as the 1960s African-American Playboy Bunny on NBC’s new show The Playboy Club, Naturi says she did lots of research, including reading books and watching various documentaries. Ms. Naughton, though, points to being trained by a former 1960s Playboy Bunny, who is also an African-American woman, as an important part of her preparation to play the role:

“I also talked with different women who were bunnies. I met Pat Lacey who actually works with Playboy now. She actually trained us, did our bunny training. She’s an African American woman who was a bunny in 1965 if I’m not mistaken and she really gave me some insight on what it was like and what women went through and also being a black woman at that time. There’s different layers and levels there. Of course, not only being a bunny, but also being a black woman in the 60s…Really how controversial and progressive it was at that time. It was a big deal to choose to make your own money and to choose to be a bunny and to be powerful in your own right. I think it was major and I learned a lot about it.”

Ms. Naughton noted she couldn’t wait to get into her Playboy Bunny outfit. Her character, Brenda, has big dreams and is very ambitious. Naturi notes she and Brenda are similar in those ways:

“I knew I could pull off the Playboy Bunny suit and I could not wait to get in it. I looked at it. The color that I get to wear it’s this beautiful yellow and I wear a baby pink one as well. But I couldn’t wait to put my suit on. I knew it was gonna hurt though. I knew it was gonna be tight. I knew I was gonna have to hit the gym, but overall I did feel that I could pull it off…They both are very ambitious, very passionate about getting what they want out of life and dreaming big. I’ve always been a big dreamer, big achiever and a goal oriented person who had strong ambitions and I think my character is very similar in that way.”

Naturi in The Playboy Club. Credit: NBC

In recent days, there have been media reports that some former Playboy Bunnies have stated the NBC show is not an accurate portrayal of what life was like for a bunny in the 60s. Naturi says it’s unfortunate that not everyone’s account can be portrayed in the show. She does say, however, there have been other bunnies who have said positive things.

“I talked to a lot of different bunnies and women and so many. We just had a luncheon actually with about eight bunnies, a couple of black women and white women, all of them who experienced the clubs all over the country and had so many positive things to say. Unfortunately everybody’s account is not gonna be the same. That’s just life…Unfortunately we all have different accounts at our working experiences…It’s not saying that those women’s accounts aren’t accurate, but it doesn’t mean that what we’re portraying is inaccurate. Some women really connect to our stories and real bunnies have come out and talked about how much they really remember The Playboy Club being very similar to what we’re doing. So I feel proud that we’re giving some of what was happening and unfortunately we can’t capture everyone’s account.”

In the 2009 movie Notorious, based on the life of rapper Biggie Smalls, Naturi had the opportunity to play female rapper Lil Kim who had a relationship with Mr. Smalls. That year, there were reports purporting Lil Kim did not like the way Naturi portrayed her. Naturi says she and Lil Kim have never met and there was never any kind of feud. Ms. Naughton says she’s now heard positive things about her portrayal of the role from people who know Ms. Kim:

“Nothing happened between me and Lil Kim. I actually never got to meet her [Lil Kim]. I actually tried to meet up with her. It was more I think you know, the people who write and make the movies. I’m an actress. I’m just hired to do the job and portray the role. I tried not to take it personally although of course it feels like that, but I knew I was just doing my part to just do everything in my power to make it as authentic, as raw and as edgy as possible…We’ve never met. We did not have a fallout. It was nothing like that…I heard positive things now through people that know her.”

In the 2009 remake of the movie Fame, Naturi played the role originally performed by Irene Cara. In the movie, Ms. Naughton had a chance to show off her singing talent. She reflects back on the experience of remaking the movie:

“For me, it was a dream come true to be honest. I felt like I really had some great moments and I was proud of myself. I worked extremely hard to learn the piano. I was studying classical music…It wasn’t just singing. I sang, I played the piano and I acted and danced in the movie. So for me it was an opportunity to show I think the multi-talent that you know, I’ve been blessed with.”

In discussing her belief that roles for African-American women in Hollywood are still limited, Naturi notes the challenges and possible disadvantages that darker black women face. She admits there has been a lot of progress, but she hopes there will be more opportunities for the next generation of black women:

“We all go through struggles as black actresses in general and black actors. So you know it can be limiting when there aren’t enough things written for you in major movies and major television, so it’s such an accomplishment and a big deal when we as women and also being brown skinned women, gets the opportunity to portray some of the roles when they’re aren’t so many for us. So I said that I think in referencing what other challenges you face as a darker skinned actress and there are challenges and you know I’ve lived through them and dealt with them and I’m actually motivated by everything that I’ve been through. And what I would say is we have come such a long way. ..I think just as black women we are doing some great, great powerful things and I think it’s on the up and up and there will be more for hopefully the next generation after me and that’s my goal.”

Finally, Ms. Naughton tells us what we should know about her that we do not already:

“That I am an extremely hard worker who generally loves what I do and also just the kind of person I am, which I think informs how I go and approach roles. I’m a very down to earth, round away girl from Jersey. I love for people to know that and that I enjoy inspiring other young people. I have a huge passion for the arts and young people and expressing themselves through that because I was able to do that as a child with music classes and I think it’s so important to keep that in our education system. I think people should know that I’m really just like anyone else out there who had a dream and have been fortunate enough to live it out. So it just lets people know from all walks of life you can do anything and I hope to be truth speaking and walking that truth every day.”

Naturi Naughton’s official Twitter page is here

You can find out more about The Playboy Club here.

You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com

In this CYInterview, Joss shares insight into her music career. She also gives her opinion on current trends in music, looking at Lady Gaga’s career, as well as Madonna’s.

Joss Stone is more than someone gifted with an incredible voice. She has performed with such recording icons as Gladys Knight, Melissa Etheridge, the late, great James Brown, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, Ricky Martin and Jeff Beck, to name a few. Ms. Stone has performed for Aretha Franklin and done tributes to Dusty Springfield and Janis Joplin. Her experience working with renowned artists helps round out her understanding of the music industry.

Fans of Joss, as well as music enthusiasts in general, will gain new appreciation for her world class talent and down to earth manner.
Featured columnist Jay Bildstein joins me in speaking with Joss Stone.

You can read and listen to the entire CYInterview below.

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Chris Yandek: This album, the most excitement you’ve ever had in making an album. With that being said looking at LP1, how much of this project you know was based on your life experiences? Because I really think, like there’s a lot of raw emotion in this album and your feelings really shine through.

Joss Stone: “Well, I mean, I always try to write about something that’s actually happened or it doesn’t always have to have happened to me, but it has to have happened at some point. So every single lyric that you hear comes from some kind of story that I’ve come across in my life. I like to think that that maybe helps me mean it a bit more and if you don’t mean it, it ceases to be soul music. So it’s important that I mean every single word.”

CY: First track on the album is Newborn. You know, I felt that kind of represented your independence now, this project being released through your new label. You know, you’re going in a different direction with your career. Am I right on point with that? Newborn, this is a rebirth period for you?

JS: “Well, I guess. It is a rebirth song. When I wrote it, it wasn’t about my label or anything. It was really more about the state of the world and there’s one of the lyrics in there it says you know, ‘Everybody walk hand and hand, get hold of your land and push it together.’ ‘Cause I’d like to see the world become one as everybody would, All of this hope, peace and love thing people say is hippy silliness, but it would still be nice. We can still write songs about it hoping. So that’s what I was hearing. I was writing a song about the hope that one day everybody will be at peace with each other. But that song was written separately from the making of this album.”

CY: Referring to the first track then, what you’re really saying is we should just all be people, Newborn.

JS: “Yeah, totally. It would just be nice if everybody would be nice. That’s what I’m saying.”

CY: Why are so many artists like yourself, now, after being in the label industry for a period of time going off and starting their own entertainment companies and then releasing their own music? It seems to be a new, common trend.

JS: “It does doesn’t it. The thing is because we can, you know, we can. It’s simple really. If you have good people around you and someone that knows how to do it, instead of having a manager, have somebody run a label for you. You know, it’s kind of like, there’s this whole beauty that’s happening right now. The big, big record labels have so much control. I think too much control that it actually made their artists scared to not do what they were told and then the music suffers because of that dynamic and now there’s the power of the download. People will download the music for free and they’ll pay for it if they want to give you a compliment. They don’t have to pay for it. And the only way the artist can make money was by touring ‘cause the record label didn’t take that money. Unfortunately now, cause the record company’s not making money from the downloads, now they want to take money away from everything.

So it’s kind of all come to this halt and everyone starts fighting and all this stuff and I thought you know what? Wouldn’t it be nice if I could just have my own label and then nobody fights and everybody is just nice to each other and instead of having all these people around me to fight my record label ‘cause that’s all the team does. A team that’s with the artist as you guys already know cause you’re right next to it. You’re probably in it all the time. You know, if a manager is there every day, you know that their job is pretty much every waking hour they’re having arguments with the record label. It’s like this big war.”

CY: Yeah.

JS: “So I thought let’s not have a war with another label ‘cause now I finally got free. I thought, I’m not gonna go have a war with another one. I mine as well just make my own and then there’s no wars.”

CY: What should we know about you that we don’t?

JS: “Oh, well, nothing. I think people know more about me than they should anyway. You know, it’s like, I sing songs and I hope people like them and I’ve played gigs and I hope people like it.”

Jay Bildstein: You know what Joss, I would ask you this, though, following on that theme. Do you feel comfortable with, perhaps, the mantle of currently being considered as, perhaps, the greatest female vocalist in the world today? Is that a mantle that you’re comfortable with?

JS: “That would be nice. I don’t think that’s true though hon. That would be awesome.”

JB: I think it’s true. I mean, when you belt out a song.

JS: “Oh, you’re so sweet.”

CY: Looking at one of the other songs on your album, Cry Myself to Sleep, you know, it represents letting go of someone, letting go of anything in general.

JS: “Yep.”

CY: Was there any personal experience you were referring to in that when you sung that song?

JS: “I guess so. I mean, I think there’s a lot of different experiences that can equate to a song like that. It can be with a guy and you know we all had past relationships whether they’re important or not, there’s still songs in them or it can be a friend or whatever it is. You know, I like the hit to that song because it’s like it’s exactly what I did, very honest. I was just writing the words down that was happening in my head.

The fact is when I get pissed off about something or something awful has happened, I just say, ‘You know what? Thank you very much. Thank you for the lyrics. Because that is exactly what you just gave me.’ There’s no real negative then. So if something happens, I don’t cry about it. I just find myself a pen and I figure it out. “

CY: Well, turning a negative into a positive.

JS: “Yeah. You have to do that. There is a silver lining to every cloud and there’s some awesome songs that have come from some really like bad experiences, but they’re great experiences ‘cause then I’ve got some good songs so it’s all good for me.”

CY: I think in this era of music today, we have just so much shock value and attention grabbing and you just get out there and you sing and you bring it. Why do you think that’s a rarity today?

JS: “I don’t know. I think that people are having to do like really crazy things to shock people now, to get people’s attention and it kind of, it’s this way in lots of different aspects of life. You know, people fight for attention. It’s competitive. So they need to be the one that stands out. But sometimes I think like, sometimes I’ll see a really great singer and I know I sound like an old lady when I say these things and maybe they’ll be like, I don’t know, dressed up in some crazy outfit with a piece of meat on their head or whatever like a Lady Gaga thing.

I think, that I know the shock value is good and gets people to watch you, but actually she can sing songs and she can play piano and it just feels like it might overshadow what talent she does have and obviously it doesn’t really matter because it’s a totally different style of music. It doesn’t bare any relevance to soul or whatever, but it does happen in lots of different areas.

And Madonna, ok, Madonna’s not the best singer in the world, but she was awesome with her entertainment and all of her shock tactics and stuff and that’s where it began. She then inspired all sorts of other girls to do that. But I don’t know, I just think music’s kind of important too. So you’ve gotta know where that line is especially when you are good at singing. So I don’t know. I would never want something I’m wearing or the way I’m dancing or something to overshadow what I’m doing. I’d rather grab people’s attention with my voice.”

CY: I think that’s what the problem is. That’s my biggest issue with Gaga is that there is real talent underneath all those gimmicks and she could just be a normal singer and she could make it happen and she doesn’t need all that.

JS: “People would love her still you know. She can sing, but then people forget she can sing because she’s doing all this crazy stuff, but I don’t know. I guess it’s a great show. I mean, I’ve never been, but I’m sure it’s awesome.”

CY: It’s a really tough time for people to hold on to their dreams and independent beliefs with the challenges the world is currently facing. You know, as somebody who has achieved what you had, held on to your beliefs and always spoken your mind. What is your advice to people who feel like these times are just so challenging and dreams seem even farther than they were during good times?

JS: “You know, I think, like I say, there’s always a silver lining to every cloud and everything has to happen for a reason and if everything’s really challenging, then you can make it into a positive. It’s very, very possible to do so. It just takes a little bit of thought and a little bit of hard work. It really depends what kind of issue you’re facing there because I’m being quite general now in answering this question, but can’t really be general because there’s lots of issues in the world right now and they’re all different, but they all equate to one big massive tear. It doesn’t need to be that way. We can turn it around to find a silver lining and stick with that.”

CY: Yeah. I think that you make a very valid point there. Looking ahead to something that was just so unbelievably insane and crazy at the same time referring to, you know, the possibility that some two people were trying to kidnap you and possibly kill you.

JS: “Oh yeah. I know.”

CY: I wonder what can you take away and what can you learn from that? How can you turn that into a silver lining and positive? I mean, that’s ridiculous. You can’t live in fear of course.

JS: “No. It is ridiculous, but you gotta see the humor in it. I know it’s hard, but it’s actually not that hard. Look at this, picture this, there’s two guys, come down from Manchester. They spend all this money in coming down here which is really stupid to rob my safe that I do not have and they got lost. How can you get lost? Seriously, if I was trying to kill somebody, I think I’d think it through a little bit better than that. I don’t know, I just think it’s quite funny. I know my mum doesn’t think it’s funny. She thinks it’s really bad. What can you do.”

CY: It makes your life more interesting is what you said.

JS: “Yeah. It’s like the tapestry of life. What can you do. Hey, they just added a really big bright color. It’s hilarious. These guys tried to do me with a samurai sword. I mean, what are we? Are we in Kill Bill here? This is not the movies. They watch too many movies. So, what can you do. They didn’t do it. I mean, if they would’ve turned up at my house and like threatened me with a sword and all this, then I would be beside myself probably and I probably would’ve had a heart attack and they wouldn’t have even had to kill me, but they didn’t. Nothing happened. They got lost. So there you go.”

CY: But you’re not living in fear and you’re not moving.

JS: “No I’m not moving. I love my home. Yeah. No way. No way Jose. They come around here and they’ll have a fight on their hands, but yeah. What can you do.”

CY: No way absolutely. Is there any one moment that stands out from your career? I know there’s a lot.

JS: “There’s many. There’s so many fun things. Sometimes it’s hard to like even remember them all, but I think for me like, there’s a couple good ones I can remember. I remember watching Gladys Knight when I was about 16 and I can honestly say that she totally changed the way that I perform like just by watching her. I don’t know. I feel like I’m a quick learner and I’m also very quick to forget. That’s why I can’t play an instrument because I can’t bloody remember it.

But yeah, I just watched her and learned from that and said, ‘Wow! My god’ Then the next day, I did a performance and mom was like, ‘What the hell. What happened to you?’ I said, ‘Well, I just watched Gladys do it last night. She really did change a lot. I don’t think she realizes cause I don’t really tell her, but.”

CY: You know you’ve got a long career ahead of you, of course absolutely, and I just wonder what you hope you’re contributing to the world?

JS: “Well, I hope that I contribute some kind of smiles, you know. They don’t always have to be smiles. Sometimes it just has to be emotional. I really love art and I always have in every single different form and I just hope that I’m able to give some art that will touch some people and help them to be more positive and stronger. So I like to make sure I don’t sing songs that are like self hating and feeling sorry for yourself ‘cause that’s not the kind of legacy I want to leave really. I want people to feel like strength, especially young women. You know, it’s nice to know that you’re worth something and music really does put that kind of light back into you. Well, it does for me anyway. I’ve been through some very interesting times in my life and there is certain songs that I go to and I’m like, ok, it’s not that bad. So I hope that I can do that for people. That would be nice. If I could be a doctor and save lives I would, but I can’t so I do this.”

JB: Well, you know what? I think it was, that, I saw you performing with Melissa Etheridge, Joss. I guess it was at the Grammys when you did Janis Joplin’s Cry Baby. And I know, I think Jimmy Page was in the front row. I saw you do a tribute to Dusty Springfield when you sang Son of a Preacher Man. You sung in front of Aretha Franklin to honor her, I think Natural Woman. You worked with James Brown, did A Man’s Man’s Man’s World. What does it feel like when you’re working with these greats doing their music?

JS: “It’s very scary. It’s just very scary, especially that Aretha Franklin one. I literally walked off the stage I burst into tears. I was totally, I’ve never been so afraid in my life to get something wrong. You know I always say like you have let go of the outcome when you’re doing these things and just go for it and not think about, like, what’s gonna happen afterwards or you can’t help it. Sometimes it’s just like, oh my God and that adrenaline, it’s just makes you do it.”

JB: We’re pressed for time so let me ask you three you haven’t sung. Randy Crawford’s got a great song called Street Life. I don’t know if you’re familiar with it, with The Crusaders. Any chance you’d ever cover that? Any chance you’d do any Shirley Bassey and any chance you’d do any Nina Simone because those are three that come to mind that I haven’t seen you work.

JS: “Actually, I haven’t really thought about those things. Nina Simone I have, but yeah I love to sing all types of music. That’s kind of my mission going forward really. I guess you could say my life’s been kind of real polymorphic in a way. I keep changing and going through different things and writing with different writers and stuff. I’m hoping that I can try lots of different styles ‘cause now I don’t have a label so I don’t have to do what I’m told, which is quite nice so I can go off and I can sing, cover whatever I want, try lots of different genres, lots of different artists so maybe I will cover some Shirley Bassey.”

CY: Joss it’s great talking with you and hope to bring you back in the near future and I’ll send this along to your team so you can get this great interview up on Twitter. I think all your fans would love to see it.

JS: “Oh, thank you very much. Thank you guys. Glad it worked out, cheers. Bye bye.”

You can find more information and purchase a copy of Joss Stone’s LP1 here.

Joss Stone’s official Twitter is at http://twitter.com/#!/JossStone

Joss Stone’s official Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/jossstone

Joss Stone’s Stone’d Records Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/stonedrecords

You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com

Recently, Ms. Jackson released her latest memoir titled Starting Over. In the course of its over 300 pages, people will learn all about her life. Included is her description of being abused by her now deceased, ex-husband Jack Gordon. La Toya writes candidly of how she got past that dark period in her life and moved on. Of particular interest to fans are the numerous Michael Jackson and Jackson family stories covered in the book.

La Toya came back to CYInterview to talk about her book, as well as the latest in her ongoing search to find out who murdered her brother and how Jackson fans can help in her quest. Ms. Jackson wants everyone to know she is not an opportunist trying to capitalize off her dead brother’s name. You can read and listen to the whole interview below.

Listen to the La Toya Jackson interview:

Browse CYInterview.com while you listen – Click here

Chris Yandek: Reading the book, after I finished the book and when we spoke back in March, you seem to be in great spirits from our last talk and everywhere I’ve seen you in recent years, but after reading the book, do you still struggle with anything, are you in therapy or doing anything to still heal yourself from everything?

La Toya Jackson: “That’s a great question Chris. First of all, thank you for having me on your show again. It’s good to speak with you. But no, the book was written, Starting Over, I am happy that you read it and as you know it’s encouraging women and anybody who feels that they need to do something better with their life and start over with it if they’re enduring any abuse whatsoever. That it’s important that you get out of that relationship and really make a better life for yourself and start over and go get help.”

CY: You’re telling me that you’re in the best spot you possibly could be? There’s nothing left to repair?

LJ: “Well, I’m in a very good space right now, but there is something to repair of course meaning I want desperately to find out what truly happened to my brother in that sense, but Starting Over was not about that. He just happened to be a part of my life so the last couple of chapters are about what happened to my brother and him and what he told me would take place, but no, as you know, I’m very happy with my life.

I was able to start over and I’m very happy that I was able to do this by just really putting out everything that happened in my life and letting people know that you cannot allow other people to control you, to manipulate you, to beat you, to lock you in closets and all these things that happened to me, to take away your self esteem, your self worth can control you. This is not the way life is meant to be. Please get out of those relationships and do start over and start anew and that’s what it’s all about.”

CY: You bring up a perspective of Michael that I feel hasn’t totally been generally thought about. You show a side of Michael that feels vulnerable and scared regardless of all the money, success and life he had. You describe it in a way I believe that he didn’t see himself as a powerful person with everything at his fingertips even though he did have those things and probably many people thought that. He didn’t seem very assertive. Tell me about that and do you think this is something people just don’t really know or understand?

LJ: “No. What I’m saying is that when I say this Chris is because his life was like my life. In other words, this guy [Jack Gordon] came into my life, my parents asked him to go to Japan for them because they couldn’t make it and that’s when he took my passport away from me and said, ‘You’re never going back again.’ He controlled me.

These people come into Michael’s life because of his kind, meek personality and they started controlling him and the world sees him as this powerful person, which of course he is with all the money, but yet these people are the ones that manipulated and controlled him and did what they wanted to do and at the end, he was living in fear. Now do you understand what I’m basically speaking of?”

CY: Go ahead.

LJ: “They surround themselves in your life and then they isolate you from your family members, your loved one and then they begin to control you.”

CY: Well, as you know and as you mentioned earlier in this interview and as we talked about back in March, you’re still on a continued search to find out who caused the death of Michael. I wonder how the search is going and has there been any new evidence since we spoke in March that you’ve come across?

LJ: “It’s very, very, well there have been things that have come out, of course. I think they postponed the trial, of course, once again. However, I think it’s very, very important, now they’re involuntary manslaughters. I always thought that’s what they would probably say and now Dr. Murray is saying that Michael injected himself and I am here to tell you that I have spoken to many doctors prior to this and asked them and they said, ‘It’s totally impossible. You can’t do this.’

When Michael first passed, the coroner came and said that, ‘Geez, all the drugs that were in Michael’s body were the drugs that were administered to him that night and there was enough propofol in Michael to have killed an elephant.’ And he said, ‘Whoever did this, did this intentionally and they murdered him they wanted him dead.’ And those are the words and that’s what happened to my brother. You cannot do this. They’re trying to say he did it himself. That’s totally untrue

Michael was very clean. He was very happy. As far as with his health is concerned, meaning that, his life, he was happy that he was able to do the things he wanted to do as far as sleeping is concerned and things of that nature and he had gone to rehab with that. But as far as him being physically healthy at that particular time, no, he was sick. He really was sick. He was freezing all the time and he was just, he was unhealthy.

He weighed 112 pounds, yet they reported 136 I believe it was or 135 pounds, but no, he had issues back then just before he passed with those struggling and not being able to complete a complete song [during the This is It rehearsals], but yet they made it look as if he was very happy and energetic with the songs. He will give his all, but at rehearsals he never does and he would’ve done a much better job than you guys saw.”

CY: There’s a lot of mentions and stories of Elizabeth Taylor and Marlin Brando in Starting Over. In recent months, there was a report that after 9/11 Brando, Taylor and your brother Michael got in a car and drove across the country on a road trip together ending up in Ohio. Do you know anything about whether this story is true or not?

LJ: “Well, Michael got a camper for Elizabeth to get back home from 9/11 and she was in a camper going back home and of course at that time everybody was looking out for everyone’s safety at that particular time. But you know, I never asked him if he was in that camper with her or not. I never did ask that. But I think I was told at some point and then got out. I’m not so sure. But no, Marlin Brando has always been a friend of the family and so has Elizabeth. They would always come over and watch movies with us all the time and have dinners. Elizabeth Taylor would come over and have dinners. This is when we all lived together at Hayvenhurst and yes they’ve been friends for years.”

CY: I think that Michael’s fans truly want to believe in anyone who might uncover answers on your continued search, but what do you say to Michael’s fans about what they can do at this point and time?

LJ: “I’m asking and urging anybody that knows anything about anything, please help and speak out and please tell what you know. If it’s a paralegal who were working with these people, if it’s a secretary, please by all means do tell. Because I do believe, ‘cause I know the truth, I know this is what they did. It was a conspiracy, but I do believe that there are people out there that the best is gonna get to them and they’re gonna say, ‘You know what? I can’t take this anymore. I’m just gonna have to go out and tell what they really did to him and that La Toya is right. She is telling the truth. This is what’s happening. Michael did know this is gonna happen to him. So fans, if you do anything, please by all means do speak out.”

CY: Starting Over is the name of the book. Thank you so much for joining me today. La Toya, in closing, is it really hard though that there are a set of Michael Jackson fans that feel like you’re an opportunist in some way. Is that hard?

LJ: “Well, I’m not an opportunist. You have to remember something, he’s my brother and guess what? I want justice for my brother and the book is not about Michael. 85 percent of that book is about me starting over and women encouraging them. The only other percentage, is he’s a part of my life of what happened to him to get justice. Opportunist? Absolutely not. I think people who don’t know me, that’s probably the impression they want to get.

But if you took time out to know who I am, I am not an opportunist. The opportunists are the people that are controlling his estate. The opportunists are the people who controlled Michael who are now people that Michael wanted out of his life that are in his life. Those are the people. Money trail people. Follow the money trail and you will know what happened to my brother. Who stood to gain the most.”

CY: La Toya, thank you so much again and I know that was a hard question to answer but there’s a lot of people who wanted me to ask you that one. Thanks so much and maybe we’ll talk again for a third time one day.

LJ: “Ok. I hope so. Thank you.”

You can find more information about Starting Over and purchase a copy clicking here

La Toya Jackson’s official Twitter is at http://www.twitter.com/LaToyaJackson

La Toya Jackson’s official website is at http://www.latoyaonline.com/

La Toya Jackson’s official Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/officiallatoyajackson

You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com

For example, who came in third in season two of Idol? Stumped? The answer is Kimberley Locke. If you knew, congratulations! You are, probably, in the minority.

It is amazing to look back and realize it’s been eight and a half years since the Nashville, Tennessee native made it all the way to the final three, in year two of American Idol. What might be more poignant is that Ms. Locke has continued on a personal achievement journey. She’s now claiming a level of success that the majority of her Idol, and other reality TV colleagues, doubtfully see as she heads to daytime television this coming January 2012.

Listen to the entire interview with Kimberley Locke:

Browse CYInterview.com while you listen – Click here

To start off this CYInterview with Kimberley, I wanted to know who she felt she was today. Ms. Locke was candid:

“I would like to think Kimberley Locke is the same Kimberley Locke that I’ve always been. At the core, I’m the same person…I’m smarter. I’m wiser. I’ve learned a lot in the past eight and a half years…I’ve just kind of evolved into a businessperson I think and evolved into a better artist.”

Ms. Locke started a Facebook voting campaign this week, for her next single. Fans have the chance to vote to determine which of three different songs will receive airplay. Music-wise, Kimberley has gone the independent route, with the formation of her own entertainment company, I Am Entertainment. She explains why she went independent:

“I think that a lot of times when songs are being selected, the artist sometimes doesn’t have that much say in what the first single is gonna be, let alone the fans. I think that in today’s world of social networking, engaging the fans is really important. The fans want to be engaged. They want to know more. They want to be more of the process because at the end of the day, they are the consumer…I think for me, going the independent route was the obvious next step for me…I wanted to have more creative control. I wanted to have more business control. I wanted to work with the people that I wanted to work with.”

Ms. Locke, who told me she has a ten year plan for her career, is obviously reaping dividends from her planning. January 2012 will bring some new daytime television programming to ABC. Kimberley’s slated to host The Revolution – the show’s working title – with Tim Gunn, of Project Runway fame. By setting goals for herself, she has secured one of the few daytime TV hosting spots out there. Kimberley gave CYInterview a preview of what The Revolution will be like:

“For me and in the grand scheme of my life, it’s amazing and it’s huge and it’s everything that I was hoping for…Watching our lives evolve, we’re all so connected. We’re all connected by some social medium…People are going to be able to watch our show and they’re gonna get a takeaway every day, something that’s gonna help them transform their lives and that’s what this show is about. It’s a health and lifestyle transformation. So whether you want to transform your family, your job or your bedroom or your weight, whatever you want to do to become a better you.”

Before reality television became part of media-over-consumption-culture, Ms. Locke gained celebrity from American Idol. What’s most inspiring, even rare, is that eight and a half years later, someone who used reality television as a platform for recognition is actually getting an opportunity afforded so few.

Ms. Locke’s locking up a daytime hosting gig, having achieved fame on reality television, is almost a fairy tale. Most people would’ve never expected anything like this from her, but she is soon to be famous to millions come 2012. And lest we forget, daytime television has helped skyrocket and expand the careers of show business talents like Rosie O’Donnell and Tyra Banks. This is definitely a big moment for Kimberley:

“I do feel like this is that moment for me. How did I end up here? Immediately after American Idol, I’m very goal oriented. So I have my short-term goals, my short-term goal was to get a record contract and get my music out there so people could remember me. Then my long-term goal was to actually host a television show. The past two years I have taken meeting after meeting after meeting, making the rounds to be seen in front of the people who could make that happen.

It just so happened that I got that phone call from ABC and they wanted to meet with me. It was one of those things where I obviously feel like I put it out there in the universe and the universe conspired and I had to do my part as well. But I put it out there and here eight and a half years later, I’m doing exactly what I’d set out to do on my 10 year goal. I think that it will change my life. I think it’ll change my career.”

In the instant fame/instant gratification culture we live in today, people might believe gaining some notoriety on reality television or becoming a trending topic on Google and Yahoo will lead to a successful, long term professional career. Yet, without meaningful action and real goals nothing will happen. The phone will not just ring off the hook. No one is making your career but you. Kimberley spoke about this:

“Nobody really knows how hard we work on a day to day basis except for us. And yes, just because people are out there talking about you and things are going on, it really doesn’t mean anything. People can talk about you all they want to, but if things aren’t materializing in the form of projects and those projects are coming to life, then it really doesn’t matter because they can easily start talking about the next person and what they’re doing…Just as much as I love being creative and performing, I always tell people, what turns me on is doing business.

I really do enjoy sitting down and being creative about the business in negotiating and making things come together and then making everybody who’s sitting at the table having these discussions feel like they are invested to the point that we’re all gonna benefit from this. It’s just not about my career.”

As many peaks and valleys an entertainer or celebrity’s career might have, some who are on top might never get back. Ms. Locke admits her career has been a slow progression, but it was the right pace for her:

“I’ve always said I would rather take 10 years to build the foundation for a 100 year career than be a flash in the pan…I completely understand why celebrities or sudo celebrities go off the deep end and lose focus and lose themselves…One day you’re on the top and the next day you’re in a valley. But just as fast as you went to that valley, you can go back on top again. That’s such an emotional rollercoaster, the spikes and the drops. I think I’m really excited that, it’s been a slow build for me, but it’s been the perfect pace as well because I feel grounded. I feel like I have a solid group of people around me now. I feel like I’m headed in a great direction where my feet are still plated on the ground.”

When it comes to the season two cast of American Idol, Ms. Locke says she keeps in touch with Ruben Studdard and Kimberley Caldwell. She also has contact with Diana DeGarmo, who wasn’t that season:

“Well, I always talk to Ruben. Ruben and I, we don’t talk every day, but we always stay connected and we always try to make sure we keep touch just to see what each other is doing and stay in touch. But probably, I see Kimberley Caldwell a lot. She was on my season. She’s always working out and about and it’s always fun running into her. But from my season, I think that’s about it…It’s not like we all stay in touch all the time. I do keep in touch with Diana DeGarmo, but she wasn’t on my season.”

In 2003, Kimberley and her American Idol cast members appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. With Oprah’s pending exit from daytime television this week, I asked Ms. Locke about her Oprah talk show memories:

“I can remember when we did her show, she actually brought her production team and her set to the American Idol set and filmed the show from the studio where American Idol was being filmed in. I just remembered being in awe of her because Oprah is from Nashville, Tennessee, which is where I’m from as well. So it made me feel really good to be sitting there looking at her, knowing that I can pull inspiration from that and believe in myself enough to know I could be in that position myself one day.”

With Ms. Locke headed for daytime, talk television and with Oprah gone, the challenge will be to fill a void left by Oprah. Ms. Locke just might be the Nashville native who leads the feel good, television world Ms. Winfrey has now left. I told Kimberley that I thought she will end up being one of the leading inspirational voices in TV’s future. Her response was heartfelt:

“I think I will be too and you know what, I think that it’s nice, this show hasn’t started airing yet and we’re in the beginning of the production phases, but just to hear you say that to me makes it that much more real to me. So you’re like the first person to say that I am becoming that person.”

You can vote for Kimberley Locke’s next single on her Facebook page clicking here.

Kimberley Locke’s official website is at http://www.kimberleylockeofficial.com

Kimberley Locke’s Official Twitter is at http://twitter.com/#!/kimberleylocke

You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com

Listen to the Lauren Alaina interview:

Browse CYInterview.com while you listen – Click here

I first posed this question to Lauren, “What do you want people to know most about you from the things that we did not learn about you on American Idol?”

“I am actually really, I’m not really a blonde. People call me a dumb blonde a lot, but I’m actually really smart. I love to go to school and my favorite subject is math. I like school more than anything probably.”

Prior to the American Idol finale, there were reports Lauren might not compete, for the crown, in the final round against Scotty McCreery. She noted this wasn’t the first time there have been issues with her voice. The runner up also thinks she’s gotten a post American Idol cold.

“I have actually, but everyone has trouble with their vocals sometimes. I think I’m getting a little bit of a cold or something cause now my nose is a little stuffed up and my throat’s hurting pretty bad today, but it’s gonna be all right.”

There were reports around the net yesterday that Lauren Alaina and Scott McCreery are dating. Earlier in the conference call, she told another member of the media from People Magazine they are not in a relationship and were just friends.

Photo credit: Frank MIcelotta

You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com

CYInterview now brings you a wide-ranging interview with Michael’s sister – a woman who has had a fair share of fame in her own right. La Toya speaks on many topics concerning the King of Pop. She discusses their life together, as well as new information she claims to have found regarding his passing. Ms. Jackson also weighs in on stories about her brother, which surfaced after his death.

Currently, La Toya is participating in Celebrity Apprentice. She tells us why she is doing the Donald Trump show. Perhaps, in the future, we will see her on Dancing with the Stars. ABC has asked her to do the show numerous times. On other fronts, Ms. Jackson tells us there is one more album in her music career, Starting Over, which will be out in the near future. La Toya says she is done with music after that and will just be focusing on various business projects. Adopting children might also be on the horizon.

For anyone who is a fan of La Toya, Michael, the Jackson family or pop culture and entertainment in general, this is one interview you will want to read and listen to.

The full interview begins below.

Listen to the La Toya Jackson interview:

Browse CYInterview.com while you listen – Click here

Chris Yandek: We delayed this interview a week to pay respect to the people of Japan, the people of Japan are big fans of Michael and of course the Jackson family obviously, I wondering if you have any words?

La Toya Jackson: “Oh yes. My heart goes out to all of those in Japan who are suffering. It’s just a terrible disaster and I tweet about it all the time. You can tweet me. You can read what I say about them @LaToyaJackson. Just please I want anybody and everybody to do anything that they can possibly do, every little bit helps so please let’s all get together and help those who are suffering in Japan.”

CY: I have not heard anything about celebrities doing a telethon for Japan. Have you heard anything? I’m really surprised we haven’t heard anything at this point.

LJ: “No. But you know what I heard? I’ve heard Chris that they’re people that are donating individually, so which is really good. As far as a group getting together like we’ve done with the others, I’m sure that’s about to happen. It just hasn’t happened yet. I’m sure because they do need relief and they do need and they do need care.”

CY: And our message goes out to the people of Japan obviously to help any way you can of course Michael would want that.

LJ: “Oh absolutely. Are you kidding? I don’t know if people know, but he is the biggest donator that there has been ever in history. He’s in the Guinness Book of World Records for donating over 400 million dollars of his personal money to different charities and to people who need help. So yes, he would definitely want those to help the people in Japan. The Japanese are very, very, very devoted fans of the Jacksons and I just appreciate that very much. So we’re doing everything we can to help them out as well.”

CY: I think when we saw you on the CBS show Armed and Famous years ago, you were trying to find a new challenge and step out of your comfort zone. Is that the reason you’re also doing Celebrity Apprentice?

LJ: “Well, yes I was finding a new challenge and trying to step out of my comfort zone. You’re absolutely right. But Celebrity Apprentice was a bit different for me. I had been asked to do it and they asked me again and I gave it some thought. I wasn’t to on board in the beginning and I waited out and said, ‘You know what? This is a great opportunity to bring awareness to the charity that you want to step forward.’ So Aids Project Los Angeles was the charity that I had been working with since my brother’s passed because that was one of his charities. I said, ‘We can bring so much more awareness to it by doing this show and I can donate much more as well.’ So that’s basically the main reason that kind of drove me into going to do the Celebrity Apprentice because of that reason and I think it’s great that Mr. Trump, Donald has allowed different celebrities to come on and give to their charities. That’s just wonderful I think.”

CY: So tell us about the charity your representing that is close to your brother’s heart?

LJ: “The charity that I’m representing is Aids Project Los Angeles. Basically, Aids Project Los Angeles is in my backyard basically because I’m in L.A. I tried to take over his charities that he had been working for and this one was the closest and I said why not? I’ve been doing things for them ever since he’s passed, which makes you feel so wonderful inside. But what we’re doing is we’re looking for a cure for Aids because there are people with HIV and people with Aids and we need a panacea for it. Basically we’re doing testing and things of that nature to come up with the solution to help free these people. What I do is I go out I and pass out groceries to the people and I make sure they have their dental care, that’s in place and it is just wonderful to see the smile on their face when they know that you’re helping them.”

CY: That is truly wonderful. I’ve seen you over the years in the Dancing with the Stars audience, any chance you would ever do that or are you just a fan and a viewer?

LJ: “I like that show very much. I was a commentator on that show for Access Hollywood for one of the seasons and that’s why I had to be there to interview the different contestants that were performing. However, yes I love that show. It’s one of my favorites. My mother and I always watch it together. I’ve been asked to do it over and over, but it’s just something about that show that I just, I’m so in love with it that I don’t know. I’d be overwhelmed.”

CY: Yeah. I think so too. It’s definitely something you definitely have to think about before doing it, but there have been a lot of prominent people that have done it over the years and I’ve been covering that show since year one so maybe we’ll see you there in the future. So talking about other things, is there going to be any new music from you in the future and besides that, what kind of career do you want to have going forward?

LJ: “You know Chris, I’m putting out one more single and album as a matter of fact called Starting Over. Once I do that, I’m done with music. The reason I’m putting it out is because I’ve been putting it out for the past two years and I haven’t done it yet and the fans keep begging me to do it So. I said, ‘This is it and I’m done with everything.’ As far as new music is concerned and go and do what I love best, which is doing my business. I’m an entrepreneur and I love business. That’s what I’ve always done. I went to school for that. My father took me out and said, ‘You’re gonna be here like everybody else.’ So my heart is going towards that and where it has been. I have so many different companies that I work with and that we all work together and we pull out the best of everybody.”

CY: Is this the period in your life of self discovery for you where maybe you’re living alone and you’re just trying to figure out who you are given everything you went through earlier in your life?

LJ: “I think that every day we are taught lessons and sometimes we don’t realize or see it. I think life is a learning lesson within itself. I think you should take the best out of everything that you see and that you encounter and make the best of it. So yes, it is a learning lesson and it is a stepping stone and you do learn from what you’ve done in the past and you try to improve and enhance your life and that’s basically what I’m doing.”

CY: I was told by someone, I’m not sure if this is true that you possibly want to adopt kids. Might that be something coming up in the future?

LJ: “I’ve always wanted to adopt kids ever since I was 16 years old. I always said I’m going to adopt, I’m going to adopt. There’s too many kids in the world that need love and attention, I can give it to them. It’s so funny that the path you take in life, it takes you into a different direction and yes, it’s still on my mind and I haven’t given that up and I’ve given it such strong thoughts lately.”

CY: Given that fact, obviously everything you went through earlier in your life, what is the message to women about domestic violence?

LJ: “That’s a very, very touchy subject, domestic violence. I think women don’t realize is it’s something that’s very prevalent. It goes on, on a daily basis. As you and I are speaking about this, there are thousands and thousands of women that are being abused at this very single moment. I think women need to have a lobby. I feel that women need to speak out. The first time a man hits you is one too many times and you need to do something about it. That something about it is walking out that door and seeking for help and never looking back.

I know that it’s very difficult to do because I have been very much into that situation where you feel you can’t. You can’t just leave. You can’t go because you’re subjected to this and they take your self-esteem away and everything away from you. But I’m urging all women, I ask them the first time they hit you, please walk away. There is help out there. There are a lot of places that you can go and get help. That’s the first step to your freedom and to your life is to walk away.”

CY: We had Michael Jackson’s choreographer Travis Payne back in February from the This Is It Tour and he told me there were a lot of people that were close to Michael that were going to perform and appear with him on the This Is It Tour. Did Michael invite you to perform with him on the This Is It Tour or to appear?

LJ: “No, not at all. To go to the show, yes, absolutely. Absolutely. absolutely.”

CY: There was a period in time when you and Michael lived together in New York. What can you tell me about that period when you guys lived in New York?

LJ: “It was a great time. We were always close to each other. We were always best friends and when we lived together, it just made the bond so much closer. He was working doing The Wiz at that particular time and we just had each other, the two of us, our first time being away from home from the rest of our family and we lived our life the best that we could and shared so many wonderful moments. We slept in the same bed. We did so many wonderful things and it was just a great, great bonding time.”

CY: The most requested question that people had, I did actually let the Jackson fans contributed a few to this interview, was what was the most fond memory that you have of Michael while growing up?

LJ: “Oh jeez, there are so many memories. Where do I start? There’s just so many that you could pick any. Let’s just say, you know what I liked about him? Whenever I’d get sick, he would always go out and he would buy me stacks of fashion magazines for me to read cause I would get sick every single month, monthly and he felt so bad because I was in such excruciating pain and he would get tapes of the Three Stooges and he would put them in my VCR because that’s what we had back then. He would put the tapes of the Three Stooges in to make me laugh and forget about the pain. Then he would go out, he knew that my favorite artist at that time was Frank Sinatra. I just loved his music. He would go and try to find some kind of memorabilia of Frank Sinatra and get Frank Sinatra to sign it for me to make me feel better.”

CY: Interesting enough. Then moving on from that, you co-wrote and sung a song with Michael titled Night Time Lover. Fans wanted to know, did Michael ever originally have any intentions to use the song as one of his own tracks or was it always meant for you and did he record his own solo track to match yours?

LJ: “We did that song. I recall that so well in his bedroom on the floor. He was sitting on the floor and I was sitting on the bed and we just started writing Night Time Lover. He felt that this is a great song for me. We started writing for me actually and Michael produced it on me and he at one point told me, ‘I think I want to put that out again.’ This is much later on. He says, ‘I think I want to put that song out again and I sign on it and he’d sing it actually, but he never did it, he never did. That was just wonderful to know that.”

CY: Were there any other songs you guys worked on?

LJ: “Basically that. I’ve done little things on his songs like sing background for P.Y.T. and the scream on Heartbreak Hotel and things of that nature, but that’s basically it.”

CY: Moving along with that, people wanted to know what your fondest memories were of Neverland Ranch and did Michael ever spend the night at your house?

LJ: “No. He never did spend the night at my house, but when we were living together meaning at my family before we parted our separate ways, he would always camp out in my room. He would call it camping out and we would camp out in each other’s room and he would come to my room and camp out. Neverland was wonderful. It was just, it was what he wanted it to be. It was serenity. It was peace. It was his own world and you were a part of that world once you entered the gate, hearing all the music play and seeing all the animals grace the lawn. It was just wonderful. You felt like you were in paradise, a piece of paradise, a piece of serenity.”

CY: Do you ever have dreams about Michael?

LJ: “Well, of course. Are you kidding? Absolutely, absolutely. I like to think that he’s still with us and he will always be with us.”

CY: You said to Barbara Walters in 2009 that you did not take hard drives that allegedly contained over 100 songs of your brothers’. Do you have any information today about the whereabouts of those alleged missing hard drives?

LJ: “No and I did not take those and it’s so sad because it’s one of those situations where people just pin the blame on anybody and they don’t know what happened and they just put it on you. It was basically Frank Dileo who said that, which was awful. Think about it, it’s my brother, but I did not. Actually at that time, I didn’t even know what a hard drive was.”

CY: New reports came out about the missing surveillance tapes from the last hours of Michael’s life. The LAPD said they were erased because they didn’t know there would be a homicide investigation. Do you have any thoughts or anything you want to share about that?

LJ: “Yes I do. Absolutely. First of all as I’ve always said, my brother was murdered. That’s number one. Number two, you never ever, ever erase anything. I don’t care if it was the first four minutes or what. You don’t erase it. That’s a cover up and that’s a hide because they know that people were in that house prior to anybody getting there. They were already in that house and they didn’t want us to see who was leaving. When I got on the scene, I asked the police officers, ‘Where are the surveillance tapes? I want you to pull them.’ They said, ‘Well.’ ‘I want to see everything on it. I want to see it.’ I asked them over and over and I haven’t seen it to this day and I just learned just the other day they erased it so they say.”

CY: Yeah. So the reports say. What did you make of Michael’s autopsy report?

LJ: “Well, I wanted a second one and we got a second one. Honestly, nothing in this country is always properly straight. There are so many loopholes and so many things that were done in a different way that I am not happy with what’s happening and what’s going on whatsoever. At the autopsy I want to be there. I want to make sure that nothing was done improperly and at the last minute, no you can’t come. It’s like, why can’t I? I want to make sure. I don’t want people cheating him out of his life the way he did because I’m very troubled by all this.”

CY: I can totally understand that and fans want to hear this from you. It is true six weeks after Michael passed away that you did accompany corner officials to Forest Lawn Memorial Park so they could get samples, hair samples for toxicology testing and if, reasons and results of that?

LJ: “Yes I did. I was the informant on his body so I was constantly going down there and I didn’t like the fact that they had to go back and get hair samples, which they had gotten, then they wanted palm prints of his palm and that troubled me greatly because they had tested his body over and over and over again. Why that? That’s one of the things you don’t forget. Why that? So I said, ‘For them to clutch his fists that way, they’re going to say that he grabbed something or grabbed whatever it was or did whatever they were gonna say he did to himself.’ That’s what I’ve always said. They were gonna say he injected himself and I promise you that’s what’s going to come out because there was no reason for that.”

CY: Since the summer of 2009 shortly after your brother’s death when you gave a few interviews, have you found any new information whether it be people who could’ve contributed to your brother’s death or any other new evidence or conclusions?

LJ: “I found tons of new information and that’s what I do. I found tons of it and I’m very disturbed by everything that happened and everything that took place. It needs to heard and told.”

CY: And when are we gonna hear about this? Have you shared it with authorities?

LJ: “You will hear about it very soon.”

CY: Ok, then people are wondering as well besides that, ok, considering that information you say you do have and evidence, ok. Did you hire a private investigator? Have you talked to authorities? Everyone would like to know that specifically?

LJ: “No. Simply because the Los Angeles Police Department, they have the detectives on it, they’re taking care of it and they don’t wish to have anyone to intervene. Although, I’m not pleased with the job that they’ve done. There is a cover up, a big cover up.”

CY: So then do you still believe the trial of Conrad Murray is a sideshow and if you do, what should his punishment be?

LJ: “I do believe it’s a sideshow and I will say this to, I truly believe that Dr. Conrad Murray was simply the fall guy and nothing more. That’s all he is and I just think that he was the guy they put up front to make it look like something happened. I see the way that it’s going and they’re gonna say it was pure negligence and I just can’t believe that and I don’t believe it.”

*This CYInterview conversation with La Toya Jackson was conducted one day prior to the passing of Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor. Many will recall that Ms. Taylor and Michael Jackson were friends. LaToya was kind enough to send us this statement regarding the death of Liz Taylor, the day after our interview. Here is her statement:

“Liz Taylor was an amazing woman and screen legend. She was an incredible friend to my brother, at his side through some of his most difficult times and of course loved by his children and our family. She will live on in our hearts forever, my prayers go out to her family.”

La Toya Jackson’s official Twitter is at http://www.twitter.com/LaToyaJackson

La Toya Jackson’s official website is at http://www.latoyaonline.com/