Inside DJ Audioprism’s Library: 4th Of July

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A sneak peek at a working DJ’s library

By Vanessa Hundley, aka DJ Audioprism
Entertainment and Life Scrivener

Music has always been a great reflector of the human experience throughout the ages. The musical journey and ideas of the American experience and all the emotions and thoughts it provokes predates the American Revolutionary War, with songs such as Founding Father John Dickinson’s “The Liberty Song” appearing as early as 1768. Creative voices and America’s right to freedom of expression as stated in Article 11 have brought us many tunes that range from fervently patriotic to defiant. Songs that preserve a small moment in a simple part of life or create a bright bubble of celebration, and Some that direct our attention to social or political viewpoints. Here’s a peek inside my library at just a small selection of songs I actually play at a variety of 4th of July related events.
(Skip to the bottom of the article for a full playlist of all these songs!)

The Classic Rock N’ Roll:

Rock n’ roll is an American original, and this music style that first appeared in the 1940’s has consistently brought us voices who questioned authority and the status quo. It gave rise to a chorus of artists who used their music to try to affect changes or just to give voices to people or populations who had no voices of their own, and others who shared the experiences of the working class American and their trials and triumphs in day to day life. There are a ton of great classics that capture American ideas or just rock it out American-style – it was hard to even begin to narrow them down!

Neil Diamond – America Creedence                                                            Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son
Bruce Springsteen – Born In The U.S.A.                                                               Kim Wilde – Kids In America
Linda Ronstadt – Back In The U.S.A.                                                                     Jay & The Americans – Only In America
Tom Petty – American Girl                                                                              Chicago – Saturday In The Park
John Cougar Mellencamp – Pink Houses                                                             David Bowie – Young Americans

The Modern Rock N’ Roll:

Modern rock n’ roll continues to pay respect to its American roots with a mix of artists and groups who carry on rock’s tradition of questioning and stating the facts in varying measures. This mix of tones from breezy, California-style beats and rhythms share the airwaves with tales of nostalgia and loss and high energy infusions of protest and reflection from the 1990’s on that keep us turning it up just a little bit more.

Lenny Kravitz – American Woman*                                                                  Francis Nunnery – American Life In The Summertime
Kid Rock – American Bad **                                                                               Elle King – America’s Sweetheart
Metallica – Don’t Tread On Me                                                                                5 Seconds Of Summer – Mrs. All American
Saving Abel – Miss America                                                                              Mitski – Your Best American Girl
Green Day – Last Of The American Girls                                                            Weezer – I Love The U.S.A

The Country Music:

Another American art form that slightly predates the advent of rock n’ roll, country music is at its core all about the human experience. Celebrations and heartbreak abound, but through it all these songs pay homage to their hometown lives, loves and losses with straightforward, timeless tales and shake-it-up sensitivities alike.

Brothers Osborne – American Crazy                                                                          Dierks Bentley – Home
Brad Paisley – American Saturday Night                                                               Brooks & Dunn – Only In America
Sugarland – Everyday America                                                                              Jason Aldean – Fly Over States
Kenny Chesney – American Kids                                                                              Zac Brown Band – Chicken Fried
Martina McBride – Independence Day                                                                   Florida Georgia Line – Cruise

The R&B/Soul/Funk/Rap:

Establishing itself in America in the 1950s and ‘60s, soul music evolved from a blend of gospel and rhythm and blues and went on to become a popular phenomenon. It developed in many directions as new sounds and technology became available, including funk, psychedelic soul and neo soul, and continues to share the unique experiences and visions of black Americans in thoughtful and thought-provoking ways.

Martha & The Vandellas – Dancing In The Street                                                    DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime
James Brown – Living In America                                                                       Shea Diamond – American Pie
Estelle ft Kanye West – American Boy                                                                   Janelle Monae – Americans
Prince & The Revolution – America                                                                     Childish Gambino – This Is America
Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove                                                           Pharrell Williams – Freedom

The Pop and Dance Music:

We do love a great party in the U.S.A! And the 4th of July has a lot to offer, with small neighborhoods and large urban centers alike reveling in music, entertainment, food, and fireworks. Where there are tons of party songs to choose from, these pop hits are a perfect fit for the holiday without losing the party!

Miley Cyrus – Party In The U.S.A.                                                                             Passion Pit – Take A Walk
Demi Lovato – Made In The U.S.A.                                                                       Pepper Mashay – I Pledge Pt 2
Bonnie McKee – American Girl                                                                                  KLF – America: What Time Is Love?
Katy Perry – Firework                                                                                             MKTO – American Dream                                                                                    Madonna – American Pie                                                                                   EASYFUN – Be Your USA

The Patriotic Music:

And, as a bonus, get extra patriotic and fly your Stars and Stripes with these covers of American classics plus some amazing original tracks!

Bette Midler – Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy                                                                Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – This Land Is Your Land
Paul Jabara – Yankee Doodle Dandy                                                                    Beyonce – God Bless The U.S.A
The 5th Dimension – The Declaration                                                                      Jim Hendrix – The Star Spangled Banner
Keb’ Mo’ – America The Beautiful                                                                          Johnny Cash – Ragged Old Flag

Have a fabulously safe 4th of July! Follow or subscribe for more peeks at my actual professional library, more fun articles about everything entertainment, and updates on current and future projects (there are many)!

Vanessa Hundley aka DJ Audioprism is owner of Audioprism Entertainment, is a full time DJ/VJ/KJ/MC, Web and TV Personality, and Wonder Woman who incorporates her love of music and everything entertainment into all facets of her life. She resides in Atlanta, GA, with her amazing daughter, fabulous partner and a variety of fuzzy friends intent on taking over the world one clump of fur at a time. Follow her on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Mixcloud for everything DJ Audioprism!

Social Media LInks:
FB business page: https://www.facebook.com/audioprismentertainment/
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/djaudioprism
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djaudioprism/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/audioprismentertainmentshow
Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/djaudioprism/

Photo by Roven Images on Unsplash

Mobbed Up — Part 7: “Hole in the Wall”

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Shelley Stepanek

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This is episode 7 produced by the Las Vegas Review Journal and The Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas.

The series has been very informative about the history of how Chicago and Las Vegas tied into each other. Frank is till alive and lives in Las Vegas. He and Spilotro are featured throughout the whole Mob Museum, and Spilotro has all of his books there for sale in the gift shop.

‘Mobbed Up — Part 7: “Hole in the Wall” ’

Part 7 of “Mobbed Up” follows Frank Cullotta from Chicago to Las Vegas, where he serves as a trusted lieutenant of Tony Spilotro.

The episode takes listeners through the late 1970s into the early 1980s, ending with the scene of the planned burglary at Bertha’s.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/mobbed-up-podcast-hole-in-the-wall-part-7-2064259/

What Is Your Focus?

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Richard Norton

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I was speaking with someone the other day and he shared with me how he felt like he was in a funk. His big struggle was trying to get himself out of it, and he reached out to me for some tips that would help him. As he was speaking, I began to wonder how many others are struggling with this. After all, we are living in some unprecedented times right now. Fear and anxiety are at an all-time high.

As we got deeper into the conversation, I asked him a question. It was very simple and went like this; What is your focus on? Without getting into all the specifics, he went on for about five minutes with a lot of doom and gloom. As time passed, he stopped and looked at me, “Wow, I see your point. My focus is on the negative.” My response to many people that tend to relive the past and talk about the negative is to simply -Change their focus.

Focusing on the positive can give you more confidence, improve your mood, and actually help you become healthier. Having stress, unfortunately, creates a lot of physical ailments.

What have you been focusing on lately, and how can you begin to start focusing on things that are much more positive? Here are some tips that I believe will help you get started.

Start each day on a positive note.

How you begin your day sets the tone for the rest of it. The moment you wake up, begin your day with an attitude of gratitude. Think of five things that morning for which you are grateful. As soon as you look in the mirror, no matter how you look, begin each day with some positive statements like, “ Today is my day. It’s going to be an awesome day! I’m excited for the opportunities that are in store for me. What a gift today is.” If you have not done this, it may seem silly at first but try it and you will be amazed how much your day improves.

Look for the good even in the bad.

Let me make one thing crystal clear: There is no such thing as a perfect life. You will have challenges and you will have obstacles. Instead of looking at these difficulties as failures, ask yourself what you can learn during these challenges. Always look for ways to improve. If things don’t always go your way, perhaps there is something about to happen that’s going to be even better.

Start hanging out with positive people.

We’ve all heard the expression “You are who you hang with.” Are the people you are currently spending a lot of time with helping you to focus on the positive? If not, it may be time to start changing your circle of influence. When you surround yourself with positive people, you’ll begin to hear positive outlooks, positive stories, and positive affirmations. Their encouragement will help you stay focused.

Going forward, when you find any negativity creeping into your mind, the question will now arise, “What is my focus?“ If it’s not positive, it’s time to change it. You have a lot to be thankful for, you woke up today and you have tons of opportunities right in front of you. Keep your focus positive and be a blessing to others. You can do this, I believe in you.

Stay focused and have a super positive week!

RICH NORTON

Regional Sales Manager RMS

rmsnpc.com

Photo by Elena Taranenko on Unsplash

History of the Las Vegas Mob Part 6

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Shelley Stepanek

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Part 6 of an 11-part series by the Las Vegas Review Journal with the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas.

This is the history of Harry Reid, who was head of the gaming commission and who eventually became Senate Majority leader. Reid is retired in Las Vegas.

Don’t miss this series, it is quite fascinating. Reports from this come from wiretaps and RJ reporters over the years.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/mobbed-up-podcast-cleanface-part-6-2056125/

Consistent Discipline is the Key

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Richard Norton

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If you were to ask many successful people what the key to success is, I’m sure you will receive various different responses. For example, some may say that it takes a positive attitude. You’ll probably hear others talk about the importance of goal setting. Some will simply define it as going to work and never giving up. It’s been my experience that all of these answers are correct.

A positive attitude is extremely important in achieving long-term success, along with knowing exactly what you want. Goal-setting is certainly a big part. Being specific in your goals and knowing exactly what you would like to achieve will increase chances of success. There is no doubt about it, working hard over a period of time is vital. There are no such thing as overnight successes.

Sometimes, you may hear others say that you have to be in the right place at the right time and it involves luck. That may be true but it all boils down to how you define what luck really is. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. On the road to success, opportunities will come your way but you have to be fully prepared to take advantage of them. I have a picture in my office that simply states “ The harder I work, the luckier I get.“

I heard a phrase the other day when someone was discussing success and as soon as I heard it, my eyes lit up. Now, I’ve heard these words separately and I have talked about both words probably thousands of times. Those words are consistent and discipline. These are words that will describe pretty much all successful people. Successful people are consistent and they have self-discipline. Now, when you put both of those words together, you now have CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE.

When someone is consistent, they have a steadfast adherence to the same principles. They hold firmly true to their goals and they understand that success is simply doing the things each day that are necessary to achieve them. How about discipline? When you have discipline, you have self-control. Discipline also means learning. When you really get down to it, discipline requires going through some sort of pain. Here is the most important lesson of discipline… You will receive pain either way, you have to pay a price. When it comes down to discipline, you are now paying a price for it which will benefit you in the future. If you do not pay the price for discipline, unfortunately you will pay an even more painful price. That price is called the pain of regret.

So going forward, when someone asks me what is it going to take for them to be successful, I will simply answer them by saying that it is going to take consistent discipline. Remember, each of us have opportunities staring at us right in the face. You can accomplish anything that you want to. Learn everything you can. Find people that are in life where you want to be and do what they do. Ask yourself this question daily, “What is it going to take for me to have great success?” You now know the answer to this question. Are you ready to make it happen? Are you ready to do what it takes? If so, you now understand that it is going to take…

CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE.

Let’s do this! Have a super fantastic week!

RICH NORTON

Photo by Dave Lowe on Unsplash

Cut & Mix w/ DJ Audioprism: Alex Ben Block, Hollywood Insider

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Vanessa Hundley

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Vanessa Hundley aka DJ Audioprism explores over 50 years of journalism and technology with Alex Ben Block, Hollywood’s ultimate insider! From his days of running articles to the hot type printing presses to the new age of digital entertainment, he has been there to see and report on the biggest names in the industry. A published author and prolific columnist, his works are featured in L.A. Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and other notable forums. And for those looking to increase their entertainment profile, his company Block and Tackle helps established and up-and-coming entertainers hone their presence and improve how they navigate the new media world.

**Follow me (DJ Audioprism) on social media @djaudioprism , or visit www.audioprisment.com for an in depth and ever changing collection of my various endeavors, including articles on entertainment and life in the NSAEN magazine at www.nsaen.com

Mobbed Up from the Las Vegas Mob Museum

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Shelley Stepanek

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Part 5, compliments of the Mob Museum and the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Lefty and the Mob, along with Alan Glick who owned Argent Corporation, and Tony Spilotro. A great 45 minutes of mob history. I worked at the Stardust and the Hacienda at the time, so I knew all of them.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/mobbed-up-podcast-the-argent-empire-part-5-2049898/

Feed Your Mind with Positive Thoughts

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Richard Norton

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When you hear the title of this message, the first thing that may pop in your head is “How do I feed my mind with positive thoughts with all the crazy things that are going on in the world today?”

This is a legitimate question. There is a lot of negativity and a lot of division out there. All you have to do is turn on the news and someone with a smile on their face will flood you with negativity 24 hours a day. If that’s not enough, go to social media and check out how nasty and mean everyone is to each other. If you only feed your mind with this garbage daily, your attitude will be defeated and you will become negative.

That is why I cannot stress enough the importance of not watching all the negativity on TV. Imagine what that does to your mind or even your soul over a period of time. Remember this, you are in control of what enters your mind. As one of the great motivators, Jim Rohn said, ”You have to stand guard at the door of your mind.“

So what is the best way to feed our minds with positive? This all comes down to making a decision. The bottom line is we have a choice. We can choose to allow all this negativity to enter into our mind or we can make a decision that each and every day we are going to put positive thoughts into our mind.

This is going to involve some behavior changes. Yes, I believe it is important to stay up-to-date on current events but you need to start developing the philosophy of getting in and getting out. If you notice on these 24 hour news stations, everything seems to be breaking news. When someone hears breaking news, that usually means we need to stay and listen to what this breaking news is going to be. Well, here is my BREAKING NEWS for you: Instead of starting your day with the news, start your day by feeding your mind with positivity. This can be as simple as reading an inspiring book, make a decision to read a chapter or two. Spend 10 minutes filling your mind with some good inspiration, and make this part of your daily routine.

Another way to feed your mind with positivity is to have some gratitude time. Write down five things that you are thankful for each day and reflect on them. You will find that it is very difficult to be negative when you have an attitude of gratitude. Going forward, make the decision to spend some time in positive meditation or have some quiet prayer time.

Watching motivational videos or listening to a podcast is also a wonderful way of filling your mind with positive thinking. Start by doing this in your drive times or when you are going for a walk. Keep in mind that this does not require extra time. You are simply replacing some of the things you are doing now that do not contribute to your success.

By making these positive changes, You will find that it becomes part of your daily routine. Now when the negative news comes on the television, your natural instinct going forward will be to change the channel. You will find yourself responding much less to negativity on social media and you won’t allow it to affect you.

Remember, you are in control of your thoughts. Start paying more attention to what you are feeding into your mind. Do not allow any negativity to creep in there. Starting today, make the decision to only feed your mind with positivity. Do this and you will find that your life becomes much more joyful and you will have success. Keep it positive always.

Have a super fantastic week!

RICH NORTON

Regional Sales Manager RMS

rmsnpc.com

Photo by Ahmed Zayan on Unsplash

JB DONDOLO INC. LAUNCHES MUSIC FOR WATER CAMPAIGN

By

Beatrice Davis

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Lumbie Mlambo FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6/12/2020

JB Dondolo Inc.

info@jbdondolo.org

JB DONDOLO INC. LAUNCHES MUSIC FOR WATER CAMPAIGN BENEFITTING THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

Dallas, TX: JB Dondolo, a 501(3)c organization based out of Dallas, Texas, launched their first annual Music for Water, an annual campaign open to amateur and professional musicians. Musicians will produce high-quality recordings of songs and compete for the top five spots. One song will be chosen by a music professional to be the song of the year. The intent of Music for Water is to create a song that ignites awareness of the global importance of clean drinking water.

JB Dondolo has partnered with Grand Mountain International Records, a record label company that will produce the final recording and distribute the top five songs internationally.

The original intent behind Music for Water was an initiative that would accelerate fund acquisition to fulfill the nonprofit’s mission, vision, and values. However, with the rapid changes COVID-19 brought on our communities, JB Dondolo acknowledges the critical need to fight the pandemic while seeking a water song for the charity and spotlighting charitable work undertaken around the world.

To accomplish its mission, JB Dondolo is proud to partner with Disinfect & Shield, a disinfecting company that will provide disinfecting products and services to select healthcare facilities identified as hotspots.

The top chosen song will be promoted by JB Dondolo across its media and social media properties including the JB Dondolo website, through press releases, in interviews, and on Facebook, Twitter, etc. The finalists, and ultimately the winner, will provide a voice to the sound for clean water for JB Dondolo. More information about this initiative may be found at: https://one.bidpal.net/music4water/welcome

Since launching the Music for Water, JB Dondolo has gained collaboration with THE SUPERNATUAL INC, a 21 Century Multimedia Platform and Distributor of Film, Music and Creative Content based out of Atlanta, GA. Janol Mecca Holmes, CEO, is joining JB Dondolo as honorary board. His years of expertise in the music industry is an asset to the organization.

Already, the Music for Water campaign has received endorsements from Gold Selling Recording Artist Ny’a, Country singer IMAJ, and artists Daniel Dodd-Ellis, Marc Avon Evans, and a few others.

JB Dondolo takes tremendous pride in the promotions and exposure it receives from Purdue University Musical Organizations and University of Notre Dame Department of Music.

About JB Dondolo, Inc.: Lumbie Mlambo founded JB Dondolo, Inc. in 2012. JB Dondolo Inc.’s mission is to remove barriers to accessing basic needs that underserved and impoverished communities face. JB Dondolo, Inc. firmly believes that access to clean water is a human right. Mlambo accepted a 2019 UN Global Leadership Award presented by the Dallas Chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America. The award honored the work the organization completed towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation through installing a filtration system at a medical clinic in Zimbabwe.

You may learn more about JB Dondolo, Inc. and the organization’s 2020 initiatives at http://jbdondolo.org.