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One day a man stopped to help an old lady who was stranded on the side of the road.
He decided to help her, so he stopped his old Jazz next to her Mercedes and got out. The old lady seemed a bit frightened and nervous because of his shabby appearance. The man, sensing this, approached carefully and tried to calm her.
He said to her, "Don't worry. I'm here to help you. My name is John William." He proceeded to fix her flat tire and became dirty and slightly injured in the process.
When he was finished, the lady asked him how much she owed him. He responded by telling her that if she really wanted to repay him, she could pass on the kindness to someone else in their time of need.
Later that evening the lady stopped at a small, dingy cafe. The waitress who served her was pregnant and tired. Despite her apparent exhaustion, the waitress was very sweet and friendly.
The lady wondered how someone who was so tired from a long day of work could still be so friendly and kind to her.
Then she remembered John. When the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress went to get change and when she came back, the lady was gone.
She left a note on the napkin…"You don't owe me anything. Somebody once helped me, just like I'm helping you now. If you really want to pay me back, do not let this chain of love end with you."
The waitress found five one hundred dollar bills under the napkin. That night, the waitress went home early. She thought about the lady and the money she left. She wondered how the lady could possibly know how much they needed it.
She knew her husband was worried and she was worried about him. She couldn't wait to tell him the good news.
Then she hugged him and whispered…Now everything will be okay. I love you, John William.

One day a man stopped to help an old lady who was stranded on the side of the road.
He decided to help her, so he stopped his old Jazz next to her Mercedes and got out. The old lady seemed a bit frightened and nervous because of his shabby appearance. The man, sensing this, approached carefully and tried to calm her.
He said to her, "Don't worry. I'm here to help you. My name is John William." He proceeded to fix her flat tire and became dirty and slightly injured in the process.
When he was finished, the lady asked him how much she owed him. He responded by telling her that if she really wanted to repay him, she could pass on the kindness to someone else in their time of need.
Later that evening the lady stopped at a small, dingy cafe. The waitress who served her was pregnant and tired. Despite her apparent exhaustion, the waitress was very sweet and friendly.
The lady wondered how someone who was so tired from a long day of work could still be so friendly and kind to her.
Then she remembered John. When the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress went to get change and when she came back, the lady was gone.
She left a note on the napkin…"You don't owe me anything. Somebody once helped me, just like I'm helping you now. If you really want to pay me back, do not let this chain of love end with you."
The waitress found five one hundred dollar bills under the napkin. That night, the waitress went home early. She thought about the lady and the money she left. She wondered how the lady could possibly know how much they needed it.
She knew her husband was worried and she was worried about him. She couldn't wait to tell him the good news.
Then she hugged him and whispered…Now everything will be okay. I love you, John William.

The music industry has evolved over the years for better, certainly. Today’s recording artists are able to control their own songs and catalogues as long as they do not sell out. With many gadgets and tools used today to make new sounds with certain programs; music creators do not have to be gifted or musically inclined to produce what we hear on the radio these days.

As long as a person can read and have a sense of rhythm, then he or she is able to get what they want to hear, when using certain music apps to make the music of their choice. For musicians who actually play real instruments in the studio and record using a bass, guitars, keyboards, woodwind and brass instruments, drums and other percussion instruments; along with their main tool, their voice; this is true R&B music.

Maurice White, founder and former member of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire played many instruments, including: drums, piano, timbales, vocals and the Kalimba. Their song Kalimba Story written by White and co-written by his brother Verdine, recorded in 1974 on their “Open Our Eyes” album; this particular funky up-tempo dance track featured the African instrument, the Kalimba. He made this musical instrument very popular in and around the world. Maurice White was a gifted, creative and talented musician and vocalist and much more; his music catalogue and legacy will be around for generations to come.

Today’s artists including but not limited to the likes of Bruno Mars, H.E.R, Maxwell, Anthony Hamilton, and other independent artists like Pleasure More to name a few are bringing new music with an old school feel are pioneering and paving the way to keep R&B afloat in a dominant Hip-Hop driven music industry. Quincy Jones stated on his “Back On The Block” album 1989 that rap is here to stay. Well, R&B is the foundation of Hip-Hop and will last forever.

Though the music business will continue to evolve with new technological advances and updated laws pertaining with different streaming platforms; one thing that is certain for songwriters, musicians, and record producers who make music from the heart, is that there will always be music lovers who will appreciate and accept true musicianship. For an emerging artist today, staying true to yourself and the music that’s in your heart is important. Music, love, and peace is what is needed to make the world a better place. Music is simply twelve notes, but how you use those twelve notes will define your success!