“for the LOVE of Music” with Sara Troy and her guest Gene-O, on air from November 21st.
Gearing up for the release of “Time for Change,” the infectious, insightful and timely debut single from Classic Twist – the fresh, grooving and innovative, multi-genre duo he’s formed with veteran writer/producer Kevin Flournoy – renowned R&B/jazz singer/songwriter Gene-O played the track for some industry movers and shakers in their home base of Southern California. Their response was auspicious – it reminded them of a modern version of “We Are the World.” If ever the planet needed a hopeful and uplifting new anthem to inspire us to look past our differences and come together in a spirit of love, the time is now.
Written by Gene-O and produced by Flournoy, “Time for Change” is an emphatic call to action that pointedly reflects on everything we need to do to come together and achieve a better world. Over a unique musical vibe that, true to the fusion-driven spirit of Classic Twist, incorporates elements of pop, R&B, country and rock, Gene-O passionately sings, “It’s time we leave our comfort zone/It’s time for you and I to rearrange things/Cause everybody knows it’s time for changes/It’s time we see the light/It’s time to do what’s right. . .So much love/That’s what we all should be thinking of…”
“We recorded this song and are releasing it as our first Classic Twist single because globally we desperately need to effect major change,” says Gene-O, whose most recent solo albums were the back-to-back releases of Born to Love and Christmas with Gene-O. Having spent years performing around the world (China, Japan and the EU) and the U.S., the singer started his career recording and performing with such artists as Baby Bash, N2Deep, The Jets, Maserati, and Sheila E to name a few. Once designated as Best New Artist of the Month by Talking Smooth Jazz Radio – more recently he has shared the stage with the likes of Brian O’Neal (The Bus Boys), Howard Hewitt, Eric Darius, Dru Hill, Lenny Williams (Tower of Power), Joe, and his mentors, Phil Perry and the late great Ricky Lawson.
“Our world is so crazy right now on so many levels,” he adds. “I had the message in my mind and I felt it was something we needed to do together. Kevin and I talk about these issues all the time. Every time we turn on the TV or listen to the radio, they’re talking about more division. The song, like all of the music we’re making together as Classic Twist, reflects the way we live, just loving people. Love and unity form the concept of everything we’re going to do on this project.”
“As veteran musicians and live performers, we know the joy that’s possible when thousands of people from all different backgrounds and beliefs come together to hear music and experience an elevation of positivity,” adds Flournoy, who has written, performed or recorded over the years with Chaka Khan, Babyface, Donny Osmond, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, The Pointer Sisters, Jennifer Hudson, Howard Hewitt, Jamie Foxx, The Jazz Crusaders and contemporary jazz greats Boney James, Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum and Harvey Mason.
The duo plans to follow “Time for Change” with several other original singles before releasing an EP or full-length album comprised of new compositions and explosive re-imaginings of classic rock tunes. One of these is the whimsical, high-energy country-soul-rocker “Things are Changing,” a lighthearted song along a similar theme about going out and having some fun. The other is “You’re My Hero,” an inspiring, R&B/gospel flavored tribute to the love of hard- working, self-sacrificing women everywhere that was picked up by an international women’s foundation as their new anthem; Gene-O and Flournoy will be shooting a video for this song this fall. As for the covers, down the road, Classic Twist is excited about presenting their dynamic versions of Simply Red’s “Holding Back the Years,” Journey’s “Faithfully” and Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind.”
The concept of Classic Twist is rooted in the longtime friendship and musical camaraderie of Gene-O and Flournoy, who first played together informally at jam sessions hosted by smooth jazz bassist Darryl Williams at Simply Sharon’s restaurant in Temecula, CA. Sometime later, when Gene-O was at one of Flournoy’s gigs at Felix’s Barbecue with Soul in San Diego, the two got to talking about their mutual musical passions, became fast friends and began gigging together.
Over the years, while perfecting their chemistry doing regular gigs at San Diego area hotspots like Covo and countless high-end parties, the two began talking about developing a unique hybrid style that incorporated two of Gene-O’s all-time favorite genres – country and classic rock – that he never had a chance to record or perform because of his success in jazz and R&B and the popular demand for him to continue in that vein. Flournoy, a veteran arranger and producer who loves those styles as well, helped develop and bring to life some of Gene-O’s new songs in a way that incorporated such elements as banjo and steel and electric guitar. They plan to bring in some of the top musicians in the business to cut each song live like an old school ensemble, leading to a transcendent, one-of-a-kind sonic aesthetic that will inevitably be Classic Twist.
Having sung at church from the age of seven, Gene-O began his professional career at seventeen with a Bay Area band called Sho-fur. He has written, produced and collaborated with mega- producers Felton Pilate, Preston Glass, and Tank as well as contemporary jazz greats Adam Hawley, Blake Aaron, Darryl Williams, Cal Harris, Jr. and Will Donato. Flournoy, who earned a B.A. from the UCSD in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Music Science and Technology, is the owner and CEO of Kay-Flow Productions, LLC, a division of Flournoy Entertainment, Inc. His first major label success as a producer was Big Mountain’s international hit “Sweet Sensual Love.” As an artist/producer, this past year he released two versions of a cover of the Jam/Lewis SOS Band Top 5 R&B hit “Tell Me If You Still Care” – the first featuring Phil Perry on vocals, the second with saxophonist Richard Elliott.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support, thank you. and please support Our Forgotten Children’s anthology and help to bring this book into production.
Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Howard Gershman, on air from December 19th
Picture this…
A regular middle-class guy. Good job. Nice family. He made some money, bought houses, and sent his kids to college. A life many people would aspire to.
But his finances were a mess. And he didn’t even know it.
He relied on people he trusted to give him advice about what he should do with his money.
What he got was insurance that was totally wrong for him. And instead of making money with investments, he lost thousands.
What’s worse… these guys, who he trusted, who he thought were looking out for him, earned huge commissions.
That WAS our presenter today, Howard Gershman.
Fortunately, thru Primerica, he discovered the way finances are supposed to work. What he’s supposed to do and not do with his money. He switched everything around, and now he’s in a much better place.
Now with 19 years of experience, Howard shares that knowledge with others and, as a result, has helped:
Over 300 clients all over the country.
Turned 13 clients with massive debts to be on track to have $1,000,000 in retirement accounts
Set up 5 families to send their children to college without huge loans
Focuses on putting in place programs to prevent an unexpected disaster (death) from turning into financial ruin.
In short, he disrupts the way people think about their finances.
He’s eager to help you and the people you know to do the same.
As a financial advisor and coach, Howard Gershman teaches, guides, and coaches individuals and families about the fundamental concepts behind “how money works”. Unfortunately, these concepts are not taught in school. Through education and by offering a customized financial strategy, his clients experience the peace of mind they have always longed for, knowing that they are on the correct path to achieving their financial goals and financial independence.
Howard has broad experience and professional training in all aspects of personal financial management, including family budgeting, income replacement challenges, debt elimination, and early retirement planning.
In addition, he is skilled at problem-solving, organization and planning, writing, and public speaking.
Notable Accomplishments:
Won BNI givers gain award twice, Cycle to Vermont for Special Olympics, Numerous scouting awards.
Professional Networks:
Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce (Membership ambassador committee), BNI – Mid Hudson Valley Region (Training Director Consultant)
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support, thank you. and please support Our Forgotten Children’s anthology and help to bring this book into production.
Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air from December 19th
Well, the time has come – my book is finally out, albeit currently just in e-book format. It’s an odd feeling, putting your life’s story down on paper. Reading it back feels like reliving my journey, with each page turning into a surprising exploration of my past.
Originally, my plan was to record everything and then transcribe it, but instead, I took a three-week break from work and just let my fingers do the talking. My story flowed out naturally. This seems to be a recurring theme in my life; I often start with one plan in mind, but then my soul takes over, steering me in a different, yet invariably a better, direction.
Now that my book is out there for anyone to read, it feels like it’s no longer just mine. It’s a liberating feeling, though. And soon, it won’t just be an e-book – I’m working on getting it published in paperback and as an audio version too.
I’ve reached a point where I’m at peace with not knowing how my book will be received. I’ve learned to let go of that concern. After all, we can only be true to ourselves, and it’s up to others whether they see us for who we are. How my book is interpreted and what readers take from it is beyond my control. My hope is that by sharing my own journey from self-discovery to living soulfully, I might inspire or help someone else on their path. If my experiences and reflections can open even one door for someone else on their soul journey, then sharing my story will have been worth it.
I have put together another anthology called Our Forgotten Children, filled with authors who have dedicated their lives to our children and know the changes needed for them to grow in life.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support, thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help produce this book.
This is a senior community book where we come together to illuminate the path for others to walk on. I have openings for senior authors who wish to share their wisdom.
She’s on a mission to help you untether yourself from all the “shoulds” and “can’ts” that have been holding you back.
Carmel is a single parent, mountain bike coach, life coach, podcaster and writer.
She’s pretty happy with her life, but it wasn’t always this way.
For many years, she made “safe” and practical choices. And she failed spectacularly at living the life she didn’t really want in the first place.
By age 35, she was a divorced single parent working a job that no longer interested her. And she wasn’t spending nearly enough time doing what she loved. When she finally got tired of hearing her own complaining, she hired a coach and started taking full responsibility for the results in her life. 10 years later, she runs her own coaching business, mountain bikes at least 3 days a week, and has finally found her forever romantic partner, who also mountain bikes, of course.
The more she’s allowed herself to focus on her passion for mountain biking the happier she’s been and the easier life has become.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support, thank you. and please support Our Forgotten Children’s anthology and help to bring this book into production.
Ignite your heart and soul with Sara Troy and her guest Shawna James, on air from December 19th
Magic. Life is full of it. For years, in the corporate world, my teams would hear me repeat my mantra, “I have a magic wand and I know how to use it.” That was my truth, though at a level I didn’t even yet realize, until a life-altering encounter with COVID-19 changed my trajectory and had me doubting everything I thought I knew. I found myself compelled to embrace stillness on my healing journey, discovering that true healing resonates on the level of frequency.
While we’ve been taught the importance of daily nutritional health for our bodies, we must not forget that we are not merely physical beings. The question then arises: what kind of ‘nutrition’ are we providing for our mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual health? As we are surrounded by frequencies and energies, it’s the raising of our vibration to a level of harmony and resonance with the higher frequencies that contribute to our fullest expression. Now, more than ever, we are awakening to our inherent power. The daily practices we adopt are not just routine and self-care is not merely a luxury; they are the keys to unlocking our latent potential, allowing us to wield the magic that lies within with profound clarity and intention.
With a wealth of experience from two decades in personal and corporate training, Shawna James saw her early career bolstered by the privilege of working alongside and observing closely revered industry leaders, such as Tony Robbins and Deepak Chopra. The insights into the human potential and resilience were put to the test when her journey through a crucible of personal health challenges lighted a path towards vibrational healing and self-discovery.
In the aftermath of her health ordeal, Shawna turned inward, harnessing her training in Reiki, hypnosis, and neuro-linguistic programming to forge a new path of wellness rooted in the subtleties of energy work. She is now a steadfast advocate for the transformative power of frequency and resonance as tools for profound self-healing.
Dedicated to raising the collective vibration, Shawna’s approach is rooted in the belief that each individual’s path to healing and growth is sovereign, unique, and one-of-one. She empowers others to discover their own vibrational signature and awaken to their spiritual consciousness. Her vision is clear: by honoring the uniqueness of our journeys, we activate the full spectrum of our inner wisdom and step into a life of deliberate authenticity and enchantment. We have begun the journey of remembering who we really are. It’s time we begin to practice living A Different Normal. If enough of us change ourselves, we will change the world.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support, thank you. and please support Our Forgotten Children’s anthology and help to bring this book into production.
You must be logged in to post a comment.