Back in June, I blogged about the Mahalia Jackson Chicken System after I had seen one of their old buildings in Tallahassee. The African-American franchise venture was started in 1968 by Dr. Benjamin Hooks and State Representative A. W. Willis Jr in Memphis as an experiment in Black entrepreneurship. Mahalia Jackson had always been a supporter of Black business as well and had her own recipe for fried chicken. Besides that, it was the late 1960’s, and thanks to Colonel Sanders, franchising was the hottest thing going. Some research in old newspapers at the University of Memphis led to these photos and advertisements from the Dallas, Texas store, which was on Forest Avenue in South Dallas. While the logo and graphics are the same, the building architecture is slightly different from the standard ones seen in Orange Mound on Park Avenue, in Milwaukee, in South Memphis or in Tallahassee. Now if I could only find their chicken recipe…
Dallas-based Dondria is the most recent female singer to be introduced to the world by Jermaine Dupri’s venerable So So Def imprint, now distributed by Malaco Urban. Her debut album is entitled “Dondria vs. Phatfffat” (“Phatfffat” was a childhood nickname), and reveals immediately her extensive vocal gifts. She is a fine and versatile singer, with a clear, powerful and expressive voice. The songs, of course, deal with the usual currency of R & B, songs about break-ups (“Where Did We Go Wrong” and “No More”), pleas for a second chance (“You’re The One”) and songs about sex (“Making Love”). The best of these have a strong summertime vibe, however, and make for pleasurable listening, particularly “No More” and the “Jeep Remix” of “You’re The One”, with its familiar “I’d Rather Be With You” sample.  The final slow ballad “Kissed By The Sun” leaves the realm of R & B entirely for the world of pop, demonstrating Dondria’s versatility and mainstream commercial potential. Altogether, Dondria vs. Phatfffat is a respectable first outing from a voice that I would hope to hear from in the future.Â
Celebrating DJ Bay’s birthday at the 2 For 1 Taste Bar and Grill on Winchester in Hickory Hill, July 9, 2011
Memphis Elite Flames Drill Team and Drum Squad #2.MOV (by jdoggtn7) At the Exquisite Women Block Party at McFarland Community Center in Fox Meadows, Memphis, July 9, 2011
The exquisite women Social Club sponsored a block party and health fair yesterday at McFarland Community Center in Fox Meadows, Memphis.
8Ball & MJG Feat. E-40, Mac Mall & Big Mike-Friend Or Foe
Memphis veterans…
Memphis Elite Flames Drill Team and Drumline.MOV (by jdoggtn7) The youngest division of the Memphis Elite Flames Drill Team performs at the Exquisite Women Block Party at McFarland Community Center in Fox Meadows, Memphis, July 9, 2011