June 18, 2007

Tank Talks

I've known R&B singer Tank (born Durrell Babbs) for many years. Long before he became the chiseled-chested, soul-singing heartthrob with gold-selling records and legions of adoring female fans, Tank was a superstar on the Washington, D.C., church circuit, singing with gospel groups like Victor Johnson & Free and a quartet called Psalms. Back then, teenage girls and their mothers could barely contain themselves when Tank would play the keyboard with his eyes tightly closed as he belted out one of his signature riffs. Forget an offering, the women would come close to throwing their panties on the pulpit as he sang.

Since then, the Milwaukee, Wis.-born and Clinton, Md-raised former background singer for Ginuwine and Aaliyah has become a bona fide R&B star in his own right. His latest release, 'Sex, Love & Pain,' topped the Billboard's R&B chart when it was released on May 15 and its first single 'Please Don't Go' has been the number one urban adult contemporary song in the country for six weeks.

"I think it's crazy after not having a record out with my face on it for five years," said Tank, who spoke with me as his tour bus drove into Atlanta. "It just lets me and other people know that people still want to hear real R&B! There's no if ands or buts about it. It can still go to the top of the charts; it can still move units and the whole nine. People had just gotten away from it and labels had been so scared of it just because of the success of hip-hop. And because of the integration of hip-hop and R&B, people had forgotten what R&B is and what R&B can really do. I think with this single and with this album, we're really making that statement again."

Tank took a non-traditional approach to introduce 'Please Don't Go' into the marketplace. After completing the track last September, the singer decided to perform the song in the touring play 'Men, Money & Golddiggers' that he starred in opposite Robin Givens, Miguel Nunez Jr., Terri J. Vaughn, Chico Benymon, Essence Atkins, Carl Payne and Ginuwine. "We were kind of using the play to work the single and build it, because nobody was looking to put any major funding into promoting it and all that good stuff. It was just, let's see what this single can do and see if we got the right one. Between me being out on the road with the play, going out to different radio stations and then people at the labels putting in calls trying to get someone in the record, it just started blowing," he explained.

Since we were talking about 'Men, Money & Golddiggers,' I had to ask Tank about the rumors that he was dating Robin Givens while they were on the road. "I mean, we hung out a little bit," he answered, very carefully considering his words. "Robin is really cool, you know, we just kind of became friends or what have you. Even off the tour, we still talk or whatever and kind of encourage each other with our own individual projects and things like that. So, it's cool. Robin is a nice woman and it was good meeting her. We hang out from time to time, just as good friends."

Doesn't sound like a denial to me! You be the judge.

Looking back, Tank said the run in that touring play helped hone his acting skills. "It's something I want to do a whole lot more of. I've been doing a couple of auditions, but I still have a lot to learn. I'm getting more comfortable as an actor and that theater run helped me a whole lot. I'm trying to get my Denzel Jr. wet," he said.

Tank also had a cameo as a choir singer in the film adaptation of 'Dreamgirls,' but he disclosed that he came really close to landing the role of Effie White's brother, C.C. "So it came down to me and Keith Robinson, which was incredible. It was my first major audition and I'm all the way down to the end and I might get the role! That was incredible to me. Not getting it was a little disappointing, but I still felt good about my chances. I knew it was going to be big," he said.

In addition to being an R&B singer and a fledgling actor, Tank has become a go-to songwriter and producer. He's created hits for Fantasia, Jamie Foxx, Omarion, Ruben Studdard and Marques Houston. Though his publishing checks may be hefty and his lists of credits may be long, becoming a songwriter and producer was something Tank ventured into by accident.

"I didn't know exactly how I was supposed to maneuver in the business with that kind of success. So when the artist thing wasn't going so hot, I was like let me write and produce just to survive. Then it became more than just surviving and it became a thing where people started really respecting me and wanting me to do a whole bunch of it. Then it became, well, if we going to do an album, we've got to get Tank. It's kind of made me a well-rounded entity in the business," he said.

In addition to producing two songs on Kelly Rowland's forthcoming sophomore solo album, (where he also performs a duet with the Destiny's Child singer) Tank is already working on upcoming albums by Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Charlie Wilson. "If anything, I'm just excited that people are coming to me to get R&B. I can do R&B with my individual twist on it for that particular artist," he said.

Next up for Tank is the 'Shirts Off Tour' with R&B buddies Tyrese and Ginuwine. The trio, a modern day LSG (Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill), will get together to record a collaborative record and they already can be heard on a remix of Tank's single, 'Please Don't Go.'

Relationship Roundup

With all of these rumors circulating about hip-hop star Lil Wayne and his ex-girlfriend, rapper Trina, getting back together, I wonder how Weezy's new girlfriend Farrah Franklin feels about that? The New Orleans rapper and the one-time Destiny's Child singer have been quietly dating for a couple of months now.

Sources tell me that 'Flavor of Love 2' winner Delishes is keeping company with trouble-prone rapper Busta Rhymes. Not sure how they met and not sure how long they've been "dating," but what I do know is that they are together! And don't look for those keloids on her shoulders next time you see her. The reality show star apparently had a skin specialist use steroid shots to remove the keloids.

Congratulations are apparently in order for 'America's Next Top Model' contestant Tiffany Richardson. She's the contestant made famous when Tyra Banks screamed at her -- "I have never in my life yelled at a girl like this!" -- and even more infamous for hooking up with Bobby Brown in 2006 on Tom Joyner's Fantastic Voyage while he was still married to Whitney Houston. Well, she's apparently left married men alone and married a man of her own. The newlywed introduced her husband to some 'Tom Joyner Morning Show' staffers when she arrived at the port in Miami to pick up her grandmother who sailed again this year on the ship. Oh, and a shout-out to Richardson's grandmother!: I hear she was looking to meet me on the cruise this year because she was mad that I broke the news about Richardson hooking up with Brown last year on the ship. "What happens on the ship stays on the ship, and he broke the rules," she told one of my colleagues.

Buzzworthy

The R&B trio Brownstone is apparently back together. Word has it that original group members Nicci Gilbert, Maxee Maxwell and Mimi Doby have reunited and are planning to perform some concert dates before heading back into the recording studio. Brownstone, which released three albums before breaking up in 2000, is best known for hit songs such as 'Grapevyne,' '5 Miles to Empty' and 'If You Love Me.'

Speaking of veteran R&B groups, former Jade singer Joi Marshall is readying her debut gospel album. The set, 'Testimony & Praise,' is slated to bow on 8th Day Entertainment/ Amen Gospel/EMI Gospel on Sept. 25. Jade was best known for the '90s single 'Don't Walk Away Boy.'

Pint-sized neo-soul siren Leela James sure knows how to make the best out of bad situation. When the singer with the super-sized afro landed in Philadelphia to headline the Odunde Festival, her luggage never arrived. Instead of bowing out of the performance, James wore garments that event organizers lent her. With a borrowed Bob Marley T-shirt tied up in the back and some borrowed jewelry, the 'A Change Is Gonna Come' singer hit the stage as if nothing happened. The Odunde Festival, hosted this year by author Mister Mann Frisby ('Blinking Red Light'), is one of the nation's oldest African-American street festivals. It began in started in 1975 with a $100.00 grant.

The 2007 Grammy Salute to Gospel Music recently was held at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. -- the first time the event was presented outside Los Angeles -- and saluted The Clark Sisters, Dr. Bobby Jones and Michael W. Smith. This year's show, hosted by Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin, opened with performances by Richard Smallwood & Vision and Byron Cage. Dr. Jones was celebrated in song by co-host Adams, Donald Lawrence and Vanessa Bell Armstrong, who brought the house down with a show-stopping performance of her hit song 'Peace Be Still.' Smith was serenaded by the phenomenal Crystal Lewis and co-host McClurkin, before taking the stage to sing his own song 'Above All.' The night concluded the tribute to The Clark Sisters (Karen Clark-Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Elbertina "Twinkie" Clark and Jackie Clark-Chisholm), with Kierra "Kiki" Sheard singing 'Endow Me' and BeBe Winans, who put aside his usual ballad singing for a surprisingly rousing rendition of 'Pray for the USA.' The Clark Sisters took the stage to perform their hit 'You Brought the Sunshine' in an all-star finale for the night. Gospel artists Brent Jones and Dorothy Norwood, author/motivational speaker Cheryl Martin and musician/producer Derek Lee attended.

Can't Say Names…

Sources say that a certain African-American singer/actor was really glad when he learned that a Broadway star's new baby wasn't biracial. Said singer apparently had a one-night stand with a married Broadway babe, who happens to be Caucasian, and shortly afterward she found out she was pregnant. Could you imagine the theater actress trying to explain to her Caucasian husband how she had a biracial baby?