Like a proud mum

Roughly 5 years ago, at the height of my Blowout Lounge show in NYC, I was receiving requests for a show spot from artists all over the world. There was a young man, polite but persistent who kept asking me to review his mp3s. I kept responding and kept the conversation going. But it took me nearly 2 or 3 months I think before I finally said, what the hell, sure, why not, let's give this a try, and I offered him his first live show. Today, that young man is on the #1 R&B Album in the country as the songwriter of the album title "Pulse" by Toni Braxton.

I absolutely do not take credit for his musical journey which I am sure is filled with highs and lows. But I share this story because he really makes me so proud of his willpower and determination. It just makes me so happy to see him succeed. In a way, he was just like me, hoping for someone to listen, waiting for a chance to be heard. Funny but I still feel that way every now and then. I'm just really grateful that at a minimum I was able to provide a bit of oxygen to fuel his fire that was already burning bright.

The best part of this all is that this young man every now and then checks up on me to say hello and to say thank you. I have helped so many people now in this world, some undeserving. They aren't nearly as appreciative as Cjai. For all the hardships and craziness that transpired during the Blowout Lounge days, the long hard negotiations with bookers and clubs, the artists who only came to tap my connections to further themselves in this wicked game, the partner I trained in this business of live music who swindled money from me ... there are still a select few artists and volunteer staff that made the Blowout Lounge a true soul movement for the arts, and I'm happy to say that Cjai is one of them.

Keep soaring for each time you do, you paint the brightest smile on my face.

Ren