I just added a paragraph to my article about Norma Jean Bell. I have recently reconnected with an old friend, the illustrious Mr. Kern Brantley, a monster of a bass player, and the musical director for the Beyonce show (among others). He appears in concert and on TV regularly (he let me know he was on the Ellen show last week, I was unable to catch it but I'm sure it was awesome.) Anyway, let me just print here the paragraph I wrote in the other article:

 "one more really important detail... is the fact that the reason I was able to get the gig was because the bass player was leaving the group. That bass player was the illustrious Kern Brantley. He was leaving the group because he had gotten a gig going out on tour with Earl Klugh, international jazz guitar celebrity, who happens to be from Detroit. He had come in and seen Kern play there with Norma and offered him the gig. So, to my luck, Kern was leaving and I jumped on Norma's gig. On Kern's last night, which was my first night, Earl Klugh came into the club and sat in with the band. Earl had recently been on tour with George Benson, as I recall, and was enjoying quite a bit of popularity at the time, as well as being featured regularly on Detroit's WJZZ radio (the Jazzy One). Readers will be interested to know that Kern Brantley is now the musical director for the Beyonce show and also works regularly with Ne-Yo and Anita Baker and many others. A very successful fellow, that Kern, "King of Kings" LOL. Yes, indeed. I also have learned that Kern's brother (is it Valdez?) is now the musical director for Usher. Quite a phenomenally musical family, the Brantleys."

here is a link to the article about that gig I wrote: Axel's on 8 Mile with Norma Jean Bell

 go ahead on Mr. Brantley! echa'palante!