E-mail a friendOctober 24, 2006
Political reporter Halimah Abdullah analyzes Tennessee's Corker-Ford Senate race. Jazz legends George Benson and Al Jarreau talk about their collaboration on the new CD, "Givin' It Up."
Halimah Abdullah
Halimah Abdullah
Halimah Abdullah is a staff writer for the Memphis (TN) Commercial Appeal newspaper. She's worked for New York's Newsday and the Dallas Morning News (TX) and has had her work published in numerous publications, including the St. Petersburg Times, Associated Press, Gannett and Knight Ridder newswires and beliefnet.com. She has taught at Brooklyn College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Abdullah holds a B.A. from the University of Alabama and an M.F.A. in fiction from Brooklyn College.
George Benson
George Benson
George Benson has been described as the guitar-playing equivalent of Nat "King" Cole. The 10-time Grammy winner and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master has recorded with the greats and built a career on fusion and smooth vocals. His hit "Breezin'" was the first jazz record to go platinum, and he went on to record several classics, like "This Masquerade" and "On Broadway." Benson began singing in clubs at age 8 and, as a teen, formed a rock band before changing genres. His latest release is "Songs and Stories."
Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Critically acclaimed vocalist Al Jarreau is one of the rare artists to have won Grammy Awards in three different categories (jazz, pop and R&B). However, music wasn't always the major force in his life. Jarreau excelled in sports and received his master's degree in vocational rehabilitation. He began a career as a rehab counselor, but eventually gave in to his passion for performing. Seven Grammy wins later, he has several new projects, including "Love Songs"—a compilation of music celebrating romance.