*Hey folks, this is Bowlegged Lou of Full Force and I’m so honored & excited about the much anticipated July 1 telecast of TVOne’s UnSung of the incredible Cheryl Pepsii Riley story with a star-studded lineup of people echoing their sentiments of the talents and the person within that is Cheryl Pepsii Riley. Oh yeah, that’s her above and yours truly. It’s my beauty and the Bowlegged beast moment. 🙂
Such folk as the great Tyler Perry who will be representing for Cheryl & who will make his first Unsung debut before the TV cameras as he’s been asked many times to appear on other UnSung episodes and scheduling couldn’t allow for him to partake at those times. Cheryl Pepsii Riley has been in the beginning stage theater trenches with Tyler so it’s only fitting that he is there for her and she is so grateful.
Also in this great Unsung episode you will also see some of Cheryl’s family and friends as well as celebrity stars in the interview chair such as Shemar Moore,Tony Terry,Glenn Jones,Alyson Williams,Bowlegged Lou,Paul Anthony & B-Fine Of Full Force,Ray Chew The Maestro of Showtime At The Apollo,Chandra Currelly, Legendary Record Promotion man Ruben Rodriguez And Jeff Foxx & Lenny Green who are super radio personalities of WBLS radio in New York which is the number one R&B adult contemporary station in the United States. Anyway….I introduce to you Cheryl Pepsii Riley herself in her very own words below.
Thoughts from Cheryl Pepsii Riley….
Wow! I am so moved by the overwhelming response to Just the announcement that TV ONE is airing an Episode about Me on their Highly Decorated Original Series, UNSUNG!
I must thank TVOne & A.Smith Co, the Unsung producers for even considering me for this show. What a Huge Honor! Working with them on both the Full Force and the Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam episodes was cool. Gotta say though, that when it came to an episode on me, initially I was hesitant. I have sooooooo much more I wanna do, that I just keep pushing and grinding.
This experience made me have to stop and realize that I had still done so much already! I am so Grateful and Humbled by the opportunity because if forced me to get out of my own way and my head so that I could take a second to really look back and appreciate this journey called My Life.
What I came to understand, is that there were and are so many people who played such integral parts in my life‘s mission, who really had so much they wanted to say and share. When I mentioned it to My Mom, My Son, My Nieces and Nephew (who are really also My Son and Daughters), My Aunts, Uncles, Cousins…. I Mean, They were Ecstatic!
This process was as much about them, if not More, than it was about Me! And Real Talk, My Story could Never be told without Them!
As I started putting together a list of people who were a part of this journey, career wise, I found myself remembering moments, smiling, laughing and crying tears of gratitude. Of course, My Full Force Family, who I’d known since before their recording days.
When we were both just local groups (me with my Besties in Our group, StarGaze and them, Full Force) in Brooklyn trying to get in the game.
Bow-Legged Lou, who I met doing community theater way back then, is Still Always looking out for me and everyone he calls friend!
Then fast forward to co starring with Shemar Moore on Theater stages around the country, and now, to call him My Friend, to Sharing Stages with Tyler Perry, before the movies and television shows and getting to witness first hand his hard work and work ethic that has made him a multi media mogul and philanthropist! The cast mates that I’d met through these experiences that became family!
Combine that with My Music Family both locally in NYC and Those known by The World, …….the fact that all these Extraordinary Artists and Beautiful Spirits were willing to share on my behalf.
I was and still am full with emotion to see the Excitement from My Family and Dearest Friends and hear their Words of Love and Support. This feeling is Indescribable!
Add to that, Celebrating 30 Years since the Columbia Records Release of “Thanks For My Child” and how it Still resonates Today with listeners! Whether it be that Momma who says she played this song over and over while pregnant with their baby, or their children saying they heard Thanks For My Child their whole lives and then played this song for their own children….. It still moves me to this day to hear! I always appreciate them sharing these stories of love! It’s so Deep when I look at the generations of those who have supported me over the years. I have been in the presence of a grandmother who loved Thanks For My Child, with her child, who is all grown up, with her daughter who loves Tyler Perry stage plays and they All be familiar with my work! When I think back to My Prayer for Longevity and see this? God is So Awesome!!!!
And now, It’s such a Blessing to be mentoring a whole new generation of Up and coming artists on a platform I started almost 15 years ago at The Village Underground and now at Club GROOVE in the West Village, called the Black Velvet Experience , specifically in New York City, #BlackVelvetMondays where I get to share my experiences and what I’ve learned in this industry, along with providing a safe place for them to shed and hone their crafts. It’s a love filled, musical fellowship of musicians and singers where they are All encouraged to Trust Their Individual and Collective Gifts all while Growing in Community. It is indeed My Pay it Forward. And from this we have seen amazing talents go on to do Incredible things. I am so proud of this venture that I call My Baby. We get so many visiting NYC asking to bring this to their cities, states and countries, that we are really pushing to make that happen! The Black Velvet Experience brings people together through the universal language of Music! We even took it to Paris, France and the response was Absolutely Electric!
So, Yes, Still So Much to Do but It’s All Good because I am So Blessed by the Beautiful Souls God has placed in My Path! I Know for sure, that This Gift God has Blessed me with, is More about My Purpose on Earth than it is about the entertainment of it all. Has it always been easy? No. Have there been challenges? Yes. But even that is a part of the process. It’s Necessary and truth is, the lessons learned from any and all of those instances have made Me who I am today! Being chosen to do UNSUNG, given the opportunity to venture back in order to tell this story, My Story, at this place in My Life, has been a Godsend!
So, Sunday, July 1st, Wow, My Episode of UNSUNG Premiers! ?? Watch the promo below:
Thank You to Everyone involved in bringing this into fruition! I also thank Mr. Lee Bailey of EURWEB.COM who I’ve known since the beginning of my career. I thank You God because I am STILL Here, Being, Doing n Glad About It! I am Forever Grateful, Humbled and Eagerly Ready to Move Upward and Forward to the Next Chapter Cuz Yes, There is So Much More to come. So, Stay Tuned ?
Blessings ??
WATCH Cheryl’s classic video for “Thanks For My Child”:
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