Florida Agenda

It’s been two years since Grammy-nominated DJ Tony Moran has released a full album.  At long last, he makes his triumphant return to the dance floor with MIX MAGIC MUSIC, a CD fully penned by Moran but being released under his new moniker, Sugar House Crew.

The album embraces the soul, sympathy and conviction of club music.  Its first single, “Can I Love You More” (featuring Trey Lorenz), hit dance floors this summer and nabbed the top spot on Masterbeat in a record breaking three days. The album’s next release will be a double diva maxi mix featuring two leading ladies of the dance floor: Jennifer Holiday’s “Magic” and Deborah Cox’s “Tenderness.”

Tony Moran celebrates the release of MIX MAGIC MUSIC at Score this Saturday, October 15.

GET OUT: Why did you name the album MIX MAGIC MUSIC?
The album was originally going to be called Magic, but I wanted something that more specifically encapsulated my true feelings of dance music. The phrase “mix that magic through music” came to me and I knew it was perfect.

Instead of releasing the album under your name, you’re releasing it under the moniker Sugar House Crew. Why?
The album was a collaborative effort.  I called upon my pool of extraordinary talent who graciously poured their time and creativity into its creation. I would have been remiss to assume solo credit.  The many collaborators are my crew and they added their sugar to the album.

How did you get Jennifer Holliday to record Magic

?

I was in a recording studio, banging my head over who would be able to carry the song’s powerful message. Then, as I walked outside the studio, I looked up  at a billboard announcing Jennifer Holliday performing that night at Lincoln Center. I called her and asked if she could stop by the studio. She came in, loved it, and recorded Magic the next day. It truly was magic!

Deborah Cox is perfect on “Tenderness!”
“Tenderness” is about love, hurt, angst and joy; all in one. It’s extremely personal, which made it perfect for Deborah. Deborah Cox does not sing songs, she shares stories that fans feel in their souls.

What do you love most about dance music?
There is a unique love that emanates from dance music. It does more than make people move. Dance music inspires a level of passion, devotion, faith and satisfaction. I feel it every time I’m making music in the studio and when I’m playing it in the DJ booth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Moran spins Score, 727 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, FL on Saturday, October 16. For more information on MIX MAGIC MUSIC, visit www.tonymoran.com.

By Troy Maillis

After schedule changes and some “diva” behavior, Jennifer Holliday, the headline performer at this year’s annual Stonewall Street Festival, wowed the excited crowds with hit songs such as “One Night Only” and “I Am Changing” from the Broadway smash-hit “Dreamgirls”.  A seasoned performer for 30 years, Holliday kept the Wilton Manors crowds anxiously awaiting her performance, and some fans were not very pleased with Holliday’s “diva” behavior leading up to the performance.

Read more after the Jump, Jennifer Holliday Exclusive Interview

(Photo: South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble marching in last year’s Stonewall Festival Parade. Photo by Dennis Dean)

By James Michaels

This Sunday, June 20, 2010 is the eleventh annual Stonewall Street Festival and Parade produced by Pride of Greater Fort Lauderdale. This is the second of the two annual gay pride celebrations held in Fort Lauderdale each year. After two-years of holding the parade on a Saturday night and the festival during the daytime on the following Sunday, PGFL has returned to a one-day format with the parade stepping off at 11 a.m. followed by the festival beginning at noon.

Grand Marshals for this year’s parade are photographer Adam Bouska and his partner, Jeff Parshley. Bouska and Parshley inadvertently started a national phenomenon when, after California passed the anti-gay marriage Proposition 8, took photographs of themselves of themselves wearing white t-shirts, standing in front of white background, had silver duct tape across their face and on the cheeks had written “NO H8”. Having seen the photos, their friends wanted their photos taken also. Soon the couple formed a non-profit organization to inform the public on gay marriage equality and charge for their official photos. Bouska and Parshley have now shot the photos over 5,000 photos, mostly in California. Having only shot in New York and Washington, D.C. in the eastern United States, they arrive in Wilton Manors to shoot at CopyThis on Wilton Drive on Monday.

The parade will be announced from the main stage located at the intersection of Wilton Drive and N.E. 6 Avenue by Eugene Ramirez and Kristin Anderson, hosts of “The Morning Show” on WSFL, channel 39.

The festival will include a main stage located on the corner of Wilton Drive and N.E. 6 Avenue and two dance venues, one in front of Sidelines Sports Bar and they are working in cooperation with the dance tent at Rosie’s Bar and Grille. There will also be additional entertainment at The Manor.

Jennifer Holliday leads the entertainment located on the main stage. Holliday is a well-known respected Broadway star and recording artist who appeared in the original version “Dream Girls”.

Also headlining are JuJuBe and Jessica Wild from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, Kevin Aviance and Kitty Meow. Local favorites include Tiffany Arieagus, Electra , Nikki Adams and Debra Hampton. Other entertainers include Gio, Eryn Woods, Philip Alexander, Ray Boltz, Barry Brandon and Leah Driscoll. There are also other local entertainers and bands scheduled to perform. Misty Eyez, Shane Phoenix and “The Rickster” are emceeing the main stage.

Deejays spinning at the Sidelines Pride Dance Arena are headlined by deejays Wendy Hunt and deejays Miik and Marc Scott. Other deejays that day are deejays Sayho, Stu, DaddyO and Maximus 3000.

Additional events are being held at the “Pride Triangle” of Rosie’s New Moon and Matty’s on the Drive. This includes the traditional dance tent at Rosie’s. Throughout the festival will be additional amusements including dunk tanks and water slides and a “Family Friendly” is also on schedule with performances by the Rainbow Circus.

A VIP Party is being held during the festival at CopyThis starting at 6 pm which includes a meet-and-greet with the entertainers including Jennifer Holliday and Grand Marshals Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley.

The entire parade and the entertainment on the main stage will be streamed live world-wide over the internet by the Fabb Vision Network.

Singer and Tony-award winning actress, Jennifer Holliday will be headlining the Main Stage at this year’s Stonewall Street Festival and Parade to be held on Sunday, June 20, 2010. Holliday started her career on Broadway in musicals such as “Dreamgirls” and later became a successful recording artist. She is best known for her debut single, the “Dreamgirls” showstopper and Grammy-winning R&B/Pop hit, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” This is believed to be Jennifer’s first appearance in a South Florida LGBT pride celebration.

Some of the deejays that will be performing on the Main Stage and the dance arena which will be located in front of Sidelines Sports Bar are Deejays Wendy Hunt and Marc Scott.

D.J. Wendy Hunt is one of the longest spinning deejays today. She has a solid reputation for presenting the fresh and happy tunes to dance floors for thirtyfive years.

D.J. Marc Scott has spun at over 26 clubs and now appears at Atomic/Boom. He has also appeared at many major events around the country such as The Coming Out Ball (Chicago), The Halloween Ball (Denver), White Party and Winter Party (SoBe), and most recently as the headlining deejay for Pridefest in Long Beach, California.

—FA