SDC OmniMedia Group Magazine

 

Kenny Smith’s 40 years in the music business is along time for a veteran who started out in Rosamond California.  This year celebrates Smith’s early days as a poineer in the business of independent record production.  By looking at the label, one gets to look at history in the days when independent producers did not exsist.  Along with a young trumphet player and promotions person, A&M produced one of their first productions.  It’s a classic tale of moving from in-front of the microphone to the front desk of the record business.  Smith’s new release is entitled “Contents Under Pressure”, featuring the lyrics of Linda Lou Kestin.

In 1982, MPL Communications purchased Claridge Records from Frank Slay who had the rights to distribute Lee Rogers’ artist Cardela DeMilo.  Through Rogers, he secured a distribution deal for Coleman Kestin Smith Productions.  The closing deal was when Rogers acquired the master tapes from MPL of DeMilo’s production and then placed this release on the new re-activated D-Town Records.  All publishing from this project was still under the ownership of MPL.

On Claridge Records, this single managed to break into  Billboard’s R&B Top 100.

As D-Town Records continues to implement its’ lost musical treasures from many years ago, it brings to the forth front, Jena Johnson, whose “New York City” spawn many great new artists and songs from the 1980’s.  Platinum Sound Studios has discovered among it’s relics - a lost practice idea tape containing over twenty songs from this legendary Toledo, Ohio rocker.

Johnson’s “punk rock” approach to this new music on the 1980’s placed her and D-Town Records as early poineers of a new music and style that she would open its doors.  It will take a couple of months to generate a “nice” reproduction” of these songs, as they are still as fresh and challenaging today as it was in 1980.

Sandra Williams has been involved with women, children and families in crisis for over 20 years. “I am concerned with the future of the families that I have encountered, Williams continues. It is my desire to show families that there are positive strategies they can learn to manage their angers and frustrations without resorting to violence.

“I believe that it’s never too late to make an impact on the life of a hurting family. I offer information and educational services with materials. I teach social effectiveness training, so that individuals can learn to take care of themselves, says Williams.

“Some of the areas I specialize in are: Parenting Strong-Willed Children with Out of Control Behaviors; Walking in Step Series – Building Lasting Relationships; Life Coaching – mentoring One on One; Distressed But Not Destroyed – A study of Victimization; Christian Women’s Job Corp.

“I am employed by the Contra Costa County Probation Department. I serve as a Probation Counselor in the Diversion Unit. I had the opportunity to help children involved with Probation to stay with their parents instead of going to juvenile hall. I help their parents locate resources such as counseling, parenting classes, educational resources, food and shelter. I have worked with the Probation Department for over five years. I have an Associates Degree in General Studies and various certifications including: Conflict Resolution; Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior; SBDC New Ventures program; Advanced Training Effective Leadership.

Ministry Work

“I have had the pleasure to be involved in Women’s Ministries for over 22 years. I have worked with various churches throughout the State of
California. For the past eleven (11) years, I have trained and directed the Women’s Missionary Union/Women’s Ministries in our church, Second Baptist Church of Martinez, under the direction of Keith B. Williams, Sr.

“For the past two years, I have worked as the African American WMU Consultant for the CSBC Fresno. We have made it our mandate to equip the men, women and children for deployment in service to the Lord. We host and provide leadership training, enrichment classes, Missions Education and Mission involvement projects. We have worked together with the Southern Baptist Convention for over 10 years.

“The North American Mission Board appointed us as Home Missionaries in 1999. We were assigned to California Southern Baptist Convention – Black Church Extension out of Fresno, California. Our man responsibility is to plant new churches, help to restart churches in trouble and to offer counseling, encouragement and resources to the churches and Pastors. I work with my husband to supply information and training for implementing Mission Education and Women’s Ministries.”

To contact Counselor Williams, please use this email address - twosisterschat@sbcglobal.net .