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Valentine's Day With Oprah
John Stanley | Posted February 14, 2008 10:00 AM
I've just returned to New York from doing a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show with Patti Labelle. The taping is a Valentine's Day special in which Oprah explores unconventional Valentines.
John Stanley is Patti Labelle's musical director.
I've just returned to New York from doing a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show with Patti Labelle. The taping is a Valentine's Day special in which Oprah explores unconventional Valentines. Valentine's Day doesn't necessarily have to be for your spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend. It can be an expression of your love for a friend, family member, or as was proved during the show, even a pet. Too often in life, we do not honor those who we love and sometimes we take them for granted.
Patti managed to pay homage to two people during her segment of the show. First, she surprised a young man by joining him on stage to sing If Only You Knew. The Chicago native thought he would only be singing to his wife but got a shock when Labelle came out wailing and was moved to tears.
In the interview with Oprah, she expressed love for a special Valentine, Sammy Mckinney, who recently passed. Sammy was a great friend and excellent songwriter who wrote songs for Patti, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole and many others. Maybe he is most notably known for writing " I Love You Just Because" for stylist Anita Baker. " He was very special," said Patti.
I applaud Oprah for doing this show. I came away feeling fufilled that I had a part in helping someone realize their dream and spreading some love on what might otherwise be a drag of a day.
Tomorrow is not promised. If you love someone, please say it or do something for them today.
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sandra taylor commented on Valentine's Day With Oprah:
Hi Mr. Stanley-I worked at the Renaisance Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio when you toured with Patti and I ... -
a; commented on Valentine's Day With Oprah:
I used to be a hugh fan of Patti's. She was here in Chicago some years back on Fox News Chicago. B... -
Mark commented on Valentine's Day With Oprah:
Man, it is good to see John Stanly. I will be visiting this site more if he is going to be a regular... -
Kevin E. Taylor commented on Valentine's Day With Oprah:
YOU ARE RIGHT! JOHN STANLEY...BLACK MAN TO BLACK MAN...I LOVE YOU! I THINK YOU ARE A REMARKABLY TA... -
Jaye commented on Valentine's Day With Oprah:
I tivo'd the show and watched it. I was kind of disappointed in that guy's response. He claimed to h...
February 14, 2008 6:06 PM
Did anybody see the Oprah show today? I missed it. What did she say? What did John Stanley say? What did Patti say?
February 15, 2008 8:13 PM
I tivo'd the show and watched it. I was kind of disappointed in that guy's response. He claimed to have been a huge Patti Labelle fan, yet he didn't so much as flinch when she came out to sing with him. I don't know, the whole thing seemed a little suspect to me. I believe his wife must have told him what was going down before they got to Harpo studios.
Hell, he didn't even seem that geeked to be singing on the Oprah Winfrey show! That alone would have made any aspiring singer elated! My girl Patti turned it out with that wonderful voice of hers as usual. Patti's looking REAL GOOD these days too!
February 16, 2008 5:56 PM
YOU ARE RIGHT!
JOHN STANLEY...BLACK MAN TO BLACK MAN...I LOVE YOU! I THINK YOU ARE A REMARKABLY TALENTED BEING AND EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, I WISH WE TALKED MORE! I AM GOING TO PUT UP THE PHONE AND CALL YOU RIGHT NOW...WHY? BECAUSE I LOVE YOU AND NEED TO TELL YOU SO!
GREAT ARTICLE...WONDERFUL SHOW!
KEVIN E. TAYLOR
February 17, 2008 2:28 PM
Man, it is good to see John Stanly. I will be visiting this site more if he is going to be a regular commentator. It would be nice if they did a feature on him. I have been in love with this man ever since I first saw him perform with Patti back on her "One Night Only" concert. He is a fine, talented man that I have to know more about.
February 28, 2008 8:15 PM
I used to be a hugh fan of Patti's. She was here in Chicago some years back on Fox News Chicago. Bruce Wolf was interviewing her at fox studio. She had gum in her mouth; she spit it out in his hand. He looked so embarrassed. I thought that was so demeaning. I lost respect for her. I don't care how much money you have, you don't treat people like they are dirt. I just never liked her the same.
March 16, 2008 5:25 PM
Hi Mr. Stanley-I worked at the Renaisance Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio when you toured with Patti and I got a chance to shake your hand. Your performance along with Patti, Anthony Williams and the other gentleman,in the black framed glasses,I didn't get to meet, was about the best performance I have ever seen, singing "On My Own" late night in the 1990's, I think it was on a mowtown special at about 2:00 in the morning after Midnite at the Apollo. I recorded it and looked at it again today. Your voice is so distictive and when you walked past Patti and got on your knees and waved your hand-that, to me, was the epitome of true romance.Oh my god-what a man. And then Anthony Williams sang his song so pasionately, yet so effortlessly. I thought this particular performance was the best I have ever seen!