June 2013 Newsletter

June 4, 2013

Welcome to the Soul Train Cruise 411

The Soul Train Cruise has become a phenomenon. The first sailing, which took place just a few months ago, sold out in 75 days and Guests who had the privilege of sailing on the first Hippest Trip at Sea were unanimously thrilled and excited. As our good friend Tony Cornelius said to us time and time again during the cruise, “I knew that it would be great, but this cruise has exceeded my wildest dreams and highest expectations. This was really a ‘Soul Train’ cruise!”

At this time, more than 18,000 Soul Train Cruise friends have joined our family of those interested in learning more about the Soul Train Cruise, and the number grows daily. To meet the demand for information, we have decided to present, at least every other month, our own Soul Train Cruise newsletter, which we have named the Soul Train Cruise 411. The name is so appropriate because that is our mission — to keep you totally up to date with all of the exciting news about the upcoming Soul Train Cruises.

We have so much to say and so much to tell you that we will get right to it…

Friends (“With Benefits”) of Soul Train Cruise, West Coast Edition

One of the hippest terms of the current day is “friends with benefits.”  (Clearly that has a meaning well beyond the scope of the Soul Train Cruise.) We want you to know that all of the friends of the Soul Train Cruise, West Coast Edition have some very special benefits.

“Friends With Benefits” Rate Schedule

Rarely do we offer the higher-end cabins at reduced rates, but we have reserved a number of Superior Verandah Suites (SS & SY) and Deluxe Staterooms with Verandah (VA-VD) on the Oct. 5 sailing for our “Friends With Benefits” at very special rates. In fact, as a sign of our interest in working with you now and in the future, the rates are the LOWEST we have offered for these cabins on this sailing:

Rates are based upon double occupancy; do not include charges for taxes, gratuities and administrative fees; and sales of cabins subject to these rates are non-commissionable. Those who have already reserved a cabin in these categories will have their accounts adjusted accordingly.

A Tale of Two Cruises

Soul Train Cruise friends have two cruise programs to choose from in the upcoming months. The first sailing will be from Oct. 5 to 12, 2013. This is our West Coast Edition of the Soul Train Cruise and will depart from San Diego and will sail the Mexican Riviera to wonderful ports of call, including Cabo San Lucas and a full day in Puerto Vallarta. The full day in Puerto Vallarta will allow us to have some very special excursions, such as the Jeffrey Osborne Golf Tournament and other celebrity-hosted events.

And, though it has not been formally announced, the next sailing of the Soul Train Cruise after the West Coast sailing will be Feb. 23 – March 2, 2014, when the Soul Train Cruise returns to the Caribbean for a sailing that departs from Ft. Lauderdale for St. Barths, St. Maarten and the private island of Half Moon Cay.

Both sailings are on the luxurious Holland America Line, and, just as Guests on the first sailing learned, everything will be first class.

But enough about the ship and the itineraries; these cruises are about the music that made “Soul Train” the most iconic television show ever, and each sailing boasts an amazing lineup of Soul Train Superstars! The West Coast sailing boasts Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, The Whispers, Jennifer Holliday and a host of other amazing performers. The February sailing is just as amazing with the Isley Brothers, Charlie Wilson, Roberta Flack, The Commodores and an equally long list of additional performers. Jeffrey Osborne is your Soul Train guide for both cruises and DJ Extraordinaire Biz Markie rules the late, late night activities on both sailings as well.

Simply stated, these two cruises have it all in terms of talent and, of course, all of the fabulous traditional Soul Train events and fun activities.

Interview: Jeffrey Osborne

When the inaugural Soul Train Cruise set sail earlier this year, the biggest fan onboard was none other than R&B superstarJeffrey Osborne. “I saw every concert by every artist,” he says happily. “I did not miss anybody. And I enjoyed it all.” Which might explain why Osborne was eager to sign on for the next Soul Train Cruise, departing Oct. 5 from San Diego. The singer will join Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, The Whispersand so many more as they travel through Bahia Magdalena for Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.

“It was just great,” Osborne continues. “I was even able to go toGeorge Duke’s workshop and see George and other keyboard players, and I learned just what goes through their heads and how they approach songs. There is so much knowledge you can get from these workshops that the cruise has put together.” Osborne modestly leaves out the part where he turned a session into an impromptu concert. When the audience began asking Duke about "A Time For Love," the new album he and Jeffrey released in January, Osborne surprised them all by breaking into one of the songs as George jumped in on keyboards. “People didn’t expect me to be there, let alone start singing,” he chuckles softly.

Osborne’s trademark modesty belies a prodigious career that spans over four decades of hit singles, platinum albums and awards. Barely out of his teens when he joined the R&B group LTD as their drummer, Osborne’s career soared when he became their lead singer and recorded signature songs “Love Ballad” and “Back in Love Again (Every Time I Turn Around).” The group toured relentlessly, building a loyal fan base that remains dedicated to Osborne to this very day.

After 10 years, Osborne ventured out on his own to make a solo album, teaming up with George Duke for the first time. The two created R&B songs that defined the era and remain popular to this very day, including “On The Wings of Love,” “We’re Going All The Way,” and “Stay With Me Tonight.” Osborne also ruled the pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts with “You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song),” his interpretation of “In Your Eyes,” “Don’t Stop,” “Only Human” and “Love Power” with Dionne Warwick. And in between he wrote the lyrics to “All At Once” for Whitney Houston, sang on “We Are The World,” and was nominated for several Grammy Awards.

Today, Osborne remains one of the hardest-working balladeers in the business, touring year-round as a solo artist and as part of the wildly popular Men Of Soul tour (which also features Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson and Howard Hewett). This year, Jeffrey added jazz festivals to his touring schedule, following the release of "A Time For Love." “This album is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Osborne says excitedly. “I had a pretty clear idea of what songs I wanted to record because I’ve liked them so much over the years.” Most of the classics he selected were ones he began singing in Rhode Island nightclubs back when he was just 13 years old. When it came time to record them, he could think of no better partner in the studio than his old friend George Duke. “I knew there was no one else I would want to do this with other than George,” says Osborne. “I just love George. I mean, he produced my first three solo records, and so it was beautiful to come together for this project. And his arrangements are unbelievable.”

“When we recorded the album,” adds George Duke, “all we did was laugh most of the time. It was really like no time had passed between then and the last time we worked together. It was a wonderful experience ... the most fun record I’ve done in a long time.”

"A Time For Love" shot to the no. 1 spot on Billboard magazine’s Current Contemporary Jazz chart when it was released in late January. Fans on the upcoming Soul Train Cruise are in for a special treat: Osborne plans to sing several songs from the new album in his set. “ ‘My One and Only Love’ kind of sums up what I wanted to do with this record,” he explains. “It showcases all sides of a jazz standard – the melody, the lyrics, the incredible music that goes into a swing section and how it all comes together to become a nice jazz piece. And ‘Wonderful World,’ well, everyone knows that song. It’s a lot of fun to perform.”

He first tested the songs out during February’s Soul Train voyage. “The fans on a Soul Train Cruise have been with me ever since the LTD days, so to introduce them to something quite different was daunting. I was anxious to see how they would receive it.” It turns out that Jeffrey had little to fear. “I got standing ovations,” he marvels. “The beautiful thing is that because these people were with me all the way back to the ’70s, they grew up with jazz standards just like I did, so they love these songs as much as I do.” Osborne was so thrilled with the reaction to his “new” songs that he is working on adding another track from "A Time For Love" to his set on the October cruise. “I will probably do ‘Don’t Let Me Be Lonely’ since it’s the current single. But I love the other two so much that it will be hard switching one of those songs out for the new one!”

Something else Osborne is looking forward to in October is spending time, lots of time, with his fans. “I really enjoy performing on a cruise,” he explains. “Once you come out of your room, people surround you and want autographs and pictures. I enjoy it and like to be with them. I’m always out on the ship doing something.

“The fans on this ship are so into the iconic Soul Train era,” he continues, “and so many of the songs from that period connect them with great memories. Audiences sing along to every song, and it’s just beautiful to see that. The music is such a huge part of their lives. It is incredible to see the connection that Don Corneliusmade with people around the world and the exposure he gave to so many acts. The cruise is a tribute to everything that Don did for all of us – the audience and the artists. He opened up all of our lives.”

Osborne will also hang out with his fans on land, when he hosts a celebrity golf tournament in Puerto Vallarta while the ship is docked there. “It’s rare to be in a port long enough for a golf game,” says the longtime golfer. “I get to host AND play – what could be better?” Jeffrey will bring several of his famous friends to the stunning Flamingos Golf Course to play alongside all Guests on the cruise who would like to join in. Surrounded by lush, tropical vegetation and more than 1,800 palm trees, the course uniquely combines gently sloping fairways with natural lagoons, marshes and estuaries. The pristine habitat for more than 100 species of birds, as well as crocodiles, turtles and amphibians offers an unforgettable golfing experience for players of all skill levels. “I’m going to be walking around that ship encouraging everyone to come out and enjoy a gorgeous afternoon of golf!”

When asked if he’d be going to the other concerts during October’s voyage, like he did in February, Osborne answers with a resounding, “Oh, without a doubt.” And it doesn’t stop there. “I love Gladys (Knight), so I’m really looking forward to seeing her and spending time with her. And I love Earth, Wind & Fire and knowPhillip (Bailey) really well and will try to get him to play golf. I work with Freddie Jackson a lot on the Men Of Soul tour ... actually, I know everybody on the ship,” he realizes with delight.

Artist Spotlight

With so many amazing artists onboard, it’s hard to keep up with all the incredible news and happenings everyone is working on. But here are a few highlights from our extraordinary roster of talent.

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight is starring in a new show on Centric titled “The First Family.”

“The First Family” centers on a Democrat who attempts to balance his family life with his wife and their two sons and two daughters as they adjust to living in the White House, while maintaining his duties as the second African-American president of the United States. The cast includes Christopher P. Duncan (“The Jamie Foxx Show”) as President William Johnson; Kellita Smith as First Lady Katherine Johnson; Gladys Knight as his mother; Marla Gibbs as the First Lady’s mother; Paul Rodriguez as Dictator Rafael; and Jackee Harry as the First Lady’s sister.

Gladys also announced several tour dates this summer, including the “Family Values Tour” with legendary Soul Train Cruise alums the O'Jays! More details at SoulTrainCruise.com.

Alonzo Bodden

Alonzo Bodden has had an amazing couple of months, which included him donating his kidney to his brother! The surgery was successful, and the kidney has made his brother not only be able to stop dialysis but also be a bit funnier as well!

On Facebook, Alonzo said, "Donating a kidney to my brother was 25th birthday present to myself. Not looking for kudos, it's what we do. Friends understand."

Alonzo also has announced new tour dates. Check out SoulTrainCruise.com for his full touring schedule.

Earth, Wind & Fire

Bobby Burns Jr., trumpeter for the band Earth, Wind & Fire, joined the Denton High School jazz bands in a tribute concert to the group on April 12 in Denton, Texas.

Jesse Woolery, director for the Denton High and Texas Woman’s University jazz bands, said the show had something for everyone. He said he’s been a fan of Earth, Wind & Fire all his life, and bringing this concert together was “like a dream come true.”