Percussionists Owusu and Sabor Inspiration

MUNY artist Owusu (Tyrone Owusu Slater) and fellow percussionist Sabor played before me at the LIRR location in Penn Station. Before they left, they gave me incredible, honest inspirations about love and healing.

Here is a performance brought to you by StreetperformersTV  

Tyrone Owusu Slater is the co-founder and program director of the Biko Transformation Center. Check it out!

edited by Dan Kleederman

Sidney Inspiration

I asked Sidney about her newfound love for the guitar. Her husband's father Millard Thomas, played guitar for Harry Belafonte, so as she said, maybe it is meant to be!  She had such an inspirational, bright energy! 

edited by Dan Kleederman

Nousha Salimi Inspired photo journalist

I met Nousha at Columbus Circle, she found my website and came to take pictures for her

project about Subway musicians. We've connected quite a bit since then and she has

shared the pictures she took of me,

and here's her photographic expose of the 1st day she spent with me at Columbus Circle from her website.

I invited Nousha to be a part of Eve Ensler's One Billion Rising project to end

violence against women. Nousha is from Iran and her video is especially moving.

 

What inspires Nousha?  Music and Photography.

Here are some of the images Nousha took last Thursday and Friday as she walked around NYC after the Hurricane. 

Nousha Salimi images

Battery Park

cell phone charging station

closed subway station

Meagan Michelson Inspiration

I met Meagan on Columbus Day as she was heading back to Boston to school after a fun long weekend with friends.  

What inspires Meagan?  Kindness, friendship and music!

Vicki Randle Inspiration

Summer Solstice arrived June 20th at 7:09 PM EST and already giving NYC some serious summer heat. I was performing on the uptown 1 platform at Columbus Circle, and the unmistakable vocalist and percussionist Vicki Randle (of the Kevin Eubanks group on Jay Leno) passed by me with a grin. 

In town performing with Mavis Staples at the Beacon Theatre with Bonnie Raitt, Vicki and I chatted about inspirations and the first time we met many years ago in Key West when I opened for Laura Nyro and Vicki was in the band.

What Inspires Vicki?  "…what just happened…..just the sound, its the complex beautiful sound of music that creates something inside you, it makes an emotion in me…"

a little 1980's history in Key West

Richard Green Inspiration

Richard stopped by my Columbus Circle gig while he was in town for work. It was a nice surprise. He and I are in a Blues Band in Columbia County, NY (about 2 hours North of NYC), we perform mostly for non-profit organization fund raisers.  Richard is an amazing guitarist and great spirit. We have a lot of fun making people dance.

What inspire's Richard?  "Using music as a tool for community."

What's Your Inspiration?

Richard filmed me singing my song Question Of Desire, here's the clip

What Inspires Meneachea?

I met Menachea at Columbus Circle, her enthusiasm for what I was doing made her stop and chat. I'm happy I asked what inspired her. Her answer was quick off the top of her head and spot on. "music, life, service and the earth." Listen to her reasons why.

What Inspires Rafael Sucena?

Brazilian student Rafael interviewed me at 34th Street station for his Brooklyn College radio piece on Music Under New York artists.

What Inspires Rafael Sucena? "Music, family...his girlfriend ...and people that want to learn."