A Great Big Diva!

Celebrating the Life of Tahir Koylass.

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I met Tabatha when she was a 20 year old college student. She was a beautiful aspiring dancer. She spent the Summer after her junior year as an intern at a prominent dance company in Chicago and she lived with me during that time in my studio apartment. Folks wondered how we managed: two women in a one room apartment. But we did more than managed, we thrived and became dear friends. After she graduated she moved back to Chicago, danced professionally with the Joseph Holmes Dance Company, met …

Maya Angelou

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Dearest Maya Angelou represented so much to me. My mom & I used to read her books together. (her autobiographical Caged Bird Series) She was the zenith of African American Artistic Achievement. She had such dignity and elegance. She was the Poetess, the Sage, the Wonderful Crone. As long as she was around I felt a connection to the familiar. She represented a generation of Black Renaissance, a Freedom Fighter who survived Jim Crow and was active in the Movement and then, there are those sweet …

A Wonderful Man has Died.

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I am sad today. A very dear man died over the weekend. He was a friend to the world of classical music, he was a reknowned expert and dealer of rare antique violins (Stradivarians & Guarneris) and stringed instruments. He loved life. He loved rock n roll. He loved my singing. We had great affection for each other. We traveled to Russia together. I am friends with his lovely daughter. I was honored to call him friend. …

Good Times For the Love of Flo.

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Flo's memorial gathering was tonight. It was the most perfect event I have ever attended for a dearly departed. There was no funeral, no wake. We had a party! The party was held at Brenda's home (an extraordinary hostess) and it was the perfect setting for Flo's gathering. Flo always loved Brenda's parties because Brenda's parties are always filled with joy, dancing, food and laughter. And tonight's event was no exception. I just sat there looking around at the mix of people present: …