 Interview recorded May 17, 2012
Longevity is hard to come by in the field of entertainment. Very few artists are able to say that their songs and performances are still in demand after 30-something years. Evelyn “Champagne” King is one of those artists. After making her grand disco debut back in 1977, Evelyn continued to reinvent herself and her sound through the late 80s, as well as releasing a critically-acclaimed album of original material in 2007. Akim Bryant recently caught up with the R&B/soul icon to talk about still being relevant after so many years, and also her thoughts on the passing of fellow icons Donna Summer, Chuck Brown, and Whitney Houston.
Akim: Soulmusic.com, Akim Bryant here once again, and for this particular installment, I am honored to be joined by Grammy Award winning pop icon, disco icon, R&B icon. She is just amazing all around, Evelyn Champagne King.
Evelyn: Thank you.
Akim: How are you?
Evelyn: I’m doing good. How are you?
Akim: I am great. Of course, we have some sad news that just broke today, that I’d like to discuss, and kind of just get your thoughts on all of our other icons that we’re losing so soon.
Evelyn: Very fast. So soon. So young.
Akim: Yeah, Donna Summer just passed earlier.
Evelyn: Chuck Brown from Soul Searchers.
Akim: Chuck Brown passed, oh, my God.
Evelyn: We’ve lost so many.
Akim: What are your thoughts on that?
Evelyn: I am, well, I’m just … we have to realize we go through so many things, but then, when it takes a life. God has His time and His calling for each and every one of us. We don’t know when, and I know that they’re resting in peace. They’re at a higher place than where we are, and the suffering--if they were going through suffering--I think Chuck Brown had passed from pneumonia and Donna Summer passed from cancer—it’s very tough. And my condolences go out to all of their families and friends and fans, as well. I’m just totally blown away. I’m just waking up, and I hear Donna Summer … it’s just like, okay. You’re saying enough is enough, but we cannot make those judgments. We can’t call.
Akim: Yeah, it’s not our choice.
Evelyn: No, it’s not. And I just know that that was a beautiful soul. She was a beautiful soul. I met her one time in my career, and when we met it was like we knew each other forever, and we just graced the stage. I think it was a television show we did and that was it. But to know her legacy lives on with her music, as well with Chuck Brown. It’s just so tough.
Akim: Indeed. Rest in peace to the both of them, and then, also, you know earlier this year there was a huge impact as far as the loss of Whitney Houston.
Evelyn: Yes, her as well--losing her as well. They’re all in a higher place. We cannot make any judgment or any calls on anything. They lived a beautiful life of music, through music, and we all went through things. We all go through things, like I said, and I know they have gone through ups and downs in their lifetime, and as well as in business. So the thing is He is more comforting than being out in the streets and in the world today. So God is more healing and comforting, so that’s where they are.
Akim: That is true. He definitely took them out of the pain that they were in, just based on their conditions, and they’re definitely in a better place now. So rest in peace and God bless to all of them.
Evelyn: But their music will still live on. We know we’ve got their music.
Akim: Yes, the music lives on. We still have those treasures.
Evelyn: Forever. Yes.
Akim: Including your own personal treasures that we’re still honoring to this day, because you have a performance coming up on June 2nd, right?
Evelyn: Yes. I’m excited.
Akim: Yeah. How does it feel to be still so in demand after all of these years?
Evelyn: Thirty-five years.
Akim: Thirty-five years. I was going to say a number, but I didn’t know if …
Evelyn: I’m proud. It’s okay. After thirty-five years … I know that God is in my command and He’s with me every step I take. I’ve always had my family and my friends and my fans to be there with me, for me, and that’s the only reason why I know I’m still going. I got love. You keep the love and the faith and the happiness, that you’re doing what you love, I keep it every time I’m hitting the stage and it shows. So I’m so, so proud to still be working after all these years.
Akim: Yeah, that is amazing, and I think you touched on a really good point that I think a lot of people don’t realize, or understand, when it comes to performers, you need that support to still keep going and to still do what you do. Otherwise, you’ll probably be led in the wrong direction by people who don’t love you.
Evelyn: Or you crack.
Akim: That, too.
Evelyn: There are some people who have really just lost it, saying you know what? I give up because it’s not me anymore. The thing is, which I definitely want to stress to a lot of acts from the ‘70s era, and I’m speaking in general to a lot of artists, that you don’t have to give up. The whole thing is, you know you still have fans. They still want to hear and see you. God willing, a lot of them are still alive. The ones that are still alive do not lose the fight of doing what you still love from then because if we show them that we don’t have it anymore, that’s a good thing for others to just pop out there, which is what is going on. It’s a lot of talent, a lot of hidden talent, but we want to hear that, as well, but just to let them know that we’re still here for them, because they were there for us for so long. Just keep going.
Akim: Yes, especially with just that era of music; yeah, the fans are loyal. They still want to hear it, even to this very day. So, yeah, if you keep going, you can have a long career.
Evelyn: They even want to find the clothing, too. They’re still trying to find the clothing of the era and go, “You know what? We remember these times.” We had fun back then. We did. We had fun.
Akim: I wish I was alive in that era, honestly.
Evelyn: Well, some of them had too much fun. You know what I mean? I have to say, some of them are taken away because of having too much fun, even from the past. It’s just certain things that you know that the music was in our soul. The music is always in our soul, and it’s so educational for kids. It’s just so much that we know that we could share, and it’s no way I’m going to give up like that. I just don’t give up like that.
I know that they say, “God, Evelyn, you haven’t put out a record since …” Yeah, the last one I put out, an album, well CD, since 2007, but at the same time, that don’t mean it’s stopped. I’m still traveling off of the music from the ‘70s and ‘80s. So I’m proud to just keep doing what I do, and I am going to be working on a new album soon, I’m just not going to sit up and go, you know what? It should be out within the year. I don’t want to rush anything. I know it’s been since 2007, but I’ve done a dance CD, well not a full CD, but a dance single with Miguel Migs on his CD. So I’ve been bouncing around doing things to keep me afloat, but at the same time, my goal is to just stay out there. So, when you’re going to their city, their town, their state, their country, they go, “Oh, she’s still around.” That’s what I’m trying to stress to a lot of the other artists from the ‘70s.
Akim: Okay, yeah, just to give everybody the full details about the show that you have coming up. It’s on June 2nd in Atlantic City. It’s live, it’s outdoors, and most importantly, it’s free.
Evelyn: Yeah, so you’ve got to have a good time. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m all excited; it’s going to be a lot of fun. And I just hope I don’t faint, because it’s going to be very hot.
Akim: Yeah, the summer is here.
Evelyn: If I faint, it might look like a break dance, but at least it will be cute.
Akim: So, over the years, how has your live show evolved?
Evelyn: Evolved as in what?
Akim: Just in the presentation of it or just in how you present yourself to the audience. Maybe, do you not get nervous anymore? Things like that.
Evelyn: Well, actually, I never was nervous. I never am nervous to hit the stage, never. I was never, ever nervous to hit the stage. I was always nervous to sing around 5 or 4 people because they’re staring at you. Think about that. Or, when I get claustrophobic--that’s in the elevator. It’s like, no, somebody has to get out. That’s it.; that’s my nerves. But when I hit the stage, it can be 500,000 to 1,000--I’m just the happiest camper. You cannot stop me, but I present myself--I do track shows. I do band shows. I have my own band. My husband’s my music director. I’ve had a band for years. Mr. Fox, Freddie Fox, he’s just very strong and powerful in knowing that, okay, even though this is my husband, I’ve still got to bring it.
We work for each other, as well, so our music is strong and powerful, and we keep it to where it’s updated. So, the people go, “Oh, we know that song, but you hear a snippet of, oh, it’s a little bit of the ‘70s there. Oh, she’s doing some now. So we’re hanging in there. That’s his department; I’m so glad. But I try to make sure that they get nothing but the vocal. They want to hear either “Stronger” or a little bit of from the ‘70s, but I have to make sure I bring it every time. So I bring them a lot of bubbliness, just full high energy. I’m never tired; I mean, I could keep going. Once I do one show, I’m ready to do another one.
Akim: Wow, that’s big.
Evelyn: Almost 52, too. Think about that. There’s so many kids out of breath today, dancing and singing, and they’re like in their 20s. So you know who I give that to, bless God, you know. I’ve got my blessings every day.
Akim: Yeah, that is a blessing. That’s a big, huge blessing. I don’t think I’ve ever heard any performer say that when they finish a show, that they’re ready to get right back into another one like that.
Evelyn: I’m ready to do another one. It always freaks everybody out that know me. They go, “Wow, you’re so hyper.” I’m like, “Yeah, my adrenaline hasn’t gone down yet. I’m still ready to go. I could do another one.” And I don’t do any drugs. I have nothing to do with none of that. I only have one cup of coffee, if none, even to get ready or while I’m doing my make up. I’m sitting in my room, I would ask for coffee or some water or just chill out, and then I’m ready.
Akim: Amazing. I love it.
Evelyn: I love it, too. Believe me.
Akim: So do you have any favorite songs, at this point, that you like to perform the most, or are they all pretty much your babies and equal?
Evelyn: They’re all equal. They’re all my babies, because the thing is, I know that that was my voice back then. That’s the main thing. When you know that that’s your voice, even if it was heard in a different state, country, or anywhere, everybody has a favorite song of you. So I cannot sit up and go, “You know what? I don’t like that one,” because if I go to their country--like when I go over seas, they always want a different song that I never perform on stage. And I go, “What? I have to learn that one? I have to learn that all over again?” And I do it. I might sound stronger, but I do it.
Akim: So is that one of the main differences between performing here in the states and internationally? They are more open to the album cuts or just not the usual ten hit songs type of thing?
Evelyn: They are definitely interested in their own picks. They have their own picks, from France to England to, oh, wow, Japan. Everyone has their own picks. It’s not the same songs all the time, and I’m going, “Okay, until they are ready to have me over there again. When they’re ready to have me over there again, I better learn every single song off of every album, and that is 13 albums plus.” So it means a lot to me, because it is important, which you, regardless, you have to learn your craft and learning your craft, to me, means learning everything that you’ve already done and just keep at it.
Akim: Do you have a favorite country overseas that you like to go to and perform in?
Evelyn: I did that one time, saying it, and I cannot pinpoint anymore. I’m not getting into any trouble. I don’t want to get into trouble, because they won’t have me there. I’ll put it like that. But I have to say, I love travelling abroad. There’s places that I wish I had gone to, which is Italy, Spain--never been. I’ve been to so many places, but there’s two places that I want to go to--it’s Italy and Spain.
Akim: Well, hopefully they’re listening.
Evelyn: Yeah, hopefully you’re listening out there.
Akim: Yeah, make it happen Italy and Spain.
Evelyn: Yes, please. Yeah, I heard a lot about the spaghetti. I’m a spaghetti cooker. I love cooking spaghetti. That’s how I reeled in my husband.
Akim: Really?
Evelyn: Yes. Cooking spaghetti. I reeled him in with a good spaghetti, and I heard that, in Italy, that they do their spaghetti, but it’s not the way you would think, because you would think that it’s fabulous, talked about, really good, but as far as I was concerned, after hearing some news, I’m like, okay, maybe I should go over there and do a little challenge.
Akim: I would love to see that.
Eveyln: They should have a cooking show and invite me, right?
Akim: Yeah, totally. I love that. Okay, so definitely, one of the things that, because I checked out your … I think a lot of people who are going to listen to this interview also saw your Unsung episode on TV-One, which is an amazing series, and your particular …
Evelyn: Very in-depth.
Akim: Yes, it’s very in-depth. Your episode was captivating.
Evelyn: My life story, part of my life story.
Akim: Part of it.
Evelyn: Yes, part, because they don’t get … see a lot of people don’t understand. When you’re doing Unsung, you’re only getting like a half an hour of, really, your life. You know what I’m saying? Or just a day of your life, opposed to your whole life in the business, or what you’ve gone through before. It’s very hard to sum it up in thirty minutes or an hour, and they’ve done it. The way they did it was so beautifully done, but then, I know there’s more to say; it’s more that they haven’t heard, and my fans don’t’ know, and I just want to make sure that I’m able to do it again. So we’re talking about it, to come back and do like a part two or part three, the same way they did El DeBarge, the way they did the family on theirs. They’ve done several artists like that, because there’s more.
Akim: Can you possibly give us like a preview of some of the things that were missing?
Evelyn: Well, a lot that was missing is basically of like what I have gone through in the music business--so much. That’s like a big, big part, and it was where, trials and tribulations that a lot of artists from before me had gone through, and then you wonder why they don’t have what you think they should have, that kind of thing. That’s the way I could sum it up. To let you know. We wonder why? I wonder why, when I’m looking at artists from the ‘60s, 50s and 60’s, even. Why are they, like, some of them are homeless, or some of them don’t have this. It’s reasons and it’s a lot bigger than us, of what things they’ve gone through. When you’re young, there’s a lot that goes on that you have no clue.
Akim: Yeah, you were 16 when you started, so.
Evelyn: Yes, 15.
Akim: 15?
Evelyn: Yes. Yeah, so you look at all of the … back then, it was totally different than now. Even still, business is business, and it’s a lot of them. We just got to follow up on what we’re doing. Make sure we’re trying to look at every twist and turn that’s going on. And with the Internet, it’s easy. At the same time, it’s not easier, because you’ve got a lot more to look through.
Akim: Exactly; it’s much more muddled than it was before.
Evelyn: Oh, yeah, there’s a lot to be hidden, and you still don’t know. I’m just going to stress to those that are getting in it or trying to think about getting in it: just be careful of your surroundings, and be more alert and aware and try to get a little more knowledgeable about what’s going on. I’m still learning. It’s a learning process every day in the music business, or business in general.
Akim: Yeah, because it changes every day.
Evelyn: Every day; you’ve got that right. That’s the right word. It changes every single day.
Akim: I think you’re right, in terms of there being more a story to be told, because I thought it was interesting how many labels and how many producers you were shuffled around to, and had to rediscover a new sound and be relevant again, and that’s a lot of pressure.
Evelyn: It’s a lot of pressure when you’re young. At the same time, you’re going “Okay, uh, uh.” Regardless, you’re the one paying everybody. That’s the hard part. I just figured that out, even later. Like, wait, I’m going in the studio and this is a new cut. This is from a new producer, songwriter, this and this. It’s so much involved, and you’re young. But my main goal was to go out there and hit the stage and do what I love, which is sing. So you don’t look at certain things, other than what you love.
Akim: And did you, particularly, as a female artist especially coming up in those days--did you have the pressures to be overtly sexual?
Evelyn: By being a female?
Akim: Yeah.
Evelyn: No. My parents, no. I didn’t need to really take off clothes or, I didn’t have to have .... I have some weird outfits that looked like a diaper most of the time, it did. But we had worn those belts. We had belts where we could hang them over a pair of tan skin panties and we had stockings on and we had boots on, and we had sheer tops or something, but we were still clothed. We were actually covered, regardless, and that I loved, because my parents were on the road with me, as well as road managers and guardians, just protecting me. And I’m telling you …
Akim: Which they should be.
Evelyn: Oh, yes, they should be. And I was happy that they were, because I could have fell into a lot of bad things, bad press, bad publicity--that they were right there to protect me all the way, and I miss that. I miss them. But I know what I was left with, and that was discover yourself. First and foremost, be positive, love yourself, and exploiting yourself is not a good thing. Just give them what they’re asking for.
They asked for my voice. They didn’t ask me to strip down. And back then, if you really look at it, we didn’t really have to. We didn’t have to. They just wanted to hear music and dance and be happy and do their little crazy things in the clubs, and whatever they were doing, they were doing the partying while we were doing the working.
Akim: Awesome.
Evelyn: And I was happy about that. And today it’s just totally different, but I’m just happy that I was back from that era.
Akim: Yeah, today is totally different.
Evelyn: And actually, the funniest part I thought about, was being a single female by myself. You do worry, like, wow, do they even care about the fact that you’re a female and you’re young? I was traveling with mostly men anyway, all on the road. I think I traveled more with lots of male groups than any other female artist I’ve ever known.
I was with the Parliament Funkadelic, imagine this, Parliament Funkadelic, Sun, a group called Sun, half of the groups you probably never heard of, but I’m sure you’ve heard of the BarKays, the Commodores. I did some shows with Earth Wind and Fire, and I’m talking past, even though I did some with them in the future, but it’s been wild. I was out there with a lot of them, the Gap Band, all of them. But I was always like their little sister.
Akim: That’s awesome. You had that protection. The guys--they watched over you.
Evelyn: Yeah, it was like, “There’s little Evelyn. Don’t mess with little Evelyn.” And my father was like, “Yeah, y’all mess with Evelyn, I’ll shoot you.” So, yeah, I was protected.
Akim: Alright.
Evelyn: Very protected.
Akim: That is awesome. So we talked about definitely what the past is like. Oh, also, there’s a distinction, also, that I saw in the episode that you made, in terms of being an R&B soul artist, icon even, and not so much classified as disco.
Evelyn: Thank you. That’s true.
Akim: So why is that?
Evelyn: First of all, I don’t think I am, I should be classified as just disco. I started as a disco artist, and then I moved on every time something new was arriving. So, when you move on, that doesn’t mean that you are labeled as just that. At the same time, we, the people did not do the labeling. The companies did the labeling.
Akim: Yeah, the PR machines.
Evelyn: Yeah, it was the era, which I’m not backing down on my disco, because disco didn’t die at the time. Disco was really kicking at the time, and when they were saying disco died and all, they banned us from certain things. I’m like, “Come on,” without “Shame” and Gloria Gaynor songs and Vicki Sue Robinson songs and Donna Summer songs, it wouldn’t be that kind of era.” We had fun.
Akim: We needed that music at that time.
Evelyn: We had the clothing and, yeah, we needed the music. To push us to the side wasn’t a good idea and, still, they look at it now and go “Wow, it’s still going. “Our music is still being played, even in the back of rap and hip hop, so we’re doing a good job, obviously. But to know that I did ‘80s ‘90s, and to the new era, 2000, I can pretty much put down anything vocally. It’s what you do vocally, I believe, that defines what you really are. And I personally know that I’m a “sanger” not a singer. I’m going to be honest. I’m not bragging, but you know, I don’t like to be called, “Evelyn’s just a disco artist.”
No, I didn’t have a one hit wonder, no. So all of those things don’t classify me. I am an R&B, disco R&B, pop funk, soul artist. And if they give me a country song, I could throw that down, too. It might have a little sway to it, but yeah, I could get down with that. And don’t talk about rock, because I can scream a little bit, but then I’d be so tired at the end, because they do yell a lot. But I would want to hear a rock song with some lyrics; just don’t scream at me.
Akim: Yes, indeed. So what are your thoughts, or what do you think is the future of R&B and soul music?
Evelyn: Well, the future should be, actually, what I think it should be, is going back a little bit. Like remembering, what to me, what R&B and soul should define as a person really singing from the gut and singing from the heart, where you’re getting a lyric line, you know, probably I remember the day or something like, okay, Anthony Hamilton. That to me defines R&B and soul. I have to bring his name in there because, personally, that’s the person I hear with the R&B and soul that we miss … Sam Cook, R&B and soul even that we miss … Nat King Cole, that we miss.
Oh, Bobby Womack, that sound. That’s R&B soul to me. It’s from the heart. It brings us all together. It’s like letting us know, you know what? This is how we really feel and this is what I want you to … I want to be able to touch you with this. That’s R&B and soul.
Akim: That’s R&B because it comes directly from the soul.
Evelyn: Right. And it comes right to you. It goes straight to you, but when we don’t hear it like that, I don’t … I foresee it coming, it’s just that who’s going to bring it? I would love to bring it back, but it’s got to be, it’s just got to be the right time, right material, right sound. I think it always, always should be here. We should always have that. That should never die.
Akim: Definitely. We need it. We do need it. Especially in our community, we need it.
Evelyn: We need to stick together with that.
Akim: Yeah, big time. So do you think you would have been able … today is a much different era than it was back then, in terms of being exposed to your audience, to the public, to the media … there’s social media everywhere nowadays impacting the careers of everybody from Hollywood to music to just anyone who’s a celebrity. So how do you think you would have been able to survive in this day and age when you have Twitter and Facebook, and everything that you do and say is blasted everywhere.
Evelyn: I’m very careful; that’s how. You have to be careful. Nowadays, I’m a home body. When I’m not working, my family and friends are more important to me. My family, meaning my husband and my siblings, and I don’t have to … you don’t have to spread everything about yourself. The thing is, I don’t have to let you know when I’m going to the bathroom. That’s my business. That’s really what I’m saying, and to break it down, a lot of people--they want to be seen and heard and needed. There’s nothing wrong with having publicity, but sometimes the best publicity is always to me, not sometimes, always, good publicity.
And for me, good publicity is key, because that’s the way I was raised. Now if they want to turn it to a bad publicity then you’ll see Evelyn go bad because Evelyn will probably blow up, and I would go completely bonkers, because I have never seen any bad publicity on me, and if it is, I’d like to see it.
At the same time, sometimes they say, “You know what? If you see some bad publicity on Evelyn, maybe it’s a good time for her to come back out again,” and I’m like, ‘No, because I never left.’ I never left, so there’s nothing wrong with me doing what I’m doing in my house. When I go out, I go to the market, people--they know who I am; they don’t know who I am. I don’t have to walk around with a sticker on my head saying, “I’m Evelyn; come take my photo.” I don’t know how--TMZ is very good. I’ll give them that. TMZ--they’re up on so much, you don’t even know where they are.
One time, this is the only thing, I have a qualm with them, and I can’t wait to meet them, but they had something on … they had a photo, and you can go on to TMZ and you can look up my name, and they said something about me having hair on my face, and it was around my lip. Okay, fine; I know how to take that off, but at the same time, it wasn’t like it was a bushy mustache, and a lot of women do have … we have cosmetic things we have to get, but it was very … it was like, are you going to waste your time on stuff like that?
And I let that ride for a minute until they started saying I look like Michael Jackson; it started getting to me. My whole thing is the media is what you make it. I go around and I just be waiting for them to pop out when I’m doing good. Nobody shows up. Where the hell are they? That’s when you’re saying where are they? You need them around; they’re not around. When they’re around, it’s always for something so bad and negative. That’s why I’m like, “Do what you do, but do it well.” And I’m very good at how I am around my community, around where I live, around where my family, and people see me and my husband and they go, “Oh! They just love each other.” Yes, and that’s all you’re going to get. You’ re not going to see me grabbing or doing anything else; that’s it. There you go. That’s how you stay afloat.
Akim: Okay. I love it. And you mentioned earlier that you are working on some new material, right?
Evelyn: Yes, I’m doing that, as well, but I’m traveling more than anything, so I’m not able to really sit, but it’s going to be happening. So I just want the fans to know that I’m not giving up on them. I don’t have time to give up. The only person who’s going to have me, and I don’t want to say who’s going to have me give up, is God. Just going to have me--it’s my calling, it’s time for me to just lay it down and relax. And I refused to be … I’m a fighter, I’ve been fighting for so long. You’ve seen Unsung, I’ve fought this long and hard. I know that my parents and my child wouldn’t have wanted me to just give up.
Akim: Yes, and God bless your parents and your child, also. Those were some huge losses, I’m sure.
Evelyn: Yes. We all lose someone, but I have a very well-rounded community of friends, family, fans, and number one is with me everyday, is my husband. He’s like my biggest fan, and I’m his big fan, and love conquers a lot, and it really does.
Akim: Yes, real love, baby. If we can all be so lucky.
Evelyn: Yes. And it can happen. I never say never when it came to that, because it took me a long time, but at the same time, I know that there’s someone out there for everyone.
Akim: Yes, there is.
Evelyn: That’s what we’re all here for.
Akim: I agree. Thank you so much, Evelyn, for taking this time to do this interview with us at SoulMusic.com.
Evelyn: No problem. I do have to tell you though--are you going to watch TV in the morning?
Akim: Yes.
Evelyn: Yeah, I’m on, I’m doing KTLA Channel 5. I’ll be on with Rick Dees; I’m getting ready to do a show also, prior to June 2nd. I’m doing a whole lot of work. So, yeah, prior to June 2nd, May 19th, I’ll be at the Gibson Amphitheater, in Universal California.
But I’m doing KTLA; I’ll be talking about it on KTLA Channel 5, early morning news tomorrow with Rick Dees, and I’m singing “Shame” on the same show. So check it out. After that, I’m going, like I said, to Gibson, Universal. Then I’m going to Charlotte, North Carolina, then Denver, Colorado. Then I come home, get my braids done again, and then I’ll be out again. That’s a full list, huh?
Akim: Staying busy. That’s what it’s about. I love it. After 35 years, that’s amazing.
Evelyn: Yes, I’m blessed.
Akim: I think you’re a great example of what it means to truly have longevity in a music career.
Evelyn: Thank you so much.
Akim: No problem; you’re very welcome.
Evelyn: Thank you. I hope to meet you soon.
Akim: Yes, I hope so, too. I’m here on the East Coast, so definitely I’ll be looking out for you when you come this way to do the next show.
Evelyn: So you’re going to be there June 2nd then?
Akim: June 2nd, yes! Atlantic City, yes.
Evelyn: That’s right, you’re going to be there.
Akim: That’s my birthday, so.
Evelyn: Well, happy birthday. I’ll make sure I’ll sing it to you.
Akim: Alright. Awesome.
Eveyln: I will.
Akim: I will definitely look out for that; I love it. So how can your fans stay up to date with you, just with everything that you have going on, in general?
Evelyn: Well, my website needs to be more worked on. EvelynChampagneKing.com. But Evelyn Champagne King, you see me on Facebook; I am on Facebook. There’s a few little Evelyn Champagne Kings out there with the fan page things, but I have one fan page of my own, which is ran, you’ll see Troy Bronstein on there, which is my manager. And myself, I’m also controlling that.
And you’ll see me on Facebook. I’m always on Facebook, as much as I can, to make sure that I say hello and updates of what’s going on in the shows, and I have just also put my condolences down for the loss of Chuck Brown and Donna Summer, so I’m just praying that people just keep the prayers going for their families. And just hang in there, and I just went through something myself again, I had to go in, women always have little problems. I went in for a biopsy and I’m just praying that my results tomorrow are good results.
Akim: They will be. They definitely will be.
Evelyn: Thank you so much. I want to thank all the fans and friends for all their support. I know that God’s with me.
Akim: Exactly. And God is in you, definitely, and that voice.
Evelyn: Yes, he is, always, every step.
Akim: Awesome. Alright Evelyn, thank you so much, again, and I will see you on June 2nd in Atlantic City.
Evelyn: Thank you, and you’ve got my phone number. You make sure you tell me that you’re going to come or not.
Akim: Okay.
Evelyn: Alright. You better be there in Atlantic City, after all this talking.
Akim: Exactly. ‘Where is he at?”
Evelyn: The day after your birthday--you done partied too much, if you didn’t show up.
Akim: Hey, maybe I’ll come down to Atlantic City and get started a day early.
Evelyn: Uh-oh, there you go. Please let me know. I really appreciate it.
Akim: I will. Thank you so much.
Evelyn: Thanks for your patience. How’s your family doing after what happened?
Akim: Hold on, let me put a stop to this.
About the Writer
With nearly a decade of experience in programming content for Music Choice (24/7 music channels, cable-on-demand shows, website and cell), Akim Bryant has just begun to scratch the surface of journalism having already written for GIANT and The Source magazines as well as a number of start-up publications. This self-professed R&B junkie also has a strong knack for the art of interviewing. Be on the lookout for his semi-autobiographical debut novel coming out in 2012.
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