However, with some encouragement from his father, who Donna met first, Justin made the move and brought on new management.

"It was a handshake," he said.

"He is smart, and savvy in business. I include him in everything. Most managers don't do that. You don't have to handhold him," Donna said as we talked about her new client Country's finest Justin Jeansonne. "We are ready to make deals."

"We will take it as it comes," Justin added. "I grew the product...I have to just maintain my drive."

Donna said that Justin, a native of Mobile, Alabama, came already established and her job is to simply organize and enhance what he has already done.

Jeansonne's newest album is "Little Jake," about his son who passed away at two years old. The current single from the project is "Holding My Baby." The single is about when Justin's child passed away.

"I was on stage one night in a club...adlibbing (about his son's passing) and it morphed into what it is now," Justin said when I asked about the birth of the single.

Justin Jeansonne was enlisted in the Marine Corps and when he left, he turned to music.

"I decided in 2012 - 2013 after leaving the Marine Corps to play music for a living" he told me when I asked. "I moved to Nashville for two years and then went back - into the Army. In 2016 I put my band back together...managing myself...been doing nothing else. I do this full time."

Justin's band consists of Dayton Olson on harmonica, Dylan Heflin on drums, and Maison Faulk on bass. You will find Justin on his guitar. Aside from Country the band is fluent in Blues, Funk and Southern Rock.

Now Justin Jeansonne has Donna Cardellino. Aside from managing Justin, she also manages the career of HGTV celebrity designer Paul LaFrance. Cardellino is also a television producer. Her credits in TV production include the special "Growing Up Greek."  www.JustinJeansonne.com

The Love & Laughter - Valentine's Day event will be backed by the Londzell Performing Arts Theatre (LPAT) House Band. Also showcased at the show are the talents of vocalist Kari Epps and comedian JJ Williamson. Comedian Kelly Kellz will host this special night for people who love to love - like me! The Lover & Laughter - Valentine's Day event is an LPAT production.

"It's a blessing just to be in the building," Stokely said as we talked about the show. "I perform last."

"By that time, they are tired," he pointed out to me. "But it's great being at the top. My job is to elevate people."

I told Stokely that they will get their energy back when he gets on stage to perform! In 2011 Williams scored a Grammy nomination as a featured vocalist on Kelly Price's single "Not My Daddy." In 2017 he toured with The Revolution in honor of Prince. Stokely Williams also played Rick James in the Ja'Caryous Johnson stage production "Super Freak: A Rick James Story."

Stokely is the lead vocalist and drummer of the legendary band Mint Condition. He is known for also being a solo artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He has collaborated with Janet Jackson, Prince and Whitney Houston. As a musician Stokely has played on projects for Janet Jackson ("Twenty Foreplay"), Jon Secada, Yolanda Adams ("Open My Heart"), Usher, Luther Vandross, Prince, New Edition, Johnny Gill and Karen White.

"I go away to live a bit," Stokely said when we were talking about that high-profile life (entrenched in your music).

Stokely launched his solo career in 2017 with the album "Introducing Stokely" (Blueraffe/Concord Records). It was produced by "Philly" producers Carvin and Ivan. That project garnered two #1 Billboard Adult R&B Chart singles ("Organic" and "Levels"). His sophomore album was "Sankofa" in 2019, that was released in collaboration with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. In 2020 he scored another #1 Billboard Adult R&B Chart single titled "She..."

"I haven't gone to bed yet," he said with a slight laugh, about being in the studio all night when I asked if any new music is coming. "I have to force myself to go to bed sometimes. Good stuff is coming. I have collaborations with people that are on my wish list!"

Stokely said we will know more about his new music in a couple of months.

As a member of the band Mint Condition Stokely has recorded seven albums with the group that are from St. Paul, Minnesota. Mint Condition was formed in the 1980s and was discovered by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis in 1989. They later released "Meant to be Mint" in 1991. That album garnered the "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)" hit single that was certified Gold, and the hit "Forever in Your Eyes" came from that project. The band has received a Grammy nomination and three Soul train Awards. In 1993 Mint Condition released "The Mint Factory". Their album "Definition of a Band" was also certified Gold, and their hit "What Kinda Man Would I Be" is on that album. Mint Condition started out on the Perspective Records label, was also on Elektra Records and Shanachie Entertainment. Currently there are on their own label Mint Condition.

For now, you can hear the legend on Saturday February 14th at the Londzell Performing Arts Theatre in Atlanta.  www.iStokely.com www.LondzellPAT.com

SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million for her column The Pulse of Entertainment. She is the publisher of the digital magazine www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com, which has an estimated 160,000 visitors a month. An entrepreneur, Dr. Moseley’s company, Freelance Associates, is a business management/public relations strategic planning and consulting firm that is celebrating 32 years in 2025. Dr. Eunice also serves as professor for the School of Business at Stanton University in Anaheim, California and serves as promotions director (at-large)/journalist and business consultant for The Baltimore Times. Dr. Moseley founded the Uplifting Minds II Foundation (www.UpliftingMinds.com) in 2023, a 501 C3 with a mission to empower the underserved through three major programs – One Stop Business Shop, the ULMII Professional Conference and the ULMII Academy (business management and public relations). EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII), was launched by Dr. Eunice in 1999, to educate aspiring artists/musicians about the business of entertainment – www.UpliftingMinds2.com. Next ULMII Entertainment Conferences for Baltimore on Saturday April 18, 2026, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and for Los Angeles on Saturday, November 7, 2026, presented by The Pulse of Entertainment and the ULMII Foundation. The ULMII conferences are free with virtual access via Zoom. ULMII entertainment conference offers a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and International Talent Competition where the top three scored acts receive the ULMII Best Act Award and over $20,000 valued in prizes/product/services and cash!