Mariea Antoinette is a R&B/Jazz harpist. Her visit to Africa had a profound impact on her and it is evident in her new single "Afrika." With her harp, Mariea transforms the sounds of Africa into a Smooth Jazz masterpiece. Emmy winning Allan Phillips (Donna Summer, Kenny Loggins) produced the single, which is already being considered for a Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Performance. Her upcoming album that the single is included on, "Fierce," will be her fourth solo project.

Allan Phillips plays keyboard on Mariea Antoinette's "Afrika" single, and he is joined by Grammy nominated drummer Tiki Pasillas (Marc Anthony); bassist Nathan Brown; guitarist Evan Marks (Billy Eckstine); trumpeter Derek Cannon; tenor saxophonist John Rekevics; trombonist Jordan Morita; the AP All Stars Strings ensemble, and on vocals Natalya Phillips (Genesis).

"When you see the sisters with baskets on their heads...their smiles...you think of that (Africa as the motherland). Black women (in general) carry the genes of all races," she informed me as we continued our talk about Africa.

Antoinette, as a child, came from a Classical music background, but gravitated to Jazz and R&B as she got older. Her music releases have garnered her Billboard chart-topping hits. Her single "Overture" reached #1 and stayed there for 13 consecutive weeks. As a harpist Mariea has backed Ne-Yo at the BET Awards and has performed for First Lady Michelle Obama. She has also performed with the Los Angeles Southeast Symphony Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Mariea said she has other singles released and to be released from the "Fierce" album which include "Happy Feelings," "Another Star," and the title track "Fierce.".

A San Diego, California native Mariea Antoninette has also been honored with various awards such as the Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 2018 and the Best Jazz Single Award for "Overture" from the Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Association in 2018.

Mariea told me that a harp has 47 strings and seven different pedals! She said her shows last for an hour. Imagine your fingers playing 47 strings for an hour. Amazing.  www.MarieaAntoinette.com

(November 18, 2025) - "My wife and I played a major role in our community...on the board of different organizations," said 24-time Stellar Award winner Marvin Sapp ("Never Would Have Made It") about his late wife Dr. MaLinda Prince-Sapp who recently had a street named in her honor. "They asked...would I be interested. I went, ‘This is huge!' So, they went before the City Council...and it was voted in."

The street, part of Madison Avenue, that is named after Dr. MaLinda P. Sapp is on the corner of the church she founded with Marvin Sapp 22 years ago in Michigan Grand Rapids - Lighthouse Full Life Center. That portion of Madison Avenue was dedicated and renamed Dr. MaLinda P. Sapp Way. It has been 15 years since she passed away. Since then, Sapp has gone from being a pastor to being an ordained Bishop. He was ordained as a bishop in 2015 in Florda by Global United Fellowship. Bishop Marvin Sapp currently leads The Chosen Vessel Cathedral which he founded six years ago in Dallas Ft Worth, Texas. He has also grown in fame since MaLinda was with us. Sapp's The Chosen Vessel Cathedral is recognized as the first African-American Apostolic Church in Fort Worth.

"Our grands...were there. They are her (MaLinda) name sakes. My granddaughter is 10 months old. She is MaLinda and my grandson is named Prince (MaLinda's maiden name)," Marvin said.

Dr. MaLinda was a professor in psychology at the Grand Rapids Community College and the founding principal of Grand Rapids Ellington for the Arts and Technology. Another hat that she wore was as Administrative Pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center. The church remains an important part of the local community led by Pastor RJ Marshall and his wife First Lady Kristan Marshall. The Dr. MaLinda P. Sapp Legacy Award was established to honor people and organizations for their accomplishments in diversity, and the award is given out at the Grand Rapids Symphony Celebration of Soul event where she was co-chair.

"I've been extremely blessed. My name is across genres....but she worked just as hard," the three-time Dove Award winner continued about his late wife. "It's (his fame) an amazing thing....I am so very appreciative."

Marvin Sapp recently performed at the One Music Festival in Atlanta with a line-up that included Ludacris, Doechii, The Roots and Mary J. Blige.

"I was the only Gospel artist at that event," Sapp, a two-time BET Award winner, told me when I talked about him being in the lineup with R&B and Hip-Hop artists. "The audience was out there singing my music!"

"The reason why my music works outside of the church is because I keep it churchy and funky all at the same time. I'm about conviction," Marvin continued.

"I want to be convincing...have a strong conviction to Gospel. It's more than a song to me," said the two-time Soul Train Award winner as I continued to question him about his vocal style.

I asked him why he is releasing a new album and he said, "It's always time for great music. I felt it was the perfect time to record. I start writing when I'm motivated. I then get with the producer."

"It's an outreach effort (the new album release event). We want to make an impact on 1,000 children (for the holiday). The music (on the album) is hot," Marvin Sapp said when we talked about his album's November 13, 2025 release event held at his church in Fort Worth to celebrate the new project titled "Right at His Feet."

Marvin Sapp said to get into the event you had to bring toys for children.

"I do the best I can," he said sincerely as we ended our talk.  www.MarvinSapp.com www.TheChosenVessel.org www.LightHouseGR.org

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 26th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 19, 2025, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 8, 2025. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $20,000 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email info@thepulseofentertainment.com.ent.com.