Adams, a pianist and arranger, was music director for the late Roy Ayers for 20 years during his tours. Ayers tour band was called Ubiquity. Roy Ayers' notable hits include "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" and "What You Won't Do For Love." Roy Ayers released 33 albums and six live albums in his lifetime. He garnered the Lifetime Achievement Award and was considered the "godfather of Neo-Soul."

I asked Mark if there were any challenges to being music director for a legend like Roy Ayers and he said, "Nothing really. I was...allowed...to be myself. If he like it, he kept it in the show...and kept doing it. If he didn't like it, he said, ‘Don't do that!' He was not afraid to try things."

I asked if Roy kept in the changes he made on stage when he recorded his albums and Adams said, "Maybe in live recordings, but usually he had his own concept."

Mark Adams now has 18 solo albums under his belt, has a music publishing company and an imprint called DownJazz Records. Mark's upcoming album offers 10 tracks, and the 

original tracks are co-written by Mark Adams and David Schwartz, who also produced the project. The album features assistance from vocalists Kimberly Davis (Chic member) on "Open Letter," Jonathan Quash (Mark Adams' band), Miya Bass (Lion King on Broadway), John Pressley (Roy Ayers' band) and a Gospel choir. Aside from CD and digital versions of the project, the album will also be offered in colored vinyl (limited).

"I have a Gospel choir on his (Roy Ayers) ‘Don't Stop the Feeling' and made ‘Sweet Tears' faster," Mark explained to me when we were discussing the covers of Roy Ayers that he has on the new "This is Neo-Soul" album. "I've never done a dance record...it's always been Smooth Jazz. This album is all vocals too."

Mark Adams gathers 15 musicians for his "This is Neo-Soul" album that have credits that include Chic, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, Gloria Gaynor, Gil Scott Heron, Mary J. Blige and Chaka Khan. Those musicians on the new project include Chris DeCarmine (Roy Ayers band) on drums; Dave Mullins (Gloria Gaynor) on sax; Monte Croft (Gladys Knight) on vibraphone; Steve Kroon (Luther Vandross) on percussion; Kenyatta Beasley (Mary J. Blige) on trumpet; Bill White (Lonnie Liston Smith) on guitar; John Smith (Williams Patterson) on guitar; Roy Bennett (Bernard Perdie) on bass; Donald Nicks (Roy Ayers) on bass, and Emanuel "Chulo" Gatewood (Diana Reeves) on bass.

"It's mostly originals," Mark pointed out when I asked about how many Roy Ayers covers were included on the new "This is Neo-Soul" project. "It has four covers. My music director, Chris (DeCarmine), has toured with me for four years and is instrumental in writing the single (‘Open Letter'). I try new things (too) and I am glad I did."

I commented on the positive feedback I am hearing about the album and Mark Adams said, "Yes! Knock on wood...it's doing well! I expected it to do well."  www.MarkAdamsJazz.com www.DownJazzRecords.com

The Bluefield, Virginia native who received a key to the city, the "Outstanding Citizen Award" and a "Makenzie Phipps Day" on December 6, 2025, said the new single "Whiskey Kills the Time" is from her upcoming EP "Pick Your Poison."

"All my alcohol songs are on it," laughed the Southern Women in Film & Television Summit "Rising Star Award" honoree.

Phipps, who was noted as the "Future Star of Tomorrow" by the North American Country Music International Association, said she aways wrote drinking songs because that's what Country singers do.

"It's so dang easy to write alcohol songs, especially in Country Music," she pointed out. "'Whiskey Kills the Time' is the last, I am going to write other songs for the rest of the year!"

"The single is closing it out. The end of my era of songs about alcohol," Makenzie said with a slight laugh as we talked about her upcoming EP "Pick Your Poison."

"Now you can get them all in one place," she added.

Makenzie Phipps has earned the Josie Music "Female Country Song of the Year" Award and in 2022 garnered the "Songwriter Achievement Award."

I complimented Makenzie on the new single "Whiskey Kills the Time" because it showcases her natural Country vocal skills, letting you know what Snoop Dogg saw in her. She has the talent to be an iconic Country singer. Proof is, she is already, just look at her achievements. She just needs time under the belt!

"I put together the bridge," Phipps pointed out as we continued talking about the new single "Whiskey Kills the Time."

I asked her about her drink of choice and she said, "Whiskey does the trick for me."

I wanted to know what working with a Hip-Hop artist on "The Voice" looked or sounded like!
Being on Team Snoop Dogg means Hip-Hop and Country came together.

"It was insane," she laughed as we talked about her experience with Snoop. "I was on the team to make things interest! Everyone on Team Snoop was so talented! We were one big happy family."  www.MakenziePhipps.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!