February 2013 – Suite 411

Kem overcomes drug addiction to become Grammy nominated artist

Kem is a survivor.

The R&B singer battled back from years of drug addiction and homelessness to become a two-time Grammy nominated artist.

Kem, who begin playing the keyboard at five years old and writing songs in middle school, credits his faith in God for his success.

“Music has always been a part of my life throughout my addiction,” the singer said. “My faith is my foundation and I look at my music as a ministry.”

“People hear about my struggle and what they are witnessing is a miracle,” he said. “I don’t take it lightly and I speak about it on stage where ever I go.”

Kem will be performing along with Chrisette Michele at the Valentine’s Love Affair concert Saturday at the Arie Crown Theater.

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Tony, Toni, Tone bring the swing to ‘Valentine Jam’

Couples can celebrate the holiday by dancing up a sweat at the New Jack Swing Valentine Jam Thursday night at the Arie Crown Theater.

The concert includes R&B performers from the ‘80s and ‘90s Guy; Tony, Toni, Tone; SWV; Dru Hill; and Al B. Sure.

Dwayne Wiggins of Tony, Toni, Tone said he is looking forward to performing on his birthday, which falls on Valentine’s Day.

This year also marks the group’s 25th anniversary in the music business, Wiggins said.

“Expect us to celebrate like it‘s our anniversary, no pun intended,” said Wiggins, alluding to the group’s 1993 hit single “Anniversary.”

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Sinbad finds new comedic road in ‘funkedy’

Sinbad didn’t begin his career as a clean comic but one night while performing he decided to try something different.

“Everybody was being so dirty,” Sinbad said of the other comedians performing that night. “Everybody was sounding the same and trying to be super hip. So I just switched it up and found that I was able to talk about more things clean,” said Sinbad, who has been performing since 1983. “I could still talk about sex, drugs, or anything. I just changed the words that I used.”

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Bill Bellamy has a ‘Ladies Night Out’

Bill Bellamy lucked out.

He credits his success from being in the “right place at the right time” while studying economics at Rutgers University. The former “Last Comic Standing” host began performing standup comedyon the side, and it wasn’t long before he caught the eye of Russell Simmons. The media mogul paved the way for his appearance in HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” where he’s credited with coining the now ubitiquous phrase “booty call.”

Now, nearly two decades after getting his start in the business and having success in television and film, Bellamy continues to perform standup comedy. His “Ladies Night Out” comedy tour stops this weekend at the Improv in Schaumburg.

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