Let’s face it! We live in a day where the music industry is always looking for something or someone new. Its either looks, no voice, or voice and OH GOD! Not many come with the entire package. On the contrary newcomer “ELIJAH” is a welcomed new flavor to the industry.

Most Recently Elijah Connor was Nationally Recognized by Andre Harrell for his participation in Andre Harrell’s Superstar Soul Search. Elijah took time out of his growing schedule to sit down with Online Editor AC to speak about his experiences as an artist from Detroit, and his mission to brink back the sounds of Motown.

Motown born Elijah Connor is a young rising star just waiting to explode. Having grown up in the church, the son of ministers, ELIJAH has been mesmerizing his audience since an early age. He started singing at the tender age of three and with practice; by age eight had mastered the guitar and learned the piano. As he recalls, “I’ve been preparing for this all my life” it is evident that practice sure did make perfect. To hear his voice you would automatically know that it was God given, his smooth raspy – buttery voice and melodic riffs is like candy to the ears, after hearing it you would truly come to realize that he is a natural born star but what do you expect? Music runs through his blood. Check out his latest Single:

Keep In Tune With Elijah Connor:
https://twitter.com/elijahconnor
http://www.myspace.com/elijahconnor
http://www.ourstage.com/profile/elijahconnor

Start Gallery

A memorial to the late Michael Jackson forms outside Hitsville U.S.A Motown Museum in Detroit which houses permanent memorabilia from The Jackson 5. The Detroit News John T. Greilick

Although he was not born in Detroit, it is safe to say the legacy and commercial success of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 started on Motown in Detroit. Michael Jackson, born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, spent nearly his entire life as a public performer. At age four he was singing with the family group; a charismatic bundle of energy who was musically wise beyond his years, he soon became their lead vocalist and front man.

From Classic Motown: The Jackson Five—Michael, Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon and Tito—signed to Motown Records at the end of 1968, and were immediately groomed for stardom: “They’ll have three No. 1 records in a row,” Motown founder Berry Gordy famously announced before any records were released. In fall 1969 they exploded with “I Want You Back,” one of the greatest singles in pop history.

“I Want You Back” was the first of four consecutive no. 1 pop hits, as “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There” followed. Flip sides such as “Who’s Lovin’ You,” a knockout performance by Michael with all the hallmarks of a great soul artist, illustrated his remarkable maturity.

“Got to Be There” is a 1971 single released by Michael Jackson on the Motown label. It was the singer’s first solo single following his successful tenure as the lead singer of The Jackson 5.

Jackson’s solo career began in earnest after its success. The single, written by Elliot Willensky and produced by longtime Jackson 5 producer Hal Davis, was an immediate success. It reached #1 on the Cashbox singles chart, and #4 on both the Billboard pop and R&B charts. It also dominated some European markets, including a #5 position in the UK Singles Chart. With this first hit as a solo artist secured, Motown helped to establish Jackson as a solo act while still with his brothers. This song is included in the album Got to Be There (1972).

His debut solo album Got To Be There was released in January 1972 and reached the pop Top 20. The LP also spun off “Rockin’ Robin,” a cover of a fifties smash that hit no. 2 pop and R&B, and “I Wanna Be Where You Are” (top 20 pop/no. 2 R&B).

In July 1972 Michael sang “Ben,” the title song from a movie about a trained rat, and it became his first solo pop no. 1. Michael’s emotional, sincere performance helped the song win a Golden Globe Award, and it was nominated for an Oscar®.

The stylistically rich Ben album showcased Michael’s interpretive skills: the tracks included a moody cover of the Stylistics’ moody “People Make The World Go Round,” which in later years became a favorite of hip-hoppers; the happy, funky “We’ve Got A Good Thing Going;” and a nod to the great jazz singer Jimmy Scott, a man-child of another era, with a cover of Scott’s signature song “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.”

MJ was still only 14 years old.

Music & Me, released April 13, 1973, was Michael’s next album—a push towards more adult contemporary pop like “Ben,” which backfired commercially, although it contains fine performances, including “With A Child’s Heart,” originally cut by Stevie Wonder, Motown’s sixties teen superstar, and a vocal version of “Happy,” the love theme from Lady Sings The Blues, the Gordy-produced film on the life of Billie Holiday released the previous that starred Jackson mentor Diana Ross.

Michael Jackson’s confidant J Randy Taraborrelli, who had known the star for 40 years interviewed Michael back in 1978 about his relationship with Diana Ross:

The 18-year-old Michael Jackson was coy when I interviewed him back in 1978 and we got on to the subject of his friends. I asked about teenage actress Tatum O’Neal, with whom he was supposed to be going out. ‘She’s nice,’ he said. ‘She’s teaching me to drive.’

I pressed him further. ‘Any other friends?’ ‘Well, I do have one,’ he said. ‘A very dear, close friend that I can tell my deepest, darkest secrets to because I know she won’t tell anyone else. Her name is … ‘

He paused for dramatic effect. ‘Miss Diana Ross.’

In his will Jackson wanted Ross –who he called one of his dearest friends — to take care of his children if his mother, Katherine Jackson, was not alive or was unable to do so. In the video below you can feel their connection, it was very natural, not to mention hilarious!

Forever, Michael, released in January 1975, got things back on the R&B track.

A more danced-oriented project that featured the return of Brian and Edward Holland to Motown, the LP hit the Black Album chart top 10, while its tracks “We’re Almost There” and “Just A Little Bit Of You” both peaked inside the R&B Singles top 10. In the two years prior, the Jackson 5, after a commercial lull, had been successful with dance tracks, particularly the smash no. 1 “Dancing Machine.”

Those four albums might have been the end of the story for Michael and Motown, as he and the group, sans Jermaine, left to go to Epic Records. Michael was 17 years old. Although Michael did not spend the rest of his career at Motown it is safe to say he made a lasting impression in Detroit at Motown that no other city can call their own. Here is Motown’s 25th Anniversary Celebration of Michael Jackson & The Jacksons:

While the group—now the Jacksons—kept the groove going, MJ set aside his solo career. He took up acting, memorably appearing as the Scarecrow in The Wiz with Diana Ross in 1978.

He struck up a friendship with the film’s music producer, Quincy Jones and, in 1979, at age 21.

MJ re-ignited his solo career, collaborating with Jones on Off The Wall.

In the aftermath of its huge success, Motown issued the compilation One Day In Your Life, on March 25, 1981. Its title song—lifted from Forever, Michael—turned into a no. 1 hit in the U.K. and top 40 AC in the U.S.

Then came Thriller. The hits. The videos. The moonwalk on Motown 25. In May 1984 Motown released the LP Farewell My Summer Love.

This was a batch of songs from the vault with contemporary overdubs; the title song went top 10 R&B. Two years later Motown issued Looking Back To Yesterday, a collection of more vault masters—some with the J5—that contained further unexpected gems.

All songs were previously unreleased (except for “Love’s Gone Bad”, which was released in 1979 on the Motown compilation Boogie. “I Was Made To Love Her” also appeared on that album, but in an alternate take.) The album was re-released in August 1991 and re-titled Looking Back To Yesterday: A Young Michael.

Michael and his brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Michael Jackson, center, joins Motown Records mogul Berry Gordy, second from left, and Jackson's brothers, from left, Marlon, Tito, Jackie (front) and Jermaine, as the Jackson 5 are in inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on May 6, 1997, in Cleveland.

Michael went in as a solo artist in 2001. “He has transfixed the world like few entertainers before or since,” it says in his inductee biography.

“As a solo performer, he has enjoyed a level of superstardom previously known only to Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Frank Sinatra.”

It was at Motown where MJ first bared his young soul and was set on his path to becoming the biggest pop star of our time. He died at age 50, much too young, on June 25, 2009. He is loved, he is missed. He is Forever, Michael.

Gravestone marking the burial of Michael Jackson tribute items at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, MI

Detroit-based crooner, songwriter, and producer Rashad (born Rashad Morgan) fell in love with the Motown sound at an early age. Singing the Motown songbook at his elementary-school talent shows came first, then came the church choir, an active choir that would often leave its west-side base for public performances downtown. It was at one of these performances that Rashad was discovered by former New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe member Michael Bivins, who was launching his own label. A 14-year-old Rashad would make his debut as Ray Ray on the 1999 album Michael Bivins Presents the Adventures of the Biv 10 Pee-Wee All-Stars, but this thrown-together group of preteen singers and rappers failed to sell and dissolved a year later.

Now back in the real world, Rashad finished high school and went on to study music at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO. It was there he was granted access to a recording studio. Fascinated by the process of recording and producing music, Rashad spent most of his time in the studio and barely any in class. His grades proved it and a year later he was back in Detroit. From 2003 to 2005 he worked on a bunch of projects including a gig with the Big Ticket Music Group, owned by Atlanta Falcons running back Warrick Dunn. While most of these projects ended up being nothing more than learning experiences, a relationship with Detroit production duo Sicknotes became much more. They introduced Rashad to new management and released his independent album People Call Me Ray Ray in September of 2005. A copy landed in the hands of Grand Hustle Entertainment — home to Southern rap stars T.I. and Young Dro — and soon Rashad was in Atlanta, writing and recording his Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records debut. The first single, the smooth “Tell ‘Em What They Wanna Hear,” became a huge hit on Detroit radio when it was released in May of 2006. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide

Bringing you to speed, Rashad is still making moves with Grand Hustle. He is on the road for the summer hitting up Detroit, St. Louis, shooting a video for his upcoming single ‘Good Lovin’ in ATL and participating with Fox on Hip Hop For Hunger. Rashad took time out to speak with Radio One’s Online Editor in Detroit.

Rashad Morgan has recently aligned with Twisted Management, owned by Ian Easterling and Antonio (TwisT) Allen to return to the scene, writing and recording new music. Ian and Antonio has known Rashad since their high school days in Detroit, MI and has recently turned the friendship into a business relationship. During Rashad’s absence, he has spent time with his daughter, while reflecting on life and finding musical inspiration for his next album. With new management, Rashad has begun working on his next album.

Check out Rashad’s latest Single ‘So High’

UPCOMING SHOWS/EVENTS:
June 27, 2010: Ultimate White Party Hosted by Doug E Fresh and Paigion
June 30, 2010: ‘Good Lovin’ Video Shoot in ATL
July 17, 2010: St. Louis
July 22, 2010: Hip Hop For Hunger
July 24-25, 2010: Yard Fest, Ohio

Contact Rashad

twitter.com/RashadMorgan
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Intimacy features vocal and production collaborations with the likes of Grammy-winning soul diva Jill Scott and the late Motown legend David J. Van dePitt, who famously produced Marvin Gaye’s 1971 masterpiece, What’s Going On. Scott delivers enchanting verses of spoken word in “Golden Days,” while Van dePitt arranged the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s string section on the first single, a gorgeous ballad called “Why Would You Stay.” Los Angeles producer Rex Rideout (Luther Vandross, Angie Stone) also joined KEM in the studio to help round out the Intimacy listening experience. The result is a richer sound buttressed by classical instruments and a greater range of musical styles that will certainly expand KEM’s audience by garnering success across multiple formats, including pop, R&B, and urban adult contemporary.

AC has your EXCLUSIVE behind the scenes footage of the shoot which was done right here in the D: