But Smokin’ Singer Might Have TLC for Right Man

Listen to the Exclusive Interview with Chilli

Smoldering singer/performer, sexy, hot-bodied Chilli – one third of America’s top selling female group of all time, TLC – opened up to Chris Yandek of CYInterview.com in an exclusive interview telling him, “I’ve never been married!”

Listen to the Angel Fernandez Interview

For all the accolades a power couple like Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez receive, there are unsung people behind the scenes working to help them achieve excellence. Performer, musical director, composer and arranger Angel Fernandez has been working with Marc Anthony for nearly 16 years. And when Jennifer Lopez did her latest stint on Saturday Night Live back in February, it was Fernandez who helped put together her performances.

Fernandez’s first big gig was as a teenager, getting the chance to perform and then write with Latin music legend Ray Barretto. From there he went on to work alongside Celia Cruz and David Byrne – front man for The Talking Heads – as well as Anthony and Lopez.

Fernandez’s career spans decades of significant change in the music industry. He has adapted to the times, growing and staying relevant by performing in various musical genres. Recently, he toured with popular Dominican group Aventura, which in recent months sold out shows at Madison Square Garden.

Fernandez cites Aventura’s success as a sign there is light at the end of the tunnel in an uncertain music industry – particularly if you’re able to come up with something new.

Though his long time colleague, superstar Jennifer Lopez canceled her latest album a couple of months ago, Angel states there are future projects in the works and not to count Ms. Lopez out. Fernandez isn’t sure where the future of the music industry is going, but the smart money says he will continue to grow, adapt and succeed in it.

I know what you’re all thinking. Those dog days of summer are taking forever to end. The only difference is many college football fans have already started their season even though the first kick of the ball in the air hasn’t occurred.

The college football diehards are picking up expert Phil Steele’s yearly publication that breaks down all of college football and the sports video gamer in you can’t wait for tomorrow to get here because EA Sports’s NCAA 11 finally is released.

Thanks to the fine people at EA Sports for another consecutive year I have had the chance to get the NCAA football a game a week before it hits retailers to review for all you readers out there. For many thousands of gamers across the country, this is their yearly moment and one they don’t want interrupted by anyone or anything.

© PGA TOUR; image may not be release to a third party without the approval of the PGA TOUR Photographic department.

Listen to the Davis Love III Interview

At this year’s US Open, Davis Love III gave us some veteran, golf magic. Love played 68 holes better than the rest of the field, finishing just four shots off the lead; one stroke behind world number one and two golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Listen to the Alexandra Taveras Interview

Sensational singer Alexandra Taveras - she sang with The New York Band, tours with Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, toured with Thalia, had a number one duet with Tito Nieves and worked with late music legends Tito Puente and Celia Cruz – has debuted her songs, Land of the Free/Tierra de la Libertad, on the website, www.ArizonaApartheid.com.
 

Taveras, a passionate person and top talent, decided to lend her voice to the growing chorus of individuals speaking out against Arizona’s new law, set to go into effect. Her music is her message; two songs, two captivating calls to action – one in English and one in Spanish – opposing what is taking place in Arizona.

Fellow artists have shown support. Superb singer/songwriter Shontelle Layne – on the pop charts with her song Impossible – and remarkable recording artist Mya –  just on the front page of Variety.com and last year’s runner-up on Dancing with the Stars – have both reached out by way of Twitter.

Last week, we brought you the team behind Land of the Free/Tierra de la Libertad. Now, in this exclusive interview, CYInterview.com welcomes back Ms. Taveras – the star singer of the songs.

To hear the songs go to http://www.ArizonaApartheid.com.

Listen to the Patrick McEnroe Interview

Imagine being at the center of a major sport and the brother of a star who was labeled as tennis’s bad boy. Patrick McEnroe experienced all of that with his brother John who he even admits there were times when the brothers weren’t on speaking terms. Patrick discusses this along with the ups and downs of his entire career as a singles and doubles player in his new book Hardcourt Confidential.

McEnroe’s book though was never meant to be a memoir and it isn’t. Instead it’s a collection of stories from his experiences in tennis from 20 plus years wrapped around a perspective of the sport itself and how it has evolved in those two decades. Readers will get the chance to see Patrick take to task the best American players in the world while evaluating the positives and negatives of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, the Williams Sisters and Andy Roddick among others.

There are also stories about Agassi thinking the game has passed him by and Sampras’s taste for gambling just to name a few. He also shares his life experiences as an analyst for ESPN and his highs and lows as the captain of the Davis Cup team for the United States. McEnroe says leading the team to victory in 2007 was the greatest moment of his career.

The industry of tennis is a small group of individuals who frequently see each other. Only a few players are making the really big money on tour and every week most players are out playing across the world for their livelihood. For an outsider that knows nothing about the most important events and backgrounds that define the sport, readers get a view of what makes the sport tick from tennis royalty who has as much, if not more passion for the game than his more famous brother John.

       Chris Apostle                 Bridget Zeuner                   Jose Luis Pagan

Listen to the Land of The Free Interviews

With a new law set to go into effect in July criminalizing undocumented human beings in Arizona, people in the music industry and the arts have joined together to send out a message against bill SB 1070, that has been passed into law, in Arizona.

The amazing singer Alexandra Taveras – she tours with Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, has toured with Thalia, had a number one duet with Tito Nieves and worked with late music legends Tito Puente and Celia Cruz – has performed the vocals for Latin Grammy nominee, producer/composer/writer’s Jose Luis Pagan’s songs,  Land of the Free/Tierra de la Libertad. 

Land is the English version and Tierra the Spanish version of these songs against the law in Arizona. The songs are available as free downloads on http://www.arizonaapartheid.com.  

Here is an exclusive interview with the people behind the project and the music, Jose Luis Pagan along with executive producers Chris Apostle, Bridget Zeuner and Jay Bildstein – who was also the concept’s creator.

Coming song: An exclusive interview with singer Alexandra Taveras

I am deeply saddened to report that legendary, professional wrestler Grizzly Smith, the father of Jake “The Snake" Roberts has passed away today. He was 78 years old. Smith passed away of complications of Alzeimer's Disease. There are no further details at this time. I have known Jake Roberts for eight years. I know this is a difficult time for him and his family. I extend my deepest condolences to them.

Listen to the Ron Jeremy Interview

There are two names that come to mind in adult entertainment. Representing the ladies of the industry is Jenna Jameson. Her male counterpart is Ron Jeremy who's appeared in more adult films than any other person in the history of pornography. Many note him as arguably the most famous adult entertainment star in the industry's history.
 

Jeremy's first passion wasn't to get into the adult business. He had a passion for acting and took the road less traveled by getting into pornography after not achieving any early acting success. Most people that take the road into the x-rated business will end up killing their chances for future movie opportunities in films that are put out by major studios. Jeremy might be the exception to the rule as he has received opportunities to be in Hollywood films in recent years that include cult classics like Boondock Saints and Detroit Rock City.
 

Through his popularity in porn as the average looking guy, Jeremy has also had numerous cameo roles in movies including his latest in Finding Bliss starring Jamie Kennedy and Denise Richards out in theaters in New York and Los Angeles this week. The film coincidentally is based around the adult industry.
 

A former teacher who is still licensed, he believes the Internet is the most harmful thing affecting today's youth. As far as the economics of the world, Jeremy is a great example of not letting celebrity or fame go to your head. He knows that celebrity is not a constant gravy train. Ron owns a few condos that he rents out and banks everything.
 

The on going sex coverage by the media of famous husbands cheating on their wives, mistresses and celebrity sex tapes has been more common lately than anything we’ve seen in the past. Jeremy isn't surprised that Jesse James who he knows fairly well or Tiger Woods cheated given the fact they have celebrity and women are throwing themselves at them. Though he agrees that none of this should be considered news, he believes this isn't all that surprising. Ron hopes to continue his acting career in the future, which is probably his real passion in life over what he's most widely known for.

Listen to the Kitty Kelley Interview

For over 20 years, Oprah Winfrey has been referred to as the queen of daytime television. For the month of April, Kitty Kelley is the queen of the book-publishing world. Kitty tells us her latest work, Oprah: A Biography, is slated number one in the upcoming New York Times Best Seller list.

Following Oprah’s journey from the Southeastern U.S. to being in many American’s homes, Kelley attempts to show us a more personal side of Ms. Winfrey. Kelley believes nothing in her book – or what anyone else might say – can ever put a damper on Oprah’s achievements. The author believes this biography is simply a chance for the public to see a different side of Oprah.

According to Kitty, Oprah declined her interview requests. In researching the book, however, Kitty conducted over 850 interviews, as well as gathering interviews Ms. Winfrey had already given over the last two decades.

Recently, Katherine Esters, one of Oprah’s family members – Kelley states she spent three days interviewing her – said she was misquoted in the book. Ms. Kelley tells us that she records all her interview subjects to the best of her ability – this includes Ms. Esters – and does everything she can to document every piece of information published. She believes Ms. Esters may have come under pressure and finds that disappointing.

Kelley is also disappointed that Barbara Walters was dismissive of her book. Kitty even wrote Ms. Walters a letter asking her to give the book a chance. Interestingly, Walter’s recent memoir, Audition, was put out by the same publisher, Random House, and edited by the same editor, Peter Gethers, as Kelly’s Oprah biography. The author wrote to Walters to make it clear that her intention was not to do a negative book on Ms. Winfrey.

As far as what’s in store for Kitty Kelley in the future, she is planning to write an article about unauthorized biographies. She confides that her next big work might – emphasis on might – be on the Obama family, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

As for Ms. Winfrey, after positively affecting millions of people in one way or another, she is set to leave daytime television in 2011 and move over to her cable network.

Oprah’s success and positive effect on many cannot be denied. Undoubtedly, she is one of the most influential people of the last hundred years. Kelley’s book is an attempt to go behind the scenes and shed light on the actual person, not simply the iconic image. How successful the author is in doing this is a judgment the individual reader will have to make. 

Listen to the Cal Ripken Jr. Interview

With the end of the first weeks of the baseball season, fans are flocking to stadiums nationwide looking for new players and familiar faces alike. None of those familiar faces, however, have started as many consecutive games as Baseball’s retired Iron Man and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. Cal started an unfathomable 2632 consecutive games and, today, continues his involvement in America’s pastime with the same vigor he had when he played the game.

Along with his brother, Ripken currently hosts a baseball oriented radio program. He’s also stayed close to the sport with his involvement in two kid’s baseball teams, as well as three minor league clubs. Additionally, TBS brought him in as a studio analyst for the MLB playoffs last year. Seems the Iron Man keeps on keeping on.

During the last decade, allegations, answers and admissions about the use of certain performance enhancing drugs in baseball have come up involving players such as Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, and Jose Canseco. Ripken believes McGwire’s recent admission was probably liberating for him. Cal also believes it will be easier for the St. Louis slugger to sleep at night since there is no longer anything for him to hide.

When we first spoke back in 2007, Ripken admitted there was a cloud over baseball, concerning performance enhancing substances, and that the entire truth probably hadn’t come out yet. With some truth now having come to light – over the last three years – owing to the Mitchell Report and various prominent players fessing up, Ripken hopes fans can move past the performance enhancement question and, once again, focus on what’s taking place on the field.

Ripken continues as a spokesman for Energizer – the battery folks – where until April 23rd fans can nominate someone, at http://www.energizer.com/halloffame, for the Energizer Hall of Fame. Nominations should be made on the basis of good works an individual has done in their community.

Listen to the Michelle Lemon Interview

Actors and wannabe actors flock to Hollywood each year, hoping to be cast in projects that’ll put them on the map. We usually hear their tales of trying to make it after they’ve gained some notoriety.

Actress Michelle Lemon is currently doing her pre-fame-dues-paying, making the most of small roles.  She’s working hard to get her “big break.”

But Lemon – whose sweetness belies her name – is, no doubt, anonymously known to legions of Will Smith fans for slinging a choice epithet at the A-lister during the first few minutes of his 2008, action/comedy Hancock.  In the flick, Smith plays a kind of anti-super hero. He fights crime, but at a great cost to society.  He drinks. He’s crude. He’s rude.  And he tries to grab Michelle’s buxom buttocks in the beginning of the movie.

Lemon’s character responds to the A-list actor’s attempt at grab-assing by calling him an asshole. Of course, it was all in filmic, good fun. After the scene was over, Michelle told Smith that the almost-glute-grab was the most action she’d had in a long time.

In preparation for Hancock, Michelle worked with Smith’s acting coach, Aaron Speiser. She got her start on the NBC show Las Vegas, alongside Josh Duhamel, body-doubling for Nikki Cox and standing in for Molly Sims.

Speaking about aspiring actors, Michelle says the biggest challenge is finding an agent with established credentials; someone who knows the ins and outs of Hollywood. Lemon says every agent has a different career path suggestion. She believes the key is to find one who knows the right direction.

It will be interesting to see how Lemon’s career progresses in the coming years.  She’s bright, beautiful and not afraid of hard work. Oh, and she’s got the moxie to call an A-lister an A-hole – on screen that is. She may be named Lemon, but she’s no lemon. Michelle’s a winner.