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San Francisco Chronicle
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘We had our own Lauryn Hill': Raphael Saadiq goes off about Lucy Pearl bandmate Dawn Robinson at Oakland show
Raphael Saadiq did not hold back during the final night of his 'No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits' tour, which concluded in his hometown of Oakland. The special one-man show, which kicked off on May 31 at the historic Apollo Theater in New York before subsequent stops in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, wrapped up with two consecutive performances at the Fox Theater over the weekend that were as revealing as the crowds were rowdy. The format was reminiscent of 2020's 'Beastie Boys Story' on Apple TV+, though even more sparse and not as technically tight (certain sound and video cues didn't quite sync up). Saadiq on a sparse stage featuring a couple of stools, two guitars, a bass, a turntable and a piano as he shared personal stories about the triumphs and tragedies of his life growing up as a scrawny boy in East Oakland to becoming the co-founder of the 1990s hitmakers Tony! Toni! Toné! and a Grammy-winning producer. Fans were instructed to seal their electronic devices in Yondr pouches when they arrived at the venue, allowing Saadiq to speak openly without fear of a video of him and his comments going viral. As a reward, he gave the crowd an unfiltered account of the fallout that ended Lucy Pearl, the supergroup he formed with Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest and Dawn Robinson, of the Oakland-founded R&B troupe En Vogue. 'Since this is my last show, I'm going to tell y'all,' he said, with a laugh. 'This is why you don't have your phones.' He specifically addressed longstanding tensions with Robinson, whom he called 'our own Lauryn Hill,' referring to the Grammy-winning 'Ex-Factor' singer notorious for being late to her own concerts and the one blamed for canceled reunion tours with the popular '90s hip-hop trio known as the Fugees. 'Actually, I'd rather have Lauryn,' Saadiq said to audible gasps. And he didn't stop there. Reflecting on Lucy Pearl's abrupt dissolution in late 2001, just about two years the group formed, Saadiq recalled a tour stop in Amsterdam — their last — where he learned Robinson wanted to leave the band. 'I couldn't believe it. We did an album in six months, but toured for less than a month,' he said, referring to their self-titled debut that had dropped just a year before. At one point, Saadiq started singing the hook from the Lucy Pearl hit 'Dance Tonight,' which was sung by Robinson. 'See! I didn't need her. I could've sang it myself,' he quipped. To end the segment about what he called his 'Lucifer's Pearl' era, he dismissed recent reports of Robinson living in her car, saying bluntly, 'That sh— about her living in her car is not real.' This rare openness added gravity to a night that was as chaotic as it was thrillingly insightful. Fans showered Saadiq with a deafening outpouring of love, but their exuberance occasionally cut through his storytelling. A woman in the front repeatedly declared her undying love, and another went so far as to flash the musician. Saadiq's connection to Oakland — the city where his career began — only fueled the hooting and hollering throughout the venue. From namedropping his buddy and school 'bodyguard' Huston Lillard, father of NBA star Demian Lillard, to his alma maters Elmhurst Middle School and Castlemont High School as well as a slew of Oakland landmarks, he received rapturous cheers, many shouting out their connections to each he listed off. Saadiq appeared amused, every so often blowing kisses to fans, but also annoyed. He jokingly scolded and shushed the crowd, threatening to randomly name spots in Walnut Creek or Pinole because, he quipped, 'I know y'all don't leave to go out there.' Of course, the audience was most electrified when Saadiq sang his biggest hits with Tony! Toni! Toné! like 'Feels Good,' "Anniversary" as well as his solo tracks, 'Me and You' and 'Ask of You.' He later rattled off stories about working with the biggest names in the movie and music industry, from filmmakers John Singleton ('Boyz in the Hood') and Oakland's own Ryan Coogler ('Sinners') to Beyoncé and her sister Solange Knowles, the latter whom he called 'one of my favorites.' 'What makes me a great collaborator is that I'm a great listener,' he said, throwing shade at the show's main heckler. 'Not like you. I. Am. A. Listener.' He noted that while he never received awards for his solo work, he got his wins for his collaborations. Most recently, Saadiq won his third Grammy for his contributions to Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter," which won album of the year at the 67th Grammy Awards. Nostalgia and controversy intertwined as Saadiq mentioned working with Kendrick Lamar ('Why would Drake mess with that dude? And I like Drake!') and while reminiscing about the influence the Isley Brothers had on his music, which led him to bring up that group's frequent collaborator, R. Kelly. 'Kell's a bad boy,' he acknowledged, referring to the disgraced R&B singer convicted of multiple sex crimes. 'They should have gotten him some help.' It was a truly raw, unapologetic look into the 59-year-old's life and career. Just before wrapping up at 11:30 p.m. with anecdotes about his late big brother D'Wayne Wiggins, who died of bladder cancer at 64 in March, he wanted to make sure he made good with the crowd. 'I didn't mind the noise,' he told the packed theater. 'It was all love.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman shot near Oakland's Fox Theater recounts harrowing experience
The Brief A 27-year-old woman shot in the leg during a triple shooting in Oakland on Mother's Day is speaking out. Two men were also wounded in the attack. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. OAKLAND, Calif. - A woman who was among three victims shot early on Mother's Day in Uptown Oakland said the violence came without warning. "Arm comes out the window, followed by sounds," recalled Drea Avaloz. What we know Those sounds were gunshots, eight to 12 of them, fired from a car near the Fox Theater. Avaloz and her friend hit the deck near 19th Street and Telegraph Avenue around 1 a.m. on May 11. That's when Avaloz realized she had been shot in the left leg. The bullet narrowly missed her bone. "I felt my leg burning," she said. "I saw my pants frayed, and I just thought in my head, 'Please God, just let that be the only one.' And I was hoping the next one wasn't going to be, you know, like a lights-out situation." Avaloz did a quick scan. "I was like checking my torso, checking my neck and my head, because I just didn't know if I got hit anywhere else," she said. "My adrenaline, my energy was so high." She soon realized two men had also been shot and wounded. Avaloz still has a bullet lodged in her leg. Doctors were busy that night with more pressing emergencies. They were also worried about nerve damage and didn't want to worsen her condition by attempting removal immediately. She was discharged from the hospital and will follow up with her primary care doctor and a specialist to remove the bullet later. What we don't know As she recovers, Oakland police continue to investigate the shooting. No arrests have been made, and a motive is still unknown. "It almost seemed like they were just swinging their arm around and just pulling the trigger," Avaloz said. "It also sounded like a modified handgun. It wasn't regular." Avaloz would know. She works as an armed guard and loves her job. But these days she's off work, in pain, and using a cane and a walker to get around. A week after the shooting, she turned 27 — a milestone that now feels bittersweet. "It's just frustrating that somebody I don't even know would be living their life and just carry on if they had taken my life," she said. Now, after surviving the shooting, Avaloz has a message for the person who pulled the trigger: "One day, you know, if you continue on, you will be responsible for the taking of a life, and you will have robbed somebody of their entire future and their potential," she said. Avaloz has set up a GoFundMe to help defray medical costs. Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and The Source KTVU reporting, Oakland police
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why so many people tell Dr. John Delony (and his millions of listeners) their deep, dark secrets
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available. Dial or text 988 or visit for free and confidential support. Electric guitar swells in the background as a podcaster in a black shirt over his tattoos turns to speak directly to the camera. 'I want you to write 10 things that you would love for your spouse or partner to do,' he says. 'Here is a roadmap to my chest, to my heart. Then ask them, 'Will you give me yours?'' This podcaster's name is Dr. John Delony, and he hosts a show on conservative financial guru Dave Ramsey's network, Ramsey Solutions. It's where he talks about mental health and gives advice to listeners who call in with problems that include repairing a marriage after infidelity, reconciling two sisters' opposing stances on abortion –– and sometimes wilder topics, such as if a caller should leave their family for their best friend's wife. Many times, callers begin their stories with, 'I've never told anyone this before.' With 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube, 1.5 million followers on Instagram and three books, Delony's approach to talking about vulnerable things appears to be resonating with many people. His callers represent a wide variety of people –– men, women, conservative Christians, truck drivers, veterans, police officers and farmers –– many of whom often heavily feel the stigma of struggling with mental health, being vulnerable and asking for help. Part of why he works is that Delony doesn't fit the mental health counselor stereotype of someone in soft tones asking 'how does that make you feel,' which is just a stereotype, said David Kessler, a death and grieving expert, author and one-time guest on Delony's show. Delony has a balance of presenting like the credentialed mental health professional he is and the good buddy who just wants to hear you out and offer a little guidance, Kessler added, which is what a lot of people are looking for. Health officials have said the United States is facing a mental health crisis, and in 2023, nearly 1 in 4 adults around the world reported feeling fairly or very lonely. Podcasts are not a replacement for therapy with a trained professional, and listeners should be aware that content around mental health can often be oversimplified, said Dr. Frank Sileo, a psychologist based in Ridgewood, New Jersey. But platforms like Delony's can provide benefit, he added. 'Listening to a podcast may be the first important step of a person's mental health journey,' Sileo added. 'Podcasts that focus on mental health issues can provide a wonderful forum for people to learn about all things mental health.' Delony's combination of a traditionally masculine appearance and open approach — along with his doctorate in counselor education and supervision –– might be one step toward connecting people in need with the tools and resources for better well-being. In a backstage Q&A at Atlanta's Fox Theater for Delony and Ramsey's 'Money and Relationships' tour, the two men gave a teasing smile to an audience member who introduced herself as Rachel from California before asking a question. 'Oh yes, we know you, Rachel,' they said in mock annoyance, like old friends. Rachel Guerrero traveled from California for 10 shows this tour, and she is going to the next shows in Fort Worth, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Phoenix, she said. 'Being a single mom, it's not easy,' Guerrero told CNN. 'When I listen to his show and what he talks about, it's a caller that's something totally different, but it applies to me.' How can she afford all those trips, you ask? She credits Dave Ramsey's advice with her financial success. Her feeling was common among audience members. They said they could trust Delony because he was connected to Ramsey and his Christian-based teaching. But they also say he knows what he was talking about because he had been through it himself, and that he just says it like it is. Accruing this following wasn't the goal, Delony said. In fact, he had no social media accounts when he made the switch from higher education to podcasting. Before joining Ramsey's company in 2020, he was giving a talk to parents of incoming students as Belmont University's dean of students about what they were about to face emotionally. A Ramsey Solutions executive was in the audience, and she later told Delony that she turned to her husband in the middle of the talk and said, 'I'm hiring that guy.' Becoming a public mental health personality wasn't appealing –– it was scary, actually –– but surrounded by a culture filled with yelling and turmoil, Delony said he felt motivated to take the job for his kids. 'This is the scariest thing I can do, but I want to be able to look at my kids and say, 'I tried to love people well, to give a picture of what loving people well in the public sphere looks like in the world that everyone's yelling at each other,'' he said. Meeting people where they are and sitting with them when they are hurting is both something fans like about Delony and something he said he prioritizes in his show. Delony works for Ramsey Solutions, hosting his own podcast and cohosting 'The Ramsey Show' radio program. Ramsey is a well-known evangelical Christian who has described himself as conservative and spoke in a podcast episode last year about voting for Donald Trump for president. But Delony, who has also talked about his identity as a Christian, has been less direct about where he stands politically. 'I guess the best way you could sum me up is the first time I went deer hunting, I had to put a gigantic buck in the back of my Prius,' he said. 'I kind of fall all over the place, and I think I've been kind of hard to nail down politically.' 'I just love everybody, and everybody's welcome at my house,' Delony added. 'It's always been that way.' Prioritizing empathy for people who are hurting over where you stand on a particular issue is important, he said. It's easy to demonize people with a political different stance in theory, but it is a lot harder to do that and show up for your friend or loved one when they are impacted by an issue you feel so against, Delony said. And as much as Delony might have intended his show to be a place to nerd out over psychology and data, he said he has found that what most people need is someone to sit with them. No matter what side they stand on or what mess they have gotten into, he wants to be the person others know will sit with them over a tray of nachos and just talk it out, he added. 'Even if they don't like me, they're like, 'I know that guy will share a drink with me, and he'll tell me the truth,'' Delony said. Humans are built to live in a tribe, and when you don't have strong connections in your community, you can default to finding belonging in a political party, he said. 'I work really hard to have other tribes so that I'm not reliant on somebody telling me who to hate, who to not like,' he said. 'I've got communities that let my heart rest so then I can critically think, and I can examine, and I can sit around and share a table with people who I think have wacky opinions. 'But I love them, and they're hilarious, and they make me laugh, or they frustrate me, but them not being in my tribe isn't the goal of that communication.' Connecting with people is something that has roots in Delony's childhood in Texas. His father was a homicide detective in Houston, and someone who people in their church community would often go to for guidance, he said. Delony's dad would get phone calls at all hours of the night. He would take those calls inside his closet –– which shared a wall with young Delony's bedroom. Delony said he would fall asleep listening in on stories of people facing mental health issues or jail time, realizing that some of the people he went to church with every week were struggling with things he never would have suspected. '(Mental health has) just kind of been my whole life, from being a little kid all the way till now,' he said. In college, Delony majored in psychology and humanities, got a master's degree in higher education administration and then earned two doctorates, one in counselor education and supervision and another in higher education administration. Much of his career has been in higher education, where he oversaw student services like residence life and counseling support services. His work in higher education also included crisis response. But his connection with mental health also comes from his experience with his own, he said. In his book, 'Own Your Past, Change Your Future: A Not-So-Complicated Approach to Relationships, Mental Health & Wellness,' Delony explains a moment his anxiety reached a boiling point. With a new baby, a country recovering from the 2008 financial crisis and a job helping college students in some of their most difficult moments, Delony writes that he became convinced that the foundation of his new house was crumbling. His wife didn't see it, nor did his friends –– even the professionals he called to come check it out said he didn't have a problem. But still, Delony couldn't let go of the fear that a storm would crack the foundation and destroy his young family's home, he wrote. So, one night he found himself in the middle of the night crawling through the mud and rain with a flashlight, certain he would find evidence of the structural problem no one but him was worried about. There was nothing. His home was fine, but Delony realized he was not, and he said that was one of the big moments that showed him he needed to address his anxiety. Another story he often shares with listeners is the moment when he and his wife sat across the table from one another after years together, several miscarriages and two children, and they agreed they either needed to start their marriage over or stop being married. They were faced with a choice — end a marriage or learn some new tools for managing their relationship and building their connection, he said. Delony and his wife, Sheila, did learn new relationship skills and are still together after more than 20 years of marriage. That meant him getting into therapy, and both of them learning how to be explicit about what they each needed and expected from one another, he said. But many people find themselves sitting at their own tables across from their partners or looking in the mirror and finding that they aren't getting enough connection with their friends and family. It makes sense, Delony said. Much of the interaction and community building you would get in the past has now been outsourced: People call a rideshare service instead of asking for a ride home from the airport and you use a delivery app for the cup of sugar you would have otherwise borrowed from a neighbor, he said. The change has been particularly hard on men, who often have been socialized against vulnerability and toward only connecting with others in very specific ways. 'I'll just use the old adage that women build community kneecap to kneecap, and men build it shoulder to shoulder,' he said. For decades, many men in Western cultures have been taught that vulnerability –– saying here is what I need or here is what I am struggling with –– was dangerous; so relationships for many men were built through shared activity, Delony said. Opening up for more connection in a world where many of those activities have been replaced by apps and screens might take intentional effort, he added. Delony had a group of friends that maintained a tradition: Once a month, they chose one friend, gathered at his house and tackled his to-do list together. 'In one day, they would clean the carpets, change the front bumper, level the yard, paint the fence, whatever you needed done,' he said. 'Everybody ate pizza. … Everybody was working shoulder to shoulder on a project that when you got done, you came out your front yard and everybody high-fived, because this house and this family is different, because we all showed up.' Now, after moving from Texas to Tennessee, he keeps putting himself out there for opportunities to get closer. 'I have some rules that when I buy a concert ticket, I have to buy two, or I'll buy four, and I just invite people,' he said. 'I have these little internal rules that I know at the end of a night I'm going to be better, or the night will have been better because I went with a buddy.' And as people seem to get lonelier and more polarized, Delony said he hopes people like him will keep modeling how to be vulnerable, how to build new relationship skills when you have to and how to sit with all kinds of hurting people. Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Triple shooting near Oakland's Fox Theater
OAKLAND, Calif. - Police are investigating a shooting that left three people injured near Oakland's Fox Theater overnight. The shooting occurred around 1:15 a.m. on Telegraph Avenue and 19th Street on Sunday. Patrol officers were already a few blocks away in the 1700 block of Broadway when they heard gunfire nearby and responded to the area. At the scene, they found a person suffering from gunshot wounds. That victim was brought to a nearby hospital and was last reported to be in stable condition. Police said two other victims had brought themselves to a hospital. One of those victims was last reported in stable condition, while the other was last reported to be in critical condition. What we don't know No suspects have been arrested or identified. It's unclear if the victims were targeted. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department at (510) 238-3728. The Source Oakland Police Department
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fox Theater unveils Walk of Fame star in honor of ‘Mr. Bakersfield' John Enriquez
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Fox Theater unveiled a star on its Walk of Fame to honor the late John Enriquez, who many referred to as 'Mr. Bakersfield.' Enriquez, a community volunteer who contributed his efforts to several causes such as Keep Bakersfield Beautiful and the Fox Theater Foundation, died in November at age 72. He had been battling prostate cancer for 10 years. John Enriquez, tireless volunteer and model of kindness, dies at 72 Enriquez's family, the Fox staff and Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh were at the Walk of Fame on Saturday to remember Enriquez and celebrate the new star. Enriquez designed and built the Walk of Fame himself, and he also was a significant contributor to the revitalization of the Fox Theater, even serving as the board president for the theater from 2015 to 2016. 'John is a true star of our community,' Goh said. 'John is a star with the biggest heart of our community, John was dedicated and John was passionate about moving our community forward.' Never miss a story: Make your homepage Denise Enriquez, his sister, said Enriquez was her rock who always went with her to the hospital whenever she had an appointment or surgery for her medical condition. 'He was always there for me. So he's not just there for the city, he's there for all of us,' Denise Enriquez said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
