I had written an entire blog that was melancholy to say the least. Then as I was proof reading it, I had an epiphany. OMG…I thought wait a minute, change is inevitable and more often than not very good. Every beautiful thing that has come about in my life has come about because of a change, a shift in the paradigm. One door closes and a new door to step through appears, if only I exhibit the courage to walk through. So I am walking through this new door and claiming a wonderful new year and all sorts of wonderful new love experiences. So here’s to changes and new doors! Happy New Year!!

I’m partying in Times Square at ABC Studios’ Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Years Eve!!! Bring the year in with an astounding blast…..I know I will!

See you in 2008!

“Hidden gem of 2007. Young’s spirited, raspy vocals command attention from the first cut on this sure-footed debut”. “

“A refreshing balance between contemporary and classic soul, Young belts out raw, emotion-packed lyrics”

Yes I know it seemed like I was just having fun but I did some work also! Anyway, gotta say thank you to my girlfriends Sistahs of Harlem, who dressed for the entire weekend. Thank you, love you guys. If you get a chance check out their designs at www.sistahsofharlem.com. See picture below for a glimpse at what they do…. New York City, I’m headed your way…….!!!! Shout out to Eric Roberson and Anthony David who both put on amazing shows in Detroit. I am always truly inspired when I am in the presence of you two guys. Oh and Frank McComb, I had a blast with you man…we have to do it again!

Peace
Melissa

Don’t miss out Melissa Young near you.

The buzz is building… check her out in these cities:

- WRFG Benefit Concert -April 10th
- Organix Soul- Springfield, Mass -June 28th
- Smith’s Olde Bar -May 8th

-Okay first let me say just how much I love San Diego!!!! I felt really blessed to be able to close my tour (short, but sweet) with Dwele in such a cool town. The people are kind, pleasant and they just plan rock! First off the drive down from Oakland to San Diego was long but gorgeous. There is a part of the highway that is called the grapevine, it is absolutely beautiful! If you ever get the chance, take the ride and enjoy the view.

The controlling side of my personality would not let me take back seat, so I insisted on jumping in one of the vans and driving most of the way down to San Diego. I know, I know….I heard it big time from the promoters for this one! Anyway it was worth it and quite fun!

Our entire trip was filled with funny little moments and colorful characters. From the crazy hotel clerk on the midnight shift who kept getting upset because we disturbed his nap to the night time security guy who kept following me in the lobby asking “so you are an actual singer?…Sing something!?” It was 3am!

Thanks Crystal for sneaking the van and getting lost with me while we looked for a 24hr fedex! HaHa, bet you didn’t know I could drive a van that fast and furious! The fish tacos were to die for!
If you haven’t seen Dwele live….well what are you waiting for???!!! The boy is phenomenal, hot, smooth, cool, …..I’m running out of ways to describe him…just get your butts out to see him!

—-Blessings
Melissa

Other than that, I loved Oakland. The weather was cool. The people still get down and dirty with it! Big up to the top- hat wearing brother, who bought me a pretty nice bottle in the club. Like your style, you drank the entire bottle but I still like your style!

Oh… and to the slightly taller than me, drink of chocolate with a gorgeous smile, thank you for introducing me to Petron Chilled. I truly enjoyed sharing my first shot with you….yes Oakland was nice…

I’m living on the edge!! Woohoo!! First shot ever!!! J

-So I finally made it to Sacramento. My flight from LA was cancelled twice. You see, I had to be a smarty pants and change my departure airport from LAX to Burbank. Now while it seemed convenient to my location, little did I know that they just cancel flights all Willy-Nilly up in Burbank! Needless to say, I got here in just enough time for sound check and a nap before the show.

Kinda wanted to kill the sound guy in Sacramento!!!!! But boy, it was good to see my regular musicians!!! I love you guys so much!!! Chris and Ryan thanks for holding me down! ! So now that I’ve bragged about my guitar players, now I want to talk about other musicians….

I want to talk about musicians taking gigs and not learning the music. I understand why James Brown was a firing maniac! I am paying you to learn and play my music the way that I need it played. If you can’t do that then don’t take the gig!!! Yes I am sensitive about my shit!! Don’t be getting your ass up on stage playing what you want to play!!! Damn! We are all learning and growing, so if you are not playing it right we can work it out and practice it, but don’t start bragging about who you played with before!! That doesn’t mean anything to me!!! If you can’t play my music right then I could care less about who you played for in the past! Egos man, Egos….Damn!!!

So yes anyway…I say all that to say that I love myself some Chris Harris and Ryan Waters. They are professional players, who learn the music and delivers it in the manner that you need them to, each and every time. Love you guys! See my babies in the picture below!!!

Mr. Shonuff has that southern funky feel, bit kind of stax-y bit kind of TK, but again
Instantly likeable and this is where the album scores heavily, the easiness that it feels.

That said there’s heavier soul stuff too and it’s about you is possibly my favorite cut of all, a top ballad.

But all tracks are strong; a very powerful deep soul blues “you’ll Never Know” is growing on me by the minute and might soon be my favorite. Sometimes with instant tracks, I worry that they may lose longevity but this kind of track stays in you forever.

So Melissa can cut it at lots of levels and this should bring good success if there is any justice.

-Mike Ashley/ Solar Radio

I like this young lady from Atlanta, Ga. She’s a badd mama jamma and
she’s very reminiscent of another young woman from Atlanta we like a
whole lot named Ms. Monique. Melissa Young is in your face just like
artists Betty Wright, Barbara Mason, Millie Jackson, etc. from the past.

In addition to the lyrics & lead singing this album features soulful
guitar licks (a’la Bobby Womack/Wah Wah Watson), Drums that snap (a’ la
James Gadsden) and spoken word interludes that would make most rappers
wish they could go back to their high school English classes. Black
music needs more female artists like Melissa Young. I’m sick and tired
of hearing “passionless female singers” with beautiful voices, seems
like they are a dime a dozen in 2007. These are terrible times we are
living in and Black music needs strong females who are willing to
confront issues & problems directly. In fact it could be argued that
part of the reason why Black people are in the sorry shape they are in
right now is because Black females have “let stuff slide.” The evidence
of that can be seen the god awful behavior of young people today. Now I
realize that I may be on thin ice with some of yall and if that is the
case, so be it. But I have a feeling that Melissa Young wouldn’t allow
her son to sport a mouthful of gold teeth or wear his pants down around
his ankles & displaying his underwear for the world to see. Melissa
Young doesn’t tolerate “bad behavior” from her men, so I know she
wouldn’t tolerate it from her son. Kicking off with the monster slow jam
called “Rock Me”, Melissa Young is telling her young man exactly what
she wants, when she wants it and exactly how she wants it. On “Mr. Show
Neff” a song where Melissa Young seems to be describing her “deal man”,
she asks her prospective lover “did you get your stuff from your momma
or daddy?” Later in the song she she says “your momma must be proud of
you.” When was the last time that you heard an artist suggest that
“good parenting” might be a part of the criteria for finding the right
mate? There are more of these types of philosophies sprinkled through the
album and it’s refreshing to hear. Melissa Young - “Just Up The Road” is
a heavy & serious album that should be warmly welcomed by fans of true
soul music everywhere. This album is highly recommended

-Bob Davis, Soul Patrol