The Legacy Of Centennial High's Professional Vocalist From the Choir & Music Dept.

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Permalink Reply by Phoebe Macon on April 23, 2010 at 1:00am

Hey TAMMIE, the pleasure was all mine to post the pictures of all of you on this website.
I could not be prouder of all of you. I personally have kept up with many of Classmates Music Careers including yours. As I told you recently I knew that you were singing professionally for a long time. Right after High School BAYETTE DAVIS c/o '75 who use to sing with you in the Centennial Choir would tell me about many of your careers I remember Bayette and I shopping and looking for you guys music at Tower Records on Sunset because some things we could not find in the neighborhood. But I had already known quite a bit already about many of the Musicians from Centennial because back-in-the-day my Brother SEARCY J. MACON was heavy into music playing the Trumpet. He was in 3 Band Groups. The first one was called "ROSCOE", then there was "SHOCK" & then BRIAN And THANGS. My brother dropped out of Brian and Thangs right before they changed their name to the BUS BOYS and right before the Group made it big doing the Lead song for Eddie Murphy's movie. My brother left due to creative differences taking place in the Group that he did not like or was not comfortable with; however he was happy for their success when they made it big many years later. He and a few other Band members did not stick with Music anymore after that; they went in other directions and did other things in life; my brother's a Respiratory Therapist now. I'm so proud of PHILLIP CHARLES & RONALD BRUNER'S careers. I remember they use to come over to our House all the time and play and practice their music. I bought ALPHANETTE'S first album that she made, I still have it. I would get a kick out of seeing Alphanette & VONCIELLE on the different TV shows (like the show "Amen"). I would proudly let my friends know that they were from Centennial High School "The Big Ten.". Many years ago I saw Voncielle singing background for Gladys Knight at a Show in Las Vegas. I was with two of my girlfriends and one of them did not believe that I knew Voncielle. So when the Show was over I went over and said hello to Voncielle and she greeted me Happily with a big hug. I then introduced my friends to her. Voncielle then asked me did I want to meet Gladys Knight and I said yes. She also let my girlfriends come backstage as well. I will never forget that night, it was a awesome, surreal, wonderful and happy moment for me. Voncielle was a sweetheart for doing that because she did'nt have to. I could'nt believe that she allowed us to get that close to Gladys!!

TAMMIE, our School Centennial High School has produced some very successful, beautiful and talented Alumni Classmates who have gone on to become Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers, Realtors, Ministers, Mayor(s), Councilpersons, Principals, Teachers, Nurses, Musicians, Artists, Entrepreneurs, Policemen, Actors/Actresses etc.etc.etc.

There are so many other Apache Alumni who also have successful careers in the music industry. For instance, Our Class of 1975 has Alumni who have been successful in the Music Industry as well. Some are into Music full-time and some are in it on a part-time basis. We have RODNEY FRIEND who has been nominated for 3 Grammy Awards and has 3 Gospel albums under his belt. He has a full-time job outside of music. He's also a Minister with his own Church in L.A. Rodney writes and produces music for many artists including himself. There's also CYNTHIA STEWART-SIMONS who has been singing Professionally since High School. Cynthia has a CD that should be out soon. She was singing in the movie "The Gospel" and She also will be singing in the upcoming movie "Mama I Want to Sing." We have ERIC "LONZO" WILLIAMS who has been in the Music industry since High School with Rap & Hip-Hop music. Lonzo started his own Record Label. Many notables have started their music careers with him (Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, Me'Chelle' etc., etc, etc.) Lonzo is also a Nightclub Owner of "The Boom Boom Room" and "The Loft" off of Avalon.

There's many others as well such as LOUIL SILAS JR. (Class of 1974) . Louil started in the 70's as a DJ at an L.A. Club, then moved on to become the A&R Director at MCA Records where he hired the Production team of L.A. Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. Louil later started his own Record Label through MCA called SILAS Records where he debuted Artists such as (Chante' Moore, Keith Washington, Jesse Powell, Keke Wyatt and others). In 1999 Louil joined L.A. Reid & Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds LaFace Label as their Senior VP of LaFace West. Louil was instrumental to the success of Solar Records Artists (Babyface, The Whispers, Shalmar, Dynasty and many others). Louil Silas Jr. died in 2001 of Kidney Disease, may he R.I.P. Another Centennial High Musician is DAVID FORMAN. David played Lead Guitar for Brandy, he's also a Singer/Songwriter. There's also REGGIE BULLEN. Reggie only went to Centennial for one year but once an Apache always an Apache. Reggie played trumpet for a long time with Marvin Gaye.Then there's REGGIE GREEN. (Reggie Green, Geary Faggett, Voncielle Faggett, Alphanette Silas and yourself Tammie sang backup on Quincy Jones "Back on the Block" album). See I've keep up with a lot of you over the years (rooting you guys on all the way). Now Reggie produces other New and upcoming Groups (LXL is one of them). Last, but certainly not least there's RICHARD COLE who plays beautiful Jazz on the Saxophone. Richard has played with many Artists such as (Randy Brecker, Dave Holland, Gladys Knight, The Temptations, Dan Siegel, and The Four Tops).

God bless you all for giving us some music, music, music, and some beautiful sounds to listen to over all these years and now. Continue doing what you all do best and have been called to do and have been blessed by God to do.. We'll be watching and continually listening as well and cheering all of you on. Take care and God bless!!

Love and Blessings, Phoebe Macon c/o '75

Permalink Reply by Tawnette Fulton- Gilbert on April 23, 2010 at 3:56pm

Tammie,
What a wonderful and informative Post! Congrats to You and the remainder of The Apaches. It's nice to know that Centennial produced some STARS!!!!!!! May each one of you continue your careers as God leads you.
God Bless,
Tawnette (72)

Permalink Reply by James (Najee) Williams on July 15, 2010 at 1:46pm

Hey Tammie, did you write that your taping on the Gong Show is availible on YouTube? If so, can you supply the link? I would love to see it.

Thanks,

James (Najee) Williams

Permalink Reply by Tammie L. Gibson on September 17, 2010 at 2:55pm

HI Najee,sorry it took me soooooooooo long to reply,I don't frequent this web-page very often.If you want to veiw the "Gong Show" tapings (which I have saved), go to the best of Chuck Barris & The Gong Show,and the key word would be L.A.'S Hottest Solist. It should find the episode for you.God Bless.

James (Najee) Williams said:

Hey Tammie, did you write that your taping on the Gong Show is availible on YouTube? If so, can you supply the link? I would love to see it.

Thanks,

James (Najee) Williams