A Concert Review

Angela Champ, AA
Jazz/Pop History Music 2217, Chicago State University
Felton Offard, Intstructor

Chicago, Illinois
04/08/2014

It was a cold winter evening in the Bible Belt of Atlanta, Georgia. It was the perfect evening for cuddling as thousands scurried into the Atlanta Civic Center on 395 Piedmont Avenue N.e. on February 15th, 2014 to escape the unusual cold in this part of the country. The ultimate concert lineup…Eric Benet, Mc Lightfoot, El DeBarge and Kem made for the perfect Valentine’s weekend celebration for me and my fiancée Steve. He flew me in to celebrate our very first of many holidays together.
We sat in the in the balcony however the view was great as we were able to see all of the performers. However for time sake, I will give a review of Adekemi Owens, known professionally and affectionately to music fans as "Kem”. He is a self-taught musician, R&B/soul singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Kem talks briefly about his stint with drug abuse and homelessness. After finishing high school, Kem left home when he was 19 and wound up struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. He was homeless for a period of time and bounced around from place to place. He ended up at a downtown Detroit shelter but things got worse and he was eventually sleeping outside on the streets. However, after being tired of going nowhere in life, he decided to make a chamge.
He wrote, produced, and financed his self-released debut album, Kemistry, with his American Express card. He wrote, produced, and financed his self-released debut album, Kemistry, with his American Express and singing top 40 cover tunes in a wedding band and waiting tables.
He was later signed by Motown Records in November 2001, who re-released the album on February 25, 2003, and sold more than 500,000 copies nationwide. The album's first single, "Love Calls", became a hit at urban adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio, and USA Today pegged it early on as a "Motown classic." His debut went gold-plus.
He followed his debut release with a second album, Album II, released May 17, 2005 and sold more than 500,000 copies nationwide. It included the hit single "I Can't Stop Loving You", a # 1 at urban adult contemporary radio, and the song "You Might Win" featuring Stevie Wonder.
In 2013, he was featured on the second singles "My Favorite Thing", Kem wrote and produced this song. Vocal with American Recording Artist Ronald Isley on his second solo album, This Song Is For You.
The Band
The most important thing that happened to Kem during this period of recovery was that he began to get together once again with some of his musical friends. Kem befriended Brian O’Neal in high school. He tells the audience of their longtime friendship. O’Neal also performs with Kem’s band sometimes, although the keyboard sound heard in most of Kem's music is his own. Saxophonist David McMurray joined Kem in a band and became the group's musical director. Other members of Kem's lineup, which remained remarkably stable over a decade of performing, are guitarist Quentin Baxter, bassist Fred Robinson, and percussionists Andre Driscoll and Wild Bill Curry and three backup singers.
Musical Selections
Kem entertained a crowd of about 10,000 for about 30 minutes with a variety of songs from his cd’s. “Share My Life” from his Album III: Intimacy. A smooth jazz number infused with the influences of Al Jarreau, drums and keyboard accompaniment. The song entitled, “Golden Days” featuring Jill Scott. She wasn’t present however his backup singer Maurissa Rose amazed us in her rendition of Jill Scott’s poem. He expresses that this song is a reminder of how he has remained humbled from the days of living on the streets and drug abuse. This song is moderately fast, upbeat and “swanky”. The drums, congos, bass guitar, keyboard and backup singers had us screaming for more. Kem did the unspeakable, singing, "Love Calls and Find Your Way (Back in My Life)”. He involved the audience men vs. women. The audience begged for more.
Finally, we left before the concert ended. We wanted beat the crowd out of the parking lots. However, that didn’t work because we couldn’t remember where we parked. We had a great time!

After high school, his life took a downward turn, and he eventually found himself in and out of drug rehabilitation centers and homeless shelters. Music was his solace during those times, and he played the shelter’s piano every night. He hit rock bottom when after breaking shelter rules, he was relegated to sleeping outside. It was there that he became determined to change his life. After high school, his life took a downward turn, and he eventually found himself in and out of drug rehabilitation centers and homeless shelters. Music was his solace during those times, and he played the shelter’s piano every night. He hit rock bottom when after breaking shelter rules, he was relegated to sleeping outside. It was there that he became determined to change his life. He began waiting tables, and booked weddings and other gigs that would allow him to perform his original music. He continued to write, and eventually, record his music. In February of 2001, KEM independently released his first CD, KEMISTRY, and sold nearly 15,000 CD’s, piquing the interest of Universal Motown. The label signed KEM to a five-record deal in November 2001 and re-released KEMISTRY. KEM previewed music from his second release, KEM ALBUM II, for audiences on a 20-city underground tour, after which the CD was released. ALBUM II was certified gold after just two weeks of its release in May 2005. M’s popularity continued as his third project, INTIMACY, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The first single, “Why Would You Stay,” spent several weeks at #1 on the Urban AC Radio charts, and the album’s second and third singles, “Share My Life” and “If It’s Love” both climbed into the chart’s top five.

He began waiting tables, and booked weddings and other gigs that would allow him to perform his original music. He continued to write, and eventually, record his music. In February of 2001, KEM independently released his first CD, KEMISTRY, and sold nearly 15,000 CD’s, piquing the interest of Universal Motown. The label signed KEM to a five-record deal in November 2001 and re-released KEMISTRY.

Afterhigh school, his life took a downward turn, and he eventually found himself in and out of drug rehabilitation centers and homeless shelters. Music was his solace during those times, and he played the shelte After high school, his life took a downward turn, and he eventually found himself in and out of drug rehabilitation centers and homeless shelters. Music was his solace during those times, and he played the shelter’s piano every night. He hit rock bottom when after breaking shelter rules, he was relegated to sleeping outside. It was there that he became determined to change his life. He began waiting tables, and booked weddings and other gigs that would allow him to perform his original music. He continued to write, and eventually, record his music. In February of 2001, KEM independently released his first CD, KEMISTRY, and sold nearly 15,000 CD’s, piquing the interest of Universal Motown. The label signed KEM to a five-record deal in November 2001 and re-released KEMISTRY. KEM previewed music from his second release, KEM ALBUM II, for audiences on a 20-city underground tour, after which the CD was released. ALBUM II was certified gold after just two weeks of its release in May 2005. KEM’s popularity continued as his third project, INTIMACY, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The first single, “Why Would You Stay,” spent several weeks at #1 on the Urban AC Radio charts, and the album’s second and third singles, “Share My Life” and “If It’s Love” both climbed into the chart’s top five. INTIMACY was officially certified Gold in March 2012. After the release of INTIMACY, KEM headlined his sold-out national ‘Intimacy Tour’ with Special Guests Musiq Soulchild & Ledisi. KEM’s acting debut came with the release of the movie, “SPARKLE” in August 2012, starring Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston, in which he plays the role of club owner, Buddy. r’s piano every night. He hit rock bottom when after breaking shelter rules, he was relegated to sleeping outside. It was there that he became determined to change his life. He began waiting tables, and booked weddings and other gigs that would allow him to perform his original music. He continued to write, and eventually, record his music. In February of 2001, KEM independently released his first CD, KEMISTRY, and sold nearly 15,000 CD’s, piquing the interest of Universal Motown. The label signed KEM to a five-record deal in November 2001 and re-released KEMISTRY. KEM previewed music from his second release, KEM ALBUM II, for audiences on a 20-city underground tour, after which the CD was released. ALBUM II was certified gold after just two weeks of its release in May 2005. KEM’s popularity continued as his third project, INTIMACY, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The first single, “Why Would You Stay,” spent several weeks at #1 on the Urban AC Radio charts, and the album’s second and third singles, “Share My Life” and “If It’s Love” both climbed into the chart’s top five.

After high school, his life took a downward turn, and he eventually found himself in and out of drug rehabilitation centers and homeless shelters. Music was h After high school, his life took a downward turn, and he eventually found himself in and out of drug rehabilitation centers and homeless shelters. Music was his solace during those times, and he played the shelter’s piano every night. He hit rock bottom when after breaking shelter rules, he was relegated to sleeping outside. It was there that he became determined to change his life. He began waiting tables, and booked weddings and other gigs that would allow him to perform his original music. He continued to write, and eventually, record his music. In February of 2001, KEM independently released his first CD, KEMISTRY, and sold nearly 15,000 CD’s, piquing the interest of Universal Motown. The label signed KEM to a five-record deal in November 2001 and re-released KEMISTRY. KEM previewed music from his second release, KEM ALBUM II, for audiences on a 20-city underground tour, after which the CD was released. ALBUM II was certified gold after just two weeks of its release in May 2005. KEM’s popularity continued as his third project, INTIMACY, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The first single, “Why Would You Stay,” spent several weeks at #1 on the Urban AC Radio charts, and the album’s second and third singles, “Share My Life” and “If It’s Love” both climbed into the chart’s top five. is solace during those times, and he played the shelter’s piano every night. He hit rock bottom when after breaking shelter rules, he was relegated to sleeping outside. It was there that he became determined to change his life. He began waiting tables, and booked weddings and other gigs that would allow him to perform his original music. He continued to write, and eventually, record his music. In February of 2001, KEM independently released his first CD, KEMISTRY, and sold nearly 15,000 CD’s, piquing the interest of Universal Motown. The label signed KEM to a five-record deal in November 2001 and re-released KEMISTRY. KEM previewed music from his second release, KEM ALBUM II, for audiences on a 20-city underground tour, after which the CD was released. ALBUM II was certified gold after just two weeks of its release in May 2005. KEM’s popularity continued as his third project, INTIMACY, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The first single, “Why Would You Stay,” spent several weeks at #1 on the Urban AC Radio charts, and the album’s second and third singles, “Share My Life” and “If It’s Love” both climbed into the chart’s top five.