Delicious Pop

Have you heard about Justin Utley, the gay ex-Mormon and survivor of ex-gay therapy? Well, he’s making his voice heard through his music.  The New York City singer-songwriter has been spreading his inspiring message at several Pride Festivals, including Stockholm, Denver, LA, Atlanta, San Diego and Las Vegas.

I actually stumbled upon Justin last summer, and quickly tweeted, “Um, I think I might have a man crush on @JustinUtley. LOL! Good music!” And he was nice enough to tweet back, “Too kind… too kind.” A man —who responds quickly, looks good and could serenade me at the drop of a hat— well, it’s all good in my book. But make no mistake, there’s much more to Justin than those endearing qualities.

It’s been a long road for the alternative country rock singer.  Before he became an advocate for LGBT equality and civil rights, Justin spent 2 years in a Mormon Church program — to be exact, it was conversion therapy designed to covert gay and bisexual men to heteros. Justin stopped therapy and broke ties with the Mormon Church.

In June 2010, he released “Stand for Something,” a powerful single to motivate and inspire others to fight for LGBT equality and end youth homelessness. The song was nominated by the LGBT Academy of Recording Arts for 4 OutMusic Awards, including “Best Songwriter” and “Artist of the Year.”  Justin won an award for the “Best Country/Folk Song of the Year.”   

Fast forward to 2012, and it’s already shaping up to be a busy year for the talented singer-songwriter.  A full band showcase is scheduled for March in NYC; his new video for “Great Escape” is scheduled drop this Spring; and his dance card is filling up quick for scheduled Pride performances.

Make sure you check out Justin’s performance when he comes to a city or town near you, to perform songs from his third studio album, Nothing This Real. What are my favorite picks? I enjoy listening to “Moment for Me,” “Behind My Eyes,” and of course, “Stand for Something,” which I appreciate for its strong, heartfelt message.  So check out the live-version of his award-winning hit, and tell me what you think.

Vesta Williams, a popular R&B diva in the 80s, was found dead on Thursday, Sept. 22, in an El Segundo hotel room. An autopsy will determine the cause of death, but officials at coroner’s office in Los Angeles County, suspect it was a drug overdose that claimed her life at 53 years old.

Vesta got her start as a member of the group Wild Honey, and she was also a backup singer for Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Anita Baker and others.

She will always be remembered for her great sense of humor, magnetic personality and of course, her vocal talent. Some of her Top 10 R&B hits include, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Sweet Sweet Love,” “Special” and “Congratulations.”

On a more personal note, Vesta Williams was one of the first female artists I followed as a teenager. And this will probably date me by admitting this, but Vesta had me with her awesome sense of humor as witnessed when she made her first appearance on BET’s Video Soul, hosted by Donnie Simpson.  Much like most of her fans, I also witnessed her transformation from a voluptuous, full-figured woman to a slender, sexier celeb.

So today, Delicious Pop remembers Vesta Williams. Listen to an extended mix of “Don’t Blow a Good Thing,” one of my favorite songs by this fabulous diva, who will be sorely missed.