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[0:11] Robert Bannon: It's the Roundtable with me, Robert Bannon.

[0:16] Robert Bannon: Well, hello, everybody. My name is Robert Bannon, and it is a Thursday, and it is at seven o'clock, and I am so, so excited to be able to have you here and be here for another edition of the Roundtable. We are marching to our thousandth episode. We've done hundreds and hundreds of Thursdays together and almost a thousand shows together, and I'm so incredibly grateful for you. Spoiler alert, this is not live.

[0:39] Robert Bannon: Why is this not live? It's not live because it's winter break. And as I'm enjoying winter break with my husband out here in Detroit and taking it easy and being chill, we have a couple of little fun, cute things, family visiting and things like that going on here. Whole bunch of stuff going on behind the scenes for the Roundtable. And so we took this Thursday off with a brand new edition of a show that we've never had before. Can I tell you about it? Because I've never had it before.

[1:10] Robert Bannon: You know, as we marched to a thousand episodes, I figured we've never done really compilation episodes except our anniversary shows. So we've put together a compilation of the best of the voices of color Black History Month celebration with some iconic voices who have been here on the show. When I was putting the show together, I could not fit everyone on. Firstly, and secondly, I was in awe and amazed at the incredible performers, artists, actors, activists, politicians who have graced this show.

[1:37] Robert Bannon: When I started the show, I sound like Barbara Walters. When I started the show, my goal was to have a show where alternate voices are heard as a queer artist who has often felt like we are not always represented, who is married to a beautiful man of color out here in Detroit, who teaches students who tell me their experiences and stories. I know that representation matters so much. And I know that it's not equally represented for women, for indigenous Native people, for the queer community, for people of color, the Hispanic community, Asian community, black community, et cetera.

[2:14] Robert Bannon: We are living in a time where people are raiding people by the way that they look, by where they come from. And I feel like I don't have a platform other than here to be able to show how beautiful every culture and different people are and their race, religion, gender, sexuality, etc. is. And one of that ways is by celebrating the voices and hearing their art. And I think that art is a very noble profession. When I went to acting school, my acting teacher said artists is the most noble profession because they show the world how we are. It's a reflection of the time.

[2:46] Robert Bannon: And the art that's being made right now, I can only imagine what it's going to be like as a reflection of the time we're in. So celebrating Black History Month is incredibly important this year, maybe more than ever. So to everyone out here, no matter where you're from, happy Black History Month, and let's honor and celebrate the legacy of the people who have built this country of color, who have put forth the most incredible politics, art, and culture that has shaped the world. Truly, truly, truly.

[3:12] Robert Bannon: So I can't give you my answer out loud, but how do you fight a stigma? How do you fight a stigma, a stereotype in your own life? Think about it. Sometimes it may be in the way you assume things about people, or you judge people by the way that they look, or you feel a certain type of way when you walk into a grocery store because they may not be someone you're familiar with. Get to know somebody who lives differently than you, who comes from somewhere different, a different religion, a different race, a different sexuality, a different gender, maybe no gender, and see that they're just a person who has feelings just like everybody else.

[3:47] Robert Bannon: So, how do you fight against the stigma against racism out here in the world and discriminations all across the board? So I am so excited to go walk this memory lane with you and to have a little bit of fun. I have so much to tell you for the weekend review and the shameless plug and all of the things. I want you to know. Well, I'll give you, I'm not gonna give you the weekend review because I want to tell you about my time with my dad and all the fun things that have happened this week and the incredible things that have happened this week, but I'm gonna tell it to you when we're live next week.

[4:21] Robert Bannon: Speaking of next week, the incredible J'Kaelyn Carr is here. She's a platinum super duper platinum recording gospel artist, and she is going to be here also over on the Broadway World channel, right? You know the Broadway World Channel. You got me? You're good? You're with me. Um, we have a really wonderful Broadway World series on Fridays. And on Fridays, we're able to have incredible conversations. And one of the conversations we had was the guy who was the music director, Tim for Rent. And I got a DM the other day from Jesse L. Martin.

[5:03] Robert Bannon: And you know Jesse L. Martin. Jesse L. Martin is from Rent. He's from Law and Order. And he told me how much he loved my interview, and he's coming on the show too. So we have incredible interviews. Jeff Dunham's coming on the show, Jesse L. Martin's coming on the show, J'Kaelyn Carr is coming on the show. There's some other people cooking in the vernacular that are coming on the show that I can't wait for you to see. If you want to be a member of the Roundtable VIP Club, which is over on YouTube, all you got to do is QR code right here.

[5:32] Robert Bannon: If you click this, it will send you $5 a week. I'm sorry, not even $5 a month. And there's about five members. Maybe we'll have 10 members and we could really have a party. And I'm going to be starting to do special videos and back behind the scenes. I've been thinking about some stories to tell you all about what goes on in making the show. Um, I hope you click it and join us. Do I have anything else? I'm gonna have favorite things and hey friend Hayes and all the things for you next week when we're live back with Jaquelin Carr at 7 o'clock Eastern, 4 o'clock Pacific as we march on through February.

[6:02] Robert Bannon: So why don't we get started with this show, shall we? So some of the heavy hitters that have been on the show are some of the voices that really make a difference in this entire world and culture. And they're singers and people who have done incredible things. I put together a little small bit, a mini mini bit of some information for you to check out. You'll see some of our friends here that have been on the show, people like Sherri, people like Faith Evans, people like Kelly Price, people like Taraji P. Henson. Take a listen and a look at this.

[6:32] Robert Bannon: Whenever we think of deportation or ICE, I don't see these faces. And so we don't know their pipe. Don't even test vote. Lettuce sang it best. She sees that who's saying it best? Let us see. Represent authenticity and people feel safe when they hear my voice, which is a Godsend. God has just truly been good to me and has been faithful unto me and my family. And I'm just so grateful. No, they're just a part of me, and I've done a lot of good work to get to the other side of my difficulties and in the darkness of my life.

[7:13] Robert Bannon: Whether it be helping them to pay for advocacy or for testing or whatever it might be, is working. People are liking it. They, you know, I feel like we're going through so much. How about that? That's become my catchphrase. You know what Adrian says with brown tablers, blah blah blah. I guess that's what I say. How about that? We also have spent a lot of time with people who have created culture, comedy, and theater. So take a look at these culture shapers. Nathan Lee Graham was here. You know, he talked a lot, he says a bad word in this, a lot about, but the punch bowl was the viral moment.

[7:50] Robert Bannon: But take a listen to what he says about how he feels about sexuality and race. Leslie Odom Jr., Oscar-nominated superstar friend to the show, has a chat with us. Titus Burgess talks to us about when he got to be in Moulin Rouge. Peppermint, drag queen, trans superstar icon, has been here three times, says that the Roundtable is where the queer kids come to play. I love her. My auntie Luenell is my homegirl. I can't wait to have her back. She's coming back to Detroit in April. Norm Lewis, incredible theater superstar, and then the one and only welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger. Kel Mitchell is here.

[8:21] Robert Bannon: Take a peek and listen at this. Colleagues complain about doing straight roles ever. I don't ever hear them complaining about it. Oh my god, another straight role. I gotta do another straight role. So why the fuck would I care about doing a gay role when I'm gay as the seven seas? I just want them written properly. Like anyone else. Yo, I can't wait. I'm in the middle of a siren parade, as you can hear. I'm in the middle of a sorry. Let me though. We love it. This is real life, folks. This is what it's like. You know, Leslie, I go back to you from ART, I go back with the boys writing Witness Uganda.

[8:52] Robert Bannon: I go back to Leap of Faith, I go back to In Time, your lovely wife. You've been with us on the red carpet. We show so much love to you. But you are like Mr. Christmas. When that album came out, we were here for it. So what is a Christmas tour like with Leslie Odom Jr.? Oh, we're so excited. Um, thank you for saying that. We eight years ago, we made the first Christmas album. Really, it was a fan-prompted thing. Welcome to Moulin Rouge. Thank you so much. It's lovely to be here. You can get your tickets and get down here. Yes, you can and you better. We want to see you. I can't wait to see you do this.

[9:31] Robert Bannon: Thank you. Welcome back to the Broadway. Thank you, friend. I appreciate it. I remember good vibrations. No, you don't. I sure do. Oh, you just say a Beach Boys number right now. I remember Jersey Boys. Yes. Playing the hits on the radio. And then of course we remember and love Little Mermaid. And now you're here. Then we will be performing a live version of Vitamin. There. There. Or wherever you're gonna be. We'll figure wherever you're somewhere and performing it. I am, I'm here for it. Because born in the early eighties, I can remember the moment. I remember the moment and the icon that is Miss Jackson. Um, so I'm there. I'll wear my my name is not baby t-shirt, and I'll be ready for the peppermint.

[10:19] Robert Bannon: You're here. Hello, darling. You are I am so honored and excited to have you here. You are so gracious and generous. Thank you so much. It is my absolute pleasure. Well, I was reading about you, Luenell. You're from Oakland. Well, I was born in Arkansas.

[10:38] Luenell: But at two months I came to Oakland and lived in the Bay Area, Oakland, the surrounding burbs and all that stuff.

[10:46] Robert Bannon: And at what point did you decide?

[10:49] Luenell: I never did that. Um, and a lot of people say that I was funny back in school. But um, I think I have seven brothers and sisters, first of all. I'm the eighth of eight kids. So you just sort of had to wit your way in and out of the siblings.

[11:11] Luenell: And we have a pretty sharp-tongued, sharp-witted family. Um but we're talking about just having a seat at the table, and that's where our hearts are. Um, it's not necessarily about on stage representation, but off stage. So we're allowing people to come in and know what being backstage is like, knowing what being a part of the press and the PR form version of what this industry is about, and also managing the thing of I want to be on TV. It was an outlet, like this was the outlet.

[11:43] Luenell: So I always tell parents now, like, you know, look at what your kids are into, you know. I mean, it might be the thing that is going to be a part of their journey, you know what I mean? And for me, that's what it was. It was theater, and I you know did ETA, I worked downtown Chicago, Goodman Theater, Victory Gardens Theater. Uh, and so now this is me returning back to that. How about those apples? Is that a better expression? No, probably not, not at all.

[12:09] Luenell: One of the things that makes this show intriguing and interesting is the fact that we do a lot of gospel music. And people have asked me all the time, how do you do gospel music and a lot of queer culture? Because I think that music is for everyone, and queer people are and art is for everybody, no matter if you believe in Jesus or don't. Um, besides, it doesn't talk about being gay in the Bible. But that's besides the point.

[12:32] Luenell: The point of the matter is whatever makes you feel comfortable is what you feel comfortable with. And a lot of gospel artists feel comfortable hanging out with me. So take a peek as we have Donald Lawrence, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Lisa Page Brooks, Gara Sheard, Duran Berner, who is a faith guy, you know, he's not a gospel singer per se, but he sings like one, and he's a new Grammy winner, Marette Brown Clark and Angel Taylor of Trinity 57, as they came on the round table throughout the years. My pastor, Pastor Bill Winston.

[12:58] Luenell: So I don't really think about that. If it's a story that I think is gonna help and heal, you it's all kinds of ways to do that. And you know, church and theater might not mix, but also church and life is not always mixing either. I think it's more so about your God relationship in life and good-hearted people. So I don't I don't do that. I mean, theater is theater for me is my way of inspiring and helping and giving people some answers.

[13:23] Luenell: A journey, and you don't want to miss one moment of this. Yeah, man, it it's a story, and it and it's to find people where they are. So there's a there's a song there for every season. If you're experiencing mountains, there's a song that's called The God of the Valley, just absolutely um that is one of my favorites. Um, but mountain experiences, valley experiences. If you're high, low, you know, there's something there for everyone in every season.

[13:48] Luenell: My dad was with the group called The Monitors with Motown Records. Um, they have the picture up there in the museum, and so I have legacy with that, and I'm so grateful for that. Um, as a matter of fact, one time I went to the Apollo, and uh my husband was like, Hey Lise, there's your dad. And it was a picture of the group at the Apollo because they had traveled with the Motown review that would travel across the country. So I'm just so grateful for that connection.

[14:18] Luenell: And I always been around music, singing and church, and those are the things I remember. And I was only 15. So to have had that opportunity, I'm like, wow, God, thank you for trusting me with that at such a young age. So I could go on and on because that's a that's a really packed question, but I will stay there because like you said, it's 20 years.

[14:39] Luenell: And um I I'm also remembering um my peers, you know, once upon a time, um they basically we basically grew up together, if I can say it that way. Um, so those are some things that I remember, and and it's been amazing. It's been a beautiful journey that I'm grateful for.

[14:56] Robert Bannon: Well, over these 20 years, there are many people who have listened to your music and found solace, found spirituality, found peace and inspiration. So you give us the gift and we get to enjoy it and listen to it at the gym and in the car, and when we clean the house and when we're out to dinner and all the fun things and your singing your face off for a moment, we can go back to the other albums.

[15:20] Luenell: Yeah, yes, yes.

[15:23] Robert Bannon: How does it feel like on the eve of this new project coming out? Looking back at your body of work and tell us what's about to be shown to the whole world.

[15:33] Luenell: Well, first of all, thank you for having me. Thank you for just this opportunity to proclaim Jesus on your platform. So just thank you so much. Um, it means the world to me.

[15:44] Luenell: I remember Robert when I started. I remember when it was just uh, will you go and a yes, God, I will go, tell me what to do. What is the lesson about this new single? What do you want people to take away when you because there's something in there?

[16:00] Luenell: Yeah. So, you know what? For me, I kind of sometimes need the reminder that um God is accessible and always listening and always talking to us, but we're not always accessible. You know, we have a lot of noise going on from social media to the news to like, you know, our family, our friends, work, life. Um, and you kind of get, you know what I mean, the routine, you get caught up and you get kind of used to your day-to-day.

[16:33] Luenell: Another thing that I really love about this show is when we get to have on icons and voices who have been with us for decades. People like Brenda Russell, people like Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson, Shanice, Jennifer Holiday, Anna Marie Horsford, my great mother, Nicolari Parker, uh, you know, uh, Flex Alexander, at Carl Payne, uh Amanda Seals, people that have been around for decades now and put out a lot of work and uh have a lot to say.

[17:00] Luenell: They're all people who have popped on the round table through the years as well. Is this like an Emmy Award presenter list? My God, how did I get all these people on this show? Talk to me in my spare room in my house.

[17:14] Luenell: Take a peek at some of these moments. Um, I know that you went to the high school of the performing arts, so you've been out there since you were a youngster.

[17:22] Luenell: Well, let me say the dream has been at it. You know what I mean? I knew from a little girl, like I used to tell my mommy, I said, I gotta get to Hollywood. From the time I was about five or six, I would love looking at the movies. And I kept saying, Mommy, I gotta get to Hollywood. I really have to be in Hollywood.

[17:41] Luenell: And the wonderful thing is she never stopped me saying it. You know what I mean? Um, whenever things would happen, she just said, now make sure you don't break your ass before you get to Hollywood because I was one of those. It's a little hyperactive. Uh they call it H D A D now, but I was a little hyperactive.

[18:01] Luenell: But there was something about people in that box that brought my heart into itonic voices. And when Patty was on and Gladys was on and Dion was on and Shaka was on. Why, you guys are the greatest singers of all time. Why are you guys like how dare you?

[18:18] Luenell: I do. Well, I will say this though, that, and I don't know, you know, because I've also loved the show as well, you know. So my fans have loved the show, and I have loved it too. So I do think that it's a two-part thing, though. You are you're listening to the talent, but it is something about the costume that also has to go for a prize.

[18:40] Luenell: And even though I like Miss Teddy, I don't know about what color tint of that orange was. Okay. I was like, maybe that orange, we need to get our hair color together. We need to go see, we need to see some other, we need to see some other what else? We need to change hairstylists because I was like, So I don't know if that orange with my voice didn't kind of match enough. To me, the other people's voice kind of matched.

[19:14] Luenell: Woo! That's the you know your history there, huh? I'm trying, I know.

[19:22] Luenell: I mean, I can sing a little rock me tonight. I'm live for old Tom's sake, Yeah, yes, you know it.

[19:29] Robert Bannon: So when you hit the when you hit the stage, what do we expect? What can we hear from you in a concert?

[19:35] Luenell: Well, in this place where I'm in right now, I'm gonna give the best that Freddie's got to give you. I'm not uh 23 old Freddie, okay. So we don't expect those 23 old whips, okay.

[19:50] Luenell: Uh I'll be singing all the melody, but um, I'll be singing the songs and uh and enjoying them and excited. It's been such a long time since I've been.

[20:02] Luenell: Yeah, I can't even I can't even do a morning call with my team without getting you know pictures of Kanye and someone who I don't speak of wearing White Lives Matter shirts. I just I don't know where I'm at.

[20:14] Luenell: Like, I feel like somehow like we've slipped into a new dimension. Like, are we in an episode of Lost? I don't I I Is there a plane waiting for us? Like, listen, I don't know.

[20:30] Luenell: Oh, I I hope that there's there has to be better days. I mean, I'm scared. Maybe there's not, but in the historical, like in the historical um breaking down and studying of this time, I wonder when they will identify the changing of the guard.

[20:50] Luenell: Like, because it's it doesn't start with this guy who was in office because he had to get in office, so it's before then, and I feel like I I feel like I can start it at when Obama got elected. Like that is when I feel like it would be that that's what because when they were burning effigies of Obama across the street from the White House and they were not stopped.

[21:19] Kel Mitchell: Yeah. That was when I knew. Oh. And Flex, you I got a little, I got some history on you as well. I know you said Harlan. When you are in the club or in the car and you hear Salt-N-Pepa or Spinderella come up. I still remember the routine. You know right when the song comes on, I could be sitting there. Wait a minute. Hey! You know, that part of my life, man, was just I man, I loved it. I got to travel the world as a young dude. I got to see different countries. So I've ever opened my life and I'll forever be grateful for them. I mean, we've been everywhere at a young age, and I'm just like, wow. So having that experience coming from stand-up and just, you know, working with all the people I worked with, Latifah and Crystal Waters and just so many different artists and just that era of dancing was the best era.

You know, those nineties were the best. Absolutely. And then of course one-on-one, which we all I mean is a classic that is all classic, classic, classic television shows. So what's a little bit of a singing your music everywhere all around the world? What is the draw to doing a play? Why are you like, I'll take a I'll put her over here and let me be Mitchell Obama and then you get a week off and you're back on the road being you.

[22:37] Ledisi: Yeah, you know what? I've always ever since I was a kid, I've always been to um I've always loved songwriting, singing, dancing, acting. I just love it all. You know, I never wanted to put myself in a box and just like, oh, I'm just gonna sing my music and that's it. You know, there's so many things that I enjoy doing, and um acting is one of them. And I just I grew up doing theater, so it's just it's just ending in my um DNA uh iconic lineage, uh well, music uh in my in my uh family and in my blood, and um how I beg some of my beginnings uh in life and in the industry, and then some of the ups and downs and pivots and surprises. I love it because if you know about you growing up, um talking about Jersey, but you growing up in New York and your family, and then moving to New York and going to school in New York, and this air, and I'm a Jersey boy, and I and we love Miss Melbourne more here in New Jersey.

[23:36] Robert Bannon: What you learned early. I mean, you've been singing since how old?

[23:39] Ledisi: Well, I actually I started late. Okay. Um when you're a singer, and it's natural, usually by the time you're three or four years old, somebody in the family, somebody told you you have a voice, and they kind of get you started, even if it's just in the family. But since I my family was broken, and I didn't really get that until I was 10 years old and moved to Newark and Jersey. And then my my stepfather was a musician, and he and my mother recorded with it. Do you is there a part of you that's like that's my baby, or do you want wish you kept it for yourself? How does it feel?

[24:10] Ledisi: It some songs I did keep for myself, but it's the most exciting feeling when Luther Vandross records one of your songs, who's like the badass singer on the planet, and he killed it. And I it was my Christmas present that year. I had just come back from Sweden where I wrote "Get Here." By the way. I just came back and I thought, what am I gonna do? I have no money, and they said, Oh Lou, they just recorded you a song. I'm like, ah I love him. I loved him. One of the the greatest. I mean technical.

[24:49] Robert Bannon: And finally, I live in a weird space where sometimes I want to talk about politics, and I know that that is controversial, but sometimes we've had the chance to speak to some of the biggest influential politicians in the world, like Senator Cory Booker from my state of New Jersey, or the incredible Jasmine Crockett, who's up for re-election in her primary in Texas, or Mayor Brandon Scott of Baltimore talking about gun violence, or people like Jay Ellis of Insecure and creating theater that looks representational, or Wendell Pierce talking about how important it was when he did Death of a Salesman and seeing it done in a different way, or the lieutenant governor of Michigan, Garland Gilcrest stopping by. These are all the powerhouse political impact leaders that give presence and purpose to being here on the show. And I'm so grateful that they used my platform uh to get the word out, take a peek at this. But we're not there yet.

[25:40] Robert Bannon: And I am here today because of James Baldwin, because of Bea Rustin, because of these extraordinary courageous LGBTQ leaders uh who understood intersectionality. I cannot be free, I cannot be equal, I cannot have a firm dignity unless we all do. And that's something we all need to know. And I believe that organizations like this are casting so much light uh into the world, and I'm just blessed to have been a part of it.

[26:05] Luenell: Well, we adore you. We're ready. Listen, Senator Booker, you all want to hug you. I want to hug you. Thank you so much for everything.

[26:13] Cory Booker: I'm not sure if you're As a father and as a person that lives in the city, wasn't mean for you to be out here today. It's tremendous. We want everybody to know that they have a future and a place in Michigan today and tomorrow.

[27:26] Cory Booker: And you'll be safe. You'll be excited to be building safety. My first pride here, I met my husband right here on this street. Yeah, I think the first thing it's about relationships, right? You can't I I say this to people all the time. We've heard so many times and times again across whether it's Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, right? Uh, you always hear these folks like, oh, we're gonna invest in these programs and we're gonna go out to these corners and we're gonna get these young men in a better position in life, right? Now what I always say to them, I said this is this is the problem with that mindset. You can show up, right? You can show up and be on a corner, etc. and telling some young man you're gonna get him a job or move him and do all of these things.

But if you don't put what what happens is they come and say, pull your pants up, cut your hair, change the way, stop drinking, stop smoking, stop listening to this music, take care of your kids, all of this. They don't know the basics. What's their name? Where do you come from? What's his family like? That's the number one thing that you can lasting memory. That's the thing that you will hold on.

[28:32] Cory Booker: And then as an additional um land yap, as we say in New Orleans, is that what you give that audience, and the fact that it is in that moment that is a shared experience that is so uniquely that moment, right? And you can all if you're not there, you can only speak of it like I wish I was there, or I heard that this happened that day. That's the thing that I tell people about live. That um I dived right in. Um, and I'm in a cast of brilliant actors that um we just all just poured ourselves into this material under the direction of the amazing Patricia McGregor. She uh really held it all together in the craziness.

[29:21] Robert Bannon: Well, we're so excited to see it. We're excited for everybody to come down here and check it out. And thank you for all the work. We love all of the stage and screen and all that you all do. Thank you so much. And there's awards across the board. I mean, you know, whether it's Tony's, whether it's Grammys, whether it's Emmys, like there's Oscars, like there's awards across the board with that group, and and more importantly, it's it's you know, three people who have been in this business on multiple sides of this business, but their artistry is number one. Storytelling for them is number one, and so, you know, to bring them into this, and I I made a couple of those phone calls myself to ask Carrie and to ask John to come into this, and you know, to bring them into this.

I knew that the story was going to be the thing that well, there you have it. There's about 60, 75 more that I looked at and could put on this show from gospel artists to TV stars to singers to Broadway icons. This show, I hope, is a place that people feel comfortable to come and share their story. That's been my goal. And my job is to listen and to understand and not to judge. And we all need that a little bit more in our life. We need to listen, we need to understand, and we need to stop judging one another for who we are, where we're from, and what we believe. Because at the end of the day, most of us all believe in one thing. That's to be kind and good to one another. No matter where you're from, no matter what you do, your job in this world is to listen and to love.

No judgment. So remember, there's more good than there is bad. There's more love than there is hate, and there's more joy than there's sadness. You just have to look for it, find it. It's all about perspective. Happy Black History Month to all of my beautiful, beautiful people of color, friends of color, family of color. I am so grateful to walk with you, march with you for rights and to commemorate and celebrate the incredible legacy of the art, the culture, and the movements that you have given to this country. This country is built literally on your backs. We are incredibly grateful for that. Next week, the incredible Grammy winning JKalen Carr is here, and we have a messy fun chat conversation for you and so much more. God bless you. Thank you all so much for being here. And remember that the best is yet to come. Hang in there, and I'll see you live next Thursday. Bye, everybody.