TONI BRAXTON REVEALS BATTLE WITH LUPUS

News like this just breaks my heart to the point where un-breaking is just not possible.  Toni Braxton is an Artist I have always had so much love and respect for, having grown up with her Music through High School and University.  A few years ago at Casino Rama I finally had the chance to see her perform live and it was a dream; she was phenomenal.

While accepting an Award at the 8th Annual Bag Ladies Luncheon in Los Angeles today, a Benefit for Lupus, Braxton revealed that she too is battling the potentially fatal disease.  For those of you who don't know, Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own cells and tissue.   Girl just can't seem to get a break and this comes after the recent ending of her Marriage, being diagnosed with Carditis (inflammation of the heart) and also not too long ago having removed a non-life threatening growth on her Breast.  

My heart aches for her and I hope you guys can join me in sending her some love and encouragement right now as she needs it most.  Braxton is on Twitter here.

(Photo credit: Warner Music)

CD GIVEAWAY: TONI BRAXTON - PULSE

After receiving Mr. Will-W.: Pop Maven's stamp of approval, Warner Music Canada and yours truly are teaming up to give away three copies of sexy and soulful Toni Braxton's latest effort, Pulse.  And judging by some of your reactions, some of you are just about as excited as I am about her big return and debut effort on Atlantic Records. 

Three winners worldwide will be drawn at random and to qualify all you have to do is e-mail mrwillw@mrwillw.com with the names of any one of the three singles released thus far off Pulse.  The deadline to enter is Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 12:00 PM EST.   Good luck, Peaches!

REVIEW: TONI BRAXTON - PULSE

I'll be the first to admit that I had my doubts about Toni Braxton's latest effort Pulse, her first from Altantic Records/Warner Music after many successful albums with Arista and a forgettable one under Blackground/Universal Music.  And usually the appearance of a Grammy-winning artist appearing on ABC's Dancing with the Stars to me is a sign of a career in struggle mode.  

I have always loved Braxton and followed her career religiously from her debut, reaching the point of feverish obsession with 2000's The Heat, where she decided consciously to amp-up her sexuality to the point where she had to axe plans to release her own music video for single Maybe.  The video's plot featured her undressing in front the window of her loft, while being pursued by a stalker who winds up getting intimate with her.  She thought it was too risque as an after-thought.  Maybe.  

I finally had the chance to see Braxton in concert at Casino Rama, a couple hours outside the city a few years back, and it was a dream come true.  I only wish I had forked out the money for better seats as she came into the audience and greeted fans by the stage and even sat on a few laps to which I would gladly agree!