Environment

William Davenport Is Breaking Through

Published

11 years ago

March 11, 2014

Melodic. Smooth. Engaging. Brilliant.

These are just a few of the words used to describe the voice of 27- year-old William Davenport after a sold out performance in Oakland last week.

A native of Decatur, Georgia, he moved to Nashville to pursue a degree in Architectural Engineering. After completing four years of the five-year program he knew he wasn’t happy with the direction his life was going.

“I feel like being passionate about something is what carries you through,” said Davenport. “I wasn’t passionate about engineering, I liked the money I’d make.”

In 2009, with only 18hours left to complete his degree, he put school to the backburner and decided to solely focus on his music, performing at various places in Nashville to perfect his craft.

But by age 23 he still wasn’t signed and instead of being on BET, he was watching it. He says he was embarrassed and became extremely hard on himself. But it was this process that helped him become the musician that he is today.

“Sometimes, you make it to the level not because of praise, but because of frustration,” he said. “Having confidence and believing in yourself is only half the battle. Being satisfied with who you are can take you so many places.”

Davenport has since been featured in BET’s Music Matters campaign and has opened up for artists such as Raheem DeVaughn, Laura Izibor, and India Arie. He also co-starred in the play, “A Mother’s Prayer,” with Johnny Gill, Robin Givens, Jermaine Crawford, and Shirley Murdock, which featured on BET.

Moving forward, Davenport has teamed up with well-known Bay Area promoter Lionel Bea, who has worked with such artists as Chris Rock, D.L. Hughley and Jamie Foxx. He says his willingness to go through the process to have a music career – and not just become a one-hit wonder – is why Bea is willing to work with him. He recently opened up for Charlie Wilson at the Paramount Theatre.

And while each performance brings a wave of praise, Davenport says he feels he has yet to sign a major deal because he is unwilling to compromise.

“I want to be able to write my songs, put real music out, put songs out that aren’t two and three chords,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been given a gift” and with that gift comes responsibility.

To find out more information about William Davenport or to listen to his recordings, visit www.iamwilliamdavenport.com

Oakland Post

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Related Topics:BAP Management Lionel Bea William Davenport

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California Black Media

Gov. Newsom Goes to Washington to Advocate for California Priorities

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation. During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

Gov. Newsom visits the White House on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Gov.Ca. Gov

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation.

During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

“California is continuing our work to secure additional tools and resources to improve access to health care, clean air and water, and secure critical funding to support communities recovering from disasters,” said Newsom.

At the White House, Newsom met with President Joe Biden and key officials, advocating for disaster relief funding, healthcare expansion, and environmental protection. He also engaged in discussions with senior Biden-Harris officials, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, to address water quality improvements and the San Luis Dam project, which will support water supplies for two million Californians.

“Building on our strong partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration, California is working closely with the White House over the next two months to deliver the critical protections and resources our communities need,” Newsom said.

On Capitol Hill, Newsom met with California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with other Congressional leaders, to emphasize the need to approve pending disaster funding, healthcare programs, and environmental protections. He also previewed California’s upcoming special session to proactively address potential federal challenges when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

Newsom’s discussions also focused on securing Medicaid waivers from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to enhance behavioral health services and reduce homelessness. The state seeks approval for the BH-CONNECT waiver, which would address behavioral health and homelessness, and the MCO Tax Waiver, which would provide over $20 billion for Medi-Cal to improve healthcare access.

Additionally, California is pushing for Clean Air Act waivers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are crucial for enforcing air quality regulations. These measures are projected to prevent 11,000 premature deaths and provide $116 billion in health benefits over the next three decades, according to the Governor’s office.

Oakland Post

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Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

1 month ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
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Business

Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order to Tackle Rising Electric Bills

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order to help alleviate the financial burden of skyrocketing electric bills on residents. This directive instructs the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Energy Commission to identify strategies to lower electricity costs and prevent rapid increases in the future.

Published

1 month ago

November 6, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Among the key actions proposed, the governor emphasized a closer examination of utility expenditures related to wildfire mitigation, which accounts for about 13% of residential electric bills.

Newsom underscored the state’s commitment to balancing affordability with environmental goals.

“We’re taking action to address rising electricity costs and save consumers money on their bills,” said Newsom. “California is proving that we can address affordability concerns as we continue our world-leading efforts to combat the climate crisis.”

California now has the second-highest electric rates in the country, trailing only Hawaii, with residential bills having surged as much as 110% over the past decade. The largest utilities, including Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, have seen rate hikes of 20% to 50% in just the last three years, approved by the state’s regulatory bodies.

The executive order also directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to explore increasing the California Climate Credit, which provides some relief on energy costs for residents. Additionally, the PUC is urged to pursue federal funding opportunities to further reduce electric expenses.

While consumer advocates welcomed the governor’s focus on lowering costs, concerns were raised regarding potential cuts to essential clean energy programs. CALPIRG, a consumer group, pointed out that the real issue behind high utility bills is wasteful spending by utilities and urged greater accountability.