Denai Burbank is a music writer and aficionado who lives and works in the Sacramento area. Her first love is soul music and jazz of the 1960s in addition to an affinity for Brazilian music forms and Jamaican reggae. Favorite books include music biographies, discographies, and magazines. She professes to know Motown trivia perhaps better than most. It has apparently been a lifelong dream to participate in the music industry in some way. Writing is also a passion to pursue and excel. To merge the best of both worlds is more than she could ask. Writers Leonard Feather, Nat Hentoff, Nelson George and Rob Bowman have built a standard worth reaching. To achieve expertise writing about music would be difficult in her opinion, as music is forever evolving. To simply share the joy and discussion of some of the best music of all times is most rewarding. ~ Denai Burbank Desert Island List All are albums or full-length CDs. Jazz The Sidewinder - Lee Morgan (Blue Note) Misty - Richard "Groove" Holmes (Prestige/Fantasy OJC) Rockin' The Boat - Jimmy Smith (Blue Note) Country Preacher - Cannonball Adderley (Capitol) I Want to Hold Your Hand - Grant Green (Blue Note) A New Perspective - Donald Byrd Band & Voices (Blue Note) Brazilian Sergio Mendes - almost any recording CheganHa - Walter. Wanderley (Verve) Rain Forest - Walter Wanderley (Verve) O Som de Catecadricos; Tremendao; Impulso; Ataque - Deodato Look To the Rainbow - Astrud Gilberto (Verve) Come With Me - Tania Maria R & B What's Going On? - Marvin Gaye (Motown) Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder (Motown) A Quiet Storm - Smokey Robinson (Motown) Hot Buttered Soul - Isaac Hayes (Enterprise/Stax/Fantasy) Chapter Two - Roberta Flack (Atlantic) Give Me the Night - George Benson (Warner Bros.) Breezin' - George Benson (Warner Bros.) Special Occasion - The Miracles (Motown) What'd I Say - Ray Charles Star Time - James Brown (box set) Favorite Artists: All of the above in addition to: Female: LaVern Baker, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Phyllis Hyman, Barbara Lewis, Betty Everett, Kim Weston, Brenda Holloway, Tammi Terrell, Lauryn Hill. Male: Wilson Pickett, Isaac Hayes, Joe Tex, Roy Hamilton, Ben E. King, Luther Vandross, Bobby Caldwell, B.B. King, Little Richard, Aaron Neville, Al Green, Donny Hathaway, Billy Stewart, Jerry Butler Vocal Groups: Temptations, Four Tops, Drifters (Clyde McPhatter, Ben E. King, Rudy Lewis as leads), Dramatics, Isley Brothers, Flamingos, Dells, Impressions, Contours, Intruders, Spinners, Martha & The Vandellas, Supremes, Chantels, Marvelettes, Emotions, Sweet Inspirations, Three Degrees, Ruby & The Romantics, Sapphires, Elgins (Motown), Fifth Dimension, Friends of Distinction, The Main Ingredient, The Originals, The Staple Singers Instrumental based groups: Kool & The Gang, Booker T & the MGs, Alvin Cash & the Crawlers, The Commodores, Earth, Wind & Fire, The BarKays (original and the immediate follow-up group; not the late 70's/early 80s configuration), Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band, The Meters, Graham Central Station, Ohio Players, JBs., All Music Guide