Samuel Achilefu - Lighting Them Up!

By

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October 12, 2026

Black Scientist who invented cell goggles.

For those who love reading about Black inventors, here is an amazing story for you! Imagine being able to see cancer cells glowing inside the human body. Imagine how such a fete could help surgeons tackle cancer surgery! Well, thanks to the groundbreaking work of Dr. Samuel Achilefu, shown here, that remarkable possibility became a reality.

THE PROBLEM:

For decades, one of the greatest challenges cancer surgeons have faced has been distinguishing malignant tissue from healthy tissue. Cancer surgery is already a delicate and invasive affair, and since cells are not always visible to the naked eye, it is often difficult to remove every trace of a tumor without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. But Dr. Samuel Achilefu has figured a way to do just that.

WHO MADE THE DIFFERENCE:

Born in Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Achilefu is a distinguished scientist and biomedical researcher whose innovative work has helped transform the way surgeons identify cancerous tissue during operations. He and his research team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis developed a revolutionary solution: special cancer-visualization goggles that help surgeons see cancerous tissue during surgery.

Dr. Samuel Achilefu, courtesy of the St. Louis American

THE SOLUTION:

The technology works by combining a fluorescent imaging agent with a specialized imaging system. The agent helps illuminate cancerous tissue when exposed to near-infrared light. The goggles then allow surgeons to view the highlighted areas, helping them distinguish potentially cancerous tissue from surrounding healthy tissue. The invention attracted national attention and earned Achilefu the prestigious 2014 St. Louis Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to scientific advancement. This research in molecular imaging, optical technology, and cancer detection has contributed to the development of innovative approaches to diagnosing and treating disease.

Dr. Achilefu's work represents an important chapter in Black scientific achievement and demonstrates how imagination, education, and perseverance can lead to discoveries with the potential to save lives.

Thank you, Dr. Achilefu! We appreciate you.

This video original belongs to IdeaScope Media and debuted at https://youtu.be/CqiIIXIXOqI?si=182XMHPKY3HiOV1q.

Fair Use:

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Patches

By

RitaLorraine

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August 25, 2026

0

Welcome to some achingly beautiful but "not-so-easy" listening. This is the 1970 phenomenon called PATCHES, as sung by Clarence Carter. It became #1 on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100, #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the R&B Chart, #2 in the UK Singles Chart, #16 in Canada, and #10 in Australia.

In other words, PATCHES swept the globe and left listeners in tears! In 1971, PATCHES went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song for its writers, Ronald Dunbar and General Johnson.

THE BEGINNING

The 1970 45 single by Chairmen of the Board

Although Clarence Carter is known for the song PATCHES, he was not the first to sing it. It was originally sung by a group called Chairmen of the Board in July 1970. Clarence Carter heard the song and was encouraged by producer Rick Hall at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals to sing it. Clarence hesitated at first, but he finally gave in and sang the song. He said he had "his own idea of how the song should be sung." His version was so convincing that people actually thought he was singing about himself and his family.

WHAT WAS THE SONG ABOUT?

A young Black boy photographed by Gordon Parks in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1943. His image evokes the young narrator of “Patches,” the story song Clarence Carter made famous in 1970. Courtesy Library of Congress.

PATCHES was a song about a poor Black boy born on "a farm back up in the woods" of Alabama. This was a two-parent household; the mother cooked and cared for the many children, and the father worked the field. Unfortunately, the family was dirt-poor, and they did not catch many breaks. In fact, some of the lyrics said of the father: "Oh, life had kicked him down to the ground; when he tried to get up, life would kick him back down. One day papa called me to his dying bed, put his hand on my shoulders and in tears he said, 'Patches, I'm depending on you son, to pull the family through. My child, it's all left up to you.'"

After Papa died, Patches had to work the fields and feed the chickens every single morning before going off to school. Although he sometimes dreamed of running away, he stayed to help his mother care for his siblings. Years later, after all the children were grown and gone on to their own lives, Patches' mother died and "the angels took her to a brand new home." Only then was Patches finally free to pursue his own dreams.

I'm not crying... YOU are!

WHO WAS CLARENCE CARTER?

Clarence Carter was born blind on January 14, 1936 in Montgomery, Alabama -- but not on a farm, like the boy in his song. He had "one of the most distinctive voices in Southern soul and rhythm and blues." He did not let his lack of sight limit him and soon learned to play guitar by listening to blues musicians such as John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed. He studied piano at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, and attended Alabama State College (now Alabama State University). He earned a bachelor’s degree in music in 1960 and learned to write musical arrangements in Braille.

Carter began recording with fellow musician Calvin Scott during the 1960s, blowing audiences away with his powerful baritone voice, his skill on the guitar, his humor, and his "unmistakable laugh." Recording at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Clarence produced major hits including “Slip Away,” “Too Weak to Fight,” “Back Door Santa,” and “Patches.” “Slip Away,” “Too Weak to Fight,” and “Patches” each earned gold records. His recording “Tell Daddy” also inspired Etta James’s celebrated hit “Tell Mama.”

Clarence enjoyed another burst of popularity in the 1980s with “Strokin’,” which became an enduring favorite with adult R&B audiences. Over his career, he released 37 albums and was inducted into both the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and, in 2003, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He performed well into his later years, and died on May 13, 2026, at age 90.

THE FAMOUS LYRICS!

Songwriters: General N. Johnson / Ronald Dunbar

Patches lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Source: LyricFind

I was born and raised down in Alabama,On a farm way back up in the woods.I was so ragged folks used to call me PatchesPapa used to tease me about it,'Course deep down inside he was hurt'Cause he'd done all he could.

My papa was a great old manI can see him with a shovel in his hands, seeEducation he never hadHe did wonders when the times got bad.The little money from the crops he raisedBarely paid the bills we made.

Oh, life had kick him down to the ground,When he tried to get upLife would kick him back down.One day Papa called me to his dyin' bedPut his hands on my shoulders,And in his tears he said,

He said, PatchesI'm dependin' on you, sonTo pull the family through,My son, it's all left up to you.

Two days later Papa passed away, andI became a man that daySo I told Mama I was gonna quit school, butShe said that was Daddy's strictest rule

So every mornin' 'fore I went to schoolI fed the chickens and I chopped wood tooSometimes I felt that I couldn't go onI wanted to leave, just run away from homeBut I would remember what my daddy saidWith tears in his eyes on his dyin' bed

He said, PatchesI'm dependin' on you, sonI tried to do my bestIt's up to you to do the rest

Then one day a strong rain cameAnd washed all the crops awayAnd at the age of 13 I thoughtI was carryin' the weight of the Whole world on my shouldersAnd you know, Mama knew What I was goin' through, 'cause

Every day I had to work the fields'Cause that's the only way we got our mealsYou see, I was the oldest of the familyAnd everybody else depended on meEvery night I heard my Mama prayLord, give him the strength to make another day

So years have passed and all the kids are grownThe angels took Mama to a brand new homeLord knows, people, I shedded tearsBut my daddy's voice kept me through the years

SayingPatches, I'm dependin' on you, sonTo pull the family throughMy son, it's all left up to you

Oh, I can still hear Papa's voice sayin'Patches, I'm dependin' on you, sonI've tried to do my bestIt's up to you to do the rest

I can still hear Papa, what he saidPatches, I'm dependin' on you, sonTo pull the family throughMy son, it's all left up to you

This song was originally posted at this address: https://youtu. be/ dbS8BQwBkuI?si=DlAz4PYGAp_V1tB6

Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Welcome to the Nightshift!

By

RitaLorraine

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June 22, 2026

0

Were you around in 1985? If you were, you just have to remember the Commodore's national phenomenon, "Nightshift"!

After mega-star Lionel Richie left the Commodores in 1982, they weren't doing so well. Their song Only You (1983) only reached No. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was followed by Reach High (1983) and Turn Off the Lights (1984), but neither one had much impact on the music world. This author remembers rumors that the Commodores were fading fast without Lionel. And then came the amazing song... drumroll, please: "NIGHTSHIFT."

THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG:

The year 1984 was a tragic one, but not just because AIDS was in full swing. It was devastating because we also lost two amazing entertainers. First, pioneer of Rock and Roll music Jackie Wilson, died on January 21, 1984. America had already spent nearly a decade praying for his recovery after he had been in a semi-coma after suffering a heart attack onstage in 1975. Although fans had been preparing for his death for many years, it still hit hard. While we were adjusting to this loss, everyone's favorite, Marvin Gaye, was shot and killed by his own father! This tragedy happened on April 1, 1984, one day before Marvin's 45th birthday. His sudden death by someone close to him and the odd date it happened (April 1st) was so out of left field that fans thought it was some sort of April Fool's prank. But it was not.

Fans grieved, reminisced, and longed for a way to show their love for these two greats. Not long afterward, the Commodores came up with a solution. Songwriter and Commodores member Walter Orange, along with Dennis Lambert and Franne Golde, sat down and penned "Nightshift" as a tribute to both these great men and their lasting influence on soul music.

The lyrics (see below) describe loss, remembrance, gratitude, and the comforting idea that someone who has died is still "alive" in some way through their gifts, influence, and memory. Singing along was like softening the loss by imagining the person is not dead, they're just not working the day shift anymore... they're working the nightshift.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES THE TITLE MEAN?

The title "Nightshift" refers to the idea that Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson (and other cherished ones who are no longer here) have moved on to a higher place where they are still singing -- working the "night shift" in heaven. They are, in a sense, continuing their music careers in the afterlife, entertaining angels the same way they entertained audiences on Earth. Rather than focusing solely on grief, the song celebrates their enduring legacy.

In other words, "Nightshift" has gone on to become a sort of anthem for anyone (famous or unknown) to celebrate a lost loved one.

To this day, people play this song:

***After the death of a family member.
***At funerals and memorial services.
***During radio tributes to deceased musicians.
***When reflecting on mentors, friends, and loved ones who are gone.

WHY WAS THIS SONG SO IMPORTANT TO THE COMMODORES?

When Nightshift debuted, the Commodores were facing a major challenge. They had lost their superstar lead singer, Lionel Richie, and many naysayers assumed they were merely circling the drain without him. But Nightshift changed all that. It became their biggest hit, reaching No. 1 on the R&B chart, No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and winning a Grammy in the process. It proved the Commodores could still create powerful music.

WHY NIGHTSHIFT IS STILL RELEVANT

Nightshift is more than just a tribute song, it captures a moment when one generation of soul artists honored the pioneers who came before them. It acknowledges grief while celebrating legacy, influence, and immortality through music. To this day, many fans consider it one of the greatest tribute songs ever recorded because it feels so genuine.

And now, the lyrics:

NIGHTSHIFT
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Music, Universal Music -
Careers, Peer International Corporation, Tuneworks Music Company
Songwriters: Dennis Lambert / Francine Vicki Golde / Walter Lee Orange

Marvin
He was a friend of mine
And he could sing a song
His heart in every line
Marvin
Sang of the joy and pain
He opened up our mind
And I still can hear him say
"Oh, talk to me
So you can see what's goin' on"
Say you will sing your songs
Forevermore, evermore
Gonna be some sweet sounds
Comin' down on the night shift
I bet you're singin' proud
Oh, I bet you'll pull a crowd
Gonna be a long night
It's gonna be all right on the night shift
You found another home
I know you're not alone on the night shift, oh
You found another home
I know you're not alone on the night shift
Jackie
Hmm-mm, hey, what you doin' now?
It seems like yesterday
When we were workin' out
Jackie
Whoa, you set the world on fire
You came and gifted us
Your love, it lifted us higher and higher
Keep it up
And we'll be there at your side
Oh, say you will sing your songs
Forevermore, evermore
Gonna be some sweet sounds
Comin' down on the night shift
I bet you're singin' proud
Oh, I bet you'll pull a crowd
Gonna be a long night (gonna be a long night)
It's gonna be all right on the night shift
You found another home
I know you're not alone on the night shift
Gonna be some sweet sounds (sweet sounds)
Comin' down on the night shift (oh, on the night shift)
I bet you're singin' proud (I know you're singin' proud)
Oh, I bet you'll pull a crowd (oh, yeah)
Gonna be a long night (gonna be all right)
It's gonna be all right on the night shift (on the night shift)
You found another home
I know you're not alone on the night shift
Gonna miss your sweet voice (sweet)
That soulful noise (soulful noise)
On the night shift (night shift, on the night shift)
We all remember you (remember you, remember you)
Ooh, the songs are comin' through (whoa, oh-oh-oh)
At the end of a long day (a long day)
It's gonna be okay (okay)
On the night shift (night shift)
You found another home
I know you're not alone on the night shift
Gonna be some sweet sounds (sweet, sweet sounds)
Comin' down (comin' down)
On the night shift (ooh, yeah)
I bet you're singin' proud

This song was originally posted at this address: https://youtu. be/FrkEDe6Ljqs?si=63he-I8h1Qa0Sr4d.

Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

One Less Bell to Answer

By

RitaLorraine

-

February 25, 2025

0

'Evening, everyone! I hope you don't mind me bringing you this oldie-but-goodie. One Less Bell to Answer was released by The 5th Dimension way back in 1970, when I was a 'tween who knew nothing about love -- or the loss thereof. I can't tell you how many times I rushed to find my hairbrush to use as a pseudo-microphone every time this gem came on WNOO Radio!

One Less Bell to Answer was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It debuted in 1970, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became one of The 5th Dimension's biggest hits. A heart-wrenching ballad of heartbreak and loneliness, I also feel it has a dash of denial in it; the denial that comes after a relationship you thought was sure to work comes to a tragic end. Why do I mention denial? Because all through the song, Marilyn McCoo reminds herself that she ought to be happy to be rid of that unspeakable man who is always ringing her doorbell and eating up her food (remember the part about the fried egg, lol), and yet, all she can do is cry.

A Song of Heartache and Loss

At its core, One Less Bell to Answer is a song about grief, solitude and the struggle to cope with being left. The phrase "one less bell to answer, one less egg to fry; one less man to pick up after" are all phrases that compare and contrast the bustle of a loving relationship versus the stillness and quiet of facing life alone. Each small detail of daily life the song emphasizes, from fewer lights to turn on or off, to a quieter home, emphasizes the emptiness of being left behind.

Love is indeed a many-splendored thing... but love can be a kick in the rear, too!

The Girl Can Sang!

Marilyn McCoo was the lead vocalist for The 5th Dimension. In this song, she delivered an emotionally charged performance that made (and still makes) you feel every imaginary pang and weep a thousand imaginary tears. Her voice, her facial expression, her stillness as she sang, made listeners feel the weight of every pain-riddled word.

Even the way the song is arranged adds to the sweet melancholia. With a smooth yet sorrowful orchestration, including delicate piano chords and soft brass, the music complements the lyrics perfectly. The melody is beautiful and haunting at once, capturing the bittersweet nature of lost love.

We All Can Relate!

One Less Bell to Answer was powerful when it debuted 55 years ago, and it's still powerful today. After all, its theme is universal: a solitary soul found love, enjoyed it for awhile, then lost it and cried everyday. Isn't that what all of us have experienced at one time or another? Whether through a breakup, divorce, or even the passing away of a loved one, we've all suffered aloneness, uncertainty, sadness. And we've all compared our previous life of loving interaction with the one we're suddenly faced with: being alone.

Anyway, enough preaching! Suffice it to say that this soft and sad love song continues to touch listeners, reminding them that "even in sorrow, music has the power to heal and connect us to shared human emotions."

Want to sing along? Here are the lyrics!

One Less Bell to Answer
Songwriters: Burt F. Bacharach / Hal David

One less bell to answer
One less egg to fry
One less man to pick up after
I should be happy
But all I do is cry (cry, cry, no more laughter)
Oh, I should be happy (oh, why did he go?)
I only know that since he left, my life's so empty
Though I try to forget
It just can't be done
Each time the doorbell rings
I still run
I don't know how in the world
To stop thinking of him
'Cause I still love him so
I end each day the way I start out
Crying my heart out
Ooh, one less man to pick up after
No more laughter
No more love
Since he went, oh he went away (he went away)
Why did he leave me? (Oh why, why did he leave?)
Now I've got one less egg to fry (one less bell to answer), one less egg to fry
And all I do is cry (Oh why, why did he leave?)
Somebody tell me please where did he go, why did he go?
(Oh why, why did he leave) Tell me, how could he leave me?
Source: Musixmatch

FAIR USE:
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for FAIR USE for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statues that might otherwise be considered infringement. Nonprofit, educational and/or personal use tips the balance in favor of FAIR USE.