She's an 84 year old bundle of energy from Philadelphia, PA who raps, DJs, dances, swims, plays instruments and sings. She is an Author, Motivational Speaker/Facilitator, WURD 900AM Radio Associate and a Family Therapist.
Photo by Pete Souza/ Whitehouse
A Few Words from Ijoy:
Did you ever want to say, “THANK YOU” to someone who had done many things for many people?…..Now, this person may not even know you, personally, but you have been observing him or her … observing and thinking…. I am talking about myself, Ijoy……..and I am making reference to Barack Obama…..our 44th President of the USA. A radical, amazing thought swept over me…..“Ijoy, you need to thank President Obama right here and right now! Start a “Thank You Movement for Obama” and I believe many people will join you, millions who have the same thought: a “Thank You Movement for the President”. So, doggone it, I took my raw poem/song/thoughts to a man named BILL JOLLY …a person whom I call an extraordinary, musical, creative genius… I put my scraps of a project in his lap and he wrapped his body, mind, spirit around an idea that was indeed fragmented…..waiting for birth under Bill’s love and wisdom…..yes….he smiled a knowing, thoughtful, patient smile and said, “Ijoy, can you rap?” I said to myself….I came here to “sing a song”. Bill said,“Let’s give this a rap-style…..see what you can do with this. He’s a perfect guide with musical ideas, imagination and has a fascinating studio. I jumped in with a few of my own pieces of ideas and thoughts. We clicked from the beginning… So what you will hear in this production is an arrangement by Bill Jolly, Ijoy rapping and moving to the flow and letting free spirit take it to the wall…all under Bill’s tutelage: There were computers, TV’s, cameras, keyboards, pins, cutting, pasting, deleting, lots of editing, studio sessions, e-mails, phone calls and prayers.(I even think Bill’s dog, Jennie, likes the Grandmomma-Obama Rap.) The talented background dancer with Ijoy is Nayah Jordan and the artist who designed the puppet is Carolyn Washington of World Artist Tech. Bill and I both hope that you will enjoy this end product as a THANK YOU celebration for Barack Obama, the 44th President of the USA. Spread the word, dance, sing, rap-a-long, have a thank-you-good-time. Break it Down! Now watch your manners now. Watch your manners.
