ARTICLE FROM clucthmagazine.com (Full story click here)

Besides media icon Oprah Winfrey, my favorite guest in the more than twenty years of “Music Inner City TV” here in Seattle has been Raven Symone.

In 2001 I paid for her and her dad to fly out from Atlanta to Seattle and hang out with the youth of the inner city. And she did another apperence at Rainier Community Center in 2005. She was in town to perform.

During the first visit Raven and her dad stayed in Seattle for two and half days. During that time we went to eight schools and three community centers to meet the youth.

It was a lot of work for me and my little crew of Donna Curvin a few others to finish a appearence and then make a break to the next visit to set up. But it was worth it.

I remember two things that happened during Raven’s first visit. We went into a well known place to eat called Ezell’s here in Seattle. We walked in and I asked folks in line do you know who this is with me? Everyone looked and said “OH MY GOD IT’S RAVEN SYMONE” Folks went crazy. Raven was only 12 or 13 at the time.

Then during one of our last visits, we went to Garfield Community Center and it was packed. Raven sang to a fan of hers who was in a wheelstair with MS. She had a pic of Raven. It was so emotional I had to go outside to cry.

On her second visit it was again at Rainier Community Center. It was PACKED. It almost got out of control but Raven told the crowd on the mic that if things don’t settle down “I’m out” so things got better and she signed autographs for everyone. All my videos and pics of the two events were lost in a terrible fire I had in late 2005. But I do have all the great memories.

I am glad to see that she has turned out to be such a beautiful and down to earth young lady. You do not hear about Raven Symone in trouble or anything like that. Hope we can catch up with Raven soon. We will let you know.    Gordon Curvey

“SPORTS INNER CITY RADIO” podcast for 6-22-2011. Including exclusive interviews, urban sports news and issues, and much more including classic soul music. Also a exclusive interview with Hall Of Famer Reggie Jackson. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PROGRAM.