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Pamela Long: God’s Plan


Pamela Long
Pamela Long

Born in Edison, New Jersey, and raised by her mother and grandmother, Pamela Long discovered her love for music at a very early age. By her mid teens, Long had already started to take her craft more seriously and actually began plotting a career in song. As fate would ultimately have it, a chance encounter at a Garden State recording studio would forever change the trajectory of Pamela’s life.


Long was later, and initially reluctantly, recruited into a group dynamic, alongside both Kima Raynor and Keisha Spivey, thus birthing multi-platinum R&B powerhouse, and former Bad Boy, trio, Total. 


Despite selling millions of records worldwide, music hasn’t been her one and only calling…Pamela Long is also a successful author, song / jingle writer, personal trainer, certified acrobatic teacher, CEO of her own record label, and, maybe even most importantly, a proud and dedicated Evangelist.



For starters, what all exactly had / have you been up to, both personally and professionally speaking, as of late? 


I haven't been up (to) too much. I am quietly working. Sometimes it's best not to say too much, but I am excited for all that is on the way. I have put out another book by the name of ‘Unmasked: the Ugly Truth,’ which is on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, that people are able to purchase as of right now! lol. 


I also know your former group-mates Keisha & Kima [recently rebranded as Total Evolution] are currently on The Queens Of R&B Tour, alongside XSCAPE & SWV with special guests Mýa and 702 — Thoughts on this? 


This is awesome!


I know, too, that the fans have been rather vocal about your absence from this ongoing trek — Any regrets from you? 


I'm grateful for the love and support throughout the years from the fans that they have shown myself, Kima and Keisha. 


Reflecting, tell me your whole inception into music -- When did you first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for Pamela Long?


My inception into music started from the womb! LOL! I have been interested in music from the day I can remember. I was in my single digit years. And, my love for music may have begun when I first saw and heard Michael Jackson. But, the real truth of the matter is that God gave it to me. It is from heaven and God given.  


Now you're a native of New Jersey, correct? So growing up in “The Garden State,” who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?   


Yes, I am a Jersey girl. My strongest musical influence from a Jersey native standpoint was my Mom. She played Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Stephanie Mills in our home frequently, especially on Saturday clean-up days when my family and I would be performing as we cleaned.    


In having said that, how do you classify your overall sound and / or style?


My overall style and sound I would say is unique. God gave me something real different. But, if I had to put a closeness to an artist that I watched, mimicked, and was a part of their family, LOL! Hands down ---- Michael Jackson, all day! The passion he had on that stage was infectious, and that is how I feel on stage. I look to give it my all, and what comes from me naturally.   

Pamela Long
Pamela Long

As a songwriter, when you sit down to pen your lyrics where do you draw your inspiration from?


When I sit down to write, I pray and ask God for help, and sometimes it just comes out because God has already put it in me what needs to be said.


What particular string of events actually led to your initial linking up with both Keisha & Kima and the ultimate formation of Total? 


In short --- what led up to Total coming together as a group is, one day a friend of the family by the name of Alex Kennedy brought me to a studio in New Jersey, and it was my first time ever recording (age 15). I did a song with a gentleman by the name of Norman Bradley, and the song came out really good. I had no idea that Kima and Keisha also worked out of the same studio until a time later. We crossed paths and said hello and that was pretty much it, but Norman (I guess) had other things in mind. One day I received a phone call asking to be in a group with Kima and Keisha who were looking for a third member, and my first reply was, “no.” LOL! I was a 15 year old knucklehead. Then I eventually said, “yes,” and the rest is history.  


Switching gears here…


Longevity, what do you attribute yours to?


My longevity has come from the Lord. It is only God who can do such things. He alone preserves and keeps for His plan and purposes.  


What do you want people to get from your music?


What I want people to get from my music is substance, (things that remain) ---- Love, joy, peace, comfort, strength, truth, hope, and upliftment, which comes from the True Source; which is #GOD #JESUS #THEHOLYSPIRIT 


On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of R&B? And, even more specifically, why do you feel that we, the masses, don’t see the group dynamic like it was back in, say, the nineties?


I honestly don't listen to the radio so I don't know the complete state of R&B, but I do feel like the music industry has taken a turn for the worse. I say that because so many are doing things and saying things: as some would say, “to get the bag.” But, what I've come to know is that life is more than just a bag of money. What can you do with money when you have no peace, and you feel like you're losing your mind, taking and consuming all types of things because you can't sleep at night due to demons ruling you daily, all because of a bag? I hope this will make people ask themselves, Is that really worth the bag, yet there is still more to lose? Jesus said in the Bible in Mark 8:36-38, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man (meaning Jesus) be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Now, is a moment of fame truthly worth the riches of eternal life with God the Father? Absolutely NOT, but how many have thought so or are unaware of the possible fate that could come if they don't repent and turn to the Lord? This is not me pointing the finger at anyone because I have been guilty of much, but it is me exposing the lies of the Devil who makes it all seem so sweet to do whatever you have (to do) to get the bag. Which is a lie from the pit of hell. Death is just as real as living and hell is as real as heaven. We can't play with this thing called life, because one day we are going to stand before God and give an account for the things we have done. Please take a moment and listen and don't believe the hype, because that's all it is, HYPE (a smoking mirror). 

…I'm not sure why groups are not as popular as the ‘90's, but you never know. Things have a way of coming back around.  


Do you have any other outside / additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from entertainment? 


I definitely have other aspirations besides music. I'm not going to give away too much but fitness and acting, alongside some other great things coming down the pipeline, are on my list.  

 

What’s an average day like for you?


An average day for me is getting things done. I am really working at trying to do all that I should be doing, which doesn't always pan out that way, but I'm learning that I must be consistent.   


Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans... 


My interaction with fans sometimes varies; from selfies, emails, DMs and sometimes calls. 


What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why? 


The best part of this line of work for me is because it's what I love to do. The least part is hard to say. There is a lot that I believe we all as people can say that we don't like about work. But I'm not going to complain.  #begrateful 


What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?


The advice I would give to someone wanting to follow in my footsteps…I would tell them to not follow my steps, but to make their own prints in the industry, because they have their own specialness that someone is waiting for, and to definitely make sure that they get their direction from God, and not to sell out to the gimmicks, trends and the momentary fame presented to them.  


Mase's "What You Want", as well as your own hits "Kissin' You", "Can't You See" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.(’s) “Hypnotize” hook, too!), "What About Us?" and "Trippin',” are all bonafide classics — How did these particular compositions come about? Who came up with their concepts? And, please describe for me the overall studio vibe(s) on those fateful day(s)?


First, I want to say thank you for the kind words. “What You Want,” was written by Mase, and the hook written by Keisha. I don't recall the day of the recording in the studio. “Kissin’ You” - was written by Raphael Saadiq. He is a musical genius. He is an amazing guy. He made us feel comfortable, and the day in the studio was beautiful. I would dare to say that we all had a good time recording with him. “Can't You See” - was written by Terri Robinson from the group Terri & Monica. MISS Terri! She was absolutely amazing. A beautiful soul. Recording with her was great. She helped us with so much. She was patient and kind, and just a sweetheart. Recording this song with Terri was more than a day's work. We were truly new to this caliber of recording, so it took a little minute but we got it done.  “Hypnotize” - was written by Notorious B.I.G., and I'm not sure who wrote the hook. What I recall about the day of the studio was that Diddy was looking for someone to sing the hook and after he tried a few voices…He told me to go into the booth and sing it and my voice, I guess was what his ears were looking for because the rest is history. “What About Us?” - was written by Missy and Timbaland [track]. The song was done for the ‘Soul Food’ movie soundtrack. I don't recall the day of the studio, but working with Missy was always cool.  “Trippin’” - was written by Missy. I'm not sure what studio we first started the song “Trippin’” at, but what I will share is how quick Missy would sit down and write a song, and then record it for us to learn. I'm not sure if she had the first verse when we did this song, but her God given ability to write songs in a matter of minutes was amazing.


Of course I have to address the ‘elephant in the room,’ Diddy — As a former Bad Boy artist, what are you personal thoughts and opinions about the sex trafficking allegations, among other things, that’s been made against the embattled mogul? 


My prayers and thoughts are with everyone involved. May the Lord God bring salvation, healing and deliverance in Jesus’ name. 


Lastly, what’s next for you, Pamela? 


What's next for me is whatever the Lord says. I'm looking to live my life in accordance to His will and whatever that is; I pray for the strength and obedience to do just that.   


Any "closing" thought(s) for our readers?


My closing words to all who will hear. Repent and turn to God before it's too late. If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Today is the day of salvation. You are not reading this by accident. God has a way of meeting us where we are. Please don't harden your heart. God loves you so much that He made it His business to meet you here. Please don't turn a blind eye to it. He loves you and desires to have a relationship with you. #JesusSaves 🥰




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