TJJS - The Best Of JJ - Ep 47 Maria Howell - My Beautiful, Musical Friend from Around The Way(Gastonia, NC)

This show was so much fun 'cause I got to reconnect with Maria!  She is a true NC treasure as she is a local girl from Gastonia that made good.

She is a true singer-actress, boasting equally strong résumés on both sides of the title. She was a scene-stealer in 1985’s Academy Award-winning The Color Purple, playing a church choir soloist. Since then, she’s appeared on the big screen in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Blind Side and What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and on television in NBC’s Revolution, VH1’s Single Ladies and many others.

But to me what defines her is here genuine, authentic self!  Full of love and grace and funny as all get out.  Join us for JJ's brand of foolishness...

Follow JJ: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!  The Jeff Johnson Show. Real. Genuine. Authentic. Jeff!

 What the Jeff Johnson Show “IS” and “IS NOT”:

IT IS NOT:

• It’s not a news show, but we learn stuff.
• It’s not a sports show, but Garinger beats Independence all the time and we love the game.
• It’s not an “artsy” show, but local artists/performers are always in the house.
• This is not a food show, but I love livermush!(‘Nuff Said”) So, we'll be talking about food a lot!

IT IS:

• It is a Labour of Love for myself and my Hometown.
• It is a show about you and me and finding out why the Charlotte/Metrolina region is a great place to be!
• It is a show that I get to introduce you folks I grew up with who influenced me in my life. (I got some "Very Unique" friends y'all so this should be interesting!)
• It is a show that I share some of the many talented friends I’ve met along the way.  (I got some "Very Unique" friends y'all so this should be interesting!)
• It is a show that works your emotions. (“...Laughing and Crying, you know it’s the same release..”)

Follow JJ: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!  The Jeff Johnson Show. Real. Genuine. Authentic. Jeff!

Transcript

Best of JJ - Ep 47 - Maria Howell FINAL-2

[00:00:00] JJ: [00:00:00] It's the Jeff Johnson show brought to you by ote@ofthisearthglobal.com of this earth. global.com clothing connection. Okay.

[00:00:21] Greetings. Or as we say it right here in the South. Hey, y'all. Hey, you know what time it is, is time for another edition of the Jeff Johnson show a real, genuine, authentic podcast where I get to reconnect with the people and places and events of my hometown area, Charlotte, North Carolina. All right, everybody let's get this week.

[00:00:42] Show started off ladies and gentlemen. I am so excited about speaking to this guest on my show. We go back a long way and in my humble opinion, One of the nicest, one of the sweetest and one of the most [00:01:00] talented people I have ever met. Ladies and gentlemen, ms. Maria Howell on the Jeff Johnson show. 

[00:01:07] Maria Howell: [00:01:07] Oh my God, you got a girl.

[00:01:14] JJ: [00:01:14] You totally deserve you. You deserve every one of those accolades and more. And it's true. My mama ma Charles and Mary taught me to tell the truth. That's what I do. 

[00:01:28] Maria Howell: [00:01:28] I tell you what, one of the highest compliments or things to be said about me and my life is not about what I do as far as career is not that the school I went through or anything like that, who I know it's about, you said I'm a nice person, sweet that that matters.

[00:01:43] And that goes many, many more miles than any other thing. Thank you. 

[00:01:48] JJ: [00:01:48] But I, and again, it's the truth and you know, it, it's one of those things. That we who live, or I grew up in the general area that we live at, because we're going to be talking [00:02:00] about this. And a lot of other things, you know, you grew up in Gastonia.

[00:02:04] Yes . And let me tell you, I mean, you don't me being from Shaw because you know, the show is all about connecting with friends. Since I've been gone, I've just decided I got to connect back with folks that I've known for a long time and folks like you and being able to talk about that. But a lot of that just stems from where we're from.

[00:02:24] And did you ever think in your wildest little gas Donia girl dreams that you would be doing the kind of things that you're doing, Maria?

[00:02:37] Maria Howell: [00:02:37] I mean, absolutely. Absolutely. I had no doubt in my mind, 

[00:02:44] JJ: [00:02:44] how'd, you know, you were going to do this. How did you know that you were going to be out front a leader? A creator, 

[00:02:54] Maria Howell: [00:02:54] because I trusted. Not to get [00:03:00] overly philosophical or anything like that. But I knew, I just knew and I trusted what I knew and it wasn't a matter of knowing like, Oh yeah, I'm going to be rich and famous.

[00:03:11] It's not like a good time. I'm not rich in the monetary sense. It could be that right there. That's not only that right there.

[00:03:24] Um, but I knew that I was going to be creating. I just knew it. I knew from the age of six years old and it wasn't like this major aspiration in the sense of, I saw something like gold and mind. No, I just knew it. It was just in me to know. And fortunately I trusted that. I didn't worry about it. I stress over it.

[00:03:48] And even when I went to, went to Salem state university and studied premed, I knew I was going to be singing, but I also know that in life you can go down different paths. [00:04:00] But the law lead back to what it's supposed to be doing, and you can learn things in the others side roads as I call it to pick up information that will serve you for what's your, your, you know, your purpose and your calling is.

[00:04:12] So that's as simple as back and forth. Well, 

[00:04:16] JJ: [00:04:16] but no, but that's, that's the best thing that I'm getting out of all of it it's that you were born, you were brought up with this innate self of sense. Did that, is that what you found in Gastonia from the folks that you knew there? 

[00:04:32] Maria Howell: [00:04:32] Yeah, and my mom and dad, I always joke around talking about my mom and dad when my first director and it, you know what I'm saying?

[00:04:42] But, but I, yeah, the surrounding, um, the friends church, the everything contributed, you know, and I just paid a little bit of attention. I wish I'd paid more attention at some point, you know, it's no [00:05:00] surprise because I just kind of felt it was all along. And, and I I've had a rough upbringing in the sense of people pouring into me.

[00:05:08] You know, I really did not. I'm very grateful for that. And I do not that to be the same with others. I want to just keep that cycle going of, of getting. Low giving advice we're needed getting a lean on tears to cry with laughter laugh with, I mean, it's just in that part of the human spirit. 

[00:05:30] JJ: [00:05:30] It's definitely part of the human condition and it's also, and it's, it is interesting.

[00:05:35] I mean, ladies and gentlemen, before we got into the interview, Maria. And I were talking about where she is, you know, I'm in Atlanta right now, but I I'm still, you know, I like to represent my hometown, my home city, my home area. She's the same way. And you were telling me a very unique story about you being back home again.

[00:05:55] Basically, why were, why are you still there? And it's ought to be [00:06:00] interesting. 

[00:06:02] Maria Howell: [00:06:02] Well, I'm still in this area in the North Carolina area, simply because I came back from Los Angeles to do a concert with the neuro Freeline cortex. And while we were performing in the, in the area, and that was like three days before everything shut down, we had been hearing things about it in LA and I'm like, well, no, I'm going back home.

[00:06:24] And. I stayed there a couple of weeks and I had no idea that here we are, like how many months later? 

[00:06:32] JJ: [00:06:32] That's a long I'm 

[00:06:35] Maria Howell: [00:06:35] here. So the word, and it's interesting. We did live stream. Um, I do quite a bit of voiceover work, so I just up my game with my boyfriend or studio at home and I'm here. Yes. 

[00:06:49] JJ: [00:06:49] Yes. And it ended up what technology can do.

[00:06:54] It's interesting. You know, cause you are, you're a woman of many talents. Your voice is, [00:07:00] is one of your instruments, of course. And, and, and being able to, we do so many different things just from your basement. Like I do. You know, I do voiceovers. I do all that kind of stuff from the basement. How has your technical game gotten lately?

[00:07:15] Is it improving your, your computer technical game? 

[00:07:20] Maria Howell: [00:07:20] Well, let me put it plain. Well after I took all my brain cells and put them back in my head. That basically does like, uh, uh, yeah, I felt like the most illiterate terrorism. I thought I was, I thought I was on top of things. I had to go to that next level.

[00:07:42] And what that means when I say that level is there's one thing to do your auditions from home and send them in as an MP3. There's another thing when you have to set it up where you can do the actual job that anyone from around the world can record you, [00:08:00] baby. Let me go again. I had to call on some folks.

[00:08:07] And there were a few dollars

[00:08:16] JJ: [00:08:16] I'm telling you, it's people don't understand what we go through.

[00:08:29] Maria Howell: [00:08:29] Right. Oh, my gosh. It's. I mean, if I could just tell people the what my day is like, they would not. 

[00:08:37] JJ: [00:08:37] I'll tell you what, hold on a minute. Hold on a minute. Let's do, let's talk about it. Alright. No, don't sit me up. Don't tempt me with the, with the taste of nuts and honey, let's go. What is a day like in the life of ms.

[00:08:50] Maria Howell? 

[00:08:53] Maria Howell: [00:08:53] When I wake up, get my brain together. I'm not the most [00:09:00] persistent morning person. Yes ma'am. There may be auditions waiting on me. So I have to do my own. You gotta be a great time manager. Yes. You know, you, you sort it out. I'm, I'm my own administrator and I'm just talking voiceovers. Now I'm not talking about TV and film auditions or singing games.

[00:09:16] I'm talking strictly voiceover. So I may have like, I mean, at four or five, four or five, there may be animation, video games, regular straight commercial for trailers, FOMO, whatever. So I've got a court, all that out. Then there are deadlines to go back to the administrative. I gotta make sure I know what time things have to be forgiven.

[00:09:36] Now that I'm on the East coast, I got to make sure is that East coast time or that West coast time out of their way. Oh, don't mess up 2:00 PM. 2:00 PM.

[00:09:50] That's just the beginning of the reading. So once I do all that, I go into my boots. I record them. Then I become an editor and a producer because you have to stuff the rest [00:10:00] because there's nobody there with me to do that part. Then I send it in to, you know, the prospective people. When I get that part done, should I book a job?

[00:10:07] Then that takes on a whole other thing. So I'm constantly doing all that. Then there are top up, which come up like Maria, we need to keep this off. Oh, Maria, you want to do this interview? And. Like now

[00:10:23] that we juggle, you know, sibling or any family member might call and say, Hey, you want to plant some flowers this weekend. I'm like, they just don't know I'm in the middle of work

[00:10:40] now. Cause I've been planting flowers.

[00:10:48] Uh, yes, they are. They make me help. There's something special and therapeutic about growing your own food and eating it. So that's, [00:11:00] that's a typical first half of the day. 

[00:11:03] JJ: [00:11:03] That's enough. 

[00:11:06] Maria Howell: [00:11:06] Yeah. That's still coming at 10 o'clock at night. You know what I mean? So, They're there that that's a typical thing. And then there may be a gig.

[00:11:15] And so interesting last night on the gig, we're performing with data this weekend.

[00:11:25] I'm actually getting to have him as a wonderful opportunity because the form was one of the brightest voiceover artists in the world. 

[00:11:34] JJ: [00:11:34] One of my favorites, I mean, I love listening. I emulate his, his, his, um, his style. 

[00:11:41] Maria Howell: [00:11:41] Yeah, he's one of those kinds of people that you can listen to. And you're actually in school every time you're listening, when you're watching him, it's why being in school.

[00:11:49] So I've had the pleasure of knowing people for 20 years. And we first worked on a TV show, young Indiana Jones Chronicles. That was George [00:12:00] Lucas. And that was not second, second acting good. Coming out the gate. I have, I personally would, uh, with, uh, Steven Spielberg, 20 guns, and then we pop up to George hookah.

[00:12:10] So me and my little gas on your mind at the time didn't know that anything was different. I thought that's the way it was supposed to be on everything. I bought it. I quickly learned, 

[00:12:20] JJ: [00:12:20] I'm telling you, you did learn an awful lot because I'm telling you right now. When I look at your, your, your composite resume of all of the things that you've done throughout your life, it is it's crazy color purple, Indiana Jones.

[00:12:36] Um, you were on, on meet the Browns, the blind side. I mean, just all over the dag-gone place and, and, and the hunger games and everywhere. And I want to go back to this about guests, Stony. 

[00:12:50] Maria Howell: [00:12:50] Okay. 

[00:12:51] JJ: [00:12:51] While you were sitting there, you know, and, and, and being back home and now being back home, how has this contributed, how have all these things [00:13:00] come around and brought you back to center 

[00:13:03] Maria Howell: [00:13:03] being battered?

[00:13:04] I actually, well, I actually feel like that was my path and that was my destiny. Do that. Because at some point you get, you get to some point in your life where you go, my life is mine and you don't, it's not self serving you. Don't. I look at it now as, Oh, great. I have all this knowledge and experience to share with others who want to do this, and yet I'm still doing it.

[00:13:32] So it's like real time. It's active. It's like, for example, if I get an acting coach, I want an acting coach, this acting. 

[00:13:38] JJ: [00:13:38] Yeah. I 

[00:13:39] Maria Howell: [00:13:39] want to get somebody who's actually doing it. Like if, if someone wanted to come to you for voiceover, that's great 

[00:13:45] JJ: [00:13:45] because you're doing, 

[00:13:47] Maria Howell: [00:13:47] you can get the real time information and advice.

[00:13:50] You know what I mean? As opposed to someone who read a book and it's not to knock anybody, I'm just saying, this is what it has had women [00:14:00] come together for me that I'm able to share and give back that way. You 

[00:14:05] JJ: [00:14:05] know, the one thing that I can say about so many folks from our town, our area is that a major part of our makeup is the giving back.

[00:14:14] And I'm going to throw a name out here about this guy who is a friend to me, and you may or walk or read of the city of gas. Donia is another one of those

[00:14:31] Maria Howell: [00:14:31] never. Because I know that he might not even be aware that I know. Well, I know so many people that he has, he has helped in their careers that they've retired from that career and they're set, you know what I mean? He made sure he, he helped walk them through a door. I literally I've seen it. I've seen it.

[00:14:52] And then I, I really applaud him for the heart that he has and his whole family, you know, talented, you know, [00:15:00] mayor things, you know? 

[00:15:01] JJ: [00:15:01] Oh, listen, I'm going to, we're going to talk offline about a couple things. I'm going to tell you more about it, but Oh yeah. I know. I know the image group. It's group image. Oh, come on now.

[00:15:14] They get it going. 

[00:15:16] Maria Howell: [00:15:16] Let me tell you, before I started singing for a living those bands in North Carolina, part of what inspired me, 

[00:15:23] JJ: [00:15:23] there were a ton of bands and gas. Donia in the Gaston County area, a ton of groups and people I'm trying to remember some of them old, 

[00:15:33] Maria Howell: [00:15:33] you got the gas stone, you had Walker and, um, There was another one.

[00:15:42] I can't think of the name of it, but yeah, 

[00:15:45] JJ: [00:15:45] some of the folks that are, you know, I'm, we've been blessed enough with the show and everything to where a lot of folks listening to the area and don't worry, they will send me an email and give me every group in guest that ever came out against Donia and I'm a, I [00:16:00] love every second of it.

[00:16:01] Hey, listen, I'm going to take a quick break and we want to come back and then I want to talk a little bit about your relationship with no. Okay. Your time at Johnathan's that's a jazz club in uptown, Charlotte, ladies and gentlemen. And I'm gonna tell you. Whew what a time. That was. All right. So I tell you what we're gonna, we're gonna come right back.

[00:16:26] Ladies and gentlemen, you are listening to Jeff Johnson, interviewing Maria Hal on the Jeff Johnson, Joe. And if you go somewhere, you gotta bring me a tomato sandwich with Duke mayonnaise on it. We'll be right back

[00:16:41] PSA 2: [00:16:41] right now. One in five eligible people in this country are not even registered. To vote. And I know it's not because people don't care, we all care. The only way to make change in this country 

[00:16:55] is to get out and vote for the change 

[00:16:57] you're looking for. What if this year we actually [00:17:00] did that. What if this year, every eligible American decided to step up and be a voter.

[00:17:06] What can actually happen when we all vote. Imagine the kind of leaders we can elect leaders who are committed to creating a better world for my girls. When we all vote, we have the power to shape the future. My father was deported when I was eight years old. 

[00:17:24] If you can't vote, you sit where we all translate.

[00:17:31] It's a shame registered to vote today, not tomorrow, not the next day, but today, 

[00:17:37] these all of us, 

[00:17:38] when we all know. That's how change happens in America.

[00:17:53] JJ: [00:17:53] Welcome back everybody. Jeff Johnson here on the Jeff Johnson show heaven. A beautiful time speaking [00:18:00] with Ms. Maria Howe. Hey there. 

[00:18:03] Maria Howell: [00:18:03] Hey,

[00:18:09] but here, what we talk about on the break and get back, get back in the game 

[00:18:17] JJ: [00:18:17] and you're not, and you know what? Good, good engineers. Uh, normally, do you know what they do? They leave the tape running. They don't cut, they don't stop it. They leave that tape. That's where you get your goal from right there in between.

[00:18:31] Maria Howell: [00:18:31] Hey 

[00:18:32] JJ: [00:18:32] listen. You know, well, one thing that people through the years, me growing up in this area that they grew up with. Was your voice, your presence at a jazz club in uptown, Charlotte called Jonathon's. 

[00:18:51] Maria Howell: [00:18:51] And 

[00:18:52] JJ: [00:18:52] gosh, you remember that? I mean the, Oh, ladies, gentlemen, this place, the days they were amazing. [00:19:00] And now through that, the relationship you had with the people with, with the, uh, the jazz cellar itself, but with Europeanist no, 

[00:19:13] Maria Howell: [00:19:13] The piano.

[00:19:14] JJ: [00:19:14] What Billy? The good was Billy there? 

[00:19:17] Maria Howell: [00:19:17] Billy. Jonathan?

[00:19:23] JJ: [00:19:23] Yeah. Let's start. Let's talk. Let's start with Billy. Talk about that. 

[00:19:27] Maria Howell: [00:19:27] Billy Good drama. He still performed so great. I've got a cute little story about him, but we also had no gray. Who's still in the area. No grade played with Darren TT and all kinds of folks, and he's still around and playing. He was on days and we went through several drummers, but Steve gray was one of our long, longer, long running drummers and a couple of others that were there.

[00:19:48] But Billy and I were really, really tight and connected. And, um, when I. At some point after like five years, I moved to New York, really moved to [00:20:00] Los Angeles and Billy started doing movie soundtrack. So he's done several for the Farley brothers. Wow. Um, so yeah, he's, he's doing a lot of music. I mean, I'm still in the scoring and things of that nature.

[00:20:13] Yeah. Billy, Billy's doing great. And he lived down in Los Angeles for a while, but he moved back to North Carolina and asked them. Yeah. And an app in New York, I went to Japan in Japan and while I was in Atlanta, I worked with a few piano players and it was just wonderful. And Billy and I still tight.

[00:20:35] We're still tight. Now we still stay in touch. And then, um, I moved there about six years ago, close to six days ago. And so during that time or before that, I can't remember. So the most recent 10 years of my life. And so we elaborated in such a strong way of branding that, that brings [00:21:00] us to the bringing, keep data here to middle seat.

[00:21:05] We actually opened the club. 

[00:21:07] JJ: [00:21:07] Well, you know, I interviewed Delinah. Delano Delano, Delaney. You know, I interviewed Delaney. You're 

[00:21:14] Maria Howell: [00:21:14] getting fancy. You're getting fancy. 

[00:21:17] JJ: [00:21:17] Let me tell you something. That guy he's, he's all that in the bag of chips, I, Delaney is just a wonderful guy. And I remember cause it was right at the start of the coronavirus stuff.

[00:21:30] When they were supposed to launch and they couldn't do anything. And, and it was, and he said, you know what, we're going to get back to it. And man, did they ever get back to it with you guys, but was Jonathan's a major launching point for you? 

[00:21:45] Maria Howell: [00:21:45] Yeah. Oh yeah. That was the beginning. That's where I met Billy and all of those guys.

[00:21:49] That was the beginning of my career of formal thinking for where I'll say, um, it was the best I knew it was. Yeah, one thing I do [00:22:00] like about my awareness Gauger if that's the word I just made up 

[00:22:05] JJ: [00:22:05] weirdest danger. I like that. 

[00:22:07] Maria Howell: [00:22:07] Yeah. I did make them, you know what I mean? You know what I'm talking about, right?

[00:22:13] I mean, just the beat to be in a situation and know that you're in a good situation while you're in it. And I don't have to wait down the road. So it's gone. I don't, that's never really been me. So I knew that was a very, very sensitive and special place. Um, for my life, it was hard. It was very difficult, but it was still rewarding.

[00:22:34] And the reason why I say it was difficult is because I was coming from college, no nights singing a week to six nights singing a week. So, but conditioning. Yes. Yes. Doing things in moderation. I learned how to pace myself, you know, thinking six nights a week, four hour days every night. Yes. 

[00:22:56] JJ: [00:22:56] I can't even imagine what that takes physically.

[00:23:00] [00:23:00] Talk about that a little bit. I mean, come on. 

[00:23:03] Maria Howell: [00:23:03] Well, it, it takes a lot and that's why when I'm coaching posts, I'm like, okay, let's put this in your mind. Now you're an acronym. That's it embrace it. You're an athlete. That's not the condition of the body. And my body was not conditioned because every Wednesday night, but wouldn't talk at six nights.

[00:23:21] But by Wednesday I was forced, 

[00:23:23] JJ: [00:23:23] right. 

[00:23:25] Maria Howell: [00:23:25] Oh my God. And then I had to say like, how am I going to say Thursday, Friday, Saturday forward. And you only have one day to get it back together. And then you gotta come back and say Monday, you better be fresh. So I didn't learn to pace myself. Yeah. And I, I learned, I went to an ear nose and throat doctor, and he taught me how to talk over, you know, while I'm talking.

[00:23:49] So it wouldn't disrupt my seat. He just told me how to let the air flow. So all the people who think I had said that sultry voice and everything.

[00:24:01] [00:24:00] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. But part of that is because I learned to talk. There's an analogy. I use what he gave to me and I've adopted it. It's like city driving and highway driving. Right? Right. You got a lot of stop signs, stop, you know, all that kind of stuff, signals and all that, but you constantly got to stop and go stop and go on the highway.

[00:24:23] You've got this even flow of driving. So he told me and tried to tell me how to talk. Like I'm fine with driving as opposed to constantly punching my boy. So yeah, 

[00:24:39] JJ: [00:24:39] again, once again, when you have good advice, because I, listen, I have been taught by some great voice actors and voiceover poor folks, and that was a major part of it too.

[00:24:50] Learning how to control yourself so you can continue to use yeah. This instrument that you have, 

[00:24:57] Maria Howell: [00:24:57] you know, 

[00:24:58] JJ: [00:24:58] when you were up [00:25:00] there singing, how does it, I mean, how do you, I'm really not an answer to ask this question about how do you feel? I mean, what does it, what does it do to your, to you both physically and mentally when you are into a two and you're in the groove, what does it do?

[00:25:20] Maria Howell: [00:25:20] You know, it felt there are different things that I feel or have felt at different stages of my life. Um, in the beginning, of course there was, there was so many insecurity. Um, but at the same time, I was so grateful to be able to do it for a living, especially when I didn't go to school pregnant beforehand, I started studying and taking theory classes and things after I started professionally.

[00:25:45] So that was, I did it the opposite way. But as I got deeper and, you know, going through the pan was a different thing. I felt because I'm like, Oh God, here I am in another country. And I don't know the language, but I learned some of the language I [00:26:00] wanted to sing. And some of the language it's like, are they going to accept me once I got that competence?

[00:26:06] Like, okay, God, thank you. This, this is a worldwide human thing. And then I came back to the States and learn that. It's uh, you got your, you got a lot of your skills and your tools home, better, Maria. So what are you going to do with that? But then it gets to this place with life experiences that I felt, uh, what's the word?

[00:26:30] What's the word I'm telling you? I felt there was something I needed to do. I felt like I was going to mission. At some point I felt was I felt it was a ministry. You know, I kind of knew that already, but I felt more equipped to say what I needed to say and, and through songs and through the platform. And so sometimes, but when I'm in with the song and this, this has happened throughout my career of over 35 years and now, and then I have an out of body experience.

[00:26:59] I can believe that every [00:27:00] now and then every now and then. And that's when I just let it go completely and let them on and be what it's going to be, you know, and not try to control, um, you know, there's a certain amount of self-discipline in preparedness that we have, but when you just literally let go and say, you know what.

[00:27:20] Thank you. Thank you for letting me be here to be able to do this. And hopefully somebody will smile. It'll help change somebody's life, you know, whatever the continent, right. That is an out of body experience.

[00:27:35] JJ: [00:27:35] I love that. And I wonder, I w let me know when you're going to have one of those whenever you're doing it. Cause I want to be there too.

[00:27:46] I'll be sitting there in the crowd going, Oh, here comes. She's having, this is crazy of,

[00:28:03] [00:28:00] Maria Howell: [00:28:03] yes.

[00:28:07] JJ: [00:28:07] Real quick before the segment ends. And then we have just one other one. Um, let's talk a little bit about what's going on at middle seat. You know, I know you've got things going on this week, but are you going to be a regular up there now or what? 

[00:28:22] Maria Howell: [00:28:22] Well, you know, w there's a special thing about middle seat?

[00:28:26] The fact that they're the people that perform the middle thing. But there's no Elon. I opened it up. We have a different kind of site that we collaborate on a different level. And so we, we support the arts, the course, but it's also a platform for us to have a site. We call it our HUD Charlotte. This is, this is our place, you know, that we perform on a regular basis.

[00:28:54] So we get involved a little bit deeper. Um, but I think we kind of do that with almost every place, [00:29:00] um, in, in different things that we just have a great rapport and relationship with the club itself would be the fast, if anything that we can do in branding, if there's anything we can do to help promote it.

[00:29:15] You know what I mean?

[00:29:19] JJ: [00:29:19] I love hearing that because it's, it goes back. To what we talked about earlier, you treat people right, who you work with and we all succeed. It's it's so I don't know, you know, you've been, we both been in this interview payment game for an awful long time. And that is what I have learned is that when you're going to run a ball and people that don't want to treat you right.

[00:29:43] I know that's never happened to you. You know, I know that just out. It's not to be you. I know that's a whole nother show, but that really means an awful lot. And, or you're always in the middle of doing good things for people. And that's what it's all about. Hey, we're going to take a quick break. [00:30:00] I'm going to come back and I'm going to ask you some questions that you might probably don't get.

[00:30:05] Ask lot, but they're nothing bad. Wayne, nothing, nothing crazy, but, 

[00:30:10] Maria Howell: [00:30:10] well, I'm doing this so far because you are going in. I was just thinking of a second ago. I'm like amazing

[00:30:21] JJ: [00:30:21] again. It's because w long form. It's my show that gummit Ian in any, and I can do what I want and what I want to do is to reconnect and have fun and laugh and get to the heart of the matter and the heart of the matter. Ladies and gentlemen. Is Maria Howell on the Jeff Johnson show. We're going to be back in just a minute.

[00:30:44] Don't you dare go. Nowhere. A mother would not like the way I use my grammar right there, but don't go anywhere. We'll be right 

[00:30:52] Maria Howell: [00:30:52] back 

[00:30:52] you're a character. 

[00:30:55] JJ: [00:30:55] Oh, it will be back.

[00:31:00] [00:31:00] PSA 3: [00:31:00] Protect your family from flu this season by taking three easy steps. First get yourself and your family, a flu shot it's quick and can protect you all season second, take everyday actions to help prevent the spread of germs like flu. Cover your cough. Stay home from work or school. If you're sick and wash your hands.

[00:31:19] Often third, there are drugs that can treat flu illness. These work best when started early, learn more at cdc.gov/fight flu.

[00:31:42] JJ: [00:31:42] folks we're back with Maria Howell on the Jeff Johnson show. Hey Maria. 

[00:31:48] Maria Howell: [00:31:48] Okay.

[00:31:54] Okay.

[00:32:00] [00:32:00] JJ: [00:32:00] W w we'll do that over again. You want to, okay. Hold on a second. 

[00:32:06] Maria Howell: [00:32:06] I'm going to leave that in there if you want. Oh, okay. 

[00:32:08] JJ: [00:32:08] I can easily do it. I'm going to leave that in there. And then I'm just gonna do a little editing.

[00:32:15] Maria Howell: [00:32:15] I was gonna call back from the second sentence.

[00:32:21] JJ: [00:32:21] Okay. Here we go. Here's my question. So now you're back home and you know, you are a person of the community. What are some of your passion points when it comes to, you know, community service and doing things for people? What are some of those for 

[00:32:37] Maria Howell: [00:32:37] you? Oh boy. Um, working with children and working with older people in the sense of, you know, I, I'm very passionate about children.

[00:32:52] Early saved it in their lives, getting the courage and the confidence to speak in front of people and to look people in the eyes when they [00:33:00] talk to me, that's just been a passion, um, with older people, I just want to love up on them. Yeah. Yep. Well, the music that I do, if this was normal and I felt that we.

[00:33:12] We do music that really appeals to them. So that really makes me happy at this point in my life too. So yeah, that's part of it and doing charitable work, like I'm involved with a couple of, 

[00:33:23] JJ: [00:33:23] what are they? 

[00:33:26] Maria Howell: [00:33:26] One is students without mothers

[00:33:32] politics. Oh, they're wonderful. Mary Charles Williams.

[00:33:41] Oh my 

[00:33:41] JJ: [00:33:41] gosh. Yeah, they do such good work. 

[00:33:45] Maria Howell: [00:33:45] I love Mary. And so that's one. And then of course, uh, pan can Charlotte of my sister, Sandra is the media chair for the Charlotte affiliate. Our mother passed away four years ago from pancreatic cancer. So we're very [00:34:00] involved with purple stride and the Virginia purple Striders.

[00:34:03] That's our team name. And so we raised a lot of funds this year. We just sent it to the wall. Great. How the annual walk. But we're still breaking fun. And then the third charity is called Abel heart. It's based out of Los Angeles to raise, raise money, to be a good resource for families who are like, who might need those things in the gap transplantation.

[00:34:26] Uh, patients. So, you know, things like when they need a ride to the doctor or the followup, when the children need health care, when they might need just incidental, we raised funds to help with that. So I perform matter of fact, one year Larry King, um, with the yes. Yes. I sang on that particular, you know, it's been a very, and then I emptied the last one at the subhan theater in Hollywood.

[00:34:52] Wow in Beverly Hills. I mean, yeah. So that's, that's been a wonderful, wonderful type thing. Yeah. 

[00:34:59] JJ: [00:34:59] All those [00:35:00] things are very admirable and, and, you know, and I'm going to go back to the, to the older folks, you know, the, and I know I I'm the same way I see them and I just want to be around him. And one of the, let me, what kind of, you know, I get a lot of value listening to them for their wisdom.

[00:35:19] Do you feel the same 

[00:35:19] Maria Howell: [00:35:19] way? I was just gonna say that one of the reasons is these, even if they don't articulate it, in words, just seem around the energy. Let's say, Oh, the folk, the wooden comedians. 

[00:35:31] JJ: [00:35:31] Yeah. They don't give a damn cause they just met 

[00:35:35] Maria Howell: [00:35:35] for me. And so I get that. I'm gonna tell you like this was to get their wisdom and to just, and show appreciation for all that they've been through to make it easier for us.

[00:35:46] Right. This last week we did an engagement. Uh, senior living because they just started opening back up to 25 or less, you know, but it was outside [00:36:00] very safe. Everyone had their mask and it was so crazy because the sun was shining on this one lady and she had a mask on and I'm saying it, I turned my head one second.

[00:36:13] I turned back to her. And she had the master over her eyes and

[00:36:21] the microphone,

[00:36:25] JJ: [00:36:25] man, I'm getting this light out my eyes. 

[00:36:30] Maria Howell: [00:36:30] Boom, bam. I got you. Oh my God. It was hilarious. It makes your day. 

[00:36:40] JJ: [00:36:40] Yes. And it is those little things throughout the day that sometimes in our busy life, we tend to overlook the little, but those little things make up the big things 

[00:36:54] Maria Howell: [00:36:54] and yeah. And they just make life look so simple.

[00:36:57] JJ: [00:36:57] Yeah, they do. And you know, and I'll go back [00:37:00] to. I said a little bit earlier and you know, please, pardon my French. They don't give a damn because they've got experience. They've already been there. They've done this. I mean, my dad is yes. Yes. My dad is 85 years old and Charles Charles like, Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey.

[00:37:17] I'm like, yes, sir. I get it, dad. I'm good. 

[00:37:22] Maria Howell: [00:37:22] I pray that I missed the 85. 

[00:37:24] JJ: [00:37:24] Me too. I'm telling you right now. I want to be able to do that. You know, as, yeah, as we're getting ready to go into a serious voting situation. And I don't want to get too deep into politics when you can say whatever you want. Cause it's, again, this is it.

[00:37:46] Are you optimistic about our future? And it doesn't have to be related to, yeah, it's not related necessarily related to this particular election, but talk about 

[00:37:58] Maria Howell: [00:37:58] it. I'm [00:38:00] always optimistic. I'm always optimistic. Even on my bad days. I'm optimistic. The reason why I'm not so good days, the reason why, cause I know who I am.

[00:38:09] I know who's in control, so I don't, I don't, I don't want to put that kind of pressure on it for myself and my own life and for my own sanity and peace. But yes, I feel it's going to be okay. Um, how ever it pans out? It's going to be okay. Yeah, that's it simple as that because I look at life like, see, it's like, if you get a lot in, from eating candy over and over and over and over, you can't get mad at the candy.

[00:38:40] JJ: [00:38:40] No, because 

[00:38:43] Maria Howell: [00:38:43] you ate the cans. You did that. You ate it. And you did that. You caused that habit to get that situation where it is now. So the key is what you're going to do to get rid of it, to make it stop and believe the problem. So that's where I feel we are. It's [00:39:00] like wake up, people wake up. Wake up, 

[00:39:04] JJ: [00:39:04] wake up and go, 

[00:39:08] Maria Howell: [00:39:08] excuse me for using your words.

[00:39:15] JJ: [00:39:15] Yes. Cause Laura, you know, the thing that flashes in front of my eyes right now is just seeing a furious styles, Laurence, Fishburne. I don't even think his name is Lawrence Fishburne anymore. It's furious to me. Furious styles. What a wonderful name when he's in, when he's. Yeah. When he's in school days and at the end, mom clock goes and even in the other one, the alarm clock goes up.

[00:39:38] And what is he yelling? Wake up.

[00:39:43] Yeah. What a poignant scene. That was what happened? 

[00:39:47] Maria Howell: [00:39:47] Yes. Yes. 

[00:39:48] JJ: [00:39:48] Wow. 

[00:39:50] Maria Howell: [00:39:50] When it comes to voting, I just pray that people will use their. More of your spiritual wisdom in the voting process? Yes, [00:40:00] I I'm painting and I, I, at my, at my heart is, is an in pain some days because, and whenever I hear the young person doesn't want to vote and I'm going, okay, I need to grab you by your collar, shake you up and wake you up because you realize that people went through to make this possible for you.

[00:40:20] No other reasons.

[00:40:24] It stopped being silly.

[00:40:29] It really messes my head up. 

[00:40:31] JJ: [00:40:31] No you from guests. Yeah. I know you from guests on just what you just said. That, that, that reminded me of some of my aunts and, and, and folks that would just say it would grab you and shake to shake it to the slobber came out of your mouth. 

[00:40:44] Maria Howell: [00:40:44] Yeah,

[00:40:51] JJ: [00:40:51] I know you did because I have been corrected many a time for things like that. And it's been some of the best corrections I have [00:41:00] ever had in my life. 

[00:41:02] Maria Howell: [00:41:02] And that's when people, when people, when people love you and they want to be the best in you, they see their potential and they want to make sure by any means necessary to make sure you can get straight.

[00:41:14] When I was in college, my freshman year in college, I appoint not freshman year, sophomore year. I appointed two people in my life. One was a male and one is a female, and we're still so tight to this day. I told them I didn't ask them. I told them, I am appointing you to be the person in my life. If you see me getting out of line anywhere in my life, you Jack me up and you put me up against the wall.

[00:41:41] JJ: [00:41:41] You go girl. Yeah, 

[00:41:43] Maria Howell: [00:41:43] the fact that I said that, and I don't really want that to happen.

[00:41:50] I'm going back to that word again. That helps me stay in line to a certain degree because I don't want to disappoint disappointment because I respect them so much. 

[00:42:00] [00:42:00] JJ: [00:42:00] Oh, yeah, I know. I hear you gotta have somebody to hold you accountable and because that's that love anyway, that's the hard love. That's real love for somebody to say, look.

[00:42:12] You are wrong. I still love you, but you need to get your act together. Yeah, that's extremely

[00:42:29] see, I'm gonna tell you what I mean, if you. I'm glad if we worked in an office, I just be walking by your office, all timing and trying to get you to sing. Hey, uh, you want to hear some lyrics? I just did. How about singing? 

[00:42:44] Maria Howell: [00:42:44] You'd be one of those. 

[00:42:47] JJ: [00:42:47] When it comes to you, of course, I'm going to be there and just a mess with you all the time.

[00:42:53] That would be my, that would be my job at the office to mess with Maria. Hey, what? Let's give our viewers. [00:43:00] Your your, um, website and how they can get in touch with you if they need to. And this stuff will be on my website too, uh, on, at get JJ now.com and social media, all kinds of stuff. So, so how can they get in touch with you if they, if they just like to hear you or, you know, or get joined the fan club and all that kind of stuff.

[00:43:20] Maria Howell: [00:43:20] It's very simple. I'm going to say three things. The first one is Maria howell.com. The second thing, you can always find me on Facebook, on social media, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. I'm on all four of those that I called and I actually answered my own mail. Most of the times I'm answering it myself.

[00:43:40] And the third day. 

[00:43:43] JJ: [00:43:43] Yeah, that's all you got to do to find you 

[00:43:47] Maria Howell: [00:43:47] Maria Howell.

[00:43:51] JJ: [00:43:51] Well, I'm going to tell folks when you put in Maria, how you might as well go and make yourself a sandwich and a great big Cheerwine.

[00:44:02] [00:44:00] Yeah, dude, you gotta be glad I didn't go to Sundrop. Uh, but I know, you know, you know me and then sit back and enjoy yourself. I mean, heck it's a concert on your pay. You'll Google page. I mean, all you gotta do is just click through the videos and everything. You'll be there for years.

[00:44:26] Maria Howell: [00:44:26] I can listen the person for you to call your mom. Um, but Hey, we got a Christmas CD, just Google, 

[00:44:33] JJ: [00:44:33] please. Y'all please Google this and, and, and, and listen, Maria, I just want to tell you, you know, we're going to get together cause I'm going to be down in Charlotte soon. I will definitely see you at middle C.

[00:44:45] Maria Howell: [00:44:45] Um, 

[00:44:46] JJ: [00:44:46] and, and, and I just think that God has. A unique way of bringing people back together. And I appreciate you taking the time to reconnect with your boy here. And the future is out there [00:45:00] and we're going to be a part of it. So thank 

[00:45:01] Maria Howell: [00:45:01] you. It goes so far back. Thanks you. Thank you. Thank you. I just really want to honor you and give you kudos all the hard work that you've done over the years, too, but everywhere.

[00:45:12] If you were in Atlanta,

[00:45:21] JJ: [00:45:21] it's like these parallel tracks, but you wait when these parallel tracks get together. Oh yeah. It's on like donkey Kong, man. It's going to be, it'll be crazy. Hey, listen, have a great day. Thank you so much for being on the show and listen folks. We're going to be, you are so very welcome. You're so very welcome.

[00:45:40] Have a great one. Okay. Okay. You've been listening to the Jeff Johnson show and I truly appreciate it. Thank you for listening. Make sure you check out my website. Get JJ now.com. Tell your friends about it. Come back and talk a little bit more with me or listen a little bit more with me because we're not talking really.

[00:45:56] I'm doing all the talking good, but Hey, [00:46:00] join me and I really appreciate each and every one of you listening. Have a great day. Everybody we'll see you again soon. It's the Jeff Johnson show brought to you by O T e@ofthisearthglobal.com of this earth. global.com clothing connection O T E.