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I did this interview with Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band when he released his first solo project, Charlie, Last Name Wilson.

Shelia Goss: How has your life changed since going solo?
Charlie Wilson: It’s made me focus a lot. I’ve been working out and doing a lot of things to get prepared for this.

Shelia: You’ve worked with R Kelly, Justin Timberlake and others. How did all of that come about?
Charlie: After R Kelly came on board, everybody else wanted to get on the album. I was really amazed on how many big named producers wanted to work on it.

Shelia: What’s different about this album than your previous ones?
Charlie: The storytelling. This generation tells a story different than the way we used to tell it. We did it the subliminal way. They straight talk about it. Today’s R & B artists sing a different story.
If they want to talk about sex, they do.

Shelia: Are any of the songs reflective of your real life experiences?
Charlie: Basically some of “NO WORDS”. The song is coming from a woman’s perspective. We, as men, tend to not treat woman like queens. Looking back at my earlier relationships, I did that so many times. Now, I treat my woman with respect.

Shelia: Who are some of the new music artists you listen to?
Charlie: Mariah Carey, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and Kem. They are not afraid to have their own style.

Shelia: In your opinion, what’s the difference between the love songs from say the 80s and the ones being made today?
Charlie: They are telling great stories, but differently. People want to hear details with the story you’re telling.

Shelia: What advice would you give new R & B singers?
Charlie: When your dreams come true, don’t take the money you’re making and blow it. Don’t get tangled up in the fame and fortune. We’re not promised this. Stay focused and don’t get caught up in the clutches of Satan--drugs and alcohol, girls, entourages. You’ll look up and there’ll be no money and everybody will be gone and there’ll be nobody trying to help you. Stay focused and continue to dream. Dream big and trust in the Lord.

Shelia: What’s one thing your fans don’t know about you that you’re willing to share?
Charlie: A lot of my fans don’t know that I had an alcohol and drug problem that almost took my life. I wondered what I was going to do next, but by the grace of God, I’ve been clean and sober for almost eleven years now.

Charlie Wilson continues to put out good music. His second solo album, Uncle Charlie is also available. To learn more about Charlie Wilson, go to: http://pmusicgroup.com/charlie.php

Interview by Shelia M Goss, entertainment writer and national bestselling author of ten books. Visit her website at www.sheliagoss.com for more information.

LeToya Luckett is one of the original members of Destiny's Child and has co-wrote several hit songs such as "Bills Bills Bills" and "Say My Name." LeToya remained out of the spotlight for several years. She returned to the scene with her self-titled CD "LeToya."

Here's an exclusive interview with LeToya as she prepared for her CD release.

Shelia Goss: What have you been doing since leaving Destiny’s Child?
LeToya: Busy. I opened a ladies boutique in Houston. I’m happy to say we are going into our third year. I was also recording my album and I also had a record on the Coach Carter soundtrack.

Shelia: How did the experience of being in the group prepare you for your solo career?
LeToya: Thank God for that experience. It taught me so much and how to stay strong in this industry.

Shelia: What was the motivation for this album?
LeToya: At first I had NO plans on being a solo artist, but once I got in the studio and started writing I decided this was what I wanted to do. So I decided to make a record that reflected on the last five years of my life.

Shelia: Did you draw on personal experience when writing the lyrics for some of the songs?
LeToya: Yes indeed! I’ve grown so much in these last couple of years and gone through. so many things that dealt with love, life, and relationships. That’s all I knew to write about and I must say I have a lot of women’s anthems on this record.

Shelia: Who all did you collaborate with on this album?
LeToya: My Houston Hard Hitters, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Slim Thug & Bun B. Great producers like J.D., Scott Storch, Jazzy Pha, Teddy Bishop and B. Cox.

Shelia: Which song on the album is reflective of the chopped and screwed that Houston is known for?
LeToya: Gangsta Grillz because of the screwed and chopped hook.

Shelia: What do you want the listener to walk away with after listening to your album?
LeToya: I want them to feel like, “Hey, I feel like I know her”, and that they can relate to me. Also that I’ve grown vocally.

Shelia: What advice would you give other young ladies who want to follow in your path?
LeToya: Continue to fulfill your dreams and keep those haters out of your ear. Perform as much as possible and I mean ANYWHERE there’s a microphone. I remember performing in front of grocery stores and planes.

Interview by Shelia M. Goss, entertainment writer and the national bestselling author of My Invisible Husband and Roses are thorns, Violets are True. Her website is www.sheliagoss.com.

LeToya Luckett recently starred in the movie "Preacher's Kid." Check out the review by Kandie Delley at Film Reviews To Go with Kandie and Shelia: http://www.filmreviews2go.com/2010/05/20/preachers-kid/