Sixteen years ago, an email with what I thought at the time was one of the most intriguing subject lines in all my years of receiving story pitches hit my inbox.

“Help me continue this comeback story.”

In hindsight – and full transparency – the sender of the message had everything to do with my intrigue. I couldn’t believe the late Black music PR legend Juanita Stephens was sending me an email.

Her note was a request to interview Charlie Wilson for a preview feature ahead of his visit to The Ambassador. The “yes” was instantaneous. The outcome was a vulnerable, inspiring and prophetic conversation.

Wilson spoke of the years he spent in the vicious cycle of addiction. He told a story of the time he was in crack house getting high when a Gap Band song came on the radio. Wilson told the p

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