i mean, it doesn't get much better than etta james and lou rawls, arthur price, ernie andrews.e. >> in the travels, as i heard you say, one of the most difficult things about being a musician is the travels. you don't miss that? >> no. i like to go to bed in my own bed, you know? and at the time i had two kids, and i never will forget, i played at at the regal theater in chicago and met some of the members of the band with lloyd price. >> another legend. >> yes. so some of those musicians had been on the road with lloyd price for years. >> he is still living, isn't he? >> i'm not sure. and they only saw their kids like once a year, twice a year. they were coming through the towns. i didn't want to do that. >> no. >> and ride on a bus. >> you had mentioned earlier that you first had to check out the solos before you select certain songs. well, one of the solos is your wife. >> yes. yes. >> cheryl, right? >> right. >> and you have been married 20 years? >> no. should have been, but 10. 10. >> okay. she is very -- i'm not saying it because it is my wife, but she can really sing. >

i mean, it doesn't get much better than that etta james and lou rawls, arthur price, bernie andrews, musselwhite, he played on a record with him. so it was great for me. >> the travels, i've heard you say that one of the most difficult things about being a musician is the travels. >> yeah. i like to go to bed in my own bed, you know. and i had at the time i had two kids and i'll never forget i played a theater in chicago, and i got to meet some of the members of the band with lloyd price and. >> another legend. >> so some of those musicians had been on the road when lloyd price for years. >> he is still living, isn't snow. >> i'm not sure. and they only see their kids like once a year, twice a year or they would come and do things. that's difficult. you don't want to do that. and riding on a bus. >> you mentioned earlier that you first had to check out the soloists before you selected the songs. one of the solos is your wife. >> yes. >> cheryl, right? >> right. right. >> you've been married for 20 years? >> should have been, but yeah. i'm not saying because she's my wife, but she can

in the tradition of our great veterans like nancy wilson, etta james. >> every track on here, you dedicate to a particular artist. >> yes. we all get it from somewhere. just wanted to bring music back. also just because i'm so happy. i thought i would try again, too. i'm going to sing and try the lyrics. come on now. it'll get greater later is what i say. 50 is the new 30. >> if you're going to live, walk and not be depressed try it. >> hallelujah. >> we'll try some love tonight. jennifer holliday is in the house to perform for us after i tell you she has a new project out. while i understand what the delay was about it's about time. i couldn't be happier. i have been playing it like crazy in my car. jennifer holliday, "the song is you." for those of you that recall dream girls on broadway back in the day, she's still got it. if you were introduced to her on "american idol" she's got it. what are you singing? >> "theyou used to be," a song i wrote. >> she's going to sing it and she wrote it. she's trying everything, love, writing songs, singing songs. jennifer holliday, i'm honored to have

well, we've got jackson james and etta jones, so we were trying to fit something that matched there.e was my grandma's name. etta was siri's grandma's name, so we have a lot of family history in the names. we weren't sure. even when little london came out, we were still throwing around our last-minute short list. and london rose daly was the one. >> congratulations, carson. give our love to siri and to new baby london rose. we love you guys, and we'll see you back here soon. >> bye-bye. >> there she is. >> we miss you! >> so sweet. >> bye, guys. have fun. >> congratulations again. how great. >> she picked a great day to be born. >> yeah, she did. great birthday. >> a "today" show birthday. >>> well, coming up, what a crowd. 34,000 people showed up to see 13-year-old sensation mo'ne davis pitch at the little league world series. we'll show you how she did. >>> and why the animal rights group peta is buying up stock in seaworld. but first this is "today" on nbc. every story is a journey, and this journey will keep you on the edge of your seat all summer long during the emirates airline