asset when he volunteered to oversee
choreography for the group, a task he
willingly takes on.
“Choreography is very important. It’s
a visual part of the show that people
enjoy,” Fleury said.
The need to always be on point and to
always surprise and entertain others is a
driving force for Fleury. He admits that
one of his goals is to keep the audience
impressed by how the group looks and
sounds. In addition to having the right
moves, Fleury says he and the group
work hard on how they appear visually,
always dressing to impress, something
he models after power groups like the
Temptations.
“Years ago, I was fortunate enough to
meet the Temptations at a restaurant
in New Orleans, before their show that
night,” he recalled. “I told them how
much I enjoyed seeing them perform and
seeing what they would wear. They were
incredibly humble and gracious about
our conversation.”
Fleury and his Real Love members,
Cornelious “C.C.” Celestine and
Nathaniel Brooks, take their wardrobe
very seriously. They all contribute ideas
to their onstage attire, although Fleury
and Brooks handle most of the wardrobe
requirements. Fleury notes that finding
an adequate and available seamstress
in New Orleans can be challenging,
especially during Carnival, so he and the
band often get
their outfits
made in New
York City.
This adds to
the element
of surprise,
s o m e t h i n g
F l e u r y
t h o r o u g h l y
enjoys.
“We try
to bring and
keep a certain
elegance to
our shows,”
Fleury noted.
Though all
of the band
members have a say
with respect to song
choices, Fleury says
each member picks
songs they think
the audience will
appreciate and will
feature each singer’s
best sound. For Fleury,
that means a lot of
Teddy Pendergrass
and Temptations
songs. For Celestine,
whose vocal agility
can stretch into
the upper registers,
that means Jackie
Wilson and Smokey
Robinson. Brooks,
whose specialty is in
the lower bass range,
picks Barry White and
Lou Rawls tunes.
Fleury admits that
the members have
strong personalities,
but he is also quick
to add that those
personality differences
work to the group
advantage. Everyone
aims for the same result – a thoroughly
entertaining show for their fans, friends,
and family. Selling out almost every
show, Fleury is confident their success
will only build with more music, more
performances, and more exposure.
“We had a gentleman approach us at
the last show to tell us how happy he
was to hear his favorite kind of music
because he thought it was gone,” Fleury
said. “The next Friday show, he showed
up again but this time with 12 of his
friends.”
It’s that kind of response that gives
Fleury so much gratification and drives
him to keep making music.
In April 2018, the band will go back
into the studio, to record some original
tunes as well as more of their favorite
hits from beloved R&B and Soul groups.
Fleury is both grateful and excited for
the opportunities the city affords him
and he says there is so much more to do.
“New Orleans has so much to offer
musicians and we can do even more,”
Fleury said. Always a man with a vision,
he would like to see New Orleans
become a music hub for all genres of
music and labels, such as Detroit was
for Motown. “I would like to see a large
music collective form, giving musicians,
even more, opportunities and control of
their careers,” he concluded.
For more information about Real Love
visit them on their Facebook page or
website: realloveentertainment.com. To
book them for events and performances
call (504) 952-7581 or email them at cc@
realloveentertainment.com.
Real Love performs regularly on
the first Fridays of each month,
with two shows, 7:00 and 9:30 p.m.
at Pontchartrain Landing, 6001
France Road, New Orleans. Optional
buffet dinners or hors-d'oeuvres are
available for both shows. Call (504)
286-8157 for reservations. ��
JANUARY / F E B R UARY 2 0 1 8 breakthrumediamagazine.com | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | 17
