Ice Cube Hosts Barbershop:The Next Cut Screening

(l-r) Common, Ice Cube and Deon Cole

Over the President’s Day weekend, Common and Ice Cube kicked off promotion for the latest installment of the BARBERSHOP franchise, BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT! The rappers hit the London Hotel in West Hollywood to host a private screening for select friends and family as they gear up for the film’s April 15 release. Alongside the co-stars were comedian Deon Cole (who appears as “Dante” in the film), as well as reality TV personalities Jennifer Williams (TV One’s “Next 15”) and Mimi Faust (Vh1’s “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta). Also, STRAGIHT OUTTA COMPTON’s Neil Brown, Jr. (DJ Yella) dropped in for a few laughs alongside a few industry notables. This movie will “cut” its way into theaters on Friday, April 15, 2016!

#BARBERSHOP

'Ghostbusters' Set For Release July 15

Leslie Jones

Saying GoodBye To Those Who Passed This Way

By Darlene Donloe

A number of noteworthy people closed their eyes for the last time in 2015. They were writers, actors, directors, musicians, activists, community leaders and politicians. All were influential in their own way. And, before leaving the planet, they all made their mark and touched the lives of so many.  This column pays tribute to those who passed this way.

JANUARY

Jan. 3 - Edward W. Brooke, the Massachusetts Republican who was the first African-American to be elected to the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction. He was 95.

STUART SCOTT

Jan. 4 – Stuart Scott, ESPN anchor. He was 49.

Jan. 5 – King Sporty. Reggae singer.  He was 72.

Jan. 7 - Jethro Pugh, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle.  He was 70.

Jan. 8 – Andrae Crouch, gospel singer, songwriter and choir director. He was 72.

Jan. 12 - Clifford Adams, Educator and Kool and the Gang trombonist. He was 62.

Jan. 18 - Rapper A$AP Yams, founder of A$AP Mob.  He was 26.

Jan. 18 – Cynthia Layne. Jazz vocalist. She was 52.

Jan. 23 - Ernie Banks, baseball player, Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer. He was 83.

Jan. 30 - Don Covay (born Donald Randolph), singer/songwriter. He wrote the hits "Pony Time" a #1 record for Chubby Checker, and the Grammy Award winning "Chain of Fools" for Ms. Aretha Franklin. He was 78.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 3 Charlie Sifford, first black in the World Golf Hall of Fame, first black player in the PGA Tour. He was 92.

Feb. 17 - Kenneth "Wally" Kelly, original member of The Manhattans. He was 74.

Feb. 20 - Ahmad Givens, a.k.a. Real. Appeared on VH1 ‘Real Chance of Love.’ He was 33.

Feb. 21 - Clark Terry, trumpeter and composer. He was 94.

 Feb. 23 – Col. Paul Green, Tuskegee Airmen. He was 91.

DORI MAYNARD

Feb. 24 – Dori Maynard, journalist. Daughter of Publisher Robert C. Maynard, former owner of the Oakland Tribune. She was 56.

Feb. 26 - Earl Lloyd, the first black person to play in the National Basketball Association, in the 1950–51 NBA season.  He was 86.

Feb. 28 – Anthony Mason, former NBA player (New York Knicks). He was 48.

Feb. 28  - Charmayne Maxie Maxwell, member of the R&B group Brownstone. She was 46.

MARCH

March 1 – Minnie Minoso, first black major league baseball player in Chicago in 1951. White Sox left-fielder. He was 92.

March 9 - Gene Patton, “Gene Gene the Dancing Machine’ from ‘The Gong Show.” He was 82.

March 10 – Windell D. Middlebrooks, appeared as the Miller High Life Guy in commercials. Also appeared in a Geico commercial with Kenny Rogers. He was 36.

March 27 - Lady BJ Crosby, singer, actress, Tony nominee. She was 62.

APRIL

Apr. 5 - Gardner C. Taylor, known as the dean of American preaching. He was 96.

Apr. 14 - Percy Sledge, R&B singer (When A Man Loves A Woman). He was 73.

BEN POWERS

Apr. 16 – Ben Powers, actor (Good Times). He was 64.

Apr. 17 – Johnny Kemp, Bahamian R&B singer. He was 56.

Apr. 29 - Calvin Peete, Pioneer on PGA Tour. He was known as Mr. Accuracy. He was 71.

Apr. 30 - Ben E. King, soul music legend. He was 76.

MAY

May 6 - Errol Brown, fronted the disco band Hot Chocolate. He was 71.

May 14 – B.B. King, blues legend. King of the Blues. He was 89.

May 15 – Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly, R&B singer. She was 70.

May 16 – Adrian Robinson Jr., former Owls defensive lineman-linebacker. He was 25.

May 24 - Marcus Belgrave, Detroit jazz trumpet legend. He was 78.

REYNALDO REY

May 28 – Reynaldo Rey. Actor, comedian. He was 75.

May 28 – Mel Waiters. R&B singer. He was 58.

JUNE

June 11 - Ornette Coleman, jazz saxophonist, violinist and trumpeter.  He was 85.

JULY

July 2 – Charlie Sanders, former Detroit Lions Tight End. He was 68.

July 11 - Joseph Robinson, headed famed Sugar hill Records. He was 53.

July 11 - Claudia J. Alexander, NASA scientist. She was 56.

July 17 - Ms. Melodie, rap pioneer known as Ramona Parker. She was 43.

July 26 - Bobbi Kristina Brown. Reality TV actress, singer. Daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown.  She was 22.

AUGUST

Aug. 3 – Mel Farr, Former Detroit Lions Running Back. He was 70.

Aug. 3 – Brian Breye, Owner of Museum in Black. He was 79.

Aug. 4 – Lynn Manning, Theater executive. He was 60.

Aug. 9 – Sean Price, Brooklyn rapper. He was 43. 

Aug. 9 - Brook Stephenson, Rolling Out journalist. He was 41.

Aug. 14 – Tony Gleaton, photographer. He was 67.

Aug. 17 – Tracy Kennedy, celebrity make-up artist.

Aug. 18 – Louis Stokes, former Congressman. He was 90.

KAROLYN ALI

Aug. 18 – Karolyn Ali, film and music video producer. She was 70.

Aug. 19 - Doudou N’diaye Rose, Senegalese drummer and band leader. He was 85.

Aug. 25 – Amelia Boynton Robinson, civil rights activist. She was 104.

Aug. 28 – Darryl Dawkins, Former NBA star. He was 58.

Aug. 29 – Kyle Jean-Baptiste, Broadway actor. He was 21.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 3 – Don Griffin, former Miracles singer and guitarist. He was 60.

Sept. 3 - William Grier, co-author of ‘Black Rage’.  He was 89.

Sept. 8 - WOL DJ Bobby ‘The Mighty Burner’   He was 72.

Sept. 4 – Morris Alan, contemporary soul singer. 

Sept. 13 - Moses Malone, NBA great. He was 60.

 Sept.       Jerry Moore, Freedom Rider.

WILTON FELDER

Sept. 27 – Wilton Felder, saxophonist, Founding member of The Crusaders. He was 75.

Sept        John Barry Pleasant (J.B. Stone), former program director at KGFJ, KHJ & KJLH in LA, KDIA, Oakland and WHBQ, Memphis.

OCTOBER

Oct. 5 - Grace Lee Bogs, Civil rights icon. She was 100.

Oct. 16 - Dr. Beny J. Primm, world expert on HIV and addiction. He was 87.

Oct. 20 - Cyril O. Byron Sr., a Tuskegee Airman who later became an educator. He was 95.

Oct. 23 - Leon Bibb, actor, folk singer, civil rights activist. He was 93.

Oct. 28 - Sam Sarpong, model, actor, host of MTV’s Yo Momma. He was 40.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 1 - Derrick Gilbert, AKA D-Knowledge, poet. He was 45.

Nov. 1 - Raul Rekow, conga king of Santana.  He was 61.

Nov. 9 – Allen Touissant, songwriter, producer, performer. He was 77.

CYNTHIA ROBINSON

Nov. 23 – Cynthia Robinson, trumpeter and co-founder of Sly and the Family Stone. She was 69.

DECEMBER

Dec. 24 - William Guest, co-founder Gladys Knight and the Pips. He was 74.

Dec. 27 - Meadowlark Lemon, Harlem Globetrotter. He was 83.

BILLIE ALLEN

Dec. 29 - Billie Allen. Actress. She was 90.

NATALIE COLE

Dec. 31 - Natalie Cole. She was 65.

58th Annual Grammy Awards Winners Announced

It was all about the music in Los Angeles tonight as the 58th Annual Grammy Awards were awarded to pop, rock, rap and country stars. Below is a complete list of the winners. 

Kendrick Lamar

Best New Artist - Meghan Trainor

Best Rock Performance: Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"

Best Musical Theater Album: Hamilton

Song of the Year: Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

Best Country Album: Chris Stapleton, Traveller

Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk"

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: Kendrick Lamar feat. Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat, "These Walls"

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern

Best Pop Solo Performance: Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar, "Alright"

Best Alternative Music Album: Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color

Best Rock Album: Muse, Drones

Best Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar, "Alright"

Best Rock Song: Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"

Best R&B Album: D'Angelo and the Vanguard, Black Messiah

Best Urban Contemporary Album: The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness

Best R&B Performance: The Weeknd, "Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)"

Best R&B Song: D'Angelo and The Vanguard, "Really Love"

Best Traditional R&B Performance: Lalah Hathaway, "Little Ghetto Boy"

Best Dance/Electronic Album: Skrillex and Diplo, Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü

Best Dance Recording: Skrillex and Diplo With Justin Bieber, "Where Are Ü Now"

Best Music Video: Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar, "Bad Blood"

Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"

Best Country Song: Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"

Best Music Film: Amy Winehouse, Amy

Best Rap/Song Collaboration: Common & John Legend, "Glory"

Best Pop Vocal Album: Taylor Swift, 1989

Best Country Solo Performance: Chris Stapleton, "Traveller"

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: Tobymac, This Is Not a Test

Best Roots Gospel Album: The Fairfield Four, Still Rockin' My Soul

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album: Pitbull, Dale

Best Latin Pop Album: Ricky Martin, A Quien Quiera Escuchar (Deluxe Edition)

Best Comedy Album: Louis C.K., Live at Madison Square Garden

Best Spoken Word Album: Jimmy Carter, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety

Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: Birdman

Best Gospel Album: Israel & Newbreed, Covered: Alive Is Asia [Live] (Deluxe)

Best Gospel Performance/Song: Kirk Franklin, "Wanna Be Happy?"

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song: Francesca Battistelli, "Holy Spirit"

Best Contemporary Classical Composition: Stephen Paulus, Paulus: Prayers & Remembrances

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: Joyce DiDonato and Antonio Pappano, Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall

Best Classical Instrumental Solo: Augustin Hadelich, "Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L'Arbre Des Songes"

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance: Eighth Blackbird, "Filament"

Best Choral Performance: Charles Bruffy, "Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil"

Best Opera Recording: Saito Kinen Orchestra; SKF Matsumoto Chorus & SKF Matsumoto Children's Chorus, "Ravel: L'Enfant Et Les Sortilèges; Shéhérazade"

Producer of the Year, Classical: Judith Sherman

Best Regional Roots Music Album: Jon Cleary, Go Go Juice

Best Folk Album: Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn

Best Blues Album: Buddy Guy, Born to Play Guitar

Best Bluegrass Album: The Steeldrivers, The Muscle Shoals Recordings

Best Americana Album: Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free

Best American Roots Song: Jason Isbell, "24 Frames"

Best American Roots Performance: Mavis Staples, "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean"

Best Tropical Latin Album: Rubén Blades With Roberto Delgado & Orchestra, Son De Panamá

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano): Los Tigres Del Norte, Realidades - Deluxe Edition

Best Children's Album: Tim Kubart, Home

Best World Album: Angélique Kidjo, Sings

Best Reggae Album: Morgan Heritage, Strictly Roots

Best Latin Jazz Album: Eliane Elias, Made in Brazil

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Maria Schneider, The Thompson Fields

Best Jazz Instrumental Album: John Scofield, Past Present

Best Jazz Vocal Album: Cécile McLorin Salvant, For One to Love

Best Surround Sound Album: James Guthrie and Joel Plante, Amused To Death

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk (Dave Audé Remix)"

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color

Best Historical Album: Various artists; The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: Various Artists, The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32)

Best Album Notes: Joni Mitchell, Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced

Best Recording Package: Sarah Dodds, Shauna Dodds & Dick Reeves; Asleep at the Wheel, Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: Maria Schneider, "Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)"

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella: Avi Kaplin, Kirstin Taylor, Kevin K.O. Olusola; "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy"

Best Instrumental Composition: Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, "The Afro Latin Jazz Suite"

MusiCares Person of the Year: Lionel Richie

Hollywood Street Closures For 2016 Oscar® Week

LOS ANGELES, CA – To ensure public safety, support security strategies and facilitate the production of this year’s Oscars®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the City of Los Angeles have finalized street closure plans around the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood.

To accommodate the construction of press risers, fan bleachers and pre-show stages along the Oscars red carpet, Hollywood Boulevard will be closed between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive beginning at 10 p.m. on Sunday, February 21, and remain closed until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1.

MTA subway trains will bypass the Hollywood & Highland station after the last regularly scheduled train on Saturday, February 27, until 6 a.m. Monday, February 29.  Service at the station will resume with the first scheduled train after 6 a.m.

Between Sunday, February 21, and Oscar Sunday, February 28, additional streets and sidewalks will be closed for varying periods.

Details of the closures and maps of affected areas are available from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the Sixth and the Thirteenth District City Council field offices and on the Academy's website at www.oscars.org/closures.

The 88th Oscars will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre^® at Hollywood & Highland Center^®in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars, produced by David Hill and Reginald Hudlin, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide. 

# # #

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The 30th Annual ASC Awards Held Tonight

The 30th Annual American Society of Cinematographers Awards were held recently. Here is the complete list of winners, followed by the group’s special award winners:

Theatrical Motion Picture

Emmanuel Lubezki, The Revenant

Spotlight Award(tie)
Adam Arkapaw, Macbeth
Mátyás Erdély, Son of Saul

Episode Of A Regular SeriesVanja Černjul, Marco Polo, “The Fourth Step”

Television Movie, Miniseries or PilotPierre Gill, Casanova pilot

Lifetime Achievement AwardJohn Toll

Board of Governors Award
Ridley Scott

Career Achievement in Television AwardLowell Peterson

Presidents AwardBill Bennett

ASC Gordon Willis Heritage Award WinnersUndergraduate:
Nicolas Aguilar Ketchum, Run
Documentary:
Rob W. Scribner, Warbird Pilot: Behind the Visor
Graduate:
Steven Holloway, The Defeat (x3)

'The Revenant' Wins Best Film At BAFTAs

The BAFTA Film Awards were held last night at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden. Following is a complete list of winners.

BEST FILM

THE REVENANT
Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Arnon Milchan, Mary Parent, Keith Redmon

LEADING ACTOR
LEONARDO DICAPRIO
The Revenant

LEADING ACTRESS
BRIE LARSON
Room

DIRECTOR
THE REVENANT
Alejandro G. Iñárritu

PRODUCTION DESIGN
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Colin Gibson, Lisa Thompson

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
WILD TALES
Damián Szifron

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
SPOTLIGHT
Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
THE BIG SHORT
Adam McKay, Charles Randolph

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
NAJI ABU NOWAR (Writer/Director) RUPERT LLOYD (Producer)
Theeb

COSTUME DESIGN
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Jenny Beavan

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
KATE WINSLET
Steve Jobs

ANIMATED FILM
INSIDE OUT
Pete Docter

SUPPORTING ACTOR
MARK RYLANCE
Bridge Of Spies

THE EE RISING STAR AWARD
(voted for by the public)
JOHN BOYEGA

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
Chris Corbould, Roger Guyett, Paul Kavanagh, Neal Scanlan

SOUND
THE REVENANT
Lon Bender, Chris Duesterdiek, Martin Hernandez, Frank A. Montaño, Jon Taylor, Randy Thom

EDITING
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Margaret Sixel

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
EDMOND
Nina Gantz, Emilie Jouffroy

BRITISH SHORT FILM
OPERATOR
Caroline Bartleet, Rebecca Morgan

ORIGINAL MUSIC
THE HATEFUL EIGHT
Ennio Morricone

DOCUMENTARY
AMY
Asif Kapadia, James Gay-Rees

CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE REVENANT
Emmanuel Lubezki

MAKE UP & HAIR
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Lesley Vanderwalt, Damian Martin

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
BROOKLYN
John Crowley, Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey, Nick Hornby