BBA Set To Salute Black Music At Awards Dinner

(l-r): Vicki Mack Lataillade, Byron J. Smith and Lisa Collins

Los Angeles, CA — The Black Business Association (BBA), the oldest ethnic business organization in the State of California, will host its Annual “Salute to Black Music Awards Dinner” on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at the California African American Museum, 600 State Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90037. Reception is at 6 p.m. and the dinner is at 7 p.m. The event is held in recognition of African American Music Appreciation Month, featuring a Celebration of Gospel Music legends, “The Business Behind the Music.”

Special confirmed honorees are: Vicki Mack Lataillade, co-founder of GospoCentric Records is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Lisa Collins, Publisher of L.A. Focus will receive the Outstanding Gospel Publication Award and Byron J. Smith, President of National Association Negro Musicians will receive the Outstanding Artistic Vision Award.

Awards dinners have been held by the BBA for many years recognizing Black Music Month. This year we are honoring the significance of Gospel music founded by the “Father of Gospel Music,” Thomas Andrew Dorsey. Gospel is the root, the soul of music. Gospel is the shining beacon of hope of a fantastic journey of joy divine in triumph victory in God that comes from deep down in the souls of God’s chosen people.

African-American Music Appreciation Month is a commemoration that takes place annually in the United States, throughout the month of June. Originally proclaimed “Black Music Month” by President Jimmy Carter on June 7, 1979, U.S. presidents have issued proclamations for the celebration under that name until President Barack Obama announced the observance under a new title: “African-American Music Appreciation Month.”

Music icons who have been honored by the BBA include: Clarence Avant – Godfather of Black Music; Berry Gordy - Founder of Motown Records; Smokey Robinson – Acclaimed singer/songwriter and Janet Jackson - world-renowned singer, songwriter, dancer and actress; Siedah Garrett - GRAMMY-winner and twice Academy Award-nominated singer/songwriter, among others.

About Gospel Music 

Gospel is the development of our faculties and powers through a relationship with God. It reinforces the belief that God is the Master of our Faith and the Captain of our soul. We need, incidentally, to know whose we are and what we are here for. This new music had its crossover into the world of entertainment through such stars as Ray Charles, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, The Edwin Hawkins Singers (“O Happy Day”) and Andrae’ Crouch (“The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”, which was composed by him when he was only thirteen years of age).

There has never been a time when Gospel Music has not been a part of the African American Experience. When we consider the tragic, dreadful, and catastrophic experiences which occur to so many that may believe that there is no way out, Gospel Music is there to “Take our Hands and Lead us On.”

Gospel Music is not a mere form of entertainment to be had when desired. It is a form of character, obedience, and spirit. It follows upon the long discipline, which gives a people self - possession, self - mastery, a habit of order and peace and common counsel and reverence for God’s will that directs our lives.

"My roots were religious; the gospel in the church certainly provided for me a training ground as a singer.” - Aretha Franklin.

About Vicki Mack Lataillade

Vicki Mack Lataillade, the founder and owner of GospoCentric and B-Rite Music, has changed the face of gospel music. One of their first projects was from a little-known artist named Kirk Franklin and his self-titled project changed the game forever! Mack’s artist roster includes; Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers, Kurt Carr, Byron Cage, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Kelly Price, David Hollister, Dorinda Clark Cole (B-Rite), Papa San, Gospel Gangsters, God's Property (B-Right), - Special songs & tracks with Bono, Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, etc...(partial list), Soundtrack-Kingdom Come- Jill Scott, Tamar Braxton, Kirk Franklin, Preacher's Wife, Whitney Houston (Consultant), and Get On The Bus- (Spike Lee). Lataillade, a Los Angeles entrepreneur, reigns as President with 4Ground LLC (Music & Script Placement for TV & Film), LillyMack Publishing and Central South Distribution (May 2007 to Feb 2017) in Nashville.

About Lisa Collins

In 1995, Lisa Collins founded the L.A. focus Newspaper, which boasts a readership of 120,000+, provides coverage that mirrors the concerns and issues facing the African American community, reflecting the importance of the church as both its heart and cornerstone. In addition to traditional circulation stops, L.A. Focus gets to the heart of the African American Community via its strongest institution: the church, with distribution in more than 350 churches. No other newspaper can make that claim and can back it up with numbers, with influence, and with trusted relationships, while our “Ultimate Guide To Churches in Los Angeles” has become a key resource for those seeking to understand and navigate L.A.’s Black faith community. In 1998, L.A. Focus established its first annual First Ladies High Tea, which draws upwards of 1,000 women and 90 churches together each year for an afternoon of inspiration and praise.

Collins, a Los Angeles native and resident, also publishes “The Gospel Music Industry

Roundup” (dubbed “the Bible of the gospel music industry”) and has served as a segment producer for BET while contributing well over 300 articles on a variety of issues for a number of national publications from Essence to Upscale, including a 12-year stint at Billboard Magazine. Her background in the field of entertainment reporting is extensive, featuring cover stories and interviews with the likes of Richard Pryor, Michael Jackson, and Prince.

Her career in gospel began in 1988, with her creation of “Inside Gospel”, a daily/weekly syndicated radio series that provided news, profiles and product updates relative to the gospel music community. For the next eight years, she would also serve as executive producer of the show that was broadcast in more than 100 markets nationwide. For more information or to buy tickets visit: http://firstladieshightea.com

About Byron J. Smith

Byron J. Smith is a native of Los Angeles, is the National President of the 100-year old /oldest African American Musicians’ organization, The National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. He is an associate professor of music at Los Angeles Harbor College for the last 35 years. There he specializes in commercial music, teaching music industry courses such as "The Business of Commercial Music", Song Writers Workshop, Choir and Commercial, and Classical piano and voice.

Byron freelances as music director, studio musician, arranger, and producer; working with numerous artists including Wynton Marsalis, Barbra Streisand, Clifton Davis, Barry Manilow, the late Daryl Coley, Bebe Winans, Brenda Jackson and many more. He is a versatile musician and his experiences span the gamut of all styles of music. He has received rave reviews for his music direction of both theatrical and live productions. Byron is the composer of the musicals "Shades", "Black Pearls" and the award-winning musical, "Children of the Night" where he won the NAACP Theater Image Award for best original score and best music direction. Byron’s latest musical "ONE" starring the late Daryl Coley and Henrietta Davis was staged and received with rave reviews. This original gospel musical is the story of Peter and his memories of Christ 50 years after his death.

Mr. Smith's choral works have sold tens of thousands of copies throughout the country and the world. He is the resident orchestrator for numerous community orchestras in southern California. Byron is the owner of the Pro Pianist Entertainment Group and Onyx Music Publishing Co.; a musicians contracting organization which both performs and publishes outstanding music of African - American Composers, young and old. His professional ensemble, “The Spirit Chorale of Los Angeles” has been a well - respected ensemble for 28 years. This 16 member ensemble of outstanding solo voices has received rave reviews throughout the world and have released 4 CD projects.

Byron is also a member of many music and performance organizations including AFM, SAG - AFTRA, ASCAP, NAMM and Chorus America. He is the Music Coordinator, organist, and director of the Grant A.M.E. Church of Los Angeles and also directs a choir at the Macedonia Baptist Church for the last 40 years.

Disney And Conservation Network Team Up For The Lion King "Protect The Pride" Campaign

Disney to Donate up to $3 Million to Help Double the Lion Population by 2050

To celebrate the release of Disney’s The Lion King, the upcoming groundbreaking feature film helmed by Jon Favreau, The Walt Disney Company has launched a global conservation campaign to raise awareness of the crisis facing lions and other wildlife across Africa. The Lion King “Protect the Pride” campaign focuses on protecting and revitalizing lion populations and the habitats they need to thrive. Disney has already donated more than $1.5 million to the Wildlife Conservation Network’s (WCN) Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) and its partners and will make additional grants as well as invite fans to help double the donation for a total contribution of up to $3 million. Fans may participate by taking part in celebratory experiences and purchasing special-edition products, as part of The Lion King Protect the Pride campaign.  

It’s been 25 years since Disney released the original version of The Lion King; sadly, during that time Africa has lost half of its lions, and only about 20,000 remains. Disney is supporting the Lion Recovery Fund and their vision to double the lion population by 2050 through efforts that engage communities to ensure a brighter future for African wildlife and their habitats. Protecting lions supports the entire circle of life in Africa, from hyenas to meerkats. Lions face rising threats; however, research shows their numbers can be strengthened if they and the habitats they share with people and other African wildlife are adequately protected.

“Disney is committed to supporting lion conservation efforts and we believe The Lion King is the perfect story to remind us of the role we each have in helping ensure a world where these majestic animals are treasured and protected,” said Elissa Margolis, senior vice president, Enterprise Social Responsibility for The Walt Disney Company. “Conservation has always been a core value of The Walt Disney Company and that commitment is apparent in everything from our films to our theme parks and is why we created the Disney Conservation Fund. Through the stories we tell and the experiences we create, we have the power to reach people around the world and inspire them to take action with us.”

The Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) has directed $75 million to save wildlife globally since 1995, including $13 million to protect African wildlife spanning more than 30 countries. The Lion King Protect the Pride donation will be DCF’s largest single contribution in its 24-year history, supporting WCN’s Lion Recovery Fund and their work to engage people in conservation solutions. The Lion Recovery Fund supports a variety of partner organizations working in Africa and employs a three-pronged approach to lion recovery: investing in conservation projects on the ground, developing campaigns that build support for the protection and revitalization of Africa’s lion populations, and expanding and strengthening collaborations, as no single entity will be able to solve this challenge alone.

As a kickoff to The Lion King Protect the Pride campaign, Disney and WCN convened more than 80 leading lion conservation experts this past May at the Lion Footprint Forum at Walt Disney World^® Resort, the first meeting of its kind in 20 years, aimed at expanding collaboration to grow conservation impact. Participants from 18 countries and representing more than 50 organizations and foundations discussed challenges impacting lion populations across lion range countries and strategies to address them. Resulting ideas and project proposals will be considered for support through the LRF.

“The Lion Recovery Fund has the vision to bring lions back across Africa, and Disney’s powerful storytelling is a perfect way to get even more people aware of the lion crisis and inspired to take action,” said Charles Knowles, president, and co-founder of Wildlife Conservation Network. “The Wildlife Conservation Network is proud to continue its longstanding collaboration with Disney to make a meaningful impact for people and wildlife across Africa.”

Help Protect the Pride

It takes many different approaches, which differ by regions, habitats, and local communities, to help protect lion populations. Fans can explore The Lion King Protect the Pride website to learn more about The Lion King Protect the Pride campaign and find ways that they can get involved, including:

• This summer, take part in Protect the Pride lion-related Disney experiences celebrating WCN’s LRF, like the Kilimanjaro Safaris^® Expedition at Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park in Florida during opening week ofThe Lion King film (July 19-25); purchase special-edition Simba and Nala plush lions available at certain Disney stores, on shopDisney.com, and in select U.S. Disney Parks and Resorts locations; Disney Theatrical Productions will celebrate with audiences on Broadway during the month of July, providing campaign information in Playbills^® for The Lion King; learn about the history of Disney’s commitment to conservation in films and Disney Publishing Worldwide’s support of the campaign through The Art and Making of The Lion King book. Disney is supporting these and other global opportunities in South Africa, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.Disney.com/LionKingProtectThePride
• Support lion conservation efforts and learn more about the Lion Recovery Fund at lionrecoveryfund.org.
• Follow The Lion King, the Disney Conservation Fund, and the Lion Recovery Fund on social media to stay up to date on #TheLionKing #ProtectThePride campaign and share information with your friends and family about how they can help.

About The Lion Recovery Fund

The Lion Recovery Fund was created by the Wildlife Conservation Network, in partnership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, to double the number of lions in Africa, to restore the lion population to what it was 25 years ago. In recovering lions, LRF also aims to restore the health of their landscapes and all that they provide for the communities that share them.

About Disney’s “The Lion King”

Disney’s “The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy, and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon. Utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way, Disney’s “The Lion King” roars into theaters on July 19, 2019.

Trumpeter Rob Zinn To Drop New Single 'All-In'

Committed to continuing the momentum created by last year’s Walk The Walk album in pursuit of his goal of becoming a contemporary jazz headliner, trumpeter Rob Zinn will drop a new single, All In, that goes for playlist adds on June 17. The track that bridges the gap leading to his third studio album is produced by two-time Grammy winner Paul Brown. 

                     

Zinn wrote All In with Brown and Lew Laing Jr., who crafted the rhythmic urban groove and smooth harmonies that illumine the big city backdrop for the horn man's cool jazz declarations. Tapping into his diversity as a musician and composer, to Zinn, the cut that sounds like a nocturnal drive on the coast on a summer eve makes a statement - professionally and personally.           

“I am 100% committed, ‘all in’ this journey of becoming an international trumpet player and composer and will remove any obstacle standing in the way of achieving my goals. The song also speaks to the relationship that I am in, in that I am ‘all in’ with her as my love, soulmate, and life partner. Sharing this journey with her is a beautiful thing. All In is a statement, if you will, about the commitments that I’ve made to my music, my artistry and my relationship - not necessarily in that order,” said Zinn, who plays Tin Pan in Richmond, Virginia this Saturday (June 8) with saxophonist Tony Exum Jr.  

Walk The Walk showcases Zinn’s versatility, incorporating funk, Latin, R&B, rock, pop and urban jazz. With Brown in the producer’s chair and on guitar, the set features trumpet and sax collaborations between Zinn with Andrew Neu and Michael Paulo. Singles issued from the collection garnered global airplay and earned most added status on the Billboard chart. The record built on Zinn’s 2016 solo debut, Yesterday Again.

Born in Maryland and raised in nearby Delaware, Zinn has played trumpet and flugelhorn in a wide array of settings - from swing and jazz big band to blues, dance and tribute bands. A top-drawer sideman, Zinn has performed with a luminous list of soul-jazz hitmakers, including Brown, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Adam Hawley, Jazmin Ghent, Nick Colionne, Eric Marienthal, Kim Waters, Brian Bromberg, Jackiem Joyner, Marion Meadows, Chieli Minucci, and Ragan Whiteside. Fronting his own band, Zinn opened for Grammy winners Norman Brown and Jeff Lorber Fusion as well as Pieces of a Dream. This year, Zinn performed at several prominent jazz festivals such as Berks Jazz Festival, Mallorca Jazz Festival, and Sandy Shore’s Jazz Weekender. Zinn also played 2019 gigs in popular jazz clubs such as Philadelphia’sSouth paired with Neu and Spaghettini near Los Angeles where he accompanied Brown.

While work has only just begun on his next album, Zinn is eager to share All In, which reveals growth and maturity.    

“My latest single embraces a fresh, groove-centric, new type of song from me. Everything comes from my heart. Most of my song titles have deep meaning to me and are personal reflections about my life.  Naming a song is important. It has to mean something. I am All In my musical journey and my commitment to my love.”

For more information, please visit http://robzinn.com.

Director Euzhan Palcy Set To Be Feted At Fest

Euzhan Palcy

In celebration of Caribbean Heritage month in June, the Caribbean Heritage Organization (CHO) will kick-off its CaribbeanLens™ International Film & Art Festival on June 10 with a special tribute to Martinique-born, revered, award-winning director, writer and producer Euzhan Palcy.

For the first time, the festival, which runs June 10 – 14, will dedicate three nights to showcase a slate of films by one filmmaker. Palcy’s César Award-winning film  SUGAR CANE ALLEY will be the festival’s opening night film on Monday, June 10 at the Historic Graumann’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Her acclaimed apartheid-era film A DRY WHITE SEASON, starring Donald Sutherland and earning Marlon Brando a Best Actor in a Supporting Role Academy Award nomination, screens Thursday, June 13 at the Egyptian Theater. The final film, the rarely-screened music fantasy SIMÉON, runs Friday at the Writers Guild Theater.  Each film will feature a post-screening Q&A with Palcy, who rarely visits Hollywood from her Paris base.

The screenings at the CaribbeanLens™ International Film & Arts Festival also marks the 30^th anniversary of the release of A DRY WHITE SEASON and the 35^th anniversary of SUGAR CANE ALLEY’S release.

"It's a great honor and a tremendous joy to have the CaribbeanlLens International Film Festival showcase three of my films and present me with the Trailblazer Award. It is humbling to be asked to join all those who have made lasting contributions to the growth and flourishing of American culture across multiple fields of human endeavor,” said Palcy. “Representing my Martinique heritage is very important to me and to my work. I look forward to returning to Hollywood for this special recognition."

“Euzhan Palcy is one of the most respected directors of our time and a treasured member of our Caribbean family. We are honored to have her join us for three nights of the festival and to celebrate her achievements at the gala,” said Marva Griffiths Herman, executive producer, CaribbeanLens International Film Festival.

Born in Martinique, Palcy directed SUGAR CANE ALLEY (Rue Cases Negres) in 1983, putting the French West Indies on the world cinema stage. This critically acclaimed movie went on to win the prestigious César Award (French Academy Award) for best first film making. Palcy is the first black director (male or female) to be granted this prestigious award. SUGAR CANE ALLEY won more than 17 international awards including the Silver Lion and Best Actress awards at the Venice Film Festival. Palcy successfully brought back Marlon Brando to cinema screens with the anti-apartheid film, A DRY WHITE SEASON. She traveled to South Africa defying the special section of the apartheid regime with the help of Dr. Nthato Motlana, President Nelson Mandela’s personal physician and friend, who smuggled her into Soweto undercover. She received the Orson Welles award for the film in Los Angeles in 1989. After his historic release from Robben Island in 1990, the newly elected President Mandela watched the film and invited her to South Africa in 1995 (during the first anniversary of his election).

Palcy has led the way with many firsts in Hollywood – the first black woman to direct a film for a major studio; the only woman to direct Brando; the first woman director to win a César Award; the first black director to win a César Award.

Tuesday night of the festival will feature films and shorts from Caribbean countries including the Bahamas, Curacao, Jamaica, and Barbados, screening at the Egyptian Theater (lineup TBA), 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 12 will recognize Dominican Republic Night at the Movies, with films reflecting that dynamic, diverse island country.

Click here to purchase CaribbeanLens™ screening tickets and for more information.

The weeklong festival concludes Saturday night, June 15, with the Caribbean Heritage Salute to Hollywood Excellence & Gala at the Sheraton Universal. The festival will bestow Palcy with the Trailblazer Award. Other awards to be presented: Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award to Robin Petgrave, Founder & Executive Director, Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum; Excellence in Entertainment to Amanda Seales, comedian, and actress (“Insecure,” “Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin”); Excellence in Entertainment Law to Gordon Bobb, Partner, Del Shaw Moonves 

Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano; Rising Sun to Michele Weaver, Actress (“Love Is…,” “Council of Dads”). Festival-goers will have the chance to win an all-expense paid trip to Martinique.

For more information about the Gala, here. 

Festival and Gala sponsors include Clément Rhum, Grenada Film Commission, Dominican Republic Has it All, La Martinique.

ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN HERITAGE ORGANIZATION

The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the blending of the Caribbean and American cultures and talent to create unique and outstanding work and to raise global awareness of the new renaissance of film-making and music production that the Caribbean region is currently experiencing. CaribbeanLens™ also serves as a platform for international dialogue and collaboration in entertainment education, financing, and production.

For more information on the Caribbean Heritage Organization and Caribbean-American Heritage Month, please visit www.caribbeanheritage.org, and the official website of Caribbean-American Heritage Month, www.caribbeanamericanmonth.org.

Dana H. Tells True Story Of Horrific Kidnapping

Deirdre O'Connell as Dana H.

By Darlene Donloe

In the 1990s, Dana Higginbotham was a psych hospital chaplain who was kidnapped by Jim, one of her ex-convict patients and held for five months during which time she endured terror, rape and violence while trapped in a series of Florida motels. 

Years later, she spoke about her ordeal, for the first time, to a reporter. The entire interview was taped and is now being used in Tony Award-nominated playwright (A Doll’s House, Part 2, The Christians) Lucas Hnath’s drama, Dana H., currently enjoying its world premiere at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, through June 23, 2019.

The show, reconstructed for the stage by Hnath, is directed by Lew Waters. It tells the real-life story about Hnath’s mother. It’s told in Dana Higginbotham’s words, adapted from interviews with Higginbotham conducted by Steve Cosson.

In what can only be called a brilliant piece of direction, Waters opens the show with actress Deirdre O’Connell, who is portraying Dana H., sitting with a microphone on in a blue chair downstage center.  She’s preparing to give a series of interviews.

Deirdre O'Connell as Dana H.

With only a purse and a manuscript as props, O’Connell slowly takes on the persona of Dana H., while actually lip-synching the words from the actual pieced together interviews. Dana’s actual voice is heard recounting her harrowing and violent encounter with Jim, a mentally ill ex-convict and member of the Aryan Nations.

O’Connell is mesmerizing. She has spot-on gestures, pauses, laughs, shuffles, and giggles as she conducts this kind of lip-synch dance with the dialogue.  We hear the interviewer ask the questions and we hear Dana’s replies. The audience feels the terror that Dana endured as every suspenseful and shocking moment of this true story unfolds.

As O’Connell portraying Dana H. slowly recounts what led up to the kidnapping and then the day-to-day terror Dana H. endured – she creates a chilling scenario. The audience is taken on a terrifying ride as the buildup creates fascinating moments of uneasiness. The show is riveting. It’s full of terror, violence, and suspense.

The set behind Dana is a motel room – indicating one of the many locations where she was held prisoner.

What’s so good about this show is the uniqueness. As a reviewer, I haven’t seen anything like this production. It was moving and entertaining and although we don’t actually see any of the violence, the words and voice of Dana H. capture the terror she suffered.

This show is hard to watch and hear. It will stick in your gut and shake you at your core. You keep thinking, how could something like this happen?

O’Connell gives an engaging and powerful performance.

A must see and hear!

Dana H. was originally commissioned by The Civilians (New York) and Goodman Theatre, it will appear at the Goodman from September 6 through October 6, 2019, during their 2019/2020 season.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), (O) Oh, no!, N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Dana H. gets an E (excellent).

Dana H. runs 75 minutes with no intermission.

Dana H., Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City; 8 p.m., Tues.-Fri.; 2 and 8 p.m. Sat.; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sun. through June 23, 2019; $25-$79; www.CenterTheatreGroup.org; 213 628-2772; Free three hour covered parking at City Hall with validation (available in the Kirk Douglas Theatre lobby).