In Memoriam

By Darlene Donloe

Many noteworthy people closed their eyes for the last time in 2023. They were writers, actors, directors, musicians, publicists, entertainment executives, 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 remembers their legacies and pays tribute to those who passed this way. Respect!

JANUARY

Jan. 1 – Frederick “Freddie” Eugene White, drummer with Earth, Wind, and Fire Original 9.  He was 67.

Gangsta Boo

Jan. 1 - Gangsta Boo, female rapper (Where Dem Dollas At). She was 43.

Jan. 5 - Gordy Harmon, founding member of the R&B group - The Whispers. He was 79.

Jan. 11 – Charles White, USC running back and 1979 Heisman Trophy winner. He was 64.

Jan. 14 - Keith Beaton, co-founder of Blue Magic. He was 72.

Jan. 15 – C.J. Harris, ‘American Idol’ alum. He was 31. 

Jan. 17 – Steve Buckley, music industry exec.

Jan. 27 – Gregory Allen Howard, screenwriter on ‘Remember The Titans.’  He was 70.

Jan. 28 – Barret Strong, Motown songwriter. He was 81.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 1 - Stanley Wilson Jr., former Detroit Lion. He was 40.

Feb. 20 - Chuck Jackson, ‘Any Day Now’ soul singer. He was 85. 

MARCH

Wayne Shorter

March 2 – Wayne Shorter, jazz great. He was 89.

March 5 – Bobby Caldwell, soul singer. He was 71.

Lance Reddick

March 17 – Lance Reddick, actor in The Wire, John Wick. He was 60.

March 21 - Willis Reed, Knicks Champ and NBA Champion. He was 80.

APRIL

April 16 - Ahmad Jamal, legendary jazz pianist. He was 92.

April 17 - Ivan Mamao Conti, co-founder of the ground-breaking Brazilian Funk-Jazz Fusion trio, Azymuth. He was 76.

April 19 – Otis Redding III, musician and son of soul legend. He was 59.

Harry Belafonte

April 25 – Harry Belafonte, legendary civil rights activist, and entertainer. He was 96.

MAY

May 3 – Torie Bowie, U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist. Bowie won three medals at the 2016 Olympic Games, anchoring Team USA to a gold medal in the 100-meter relay.  She was 32.

May 16 – Bill Perkins, New York politician. He was 74.

May 18 – Jim Brown, NFL Legend turned actor and civil rights activist. He was 87.

May 18 – Marlene Clark, actress. She was 73.

Tina Turner

May 24 – Tina Turner, QUEEN of rock ‘n’ roll. She was 83. 

May 24 – Bill Lee, bassist and composer of son Spike Lee’s films. He was 94. 

May 30 – John Beasley, ‘Everwood’ actor. He was 79.

JUNE

June 6 – Paul Eckstein, ‘Godfather of Harlem’ creator and “Hoodlum” and “Narcos” producer. He was 59.

June 7 – Jim Hines, U.S. Olympian and record-breaking sprinter.  He was 76.

June 19 – Clark Haggans, former NFL linebacker. He was 46.

Larry "Gator" Rivers

June 29 – Larry “Gator” Rivers, Harlem Globetrotters legend. He was 73.

June 29 – Christine King Farris, the last living sibling of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She was 95.

JULY

July 7 - Nikki McCray-Penson, basketball star and Olympic gold medalist. She was 51.

July 7 – Mutulu Shakur, Tupac’s stepfather and renowned activist. He was 72.

Oscar Brashear

July 11 – Oscar Brashear, jazz trumpeter. He was 78.

July 16 – Elise Finch, Emmy-winning meteorologist for CBS New York affiliate WCBS-TV. She was 51.

July 20 – YNG Cheese, Philadelphia rapper. He was 25.

July 27 – William Dilday Jr., the first Black television station manager in the entire country and one of the founders of the National Association of Black Journalists.  He was 85.

AUGUST

Aug. 1 – Sheila Oliver, New Jersey Lieutenant Governor. She was 71.

Aug. 3 – Wendell B, singer and songwriter.

Aug. 7 – DJ Casper, songwriter, and hype man. He was 58.

Aug. 11 – Gus Solomon’s Jr., choreographer, dancer. He was 84.

Clarence Avant

Aug. 13 - Clarence Avant, music executive known as The Black Godfather.  He was 92. 

Aug. 13 – Magoo (from producer/collaborator of Timbaland’s crew), rapper. He was 50.

Aug. 14 – Chico Del Vec, founding member of rap group Jr. M.A.F.I.A.

Ron Cephas Jones

Aug. 19 – Ron Cephas Jones, Emmy  Award-winning actor ‘This Is Us’ and ‘Truth Be Told.’  He was 66.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 12 – Mike Williams, NFL wide receiver. He was 36.

Sept. 14 - Pearl Bowser, film director,  recipient of the SCMS Distinguished Career Achievement Award (2005). Affectionately known as the "Godmother of Black Independent Cinema." She unearthed Oscar Micheaux's lost archives, shedding light on the origins of Black Cinema. She was 92.

Sept. 16 – Irish Grinstead, R&B singer, member of 702. She was 43.

Sept. 17 – Fred Lewis, founder of the R&B group, Lakeside.  He was 72.

Sept. 21 - Katherine Anderson, co-founder of The Marvelettes. She was 79.

Kevin Fleming

Sept. 21 – Kevin Fleming, CEO/Publisher of “The Urban Buzz.” He was 65.

Sept. 25 – Zoleka, the granddaughter of Nelson Mandela. She was 43. 

OCTOBER

Oct. 9 – Hughes Van Ellis, the last survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre. He was 102.

Oct. 10 – Gail O-Neil, Jamaican-American model. She was 60.

Oct. 10 – Louise Meriwether, writer and activist. She wrote “Daddy Was A Number Runner.” She was 100.

Shirley Jo Finney

Oct. 11 – Shirley Jo Finney, director and actress. She was 74.

Oct. 11 – Rudolph Isley, Isley Brothers co-founder. He was 84.

Oct. 19 - Mark Howard James, aka DJ Mark the 45 King, a respected producer who helped create tracks for some of the most iconic hip-hop acts in history including Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, Eric B. and Rakin, Gang Starr, and Common.  He was 62. 

Oct. 23 – Tasha Butts, Former WNBA player and women’s college basketball coach. She was 41. 

Richard Roundtree

Oct. 24 – Richard Roundtree, the iconic actor played Shaft. He was 81.

Oct. 25 - Herbert “Bertie” Bowman, the longest-serving Black congressional staffer in American history, had worked at the Capitol since he was 13. He was 92. 

Oct. 30 - Aaron Spears, a drummer who worked with some of the biggest pop stars in the world including Usher and Ariana Grande. He was 47.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 2 – Walter Davis, Six-time NBA All-Star. He was 69.  

Nov. 7 – C-Knight, Rapper. He was 52.

Nov. 11 – D.J. Hayden, Former NFL cornerback. He was 33.

Nov. 14 – Neville Garrick, photographer, Jamaican graphic artist and visual designer.  He was 70.

Nov. 17 – George Brown, co-founder Kool & The Gang. He was 74.

Carlton Pearson

Nov. 19 – Carlton Pearson, founder and pastor of Higher Dimensions Family Church in Tulsa, OK.  He was 70.

Nov. 27 - Jean Knight, “Mr. Big Stuff” singer. She was 80.

DECEMBER

Dec. 3 - David McKnight, actor (J.D.’s Revenge/Hollywood Shuffle). He was 87.

Ellen Holly

Dec. 5 - Ellen Holly, the first Black actress to star in a soap opera (One Life to Live). She was 92. 

Dec. 6 - Kendall Minter, music industry attorney.

Dec. 7 - Forest Whitaker, ex-wife, actress Keisha Nash. She was 51. 

Dec. 8 - Nidra Beard, Dynasty lead singer. 

Andre Braugher

Dec. 12 - Andre Braugher, ‘Homicide: Life On The Street,’ ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine.’ He was 61.

Dec. 18 - Joseph “Amp” Fiddler, the Detroit-based singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer. He was 65.

Dec. 29 - Maurice Hines, Broadway singer, dancer, and choreographer. He was 80.

Dec. 31 - Les McCann, jazz pianist and vocalist. He was 88.

  

'Titanic: The Exhibition' Docks in Los Angeles

 

By Darlene Donloe

The tragedy that befell the Titanic on April 15, 1912, is a dark, interesting, but mostly sad tale.

On that fateful day, which was four days into the ship’s maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, more than 1,500 passengers lost their lives after the Titanic collided with an iceberg on April 14, 1912, in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.

The haunting story of the Titanic is told in ‘Titanic: The Exhibition’ currently taking place at the Beverly Event Venue in Los Angeles. 

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Titanic can be found in this one-hour, self-guided, interactive experience that allows attendees to step inside recreations of the ship’s interior.

It’s been more than a century since the most famous maritime disaster occurred, and yet the Titanic remains the most well-known ship in American history.

First-class sitting room

Tom Zaller (TZ), president and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions about the exhibition. 

DD:  Why should people experience Titanic: The Exhibition?

TZ: Whether you are a history buff or a big fan of the blockbuster film, or even if you don’t know much about the Titanic, there really is something for everyone at Titanic: The Exhibition. From the artifacts, personal stories, recreations of the ship, photo-ops, and virtual reality experience, the exhibit is profoundly educational, immersive, and emotionally impactful. 

More importantly, people should visit the exhibit in LA before it closes! We are open for a very limited time before we take the exhibit to Chicago in February, so now is the perfect time to check it out.  

DD:  It’s been 111 years since the ship sank. Why do you think there is still such a fascination with the Titanic?

TZ: I love this story. Titanic has been a part of my life since the late 90s when I had the incredible opportunity to dive to the wreck site. I’m always amazed by how people continue to be fascinated by the story; it's every man’s story - the story of hopes and dreams. There is, of course, a huge historical significance and a unique mystique of the ‘unsinkable ship,’ but I believe it is the human stories of the passengers and crew that evoke such empathy and fascination. The Titanic represents a microcosm of society, carrying people from various backgrounds, and their individual narratives resonate deeply with people.

DD: Describe the exhibit.

TZ: Titanic: The Exhibition – produced by Imagine Exhibitions and Fever – is the largest and most immersive touring Titanic exhibition, and it is a narrative journey that brings to light the fates of the passengers and crew aboard the sinking ship. It is also a uniquely interactive exhibition that tells the chronological and dramatic tale of the design, creation, launch, maiden voyage, and tragedy of the largest and most luxurious ship in the world at that time. 

A LifeVest

DD: In what way is the exhibit interactive?

TZ: The exhibit has many interactive elements to it - whether through the boarding pass that corresponds with a real-life passenger allowing each guest to follow an individual passenger story as they explore the first-, second-, and third-class galleries with their corresponding artifacts, or through the immersive chronologic galleries and the narrative that unfolds.

DD:  What is the most shocking thing attendees will see in the exhibit?

TZ: I think the human stories of real-life people are always what touches people in the most shocking and poignant elements whether those stories are told through the use of artifact displays or recreations depicting the conditions aboard the ship during the sinking. 2 great examples, For instance, feeling the freezing temperature of the iceberg or seeing your name on the memorial wall has always touched people the most. Overall, the exhibit's ability to humanize the tragedy by showcasing individual stories, artifacts, and the sheer scale of the disaster often leaves a profound impact on attendees.

A porthole

DD:  What do you think people will find out – that they didn’t already know?

TZ: An interesting part of the exhibit delves into the ship's design and construction, showcasing details about the materials used, the engineering innovations, and the ambitious scale of the Titanic itself. I think people would be interested to learn about the riveting techniques used and the sheer size and opulence of the ship's interior.

Furthermore, the exhibit sheds light on the passengers' experiences beyond the well-known stories, revealing details about lesser-known individuals aboard, their backgrounds, and the diverse range of people who were traveling on the Titanic, highlighting personal anecdotes and lesser-known tales of survival or loss. 

Grand Staircase

DD: Are attendees able to walk the grand staircase – up to the clock?

TZ: Due to safety concerns, attendees are not permitted to walk up the Grand Staircase, although they can get up close and personal with the iconic recreation for a great photo op! 

DD:  What is a definite “must-see” in the exhibition?

TZ: I personally love the “wow” factor when guests enter the immersive Grand Staircase, or later in our Discovery Gallery, dedicated to the discovery and research of the Titanic’s wreckage site. The Discovery Gallery features a raised glass floor simulating the impression of walking along the ocean floor with broken china in the sand that allows visitors to experience some of what discovery teams saw during dives to the Titanic site. At the end of the exhibition, visitors have the option to explore the wreck even further in a virtual reality experience that features 360° imagery of the Titanic’s final resting place. 

DD: Attendees hold the pass of an actual passenger on the Titanic.  How were the actual real people chosen? 

TZ: We selected 100 passengers for whom we have the most complete story.  When visitors enter we provide male passes for men and female passes for women and if a group or family we try to mix up the classes so that groups who experience the show together may be grouped in 1st class and the other in 3rd to provoke dialog about class separation and the reality of what that meant in 1912 and especially on the Titanic.  

First-class cabins hallway

DD:  Are/were there any Black passengers on the Titanic?  If so, who were they?

TZ: There was one Black Family on the Titanic. Notable was Joseph Laroche, a Haitian-born engineer, and his family. Laroche, his wife Juliette, and their two daughters were passengers on the Titanic. He was the only known Black passenger in the first class and the only passenger of African descent known to have been aboard the ship. Tragically, Joseph Laroche did not survive the sinking, but his wife and daughters were able to board a lifeboat and survived.

DD:  Is the exhibit led by a docent?  If not, is there audio along the tour?

TZ: Titanic: The Exhibition is a self-guided exhibit. 

Costumes from James Cameron's 1997 movie, 'Titanic'

DD:  What kinds of relics are on display?

TZ: The exhibit features hundreds of artifacts that encompass items that survived the sinking of the Titanic and her sister ships, as well as props and costumes from the beloved James Cameron 1997 blockbuster film Titanic. Set inside fully immersive recreations of the ship's interior, the artifacts help navigate guests through Titanic's timeline from sinking to underwater discovery. 

DD:  Does the iceberg make an appearance? If so, in what way?

TZ: It does! I won’t give too much away, but the iceberg definitely makes an appearance at the exhibit, and there is an interactive element to it as well.  

DD:  Would you describe this exhibition as more informational or more emotional?  Explain.

TZ: The exhibition aims to provide a mix of both information and emotional depth. It offers a comprehensive look at the Titanic's history, including details about its construction, the passengers, the luxurious elements of the ship, and the events leading up to the tragic sinking. 

Alongside factual information, the exhibit highlights personal stories of passengers and crew, artifacts both from the Titanic and her sister ships, and recreations of parts of the ship. Ultimately, the exhibit aims to provide a well-rounded experience that educates visitors about the Titanic's history while also touching on an emotional connection to the human side of the story.

* * *

The actual wreckage of the Titanic was found after 1 a.m. on Sept. 1, 1985, under more than 12,400 feet of water. One of the Titanic’s boilers was identified, confirming the wreck had been found. The ship was found by American oceanographer and marine geologist, Robert Ballard, 73 years after it sank. As suspected, the ship had split in half. 

Titanic: The Exhibition – Los Angeles, 4327 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles; $23 -$68.90; through Dec. 31, 2023.

**All photos by Darlene Donloe

 

Celebs Talk About What They Like and Don't Like About The Holidays

By Darlene Donloe

Christmas is five days away. Just weeks ago we celebrated Thanksgiving. Soon we will celebrate both Christmas and New Year's Day.  It’s the trifecta of celebrations. There’s a lot to rejoice about. There’s a lot to be thankful for. 

Celebrities were asked what they liked and didn't like about the holiday season. Some were poignant and others were predictable.   Check out the responses below.

What do you like the most about the holiday season, and what is your least favorite thing about the holidays?

Jonathan Butler

I love Christmas and the spirit of Christmas – ushering in this beautiful spirit of Christ. I tour every year. I love the Christmas tree and looking at it. I love the lights. I love coming home and seeing them.  I love having a beautiful meal with my kids and grandkids.  I like to touch people. 

My least favorite thing is turkey. Leave it alone. Not a fan of turkey. Leave that bird alone and let it run free. 

Karyn Parsons (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

I love the joy in the streets. I love the warmth of gatherings. That touchstone.

My least favorite thing is that the consumerism part is ghastly. We’ve gotten so out of control. It’s all about shopping and spending a lot of money.

Erica Gimpel (Fame, God Friended Me)

What I love is the time I get to slow down and spend time with family.

My least favorite thing is the pressure of everybody buying things.

Florence LaRue (Fifth Dimension)

My favorite things are the family gatherings and dinner. We always have good southern food. I cook. I like to make fudge.

My least favorite thing about the holidays is competing and buying expensive gifts.

Tarell Alvin McCraney
(Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director, "Moonlight" writer) 

I’m actually a Halloween person.  I love going to a Christmas fair with my family. I do not like taking down Christmas trees.

T.J. Wilkins (The Voice)

My favorite thing about the holidays is the family dinners. The whole family gets together. 

My least favorite thing to do is taking down the Christmas lights.

Shanice

My favorite things about the holidays are putting up the Christmas tree, singing carols, and being with my family. 

My least favorite thing to do is taking down the 12 ft. Christmas tree. One time we kept it up until the end of January.

A Bold, New 'The Color Purple:' A Review

By Darlene Donloe 

Whether it’s the book, the stage production, or the film version of Alice Walker’s novel, ‘The Color Purple,’ its popularity never seems to fade. 

On Christmas Day, December 25, 2023, the reimagining of the 1985 film based on the Broadway adaptation of the Walker novel will be released in theaters to huge fanfare. 

Luckily for viewers, the musical film adaptation still maintains the bones from the original, but this time, it’s a saucier, more snuggly version. 

The story, which takes place over four decades starting in 1909, centers around Celie, a poor, abused Black girl with no self-worth, whose father (played viciously by Deon Cole) has impregnated her twice – both times giving the children away. To add insult to injury, the father allows a man to tear her away from home and her sister, the one person who loves her – to marry him and take care of his home and kids. She’s pretty much a slave in Mister’s home, subjected to violence, hunger, cruelty, and other unimaginable degrading acts.

After their father tries to touch Nettie, Celie convinces her husband to allow her to live with them. When Mister tries the same thing with Nettie, who rejects him, he throws her out of the house and threatens to kill her and Celie if she ever returns.

(l-r) Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and Halle Bailey

The sisters promise to write to each other. Unfortunately, Mister steals all of the letters – leaving Celie to think her sister is either dead or has abandoned her altogether – and that she is alone in the world. 

Celie, who finds it difficult to stand up to Mister, is left to her own devices - until she meets her husband’s true love…a sassy blues singer named Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson).

The latest ‘Purple,’ directed by Blitz Bazawule, stars Fantasia Barrino (winner of the third season of “American Idol”), Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Jon Batiste, Deon Cole, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Louis Gossett, Jr., singers Ciara, and H.E.R. (Gabriella Wilson), and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and Halle Bailey. 

Bazawule presents a colorful, spirited rendition of the story that is earthy and smoldering while maintaining the integrity of the original. 

Barrino, who has played Celie on Broadway, has put her memorable stamp on the role. She delivers her version of the character with a lot of verve. 

Brooks, who earned a Tony nod for the role, is unforgettable as Sofia, the role played by Oprah Winfrey in the 1985 film.  The Sofia baton has been passed to Brooks. Hers is a fiery, feisty, and often comical Sofia. 

The romance between Celie and Shug is done tastefully. It’s intimate but not overt. 

A huge, nonstop publicity campaign including the films’ producer, Oprah Winfrey, and its star-studded cast –  hitting every talk show and entertainment event, speaks to just how much faith the studio has in this latest incarnation. 

This adaptation is surely worthy of a spin around the many award shows on the horizon. Nods are eminent for Barrino, Brooks, and possibly Henson, not to mention one for best picture. 

The 1985 version, directed by Steven Spielberg, starred Whoopi Goldberg (Celie), Oprah Winfrey (Sofia), Margaret Avery (Shug Avery), and Danny Glover (Mister). 

The 2005 Tony-winning Broadway production was a box-office success.  The 2015 Revival starred Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Hudson.

Walker won the Pulitzer for her novel, becoming the first Black woman to win the prize for fiction. 

On the DONLOE SCALE:  D ( don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (exceptional), ‘The Color Purple’ gets an E (exceptional).

 

‘The Color Purple’

Rated: PG-13 for incest, rape, racism and abuse.

Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes

 

 

 

 

CeCe Winans Set For Spring 2024 'Goodness Tour'

 

CeCe Winans

(Los Angeles, CA) - After a decade-long hiatus from national tours, the Grammy-award sensation, CeCe Winans, triumphantly concluded the highly acclaimed "Believe for It Tour," successfully sealing her remarkable return to the national stage. The last six dates of the tour featured special guests; Jenn Johnson and Todd Dulaney, who both received an overwhelming response from devoted fans, with most of the venues sold out. The end results of the "Believe For It Tour" affirmed a fundamental truth - it was more than just a concert for fans; it was a deeply engaging experience.

Adding to the banner year Winans racked up some impressive stats on the Billboard Year End Charts:  #1 Top Gospel Artist, Female; #1 Gospel Digital Song Sales- Artist and #1 Gospel Digital Song Sales for the single "Goodness of God," which also received a Billboard Music Award for Top Gospel Song. Winans continues to be an unwavering beacon of light in the music industry, captivating audiences with her soulful voice while championing both her artistry and ministry.

Winans also recently announced dates for "The Goodness" Tour launching in Spring 2024, bringing good news for fans who missed the opportunity to be in the audience the first time around, or who just can't wait to see CeCe live again.  Everyone is invited to experience the transformative worship journey with Winans, showcasing the monumental tracks from her album 'Believe For It,' such as the chart-topping hits "Goodness of God," "Never Lost," and "Believe For It."  Winans will embark upon a new tour while also debuting brand new songs from her forthcoming album, More Than This (PureSpring Gospel/ Fair Trade Services) featuring soon-to-be Winans classics, "Holy Forever", "That's My King" and many more.

Pre-sales for The Goodness Tour tickets will be available for purchase starting Wednesday, December 13th at 10:00am/CT, and General Public sales begin on Friday, December 15th at 10:00am/CT.  For more information and tour details visit http://CeCewinans.com/events .

Here's what Winans has to say about getting back on the road, "Over the last year, my team and I have been thanking God for the blessings and opportunities that we've been given.  As we toured and listened to stories of healing and restoration, we started to think about what's next?  What more is there to say?  During "The Goodness Tour," we'll get to share new songs and worship where we don't just believe for great things, but we acknowledge His goodness while having no ability to perceive how much more God has in store for us.  We are praying with expectation of what is coming, and we hope you'll join us."

Teaming up with Winans once again to spread the good news of the gospel in song are sponsors Compassion International and concert promoters Transparent Production.

THE GOODNESS TOUR DATES:

- 2/28 - Shreveport, LA - Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium

- 2/29 - Mobile, AL - Cottage Hill Baptist Church

- 3/1 -  New Orleans, LA - Franklin Avenue Baptist Church

- 3/6 -  Fayetteville, NC - Crown Theater

- 3/7 -  Greensboro, NC - Mt. Zion Church

- 3/8 -  Hixson, TN (Chattanooga) - Abba's House

- 3/13 - Greenville, SC - Redemption Church East

- 3/14 - Richmond, VA - Liberation Church

- 3/20 - Liberty Township, OH (Cincinnati) - Princeton Pike Church of God

- 3/21 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theater

- 3/22 - Chicago, IL - House of Hope

- 4/13 - Los Angeles, CA - Peacock Theater

- 4/18 - Visalia, CA - Visalia First Assembly of God

- 4/19 - San Jose, CA - Redemption Church West

- 4/24 - Carrolton, TX (Dallas) - Bent Tree Bible Fellowship

- 4/25 - Austin, TX - Austin Ridge Bible Bee Cave

- 4/26 - Houston, TX - Fallbrook Church

- 5/2 -  Miami, FL - James L. Knight Center

- 5/3 -  Brandon, FL (Tampa) - Bell Shoals Church

GENERATIONS LIVE!  2024 Women's Conference

- 5/10 to 5/11:  Nashville, TN - Curb Event Center

As an extension to her acclaimed 2023 calendar, Winans is set to grace the stage on the CBS Christmas Special, "A Home for The Holidays," airing Friday, December 22, 2023, from 8:00 to 9:00pm/ET/PT.  This milestone event celebrates its 25th Anniversary and features a lineup of esteemed guests, including Lauren Daigle, Gavin DeGraw, David Foster & Katherine McPhee, and Pentatonix.  The program remains dedicated to shedding light on the imperative social issue of American children in foster care, inspiring thousands of adoptions.

Pioneering Actress Ellen Holly Dies At 92

Ellen Holly

NEW YORK (December 7, 2023) — Trailblazing American actress Ellen Holly, the first Black person to star in a soap opera, has died. The White Plains resident, who helped change the face of daytime television with her lead role on One Life to Live, passed away peacefully in her sleep Wednesday at 92 at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, New York.

Holly was born on January 16, 1931, in Manhattan to parents William Garnet Holly, a chemical engineer, and Grayce Holly, a housewife and writer. Ellen Holly was a prominent Black family that included her paternal great-grandmother, Susan Smith McKinney Steward, the first African American woman to earn a medical doctorate (MD) in New York State and the third in the United States; her great aunt Minsarah Smith Thompson Garnet, a suffragette and the first Black female principal of a New York City school; Minsarah’s husband, the Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, an abolitionist who was appointed Minister (ambassador) to Liberia by President James A. Garfield; her great-grandfather the Rev. James Theodore Holly, the first African American to be ordained a bishop in the Protestant Episcopal Church and a prominent missionary to Haiti; and her great-great grandfather Sylvanus Smith, one of the leaders of the movement urging Black people to purchase land in Kings County, New York, in an area later known as the Weeksville settlement and a landowner there. Her maternal aunt Anna Arnold Hedgeman was the first Black woman to be in the cabinet of a New York City mayor (Robert F. Wagner Jr.), one of the lead organizers of the March on Washington, and a founding member of the National Organization of Women. 

Holly herself grew up in Richmond Hill, Queens. A graduate of Hunter College, she became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. during her college years. 

Holly began acting on New York City and Boston stages, earning instant critical acclaim. She made her Broadway debut in Too Late the Phalarope in 1956 and she went on to star in the Broadway productions Face of a Hero, Tiger Tiger Burning Bright and A Hand is on the Gate. From 1958 to 1973, she led productions of numerous Joseph Papp New York Shakespeare Festival productions. Throughout her years in the theater, she worked opposite such luminaries as Roscoe Lee Browne, James Earl Jones, Jack Lemmon, Barry Sullivan, and Cicely Tyson. Holly also studied with dance pioneer Katherine Dunham and was passionate about the role of dance in revealing the richness of African-American culture.

Her first roles on television included appearances on The Big Story (1957), The Defenders (1963), Sam Benedict (1963), Dr. Kildare (1964), and The Doctors and the Nurses (1963 and 1964).

Holly played the groundbreaking character Carla Gray on the hit ABC show One Life to Live from 1968 to 1980 and 1983 to 1985. She was personally chosen for the role by television producer Agnes Nixon after she saw a New York Times opinion piece that Holly wrote called “How Black Do You Have To Be?” about the difficulty of finding roles as a light-skinned Black woman. The first time a Black person starred in a soap opera, it was a watershed moment, coming as it did during the turbulent and racially divisive 1960s. Carla’s attempt to come to terms with her racial identity and her love triangle with two doctors — one white, the other Black — helped launch viewership of the nascent soap opera into the stratosphere. Holly exploded onto the pages and covers of publications like Newsweek, TV Guide, Ebony, Soap Opera Digest, and the New York Times. Soon there were Black storylines on All My Children and General Hospital, helping ABC to dominate daytime for two decades. In later years, Holly spoke out about being underpaid and other mistreatment she claimed she and some of her fellow Black cast mates received from show executives despite their contributions to the show’s success.

She continued to appear on the small screen, with a recurring role as a judge on The Guiding Light from 1988 to 1993 and In The Heat of the Night from 1989 to 1990 as well as the television movie 10,000 Black Men Named George, alongside Andre Braugher and Mario Van Peebles.

She also appeared on the big screen in Take a Giant Step, Cops and Robbers, and Spike Lee’s School Daze. 

An accomplished writer, Holly wrote numerous pieces for the New York Times over the years. In 1996, her autobiography, One Life: The Autobiography of an African American Actress, was published. Reflective of a life dedicated to the arts and civil rights causes, in her final years she began preparations on a documentary about her life and the storied activism of her family. 

In the 1990s, she took the civil service examination and became a librarian, serving as such for many years at White Plains Public Library. In her autobiography, she referred to her years there as some of the happiest of her life.

Holly had many friends and was a well-loved member of her White Plains community. She was predeceased by her younger sister, Jean H. Gant, and her niece, Holly Gant Jones. She Is survived by her grand-nieces Alexa and Ashley Jones (White Plains), daughters of her beloved niece, Holly Gant Jones, who predeceased her, and their father, Xavier Jones; first cousins Wanda Parsons Harris (Dayton, Ohio), Julie Adams Strandberg (Providence, Rhode Island), Carolyn Adams-Kahn (New York), Clinton Arnold (Los Angeles) and a host of other loving family members. She is sorely missed and mightily celebrated. 

In keeping with Holly’s wishes, there will be no funeral. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to The Obama Presidential Center or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.