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.

Vassal Benford Releases A New 'Dedication Song'

It's the holiday season, and Vassal Benford is feeling grateful. The R&B/jazz keyboardist wrote and produced a new single, “Dedication Song,” that captures his feelings of appreciation. The Benford Jazz Label release mixed by Billboard hitmaker Greg Manning is the most added new single on Billboard’s Mediabase chart two weeks running.

Benford has played a role in the creation of more than 58 platinum-selling records as a Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter, musician, and record executive in pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock, and dance music. He’s worked with a veritable who’s who list of superstars, yet jazz remains his humble muse and he’s determined to put his distinctive imprint on the genre. Playing piano to foster feelings of intimacy and emotional connection, “Dedication Song” plays like a danceable and sensual R&B groove. Steamy undertones provide contrast to the poetic notes emoted eloquently from Benford’s melodic and agile piano. At its essence, the single is an offering of love reflecting thankfulness.

In the accompanying “Dedication Song” video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxrBmkdkdWM) that already has nearly 700,000 views in four days, Benford dedicates the song in loving memory to one of his mentors, the “Godfather of Black Music” Clarence Avant, along with an extended list of family members, friends and several of his longtime clients.

“‘Dedication Song’ is a heartfelt song for all occasions, but this year we’re bringing it out for the holiday season. While composing and tracking it in the studio, it filled me with immense feelings of gratitude, especially for my family and my loved ones. We are in strange times and every moment of love counts. Every act of love counts. I now find myself noticing every smile and recognizing that each moment of peace is a blessing. The world needs love, so I dedicate this song to everyone with love,” said Benford about the second single from his forthcoming album, “Melody Man,” which is due to arrive in April.

Benford is a prolific producer of music, film, television, concert events, revolutionary technology, and sporting projects that have generated billions of dollars and billions of spins, streams, downloads, and views. He got his start as a teenager in Detroit writing songs for jazz legends Ramsey Lewis, Stanley Clarke, and Nancy Wilson. His discography now boasts collaborations with DJ Diplo, Toni Braxton, NAS, Flo Rida, Queen Latifah, Mariah Carey, Rick Ross, Deborah Cox, Sheryl Crow, U2, Jade, Bobby Brown, New Edition, Lil’ Kim, Patti LaBelle, Faith Evans, Chanté Moore, Oleta Adams, Lisa Stansfield, Tramaine Hawkins, and The Fine Young Cannibals among others.

The Benford Company manages boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and Benford serves as the chairman of The B.B. King Estate. He is executive producing a documentary film about King and is assembling the accompanying soundtrack that features rapper Quavo of Migos. In movies, Benford is partnered with former studio head and blockbuster producer Mark Canton (“300”) on the “After” film trilogy (“After,” “After We Collided” and “After We Fell”), which has generated over $300 million at the box office, and created the television series “Power.” They currently have two Marvel films in the pipeline.

While making Hollywood megadeals is an everyday occurrence for Benford, at his core, his passion remains jazz and instrumental R&B music. Last year, he tested the waters by releasing the title track to “Melody Man,” which sounds totally unique and unlike anything in the contemporary jazz space. “Dedication Song” provides a second glimpse into what’s to come from what bodes to be an innovative collection that features Benford collaborating with Grammy-winning guitarist Norman Brown, eight-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Gerald Albright, and singer-songwriters Aloe Blacc and Moore.

For more information, please visit https://benfordjazz.com.

 

KeKe Palmer Is Having A "Rude Awakening"

     Keke’s “rude awakening” when it came to misogyny and disrespect in relationships.

Keke: “So misogyny came at me hard and quick, with the quickness. I grew up in a house where my mom would say, this is what it needs to be. And Larry would be like, “Okay Sharon, Go on ahead Sharon.”

So for me, when I entered outside of my household and I saw that everybody doesn’t really respect their wives or even women in the way that my dad respects my mom, it was a pretty rude awakening.”

         Keke asks, how do I know if I’m the bad one in a relationship?

Keke: “So I think a lot of people have this question and the question is: Am I the bad one? We're all in different dynamics with friends, family, and lovers, and you find yourself saying, well damn it, am I playing a game on myself, and I'm actually the person that's doing wrong? How does someone know if they're, and look, it takes two to tango, right? But how does someone know when they did the wrong thing and they're really the issue. How do you know when you're the issue?

Dr. Drew: “Keke, the person who is re-evaluating themselves, trying to do what's right, contemplating they could be doing what's wrong, that is rarely the person who's doing wrong.”

         On not being seen in an intimate scene.

Keke: “And at that point, it was just like, I choose happiness and I choose joy, and I don't choose to go back there. And like you said, as time goes on, I'm like, I'm good, whatever that was, I'm good. But then I reach that reenactment, and the reenactment is, here it is again, someone doesn't see me. I put myself in an intimate scenario with someone where they don't see me…. they didn't see me.

Dr. Drew: “Oh boy. There it is. There it is. So,  that's very powerful. You're talking about leaving a piece of yourself behind.”

Keke Palmer has questions for days, about everything under the sun. From the existential to the inconsequential. From pop culture to pop science. From the meaning of life to the meaning of W.A.P. From life in outer space to “Where the eff is Tom from MySpace?“ And everything in between. Because Baby, this is Keke Palmer, and she is here for All. Of. It.

Each week, the multi-talented Keke is taking you on a journey down the rabbit hole on a topic that she cannot stop obsessing over. She’ll also get deep with special guests, trying to answer the questions that keep us up at night. We are getting INTO IT. Episodes are available one week early and ad-free on Amazon Music (available for free for Prime Members) and Wondery+.

Ashleigh Smith Is Singing 'In The Rain'

ARLINGTON (22 NOVEMBER 2023): The title of singer-songwriter Ashleigh Smith’s new single, “I Can’t Help It,” aligns with her identity as an artist. Her recordings are unapologetic and unabashed amalgams of straight-ahead jazz cadences and soulful R&B grooves with sophisticated pop appeal that when knitted together, result in genre-defying tracks best labeled modern vocal jazz. Her newly released TopCat Records single is an act of defiance in itself because there’s no question that it’s a straight-ahead jazz cut yet that radio format doesn’t release singles. That little detail wasn’t going to prevent Smith from issuing her version of the tune penned by Stevie Wonder and Susaye Greene, which she produced and arranged with bassist Nigel Rivers.

Clearly, Smith is comfortable in her own skin. She studied classical music on a full scholarship in college, won the 2014 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition, which demonstrates her remarkable skills as a jazz singer, and grew up in a musical household where she fell in love with classic R&B and pop as performed on “real instruments.” Each element adds to the distinctive alchemy that converges organically to form her own unique brand.

While “I Can’t Help It” is a song about romantic love, for Smith, the lyrics serve as affirmations, declarations empowering her individuality. Floating her emotive croon atop the brisk straight-ahead jazz rhythms constructed by Rivers’ elastic basslines and Mauricio Barroso’s staccato percussion beats, Smith’s single is illumined by the astute piano and Rhodes keyboards from Daniel Marandure and Pete Clagett’s probing trumpet. Adding melodic touches to the track are Max Townsley (guitar), Chelsea Danielle (vibes), and Jordache Grant (keyboards). Smith has been performing “I Can’t Help It” in her live set for years with many of the musicians on the recording.

“After years of performing it with my band, different sections and parts of the arrangements started to form organically. Honestly, it was only decided that it would be a single because of audience demand. After every show, fans ask where they could purchase that arrangement. So, I decided we would give the people what they wanted. One of the qualities that I’m most proud of when it comes to my music is that everything I do is always organic and natural. Even down to the musicians I choose to record with. The musicians on this record, and on all of my recordings, are musicians I play with regularly. They are people who have been a part of my musical journey from the beginning, so the synergy is a given. I love that everything I put out is made with love with people I genuinely love,” said the Dallas-based Smith who grew up in Augusta, Georgia.

“I Can’t Help It” previews Smith’s sophomore album, “In The Rain,” which is due to arrive next spring. Although this single is a reimagination, all the other songs on the collection are originals that Smith had a hand in writing. She debuted in 2016 with the “Sunkissed” album that was released by Concord Records, which offered a mix of originals and covers.

For more information, please visit https://www.theashleighsmith.com.

 

Alex Edelman's 'Just For Us' Is Just For Everybody

By Darlene Donloe

Alex Edelman Just For Us, the latest show at the Mark Taper, is a hilarious ongoing conversation and one-man show about Jewish identity. 

Created five years ago by Edelman, who is considered to have one of comedy’s most distinctive voices, Just For Us, which did very well on Broadway, is an exploration of identity and mankind’s collective capacity for empathy.

It lands somewhere between stand-up at a comedy club and a play. It actually doesn’t matter which one – at the end, you feel like you’ve learned something. 

Given the tension in the world today, this is either just the right time – or the worst time ever to be starring in a one-man show about anti-Semitism.

The metal detector everyone had to walk through to get into the theater may have something to do with that.

From the moment the 34-year-old Edelman, the king of the one-liners, took the stage with only a single chair as a prop, he had the audience in the palm of his hand as he briskly walked back and forth sizing up the audience while the audience simultaneously did the same with him.

He opened with some bad jokes about a bear and about a horse.  Having warmed up the audience, from there he took off on a 90-minute set that left the audience in stitches! 

Edelman, an Ashkenazi Jew, describes himself as neurodivergent and admits he has been tested 11 times to find out why he is the way he is.  

After that eleventh test, Edelman said he overheard his mother say, “What do you mean, he’s fine?” 

Now that’s comedy!

But wait, there’s more. 

Edelman goes on to do hilarious bits about his hometown of Boston, Jewish names, wedding practices, family relationships, Robin Williams, and even how his family, at the behest of his mother trying to help out a friend – celebrated Christmas one year.

Every story bests the previous one. 

Alex Edelman

Just for Us is inspired by Edelman’s experiences as an Orthodox Jewish man attending a meeting of White Nationalists in Queens, NY (and, somehow, trying to have a meet-cute). The story of how he comes face-to-face with the people behind the keyboards is brilliant.  All of the stories in Just For Us are hilarious.

‘Just for Us’ is just what Los Angeles needs right now. It’s super funny! 

Edelman is no stranger to the comedy scene in the city of Angels, having workshopped his show in various spots across L.A. 

Originally from Boston, Edelman has had a broad writing career—from writing for television to producing documentaries for the U.S. State Department to writing speeches for both the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers—alongside a career as an award-winning stand-up comedian and performer.

Edelman, known for his extremely personal storytelling and humor, is no stranger to unpacking his Jewish identity and heritage in his work. In his solo shows, Millennial in 2015 and its sequel Everything Handed To You in 2015 and 2016, Edelman also wrote about his experiences growing up and celebrating holidays with his family. 

Just For Us opened Off¬-Broadway in 2021 and was extended six times before a successful run in London. The show finally opened on Broadway in 2023, playing its last performance in August.

‘Just for Us’ is a brilliant, entertaining, and thought-provoking night of theater.

It’s a great way to understand a culture that, for centuries, has provoked brisk dialogue.

‘Just for Us’ is written and performed by Alex Edelman, and directed by Adam Brace

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), “Alex Edelman Just For Us” gets an E (excellent). 

“Alex Edelman Just For Us,” Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA, through November 26.

 

'From a Yardie to a Yankee' Opens During Black History Month

 

Theatre West is celebrating Black History Month with its presentation of From a Yardie to a Yankee.       

Sardia Robinson is originally from Jamaica. Wikipedia defines “yardie,”: ‘In the  most innocuous sense, "yardie" can simply refer to a Jamaican national; as "yard" can mean "home" in Jamaican Patois, Jamaican expatriates who moved abroad to countries such as the U.K. and U.S. would often refer to themselves and other Jamaicans as "yardies".’

Born into a poverty-stricken Jamaican neighborhood where crime, gangs, and political revolution were the norm, Sardia had to step over corpses in the street on her way to school. Then an unplanned pregnancy led to yet more hurdles. Sardia’s engaging and unique storytelling style takes audience members on an emotional rollercoaster ride fraught with peril, pain, and suffering, but also filled with humor, endearing characters, and the undeterred spirit to survive.

This vivid presentation portrays writer and performer Sardia Robinson’s epic struggles from the murderous streets of Kingston, Jamaica to the deadly consequences of Chicago’s drug wars. The one-woman show starring Robinson is full of colorful characters (she portrays eleven different roles), powerful portrayals, obstacles overcome, and heartwarming humor. This show will grip your heart and imagination.

From a Yardie to a Yankee has won awards across the country, among them the Best in Show Award at the TAG Studio Solo Festival,  the Innovative Women in Theatre Award (Hollywood Fringe Festival), and Best Solo Production Award (Broadway World),  It was listed as one of the Top Ten Shows to see in Los Angeles by Broadway World. The show recently toured New York, London, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago, Sardia received the Great Black Women Alumni Award in recognition of her contributions to young performers from Chicago’s Mahogany Scholarship Heritage Foundation. Her recent credits include Justice Delayed, in which she stars as Amy Jaques Garvey, wife of activist Marcus Garvey; and the hit sitcom currently airing in the Caribbean, House Out of Order.

Proceeds from this event will support the ongoing artistic and educational activities and programs of Theatre West, a 501c3 non-profit organization.

WHAT:  From a Yardie to a Yankee. The award-winning show.

WHO: Written, directed, and performed by Sardia Robinson. Produced by Dina Morrone for Theatre West.

WHERE: Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West,  in Los Angeles, CA 90068.

WHEN: Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 8 p.m. Sunday, February 11 at 2 p.m.

ADMISSION: $40 in advance; $45 at the door.

RESERVATIONS: (323) 851-7977.

ONLINE TICKETING: www.theatrewest.org

CONSUMER ADVISORY: For ages 11 through adult.

Reception with Jamaican food follows the performance.

Richard Wesley's "The Talented Tenth": A REVIEW

 

By Darlene Donloe 

Black consciousness is called out in Richard Wesley’s contemporary drama, The Talented Tenth, the latest production by the Robey Theatre Company in Theater Four at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles. 

The show, directed by Ben Guillory, is considered a classic of Black American dramatic literature. 

First produced in 1989, the play borrows its title from a 1903 article by scholar, activist, and social reformer W.E.B. DuBois, in which he described the likelihood of one in 10 Black men becoming leaders of Black people by continuing their education, writing books, or becoming directly involved in social change. 

“The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men,” said renowned Black sociologist W.E.B. Dubois at the beginning of his pivotal 1903 essay.

The play focuses on graduates of Howard University who have succeeded in life with their big houses, new cars, and lavish vacations.

Ben Guillory

The play opens with a Black male executive (Griggs) reminding a potential younger Black male employee (Bernard) of his duty to become the best of the Black race.

Nic Few 

Bernard, played vibrantly by Nic Few, feels conflicted about betraying his original activism principles. At one time while he was a student at Howard University, he was a civil rights activist down for the cause who had a brown-skinned African queen by his side with whom he was deeply in love. Unfortunately, she was killed on the continent while trying to push the movement forward. It's something that Bernard, years later, continues to struggle with.

Tiffany Coty

Now, in his 40s, he’s a determined executive at a small chain of Black radio stations. His programming decisions have boosted the stations’ ratings and significantly increased their commercial value.

Then, boom. Bernard is blindsided with a career crisis he didn’t see coming. He finds out his mentor, Griggs (Director Ben Guillory), the owner of the chain of stations, is considering selling it to an international white corporation. The thoughts send Bernard into a rage because it would spoil his plans for the company. Now, his world is turned upside down and he feels betrayed by Griggs – who didn’t give him a heads up or a chance to buy the stations himself.

Bernard’s life outside of work is becoming problematic, too. He has a beautiful, capable wife named Pam (Tiffany Coty) and four children.

Jessica Obilom

Obviously going through a mid-life crisis, Bernard also has a younger mistress named Tanya (Jessica Obilom), who is determined to be his next wife.

Bernard, a whiny blowhard, has 99 problems, and, having one too many women is one.

Julio Hanson

Why Bernard has two women fighting over him is hard to fathom. He isn’t loving, nice, or caring to either woman. In fact, he tells them both he doesn’t love them – and damn the consequences.

Monte Escalante

His band of friends, all of whom used to be activists before they traded it in for the American dream and a more affluent life, includes Rowena (Monte Escalante) her husband, Marvin (Julio Hanson), and Ron (Stirling Bradley). While they all exhibit a bit of the familiar Black frustration, all are now part of the Black elite and free of guilt for having made it to the other side of the tracks. 

Stirling Bradley

Ron and Bernard don’t always see eye-to-eye. There’s a bit of tension between the two men who both are in love with Bernard’s wife, Pam.

Marvin and Rowena are the voices of reason in the group – mostly to no avail. Marvin tries to convince Bernard to leave his mistress – and to think twice about trying to buy the company at which he’s worked for years.

While taking in a spa day together, Rowena speaks freely to her friend Pam about her husband’s infidelity and about owning her part in the relationship. Their debate on colorism, which rings of authenticity, is a highlight of the show.

Rogelio Douglas III

Save for Few’s energetic performance, the show lacks passion and any sense of urgency or energy.

It’s strange because the show has capable actors, they just don’t sell the material.

That falls squarely on Guillory’s shoulders. While he makes good use of the stage, Guillory’s direction doesn’t move the needle forward.

While Wesley’s prose is brilliant, in this production it drags. The show could literally be cut by 30-45 minutes.

"The Talented Tenth," directed and produced by Ben Guillory, stars Nic Few, Tiffany Coty, Jessica Obilom, Monte Scalante, Stirling Bradley, Julio Hanson, Rogelio Douglas III, and Guillory.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), “The Talented Tenth” gets an L. 

Running time: Two (2) hours, including a 15-minute intermission.

“The Talented Tenth,” The Robey Theatre Company at Los Angeles Theatre Center, Theatre Four, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013, 8 p.m., Thurs.- Sat. 3 p.m., Sun. through December 10, Dark November 23 (Thanksgiving), $40, Students, group tickets, seniors, and veterans with ID, $25. Q&As will follow Sunday performances. For information: http://therobeytheatrecompany.org (213) 489-7402/ info@therobeytheatrecompany.org