The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center is proud to share that the first stop of BHERC Films on Tour is in Oakland, California! The S. E. Manly African American Film Festival Benefitting Tech Exchange is taking place this weekend, Friday, July 12 - Saturday, July 13.
“Westside Chill” will be released on vinyl on National Vinyl Record Day; “Jaco’s Court” drops as a single on September 21, the anniversary of Jaco Pastorius’s passing.
Guitarist Joe Taylor successfully reentered the contemporary jazz space earlier this year after a seventeen-year absence with the release of his “Westside Chill” album, showcasing his rootsy blend of instrumental jazz, Americana twang, and earthy blues. Now the ten-song set that he wrote and was produced by four-time Grammy winner Steve Rosenthal will be released by Moonwatcher Music on vinyl on National Vinyl Record Day, August 12.
“With the release of ‘Westside Chill’ on vinyl, I wanted to take part in the great Vinyl Revival. I’ve always loved the way it sounds and feels when I pull a vinyl record off the shelf, drop the needle, and enjoy the art behind both the music, the cover and the package, experiencing it the way the artist intended. I hope folks will appreciate ‘Westside Chill’ in the same fashion,” said Taylor who is flanked on the album by jazz pianist Jeff Franzel, bassists Woody Lingle and Brian Stanley (Bryan Adams), drummer Steve Holley (Paul McCartney & Wings), percussionist Blair Shotts, and flutist John Ragusa.
Taylor spent decades splitting his time between New York City and the South Carolina Lowcountry with both cultures informing his recordings, including “Westside Chill.” In the mid-80s, he used to walk past the basketball court that bass legend Jaco Pastorius played ball on. That memory inspired the tribute tune “Jaco’s Court,” which drops as a single on September 21, the anniversary of the prodigious Pastorious’s passing.
“Right down the street from the Blue Note, Jaco used to play pickup basketball on the West Fourth Street Courts. I’d walk by and see him out there balling. That court has now become one of the most important sights in the city for streetball. Perhaps Jaco's spirit lingers there as well," said Taylor who wrote the song with Lingle, who is featured playing lyrical basslines evocative of Pastorious’s style of play on the track.
Taylor now spends all his time living in the placid Lowcountry along South Carolina’s rural coast. Active in the local community, the guitar player will perform a benefit concert at Sunny Side on Edisto on August 2 accompanied by Franzel, Paul Adamy (bass), and Ray Marchica (drums). The show supports the restoration of the historic Hutchinson House, one of the only Black-owned, Reconstruction-era plantations in the South. The following night, the quartet will play at Fox Music in N. Charleston, SC.
“Westside Chill” and its positive reception have Taylor reinspired and encouraged to build on the momentum. It’s his first album since 2015’s “Sugardust in the Devil Wind” and his first contemporary jazz project since 2007’s “Accidental Sugar.” The New York City-based Franzel, Adamy, and Marchica will trek to the Lowcountry ahead of the two South Carolina concert dates to begin recording Taylor’s next collection. Taylor is eager to further explore modern jazz while remaining true to his Southern roots.
The “Westside Chill” album contains the following songs:
“Westside Chill”
“Jaco’s Court”
“Mr. Campbell”
“Menemsha Fog”
“Twenty-Two Rivers”
“She’s The Moon”
“Available Light”
“The Cooper and the Thief”
“The Cut"
“The Waterman”
AUSTIN, TX (28 JUNE 2024): The last couple of years have been transformational for trumpeter-singer Ilya Serov both musically and personally. Having released three albums centered on his modern interpretations of tunes culled from the Great American Songbook, Serov’s newly released Silky Sound Records album, “Colors,” is his first collection comprised entirely of original songs that he had a hand in writing. This artistic rebirth happened simultaneously with Serov becoming a father for the first time. Both life-changing events celebrate the maturation of the man and the musician.
The 10 songs on “Colors” provide a vibrant palette of soul-jazz, R&B grooves, and Brazilian jazz instrumentals along with a few iridescent pop vocals. Serov produced three tracks and tapped two-time Grammy winner, Paul Brown, multiple Grammy nominee Darren Rahn, and 16-time Billboard chart-topper Adam Hawley to produce the rest. Billboard hitmakers Jeff Ryan (saxophone) and Oli Silk (keyboards) were brought in as featured players.
“Colors” closes with “Blossom,” a gorgeous ballad that embodies Serov’s flourishing growth.
“It took many years of being a professional musician and releasing albums featuring songs from the Great American Songbook until I was able to overcome my insecurities and vulnerabilities and gain confidence to reveal my inner voice and share creative ideas with the public. ‘Colors’ is a tapestry, fusion of musical genres, blend of cultures and backgrounds, friendships and so much more,” said the Austin, Texas-based Serov.
The album opens with the first single, “Champagne Sky,” a vintage-contemporary jazz instrumental showcasing Serov’s regal trumpet with elegant nylon guitar nuances perfectly placed by Brown. It was the first song penned for the project.
Hawley helmed “Beat of My Heart,” a pop gem that Serov said was written as a note of gratitude for his family, wife Amanda and son Caden. According to Serov, Caden’s terrible twos arrived as the artist worked on the album, which made life more complicated and the project more challenging and stressful to complete.
“Family, touring, and studio work were hard to balance. Lots of sleepless nights with the baby. It was hard to keep my mind fresh and have a lot of energy to create. Having a family is an amazing thing, despite all the challenges. With this song, I want to remind myself of it every day,” Serov shared.
The beaming midtempo “Glow” was the second single from “Colors” and it’s another Serov-Hawley collab followed by a third Hawley production, “Sea Breeze.” Ryan’s tenor sax shines on the funky instrumental.
“I am so happy my dear friend Jeff (Ryan) was able to join me on this track. He’s an incredible saxophonist with one of the best tones and energy,” enthused Serov.
Serov and Brown link up again on the dreamy slice of sensual pop “Ice & Fire,” which was accompanied by a handsome video.
A longtime fan of Brazilian music, Serov surrounded himself with Brazilian musicians to track “A Day in Rio.” Grammy-winning bassist Hussain Jiffry (Sergio Mendes, Herb Alpert) co-wrote the song with Serov and plays on the multicultural excursion.
“I always have been a huge fan of Brazilian music. Samba and bossa nova are my obsessions. I have been to Brazil a few times and every time I went, I wanted to write something using Brazilian beats and instrumentation. An incredible bassist, Hussain Jiffry, and I have talked about a collaboration for a few years, and the stars aligned on ‘A Day in Rio.’ I had a blast producing this track and building it piece by piece with the most amazing Brazilian players,” said Serov.
Serov chronicles the experience of making the album on the vocal number “Tunnel Vision,” a cut produced and cowritten by Rahn that became an expression of mindfulness and appreciation for Serov.
“The days in the studio were starting to blend one into the other. That’s when the idea for ‘Tunnel Vision’ came up. It was my way of reminding myself of the important things. Working on this song was a great outlet for me and helped me to continue. Working on the album was super fun and exciting,” said Serov.
Silk’s keyboards help buoy “Afloat,” a soothing song that Serov wrote a few years ago and saved for this album. On the track, Serov played an innovative new horn that he co-created called a jazzohorn, which is a unique hybrid of a flugelhorn and a saxophone.
Serov’s muted trumpet and sultry voice combine on the ambient “Dreams,” which Hawley produced.
Teaming with friend and collaborator Nick Petrillo (keyboards) on the poignant and pretty “Blossom” enabled both musicians to tap into their classical backgrounds.
Citing jazz legend Chet Baker as a major inspiration, Serov’s last outing was the 2021 “Just Friends” album on which he kept the company of sax star Dave Koz, keyboardist Greg Manning, guitarist Kay-Ta Matsuno, vocalist Matt Cusson and saxophonist Alex Hahn. It was Serov’s third album that served a blend of Great American Songbook standards and original songs. His 2013 debut album, “September in the Rain,” was a big band date followed five years later by “Back in Time,” an album that featured collaborations with piano icon Roger Kellaway, six-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and Grammy-winning percussionist Poncho Sanchez. Serov has also composed music for films and has performed on scores that include “Creed II,” “Deadpool 2” and “Addams Family 2.”
The album release will be feted on July 26 with a concert at Spaghettini south of Los Angeles. Joining him will be multi-instrumentalist Justin-Lee Schultz. A popular performer at jazz festivals, clubs, theaters, and at sea aboard Koz’s all-star cruise (Serov will be back aboard in 2025), Serov will play the Glass City Jazz Festival in Toledo, Ohio on August 10, Spaghettini again on September 8 with special guest Tom Braxton, and the Oxnard Jazz Festival on September 15. Come the holiday season, Serov will join Keiko Matsui for a Christmas concert on December 8 in Florida. For more information, visit https://www.ilyaserov.com.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame has revealed its 2025 class, showcasing a diverse group of iconic figures from various entertainment industries. This year’s honorees include renowned artists like Nia Long, Bill Duke, Glynn Turman, Sherri Shepherd, Courtney B. Vance, and the late Prince, among others.
Notably, Toni Vaz, Hollywood’s first Black stuntwoman and founder of the NAACP Image Awards, will be honored at the age of 101, highlighting her trailblazing contributions to the industry. She worked on films such as “Tarzan,” “The Poseidon Adventure” and “Porgy and Bess” and doubled for legendary actresses Cicely Tyson, Eartha Kitt, Juanita Moore and more.
Beyond her stunt work, Vaz made significant contributions by creating the NAACP Image Awards in 1967, a milestone for which she fought tirelessly for recognition. In an article on the NAACP Los Angeles Branch’s website, Vaz explained, “I called it the Image Awards because I wanted a better image for the people who worked in the industry. I wanted to put this award show together to thank the producers for giving good roles to people of color.”
More than 30 new stars will be added across six categories: motion pictures, television, live theatre/live performance, radio, recording, and sports entertainment.
The selection was announced at a press conference held at Ovation Hollywood, with Niecy Nash, Joe Mantegna, Jimmy Jam, and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president Steve Nissen unveiling the names. Peter Roth, Chairman of the Walk of Fame Selection Committee, expressed excitement about the new class, highlighting their excellence in their respective fields.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2025 Hollywood Walk of Fame honorees:
Motion Pictures
Toni Vaz – Hollywood’s first Black stuntwoman and NAACP Image Awards founder.
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| Bill Duke |
Bill Duke – Veteran actor and director
John Carpenter – Legendary filmmaker known for his work in the horror genre.
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| Nia Long |
Nia Long – Esteemed actress.
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| Glynn Turman |
Glynn Turman – Actor, writer, and director.
Jessica Chastain – Oscar-winning actress and producer.
Jane Fonda – Two-time Oscar-winning actress and activist.
Robert Englund – Actor famed for his role as Freddy Krueger.
Emilio Estevez – Actor and filmmaker.
Colin Farrell – Acclaimed actor.
Lisa Lu – Celebrated Chinese-American actress.
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| Sherri Shepherd |
Television
Sherri Shepherd – Actress and TV personality.
Courtney B. Vance – Acclaimed actor.
Fran Drescher – Actress, writer, and SAG-AFTRA president.
Lauren Graham – Actress, producer, and novelist.
Bill Nye – Renowned science communicator.
Molly Shannon – Actress and comedian.
Chris Wallace – Veteran broadcast journalist.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone – Creators of “South Park” (double ceremony).
Recording
Fantasia – Grammy-winning singer and actress
Depeche Mode – Influential English band.
Green Day – Punk rock band.
Los Bukis – Mexican grupera band.
The B-52s – Iconic rock band.
The Isley Brothers – Legendary soul and R&B group.
Busta Rhymes – Pioneering rapper.
George Strait – Country music legend.
Keith Urban – Award-winning country singer.
WAR – Influential funk band.
Prince – Iconic musician (posthumous).
Live Theatre/Live Performance
Misty Copeland – Trailblazing ballerina.
Alan Cumming – Acclaimed actor and performer.
Sports Entertainment
David Beckham – Retired English footballer.
Orel Hershiser – Former MLB pitcher.
Radio
Adam Carolla – Radio personality and comedian.
These distinguished individuals will have their stars added to the world-famous Walk of Fame, joining the ranks of Hollywood’s elite. Recipients have up to two years to schedule their star ceremonies. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce oversees the Walk of Fame, ensuring its maintenance and the organization of ceremonies, which are free and open to the public. For more information, including ceremony dates and star locations, visit the official Walk of Fame website.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame continues to honor those who have made significant contributions to the entertainment industry, celebrating a legacy of excellence and diversity in the arts.
%20Tiffacy%20Villarin%20and%20Maurice%20Williams%20-%20Photo%20by%20Jeff%20Lorch.jpg) |
| (l-r) Tiffany Villarin and Maurice Williams Photo by Jeff Lorch |
By Darlene Donloe
When we first meet Daniel, it’s admittedly on what he calls one of his “worst days.”
The scene in ‘Tiny Father’ now playing through July 14, in the Gil Cates Theater at The Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, is in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) in the hospital where he’s just become a father to a baby girl, he will name Sophia.
Being a father was not on Daniel’s agenda. He was having carnal fun in a “friends with benefits” relationship with a 36-year-old Japanese woman who, to his chagrin – got pregnant.
Here he is in the hospital with his baby mama, who has had difficulty giving birth, and his newborn daughter who was born with several defects. The first time he sees his micro-preemie baby, he utters the words, ‘She looks fucked up,’ due to all the tubes coming out of her and her tiny premature body lying motionless in an isolette. But now he must face some hard facts. He is forced to choose between becoming the sole caregiver to his biological child - becoming her father – or running away from his responsibility.
The night nurse who is taking care of Daniel’s baby is Caroline, a no-nonsense, by-the-book sort, who is keen on doing her job and doing it well. Through it all, Caroline, who isn’t happy about being away from her family at night, must deal with her domestic issues concerning her husband who isn’t raising their two children the way she would like.
With the help of Caroline (Tiffany Villarin), Daniel (Maurice Williams), who knows nothing about babies, learns to navigate the protocols and frustrations of NICU life on his uncertain path to parenthood.
Chinese-American Playwright Mike Lew has written a 90-minute sometimes funny, mostly heartfelt play where growth is measured in more than grams. The details of the relationship between the baby's mother and Daniel feel like voyeurism on the audience member’s part.
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| Maurice Williams Photo by Jeff Lorch |
Daniel and Caroline initially clash, but eventually mellow out (a bit) as time goes on.
Daniel doesn’t want anything to do with the baby. In his mind, he doesn’t have time to be a responsible parent. He just wanted to have sex. Still, he makes an effort by showing up at the hospital frequently – eventually developing a loving relationship with the baby.
Caroline tells Daniel that the baby will probably be in the hospital for a minimum of three months – a proclamation that he finds hard to swallow. Although the mother has medical insurance, Daniel, a freelance bookstore event planner, doesn’t have insurance but still bemoans the possibility that he may have to come out of pocket with a lot of money.
Days, weeks, and months go by demonstrated by bold, black numbers flashed on the left and right sides of the stage as we see Daniel gradually transform.
Lew has written a touching play about a real issue concerning maturity, love, responsibility, and the human condition.
Director Moritz Von Stuelpnagel’s skillful direction is forever in motion, especially with the stage, which rotates between scenes. Kudos go out to David Meyer for his authentic scenic design. The flashing numbers both downstage right and downstage left are a keen way to keep the audience aware of the time endured in the hospital by baby Sophia, Daniel, and Caroline.
%20Tiffany%20Villarin%20and%20Maurice%20Williams%20in%20Tiny%20Father%20-%20Photo%20by%20Jeff%20Lorch.jpg) |
| (l-r) Tiffany Villarin and Maurice Williams Photo by Jeff Lorch |
But it’s the relationship between Daniel and Caroline that brings this play to life. Both Tiffany Villarin, who plays Caroline, and Maurice Williams, who plays Daniel – are magical to watch with their dramatic, sometimes comedic verbal ping-pong match that plays out effortlessly in this dramedy. The stellar performances of Williams and Villarin force the audience to feel – something. They don’t necessarily tell you what to feel – but if anyone has a pulse – they can't help but feel the very real drama of the situation.
Villarin’s turn as a NICU nurse is spot-on, and Williams meets her toe-to-toe with his interpretation of a hard-nosed, confused, torn yet determined man facing uncertainty.
‘Tiny Father’ is a giant success!
‘Tiny Father,’ written by Mike Lew (Teenage Dick, Tiger Style!) and directed by Mortiz Von Stuelpnagel (Tony Award-nominated), stars Maurice Williams (The Vince Staples Show, Entergalactic) and Tiffany Villarin (…what the end will be, Do You Feel Anger?).
On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), ‘Tiny Father’ gets and E (excellent).
‘Tiny Father,’ Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, 8 p.m. Wed.,-Fri., 3 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 and 7 p.m. Sun., through July 14; $30-$129; 310 208-2028 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.org.
By Darlene Donloe
The voices of Black artists will take center stage during the second season of “Not A Moment, But A Movement” a three-day festival taking place Sat., June 22 – Mon., June 24, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.
The event, presented by the Center Theatre Group (CTG) in collaboration with The Fire This Time Festival and Watts Village Theater Company, is an initiative created to amplify, center, and celebrate Black voices.
This year, six woman-identifying or non-binary playwrights were commissioned to write new plays beginning in January 2021.
Five of the playwrights - Z & Co” f/aka AzizA Barnes, Roger Q. Mason, Tahirih Moeller, Cynthia Grace Robinson, and t. tara turk-haynes—will have their resulting works read during the festival. This will mark the first time that any of the plays will be presented to the public.
The themes of the plays range from personal coming-of-age stories and explorations of gender identity and body dysmorphia; to experiences of intimacy and joy; to complex issues about civil rights and queer identity; and the loss of independence while enduring dementia. The final play is an imagining of when Diahann Carroll, Sidney Poitier, Joann Woodward, Paul Newman, Duke Ellington, and Marlon Brando came together to make the 1961 movie Paris Blues about jazz expatriates in Paris.
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| Roger Q. Mason |
On Sunday, June 23, at 7 p.m., playwright Roger Q. Mason will present ‘Night Cities’ about a young Bayard Rustin before Civil Rights Movement fame. In the play, Rustin must choose between his private desires as a queer Black man and his public calling as an agent of social justice and civic change.
The play, directed by Nancy Keystone, is set against the labor movement of the 1930s and 40s. It embraces the musicality, dream imagery, and liberation of jazz playwriting to explore one man's quest for complex humanity in a world that limits who we are to how we can be used for the good of others.
Mason was recently touted by The Brooklyn Rail as “quickly becoming one of the most significant playwrights of the decade.”
Mason appreciates the praise.
“A significant playwright is a scribe who keeps their culture honest, who speaks truth to power, and who inspires the people of the time in which they live to think about the cosmic obligation they have to make this world better for their ancestors, themselves, and the folks yet to come,” said Mason whose plays have been seen on Broadway at Circle in the Square (Circle Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway at MCC Theatre with Carnegie Hall, La Mama ETC, New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, and more. “The playwright holds a spiritual place in society. The ancients understood that. In classical Egypt and Greece, writers were part of the civic order, granted commissions and places of distinction within socio-political structures because those cultures knew that writers held a key to the divine, reflecting back to people they were, who they could be, and who they had been in the past. It’s powerful work that we do as playwrights: through our creations, we help our fellow humans understand the divine.”
Mason chose to write about a young Bayard Rustin because he “Revealed himself to me as a reflection of our dilemmas: the parts of ourselves that we sacrifice, suppress, or amplify to succeed in the world.”
“We are constantly battling between our private and public selves, our inner desires, and our outward presentations,” Mason said. “What we see in the early years of Bayard Rustin was a man struggling with different parts of himself: his religion, his sexuality, his understandings of race and access, and his social awareness. I want audiences to know that Bayard was a complicated, yearning, searching human, just like the rest of us.”
The play is called, ‘Night Cities,’ said Mason, because it discusses Bayard's notions of intimacy, particularly his definitions of free love.
“In his lifetime, he pursued a hearty and plentiful sex life which obliterated the lines between monogamy and sex positivity,” said Mason, who holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. “How do you balance the desire for sexual freedom with commitment to individuals who attract you intensely? There’s a scene in the play where one of his lovers talks about committing to a monogamous relationship and Bayard discusses the ephemerality of queer sex. He equates it to nighttime cities built by lovers through passion, only to disappear in the morning. That scene is the inspiration for the play's title.”
Mason has been involved with Not A Moment But A Movement for several years.
“My relationship with Not A Moment, But A Movement has spanned over three years and reflects my bountiful relationships with Center Theatre Group, Watts Village Theatre, and The Fire This Time Festival,” said Mason. “Cezar Williams, the artistic director of The Fire This Time Festival, has been a champion of my work for over a decade. His belief in me is how I was first introduced to Not A Moment, But A Movement.”
Mason’s playwriting has been seen at numerous venues including on Broadway at Circle in the Square (Circle Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway at MCC Theatre with Carnegie Hall, La Mama ETC, New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, and more.
Other readings in the festival include Tahirih Moeller’s play “Kia Was Here,” (3 p.m., Sat., June 22) directed by Bruce Lemon. It’s about an 18-year-old named Kia and her 15-year-old niece Kamille. The play takes place in the past and in the present.
Moeller, a writer-doodler from Long Beach, has worked with Greenway Court Theatre, Long Beach Playhouse, and PlayGround-LA. Her works include Actually Oranges (When Life Hands You Lemons), and Heroes of the West.
Z & Co” f/aka AzizA Barnes presents ‘FKA I AM A BAD BLK PERSON (7 p.m., Sat., June 22), directed by nicHi douglas, is a continuation of the play BLKS: different characters, same question: why do i laugh when i am in pain? No other information was given.
‘Letters From Loretta,’ (3 p.m., Sun., June 23) written by Cynthia Grace Robinson and directed by Andi Chapman, is an intergenerational love story about a widow living with dementia who clings to a relationship with her late husband while fighting to maintain a life of independence as her daughter, Nora, assumes responsibility for her care.
Robinson’s plays have been produced in the U.S. and internationally. Some of her works include Freedom Summer (North Carolina Black Repertory Company); Dancing On Eggshells (The Billie Holiday Theatre) and Peola’s Passing (New Perspectives Theatre Company; Festival de Teatro Alternativo, Bogota, Colombia), and more.
Blue Paris Blues (7 p.m., Mon., June 24), written by t. tara turk-haynes and directed by Khanisha Foster. The play is about when Diahann Carroll, Sidney Poitier, Joann Woodward, Paul Newman, Duke Ellington, and Marlon Brando came together to make a movie about jazz expats in Paris in 1961.
turk-haynes, a graduate of Lang College and Sarah Lawrence, is a writer whose work has been featured on various stages and screens including Lower Depth Ensemble, Rogue Machine, Company of Angeles, the Hip Hop Theater Festival, the Actor's Studio, Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Schomburg and the Kennedy Center.
Not A Moment, But A Movement, The Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232, June 22-24; $10-$15; tickets@ctgla.org, 213 628-2772.
By Darlene Donloe
June is Black Music Month, a great time to celebrate its rich history.
Black musicians, singers, writers, and producers have made incredible contributions to the music industry for centuries.
This month is set aside to pay homage to all those individuals who, through their music, have made us smile, laugh, cry dance, tap our feet, clap our hands, and swivel our hips.
President Jimmy Carter officially designated Black Music Month on June 7, 1979. It was during a reception at the White House, which featured performances by Chuck Berry, Billy Eckstine, Little Richard, and Andre Crouch.
On May 31, 2016, President Barack Obama declared the month of June 2016 – ‘African American Music Appreciation Month’ in a presidential proclamation.
June was first deemed ‘Black Music Month’ by Jimmy Carter and campaigned for by songwriter and producer Kenneth Gamble back in 1979. The month was bought forth by Gamble, Cleveland radio DJ Ed Wright, and media strategist Dyana Williams.
As the nation’s first Black president, Obama felt strongly that an official proclamation was more appropriate than just ‘Black Music Month’.
His proclamation calls Black music, “Among the most innovative and powerful art the world has ever known.” President Obama also called upon “Public officials, educators, and people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs that raise awareness and foster an appreciation of music that is composed, arranged, or performed by African Americans.”
This year (2024) President Joe Biden will once again celebrate Black Music Month with a Juneteenth concert featuring Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Charlie Wilson, Kirk Franklin, Anthony Hamilton, Brittney Spencer, Trombone Shorty, and more.
I caught up with some celebrities and asked them the following question.
Who are the three best female singers of all time?
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| Keith David |
KEITH DAVID (actor, singer) Ella Fitzgerald, and Leontyne Price. There are a lot of really wonderful singers. There is a sista I’ve been listening to named Samara Joy. She has a wonderful voice.
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| Glynn Turman |
GLYNN TURMAN I was married to the queen - Aretha. Also, Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday.
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| KiKi Shepard |
KEKE SHEPARD (Television host) Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Sarah Vaughn. I’m torn. There are so many like Billie Holiday.
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| Erica Gimpel |
ERICA GIMPEL: (FAME, God Friended Me, The Night Agent) Billie Holiday, Rachelle Farrell, and Lalah Hathaway.
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| Florence LaRue |
FLORENCE LARUE (The 5th Dimension) That's hard. I'll say Aretha, Whitney Houston, and CeCe Winans.
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| Tarell Alvin McCraney |
TARELL ALVIN MCCRANEY (Geffen artistic director, Oscar winner (Moonlight) and Peabody winner.
It's Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin, and Chaka Khan.
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| Desean K. Terry |
DESEAN K TERRY (The MORNING SHOW) Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Nina Simone.
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| Shanice |
SHANICE - OMG! Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Chaka Khan.
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| Malachi McCaskill |
MALACHI MCCASKILL (A Strange Loop) Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Jazmine Sullivan.
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| Claude McKnight |
CLAUDE MCKNIGHT (Take 6) There is no such thing as the best. Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston.
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| Michael W. Twitty |
MICHAEL W. TWITTY (food historian, author) I'll say Mahalia Jackson, Chaka Khan, and Aretha.
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| T.J. Wilkins |
T.J. WILKINS (singer) Wow, Aretha, Ella Fitzgerald, and Whitney Houston.
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| James IJames |
JAMES IJAMES (Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright) That's hard. I'll say Sarah Vaughn, Whitney, and Aretha.
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| Eriq La Salle |
ERIQ LA SALLE (ER) Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Leela James.
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| Gerald Ramsey |
GERALD RAMSEY (Mufasa – The Lion King) - Whitney Houston, she’s on the playlist every day. Ella Fitzgerald – there is always joy and light in every song she sings. The Yandall Sisters – a sister group that sings old-school Samoan songs. I keep a playlist on my phone.
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| Michael Feinstein |
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN (singer) Ethel Waters, Rosemary Clooney, and Tina Turner.
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| Kent Gash |
KENT GASH (director ‘Jelly’s Last Jam’): You’re trying to get me killed. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie Holiday. I chose all three because none of them are similar. But the second you hear two notes, you know it’s them. They can all swing like no one’s business. Ella was a friend of the family.
