Rhythm & Blues Hall Of Fame May Be In Detroit

Los Angeles, United States, June 22, 2017 - On June 11, 2017, The Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame had the 5th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Detroit, and now the number of inductees has risen to (151). Now it is more imperative than ever, for the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame to find a home for its inductees. Founder LaMont Robinson and his board members, have discovered a site that could potentially be the new home for the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame Museum, which will house memorabilia of inductees such as Michael Jackson, James Brown, BB King, Jackie Wilson, Prince, Whitney Houston and Detroit's own, the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. This site is located less than a half mile away from the Motown Hitsville USA Museum.

Robinson and a contingent of past hall of fame inductees, visited the Detroit City Council to express their interest and support in having the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame build a permanent museum in Detroit. The City Council directed Robinson and his supporters to find a location and bring the information back to them for their review. Today, the board is happy to announce that they've found a city-owned building on West Grand Blvd., which was the site of a former nursing home. From his office on Wednesday, Robinson said “the thought of having the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Museum on West Grand Blvd is a dream come true. With the iconic Motown Hitsville USA Museum less then a mile away, it would be a treat for music fans, not only in Detroit but globally, to have two extraordinary institutions of music history in such close proximity”. Cheryl Ruffin, Vice President of the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and the daughter of the late great David Ruffin of the Temptations, also chimed in; “this would bring such a major economic boost to Detroit”.

In addition, as noted previously, the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame has wide-ranging support from an abundance of Motown legends for example, Dionne Warwick, in the political arena with high-profile activist Rev. Al Sharpton and from Hollywood, with Oscar winner Morgan Freeman leading the charge. Erecting the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Museum in a city that has a long-standing musical history, would without question, cement Detroit as the Rhythm & Blues Capital of the World.

From the information the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame board has culled regarding the new plans for West Grand Blvd, and the $50,000,000.00 (million dollar) development for the Motown Hitsville USA Museum, the board could easily see an influx of 500,000 (thousand) to 1,000,000 (million) tourists visiting the new Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Museum on West Grand Blvd. The traffic would be akin to Beal Street in Memphis or to the multiple museums in Nashville. Both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland) and the Country Music Hall of Fame (Nashville) have an annual attendance of over 500,000 (thousand) visitors, but neither has the musical legacy of Detroit.

The Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Museum will be a state-of-the-art, 45,000 sq. ft., highly interactive, virtual reality facility. It will take visitors on a journey of the history of R & B music from the days of the so-called “chitlin' circuit”, to historic venues and nightclubs, radio personalities, unsung heroes and heroines, on through to legendary record companies. This museum will have a hall of fame area for inductees, a walk of fame, a 500 seat theater, a musical themed restaurant, a gift shop, an urban youth after-school music academy, and a wing named the Motor-City Sound, dedicated to the history of Detroit music; Paradise Valley, The Flame Show Bar, The 20 Grand, radio legend Ernie Durham and radio station WJLB.
The board of the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, have started its fundraising events and has plans to announce a media partnership deal within the next few months, to televise its 2018 induction ceremony. Their plan is to first, meet with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, the City Council and its President Brenda Jones, who was honored by the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015, to discuss how they can partner to make this phenomenal global project a reality.

Honorees Feted At Salute To Black Music Awards

(l-r) Honoree Lee Bailey, BBA Founder Earl "Skip" Cooper and Honoree Clarence Avant 

Los Angeles, CA — Last night at the Salute To Black Music Awards gala, the Black Business Association (BBA) (the oldest ethnic business organization in California), commemorated Black Music Month by recognizing two nationally-renowned African American entertainment icons: music executive and film producer Clarence Avant, and radio pioneer Lee Bailey. 

This year’s theme was “The Business Behind the Music.” Ethiopia Habtemariam, president, Motown Records & Urban Music-UMPG, Inc., served as the awards dinner chairperson, and  Quincy Jones was the honorary awards dinner chairman.

The ballroom was filled with hundreds of Black entrepreneurs and executives from every business sector. Danny Bakewell, Sr., owner of The Bakewell Company and the Los Angeles Sentinel, and co-founder of the National Black United Fund, spoke about how Black businesses must support each other. Also in attendance were Debra Lee, chairman & CEO BET Network, Honorary Gwen Moore, GeM Communications, Jon Platt, CEO/Chairman Warner Chappell Music, Mark Ridley-Thomas, chairman of the board of supervisors, Second District; Nicole Avant Sarandos (former US Ambassador to the Bahamas), Ted Sarandos (COO, Netflix), Jerry Moss (co-founder A&M Records), just to name a few.  Grammy Award winner/songwriter & producer BeBe Winans and young vocalist Zipporah Robinson both performed.

“Clarence Avant and Lee Bailey are two highly influential executives in the music andentertainment industries,” said BBA President and CEO Earl “Skip” Cooper II. “They each are single-handedly responsible for opening doors and making the way for today’sblack music genres.  It is the BBA’s honor to acknowledge and highlight their contributions to disseminating African American culture around the world.”

(l-r) Danny Bakewell, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Clarence Avant,
Quincy Jones and Lee Bailey

About Clarence Avant

Clarence Avant is known as the “Godfather of Black Music” for his deal-making acumen and business savvy. In addition to managing artists like Blues legend Little Willie John, jazz producer Creed Taylor and composer Lalo Schifrin, he launched two record companies, Sussex and Tabu, which cultivated the careers of Bill Withers, Dennis Coffey, and the S.O.S. Band.  As a businessman, Avant worked with Al Bell to finalize a deal to sell Stax Records to Gulf & Western Industries for $4.3 million, a record-setting amount in the late 1960s.

Over the span of six decades, Avant has diligently and steadily built a storied career, including promoting Michael Jackson’s first solo tour and serving as chairman of Motown Records. Along the way, he has mentored such music producers as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and LaFace Records’ L.A. Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. Avant has been honored with numerous awards including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016.

About Lee Bailey

Legendary broadcaster Lee Bailey launched Bailey Broadcasting Services out of his garage in 1979. This was the humble beginning of the iconic on-air magazine, RadioScope, which lasted for two decades. The show was a forerunner in syndicated urban radio programming, setting the stage for an entire genre of syndicated radio programming. An early adopter of technology, Bailey launched Electronic Urban Report, EURweb.com, in 1996. Since its inception, EURweb has become one of the premier urban entertainment and headline news sites on the web, with more than two million unique visitors per week.

During the course of his career, Bailey has interviewed music industry superstars rangingfrom Michael Jackson to Chaka Khan to Don Cornelius. Billboard magazine honored himas the “Best Syndicated Urban Radio Program” and he received the “Men of Courage”award from The Carnation Company.

On several occasions since 1980, the BBA has paid tribute to music industry legends. Some past honorees include: Berry Gordy Jr., Smokey Robinson, Jheryl Busby and Janet Jackson. 

A Film Review: 'Transformers: The Last Knight'

By Darlene Donloe

To save the future, you must unlock the past. That is the concept and mission of Transformers: The Last Knight, Michael Bay’s latest installation in the franchise - out nationwide Wednesday, June 21.

It’s been three years since the last Transformers: Age of Extinction film.  It was a hit!

In this latest edition Optimus Prime is back and badder than ever. No, he’s really bad!  He goes rogue and the world may end as a result.  You don’t want Optimus Prime on the side of the enemy.

The film opens with a raucous human vs. Transformers fight that is no-holds-barred and massive.

The main players are back. Mark Wahlberg, as Cade Yeager, is not only the “chosen one,” he is still protecting the Transformers. Josh Duhamel is still a military man. The always wonderful Anthony Hopkins adds class to the proceedings returning as Lord Edmund Burton, who is out to help save Earth by exploring the history of Transformers on the planet. John Turturro is back as Agent Seymour Simmons.

As always, the Transformers, with their distinctive, hilarious personalities, move the film forward. Their repartee is clever. There’s the popular Bumblebee, Cogman (Jim Carter), Hot Rod (Omar Sy) and Drift (Ken Watanabe). Sqweeks (Reno Wilson), who is about a rickety as they come, is a new autobot who is a great addition.  The artists lending their voices are impressive.  Frank Welker is Megatron, Erik Aadahl is Bumblebee, John Goodman is Hound, Steve Buscemi is Daytrader, John DiMaggio is Nitro Zenus/Crosshairs, Steven Barr is Volleybot, Tom Kenny is Wheels and Jess Harnell is Barricade. But, the fans of this franchise would riot if Optimus Prime wasn’t back. He is – in all his glory.

This time there are a couple of new additions. Jerrod Carmichael (The Carmichael Show) plays Jimmy, a car junkyard employee – who is really there to make sure the Transformers fugitives have everything they need. There is also Laura Haddock, who plays a classy and knowledgeable Oxford Professor, who, for some inexplicable reason walks around in six-inch heels at the most ridiculous times.

The film starts off back in the day – like, literally back in the day - during the age of Camelot and King Arthur and Merlin, played firmly and with wit by Stanley Tucci.

This is the story: Humans are at war with the Transformers, and Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving the future lies buried in the secrets of the past and the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Now, it's up to Cade Yeager, Bumblebee, an English lord and an Oxford professor to save the world.

The special effects are state of the art.  Michael Bay does what he does – and he does it well. It’s just that, this time, it feels very familiar. Even though the battles are bigger and the film is louder, it still feels the same. There was no WOW! Still, Transformers fans will probably eat this up.

At 2 ½ hours long, the film is about 40 minutes too long. The film becomes redundant, but to diehard fans it will probably still be a lot of fun!

Transformers: The Last Knight, directed by Michael Bay, stars Mark Wahlberg, Laura Haddock, Jerrod Carmichael, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Hopkins, Isabella Moner, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro and Tony Hale. Optimus Prime is voiced by Peter Cullen.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah), E (excellent), Transformers: The Last Knight gets an L (likable).  The film is RATED-PG:13

Dwayne Johnson Set To Headline 'Rampage'

                Dwayne Johnson headlines the action adventure “Rampage,” directed by Brad Peyton.  

                Primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson), a man who keeps people at a distance, shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth.  But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size.  To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals.  As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.   

        “Rampage” also stars Oscar nominee Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”), Malin Akerman (TV’s “Billions”), Jake Lacy (TV’s “Girls”), Joe Manganiello (TV’s “True Blood”) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TV’s “The Walking Dead”); as well as P.J. Byrne (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Marley Shelton (“Solace”), Breanne Hill (“San Andreas”), Jack Quaid (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), and Matt Gerald (TV’s “Daredevil”).

Peyton directs from a screenplay is by Ryan Engle and Adam Sztykiel, story by Ryan Engle, based on the video game Rampage.

“Rampage is produced by Beau Flynn, John Rickard, Hiram Garcia and Brad Peyton.  It marks the third collaboration between Johnson, Peyton and Flynn, following the blockbuster hit “San Andreas.”  Serving as executive producers are Marcus Viscidi, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Jeff Fierson, with Wendy Jacobson co-producing. 

The creative team includes production designer Barry Chusid (“San Andreas”), director of photography Jaron Presant (2^ndunit, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”), editor Jim May (“Goosebumps”) and costume designer Melissa Bruning (“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”).  Music will be composed by Andrew Lockington, who created the scores for “San Andreas” and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.”

The “Rampage” creatures are brought to life by acclaimed VFX supervisor Colin Strause (“San Andreas,” “X-Men: Apocalypse”), with five-time Academy Award-winning visual effects company Weta Digital (“The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”).

“Rampage” opens in theaters beginning April 20, 2018.

A New Line Cinema presentation, a Wrigley Pictures/Flynn Picture Company/7 Bucks Entertainment production, in association with ASAP Entertainment, “Rampage” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: Celebs Name The Artist They Could Listen To For The Rest Of Their Life

By Darlene Donloe

June is Black Music Month and what better time to celebrate its rich history.

For centuries, Black musicians, singers, writers and producers have made incredible contributions to the music industry.

This is the month 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 the month of celebration 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, President Obama declared the month of June 2016 “African-American Music Appreciation Month” in a presidential proclamation. Although June was first deemed “Black Music Month” by Jimmy Carter and campaigned for by songwriter and producer Kenneth Gamble back in 1979, as the nation’s first Black president, Barack Obama felt strongly that an official proclamation was more appropriate.

The 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 appreciation of music that is composed, arranged, or performed by African Americans.”

I caught up with some celebrities and asked them the following: If you had to listen to only one artist’s music for the rest of your life, whose would it be?

Jamie Foxx

JAIME FOXX – Prince, Prince!  He was so amazing! Prince. I got a chance to see the When Doves Cry Tour. He was so amazing. I met Prince Dec. 31, 1998, in Las Vegas. At the time I was doing a show at Studio 54. I look up and see Prince and start crying. Oh, snap, I start crying. Man, you know who you are.  I’m marching, didn’t know what to say, started singing. I begged for a picture. This is my moment. The Time is playing and then Morris Day says, ‘break it down a little bit’. He comes out in a purple feathered like bomber jacket and black pants and a huge purple guitar and Gucci shades. He did a guitar solo. Man!

Kerry Washington

KERRY WASHINGTON (Scandal) – The soundtrack to Hamilton, the musical.

BeBe Winans

BEBE WINANS (Born For This) – Gladys Knight. No question.  She’s everything.

Marlon Wayans

MARLON WAYANS (Marlon) – Michael Jackson. You can listen to the Jackson 5 and to Michael Jackson.

Kofi Siriboe

KOFI SIRIBOE – (Queen Sugar)  Frank Ocean.

Joe Morton 

JOE MORTON (Scandal) – Cassandra Wilson because her sensibility of jazz and blues is, just in my mind, brilliant. Her arrangers are brilliant. I love her work.

Vivica A. Fox

VIVICA A. FOX – Michael Jackson – Without a doubt. I love his music. I was a huge fan. I’m still a huge fan. We grew up with Michael Jackson. His legacy will last you all year. It goes from his childhood to his solo career. It’s inspiring!

David Alan Grier

DAVID ALAN GRIER (The Carmichael Show) Johnny Hartman

Dawn-Lyen Gardner

DAWN-LYEN GARDNER (Queen Sugar) Nina Simone.

Amber Stevens West

AMBER STEVENS WEST (The Carmichael Show)  Michael Jackson.

Isiah Whitlock Jr. 

ISIAH WHITLOCK JR. (Cars 3) Prince!

Obba Babatunde

OBBA BABATUNDE – Nancy Wilson because when I hear her sing, she rearranges the molecules in my body.

Akbar Gbajabiamila

AKBAR GBAJABIAMILA (American Ninja Warrior)  Michael Jackson.  It doesn't get any better than Michael Jackson.

Disney Pixar's 'Cars 3' Is On The Right Track

By Darlene Donloe

Fans of the Cars (2006) franchise will not be disappointed with the latest installment, Cars 3, set for nationwide release today, Friday, June 16.

The Disney Pixar animated film puts it in high gear this time with a story about a new generation of fast cars that challenges the prowess and ability of the legendary Lighting McQueen, voiced by Owen Wilson.

Some of the faster cars would like to put McQueen out to pasture. But McQueen is not having it. He turns to Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), an eager young technician to help him get in shape and find his mojo. Ramirez has her own plans for winning. McQueen also enlists the help of others, ultimately reuniting the old car crew. 

This time the cars take on more human features.

Cars 3 is directed by Brian Fee and stars Kerry Washington, Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Armie Hammer, Nathan Fillion, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Michael Wallis, Larry The Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin and Lea DeLaria.

I recently caught up with Kerry Washington (KW), Cristela Alonzo (CA) and Isiah Whitlock Jr. (IWJ) to talk about the movie.  Washington plays television personality Natalie Certain, Alonzo plays race car driver Cruz Ramirez and Whitlock plays legendary race car driver River Scott.

KerryWashington

Q:  Kerry, this movie features some strong women.

KW: I’m happy to be a part of a franchise like this one. I think it’s fun to see women who are brave, smart, courageous and teachable.  Sometimes you have to be humble enough to learn lessons. To have heart and passion is the most important thing.

Q: What about you Cristela? Your feelings about the role women play in the film?

CA:  We tried to forget about gender, it’s about having skills.  We don’t refer to my character as a female driver. We reference that she’s good. It’s a great way to talk about female empowerment. We’re all the same. We don’t care about gender. The best will win.

Q: Kerry, a lot of people need and have mentors.  Do you?

KW:  Yes, Shonda Rhimes. Even though she’s my boss on Scandal, she’s also a friend. I look up to her as a leader, mom and citizen of the world. She’s pretty badass.

Q: Kerry, will you watch this with your kid?

KW: I watched it with my kid and my mother. It was exclusively with women. The movie resonated with all of us. It embraces everybody’s heart. It’s exciting to be a part of this.

Cristela Alonzo

Q: Cristela what is the movie’s message?

CA:  It’s a good thing to tell kids that they matter. Sometimes as parents and grownups we get too busy surviving. It’s nice to have a dream and actually achieve it.  This isn’t about boys vs. girls. I want poor kids to know they can do it. We don’t have enough female characters where they succeed.  This is a story about hope. My mom did a good job of having me enjoy life. I like to wake up and feel grateful for everything I have.

Q: Kerry, this movie has a lot of lessons for kids.

KW: A lot of people feel like outsiders. No matter what it looks like to you, it will resonate with all people. It’s not about the girl winning – they win together. If we work together there is room for everyone at the table.

Isiah Whitlock Jr.

Q: Isiah, what was the pitch that got you to participate in this movie?

IWJ:  The Wendell Scott aspect got me. They came to me with what they wanted me to do. When they said Wendell’s name I was in.

(Wendell Oliver Scott was the first African-American driver in NASCAR, and the first African-American to win a race in the Grand National Series, NASCAR's highest level.)

Wendell Oliver Scott

Q: You’re voicing a rather important person in the film.

IWJ:  I really feel we need to pay attention to the pioneers who came before us to see how we got to where we are today.  Scott didn’t have sponsors and equipment. He had so many obstacles, but he was able to persevere. In Cars 3 we deal with the passion and heart of racing.

Q:  The cars in this movie take on more human features this time.

IWJ:  I’m always amazed at how they cross the line and humanize the movie. I’d forget that they are cars. It’s fascinating how they are able to do that.