Quincy Jones, the multitalented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, has died at 91.
Clarence Avant was one of our favorite people. He exemplified a certain level of cool and street smarts that allowed him to move confidently into worlds that nobody had prepared him for, never doubting he could figure it out.
Clarence Avant, lovingly known as “The Black Godfather,” was called home to rest on August 13, at the age of 92. One of Black music’s most extraordinary executives, Avant was renowned for his business acumen, industry expertise, philanthropist efforts and social justice advocacy.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced its 2023 Hollywood Bowl summer concert season on Tuesday, Feb. 7. This season’s lineup does not disappoint. What we get in this season’s lineup are exceptional artists making their first appearance at one of the most famous live venues in the world.
Pianist and composer Paul Cornish has performed around the world from Europe, Australia, and South America to Carnegie Hall, and worked with esteemed artists from Herbie Hancock to John Legend. He won the American Jazz Piano Competition in 2018, and he is on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
Bette Braxton, longtime friend of the Brotherhood Crusade and Bakewell Media, recently celebrated her 90th birthday with a surprise party hosted by Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., because, he said, “We all love her!”
Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy (DADA) has joined a long list of sponsors offering a prize to the winners of the 2022 “Uplifting Minds II” (ULMII) Entertainment Conference’s national talent competition. DADA is offering the dance category winner 10 classes to the Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy. The “ULMII” competition other categories include singing, songwriting and acting. Performers get 4 minutes to showcase their talents before the “ULMII” industry panelists make their decision.
PBS SoCal, Southern California’s home for the premieres of new PBS programs, hosted the world premiere of the new documentary Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story on Feb. 3 at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles. Over 175 guests attended the red-carpet event and standing room only screening and panel discussion that included legendary music producer Quincy Jones, Disney CEO and Williams’ homeowner Robert Iger, as well as Williams’ grandchildren Paul Hudson, Gayle Harvey Beavers and Karen Hudson-Freeman.
At first glance, IFC’s “Sherman’s Showcase” created by comedy duo Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, might seem like a traditional sketch comedy show but it’s much more. At its core is extraordinary music which makes sense since John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Co. and RadicalMedia serve as executive producers. This is best-in-show and if you like to laugh then “Sherman’s Showcase” is going to bring you buckets and buckets of mirth.
What Davis had, that others made comments upon, even from his earliest days was his “star” quality. That’s high praise since he was coming up with other jazz musicians who in turn also became legends yet they didn’t possess a mystic around their persona. Not like Davis who simply didn’t give an “F” and because of that his mystique only grew more. He burned through the ’50s and sauntered through the ’60s using and abusing, drugs and alcohol and building up his mystique which grew darker, and darker.
The award is one of the most prestigious in the music industry
Reggie Rutherford, veteran Operations and Stage manager for numerous television shows, died March 10 in Los Angeles, CA. The 66-year old Rutherford, passed away following years of various health issues, including sleep apnea, according to surviving family members.
AAFCA celebrated prolific producer Jason Blum and breakthrough filmmaker Aneesh Chaganty while handing out trophies to its AAFCA Award winners
The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) is pleased to welcome the amazing Tichina Arnold as the host of our milestone 10th Annual Awards Show. A multi-hyphenated performer, Arnold has been a mainstay in Hollywood and currently stars as Tina Butler opposite Cedric the Entertainer on the CBS hit comedy, “The Neighborhood,” which was recently renewed for its second season.
The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica presents the return of The Reverend Shawn Amos for A Night in Harlem on Friday, February 1 at 8:00pm. In celebration of African American History Month, blackbox curator, Amos, returns to the stage for an evening of songs and storytelling — presenting songs from his album, Harlem, for the first time in ten years. The American roots song cycle tells the story of 1920s black Americans’ migration from the south to Harlem. Amos’ album was inspired by the artists, songs and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance.