The 1980s undoubtedly had its fair share of R&B divas, but singer Vesta Williams may have been one of the era’s most underrated talents. The big-voiced songstress was found dead in her El Segundo, Calif. hotel room on Sept. 23, according to the Associated Press. Coroners said the 53-year-old may have died from a potential […]
Author Archives: Gregory Dale
AFRO News Editor
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Family Band Celebrates Love, Wants to Give Back
Like many famous husband and wife bands, Winslow Dynasty’s allure stems from their unique talent and apparent love for each other. “I want to make songs about how fun marriage can be and it’s not boring,” Dontae Winslow, one half of the duo told the AFRO in a recent interview. “Single people tend to say, […]
Posted inMusic Reviews
Songstress Syleena Johnson is Back With the Next Chapter
With her signature raspy powerful vocals, Syleena Johnson has been R&B’s best kept secret for over a decade. The Chicago native was introduced to music at an early age through her father, 1970s soul singer Syl Johnson. With her old school backing, she later launched her own career in the late ’90s with her debut […]
Posted inBaltimore Community, Baltimore News
Pennsylvania Ave. Homecoming Fest Reclaims the Area’s Lost Charm
While Pennsylvania Avenue’s heyday may just be a highlight in many Baltimorean’s memories, the corridor’s annual homecoming celebration aims to recapture its legacy and showcase its importance to new generations. The Royal Theater & Company Heritage Corporation’s Pennsylvania Avenue Homecoming Weekend Festival will commence on Sept. 9 with numerous activities and events in honor of […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Lover’s Duo Diminished to a Single Song
Lovers whose romance was sparked and spawned to the strains of Ashford and Simpson could hardly believe the news of Ashford’s death. Sixty-something boomers wondered when exactly he became 70 and how such a velvety voice, the substantial half of a dynamic duo could be silenced. Legendary performer Nick Ashford, who along with his wife […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Singer Kem ‘Shares His Life’ and Past Struggles with Addiction
With a pair of gold albums and a list of Grammy nominations under his belt, it’s surely safe to say that R&B crooner Kem has found success. Kemistry, his debut album on Motown Records, earned tremendous praise with its single “Love Calls.” His sophomore effort, Album II, sold over 500,000 copies nationwide and hit the […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Black-White Wealth Gap Wider than Ever Before, New Study Finds
The wealth gap between Black families and their White counterparts is now the biggest it has ever been, a recent Pew Research Center study found. According to the report, the median wealth of White households was nearly 20 times that of Black households and 18 times that of Spanish families, data gathered from 1984 to […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Helen Holton: ‘I’m Glad It’s Behind Me’
Baltimore City Councilwoman Helen Holton recently expressed her relief after Maryland’s highest court upheld a judge’s decision to dismiss her criminal charges on bribery and perjury. “I am overjoyed and glad that it’s finally over, and I thank God for doing only what he could do—that’s uphold the innocent,” Holton told the AFRO in a […]
Posted inBaltimore Community, Baltimore News
Success Not Just About ‘Profit’ For Investment Management Tycoon
With over $2 billion in assets, it’s surely safe to say that CEO Eugene Profit’s investment management firm is booming. But the entrepreneur wasn’t always bestowed with prosperity. “I grew up in South Central Los Angeles and we certainly weren’t the wealthiest,” Profit told the AFRO during a recent interview. I remember my experiences and […]
Posted inBaltimore Community, Baltimore News
Local Leaders, National Celebrities to Be Spotlighted at ‘Heart & Soul’ Awards
Hollywood will arrive in Charm City on June 17 as Baltimore-based {Heart & Soul Magazine kicks off its “Heart & Soul Awards” weekend. The two-day event will spotlight notable African-American women in the community and will feature a bevy of local and national celebrities, all coming together to promote the magazine’s mission of enhancing the […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Rep. Charles Rangel Proposes Transition Assistance for Military Veterans
With unemployment among the nations veterans soaring, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) on May 24 proposed legislation to ensure military personnel a smooth transition back to civilian life after service. The proposed measure, named the Mandatory Transition Assistance Act, would require the secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to make participation in Transition Assistance Programs mandatory […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Sisters Share Special Graduation Season
Click here to view more pictures in Lifestyle. As students nationwide anxiously don their caps and gowns this graduation season, three Baltimore sisters are celebrating their achievements in unison. This year, the Wood sisters —Savannah, Portia and Jamaica —all graduated from college. Though their respective fields differ, a drive for success is definitely apparent among […]