By Mark F. Gray, Staff Writer, mgray@afro.com There are those who need the spirit of Christmas time to feel jolly. But when your passion is jazz music and you can practice your passion professionally with your brother and some of today’s accomplished mainstream contemporary artists, each day is a jolly one for sure. Such is the life […]
Category: ENTERTAINMENT
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, TV and Film
AfroPop Producer On Bringing the African Diaspora to the Living Room
By Nadine Matthews, Special to the AFRO Seeing the need for more programming that reflected the fullness of the Black diasporic experience, filmmaker Duana Butler and Co-Executive Producer Leslie Fields-Cruz, decided to do something about it. They created the series AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange, a unique program which combines travel and cultural exchange with […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
Rap Star Releases Tune Paying Homage to Bill Cosby
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent Tennessee recording artist Memphis Jelks’ latest – an interesting – single has slowly become a hit via downloads and social media play. The song, “NN7687,”is a tribute to one of America’s most notable prison inmates: Bill Cosby. Cosby’s official Twitter account even tweeted a thank you to the artist […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music, National News, NEWS
Members of Congress Introduce Bill to Award Aretha Franklin with Congressional Gold Medal
By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor In the wake of the Aug. 16 death of the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), along with Representatives Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) and Doug Collins (R-GA) have introduced legislation to posthumously award Franklin the Congressional Gold Medal. The legendary artist died […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Baltimore Community, Baltimore News, ENTERTAINMENT, Living for the Weekend, NEWS
LIVING FOR THE WEEKEND
By Valerie Fraling, Special to the AFRO “I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day.I don’t borrow from its sunshine for its skies may turn to gray. I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said. And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead. […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Homepage Slider, TV and Film, Uncategorized
Hughley Brings “The Funny” To IMPROV
By M.P. Stone, Contributing Editor, Texas Metro News D.L. Hughley truly did “bring it” this past weekend at the Addison Improv and he brought four more of the funniest men on the planet with him. It was non-stop, wall to wall, head-shaking, hands in the air, gut-busting laughter in the house from the moment the […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, LIFE & STYLE, Living, TV and Film
Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe Marks 60 Years By Looking Back At Its Founder
By JOCELYN NOVECK, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — It was March 1958 when an African-American dancer named Alvin Ailey, then making his living on the Broadway stage, gathered up a group of fellow dancers and presented a one-night show of his own works. In the audience at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan was […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music, National News, NEWS
Barack Obama Appears on Miranda’s Latest ‘Hamilton’ Song
By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Barack Obama, or Barap Obama? The former U.S. president appears on a reworked song by Lin-Manuel Miranda originally from the Broadway hit “Hamilton.” Released Friday, “One Last Time (44 Remix)” features Obama reciting a passage from George Washington’s farewell address. In this Dec. 12, 2018 file photo, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, LIFE & STYLE, National News, NEWS
Obama Says Designer’s Energy Informed her Fashion Choices
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — For Michelle Obama, choosing what designer to wear while she was in the White House involved many factors, from diversity to whether they were a nice person. Obama talked the decisions behind the outfits that made headlines during her time as first lady during […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
AP Source: Travis Scott in Talks to Perform at Halftime Show
By MESFIN FEKADU, AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper Travis Scott is in talks to perform at the Super Bowl halftime in Atlanta, The Associated Press has learned. A person familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak about the topic publicly, told […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
Hold up, Beyonce Did Not Release New Music
By MESFIN FEKADU, AP Music Writer There’s no more juice in Beyonce’s lemonade jar: The singer did not release new music though two albums featuring old Beyonce songs hit streaming services Thursday. Under the name Queen Carter, the albums “Have Your Way” and “Back Up, Rewind” appeared on Spotify and Apple Music, featuring demos, previously […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, TV and Film
Best Films of 2018
By Dwight Brown, NNPA News Wire Film Critic In 2018, the stories told, talent on view, compelling characters, emotions expressed and genres stretched were just amazing. It was more than enough to make viewers track films from the theaters to streaming services. Or vice versa. Best Films of 2018. Check out the year in movies. […]
