By AJ Williams, Michigan Chronicle City.Life.Style Editor More than 20 performing artists, activists and family members will celebrate the life and legacy of Aretha Louise Franklin, known as the Queen of Soul, during a Musical Tribute event at Chene Park Amphitheatre in downtown Detroit on August 30 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. ET. The event […]
Category: ENTERTAINMENT
Fan Charged After Rushing Onstage at Beyonce, Jay-Z Concert
By The Associated Press Police say they are pursuing more charges against a man who rushed onstage during a Beyonce and Jay-Z concert in Atlanta. Atlanta Police officer Lisa Bender told The Associated Press that 26-year-old Anthony Charles Thomas Maxwell ran on stage, approached Jay-Z and made contact with him as the “On the Run […]
Vegan Soulfest Held in Baltimore’s Clifton Park
By Deborah Bailey, Special to the AFRO Baltimore’s fifth Annual Vegan Soulfest brought a peaceful weekend filled with messages of health, wellness and holistic living for the city’s Clifton Park community. Artist Naomi Hanaa shares painting at Vegan Soulfest (Photo by Deborah Bailey) “We felt we needed to bring something positive on this level devoted to […]
Pulitzer-Winning Black Composer George Walker Dead at 96
By AFRO Staff George Walker, a Black Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, pianist and educator, died Aug. 23 at the age of 96. According to NPR, the pioneering virtuoso died at the Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, N.J., from the results of a fall. A prolific originator, Walker has composed over 90 works for orchestra, chamber orchestra, piano, […]
Prince’s Family Sues Doctor Who Prescribed Him Pain Pills
By Steve Karnowski The Associated Press The family of the late rock star Prince is suing a doctor who prescribed pain pills for him, saying the doctor failed to treat him for opiate addiction and therefore bears responsibility for his death two years ago, their attorney announced Aug. 24. Prince Rogers Nelson died of an […]
Aretha Franklin Funeral and Memorials
The Associated Press Aretha Franklin had admirers all over the world, but there’s no doubt that the flame burned brightest in Detroit — the place she was raised and remained for most of her life. It’s difficult to separate the singer from the city, so you better think that the city is saying farewell in […]
SisQo Says ‘I Do’
Baltimore native SisQo marries longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Pham, in an intimate ceremony in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He and fellow Dru Hill members serenaded the new bride with a special rendition of their classic hit, “Beauty,” at the newlyweds’ reception. (Photo by Justin Ross of Ross Multimedia Group)
LIVING FOR THE WEEKEND
By Valerie Fraling, Special to the AFRO “Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.” Aretha Franklin The first time I met Aretha Franklin […]
Robert Townsend and the Secrets Behind ‘The Five Heartbeats’
By Micha Green, AFRO Washington, D.C. Editor, mgreen@afro.com For one night only, fans of the 1991 Robert Townsend film, ‘The Five Heartbeats’ will be able to get an up, close and personal look at the behind-the-scenes action that made the movie heralded as an “instant classic,” and gave the world such songs as “A Heart is a […]
From ‘The New Edition Story’ to Feature Film
By Nadine Matthews, Special to the AFRO The new film “Kin” is actor Myles Truitt’s first feature length film and he is really, really excited about it. “The directors Josh and Jonathan Baker, they really set out to make this movie not like any other sci-fi movie. I really do respect them for that. It’s not […]
Madonna Needs A Reminder on R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
By Micha Green, AFRO Washington, D.C. Editor, mgreen@afro.com After Aretha Franklin’s death last Thursday, MTV quickly added some R.E.S.P.E.C.T. to its broadcast of the Video Music Awards (VMAs), which aired Monday night. Yet in choosing Madonna to say a few words about the legendary singer, MTV’s efforts backfired tremendously, as the pop artist has fellow celebs, fans […]
Virginia Native Awaits Big Break in “The Color Purple”
By Lenore T. Adkins, Special to the AFRO Jamal James is literally waiting in the wings to take the stage in the national tour of “The Color Purple” — he unfortunately can’t go on unless something befalls one of the three male actors he’s following. James, 30, a Centreville, Va. native, is one of two […]

