Interview with A Champion

 Richard Skipper Photo Credit, Stephen Mosher

Marge Champion Photo from the Marge Champion Photo Collection

I am in favor of covering the stories of individuals who have been in their careers so long they have made quite a history for themselves and therefore their stories are worth detailing.  That is why interviewers like Richard Skipper are important, because he brings people to the fore-front who were the champions of their day, such as 95 year old former dancer, Marge Champion.

Born in Los Angeles, California in 1919, Marge Champion was the daughter of Ernest and Gladys Baskett.  She started dancing at an early age and by 12 became a dance instructor.  Walt Disney noticed her and hired her to model as his character Snow White.  She later modeled for Disney, posing as Maid Marion via Disney’s animated film, “Robin Hood.”  She also posed as the dancing hippo in Disney’s popular film “Fantasia” and modeled as the Blue Fairy in “Pinocchio.”  In fact, Marge’s first husband was Art Babbitt a Disney animator who created the Goofy character.   She later married Gower Champion, enjoying a 26 year marriage until they divorced.  Her third and last marriage was to actress Katey Segal’s father, director Boris Segal.

The Champion dance team of Gower and Marge Champion made quite the name for themselves in Hollywood circles in the 1940s and 1950s, appearing in musicals such as “Show Boat,” “Everything I Have Is Yours” and “Lovely to Look At.”  They did a remake of Roberta in 1935.  The team went on to do their own TV situation comedy series entitled The Marge and Gower Champion Show which featured song and dance numbers.  Drummer Buddy Rich was featured on the show.   Marge appeared in The Red Skelton Hour and years later, appeared in the television program “Fame” and in a Broadway revival of “Follies.”  She also co-authored two books with actress Marilee Zdenek, entitled Catch the New Wind and God Is a Verb.

In 2013, Marge Champion received The Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards Ceremony.

Ms. Champion will share her long and illustrious career with interviewer Richard Skipper at the Spiral Theater, giving him a rare interview into her life, career and Hollywood history on Sunday, October 5^th, beginning with cocktails at 5:00 pm and the actual interview at 5:30 pm.  A Meet and Greet will follow.  

For tickets call 845-365-0720.  Tickets are $35.00. A portion of the proceeds from the evening will go to benefit the Spiral Theater Studio.  The Spiral Theater Studio is located at 300 West 43rd Street (off of 8th Avenue), Room 603, in Manhattan. Seating is limited so get your tickets early. An RSVP is highly recommended.  

To find out more about the interviewer Richard Skipper, see http://www.richardskipper.com/bio.html

If you are interested in Old Hollywood and the stars and movies of that era, you will love this opportunity to meet Ms. Champion.  I know I will be there and I hope you will be there, too.

Black Wall Street Massacre happened in 1921.

 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blakeradio/2014/09/24/topically-yours--actor-and-director-michael-green


http://vimeo.com/9888796

Click the link above to hear the  survivors of the Black Wall Street attack talk about the incident.

Charles Bobbitt: James Brown, The Man and his Music

With the James Brown movie entitled “Get On Up,” being released this weekend, I was fortunate enough to speak with his long time friend and manager, Charles A. Bobbit.

“I knew at 7 years old that I would be involved in show business.  I could not sing or even dance, but I knew one day I would be the power behind an entertainer.  My opportunity came when I saw James Brown at the Apollo.  I told my wife, Ruth, I would work for James Brown one day. My future was with him.  I asked Mr. Brown for a job but it took a few meetings before he hired me. The day he hired me he invited me to his home and it was there he read me.  He told me I would be with him until the day he died.  He told me about myself, my ambitions and knew things about me he couldn’t possibly know.  I met him in 1966, but it wasn’t until 1967 that he hired me.  However, during all that time he was secretly training me to be his personal manager.  He explained there would be too much jealousy if he told people I was his personal manager so he would train me from the ground up.  He started me off as his personal valet and I went everywhere with him while he taught me about the good and bad of show business.  Mr. Brown’s training was so intense, I called myself having attended the University of Brown,” said the 84 year old Mr. Bobbit.

 According to Charles Bobbit, James Brown was an unusual man, changing mood and temperament on a dime.  Although not a bad man, Brown was complex and someone who couldn’t be debated or argued with nor taken for granted.   He was a humane individual that favored education. And he knew music, even though he couldn’t read or write music.  It was all in his head.  Brown insisted his music came directly from God.  Bobbit never saw James rehearse his dance moves, he simply could move fast.  He was limber and had small feet and tiny legs.  Brown came up with the idea of using a cape after watching the wrestler Gorgeous George wrap a towel around his self.  The cape became an integral part of Brown’s act.

Over the years, Brown’s knees became arthritic from dropping to the floor during his songs.  “His knees sometimes would bleed and were scarred and busted up but he didn’t share that with people.  He was a very private and proud man,” explained Charles. “Mr. Brown was traditional.  He insisted on being called Mr. Brown and he himself called people either “Mr” or “Miss.”  Mr. Brown’s word was law. People got along with him as long as you let him be right.  That was the way it was. Everyone knew this.  He wasn’t always correct, but I will tell you something, Mr. Brown was talking about satellites in 1966.  We thought he was nuts but later on all the things he predicted came to be.”

Charles Bobbit also worked with Michael Jackson for three years and advised West African President Omar Bongo and his family.  He has a book entitled, “Making it Happen.” A book tour is planned for the new book due out in 3 weeks. “I know that things are said in other books that are not always true. I was with James Brown for nearly 40 years and I have documented all he said and did, so mine will be an accurate book,” said Bobbit who dubbed Brown the Godfather of Soul.

“You know James Brown scored the movie “Black Caesar,” with Fred Williamson without even watching the movie.  I told him about it and based on what I told him about the movie, Mr. Brown scored it.   I also saw the current movie, “Get On Up,” and even though they left me out and other people close to Mr. Brown out, I thought it was a good movie.  It’s more about his music than his life but I encourage people to see it.”

Brown was starting to have health problems.  He recovered from prostrate cancer but started to feel the effects of aging, diabetes, etc., and decided to slow down touring.  He began coughing, and looked weak although he would not admit to it.  He lost weight. Mr. Bobbit became concerned when James was due to get dental work and asked a doctor to be at the dentist office to examine James before he was gassed for oral surgery.  The doctor told James that he needed to go to the hospital after examining him. This was Christmas Eve. Mr. Bobbit stayed in the hospital room with James when the doctors left after telling Brown they had to drain fluid from his heart. Bobbit discussed with Brown, Brown’s upcoming tour, his movie, and the album James was recording.  James gave Bobbit instruction concerning what to do when he passed. Bobbit assured Brown he was fine. But James said “No, I am leaving here tonight.”  Bobbit insisted Brown would be fine. James repeated he would be leaving that night.  He then clutched his chest, said he was on fire and burning up, fell back on the bed, sighed 3 times, opened his eyes and mouth wide, and died that morning, Christmas Day, at 1:21 am.  Mr. Brown died of congestive heart failure.

One cannot pack a lifetime into a 2 hour movie or even into this article.  For further info about Charles Bobbit’s 40 years with James Brown listen to my show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blakeradio/2014/07/29/topically-yours--charles-bobbitt-james-brown-mgr

Legendary Jazz Musicians Share the Stage for Jazz Forum at 35!

Jazz may have birthed out of slavery but over the years it has taken on many forms. While some say jazz is difficult to define, most agree its key component is improvisation. A music that took shape from the repetitive call and response hollers of African American slaves working on plantations to embody their blues, jazz has grown into a force to be reckoned with.  Eventually, Dixieland jazz was conceived in New Orleans, and then the swing era brought in the big bands, although later bebop shifted the music back to small groups.  Cords and rhythms changed offering freedom of composition as various harmonies and rhythms developed that defined the altering styles that denote jazz as a truly American creative art form defying boundaries.

On Saturday, June 28^th at 8:00 pm nearly 30 jazz greats will come together to offer one of the greatest tributes to jazz experienced on a single stage.  Trumpeter, Executive Director and Jazz Forum Founder, Mark Morganelli, is bringing together jazz alumni to honor the Jazz Forum he established on June 29, 1979 in the East Village in Manhattan. This collection of renowned jazz musicians consisting of artists the likes of Lee Konitz, Larry Willis, Michele Rosewoman, John Burr, Marion Cowings, Charli Persip, T.S. Monk, Candido, David Amram, Bobby Sanabria, Wallace Roney, Steve Turre, Ronnie Cuber, Valery Ponomarev and Bob Mover, to name a few, will celebrate the 35^th anniversary of Jazz Forum via Jazz Forum at 35! as part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival held at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, located at 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square in Manhattan.

“When I established the Jazz Forum back in 1979, which is almost 35 years to the date of the June 28^th show, it was to create opportunities for musicians who at the time weren’t playing many gigs in more established clubs like the Village Vanguard, Fat Tuesday’s or Sweet Basil which were booking the likes of Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and major artists like that.  When I first opened, I started off with trumpeter Dizzy Reece the first weekend and booked Clifford Jordan the second week.  Before long I had jazz going 7 nights a week, a Sunday Singer’s Brunch and even had Barry Harris conducting a jazz workshop at the loft that contained the Jazz Forum for 3 years before we moved to a bigger loft on Bleecker Street.,” recalled Mark who later established Jazz Forum Arts.

The monies from the show will help benefit Morganelli 33 free concerts in 6 venues on Wednesday evenings in Dobbs Ferry and a show in Tarrytown on a 67 acre site for 8 Thursday evenings in July and August.  He does a musical series at Pierson Park on Fridays in August, as well as shows in White Plains, Greenwich, CT and at John Jay College in NYC.  Interested parties can find out more about these show by visiting www.jazzforumarts.org

"I am delighted to participate in the Jazz Forum at 35! event," said T.S. Monk.  "You know financially a career in show business does not leave individuals, especially jazz professionals much to lean on because they are farther down on the financial ladder.  There is a misconception that fame comes with great wealth.  This is show business.  People see the show but they do not see the business.  The business is tough and will continue to be tough.  On the positive side, Mark through the Jazz Forum, has been a launch pad for so many great artists with many wonderful evenings at the loft.  There were so many great events at the Jazz Forum it is difficult to isolate on particular evening.  There is a great deal of room for so many wonderful memories," stated the famed drummer/vocalist/composer.

A child of the 1960s, T.S. Monk was a young jazz musician of the 1970s.  As jazz clubs diminished in numbers there was no place for jazz musicians to work.  "We played the boogaloo gigs which were basically R&B gigs. It was the infusion of the young jazz musicians that created the classic era that culminated with bands like Earth Wind and Fire.  The music expanded exponentially as the result of Herbie Hancock bringing the electric piano to the music, the likes of Wes Montgomery bringing a whole new kind of rhythm sound and by the harmonic innovations created by the likes of my father, Thelonious Monk.  The most influential period of jazz on American music actually came during that period some believe was the dead period for jazz," continued Monk who started his career as an R&B artist during the period that jazz artists found work in jazz scarce.  T.S. Monk's most recent recording is entitled Verbiest and Monk, Father and Son.

Tickets for Jazz Forum at 35! on Saturday, June 28th can be purchased at the NYU Skirball Center Shagan Box Office by calling 866-811-4111.  For additional information on Jazz Forum Arts call 888-99-BEBOP or visit www,jazzforumarts.org

Online Entertainment Radio at Blog Talk Radio with Rainbow Soul on BlogTalkRadio

Online Entertainment Radio at Blog Talk Radio with Rainbow Soul on BlogTalkRadio

Michael Jackson Tribute is invincible

As many of us know, Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009.  It’s hard to believe that it has been five years since his death.  But to commemorate his passing and to remind the world how much we miss Michael, creator, producer and director Darrin Ross has put together a show in memory of Michael which is nothing less than spectacular. Via his show, “Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson,” fans will once again be able to connect with the spirit of the beloved performer.  The show featuring impersonators Jibreel Moray (young Michael) Pete Carter (dancing Michael) and Jeffrey Perez (live concert Michael) will showcase at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, in the Bronx, on Saturday, June 21^st at 8:00 pm.

When asked about the enormity of putting together the extravaganza, Ross remarked,

“To put the project together you have to be a 100% fan and lover of Michael Jackson, his music and his legacy of videos.  You have to admire the things Michael did and to honor him, try and bring a piece of that magic to the stage, which I hope I’ve done in creating the show, “Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson,” stated the producer. “Naturally, I cannot do it alone. The cast has passionately endeavored to keep the positive memory of Michael alive.  Every year we recreate the production and bring it to the most stellar level.  This year, with the release of the new album Xscape, we have decided to reinterpret a bit of this new production and do some new songs live on stage. People will be surprised by impersonator Jeffrey Perez, who is an amazing vocal impersonator of Michael Jackson.  He is going to blow your mind on June 21^st when we bring the show to Lehman Center.  Jeffrey brings back the spirit of Michael like no other.  It will be as if you are hearing Michael alive on the stage again,” continued Darrin.

Pete Carter another impersonator, has worked with Darrin Ross on various other productions and used his talents as a visionary and performer to join Ross in coming up with various concepts and surprises for the show.  “Since the amazing hologram performance did happen, we are going to recreate that on stage with Pete Carter.  This is the MJ tribute you do not want to miss; fans are going to be amazed, “claims Ross who stated he is always trying to be an innovator who introduces different ideas and people to his production.  As part of the show, Ross is featuring guest performances by the fabulous Harlem GospeLive singers; the American beat-boxer Kenny Muhammad, the human orchestra; a Lite feet dance performance by NYC's own W.A.F.F.L.E, as well as breathtaking visuals and a live band with master percussionists and singers.

"When I create a show, I look at the production as if MJ was in the audience himself.  I think would Jackson

like the show?  I imagine that if Michael would give me a standing ovation, I’ve done my job.  That is the barometer I try to stick to,” stated the show’s creator.

Ross started his career in the 1980s doing musical production.  In the ‘90s, he went into TV and did national TV and radio production.  He started in theater with the dance company, Rennie Harris’s Puremovement. Harris was the pioneer of hip hop dance theatre.  Mr. Ross has done plays, scores for ballets with Judith Jamison and Robert Battle of Alvin Ailey.  He has done hip hop productions.  He is a man that loves to take things to another level.

“We all miss MJ dearly and when you see people representing him or imitating him, this brings back the feelings people had when they first heard an MJ song or watched one of his videos or danced to his music. A lot of people saw the Music Award show and some liked the hologram while others didn’t, but what the hologram did was bring that positive feeling fans had when Michael was alive and you waited for him to appear on stage.  The audience will definitely relive that feeling again via the Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson show. We do the things that are different like Slave to the Rhythm and Love Never Felt so Good.  If you love Michael Jackson’s music and love his legacy, you have to see this show!” claimed Darrin.

Jeffrey Perez at the age of one was already bouncing around to Michael Jackson’s “Bad” Album. “The “Bad” album had just come out at that time.  A lot of children loved MJ, me included” stated Jeffrey Perez.  “At the age of One, I could hardly talk but I tried to dance to the song.  Even as a child, I felt like I was supposed to be an entertainer of some sort.  I had no idea it would be impersonating Michael Jackson, but that is what it turned out to be.  As soon as I am in costume, I start channeling Michael.  During the time I am performing on stage, I actually feel I am being Michael in some form or another,” remarked Jeffrey.

“There are not a lot of people who perform some of the songs I do.  I will be performing songs from the new album Xscape during the show. Everyday, I listen to a Michael song or watch a video in order to prepare.  Michael is part of my life.  It’s almost like studying for a test you have to review. I’ve done MJ so much that I no longer have to review. I try to stay as close to the image of Michael Jackson as I can,” remarked the Phoenix native, who also does his own show call the Legend Show when he is not performing as an MJ impersonator with the Invincible show. 

For tickets to "Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson" on June 21, call the Lehman Center Box Office at 718-960-8833 or go on line at www.Lehmancenter.org

Discover Entertainment Internet Radio with Rainbow Soul on BlogTalkRadio

Lehman Center Gala Precedes Michael Bolton Concert

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is bringing its 33rd season to a conclusion in August.  It will feature singer/songwriter Michael Bolton on June 7, followed by a tribute to Michael Jackson on June 21, wherein audiences will be treated to 3 impersonators and never heard before Michael Jackson songs.  The season will then close out with salsa great Willie Colon on August 16^th.  Yet to bring all these headliners to the Performing Arts Center in the Bronx, Lehman Center must conduct periodic fundraisers.  Therefore, the venue will be holding a fundraising reception June 7^th from 6pm-7:30 pm preceding Michael Bolton’s concert at 8:00 pm.

“Michael Bolton is one of my favorite performers, so I am thrilled to have him come to our location at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West in the Bronx.  Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is a non profit organization and in order to bring these big named celebrities we must do fundraisers.  I have put together a committee of very influential people to do a fundraising reception which will be held in the lobby of Lehman Center’s concert hall” explained Eva Bornstein, the Executive Director of Lehman Center for the Performing Arts. “We are celebrating the appearance of Michael Bolton and I am also delighted to have the famous pianist Chris Gillespie, a regular at the Hotel Carlyle where he replaced Bobby Short, agree to play at the reception.”

Radio and TV host Max Tucci of Eye on South Florida along with Brie Bythewood will act as hosts for the reception. Max, a good friend of Eva’s, has hosted several fundraising events.  He is a renaissance man, independently wealthy, well connected and interested in people. He will be bringing several famous people to the gala reception.  Tucci will fly in from Miami to help host and co-chair the event with Brie Bythewood who was the star of Blood Sweat and Heels, a reality show about young beautiful NY women trying to make it big in NYC.  Some of the many influential people attending from all walks of life are Franchesca Biondo, Lenny Caro (Pres of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce); Conductor Thomas Crawford of the American Classical Orchestra; Photographer Rowena Husbands who photographs Broadway stars; Designer Farah Angsana, Robert Sancho, VP of Bronx Lebanon Hospital and the various Lehman Center board members. 

“People often think that the Bronx is dangerous.  So I want to stress that Lehman Center has a beautiful campus, great security, and the area is quite safe.  Yet, people have reservations about coming to the Bronx which we need to dispel.  People also think the Bronx is too far to come from Manhattan, but I live in El Barrio and it only takes 20 minutes by the #4 train. People can also take the D train. As it happens, we have people coming from all the boroughs, from the Westchester area, Connecticut and even from England, Brazil, Japan, etc. We have a 2300 seat auditorium which is equivalent to any major theater and our shows are more affordable than were audience members to see the same artists in Manhattan.  Michael Bolton always puts on a spectacular show, so I encourage people to come to his performance.  I might also note that tickets for children are only $10,” continued Ms. Bornstein.

The Performing Arts Center has two levels of donation for those who wish to help support the Center - $100 and $200, plus the price of the ticket. All donations are fully tax deductible.  Food and wine for the gala is being donated by Bronx vendors. Lehman Center sits in a relatively Black and Latino Community, so keeping that in mind when booking, Eva is planning performances for their 34^th Season such as the National Mexican Orchestra, Tango from Argentina, and the National Ballet of Spain.  However, she books shows with everyone in mind so there is a huge variety of headliners and types of shows. Eva is still booking the new season, therefore interested individuals can check out the upcoming season as posted over the summer at www.Lehmancenter.org

Those folks, who want to buy tickets to Michael Bolton’s upcoming concert on June 7^th, or attend the gala, can find info on line at www.lehmancenter.org or call 718-960-8833.

Painted Red is a Cell of a Play

Painted Red ran at the Shelter Studio 54 until April 27th.  This writer saw it only days before its close. I am sure some of you heard about the heroine in the play but I can imagine many more of you know nothing about Henrietta Lacks whose living cells was a panacea for the world of medicine in this true life tale.

“Painted Red” tells the story of Lacks as her life progressed from the Tobacco farm to Baltimore, Md., where the family moved in hopes of seeing better times. Tara Taylor does a fine job portraying Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman who was the unwitting source of what became known as the HeLa cell line.  Since John Hopkins was Lacks only choice of a nearby hospital that accepted people of color in the 1950s, Henrietta went there after falling ill. Dr. Gey (Alan Thurston) discovered a lump in her cervix and cut off a small part of the tumor forwarding it to the pathology lab.  The prognosis was that Henrietta had a malignant epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix.  This was bad news for the mother of 5.

Painted Red was written and directed by Cynthia Stephens and most of the supporting cast played multiple characters, so I will list the Painted Red cast herewith: Michael Broadhurst, Jeff Burchfield, John Cannon, Jeffrey Allen Desalu, Jamyl Dobson, Milton Elliott, Kevin Gordon, Tiffany Nichole Greene, Deaon Griffin-Pressley, Sahirah Johnson, Ro Milner, Liz Morgan, Waleed Richardson, Tony Robinson and Rocky Friedman Vargas.

Lacks received treatment for her cancer via sewn in place radium tube inserts that were removed several days later.  Henrietta was released from the hospital and told to return for X-ray treatments as a follow-up. During her radiation treatments for the tumor, two samples of Henrietta's cervix were removed—a healthy part and a cancerous part.  This was done unbeknownst to Lacks and without her permission.  Cells from her cervix were given to Dr. George Otto Gey. These cells eventually became the HeLa (initials taken from her first and last name) immortal cell line, a commonly used cell line in biomedical research.

Henrietta’s condition worsened, making traveling to her appointments a hardship, so Henrietta asked to be committed to the hospital where she remained until her death.  The cancer had spread throughout her body and Henrietta was in significant pain, unable to even make it to the window to view her family standing below.  To add insult to injury the doctors discovered Henrietta had developed gonorrhea, a venereal disease passed on to her by her husband. Meanwhile, the doctors secretly continued to experiment on Ms. Lacks keeping it secret from her family.  Realizing her impending death, Henrietta begged her family and friends to protect and care for her children.  In the play, Painted Red, family and friends did agree to care for Henrietta’s children but sadly after Henrietta’s death, it would be her very family who would abuse and prey on her children.

Henrietta Lacks’ died at age 31 of uremic poisoning leaving her husband and children devastated. After her death, her family continued to struggle unaware that Henrietta’s immortal cells lived on and were being cloned and utilized by doctors throughout the world, netting huge profits for John Hopkins and medical science.

While conducting research in his lab, George Gey, discovered that Henrietta's cells were unlike other cells.  Hers did something scientists had never seen before: They remained alive and grew, which was miraculous for doctors who ordinarily could not keep cells alive past a few days. Gey isolated a cell from Henrietta, duplicated it and started a cell line.  Henrietta’s cells were the first immortal cell line, so doctors were able to conduct multiple experiments such as polio research wherein in 1954, Jonas Salk developed a vaccine for polio. The cells were put into mass production in the first ever cell production factory.

HeLa cells have been used in a variety of tests such as human sensitivity to cosmetics, glue, tape and other products. Scientists have grown some 20 tons of Lack’s cells.  There are nearly 11,000 patents involving HeLa cells. The HeLa cells have also been beneficial to HIV-AIDS Research.

In 1973, the Lack’s family discovered John Hopkins' deception when a scientist called to ask for blood samples from the family as part of a genetic experiment. For 40 years or so, researchers continued to cultivate millions, and perhaps billions of Lacks' cells, while her family sought information, to gain a portion of the proceeds and gain control of Lack’s cell line.  At last knowledge, the National Institutes of Health worked out an agreement to give partial control and return of the cell line, but no compensation to the family.  However, the medical establishment must now get permission from the family for further use of Henrietta Lacks’ cell line.

For further information about the life of Henrietta Lacks, interested parties can read "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" written by Rebecca Skloot.  I do not know if the playwright and producers of "Painted Red" will again present the show at another time, but if so, please go see it.  It's a turn in the pages of African American history well worth discovering and rediscovering.

Latin Singer Jose Feliciano at Lehman Center May 10th

Multi-Award winning Latin singer, composer and guitarist, Jose Feliciano, will be back at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx after a four year absence.  The singer appeared at Lehman in 2006, 2008 and again in 2010.  So, returning to Lehman Center, located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, on Saturday May 10^th at 8:00 pm, the day before Mother’s Day, will be like old home week for the musical star.

The Lifetime Achievement Award winner is best known for his chart-topping recording of “Light My Fire” which catapulted him to pop superstardom in 1968.  The famed tenor possesses an unmistakable voice and has been influencing pop, soul and Latin music for over two generation, singing in English, Spanish and Italian.  His mega-hits include “Che Sera” and “Feliz Navidad.”  Feliz Navidad has been among the “25 Greatest Holiday Songs of the Century” noted ASCAP. Jose has recorded forty-five gold and platinum records and received nine Grammy Awards.  He has garnered countless honors and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“I continue to count my blessings,” says Jose.  “America has been good to me. My fans are important to me.  But I cannot leave God out, because without God, nothing can happen.  So I do not take my stardom for granted. I try to remain humble.  I think part of being a good entertainer is never forgetting your beginnings so I continue to appreciate everyone who helped me along the way,” stated the very humble Jose who was born blind into humble beginnings in Lares, Puerto Rico in 1945.

“My parents were concerned how I was going to make a living but fortunately I took a liking to the guitar and with continued practice, I perfected it.  Having been born into meager circumstances, I listened to the blues.  I understood the music of Muddy Waters.  I tried to combine my Latin roots with my soul roots.  Outside of Spanish music, I was influenced by singers like Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and I listened to a lot of Motown and was very impressed by Stevie Wonder who wrote a lot of his own compositions.  It took a while, but I finally began to write some of my own music as well,” remarked Feliciano.

 
Feliciano’s major break was in the Spanish market when, after an amazing performance at the 1966 Mar del Plata Festival in Argentina, RCA executives in Buenos Aires asked him to stay and record an album of Spanish music. His first single, “Poquita Fe” was a smash hit, and “Usted” was even bigger. Infusing long-time standard boleros with his own guitar and vocal styling, he became the teen idol of the day. “Being a teen idol was wonderful but it could be scary too.  I could feel hands touching me from all directions and sometimes I would become disorientated.  Finally I worked out a routine where my people would open the car door and form a barrier and I would just run straight ahead until I felt the car and jump in.  This became the routine after every performance,” recalled Feliciano of his teenage idol days.

 Feliciano became a star throughout Central and South America, as well as in Mexico and the Caribbean.  When he met producer Rich Jarrard, it was Jarrard who encouraged the singer to record a Doors’ song “Light My Fire.”  By the time he was 23, José Feliciano had performed the song throughout most of the world and earned five Grammy nominations, winning two for his album Feliciano.  That same year (1968) José caught the world by surprise when he became the first artist to ever stylize and publicly perform the “National Anthem.” It went on to chart the Top-40. With his own style of acoustic guitar, jazz and American vocal inflections, Jose created the pathway for new generations of stylization of the anthem.

In 2008, his album Señor Bachata won a Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Tropical Album as well as a Grammy Award for Best Tropical Album.  Fans have enjoyed countless Feliciano songs, which include “Rain”, “Chico and the Man”, “California Dreaming”, “Destiny”, “Affirmation”, “Ay Cariño”, “Ponte A Cantar”, “Cuando El Amor Se Acaba” and “Porque Te Tengo Que Olvidar?.” His latest release in 2012, was The King, a tribute to Elvis Presley.

Tickets for the show can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 or by going on line at www.LehmanCenter.org. 

From the Rough To Open in Theaters April 25th

Actor Henry Simmons took time out of his busy schedule to talk with this journalist about his upcoming movie, “From the Rough,” a movie he stars in with Taraji P. Henson, Michael Clark Duncan and Tom Felton.  The movie opened Friday, April 25th.

The film depicts the true life story of Catana Starks, a female Tennessee State men’s golf coach who overcame incredible odds and deep-seated prejudice to become “the first” African-American woman ever to coach an all-men’s team at a collegiate level.

Henry Simmons character Kendrick Paulsen, Jr., is the antagonist to the Taraji Henson character of Cantana Starks, believing that Starks could not handle the position of a men’s golf coach. Simmons talked about his attraction to the movie and about the role he played.  “When I first read the script, I initially thought it was a story that took place in the 1950s and 60s and was shocked to see it took place in the 1980s.  I was shocked to realize that people of color still face those types of barriers.  It’s really is a shame, and for that reason I wanted to be apart of the story and get the story out there so people understand that these things are not part of the past but go on in our recent history” remarked Henry.

Born in Stamford, Ct, the son of Aurelia and Henry Simmons, Sr., Henry is one of three children. Simmons earned a basketball scholarship to Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire where he earned a business degree.  After college Henry took a job in financial management but it didn't last because Simmons was attracted to acting first and foremost.

Simmons' first acting gig was as a hot-headed youth in the movie “Above the Rim” with Tupac Shakur.  He went on to appear in movies and TV, most notably as Detective Baldwin Jones on the ABC police drama “NYPD Blue.”  He also played Queen Latifah's boyfriend in the 2004 action/comedy film “Taxi.” He had a leading role in "Shark," a CBS drama starring James Woods. Simmons also appeared in World's Greatest Dad”, "Man Up!" and besides “From the Rough," his next movie will be "No Good Deed," starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson.

“Professionally I enjoyed the opportunity to play someone in From The Rough, that I rarely get a chance to play.  Someone who is perceived as evil, I guess.  That is a color I don’t normally play.  I want to stretch and grow as an actor and this role presented that opportunity.  I did not have a problem playing the character but did have a problem with the character. People like that whatever their reasons may be, may have good intentions or what they believe are good intentions.  My character felt he was doing his best for the school by removing Ms. Starks from her job.  But actually what he was doing was destroying people’s lives, “remarked the talented actor.  “I tried to show that this man was racked with insecurity.  His insecurity was one of the reasons he had a problem with strong women.  I think one of his other issues was he felt unappreciated.  You know it’s funny but you cannot work to get respect.  However, if you do your work respectfully, than you gain respect.  If you do things looking for respect or look for approval that is where it causes problems. You have to work to the best of your ability and let things fall where they may.”

"From the Rough" was actor Michael Clark Duncan’s last movie.  Henry Simmons talked about working with the soulful Mr. Duncan.  “When Michael Clark Duncan passed it was an absolute shock. I knew that he was sick but I thought he was going to be OK.  But when he passed, I was in shock for days.  I couldn't understand how a man so good with such a big heart, so giving and generous, a great man could be taken away,” remarked Henry.  “I prayed for Michael, he stayed on my mind; I just could not believe he died.  But I was so grateful to have had the chance to work with him. Professionally, when Michael showed up on the set he brought an element of warmth that was not present in the script.  The man was so talented.  Personally it was a pleasure knowing a man like that.  He walked into a room and filled the room with his voice, his personality and his warmth.  The man loved life; you could see it in his smile.  You could see his heart.  He was a gentle giant. That is what he was.  He will be missed.”

Mr. Simmons did not meet Cantana Stark during the filming of the movie. “I did have an opportunity to meet Ms Starks at the premiere of the movie.  She seemed a woman of intelligence, class, and strength. There is a great deal of warmth about her.  She is a woman who commands respect and certainly deserves respect,” stated the actor whose movie “No Good Deed,” will be out in September.
Fellow cast members in “From the Rough” include Tom Felton, known for his role in Harry Potter, LeToya Luckett (original member of Destiny’s Child), John Bailey (Little John), Justin Chon, Paul Hodge and Ben Youcef.

Interested parties can learn more about FROM THE ROUGH via www.fromtherough.com or to listen to my radio show interview on BlakeRadio.com, Rainbow Soul, see http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blakeradio/2014/04/24/topically-yours--actor-henry-simmons

Magic Johnson Theater Screening Nadine Patterson’s “Tango MacBeth” on April 23^rd

By Deardra Shuler

Award winning Filmmaker/writer/producer, Nadine Patterson, will be screening her film “Tango Macbeth” at the Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem, located at 2309 Frederick Douglas Boulevard in Manhattan, (124^th St and Frederick Douglas Boulevard) on Wednesday, April 23^rd from 6:30-8:15 pm.

“Tango Macbeth’ will be Ms. Patterson’s first feature film. Some of her documentary films include “I Used to Teach English,” which won her the Golden Apple Award via the 1994 National Educational Film/Video Festival in Oakland, Ca.; “Anna Russell Jones Praisesong for a Pioneering Spirit” which won Best Documentary 1993 via the African American Women in the Arts Film/Video Competition in Chicago; “Moving on with the Dreaming,” winner of the Prized Piece Award from the National Black Programming Consortium; and “Toda El Mundo Dance” selected by the 2001-2002 Council on Foundations Film and Video Festival.  Her other notable works include “Shizue” screened at the Museum of Modern Art in NY and “Release” shown at the Constellation Change Dance Film Festival of London. 

“Shakespeare has a strong connection to the African American community.  Did you know that A. Phillip Randolph was an amateur Shakespearean actor?  He was, and he did amateur productions in his Church.  He even considered acting as a career prior to going into activism and labor politics.  Because he was grounded in Shakespeare and theater, it helped him as a public speaker with his oratorical speeches and as a political organizer.  Fredrick Douglas and Martin Luther King Jr., also studied and knew Shakespeare” informed Patterson.

Born in New York but raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nadine Patterson attended Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA., where she won her Bachelors studying theater production and economics.  She earned her Masters in Instructional Media at Westchester University where she learned about documentary film production and television.

“For 15 years, I worked in public television. I was a producer/director and cameraperson

at the School District of Philadelphia’s Cable Access station.  We produced some of the first distance learning interactive programming. We had programming wherein we taught  Elementary Chinese (Mandarin) or taught people to speak Swahili.  It was very diverse, multicultural and educational.  I wanted to go into narrative cinema so I applied to the London Film School where I earned a Masters if Art, her second Masters.  While in London, I learned the craft of cinema from some of the best filmmakers on the planet,” remarked Nadine, who has always enjoyed using her imagination and telling stories. She started her first journal in first grade and has been informing people about varied cultures ever since.

Filmmaking encompasses, design, business, makeup, theater, music, poetry, costuming, writing, directing, researching, photography, et al.  Therefore, in order to be an effective filmmaker one must know all of the disciplines.

“I have a deep fascination with history.  It is important to know the historical context for which my movies are being set. In terms of Tango MacBeth, Shakespeare is a transitional author who’s work is somewhere between old English and contemporary English.  A lot of the phrases we use today in our English were created by Shakespeare. He looks at issues of race and gender.  He looks at issues of male/female marriage relationship which is a very contemporary issue. 

“In my film, “Tango MacBeth,” we looked at the relationship between Lady Macbeth and her husband MacBeth, who were like the power couples of today who work as a team to achieve great things.  But what happens with many people of today as in my story’s case, is once some people achieve great wealth and power, they lose sight and become greedy and power hungry. Like our political system of today. The question becomes what do we do as people in the community to stand up to this type of warped power structure? 

“I have an open casting system in my play wherein I cast the best actor for the part, irrespective of race or gender,” continued Nadine.  “I think people will be surprised to see how emotional engaging my film is.  The audience sees people that look like them.  People look at Tango Macbeth and see this is a movie for them.  It’s a very multi-cultural film.  You are in a theater with a company that is rehearsing MacBeth.  It is a documentary and narrative film about a rehearsal process. This is what makes it unique.” explained the producer/director/filmmaker.

Brian Anthony Wilson plays MacDuff.  He was Detective Vernon Holley on “The Wire.”  Alexandra Bailey, a Shakespearean actress, plays Lady MacBeth. This is her first feature film role.  Carlo Campbell plays MacBeth, and also in the film is the wonderful dancer Justin Bryant who plays Prince Malcolm. The music is by Lenny Seidman and the choreography by Zane Booker.

Nadine owns and operates her own production and consulting company, Harmony Image Productions with her mother Marlene G. Patterson. In 2011, she published her first book Always Emerging which regales her experiences as an independent filmmaker.

For those parties wishing to learn more about Nadine Patterson and her films, go to www.Tangomacbeth.com