By Percy Lovell Crawford CHARLOTTE, N.C. — “Ray! Salute For America,” a tribute to the late great Ray Charles, also honored those affected by the events of 9/11. Held in Los Angeles on Sept. 11 at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill, Jazz, Ray Charles Jr. who produced the biopic “Ray,” connected with key musicians for the event.
By Percy Lovell Crawford PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia is known for its great cheesesteak and the ability to breed amazing boxers. Danny Garcia is a perfect example. The former 140-pound kingpin moved up to 147 after conquering the junior welterweight division and faced what was once considered the Big Three: Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter and Errol Spence
By Lem Satterfield Kenny Gendason has never forgotten the horrific shooting. When Nicholas Cruz, 19, opened fire with an AK-47 at Parkland, Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School on Valentine’s Day in 2018, Eagles’ wrestling coaches Aaron Feis and Chris Hixon were among the three staff members and 14 students murdered. Gendason was among the
By Percy Lovell Crawford LOS ANGELES — Jon Gries made his first appearance on screen — at 11 — in Charlton Heston’s “Will Penny.” Over 50 years later, the actor, writer and producer is still going strong. Famously known for his role as Uncle Rico in “Napoleon Dynamite,” Gries’ ability to play various roles has served
By Percy Lovell Crawford LAFAYETTE, La. — There is a powerful new baritone in town. Teddy Pendergrass, Gerald Levert, Wilson Pickett and Barry White carried that sound for decades. Since losing those legends, our ears have been somewhat deprived. Enter Marc Broussard of Lafayette, Louisiana. His soulful voice and classical approach to music is refreshing for
By Percy Lovell Crawford Since January, a lot has changed for Pittsburgh vocalist KELS. She has moved to Atlanta, inked a global distribution deal and is working on new music featuring genre-bending collaborations. Her voice gets her through the door — but her personality keeps her there. KELS energy and passion for music is evident
By Lem Satterfield Mykal Manswell speaks with maturity beyond his years, especially when addressing mental health concerns among African Americans related to racism and the pandemic. The 25-year-old former college football player referenced racial suffering having affected blacks since the birth of America and beyond during an interview with Zenger. “The African-American community has unfortunately
By Lem Satterfield Ashley Mudge is powered by art. She finds meaning in the upcoming June 17-19 Women Of Color Art Expo (WOCAX) at the downtown lakefront in Columbia, Maryland, and the message of empowerment it conveys. “When you feel like giving up, push harder. Talk to other women and share experiences. Never be afraid
By Percy Lovell Crawford LOS ANGELES — Viewers see the polished, finished product on TV. But the majority of hard work is done behind the scenes. Just ask Queenie Donaldson. She worked at prestigious networks and celebrity events for the last 20+ years. Those networks include BET, TV-One, VH-1, Showtime, A&E, We TV, Viceland and Telepictures.
By Lem Satterfield Daniel Roman knows what it’s like to lose his title in the ring. Now, he wants Stephen Fulton to feel the same way. Roman has won twice since January 2020, when he was dethroned as IBF/WBA champion following a disputed split decision loss to undefeated southpaw Murdjon Akhmadaliev. Fulton abandoned his stick-and-move
