Tyler Perry Wants Ms. Ross

Tyler Perry is by his own admission stalking Diana Ross. According to Perry he want her in a new film he is producing entitled A Jazz Man's Blues. He has been sending flowers, e-mails to people who know her, and talked to the man who walks her dog. The film is set around 1947 and Tyler would like Ms. Ross to bring some of what she brought to Lady Sings The Blues. Tyler confessed that he would love to showcase what a powerful actress she is because we have not seen her in a long time. On a personal note I thought Ms. Ross was good in Double Platinum with Brandy Norwood, but she was especially compelling in Out Of Darkness in which she portrayed a woman diagnosed with schizophrenia. Below is a clip of her portrayal.

Update: Out of Darkness will be showing on TV ONE, February 18th at 12:00 AM CST.

Old School Friday: Everybody Loves The Blues!

Both of my grandmother's had a love for the blues. I remember weekends filled with the sounds of B. B., Bobby 'Blue' Bland and what seemed to be my paternal grandmother's favorite, Lou Rawl's "Tobacco Road". As a child I did not want to hear that mess, I wanted to hear the Miracles, Temptations and the Vandallas, but I digress. Over the years I have gained more knowledge and insight about the genre and yes, a love for the blues! Last week my player did not work correctly, but I am going to try it again. My selections this week are Bobby Bland, Little Willie John and a live performance by Buddy Guy and B. B. King. Enjoy!

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Mrs. Grapevine

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate, any music genre

2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999

3. No offensive music allowed, please use the edited radio version

4. Post a video of your favorite songs to take us back down memory lane

5. Add your name to the meme so that others can check you out

6. Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Click here to join in the fun!

Welcome to Dallas Kwame!

Well according to local new cast in the Dallas area, Kwame Kilpatrick, former mayor of Detroit, Michigan, has taken a job in the Dallas area. The disgraced former mayor just completed a 99 day stint in jail. According to the Detroit News Kilpatrick still owes the city of Detroit a million dollars, yet he has leased a 3,000 a month, one half acre Southlake rental (an exclusive area outside of Dallas), where his family has been residing since December.

Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire

In Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire, Claireece Precious Jones endures unimaginable hardships in her young life. Abused by her mother, raped by her father, she grows up poor, angry, illiterate, fat, unloved and generally unnoticed. So what better way to learn about her than through her own, halting dialect. Instead of being swallowed by depression, Claireece tries to break from the chains of ignorance by digging deep into her own resources. Push has won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Precious, in addition to her physical problems, lacks even basic self-esteem, and Push is largely about her journey toward normalcy. Things will never be super-awesome for her; the point is that she can learn to cope with life and find a semblance of happiness and self-respect. That feeling of hopefulness, not the awfulness that precedes it, is what you'll take with you when the film is over.

The film has a stellar cast with Monique, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz, and Gabourey Sidibe as Claireece Precious Jones. Here is a clip from the Sundance Film Festival.

Etta and Beyoncê Feuding?

There is a new feud brewing on the horizon between legendary blues singer, Etta James and Beyoncê (who incidentally recently immortalized Ms. James on film in “Cadillac Records”). Etta, the originator of the classic love song “At Last,” has lashed out at Beyoncê for singing the tune during the first dance of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at last month’s Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. According to reports, Ms. James allegedly quipped at a Seattle concert, “You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears? Wait a minute, he ain’t my president, he might be yours, he ain’t my president. You know that woman he had singing for him, singing my song–she’s going to get her ass whipped. The great Beyoncê. I can’t stand Beyoncê,” she spat. “She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol’ president day, singing my song that I’ve been singing forever.”

Oh, oh, it seems that Bey has stepped on yet another legendary divas’ toes. Remember last year when she referred to Tina Turner as the “Queen of Soul”, which prompted Aretha Franklin to fire off a scathing email chastising the up and coming singer. Is Ms. James being sensitive or did Beyoncê over step her boundaries by performing the song at the Inauguration Ball? Or is this all just some sort of attention seeking publicity stunt?

Old School Friday - New Edition Members Songs

I have always enjoyed New Edition since its conception. I had a chance to catch the original five back in the 80's when my son was a boy. What a great show. Anyhow when I started loading up my player for this theme there was just so many ways to go with so many great songs. I just couldn't stop, so I loaded up my player with four songs this time, one by the original group, one by the group sans Bobby Brown and with Johnny Gill and songs by Bobby and Johnny respectively. Enjoy!

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Mrs. Grapevine

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate, any music genre

2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999

3. No offensive music allowed, please use the edited radio version

4. Post a video of your favorite songs to take us back down memory lane

5. Add your name to the meme so that others can check you out

6. Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Click here to join in the fun!

Old School Fridays - Original Vs Remake

If you know anything about Motown, you know that practically every single was cut on more than one artist, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" comes to mind. Anyhow I am going with two Motown heavyweights this time, the Jackson five covering Stevie Wonder's "I Don't Know Why I Love You, But I Love You". Little Michael definitely gives Stevie a run for the money on this one in my humble opinion.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Mrs. Grapevine

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate, any music genre

2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999

3. No offensive music allowed, please use the edited radio version

4. Post a video of your favorite songs to take us back down memory lane

5. Add your name to the meme so that others can check you out

6. Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Click here to join in the fun!

I Wish - An Original Poem By Latisha

For many years I have worked with children and adolescents as a mental health professional. While I am an educator, I also work as a licensed chemical dependency counselor for teenagers from 13 to 18 years of age. The work is challenging, but rewarding and every now and then you come in contact with someone who is really talented. The young lady who wrote this poem is very talented 17 year old and this is only one of many of her offerings. She has allowed me to share this poem with my blogger pals and she would appreciate feedback both good and bad.

I Wish

By the time you get this letter I might be doing better
It's kind of hard trying to survive in all this crazy weather
Everybody wants my number, everybody's calling my name

But in the mist of this I can still hear you say

"Girl walk upright and straighten your life because you don't want one of

those good jobs to pass you by and don't act no fool cause I'll always be

watching you!"

And now that you're gone it stills feels like you're here!

I miss our walks one thing you use to say when things get hard get down on

your knees and pray and then our walks it's just those simple things I miss

We still do all of these but only in my dreams!

At night I pray to god and ask him why can't you still be here with me?

I look up when it's raining I try hard to live life the right way but it'll take

a couple more years for the world to see how I'm trying to stay strong but

barely moving on I know I'll see you again but for right now Rest In Peace!

And when I get to heaven first thing I'll say will be tell me have you seenMaybell Marie Johnson

Find out where you are run into your arms so you can wrap your wings

around me and whisper in my ear well done my child!

Granny I wish you were here to see the things I've done

I wish you were here you'd be so proud of this single loved one

I wish you were here to celebrate with me

I wish you were here!

Written by: Latisha

January 23, 2009

Solid As Barack!

The singing, songwriting team of Ashford and Simpson have taken their early 1980's hit "Solid As A Rock" , reworked it and renamed it "Solid As Barack". A tribute to President Barack Obama, the catchy ode was released digitally on Jan. 20 – the same historic day he was inaugurated as the first African American President of the United States of America. This new version, complete with expanded lyrics for the entire song, is a reverential tribute to Obama.

The hit-making husband and wife team premiered the song on 'Larry King Live' during the inauguration weekend. That's where it was revealed that the demand for the remix has been overwhelming since a recent airing of a version of the song on 'Saturday Night Live,' which was performed by the comedic cast of the series.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2009 Inductees

On October 03, 2008, Malcolm of "Pop Culture Dish" wrote and posted an excellent piece on the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees. He speculated about who would and would not get in and who should and should not get in. To read that story click here.

The nominees were Jeff Beck, Chic, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Metallica, Run DMC, War and Bobby Womack. In response to Malcolm's post I mentioned that although I am a huge fan of War, I did not believe they would get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before Bobby Womack. Bobby Womack, who was once a sideman for Sam Cooke, had a very successful solo career, and he is also a native son of Cleveland, which gives him a leg up, so to speak.

I also predicted that Little Anthony and the Imperials and Run DMC would be inducted. I remember Little Anthony and the Imperials being a huge draw, especially for the girls. They were also very entertaining with their dance steps and splits. You know the kind of guy that the girls want to be with and the boys want to be :-) Run DMC influenced a generation of hip hoppers, enough said!

Anyhow, the dust has settled and here are the 2009 inductees; drum roll please!

Performer Inductees:

Jeff Beck
















Little Anthony & the Imperials




















Metallica












Run DMC









Bobby Womack




















Early Influence:

Wanda Jackson

Sideman Category:

Bill Black

DJ Fontana

Spooner Oldham

Of course I am a fan of War and Chic. I spent many a night in the disco during my misspent youth, and while I think that War is deserving, Chic as a group is not. I do have a feeling that down the line Nile Rodgers (Chic's guitar player) will be given consideration. Have a look at the inductees biographies and tell me what do you think about this year's inductees. While you ponder that thought enjoy a medley by Little Anthony & the Imperials.

Inauguration Day!

Inauguration Day has finally arrived! I would like to give a shout out to the new first family and wish them all the best in the next 4 years. It has been a rough couple of years for Barack Obama. His background has been exposed, he was accused of not being a citizen of the United States, being a terrorist, and just plain scandalized. I am so proud of the fact that he and his wife Michelle were able to maintain their grace under a hail storm of fire. These folks have shown a class and style that is incomparable.

I have only one more thing to say about our new Commander-in-Chief. His name is Barack Hussein Obama, not Messiah, Jehovah, Jesus, Allah or The Holy Ghost! The mess this country is in was not made in 4 years and more than likely will not be resolved in one presidential term. Let us stand behind our President, give him the support he will need as he begins this difficult and challenging journey, and wish him Godspeed.

Diversity Ink

Hello Everyone!

How apropos, on the day we celebrate the birth of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a new blog is being launched that will explore the issue of race from the perspectives of several contributors and You! Diversity Ink will include the personal experiences of the contributors along with writings on pop culture, current events, and other topics as they relate to race.

You are all invited to stop on by, kick your shoes off, get comfortable and become ready to take part in discussions that will sometimes be fun, sometimes uncomfortable, but always informative and entertaining. Please add Diversity Ink to your blogroll and we will see you there!

The theme this week is television theme songs. I love television theme songs and there are so many to choose from. I chose the theme song from "Maude", which was song by Donny Hathaway and the theme from "Living Single".

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Mrs. Grapevine

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate, any music genre

2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999

3. No offensive music allowed, please use the edited radio version

4. Post a video of your favorite songs to take us back down memory lane

5. Add your name to the meme so that others can check you out

6. Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Click here

Happy 80th Birthday Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today would have been the 80th birthday of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. I posted these quotes last year, but they remain applicable. Although the national celebration is next Monday his actual date of birth is January 15, 1929. Born Michael Luther King, Jr., he later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. He would have been 79 years old today. This year is also significant because April 4th will be the fortieth anniversary of his assassination. Although he only graced us with his presence for 39 short years, he left a legacy that is shared throughout the world by millions of people. Rather than dwell on the negative aspects of his death, I will celebrate his life by sharing some quotes from the man himself.

A lie cannot live.

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.

The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.

There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.

When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Obama: Reasons He Ran For The Presidency

As you know I haven't been blogging much lately. My schedule is crazy and I just don't have as much time as I use to. Believe me I am trying to remedy this :-) Sometimes you run across something that you just want to share. Isaw this article and I thought it was worth blogging about because it talks about a brighter future for children and ultimately a better society in general. This is an open letter from Obama to his girls. Click here to read the letter in its entirety.

Old School Fridays: 1974

I am going to take you back to 1974. It was a very good year and this was one of my favorite groups of all times, in fact is was my favorite group in 1974. Sit back and enjoy Chaka Khan and the band when they were new and fresh!

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Mrs. Grapevine

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate, any music genre

2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999

3. No offensive music allowed, please use the edited radio version

4. Post a video of your favorite songs to take us back down memory lane

5. Add your name to the meme so that others can check you out

6. Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Click here to join the fun

Charles Barkley Arrested on Suspicion of DUI

Charles Barkley joins the ranks of Diana Ross, Heather Locklear and Queen Latifah, all of whom have been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. He was arrested by an Arizona tasks force which specializes in targeting drunk drivers. Read the story here. All I have to say to celebrities is WHERE THE HELL IS YOUR DRIVER!!! It is not like you cannot afford to call a car if you have been indulging. I would like to know what others think about this trend and driving while intoxicated, especially on the biggest celebration night of the year.

United States Oldest Living Male Dies at 112

George Francis, the nation's oldest man who lived through both world wars, man's first walk on the moon and got to vote for the first black president, has died. UCLA gerontologist, Stephen Coles, who maintains a list of the world's oldest people, said Francis lived 112 years and 204 days. Read entire story here.

Old School Friday - I Can Drink To That

It seems that back in the good old days adults use to get together every Friday for fish, barbeque, beer and liquor. It wasn't a house party without the music of James Brown. I grew up listening to it at home and when I started going to quarter parties in basements, Brown was always on the turntable. Kick back and listen to "Sex Machine", enjoy the dance lesson provided by Mr. Brown and then groove to "Papa Don't Take No Mess" and "Gimme My Thang".

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Mrs. Grapevine

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate, any music genre

2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999

3. No offensive words allowed, please use the edited radio version

4. Post video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane

5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out

6. Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for other participants

To join in the fun, click here

Eartha Kitt Succumbs at 81

Sultry sex symbol of the 40, 50's and 60's died of colon cancer today. She was one of the most versatile actresses of all time, winning two Emmys, two Grammys and having several Tony nominations. Her career spanned a total of six decades, from her start as a dancer in the famed Katherine Durham troupe to her work on stage, in film and on vinyl. She penned three autobiographies throughout her life and was once dubbed the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles.

Kitt came from humble South Carolina beginnings and was of mixed heritage. She made headline news for denouncing the Vietnam War while visiting the White House. This incident caused her to be blacklisted for many years. I first remember seeing Ms. Kitt opposite Nat King Cole in the film "St. Louis Blues". Younger audiences might remember her as the much older woman after Eddie Murphy in "Boomerang". Others may remember her as one of the Catwomen on the campy 60's series "Batman".

For years, Kitt was unsure of her birthplace or birth date. In 1997, a group of students at historically black Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., located her birth certificate, which verified her birth date as Jan. 17, 1927. Kitt had previously celebrated on Jan. 26. The research into her background also showed Kitt was the daughter of a white man, a poor cotton farmer.

Enjoy Ms Kitt spreading some holiday cheer.