Clients are coming left and right but I thought I'd stop by and share a gem I discovered about a year ago.
Carol Speed had a short career and I found it interesting that she had a brief part in 1997's 'Jackie Brown but was cut at the last minute. Hmm
Here she shares some other accounts with the Original Foxy Brown as well as her short stint in Hollyweird.
A video I'm having a hard time finding is Abby. The stunts are a little better than TNT but from what I've seen online (I was six when this was in major release and my mother was not about to let me see it), it sounds like it would make for a good weekend. Then again, I never get tired of the original Blacula.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Vesta Williams TV Commercial
Wow, it's been a long time as I've had a ton of business clients along with interviews to deal with.
Anyway, I chose this blog to post my feelings about the passing of R&B recording artist Vesta. My condolences go out to her family and close friends.
So far, what I've read on the blogs is that this was a very nice woman despite being in a business that is not nice. On the other hand, I hate that commenters have used this as a format to say what a grown woman did in her life. From her dating life to alleged beef with other singers has been a thread on boards aimed at an older audience.
The topic of mental illness is a sensitive one for me as there isn't a day that goes by I don't hear about the Kelly Thomas case going on in Fullerton, CA. Anyone who has conquered this without meds should be commended. I'm not judging those who take meds but from observing a close relative, I think faith should be of equal dosage.
Here is a piece about the late singer from veteran journalist Steven Ivory. Like most of his work, it is honest without being sugary or judgmental. One thing I might add that was ironic about Ms.Williams' career is that she gained popularity as a plus-sized woman. Yet, due to alleged pressure from her record company, she lost almost half her weight but never had another hit and continued to do background work along with oldies revues with other artists from the same era.
I couldn't find her appearance on 'Sister, Sister' but I thought this commercial was pretty sweet to the ear.
Anyway, I chose this blog to post my feelings about the passing of R&B recording artist Vesta. My condolences go out to her family and close friends.
So far, what I've read on the blogs is that this was a very nice woman despite being in a business that is not nice. On the other hand, I hate that commenters have used this as a format to say what a grown woman did in her life. From her dating life to alleged beef with other singers has been a thread on boards aimed at an older audience.
The topic of mental illness is a sensitive one for me as there isn't a day that goes by I don't hear about the Kelly Thomas case going on in Fullerton, CA. Anyone who has conquered this without meds should be commended. I'm not judging those who take meds but from observing a close relative, I think faith should be of equal dosage.
Here is a piece about the late singer from veteran journalist Steven Ivory. Like most of his work, it is honest without being sugary or judgmental. One thing I might add that was ironic about Ms.Williams' career is that she gained popularity as a plus-sized woman. Yet, due to alleged pressure from her record company, she lost almost half her weight but never had another hit and continued to do background work along with oldies revues with other artists from the same era.
I couldn't find her appearance on 'Sister, Sister' but I thought this commercial was pretty sweet to the ear.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Scott Joplin Biopic (1977)
Recently, TV One ran this late at night and I recorded it. Though a little slow-moving, this is a whole helluva lot better than some EBT church play for a dull-ass Sunday afternoon. I wish TV One would bring back other classics like Dummy or Battered where Chip Fields plays an abused wife. (I guess I got a thing for Levar Burton this week, LOL.)
Fine @ss Billy Dee played the underrated musical genius alongside a very young Clifton Davis, whose performance was not half-bad. Margaret Avery plays Belle, one of many wives the composer would have in his short life.
In short, this is about a man and his craft. He created great music that was associated with the negativity that comes with being colored/negro/black/AA and like hip-hop today, it is eventually "stolen" by others once it receives national recognition. To learn more about this great master of sound, click here.
Fine @ss Billy Dee played the underrated musical genius alongside a very young Clifton Davis, whose performance was not half-bad. Margaret Avery plays Belle, one of many wives the composer would have in his short life.
In short, this is about a man and his craft. He created great music that was associated with the negativity that comes with being colored/negro/black/AA and like hip-hop today, it is eventually "stolen" by others once it receives national recognition. To learn more about this great master of sound, click here.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Black Dynamite Cartoon
If you love the nods to the blaxploitation genre, then check out 2009's Black Dynamite with Michael Jai White. The humor is a lot more subtle than 1988's I'm Gonna Get You Sucka and the quality of the picture is excellent.
It's now in the form of a comic book and is coming to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.
Wonder if this is going to come on during The Boondocks. Does anybody know when Season 4 is supposed to start?
It's now in the form of a comic book and is coming to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.
Wonder if this is going to come on during The Boondocks. Does anybody know when Season 4 is supposed to start?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Biopic on Supreme Florence Ballard is Finally Being Cast
After years of Motown assistants and other folks having their say in a book about Ms. Florence Ballard, a movie set to be released this year will tell the real story. Co-produced by one of the late singer's daughters, it should not be missed.
This post is old but it notes some strong parallels between Ms. Ballard and other noted figures in the music industry.
This post is old but it notes some strong parallels between Ms. Ballard and other noted figures in the music industry.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
R.I.P. Bubba Smith
Today, we lost actor Bubba Smith. He starred in Police Academy, Good Times (as one of Sweet Daddy Williams' men) but I thought one of his best performances was on the trashy Married With Children. He comes in at 0:25. Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Amazing Grace (1974)/Good Fences
For those who are too young to remember the great Moms Mabley ("That man was so ugly, it hurt my feelings."), this film debut is not her best vehicle but it would be her last before passing on the following year. However, this brand of humor is rare in AA/Black cinema and I'd recommend it for anyone who looking for more something a little more cerebral or just tired of the 'Yo Mama' jokes.
The late Moses Gunn plays a pawn in a political race with Rosalind Cash as his wife and Ms. Mabley and Slappy White play their snoopy neighbors. Butterfly McQueen and Steppin Fechit makes appearances as well.
Black to the Present (Somewhat)
Last weekend, TV One presented Good Fences, an original Showtime movie from 2003 starring Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover. This time, instead of fighting spouses (like in The Color Purple), they reunite in the 1970s as part of middle-class family that gets an address upgrade due to a high-profile case handled by sellout lawyer Tom Spader (Glover). Once settled in Greenwich, CT they never quite fit in as the lone black family in the neighborhood but the stereotypes here are both funny and sad. In the TV trailer, you get the impression that it's MOniques movie but her appearances are not only in the last half of the movie but seldom. I must say it was one of the few roles she's done where I don't despise the character.
The late Moses Gunn plays a pawn in a political race with Rosalind Cash as his wife and Ms. Mabley and Slappy White play their snoopy neighbors. Butterfly McQueen and Steppin Fechit makes appearances as well.
***************
Black to the Present (Somewhat)
Last weekend, TV One presented Good Fences, an original Showtime movie from 2003 starring Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover. This time, instead of fighting spouses (like in The Color Purple), they reunite in the 1970s as part of middle-class family that gets an address upgrade due to a high-profile case handled by sellout lawyer Tom Spader (Glover). Once settled in Greenwich, CT they never quite fit in as the lone black family in the neighborhood but the stereotypes here are both funny and sad. In the TV trailer, you get the impression that it's MOniques movie but her appearances are not only in the last half of the movie but seldom. I must say it was one of the few roles she's done where I don't despise the character.
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