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ENTERTAINMENT
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Thursday, April 13, 1989
BEI
™ S(g
\i
with Lisa Collins
rranUin
Kennedy
Roundtree
ntzgeralif'
Blacks Honored By Blacks For Their Excellence In Film: Sid
ney Poftlcr gave both a tearful and touching acceptance speech
upon receiving the pioneer's award at the annually held Black
Oscar Nominees Dinner. The star-studded black-tle affair Is
hosted by a group of East Coast black businessmen to honor the
achievements of black oscar nominees, who all too often leave
the celebrated award ceremonies without the trophy. The group
also honors those who may have been overlooked. This year, It
did a little of both, presenting awards to the Academy's two, lone
black nominees (Lamont Dozier for best original song and WlUle
Burton for best sound engineering), as well as handing out
awards to Eddie Murphy and Forest Whitaker, who many think
should have been nominated for his outstanding performance In
"Bird”,—the life story of Charlie Parker.
Avery Brooks Moonlights At The Kennedy Center: Avery
Brooks, star of "A Man Called Hawk", recently opened his two
and one-half hour, one-man show—"Paul Robeson"—at the Ken
nedy Center In Washington D.C. Turnout Is expected to be near
sellout for the one-month run. Meanwhile, by day. Brooks Is at
work wrapping up this season's "Hawk' episodes. R&B singer
Valerie Simpson (of "Ashford & Simpson) will guest on the last
episode to air April 29th. An accomplished songwriter. Brooks
(who helped to score the show's theme song) penned both of the
tunes Simpson will sing In the episode—one of them, a duet.
It's Nobody's Business But...Lakers all-pro guard Earvin
"Magic" Johnson Is quoted as saying that he has never dated ac
tress Robin Givens (as recentfy reported In a Supermarket ta
bloid), nor does he Intend to...On the home front, actress Jayne
Kennedy is set to give birth any day now. It will l3e the second
child bom to Kennedy and her husband, BUI Overton.
CBS Will Roll l^th Whoopi Goldberg In "Bagdad Cafe" Lead:
New World and CBS have teamed with New World TV for a hcdf-
hour CBS-TV sitcom based on last year's surprise movie hit—
"Bagdad Cafe." The ensemble comedy was purchased by the net
work for the 1988-89 season. At last word, exec producer Zev
Braun Is now negotiating for a major name to costar with Gold
berg, who stars as the proprietor of a red-neck bar In the Cali
fornia desert, populated by oddball barflies. The series has a 13-
eplsode commitment. According to Braun, Bagdad Cafe "Isn't
your typical movle-lnto-series property. They're (CBS) taking a
chance here. But...they can afford to be more daring because they
don't have as much to lose."
All-Star Lineup For Gala Tribute To Ella Fitxgendd: BUI Cosby
wUl head up an all-star tribute to jazz superstar £Ha Fitzgerald.
The ceremony Is scheduled for April 28th, just three days after
her 71st birthday. Among those set to participate are the Pointer
Sisters, Patti Austin, Dionne Warwick, Clint Elastwood, and Car
ol Burnett. Funds from the geda will go to the So0ety of Singers -
a group offering assistance to singers In need, .^series of annual
trophies to be known as "The Ellas" has been established. Of
course, Ella will be first to get one.
Short Takes: Actress-choreographer Debbie Allen Is stlU after
the title role of a film chronicling the life of famed dancer,
Katherine Dunham...Richard Roundtree nabbed a major role In
an upcoming movie called "Bad Jim" with John Clark Gable In
"Bad Jim"... Aretha Franklin's next album, "Through The Storm"
will be in the stores at the beginning of May. The album features
a duet with with 'The Godfather of Soul" James Brown, who Is
currently serving time...And in other music news, the first cut
from "2300 Jackson Street"--the long-awaited endeavor on the
part of the Jackson clan—their first family effort since the tftcto-
ly tour, is due out later this month. The Epic tdbum wUl be re
leased in May, with the official lineup of Jermaine, Jackie,
Randy and Tito. Of course, Michael and the clam's offspring are
featured on the title buck...Next week: well go backstage at thle
year's Soul Train Awards.
JCSU student Places
High In Bud Showdown
Johnson C. Smith University
student Gregory Williams has
placed 2nd In the Charlotte Re
gion Songwrltlng/Productlon
competition known as the Bud-
welser Showdown. Williams, a
music business major at JCSU,
placed on the top 10 out of
10,000 entries laist yeair amd was
In the top five In 1984.
For seven years, the Budwelser
Showdown ha« sought the best
■of locad tadents In songwriting
and performing. First and sec
ond place winners take home a
share of $1,500 In local- compe
tition adone. From there, region
al winners are selected amd five
national finalists will compete
for o-ver $35,000 amd a national
recording contract.
Williams, who appears regu
larly In locad clubs, ■will graduate
from Smith this December. A
native of Chicago, Williams,
known locadty as Gregory "Geeh,"
hopes the Budwelser Showdown
will be the big step In am eatfly
promising caireer. He recently
performed at Mr. Pee's in Char
lotte and during the ClAA Bas
ketball Toumamient In Norfolk,
V*
Williams with his background
singers.
Virginia.
Laust week, 'Wlllamis received a
call from England's Timeless
Records who arc requesting per
mission from him to release his
"Love Touch" song on their label.
"Love Touch" elevated WUllaims
to laist year's success during the
Budwelser Showdown. He ex
pects to hear from the Judges In
the next few weeks regarding the
regionad finads for this season's
"^owdown."
ItW
Ik
E.U.
JCSU Celebrates
Annual BULLFEST
Klara
Ahh, the rites of spring. The
warm winds are blowing, the
trees and flowers blossoming
amd the students adl wore
biking shorts on Tuesday. John
son C. Smith University stu
dents are celebrating spring
agadn this year with the Annuad
'BULLFEST '89 Celebration, a
week of music, activities and fun.
BULLFEST '89 is appropriately
titled '"WHATEVER WE IMAG
INE."
Held all this week, April 10-16,
BULLFEST '89 will be highlight
ed by a 6 p.m. concert Saturday
night, April 15, with the likes of
KID & PLAY, E.U. and KIARA.
The concert wlU be held at the
Grady Cole Center, adjacent to
Charlotte Memorial Stadium.
Tickets are $8 non-students and
$5 for students and are availa
ble at JCSU and Shazada
Records and Tape locations.
Throughout BULLFEST '89,
students at JCSU will hold tra
ditional spring events such as
the Miss JCSU Pageant, a
candlelight dinner and Student
Government Association elec
tions.
WPEG radio will host a Block
Party Friday on Blue and Gold
Day from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. In the
University Plaza, before the Pre-
Dawn Dance kicks off at mid
night and goes through the night
unUl 6 a.m. Other events include
Saturday's volleyball competi
tion, Step-Show Competition
(12-2p.m., Science Hall) and a
band and food festl-val from 2-3
p.m,. In the University Plaza. On
Sunday, the JCSU Golden Bull
Awards Banquet will bring an
end to what should prove to be
the best BULLFEST yet at JCSU
at 8 p.m.
For more Information, contact
Ms. JoAnn Craft, 378-1046, or
the JCSU Student Government
Association, 378-1133,
Black Music Origins Taught At Afro Center
Guest lecturers Dannye Romaine and
Worth Long (photo, right) discussed
the origins of slave work songs and the
blues during the second session of
'Drums, Hollers, Shouts and Horns:
The cultural Circle of Afro-American
Music" held at the Afro Center Sunday.
Program participants, such as Ruben
Hines( photo, left) raised important
points concerning the development mu
sic of Afro-American music.
The program continues this Sunday
with lecturer William T. Dargan and a
live gospel performance.
Photos/ Ml. LaNEY
Portraits Of
The Blues
Gwen Jackson, Administrative As
sistant at The Afro-American Cultural
tenter, provided a tour and informa
tion to visiting youth on the 'Blues
Legacy" photo exhibit currently on dis
play at the Center.
The 50-piece exhibit, by James Alex
ander of Atlanta, portrays various
blues and R&B artists. It will be on dis
play at the Center through April 30.
Photo/ M.L. UNoEY