POLITICAL | URBAN | ENTERTAINMENT | GOSPEL | HISTORY & CULTURE

buzzz worthy. . . (LOS ANGELES) April 17, 2014 -  Last night, Hollywood hit the red carpet for the L.A. premiere of Open Road Films' A Haunted House 2.  Cast members  Marlon Wayans ,  Jamie Pressly ,  Affion Crockett , Essence Atkins ,  Cedric the Entertainer , and  Gabriel Iglesias  turned out in style at Regal Cinema L.A. Live to celebrate the release of the film which opens tomorrow.  Special guests in attendance were singer/actress  Brandy ,  Lisa Raye ,  Damien Wayans ,  Omar Epps ,  Floyd Mayweather ,  Dawn Richards , Neyo ,  Shar Jackson ,  Brely Evans , comedians  Niecy Nash  and  Mike Epps .  Written and produced by Wayans,  A Haunted House 2  is the sequel to the hilarious box office hit  that spoofs  the latest supernatural horror movie franchises. Take a look at who showed up at the premiere! Brandy Brely Evans A...

buzzz worthy. . . OAK BROOK, Ill.--   McDonald's USA  has announced its  Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour  is back and better than ever with some of gospel music's biggest acts. Hosting the tour this year is one-half of sister duo  Mary Mary  and now solo artist  Erica Campbell  and comedian  Jonathan Slocumb . Joining them will be three-time 2014 Stellar Award-winners  Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy , the renowned  Mississippi Mass Choir , gospel's latest hip-hop sensation  Uncle Reece , organist  Moses Tyson, Jr.  and the incomparable  Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers . Back for its eighth year, the free summer concert series sets out  May 22  and runs through  July 25  to deliver messages of hope and inspiration to communities nationwide. "I am so thankful and honored to be chosen not only to host the tour, but to perform alongside other gospel greats," said Campbell,...

buzzz worthy. . . During Holy Week, award-winning gospel recording artist Damien Sneed is co-presenting, in conjunction with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center organization, a series of YouTube videos featuring the historic Abyssinian Mass: A Gospel Celebration.    The videos feature Rev. Calvin Butts, Damien Sneed, Wynton Marsalis and others.  Damien Sneed reflects on the concert experience in his own words:  The Power of Prayer (Part One) - "This first video shows candid footage of me, Wynton Marsalis, Rev. Calvin Butts , the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and my choral group, Chorale Le Chateau during the Abyssinian Mass 2013: Gospel Celebration Tour. The footage was recorded during one of our performances in New York City at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall. The video's musical underscore is based on the movement PRAYER where the choir declares “Come Together through the Power of Prayer.” At 3:44 - 3:46, you can even se...

buzzz worthy. . .   [Los Angeles, CA]  April 16, 2014  - Deitrick Haddon's LXW  wowed the audience as the opener of this year ' s,  " Celebration of Gospel " , and for those who wanted to see more, here ' s your chance.  Oxygen  viewers will be in for a treat on Good Friday this year. The network has just announced that they will be airing the  entire LXW concert  on  Friday, April 18 th , at 8:30 A.M. EDT .  The concert was taped at the City of Refuge Church in LA.    Deitrick wanted to   bring together the BEST of the BEST in choir music to help propel the movement.    Featured acts include:  Jessica Reedy, Hezekiah Walker, Ricky Dillard, and Donald Lawrence. WATCH JESSICA REEDY PERFORM "DO NOT PASS ME BY" Haddon has this to say about the special airing of Christian programming on the network, "Wow! This is amazing!  Oxygen  is not afraid to go where no other network has ...

buzzz worthy. . . NEW YORK -- Steve Stoute's acclaimed 2011 book,  The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture that Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy , is now available as an audiobook narrated by  Scandal  star Kerry Washington. A portion of the proceeds from the book, which presents an insider's view of how the transcendent power of popular culture is helping reinvigorate and revitalize the American dream, will go toward Washington's charity, the  President's Committee  on the Arts and the Humanities. The Tanning of America  serves as a pop culture anthology that chronicles the impact of hip-hop on the economy over the last thirty years. Stoute traces how the "tanning" phenomenon raised a generation that has the same mental complexion based on shared experiences and values, rather than the demographic boxes that have been used to a fault by corporate America.  The Tanning of America  provides a translation guide to bridge t...

buzzz worthy. . . Today, April 15 is the day of reckoning for U.S. taxpayers.  It's time to turn in 2013 tax forms.  The White House led by example in releasing the tax filings of the Obama's and Biden's last week.  Both families are paying over $90 thousand in taxes for earnings in 2013.  Bother families are in a higher tax bracket, but supported policies to protect the majority of Americans who are not. Here's what to if you missed the deadline.

buzzz worthy. . . The White House announces the program, activities, and talent line-up for the  2014 White House Easter Egg Roll , a tradition in its 136 th  year and the largest annual public event at the White House.  The Easter Egg Roll will take place Monday, April 21, on the South Lawn of the White House and in support of the First Lady’s  Let’s Move!  initiative is focused on promoting health and wellness with the theme, “Hop into Healthy, Swing into Shape.”  The event will feature live music, sports courts, cooking stations, storytelling and, of course, Easter egg rolling. To learn more about the Easter Egg Roll visit  www.WhiteHouse.gov/EasterEggRoll . Tune in for live streams from the South Lawn on April 21, 2014 on  WhiteHouse.gov/live . You can also join the conversation online using the hashtag  #EasterEggRoll  and get the latest updates by checking out  Let’s Move!   on  Twitter   and ...

buzzz worthy. . .  Ladies 1st "A Celebration of Women" Inaugural International Summit Will Be Held September 10-13 in Virginia Beach, VA Confirmed Presenters Include Faith Evans, Erica Campbell, Dorinda Clark Cole, Vickie Winans, Jacky Clark Chisholm, and Kierra Sheard More to be Confirmed in the Coming Weeks  (Detroit, MI – April 14, 2014) – Gospel Music Legend Karen Clark Sheard, the first lady of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God and Christ in Detroit, MI, which is pastored by her husband, Bishop J. Drew Sheard, will host an international summit for women who serve in various leadership roles in the church. First Lady Karen Clark Sheard Presents: Ladies 1st “A Celebration of Women” Inaugural International Summit will be held September 10-13, 2014, in Virginia Beach, VA. The summit will bring together women from all over the globe, including pastors, co-pastors, bishops, and minister’s wife, widows and adjutants from all denominations for three days o...

buzzz worthy. . . By Mona Austin Finally, a group of women on television who aren't clawing each other's eyes out.  The OWN Network has picked up a docu-series that follows 4 real life friends through the ups and downs of life. Dubbed the black Sex In the City,  the ladies of  "Love In the City" have conflict, but so far in the frist 3 episodes have chosen not to sever ties over their issues.  How novel in reality T.V.

buzzz worthy. . . Bishop Donald Hilliard, along with selected community activists and celebrity panelists, will engage conversations about the dynamics of fatherless households in America; particularly within African-American and Latino urban communities. "Do You Know Your Daddy?" Wednesday April 23, 2014 7:00pm-9:00pm Cathedral International Church (205 Smith Street, Perth Amboy, NJ) A thought-provoking town hall discussion will be an open dialogue to address single-parenting issues which affect employment, education, social behavior; but most importantly, the lack of the male presence as it relates to crime and incarceration. This national epidemic today has statistically risen to an alarming concern for African-American and Latino communities. Pastor Hilliard is passionate that "This town hall discussion is not just an opportunity to voice frustration; its purpose is to determine how we can best resolve this epidemic." We will examine and dissect the...

JUST ANNOUNCED: INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES WARRYN CAMPBELL, BISHOP DEREK TRIPLETT, ACE ALEXANDER AND MORE WILL FACILITATE CONFERENCE WORKSHOP SESSIONS FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL I HEAR MUSIC IN THE AIR CONFERENCE GOSPEL SUPERSTARS MARY MARY HAVE ALSO BEEN ANNOUNCED AS WORKSHOP FACILLITATORS IN ADDITION TO CONCERT HEADLINERS TV & GOSPEL MUSIC SENSATION TAMELA MANN NOW SET TO PERFORM BOTH SATURDAY & SUNDAY FRIDAY, MAY 16TH – SUNDAY, MAY 18TH 2014 – CINNCINATI, OH (New York, NY – April 11, 2014) – Industry veterans and aspiring newcomers alike, get ready for one of the gospel music industry’s premier conferences, back for it’s 13th year – Tracey Artis’ I Hear Music In The Air Conference returns to Cincinnati, Ohio, May 16th-18th 2014. For all artists, singers, songwriters, praise & worship leaders, lay people, pastors, music business specialists, and more there is sure to be a workshop with your name on it. Conference workshops will include classes on Songwriting and Production fa...