::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . . June 8, 1962 – March 3, 2015      CHERYL “CHERI” MCCLURKIN Los Angeles, CA (March 3, 2015) -   The McClurkin Family gathered together today to say farewell to sibling, Cheryl “Cheri” McClurkin who died from complications  of a massive coronary heart attack at 4pm/EST today.   Cheri was a mother of five and grandmother of nine. She sang and recorded with The McClurkin Family over the years.  However, she is best known as a playwright who recently penned her life story in the form of a riveting play entitled, ‘”A Cry for Help” that was produced by her own company, Chronic Productions. The family will ensure that this play lives on in her honor.   The McClurkin Family requests  prayers and privacy at this time.   All cards and condolences can be forwarded to Perfecting Faith Church, 311 N. Main , Freeport, NY 11520.  Details for service arrangements will be forth...

buzzz worthy. . . Damien Sneed’s New Double Disc Project, ‘Broken to Minister: The Deluxe Edition’ on March 3 The Broken To Minister 15-City Promotional Tour Kicks Off on Thursday, February 26 in New York City (New York, NY –February 24, 2015) -- LeChateau Earl Records releases multi-genre recording artist and Sphinx Medal of Excellence recipient new double disc project, Broken To Minister: The Deluxe Edition on March 3. This release marks the first of a series of releases by Sneed and label co-founder, Bishop Iona Locke under their new deal with Central South Distribution.   Broken To Minister: The Deluxe Edition is an extension of Sneed’s 2013 inaugural gospel EP, Broken To Minister , which also featured the debut of Sneed’s gospel ensemble, The Levites. The project also features 15 new songs (20 tracks on the project) including the hit singles, “Broken to Minister” and “Call Him By His Name.”  The new single, “Forever,” is an ...

buzzz worthy. . . Lenny Williams could sell out seminars on how to sincerely express the love of a woman.  Afterall, he is known mainly for the classic he san g and co-wrote, "Because I Love You."  It is fitting that the crooner is associated with a song about love because it is  subject that never gets old.   Over the years Williams has worked with artists of various musical persuasions and toured the US  and in Europe. Currently, Lenny is prep aring to make a comeback as a solois t working on new material that will pick up where he left off with a focus on love .   Below is a profile on his career and  five lesser known facts facts about him . Did you know Lenny Williams. . . Sang gospel alongside Walter, Edwin ans Tramaine Hawkins Former member of 70's funk group, Tower (Tower of Power) Established his own record label, LenTom Entertainment  Has added acting to his resume performing  in several stage plays, includin...

buzzz worthy. . . Maxee Maxwell, a member of the 1990s girl group Brownstone — best known for the hit "If You Love Me" — has died after cutting herself in a fall at home, a representative said Monday. Courtney Barnes told The Associated Press that Maxwell, 46, was at her home in Los Angeles on Friday when she fell and cut her neck on a drinking glass. Her husband, producer Carsten "Soulshock" Schack, found her sometime later and called 911. She was rushed to a hospital where she died, Barnes said. Maxwell is survived by Schack and her 11-year-old son, Nicolaj Hojer. In a statement, they said they were devastated by Maxwell's sudden and tragic death, calling her a devoted wife and mother. "We miss her so much," the statement said. AP

buzzz worthy. . . PASTOR CHARLES JENKINS KICKS OFF “MARCH GLADNESS” PROMOTIONAL TOUR THIS WEEK FOR HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED ALBUM “ANY GIVEN SUNDAY” Chicago, IL - GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter and recording artist Pastor Charles Jenkins is hitting the road with a “March Gladness” tour to promote his forthcoming sophomore album “Any Given Sunday” (Inspired People/Motown Gospel) that releases March 17th. Currently, Jenkins is riding high with the Top 5 Billboard Gospel Airplay chart smash “WAR.” The New Orleans Brass Band-flavored call-to-action is a follow-up to 2013’s #1 smash “Awesome” which spent 22 amazing weeks atop Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and was cited as one of the Top Ten most played gospel songs of the year by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). The gladness tour launches this Wednesday, March 4th in New York City with a string of media visits, personal appearances and will close with Past...

buzzz worthy. . . v Performing "People Get Ready" with Peter Cooper and Eric Brace at Nashville's famous The Station Inn - bit.ly/186ic2K New York, NY -- In 1999, Eric Brace -- then a writer for The Washington Post -- wrote an article previewing an upcoming concert by The Persuasions, boldly declaring the group's lead singer, Jerry Lawson, to be the best soul tenor since Sam Cooke. Two weeks later, he received a pen-on-paper 'thank you' note from Jerry. The two quickly became friends and promised to someday make an album together. Years later, they've done just that. Just a Mortal Man is Jerry's first record as a solo artist, pairing his timeless, tireless voice with the soulful sweep of a full backup band. Already a familiar name in the world of a cappella music -- first with The Persuasions, and later as the leader of Talk of the Town, who rose to fame as finalists on the second season of NBC's "The Sing-Off" -- Je...

buzzz worthy. . . By Mona Austin Limited, private use of marijuana has been passed in the District of Columbia effective today.   Despite opposition and the threat of being sued by some Republican members of Congress, new DC Mayor Murial Bowser supported the voter approved initiative 71 to legalize pot for recreational use.   Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, told the Washington Post , "You can go to prison for this. We're not playing a little game here." Chaffetz wrote a warning letter to Bowser stating if the District decided to legalize the drug it would be "doing so in willful violation of the law." Mayor Bowser said she did not believe the measure was illegal and went forth with it, calling out lawmakers who were against the decision for bullying the District officials. Although DC has joined several states where it not againt the law to smoke pot, usage stipulations on usage ...

buzzz worthy. . .   Tickets for the Neighborhood Awards and Neighborhood Awards Weekend August 6 th – 9 th in Atlanta On Sale February 27 th ATLANTA, GA (February 26, 2015) – Steve Harvey , EMMY winning talk show and Family Feud host and star of the Steve Harvey Morning Show, is excited to announce the 13 th Annual Neighborhood Awards and Neighborhood Awards Weekend !  The Ford Neighborhood Awards hosted by Steve Harvey and four-day signature experience filled with star entertainment, the college expo, film and TV screenings, and more, are returning to Atlanta, GA for a second year, August 6-9, 2015.  Tickets for all of the weekend events go on-sale Friday, February 27 th at 10 am EST.   The 2015 Neighborhood Awards Weekend features over 15 events and activities with the return of the Ford Neighborhood Awards and Ford Celebrity Blue Carpet to Philips Arena on Saturday, August 8 th , and the State Farm Neighborhood Awards Expo t...

buzzz worthy. . .   (TORONTO, Ontario) -- From bestselling author and award-winning filmmaker, Joe Amaral, comes the new documentary, Story in the Stars , to be released on March 2nd in a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack. Since the beginning of time man has wondered, what is up there, who put it there and why. After an intense dream during the cold Canadian winter of 2012, Amaral decided to look up the images he had seen: a woman in the heavens, a looming dragon and millions of stars. "These images eventually led me to Revelation 12," said Amaral. "It was exactly as I had seen them in my dream. Over two thousand years ago, the apostle John, who wrote the book of Revelation, was on the island of Patmos. It would have been pitch black with zero light pollution, and the stars would literally have been popping out of the night sky. After some fierce study and comparison, I realized that the images that John was describing in the book of Revelation, p...

Are the ladies of Mary Mary able to rebuild after the devastation that wreaked havoc on their lives last season? In the wake of the shocking betrayals and devastation of last season, Erica and Tina Campbell attempt to reunite and rebuild in season 4 of WE tv’s MARY MARY, premiering Thursday, March 5 at 10PM ET/PT . As they forge ahead, secrets and ambitions are revealed at every turn making it difficult to move forward. With the ladies being drawn in two different directions and Mary Mary on hiatus and managerless; they must look within themselves, and each other, if there is any chance for Mary Mary to survive. Devastated by Teddy’s actions, Tina and Teddy work through the heartbreak, to reestablish their foundation with the hopes of coming out stronger as a couple with love, music and wisdom to share. Erica's solo career has taken off and continues to thrive, however she quickly realizes that being a solo artist is more difficult than she anticipated. Without the ...

buzzz worthy. . . 7 Must-Ask Questions in Any Negotiation A negotiation is nothing more than a discussion through which both parties seek to formulate and settle upon a mutually beneficial agreement, whether this agreement is a multi-million dollar contract or simply at which restaurant to meet for dinner. Our daily professional and personal lives are riddled with negotiations, those across a boardroom table, the kitchen table and everywhere in between.  But, what sets a successful negotiator—one who comes out on top in deal-making more often than not—apart from those who struggle to gain advantages? Of course, there are numerous strategies one can employ to improve their chances of emerging victorious in a negotiation, and paramount among these is asking just the right kind of questions—those that will elicit answers that facilitate a win for all parties involved.   With this in mind, here are 7 “must ask” questions in any negotiation to best ensure...

buzzz worthy. . . BRAND NEW CELEBRITY CAST REVEALED  ON “GOOD MORNING AMERICA” “Dancing with the Stars” 10TH Anniversary Premieres Live on Monday, March 16 8:00–10:01 p.m., ET on ABC Patti Labelle and Susanne Somers join the cast UPDATE: As an update to the previously announced cast, 'Batchelor" Chris has been added to this year's team of amateur dancers. This year's dancing duos are: Noah Galloway with Sharna Burgess Robert Herjavec with Kym Johnson Patti LaBelle with Artem Chigvintsev Nastia Liukin with Derek Hough Riker Lynch with Allison Holker Charlotte McKinney with Keo Motsepe RedFoo with Emma Slater Michael Sam with Peta Murgatroyd Willow Shields with Mark Ballas Suzanne Somers with Tony Dovolani Rumer Willis with Valentin Chmerkovskiy March 16 can't get here fast enough!  That is the premiere date of the 10th Anniversary season premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" and Lady Marmalade singer Patti Labelle will be a co...