POLITICAL | URBAN | ENTERTAINMENT | GOSPEL | HISTORY & CULTURE

Linden, NJ: Traditional gospel star, Alvin Darling and his group Celebration, are making room for themselves at the table of contemporary gospel music. Amid playlists filled with modern-styled tracks by J Moss and BeBe & CeCe, Darling’s latest hit “Do it for Me, Lord” is making the case that down home gospel is still in demand. The mid-tempo, hand-clapper has climbed to #15 on Billboard magazine’s Hot Gospel Songs chart. It’s the first single from Darling’s new CD “You Can Make It” that debuted at #11 on Billboard magazine’s gospel album sales chart. The twelve-song CD was recorded live at Jehovah-Jireh Praise and Worship Ministries in Newark, NJ this past spring. Darling wrote or co-wrote nine of the dozen songs that range from praise and worship tunes such as “O Lord We Worship You” and ballads like “I Thank God for Knowing You” to traditional church fare such as “One More Day.” Before his signature song “All Night” took off and became a Top 10 smash in 2005, Darling had consider...

Broadway's MINSKOFF THEATER Overlooking Times Square with host SETH RUDETSKY of Chatterbox featured performers and special guests include SHOSHANA BEAN of Wicked UZO ADUBA (Corman Boy) SEAN BRADFORD (The Lion King) TODD BUONOPANE (Spelling Bee) LILLI COOPER (Spring Awakening) STEPANIE D'ABRUZZO (Avenue Q) LAURA MARIE DUNCAN (South Pacific) ASMERET GHEBREMICHAEL (Legally Blonde) FRANKIE JAMES GRANDE (Mr. Broadway 2007, Mamma Mia!) ADAM KANTOR (Rent) LAUREN KENNEDY (Side Show) ANDREW KOBER (Hair) TRACY MCDOWELL (Rent) COURTNEY REED (In The Heights) JULIE REIBER (Wicked) RASHIDRA SCOTT (Finian's Rainbow) LAQUET SHARNELL (Memphis) CHRISTOPER SPAULDING (Curtains) LISA NICOLE WILKERSON (The Lion King) and many more! MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2009 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. MINSKOFF THEATER 200 West 45th Street New York, New York ~ Tickets are $30, $75 for VIP and $250 for sponsorships, and can be purchased at the door or by visiting www.broadwayinsouthafrica.org Along with a spe...

Tyler Perry's mother, Willie Maxine Perry, 64 has died. Perry has described his mother as "the wisdom" of the Madea character that made him famous. The AP did not report the cause of death. Mrs. Perry was a long-time pre-school teacher in New Orleans. More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hg-ThkUZDEPh9Kk7XxRiEGQmRXNwD9CFRCOO0

(Los Angeles, CA) “Emmanuel” - one of the top selling gospel Christmas CDs of all-time - is now available in stores everywhere. Featuring the #1 hit single “Emmanuel”, Norman Hutchins & JDI Christmas is distributed worldwide by JDI Records/Universal Music Group. A Year-Round song geared not just for Christmas, Ebony Magazine says “Emmanuel is our favorite Christmas/365 days of the year song!” Featuring JDI Records’ stellar roster of artists - Norman Hutchins, James Roberson, DeNetria “Aretha” Champ, etc - plus special guest Nikki Potts of the Kurt Carr Singers, “Emmanuel” is a Year-Round classic! JDI/Universal Music Group Available on CD, Songbook, and Sing-Along Performance Tracks: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/normanhutchins3

GRAMMY® Award Winning Songstress Yolanda Adams, R&B Singer/Songwriter Ledisi, Gospel Singer Donald Lawrence, and Actress Robin Givens Join This One-Of-A-Kind Event on Saturday, December 12 LOS ANGELES —December 8, 2009 —BET’s tenth anniversary of CELEBRATION OF GOS P EL adds performances by Yolanda Adams, Ledisi, Donald Lawrence, and spoken word monologues by the talented actors Robin Givens and Ernie Hudson. Hosted by comedian and actor Steve Harvey, CELEBRATION OF GOS P EL will be taped at the famed Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 12 and will air on Sunday, January 10, 2010. With grandiose performances by gospel and mainstream artists, a 24-piece orchestra led by world-renowned musical director Ray Chew and the most engaging comedian around, CELEBRATION OF GOS P EL is sure to get viewers on their feet. In addition to the newly added talent, the house will be filled with joyful praise and stunning performances by Fantasia and her mother Diane Barrino Barbe...

The Diary of A Princess: The Princess and the Frog Television Special Premieres December 9 on TV One Los Angeles, CA December 8, 2009 - History was made at the beginning of this year and is being made at the end of the year. During the first month of the year, we witnessed the first African American President being sworn into office, and at the close of the year Disney’s first Black princess graces the big screen and makes her royal debut http://theloop21.com/news/disney’s-first-african-american-princess-makes-her-royal-debut. “I have a five-year old daughter… It means a lot to me to have a princess that looks like her,” says Marlon West /Disney Special Effects Animator. Every African American girl has been waiting for that special princess, but so has every woman, mother, aunt, and grandmother. Everyone has been waiting for a princess who they can identify with and who looks like them. So who is this princess? What's her name? Who are her friends and family? Who are her ...

Gospel singer BeBe Winans has been exonerated of all charges of allegations that he assaulted his ex-wife Debra Winans. Judge Gloria Dumas of the General Sessions Court for Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County signed an order on Friday, December 4, 2009, dismissing all charges with prejudice. With this order, this domestic matter is over and cannot be reopened. “This has been a trying year, beginning with the death of my father, “ says Winans. “Even though this allegation has affected not just me, but also the entire Winans family, my children and certain aspects of my career, I chose to stay quiet because I knew the truth. To be exonerated of all charges shows the power of trusting in God, and is a wonderful Christmas gift for me and my children.” On February 13, 2009, the Grammy Award winning singer was accused of allegedly shoving his ex-wife to the ground during an argument. Court filings stated that the alleged altercation was based on custody issues dealing ...