::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . .   ------- Pastor Shirley Caesar, Vickie Winans, Erica Campbell, Johnathan McReynolds and the Howard University Gospel Choir Perform on “ The Bobby Jones Gospel Christmas Special ” Sunday, December 21, 2014 at 9AM ET/PT ------- # Bobby Jones Christmas   Click on the photo to view the SNEAK PEEK clip: Click here: http://bit.ly/1qxB6bo (Pastor Shirley Caesar performs on “The Bobby Jones Gospel Christmas Special” airing Sunday, December 21 at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT.  Also pictured GRAMMY® Award winning Dr. Bobby Jones, Jr., host of BET’s flagship gospel music program. / Photo credit: BET Networks)   NEW YORK, NY - December 16, 2014 - The longest running original series on cable television, " BOBBY JONES GOSPEL ," will present a Christmas special on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at 9 a.m. ET/PT.    “The Bobby Jones Gospel Christmas Special” stars gospel legend Pastor Shirley Caesar as she sets the tone of the show per...

buzzz worthy. . . TWO GROUPS COMPETE FOR  THE GRAND PRIZE  OF $50,000 IN A  TWO-HOUR HOLIDAY SPECIAL OF  NBC'S THE SING OFF    New York City's "Traces" and Nashville-based "Timothy's Gift" Go Head-to-Head in the Final Battle of the Season Tune In Wednesday, Dec 17. at 8pm ET/PT Click here to watch Traces perform "River Deep Mountain High" Click here to view Timothy's Gift perform "Ghost"     UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - Dec. 2014 - NBC has announced the two final groups, TRACES and TIMOTHY'S GIFT , competing for a first-place prize of $50,000 on the two-hour special airing Wednesday, Dec. 17 (8 p.m. ET/PT) of the popular musical competition series "The Sing-Off."   Returning judges Jewel and Shawn Stockman will be joined by Fall Out Boy  frontman  Patrick Stump while Nick  Lachey  is once again set as host.   From New York,  Traces  are five spirit-filled div...

buzzz worthy. . . GRAMMY Award Nominee Damion Murrill Ends Phenomenal Year With Lamplighter Award Upcoming Year Finds Artist Readying New Single, New CD, And Recording Studio (Wilmington, NC) – December 12, 2014 - 2014 has been an amazing year for GRAMMY Award Nominee Damion Murrill.  Introducing his group, Siloam, Damion released a brand new single, “Kingdom Come”, in early 2014 to rave reviews.  The ensemble sang the tune on television stations and networks nationwide including TBN, The Word Network, The Christian Television Network, TCT, NBC, and FOX and live on Radio One’s Praise 102.5FM in Atlanta.  Although Damion is thrilled with the exposure of his music ministry, he’s also excited about being the recipient of the 2014 Lamplighter Award for Senior Citizen Outreach. Presented on December 6 th  by Radio One’s Praise 103.9FM in Raleigh, NC, led by Jerry Smith, the annual awards program highlights those who have given back to the community. As the foun...

International singer, songwriter, actor and model, Andy Magro, dreams of making a positive difference in this world. On his 24th birthday, December 12, 2014, armed with a new EP debut album, "Never Stop Dreaming," and a new charity organization, "United for Charity," he hopes to do just that. Fifty percent of all sales revenue will be channeled through his charity. The proceeds will then be forwarded to multiple charities throughout the world benefitting everything from environmental causes to helping people in areas that are hit by catastrophic hurricanes, earthquakes, or tornadoes. "My goal is to raise awareness about different kinds of charity needs," said Magro. "We need people to help protect nature, endangered animals, our environment, the ocean, our drinking water, or even providing homeless kids a home." He says that he considers himself a normal person with philanthropic interests. He wants to use his talents in a way that propels...

buzzz worthy. . .   By Mona Austin Queen Bey has surpassed the Queen of Country music, Dolly Parton with her 47th Grammy award nod, becoming the  most Grammy-nominated woman of all time.  Parton held the record for years, but last week with the announcement of the 2015 Grammy Award nominees Beyoncé  took the top spot. Beyoncé is up for the Best Urban Contemporary album along with five other nominations, keeping pace with Sam Smith and Pharrell Williams all  top the Grammy nominations list with six. Grammys will be handed out in 83 categories.  Below is sampling of nominations from various categories reflecting the diversity that defines today's music industry: Album Of The Year : Morning Phase — Beck Beyoncé — Beyoncé X — Ed Sheeran In The Lonely Hour — Sam Smith Girl — Pharrell Williams   Record Of The Year : "Fancy" — Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli XCX "Chandelier" — Sia "Stay With Me" (Darkchild Version) — Sam...

buzzz worthy. . . Walk outs and die-ins.  Those are the non-violent weapons of choice for citizens responding to racial injustice in police conduct in recent grand jury decisions that became headline news in two American cities -- Ferguson, MO and New York City, NY. Non-violent protests continue in the aftermath of the Eric Garner and Mike Brown verdicts.  On Thursday Black Congressional staffers were joined by members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association and the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association in a walk out on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday medical students from over 70 U.S. schools participated in die-ins in support of the nationwide outcry against the deaths of unarmed Black men killed by police and against racial bias in healthcare. Students of all races from such colleges as Boston University, Harvard, Yale, Duke and Emory wore white coats as the lay on the ground and floors around the nation, using ‪#‎ whitecoats4blacklives‬ to spr...

buzzz worthy. . .   FROM FERGUSON TO NEW YORK CITY,  DR. PHIL LOOKS  AT THE CURRENT  RACIA L TENSION IN AMERICA AND TAKES THE CONVERSATION BEYOND THE HEADLINES AIRING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12 Provocative dialogue includes interviews with the families of Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin; Roland Martin, Reverend Al Sharpton and New Orleans Saints Player Benjamin Watson are among panelists providing additional insight.  Tune In, Friday Dec. 12 -  (check local listings) Watch a teaser of Dr. Phil   Photo of Roland Martin, Dr. Phil and Benjamin Watson   Los Angeles, CA -  FROM FERGUSON TO NEW YORK CITY, DR. PHIL LOOKS AT THE CURRENT RACIAL TENSION IN AMERICA AND TAKES THE CONVERSATION BEYOND THE HEADLINES  AIRING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12   Provocative Dialogue Includes Interviews with the Families of Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin; Reverend Al Sharpton and New Orleans Saints Player...