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Washington Informer
Entertainment Archive (444)
Naomi Sims, Supermodel Dies at 61Courtesy PhotoSims, sometimes dubbed the first Black supermodel, died of cancer on Sat., Aug. 1 in Newark, N.J., the New York Times and TheFashionInsider.com reported.
Born in racially segregated Oxford, Miss. in 1948, Sims made history in August 1967 as the first Black model on the cover of Fashion of the Times, a supplement to the New York Times.
“In the Studio with Michael Jackson†by Bruce Swedien, forewords by Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton c.2008, 2009, Hal Leonard Corp. $24.99 / $29.95 Canada 272 pages Courtesy PhotoWithin three seconds of hearing that beat, you know you’re listening to “Billy Jean†or “Thriller.†There’s no doubt “Off the Wall†has started or “Beat It†will make you want to dance.
And there’s no doubt that Michael Jackson had talent. But while he sang those songs and made up those moves, he didn’t do those million-selling albums by himself. In the new book, “In the Studio with Michael Jackson†by Bruce Swedien, you’ll find out how those blockbusters happened and who was involved.
Acclaimed author E. Lynn Harris died of apparent heart failure on Thu., July 23 at the age of 54. Courtesy PhotoLaura Gilmore, Harris’ publicist said that he had taken ill while en route to Los Angeles from his home in Atlanta, Ga. Harris was on a book tour to promote his latest novel, “Basketball Jones,†scheduled for release in January.
“Everything seemed fine,†Gilmore said.
The D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH), in collaboration with the District of Columbia Public Libraries (DCPL), is seeking East-of-the-River artists, including writers, to submit proposals for four prominent areas inside the new Benning and Anacostia Libraries which are expected to open in the spring of 2010. The deadline for submissions is Fri., Aug. 21 at 5:30 p.m. The proposed artwork sites provide artists and writers the opportunity to display their work in a large-scale format in a public building. Artist Honorarium is $2,500. For more information about the project contact Rachel Dickerson at
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or 202-724-5613. To obtain an application go to www.dcart.dc.gov.
Actress Diahann Carroll reveals the lessons she has learned on love, romance and relationships in her latest autobiography, “The Legs Are the Last to Go: Aging, Acting, Marrying and Other Things I Learned the Hard Way.†Courtesy PhotoIn “The Legs Are the Last to Go: Aging, Acting, Marrying and Other Things I Learned the Hard Way,†Carroll re-examines her life and shares her disappointments and sorrows. The 74-year-old actress admits that her own well-being often took a backseat to the whims of the men with whom she associated. And, while she only provides a few details about her affair with Poitier, a liaison that led to the end of her first marriage, Carroll explores her attraction to unhealthy relationships.
Curator Tewodross Melchishua speaks to the crowd at M3: MC's, Mics, and Metaphors Artists’ talk on Sat., Aug. 8 at the Gallery at Flashpoint in Northwest. Photo by Ra-Jah S. Kelly“What we wanted to do with this exhibition is to take a verse or song and visualize it, but at the same time also create a dialogue. I call it the visual cypher, just like a cypher of emcees that are in a circle,†Melchishua, 39, said.
Melchishua assembled 16 artists in mediums ranging from animation and fashion design to video and mixed media, who were tasked with exploring the concept of the lyrics, metaphors or similes used in hip-hop, and reflecting a favorite emcee or song. The result is “M3: MCs, Mics and Metaphors†being shown at the Gallery at Flashpoint in Northwest until Sat., Aug. 29
Denise Rolark Barnes, host of Washington Informer News (standing on the right), with guests from a recent show discussing African and African American perceptions. The public affairs program airs weekly on DCTV Public Cable Access (Comcast channels 95 & 96) and RCN (channels 10 & 11) on Sundays at 1 p.m. and again on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. Courtesy photo by Mark LeekeRolark Barnes sees “The Washington Informer News Show†as a natural progression towards a vision her late father and founder of the newspaper, Calvin W. Rolark, had in 1964.
“My father started the Washington Informer Publishing Company, Inc., and about a year later he published a book called ‘Know Your D.C. Government.’ He also had a radio show on WYCB 1350-AM called ‘Sound Off’ for 16 years, which was an extension of what he was doing in the newspaper,†Rolark Barnes said.
EARDRUM EXPLORER
Title: “WISH: Wishing Traditions Around The Worldâ€
Author: Roseanne Thong Art: Elisa Kleven Year: 2008
Pages: 44 Price: $16.99 Publisher: Chronicle Books, www.chroniclekids.com
Reviewed by: Andrea Lopez, 14-years-old
School: Washington Latin Charter School, 9th grade
Title: “WISH: Wishing Traditions Around The Worldâ€
Author: Roseanne Thong Art: Elisa Kleven Year: 2008
Pages: 44 Price: $16.99 Publisher: Chronicle Books, www.chroniclekids.com
Reviewed by: Andrea Lopez, 14-years-old
School: Washington Latin Charter School, 9th grade
Johnny Mathis received several standing ovations at his Sun., Aug. 9 performance at Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Va. Courtesy PhotoAfter a medley of some of his best-loved hits, such as “Stranger in Paradise,†“The Twelfth of Never,†and “Brazil,†Johnny surprised and delighted the audience with admirable versions of the Stylistics’ tune “You Make Me Feel Brand New,†and the Little Anthony and the Imperials classic “I’m on the Outside Looking In.†Rather than singing carbon copies of the originals, he gave his own inimitable version of each one.
Frederic Yonnet, a French harmonicist Courtesy PhotoAt a recent concert at Blues Alley in the District, the 36-year-old Yonnet brought down the house with a show that infused blues, jazz, hip-hop, and rock during a one-hour set. Aided by husband and wife team Josh and Cora Coleman-Dunham, the rhythm section for music legend Prince, Yonnet demonstrated why he is gaining recognition as a force to be reckoned with in the music world.
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