The Trials of Muhammad Ali

Tonight I went to an advanced screening of the documentary film The Trials of Muhammad Ali at The DuSable Museum of African American History. The film stands out from other documentary films on the legendary boxer by focusing on Ali's life outside of the boxing ring. From joining the Nation of Islam and changing his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali, to his refusal to serve in the Vietnam War in the name of protesting racial inequality, to his global humanitarian work, Ali remains an inspiring, passionate, and controversial figure. Directed by Academy Award-nominated director Bill Siegel, The Trials of Muhammad Ali shows the courage and conviction of a true hero.
Playing from November 8th-14th at Music Box Theater (3733 N. Southport Ave), Ice Lawndale 10 (3330 W. Roosevelt Rd.), and Chatham 14 (210 W. 87th St.) There will also be in person appearances by Khalilah Camacho-Ali (former wife of Muhammad Ali), the filmmakers, and Athletes United for Peace.

Source: www.thetrialsofali.com

I'm In Love With A Church Girl

I'm in love with a Church Girl, is the true story of a man finding love and a newfound faith in God. The movie stars Jeff 'Ja Rule' Atkins as Miles Montego, a once hustler who is trying to stay on the straight and narrow, Adrienne Bailon as Vanessa Leon, the sweet and loveable church girl who catches Miles' heart, and Stephen Baldwin as Jason McDaniels, the DEA agent who is determined to find any dirt he can on Miles. An enjoyable movie that stresses that God always has the upperhand and a plan for your life, comes highly recommended. In theaters now!

12 Years A Slave

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending an advanced screening of 12 Years A Slave, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor based on the incredible true story of a man's fight for survival and freedom. Ejiofor plays Solomon Northup,  a free black man from upstate NewYork, pre-Civil War, who is abducted and sold into slavery. With captivating performances from a stellar cast, and a story that is an unforgettable reality of this country's history, there is no dismissing this movie. Directed by Steve McQueen and Produced by Brad Pitt 12 Years A Slave is released this Friday, October 18th.

Source: IMBD

Review: Dream Girls Chicago

Saturday, March 3rd was the second performance for the John Ruffin Production of Dream Girls at the Harold Washington Cultural Center, located at 4701 Martin Luther King Dr. The theater was filled to the balcony while stragglers walked in as Ruffin addressed the crowd. I have seen the film and theater adaptation of this classic musical, but my expectations for this production were neutral. However, this was a well done presentation. There was perfect casting for the lead players consisting of Opal Nesbitt as "Deena Jones," China Stewart as "Effie White," KC Lee as "Curtis Taylor Jr.," and Mark Smith as "James Thunder Early" (Jimmy). Each one carried their own. Of course there were definitely the stand out characters such as "Jimmy," and  "Effie White." Smith was a great Jimmy and gave Eddie Murphy a run for his money. Some highlights of the musical were a tap dance routine that was added to the "Stepping To The Bad Side" number. Also there was a modern dance routine added to the song "I Am Changing." Of course the show stopper of Effie singing, "I Am Telling You" is always a crowd pleaser. Stewart's performance was very emotional and left many people standing on their feet in applause at the end. The only cons about the performance were the microphones. Through the entire performance there were late cues on the mics, as if someone wasn't paying attention to their job. It was very distracting, needless to say. Also the microphones weren't of the highest quality. There was a lot of distortion when Stewart and others in the cast hit high notes. However, the show is in the beginning performances so hopefully any glitches can be fixed by the end of it's stint. If you are a lover of Dream Girls you will surely appreciate this Southside showing of a Broadway Musical. Dream Girls is running every Friday-Sunday until March 31st.

Davy Jones dies of heart attack

Davy Jones, lead singer of 60's group the Monkees, died Wednesday morning in Florida of a heart attack. He was 66. Davy last performed on February 19th in Oklahoma and appeared to be in good spirits and health. Jones joined The Monkees in 1965 along with Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork. The group was initially cast by television producers for a scripted series about the adventures of an actual Rock 'N' band. However the cast became a popular band in their on right releasing several hits including, "Daydream Believer, "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer." Jones is survived by his wife Jessica and four daughters from previous marriages. Check out this performance of "Nice To Be With You" filmed on Feb. 18th as well as some vintage Monkees footage.
Source: TMZ

Dream Girls Chicago coming to the Harold Washington Cultural Center

The hit Broadway musical and movie Dream Girls is coming to the Harold Washington Cultural Center located on 4701 S. King Drive. The limited engagement starts March 2nd and is running every weekend thereafter until March 31st. The cast includes singer and actress Opal Staples-Nesbitt as Deena Jones; singer Tatanisa Wilson, who was one of the American Idol top 24, as Lorell Robinson; 19 year-old singer China Stewart as Effie White, and actor and singer Mark Smith as  James (Jimmy) “Thunder.” Tickets are between $40.00-60.00,  but Groupon does have a discount offering two V.I.P tickets for $66 which includes a meet and greet with the cast. Tickets can also be purchased at ticketweb.com or at the Harold Washington Cultural Center box office.

Today in Black History: Michael Jackson wins a record breaking eight Grammy Awards

 
On February 28, 1984, legendary singer and performer Michael Jackson won an outstanding eight Grammy Awards for his album Thriller. Jackson worked with producer Quincy Jones and penned four out of the nine songs on the album. Thriller has been recognized as the world's best-selling album by the Guiness Book of World Records. It is one of only three albums to remain in the top ten of the Billboard 200 for a full year, and spent 37 weeks at number one out of the 80 consecutive weeks it was in the top ten. The album was also the first of three to have seven Billboard Hot 100 top ten singles, and was the only album to be the best-seller of two years (1983–1984) in the US. Jackson also broke racial barriers becoming the first black artist to air a video on MTV with his song Billie Jean.

Source: Wikipedia

Under The Spotlight : Taylor Mallory

 

Taylor Mallory is making a name for himself in the Chicago area with his soulful vocals. A native of Decatur, Illinois, Mallory started singing professionally at the age of five. Mallory traveled with a contemporary gospel boy-band performing locally and around the country for eight years. At age 13, Mallory began writing and composing his own music. However, it wasn’t until Mallory turned 18 that he moved to Chicago and decided to pursue an education in music business at Columbia University. Now Mallory is signed with Level Next recording label and making his music known. He states that he is “living the passion.” Some of his accomplishments are penning hits with the production team Dupée Productions and having them placed in shows, like the Style Network’s “How Do I Look”. He has also been featured in several commercials. Mallory shared with SKP his thoughts on music today and what we can expect from him in the future.

What is it about music in general that appeals to you?

Music is a coping mechanism for me. I could have a very bad day and listen to a great melody or instrumentation and suddenly I’ll forget what was bothering me. I love that it has the power to not only create change in a person, but also unite people as a whole.

What are your thoughts about popular music today?

I like most of the soulful popular music today. I find some of the concepts to be more conceptually creative than the regular bubblegum popular music. I appreciate artists like Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Cee-Lo Green, Jessie J, and Adele for pushing the limits on their music and making a popular sound unique.

Lots of people get into music because of the fame/fortune. What are your reasons for getting into this field and if you never made it big would you still keep performing?

I would like to provide for a family someday, I would like to have a comfortable lifestyle, I would like to be known for my craft, and however, there is a bigger picture for me. My reason for pursuing a career in music is because I feel that I have a responsibility as an artist to touch lives and make music that moves people. To be honest with you, my level is next so all I do is think BIG. Therefore, aiming for the top is my only option.

What and who inspires your music?

The majority of my music is inspired from my day-to-day life situations, past experiences, other recording artists, and family. I have a great support system from not only my parents, but my team Level Next as well. I am inspired daily because we are in the trenches together fighting for what we believe to make difference in our lives and the lives around us. I also am inspired by other artists around me. When they work hard and achieve great things it inspires me want to do the same, but even better.

Did you always know that this is what you wanted to do or did it come to you as an epiphany of sort?

From the day I started singing I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I never second-guessed it! I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

What is the message that you want to portray through your music?

Each song that I write has its own message, however the overall message I want to convey as an artist is that being different is okay and that you have the power to purposely live your life through passion. I wear shoe strings around my wrist to remind myself as an artist that there are people out there who don't feel that way and live in unfortunate situations. Little do they know what they love and what they want to do is who they are - We all have the power to be different and make a difference.

What sets you apart from other artists of today?

I believe there are 5 things that set me apart from other artists today. First and foremost, I am not a one-dimensional artist. I am a singer, composer, entertainer, and actor. Currently, I am a recording artist and writer under Level Next Records, I have my own music cooking show called Music Burger, and I am the VJ for the music television show, AKOO.

Secondly, I am a businessman. I never put it in my head that being successful will just come to me solely based on my talents. I am working on a day-to-day basis with my team finding new outlets for our music to be placed in TV, Film, commercials, and other multimedia formats.

Thirdly, I incorporate performance art in my live performances. When I perform live I always incorporate a little spoken word and visuals to concretely get my message across - You will find me holding up signs that say "I refuse to work a dead-end job" or "My passion is my profession."

Fourthly, every one of my songs stems from honesty and the truth. I like to touch on my past experiences with not only love, but unfortunate situations.

Lastly, my last name Mallory means "warrior" in German - POW!

What artists do you have on your iPod and why?

You know this is going to be a long list right? At the top of my list I have Kanye West, Janelle Monae, Mayer Hawthorne, Stevie Wonder, Hall & Oates, Cee-Lo Green, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Outkast, and Skrillex - there music makes me jump out of my skin. I love how all these artists have the ability to paint a picture, musically.

What advice would you give to someone who would like to pursue a music career?

Never make money the focal point of your career. When you focus on materialistic and self-indulged things like fame and fortune you dilute the gift that God has given you and you lose sight of what's really important. Most importantly, I would encourage upcoming musicians to constantly work on being the best in their craft and stay true to their vision and who they are. All these tools, will give you staying power in the game.

What goals are you working towards and what should we be looking forward to from you in the future?

Currently, my main goal is to get more placements in TV and Film and elevating my live performance game. In the near future, my team Level Next will be putting out a compilation in early 2012 that will feature our other artists ENDISKIZE, Willow Wells, Jami Singer, and Paris. However, I am working on a personal EP titled "Tie Your Shoes" that will be an eclectic pop-soul EP.

How can people find you online and listen to your music?

They can find my current single "Sunni's Outside" on iTunes and levelnextmusic.com. I am also available on all social networks.  They are as follows:

Label:

www.levelnextmusic.com

Facebook:

facebook.com/TaylorMalloryFanPage

Twitter:

twitter.com/taylormallory

YouTube:

youtube.com/taylormallory

youtube.com/levelnexttv

Common's appearance at DuSable Museum falls flat for some

 

With Black History Month winding down, the surge of events celebrating African American History continues. Today, Chicago rapper Common and other performers appeared at the DuSable Museum of African American history for a concert. Many were eager to attend the $20 show which promised such acts, as Carl Thomas, Melonie Fiona, and Kim Stratton. However, attendees entered the theater slightly disappointed when notice of Carl Thomas being ill and not performing was announced. The show started off nicely with a moving performance by the Oakdale Children's Choir. Common, the host for the night, then took the stage to introduce gospel vocalist Kim Stratton. Stratton sung two inspiring gospel songs accented perfectly by her strong vocals. Following her was R&B up and comer Melanie Fiona, who gave a riveting performance of four of her songs, including her new hit single 4AM, besides being plagued with microphone problems. She left the crowd feeling excited and eager for another artist to take the stage, but all were shocked when a single radio personality thanked the sponsors, for the fourth time that night, and quickly said the show was over after a little more than an hour. Many thought the announcement was a joke, but when the houselights came on the audience began to unwilling disperse. Some yelled out about Common performing and the radio personality quickly corrected stating, "Common was the host." As people filed out of the theater, many began to voice dissatisfaction with the event. It would seem that a replacement artist or even Common perhaps could have performed to appease the crowd. However, being the event was only $20, had the likes of two Grammy winners like Common and Fiona, as well as a powerhouse vocalist like Stratton, it would also seem that the audience got their money's worth.

Movies To Checkout Part II

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo: There is so much hype around this movie, but any movie with Daniel Craig in it is a go for me. The movie is a remake of a foreign movie which is based on a book. No offense to American cinema, but sometimes we fail miserably at remakes of foreign films. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping this is one of the rare times this not true.

Release Date: December 20, 2011


Safe House: Denzel is back! And what do we love more than Denzel?....Bad Denzel! I am quite excited for Safe House. I know this will be good, because I have never seen a disappointing movie with Denzel Washington in it.....Period. I can say that I have seen bad Ryan Reynolds movies, but Denzel cancels that out, so I'm not worried.

Release Date: February 10, 2012


Red Tails: This movie is based on the historic and inspiring Tuskegee Airmen. George Lucas had to fund this movie himself and I am so thankful he did because these men broke racial barriers and other adversities, and they need to be celebrated. Terrance Howard and Ne-yo are a part of the cast.

Release Date: January 20, 2012

Movies you should check out!

There are a lot movies coming out, so I thought I would share with you some of the ones I am particularly excited to see. First up.....



The Three Stooges: There's going to be some good slap-stick humor. So if you love that, this is the one for you.

Release Date: April 13, 2012



Mission Impossible 4- Ghost Protocol: I personally love Tom Cruise, so that alone will make me see this movie. Plus the Mission Impossible franchise has not let us down yet, and I hear that this one won't either. The action is supposed to be the "Bomb." Pun intended.

Release Date: December 21, 2011


A Thousand Words: I love Eddie Murphy as well, but I will admit that he has been in a funk lately. Tower Heist did fairly well so I think it's good that he is piggy backing on it's success. He was funny in it, which made me happy because I was worried that he wouldn't be. He needs something else since he isn't hosting the Oscars...rolls eyes. I am hopeful for this movie. I'm hoping Eddie comes through with this one.

Release Date: March 23, 2012

Taylor Mallory | New Song! “Boo Season”

 Local Chicago Artist, Taylor Mallory, has a new song. I had the pleasure of interviewing him last Spring and he is a great person, and of course he has a great voice. Check out this new holiday song that he has recorded. I suggest you download it while you can. It literally makes you want to cuddle up with your Boo!

Happy Birthday Lucy!!!!!

       

Today is Lucille Ball's Birthday. She would have been 100 years old. Ball was born August 5, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She is known as the funniest woman ever in showbiz. Lucy began her career as a model. In 1940, she married Desi Arnaz. Lucy soon found her niche as she was cast in comedic roles. One of her earliest appearances was on The Three Stooges. In 1948, Lucy was cast as wacky wife, Liz Cooper, on the popular radio show My Favorite Husband. Lucy and Desi soon came together and pitched the idea of a sitcom featuring them as a married couple, to CBS. CBS was not enthused about the idea because they believed the American public would not buy in to a program featuring an American woman and a Cuban bandleader married. Of course they were very wrong. This idea turned in to I love Lucy and first aired October 15, 1951.
     Lucy would have several successful films and the two successful shows, The Lucy Show, and Here's Lucy. In the 1960's, Lucy also become the first female head of a Hollywood studio. She died at age 77 on April 26, 1989. Lucille Ball is a comedian for all generations. Her comedic genius will always be relevant.
     Personally, I think she created the best television show ever. I never get tired of watching it. I have purchased almost all of the seasons(I'm missing one) and I never get tired of watching the episodes. They continue to make me laugh. I truly Love Lucy. Happy Birthday Lucy and thank you for all the laughs. Here's a few Lucy clips for you all. Enjoy!

Source: Wikipedia

Amy Winehouse Passes Away

 

Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment today. And although we all know about her drinking and drug problem, I have to say that I am shocked she is gone. She was such a great talent and I had been actually listening to her a lot lately. We all saw her going down this road but I was rooting for her. I was hoping that she would prove everyone wrong and get herself together. I am really saddened by her death, but like other talented people who have gone before her, she left an everlasting impression behind, and the genius of her music will be around for generations I believe. God Rest Your Soul Amy. 

Babyface Concert

On June 19th, the  black-owned Chicago newspaper, N'digo had their annual gala. This year the entertainment for the gala was non other than Babyface. As a Fathers Day gift to my uncle, my mom and I got tickets for him to attend the concert, and of course I had to accompany him. The gala was at the beautiful Symphony Center. I had never seen Babyface in concert before so I was eager to see what his performance would be like. I love his music but I wasn't sure how his performance would be , since he's such a soft singer, at least on records. I was pleasantly surprised when Babyface started crooning his heart out. He was sanging, to say the least. I really enjoyed when his brother, Kevon Edmonds, made a guest appearance as well. I truly enjoy his voice and his stage presence. Babyface opened with Cool In You, but he only heated up after it. Some other highlights were his performance of a medley of songs which he wrote for other artists, such as New Edition, Bobby Brown, and Boyz II Men. There was a great part when Babyface started dancing. He also told a story about how El Debarge motivated him to start writing romantic songs. I was already a fan, but Babyface really blew me away. He left the audience wanting more. He had true showmanship.