Entertainment

Interview with Kam Williams Vivica A. Fox, Tyson Beckford and Robert Ri’chard co-star in Chocolate City which is basically a remake of Magic Mike. Director Jean-Claude La Marre explains that he felt an African-American variation on the male stripper theme was in order, given the absence of black faces in the original. This version of…

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ABOVE PHOTO: B.B. King By Tambay A. Obenson For those of you who want to know more about blues legend B.B. King, who died last week at age 89, there are a few documentaries available that can tell you more about this remarkable man. First up is the 2012 feature-length documentary “B.B. King: The Life…

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Until the end, HBO’s “Bessie” is an intriguing tale of a complicated woman By Denise Clay If anyone had a right to sing the blues, it would be the “Empress of the Blues” Bessie Smith. From a childhood with a sister that blamed her for her mother’s death to a husband who ultimately took everything…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Zoë Kravitz (Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com) Interview with Kam Williams Born December 1, 1988, Zoë Isabella Kravitz is the daughter of five-time Grammy-winner Lenny Kravitz and Emmy-nominated actress Lisa Bonet (“ The Cosby Show”). The versatile entertainer has followed in the footsteps of both of her parents, between fronting the bands Elevator Fight and…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Ava DuVernay By Tambay A. Obenson Shadow and Act The word is that Marvel Studios is considering handing Selma director Ava DuVernay the reigns to one of the studio’s upcoming super hero pics. As the saying goes, ask and you shall receive. I recall that her name was mentioned by a number of …

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ABOVE PHOTO:  The cast of “Uncle Buck.” By Tambay A. Obenson Shadow and Act One of  the four TV sales that super-producer Will Packer made after launching his own production company, and inking a first-look deal with NBC/Universal  is the comedy pilot “Uncle Buck,” which oddly enough is going to ABC. The show, which stars…

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“The blues is not about people knowing you, it’s about you knowing the people.” Queen Latifah stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films presentation of “Bessie,’ directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees from a screenplay by Dee Rees, Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by Dee Rees and Horton…

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By Tambay A. Obenson Shadow and Act Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, has announced the release of “Bessie (Music from the HBO Film)Tuesday, May 12 on digital, and on CD on Tuesday, June 2. The biopic “Bessie,” starring Queen Latifah as blues legend Bessie Smith, premieres on HBO on Saturday, May…

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By Kendall Alexander If you were at the Keswick Theatre in the Glenside on Thursday evening, you witnessed a most prolific performance from a versatile entertainer— Lisa Fischer.  She is no stranger to the bright lights and stage madness of performing, as she has been a backup singer for acts including The Rolling Stones and…

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By Kendall Alexander The tiny room in Le’tage made for a cozy and vibrant scene as musicians, visual artists, and music enthusiasts packed the venue on April 15th to celebrate up and coming musician Bridget Ramsey is EP “B Eclectic.”  Bridget and her father, University of Pennsylvania professor and jazz musician Guthrie (Guy) Ramsey talked…

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