From the movie “Coming to America”. Choreography by Paula Abdul Her father (Harry Abdul) is of Sephardic Jewish background from Syria. Her mother is also Jewish and was born in Canada. Her parents have lived in Syria, Brazil, and Canada – and this varied background has contributed to incredibly different stories in the press […]
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The human life span may soon be doubled. Some scientists are honing in on a genetic switch to turn off ageing. Others have discovered a hormone which is already producing startling results in the over fifties.
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Legendary black American stage performer who took pre-World War II Europe by storm but found constant racial harassment in her homeland.
Biography of the African-American who became a major performer in the Paris cabarets of the 1920’s and 1930’s. The film follows her life beginning as a struggling performer in 1917 St. Louis, her frustrations leading to her move to France, and follows to her death in 1975.
Today in history, June 3rd, 1906… dancer, singer and actress Freda Josephine McDonald (aka Josephine Baker), who gained fame in Paris, France, thanks to her “risque” cabaret and musical hall performances, was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
While Ms Baker did perform on screen in a number of films – Siren of the Tropics (1927), Zouzou (1934) andPrincesse Tam Tam (1935), notably – she’s probably more universally recognized for her vaudeville stage musical acts which helped her become maybe the first international black female celebrity.
She was also politically active, making contributions to the Civil Rights Movement here in the United States, and assisted the French Resistance during World War II, becoming the first American-born woman to receive the French military honor, the Croix de guerre.
She died on April 12th, 1975 at age 68.
Since then, there’s really been only 1 true attempt to tell her story on film – the 1991, HBO movie, The Josephine Baker Story, which starred Lynn Whitfield as Baker. Whitfield would go on to win an Emmy Award for her performance!
In 1943, Oscar Hammerstein Jr. took Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen, rewrote the lyrics, changed the characters from 19th century Spaniards to World War II-era African-Americans, switched the locale to a Southern military base, and the result was Carmen Jones. Dorothy Dandridge stars as Carmen Jones, tempestuous employee of a parachute factory. Harry Belafonte plays Joe (originally José), a young military officer engaged to marry virginal Cindy Lou (Olga James). When Carmen gets into a fight with another girl, she is placed under arrest and put in Joe’s charge. Succumbing to her attractiveness, Joe accompanies Carmen to her old neighborhood, where, after killing a sergeant sent to retrieve him, he deserts the army. Carmen tries to be faithful, but fortune-telling Frankie (Pearl Bailey) warns her that she and her soldier are doomed. Enter Joe Adams in the role of boxer Husky Miller (a play on Carmen’s bullfighter Escamillo), who sweeps Carmen off her feet, ultimately with tragic consequences. Alhough both Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte were singers, their opera voices were dubbed in by LeVern Hutcherson and Marilyn Horne.
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Nationality: American Ethnicity: Mother is Cherokee & African American & Father Dutch or German descent. Her surname Kitt is said to be of Dutch or German origin. In the late 1960s, Batman featured recurring villain Kitt as Catwoman after Julie Newmar had left the role, in season 3. She had sung and danced her way out […]
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When some of the richest people on earth want to sell their homes they turn to Dolly: The eight billion dollar woman. She’s gained the trust of the rich and famous and her knowledge of their secret lives helped her move over $8 Billion in high-end real estate. Now she’s revealing all, from the new […]
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Actor and activist Maria Bello talks about how investing in women is creating a more inclusive economy in Haiti at the Global Impact Economy Forum in Washington, DC. U.S. Department of State’s Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer and U.S. Agency for International Development’s Dr. Maura O’Neill provides opening remarks.
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http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/bring_your_a_game To generate a national conversation on the plight of Black men and boys, the Twenty-First Century Foundation (21CF) has partnered with actor-director Mario Van Peebles and producer Karen Williams to create Bring Your A Game – a groundbreaking documentary film that, in Van Peebles’ words, “sheds light on the resilience and influence of Black […]
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LONDON, UK — The nonprofit Nippon Foundation has sold a renowned Stradivarius violin for $16 million at a London auction to raise money for tsunami disaster relief – setting the world record for the Most expensive musical instrument sold at auction. http://youtu.be/o_84ZXZCmt4
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MACOMB TOWNSHIP, Mich., USA — Julian Pavone is just seven and is already a professional drummer since he was 5 years 10 months and 3 days old – setting the new world record for the Youngest Professional Drummer. http://youtu.be/rfq2Q242DXQ
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Nationality: British Birth Name: Helen Folasade Adu Birth Place: Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Ethnicity: English and Yoruba Nigerian the British singer Sade Adu, was born to an English Mother and a Yoruba Nigerian Father. She was born in Nigeria and lived there until she was four was 4 years old. http://youtu.be/KWy3X7f4MyY Source: http://www.sade.com/gb/biography/ http://youtu.be/Jg7OgfFkkGA
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http://youtu.be/bxoC5Oyf_ss
The opening Prologue from the 10-time Academy Award winning musical film West Side Story, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary on November 15, 2011. Here is the full Prologue from the movie in HD
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http://youtu.be/5HUUvQ3Yac8
One of the scenes from “School Daze” Madame Re-Re’s Salon is where the “Jiggaboo’s” and “Wannabee’s” battle as they sing and dance.
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http://youtu.be/yJOsjlXXfVo
“Be Alone Tonight”
Produced, Music and Lyrics by Raymond Jones
Performeds by Jane = Tisha Campbell, Dina = Jasmine Guy
http://youtu.be/ygRNoieAnzI
http://www.ted.com Artist Neil Harbisson was born completely color blind, but these days a device attached to his head turns color into audible frequencies. Instead of seeing a world in grayscale, Harbisson can hear a symphony of color — and yes, even listen to faces and paintings.
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The distinguished physicist describes the scientific principles of musical sound in a precise, non-technical way that will engage both amateur and serious musicians. Topics include development of human hearing, general properties of sound curves, transmission and reproduction of sound curves, methods of producing sound, and harmony and discord. Includes 75 illustrations.
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http://youtu.be/nr94It4rrzg
Susan Sarandon and Christopher Reeve presenting Louis Gossett, Jr. with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar® for his performance in “An Officer and a Gentleman” at the 55th Academy Awards® in 1983.
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http://youtu.be/j_ZsBKKVvbQ
Lou Gossett Jr. wins Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series, or TV Motion Picture for his role in “The Josephine Baker Story.” Thanks to Bob Cooper, Brian Gibson, Lynn Whitfield, and the foreign press.
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http://youtu.be/4a56FnhtuGI
Classic groundbreaking 1967 movie about an interracial couple and the white parents’ reaction upon meeting the black boyfriend for the first time. The movie stars three of the greatest actors in American cinema: Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Sidney Poitier.
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http://youtu.be/qCzTyxXPy1o
Anne Bancroft presenting Sidney Poitier the Oscar® for Best Actor for his performance in “Lilies of the Field” at the 36th Academy Awards® in 1964. Introduced by Jack Lemmon.
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http://youtu.be/4-fGCHGTaGE
Reese Witherspoon presenting the Best Actor Oscar® to Forest Whitaker for his performance in “The Last King of Scotland” -the 79th Annual Academy Awards® in 2007.
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http://youtu.be/cnCMqr1QRQw
Cuba Gooding Jr. winning an Oscar – Best Supporting Actor, Jerry Maguire – 69th Annual Academy Awards®.
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