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*Over 30 stage, film and music legends are due in Dallas, Texas today to attend the 30th anniversary of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), America’s largest non-profit black cultural arts institution. The 30 invited guests, including Erykah Badu, Ruby Dee and Keith David, will receive a special award (designed by Elizabeth Catlett) in honor of their work and support of TBAAL over the last three decades. For more information and the full list of honorees, visit http://www.tbaal.org/calendar/details/09220630anniversarygala.html.
*The music industry is mourning the passing of Oji Pierce, a songwriter/composer who helped to pen Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It” and has worked with such artists as Stevie Wonder and Ruff Endz. Pierce, age 46, died on Aug. 6 from complications brought on by sarcoidosis, a disease that inflames the lungs. The Statesville, N.C.-born, Washington D.C.-bred talent was buried in Statesville at the Mt. Pleasant AME Zion Church on Aug.26. A celebration of his life is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 3 in Hollywood, CA at the VanGuard (6021 Hollywood Blvd. - east of Gower).
*T.I., Nelly, Nas, Kelis and Young Jeezy are scheduled to perform at the Boost Mobile Rock Corps concert on Sunday (9/23) at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. The concert is in recognition of the 5,000 hard-working local youth who volunteered four hours of community service through BMRC to earn tickets. Nick Cannon will host the event, which also includes performers Fabolous, Don Omar, Panic! At the Disco and Taking Back Sunday. To become involved in Boost Mobile RockCorps please call 888-ROCK-889 or log onto www.boostmobilerockcorps.com.
*Senator Barack Obama will participate in discussions during next month’s launch of www.HotSoup.com, billed as “the first online community to unite ‘Opinion Drivers’ from across the spectrum.” The Web site will unite two types of Opinion Drivers: famous personalities, as well as the everyday people who influence friends, colleagues and peers at the community level (i.e. PTA members, firefighters, homemakers, small business owners, etc.) "Americans are tired of the spin they get from too many leaders today,” said Obama of the site. “If an online community can give grassroots opinion leaders a platform for smart, civil debate, it will fill a huge void in today's politics."