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HAPPY AND GRAY: The beautifully talented Tamyra Gray has turned over a new leaf. And she’s ready to let the world see it.
Best known as a finalist of the wildly popular TV phenomenon known as “American Idol” (Season One), the Atlanta-bred singer-songwriter and actress-on-the rise makes her feature film debut in the music-based Rainforest/Screen Gems drama “The Gospel,” opening nationwide on October 7.
“It was a little nerve-racking,” she said about her first big acting role, further explaining, “because I had never done it and I wasn’t as confident as I was singing. But because I didn’t know what I was doing, I pushed myself like that much more.”
In the role of a single mother dealing with her own issues – and possible love interests of the leading man, played by Boris Kodjoe, Ms. Gray shines brightly on the big screen.
As she should.
Before becoming a household name on “Idol,” the Takoma Park, MD native toiled in the performance arts and subsequently was crowned Miss Atlanta, after becoming a legend in her own right on the pageant circuit. So competition is nothing for her.
She just doesn’t want anyone to pigeon-hole her.
After leaving the show, Ms. Gray was fortunate enough to get great perks that came along with the hit series: she immediately acquired a manager, an agent and an acting gig on the now defunct “Boston Public.”
“If it wasn’t for the show I wouldn’t have been given that,” she confided. “I think eventually down the line, I would’ve been given the opportunity to act but because of the show, I was given it immediately. I think if things would’ve changed and I wasn’t the fourth runner up, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of that. I would’ve been forced to just do music. I think things happen the way they’re supposed to happen.”
Speaking of music, she also landed a record deal with Clive Davis’ J Records. But that didn’t pan out too well.
“I did hear that I was difficult,” she deadpanned. “What happened was basically the songs that I were given, and I think her album was great, are the same songs that are like on Fantasia’s album. Can you imagine me singing a Baby Mama song? If I wasn’t on ‘Idol,’ possibly I could’ve gotten away with it. But I was like ‘You’re giving me these types of songs and basically what you’re setting me up for is to fail. If you’re giving me that song, that’s not believable.’ There’s no way that somebody could relate that kind of song to me and say that’s who she is.”
“What I was finding out with J,” she continued, “it was more of a thing like ‘Well, this works. This is what we’ve been making records with with our Black artists. We want them to be ghetto. This is what’s selling. This is what the market says it wants right now. This is what we’re going to give them.’ And I was like ‘I will flop. I will flop.’ If you flop coming out with your first album, and you’re on a major, and you’ve had the exposure and you were on the number one TV show in the country, then basically people are going to look at you say ‘duh!”
“I loved the thought of working with Clive Davis,” she continued. “It’s like if anybody is going to ‘get’ me, he’s going to ‘get’ me and it was just a big disappointment for me when that didn’t happen. If anything, I would say that Alicia Keys’ style would be more of the style that I wanted to do. And there was an argument for that.”
Undeterred, she released “The Dreamer” her very own opus on the “American Idol” label 19 Entertainment. She also wound penning lyrics for “American Idol” (Season 3) winners Fantasia Barrino and Diana Degarmo – on the low. “They didn’t know I wrote it in the beginning,” she revealed. “It was kept a secret until they said yes.”
From there she went on to light up Broadway in the musical spectacular “Bombay Dreams.” Of that experience, the recently engaged 26-year-old down home girl offered: “It was fun and t was different. I don’t think that I could be a Broadway star, in terms of that’s all I do. But I think it’s good because it helps me get more into acting, and learn more technique. We had to rehearse for a month and learn more. So it was great as far as honing my acting skills. I think I might be doing a new musical that’s coming out soon.”
In the midst of shopping for a new record deal, Ms. Gray recently became the face of an international fashion campaign for H&M, along with Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige. She’s also up for a role in a forthcoming Las Vegas stage musical.
And now comes “The Gospel.” Who could ask for anything more?
“My goal was to get exposure because I had been singing and trying to get a record deal since I was 13,” Ms. Gray added. At one point, she was being mentored by late TLC member Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes. All of her attempts at success on the Atlanta music scene were not fruitful. However, the tide did really turn for her when she made it to the finals of “Idol.”
“You get discouraged but I wasn’t giving up.”
We’re glad she didn’t.
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LIFE AFTER IDOL (PART DUEX):
And Ms. Gray is not the only former Idol-er to step to the forefront in a new way. Two of my favorite personable personalities cast off from different seasons of the show are doing big things.
The voluptuous and vocally ravishing Frenchie Davis, who was unceremoniously dropped from possibly wining season two of the show for her involvement with an adult website, has morphed into a Broadway darling with her star turns in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical “Rent.” The Lawndale, California native daughter has also toured in productions of “Dreamgirls” in the starring role of Effie Melody White, which was immortalized by Tony and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday.
Last week, Ms. Davis made a splash at the Second Annual New York Musical Theater Festival in the comical musical farce “Monica: The Musical,” loosely based on the life and controversy of President Clinton’s scandalous relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
“I was attracted to the show and this role because I found myself laughing out loud when I was reading the script,” Ms. Davis told “The RU Report” this week. “’Rent’ is such an emotional show that I thought it would be fun to do a show that is kind of silly.”
Ms. Davis takes on the role of legendary White House secretary Betty Currie in the Casey Hushion- helmed production. “Of course I was nervous about the role,” she explained. “I'm always terrified when it’s time to try something new, but I force myself to work through it and usually turns out ok.”
But the masterful slapstick writing by Daniel J. Blau and Tracie Potochnik helps break up the density of political fare.
“It’s kind of like we are portraying comedic representations of these historical figures, as opposed to playing the real them. So that’s good.”
Ms. Davis, who revitalized interests in the aforementioned legendary Broadway musical, when she belted out the heart-wrenching anthem “And I Am TellIng You, Im Not Going” on cue during the height of her “American Idol” hey-day, revealed that she recently auditioned for the coveted role in the much buzzed about Bill Condon-helmed film adaptation starring Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy.
Production doesn’t star until December so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
In the meantime, she’s fulfilling another dream: “I am back in school wrapping up my last credits so I can finally get my degree. Whatever comes next, I'm just thankful for all that I've been able to do thus far.”
And then there’s the good-looking and equally-talented Marque Lynche, the former child star featured on Season 3 of the show and told by judge Simon Cowell that his sound was “too Broadway,” has been carving out a niche of his very own. On stage.
The former “All New Mickey Mouse Club” member – from the same troupe that boasts the likes of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera-- immediately snagged a starring role in the off-Broadway musical "Fame on 42nd Street," based on the popular 1980s film and television show, last spring.
Since then, he’s been working his craft and garnering work, including the recently mounted national tour of the dazzling musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” also starring Broadway’s Patrick Cassidy and Amy Adams – who also appeared on the same season of “American Idol” as he.
“I’m having a great time putting my urban spin on a piece that has been around for so long,” an excited Mr. Lynche told “The RU Report” earlier this week via phone interview from St. Louis’ Fox Theater, where the Clear Channel Entertainment tuner is currently playing. This latest incarnation of the legendary Andrew Lloyd Weber musical centering on a rainbow ride through Biblical Egypt, kicked off in Milwaukee on September 6. “This show has been around for thirty years,” the St. Petersburg, Fl native continued, “it’s a musical theater staple.”
Although promoters of the show are clearly using Mr. Cassidy (last seen in Broadway’s “42nd Street” with his mom Shirley Jones) and Ms. Adams as the selling points of the show, Mr. Lynche is a clear standout in the role of Judah. “I do find it a little unfair that they choose to promote certain people from the show and not others,” he shared, “but I don't have any control over that. I can only continue to move forward. I mean, I’m on the same tour as one of the people the ‘American Idol’ producers endorse but I have record deal...so I’m not doing too bad.”
He’s currently under contract with the New York City-based indie label Phenom Records, and in the process of recording music (described as “a mix of R&B and pop with a theatrical pop production”) for a debut opus that can expect to see the light of day by January, he said.
“I didn't go as far in the competition as I would have liked, but in retrospect, I’m thankful for that because I won't have that title in front of me for the rest of my life,” he continued. “Not that it's a bad title but I feel that it's a far greater accomplishment to build a career based solely on your talent and merit, rather than a brief stint on a television fad.”
“I’m in this for the long haul. I want to build a body of work that I can look back on thirty years from now and be proud of. I think I’m on the right path so far. I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but I’m looking forward to it.”
So life after “American Idol” –even for the ousted contestants—can turn out to be grand.
* * *
B.I.G. THINGS:
When I first got wind that hip-hop mix-master Sean “Diddy” Combs was trying to pair the late great musical legacy of reggae icon Bob Marley with the late great musical legacy of rap icon Notorious B.I.G., I was like “Oh hale to the naw!” But then I heard the track. And I got it.
As the lead single being rolled out for the forthcoming album, “THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER” –due out November 29 via Atlantic Records—the song “Hold Ya Head” is a powerful statement for both music genres that were initially grown from a voice of disenfranchised people: Jamaicans and African Americans. Produced by Clinton Sparks, the track features a sample from the Marley song "Johnny Was."
Aside from the subsequent financial windfall from the sales of this collaboration, no one can argue that it’s not a genius idea. And just when people were starting to worry about the fate of hip-hop (with Diddy’s recent appearance on Martha Stewart’s new daytime cooking show), this may just be the shot in the arm that the hip-hop uber-star needed to salvage what’s left of his Grammy Award winning rap career.
But Biggie has always saved the day. Hasn’t he?
Ask the slain rapper’s mother, who has started the promotion of her memoir, entitled “Biggie: Voletta Wallace Remembers her Son Christopher Wallace AKA Notorious B.I.G.,” which is due out next month.
In the much buzzed about book Ms. Wallace talks freely about her relationships with some of her son's closest friends and associates; including Mr. Combs, Lil' Kim, and Lil' Cease, all of whom she says have disappointed her by exploiting Notorious B.I.G.'s legacy professionally, financially, or both. The Jamaican-bred Jehovah’s Witness discusses the contracts, conflicts and royalty rip-offs she has encountered as she continues to manage her son's artistic estate.
“You can’t know the complete story of Biggie until you know what his Mom has to say,” offered celebrated “Rolling Stone” magazine writer Toure, about the book.”[Voletta Wallace] is not giving you the polite story. This is the real story from Mom’s side, which is essential to understanding who Biggie was.”
The forthcoming tome was written with Tremell McKenzie and features a foreword by Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G.'s widow.
"DUETS” will feature collaborations between Biggie and some of music's greatest vocalists and MCs. “The RU Report” has learned that Queen Of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige and multi-million selling white rap demigod Eminem are sure to be included on the set. An insider revealed that Mr. Combs played some selections from the collection at Atlantic Records’ Rockefeller Center headquarters in New York City late last week and the executives were ‘amped.’ “It was like being at a club in the 1990s,” is how the vibe was described.
In addition, the actual tracks are all brand-new, created by many of the industry's top producers, according a spokesperson for the label. The complete line-up of superstars will be announced within weeks, but a motley crew of hip-hop’s latest and greatest (maybe T.I., maybe Jay Z) could be juxtaposed along side tracks from icons from other genres (maybe Whitney Houston, maybe The Isley Brothers). Either way, it will be quite interesting to see how this latest Biggie compilation will be packaged. 1999’s “Born Again” debuted at #1 on the charts and sold two million copies.
The set will also include a DVD featuring never-before-seen performance footage, celebrity interviews, and vintage videos
To help with the roll-out, AOL MUSIC hosted an exclusive premiere of the first track on September 26, as part of its First Listen program -- a full 24 hours before being heard anywhere else. "Hold Ya Head" is available at www.aolmusic.com
And to add to the momentum, VH1 honored the late rap icon with an all-star tribute during its “2005 Hip Hop Honors,” which premiered to record numbers on Monday night. The show, which featured Lil Cease, Ludacris, Kanye West and Ms. Evans, will re-air on the basic cable channel throughout the weekend.
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THE RUNDOWN:
With no immediate plans to release a highly anticipated third album for Universal Motown, neo-soul music wunderkind India.Arie seems to be striking up much buzz in recent weeks. For starters, the multiple-Grammy Award winner was featured on the season premiere of supermodel Tyra Banks’ cantankerous talk show – and is actually heard on the show every day since she composed and sang the theme music. She’s also all set to host the world television premiere of “Lightning in a Bottle,” a concert film documenting live performances from blues legends who gathered at Radio City Music Hall for an unprecedented music event. The show premieres on September 30 on the Starz InBlack premium cable channel. Ms. Arie not only hosts the presentation, she also performs in the film, alongside Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Chris Thomas King, Macy Gray, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples, Natalie King, Chuck D and a host of others.
To help promote the upcoming music-based film, “The Gospel,” the movie’s leading man Boris Kodjoe will hosts BET's Sunday Block of inspirational programming including “Bobby Jones Gospel,” “Video Gospel,” and “Lift Every Voice.” The former “Soul Food” hunk will also give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the movie. It all takes place on October 2.
Celebrated life coach, best-selling author and nationally syndicated advice columnist Harriette Cole will start hosting a daily morning radio show on XM Satellite Radio's new women's channel, Take Five, on October 3. The two-hour, magazine styled show is called “Pulse” and the format includes segments from regular contributors, updates on breaking news stories and conversations with faces from the entertainment world. Ms. Cole, the former lifestyle director at “Essence” magazine is currently the editorial director of “Uptown” magazine, shares the microphone with Jessica Seigel of National Public Radio. Take 5’s Director of Women’s Programming Amy Reyer offered: “Harriette Cole is a true renaissance woman with a background covering everything from wedding planning, to advice on parenting and modern etiquette, and life coaching. She is intelligent, warm and engaging with wonderful instincts about issues that are pressing to women.” That makes her the perfect fit for this new program, which offers practical advice on everything from home décor to personal finance to reviews on buzz-worthy TV shows and movies.
Veteran jazz chanteuse Gloria Lynne will tell the story of her life and near 50-year career in a new “musical journey” concert on October 7 at New York’s Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Entitled “I Wish You Love”—named after her huge crossover hit of the 1960s—the program features accompaniment by the renowned composer Roy Merriwether on piano, Vince Ecton on drums, Leon Dorsey on bass and Gregg Skaff on guitar. Over the years Ms. Lynne has performed with Ray Charles, Billy Ecktine, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte and others as well as co-writing “Watermelon Man” with Herbie Hancock. According to a production spokesperson, the evening of music will tell the story of Ms. Lynne’s debut and discovery by her winning the Amateur night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, night club performances, television appearances, Las Vegas Showrooms and her recordings of over 40 albums.
The latest neo-soul singer to spring forth on the music scene, Leela James, is planning to take a bite out of the Big Apple when she takes center stage at downtown hot-spot SOB’s on October 19. Her critically-acclaimed debut album, “A Change Is Gonna Come” –featuring collaborations with Kanye West, Raphael Saadiq, James Poyser, Chucky Thompson, and Wyclef Jean—was released in June and has sold over 67,000 copies to date, and will make its debut on the Top 200 Albums chart next week at Number 179. “Billboard” magazine called her "Tina Turner meets James Brown.” This renewed interests in the South Central Los Angeles, California-bred soul sister may be due to the support of VH1’s “You Oughta Know” television campaign and the subsequent tour that she’s headlining, which is sponsored by the VH1 Soul channel. On the heels of a performance on “Live with Regis & Kelly,” the twelve city tour kicked off on September 12 in Chicago and will play throughout late October. The 27-year-old is also featured on the new Ray Charles “Genius & Friends” album, performing on the duet "Compared To What."… And then Ledisi –the phenomenal and under-rated neo-soul/jazz powerhouse who is on the heels of signing a major label deal with Verve Records, has been booked to play the venue on November 16. She turns out a stage…and blows a roof off of a joint. This is one show to see.
* * *
HIP HOP HOORAY:
A virtual who’s who of New York’s movers and shakers turned out to Madison Avenue’s Firmenich to help celebrate the release of hip-hop music bigwig Kevin Liles’ first foray into publishing on Monday evening. Mr. Liles – a former songwriter for Milli Vanilli-- is the former intern who catapulted to President of Def Jam Records and is now reigning supreme as a power wielding exec over at the newly restructured Warner Music Group. The Baltimore native’s debut offering, “Making It Happen: The Hip-Hop Generation Guide to Success:“ (written with “Crain’s” reporter Samantha Marshall and released through Atria) brought out bold-faced names such as Russell Simmons, Edgar Bronfman, Lyor Cohen, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Julie Greenwald, Jay Z, Beyonce Knowles, June Ambrose, Star Jones-Reynolds, Gayle King, June Ambrose, Irv Gotti, Ja Rule, Redman, Dana Dane, D-Nice, Steve Stoute, L. Londell McMillan, Musiq Soulchild, Mimi Valdes, Emil Wilbekin, Margeaux Watson, Lola Ogunnaike and the legendary publicist Susan Blond – who were surrounded by her harem of female employees. “Kevin is the face of the struggle,” commented Mr. Simmons about the book, “With his street savvy advice, his knowledge of the youth-culture of today and his drive, [this book] is the hip-hop generation’s guide to success.” It did get a little tight in the two story venue – at times it felt hotter than a pot of collar greens. So I broke out – like hives! But a festive time was had by all. I think.
And Denzel Washington, En Vogue, Queen Latifah, MTV's La La Vazquez, Omarosa, Mack 10, Vinny from Naughty by Nature, DJ Red Alert, jeweler Sol Rafael, AZ, Herbie Luv Bug Azor, Jason Kidd and entertainment powerhouse Suzanne de Passe came out to New York City hotspot TAJ for the fete that super-publicist Marvet Britto designed for the queens of hip hop Salt N’ Pepa after their legendary performance of “Whatta Man” at the taping of the Hip Hop Honors last week. There’s talk of a reunion album being underway from the hip hop pioneers. Goodie.
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Remember: it ain’t over until God says it’s over.
Singing off-
RU a.k.a. The One –N- The Only
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Got Something To Say? Email Karu F. Daniels Direct At: TheRUReport@aol.com. He doesn’t read the message boards. So pull it together now. © 2001 - 2005 The RU Report ™. All Rights Reserved. ~~~ Daniels-Goldstein * PO Box # 25 * Bushkill, PA 18324
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