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THE PULSE OF ENTERTAINMENT: ASCAP R&S Awards honors New Edition; Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is now on DVD, and Sanaa Lathan supports women of color July 4th at the Essence Music Festival
ASCAP honors New Edition at the 21st annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards
*The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards was held recently at The Beverly Hilton Hotel and was hosted by Grammy Award winning song writer Johnta’ Austin. This year ASCAP honored New Edition with the Golden Note Award.
The ASCAP R&S Awards also honored a list of other song writers/composers in six categories, but undoubtedly the night was all about New Edition.
New Edition
“It’s well deserved,” Kelly Price said about the honor, as well as everyone else I talked to on the red carpet that night.
All six members of New Edition were present to receive the honor: Michael, Ricky, Bobby, Ronnie, Johnny and Ralph. The Golden Note Award is given to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Previous recipients include Lionel Richie, Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jay-Z, Quincy Jones, LL Cool J and Steve Miller.
“I am singing Ralph Tresvant’s “Sensitivity,” J. Holiday said before the show about his performance in honoring the legendary group. Marsha Ambrosius (Floetry) performed Johnny Gill’s “My, My, My.”
In the early 1980s New Edition sold more units in the United States than any other teen singing group and their success led to the creation of late-90s boy bands, such as New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backsteet Boys, and N’Sync. New Edition released seven studio albums and its members have all enjoyed successful solo careers.
Black music star power was out that night when Ne-Yo, New Edition, Verdine White, Maurice White, MC Lyte, Kelly Price, Ludacris, Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child) and Musiq came in support. Grammy nominated songwriters/composers were out as well: Carvin Haggin and Ivan Barias, DJ Dirty Harry, Kerry “Krucial” Brothers and The Dream.
Honors where also given to the Songwriter of the Year, Timbaland; Publisher of the Year, EMI Publishing; Ringtone of the Year, “This is Why I’m Hot;” R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year, “Lost Without U;” Rap Song of the Year, “Make Me Better,” and Gospel Song of the Year,” “Blessed & Highly Favored”
Other performers included Brutha, Raheem DeVaughn, The Dream, Flo-Rida, Krave, Jacob Latimore, Karina Pasian, Shawty Lo and Tank.
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins starring Martin Lawrence now on DVD
“It was one big BBQ and family reunion,” Mike Epps said about the filming of the Universal Picture and Spyglass Entertainment presentation, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins. “Michael Clark Duncan and Mo’Nique had fun though behind the cameras!”
The film has an all-star cast and is about a very successful black man, RJ, played by Martin Lawrence, who comes back home to attend his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary party with his fiancée, played by Nicole Ari’ Parker. His family had ridiculed him back-in-the-day and now that treatment does not fit with RJ’s current egotistical attitude. But his lovable but relentless family refuses to cut him any slack because of his superstar status.
The all-star cast also consists of Cedric The Entertainer, Mo’Nique, Margaret Avery, Joy Bryant, Michael Clarke Duncan, Louis C.K., James Earl Jones and Mike Epps. Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is co-executively produced, directed and written by Malcolm D. Lee.
“I met Malcolm before…we’d worked together,” Mike Epps said about how he got this role. “So we were familiar with each other ……I wanted to do it and I was open.”
Epps is in an “indie” film, “Next Day Air,” with Debbie Allen where he plays a hustler. He has also just secured the role of Richard Pryor in an up-coming movie about the legendary comedian.
You can learn more about this family gathering DVD release at www.roscoejenkins.com.
Sanaa Lathan supports women of color at the Essence Music Festival July 4th in New Orleans
Actress Sanaa Lathan will be promoting a documentary that asked women of color around the globe how they honor their skin. The documentary, “Skin Stories,” will be premiered at the Essence Music Festival during the first day, July 4th in New Orleans.
“They approached me and let me know their concerns,” Sanaa Lathan said about how she got involved. “It seemed uplifting and inspiriting. People take skin for granted …haven’t put the spot light on skin…black is beautiful!”
“Skin Stories” is narrated by Sanaa Lathan, who is also a film and stage actress. Lathan has starred in Love and Basketball, Something New, Brown Sugar and the up-coming Tyler Perry film, The Family That Preys.
The film explores the global connection among people of color and how they feel about and relate to their skin. Women can add their own skin stories at www.skinvoice.com and contribute to the living documentary about skin color.
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