New Jack Swing pioneer Teddy Riley — who produced iconic hits including Doug E. Fresh’s “The Show” and Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative” — has announced his new memoir, Remember the Times, published by Simon & Schuster’s 13A / Gallery Books imprint.
Riley tapped music biographer Jake Brown to collaborate on the tome, which will chronicle his five decades of hits and trace the past 40 years of his influential impact on hip-hop and R&b for generations. Beyond helming earlier classics, including Kool Moe Dee’s “Wild Wild West” and Keith Sweat...
Riley tapped music biographer Jake Brown to collaborate on the tome, which will chronicle his five decades of hits and trace the past 40 years of his influential impact on hip-hop and R&b for generations. Beyond helming earlier classics, including Kool Moe Dee’s “Wild Wild West” and Keith Sweat...
- 1/30/2024
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Egot recipient John Legend officially attached himself to “The Voice” coaching panel during its 16th installment, after previously giving advice as a mentor. Magic struck on his first at-bat in 2019 when he proved victorious as a coach with contemporary artist Maelyn Jarmon (Season 16), but he’s never won since. Now that the Season 24 blind auditions, battles and knockouts have concluded, can John prevail yet again on NBC’s reality TV show?
Tour our gallery above (or click here for direct access) for a closer look at Team John Legend on “The Voice” Season 24, including photos, bios and artist rankings. Also see our features for Team Niall Horan, Team Gwen Stefani and Team Reba McEntire.
See‘The Voice’ coaches ranked worst to best
1. Mac Royals (4-chair-turn) — Top 12
Hometown: Wrightsville, Ar
Mac grew up without his father, who was incarcerated for much of Mac’s childhood, but found solace in the strong female figures in his life.
Tour our gallery above (or click here for direct access) for a closer look at Team John Legend on “The Voice” Season 24, including photos, bios and artist rankings. Also see our features for Team Niall Horan, Team Gwen Stefani and Team Reba McEntire.
See‘The Voice’ coaches ranked worst to best
1. Mac Royals (4-chair-turn) — Top 12
Hometown: Wrightsville, Ar
Mac grew up without his father, who was incarcerated for much of Mac’s childhood, but found solace in the strong female figures in his life.
- 11/29/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Busta Rhymes and Chloe x Halle are set to be recognized at the 2023 Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch.
The event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and pay tribute to industry icons and leaders who have left their mark on Black culture and hip-hop. The rapper, known for such classics as “I Know What You Want,” “Gimme Some More” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” will be recognized for his trailblazing career in hip-hop.
“This year’s Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch holds an unparalleled significance as we celebrate the golden 50th anniversary of hip-hop,” said Joi Brown, founder and CEO of Culture Creators. “We are thrilled to honor exceptional individuals who have profoundly impacted Black culture and hip-hop while also showcasing the enduring power of this global cultural phenomenon.”
She added, “It’s a celebration of our triumphs and a testament to the limitless potential of Black culture.
The event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and pay tribute to industry icons and leaders who have left their mark on Black culture and hip-hop. The rapper, known for such classics as “I Know What You Want,” “Gimme Some More” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” will be recognized for his trailblazing career in hip-hop.
“This year’s Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch holds an unparalleled significance as we celebrate the golden 50th anniversary of hip-hop,” said Joi Brown, founder and CEO of Culture Creators. “We are thrilled to honor exceptional individuals who have profoundly impacted Black culture and hip-hop while also showcasing the enduring power of this global cultural phenomenon.”
She added, “It’s a celebration of our triumphs and a testament to the limitless potential of Black culture.
- 6/15/2023
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Thirty years ago when Robin Thicke was 16, he recorded his first album with R&b star Brian McKnight. But the music wasn’t epic.
“[The label] was willing to put it out, but there wasn’t going to be a lot of promotion money behind it, so I said, ‘Let’s shelve it,’” he recalls.
While still recording his own music, he went on to develop his musicality by writing and producing for others, including Michael Jackson, Usher, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Jordan Knight, Brandy, Raven-Symoné, 98 Degrees, Marc Anthony, Mya, Color Me Badd, Guy Sebastian, Brownstone, Will Young, Kevon Edmonds, Ron Keating, Chante Moore and others.
But he needed to get back to making music for himself, so the early twentysomething decided he wouldn’t cut his hair until he heard his song on the radio.
“My hair grew down to my shoulders, and I ended up meeting Andre Harrell, who changed...
“[The label] was willing to put it out, but there wasn’t going to be a lot of promotion money behind it, so I said, ‘Let’s shelve it,’” he recalls.
While still recording his own music, he went on to develop his musicality by writing and producing for others, including Michael Jackson, Usher, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Jordan Knight, Brandy, Raven-Symoné, 98 Degrees, Marc Anthony, Mya, Color Me Badd, Guy Sebastian, Brownstone, Will Young, Kevon Edmonds, Ron Keating, Chante Moore and others.
But he needed to get back to making music for himself, so the early twentysomething decided he wouldn’t cut his hair until he heard his song on the radio.
“My hair grew down to my shoulders, and I ended up meeting Andre Harrell, who changed...
- 4/28/2023
- by Mesfin Fekadu
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sean "Diddy" Combs is thankful to everyone who helped him become the icon he is today. On June 26, the "Coming Home" rapper, 52, gave a moving tribute to all his close friends, family and loved ones while accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 BET Awards. Among those honored in his speech were his mother, Janice Combs, as well as Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell and his late ex Kim Porter, who passed away in 2018. "I just miss Kim, y'all," Diddy said. "I know we all go through grief and stuff like that in this life, you know, stay connected to God and he'll bring you out. This is not—we don't control this. But I miss Kim so much and I just want to say...
- 6/27/2022
- E! Online
Diddy pulled out all the stops Sunday night for his epic BET Awards performance. In honor of his lifetime achievement award, the icon took us way back to the golden era of the '90s with a star-studded tribute featuring hip-hop and R&b legends like Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Lil' Kim, Busta Rhymes, The Lox, and Faith Evans, plus a surprise performance from rapper Shyne.
From his Uptown Records days to his iconic Bad Boy run, Diddy's explosive performance was everything fans hoped to see and then some. The music mogul even brought out Bryson Tiller to perform their new single, "Gotta Move On," which they previously performed at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards that Diddy hosted.
But the best moment of the iconic performance was Diddy's sweet closing number of "I'll Be Missing You," which he dedicated to his late ex-partner Kim Porter, Andre Harrell, and The Notorious B.I.G....
From his Uptown Records days to his iconic Bad Boy run, Diddy's explosive performance was everything fans hoped to see and then some. The music mogul even brought out Bryson Tiller to perform their new single, "Gotta Move On," which they previously performed at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards that Diddy hosted.
But the best moment of the iconic performance was Diddy's sweet closing number of "I'll Be Missing You," which he dedicated to his late ex-partner Kim Porter, Andre Harrell, and The Notorious B.I.G....
- 6/27/2022
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
Diddy has revealed the name of his next album, Off the Grid Vol. 1, scheduled for release on September 24th.
“Welcome to the Love Era!” the rapper and music mogul also known as Sean Combs wrote on Instagram, in what appeared to be a callback to when he briefly went by the name “Brother Love.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Love (@diddy)
The album marks Diddy’s first major music release in nearly two years, following his contribution to the Ozuna and DJ Snake single “Eres Top,...
“Welcome to the Love Era!” the rapper and music mogul also known as Sean Combs wrote on Instagram, in what appeared to be a callback to when he briefly went by the name “Brother Love.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Love (@diddy)
The album marks Diddy’s first major music release in nearly two years, following his contribution to the Ozuna and DJ Snake single “Eres Top,...
- 7/22/2021
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
Mary J. Blige’s 1992 debut, “What’s the 411?,” was an instant smash that established the young Yonkers singer as a multiplatinum hitmaker, a fashion icon and the prototype for what an R&b star could look and sound like in the hip-hop era. But it wasn’t until her second album, 1994’s “My Life,” that the Blige most of us are familiar with — the heart-on-a-sleeve singer-songwriter unafraid to mine her own considerable trauma through music — truly began to take shape.
Tracing that album’s dark genesis, exploring its legacy with fans and featuring brief (perhaps too brief) performance clips from a pair of 2019 concerts Blige staged to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Vanessa Roth’s “Mary J. Blige’s My Life” has no shortage of cooperation from the subject herself (also an executive producer). But there’s a valedictory glossiness to the film that sometimes underserves the warts-and-all power of the...
Tracing that album’s dark genesis, exploring its legacy with fans and featuring brief (perhaps too brief) performance clips from a pair of 2019 concerts Blige staged to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Vanessa Roth’s “Mary J. Blige’s My Life” has no shortage of cooperation from the subject herself (also an executive producer). But there’s a valedictory glossiness to the film that sometimes underserves the warts-and-all power of the...
- 6/25/2021
- by Andrew Barker
- Variety Film + TV
Mary J. Blige has a long, illustrious career, riddled with Top Ten hits, million-selling albums, Grammys, and Oscar nominations. But there’s one project that has particular importance for her: “I have 13 albums, but my second, My Life, is my most important,” she says in a new documentary commemorating the LP, originally released in 1994. Blige sees My Life not only as the moment she “started speaking to my fans” but also as “the place where I survived.” That narrative of survival, of walking through the fire only to emerge stronger on the other side,...
- 6/25/2021
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige revisits her landmark album, 1994’s deeply personal My Life, in a new Amazon Prime Video documentary out June 25. But no examination of her career would be complete without Andre Harrell, the Uptown Records founder who discovered Blige and signed her straight out of the Schlobohm housing projects in Yonkers, New York.
Harrell, who passed away on May 7, 2020, is featured in the doc via interviews recorded prior to his death, and Blige tells The Hollywood Reporter that she still “doesn’t have enough words” to describe his influence on her life. “Andre is ...
Harrell, who passed away on May 7, 2020, is featured in the doc via interviews recorded prior to his death, and Blige tells The Hollywood Reporter that she still “doesn’t have enough words” to describe his influence on her life. “Andre is ...
- 6/25/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige revisits her landmark album, 1994’s deeply personal My Life, in a new Amazon Prime Video documentary out June 25. But no examination of her career would be complete without Andre Harrell, the Uptown Records founder who discovered Blige and signed her straight out of the Schlobohm housing projects in Yonkers, New York.
Harrell, who passed away on May 7, 2020, is featured in the doc via interviews recorded prior to his death, and Blige tells The Hollywood Reporter that she still “doesn’t have enough words” to describe his influence on her life. “Andre is ...
Harrell, who passed away on May 7, 2020, is featured in the doc via interviews recorded prior to his death, and Blige tells The Hollywood Reporter that she still “doesn’t have enough words” to describe his influence on her life. “Andre is ...
- 6/25/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: WME announced today that they have signed Emmy and Grammy award-winning executive producer and showrunner, Rikki Hughes as well as her production company, Magic Lemonade for representation in all areas.
Hughes is a producer of a long list of award shows, comedy specials and independent features. She made history as the first Black female to receive an Emmy for “Outstanding Variety Special” for Netflix’s Dave Chappelle: Equanimity & The Bird Revelation comedy specials. On top of that, she scored a Grammy for “Best Comedy Album” for the specials.
She recently served as executive producer of BET’s tribute to the late Andre Harrell, Mr. Champagne and Bubbles as well as Chappelle’s latest comedy special, Sticks and Stones on Netflix. Her credits also include the HBO special All Def Comedy, Comedy Central’s Hood Adjacent, the VH1 special Dear Mama, amongst others.
Hughes was previously repped by CAA.
Hughes is a producer of a long list of award shows, comedy specials and independent features. She made history as the first Black female to receive an Emmy for “Outstanding Variety Special” for Netflix’s Dave Chappelle: Equanimity & The Bird Revelation comedy specials. On top of that, she scored a Grammy for “Best Comedy Album” for the specials.
She recently served as executive producer of BET’s tribute to the late Andre Harrell, Mr. Champagne and Bubbles as well as Chappelle’s latest comedy special, Sticks and Stones on Netflix. Her credits also include the HBO special All Def Comedy, Comedy Central’s Hood Adjacent, the VH1 special Dear Mama, amongst others.
Hughes was previously repped by CAA.
- 7/7/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox Soul, iHeartMedia, and Motown Records are teaming on limited series Motown Countdown, which will stream each Tuesday in July.
The four-part music and talk series will be hosted by Angela Yee, who co-hosts iHeartRadio’s nationally syndicated show The Breakfast Club.
Fox Soul, a free, ad-supported streaming network, launched this year as a strategic effort by Fox to extend the audience for its stable of syndicated TV series. Original programming will be followed by two hours of Fox TV’s locally produced programming. Fox Soul is available via iOS, Android, Apple TV, FireTV or on the web at foxsoul.tv.
The four-part Motown Countdown will stream live on the platform at 10Pm Et starting July 7. Each 30-minute episode will feature a countdown of the top five “current torchbearers” in a particular category. The list of categories includes hip-hop, classic Motown, Andre Harrell-inspired hits and “songs encouraging change and revolution,...
The four-part music and talk series will be hosted by Angela Yee, who co-hosts iHeartRadio’s nationally syndicated show The Breakfast Club.
Fox Soul, a free, ad-supported streaming network, launched this year as a strategic effort by Fox to extend the audience for its stable of syndicated TV series. Original programming will be followed by two hours of Fox TV’s locally produced programming. Fox Soul is available via iOS, Android, Apple TV, FireTV or on the web at foxsoul.tv.
The four-part Motown Countdown will stream live on the platform at 10Pm Et starting July 7. Each 30-minute episode will feature a countdown of the top five “current torchbearers” in a particular category. The list of categories includes hip-hop, classic Motown, Andre Harrell-inspired hits and “songs encouraging change and revolution,...
- 6/24/2020
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Over a career that spans 20 years, Jesse Collins has produced a wide range of hit television series and big awards shows via his eponymous production company, Jesse Collins Entertainment (Jce). But despite his many successes, including “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and “The Bobby Brown Story,” Collins continues to mostly fly under the radar — not that he minds, given his mantra: Don’t focus on popularity and accolades. Instead work to be great at one thing, and everything else will come by default.
That “one thing” for the prolific producer? Creating great content.
“We’ve been at this for a long time, and we may not be as well-known as some of the other big producers out there, but we’re growing,” Collins said. “And there’s a lot of content that we’ve been attached to, that some people don’t even know we produced, but one day they will.
That “one thing” for the prolific producer? Creating great content.
“We’ve been at this for a long time, and we may not be as well-known as some of the other big producers out there, but we’re growing,” Collins said. “And there’s a lot of content that we’ve been attached to, that some people don’t even know we produced, but one day they will.
- 6/22/2020
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Over a career that spans 20 years, Jesse Collins has produced a wide range of hit television series and big awards shows via his eponymous production company, Jesse Collins Entertainment (Jce). But despite his many successes, including “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and “The Bobby Brown Story,” Collins continues to mostly fly under the radar — not that he minds, given his mantra: Don’t focus on popularity and accolades. Instead work to be great at one thing, and everything else will come by default.
That “one thing” for the prolific producer? Creating great content.
“We’ve been at this for a long time, and we may not be as well-known as some of the other big producers out there, but we’re growing,” Collins said. “And there’s a lot of content that we’ve been attached to, that some people don’t even know we produced, but one day they will.
That “one thing” for the prolific producer? Creating great content.
“We’ve been at this for a long time, and we may not be as well-known as some of the other big producers out there, but we’re growing,” Collins said. “And there’s a lot of content that we’ve been attached to, that some people don’t even know we produced, but one day they will.
- 6/22/2020
- by Tambay Obenson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Andre Harrell, the music executive who launched Uptown Records and helped usher in a new era of hip-hop flavored soul and R&b, was laid to rest on Saturday (May 23) at George Washington Cemetery in Paramus, NJ. The funeral followed a celebration of his life at Vander Plaat-Caggiano Funeral Home in Fair Lawn, NJ. Harrell died on May 7 from heart disease-related issues.
Among the attendees were artists Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige, comedian Chris Rock and executives L.A. Reid and Lyor Cohen, according to local reports.
Participants included musical performers Jodeci and gospel icons BeBe and CeCe Winans. Remarks were made by Tracy Maitland, Cohen, Mark Siegel, Rock, Blige and the Rev. Al Sharpton in addition to Harrell’s son Gianni Credle-Harrell.
Harrell played a key role in launching the careers of P. Diddy, Blige, Teddy Riley, Heavy D, Jodeci and many others, which made a television tribute on Bet,...
Among the attendees were artists Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige, comedian Chris Rock and executives L.A. Reid and Lyor Cohen, according to local reports.
Participants included musical performers Jodeci and gospel icons BeBe and CeCe Winans. Remarks were made by Tracy Maitland, Cohen, Mark Siegel, Rock, Blige and the Rev. Al Sharpton in addition to Harrell’s son Gianni Credle-Harrell.
Harrell played a key role in launching the careers of P. Diddy, Blige, Teddy Riley, Heavy D, Jodeci and many others, which made a television tribute on Bet,...
- 5/27/2020
- by Jeff Vasishta
- Variety Film + TV
Jesse Collins’ film and TV production company has signed a multi-year overall agreement with ViacomCBS cable networks to produce projects across all platforms.
Under the terms of the agreement, Jesse Collins Entertainment (Jce) may provide production services for the ViacomCBS cable networks segment — including Bet, Cmt, Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount Network, TV Land and VH1 on the television side.
On the theatrical film side, the company also has a first-look on Jce’s film development projects, which could include Viacom’s film entities such as Paramount Players.
Also Read: Bet Sets 3-Part Scripted Series 'Uptown' About Famed Record Label
Jce has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. With a decades-long relationship with Bet, Jesse Collins, founder & CEO of the company, was the executive producer of the network’s “The New Edition Story,” a biopic on the boy band that first...
Under the terms of the agreement, Jesse Collins Entertainment (Jce) may provide production services for the ViacomCBS cable networks segment — including Bet, Cmt, Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount Network, TV Land and VH1 on the television side.
On the theatrical film side, the company also has a first-look on Jce’s film development projects, which could include Viacom’s film entities such as Paramount Players.
Also Read: Bet Sets 3-Part Scripted Series 'Uptown' About Famed Record Label
Jce has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. With a decades-long relationship with Bet, Jesse Collins, founder & CEO of the company, was the executive producer of the network’s “The New Edition Story,” a biopic on the boy band that first...
- 5/21/2020
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Jesse Collins Entertainment, the production company behind Bet’s critically-acclaimed miniseries, The New Edition Story, has signed a multi-year overall agreement with ViacomCBS Cable Networks. Under the terms of the agreement, the Jesse Collins-led company will provide production services for the ViacomCBS cable networks, which include Bet, Cmt, Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount Network, TV Land, and VH1. In addition, ViacomCBS will also have a first look at Jce’s film development projects for its film entities such as Paramount Players.
Currently, Jce has American Soul, the Bet series about young Don Cornelius and the struggle to make the dream of Soul Train come true, which is returning for a second season in May. Collins is also in pre-production on Uptown, a 3-part original scripted miniseries for Bet that will chronicle the story of producer Andre Harrell’s iconic record label, Uptown Records.
Following the success of The New Edition Story,...
Currently, Jce has American Soul, the Bet series about young Don Cornelius and the struggle to make the dream of Soul Train come true, which is returning for a second season in May. Collins is also in pre-production on Uptown, a 3-part original scripted miniseries for Bet that will chronicle the story of producer Andre Harrell’s iconic record label, Uptown Records.
Following the success of The New Edition Story,...
- 5/21/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Sean “Diddy” Combs penned an emotional tribute to Andre Harrell, the music executive and Uptown Records founder who died Thursday from heart failure at age 59.
“I honestly still can’t believe it,” Combs wrote on Instagram. “I’ve got to give myself the reality of this in doses. Because I can’t even handle this. I hope to God that you are all blessed to have someone in your life that loves you and believes in you like this man believed in me.… I’m going to miss him so much.
“I honestly still can’t believe it,” Combs wrote on Instagram. “I’ve got to give myself the reality of this in doses. Because I can’t even handle this. I hope to God that you are all blessed to have someone in your life that loves you and believes in you like this man believed in me.… I’m going to miss him so much.
- 5/12/2020
- by Ryan Reed
- Rollingstone.com
Paul “Bear” Vasquez, the “Double Rainbow” guy whose viral YouTube video reacting to a set of rainbows in Yosemite National Park shot him to fame in 2010, died Saturday. He was 57.
The Mariposa, Calif. resident gained recognition after posting an impassioned video of himself bearing witness to a double rainbow outside of his house. The sounds of Vasquez’s ooh-ing and aah-ing over the rainbows — interspersed with laughter and actual sobs of joy — captured the hearts of people all over the world.
The Mariposa County Coroner’s Office confirmed his death to TheWrap. A cause of death has not been released.
Also Read: Andre Harrell, Uptown Records Founder and Sean Combs' Mentor, Dies at 59
The famous video has garnered over 47 million views since it was posted in January of 2010.
In the video, which you can watch below, Vasquez exclaims, “Oh my god, it’s a full-on double rainbow all the way across the sky!
The Mariposa, Calif. resident gained recognition after posting an impassioned video of himself bearing witness to a double rainbow outside of his house. The sounds of Vasquez’s ooh-ing and aah-ing over the rainbows — interspersed with laughter and actual sobs of joy — captured the hearts of people all over the world.
The Mariposa County Coroner’s Office confirmed his death to TheWrap. A cause of death has not been released.
Also Read: Andre Harrell, Uptown Records Founder and Sean Combs' Mentor, Dies at 59
The famous video has garnered over 47 million views since it was posted in January of 2010.
In the video, which you can watch below, Vasquez exclaims, “Oh my god, it’s a full-on double rainbow all the way across the sky!
- 5/11/2020
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Sadly, another music legend has passed away. Just one day ago, the world of music lost Little Richard and Andre Harrell. On Sunday, multiple outlets reported that soul singer Betty Wright died. She was 66 years old. At this time, it's unknown what caused the legendary songstress' death. However, Chaka Khan hinted that something was wrong with Wright earlier this month. "Calling all my #PrayWarriors | My beloved sister, Betty Wright @MsBettyWright, is now in need of all your prays," Khan shared on Twitter on May 2. Wright is best known for her popular R&b hits like "Tonight Is the Night," "No Pain, (No Gain),"...
- 5/10/2020
- E! Online
As the music world today is reeling from the news of Andre Harrell’s death at the age of 59, his colleagues and friends are celebrating the career of the Uptown Records founder. Harrell’s milestone career and personal story also are the subject of Uptown, a three-part original scripted miniseries, which was greenlighted by BET Networks in early December 2019.
Harrell was executive producing the project, which had been in pre-production when the coronavirus pandemic suspended all filming in Hollywood. The production held a series of open casting calls in December and January for performers to play 90s versions of Heavy D & The Boyz, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kim Porter and Aaron Hall, among others.
No cast and production start date have been set for the miniseries, which originally was supposed to premiere in 2020. Because of the uncertainty over when Hollywood production will be able to safely resume,...
Harrell was executive producing the project, which had been in pre-production when the coronavirus pandemic suspended all filming in Hollywood. The production held a series of open casting calls in December and January for performers to play 90s versions of Heavy D & The Boyz, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kim Porter and Aaron Hall, among others.
No cast and production start date have been set for the miniseries, which originally was supposed to premiere in 2020. Because of the uncertainty over when Hollywood production will be able to safely resume,...
- 5/10/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
A miniseries about the rise of the late Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records is still in the works and moving ahead at Bet following the veteran music executive’s death. But with production throughout the television business shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, no premiere date or timetable for the start of shooting has been set.
“We are mourning the loss of a cultural icon, Andre Harrell, a chief architect of the modern hip-hop and R&b sound,” Bet president Scott Mills said in a statement. “Andre was tremendously excited about sharing the origin story of Uptown Records, and its pivotal role in the urban music landscape. With his tragic passing, Bet is committed to ensuring that the Uptown limited series event tells both the Uptown story and Andre’s story — that of the incredible music innovator, man and friend to so many.”
In December, Bet ordered “Uptown,” a...
“We are mourning the loss of a cultural icon, Andre Harrell, a chief architect of the modern hip-hop and R&b sound,” Bet president Scott Mills said in a statement. “Andre was tremendously excited about sharing the origin story of Uptown Records, and its pivotal role in the urban music landscape. With his tragic passing, Bet is committed to ensuring that the Uptown limited series event tells both the Uptown story and Andre’s story — that of the incredible music innovator, man and friend to so many.”
In December, Bet ordered “Uptown,” a...
- 5/9/2020
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Lenny Kravitz had just woken up when he saw back-to-back notifications that rock & roll architect Little Richard and influential Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell had both died. “My God, I hadn’t even gained consciousness yet,” he says, calling from his home in the Bahamas where he has been self-isolating since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kravitz and Harrell had known each other for years through Sean Combs, whose career was developed under Harrell’s mentorship. Kravitz and Combs were neighbors in New York City as they were both...
Kravitz and Harrell had known each other for years through Sean Combs, whose career was developed under Harrell’s mentorship. Kravitz and Combs were neighbors in New York City as they were both...
- 5/9/2020
- by Brittany Spanos
- Rollingstone.com
When Andre Harrell founded Uptown Records in 1986, he quickly honed the label’s musical approach. “Andre saw in the late Eighties how the hard-edged drama of rap music… was not incorporating all the rich cool smoothness and bright musicality that had built the house of R&b,” the longtime music executive Steve Stoute wrote in his book The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy. “The question he asked was, how can we make this less rough around the edges… the...
- 5/9/2020
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
Andre Harrell, whose Uptown Records is considered one of the key bridges between hip-hop and R&b, died of heart failure Thursday night at his West Hollywood home. He was 59 and his death was confirmed by his former wife.
Harrell was a key to the careers of Sean Combs, Mary J. Blige, Heavy D & The Boyz, and Jodeci, among many others. His label, Uptown Records, is remembered as one of the R&b giants of the 1990s, finding a niche as a home for artists who were sophisticated and smooth, yet retaining its street edge.
Andre O’Neal Harrell was born in the Bronx on Sep. 26, 1960. He graduated from Charles Evans Hughes High School in 1978, and attended Baruch College and Lehman College.
Harrell’s career started on the performing side. He was Dr. Jeckyll, half of the rap duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, with high school friend Alonzo Brown. They had several hits,...
Harrell was a key to the careers of Sean Combs, Mary J. Blige, Heavy D & The Boyz, and Jodeci, among many others. His label, Uptown Records, is remembered as one of the R&b giants of the 1990s, finding a niche as a home for artists who were sophisticated and smooth, yet retaining its street edge.
Andre O’Neal Harrell was born in the Bronx on Sep. 26, 1960. He graduated from Charles Evans Hughes High School in 1978, and attended Baruch College and Lehman College.
Harrell’s career started on the performing side. He was Dr. Jeckyll, half of the rap duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, with high school friend Alonzo Brown. They had several hits,...
- 5/9/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The world of music has lost a legend. Andre Harrell has passed away. The music executive was best known as the founder of Uptown Records—where Sean "Diddy" Combs got his start—and later he ran Motown Records. He was also the Vice Chairman at Revolt TV. "We can confirm the passing of Andre Harrell. Everyone in the Revolt family is devastated by the loss of our friend, mentor and Vice Chairman," Roma Khanna, CEO Revolt TV Media & TV said in a statement shared with E! News. "Andre's impact on Hip Hop, the culture and on all of us personally has been immeasurable and profound. May he Rest In Peace." While the all-around music legend's cause of death is...
- 5/9/2020
- E! Online
Andre Harrell, the music executive who founded the influential Uptown Records, has died at the age of 59.
“We can confirm the passing of Andre Harrell,” Revolt network, where Harrell served as vice chairman, said in a statement. “Everyone in the Revolt family is devastated by the loss of our friend, mentor and Vice-Chairman. Andre’s impact on Hip Hop and the culture and on us has been immeasurable and profound. May he Rest In Peace.”
Harrell’s ex-wife, Wendy Credle, told The New York Times that the cause of death was heart failure.
“We can confirm the passing of Andre Harrell,” Revolt network, where Harrell served as vice chairman, said in a statement. “Everyone in the Revolt family is devastated by the loss of our friend, mentor and Vice-Chairman. Andre’s impact on Hip Hop and the culture and on us has been immeasurable and profound. May he Rest In Peace.”
Harrell’s ex-wife, Wendy Credle, told The New York Times that the cause of death was heart failure.
- 5/9/2020
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
In today’s TV news roundup, Starz has released a trailer for Season 5 of “Outlander,” and Amazon Prime Video announced casting for “The Power.”
Castings
WWE superstars Sasha Banks, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Alexa Bliss, Sonya Deville, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch and Natalya have been cast as participants in Quibi and WWE’s upcoming series “Fight Like a Girl.” Each episode follows each female wrestler as she shares her life experiences with a young woman dealing with personal issues that are holding her back. WWE chief brand officer and executive producer of the series Stephanie McMahon will decide the pairings. Susan Levison, Ben Zierten, Tom Forman, Jenny Daly and Jon Beyer also serve as executive producers.
Amazon Prime Video has announced further casting for its forthcoming series, “The Power.” Adapted from Naomi Alderman‘s novel of the same name, the 10-part thriller imagines a world in which all...
Castings
WWE superstars Sasha Banks, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Alexa Bliss, Sonya Deville, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch and Natalya have been cast as participants in Quibi and WWE’s upcoming series “Fight Like a Girl.” Each episode follows each female wrestler as she shares her life experiences with a young woman dealing with personal issues that are holding her back. WWE chief brand officer and executive producer of the series Stephanie McMahon will decide the pairings. Susan Levison, Ben Zierten, Tom Forman, Jenny Daly and Jon Beyer also serve as executive producers.
Amazon Prime Video has announced further casting for its forthcoming series, “The Power.” Adapted from Naomi Alderman‘s novel of the same name, the 10-part thriller imagines a world in which all...
- 1/15/2020
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Bet is exploring the story behind Andre Harrell’s iconic hip-hop record label, Uptown Records.
The network has ordered a three-part miniseries titled “Uptown,” with Harrell on board to executive produce. The series is scheduled to hit the airwaves in 2020.
Launched in 1986, following a joint venture deal with McA, Uptown Records played a key role in launching the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip-hop and R&b, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs, and others.
Each episode of “Uptown” will take viewers from the label’s inception to current day, featuring the music and hit-makers that helped mold the label.
“We are proud to bring the story of Uptown Records to life and celebrate the indelible imprint the label has made on the industry,...
The network has ordered a three-part miniseries titled “Uptown,” with Harrell on board to executive produce. The series is scheduled to hit the airwaves in 2020.
Launched in 1986, following a joint venture deal with McA, Uptown Records played a key role in launching the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip-hop and R&b, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs, and others.
Each episode of “Uptown” will take viewers from the label’s inception to current day, featuring the music and hit-makers that helped mold the label.
“We are proud to bring the story of Uptown Records to life and celebrate the indelible imprint the label has made on the industry,...
- 12/4/2019
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Bet Networks has given a green light to Uptown, a three-part original scripted miniseries that will chronicle the story of Andre Harrell’s iconic New York City record label, Uptown Records, from Harrell and Jesse Collins Entertainment. Uptown is scheduled to premiere on Bet in 2020.
Launched in 1986, following a joint venture deal with McA, Harrell’s Uptown Records played a vital role in the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip hop, soul and R&b, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs, and many more. Each episode will take viewers from the label’s inception to current day, featuring the music and powerhouse hit-makers that helped mold what would come to be...
Launched in 1986, following a joint venture deal with McA, Harrell’s Uptown Records played a vital role in the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip hop, soul and R&b, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs, and many more. Each episode will take viewers from the label’s inception to current day, featuring the music and powerhouse hit-makers that helped mold what would come to be...
- 12/4/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Bet is putting its lens on Uptown Records.
The Viacom-backed cable network has greenlit Uptown, a three-part scripted miniseries set to tell the "comprehensive" story of Andre Harrell's New York record label.
Launched in 1986, the McA division is widely considered to have helped launch the careers of hit makers including Mary J. Blige, Notorious Big, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Heavy D & the Boyz, Russell Simmons, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure and many more.
Over three nights, the series will explore the label's inception to present day, featuring music and the hit makers who helped ...
The Viacom-backed cable network has greenlit Uptown, a three-part scripted miniseries set to tell the "comprehensive" story of Andre Harrell's New York record label.
Launched in 1986, the McA division is widely considered to have helped launch the careers of hit makers including Mary J. Blige, Notorious Big, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Heavy D & the Boyz, Russell Simmons, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure and many more.
Over three nights, the series will explore the label's inception to present day, featuring music and the hit makers who helped ...
- 12/4/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Bet has ordered a three-part scripted series about the famed record label Uptown Records, the network announced Wednesday.
Launched in 1986, Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records played a vital role in the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip hop, soul and R&b, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs and more.
“Uptown,” which will be executive produced by Harrell and Jesse Collins, will span the label’s inception to current day, featuring the music and hit-makers that defined its success and the sound of the era.
Also Read: 'First Wives Club' Star Ryan Michelle Bathe on Getting 'Hot as Fish Grease' for Bet+ Series (Video)
Charles Murray, Carlito Rodriguez and Barry Michael Cooper each serve as writer on one of the three parts of the miniseries,...
Launched in 1986, Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records played a vital role in the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip hop, soul and R&b, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs and more.
“Uptown,” which will be executive produced by Harrell and Jesse Collins, will span the label’s inception to current day, featuring the music and hit-makers that defined its success and the sound of the era.
Also Read: 'First Wives Club' Star Ryan Michelle Bathe on Getting 'Hot as Fish Grease' for Bet+ Series (Video)
Charles Murray, Carlito Rodriguez and Barry Michael Cooper each serve as writer on one of the three parts of the miniseries,...
- 12/4/2019
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
The fourth edition of Culture Creators’ annual “Innovators and Leaders” Awards Brunch will take place on Friday, June 22 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Recognizing minorities in film, television, music and fashion, the event will honor Byron Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of Entertainment Studios, with the Icon Award, and “Black-ish” star Marsai Martin as Innovator of the Year.
In the music category, Culture Creators will recognize Quality Control’s Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “P” Thomas, and David Gross and Steve “O” Carless will accept a Social Action award on behalf of the late Nipsey Hussle; James Lopez of President Will Packer Productions takes the honor in film and television; and Antoine Phillips, vice president, brand and culture engagement for Gucci, in fashion.
Allen’s Entertainment Studios operates nine cable channels including Weather Channel. The company, privately held solely by Allen, recently struck a deal to...
In the music category, Culture Creators will recognize Quality Control’s Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “P” Thomas, and David Gross and Steve “O” Carless will accept a Social Action award on behalf of the late Nipsey Hussle; James Lopez of President Will Packer Productions takes the honor in film and television; and Antoine Phillips, vice president, brand and culture engagement for Gucci, in fashion.
Allen’s Entertainment Studios operates nine cable channels including Weather Channel. The company, privately held solely by Allen, recently struck a deal to...
- 6/10/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
In 1993, Uptown Records’ founder Andre Harrell was planning an unplugged show on MTV to showcase his label’s roster, which included a young Mary J. Blige, Jodeci and Heavy D. & the Boyz. He approached Jodeci — a potent vocal group whose 1991 debut album spawned three Number One R&B hits — and proposed that they cover an oldie to demonstrate their vocal chops.
Jodeci agreed to the plan. They set about learning “Lately,” a cut from Wonder’s Hotter Than July that they had never heard before, in the 24 hours before the...
Jodeci agreed to the plan. They set about learning “Lately,” a cut from Wonder’s Hotter Than July that they had never heard before, in the 24 hours before the...
- 9/4/2018
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
Ever since its primitive beginnings as “song plugging,” radio promotion at record labels has been a virtual boy’s club, a haven for hucksters and quasi-thugs who, in the Wild West days of the music business depicted in Fredric Dannen’s 1991 book “Hit Men,” famously plied programmers with payola, drugs and worse in exchange for airplay.
Few women managed to penetrate the upper echelons of that macho sanctuary, but through the years there were exceptions, most notably the grand dames of record promotion: Atlantic Records Evp Andrea Ganis, who started at the label in 1980 as director of secondary pop promotion, and Interscope Geffen A&M president of promotion Brenda Romano, a 23-year veteran at the house Jimmy Iovine built. Other female promotion execs rose to head their own labels, from the late Epic Records president Polly Anthony to the label’s current chief Sylvia Rhone, along with current Atlantic Records chairman...
Few women managed to penetrate the upper echelons of that macho sanctuary, but through the years there were exceptions, most notably the grand dames of record promotion: Atlantic Records Evp Andrea Ganis, who started at the label in 1980 as director of secondary pop promotion, and Interscope Geffen A&M president of promotion Brenda Romano, a 23-year veteran at the house Jimmy Iovine built. Other female promotion execs rose to head their own labels, from the late Epic Records president Polly Anthony to the label’s current chief Sylvia Rhone, along with current Atlantic Records chairman...
- 6/27/2018
- by Roy Trakin
- Variety Film + TV
It’s no secret that Mary J. Blige can do it all.
The Grammy Award winner, celebrated for both her singing and songwriting skills, has also been acting for years in TV and film.
But this year the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” has taken her acting career to the next level: Blige was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Mudbound — a Dee Rees film adaption of the 2008 novel — where she plays a mother-of-four dealing with racial prejudice on a Mississippi Delta farm during the Jim Crow South.
Blige also scored a best original song nomination for “Mighty River,...
The Grammy Award winner, celebrated for both her singing and songwriting skills, has also been acting for years in TV and film.
But this year the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” has taken her acting career to the next level: Blige was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Mudbound — a Dee Rees film adaption of the 2008 novel — where she plays a mother-of-four dealing with racial prejudice on a Mississippi Delta farm during the Jim Crow South.
Blige also scored a best original song nomination for “Mighty River,...
- 1/23/2018
- by Madison Rossi
- PEOPLE.com
It’s no secret that Mary J. Blige can do it all.
The Grammy Award winner, celebrated for both her singing and songwriting skills, has also been acting for years in TV and film.
But this year the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” has taken her acting career to the next level: Blige is starring in Netflix‘s potential Oscar player Mudbound — a Dee Rees film adaption of the 2008 novel — where she plays a mother-of-four dealing with racial prejudice on a Mississippi Delta farm during the Jim Crow South.
How did the 46-year-old R&B icon become a respected actress? Here...
The Grammy Award winner, celebrated for both her singing and songwriting skills, has also been acting for years in TV and film.
But this year the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” has taken her acting career to the next level: Blige is starring in Netflix‘s potential Oscar player Mudbound — a Dee Rees film adaption of the 2008 novel — where she plays a mother-of-four dealing with racial prejudice on a Mississippi Delta farm during the Jim Crow South.
How did the 46-year-old R&B icon become a respected actress? Here...
- 11/17/2017
- by Madison Rossi
- PEOPLE.com
Universal picked a good lead to kick off its Dark Universe franchise, but that has more to do with the fact that Tom Cruise has a bizarre charm that can defy almost any script than it has to do with the launching of the instant classic “universe” they were hoping for.
In this version of the classic monster story, we enter with a fair amount of backstory surrounding Egyptian Princess Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella) who made a deal with the God Set in exchange for unbelievable power, and then killed her family. Luckily, someone stepped in to thwart her dastardly plans, but because she, apparently, made herself a special kind of immortal, she was buried in a secret tomb 1,000 miles from Egypt.
Enter modern day scamps and antiquities thieves, Nick (Cruise) and Chris (Jake Johnson). Working their positions as scouts in the military, apparently with free reign over Iraq and the surrounding area,...
In this version of the classic monster story, we enter with a fair amount of backstory surrounding Egyptian Princess Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella) who made a deal with the God Set in exchange for unbelievable power, and then killed her family. Luckily, someone stepped in to thwart her dastardly plans, but because she, apparently, made herself a special kind of immortal, she was buried in a secret tomb 1,000 miles from Egypt.
Enter modern day scamps and antiquities thieves, Nick (Cruise) and Chris (Jake Johnson). Working their positions as scouts in the military, apparently with free reign over Iraq and the surrounding area,...
- 6/14/2017
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
By the early ‘70s, Hammer films was wheezing and sputtering just to stay alive. Their attempts to stay current with the changing tides of horror were often misbegotten and misdirected (Dracula A.D. 1972, anyone?) as the plots continued to recycle shopworn ideas when audiences were ready for more modern concerns, such as hulking maniacs with chainsaws. In essence, time was passing Hammer by, and they were willing to try anything. Hence we arrive at The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974), a delightful elixir of Dracula and…Kung Fu. This was the last gasp for Hammer’s beloved franchise, and it’s a very worthy burial.
Aka 7 Brothers Versus Dracula, 7 Brothers and a Sister Meet Dracula, 7 Golden Vampires, and Enter The Dracula (no, but who screwed up that marketing?), Legend was a co-production between Hammer and Shaw Brothers, the immortal Chinese martial arts film studio that would crank out 10, sometimes 15 films a year of kinetic,...
Aka 7 Brothers Versus Dracula, 7 Brothers and a Sister Meet Dracula, 7 Golden Vampires, and Enter The Dracula (no, but who screwed up that marketing?), Legend was a co-production between Hammer and Shaw Brothers, the immortal Chinese martial arts film studio that would crank out 10, sometimes 15 films a year of kinetic,...
- 6/10/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Diddy's pals know him well ... they threw the mogul a surprise 46th birthday party Wednesday night and, in true Diddy fashion, plugged the hell out of the new apple-flavored booze he just launched. Naomi Campbell, La Reid and Andre Harrell threw the bday bash at Butter in NYC ... and Chris Rock, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Tyson Beckford and Maxwell all made the guest list. The apple theme trickled into the decorations and the desert table, which...
- 11/5/2015
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
--SNL's Jay Pharoah celebrating "National Coffee Day" by handing out Orbit gum to coffee drinkers in NYC's Union Square. --Ryan Eggold listening to Eric Hutchinson and Margaret Valentine perform at the the Orioles Division Championship Celebration at 54 Below in NYC. --Kelly Osbourne celebrating a friend’s birthday at Mansion nightclub in Miami Beach. --Sophia Bush sipping Starr African Rum backstage at the Global Citizen Festival in NYC’s Central Park. --Leonardo DiCaprio, Rashida Jones, and O’Neal McKnight, star of Lifetime’s new series Kosher Soul, toasting Andre Harrell at his birthday bash at [...]...
- 10/1/2014
- Us Weekly
Warner Archive, the really cool digital library for Warner Bros and its vast array of titles, has a series of new DVD releases coming this fall for the discerning comic book fan and the lover of old school television fare.
Pre-orders are now open for Warner Archive Collection’s Blu-ray™ release of Beware The Batman: Dark Justice. Featuring the final 13 episodes of the groundbreaking, all-new CGI series’ first season, the single-disc Blu-ray™ will be released on September 30. Beware The Batman: Dark Justice pits Batman, Alfred and swordstress Katana against the underworld likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. Over the final 13 episodes, the rogues gallery expands with appearances by Killer Croc, Man-Bat, Deathstroke and more. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this action-packed detective thriller deftly redefines what we have come to know as a ‘Batman show.”
Here’s a glance at other animated offerings now available...
Pre-orders are now open for Warner Archive Collection’s Blu-ray™ release of Beware The Batman: Dark Justice. Featuring the final 13 episodes of the groundbreaking, all-new CGI series’ first season, the single-disc Blu-ray™ will be released on September 30. Beware The Batman: Dark Justice pits Batman, Alfred and swordstress Katana against the underworld likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. Over the final 13 episodes, the rogues gallery expands with appearances by Killer Croc, Man-Bat, Deathstroke and more. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this action-packed detective thriller deftly redefines what we have come to know as a ‘Batman show.”
Here’s a glance at other animated offerings now available...
- 9/23/2014
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Legendary actor Mickey Rooney died Sunday in Los Angeles, Calif. He was 93.
Mickey Rooney Dies
The Brooklyn-born Rooney, who got his first acting gig at just 17 months old, is best known for the series of Andy Hardy films that came out in the 1930s. Starring alongside Judy Garland, Rooney became the most bankable actor throughout the Depression-era. Among the Andy Hardy films were, Love Finds Andy Hardy, Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever, Andy Hardy Meets Debutante and Love Laughs at Andy Hardy.
Following his incredible success at such a young age, Rooney struggled to remain a major player in Hollywood as an adult. In the 50s, there was the short-lived TV series, The Mickey Rooney Show that lasted just two years in which he played Mickey Mulligan. He had another TV vehicle in the 60s titled simply Mickey that lasted for 16 episodes.
Rooney went on to get minor parts in films,...
Mickey Rooney Dies
The Brooklyn-born Rooney, who got his first acting gig at just 17 months old, is best known for the series of Andy Hardy films that came out in the 1930s. Starring alongside Judy Garland, Rooney became the most bankable actor throughout the Depression-era. Among the Andy Hardy films were, Love Finds Andy Hardy, Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever, Andy Hardy Meets Debutante and Love Laughs at Andy Hardy.
Following his incredible success at such a young age, Rooney struggled to remain a major player in Hollywood as an adult. In the 50s, there was the short-lived TV series, The Mickey Rooney Show that lasted just two years in which he played Mickey Mulligan. He had another TV vehicle in the 60s titled simply Mickey that lasted for 16 episodes.
Rooney went on to get minor parts in films,...
- 4/7/2014
- Uinterview
Fringe Review, Season 5, Episode 9: “Black Blotter”
Written by Kristin Cantrell
Directed by Tommy Gormley
Fringe Review, Season 5, Episode 10: “Anomaly Xb-6783746”
Written by David Fury
Directed by Jeffrey Hunt
Fringe has a tradition of doing at least one surrealist episode per season and this year, that episode is “Black Blotter”. As in “Brown Betty”, the noir-inspired musical episode from season two, Walter gets high and the episode around him reflects his mental state. Then it was with a potent strain of marijuana, here he’s on acid. Walter hopes his trip will help him recover the memories he needs to complete his plan against the Observers (so he’ll be able to have Nina remove the pieces of his brain turning him back into his older, crueler self) and, though he’s faced with visions of the lab assistant who burned to death years ago, causing his initial incarceration at St.
Written by Kristin Cantrell
Directed by Tommy Gormley
Fringe Review, Season 5, Episode 10: “Anomaly Xb-6783746”
Written by David Fury
Directed by Jeffrey Hunt
Fringe has a tradition of doing at least one surrealist episode per season and this year, that episode is “Black Blotter”. As in “Brown Betty”, the noir-inspired musical episode from season two, Walter gets high and the episode around him reflects his mental state. Then it was with a potent strain of marijuana, here he’s on acid. Walter hopes his trip will help him recover the memories he needs to complete his plan against the Observers (so he’ll be able to have Nina remove the pieces of his brain turning him back into his older, crueler self) and, though he’s faced with visions of the lab assistant who burned to death years ago, causing his initial incarceration at St.
- 1/10/2013
- by Kate Kulzick
- SoundOnSight
Phylicia Rashad, aka Clair Huxtable on NBC's long-running The Cosby Show, is plotting her return to the small screen. The Emmy-nominated and Tony-winning actress has joined NBC's drama pilot Do No Harm, a network spokesman confirms to The Hollywood Reporter. Do No Harm is a updated take on the Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde drama that revolves around Jeffrey Kohl (Rescue Me's Steven Pasquale), a brilliant neurosurgeon who wrestles with his dangerous alter-ego that threatens to wreak havoc on his personal and processional life. As first reported by TV Guide, Rashad will play Dr. Vanessa Young,
read more...
read more...
- 3/1/2012
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Hollywood Interview is sad to report the untimely death of rapper/actor Heavy D at age 44. I interviewed Heavy D for Venice Magazine, back in June of 2005, as he was making his theatrical debut in Hollywood, in the play "Medal of Honor Rag." He was a soft-spoken, thoughtful man whose imposing physical presence couldn't hide what seemed like an inherently gentle nature. Of the hundreds of hours of interviews I've logged over the years, ours was one of the most memorable. He will be missed. Rest in peace.
Heavy D Changes His Tune In
Medal Of Honor Rag
By
Alex Simon
It’s fair to say that Heavy D was one of the first rap/hip-hop artists whose work crossed over into the “mainstream,” earning him points with urban fans as well as those in the suburbs. While many people were left with a bad taste from what they...
Heavy D Changes His Tune In
Medal Of Honor Rag
By
Alex Simon
It’s fair to say that Heavy D was one of the first rap/hip-hop artists whose work crossed over into the “mainstream,” earning him points with urban fans as well as those in the suburbs. While many people were left with a bad taste from what they...
- 11/28/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
For all of the emotions usually equated with death, Dwight “Heavy D” Myers’ funeral was billed as a celebration of the artist’s life. As such, it could not – and would not – be such a sad affair. As the mayor-elect of Heavy’s hometown of Mount Vernon, New York put it, “We are not here because Heavy D died. We are here because Heavy D lived.”
What became clear, from within the two overflowing halls of Mount Vernon’s Grace Baptist Church, was that Heavy D had touched countless lives...
What became clear, from within the two overflowing halls of Mount Vernon’s Grace Baptist Church, was that Heavy D had touched countless lives...
- 11/19/2011
- by Jeff Rosenthal
- Rollingstone.com
'He constantly made sure that his health was in check,' Floyd Myers tells MTV News after public memorial.
By Rob Markman
Heavy D
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images
Heavy D will be missed, and fans aren't the only ones searching for answers about his sudden death.
On Thursday (November 17), MTV News visited the Mount Vernon, New York, home of Heavy D's family, who are still grieving over the passing of their beloved Dwight Myers.
"Heavy was in great shape," Floyd Myers, the fallen rapper's brother and business partner, told MTV News. "You guys seen him at the Bet Awards, and he just did the tribute to Michael Jackson; they flew him out to London to do that. Heav was in good shape, healthy, no heart problems. He constantly made sure that his health was in check."
The initial autopsy report came back inconclusive, but Myers said he spoke...
By Rob Markman
Heavy D
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images
Heavy D will be missed, and fans aren't the only ones searching for answers about his sudden death.
On Thursday (November 17), MTV News visited the Mount Vernon, New York, home of Heavy D's family, who are still grieving over the passing of their beloved Dwight Myers.
"Heavy was in great shape," Floyd Myers, the fallen rapper's brother and business partner, told MTV News. "You guys seen him at the Bet Awards, and he just did the tribute to Michael Jackson; they flew him out to London to do that. Heav was in good shape, healthy, no heart problems. He constantly made sure that his health was in check."
The initial autopsy report came back inconclusive, but Myers said he spoke...
- 11/17/2011
- MTV Music News
Rapper whose career included hit singles and acting roles
The rapper Heavy D, who has died suddenly aged 44, after collapsing at his home, was among a handful of hip-hop stars from the 1980s who successfully established a lasting career. Having created a string of infectious, party-time hits with Heavy D & the Boyz, he was able to extend his reach into the commercial mainstream through collaborations with Bb King and Michael Jackson, and subsequently exhibited bankable skills as both a businessman and actor. Although he was past his commercial peak as a musician, his last album, Love Opus, released in September, showed that he had not entirely run out of creative juice.
He was born Dwight Arrington Myers in Mandeville, Jamaica, and his parents moved the family to Mount Vernon, New York, in 1971. His mother Eulahlee was a nurse and his father Clifford a technician. He began putting together his own...
The rapper Heavy D, who has died suddenly aged 44, after collapsing at his home, was among a handful of hip-hop stars from the 1980s who successfully established a lasting career. Having created a string of infectious, party-time hits with Heavy D & the Boyz, he was able to extend his reach into the commercial mainstream through collaborations with Bb King and Michael Jackson, and subsequently exhibited bankable skills as both a businessman and actor. Although he was past his commercial peak as a musician, his last album, Love Opus, released in September, showed that he had not entirely run out of creative juice.
He was born Dwight Arrington Myers in Mandeville, Jamaica, and his parents moved the family to Mount Vernon, New York, in 1971. His mother Eulahlee was a nurse and his father Clifford a technician. He began putting together his own...
- 11/10/2011
- by Adam Sweeting
- The Guardian - Film News
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