Sure, there were some happy shock waves when Jon Batiste, the much-admired musical multi-hyphenate, unexpectedly picked up the most nominations by far — 11 — when the final candidates were announced in November for the 64th annual Grammy Awards. Despite this achievement, the instrumentalist, composer and “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” bandleader speaks in selflessly communal terms about his seeming designation as the Grammys’ flagship artist heading toward the Jan. 31 telecast.
“These nominations are a real affirmation of my belief that music is bigger than genre,” says Batiste from his “Late Show” dressing room at Manhattan’s Ed Sullivan Theater, the very room where he started the recording process for the genre-jumping 2021 album “We Are,” which landed the lion’s share of his Grammy recognition. The recognition is also for “Soul,” his Oscar-winning score for Disney/Pixar’s animated love letter to jazz, shared with co-composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
“These nominations are an affirmation,...
“These nominations are a real affirmation of my belief that music is bigger than genre,” says Batiste from his “Late Show” dressing room at Manhattan’s Ed Sullivan Theater, the very room where he started the recording process for the genre-jumping 2021 album “We Are,” which landed the lion’s share of his Grammy recognition. The recognition is also for “Soul,” his Oscar-winning score for Disney/Pixar’s animated love letter to jazz, shared with co-composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
“These nominations are an affirmation,...
- 12/15/2021
- by A.D. Amorosi
- Variety Film + TV
As Broadway continues to be shut down amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, author Caseen Gaines is giving readers a chance to experience opening night again in his new book.
In Footnotes: The Black Artists Who Rewrote the Rules of the Great White Way (Sourcebooks), out May 25, Gaines transports readers to New York in the roaring twenties to tell the story of the artists behind the revolutionary production Shuffle Along, the first Broadway show with an all-Black cast and creative team. Further, Gaines examines how lyricist Noble Sissle, composer Eubie Blake and comedians Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles defied the odds and overcame racism, poverty and violence ...
In Footnotes: The Black Artists Who Rewrote the Rules of the Great White Way (Sourcebooks), out May 25, Gaines transports readers to New York in the roaring twenties to tell the story of the artists behind the revolutionary production Shuffle Along, the first Broadway show with an all-Black cast and creative team. Further, Gaines examines how lyricist Noble Sissle, composer Eubie Blake and comedians Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles defied the odds and overcame racism, poverty and violence ...
- 2/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As Broadway continues to be shut down amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, author Caseen Gaines is giving readers a chance to experience opening night again in his new book.
In Footnotes: The Black Artists Who Rewrote the Rules of the Great White Way (Sourcebooks), out May 25, Gaines transports readers to New York in the roaring twenties to tell the story of the artists behind the revolutionary production Shuffle Along, the first Broadway show with an all-Black cast and creative team. Further, Gaines examines how lyricist Noble Sissle, composer Eubie Blake and comedians Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles defied the odds and overcame racism, poverty and violence ...
In Footnotes: The Black Artists Who Rewrote the Rules of the Great White Way (Sourcebooks), out May 25, Gaines transports readers to New York in the roaring twenties to tell the story of the artists behind the revolutionary production Shuffle Along, the first Broadway show with an all-Black cast and creative team. Further, Gaines examines how lyricist Noble Sissle, composer Eubie Blake and comedians Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles defied the odds and overcame racism, poverty and violence ...
- 2/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Marion Ramsey, best known for her role as the soft-spoken, demure Officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy franchise, died on Thursday at her home in Los Angeles, as Variety reports. She was 73. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed, but a rep from Ramsey’s management agency said that the actress had recently been ill.
Ramsey launched her professional career in the theater. She appeared in the 1964 Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! and its touring versions, and in 1974 she co-starred alongside Bette Davis in Miss Moffat. In...
Ramsey launched her professional career in the theater. She appeared in the 1964 Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! and its touring versions, and in 1974 she co-starred alongside Bette Davis in Miss Moffat. In...
- 1/8/2021
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Marion Ramsey, best known for playing soft-spoken Officer Laverne Hooks in the “Police Academy” franchise, died on Thursday in her Los Angeles home, according to her management company at Roger Paul Inc.
Ramsey was 73. Her cause of death was unknown.
Ramsey was also a singer and Broadway veteran who appeared in the hit 1978 Broadway show “Eubie!”
Marion Ramsey was born in 1947 in Philadelphia and launched her stage career performing in both the original Broadway production of “Hello, Dolly!” and ensuing tour productions.
Ramsey would go on to star opposite Bette Davis in the 1974 musical “Miss Moffat,” which flopped at the box office. But Ramsey bounced back in “Ebie!” a biographical musical that centered on jazz pianist Eubie Blake and starred Gregory and Maurice Hines.
Ramsey would venture into television and film and made a 1976 guest appearance on sitcom “The Jeffersons,” and became a series regular that same year on the...
Ramsey was 73. Her cause of death was unknown.
Ramsey was also a singer and Broadway veteran who appeared in the hit 1978 Broadway show “Eubie!”
Marion Ramsey was born in 1947 in Philadelphia and launched her stage career performing in both the original Broadway production of “Hello, Dolly!” and ensuing tour productions.
Ramsey would go on to star opposite Bette Davis in the 1974 musical “Miss Moffat,” which flopped at the box office. But Ramsey bounced back in “Ebie!” a biographical musical that centered on jazz pianist Eubie Blake and starred Gregory and Maurice Hines.
Ramsey would venture into television and film and made a 1976 guest appearance on sitcom “The Jeffersons,” and became a series regular that same year on the...
- 1/7/2021
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Marion Ramsey, an actress and singer who appeared in the 1978 hit Broadway show Eubie! but is best known for her portrayal of the sweet, squeaky-voiced Officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy franchise, died today in her Los Angeles home. She was 73.
Her death was announced by her management team at Roger Paul Inc. A cause has not been determined, though the actress had been ill in recent days.
Born in Philadelphia, Ramsey began her show business career on the stage, appearing in both the original Broadway and subsequent touring productions of Hello, Dolly! In 1974, she starred opposite Bette Davis in the legendary flop musical Miss Moffat, an adaption of Davis’ classic 1945 film The Corn Is Green. Directed by Josh Logan, the Broadway-bound musical closed during out-of-town tryouts.
Ramsey’s stage career rebounded four years later with Eubie!, the lauded biographical musical about jazz pianist Eubie Blake starring Gregory and Maurice Hines.
Her death was announced by her management team at Roger Paul Inc. A cause has not been determined, though the actress had been ill in recent days.
Born in Philadelphia, Ramsey began her show business career on the stage, appearing in both the original Broadway and subsequent touring productions of Hello, Dolly! In 1974, she starred opposite Bette Davis in the legendary flop musical Miss Moffat, an adaption of Davis’ classic 1945 film The Corn Is Green. Directed by Josh Logan, the Broadway-bound musical closed during out-of-town tryouts.
Ramsey’s stage career rebounded four years later with Eubie!, the lauded biographical musical about jazz pianist Eubie Blake starring Gregory and Maurice Hines.
- 1/7/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
On the evening of August 23rd, 1917, while American boys fought next to their brethren overseas, a group of soldiers marched into the streets of Houston, Texas. They begun firing on locals, many of whom were officers of the law. By the time the sun rose the next morning, 11 civilians, five policeman and four Army personnel who’d come to investigate the melee were dead. A trial ensued, which ended with 58 out of the 63 soldiers found guilty, and 19 of those men summarily executed. It bears mentioning that these men were part of the 24th U.
- 8/20/2020
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
By 1979, Loretta Lynn had been recording country music for almost 20 years, with some 50 albums to her credit. The first female artist to be nominated for — and to win — the Cma Entertainer of the Year award in 1972, Lynn’s string of major solo hits was accompanied by five Number Ones with duet partner Conway Twitty. The pair also logged four chart-topping LPs as a duo between 1973 and 1976.
Also in 1979, Lynn was preparing for the big-screen adaptation of her autobiography, Coal Miner’s Daughter, published three years earlier. The story of her spotting...
Also in 1979, Lynn was preparing for the big-screen adaptation of her autobiography, Coal Miner’s Daughter, published three years earlier. The story of her spotting...
- 12/23/2019
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
The first time Harry Connick Jr. stepped onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame was almost by accident. It was his first visit to Los Angeles, and he was en route to a session at the iconic Capitol Records Tower, just a few steps from the Walk of Fame’s epicenter at Hollywood and Vine.
“When you’re actually walking down that street and see all those names — Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart — you realize that these people walked down these same streets; that they’ve had some of the same feelings that you’re having as a young performer,” Connick says.
The New Orleans native’s trademark Southern drawl has lightened since those early days, though his rich, smooth baritone hasn’t. “It just kind of makes it real. For somebody like me who has such a deep respect for the entertainment business, it’s a really big deal.
“When you’re actually walking down that street and see all those names — Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart — you realize that these people walked down these same streets; that they’ve had some of the same feelings that you’re having as a young performer,” Connick says.
The New Orleans native’s trademark Southern drawl has lightened since those early days, though his rich, smooth baritone hasn’t. “It just kind of makes it real. For somebody like me who has such a deep respect for the entertainment business, it’s a really big deal.
- 10/24/2019
- by Natalie Weiner
- Variety Film + TV
“Shuffle Along” reaped 10 Tony Awards nominations, including a bid for Best Musical. It recounts the backstage drama of mounting the 1921 musical revue of the same name, which had a score by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle. Tony winner George C. Wolfe, who also handled helming, adapted the original book by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles. And another Tony champ, Savion […]...
- 6/13/2016
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
An all-new edition of Theater Talk shines the spotlight on Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical at the Music Box Theatre - librettistdirector George C. Wolfe nominated for Best Book and Best Director of a Musical, Adrienne Warren nominated as Best Featured Actress in a Musical in dual roles as Gertrude Saunders and Florence Mills and Brandon Victor Dixon nominated as Best Featured Actor in a Musical as composer Eubie Blake.
- 5/25/2016
- by TV News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
“The Humans” continued its impressive theater awards season streak last night with a big win at the New York Drama Critics’ Circle. Stephen Karam’s chilling family drama was named the best play of the season by 22 theater critics from various publications in New York metropolitan area. The award carries a cash prize of $2,500, made possible by a grant from the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Meanwhile, “Shuffle Along, or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed,” the last production to open in the 2015–16 Broadway season, took home best musical. With a book by George C. Wolfe, music by Eubie Blake, lyrics by Noble Sissle, and an original book by F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles, the musical has picked up steam this spring, recently clinching 10 Tony nominations. Special citations were also given to several NYC theater community professionals: Oskar Eustis, artistic director of the Public Theater; actor Lois Smith...
- 5/6/2016
- backstage.com
There is a saying in Baltimore that crabs may be prepared in fifty ways and that all of them are good. • H.L. Mencken
“There is only so far that you can push people into a corner… We’re frustrated and that’s why we’re out there in the streets.” • Charles, Member of the Crips gang
“I would never want to live anywhere but Baltimore. You can look far and wide, but you’ll never discover a stranger city with such extreme style. It’s as if every eccentric in the South decided to move north, ran out of gas in Baltimore, and decided to stay.” • John Waters, Filmmaker and Writer
“This is a skewed portrayal of the protests; it is what the media chose to portray – the media that consumers bewilderingly seem to want. The real revolution is thousands of people across America standing in solidarity against police brutality.
“There is only so far that you can push people into a corner… We’re frustrated and that’s why we’re out there in the streets.” • Charles, Member of the Crips gang
“I would never want to live anywhere but Baltimore. You can look far and wide, but you’ll never discover a stranger city with such extreme style. It’s as if every eccentric in the South decided to move north, ran out of gas in Baltimore, and decided to stay.” • John Waters, Filmmaker and Writer
“This is a skewed portrayal of the protests; it is what the media chose to portray – the media that consumers bewilderingly seem to want. The real revolution is thousands of people across America standing in solidarity against police brutality.
- 10/5/2015
- by Mindy Newell
- Comicmix.com
Next spring, Tony Award winners Audra McDonald, George C. Wolfe, and Savion Glover will team up to collaborate on Shuffle Along, Or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, a musical about the events that led to the creation of the groundbreaking Eubie Blake-Noble Sissle musical Shuffle Along. Starring Audra McDonald as the 1920's star Lottie Gee, directed by George C. Wolfe -- with a book written by Wolfe -- and choreographed by Savion Glover, the musical marks the first time that the writerdirector and choreographer will have worked together since their 1996 hit Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk. Previews will begin Monday, March 14, 2016. Opening night is Thursday, April 21, 2016 at the Music Box Theatre 239 West 45th Street.
- 3/12/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
I have to confess my age in writing this particular review, because Johnny Carson was off the air by the time I was watching late night television (or rather, watching and appreciating it). For my generation, the names headlining the late night shows were and, with a little bit of controversy, remain Jay Leno and David Letterman. In my case, I had to familiarize myself with Carson through YouTube clips years after he’d retired. Tonight, the most complete compilation of episode’s from Carson’s 30-year-long career as host, starts 4 years into his career (1965) and spans up to 1990 (4 years short of his final bow) in a 15-disc set featuring some great moments and some of the best guest appearances (with a particular focus on comedians for this set, it would seem). It’s doubtful we’ll ever see a full set, just because the undertaking of committing that much...
- 1/24/2011
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
ubbling Brown Sugar is a musical revue written by Loften Mitchell based on a concept by Rosetta LeNoire and featuring the music of numerous African-American artists who were popular during this period, including Duke Ellington, Eubie Blake, Count Basie, Cab Calloway and Fats Waller. It was nominated for the Tony Award as, "Best Musical." The revue is scheduled through Nov. 22 at Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs.
- 11/22/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
ubbling Brown Sugar is a musical revue written by Loften Mitchell based on a concept by Rosetta LeNoire and featuring the music of numerous African-American artists who were popular during this period, including Duke Ellington, Eubie Blake, Count Basie, Cab Calloway and Fats Waller. It was nominated for the Tony Award as, "Best Musical." The revue is scheduled through Nov. 22 at Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs.
- 10/30/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
On Monday, Broadway's best singers gathered on the Town Hall stage to perform some of the funniest, most dramatic, most rousing and most poignant showstoppers from musicals. Ably directed by Scott Thompdon and musically guided by musical director Fred Barton (who must surely have an aging portrait locked in at attic somewhere, and who performed mere days after sustaining injuries in a car accident), the evening represented songs ranging from jazz standards by Eubie Blake to this year's Tony winner for best score, Next to Normal.
- 7/20/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
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