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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Erica Campbell enjoys working solo
Vanessa Williams
April 9-15, 2014 Page D-3 January 22-28, 2014 Page D-3
DIGITAL DAILY WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM
The duo Mary Mary, consisting of sisters Tina and Erica Campbell, for years ranked among the most successful acts in contemporary gospel music. But now Erica Campbell is working alone and her new album, “Help,” is doing exceptionally well, easily crossing over onto the R&B and Pop charts.
Smokey Robinson
Patti LaBelle
Campbell went the solo route largely because Tina “shut everything down” last year. Just didn’t want to work. From page D-1
Unforgettable
Iners a particularly Assofrom Detroitstraightforward who were on drugs! And ciated Press interview Erica Campbell then there was a lady who wrote ask if The legendary and eccentric Nina said she loves her sister dearlytoand give her the name of whoever did Simone was getting out of a limo at the I could that Tina is completely supportive. back entrance of Ford Auditorium where Diana Ross’ dental work! However, she said, “I had to she was performing that night. BILLY DEE wasthat at a kind ofWILLIAMS explain to her the Motown Museum. As she was getting out of the car, a party given by you can’t have both.An and can’t conniving whole breast popped out of her gown, overly aggressiveYou tell photogme pictures of women but that didn’t faze her at all. She just rapher was taking you’re not working the actor’s pushed it back in and went on about her with Williams and,orwithout doing anything knowledge, charging them! business. and expect me to and wait At one point just the sitphotographer I once had to share a dressing room until you’re grabbed Williams by the arm toready. get him (which was actually the men’s room!) So to I’mpose. justAn going infuriwith Herb Fame of Peaches & Herb and where he wanted him to keep it moving.” “Get your hands others appearing on a local TV show ated Williams hissed, that day. I just happened to glance down off me!” and there were holes in his socks. There is no way for Al Green’s breath even though he was correct.
At the time Peaches & Herb had a hit titled “Let’s Fall in Love.” Maybe it should have been “Let’s Buy Some New Socks.”
to have been bad! During an hour-long interview at the Michigan Chronicle, Green, who is always effervescent, ate peppermint Life Savers for the entirety of the interview. Erica Campbell
PATTI LABELLE was in Detroit starring in “Your Arm’s Too Short to Peabo Bryson talked so much and so Box With God” and staying at the Sher- fast during his interview that I only had aton-Cadillac downtown, which is where to ask a few questions! I interviewed her. At one point the alRobert playfully ways Thecandid public LaBelle is invited to she take 13, 4 Townsend 4 p.m. There will beoffered a resaid hadplace a badon April me Avenue his VISA card. I reached for it and he “The Joy and of Gospel at for Puritan ception with light refreshheadache asked ifMuI had p.m., anything away!ments after each concert. sic,” 2351 itPuit. two free concerts or- Baptist Church,pulled ganized by and featuring ritan Ave. The second will Vanessa Williams eloquent, po For was additional inforthe time there singwas a Tylenol scare Dr. At Michael Walker, be at St. Peter lite AME Zion and ultra-dignified duringcall the (313) intermation, please going on, so I said, “I have something, er, musician and compos- Church, 3056view Yemans in the lobby of a downtown hotel. 921-9577 but it’s Tylenol.” er. (Hamtramck), on May 18,her demeanor changed for a However, Well,shows the superdiva completely didn’t minute or so when I asked how she felt The celebrate care. She just took the Tylenol, thanked about people who, no matter what she gospel masterpieces Soul spectacular coming to the Fox Theatre me, andby kept on notables talking. written such accomplished, would still bring up the It’sintoxi“more bang the song, Stephanie Mills, as Alex Bradford,Eartha MattieKitt was The legendary Missfor America “scandal.” On Saturday, May and two Detroit groups Moss Cleve-of abuck.” cated,Clark, and inJames the course great interWilliams used an expletive that starts land, Walter Hawkins, 10, the and Soul 70 Super that achieved national view after a concert, her glass tipped with an “f” and followed it withEnchantthe word Andraé Crouch, landed Thomason Jam the champagne my attaché will take place at the recognition, “them.” ment and the Floaters. Whitfield, Roberta Martin, case. I didn’t get mad. Fox Theatre. Thomas A. Dorsey, Clara Esther Rolle Tickets was rightfully irritatare available at And by the way, a Detroit City TheCounshow will feature Ward and Richard Smalled when someone on the Chronicle the Fox Theatre box office cil member (John Peoples) was waiting wood. the legendary O’Jays, one and toall say “Dy-no-mite!” Of Ticketmaster locato present a plaque to Ms. Kitt but she staff asked her course, she declined. Why should she of the foremost ladies of tions. made The him firstwait concert willshe wasn’t finbecause ished talking to me. I was flattered but say that when it was Jimmy Walker’s at the same time embarrassed for the catchphrase? (Which, by the way, I never found the least bit funny.) councilman.
Dr. Michael Walker presents ‘The Joy of Gospel Music’
College degrees
At Your Finger Tips!
From page D-1
Motown sent a limo to the Michigan Lionel Richie called me one mornme up. L. TheJackson, plan was Also, that to “The Samuel ing at home do aFresh telephone interview. Chronicle to pick Robinson in the car Prince ofis, Bel-Air” alumna who may be the most Trouble Motown had forgotten to tell to interview Smokey a radio station. Tatyana Ali has a bacheactor But in when Holme anything about it! I was in bed. I on his way toemployed Robinson was sleep! lor’s inLionel Government and lywood, attended Moreasked to give me a few minutes to I got into the car, Afro-American History house College he get my tape recorder, etc. I didn’t want to wake himwhere so I just from Harvard Univerearned a bachelor’s deOne day I was walking down Wood- waited. After a few minutes, a groggy sity; that actress Holly gree inwoke Acting. up and said, ward Avenue when a man asked me if I Smokey Robinson Robinson Peete has a happening?” could provide him with a list of any sing- “Hey man, what’sDirector and Acadebachelor’s degree in Psymy Award- winning actor chology and French from Forest Whitaker did the Sarah Lawrence College; same at the University of and that actress Rashida Southern California. Jones, daughter of the The talented and dilegendary Quincy Jones, verse Taraji P. Henson has has a bachelor’s degree a bachelor’s in Theater from Harvard University Dwayne Johnson Arts from Howard Univerin Religion & Philosophy. If she weren’t a “tril- sity. And Denzel WashingIT ALSO comes as lionaire,” the iconic ton earned his bachelor’s a surprise that comedi- Oprah Winfrey would in Theater from Fordham an and former “Tonight still be a success as one University. Show” host Jay Leno has who has a bachelor’s in James Earl Jones, a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Drama from another legend, has a Speech Therapy from EmBilly Dee Williams Millie Jackson Lionel Richie Tennessee State Univerbachelor’s in Drama from erson College. sity. — surprise! — the UniverMeanwhile, Dwayne Actress Sanaa Lathan, sity of Michigan. “the Rock” Johnson and known for movies like From Ludacris page D-1 Rap star Shaquille O’Neal both “Love & Basketball” and (Christopher Brian Harris), “It’s AllBridgin the gender equality becomes have bachelor’s degrees a way of life. Me Wait” (Major “The Family That Preys,” es) Edwards), has a bachelor’s “Lookingdefor And we have teach from our girls that they Game” (Tommy in General Studies is possible.” proud of her abachelor’s New Love” (Jody can University reach as high humanly gree Watley). in Music Managethe of as Miami in Drama from ment from Georgia State andDo Louisiana State Uni- degree BLESSINGS to Cornelius Fortune, you think 20-year-old Bobbi KrisYale University. University. versity, respectively. Robert McTyre, Carmela tina Brown’s marriage to Nick Gordon Dorothy West, ACTOR AND philanKim Trent will last? It’sown got to be (?) better than McTyre, Ken Coleman, And Jamie Foxx, ColecoDetroit’s David man, (real Janaya median, Black, Rocky Bill Whitney andwho Bobby’s. singerBlack, and acAlan Grier, shot to thropist Hill Harper name: FrankBanfield Eugene and Krafus Walker. tor whose Academy fame as one of the most THE MUSIC of Motown is an entity Harper), most familiar Award-winning perforpopular and inventive WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Miunto itself, has a lifeperof its own, and is for his nine seasons on mance as Ray Charles in formers on the long-runchael Jordan: “Some people want it to always surfacing somewhere. drama “Ray” was of the most ning TV show “In Living the popular TV happen. Some wish it one would happen. As you this, in the a 10-part “CSI: NY,” earned a masamazing of all time, atColor,” hasread a master’s in U.K. Others make it happen.” musical TVYale drama is being developed ter’s and Juris Doctorate tended the United States Drama from UniversiLet the music play! a heavy hitter,ofRed Planet Pictures, in Public Administration International University tybyand a Bachelor Arts titled “Stop! In the Name of Love.” In the wherecan he earned a bachefrom the University of from Harvard University Steve Holsey be reached at course of the show, the performers will Svh517@aol.com and PO Arts. Box 02843, Michigan. Law School. lor’s in Music sing classic Motown songs. Detroit, MI 48202. Tony Jordan, one of the script writers, rather poetically commented, “The From page D-1 music of Motown is iconic, perfectly encapsulating the ecstasy and heartbreak peared in a major role in the original cha Helvey and Donnie Griffin. of love, and providing a powerful punch “Iron Man” movie starring Downey, the WORDS OF THE WEEK, from a that dilalogue alone sometimes just first of three, but says that door is now Funkadelic song written by George Clincan’t reach. The musical arrangements closed as far as he is concerned. He ton and Gary Shider: “If you don’t like and cutting-edge choreography will give claims Downey demanded a lot more the effects, don’t produce the cause.” us a uniquely modern take on a genre of money for “Iron Man 2” — “the monmusic that is truly timeless.” ey that was supposed to go to me; he Let the music play! Kudos “American Idol” for prom- (Steve Holsey can be reached at pushed me to out.” ising to eliminate feuding among judg- Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that when es — Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey were Diana Ross’ “Love Hangover” was re- Detroit, MI 48202.) downright embarrassing — and to cut leased in 1976, there was a competing way back on showing bad auditions. version by the 5th Dimension, which ul- Crossword puzzle answer Despite the popularity of “The Dionne Warwck, who recently won timately faltered. Voice” and, to a lesser extent, “The the Soul Train Living Legend Award, has MEMORIES: “Rescue Me” (Fontella X Factor,” those shows have yet to a new album coming out in May titled Bass), “Lovely Day” (Bill Withers), “She “Feels So Good.” It will consist entirely produce any stars. Works Hard for the Money” (Donna Sumof duets, some quite unlikely, including mer), “L-O-V-E (Love)” (Al Green), “Make “American Idol,” on the other Ne-Yo, Ziggy Marley, Alicia Keys, Billy It Funky” (James Brown), “Saturday hand, has been a launching pad for Ray Cyrus and Cee Lo Green. Love” (Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neal), many top artists. BETCHA DIDN’T there “Fight the Power” (theKNOW…that Isley Brothers), The list includes Jennifer Hudwas a time when(I’d P. Diddy back-up “If This is Love Ratherwas be aLonely” son, Carrie Underwood, Ruben dancer for Heavy“Is D It asawell as Big(Sade), Daddy (the Precisions), Crime?” Kane. Love” (the Spinners). Studdard, Kelly Clarkson, Adam “Mighty Lambert, Fantasia, LaToya LonMEMORIES: to “That Lady” (the Isley BLESSINGS Monica Morgan, don, Constantine Maroulis, Chris Brothers), “Sweet Baby” (Stanley Clarke General Holiefield, Barbara Orto, Andre Daughtry, Taylor Hicks, Jordin and George Duke), “Push It” (Salt-n-PeSmith, Montez Miller, Sylvia Quarles, pa),Harrell “A Little Bit of for Soap” Jarmels), Sparks, Jessica Sanchez, Philip Von (thanks the (the letter!), Tony “If It Isn’t Love” (New Edition), “Show Braceful, Carl Jones, Linda Burgess, MiPhillips, Candice Glover and Scotty and Tell” (Al Wilson), “Too Much HeavMcCreery. en” (the Bee Gees), “Love Won’t Let
Reflections
Reflections
‘Idol’ is still the one
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