Freddie Bell's Morning Show Update

Issac Hayes Remembered

freddiebell — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:59:37 +0000

www.freddiebell.wordpress.com

Solid Gold Soul

Aug. 21, 2008

Welcome to Solid Gold Soul

About Freddie Bell

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS - 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

ISSAC HAYES REMEMBERED

The life and legacy of soul legend Isaac Hayes were celebrated in his hometown of Memphis at two gatherings – a private burial service on Sunday and a public memorial held yesterday with 3,000 fans and friends in attendance. Sunday’s ceremony included Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise and Wesley Snipes; while the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Chuck D., Bootsy Collins and actor Richard Roundtree were on hand for Monday’s farewell, according to the Associated Press. “What would you say if you were flying into Memphis and they said you are about to land at Isaac Hayes International Airport,” U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen asked the mourners, drawing a huge round of applause. Cohen, who represented Hayes’ area of Memphis, said the city should celebrate Hayes, an architect of the Memphis sound, as it celebrates Elvis Presley. “He is a world person who the world will miss,” Cohen said. Monday’s four-hour service at Hope Presbyterian Church featured music, speakers and video clips. It began with a drum march through the sanctuary and a video clip of Hayes and Jackson on stage together at a 1972 concert in the Watts area of Los Angeles. Memorialized in the documentary film “Wattstax,” Jackson pulled off Hayes’ cap to reveal his signature shaved head, then Hayes slipped off his robe to show his red spandex paints and chain vest.

SPINNERS’ PERVIS JACKSON PASSES

Pervis Jackson, bass singer and an original member of the Spinners passed away at 2:00 AM Monday August 18th at Sinai-Grace hospital in Detroit, Michigan. His wife Claudreen of 42 years and their children were at his side.

The Spinners and management are saddened by his sudden passing. His last appearance as a Spinner was July 19, 2008 in Alhambra, California.

The family appreciates all of the words of comfort and the out pouring of love from his fans, friends and other family members.

He will be remembered for his charisma, generosity and his contribution to the world in his melodious bass voice.

MCCAIN NOT IN “CONE OF SILENCE” DURING DEBATE

ST. PAUL AFRO CENTRIC BOOK DRIVE UNDERWAY

Starting this Friday at Arnellia’s and until the goal of 1500 Afrocentric books is reached for the NEW University Academies for Boys and Girls North End Elementary School, Tyrone Terrrill is asking the community to bring K-4 grade books to happy hour each Friday.

For more information on University Academies for Boys and Girls North End Elementary School, 27 East Geranium, Saint Paul, MN 55117 or go to www.northend.spps.org to learn more about the school that will be the “Home of Future Leaders” in the City of Saint Paul. Feel free to call Principal Hamilton Bell at 651-293-8795 to learn more about this great school.

TYRA KEEPS AUDIENCE WAITING

A recent taping of the “Tyra Banks Show” got started nearly two hours later than scheduled – which angered audience members because the delay appeared to be for no good reason.
An audience was brought into the West 26th St. studio for a taping of her episode “Celebrating Black Models, Past, Present and Future.” But, an audience member tells the New York Post’s Page Six that Tyra kept them waiting nearly 120 minutes as she stood backstage giggling, snacking and chatting with the crew. “You could hear her going on and on because she was standing right behind the stage curtain,” said the audience member. “She’s talking and talking. Meanwhile, you have the entire audience waiting almost two hours for the taping to start.”
The spy also said Banks had the nerve to have a bad attitude when she finally started the show, which featured interviews with Beverly Johnson, Veronica Webb, Chanel Iman and Tameka Jacobs.

BARKLEY TO THE GOLF CHANNEL

It’s no secret that Charles Barkley loves golf as much as he loves gambling. Apparently, the Golf Channel saw this as an opportunity to lure him to the network with the promise of his own links-themed show. According to Reuters, a rep from the network confirmed that the channel is developing a project eyed for 2009 that would feature famed golf instructor Hank Haney, who has coached Tiger Woods on his swing, giving Barkley tips on his own golf game. Haney also will be featured in Golf Channel’s new reality series “School of Golf: Hilton Head Island,” premiering Sept. 2. Barkley, meanwhile, is a TNT basketball analyst during the NBA season.

FISHBURNE TO CSI

CBS announced Monday that Laurence Fishburne is a go to replace departing actor William Petersen in its top rated drama series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” The Emmy and Tony winner will make his first appearance in episode 9 of the forthcoming 10th season, reports the Associated Press. “I am elated and delighted to be joining the cast of `CSI,’” Fishburne said in a statement, adding that he anticipated a “wonderful collaboration” with the other stars of the show. Fishburne will play a forensics scientist who is also a college lecturer and former pathologist focused on the reasons why people commit violent acts. When Fishburne’s casting was still in the rumor mill, the character was described as having a genetic profile that has been identified in serial killers. “This gentleman knows this about himself and is … in this journey to discover who his true character will ultimately become,” Tassler told TV critics last month about the character. The air date for Petersen’s final episode has not been announced but will be early next year, according to the AP. His character, Gil Grissom, will be reappraising his life after years of high-tech forensics investigations with the Las Vegas Police Department and after facing personal turmoil. The actor will remain an executive producer on the series, the network said.

Black History Fact

1954: Ralph J. Bunche named undersecretary of the United Nations
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Celebrity Birthdays

Singer Ivan Neville is 49.

Rapper Nate Dogg is 39.

Rapper Fat Joe is 38.

Actress Tracie Thoms (”Cold Case”) is 33.

Rapper Romeo (formerly Lil’ Romeo) is 19.

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Words To the Wise

Make clear your vision
_______________________________________________________________________________
Contact Information

Freddie Bell
PO Box 390521
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Freddie@freddiebell.com
888-639-9738

Thousands Mourn Bernie Mack

freddiebell — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:04:18 +0000

www.freddiebell.wordpress.com

Solid Gold Soul

Aug. 20, 2008

Welcome to Solid Gold Soul

About Freddie Bell

SHAQ AND SHAUNIE CANCEL DIVORCE PLANS

Shaunie and Shaq

Nearly one year after Shaquille O’Neal filed for divorce, his wife Shaunie says the proceedings will be halted in the coming days and the couple will continue to try and work things out.
“Neither one of us could probably answer why we were getting one in the first place,” Shaunie O’Neal told the Associated Press Thursday at the launch of her new video-sharing Web site.
“Things have been going so great, that someone actually had to remind us that ‘Hey, you do remember those papers are still there.’ Literally, it was days ago,” said Shaunie. “So, we’ve agreed that before we leave Florida in a few days we’ll make sure that that’s gone away.”
Shaquille O’Neal filed for divorce in Miami-Dade Circuit Court on Sept. 4, 2007, after nearly five years of marriage. The petition stated: “The marriage between the parties is irretrievably broken” and Shaunie was “secretive about her assets … particularly with respect to certain properties owned or titled in either [her] name alone or in other entities.” He requested that the court require Shaunie to give a “correct accounting of all money, funds, stocks, bonds, and other securities (including bearer securities).” Shaunie told the AP: “The kids and I kind of learned about the divorce at the same time. So that was hard. That was probably the worst part of the whole thing, was being able to deal with how hurt the whole kids were.”
Shaq’s divorce attorney, Ira Elegant, did not return a call to Reuters before press time.
Meanwhile, Shaunie’s new video-sharing Web site, launching Sept. 1, is geared to showcase children and their talents in a kid-friendly, safe arena. The entrepreneur said she developed the idea because she wanted to be able to share her own children’s activities with her family members. “I get the complaint of ‘Oh, I wish I could see that,’” she said. “There was nowhere I could find that was just safe, where maybe a slip of the finger would take us somewhere where I don’t want the kids to see or hear.”

ANOTHER ARREST FOR DMX

Another day, another arrest for DMX. The rapper was handcuffed outside of a Wall-Mart store in suburban Miami Thursday on a bench warrant issued Tuesday in Phoenix when he failed to appear at a court hearing.

THOUSANDS MOURN BERNIE MAC

More than 6,000 fans, friends, family members and famous colleagues of comedian Bernie Mac gathered at Chicago’s House of Hope megachurch Saturday to mourn his passing.
With traffic outside of the South Side venue tied up for blocks, and vendors on hand selling memorial T-shirts for $10 a pop outside, fellow comedian Cedric the Entertainer cracked that Mac was “still the hottest ticket in town.” The service included the reading of condolence letters from children; from Democratic presidential candidate and Illinois senator Barack Obama; and from Mac’s hometown White Sox baseball team. Also, Mac’s comedy bits were played on large video screens with off-color words bleeped out, reports the Associated Press.
Mayor Richard Daley said Mac had visited his office recently inquiring about ways to help curb violence in the city. “He wanted to help get children away from a life of crime and violence,” Daley said during the service. “That’s why he’s the king of comedy. He never lost his soul in Chicago.” Samuel L. Jackson, who co-stars with Mac in the upcoming movie “Soul Men,” spoke at the service, saying he knew Mac “was having some health issues, but he always said to me every morning that he was always good.” Jackson also said Mac always made time for his fans. “He never turned that kid down for an autograph,” Jackson said. “He always had time to shake a hand. He was always that kid from Chicago who wanted to make everybody happy and everybody laugh.” The music of Isaac Hayes, who died the day after Mac, and co-starred in “Soul Men,” played during the service. Cedric The Entertainer, Steve Harvey and D.L. Hughley, co-stars with Mac in the documentary “The Original Kings of Comedy,” took the stage together to remember their fellow comic. Hughley told the crowd that he and others always looked forward to seeing Mac’s stage attire each night during the famed comedy tour. He said: “Bernie would wear colors that crayons hadn’t even thought of yet.” Mac died Aug. 9 at age 50 of what his publicist said were complications from pneumonia. He had been at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital since the middle of July.

BB KINGS ENDS ONE TOUR AND STARTS ANOTHER

BB King

At 82-years-old, B.B. King is showing no signs of slowing down. The blues legend, who just wrapped up a coast-to-coast summer tour, is about to hit the road again next month for a string of U.S. shows that stretches into December, reports Live Daily. The trek is scheduled to begin Sept. 6 in Laughlin, NV, and visit a mix of clubs, theaters and casinos across the country through Dec. 1, including a two-night stand in Houston. Meanwhile, King is getting ready to release a new album, “One Kind Favor,” which features covers of old blues songs that inspired him as a young man. Produced by T Bone Burnett (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Roy Orbison), the record was made to sound like it was recorded in the ’50s. Players include Dr. John on piano, Nathan East on standup bass and Jim Keltner on drums. The set is scheduled to be released Aug. 26 on Geffen Records.

Below is the itinerary for B.B. King’s fall tour:

September 2008
6 - Laughlin, NV - Harrah’s Laughlin Rio Vista Amphitheatre
7 - Phoenix, AZ - Celebrity Theater
18 - Bossier City, LA - CenturyTel Center
19 - Biloxi, MS - Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
20 - Choctaw, MS - Pearl River Resort
21 - Huntsville, AL - Von Braun Center
25 - Bridgeport, CT - Klein Memorial Auditorium
26 - Hartford, CT - The Bushnell Center for Performing Arts
27 - Reading, PA - Sovereign Performing Arts Center
28 - Peekskill, NY - Paramount Center for the Arts
30 - Detroit, MI - MGM Grand Detroit Casino

October 2008
2 - Toledo, OH - Stranahan Theater
3 - Joliet, IL - Rialto Square Theatre
4 - Carbondale, IL - Southern Illinois University Arena
5 - Branson, MO - Welk Resort Theatre
7 - Wichita, KS - Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center
17 - Albuquerque, NM - Route 66 Casino
23 - Mescalero, NM - Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino
25 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater
31 - Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside Theatre

November 2008
14 - Norman, OK - Riverwind Casino
15 - Thackerville, OK - Winstar Casino
16 - Dallas, TX - Meyerson Symphony Center
21-22 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
24 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
26 - Alexandria, VA - Birchmere
28 - Beverly, MA - North Shore Music Theatre
29 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
30 - Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center

December 2008
1 - Hagerstown, MD - Maryland Theatre

Black History Fact

1964: South Africa was banned from the Olympic Games because of its apartheid policies
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Celebrity Birthdays

Singer Sarah Dash of LaBelle is 65.

Rapper Masta Killa of Wu-Tang Clan is 39. A

ctor Malcolm-Jamal Warner is 38.

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Words To the Wise

God wants the best for you

_______________________________________________________________________________
Contact Information

Freddie Bell
PO Box 390521
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Freddie@freddiebell.com
888-639-9738

Hayes and Mack, “Surreal,” Malcolm Lee

freddiebell — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:41:20 +0000

www.freddiebell.wordpress.com

Solid Gold Soul

Aug. 15, 2008

Welcome to Solid Gold Soul

About Freddie Bell

MALCOM LEE IN A DAZE

Director, Malcolm D. Lee

Malcolm D. Lee, director of the upcoming film “Soul Men,” had an unspeakably horrible weekend dealing with the deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, both of whom starred in his upcoming film, “Soul Men.” “It was surreal,” Lee told ABC News. “It had to be some sort of bad dream that these two giants would die on the same weekend, and both would be in my movie.” “Soul Men”, also starring Samuel L. Jackson, tells the story of two estranged soul singers (Mac and Jackson) who reunite to honor their deceased band leader. Mac, 50, died Saturday from complications relating to pneumonia; Hayes, 65, died Sunday after collapsing at his home near Memphis. Citing paperwork from the singer’s family doctor, the local sheriff’s department said Hayes may have died from a stroke.

Mack, Hayes, Jackson

Aleady a classic photo: Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes and Samuel L. Jackson from ‘Soul Men.’

Though Lee and distributor The Weinstein Co. have announced no changes to the movie or its Nov. 14 release date, the director says he feels the pressure of creating a fitting farewell to both actors. “This isn’t like “Dark Knight,” where Heath Ledger died while editing was in its infancy,” Lee says. “Most of our editing is done. We’ll go back and see if there is anything we can do better. But (Mac) left us with an indelible performance. I think I got him at the top of his game.” Mac plays a wisecracking counterpart to Jackson’s dour character, while Hayes plays himself in “Soul Men.” Lee says both roles “are emblematic, I think, of the men they were.”
Lee, who first met Mac on the set of “The Original Kings of Comedy” (directed by Lee’s cousin Spike), says Mac’s character in “Soul Men” “is eternally positive, and that’s the way he was in real life. (The movie) gave him an opportunity to be extremely raw and showcase his singing and dancing talent.” Hayes, meanwhile, “had to be in the movie,” Lee says. “His impact on music is immeasurable. I’ve listened to his music my whole life; he changed what soul music could be. He’s the man. They both were. I want my movie to be a tribute to both of them.”

TYRA CELEBRATES ITALIAN VOGUE

Tyra Banks held a fashion event in the streets of New York Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the recent all-black issue of Italian Vogue. The former runway diva was joined by past, present and future black models for a special taping of her daytime talk show. The episode recognized the importance of having women of color in the fashion industry. “Young girls look at magazines and want to see a reflection of themselves and that will tell them that they exist, and that they are beautiful,” Banks said, according to the UK’s Channel 4. “So we need Asians, we need black, we need Latin, we need every culture represented in fashion to show that young girl that she matters, that she exists, and that she is beautiful.” Banks posed for pictures with the models before releasing a bunch of balloons into the Manhattan sky. The episode is scheduled to air on September 11th. In other Tyra news, her reality series, “America’s Next Top Model,” just announced the 14 new contestants who will compete during the show’s upcoming Cycle 11, which debuts Wednesday Sept. 3 from 8 to 10 p.m. on the CW.

MASTER P CHANGES HIS NAME

Percy Miller released a statement yesterday saying he will no longer answer to the rap moniker Master P. The hip-hop mogul has officially changed his name to P. Miller in an effort to break from his past. “I’m changing my name because Master P is who I used to be,” Miller said. “I call it my childhood and P. Miller marks my manhood. “I wouldn’t change my past because it’s groomed me to be the man I am today. People grow mentally and spiritually through life experiences, but when you come from hip-hop it’s almost impossible to move past the stereotypes associated with it. “I’ve branched out into so many different arenas that range from being the first African-American to have a clothing line at Wal-Mart, to writing books, and speaking on Capitol Hill, but all that gets overshadowed because I come from the hip-hop industry. There’re a lot of people out there, who are afraid to grow up and change, but I’m not and P. Miller is the evolution of me, Percy Miller the entrepreneur, the business man.”

Black History Fact

1862: President Lincoln received the first group of blacks to confer with a U.S. president on a matter of public policy. He urged blacks to emigrate to Africa or Central America and was bitterly criticized by Northern blacks.
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Celebrity Birthdays

Actor Antonio Fargas (”Starsky and Hutch”) is 62.

Bassist Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone is 62.

Actor Carl Lumbly (”Alias”) is 57.

Actress Jackee Harry (”Sister, Sister,” “227″) is 52.

Actress Halle Berry is 42.

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Words To the Wise

Change is the process of life
_______________________________________________________________________________
Contact Information

Freddie Bell
PO Box 390521
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Freddie@freddiebell.com
888-639-9738

STROKE MAY HAVE CAUSED SINGER’S DEATH

freddiebell — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:53:01 +0000

www.freddiebell.wordpress.com

Solid Gold Soul

Aug. 14, 2008

Welcome to Solid Gold Soul

About Freddie Bell

Attendant: Osteen Eyed Cockpit after Incident

Joel Osteen

A flight attendant suing the wife of megachurch evangelist Joel Osteen over a preflight confrontation testified Tuesday that she felt compelled to keep an irate Victoria Osteen away from the cockpit door. “I looked in her eyes and realized she was looking at the cockpit. I positioned myself in front of the cockpit,” Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown said. “I still was trying to understand what was going on because it happened so quick. My main concern was I wasn’t going to let this lady in the cockpit.” Rusty Hardin, Victoria Osteen’s attorney, however, questioned how Brown knew that Victoria Osteen was headed toward the cockpit just by looking into her eyes. “Can you look into my eyes and tell me where I am going to go?” Hardin said as people in the courtroom laughed.

STROKE PLAYED A ROLE IN HAYES’ DEATH

Mack, Hayes, Jackson

Isaac Hayes apparently died of a stroke, officials with the sheriff’s department said Tuesday. The deep-voiced soul singer died Sunday after he was found unconscious at his Memphis residence. No autopsy was performed, but paperwork filed by Hayes’ family physician, Dr. David Kraus, lists the cause of death as a stroke, sheriff’s spokesman Steve Shular said Tuesday. Deputies were among the emergency crews that responded after a 911 call, and sheriff’s
department detectives were looking into the death. Kraus told investigators that he had been treating Hayes, 65, for high blood pressure, Shular said. Family members found Hayes lying on the floor of his home beside a treadmill that was still switched on. A memorial service for the soul icon will be Monday at Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. His family issued a statement Tuesday, saying: “While he was an iconic figure to many, to us he was husband, father and friend. We will ever miss his love, wisdom, humor and the familiar comfort of his voice.” The baldheaded crooner, who laid the groundwork for disco and whose “Theme From Shaft” won both Academy and Grammy awards, was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. He also acted in movies and provided the voice of Chef, the school cook, on the animated TV show “South Park.” He had recently finished work on the upcoming movie “Soul Men,” in which he played himself. The movie stars Samuel Jackson and Bernie Mac, who died on Saturday. Hayes was hospitalized in 2006 for treatment of exhaustion, family friends said at the time.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS PAY TRIBUTE TO HAYES AND MACK

Bernie Mack and Issac Hayes

Legacy.com has featured Guest Books for Mr. Isaac Hayes and Mr. Bernie Mac on its site. Here is a way for you to express your condolences. You may find the Guest Books at http://www.legacy.com/gb/guestbookview.aspx?personId=115344639 and http://www.legacy.com/gb/guestbookview.aspx?personId=115220922, respectively.

Bernie Mac’s Guest Book has drawn hundreds of photos and thousands of Guest Book entries already. No doubt the same will happen for Issac Hayes. Later this week I’ll share memories of my personal encounters with these two giants.

Michelle Obama, Pelosi to Kick Off DNC Confab

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be the featured first-night speakers at the Democratic National Convention, which also will include a videotaped message from Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy. Michelle Obama will be introduced by her brother, Craig Robinson, a former basketball star at Princeton and now coach at Oregon State, on the first night on Aug. 25. Barack Obama’s half sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, also will have a role at the convention. Other opening night speakers include Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, an early Obama supporter, organizers said Tuesday. Pelosi will be recognized for helping lead the Democratic Party back to power in Congress, said organizer Jenny Backus. “She was in the vanguard of the movement. She recruited a generation of young leaders,” Backus said. The Democratic National Convention Committee said Tuesday it will issue daily convention webcasts under the theme “Countdown to America’s Future.” The 15-minute segments will air daily at 4:30 p.m. EDT from Aug. 24 through Aug. 28 on DemConvention.com, Comcast’s Video On Demand, and via satellite. A final program will air at 9 a.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 29.

Easy Win for Serena Williams at Olympics

Serena Williams

BEIJING Serena Williams raced into the third round at the Olympics, winning the final 10 games to beat Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-2, 6-0 on Tuesday. The match took only 44 minutes. Williams lost just five points in the second set, and dropped only six points on her serve in the match. Seeded fourth, Williams is playing singles in the Olympics for the first time. She won the gold medal in 2000 at Sydney with sister Venus, who won the singles that year and who joined Serena in the third round Tuesday by beating Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4. “I’ve never played singles at the Olympics, so this has been really cool for me,” Serena said. “Every time I walk out there, it’s like I’m playing in my match, but at the same time I have the whole U.S. team on my side. It’s good. I really like that feeling.” The sisters are top-seeded in doubles and had a first-round match scheduled Tuesday night. They could meet in the final of singles Saturday.

Black History Fact

1881: The first African American nursing school opens at Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga.
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Celebrity Birthdays

Actress Dawnn Lewis (”A Different World,” “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper”) is 47.

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Words To the Wise

You’re not living unless you’re having problems
_______________________________________________________________________________
Contact Information

Freddie Bell
PO Box 390521
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Freddie@freddiebell.com
888-639-9738

Mack and Hayes Remembered

freddiebell — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:38:13 +0000

www.freddiebell.wordpress.com

Solid Gold Soul

Aug. 13, 2008

Welcome to Solid Gold Soul

About Freddie Bell

ARETHA AMONG THOSE REMEMBERING BERNIE MACK

Aretha Franklin

An original comedy “king” is being mourned by the Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin released a statement Monday expressing sadness over the passing of her friend, comedian Bernie Mac.
“It was so stunning and almost unbelievable to hear about Bernie Mac,” she said. “He was at the pinnacle of success and legendary status. He was such a beautiful and fun guy and loved and appreciated by so many. He will truly be missed and I watched him at bedtime almost nightly.”
She continued: “He got on my tour bus once in front of the Trump Hotel in New York and talked to myself and [a] group about the injustices of the world of TV concerning his show, but that he intended to stand firmly in his principles concerning the creative aspects of his script.”
Mac, 50, died Saturday from what his publicist said were complications from pneumonia. He had the inflammatory lung disease, sarcoidosis, but it had reportedly been in remission since 2005.
Franklin suggests that men use Mac’s death as a reminder to pay attention to their own health issues. “Gentlemen of the world, please disband the practice [of not getting] regular check-ups, it’s far better to know sooner than later, because later, many times, is too late,” she says. “If you take care of self, self will take care of you most of the way. God bless and blessed Bernie Mac.” A funeral for Mac is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15, at an undisclosed location. The family requests that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. Ninth St., Suite 601, Chicago IL 60605.

ISSAC HAYES REMEMBERED

Patti Labelle

Tributes for the late Isaac Hayes have been pouring in following his sudden death on Sunday.
The music icon, 65, was found unconscious near a treadmill at his Memphis home. He died an hour later at the Baptist East Hospital. Listed below are statements issued from some of Hayes’ friends and colleagues regarding his passing.

• Dionne Warwick: “I’ve lost one of my best buddies and it is not easy to reckon with…I know one can never put a question mark where GOD puts a period, so I will not question the Almighty’s decision to call him home…He was my “family”…He will be a part of my musical life each time I sing the song “Déjà Vu” as this was a birthday gift to me from him…My family and I send sincere heartfelt condolences to his family for their enormous loss, and we will hold them in continuous prayer.”

• Aretha Franklin: “It was so sad to hear about Isaac Hayes. So musically advanced and timeless in his compositions. He was loved and appreciated by so many. He was an enduring symbol of the struggle of the African-American man and was a shining example of soul at its best. God bless.”

• Patti LaBelle: “I last saw Isaac a while back in Washington, D.C. at a concert where we were both performing. Although he was under the weather, he was still performing. He was the man—he had ‘the show must go on’ spirit. In his absence, he will be remembered through his great music. He will forever be in our hearts and souls. God bless his family.”

USHER TO ROCK NFL KICKOFF SHOW

Usher

With his mama newly returned as his manager, Usher has been announced as one of the performers set to kick off the 2008 NFL season with a free Sept. 4 concert at New York’s Columbus Circle. The show, also featuring country star Keith Urban, will precede the NFL season opener between the Super Bowl champion New York Giants and the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., reports Billboard. John Mellencamp, Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Hinder and Keyshia Cole performed at last year’s NFL Kickoff concert in Indianapolis.

DETROIT’S MAYOR BACK TO JAIL?

Kwame Kilpatrick, Detroit Mayor

Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick may find himself back in jail after a prosecutor accused him of violating the bail terms of his assault case by spending time with his sister, one of 11 witnesses listed by authorities. According to the Associated Press, Kilpatrick and Ayanna Kilpatrick were together at their mother’s house Saturday, a day after he was released from jail for violating bond in a separate perjury case, said Doug Baker of the Michigan attorney general’s office.
Kilpatrick’s defense team, however, believes the mayor did nothing wrong. Attorney Jim Thomas said Magistrate Renee McDuffee clarified Friday that Kilpatrick was allowed to have contact with his sister. Thomas has accused state Attorney General Mike Cox, a Republican, of trying to play politics with the latest filing against the Democratic mayor. Judge Ronald Giles is scheduled to hold a hearing on the matter today. On Thursday, Giles threw the mayor in jail for violating his bond conditions in a perjury case involving Kilpatrick and a former top aide. Kilpatrick traveled to Windsor, Ontario, for city business July 23 without first notifying authorities. Kilpatrick was released Friday after a higher court, acting on an appeal, set his bond at $50,000.

Black History Fact

1873: Actor and co-composer of “Lift Every Voice And Sing,” J Rosamond Johnson, was born
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Celebrity Birthdays

Songwriter Kenny Gamble of Gamble and Huff is 65.

Drummer Chris Dave (Mint Condition) is 40.

Rap DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Lucy Pearl, A Tribe Called Quest) is 38.

Rapper Chris Kelly of Kris Kross is 30.

Singer J-Boog (B2K) is 23.

_______________________________________________________________________________
Words To the Wise

Wait for spirit to speak to your heart

_______________________________________________________________________________
Contact Information

Freddie Bell
PO Box 390521
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Freddie@freddiebell.com
888-639-9738

Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes Pass This Weekend

freddiebell — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:36:52 +0000

www.freddiebell.wordpress.com

Solid Gold Soul

Aug. 11, 2008

Welcome to Solid Gold Soul

About Freddie Bell

REMEMBER THESE TWO ICONS, HAYES AND MAC

(One of my Favorite cuts from Issac Hayes!)

The two following stories record the passing of the legendary Issac Hayes and Comedian Actor, Bernie Mac.

COMEDIAN/ACTOR BERNIE MAC PASSES AT AGE 50

Bernie Mac

It’s a sad day in the entertainment world. Chicago comedian Bernie Mac has died at age 50.
“Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital,” his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles. No other details were immediately available and the family asked that their privacy be respected.
Mac suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body’s organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which Smith said was not related to the disease.

(Forgive the rough language!!)

Ironically, it was just just last weekend that rumors flew around that he had passed away. Unfortunately that rumor became reality this morning. Bernie Mac was also in te news recently when he was heckled during a surprise appearance at a July fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate and fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama. Toward the end of a 10-minute standup routine, Mac joked about menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity, and used occasional crude language. The performance earned him a rebuke from Obama’s campaign.
Mac started his comedy career at age 8, with a standup performance at a church dinner. In 1977, at age 20, he took that act to comedy clubs in Chicago. His film career started with a small role as a club doorman in the Damon Wayans movie “Mo’ Money” in 1992. Mac went on to star in the “Ocean’s Eleven” franchise with Brad Pitt and George Clooney and his turn with Ashton Kutcher in 2005’s “Guess Who?” — a remake of the Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn 1967 classic “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” — topped the box office. Mac also had starring roles in “Bad Santa,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and “Transformers.” The comedian drew critical and popular acclaim with his Fox television series “The Bernie Mac Show,” which aired more than 100 episodes from 2001 to 2006. The series about a man’s adventures raising his sister’s three children, won a Peabody Award in 2002. At the time, judges wrote they chose the sitcom for transcending “race and class while lifting viewers with laughter, compassion — and cool.”

The show garnered Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Mac. He also was nominated for a Grammy award for best comedy album in 2001 along with his “The Original Kings of Comedy” co-stars, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Cedric The Entertainer. In 2007, Mac told David Letterman on CBS’ “Late Show” that he planned to retire soon. “I’m going to still do my producing, my films, but I want to enjoy my life a little bit,” Mac told Letterman. “I missed a lot of things, you know. I was a street performer for two years. I went into clubs in 1977.”
Mac was born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on Oct. 5, 1957, in Chicago. He grew up on the city’s South Side, living with his mother and grandparents. His grandfather was the deacon of a Baptist church. In his 2004 memoir, “Maybe You Never Cry Again,” Mac wrote about having a poor childhood — eating bologna for dinner — and a strict, no-nonsense upbringing. Mac’s mother died of cancer when he was 16. In his book, Mac said she was a support for him and told him he would surprise everyone when he grew up. “Woman believed in me,” he wrote. “She believed in me long before I believed.”

Later this week, I’ll share a couple of personal encounters I had with Bernie Mac.

ISSAC HAYES, BLACK MOSES DIES

Issac Hayes 1942-2008

Isaac Hayes, an Oscar- and Grammy-winning music icon who helped to usher in the disco era, died Sunday afternoon after he collapsed near a treadmill, authorities said. He was 65.
The entertainer was pronounced dead at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis an hour after his body was found by a family member, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said. The cause of death was not immediately known. Sheriff’s office spokesman Steve Shular said authorities received a 911 call after Hayes’ wife, young son and his wife’s cousin returned home from the grocery store and found him collapsed in a downstairs bedroom. A sheriff’s deputy administered CPR until paramedics arrived. “The treadmill was running but he was unresponsive lying on the floor,” Shular said. Hayes was preparing to record a new album for Stax, the soul record label he helped build to legendary status. And he had recently finished work on a movie called “Soul Men” in which he played himself, starring Samuel Jackson and Bernie Mac, who died on Saturday.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Isaac Hayes, a true historic world music figure,” said the Reverend Al Sharpton, in a statement to EUR, who was to dedicate his Sunday night radio program to the late artist. “Isaac Hayes was the first African-American to win an Oscar for a music score but never lost sight of his commitment to his community and the betterment of mankind. He was more than an artist he was a trailblazer, He was an innovator. He was a creative genius. I shall never forget how in the height of his career he still had time to work and lend his celebrity to those of us much younger and at that time who were totally unknown. Even in his later years he never hesitated to appear for a cause or endorse something that he felt was for the good of mankind. He will be sorely missed.” With his trademark shades, bald head and deep baritone, Isaac Hayes laid the groundwork for not just disco, but also what came to be known as urban contemporary. He co-wrote the Sam and Dave hits “Hold On I’m Coming” and “Soul Man.” He reached his commercial peak in 1972 when he won an Academy Award for his No. 1 hit “Theme from ‘Shaft.”‘ Younger audiences are more familiar with Hayes as the voice of Chef on Comedy Central’s animated series “South Park.” But he left the show a few years ago because he disagreed with its attacks on Scientology, the religious movement to which he belonged.

Hayes was born in 1942 in a tin shack in Covington, Tenn., about 40 miles north of Memphis. He was raised by his maternal grandparents after his mother died and his father left when he was 1 1/2. The family moved to Memphis when he was 6. Hayes wanted to be a doctor, but those dreams ended and were replaced with musical aspirations after he won a ninth grade talent contest by singing Nat King Cole’s “Looking Back.” He released his debut album, the poor-selling “Presenting Isaac Hayes,” in 1968. He broke through the following year with “Hot Buttered Soul,” which contained just four songs but sold over a million copies. His work on director Gordon Parks’ urban crime drama “Shaft,” a project he had hoped to star in, was the first of many forays into movie soundtracks. He got in front of the camera for the 1974 cult classic “Truck Turner” and had kept busy with film work ever since, recently appearing in the hip-hop drama “Hustle & Flow.” Community activist Najee Ali says a candlelight vigil for Hayes, as well as Bernie Mac, will be held at 6 p.m. tonight in Los Angeles at 5th Street Dicks coffeehouse in Leimert Park (4305 Degnan Blvd.)

DANNY GLOVER IN NEW LETHAL WEAPON?

Danny Glover

Will Danny Glover’s character in “Lethal Weapon” get to say his famous “I’m too old for this s***” line one more time? Word from TrackingB.com is that a spec script for “Lethal Weapon 5″ has been written by Shane Black, the same screenwriter who penned the first film in the lucrative series. The Web site also says Black contacted franchise producer Joel Silver, who expressed a desire to move forward with the film. Most importantly, Glover and his on-screen partner Mel Gibson are also reportedly willing to return, although no deals have been signed.
According to TrackingB.com, the new script has Riggs (Gibson) about to retire, when he pulls Murtaugh (Glover) out of retirement to solve one final case before they both officially call it quits.

IS CHRIS BROWN ENGAGED

A diamond ring on the wedding finger of pop star Rihanna has triggered rumors that she and her boyfriend, fellow pop singer Chris Brown, are headed to the altar. Although both artists claim only to be good friends, numerous photos of the two kissing and frolicking together on vacations have surfaced for months, the latest coming last weekend from a joint trip to Ocean City, Maryland. New paparazzi photos on the Web Thursday show a diamond ring on Rihanna’s left hand.

JUST SAY NO

Carl Lewis

In a year that saw Marion Jones and the 2000 US men’s 4×400m relay squad stripped of their Olympic medals because of positive drugs tests, track champ Carl Lewis is challenging athletes competing in the Beijing Games to carry the onus in the fight against doping. “The athletes need to step up and decide that they want to stop the drug problem in their own sport. Until they do that it’s going to be an issue,” Lewis told AFP. “If the athletes don’t want it (doping), they can’t stop it but they can eliminate a lot of it.

Black History Fact

African American inventor William C. Carter patented an umbrella stand (U.S. patent#323,397). Aug. 9, 1936: Jesse Owens wins four gold medals in the Berlin Olympics. Aug. 10, 1981: The Coca-Cola Bottling Company agreed to pump $34 million into black businesses and the black community, ending a national boycott called by PUSH.
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Celebrity Birthdays

Singer Airrion Love of The Stylistics is 59.
Country singer Jamie O’Hara is 58.
Rapper Kool Moe Dee is 46.
Singer Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry is 31.
Actress Countess Vaughn (”The Parkers,” “Moesha”) is 30.
Rapper Kurtis Blow is 49.
Singer Whitney Houston is 45.
“Today” co-host Hoda Kotb is 44.
Rapper Mack 10 is 37.
Singer Al Alberts of The Four Aces is 86.
Actor James Reynolds (”Days of Our Lives”) is 62.
Singer Patti Austin is 60.
Singer Neneh Cherry is 44. Singer
Aaron Hall is 44.
Singer Lorraine Pearson of Five Star is 41.
Singer Michael Bivins (Bell Biv Devoe, New Edition) is 40.
Singer Nikki Bratcher of Divine is 28.

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Words To the Wise

Faith is the key
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Contact Information

Freddie Bell
PO Box 390521
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Freddie@freddiebell.com
888-639-9738

FREEMAN TO DIVORCE AS MORE ISSUES ARISE IN STEVE HARVEY DIVORCE!!

freddiebell — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:51:33 +0000

www.freddiebell.wordpress.com

Solid Gold Soul

Aug. 8, 2008

Welcome to Solid Gold Soul

About Freddie Bell

STEVE HARVEY AT IT AGAIN?

My sources tell me that Kings of Comedy and Radio personality Steve Harvey is taking steps to sell off Texas property including the house in which his ex-wife, Mary Lee Harvey lives. In asking the courst to unseal the divorce documents, Harvey also appears to be positioning himself to take full custody of the former couple’s son. Harvey has been ordered to pay millions of dollars in divorce settlements but to date has not fulfilled on that order. Stay tuned for more details. Mary Lee Harvey is claiming that she was conned into a quickie separation of marriage devised by the entertainer and his attorney, Ricky Anderson — who allegedly sought to keep private details about the comic’s adultery, poor and neglectful parenting, and “physical and mental abuse” of his ex-spouse.

According to documents made available at TheSmokingGun.com, the former Mrs. Harvey filed a lawsuit on Nov. 20 claiming that she was defrauded by the comedian and the couple’s longtime attorney, who represented both sides in the November 2005 proceedings. Talk about a raw deal.

The result was her being unaware of her rights to independent counsel and being severely shortchanged when it came to alimony, division of community property, and child support – which amounts to a paltry monthly payment of $1,000 for the couple’s son.

Meanwhile Harvey, who hosted the nationally syndicated variety show ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ and fronted other TV shows throughout the years, is now maried to another woman, Majorie Bridges. Mary and Steve were together for nearly 20 years, and married for nine. Mary says they met while she was working in the cosmetics department in a shop at Six Flags Mall. Harvey, then a struggling unknown comic, came in one day and asked her on a date.

“He took me to a comedy club, where we sat and talked for a while,” Mary says. “Then he said, ‘I’ll be right back,’ and all of a sudden he was on stage. I had no idea.”

Harvey’s career eventually took off. He has starred in several movies (including Kings of Comedy, You Got Served and Johnson Family Vacation,) and TV shows, including his own WB sitcom, The Steve Harvey Show. He currently hosts his own syndicated morning-radio show.

FREEMAN AND WIFE FILE FOR DIVORCE

Morgan Freeman & Myrna Colley-Lee

Morgan Freeman and his wife of 24 years, Myrna Colley-Lee, have filed for divorce, according to the actor’s longtime business partner. Bill Luckett, who co-owns a restaurant and blues club in Clarksdale, Miss. with Freeman, says the split was in the works way before Freeman’s Sunday night car crash with female passenger Demaris Meyer, 48. A tabloid reported that Freeman, 71, and his wife have been separated since December 2007. The National Enquirer claims Colley-Lee consulted a divorce attorney after hearing that Freeman cheated on her with “a close family friend.” “Myrna was terribly upset when she heard Morgan had become intimate with a woman who had been her friend,” a source told the National Enquirer. Yesterday, Luckett told USA Today that he and the actor have been friends with Demaris “for some time.” Freeman was driving her Nissan Maxima when he lost control of the vehicle and it flipped over several times before landing in a ditch near his home in Tallahatchie County, Miss. Bill Rogers, a retired police officer who was the first to arrive at the scene, said Freeman managed to relay that he and Meyer were headed to his home in Charleston, a small town some 90 miles south of Memphis.
“He said that they were friends and she had offered him a ride home and she didn’t really know the way and so he was going to drive the vehicle,” Rogers told the Associated Press Tuesday. “They said they were coming from Clarksdale.” Freeman and Luckett’s Ground Zero Blues Club and Madadi restaurant are in Clarksdale. Norris, the manager of Ground Zero, said Wednesday that Freeman had not been there the night of the accident. No one at Madadi was available for comment, according to the AP. Freeman suffered a broken arm, broken elbow and minor shoulder injuries during the crash. He had surgery Monday on his left arm and hand, but his recovery is expected to take months. Luckett says Freeman will have to wear a neck brace for six to eight months, and his arm will take several months to heal. Luckett also said earlier reports of Freeman having a severed nerve in his arm were not true. “Nothing was severed. A nerve can be bruised or stretched. It was injured but not severed,” he said. Freeman could be released in the next few days from the Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis.

WHOOPI GETTING GREAT NUMBERS

Whoopi Bringing in the Bank

Just call Whoopi Goldberg “The Fixer.” After bringing some much-needed stability to ABC’s “The View,” the veteran actress has helped to boost ticket sales of Broadway’s Xanadu ever since joining the cast on July 29. According to Variety, the musical’s box office jumped by more than $75,000 to $316,205, and drew audiences that reached 87% of capacity. That’s the highest jump of the season, and good news for a musical that has never quite caught fire despite strong reviews and Tony nominations. Goldberg’s six-week turn as evil sister Calliope ends on September 7. Her Broadway resume includes a Drama Desk and Theatre World Award for her 1985 Broadway solo show Whoopi Goldberg. She has also starred on Broadway in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and another solo show Whoopi.

DETROIT MAYOR JAILED

According to news reports, Detroit’s troubled mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick has been put in lockdown for a night. But, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s office, he will be allowed visitors. According to The AP, his honor is to be photographed and issued a green Wayne County Jail jumpsuit and will be housed alone in a restricted area of the jail because of his high profile.
Judge Ronald Giles revoked Kilpatrick’s bond after he found the mayor violated the terms of his bond by going to Canada and not informing the court. The mayor, who is required to alert the court to all travel plans, went across the border last month to push the sale of the city’s half of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. The ruling Thursday came after the mayor apologized to the court, saying it won’t happen again. Judge Giles says he would have given the same treatment to any criminal defendant. Kilpatrick faces perjury and other charges, which he has denied.

ANGELOU GETS LEADERSHIP AWARD

Maya Angelou

Author Maya Angelou and TV producer Norman Lear have been chosen to receive the 2008 Marian Anderson Award, which honors artists whose leadership benefits humankind. The pair will receive their awards, as well as an accompanying $100,000 honorarium, during a ceremony to be held Nov. 17 in Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, reports the Associated Press. Angelou, 80, has written more than a dozen best sellers including “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” as well as three Grammy-winning spoken-word albums, poetry, plays and children’s books. She also has written for television and film, serving on the board of the American Film Institute and as a member of the Director’s Guild. Lear, 76, was creator, producer and writer for such television classics as “All in the Family,” “Sanford and Son,” “The Jeffersons” and “Maude.” In its 10th year, the annual Marian Anderson Award is named for the famed contralto and Philadelphia native, who died in 1993 at age 96. Previous recipients include Harry Belafonte, Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor, Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier and Richard Gere.

BLACK MALE TEACHERS NEEDED

Do you know any Black males who are seniors in high school who want to go to college out of state for “FREE”? Several Black Colleges are looking for future black male teachers and will send them to universities/colleges for 4 years FREE. The ‘Call Me MISTER’ program is an effort to address the critical shortage of African American male teachers particularly among South Carolina ’s lowest performing public schools. Program participants are selected from among under-served, socio-economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities. The Call Me MISTER program combines the special strengths and resources of Clemson University with the individualized instructional programs offered by four historically black colleges in South Carolina: Benedict College, Claflin University, Morris College and South Carolina State University. To provide even greater opportunity and access, students have the option of first attending one of our two-year partner colleges before transferring to one of the four-year institutions to complete their baccalaureate degree. In addition, the project has limited enrollment in the middle school Master of Art in a teaching program.

Black History Fact

1948: Alice Coachman becomes the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the high jump during the Summer Games in London.
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Celebrity Birthdays

Singer Herb Reed of The Platters is 80. Singer Harold Hudson of The Commodores is 59. Actor Harold Perrineau (”Lost,” “Oz”) is 45.

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Words To the Wise

There is no such thing as failure without recourse.
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Contact Information

Freddie Bell
PO Box 390521
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Freddie@freddiebell.com
888-639-9738