The First Annual Sista Strut Breast Cancer Walk will take place Saturday, June 17th at XFINITY Live! Philadelphia, 201 North 17th Street. All the registration info and details are on the wdasfm.com page.
The late great Barry White’s estate is at the root of a family feud. Darryl White is one of the late singer’s nine children and he’s suing Barry’s second wife and widow Glodean White. Darryl accuses Glodean of not giving him a fair share of the estate and that her lavish lifestyle is drying up the funds. It may not be an easy road for Darryl, who claims he is broke and almost homeless. Court papers show he signed paperwork agreeing not to contest the will. Darryl claims signing only based on Glodean’s promise of giving him his fair share, but that he has never seen his father’s will. Glodean was a member of the girl group Love Unlimited and had the hits Walking In The Rain With The One I Love and I Belong To You, written and produced by the group’s creator and manager Barry White, who died in 2003. At press time, Glodean has yet to issue a statement on Darryl’s accusations.
Speaking of the estates of musical legends, Prince’s heirs have finally been legally identified. A judge says six siblings of the late singer/songwriter/producer/filmmaker are the legal beneficiaries of the estate. After months of claims from more than 45 people who identified themselves as spouses, siblings, children, nieces and grandnieces, to name a few, a Minnesota judge made his ruling since Prince left no will. Sister Tyka Nelson and half siblings Sharon, Norrine, and John R. Nelson and Omarr Baker and Alfred Jackson were declared legal heirs. First up for the siblings, there is a possible legal battle over Prince’s catalog. Administrators for the estate at the time made a deal with Universal Music for Prince’s songs that may still be owned by Warner Bros. The lawyers are working on this now.
Patti LaBelle is on a roll with a new album and new book. The album is the Philly-born diva’s first jazz album, Bel Hommage. The album consists of jazz covers and is executive produced by her ex-husband Armstead Edwards and released on the new label she co-owns with her son Zuri Edwards, who is also LaBelle’s manager. LaBelle also just published her new cookbook Desserts LaBelle: Soulful Sweets To Sing About. LaBelle, a diabetic, says she also focuses on foods safe for diabetics in the book. The book and album, Bel Hommage, are available now.
Hold up on Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes, it’s Jamie and Oprah Winfrey…. with an assist from Sidney Poitier. Foxx recently said in an interview that none other than The Mighty O helped him get his life back on track after he was riding pretty wild following his Oscar nod for playing Singer Ray Charles in Ray. Foxx says he was going at things too fast, and Winfrey warned him he was blowing it. Winfrey then arranged a sort of congratulatory intervention at Quincy Jones home. Sidney Poitier was among the veteran actors present. Foxx says it was also Poitier’s birthday, but the legend took that time to make Foxx realize the significance of his position. Foxx calls that moment with Poitier the most significant time in his life giving him the chance to grow up. Foxx is currently hosting the musical game show Beat Shazam, based on the popular song identifying app. Contestants take on the app after they advance from a few rounds of naming songs against each other. Beat Shazam airs Thursdays at 9pm on FOX.
First Roger Ailes, then Bill O’Reilly and now L.A. Reid stands accused?!!!! Reid, one of the most-high powered executives/producer/songwriter in the music biz, has left his post as C.E.O. of Epic Records after being accused of sexual harassment of a female employee. It’s the shot being heard around the industry. Reid, a former songwriting and business partner of Kenny Babyface Edmonds, has been accused by a former assistant of enduring alleged lewd remarks at work and advances from Reid. When the advances were rebuffed Reid allegedly froze the assistant out of important business. Reid has reportedly hired a P.R. and legal team to deal with the accusations. Meanwhile, Grammy Nominee DJ Khaled is rumored to be a contender to replace Reid. When asked about Reid at the Billboard Music Awards, Khaled, whose currently riding high on the charts with several successful singles and albums, had nothing but praise for Reid and his years as a guiding force in the industry. Neither Khaled nor Sony/Epic are commenting on Reid’s possible replacement.
The Talk’s Aisha Tyler will have to cough up some dough. The comedienne has been ordered to pay her ex-husband Jeff Tietjens four years of spousal support. That’s more than $31,000 a month plus an additional $500,000. The couple splits the two cars and Tyler keeps her production/media companies. Tyler and Tietjens were married in 1992 but split in 2016.
Writer/Comedienne Leslie Jones will make her hosting debut on this summer’s BET Awards. Jones is a writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live. Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Chance The Rapper, Solange, and Migos top the nominees. The BET Awards air on BET Sunday, June 25th.
Meanwhile, Jones SNL Co-star Sasheer Zamata will not be returning to the show this fall. Zamata joined the cast as a regular in 2014 after SNL was flooded with criticism for its lack of diversity. Leslie Jones joined that year as well, but as a writer before she was later added to the cast. Zamata was known for her take offs on Beyonce, Michelle Obama, Omarosa Manigault and Diana Ross. She joins two other castmembers also departing this year, Bobby Moynihan and Vanessa Bayer. No word on what’s next for Zamata yet, but she thanked the cast and crew for a great experience on the show.
Actor Michael B. Jordan is the latest celebrity to experience a home burglary. The star of Creed was reportedly robbed of cash and jewelry from his San Fernando Valley home in California. No comment on Jordan confirming, but sources say the 30-year old actor wasn’t home at the time of the break in. Jordan’s currently filming Black Panther with Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett, Phylicia Rashad, Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker, Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) and Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong’o.
Speaking Of Lupita Nyong’o, she and Rihanna have been cast in a buddy picture…..by the internet. The two friends were seen three years ago sitting next to each other front row at a March fashion show for Designer Miu Miu. That resulted in a twitter meme describing how the two looked like they were the leads in a buddy caper movie. When the two friends retweeted they liked the idea that got Writer/Director Ava DuVernay insinuating she’d direct and Insecure’s Creator/Writer/Producer and Leading Lady Issa Rae hinting she was already writing the script. Now Netflix has confirmed they’ve made a deal with the ladies to actually make the movie happen with a credit going to the originators of the meme. No details yet on the exact storyline or filming as of yet.
Speaking of Issa Rae, she is set to return to HBO when Insecure’s second season begins July 23rd.
Bill Cosby’s jury is now set and will be heading to Montgomery County for the trial. The legendary comedian attended the jury selection in Pittsburg, PA after his lawyers successfully argued the jury pool in Montgomery County was tainted not just by the media coverage but the D.A.’s campaign for the job when he referenced that he would charge Cosby for allegedly sexually assaulting former Temple University Employee Andrea Constand in 2004. After losing an objection accusing the D.A. of trying to keep the jury from being diverse, a panel of twelve people and six alternates were picked. There are two African Americans on the jury and two in the alternate jury positions. Bill Cosby’s sexual assault criminal trial in Montgomery County, PA begins Monday, June 5th.
We remember Actor Roger Moore, who died this week after a brief battle with cancer. The British born actor is best remembered for two roles: Simon Templar in the British TV series The Saint and the silver screen’s iconic 007 James Bond. In the 60’s, Moore enjoyed overwhelming popularity in The Saint where his character was a twist on Robin Hood because he robbed rich criminals but kept the goods himself. That series initially kept him from playing James Bond except once in a TV series guest role. Though original Bond Sean Connery announced in the 60’s he would step down, that actually didn’t happen for good until the early 70’s (save one 1983 appearance in Never Say Never Again). Roger Moore debuted in 1973’s smash Live & Let Die, with Yaphet Kotto, Julius Harris, Geoffrey Holder, Jane Seymour and Gloria Hendry with James Bond’s most diverse cast ever. From there Moore played Bond more times than any other actor right up to 1985’s A View To A Kill with Grace Jones. Moore’s film career also included comedies which were often send ups of his leading man status. His friend, the late Actress Audrey Hepburn, influenced his work with the children’s charity UNICEF. Moore became UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador and one of their best known spokespersons ever. Roger Moore was 89 years old.
Set It Off Co-stars Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith reunite and are joined by Regina Hall (Scary Movie; Think Like A Man) and Actress/Comedienne Tiffany Haddish (The Carmichael Show; Real Husbands Of Hollywood) in the ultimate summer buddy picture Girls Trip. The four ladies leave their daily routines and their problems behind when they trek to New Orleans for the Essence Festival. The route to the festival is filled more than a few obstacles, but it’s all comedy. Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man; Undercover Brother) is directing and Kenya Barris (Black-ish; Girlfriends; Barbershop) and Tracy Oliver (The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl) are among the writers. Girls Trip opens Friday, July 21st.
Get ready for the Tupac Shakur life story on film called All Eyez On Me. After the blockbuster $200 million box office success of the N.W.A. bio-pic Straight Outta Compton, it was only a matter of time before one of the most iconic legends of West Coast hip hop would be covered. All Eyez On Me, taking its title from Shakur’s last studio album released before his death, has been filming for close to two years. The movie stars Raven Symone, Hill Harper, Annie Ilonzeh, Danai Gurira, Kat Graham as Jada Pinkett Smith, Jamal Woolard reprising his role as The Notorious BIG and Demetrius Shipp, Jr. as Tupac Shakur. All Eyez On Me opens June 16th, which would have been Shakur’s 46th birthday.
It’s Idris Elba versus Matthew McConaughey!! In the upcoming movie Dark Tower, Elba plays a gunslinger in a futuristic world who must stop his enemy, played by McConaughey, from destroying a mystical tower. That tower keeps the world from being overrun by uncontrollable evil. Along the way, Elba must mentor a young boy who proves helpful in the quest to preserve the tower. Dark Tower opens August 4th.
Former American Idol Judge Jennifer Lopez has a new reality show called World Of Dance on NBC. This time the competition is among dancers of all ages and from all around the world. Lopez is a judge and executive producer. Her fellow judges include Singer/Songwriter/Dancer Ne-Yo, Actress/Dancer Jenna Dewan Tatum (Supergirl; Step Up; Melrose Place) and Actor/Dancer Derek Hough (Dancing With The Stars). Plus, Lopez’s NBC cop drama Shades Of Blue, with Ray Liotta, has been renewed for the new season and has a special airing this Sunday at 9pm on NBC. Meanwhile World Of Dance premieres this Tuesday, May 30th at 10pm on NBC.
Speaking of Tuesday nights, the new America’s Got Talent returns on May 30th. Judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B, despite her divorce drama, all return to the talent competition show. Tyra Banks replaces Nick Cannon as host, and America’s Got Talent premieres this Tuesday, May 30th at 8pm on NBC.
The Essence Of Entertainment returns to The Dell Music Center, 33rd & Ridge Avenue, for the summer of 2017. There'll be two movie nights featuring the films Sing and Moana with big screens and music by DJ Gary O. And, the lineup this summer is incredible. The new season of The Dell Music Center's Essence Of Entertainment 2017 kicks off Thursday, July 6th with all shows staring at 7pm:
July 6th - Johnny Gill, Jaheim & After 7
July 13th - Dramatics Featuring LJ Reynolds, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, Intruders & Bloodstone
July 20th - KEM, Keke Wyatt & Lalah Hathaway
July 27th - Monica, Joe & Tank
Friday, July 28th - Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra & Philadanco
Saturday, July 29th- Patty Jackson's Party In The Park starring The O'Jays, The Whispers & Force MD's
August 3rd -Fantasia & Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds
August 10th - Erykah Badu & Ro James
August 17th - Sheila E, Dave Koz & Larry Graham
August 24th - Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
Real Housewives Of Atlanta Castmember Cynthia Bailey is on the cover of Upscale magazine’s June issue themed for summertime events and travel.
Dwayne “The Rock” is on the cover of the latest issue of G.Q. magazine, and his new movie Baywatch, based on the 90’s TV hit, is in theaters now.
Philly’s own Kevin Hart, a.k.a “My Nephew,” is on the cover of this month’s Essence magazine. It’s their Men’s Issue with a Father’s Day theme. Plus, Philadelphia has declared that Kevin Hart Day in the city will happen Thursday, July 6th. Congrats Nephew!!!!
The April/May issue of Ebony magazine features two-time NBA All-Star Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) on the cover. It’s the travel issue and also features catching up with En Vogue, who’ll be at the Mann Thursday June 1st, and the Vacations For Mom And Me article.
Essence Magazine is gearing up for its 23rd Annual Essence Fest and The Hip Hop Queen Of Soul, A Legend and The Boss will be in the house! Yes! Mary J. Blige, John Legend and Motown Legend Miss Diana Ross will headline the now legendary festival. Chaka Khan, Philly’s own Jazmine Sullivan, India.Arie, Solange, Shirley Jones of The Jones Girls, Ro James, Tweet, Shaggy, Michel’le, Yuna and Lalah Hathaway will also be performing with more acts to come. The 2017 Essence Fest will be June 29th through July 2nd in New Orleans.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Saturday, May 27th - HoagieNation Starring Hall & Oates, Tears For Fears, Philly’s own Vivian Green, Son Little and G. Love & Special Sauce, to name a few, at Penn Landing’s Festival Pier for Memorial Day Weekend. For tickets and information log on to HoagieNation.com.
This Sunday, May 28th – Maxwell with Leela James and Ledisi in concert at The Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and for tickets and information log onto theborgata.com.
Thursday, June 1st – Bell/Biv/DeVoe with special guests SWV and En Vogue at The Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd & Parkside Avenue. Tickets go on sale April 21st and for more information log onto manncenter.org.
Saturday, June 24th – R Kelly in concert at Diana Ross’ In The Name Of Love Tour at The BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ. Tickets are on sale now and for more information log onto ticketmaster.com
Sunday, July 16th – Jill Scott in concert at The Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and for tickets and information log onto theborgata.com.
Saturday, July 29th – Diana Ross’ In The Name Of Love Tour at The Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd & Parkside Avenue and for tickets and information log onto manncenter.org.
Tuesday, August 1st – Earth, Wind & Fire and CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers at The Wells Fargo Center. Tickets go on sale 10am Saturday, April 29th and for more information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Sunday, August 13th – Kool & The Gang and The Commodores in concert at The Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and for tickets and information log onto theborgata.com.
Wednesday, August 16th – The All The Hits Tour Starring Lionel Richie & Special Guest Star Mariah Carey at The Wells Fargo Center. This is the new date from the cancelled March concert. Tickets and information at wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Friday, September 1st - The I Love The 90’s Tour: The Party Continues starring Blackstreet, TLC, Montell Jordan, Naughty By Nature, Biz Markie, Snap and C&C Music Factory at The BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ.
Friday, November 10th – Janet Jackson at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets or for more information log onto boardwalkhall.box-officetickets.com.
Saturday, November 11th – Janet Jackson at The Sands Bethlehem Event Center. For tickets or for more information log onto sandsbethlehememovementseventcenter.ticketoffics.com
Monday, November 13th – Janet Jackson at The Wells Fargo Center. For tickets or for more information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
If you would like more info please email me at pattyj1053@aol.com or Pattyjackson@clearchannel.comor check me out with my midday reports at 10:35am, 12:35pm and 2:35pm during the day.