My Publicist Note Book

Celebrating Our Heritage, Our History: Saluting African Americans in the Arts The Georgia Black Legislative Caucus’ Annual Heritage Dinner will host a “Salute to African Americans in the Arts & Entertainment” on Thursday, Feb. 26. Actor Comedian Chris Tucker and Cynne Simpson     Fox TV News Anchor,  will be the master and mistress of ceremonies for the GABLC’s gala at the Thomas Murphy Ballroom at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. Celebrating Artists : Steve Allen, Andre Thompson, Brenda Sigletary and Gilbert Young. Entertainers : James Brown, BRICK, Sheila Ray, Ray Charles' Daughter, Clifford "TI" Harris, Kenny Leon, Bohannan,Will Packer, Dottie Peoples, Otis Redding, Clarence Carter, S.O.S. Band and Millie Jackson. Sponsors include : AT&T Georgia, Astellas, Data Systems and Games, Georgia Association of Educators, Georgia Municipal Association, Georgia Power, Morehouse School of Medicine and Waste Management. R...

Common and John Legend provided Sunday's Oscars with its most powerful moment: a performance of "Glory" that brought the entire Dolby Theatre to its feet. To celebrate "Selma" and their Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, the duo took the stage in front of a group of singers and projected imagery of the  Selma-to-Montgomery march  depicted in "Selma." but  Sunday night was a big moment for both Common and John Legend as they took home the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 87th Annual Academy Awards for their song “Glory” on the Selma soundtrack.  The song, which runs during the end credits of the film, and it was co-written by Rhymefest. The anthem about racial injustice -- which touches on everything from the civil rights movement of the 1960s to the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri -- won Best Original Song shortly after the performance.  The award became just the third given to a Hip Hop song in the category follow...

Whenever and wherever he performs, Charlie Wilson is sure to remind the crowd that he’s a bad man. Maybe he’s referring to the energy he sustains on stage at age 62. Or maybe, Wilson, former lead singer of The Gap Band, is talking about his more than three decades as an artist. It was clear, after a Saturday night performance at Philips Arena, that his claim has taken on yet another possible meaning. “I’m a bad man,” he said, “I done sold out Philips Arena.” Yes, Uncle Charlie. You did. Wilson is no stranger to Atlanta (he regularly performs at Chastain Park Amphitheatre), and after so many years, he knows his audience. With an assist from tour mates Joe and Kem, he kept fans engaged for more than three hours. He proved as much a conductor as a performer, leading the crowd with his rich tenor, wherever he wanted them to go. While he got the arena moving with Gap Band hits like “Party Train,” “Yearning For Your Love,” and the show closin...

"Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life —  An All-Star Grammy Salute ."  The official after-party for the Grammy Awards was a tribute concert for Stevie Wonder... Or so it seemed! Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Pharrell and Annie Lennox were part of the all-star acts who paid tribute to the piano-playing icon at a concert held in Los Angeles.  The emotional tribute was filmed two days after the Grammy’s brought all the stars together and had performances from, Ed Sheeran, Tony Bennett, Babyface, and Andrea Bocelli. . Beyonce kicked off the taped event presented by the Recording Academy by walking up an isle of the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live and singing "Fingertips." Ed Sheeran joined the diva on "Master Blaster (Jammin')" and Gary Clark Jr. jumped in on "Higher Ground." The night was full of collaborative highlights: A trio of India.Arie, Janelle Monae and Jill Scott shined like a seasoned girl group on "As"; Pharrell and OneR...

Famed singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson will come to town on Thursday, April 2, for a 7:30 p.m. performance at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. Joining the Motown legend will be opening act Shelia Raye Charles and Uros Peric along with the Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Orchestra. With more than 4,000 songs to his credit, Robinson’s career spans more than 40 years of hits, including “Shop Around,”“You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Tears of a Clown,” “I Second That Emotion,” and “Being with You.” He has been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters’ Hall of Fame and awarded the Kennedy Center Honors National Medal of Arts Award. Sheila Raye Charles (the daughter of Ray Charles) and Uros Peric will open with show with renditions of Ray Charles’ best known songs. The event is presented by the Victoria Theatre Association and GAB Productions.  Tickets start at $70 and are on...

Designer Matthew Cashe Brings Celebrity Style to Couture Fashion Week Fashion Designer,  Matthew Cashe , of  Matthew Cashe House of Fashion (Freehold, NJ, USA), whom will present a Specialty Collection for Women at the “NYC Live! @  2015 NBA All-Star Weekend” Fashion Show  -- Friday, February 13th, 2015 -- Crowne Plaza Times Square -- in New York City. Talented designer Matthew Cashe’s love for fashion started at age 12. After high school, he studied the trade under Master Tailor, Mr. Williams at the Williams Tailoring Establishment, and went on to further studies at The University of the West Indies. After settling in the United States, his career blossomed. Mr. Cashe’s designs have been worn by celebrities such as actors Keke Palmer, Keisha Knight Pulliam and singer Lauryn Hill. Actress/Director Dalia Phillips has been dressed by Mr. Cashe for red carpet events including the 2006 Academy Awards, the premier of the movie Akeelah and the...

Music's Biggest Night took place Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and was broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Studios network   Here's the complete list: Record of the Year Sam Smith – "Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)" Steve Fitzmaurice, Rodney Jerkins & Jimmy Napes, producers; Steve Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Napes & Steve Price, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer Label: Capitol Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Songs LLC obo Naughty Worlds Ltd./Universal-Polygram Int. Tunes, Inc. obo Salli Isaak Songs, Ltd./Universal Polygram Int. Tunes, Inc. obo Method Paperwork Song of the Year Sam Smith - "Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)" James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith, songwriters Album of the Year Beck -  Morning Phase Beck Hansen, producer; Tom Elmhirst, David Greenbaum, Florian Lagatta, Cole Marsden Greif-Neill, Robbie Nelson, Darrell Thorp, Cassidy Tu...