My Publicist Note Book

On this day in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and his Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas heralding news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. That news came a little late—two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. But for many African Americans, Juneteenth has become the most celebrated day in American history. It's a day to reflect on how far we've come, but it also reminds us of all that still needs to be done for race relations in this country. The Emancipation Procl amation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, a...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under pressure from Congress, celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz on Tuesday offered to help "drain the swamp" of unscrupulous marketers using his name to peddle so-called miracle pills and cure-alls to millions of Americans desperate to lose weight. Oz appeared before the Senate's consumer protection panel and was scolded by Chairman Claire McCaskill for claims he made about weight-loss aids on his TV show, "The Dr. Oz Show." Oz, a Cardiothoracic surgeon, acknowledged that his language about green coffee and other supplements has been "flowery" and promised to publish a list of specific products he thinks can help America shed pounds and get healthy — beyond eating less and moving more. On his show, he never endorsed specific companies or brands but more generally praised some supplements as fat busters. McCaskill took Oz to task for a 2012 show in which he proclaimed that green coffee extract was a "magic weight loss cure for...

  Join members of the Moving Picture Genre' as Victor Harris Studios' celebrates it's official Grand Opening in the Atlanta metro area! TAKE A TOUR  OF V.H. STUDIOS' Here's The Line Up: LIVE ENTERTAINMENT! Dancing Great Food Cash Bar Comedian ; Anita the comedian and friends.. Dexter Tolson & Friends Band Special Musical Guest "2unes Woodall". Bathing-suite Fashion Show- Keri Stewart and friends DJ - D. Irving "Playback Sounds Inc.". Catering by William Duckworth Catering Inc. Production:  Victor Harris Studios Producing  Black Green Golld Advertising Ex Producing of filming  Southern Heritage Video Filming Ron Witherspoon Photography Still Photography  Hits Now Listen Post Production THIS IS EVENT IS BY R.S.V.P ONLY!!!!  NorthWoodall Post Production Soundtrack RSVP HERE www.victorharrisstudios.com Bathing-suite Fashion Show by  Keri Stewart and Friends 2unes - Atlanta Smooth Jazz Guitarist Ron Withers...

RAY CHARLES’S DAUGHTER TO SING AND SPEAK ABOUT ADDICTION RECOVERY It is a well-known fact that beloved blues singer songwriter, Ray Charles,  struggled with heroin  addiction early on in his career. He was able to overcome his addiction after a stay in rehab in the 60s, but it seems one of his daughter’s went through a similar struggle. Sheila Raye Charles is one of the singer’s 12 children and she too went down the path of addiction for years before finally experiencing recovery. She is traveling to a number of venues including churches and prisons across the country to speak about her experiences with addiction while singing and performing some of Ray Charles’ music as well. Sheila is now living a more successful sober life after recovering from her issues of drug abuse. A Difficult Childhood and Music Career Ray Charles had children with nine different women and Sheila Raye was the seventh of twelve. Charles unfortunately, did not act as a father figure ...

THE SHORT:  ‪ I t was 20 years ago today that   O.J. Simpson   made his iconic getaway on the highways of California, riding in the back seat of his friend’s white 1992   Ford   Bronco while a trail of police cruisers and a helicopter followed.  Former football great Al Cowlings navigated the vehicle from Orange County onto Highway 405 toward Brentwood, as an estimated 95 million Americans tuned in to the real-time media broadcasts, right around 6:45 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, the Daily Beast reported. Simpson, seated, center, is surrounded by his defense attorneys  on Sept. 28, 1995. From left is Johnnie Cochran, Peter Neufeld, Robert Shapiro, Robert Kardashian and Robert Blasier, seated.   LOS ANGELES -- O.J. Simpson was in the backseat. Al "A.C." Cowlings was at the wheel. Yet as the celebrated pair led police on a low-speed chase watched by 95 million TV viewers nationwide 20 years ago Tuesday, the spot...

NEW YORK (AP) —  One of Tupac Shakur's old friends celebrated his birthday by seeing a new play inspired by his music. Madonna attended a preview of "Holler If Ya Hear Me" in New York City on Monday, which would have been the rapper's 43rd birthday. Shakur died in 1996 at age 25. The musical officially opens Thursday at the Palace Theatre. It uses Shakur's songs to tell an original story about two young men dealing with life and tragedy in a Midwestern industrial city. Recent Tony winner Kenny Leon is directing. Madonna sat in the third row. Shakur's mother and show producer, Afeni Shakur, also attended. "Holler If Ya Hear Me" uses some of the rap genius' well-known songs, including "California Love," ''Dear Mama," ''I Get Around" and "Keep Ya Head Up."

Yaya DaCosta, who made her television debut in Cycle 3 of "America's Next Top Model," has been cast to play Whitney Houston in Lifetime's upcoming biopic. The Brown graduate (as she frequently reminded us on the show) has made a name for herself since taking second place in the modeling competition, nabbing acting roles in "All My Children," "Ugly Betty," "House" and even "Lee Daniel's The Butler."  Lifetime previously announced that Oscar winner Angela Bassett (who appeared most recently in "American Horror Story") will direct the film about the pop star, who died two years ago at 48. Lifetime's project will focus on Houston's tumultuous relationship with the model, singer, and songwriter Bobby Brown, which continued throughout much of her career. "Whitney Houston" (working title) marks Bassett's first directorial debut and is scheduled to premiere in 2015. Basset co-starred with Houst...

Legendary stage and screen actress — and Civil Rights leader:  Ruby Dee dead at 91   Stage and screen legend Ruby Dee, who personified grace, grit and progress at a time when African-American women were given little space in movies and on stage, died Wednesday in New Rochelle, N.Y. She was 91. The death was confirmed Thursday by a family member, who declined to answer any questions pending the release of a statement. "She died late (Wednesday) with her whole family around her," family friend Latifah Salahudin told the Daily News. "All three kids and seven grandkids were there, surrounding her with so much love. She went peacefully from natural causes. We should all be so lucky." "She was so full of life and so strong. Such a powerful woman. We're all going to miss her," Salahudin added. The Cleveland-born, New York-raised actress and activist — winner of an Emmy, a Grammy and a Screen Actors Guild award, among others — not only st...