If anyone deserves to have a movie made about them it is the legendary and iconic James Brown.
Considering the fact that his personal life was as tumultuous as his career was amazing, the Godfather of Soul story would be perfect for the big screen.
That is, if it is as well done as “Ray” (the Ray Charles biopic featuring an amazing performance by Jamie Foxx) and “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” (the Tina Turner story as memorably played by Angela Bassett).
But since such a project has been talked about for about a decade, the question is, will a James Brown movie actually get made? According to Universal Pictures, yes.
Chosen to play the lead role is Chadwick Boseman, who looks enough the part and has appeared in a number of films, including “42” (the Jackie Robinson story) plus numerous TV shows, among them “CSI: NY” and “Law & Order.”
Let’s hope this movie comes to fruition because so many do not. We are still, for example, waiting for the long-talked-about Marvin Gaye biopic to be made.
PRESIDENT Barack Obama has made it clear that he is no supporter of Kanye West. Among other things, he believes that the public — especially impressionable young people — being intrigued by everything celebrities like West and Kim Kardashian do, no matter how sensationalistic, if not seedy, contributes to the gradual moral decline of American society in general.
But Kanye “Where’s The Camera” West has said sarcastically that he appreciates the president giving him so much free publicity.
Last week, Maxine Powell, who conducted Motown Record Corporation’s finishing school in the ’60s, which played such a key role in the young Motown artists learning how to present themselves in a polished, professional manner on stage and off, was honored at the Motown Museum.
One of Mrs. Powell’s philosophies was, “With me it doesn’t matter where you came from, it’s where you’re going.” The finishing school was a part of Motown’s famous Artist Development Department.
Prince’s former band, the New Power Generation, was playing at a small club in New York and much to the audience’s delight, was joined onstage by Prince. He performed three songs with them.
Speaking of performances, did you happen to see former Disney star Miley Cyrus on the Video Music Awards? That slutty, over-the-top performance did nothing to enhance her already tarnished image.
FANS OF THE two artists are looking forward to Dec. 3 because that is when the duets album by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Toni Braxton is scheduled to be released.
The album is intriguingly titled “Love, Marriage & Divorce.” You may have already heard the first single, “Hurt You.” But Edmonds and Braxton have recorded together before. They had a hit in 1992 with “Give U My Heart.”
In addition, Babyface wrote a number of Braxton’s hits.
Tina Turner, the iconic legend who first came to the public’s attention in 1960 and is known for her fiery, high-energy shows, says she is now “becoming tired of singing and dancing,” and that her last tour, in 2009, was a challenge physically.
Well, that’s understandable, and if anyone has the right to greatly slow down the pace, it is Tina Turner.
Michael Houston, the second of Whitney Houston’s older brothers, will never recover from the hurt, pain and guilt from having been the one who introduced his sister to drugs. He says he is now “living but not alive.”
It’s a cliché but it’s true: Time flies! The legendary Little Richard, one of the founders of rock and roll, is now 80 years old, soon to be 81. He is dealing with a number of health challenges, but is hanging in there.
Drake and Rihanna were seen together at the Video Music Awards after-party. If they are a couple again, or will be, that will surely annoy another of Rihanna’s ex-boyfriends, Chris Brown, whose clash with Drake made headlines last year.
John Legend is the youngest looking 34-year-old many people have ever seen.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that in 1963 Motown recorded a song on the Supremes written by Smokey Robinson titled, “A Breath Taking, First Sight Soul Shaking, One Night Love Making, Next Day Heart Breaking Guy.” The wise decision was made to shorten it to “A Breath Taking Guy.”
MEMORIES: “It’s Your Thing” (the Isley Brothers), “Rock With You” (Michael Jackson), “Somebody Else’s Guy” (Jocelyn Brown), “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (Roberta Flack), “You’re Not My Kind of Girl” (New Edition), “Finally” (Ce Ce Peniston), “I Can Make It Better” (Luther Vandross), “Lately” (Stevie Wonder), “Just Because” (Anita Baker).
BLESSINGS to Mario Morrow, Amyre Makupson, Ronnie McNeir, Mike Jemison, Bretlon Smith, Claudreen Jackson, Dennis Archer, Carlya Rhone, Mark Morrison and Billy Robinson.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Sidney Poitier: “I chose to use my work as a reflection of my values, and I always had the ability to say no. That’s how I called my own shots.”
Let the music play!
Steve Holsey can be reached at [email protected] and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
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