Electronic Urban Report(EUR) Wed 8/30/95
AfrinetEUR
August 30, 1995
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In This Issue:
*PURE SOUL FINDS SOUL IN CHOCOLATE CITY
*WATTS -- WHAT'S CHANGED 20 YEARS AFTER THE RIOTS?
*TITO JACKSON'S SONS CRY FOUL
*BILL COSBY IS BACK ON THE BIG SCREEN
*THE MILLION MAN MARCH RIDES THE INTERNET
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PURE SOUL
Pure Soul is the first group off of the Washington D.C. based label
University Records. The ladies -- Shawn, Kristen, Heather and Keitha --
think the "Chocolate City" may be the next music mecca.
"We have so much talent coming out of D.C. And people don't expect
that," says the group. "They expect to see artists from New York or
California. Shai, Toni Braxton and a lot of other good talent is from
D.C.
and we're happy to be added to that list."
Pure Soul is moving up the charts with the tune "We Must Be In
Love."
HEAR more from Pure Soul on this weekend's hour long RadioScope.
WATTS RIOTS REVISITED
In 1965 the Watts Riots erupted, engulfing the city in flames and
violence for a week. When the smoke cleared 34 people were dead, about a
thousand were injured and there was millions of dollars in property
damage.
"Police brutality was really the spark that lit the fuse" says Law
professor and author Gerald Horne who examines the Watts Riots in his new
book, "Fire This Time: The Watts Uprising and the 1960's."
Looking back on it today, Horne believes there were many positive
things
that came out of the Watts Riots, but there were problems that still
needed to
be addressed.
"A hospital was built in South Los Angeles, an area that had been
traditionally under served in terms of medicine," says Horne. "But it's
not
unfair to suggest that what happened in spring of `92 (the riots in Los
Angeles which resulted after the Rodney King verdicts) would not have
occurred
if there had been more positive steps to address the pressing problems of
South Los Angeles after 1965."
Published by the University Press of Virginia, "Fire This Time" is
available in bookstores throughout the U.S..
NEWSBITS
*Here's the latest bit of news on the gun-toting Nina Simone. The
jazz
singer has been given a suspended eight-month jail term for firing a gun
at a
pair of noisy teens playing next door to her home in southern France.
Simone
was put on 18 months' probation and ordered to seek psychological
counseling.
*Tito Jackson's sons have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against
their
late mother's boyfriend. Tariano, 22, Taryll, 20 and Tito Joe, 17 (who
are
signed to their uncle Michael Jackson's MJJ label as the 3T's) accuse
Donald
Bohana of drowning their mother, Delores Jackson, in his backyard swimming
pool last August. The lawsuit claims Bohana beat and strangled Jackson
and
drowned her in the pool after a argument over Bohana's bankruptcy
problems.
The Los Angeles district attorney's office initially treated the
case as
an accidental drowning, but reopened their investigation last November
after a
coroner's report said Jackson's death "was not a garden variety type of
drowning situation." According to the report Delores Jackson suffered
blows
to her lips, tongue, ear and scalp before drowning.
*Bill Cosby returns to the big screen. He'll star opposite Robin
Williams in the Hollywood Pictures film "Jack." The story is about a
young
boy whose body ages four times as fast as his mind. Cosby will bank just
under $500,000 for the film. He earned $6 million for his last motion
picture
lead for "Ghost Dad" in 1990.
*O.J. Simpson filed suit against dozens of apparel manufacturers and
retailers who are selling products bearing his name and likeness. The
suit
charges that the companies are attempting to cash in on Simpson's
notoriety
and interfering with his own "profit-making endeavors." Simpson is
seeking a
minimum of $7,500 from each retailer and $50,000 from each manufacturer
named
in the suit. Most of the defendants are local retailers and
manufacturers,
many are selling t-shirts, toys and posters on the street outside the
courthouse where the Simpson murder trial is being conducted.
*The first-ever Jimi Hendrix Electric Guitar Festival goes on Labor
Day
weekend in Seattle, Washington as a part of the annual Bumbershoot
Festival.
An all-day Hendrix tribute concert will be held September 4 at Kenwood
Stadium
featuring George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars (with Parliament and
Funkadelic), Buddy Miles, Narda Michael Walden, Stanley Jordan, Vernon
Reid
and Clarence Clemons. For tickets and schedule information call
206-562-4-
FUN.
*BNN Inc. will host the "Million Man March Internet Conference"
beginning September 1 though October 31. The conference will provide
subscribers with the latest information on the upcoming march, October 16,
plus provide information on the principle players involved and an outlet
for
questions regarding the event. The conference will also host African and
African American leaders and will provide subscribers with an opportunity
to
speak directly to them for responses on any subject matter. The monthly
subscription fee is $15.00. For further information call (504) 389-3541
or
email at gh...@infi.net.
*Black Radio Exclusive columnist Steven Ivory reports, Tony Toni
Tone
has decided not to split and is currently in the studio working on a new
Mercury Records CD.
*James Ingram is in the studio working on a duet album with singer
Jeffrey Osborne for Interscope Records.
*"seaQuest DSV," the NBC series which co-stars actor Don Franklin,
will
come back this fall under the new title, "seaQuest 2032." The title
reflects
the year in which this season's show will occur. The show returns for its
third season September 20.
*Nia Peeples will play a public defender on the new CBS drama
"Courthouse." The role was originally played by Robin Givens, who will
now play
the show's criminal investigator in the district attorney's office.
*Retired general Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of
Staff, will have his first formal interview on "20/20" with Barbara
Walters
September 15. Plus he'll make an appearance on "The Tonight Show With Jay
Leno" on September 26.
INDUSTRY BUZZ
*Although it's been rumored that Steve McKeever was fired from
Motown
Records, recent reports say he left on his own accord. McKeever, who
headed
the MoJAZZ label, reportedly decided back in January not to renew his
contract
with the company. This is the latest in ongoing reports of corporate
turmoil
at Motown. Just last week it was rumored that Motown president Jheryl
Busby
is on his way out, with Uptown head Andre Harell stepping in to the top
seat.
*Cassandra Mills, former president of Giant Records' black music
division, is rumored to be moving on to her next project. Black Radio
Exclusive magazine reports Mills is being wooed by the Sultan of Brunei
who is
moving into the entertainment business -- one of his projects being a
music
company, with Mills (he hopes) to be running the show.
*The 13-year partnership between producers Don Simpson and Jerry
Bruckheimer is said to be on shaky ground, according to a recent Los
Angeles
Times report. Ironically, Simpson and Bruckheimer have been on a roll
this
year with three back to back hits: "Bad Boys" featuring Will Smith and
Martin
Lawrence, "Crimson Tide" with Denzel Washington and "Dangerous Minds"
with
Michelle Phieffer and Courtney B. Vance.
Sources say Bruckheimer is threatening to sever his professional
ties
with Simpson if he doesn't straighten out his mounting personal problems.
The
troubles escalated two weeks ago when a 44-year old Pacific Palisades
doctor,
Stephen Ammerman, was found dead in the pool house at Simpson's home.
Neither
Simpson or Bruckheimer could be reached for comment. However Anthony
Pellicano, a private investigator and associate of Simpson's, said the
rumors
of a split between the producers was unfounded.
*Extra, the syndicated entertainment news magazine hosted by Arthell
Neville, recently got a new set, at a cost, said to be, more than half a
million dollars. But it may be too much spent too soon, since the show
may
not be around for long. NBC plans to launch its own entertainment
magazine
show for the fall, bumping Extra off most NBC stations which will reduce
its market penetration.
STREETWATCH
Streetwatch went to the movies last Saturday night, and lived to
tell
the story.
Trying to catch "Sankofa" one last time before it leaves Los Angeles
for
good next week, Streetwatch visited the only place where it plays in
L.A.--The new Magic Johnson Theaters.
If anything, this is the safest place to see a movie, probably on
the
planet. You park your car, there are security officers stationed in
strategic
locations in the parking lot. You step to the theater entrance, and there
are three security guards within three feet of each other. Then you step
inside to buy your ticket. While Michael Jackson's "History" CD booms in
the
lobby speakers, wherever you look, there's security, bobbing their heads
to
the beat and watching.
"Sankofa" was scheduled to start at 7:50 p.m. At 7:50 p.m., the
"Sankofa" line started forming. We were on CPT, but it was still cool. It
felt good to be in a black
owned theater, about to watch "Sankofa" for the third time. At 8 p.m. the
line moves, and we see a guard stationed at the theater entrance
with--yes--a
hand held metal detector (which by the way, he never used on any of
us--but still).
Inside and seated by 8:02 p.m., the lights dim, and here comes Magic
Johnson in a promo, welcoming patrons, then pleading with us to keep the
place clean, and safe. This is a first. Then we see previews for "Under
Siege 2," and "Virtuosity." They're about a month late, but we're about
to
watch "Sankofa" again. Such trivial matters are overlooked at this point.
"Sankofa" ends, and we exit the theater to find not one but two LAPD
squad cars parked in front of the theaters--just watching--just in case.
We
applaud Magic for choosing to place his luxury multiplex where it was
needed
the most--smack dab in the heart of black L.A. It just breaks our heart
that
it must take an atmosphere just short of San Quentin to pull it off.
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HOW CAN I BE DOWN
If you are a talented singer or rapper and want to get signed to a
label, display your talent at this years "How Can I Be Down Hip Hop Power
Summit" in South Beach, Miami, October 5-9, 1995. This years summit
includes
info on management, labels, publishing and distribution, and several
unsigned
artist showcases. Also on hand: Notorious B.I.G., Naughty By Nature,
Adina
Howard and many others, performing live. Call (212) 229-5273 for
registration
and more info. Or call our new Infotainment 800 number at 1 (800)
731-4463.
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CONTACT US
We'd love to get your comments and questions -- and you could
receive a
prize! E-mail us at E...@afrinet.net. If we use your E-mail message in
the
EUR, you'll be in our weekly drawing for an EUR Gift Pack. But you must
include your full name, address and telephone number in order to receive
your
prize. Sorry, but because of the large volume of mail we receive we can't
personally answer all our e-mail. But keep your eye on the EUR -- you
never
know when your comment or question will turn up.
Gina Anthony from Baltimore, Maryland writes:
"What's going on with Dawnn Lewis, formerly of "A Different World"
and
"Hangin' with Mr. Cooper?" Ms. Lewis is a talented actress, songwriter
and
singer and I was just wondering if we will be seeing her in anything soon.
Also, you always mention RadioScope, but I can't find it in the
Baltimore area. Do you know how I can find the local station that carries
the
program?"
When we caught up with Dorien Wilson of HBO's "Dream On," he told us
that Dawnn Lewis will be on the show, playing his wife. Also, we have no
RadioScope affiliate in the Baltimore area, so contact your favorite radio
station there and demand they get RadioScope ASAP.
Phyllis Mack from Hillsborough, North Carolina writes:
"On Saturday, I was one of the many African Americans that should
have
been watching "Tuskegee Airmen." Since I'm not a "tv" person, I found out
about the airing through (the EUR). It was a very important historic
lesson,
and I am so glad HBO decided to give these men their "props".
I like Laurence Fishburne. However, as I was watching with my
friend,
he said he and Cuba Gooding, Jr. were both married to white women. Is this
true? I always find it interesting and somewhat confusing how strong
brothers
can represent or pseudo-represent without a sister by their side."
Laurence Fishburne was never married to a white woman, nor have his
recent love interests been white women as far as we know. However, Cuba
Gooding Jr. is married to a white woman.
There are a lot of black women who find it "interesting", as you
say,
that successful black men, particularly those in entertainment and sports,
choose to date and marry white women. But if it's really love -- and not
some
sick racial stereotype that white women are better mates than black women
--
then more power to'em.
We always want to hear what you have to say -- so write!
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EUR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY "RADIOSCOPE: THE ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE
OF THE AIR"
This weekend on RadioScope, we'll have a special report on Black
Beauty,
Pure Soul falls in love, Solo finds "heaven" and Faith defends her man.
Call your favorite station for show times.
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Any information reprinted or broadcast from this report
must be credited to the Electronic Urban Report.
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