Remembering The Mac Man & Black Moses

A nation is saddened at the news of the passing of these two giants (who worked on a last film together: the upcoming Soul Men with Samuel L. Jackson). I first met Bernie Mac while on the Club Benson & Hedges tour in 1996. Ironically, it was during the Olympics in Atlanta, that I was staying at The Mondrian in L.A. I got into the habit of rising at dawn to go for a walk down Sunset Blvd, and pick up a morning paper. The Mac man would be the only brother outside waiting for a car to bring him to the Moesha set. Somehow it went beyond the usual nod of the head and we'd have warm conversations about life, career, and choices. One thing he told me that I don't seem to be able to verify was that he was not the first person in his family to have success in the public eye. He mentioned a brother who played Major League Baseball and another who sang with The Chi-Lites. The last time I saw Bernie was while I was a publicist working on The Kings of Comedy Tour.

One of the last extensive interviews Isaac Hayes gave was with Tasty Clips in 2007. It was tough to get due to him being in recovery from a stroke suffered in 2006. I pursued it because a good friend 'Freddie Boy' Sawyers sang backup with him for years and used to tell me what a great guy he was. Ledisi started out singing with Isaac too and shared a couple of great stories that I edited out of our interview due to space. He started off slowly in the scheduled 15 minute phoner with one word answers. I was frustrated that after 10 minutes I had barely anything. However, as a caregiver at the time, I knew to be patient. Suddenly, at our cut off time something changed and he opened up in a number of ways you'll understand after reading the interview here.

AARP 50th Anniversary Celebration

(from L: Patti Austin, CeCe Winans, Shirley Caesar, Jamia Simone Nash, Yolanda Adams, Paris Bennett, Ann Nesby) backstage at the Phillips Arena for the American Association of Retired Persons 50th Anniversary Celebration. The show also featured Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan and Debbie Allen, who directed and choreographed her dancers. With this being in Atlanta with E.O. homie Latifah, auntie Dionne, and BFF CeCe, would someone tell TC if there was a better place for Whitney Houston to perform? Not even I'm Every Woman? (Image - VPress)

National Black Arts Festival: Actors

Thomas Jefferson Byrd (Ray, Get On The Bus) after his performance in the True Colors Theatre Company production of James Baldwin's The Amen Corner at the Alliance Theater. On the other side, 91 year old actor/singer Herb Jeffries, Hollywood's first black cowboy (The Bronze Buckaroo) was greeting folks outside of the screening of a documentary of his life at the Pan African Film Festival. (Images - VPress)

Vernon Davis Weekend Extravaganza DC 08

Vernon Davis & Too Short; Jameka Cameron & Jackie Long; Niecy Nash & Omar Benson Miller; Allen Iverson

Video Music Box 25th Anniversary

Melle Mel; Mike Wonder (Sugar Hill Gang) & Dana Dane; DJ Red Alert & Mike C (Cold Crush); Special Ed & friend (Images by Toni Dubois)

Art, Beats + Lyrics - Atlanta 2008

Sights galore at this revolutionary presentation of art sponsored by Jack Daniels. Call me Ol' Skool, but I didn't even know there was a Gentleman Jack spin-off. It was smooth alright. So was the cocktail made with it, Chambord, cranberry juice, and a splash of champagne.

Artist Maurice Evans and DJ Nabs were spotted among the many beautiful people in the house including former L.A. Sentinel writer turned Spelman PR pro Angela Johnson, trend spotter Kebo, yoga stylist Sheryl Brown, and Jasz of the venerable Ear Wax brand.

These ears were bent quite a few times about how much the historic record store is missed since leaving their midtown location in the ATL. The prevalent thought among the consensus was that there was no longer a place that you could go to and get plugged in. Ear Wax should have the status reserved for other local treasures like the APEX museum and the Hammonds House. You simply cannot talk about anyone in the Atlanta music scene that didn't walk in the door - and out a little wiser. (Images - VPress)

Rock The Bells - Pt. I

Africa Bambaataa, B Real, Mos Def, Pharoah Monche, The Pharcyde (via Toni Dubois' lens) More shots can be seen in Previous Posts

Rock The Bells - Pt. II

For the most part it was really great line up. The crowd went absolutely bananas when Redman & Meth (w/ Busta Rhymes), DeLaSoul, Nas & Jay Z and of course Tribe Called Quest went on stage. It was a really nice mix of people that was there. The only complaint I had was the press area was a hot mess. Beyonce is absolutely beautiful in person. I was really trying to get a shot of her but security wasn’t trying to hear it. - Toni Dubois