Whitney Elizabeth Houston: August 9, 1963- February 11, 2012

Official Program

John Levy (April 11, 1912-January 20, 2012)

 

Recognized in 2006 by the National Endowment for the Arts with its highest jazz honor as a Jazz Master, John Levy was just a few months short of turning 100 when he died at his home in Altadena, California with his wife and business partner, Devra Hall Levy, by his side. And, although born in New Orleans, Levy credits Chicago where his family moved when he was five, with his formative years in the music business from their apartment above the Royal Gardens, a dance hall that featured New Orleans jazz. Gaining a foothold in the Chicago jazz scene as a musician, Levy performed with such jazz greats as Stuff Smith, Billie Holiday, Erroll Garner and Billy Taylor before joining pianist George Shearing’s original quintet where his next career as a personal manager took root and the eventual launch of John Levy Enterprises in 1951.

The accomplished jazz musician had walked the walk so he could successfully talk the talk for his fellow jazz artists. That soon became evident to artists like Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Shirley Horn, Ahmad Jamal, Ramsey Lewis, Freddie Hubbard, Roberta Flack, Les McCann, Joe Williams, Cannonball Adderley, Wes Montgomery and Nancy Wilson, who sought him out to manage their careers.

Levy was inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997 and presented a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Jazz Society. And in keeping with his well-thought out plans, there was no funeral service, but just a private remembrance with the request that donations be made to the MCG Jazz John Levy Fund, which is earmarked for the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild’s nationwide “Jazz Is Life” educational programs.

 

Etta James (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012)

 

Rev. Al Sharpton conducted the services for the late Etta James at Greater Bethany Community Church, City of Refuge, relating how James helped break down the culture curtain of America before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “She was able to get us to sing the same rhythms and melodies … humming the same ballads and understanding each other’s melodies way before we could even use the same hotels.” Sharpton also conveyed President Barack Obama’s sentiments for whom Beyoncé performed James’ immortal song “At Last” as his inaugural festivities: “Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and her contributions to our nation’s musical heritage.”

Such was the homecoming of one of America’s legendary voices as James’ back up band, The Roots, Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera joined in the farewell. Both Stevie and Christina performed some of James’ iconic hits: Stevie did “Shelter in the Rain” while Christina delivered “At Last.”

Survived by her husband of 42 years Artis Mills and two sons, Donto and Sametto James, Etta was thronged by many of her fans who waited in line for hours at her public viewing at Inglewood Cemetery with her songs wafting over the line.

Added Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), “Etta is special to me because she represents the life, the trials and the tribulations of a lot of black women all over this world…. She was a survivor, and I love her for that.”

The Recording Academy President/CEO Neal Portnow issued this statement about the three-time Grammy winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient: “Etta James leaves behind a dynamic legacy spanning six decades. Her music knew no boundaries as she explored diverse genres including blues, soul, R&B, rock and roll, gospel and jazz. She will forever be remembered for her timeless ballad “At Last,” and a powerful voice that will echo around the world for generations to come.”

Artists from around the world expressed their sentiments via websites, tweets and in performance. Beyoncé, who played Etta in “Cadillac Records,” wrote: “Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. I am so fortunate to have met such a queen. Her musical contributions will last a lifetime. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts.” Pink wrote, “Your voice and your fight inspired me and many. I love that through recordings, people can live forever.” While Kelly Clarkson covered James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind” at her performance at Radio City Music Hall.

Don Cornelius Soul Train Founder (September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012)

 

Don Cornelius, originally a radio news announcer from Chicago, brought his silken voice to the BRE stage honoring artists, industry executives and radio personalities as the “drummers among us” as he hosted the BRE Annual Awards Shows in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Shortly thereafter, he launched his own Soul Train Awards shows, bringing his by then, weekly branded Soul Train television show, full circle. And it is that iconic brand that not only gave visibility to a people but also united them with the rest of the world.

His dance show with unknown dancers and unseen performers suddenly gave a face and sound to what would soon become a global cultural explosion. Soul Train became the longest running nationally syndicated show in history, running from 1971 through 2006.  Cornelius stepped down as host in 1993 but remained the executive producer and creative visionary until the show closed in 2006. And even now, the Soul Train franchise continues with its annual awards shows and myriad dance lines around the country.

Celebrating the life of Don Cornelius, who tragically died on February 1 at the age of 75, is like celebrating the black explosion of its culture over the last 40 years.

Says Aretha Franklin, “Don Cornelius single-handedly brought about a melding and unity of brother and sisterhood among young adults worldwide and globally with the unforgettable creation of Soul Train.”

“Don was a visionary pioneer and a giant in our business,” commented Quincy Jones, adding, “Before MTV there was `Soul Train,’ that will be the great legacy of Don Cornelius.”

Clarance Avant explains that legacy: “`Soul Train’ was the first and only television show to showcase and put a spotlight on black artists at a time when there were few African-Americans on television at all, and that was the great vision of Don.”

And from a man who knows a thing or two about legends, the legendary songwriter Kenny Gamble commented: “Soul Train became such a great icon, not only did black people want to be on Soul Train, but you had Elton John, you had The Bee Gees, you had every white artist wanting to be on. Soul Train became the thing to do.”

BRE founder Sidney Miller concurs that not only did they want to be on Soul Train but did not want to miss it either. Recalling an experience in the ‘80s when he called on his personal dentist who was white for emergency Saturday duty, Miller related, “The dentist asked me how long it would take for me to get to his office and I replied, ‘about 25 minutes.’ Okay, hurry, he said, I don’t want to miss Soul Train.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson called him a “transformer,” while radio personality and TV host himself, Donnie Simpson, whom Don once asked to take over as Soul Train host some day, described him as “very, very classy.”

R&B artist Raheem DeVaughn captured the essence: “I’m thankful for the platform he created not just for black music, but for music as a whole. We didn’t have it before him.”

In VH-1′s 2010 documentary “Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America,” the story behind Soul Train reveals the pioneer Cornelius truly was when he explained to James Brown’s query of ‘Who’s backing you?’ that ‘It’s just me, James.” NBA legend and Soul Train Holdings Chairman Earvin “Magic” Johnson emphasized that point: “He was the first African-American to create, produce, host and more importantly OWN his own show.” It was Don Cornelius who created the first black-owned nationally syndicated TV franchise.

Carried on now by Soul Train Holdings, the legacy is preserved in Time Life collections and its annual awards shows. Kenard Gibbs, CEO of Soul Train Holdings, commented, “He was a true television visionary and his contributions to African American culture, music, and entertainment are incomparable. The outpouring of affection and tributes to his legacy are a true testament to the profound impact that his life’s work had on many generations.” And last year the Smithsonian’s Museum of African-American History and Culture got on board.

Backed up by infectious African-American raw talent and exuberance, Cornelius opened the doors to mainstream for African-American culture. As Cornelius always promised in his show closing, “… and you can bet your last money, it’s all gonna be a stone gas, honey! I’m Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul!”

Nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner, who aired his own special tribute to Cornelius, added, “He opened doors for black ad agencies and black products showing mainstream media the power of black consumerism. When Sid McCoy told us Soul Train was “brought to you by Ultra Sheen, Afro Sheen, and Ultra Sheen Hair Care Products,” that meant something special… Kids today will never know what it’s like to have to wait a full week to watch one program that almost every other black person you knew was watching at the exact same time. You couldn’t record it, you couldn’t rewind it.  It was a truly hip experience…”

And as his family mourns its loss, his son Tony Cornelius wanted to thank “all the well-wishers and the fans who have supported the Soul Train legacy” with the wishes of his father, “Love Peace and Soul.”

And from all of us, Don, thanks for the ride!

Legendary Boxing Promoter, Entrepreneur Butch Lewis Succumbs to Massive Heart Attack

Having celebrated his 65^th birthday at a party at Bethany Beach in Delaware at which the O’Jays performed on June 26th, legendary boxing promoter, film and music producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald “Butch” Lewis succumbed to a massive heart attack at 5am on Saturday, July 23^rd. The successful promoter and businessman who helped shape the boxing arena, had thrown his hat into the ring of the music business starting a new joint venture called Voicez Music Group with DefJam/Universal Records in 2008. Most recently he partnered with his longtime friend Bob Johnson in a joint venture between his Butch Lewis Productions (BLP) and Johnson’s IMG Worldwide, Inc. (IMG) to develop and operate a talent management company to primarily represent minority entertainers in the areas of endorsements, licensing and programming.

In addition to his boxing promotions, he has been a behind the scenes influence in many minority owned businesses and careers. It was Lewis who threw the welcome back party for the late James Brown upon his release from prison and who was there to help him get back on path. In fact, in 1991 when Lewis added an entertainment arm to his Butch Lewis Productions, he produced the blockbuster Pay-Per-View on Brown called “James Brown: Living in America.”

The flamboyant promoter, known for popularizing the tuxedo with no shirt look, was all about family as well, bringing his children into his businesses and executive producing the family drama “Once Upon A Time…When We Were Colored.” He produced other feature films as well in partnership with Tim Reid and BET, including “Out of Sync.”

Behind the success of many of boxing’s legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Michael Spinks for whom he negotiated the largest guaranteed payday in boxing history in 1988 for the “Superfight: Spinks vs Mike Tyson,” Lewis was instrumental in creating new opportunities for boxers and promoting them to new levels of success.

(See pictures from Lewis’ birthday party in BRE issue from columnist Rosalind R. Ray)

REMEMBERING GIL SCOTT-HERON: His ‘Revolution’ was Broadcast on WHUR

A BRE Appreciation

By Hedi Butler

By now, the bittersweet memorials following the recent death of Gil Scott-Heron have made their way through traditional media and the blogosphere. Tributes have poured in from those who lived through the spoken word and social protest movements of the late ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s – the era of his greatest impact as a socially conscious poet, political prophet and affecting musician whose work combined minimalist percussion with jazz, soul and blues.

Brother Gil also received heartfelt props from the more contemporary heirs to his legacy of fusing life-driven truths with polyrhythmic sounds, although he famously rejected the “Godfather of Hip Hop” title bestowed on him, preferring “bluesologist.”

So it was perfectly fitting that both Stevie Wonder and Kanye West musically acknowledged Scott-Heron at his services in Harlem – and very reminiscent to this writer of the “360-degree black experience” that was programmed daily on WHUR-FM, Howard University Radio, which began broadcasting in the Greater Washington, D.C. Area in 1971 and is now celebrating its 40^th anniversary.

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” Scott-Heron’s breakthrough satire on mass media consumption during a time of struggle, was played regularly on WHUR, along with “Winter in America” and other hard-hitting tell-it-like-it-is classics that could not easily find a home on local airwaves.

Combined with listening fare such as Kojo Nnamdi’s “The Drum” (news and talk), Melvin Lindsey’s “Quiet Storm” (the original format) – and so many milestones over the past four decades – campus and community audiences in the nation’s capitol were inspired to think and groove like never before.

RIP Brother Gil, congratulations WHUR!