Trae tha Truth Leads Houston MLK Parade

Houston’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration has grown into the nation’s largest celebration of the now-official holiday attracting some 250,000 spectators who viewed 36,000 parade participants in the three-hour long parade. In recognition of his many contributions to the community and to the young people in his city, Houston rap artist Trae Tha Truth was chosen as Co-Grand Marshal of this year’s MLK Day Youth Parade, along with Praise 92.1 FM talk show host, Brother Larry Jones.

Trae’s service to the city of Houston has included everything from an inspirational prison tour, to free concerts, donations and relief work alongside Mayor Bill White and Council Member Peter Brown with whom Trae rode in the MLK Day Grande Parade. The city itself has been so impressed with Trae’s commitment to his city that he was honored this past July 22nd with his own day by Proclamation of the Mayor and Peter Brown, the first time this honor was given to a rap artist.

During the recent MLK celebrations, Trae tha Truth was also honored with a Humanitarian Award for all his community service at a surprise appearance he made at the 8^th Annual MLK High School Battle of the Bands. He performed his hit “Swang” with the winning Willowridge High School “Mighty Eagle” Band.

 

TJMS Gets Lighter

Comedians George Wallace, Sinbad, Gary Owen and Kim Whitley guest host the Tom Joyner Morning Show from the ‘red velvet cake’ Dallas studios the week beginning December 15^th. Reviewing the best and worst in Black America, they bring a note of levity to lighten up the holidays. The regular crew returns after the holidays with its “Sail Away Song of the Day” contest promoting its 10^th anniversary Fantastic Voyage, embarking in 2009 from Long Beach, California. The show will broadcast live from Obama’s inauguration on the MLK Day holiday. 

Trin-I-tee 5:7 Christmas for New Orleans

Music World/Spirit Rising gospel artist Trin-I-tee 5:7 have a special Christmas treat planned with their December 21^st concert in New Orleans. “This is our gift to the people of New Orleans,” says Trin-i-tee 5:7.  “We want to share from our hearts the celebration of what Christmas is about, the birth of Christ…love, joy and giving.  Caring for one another and sharing in the love of a city that has so very much loved us.” The trio selected a church in New Orleans East for the concert specifically to bring focus back to one of the hardest areas of the Crescent City. A portion of the proceeds from the concert will be funneled back into the local community. This is just another way, the ladies say, of continuously giving back to their community as Ambassadors of the Hope & Triumph Campaign through the group’s non-profit organization, Passionately Inspiring Humanity.

They also perform “Get Away,” backed by a Ray Chew-led 24-piece orchestra for BET’s Celebration of Gospel, which airs on January 25. 

New Venom at Chamillitary

The city of Houston will host its 15^th Annual MLK Grande Parade on January 19, 2009, and, for the first time, the Co-Grand Marshall will be a hip-hop artist. Houston’s own platinum Grammy-award winning rapper Chamillionaire will lead the parade, one of the nation’s largest MLK celebrations with more than 30 marching bands, emphasizing 2009’s theme, “The Color of Unity.” And not only will he lead, but also it’s his custom car shop Fly Rydes that will be driving the dignitaries and celebrities.

Formerly on Motown, Chamillionaire has announced his new album, his third major label release, will impact in early 2009 on his own imprint, Chamillitary, now distributed through Universal Republic Records.  Ludacris is featured on his newest song from the project, “Creepin’” (Solo).

Additionally, as the first multi-platinum Mastertone artist in history, Chamillionaire has retooled his website. www.chamillionaire.com with new contests, official merchandise, performance footage, video blogs, merchandise, and giveaways.

Shelly Stewart Honored

Birmingham’s broadcast legend Shelly “The Playboy” Stewart was in rare form for the illustrious tribute in honor of his 41 years of service to the community. The Who’s Who of Birmingham and the state of Alabama were in full force for the tribute, thanks to Phil Christian, the executive director of the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, named for his mother.

I personally journeyed to the event because of my respect for his contributions to his community and his undying dedication to our industry as a broadcaster. And, on a more personal note, it was Shelly who strongly recommended me for my job as Southeastern Promotions Director for Capitol Records back in 1966 when he was PD and afternoon jock at that time at Atlanta’s WAOK. I had traveled to Atlanta for the interview with Capitol executives and we had stopped by to visit Shelly while he was on the air. I didn’t realize it at the time, but his endorsement was key to my getting the position. After we left the control room, he called me back in alone and gave me his business card and told me he had recommended me and that if I didn’t get it to call him and he would remove all of their product until they hired me. Fortunately, his recommendation was strong enough.

Stewart’s latest venture was parked outside in the parking lot: a specially equipped bus outfitted to make a positive impression on young people to make the right choices in life. Set up classroom style, the bus had a video monitor backed by a black curtain airing different options available to kids who stay in school. And as the adverse options were presented, the curtain dropped to reveal a scaled model jail cell.  Stewart says it has been making a powerful impression on young minds and has proven to be a deterrent to kids leaving school. He now has several buses in production to travel around visiting schools. 

KKDA Presents Kwanzaa Fest

Dallas’ Service Broadcasting urban KKDA-FM (K104) and the morning show of Skip Cheatham and Da Playground presented the 18^th annual KwanzaFest, the largest community cultural event in Texas, on December 13-14. The huge free community event and concert included a health fair, a kids fest and stage shows that included performances from Plies, Jim Jones, Gorilla Zoe, Slim of 112, Bobby Valentino, Jazmine Sullivan, Play-n-Skillz, Baby Bash and Gemini, among others. Attendance was estimated to exceed 50,000.

Rahsaan Patterson Delivers “The Ultimate Gift” to Dallas

Artistry Records artist Rahsaan Patterson celebrated the launch of his first-ever holiday album, The Ultimate Gift, at a special invitation only presentation in Dallas, home of some of his most loyal fans. Miles Ahead Entertainment coordinated the guests who were flown in and given exclusive tours of Tom Joyner’s state-of-the-art studios where his show and “The Ride with Doug and Dede” originate. Rahsaan hosted a holiday reception along with Dede McGuire where toys, books and clothing for children in need were collected as part of his “The Ultimate Gift Toy Drive.”

Mid South

Mid South

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