Omar Gooding - JO Magazine Online

Omar Gooding
4.99 US
September, 2010
Omar
Gooding
Miami Medical
Nicole
Sacco
speaks out from
say yes to the dress
Up close and personal
with Gospel sensation
Martha Munizzi
What ever happend to
Mr. Gaines
ISSN 2154-4158
S u bsc r i b e O n li n e
at :
j o magazi n eo n li n e . co m
Star Bares All
Star Search Star
Sam
Harris
Leela James’
latest My Soul
Vivian Green
is Beautiful
Tony Terry
Is Back with New
Hits for the ladies
Angela Meryl
rolls with the punches
Features
40
6
Kevin Olu: 19
John Outerbridge: 22
HawthoRNe: 50
John Outerbridge: 22
J.T. Fedrick: 45
Leela James: 48
Martha Munizzi: 32
Omar Gooding: 28
Pastor Kurtis Lee Summerville: 26
Remembering: 18
Sam Harris: 6
Say Yes to the Dress: 40
Shekinah Ranch Aquaculture Center: 52
Stunt Woman, Angela Meryl: 10
The Thirst Can Not Be Quenched: 4
Tony Terry: 34
TYPE II America and Her Obesity Crisis: 51
Vivian Green: 8
Whatever Happened to Mr. Gaines?: 36
Whatever Happened to Talent?: 3
Workplace Coma: 5
32
Departments
A Dash of Pepper on the Tube: 50
Cougar’s Corner: 46
Curt’s Corner: 47
Entertainment: 40, 42
Everyday Heroes: 49
Fashion Connection: 12
I’m Every Woman: 14
Jo Zone: 17
The Panel: 38
Poetry: 42
Recipes: 21, 43
Tech Talk: 23
Testify: 26, 32
What Ever Happened To?: 6, 34, 36
10
34
36
48
JO is
8
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EVERYDAY
HEROES!
As we prepare for 2010 we would like to
honor great men and women in communities
all over the world. But we need your help.
Please email us at info@jomagazineonline.
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Staff
Joleen Knowling-Norman, CEO/Publisher
G. Scott Jones, Creative Director
Bruce Anthony Davis, Broadway Consultant
Yvonne L. Lander, Editor/Writer
Joan McMillian, Editor
Zaneta Ruffin, Assistant Editor
Anna Powers, Administrative Assistant
Mariah Norman, Assistant
Secilia Henry, Copy Editor
Theresa Whitfield, Publicist
Andre Devond, Media Consultant
Brandon Durham, Photographer
G5 Entertainment/Kevin and Vicelia Johnson, Circulation/Distribution
Chef Jerome, Food Consultant
Crawford Norman, Writer
Curtis Anderson, Writer
Faye Weatherall-Davis, Writer
LaShai, Writer
Laticia “Action” Jackson, Fitness Expert
Lucretia Shepherd, Writer
Renatta Jones-Brice, Writer
Rita B. Springer Moore, Writer
Saran Palmer, Writer
Staff bios, and much more
available at:
www.jomagazineonline.com
A
new and exciting play premiered on May 1, 2010
in Chicago, IL at the Harambee House, which is a
local dinner theatre. This new play chronicles the life
of a Christian vampire.
The play takes place in the 1800’s in the Deep
South on a big plantation. Dante, the main character,
is the son of Bronco, who is the leader of the slaves,
that work on the plantation. Dante is friends with
Johnny who is the son of the Master. Johnny has
taught Dante how to read and write. Dante’s father
doesn’t like the fact that his son is friends with the
Master’s son. He forbids Dante to continue his friendship with Johnny; getting angry Dante storms away
not listening to his father.
As the play continues, we find that Dante’s
mother passed away years ago. Dante is living with his
father and sister Janelle on the plantation. Someone
on the plantation kills Bronco one day. Hearing of his
father’s death Dante decides to run away. Running
through the woods Dante comes across a stranger.
This man is mysterious and threatening at the same
time. He tells Dante that he is Kane and he has been
alive for many years. Dante tells him of his troubles
and that he is running away. Kane bites Dante and
turns him into a vampire.
As the play continues, years have passed and we
find that Dante has moved to Chicago. In Chicago he
has moved in with his longtime friend, Johnny, the Master’s son. Dante has adapted to his new way of life and
moves through the night like a smooth panther. He has
gained more power and has many followers. Women are
at his beck and call. Dante finally finds out who killed
his father and during this time he does the unthinkable.
In reviewing this play and talking to audience
members they were very intrigued with this play. The
music was very entertaining and kept the play moving.
I will not give away the exciting ending to this play. The
novel for this play, ‘The Thirst Can Not Be Quenched,’
will be out in early June. So, if you’re fascinated about
the play’s description and want to see the ending you
can pick up the book.
The play was written and produced by: Tearched H.
Scott III.
You can pick up the book online at: www.publishersgraphicsbookstore.com
If you live in Chicago or are visiting you can pick up
the book at:
Great Scott Records
2051 East 95th Street
Chicago, Il 60617
Workplace Coma
The definition of “coma” in Webster’s New World Dictionary is: A period of deep, prolonged unconsciousness
caused by injury or disease.
Opening your eyes you slowly look around and wonder ‘where am I?’ Have I been here for a long period of
time? This place seems familiar, why do I feel so strange?
Your head starts to spin and you grab the desk closing your eyes again. One eye opens again and then the
other; looking down at your clothes you did put these
on this morning. Everyday seems like the day before,
nothing new or exciting has happened in a long time.
Shaking your head trying to get the cobwebs out, you
start moving your arms stretching left and right. Standing up you begin twisting your lower body, the movement feels so good. Glancing around your work area
your fellow co-workers look like zombies. Moving and
doing the same things over and over again, one, two,
three clicks across the keyboards. These are the sounds
you hear throughout your work area.
4
Waking up after being in a workplace coma is a real
eye-opener. As your brain reawakens you wonder, “Why
am I still here?” Your life should be filled with more activity. Did your dreams just drizzle down a drain? Once
getting the job where did your dreams and goals fade
away to? Paying the bills and just getting a paycheck are
all that your mind has been centered on. It’s the middle
of the workweek two days until the weekend. Coming
out of the workplace coma can be scary. Your mind is
going a mile a minute.
The weekend is upon you. What are you going to do
since you’re out of your workplace coma? Look around
in desk drawers, clothes drawers, and shoe boxes for
those old goals and dreams you put on the back burner.
Years may have passed sometimes months, if you need
to start a new list then get to writing. What dreams
did you have to fulfill to make you happy? What goals
did you need to achieve in order to make a better you?
Which list is more important to you, begin with that
one and start real easy so you can accomplish that goal
or dream. Once you start checking off on the list a smile
will form on your face, life will slowly begin to mean
something to you again. Being out of your workplace
coma, it will take time to adjust to being alert at work.
The joy will slowly move into your heart and soul.
Achieving your goals is something that will make you
a better you for a lifetime. Fulfilling your dreams will
make your heart and soul complete.
Sitting at your work desk the days don’t seem so long.
Making different plans and getting out to begin a new
segment of your life, is a must. Remember that going
back into a workplace coma is an easy thing to do. Keep
your mind open to receive joyful thoughts; always think
good dreams and keep checking off those goals that you
have accomplished. Work Happy!!
Yvonne
5
T
he original American Idol from Star Search where
twenty five million viewers tuned in weekly to follow him as he created his own pop gospel and heartfelt
soulful music that kept viewers mesmerized. Sam has
endured life’s ups and downs that come with being in
show business.
He has shown the world that sticktoitiveness, commitment and staying focused can take you a long way.
He landed a role on the class that has spanned more
than two decades, he became one of the first celebrities
to lead the fight against AIDS. This was the beginning of
his work as an activist. Sam has won numerous awards
and is often asked to perform. He stepped into JO’s
Zone and this is what we talked about.
JO: How did people receive your sound when you
first began?
Sam: “I was accepted by all. I had no problems and I
was accepted in the black community.”
JO: Were they surprised at your style of music?
Sam: “It wasn’t unusual for me to sing this style of
music because I always loved music and people that
knew me knew that I loved soul R& B and theatre music
so it wasn’t really weird.”
JO: Who were some of your favorite artists when you
first started out?
Sam: “I had such a high voice that I listened to a lot of
singers and a lot of women singers. I love Aretha Franklin Patti Labelle and Jackie Wilson. I love music and old
records and I also love great songwriters like Tom Waits
and Randy Newman; a combination of urban and soul
with great lyrics with a strong powerful meaning, that’s
what I like especially, great lyrics.”
JO: What do you have in the mix coming up?
Sam: “I will be touring and working on a television
show. It’s in the early stages of developing and rewrites.
I wish I could tell you more because I think you’re going
to love it.”
JO: I know I will. I can’t wait until you finish so we
can talk about it.
Sam: “Yes, definitely. I’ve been staying busy, working
on Free and wrote most of it and it’s what I love to do.
When I entertain and sing it feels magical to me I also
love to create. I really love Broadway, it’s a long process
learning the music, acting, singing and dancing. It’s
great.”
JO: What are some things that you are most grateful
for?
Sam Harris
6
Courtesy of Jackie Stander of Scott Stander & Associates
Sam: “I have a handsome two year old son who
keeps me busy. I also have great friends and family. I am
grateful to be able to do what I do. I feel blessed there’s
so much good talent out there. I was 21 when I went
on Star Search and to watch the young people now like
Adam Lambert who has great talent, and I understand
what he is going through.”
JO: What was one of your favorite shows that you
were in?
Sam: “The Broadway musical ‘Life.’ The cast was great
– I loved working with them. I also played Carnegie
Hall several times. When I played there I really felt that I
had arrived. So my favorite show is whatever project that
I am working on.”
JO: What’s one of your favorite things about what you
do?
Sam: “Watching people be affected by my work it’s a
love affair. I like to watch people laugh and enjoy themselves. But also this business is very frustrating and it’s
a horrible business to go into. People are nasty and I
will never become one of those people. For me I remain
positive and optimistic in this line of business to maintain your integrity and who you are. That’s what you
have to do. For me my goal is to be a good father, spouse
and friend. I always like to send positive messages to
people I love to entertain.”
JO: What would you tell someone that’s thinking
about going into the business?
Sam: “I would tell someone to do your best everyday.
Desperate times makes people do desperate things.
My advice is that show business is hard and if you can’t
handle the business then do it for the joy or have fun because it can be ugly and remember why you’re doing it.”
JO: Alright before we end, tell me what’s a favorite
food of yours?
Sam: “I love tacos, barbeque ribs, chili cheeseburgers
and a scoop of vanilla roasted salted pistachio nuts with
chocolate chips.”
JO
Thank you Sam for speding time with JO.
7
VIVIAN
GREEN
W
hen you listen to Vivian Greens’ latest CD
you’re going to hear a side of her that you have
never Heard before. She says that when she was working on this CD she really wasn’t trying to get deep, she
doesn’t wake up singing or anything, and she didn’t
realize that Beautiful would touch so many women. Vivian Green is back, and gifted with talent. Her voice is
stronger than ever. Reaching high notes with such ease.
She was away from the scene for a while raising her son
and now she is back, with something to sing about.
JO: How did you get your start?
Vivian: “Hmmm how did I get my start? I didn’t
think you were going to ask me that.”
JO: Sorry I got you on this one.
Vivian:” Yes, but I got my start with Boys to Men.
Mike the bass singer had a production company about
15 years ago, he was partners with my Manager and that
helped get my foot in the door. From there I developed
my writing and I got my first publishing credit on Boys
to Men’s third album.”
JO: How was this project different from your other
ones?
Vivian: “My first album had an organic feel; my
second album was more of an R&B feel. Both albums
are combined into one. But I like the second one better
than the first one it’s musically more ME. The first one
was some of me but not all of me. Songs like ‘Super
Woman’, more songs like that. I like things that have a
different vibe. Not always a soulful vibe all the time. I
like a love story or two. The third album is musically
what I wanted to do, ‘Beautiful’ is my favorite. “
JO: How did you create and come up with your lyrics? ‘Beautiful’ is a song that encourages women.
Vivian: “I wasn’t automatically trying to be deep, I
wasn’t really thinking about theme songs or that someone else was going to relate to it. I didn’t think about it,
I wanted to be true and honest in what I’m saying.”
JO: ‘Beautiful’ has some powerful lyrics. When I hear
it I think about how it speaks to women who are going
through something.
Vivian: “That’s what it has turned into, but initially I
was just trying to get out what I needed to say. I didn’t
think about ‘oh this is going to send such a positive
message’ I didn’t think about that when I was writing
the lyrics. But I know now.”
The song can show men and women everywhere how
they should be treated and show men how they should
treat a woman.
JO: What was it like working with your brother?
Vivian: “It was really cool. He’s been wanting to be
a rapper for a very long time and I said that’s fine but
you are a great writer. You are talented and a rhyme is
writing, so he came to the studio with me and we wrote
some songs. I don’t think he knew how good he could
8
52
be with writing songs. But he’s pretty good. We recorded
a lot and wrote more songs but they are not all on this
album.”
JO:Who inspired you?
Vivian: “Oh there’s so many. I grew up on Motown,
that’s what my parents listen to all day and every day.
Marvin and Donnie Hathaway and all those groups.
The Supremes. All that entire Motown era, it was like a
culture back then. Other icons like Rick James, and the
great songwriter Stevie Wonder. ‘In the key of life,’ one
of my favorite albums of all times. Tina Turner, Aretha
Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dionne. If you can sing, I am probably a fan and then Ella
Fitzgerald. I grew up listening to all of all of them.”
JO: How has music affected your life?
Vivian: “I think at this point I’ve been really doing
it for a long time. When I started I was really young I
didn’t know any different. I sang in all kinds of bands
having a gig here and there. I’ve never done anything
else in my life. It has always been like this since I was
a teenager around 17; it’s always been school, studio,
performance, so that’s just a life that was mine before I
became an adult. But when I was a teenager coming of
age at that time I wanted nothing more but to have a record. It feels very different now that I have other things,
other passions that I want to do. There is a Vivian that
has nothing to do with music and I think people don’t
always understand that there are so many things in my
life that have nothing to do with music. I don’t wake up
singing and all that you know, hardly. I love who I am. I
feel like if music was over tomorrow my life wouldn’t be
over. I know that I wouldn’t be working at McDonalds
either. I had certain securities before there was a security
blanket but I don’t feel like that anymore. I’m not afraid
of what’s to come, either way it’s a beautiful place to be.”
JO: What’s your goal for the next couple of years?
Vivian: “I started writing a book when my son was
born. He’s a special needs child. It’s about being a mother from the day he was born up until now. I definitely
want to do a lot of outreach work with mothers, me
and my girl friends we are talking about starting a little
organization with mothers that have kids like us. This
has nothing to do with music at all. Also I have thought
about going back to school. I have to do another record
and I want to have time to be with my son during the
day. He is so important to me. My first priority in life is
to be there for him, probably get married, but there is
nothing better than being a mother.”
Vivian: “Ok, l use to run about five miles every
day. I am looking forward to getting back to running
again. I like to go out and get dressed up. I love going
to Vegas. It’s so much fun, going out to eat, I am never
bored but I never gamble I just walk through to see the
shows.”
JO: What do you have coming up?
JO: So that’s a lot. You are going to be busy. What do
you like to do for fun?
Vivian: “I have a lot of things coming up. I am going
to be touring in a few days.”
Vivian: “I love theatre I like to go to New York and
go to shows. I like to see other forms of entertainment. I
like to ice skate in the winter and I like to run.”
JO: We will check your website for dates of upcoming shows and television performances. When you
speak to me again I am going to be jogging, not five
miles but hopefully one mile.
JO: I started jogging recently I want to be able to jog
a small distance.
Vivian: “You can do it, just start out slow.”
JO: Ok, I will try it and tell you how it’s going.
JO
Vivian: “You can do it.”
9
Angela Meryl
Stunt Woman
Jo: Do you see yourself moving into other positions
in the industry, such as a producer or director?
T
aking a punch, gunshot to the chest, or the
leap off that building. You have to look really close it’s not that movie stars Halle Berry,
Vivica Fox, or Vanessa Williams. Behind the
wig is thirteen year veteran stunt woman
Angela Meryl. Angela sat down with me and
answered a few questions about her exciting
and sometimes dangerous career.
Jo: How old were you when you decided to
become an actress/stunt woman?
Meryl: “In my mid-twenties. At the time I
was doing some modeling and makeovers at
Macy’s, Saks and Lord and Taylor. I decided
it was time to make a career change, do some
things more serious like acting, which led to
doing stunt work.”
Jo: What was your families’ reaction when
you wanted to do stunt work?
Meryl: “My nephews of which I have three
all under the age of thirteen at that time, were
all excited. I showed them how to properly
slide a car, which they thought was cool. My
mother on the other hand wanted me to get
a nine to five for job security. Receiving a
steady paycheck, because in this business you
can become the struggling actress or actor. I
knew I couldn’t do the same thing every day.
I’m very active and adventurous, so the stunt
career presented itself so I went with that as
my career.”
Jo: In your career how many movies have
you done in a month?
Meryl: “It can vary from month to month.
Sometimes you could be doing two movies,
television or commercials. You may not work
at all, or you could be on a movie for months.
It varies a lot.”
Jo: As a stunt person what work do you find
more of a challenge film or television?
Meryl: “They are both challenging. What
I find challenging are commercials and soap
operas. With soap operas they shoot very
quickly and you may not have a lot of time.
So if you’re doing a stunt you have to nail the
stunt the first time, because you may not get a
second chance.”
10
Meryl: “I took a break when I was pregnant of
course. I did continue working until my fourth month.
After my break I was back to work four weeks later, I
pumped milk whenever I had a break. It’s hard to take
a vacation, you go ahead and purchase the tickets and
just go. On the way to the airport you get a call for a
job, do you take the job or do you take a vacation after
waiting for a few months to get some rest? Knowing
that jobs are hard to come by sometimes.”
Jo: How often do you take a break from
stunt work?
Meryl: “I see myself accepting more acting roles. I
would love to produce one day, but acting is my main
concern. I have a book coming out in late June. At this
time a movie is in the works.”
Jo: In your opinion what does it take to be a good
stunt person man or woman?
Meryl: “Due diligence and tenacity. It takes a lot of
hard work and being able to accept rejection. Because
sometimes you may not be right for the job such as:
height, weight, size, etc. Women may have it a little
harder when doing certain stunts. For example, not
having on knee pads to fall down steps because you
have on a dress and the knee pads can be seen. As a
woman you have to prove yourself again and again.”
Jo: So far in your career what has been your hardest
stunt and favorite?
Meryl: “I have two stunts that I find were my hardest stunt. One of my hardest stunts is also my favorite. When I did the Oprah Show that was one of my
hardest and my favorite stunts. I had to jump from
Oprah’s three story building and I hadn’t done a jump
like that in over eight years. I didn’t have much time to
prepare, just a couple of days. I had to have my mark
and everything ready; right after I finished talking to
Oprah I turned and jumped. I had to bungee jump;
from the beginning I thought the practice height
would be forty feet instead it was one hundred and ten
feet. I wasn’t feeling real comfortable with the jump
and I ended up not doing the stunt. I went with my
gut feeling even after practicing the stunt. On my way
back to L.A., I actually ended up talking to a man from
Africa that said that blacks do bungee jumps. In Africa
it is a symbol of manhood, so American black people
do bungee jump.”
Meryl: “More and more people are getting into the
stunt field. At different events you see a lot of new faces.
Some come by the set to hustle which means that they
come to see the Stunt Coordinator and give them a resume. In the last five to six years more people are seeing
that you can actually make a good living by doing stunt
work.”
Besides doing stunt work Angela Meryl is the mother
of four year old Bobbi. Angela says that her daughter
can give her a pretty good workout without going to the
gym. She has been recognized by her peers on a couple
of occasions. Coming into its third year, Diamond in
the Raw, which highlights the work of the stunt person.
Angela was given an award for her work and also won
for Best Overall Stunt by a Woman for the movie “Obsessed” at the World Taurus Awards which also highlights the work of a stunt person.
Angela has put pen to paper and wrote a “How To”
book on becoming a stunt person, “STUNTS: How
to Succeed and Prosper,” a personal handbook and a
step-by-step guide to getting you in the stunt business.
To purchase a copy you can go to howtostunt@yahoo.
com, at the cost of $10.00. Readers of JO Magazine the
next time you view a movie, television show or commercial and there is a stunt scene, look closely. Don’t be
surprised if its Angela Meryl. If interested you can go
to Angela’s website and watch her display her talents at:
www.AngelaMeryl.com
Yvonne
Jo: Do you have a favorite actress you enjoy working
with?
Meryl: “I really don’t have a favorite, but I do have
a fabulous five. Beyonce, Halle Berry, Vivica Fox,
Gabrielle Union, and Vanessa Williams. I doubled for
these ladies more than once in a film or MTV. I just
finished working with Shannon Kane on the television
show S.W.A.T. Firefight, she was very friendly and nice
to work with. They have two units on a set, sometimes
the second unit is all action and the first unit is the
actresses and actors with the Director going over the
lines. Also, in some cases you may never see or talk to
who you’re doubling.”
Jo: Do you see more young people getting into doing stunt work?
11
Fashion Connection
the advent of reality and industry shows like
W ith
“America’s Next Top Model” and “Project Run-
way” more and more aspiring models are entering the
world of fashion with little or no knowledge or experience. Supermodels like Tyra Banks and Tyson Beckford
use their platforms to educate and empower aspiring models around the world with
their experience and expertise. However,
in every city and neighborhood thousands
of models pay the price with their money
and sometimes their life when they fall
prey to the many modeling scams and
traps in the fashion industry. One Model
Mogul has made it his life’s mission to use
his experiences and knowledge to save,
elevate and transform aspiring and establish models Dreams into reality. Chicago
model, actor and CEO Sherard Sharpe
has guided many models on the right path
through his training seminars, Fashion
Bible book, online TV Fashion Show “The
Scent of Fashion” and his one-of-a-kind
iPhone application that takes models
step-by-step through the world of modeling. What started with a nudge in the right
direction by his mother has blossom into
a full time career that spans over 10 years.
We had an opportunity to sit down with
this Model Mogul and learn more about
how he is changing the ‘Game of Fashion’.
Q) Based on your experience in the world of fashion
what is your mission in Life?
A) “My mission is to teach models the proper way
to become a successful fashion model, without selling yourself out. I want to continue to teach seasoned
as well as aspiring models the business aspect of the
fashion industry. I use my seminars and consulting as a
platform to teach others from my mistakes.”
Q) How did you begin your career in the fashion
industry?
A) “I started my career in fashion through the inspiration of my late mother (Mrs. Barbara Sharpe). After
watching the Vibe TV show back in 1997, she encouraged my brother and I to give it a try. The next day I was
at a modeling agency auditioning.”
Q) You stay busy with modeling, teaching and acting.
What upcoming projects are you currently working on?
A) “I am currently working on my new television series “The In Crowd” and a new movie I will be starring
in entitled “Sidetracked.”
Q) With all that you have achieved throughout your
decade long career what is your greatest accomplishment thus far?
A) Other than writing my book, creating my own
12
fragrance line.
SHERARD: THE SCENT OF FASHION and starting my own television show which brings celebrities as
well as newcomers in the business to the forefront to
showcase their talents my greatest accomplishment to
date is my application for the iPhone.
Q) Please tell our readers about your
iPhone application and how it works?
A) “The application offers an education for the novice model along with
reminders and refreshers for those
already in the industry. It is a ten step
plan for anyone who’s looking to build
a career and earn serious money in the
fashion industry as a model. My oneof-a-kind program includes:
* How to find a reliable professional
photographer
* Ways to connect with top modeling agencies
* When a portfolio is a must (and
the surprising times it’s not)
* The pitfalls and traps to avoid
* How to stand out in what is a
highly competitive industry
* The mistakes that can cost thousands of dollars and how to avoid them
The iPhone app is easy to download and install.
Within minutes anyone can be on their way to a full and
realistic view of what the fashion industry has to offer
and the steps to take to reach their fullest potential.”
Q) Wow that is amazing! Last question with Father’s
Day coming up soon, what does Fatherhood/Manhood
mean to you?
A) “Fatherhood and manhood are one in the same
to me. To be a Father is to be a mentor as well as an
example for being a protector and provider. It means
treating your wife, girlfriend or Mother with the utmost
respect and honor. Being a man means doing the hard
things in life like making sacrifices to put food on the
table. You must fear the Lord and teach your family to
do the same.”
Well with all that he has accomplished we are sure
that Mr. Sharpe will continue to grow and teach others.
His passion for fashion and people will continue to fuel
his career and the dreams of aspiring models. To learn
more about Sherard Sharpe or to purchase his products
including his iPhone application and book go to www.
SherardScent.com.
Saran
13
I’m Every Woman
Robin Mobley
I
magine being in the hospital for seven days bleeding. As you lay in the bed, the doctors can’t explain the reason why you’re bleeding. At the age of
thirty-seven that’s what happened to
Robin ‘Justice’ Mobley. The doctors ran tests and couldn’t explain
why this condition was happening.
Doctors explained to Robin that
this condition was seen usually in
older adults. Then on the seventh
day Bishop Johnson came to her
room and laid hands on her. Robin’s
bleeding stopped. From that moment on seven became Robin’s
lucky number.
While in the hospital Robin
made a list of things she needed to
complete. As her children surrounded her bed, she decided to do the
things on her list. Some of the goals
on her list were: Visit her old friend
from school, go to exotic places, be
a model and achieve all her goals.
Robin has four children and four
little grandchildren that bring her
so much joy. At the age of forty-one
Robin has been through the good
and the bad. She was married for
twenty years and suffered physical
and mental abuse. After getting a
divorce Robin felt that she was ‘walking wounded,’
which means that she needed to overcome any remorse and anger she felt toward her husband and look
for the gold at the end of the rainbow. While going
through this drama she stayed busy with her four children, Chris Jr., Mario, Brooke and Carlos. Robin was
very involved in her children’s education. She decided
to get on the School Board and make things better for
students in Jefferson Township, in Ohio.
motivate the youth into action. Robin would like women
of domestic abuse to remember that you shouldn’t have
to live in those kinds of circumstances. “Achieve your
goals and dream big.” Robin
Mobley would like people to
remember that, “Having a delay
doesn’t mean a denial.” Through
all of the years of her life here
on earth that God has shown
her so much favor, she appreciates the gifts that God has given
her.
Yvonne
Robin has achieved some local celebrity in her
life. With the help of Jim Johnson owner of WDAO
a local radio station. She had a radio talk show with
Michael Eckten, a local DJ at WDAO in Dayton, OH.
Robin graduated from the International College of
Broadcasting with a degree in Radio and Television,
Communication, Art and Science. She had her own
local television show on Dayton Access Television.
Robin is also a model and she has started acting. She
will be in a play that will be coming out in October.
Robin is CEO of RJM Management and COO of
Fan Fair Records. These two businesses have merged
and are becoming a top contender in the entertainment business. She was also named the top female
promoter in the Dayton area. After her ordeal in the
hospital, Robin is fulfilling her dreams and checking
off the goals on her list. Along with being a CEO, she is
very active in the community. She plans on going into
schools, churches, and local community centers and
14
49
15
JO Zone
High on Life
I’ve been high on life
after connecting with so many empowering women and
men for our third issue. We will recognize men who are strong fathers, positive role models and
active in their community. In this issue our What Ever Happened To, are two extraordinary men,
Lou Meyers and Sam Harris, who are fast equipped to share knowledge of their experiences in the
Entertainment Industry. We feature the amazing stunt woman, Angela Meryl. “I’m Every Woman”
features Robin Mobley. From her we learn that when we fall down we can get back up again and
become stronger than before. JO Magazine writer, Yvonne Lander, keeps us abreast on the latest urban television shows “Are We There Yet” and “Hawthorne.” My family totally enjoyed them
both. In our newest column, “Cougars Corner” LaShai opens up the topic of older women dating
younger men. Finally we are absolutely thrilled to feature Omar Gooding in our cover story. He
shares how he landed his first acting role and much more. I’ve been enjoying great music from
Leela James and Vivian Green who are also in this issue.
Thank you, Bruce Anthony Davis for your support, encouragement and mentoring. Thank you,
Yvonne for always being there. Thank you Scott, for using your artistic talents. You’re the best.
Thank you JO Mag writers. You’re the best. To Lewis, my husband thanks for your continued support. Love you. To my Mom who tells me that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens
me, thanks for always having my back. Love you. To my entire family, thank you for believing in
me.
JO
MIAMI BEACH, FL - JULY 18:
Models walk the runway at the Red
Carter show during Mercedes-Benz
Fashion Week Swim 2011 Official
Coverage at The Raleigh on July 18,
2010 in Miami Beach, Florida.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty
Images for Mercedes-Benz)
16
JO’s Top Ten Songs
Jo’s Top Ten Videos
1. “ Hey Soul Sister” by Train
2. “Nothin On You” BoB Feat. Bruno
Mars
3. “Impossible” Shontelle
4. “Love Bath” Smoky Robinson
5. “God Favored Me” Hezekiah Walker & LFC Feat. Marvin Sapp and DJ Rogers
6. “ There is a King in you” Donald
Lawrence
7. “The Way You Move” Faith Evans
Feat Snoop Dogg
8. “ Turn Me Away” Erykah Badu
9. “To Intense” Vivian Green
10. “ When Love Takes Over“ David
Guetta- Feat. Kelly Rowland
1. “Don’t Speak” Leela James
2. “Haven’t Met You Yet” Michael Buble
3. “Love All Over” Monica
4. “ At Last” Beyonce
5. “ Baby Father” Sade
6. “Everything To Me” Monica
7. “ All At Once” Whitney Houston Live
Brunei
8. “ Like We Never Loved At All” Faith
Hill & Tim McGraw
9. “ Genie In A Bottle” Christina Aguilera
10. “ Janet Jackson Live” American Idol
17
OLU
Remembering
Pastor Walter Hawkins
G
rammy Award Winner, gospel composer singer and
Pastor Walter Hawkins passed July 11, 2010 at the
age of 61 after battling pancreatic cancer. This Oakland
California native, was a self-taught keyboard player.
While helping to organize summer events for the
Church of God in Christ, he and his brother, Edwin, recorded their first gospel record. This project was meant
to raise money for the church, but the song “Oh Happy
Day” became the first crossover gospel hit credited to
the Edwin Hawkins Singers and has also been featured
in box office hits such as Sister Act II and Big Momma’s
House. With best-known songs like, “Changed”, “Goin
Up Yonder”, “Marvelous”, and “Thank You Lord”, were
classified as church music with a rock n’ roll groove.
Mr. Hawkins later founded his own church, The Love
Center and choir in California while serving as the
Pastor. Along with former wife, Tramaine, his siblings,
and The Love Center Choir, he produced and recorded
more than a dozen albums with collectively more than
a million copies. His Album entitled, “Love Alive IV”
reached #1 on the Gospel charts and remained there
over 35 weeks. This son, brother, father, once husband,
and friend of ours will be greatly missed.
Gary Coleman
1968-2010
Passing away at the young age of forty-two Gary Coleman left this world, leaving us saddened. I came to know
Gary Coleman when he starred on the sitcom Different
Strokes. The cute little Arnold always saying, ‘What cha
talking about Willis?’ This catch phrase stuck with him
for the rest of his life. For years Gary Coleman was off
the radar of the paparazzi, then suddenly we see Gary
Coleman sitting on the top of a woman’s car. He was
working as a security guard and the woman wanted an
autograph, but he didn’t want to sign one.
From that moment, Gary Coleman was in the spotlight again. He showed up as a guest star on several
television shows. To name a few Married with Children,
The Jamie Foxx Show, Wayan Bros. etc. He played on
the VH1 reality show The Surreal Life. Throughout his
adult life, we seldom heard the phrase that made him
famous. JO Magazine sends out prayers and blessings to
his family.
JO Magazine would like to offer our deepest condolences and offer this tribute to the late and great Mr.
Walter Hawkins.
HE IS...
WHEN THE BATTLE IS OVER, He Is, SAFE IN
THE ARMS OF JESUS
and yes, some sweet day we will meet again
HE’S THAT KIND OF FRIEND
although His will and His way maybe hard to understand
but ALL I KNOW
is what the Bible tells me so...
FAITHFULLY, I AGREE
to COME TO JESUS on bended knee
He Is just A PRAYER AWAY, He Is MARVELOUS,
He Is always right on time
He Is yours and He Is mine
Walter Hawkins is GOIN UP YONDER, GOIN TO
A PLACE, where he’s been granted ETERNAL LIFE
by the way of Jesus Christ...
LaShai
R.I.P.
Lena Horne
1917-2010
As the legendary singer, actress, activist, and all out
woman of distinction goes to a better home. We at Jo
Magazine send out our prayers and well wishes to Lena
Horne’s family. The world mourns the passing of an
icon. She paved the way for the many African-American
women performers of today.
Like Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) who loved him some
Lena Horne, who did everything in the book to get Lena
to come to his house. JO readers, do you remember the
episode, little Lamont (Demond Wilson) was on his
death bed and Fred was able to get Lena to come over to
his house to pay little Lamont a visit? The episode was
very funny. For me in watching Lena Horne, I always
loved the sound of her voice. It was so raspy and husky.
The kind of voice I wanted to have, sounding so sexy.
Thank you Lena for brightening our lives and showing
us what beauty, brains and strength from a woman of
elegance can inspire.
Yvonne
Olu Artis is just what his name says he is, an
K evin
artist. This Harlem native began playing the piano at
the age of two. Maturing both musically and lyrically, he
toured throughout the United States and abroad with
the Boys Choir of Harlem, The New York Boys Choir,
and the Metropolitan Opera. Olu attended Fiorello H.
Laguardia High School for the Performing Arts, there
he developed his instrumental skills by learning to play
the guitar, bass, saxophone, and drums. In 1999, his
debut album, Soul Catcher was released on Gee Street
Records and was co-produced by Stuart Matthewman,
who is responsible for introducing Olu to the music
industry. Just six years later, his sophomore project,
A Beautiful Place was independently released. Both
Albums are harmonious collections of songs all written
by Olu. His junior project is an acoustic album which
displays Olu’s raw talent, hear just his vocals accompanied by the soothing sounds of the piano and guitar.
This album is set to be released this summer.
LaShai: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Olu: Hopefully from
how I’m feeling. From
an experience, something a heard about, or
something I’m reflecting on. I use my music
and writing to help
me figure things out
sometimes.
LaShai: When did
your career start?
Olu: “People might
not think it’s a career at
the age of 14, but I got
paid touring with the
Metropolitan Opera, so
I knew then I wanted to tackle the music industry.”
LaShai: What talent did you display when you auditioned at the School for the Performing Arts?
Olu: “Vocal and instrumental, I played a piece on the
piano. It was kinda cheating because I already studied
music. I figured if I didn’t get in for one, then maybe I’d
get in for the other.”
LaShai: Was attending the School of Performing Arts
your stepping stone into the music industry?
Olu: “No, it was more social, more like a fun place to
stop off before I got into the real world. I had already
been singing with different organizations, performing
and touring since the age of eleven. So high school was
just fun for me. I learned to play more instruments and
develop my vocal skills.”
LaShai: So how did you get a record deal?
Olu: I met a musician, Stuart Matthewman, at my
second home, a Kung Fu Center on 17th Street. He
turned out to be one of the band members for Sade.
Just talking one musician to another, one thing led to
another, and I gave him a couple of demos to listen to.
He told me about a friend, Richard Branson, who was
starting a new label and was looking for new artists. I
did one album with them and I’ve been independent
since.
LaShai: What words do you have for a starving artist,
trying to make it in the music industry?
Olu: “First of all, work as hard as you can, learn as
much as you can about the business, do a lot of research, explore all options, and try to find the right
place where you can excel and grow as an artist?”
LaShai: What are your career plans for the future?
Olu: “Definitely continue singing, writing, playing
and producing my music, but I’d love to try acting, I do
video production as well.”
LaShai: I can see that, you have a natural demeanor
in your videos.
Olu: “Thank you.”
LaShai: We look forward to the new album, we wish
you much success and again, thank you for taking the
time to talk to us.
On behalf of JO Magazine, I would like to offer this
salute to Olu
In MY WORLD, I’m a WINNA FA LIFE
from the MORNING LIGHT until the MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT
I’m DOING THE DAMN THING
I’m MOVING ON, I’m seeking A CHANGE
And what’s MEANT TO BE
can’t nobody take away from me
Yes, I may
have to travel a LONG WAY
but I’m focused with HARLEM ON MY MIND
I’m a SOUL CATCHER so I’ll be just fine
and what can’t be fixed, I’ll leave it in the hands of time
Or until the ANGELS CALL
I will stand tall
with nothing but a smile on my face
meditating on God’s BEAUTIFUL PLACE
When I listen to the smooth sounds of OLU
my head sway, my fingers snap, my body grooves
his songs have helped open my eyes
women should realize
that we are THE PRIZE...............
LaShai
19
Chef Jerome 2010
SAVOR THE FLAVOR
Creole Jambalaya aka
Red Gumbo.
DEEEEEEELICIOUS
Creole Jambalaya aka Red Gumbo
by Life.Stylz
Unlike traditional Jambalaya
where the rice is sauteed in the
skillet with the other ingredients
to absorb all the different flavors,
Chef Jerome’s Creole Jambalaya
is put together like a gumbo, so
that you can experience the sweet
subtle taste of the Jasmine rice,
the smokey flavor of the (jambon)
or ham the spiciness of the beef
smoked sausage, the plumb sweet
juicy taste of the shrimp sauteed
with the tomatoes, celery, peppers
and onions to create one of the
most delectable of his dishes,
Creole Jambalaya aka Red
Gumbo.
20
1
Ingredients: (2) stalks of celery, 1/2 red onion, 1 bell pepper,
(1) 16 oz can of whole peeled
tomatoes, 7 oz smoked sausage
links [prefer beef for this dish], 7
oz smoked ham, (1) lb medium
shrimp, 1 cup chicken broth, 2
cups of Jasmine rice; dry seasoning, 1 ts salt, 1ts black pepper, 1 ts
paprika, 1 ts ground sage, 1/2 ts
cheyenne pepper or season to
your own liking.
the vegetables, seasonings put the
heat on medium, Stewed tomatoes, chicken broth. Pour a little
wine. Simmer slow, it’s almost
time. Things about to heat up
don’t forget the shrimp, add them
last cause you don’t want them to
shrink. Topped off with that
jasmine rice boiled in a separate
pot should feed 6 or 3 very hunDice vegetables and heat up a
gry people, or one who eats a lot.
big black skillet, One tablespoon
of olive oil or butter or what ever
“Savor the Flavor”
you like to cook wit. Add the
vegetables dice the ham, slice the
sausage in bite size pieces Add
Chef Jerome
21
Tech Talk
John Outerbridge
Hold On To Love
Of life, self, people, community, and possibilities, this
was John Outerbridges’ answer to moving forward into
the arts. John Outerbridge is an American sculptor born
in Greenville, North Carolina. In his youth, he washed
dishes and waited tables. In the early 60’s Outerbridge
found his way to Chicago where he worked for the public transportation system. In 1960, he married Beverly
Outerbridge. They moved to Los Angeles in 1963, and
they have one daughter.
Protect Your PC in 4 Free Steps
With the onslaught of viruses out there, keeping your
computer protected is invaluable. One reason people
buy Mac is the lack of Mac viruses. Since the vast majority of computers use Microsoft Windows it doesn’t
make much sense for someone to create viruses for
Macs. Additionally, for those of us who want an affordable computer that has more software support, can rip
through games, and is customizable, the Windows or
Linux-based PC is the best option.
The people who encouraged him to follow his passion
the most were his parents and his first teacher Madge
Allen. Outerbridge found a love for nature at a young
age. He liked snakes, and spiders and all of his friends
called him an artist because of the things he collected.
He served as the Director for Watts Tower Museum for
many years. Other people who had influenced his life
are Curtis Tann, Margaret Barrows and Justin Powell,
just to name a few.
The following are free, easy ways to protect your computer:
1. Make sure Windows Firewall is running. You can
check this by simply going to your control panel, checking the System and Security tab and then clicking on
Windows Firewall. (These steps may vary depending on
which version of Windows you are using).
His first solo exhibit was at the Bruckman Gallery.
Outerbridge explains that art is philosophical, poetic,
and musical. It dances and it feels the essence of life. He
gets his inspiration from events and situations and when
he feels inspired. His creative energy is influenced by
themes that refer to his African and African American
heritage, his family, his community and experiences.
2. Turn on Automatic Updates. This option is also
available inside the System and Security section of the
Control Panel.
3. Install antivirus software. An antivirus program
can protect you by scanning email, scanning webpages in
search results, scanning files and programs, and scanning your entire computer to remove infections. There
are plenty of anti-virus options. I recommend are AVG
and Avast. Both have a free version available online. If
you’ve recently purchased a pc, it likely came with a
trial subscription to some other antivirus service. If you
don’t plan to pay for it after the “trial period” has expired
you’re better off using a free service instead of installing
the program that came with your computer. Believe it or
not some paid services are intrusive and near impossible
to completely remove. AVG and Avast are easy to install
and update. Removing them is as simple as uninstalling
any other programs.
Outerbridge is known all over the world for his
extraordinary work. Three of his sculptures that are pictured below are Wing Tips with Angel Eyes, A Third Eye
Dreaming. A Third Eye Dreaming is his interpretation of
the Watts Towers in Los Angeles. It refers to the mind’s
eye or imagination. He was inspired by Radius Towers.
His sculpture consists of trash, rubber, burlap, nails, and
broken glass.
John says hold onto the love of life, self, people, community and possibilities. If you are thinking of making
money in this business, you should do what you do first
because you love it, and always get close to what you
feel good about. It is not a career but a way of being. Do
what you love.
JO
Wing Tips and
Angel Eyes
4. Install and run Malwarebytes. This product also
has paid and free versions. Run its scan once a week or a
couple times a month depending on how much you use
the machine. It will identify malware, programs that can
get in there and slow down your pc.
For most consumers the free versions of the services
outlined here will protect you from viruses, spyware, and
malware. Once you’ve researched your options you can
upgrade to a paid solution which provides added protection if you like. At this point I strongly suggest that you
never install, or let anyone install, a program if you don’t
know what it does and how it affects your computer.
The most important way to protect your pc is to
educate yourself about how computers work. We will
cover more topics in future issues. So look for TechTalk
in future issues and check out the TechTalk page on
JOMagazineonline.com
22
California Cross Walk
G. Scott
47
23
Shrek Forever After
image.net
25
24
Testify
Pastor Kurtis Lee Summerville
Rita: Who have been the great spiritual influences in
your life and why?
Rita: Would you hope for any of your children to go
into ministry? Why or Why not?
Summerville: “You know that is such a tough question because there are several individuals who have
been great influences in my life. They have been the
leaders in my life at the time that I desperately needed
them. I grew up in a single parent home and my mother
is truly a spiritual giant. It was my mother who led me
to Christ and it was my mother that prayed for me in
my years as a boy trying to grow up in Camden New
Jersey. It was my mother who got
on her knees every night, asking
the Lord to bless my life, so my
mother is truly the initial person
who I can say honestly not only
do I love her because she is my
mother, but I love her because of
her desire to serve the Lord.
Summerville: “Well I want all of my children to serve
in whatever capacity God calls them to serve. It does
not mean that they have to be in full time ministry for
them to serve. If they love the Lord, if their passion is
to follow Christ, and their heart’s desire is to serve the
Lord, then I believe they will serve in some capacity.
Whether it is participating in Sunday School, teaching or being a part of a choir, usher, being a leader on a
Prayer team, whatever the capacity that God lays on their heart to
do—then I’m happy if the Lord
wants my son to preach, that’s
fine, but that’s a call between him
and the Lord, NOT ME.”
When I came to Ohio, I was
looking for a church to work in.
Dr. Larry Harris was the pastor of
Bible Missionary Baptist Church
and he opened my eyes to a love
of the text, a love of the word that
I thought I loved as well, I guess
I can say I was infatuated, but
when he began to instruct me and
show me his passion for the word
it grew within me by leaps and
bounds. He truly became a spiritual father to me. He was used
by the Lord to shape and mold
my understanding of The Word.
When I looked at the text the
wrong way he was bold enough
to tell me, ‘you’re wrong’ and not
allow me to say just whatever I
wanted to say. He was a very strict
disciplinarian and I thank God
for that because that enabled me to have a discipline in
my study. The third person, I would have to say is Dr.
R. A. Williams. He was the best friend of Pastor Harris.
When my Pastor went on to glory to be with the Lord,
Dr. Williams decided he would take me on and mentor me to help me grow. He is one of God’s great gifted
preachers. He has been all over the world and I have
been able to preach in different settings because of his
leadership and mentoring. He took me on like a son. IF
there were three people that had the greatest impact on
my life and molded me and shaped me into who I am
today it would be those three individuals.”
Rita: Well since I’m a mother I’m going back to your
mother …where does she live now?
Summerville: “My mother still lives in New Jersey.
She is retired now. She is so wise, she is one of the wisest people I know.”
26
Rita: What does it mean to be
a Pastor in these times that try
men’s souls?
Summerville: “Every time
there is a difficult time or epic in
history, you always see a man of
God that is authorized by God
to step in and speak up on the
power of God, on the greatness
of god, on the deliverance of
God. So it’s an exciting time to
be a preacher. As we go through
these economic turmoil’s, as
families are being fractured and
it’s becoming common place for
single parents to be raising their
children in a time where society
does not label marriage what God
labeled it. It’s important to have
God’s voice being spoken and
being a preacher in this period really is a challenge because people
are looking everywhere else but to the Word of God.
When their life becomes fractured, when they hit rock
bottom often times the only thing that can correct their
situation is an experience with God. That experience
with God, like Paul said, “How can they hear without a
preacher?” And that‘s a great thing to be a man of God
at this time to share His Word. “
Rita: How are you as a father?
Summerville: “Well, you know being a father has
been very difficult, because my father left us when I
was really young and I can remember maybe ten times
seeing my father in my lifetime. So having a role model
there in the home, I didn’t have that, didn’t have that
person there and my mother was very cautious about
ever allowing any kind of men to come into our lives
that we didn’t see as spiritual leaders. That was really positive for my brother and myself, because she
would make sure when we were in a setting where we
saw some spiritual men we were tied to them. This was
oftentimes, she would say ‘Go see so and so,’ he will be
able to help you to understand what to do as a man. This
was a great thing she was able to give us but I never had
that understanding of what a real father was until we
had our first. When we had Alyssa it was quite daunting
to me. Tears ran down my eyes and my wife would say
‘Oh Kurtis, you’re so happy.’ Truthfully, my tears were, I
don’t know what to do now!
The Lord has been very kind to us. I looked at other
men, I looked at men in scripture who put the Lord first
and I watched them just love their children and so that
has been the thing that I grabbed first. I Love my children, and I want my children to know that Daddy loves
them.
I want them to know that they are so important to me,
and are a gift to Denise and myself. The second thing I
could say about being a father is that this is a period of
time where children are starting to see that the husband
and wife relationship is not valued by society. Therefore,
fatherhood and motherhood are becoming devalued
too.
We’re allowing our T.V. to raise our children, we’re
allowing everybody else to raise our children and we’re
not doing the work ourselves. So I try to spend time
with them and it’s not always just telling them what to
do, it’s just being with them and learning what they like,
learning how to communicate on their level. I had to
learn how to type on my phone, you know text messaging was a brand new thing, but I found out that was the
way my kids were communicating with their friends. I’ve
tried to learn how to communicate in their language but
also help them understand how to communicate from a
true relational perspective. Then one of the great things,
I mean just enjoy this about being a father…we have
this little thing of LIFE LESSONS and when my kids
encounter a problem or a situation, I say okay, this is
Life Lesson #25, what did you learn?
How does this shape your thinking? I ask them those
kinds of questions, How do you think you would respond to this type of situation? And it makes them think
about life…and we’re building core Life Lessons and
it’s not that I’m telling them, you have to do this or you
have to be this way to succeed. But I’m not only helping
them shape their philosophy of life through a biblical
perspective, but also through a logical perspective of just
looking at the facts instead of just the emotions of the
moment or the excitement of the event.
So that’s something we’ve been doing so long, my kids
get a kick out of it so they even started to label the Life
Lessons…Okay here we go…Life Lesson #145, we’re in
the 140’s now (Pastor broke for a little humor here)”
Rita: Pastor, it sounds like you ought to be teaching
some parenting classes or some sort of workshop or inservice to share with some of our folks who are not quite
there yet.
Summerville: “Well I’m trying to get it, you know uh,
when I die I want God to say ‘Well done thy good and
faithful servant, you were a good husband, you were a
good father.’ I want Him to be specific. I want Him to
say, ‘You did a good job in these areas.’ One of the things
Dr. Harris taught me before he passed, was that he had
regret that he did not spend as much time being the fa-
ther that he wanted to be and when he shared that with
me, it stuck with me. ‘THAT WAS A LIFE LESSON’
that he shared with me, so I have tried to take that and
use it in my life with my three children.”
Rita: To Alyssa, Daniel and Jordan, I am a witness to
the fact that your Dad was so proud to talk about you
kids and express how proud he is and how much he
loves you. He did not ‘come up for air while he talked
about you and the ‘Life Lessons.’ He’s glad to be a Dad
and it came all through the air waves.
Rita: You mentioned a few minutes ago about your
wife and one of the things I wanted to ask you was,
“What would your wife tell us about you?”
Summerville: “Well, she would tell you I love her
and I love my children and that I’m a lot different than
people think I am. What’s funny is most people think
I’m loud and boisterous all the time, but when I’m at
home, I’m usually very quiet. You know, I don’t really
rise up too much when I’m at home, but when you see
me out I’m usually gregarious and really silly and laughing loud, but at home I’m pretty much a quiet person.
I’m very into my family and I think my wife would tell
you when I’m silly, I’m very silly. I love to laugh, (and he
did) I even laugh at myself.”
Rita: Well that’s a good man if you can laugh at yourself.
Summerville: “Yeah, got to, ’cause everybody else
is gonna’ laugh at you at some point and time, so if you
don’t laugh at yourself sometimes, then you take yourself t-o-o-o-o seriously.”
Rita: What a refreshing thought, huh sisters, a man,
laughing at self, and making mistakes? Now I think the
sisters would agree, you don’t often see those words in
the same sentence. REFRESHING! Thanks Pastor Summerville.
Rita: Well let me go back to fatherhood for a moment.
If we put it in the category, the Good, the Bad and the
Ugly, what would you say the Good is about fatherhood? You kind of answered that…say if you put it in
one sentence what would you say about it?
Summerville: “I think the Good of fatherhood is
God’s gift to us to see how much He really loves us. I say
it like that because of this. Children mess up all the time,
they make messes, they do things wrong all the time and
as a father when my kids mess up I may be frustrated
sometimes, but the forgiveness is immediate. It’s over,
it’s done. I mean I love my children, and I would do anything for my children. Isn’t that just like God?”
Rita: Oh, yes, just like Him.
Summerville: “I mean He forgives us even when we
mess up.”
Rita: Over and over and over again.
Summerville: “So it’s the same concept. God is giving us an opportunity to see how much He really loves
us, by putting us in that role of loving our children and
providing for them.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
Omar Gooding
O
mar Gooding, best known for his supporting role as Sweet P in
the box office hit “Baby Boy.” He was born October 19,1976 in
Los Angeles, California to parents Cuba Sr. and Shirley Gooding,
and is the younger brother to Oscar Award Winner Cuba Gooding Jr. With a background like that, it is not hard to believe that this
Young Artist Award winner was born for success. Just after going out
on his second audition, Omar landed his first professional role on
an educational show called ‘McGruff the Crime Dog.’ From there it
was no looking back for the young actor and now rapper/producer.
“I tried to get my little “act on” at a young age.”
Not only did he try but he succeeded. In 1990 he landed a game
show host job on Nickelodeon’s ‘Wild n’ Crazy Kids’ and in the
same year he appeared in his first film ‘Ghost Dad.’ Omar has managed to stay in the game ever since, making guest appearances on
TV shows like ‘The Royal Family’, ‘Blossom’, ‘Thea’, ‘Hanging with
Mr. Cooper’, and we all remember the WB sitcom the ‘Smart Guy.’
For two years and 50 episodes, he joked his way into our hearts portraying Morris ‘Mo’ Tibbs. In 2000, his character in ‘Freedom Song’
caught the attention of film director John Singleton, who in 1991
wrote, directed, and cast his older brother Cuba Jr. in the smash hit
‘Boys In the Hood.’ With Omar’s mother/manager permission and
approval, he co-stared in the box office hit ‘Baby Boy’ with singer/
actor Tyrese Gibson. This film displayed his acting skills by transforming a goofy-kid star into a hardcore thug trying to find his way
in life.
“I’m definitely an entertainer.”
28
The success from this film led to more major roles.
He portrayed Malik on the UPN sitcom ‘One on One,’
Calvin on Showtime’s ‘Barbershop’ the series, and
who could forget his flamboyant running back, D.H.
on ESPN series Playmakers.
Today, Omar co-stars on Jerry
Bruckheimer’s new hit series
‘‘Miami Medical’’ as nurse Tuck
Broody, who is a member of an
elite trauma unit team. As nurse
Tuck Broody, Omar portrays
a head nurse at Miami Trauma
Hospital, and is a member
of an elite team of surgeons
responsible for caring/treating
only fatal patients. Totally into
his character, Omar explained
that once a patient becomes
fatal, there is an hour timespan
in which his team operates.
This hour is medically referred
to as the `Golden Hour` and
it is within that short time
the trauma unit responds in
order to save lives. This role
is a huge accomplishment for
this young entertainer and we
look forward to Season Two.
You can catch ‘Miami Medical’
on Friday nights on CBS. We
look forward to his next project
scheduled for production this
year, The ‘Buddy Bolden Story.’ For this film, Omar had
to learn how to play the trombone to portray the role
of Willie Cornish, who happens to be the narrator of
the film, the best friend of Buddy Bolden, (the inventor of jazz who influenced the late, great Louis Armstrong), and a member of the Bolden Band. He also has
two other films in production, ‘To Hell and Back’ and
‘Threatened.’
“If I didn’t have an outlet, I guess this business
would be frustrating.”
LaShai: Do you have any children?
Omar: “No, my mother would kill me, I have two
dogs.”
LaShai: You come from a musical family, can you sing?
Omar: “I can carry a note. I
haven’t been professionally trained
or anything but a lot of people tell
me I should give it try. I prefer hiphop, I’m a rap artist, I go by Big O
and you can check me out at www.
myspace.com/bigomg.
LaShai: What advice would you
give to a person trying to make it in
the industry?
Omar: “Ah, you gotta stick with
it. If you really want it, nothing
should stop you. Utilize all your
connections, never sell a secret and
network, network, and network
some more. Much acquired is much
assumed”
Omar Gooding is on a mission to
exploit all of his God-given talents
and make good use of his resources
to do something productive and
positive. JO Magazine would like
to salute Mr. Gooding on a job well
done and we look forward to all things this young man
will produce and contribute.
LaShai
It was a pleasure talking 2U.
Its no surprise that Omar uses music as the perfect
stress breaker. He was born into and surrounded by
a musical family, both parents and brother Tommy,
are musicians and now The Big O, has recently signed
with Kosh Records to pursue a music career. Collectively known as B’nezha, Big O, Haf-Wit, and young
Meazy formed MoDo Entertainment and has released a
mixtape called Trading War Stories and is set to release
another mixtape, Major Negations at the end of May.
LaShai: What is your favorite food?
Omar: “All kinds of salads, love salads, chicken, Asian
cuisine, and sushi.”
LaShai: What is your perfect getaway?
Omar: “I don’t think I’ve found the perfect getaway
yet, I think I’m too young, but I will say that I love going to Vegas, it’s close to home, I can gamble and catch
some shows. Believe it or not, I like Arizona, love them
pies, but the furthest I’ve traveled was to Thailand for
a movie I shot, I was there 13 weeks and left a week
before the Tsunami tragedy.”
29
Summerville Continued
Rita: You are so right. And the Bad?
Summerville: “The Bad is when you really mess up. I
have fussed at my children over things and my children
were right and I was wrong. (another spot for laughter)”
Rita: It happens.
Summerville: “And I just, I, I, I (almost couldn’t get
it out, but thanks) have just blown my stack and I was
just wrong, I was just wrong.”
Rita: You could admit it?
Summerville: “I had to admit to my children I was
wrong and apologize.”
Rita:Was this given, a Life
Lesson? (Boy did we laugh!)
Summerville: “Yeah,
they’ll tell you , ‘Daddy
makes mistakes’ that is
Life Lesson #105-Daddy’s
Make Mistakes. I don’t want
them to ever think that I’m
perfect, and I try to tell them
that all the time, ‘I’m not
perfect I do make mistakes.’
And that’s the bad part, you
try to be the perfect parent,
have the perfect answers.
But you won’t, nobody will.
This hurts, it hurts.”
Rita: Then there is The
Ugly.
Summerville: “The Ugly
part is that I have tried to be
a spiritual father, mentor/
father figure to some others
that just rejected it because
of their relationships with
their fathers in the past or
lack of a relationship. It
made it so difficult for them
to connect to anybody who
just wanted the best for
them. Then I watched them
become bad fathers.”
Rita: I can relate to that.
My husband is attempting to mentor a young man now
who is 16 years old. Who is right now spending every
weekend in one of our corrections facilities because he
is not really allowing my husband (like you said, who
means him good) to mentor him. We are not going to
give up, because there is still hope.
Summerville: “That’s the key, you don’t give up…
and honestly sometimes Life Lesson. Some people
have to go through the school of hardknocks and that is
their training program. You can do whatever you want
to do, you can be whatever you want to be. They will not
connect to it because that individual has to go through
that form of training. As I look through scripture, one of
the things I noticed as I look at Cain and Abel was that
Cain was supposed to be the good son and he turned
30
out to be a bad seed. Absylon was David’s most handsome son but he turned out to be a killer and the one
who was trying to take David’s kingdom. So you never
know what your child is going to do and that’s Ugly,
that’s even more ugly, because you see you’ve impressed
them with the Word, you’ve made an imprint on their
lives, you inculcated the Word in them, it’s there and
they grow older and they reject what has been taught to
them for whatever reason it is. You know that’s so difficult, that breaks my heart, breaks my heart.”
Rita: This has been wonderful, the last thing I want to
ask you is about your ‘aha’ moment?
That is what you think the world should know, needs
to know about you, your church, and your family, some
life changing experience,
some ‘Life Lesson’. I shared
with him that this Life Lesson will stay forever in my
memory bank.
Summerville: “I was
thinking about this for a long
time. I had an ‘aha’ and it’s
funny. It took a long time in
my life for me to have this
moment. Umm, I was about
40 years old and working on
my Masters degree, no actually I had started working on
my Doctorate degree and a
lot of different things were
going on in my life. I was
tired, I was depressed, Ministry had laid heavy on my
heart. I found out I had just
found out six years before
my youngest son Jordan had
multiple disabilities and my
wife had a bone spur pushing
in on her spinal cord. Years
before we had gone through
all of these tragedies, my wife
had to relearn how to walk,
and my son was wearing us
down physically because of
the demands of taking care
of him and we were just two
tired, exhausted people. Oh
yeah, I was the Pastor of a
church, and we were still
raising two other children
that desperately needed our attention. One day I was so
depressed and despondent, I didn’t know what to do. To
make a long story short, what happened was they ran
some tests on me and the doctor said to me , ‘You know
Mr. Summerville, you’re really smart but you battle with
ADHD.’ When the doctor told me that I said ‘aha!’ (We
found a moment for some humor yet, again—remember the Pastor said he could laugh at himself )
It was an ‘aha’ moment for me the doctor said, “You
have figured out a way to deal with all these random
things running through your mind, how to make it work
for you.”
Rita: Had you ever been told that before?
Summerville:
“No. My mother
told me I was quite
the hyper child
back in the day but
there was no label
of ADHD or anything like that. It
was difficult hearing that. It made so
much sense. You
know I couldn’t
understand why I
couldn’t do certain
things that other
people could do.
You know the Lord
used that in my life
to push me forward
instead of push me
backwards.”
Rita: As man will
do sometimes.
Summerville:
“Yeah! I took it as
a badge, a badge of
honor instead of a
badge of courage and said, ‘okay Lord.’ This is how I’m
designed, this is how my brain works so let’s use it for
you. Let’s take that instead of saying this is a bad thing
and let’s take it and use it the right way. So for the last
several years of my life I have been shaping my thinking
around the fact that I’m going to have days when the hyperactivity is going to take over and when it does, these
are the things that you have to do. The Life Lesson in
that was really ‘tough’ my son Jordan, the youngest has
all these disabilities and he also has ADHD. So it helped
me see and say, ‘Okay, this is what his brain is doing,
jumping from place to place. It enabled me to feel his
moments and understand what was going on with his
brain. Then the Lord said, ‘Now, you understand why
Jesus had to come live on this earth, deal with mankind
the way He did, so that He could have like passions as
us. He could know our pains. He could know our sorrows. He could know our joys because He experienced
them as a man.’ And so it was a GREAT LIFE LESSON, GREAT LIFE LESSON. It wasn’t the kind of Life
Lesson people jump up and shout about, it wasn’t the
kind of Life Lesson that people get all excited about,
not ‘as they say’ a sexy Life Lesson, but I mean IT HAS
HELPED SHAPE ME!”
Rita: So we can say that was a LIFE LESSON in ALL
CAPITAL LETTERS.
Summerville: “Yes it was…that’s in the 200 level of
Life Lessons.”
Rita: Well, I feel like I’ve had a private sermon.
Summerville: “Well, Okay.”
Rita: Thank God for Life Lessons. Pastor Summerville, JO Magazine would like to thank you for allowing
us this opportunity to have you give a voice and share
with us what it is like to be a father in this day and time.
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Summerville: “I thank God that He gave me a chance
to be a father, I really thank God for that. A lot of people
thank God for a lot of things. They thank Him for possessions, they thank Him for opportunities and things
like that, well I thank God for letting me just be a Dad.”
Rita: Well, alright pops
Summerville: “It’s just a thrill for me to have that
ability to be a Dad.”
Rita: Alright I’m going to call you back, when you
have to walk your daughter down the aisle to see if the
thrill is gone.
Summerville: “Oh no, no. I tell everybody my job as
a father. When you really perspective my job as a father,
I question ‘What is my job?’ My job as a father is to raise
my children to go out, not to stay in. It’s never been
God’s desire for me to hold on to my daughter. It’s been
God’s desire for me to train my daughter so I can let
her go. So as long as I know that, then I’m okay. When I
forget it, then that’s when I will have a problem.”
Rita: Well it sounds like you’re on the right track.
Summerville: “Well I have to think of it like that or
else I would be crying. But I am excited. I’m excited for
my kids to get up and get out.”
Rita: She’ll just turn to you and say, ‘Okay Dad Life
Lesson 3OO.’
The conversation ended with laughter, just reminding
us “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…”
(Proverbs 17:22)
Rita
31
M
artha (Stallings) Munizzi was born in Lakeland,
Florida. The gift of song was apparent during her
early childhood. As a pastor’s daughter, Martha sang
with the family gospel group. In her teens she and her
sisters formed the group Testament. Some people spend a
lifetime searching for their purpose, but hers was evident.
Martha was born to sing. In fact, she jokingly admits “I’m
really not that great at anything but singing.” Even through
the union to her husband Dan, Martha’s musical talents
have expanded. She now is recognized as the 2005 Stellar
Award winner for Best New Artist and has numerous
GRAMMY, Dove, Stellar, and Soul Train Award nominations.
Martha’s ministry of music spans colors, races, and
traditional boundaries. Her unique voice and sultry sound
attracts a broad variety of listeners. Though at one point,
she felt inadequate in comparison to other gospel greats,
Martha quickly recognized she would never sound like
CeCe Winans or Mary, Mary however, the industry has
embraced Martha. “I am my own worst enemy. For years
I felt like I don’t have a strong enough voice, I don’t have
that kind of voice…but once I stepped into what I knew
was my anointing, I realized that it’s not even about me,
it’s about what God has put in my mouth to say.” The
uniqueness of her gift has opened doors for her success
and ultimately encouraged many.
Getting to Know MARTHA
32
Martha prides herself on being transparent. It’s her
transparency that transcends through her songs and ministry connecting with listeners worldwide. Besides being a
gospel recording artist, Martha is a down to earth person
who “likes to eat” and have fun. She admits to being a
“foodie” with favorite eating spots throughout the country
and in various places she’s visited around the world. She
is the person family members call whenever they travel,
to find a good place to eat. Martha enjoys spending time
with her husband and children.
Before the fame, Martha was and still is like many young
women, a working wife and mother. She and her husband
worked together as leaders of the music department at
their local church. She was faithful to God, the church,
and her Pastor. Along with motherhood and being a wife,
Martha still had aspirations to be used by God to pursue
her love for singing. However, she admits to feelings of
frustration associated with wanting and waiting.
“Of course, it’s a part of it; there’s nothing you can do
about it. It’s a part of the growth process; just as long as it
doesn’t stop you or distract you... Just turn it into praise,
turn it into a song. Turn it into something creative…In
due season, I’ll just keep doing what I’m supposed to do.
I’m not going to stop being faithful because I don’t see
it happening. I’m going to be more faithful. I’m gonna
dig in more. I’m gonna give more. I’m gonna pursue God
more. And then it’s amazing the blessing that over takes
[you].”
Martha was aware of God’s calling on her life, but admits the daily tasks and demands of motherhood and having small children often seemed overwhelming. However,
there came a point when she decided to take each day at
a time and “enjoy every moment.” She was determined to
have no regrets and not to waste precious time complaining. Martha is a mother who loves to get dirty with the
kids and have fun. Even after the blessings of success and
money, life presents challenges, but Martha is mindful
of those little things that creep up and bring about frustration. “I’ve learned not to stay too long in a frustrated
place.” Her secret to overcoming those small battles is
to focus on the positives and not allow those feelings of
frustration and depression to set in. Even through verbal
proclamation “I have so much to be thankful for…
This is going to be a great day!” “I have to practice that
attitude everyday, to be grateful.”
But God!!!
The favor of God is apparent in Martha’s music. Additionally, she recognizes it was God’s hand of protection that covered her even as an infant. At the age
of one, Martha became unexpectedly ill with spinal
meningitis. The doctors had grim hopes of recovery
and believed if she survived, she would be paralyzed.
But God… Now in her early 40’s, Martha states she
has never had problems walking or with her back.
Martha faced a number of difficulties during childhood including sexual abuse, but she holds no grudge
or sorrow. Instead, Martha recognizes that each
struggle is an opportunity for God to reveal himself
and to draw us closer. Despite the abuse she endured
at the hands of a close relative, Martha’s emotional
scars have healed. Through the tests and struggles,
Martha knows God is able. For that reason, of the
many songs she has written and sung; the song that
best expresses Martha’s personal testimony is Because
of Who You Are. “My heart is..God is able. And God
is going to fix this. And God already knows about this.
You know, He’s got it all worked out. I’ve learned who
God is based on the trials I’ve gone through.”
What the Future Holds
In addition to her musical pursuits, Martha is authoring a book involved in filmmaking and continues
to demonstrate her creativity through concept videos,
producing, songwriting, graphics and media. She is
also putting her hand to fashion designing jewelry and
working with a t-shirt line.
A Word of Advice
Martha offers a few words of advice to those aspiring artists experiencing difficulty getting started.
•“Be faithful where you are. Finding a place to plug
in [join a church music team and use your gift].”
•“Start somewhere. Start with a few songs and create
a demo.
•“Money can make you happy, but it is not the
source of any joy. There is no life long satisfaction in
money.”
•“Know what your purpose is. Don’t work your
whole life and find out you’ve worked for the wrong
thing.”
After the Interview
Being asked to interview Martha was unbelievable. I
was elated and at the same time nervous. I felt inadequate, but Martha, you have encouraged me. We share
a love for Baltimore’s crab cakes and shared similarities in our stories. I found out we all have struggles and
hardships. We have to battle through those moments
of insecurity, and feelings of frustration. I am guilty of
setting those impossible standards and comparing my
gift to other people. After today, I realized, God uses
our uniqueness. He has designed a purpose specific
for each of us. Thank you, for your words of encouragement. We at JO Magazine have truly been inspired
to pursue those big dreams.
Renatta
33
Tony Terry
S
oul/New Jack Swing and R&B artist Tony Terry is
back on the scene with a new single and album , ‘The
Closest Thing to Perfect’, set to release this year.
Tony Terry was born March 12, 1964 in Pinehurst,
North Carolina and graduated from Duke Ellington
School of the Arts in Washington DC. From there, his
vocal skills landed him a backing vocalist job for Sweet
Sensation and The Boogie Boys. His first single, ‘She’s
Fly,’ was released in 1987 on Epic/CBS Records and in
1988 Tony’s debut album, ‘Forever Yours’, was released.
His second album, ‘Tony Terry’, produced his most
famous single, ‘With You’, which reached the Top 10
on the R&B charts. Tony left Epic records and joined
forces with Virgin Records and in 1994 his junior project, Heart of a Man, was released.
JoMagazine had the distinct pleasure to sit down and
talk with this R&B phenomenon at one of Dayton’s
finest hot spots, where he was set to introduce his new
single, “Bedroom Banger” and remind us of just how
vocally talented he is and that he still has what it takes
to make it in the industry.
JO: Who inspired you musically?
Tony: “Thank you. To be in the business you have
to take care of your body, you know stay in shape, you
wanna look good and sexy on stage.”
JO: Do you play any instruments?
Tony: “No, I am a producer that does not play but I
know what I want to hear.”
JO: Who is Tony Terry today?
Tony: “A singer, actor, and songwriter. I’m working on
a musical called ‘That’s My Man.’ Stephanie Mills wrote
it and I’m playing the lead role coming up in the Fall.”
JO: What keeps you grounded?
Tony: “My wife of five years, my son, and my mom. I
still have to take the trash out (laughing). I still have to
change stinky diapers. Those things keep you grounded;
you know what I’m talking about?”
JO: Is it hard to manage marriage and family after
being in the music industry? Is your wife in the music
business?
Tony: “Hell yes and yes. It’s actually good to have a
mate in the business because they’re subject to understand a little more.”
Tony: “A lot of people, but the one person that
pushed me along the way, was my grandmother.”
JO: What would you say has been your best moment
in your career thus far?
JO: What talent did you display when auditioning for
Duke Ellington School of the Arts?
Tony: “I haven’t had it yet. I’ve had a whole lot of real
good ones but my best moment is yet to come.”
Tony: “I sung a Jeffery Osborne piece and it was ‘a
wrap.’”
JO: I heard that and I second that emotion. So what
would you tell someone who wants to get into the business?
JO: After the School of the Arts, what was your next
step?
Tony: “I jumped right into it. I moved to New York
almost immediately. As soon as I turned 18, I moved
out and followed the dream. I was doing theater and I
got discovered in 1985.”
JO: Who discovered you in 1985?
Tony: “This producer named Ted Courier. At that
time, his credentials included The Atomic Dog , the
Boogie Boys and Fly Girls. He discovered me and I
signed with Capitol Records, then Epic Records, then
Virgin Records.”
JO: Now did you follow him through all those different record companies?
Tony: “Yes.”
JO: What should we expect from this album? Who is
your target audience?
Tony: “Love songs sprinkled with some club joints.
But definitely love songs for the ladies, I have a song
entitled ‘Should a Man Cry,’ that I think you’ll really
enjoy.”
JO: I have to say that you look great and in good
shape.
34
Tony: “Don’t (laughing). No, it’s really all about preparation. If you are going to be in the music industry, you
have to educate yourself because industry laws change
every year, you want to stay on top of your business and
stay on top of your money. You just have to be smart,
educate yourself.”
JO: Is this current project being released under a
record label?
Tony: “No, I think I’ll go independent this time because with access to the internet, you can handle a lot of
the business yourself and keep more money for yourself.
It just requires a little more work.”
JO: Well, before we go, is there anything you’d like to
mention?
Tony: “Yes, I have to mention that I’m the spokesman
for the National Fibromyalgia Association. My wife and
I are featured on their magazine cover. My wife suffers
from the disease and we have been battling it for quite
some time now. “
Fibromyalgia is a neurological disease; for more
information and education, please visit the website at
FMAWARE.org. The organization began about five
years ago but I’ve only been the spokesman since January.
LaShai
35
Whatever Happened to “Mr Gaines”
From A Different World?
Lou Myers: Actor, enMr.tertainer,
lecturer, futur-
ist, historian, and so much
more. I discovered during
our interview he is a man
of great wisdom who freely
expresses his views. He is
also exceptionally gifted at
telling true stories of his life
and our existence as human
beings. He is a man unselfish
with wisdom, whose quest is
to help others recognize the
reality of this journey called
“life.” His personality, his intellect and charm laced with
blatant honesty are qualities
that have almost vanished
in this fictitious existence
we call modernization. And though he does not claim
to be a comedian, recognition of our mishaps are often
laughable especially when a mentor such as Mr. Myers
sheds light on them. I guess the truth, though serious
and sometimes painful, is also humorous.
I had a list of questions for Mr. Myers, but instinctively knew that I wouldn’t get around to asking many
of them. Instead of an interview we had a conversation.
He spoke and I listened attentively. As we spoke he shed
light on a few key subjects and I did manage to ask a few
questions to gain a more intimate portrait of this country boy turned entertainer.
Who is Mr. Lou Myers?
Renatta: I remember
you as Mr. Gaines from A
Different World.
Lou: “I’ll accept that. He
has been kind to me.”
dark. West Virginia became
a place of refuge for blacks
escaping the terrorism of
racism in the south. He
speaks of the villages known
as camps where race seemed
insignificant. In fact, many
of the whites who lived there
were also escaping persecution, especially those who
were of German and Italian
descent. However, no group
suffered to the extent that
our African ancestors and
African American descendants. A fact that Mr. Myers
made blatantly clear to me as
he told stories of the torture
suffered because of hatred.
For Example, his grandfather was forced into West Virginia from North Carolina to escape death.
Lou: “My grandfather was an accordion player and he
had a dream [to be a musician]. He came from North
Carolina because they went to play for a church program, and this little white girl liked him and winked at
him. Well the next day they had to get my grandfather
out of town because this little white girl liked him.”
Even though he highly respected the sacrifices made
by his father, and grandfather before him; Mr. Myers
had a determination to
expand beyond the coal
mines of West Virginia.
Like his grandfather, Mr.
Myers had dreams to
perform.
Renatta: I didn’t realize
how extensive your career
has been since then until
looking over your resume.
Lou: “I have a nightmare, they be coming ‘we
got a job for you’ and I say
‘I told you I ain’t gonna be
no coalminer. I’m an actor.’
They chasin' me with a
job’” (he says chuckling).
Lou: “I look at myself
and I say ‘Who did that?’
You just continue doing.
It’s just wonderful to keep
busy… I just keep doing.”
Renatta: You mentioned searching; do you
find more of yourself in
the different roles you take
on?
Renatta: Who is the real Mr. Lou Myers?
Lou: “I’m from West Virginia. I come from a hard
line of coalminers.” “I’m just searching. None of us are
perfect, but you just continue to work on yourself.”
Mr. Myers believes his existence is connected to the
heritage passed down from his ancestors. He claims all
parts of himself including his Jewish ancestry because
“I claim humanity.” He tells the story of his father and
grandfather, and the many men who worked in the
coalfields (mines) bent over on hands and knees in the
36
Lou: “Yes, I use myself… I’m able to go places that
normally I wouldn’t go and I’m able to come back to
who I am. I think my training helps that because I always keep in mind that it is a craft, and using those tools
of that craft I can go anywhere in the universe I want to
go in cause' Jesus said 'as a man thinketh in his heart so
is he.'
Renatta: Of all the characters you have played (i.e.
Old Mister – Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple, Mr.
Gaines – A Different World, etc.) which character is
closest to who you really are?
Lou: “They’re [all] different parts of me. Ah Mr.
Gaines there was a passion for helping young people.
I used my skill of being able to communicate to them
without preaching to them. So I had a skill of being one
of them, yet standing outside. Old Mister was a part of
me, that man in me. He was the part of me, the anger,
my anger, how the old men have
been treated. My anger, how the
black people don’t understand
how a man like that was treated.”
Compassion is the link that allows him to play the various roles
and relate to people, but he leaves
the character at work and only
Lou comes home.
The Human Purpose
A firm believer in God and the
power of the universe, Mr. Myers
believes each of our destinies is
intertwined. Regardless of color,
race, or religious barriers each
person’s quest is the same: To
reunite with our creator.
Lou: “We just stop through
here on the way back to where
we came from.” “Each one of our
jobs is to reconnect [to where we
came from].”
He spoke of the untapped potential of human reasoning. “We
as humans are vastly intelligent
in areas of science, mathematics, philosophy, and so forth; yet it seems as if all our
knowledge is for nothing because we as a people still do
not understand one another and our creator.” Mr. Myers
wondered what would happen if we would use what we
know to benefit one another?
Lou: “My, my, my, my… we would extend heaven…It
would connect again!”
On Racism
A topic Mr. Myers rarely expounds on. He tells the
childhood story of a man who lived next door. Like his
father, Mr. Smith also worked in the coal mines. Everyday just as Mr. Myers’ father was leaving for work, Mr.
Smith was returning covered from head to toe in black
coal dust. His "aha” moment occurred one day when
Lou was home from school. He looked over and was
frightened by a white man with red hair on his chest.
From that point on Lou recognized that regardless of
skin color we are all human.
Lou: “That just tells you how stupid racism is. Mr.
Smith was just Mr. Smith to me and I didn’t know he
was a white man with red hair on his chest.” “There’s no
such thing as race.” “The worst crime we can commit is
to stand up and tell God, I believe in you, but what you
created over there I don’t agree with. We are all God’s
people or we’re not.”
Mr. Myers also corrected me on the comparison
often made regarding slavery of African Americans and
people from other nations who were slaves. He stresses
that the cruelty African American slaves suffered is no
comparison to other people because they were demeaned and abused for reasons other than economic
advantage. African American slaves were treated as less
than human.
Renatta: What do you think
was the motive behind all that
[slavery and racism]?
Lou: “That was the pure ‘D’
devil… It was the darkness.”
Most Influential Person – Lena
Horne
Mr. Myers had a fondness for
Lena Horne and was elated when
she made a guest appearance
on ‘A Different World.’ He did
everything he could to get close
to her. Realizing this, Ms. Horne
told Mr. Myers that to become her
friend he would need to get know
the “real Lena” not the façade
she had developed. From that
experience, he learned how as an
actor and performer to use all of
himself, but not to lose himself in
the character.
What the Future Holds for
Mr. Myers
Mr. Myers is currently working on a sitcom, ‘My Parents, My
Sister, and Me’ scheduled to be
released in August of this year
(2010). He plays the role of the grandfather and is
elated to work with Ms. Robin Givens, a woman he describes as “the best energy I’ve ever felt. She has become
like a daughter.” Additionally, Mr. Myers performs at
clubs, giving spoken words, singing, playing the piano,
and telling stories. He also makes appearances as a guest
speaker at universities and is on several panels with professors and business experts. Furthermore, he continues
to invest in the urban communities of New York as a
contributor to community economic development.
Mr. Myers took me back to a time that modern day
educators and politicians attempt to erase and ignore, a
time that our black youth fail to acknowledge. You took
me to the humble beginnings of humanity, the struggle
for acceptance, and the quest for freedom in the coal
mines of West Virginia. During our conversation, I was
enlightened and am a better person because of all you
have shared. I thank you and I know our readers appreciate [all of ] you as well. Thank you for giving of your
time and experience to JO Magazine.
Mr. Myers extends an invitation to those interested in
attending his performance on July 31, 2010 at Martha’s
Vineyard. During this performance you can see him
play the piano, hear him sing and let him school you as
he shares his views on life from the Big Bang Theory to
modern day America.
Renatta
37
Usher Raymond
BACK ON TOP- Ushers’ new album Raymond V.
Raymond dropped in March and has dominated since
then. His hot new song “OMG” was holding the top
spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and held it down for ten
weeks. “Lil Freak” and “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s
Home)” are holding their own on the charts
with more than 20 weeks each on Billboard.
It seems that everything Usher gets his
hands on turns to gold, especially in the case
of Justin Bieber whose music is blowing up
and has girls everywhere losing it. The two
have finally come together for “Somebody
to Love” the second single of Justin’s My
World 2.0. So Usher isn’t falling behind by
any means. Usher Raymond is back with
a bang and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, and we wouldn’t want him to.
The PANEL is just one of the brand new developments coming to Generation NOW. In The Panel
different celebrities and all types of entertainers will
talk about: upcoming movies, events, hot topics, music, shows and much more. We will also have every day
people talk about the things everyone has thought about
such as girls thoughts on guys and vice versa. Have your
own opinion on what’s going on? Well subscribers will
be able to comment on different topics and their comments may even appear in an issue of the magazine!
Starting off The Panel we’re catering straight to the
ladies. We found some good looking guys to give real
insight into what we are thinking about girls. Summer is
here and the guys are ready to talk it up.
Questions addressed to Seth and Ryan:
1. Hobbies:
Ryan- “I like to draw read comic books, exercise, play
video games, and watch movies. I used to skateboard,
paint, and listen to music.”
Seth-“I really like to play volleyball, read, and play the
Wii.”
2. What confuses you about a girl?
Ryan-“Well, I’ll hang out with them and hardly ever
make a move. They get feelings for you really quickly and
if you say you don’t like them they say you led them on.”
Seth-“Sometimes they can act like they like you and
then the next day they don’t.”
3. What do you look for in a girl?
Ryan-“Someone who doesn’t follow all the fads not easily influenced. They don’t have to be always right or the
smartest or independent.”
Seth-“She has to have a great smile and beautiful eyes.”
38
SPOTLIGHT ON….
4. Turn offs?
Ryan-“Bad hygiene and a girl who is friends with all her
ex’s who tells you about the stuff they did.”
Seth-“A big turn-off is when a girl is too controlling, or
not controlling enough.”
Mishon Ratliff
BREAK OUT-You may have seen this young star
on ABC Family’s “Lincoln Heights” as “Tay,” the kid
brother on the show. He auditioned for the show at
fourteen and picked up the part and has worked in the
show for four seasons. His character also becomes a
performer throughout the series whose performances
on the show nod to his great talents off the set and
into the studio. He’s released four singles and already
has an album, Holiday Love, under his belt. His single
“Turn It Up” just dropped from his upcoming album
Yearbook. Mishon has been pushing his way into
the entertainment scene for awhile now
and is definitely making a name for
himself. He’s been working hard in
acting and singing since ten years old
and before he was signed worked with
his family and released independent
CD’s.
His videos are where his many talents
shine. His dancing in “Turn It Up” is not
unlike Chris Brown, Ne-Yo and of course
Usher, who all get their initial style from
Michael Jackson. Mishon doesn’t just follow their lead; he adds a hip-hop edge that’s
all his own, which is a refreshing new energy
to the R&B genre. His strong voice and
smooth fashion are sure to leave an impression on everyone who experiences this bright, new
music artist.
Crawford
5. What’s your favorite date to take a girl on?
Ryan-“Nothing extravagant. When things are too big,
there’s too much pressure. Mainly it’s going to the mall,
to a bookstore or a park, sitting down to eat, talking
and getting to know them. A great date would be seeing
them in the morning and eating breakfast. Then walk
around the mall and eat lunch, go back to my place and
watch a movie then after the movie I would cook dinner.
That would be a fun date.”
Seth-“My favorite date would be going out to eat in a
nice restaurant, have good conversation, and most likely
go out to the movies, probably a funny movie so we can
laugh about it later.”
6. What’s the nicest thing a girl’s done for you?
Ryan-“Somebody who I’m talking to, usually they’re
always busy, today they finished up what they had to do
and came down to see me.”
Seth-“The nicest thing a girl has done for me is to just be
there when I’m feeling down.”
7. What can a girl do to stand out in your eyes?
Ryan-“Someone who’s purely themselves, not ignorant
and not overly judgmental or restrained.”
Seth- “Just be yourself, I don’t want a girl that acts like
somebody she’s not.”
Courtesy of Lionsgate
Get ready for a wild ride as Lionsgate releases the unpredictable romantic comedy Killers on September 7th to DVD,
Blu-ray Disc, Digital Download and On Demand. Led by Hollywood favorites Ashton Kutcher (Valentine’s Day) and
Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up), the hilarious action-packed film also stars Tom Selleck (TV’s Jesse Stone: Thin Ice),
Catherine O’Hara (For Your Consideration) and Rob Riggle (The Hangover) and was directed by Robert Luketic (The
Ugly Truth) from a story by Bob DeRosa and a screenplay by Bob DeRosa and T.M. Griffin.
39
S
ome girls dream of the moment when the
door opens and she sees her fiancé waiting for
her. Everyone stands up and in walks the bride
dressed in a gorgeous wedding dress. Many young
women today struggle and search for the right
dress for months.
Taking viewers on a journey of finding the
right wedding dress is the show, ‘Say Yes to the
Dress’ on TLC. Each Friday at 9/8c, we go on
a shopping trip with a soon to be bride at the
world’s premier bridal salon Kleinfeld Bridal in
New York City. JO Magazine was able to ask Nicole Sacco, Director of Sales a few questions.
JO: How did you get into the bridal arena?
Nicole Sacco: “I stumbled upon bridal my last
semester of F.I.T., I needed internship credits and
decided to work close to home. Six months later
when I graduated, what was once an internship
became a career. I have been at Kleinfeld for over
ten years, and the opportunities I have been given
are amazing. I went from an intern to a Buyer, to a
Manager, and now a Director. I am forever grateful for my growth at Kleinfeld.”
JO: Do you go to any bridal shows?
Nicole Sacco: “I have attended many bridal
and accessory trade shows throughout my years
here at Kleinfeld. It’s always a great way to familiarize yourself with the newest trends and looks in
bridal. However, Kleinfeld no longer participates
in many bridal trade shows.”
JO: Before you became a Director of Sales, you
worked in alterations. What area is more hectic?
lection. Kleinfeld has designer days on Tuesdays
and Thursdays, but most trunk shows take place
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The benefit at purchasing at a trunk show is that the bride gets the
opportunity to meet the designer and she receives
a special trunk show promotional discount.”
JO: How are brides picked to do the show?
Nicole Sacco: “TLC and Discovery network
are in total charge of casting for the show. Brides
apply on the TLC website and are picked based
upon their stories.”
JO: How many consultants are there working at
Kleinfelds?
Nicole Sacco: “Right now we have 24 bridal
consultants working here at Kleinfelds.”
JO: Since being on the show are recognized
when you go out to shop?
Nicole Sacco: “I never thought the show would
make me a mini-star. I actually get noticed a lot
and I get a kick out of it. Many fans come to the
store and the cast takes tons of pictures with
them. Some even ask for autographs, it really puts
a smile on my face.”
Join the search for the perfect wedding dress on
Fridays on ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ at 9/8c.
Yvonne
Nicole Sacco: “Before I became Director of
Sales I was the Alterations Director, the challenges are totally different in each area. As far as
most challenging I would have to say the Alteration Department takes the cake. The fittings are
intense because the wedding is so close and stress
sets in. Many brides panic about fit and become
very detailed, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.”
JO: When is the ‘trunk sale?’
Nicole Sacco: “Trunk shows are days that a
designer features their full collection for that
season. We may carry some of the collection, but
this is a chance for a bride to see the entire col-
40
41
Hello Darkness enter my day
Sit by my side
Let’s watch time pass away
Be my comfort
The strength from within
Set me in direction of where to begin
Kiss me softly
Never saying goodbye
Draining my strength, too weak to cry
If ever you left, how would I see?
The new perspective you’ve given to me
I now see the hate, the deceit and the lies
Which the light withheld blinding my eyes
Everlasting confusion
The depth of pain and sorrow
Disrupting the flow of the wind called tomorrow
Washing the care from my face
Placing anger there in its place
Convincing my heart to beat one less time
Suffocating my lungs from retaining their rhyme
Deep dark shadows of the cruel world
Destroys the fictitious images of one naive girl
Puzzle with pieces hidden from sight
Not providing the picture, fulfilling fright
There’s no specialty in this gift you bring
Only that my mouth has a darker song to sing…
Farewell to the love of my fellow sister
Who dismissed the friendship of eternity?
Welcome one lonesome fate my best friend
Make me to know Destiny’s final end
TV Land Awards
In its eighth year the TV Land Awards celebrate the
great shows of yesteryear. This year was no different,
Bosom Buddies celebrated thirty-years. It took us back
to the Love Boat and all the many stars that sailed the
many seas.
This year the TV Land Awards was hosted by comedian, actor and star of Home Improvement, Tim Allen. As
the camera scanned the crowd all the stars of the great
shows could be seen bringing back old memories. The
awards show aired on April twenty-five on TV Land and
the red carpet was on fire.
And the Honorees were the following:
Legend Award: Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner
Impact Award: The cast of Everybody Loves
Raymond
Future Classic Award: Cast and creators of Glee
Pop Culture Award: Cast of Charlie’s Angels
Fan Favorite Award: Cast of the Love Boat
SAVOR THE FLAVOR
Chef Jerome 2010
Eve’s
Sorrow
(Knowledge of Good and Evil)
A tribute to the late Farrah Fawcett was given by her
late beau, actor Ryan O’ Neal. TV Land had its own
Glee club perform with David Hasselhoff and Marilu
Henner as leads and the other television stars of yesteryear. The group sang, “Don’t stop Believin.”
This year’s awards were as entertaining as previous
years. Keep on watching every year to see the classics
that never really die.
Yvonne
Chef J’s
Peachs &
Cream
Be born unto me a peace within
Shelter the images and efforts of sin
Guide me to be fulfilled again
I want the light to enter in
Peach Cobbler w/a cheddar biscuit crust
Then I reached out and felt the chill
Darkness was definitely strong willed
Did I turn to go back or leave?
That road is so dark how I could believe
By Life.Stylz
Ain’t nothin’ like peach cobbler
on a hot summer day with a
scoop of ice cream. Ya know what
I mean?
And in some hour of time
Defeat and destruction set in my mind
I had thrown it all away
Begging to regain the light of the day
(3) 29 oz cans of sliced
peaches
1 TS nutmeg
1 TS cinnamon
1 cup sugar
1/2 stick salted butter
(2) pie crust shells
And so it did enter captivating my soul
Soothing my body, now remade and whole
I now put aside the colors of black
For these are so many things they do lack
Love, happiness, and peace of mind
Are very close friends, the best of their kind
Join me now daytime show me your style
Reveal unto me the beauty I’ve missed for a while
makes 6 filling desserts
E Z peach cobbler, using
peaches from the can, season the
peaches with sugar, nutmeg &
cinnamon, Pour in a pie shell or
any kind of crust, don’t use margarine, butter is a must, Slice
cubes of butter over top of the
peaches, Place another pie shell
on top see how easy? Turn the
oven to 375, put a lid on the pan
cook thirty minutes and wait for
the cobbler to arrive. Just before
it’s done slice thin sharp cheddar
and cook for 5 minutes until the
crust is golden brown, That’s
when it’s ready.
“Savor the Flavor”
Chef Jerome
Let me hear the birds’ uplifting song
And the trees that sway, I see not far along
Be kind and sweet withholding nothing, nor in disguise
Reveal unto me life, open these eyes.
Renatta
42
1
43
When you hear the name: J.T. Fedrick! You will immediately think Talented, Gifted, and Love with a soulful and charismatic Groove! I started my musical career
playing the bongos in the 5th grade with a group called
“The Sensations”. At that time Mark Woods, the drummer in the group had just gotten a brand new drum set
for Christmas, who went on to become the lead singer
for the group “Lakeside.” Some of my neighborhood
friends were: Mark Woods, Will and Thomas Shelby,
Steve Shockley, Norman and Vincent Beavers, and
Marvin Craig, all of “Lakeside.” Rodger Troutman and
Zapp, The Ohio Players, (Sugar, Diamond, Chet, and Nooks), and Floyd
Whitherspoon and Hakeem Stokes
of the current vocal group “Touch.”
I met and played briefly with the late
“Who’s Who of Jazz Legends vibraphonist, Johnny Lytle. I graduated
from Central State University with
honors.
Samsung’s 9th Annual
Four Seasons of Hope Gala
Cipriani - 55 Wall Street, New
York City
The event, hosted by Regis
and Joy Philbin, will return for
their sixth Samsung gala, and
features a roster of celebrities
including a special performance by American actress,
singer, record producer, and
fashion designer, Jennifer
Lopez, and her husband fivetime Grammy Award-winning
singer and songwriter, Marc
Anthony. The couple will give
a live performance to more
than 700 guests in attendance
where Lopez’s Maribel Foundation - which falls within
Samsung’s health platform,
will benefit from the evening’s
event.
44
“I have had the pleasure of playing on shows with artists like Eddie Kendrick, The Dramatics, The
Ebony’s, The Temprees, and The
Sylvers.” J.T. was the Saxophonist for
National recording artist Deron Bell,
J.T. also shared the stage with many
well-known artists including Oleta
Adams, Alex Bugnon, Kirk Whalum,
Boney James, Walter Beasley, The
Manhattans, The Stylistics, Phil
Perry, Howard Hewitt, and Pieces
of a Dream. I am a member of The
American Federation of Musicians.
My CD entitled: ‘Just Give Me
the Groove” has elements of smooth Jazz, Latin, R&B,
Funk, and inspirational music incorporated in it.
“Life is a journey of twists and turns, ups and downs,
success and shortcomings. Traveling over life’s roads are
all learning experiences, that shape and mold us into
whom we are. Never stress over life’s twists and turns,
always keep God at the forefront of your life, and a song
in your heart, and say: “Just Give Me the Groove”. You
will enter JT’s world and take on a journey filled with
inspiration, excitement and love.”
45
COUGAR'S CORNER
COUGAR’S CORNER is an open forum for discussing Cougar relationships, confessions, concerns, and
comments. Ask me no more questions and I will tell you
no more lies. I am offering an honest perspective from
this Cougar’s eyes.
According to the People’s Dictionary, a “Cougar” is
defined as an older woman that chooses to date a man
five years or younger than her. She is on the prowl, looking for some young, fine, Tenderoni to mold into the
man she wants him to become. Personally, I think just
like anything else in history, what was once good for the
goose, is now good for the gander. Men were infamous
for leaving and cheating with younger women. Now the
tables have turned, women are more in tune with their
needs, and sadly, those needs are getting met by these
young stallions.
I’ll start this first article off with my own COUGAR
CONFESSION.
I wasn’t your typical Cougar on the hunt for some
young prey. No, I was an unhappily married woman
and a mother of two, feeling overwhelmed, lonely, and
confused. My marriage to my high-school sweetheart
was meant to be solid, but like any relationship, we got
way too comfortable and we stopped doing those little
things. I became more and more bitter as my husband
found his relief at the bottom of a Hennessey or Wild
Irish Rose bottle. Make a long story short, I was tired
of complaining and learned to accept that I would be
miserable in my own home. But on the outside looking in, people thought we had it going on. We both had
stable jobs, nice cars, a beautiful home and children,
but the loving was all wrong. It wasn’t strong enough
to withstand the pressures and demands we placed on
one another. Our once spiced filled sex life went south
and my desire for him left shortly after that. I suspected
my husband of four years to be cheating because he
was not meeting my needs. Honestly, I wasn’t looking,
but I found the 35% that was missing from a nineteenyear-old stud from Saginaw, Michigan. Did I forget to
mention that I was 34 at that time? Yeah, Demi ain’t
got nothing on me except the financial stability. To my
surprise he was the one attracted to older women. He
was the one that pursued me, and he was the one that
I eventually lost my husband, home, and family over.
When I met this young man, he had just moved to Dayton to escape the gang life and the streets of Saginaw. He
became employed full-time and had his own apartment.
Also, he was fine as wine, could cook his butt off, and
eventually he restored my faith in lovemaking; taking
my soul to ecstasy. After my separation, we continued
46
to date for the next four years, beating the odds for the
most part. I think I found satisfaction in his honesty,
his total commitment to me and the way his ego wasn’t
mature enough to get in the way of our relationship
and cause problems. Our courtship ended when he
became diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and had
to move back to Michigan for medical reasons. For as
long as we could we did the long distance thing, but the
reality was, when I started the affair, I was selfish and
concerned only with my needs. I really didn’t think or
even consider how my choices would affect my children
and family at that time. But in his absence, it was easy
to discover that my God should have been put first and
that my husband and family deserved the patience, love,
understanding, hard work, blood, sweat, and tears that I
so boldly poured into this other relationship. If only my
husband had enough love and forgiveness in his heart to
have given “US” as many chances as it would have taken
to get things right. I wish I would have bowed down and
showed my husband how to love me by loving him the
same.
Do I have any regrets you ask? Well, yes and no. Yes, I
regret all that was lost and the confusion my foolish mistakes may have caused my kids and family. I regret my
timing and the way I let others control my actions and
reactions. I regret ever hurting my husband and breaking my vows to my God. However, I do not regret ever
dating that younger man. For that precious moment in
time, we shared something so special, that I have yet to
find another on his level mentally and emotionally. For
that, I will always have love for him.
In my Cougar experience, not just his health but also
his shortcomings and the weight of being head of household was too heavy and I had to let him go. In his young
mind, he believed that if I could have held on, we would
have lasted forever because love never fails.
This is what is so sexy to me about this whole Cougar
thing; that younger men haven’t been burnt by love,
they still believe in love and are searching for it with
their nose wide open.
Again, this is just my COUGAR experience and my
COUGAR perspective, until next time........
If you have any Cougar questions, comments, or Confessions, hit us up at [email protected])
LaShai
THE MANAGER
Advice for Musicians
This person will make anywhere from 15% to
20% off the top of your gross earnings. This
has to be your right hand person, someone
who you can depend on but more importantly
someone you can trust. Here are some things
that a good Manager will help an artist with:
•Has their hand in every aspect of the artist’s career even if it overlaps with some other
member of your team.
•Helps mold the artist’s image and personal
style.
•Helps with press release and interviews; Assist with booking gigs on the road and make
sure the venue conditions are the ones agreed
upon. Note: If you ask for fresh white roses or
just hotdogs back stage, your Manager should
make sure these requests are met.
•Sees that all conditions are honored. He/She
helps the artist select material for their record. All
new material submitted from any outside source
will come through the Manager.
•Ensures that the artist gets their proper royalty
payments and shops and negotiates the deal between the artist and the record label.
The Manager usually signs with an artist under
contract for two to five years. Make sure that your
contract with a Manager states that you will deal
primarily with them instead of someone whom
the Manager delegates responsibilities. As an
artist you should also have a provision that allows
you to cancel a contract or fire a Manager in the
event that they are not fulfilling the terms of their
contract. Even though you have a Manager, the
artist should also realize that you, as the artist,
always has the final say regarding your career decisions.
Curt
Everyday
Heroes
Leela
James
me you love me’, and ‘then you can’t tell me
‘Tell
good bye’ are a couple of tunes from Leela James’
latest project “My Soul” in stores now. Leela James is a
new comer to some and a known sister soul singer to
many. If you like to hear music that’s pure soul from
a deep place, she’s a burst of energy with a fresh look.
Leela James wears her natural hair sharing to the world
that her black is beautiful.
JO: What enticed you to pursue a music career?
Leela: “I always liked performing, I use to be in talent
shows growing up, and I enjoy being on stage and connecting with the people.”
JO: What are your goals for the next couple of years?
Leela: “To continue to make music and to have
people embrace it, enjoy it, I would love to have opportunities to open up for me in television and film and to
prosper.”
When his head hits the pillow at night father of four,
Luis T. Burch, smiles as he drifts off to sleep. What does he
have to smile about? Because at the age seventeen he was
laying in a hospital bed paralyzed. The doctors told him he
would never walk again.
JO: Who are some of the artists that you listened to
growing up?
Leela: “I like sanging folks, like Tina Turner, Bobby
Womack, Sade, Maxwell and Patti Labelle, to name just
a few people who can really sing.”
JO: What do you have coming up this summer?
Leela: “I’m going to be touring during the summer.
I’m going to Japan and Europe in July.”
JO: I hope you come to my area because I want to go
to your concert.
Leela: “Yea, at my concerts we just have a big party.”
JO: Well alright, we look forward to you coming to
our area so we can have a dancing party at your concert
with Ms. Leela James. Thank you for sharing with us.
Pick up a copy of “My Soul” and hear for yourself how
talented Leela James is and catch her on Sunday on My
Black is Beautiful with Tasha Smith.
Luis and a friend were walking a young lady home
one evening when a Bronco pulled up beside them. At that
moment Luis and his friend ran in opposite directions.
One of the men cornered him and asked him, “Where is
the money?” Luis stated that he didn’t have any money. So
the robber made him take off his Starter jacket, Jordan gym
shoes and his sweatshirt. After giving him the items another
guy from the Bronco came over and pointed a gun in Luis’s
face. The robber asked him the same question the other
robber asked. Again, Luis stated he didn’t have any money.
The robber kicked Luis in the face and that made Luis
angry. Thinking that they were going to shoot him anyway
he hit the guy and started running. He didn’t get far, the
robber shot him in the back. Luis lay bleeding in the middle
of the street never losing consciousness.
Before this day Luis was a star athlete in track, basketball and football. With this tragedy his dreams of being
a professional athlete went out the door. Laying in his
hospital bed he was interviewed by the local television
stations and newspapers. Luis was in the hospital for about
two months. He went through intensive therapy to help
him walk again. In talking to Luis he told me that he had a
dream and in that dream he was walking. His vision was he
was at the movies and walking down the aisle, at that moment he knew he was going to walk again.
JO: What inspires you to write?
Leela: “Real life experiences and family, living, things
like that.”
While attending college at the age of twenty-two Luis
became a father. He stepped up to his responsibilities; quit
college and got a job. College was put on the backburner
but he does hope to go back one day and finish his education. Luis says that becoming a father has made him a better
man. His mind is right and he doesn’t feel the need to go
out and party. Staying at home with his children is how he
spends his weekends; riding bikes and taking them to the
park. His oldest daughter lives with him and he makes sure
that she keeps busy with different activities; like cheerleading, track and softball. Luis says that the hardest part of
raising a daughter is keeping her away from the bad influences. Dealing with that “monthly time” is something Luis
is still getting use to, like trying to figure out what kind of
female products to purchase. One of his kids doesn’t live
with him and he sees her on school vacations. His two
youngest children come every other weekend and they also
spend the summer months with him. During the summer
months he has a house full of kids, Kianna, Kiera, D’Angelo
and Chevontay.
JO: When you are away from your music what do you
like to do for fun?
Leela: “I love to go to the beach. I love to cook and
decorate especially. Looking at houses, sightseeing and
checking out real estate. These are some of my favorite
things to do.”
Being a father makes him realize that life is a gift. He
knows that the Lord has blessed him throughout his life.
He gives single mothers props for raising their children on
their own without the help of the other parental unit. He
can relate to these mothers because by having custody of
his daughter, he feels that her mother doesn’t really help
JO: What is your role in “My Black is Beautiful?”
Leela: “I am a co-host. It is a similar comparison to
“The View” but with an all black staff discussing topics
regarding women. I am the new kid on the block a fresh
face embracing being black, talking about our bodies,
taking care of our health and I am glad to be a part of
the movement I am having a great time.”
JO: Do you sing on the show?
Leela: “No, this is my first time on a show I don’t
sing now, but you have to watch and see what the next
season may bring.”
48
Luis T. Burch
JO
out as much as he would like her to.
Luis takes great pleasure in doing activities with
his children. He decided to become a volunteer
basketball and baseball coach. In his first year as a
baseball coach he took his team to number one. He
coached baseball for five years and basketball for two
years. Once he became a full-time father he put his
coaching duties on the backburner and focused on
his fatherly duties.
At the age of thirty-four, Luis T. Burch has a
few gray hairs and a smile that can make you melt.
As our conversation continued Luis realized that he
doesn’t have a dating life. Raising a daughter has put a
damper on it. When I asked if he planned to get married his reply was, “After my daughter reaches the age
of seventeen or eighteen I may decide to tie the knot.”
Yvonne
A Dash of Pepper on the Tube
T
Courtesy of Turner Broadcasting
Coming into its second season is the hospital drama
HawthoRNe. Starring the beautiful Jada Pinkett Smith.
Besides being the star of the show she is also Executive
Producer. Pinkett-Smith produces the show through her
production company 100% Woman. The first season of
HawthoRNe was exciting and thrilling, it kept you on the
edge of your seat. Her character’s name is Christina Hawthorne, nurse and mother.
Christina is a strong woman, which is shown by her keeping up with all the action in the ER and then dealing with
the Hospital Director, who is demanding.
As the second season starts, the hospital, Richmond Trinity has closed its doors permanently. Several of the nurses
and doctors have been placed at a failing hospital called
James River. Christina Butts heads with the ER’s head nurse
right away. At the same time, her daughter Camille is taking
a step toward adulthood and Christina isn’t ready for the
change. Catch the second season on TNT, airing Tuesday
June 22 at 9/8c. Other cast members include:
Suleka Mathew- Bobbie Jackson
David Julian Hirsh- Ray Stein
Christina Moore- Candy Sullivan
Hannah Hodson- Camille (Daughter)
Vanessa Lengies- Kelly
Micheal Varten- Dr. Tom Wakefield
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Yvonne
oday we live in a society where technology is more
advanced but our health has greatly declined. We
have created ways to communicate across the world, yet
we no longer take walks with our loved ones, instead we
text them. We have created cars that go from zero to sixty
miles in sixty seconds, yet families no longer run at parks
or playgrounds. Instead of preparing healthy meals for
our families, we feed them take out. Because of unhealthy
lifestyle choices Americans are faced with an “Obesity”
epidemic.
What is obesity? Obesity is defined as any individual with
a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 percent or higher. According to the Centers for Disease Control, within the
last 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity
in the United States. In 2008, only one state (Colorado)
had a ratio of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had
a ratio equal to or greater than 25%. Six of these states
(Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia) had a ratio of obesity equal to
or greater than 30%.
Health issues associated with obesity are Type II diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, joint problems and some
forms of cancer. Has America really made great advancements? Where have we gone wrong? How can you and
your family stop the rate of obesity from increasing? Let’s
become proactive instead of reactive. Are you ready?
to the “Fit Lifestyle.” It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle and it will
require making wiser nutrition and exercise choices. Making one healthy decision at a time will move you towards
better health.
• Know your Numbers: Schedule regular lab work to
check your blood glucose levels, cholesterol and triglycerides levels, weight and blood pressure. Knowing your
numbers will keep you informed to whether or not you
are at risk for becoming obese.
• Research: Find out more information regarding obesity
and the affects of obesity. Proper knowledge could save
you and your family from having future health problems
associated with obesity. We recommend www.sparkpeople.com.
• Embrace Life: Life is a gift and so is your health. Take
control of the things you can control (nutrition/exercise)
in order to have a healthy and productive life.
Laticia
• Increase Physical Activity: 30 minutes of light to
moderate physical activity most days of the week will
help improve your health. Go for a bike ride, dance, jog or
swim. Just get moving.
• Proper Nutrition: Avoid high caloric foods with unhealthy amounts of sodium, trans-fats and sugar. Increase
intake of fresh fruits, veggies and whole grains. You do not
have to let go of everything you enjoy eating. The key is
moderation not depravation.
• Make the Commitment: Make the decision to commit
51
“So Can You”
These are the words that Pastor Donovan Larkin’s expresses to the youth that attend camp at Shekinah Ranch
Aquaculture Center. He had a vision to increase the
knowledge of the inner city youth. He had a goal to open
up their eyes to future possibilities. He offers an Interactive Agriculture Educational Experience Farming Water
Aquaculture and more. Pastor Larkin explains himself as
a true outdoorsman explorer and a pioneer, as a full time
pastor at Spirit of Life Christian Center in Dayton, Ohio,
and father of two adult children. Pastor Larkin sincerely
cares about educating our youth who are the future. As
he prepared to expand his ranch he was noticed for his
good works and is the recipient of a USDA grant for
underserved and disadvantaged farmers and landowners. The funds will help them develop their farms. While
meeting with Pastor Larkin, he would light up while
speaking about all that he plans to do at his Center. He
shared with me that he raises Talapia (fish) “yum.” He
also has some challenging goals ahead of him. He wants
to design a healthy system out of horse manure composed from food scraps also from the waste of worms
and breaking down matter. He offers environmental
education, teambuilding and aquaculture (raising food
for fish animal husbandry) and teaches them habitat development. Pastor Larkin is a man on the move and has
a plethora of energy and knowledge to share with youth.
(WOULD YOU SELL YOUR SOUL FOR A
RECORDING DEAL?
recently saw the latest music video of
Erykah Badu, “Window Seat” and I was
Ishocked
that a woman and a mother who can
sing and has sold millions of records, would
resort to taking off her clothes to sell her latest song. I had to ask myself whatever happened to talent and why is it that recording
companies have given up on looking for it. It
appears that instead of real talent most artists
are selling sex. They start to lower that blouse
to show more cleavage, or raise that skirt or
dress to show more upper thigh. And for the
guys they want to take off their shirt to show
you that they have been doing sit ups, or drop
their pants down so that we could see what
brand of boxers they are wearing today. THIS
IS NOT TALENT. And every time I pay good
hard earned money for a concert ticket I always leave the concert feeling cheated.
Susan Boyle became my new hero because
she did not fit into the “American Stereotype”
or image, but when she opened her mouth
to sing I was pleasantly surprised to hear her
raw talent. So, what went wrong and why? In
the 70’s when acts were signed with Motown
and other big labels they were groomed from
the very beginning as to what to wear, what to
say, and how to act. The recording companies
back then had a certain standard or quality that
today’s artists appear to be missing. Today’s
artists seem to focus more on the money than
the art form. They seem to focus on the “blingbling” and most of them are out of control. The
majority of singers today cannot sing but have
a look that the recording companies could use
to build their ego. There are certain software
programs and hardware that can be bought that
can adjust a singer’s pitch to make them sound
great in the studio; but when you see them in
concert they sound seriously bad because without the studio they are exposed.
Imagine being in the back seat of a Hummer
Limo and the recording executive asks you
how bad do you want this contract. Would
you sell your soul for the moment? Would you
compromise your standards (assuming that
you have any) and risk being violated? There is
nothing wrong with being beautiful or sexy, but
there has to be a line drawn between looking
like a call girl/hooker or a thug. It’s bad when
you have to resort to tacky outfits to compensate for the lack of talent and more attention is
given to what you wear on stage than how you
sound.
Curt
3
Courtesy of Lionsgate
In Theaters September 3 2010
From director James C. Strouse (Grace is Gone) comes THE WINNING SEASON starring Sam Rockwell as an
adult misfit who is brought on to coach the local girl’s high school basketball team. THE WINNING SEASON costars Emma Roberts, and also stars Rob Corddry, Shareeka Epps, Emily Rios and Margo Martindale.
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