Ask Blackie

Vanessa Bell Calloway is back on TV and giving Jada Pinkett Smith’s character, on the TNT drama series ‘HawthoRNe,’ a run for her money.

While she’s done numerous film and TV roles, many fans will remember the Cleveland native from her roles in films such as ‘Coming to America’ as Eddie Murphy’s bride-to-be, ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’ with Angela Bassett, and ‘Biker Boyz’ with Laurence Fishburne.

Daytime soap fans also recall Calloway as Yvonne Caldwell when she was on ‘All My Children’ opposite iconic character Jesse and Angie Hubbard.

Black Voices caught up to the much-missed actress (who popped up on episodes of BET’s reality show ‘Baldwin Hills’ a few years ago).

The platinum-selling music superstar is lending her name and using her influence for something other than promoting a product. The ‘Pon De Replay’ singer is urging her fans to help save the life of Shannon Tavarez, an 11-year-old star of Broadway’s hit musical ‘The Lion King’ who was recently diagnosed with acute leukemia.

“Being a performer myself I know what it’s like to be given the opportunity of a lifetime at a young age, and I would have been destroyed if that was taken away from me,” the Def Jam Records chart topper and CoverGirl spokeswoman said. “Shannon deserves to live and share her beautiful voice with the world.”

Rihanna, who Tavarez considers her idol, got wind of her plight and felt she had to do something to help – urging her fans to register with DKMS atWWW.GETSWABBED.ORG to save Shannon’s life and the lives of other leukemia patient’s life.

Tavarez, who performed four shows a week as young Nala in ‘Lion King,’ needs a bone marrow transplant. Her mother is African American, and her father is Dominican. According to a spokesperson, only 8 percent of the 7 million registered donors are African American, which means that only 17 percent of African Americans in need of a transplant will receive one.

“When I found out, it hit me really hard, like someone was throwing a ball at me,” said the talented tween, who currently lives at Schneider Children’s Hospital in Long Island, where she receives daily chemotherapy treatments. “It was shocking and I thought, why me?”

Fonzworth Bentley had no shame putting a ring on it.

The MTV ‘From G’s to Gents’ reality star quietly got engaged to actress Faune Chambers at the top of the year and is finally sharing the good news with the world.

“I tricked her! She thought it would happen on Christmas, but I did it right before New Year’s,” Bentley, 36, told Us Magazine.

“She said yes, and I was so excited.”

The ‘Advance Your Swagger’ author, who is best known for being Diddy’s assistant and umbrella holder, proposed with a 3-carat asscher-cut diamond. Waiting to meet the newly engaged couple were their parents.

Bentley, whose real name is Derrick Watkins, proposed to his fiancé near their hometown of Atlanta.

Chambers, who co-starred in the Oscar-nominated film ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,’ has also made appearances on ‘The Game’ and ‘All of Us.’

The world was Lena Horne’s stage, and she owned it!

A fearless performer and activist, her passing last month saddened those who respected her work and loved her talent.

The Brooklyn, New York native got her first stage job — at the age of 16 — dancing and singing at the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem, where she was mentored by the likes of Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway.

Her undeniable talent took her to Broadway where she was able to display her acting chops, and in the 1940s Horne signed a landmark deal with MGM Studios (becoming the highest paid black actor at the time).

Remembered for such films as ‘Cabin In The Sky,’ ‘Swing Fever,’ and ‘Stormy Weather’ (of which the title song became her signature song), the Tony Award-winning, Grammy Award-winning diva was adamant about not playing stereotypical roles.

In commemoration of what would have been her 93rd birthday, we celebrate the life and times of the late, great, legendary Lena Horne.

Bob Marley and Peter Tosh will be honored in their native island of Jamaica when the nation’s music museum opens next year in Kingston.

A number of artifacts will be on display that are associated with the two reggae musicians, including the album Marley produced before he became famous - Martha Velez’s Escape from Babylon – and a cassette tape that features Tosh performing a blues track with Rolling Stones stars Keith Richards and Mick Jagger in 1977.

The museum archive is filled mainly with the donations of local music enthusiasts. In January of 2008, however, a large amount of historic film footage and thousands of original records were stolen from the preservationist archive.

A date has not yet been set for the opening of the Jamaica Music Museum in Kingston. It will be operated by the government through the Institute of Jamaica, which oversees cultural affairs.

Freedom from structure. Freedom from form. Freedom from the limits of time. Poet Russell Goings has no problem breaking the mold in his poetry, as was made clear when he spoke at Fairfield University on the evening of Thursday, February 18th in the library multimedia room.

Author of The Children of Children Keep Coming, an epic poem drawing upon the influences of griot songs to creatively express African American history, Russell Goings has led an incredibly full and interesting life. He was the first African American to hold a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, played professional football for the Buffalo Bills, trained pilots for the U.S. Air Force, and foundedEssence Magazine.

John Dankosky of WNPR News Radio facilitated the panel discussion about Goings’ unique style. The panel also included University of North Carolina Professor and folklorist of African American literature Glen Henson, as well as Fairfield English Professor Kim Bridgford who mentored Goings during the writing of The Children of Children Keep Coming.

To introduce the audience to his book, Goings read excerpts in his slow, soothing voice. The words from The Children of Children Keep Coming held a certain lyrical beauty.

After the readings, when WNPR host John Dankosky asked Goings why he chose to write like a griot, Goings explained, “It’s not a sonnet, gospel, poem, or any of that. It’s the music that comes from the soul of who we are as African Americans. It has a spirit to it. I don’t want to be enslaved anymore, freedom! I don’t want to be stuck with the structure after all those years of being enslaved. I don’t want the European form, I want the black form. Does that make sense? I need to be free!”

Like Goings, Henson appreciates the griot, pointing out that times isn’t linear with the griot. For instance, Goings created a world which collapses time to evoke the power of the ancients. In a sense, the griot gives shout-outs to those who came before by making them a part of the present. The idea of the griot can even be seen in modern day hip-hop. Hip-hop often times consists of taking different parts of songs and putting them together, like a musical collage. In the mixing and matching, something new is always being created.

This panel was the first of a 3-part series for Fairfield dedicated to fostering discussion about Goings’ poetry. There’s no doubt that those who attended will be looking forward to more on-campus experiences of the charisma, grandeur, and the epic personality of Russell Goings.

Jimmy Cliff already holds the Order of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by his native Jamaica, where the reggae legend stands alongside Bob Marley and Peter Tosh in the genre’s Mt. Rushmore. Now, he deservedly follows Marley from the reggae world into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he will be inducted by longtime admirer and friendWyclef Jean.

The accolade comes at a perfect time for Cliff, who will release a new album, ‘Existence,’ this year and gets set for his first major US tour in five years, including dates at Bonnaroo and the Hollywood Bowl, this summer. On the eve of his induction, the elegant and gracious Cliff spoke with Spinner about his influence on the likes of the Grateful Dead and Keith Richards, the enduring impact of ‘The Harder They Come’ and about finally getting to the next level in the US.

Where were you when you found out you’d been selected?

When I first heard, I was in New York City. I had just finished a tribute to the president of Ghana, and after I came offstage somebody said, “Congratulations.” I said, “Thank you. For what?” I thought he meant for my performance. But he said, “No, you’ve just been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” I said, “Oh.” I had not heard anything.

You’re only the second reggae artist, after Bob Marley, to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Do you feel like then you’re carrying the torch for the genre with your induction?

The way I look at it, in the genre of reggae music I was there at almost the commencement of it, so I played my role there. Bob Marley came after, so I did a lot of things internationally before anyone else. So I’ve always seen my role as one of like a shepherd, one who opens the gate. So who opens the gate has to close it.

You’re doing an extensive US tour this year, as well. Was that planned to coincide with this or was that just a happy coincidence?

Actually, it was planned ’cause I have not toured the US for five years out of choice. And I just said, “OK, it’s time. I want to go tour the US again.” And then that came about, so it all coincided together.

What made this the right time to tour the US, then?

I wanted to come back to the US on a new footing, and the new footing now is I have a new album, which I’m very excited about. I have a movie planned, which may go into production this year. And with all of those things going on, I just feel like now is the time to go back into the US.

‘Existence,’ your new album, comes out later in the year. Who are you working with on the record?

All young creative Jamaican musicians; they’re all young, they’re all fresh, and they’re all just roaring to go. I love to do that. Throughout my career, I’ve always liked to touch on who’s new.

How much does working with that young blood inspire you as a musician?

Fantastically. I bring to them my songs and when they heard the songs they became more excited. So that really motivates me, ’cause the encouragement and appreciation is something we all need in everything we do.

You can’t get more appreciation than being into a Hall of Fame. What does it mean to you then?

OK, it’s a stepping stone to another level of success. It’s a journey that I’ve been on, and this stop on the journey is really an exciting one and a great stepping stone to the other level.

What do you hope for the other level to be?

Well, I have established myself, along with the music that I helped create. And I’ve played stadiums in Africa and certain parts of South America, but I’ve not done that in the US. I’ve done it some parts of Europe, so that is something I look forward to doing. I have made, like, four movies. My first love was acting, and that’s another area that I have to explore much more extensively. So, yeah, there’s a lot more to be done.

In a lot of respects, over here for people the music and film started off intertwined when it comes to your career because of ‘The Harder They Come.’ But then you continued making music. So do you feel like in a way film has been overlooked?

In one way, however, I focus myself in the musical area, and, like, two, three, four years after the movie came out, there were still a few roles coming. But not roles I felt I wanted to do, and because I had my music to fall back on I just say, “When the right one comes along.”

There are many great artists on the Bonnaroo lineup. Who are you excited to see and are there any old friends you’re looking forward to catching up with?

I’ve met Stevie Wonder and I’ve always been a big fan. I’m a fan of Jay-Z, I’ve met Dave Matthews, we’ve done one tour together. So it’ll be great to catch up with those people again if at all possible.

You’re a fan of Jay-Z and Dave Matthews. Are there artists you really feel are carrying on the spirit of the music you started in terms of social consciousness and telling stories?

A lot that I’ve seen in different genres of music, from rap to rock to R&B, even in country because somebody like a country legend like Willie Nelson has done a version of ‘The Harder They Come.’ And rock legends like the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards in particular, have covered also songs of mine, and the list goes on. So many of the artists that I’ve seen are influenced and inspired by the music that I have created and it is gratifying to see that and encouraging for me because I do feel like my greater work is yet to be done.

Are there any covers of your songs that stand out as favorites?

Well, I appreciated all of them. There was a song that was done by the Grateful Dead when Jerry Garcia was around, called ‘Struggling Man,’ and I was really amazed when I first saw him perform that song in his own rock way. That one really touched me a lot. I have to say I like a lot the version [of 'Many Rivers To Cross'] of Nilsson, which John Lennon produced because I loved some of the work of Nilsson I heard in the past and I really liked the way they both collaborated on that one.

Now, let’s switch it around to your covers. You’ve done stuff like Cat Stevens’ ‘Wild World.’

As a songwriter what is one song you wish you could have written, and why?

There are a quite a few, but let me just name one: I would have to say Paul Simon andArt Garfunkel, ‘The Boxer.’ Boxing has always been my favorite sport because when I look at boxing it makes me see that this is really what life is. The boxer has in his corner all his trainers, his handlers, his manager, everyone that’s around him. But when the time comes to step into that ring, he’s by himself, he has to defend himself in there, and for me, that’s really how life is.

Wyclef Jean is inducting you into the Hall of Fame. Talk about your friendship.

Well, I’m a great fan of Wyclef, as well; as a creative person, he’s brilliant. And we’ve done some work in the very early stages before Fugees even broke big, in his basement studio. And then my last album, but we’ve seen each other on and off in that time since my last album. And then we did a track off that album. So, yeah, it’s a very artistic and brotherly respect, because we’re also neighbors in terms of coming out in the Caribbean there.

Who are you looking forward to seeing at the ceremony?

Well, I’ve always been a fan of Genesis, from Peter Gabriel, when he was with them, and when they broke away and did separate albums. I understand that Genesis won’t be performing, but I would love to see them perform all together. I love Abba’s music. The Stooges are great, and the Hollies, I knew the Hollies when I lived in England. So either of them will be a great pleasure for me to see.

What three Jimmy Cliff songs would you send people to who are just getting to know your music?

The movie ‘The Harder They Come’ and the title track, along with so many other songs on that soundtrack. But I would think because people are so familiar with that song and the movie, which was such a great inspiration, maybe that song. And then of course there is ‘Many Rivers to Cross,’ which is also one of those songs that touches so many generations. And an inspirational song like ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want.’ [Barack Obama] has used the slogan of “Yes we can” and got elected. And it’s always a song of hope and inspiration: “You can get it if you really want.” So I think those are three Jimmy Cliff songs that people would look forward to.

JOHANNESBURG — Three men accused of murdering the South African reggae star Lucky Dube were found guilty here on Tuesday, just hours after two of them tried to bolt from custody on the way back to their trial.

Mr. Dube (pronounced doo-bay) was an internationally famous musician, and his murder during a botched carjacking in October 2007 once again brought the appalling rate of violent crime in South Africa to the world’s attention.

A recording artist with a strong social conscience, Mr. Dube, 43, had worked with Peter Gabriel, Sinead O’Connor and other Western artists. He often sang about the evils of crime, of houses broken into and bullets fired, wanting criminals to see their misdeeds through the eyes of their victims. He was killed while dropping off his two teenage children at his brother’s house in Rosettenville, near downtown Johannesburg.

Mr. Dube left behind a wife and seven children. After Tuesday’s verdict was read, his wife was too emotional to talk with reporters, but his son Thokozani, who had witnessed the crime, said, “We can now have closure.”

More than a dozen armed officers oversaw the proceedings after two of the defendants earlier tried to escape while guards transferred them from a truck to the courtroom basement. One prisoner hit a policeman in the face with a brick, according to a police captain quoted in a local news account of the episode. Warning shots were then fired, and the defendants were subdued in a scuffle. They arrived in court with their heads bandaged.

The three convicted men, S’fiso Mhlanga, Mbuti Mabe and Julius Gxowa, will be sentenced after a hearing where mitigating evidence can be presented. The death penalty has been banned in South Africa, though the Dube case has been cited by those who want its return.

The nation’s homicide rate, while declining, is among the worst. In 2006, it was about eight times more than the United States’ and 20 times higher than Western Europe’s, according to Antony Altbeker, a criminologist. Electrified barbed wire surrounds many of the finest homes in Johannesburg. South Africa exceeds international norms in its number of police officers, and by some estimates there are more than four times as many private security guards as police officers, with most companies promising their clients “armed response.”

Criminologists have long puzzled over not only the nation’s high crime rate but also the unusual amount of homicide and torture that accompanies burglaries and carjackings.

Mr. Dube had been driving a late-model Chrysler luxury sedan. According to the trial testimony of Mpho Maruping, who knew the accused men, they had been looking for just such an automobile the day of the crime.

The three men did not realize that they had killed someone both famous and widely beloved until they read the newspapers the next day. They had thought their victim “was a Nigerian,” Ms. Maruping said.