The Urban Music Scene: Books, Arts. Movies & Misc.

New Audiobook - "Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktakes" to be Released July 7th, 2009

Star-Studded Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales Audiobook to be Released July 7


LOS ANGELES, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Nelson Mandela, Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA) and Hachette Audio produced an audiobook edition of Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales,an award-winning book of stories hand-picked by the Nobel laureate.Diverse, acclaimed performers donated their talents to the charitableendeavor by voicing stories: Gillian Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, LeVar Burton, Ricardo Chavira, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Hayes, Hugh Jackman, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Debra Messing, Helen Mirren, Parminder Nagra, Sophie Okonedo, CCH Pounder, Alan Rickman, Jurnee Smollett, Charlize Theron, Blair Underwood, Forest Whitaker, and Alfre Woodard. Archbishop Desmond Tutu recorded a message to the world's children, and African music legends Johnny Clegg and Vusi Mahlasela composed original music. Academy Award(R) nominee, Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) winner Alfre Woodard, who co-founded ANSA in 1989, served as the audiobook's director. She said, "I was privileged to be with Nelson Mandela last year in London,where he challenged us, saying, '...our work is far from complete.Where there is poverty and sickness, including AIDS, where human beingsare oppressed, there is more work to be done. It is in your hands now.'With this audiobook, ANSA pays tribute to our friend and hero, Nelson Mandela.It will take the hands of all mankind to lift that burden and carry onthe work. We hope you will join us and support this effort." Recorded in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, London, and Johannesburg, the audiobook is published and distributed by Hachette Audio, a division of Hachette Book Group, a subsidiary of Hachette Livre, thesecond largest publisher in the world. The performers, director,producers, engineers, designers, attorneys, manufacturers, and studiosall donated their services, as did Grammy(R) winning mastering engineerGavin Lurssen. Samuel L. Jackson, a leading ANSA supporter,commented, "I've traveled with ANSA to rural villages and met childrenwhose lives will be changed by this audiobook. This is our way ofhonoring Mr. Mandela, by assisting children who are the future of hisnation and our world." "We hope the audiobook will be enjoyed by people of all ages,increasing awareness of Africa's rich cultures while creating a betterfuture for South Africa's vulnerable children," said ANSA Executive Director Sharon Gelman. In his foreword for the book, Nelson Mandela wrote, "It is my wish that the voice of the storyteller may never die in Africa,that all the children of the world may experience the wonder of books."The audiobook brings these timeless tales to a new oral tradition to beheard around the world. ANSA is a nonprofit organization working in South Africaand the U.S. to combat HIV/AIDS, assist children orphaned by thedisease, educate and empower youth, advance human rights, and buildbonds between our nations through arts, culture, and the shared pursuitof social justice. www.mandelasfavoritefolktales.com

Artists for a New South Africa

Posted by Administration at 7/1/2009 4:46 PM | Add Comment

New Stage Play - "Chariot" - is Coming to Hollywood, Ca.

"Chariot" a New Stage Play
Is Coming Forth to Hollywood

With Themes of Racism, Homophobia
and Finally Acceptance,
"Chariot" Brings its Audience Home

Hollywood, CA - Theater lovers will be elevated and emancipated when "Chariot" an explosive drama by Steven Lee arrives to the legendary Stella Adler Theatre, July 16 through September 2. Directed by Cary Thompson, "Chariot" dips deep into the inner mechanics of the Hills, a dysfunctional Black family living in the San Fernando valley, right outside of Los Angeles, in 1987.

It's hard to really know the Hill family. Their secrets are brushed over with a broad smile and ridicule nullifies even the most serious of discussions. In this family even the unique aria of the soul is stamped out. No one can be gay. No one can be black. No one can be fully human. Assimilating in an all white suburban community, the Hills live on a dead end cul-de-sac of cookie cutter houses and sugary sweet smiles and no real life. The Hill family has become just like the neighbors they complain about. As one character puts it, in this family, "everybody is dead. You step over their dead bodies in the living room and talk to ghosts in the chairs."

Still Angela Hill, the detached matriarch of the Hill clan, is trying to keep everything that isn't together--together. Her alcoholic son who she claims is not an alcoholic. Her angry daughter who she pretends does not hate her. Her gay son who has no pride in his sexuality and she would like to keep it that way. A deceased son from three years prior who no one can speak about, and the ominous Frank, her schizophrenic husband , who will not come out of his room. Who will help them?

"Chariot" is an uncompromising presentation exploring topics not readily tackled in Black theater presentations. Self-loathing, racism, religious oppression and spiritually are themes that lay the foundation for this explosive production.

Explains Lee, "'Chariot' is a mission piece for me. Its message is not only powerful but also so very necessary. We must not allow any myths: societal expectations, cultural mandates, stereotypes, and religious misinterpretations, to take us off our purpose. That purpose is for each of us to express gratitude for being unique and be grateful for the uniqueness in others. Truly, as a character says in the play, we cannot wait for some mythical chariot to come and take us away. No more folklore, 'we must be our own chariot.'"

"Chariot" features a cast that includes De'Garryan Andrews, Cassandra Braden, Nadjah Dabney, Cai Handley, Gayle LaRone, Hardia Madden Jr. and RonNell Weaver.

"Chariot" will run Thursday through Saturdays, July 16 through September 2 nightly at 8:00 p.m. with 3:00 Sunday matinees. The Stella Adler Theatre is located at 6773 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood, CA. Reservations can be made by calling 323-960-7788 and for further information log on at http://www.plays4 http://www.plays411.com/chariot 11.com/chariot,

Jazzmyne PR

Posted by Administration at 6/29/2009 11:56 AM | Add Comment

The Ghosts of Harlem: New Book by Hank O'Neal

The Ghosts of Harlem: New Book by Hank O'Neal to Hit Stores in July

HANK O’NEAL, AUTHOR/PHOTOGRAPHER, TAKES 24-YEAR JOURNEY THROUGH HARLEM

NEW BOOK & CD HIGHLIGHT HISTORY OF RENOWNED NEIGHBORHOOD AND MUSICIANS WHO LIVED IN AND LOVED HARLEM

(NASHVILLE, TN) Music producer, author, photographer and former CIA agent, Hank O’Neal has plenty of experiences from which to draw inspiration. It would be easy to assume that it was O’Neal’s stint as a spy that gave him the ability to walk into Harlem homes of jazz legends and come out with amazing stories and photographs. However, it is more likely that it was O’Neal’s love of jazz, knowledge of music and easy-going personality that made 42 musicians pour out personal tales that became THE GHOSTS OF HARLEM: Sessions with Jazz Legends (Vanderbilt University Press, July 2009).

From 1985 – 2007, O’Neal interviewed artists who made music in Harlem during the community’s heyday and decline. He took their portraits with a large-format view camera and talked with them about jazz venues, racial interaction and why the Harlem music scene faded. Supplemented with many of his other photographs as well as memorabilia and historical photos, the book is accompanied by a CD that O’Neal produced from the archives of his record company, Chiaroscuro Records, featuring music by 17 of the “ghosts, ” including Cab Calloway, Milt Hinton, Doc Cheatham, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Tate, Eddie Barefield, Earl Hines and Illinois Jacquet, performing between 1972 and 1996.

The “ghost” stories are personal reminiscences of some of the jazz world’s leading musicians. As comfortable with O’Neal as with any insider, the performers talk openly about their life in Harlem, music in general, the people they knew, the places they played and what made Harlem a city within a city.

O’Neal tells delightful stories; many made it to print, others are memories that can be easily coaxed out of the photographer. For instance, one of O’Neal’s first interviews was with the guitarist Eddie Durham. After a long interview and photo session, O’Neal, Durham and the drummer Kelly Martin headed to O’Neal’s car that was parked in the upper 130s. The neighborhood was a bit rougher than it is today and Durham asked, ”Don’t you feel a little nervous bringing your car up here and leaving it on the street?” A couple of steps later, they reached Hank’s “sad little New York street car.” Durham looked at it and said, “Well, I guess you don’t.” They never finished the interview, because Durham got a gig out of New York and unfortunately passed away within a month of his return to the city.

Then there was a meeting with Dizzy Gillespie. O’Neal was never allowed to sit in the trumpeter’s immaculate living room, but was always ushered to Dizzy’s magnificent music room in the basement. “Everything with Dizzy always took longer than expected, and the day of my photo session was no different, ” said O’Neal. Before they could get started, Dizzy asked the photographer about a camera – a circa mid-1950s Rolleiflex – that was giving him trouble. Hank had a camera just like it, so he was able to make it work. But, by the time he finished with the repairs, they both were out of time. O’Neal came back a week later and captured what some say is one of the best photos of Dizzy in his later life. It is also the only portrait of a musician that Hank is allowed to hang in the living room of his home.

The last of the important big band leaders still living in Harlem, Andy Kirk lived at 555 Edgecombe Avenue, one of the best buildings in Sugar Hill. Lena Horne, Joe Louis and a host of other notables also lived there. As O’Neal was entering the building with his expensive cameras, a group of tough looking kids approached him. His instincts told him he was in trouble, but his desire for survival and love of his cameras told him to say something good and fast. He launched into a conversation about all of the famous people who had lived in the building. He kept them enthralled until the elevator came and he was able to make a break for it. Then, he entered Kirk’s apartment, where the band leader told O’Neal more stories about watching games at the Polo Grounds for free from his living room, life on the road in the 30’s, working with Mary Lou Williams and his desire to assemble a 16-piece band to play his music. Kirk didn’t hit the road with a new big band, but O’Neal was definitely armed with interesting stories when he exited the building.
O’Neal visited Maxine Sullivan in her Ritter Place home in the Bronx on numerous occasions. They talked about gigs in Harlem and on 52nd Street. After the interview was finished, he turned off the tape recorder and moved to his cameras. Everyone who knew Sullivan knew that she liked her clothes and her wigs. “She was wearing a blue jumpsuit, red shoes, no makeup and no wig. She looked at me and said simply, ‘What you see is what you get.’ That was enough for me and the pictures came out very well.”
Ms. Sullivan’s declaration is actually the recurring theme throughout THE GHOSTS OF HARLEM – what you see is what you get. And, what the reader sees and gets is a stellar journey throughout world-famous Harlem USA through the eyes of a spy, photographer, author and music producer Hank O’Neal.

About Hank O’Neal

Hank O’Neal is equally well known as a music producer, author and photographer. As a child growing up in Texas (born in Kilgore in 1940), he first experienced the joys of photography when he watched his father print World War II pictures and family portraits in a kitchen darkroom. At age 12, he won a Brownie Hawkeye camera in a drawing and soon began taking and processing his own pictures. Following the War, the O’Neals moved to Syracuse, NY, and Hank attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before graduating from Syracuse University in 1962.

Prior to graduation, Hank was introduced to a representative from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and ultimately accepted employment with the organization. He reported for duty in 1963 and remained with the CIA for 13 years. The nature of his employment allowed him the flexibility of pursuing other interests, including photography and music. He moved to New York from Washington, DC, in 1967 and still lives in the culturally-diverse Greenwich Village.

During 40 years in the music business, O’Neal formed two record companies (Chiaroscuro Records and Hammond Music Enterprises), owned and operated two recording studios, produced more than 200 jazz records and 100 music festivals (with his partner Shelly Shier) and served on the boards of various non-profit organizations, including the Jazz Foundation of America, the Jazz Museum in Harlem, the Jazz Gallery and the Jazz and Contemporary Program of The New School.

In addition to THE GHOSTS OF HARLEM (which was published in French in 1997), O’Neal also authored THE EDDIE CONDON SCRAPBOOK OF JAZZ (1973), A VISION SHARED (1976), CHARLIE PARKER: THE FUNKY BLUES DATE (1995), GAY DAY: THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE CHRISTOPHER STREET PARADE (2006) and BERENIECE ABBOTT (2008), about his long-time friend, teacher and fellow photographer.

Now equipped with a Leica, Nikon, Rolleiflex, Deardorff and other cameras more advanced than his first Brownie Hawkeye, Hank O’Neal continues to shoot whatever “pleases or astonishes” his eye. His portraits have been on exhibit at galleries and museums across the nation, including The Witkin Gallery, The Howard Greenburg Gallery and The Longview Museum of Fine Arts in Texas. Exhibits to showcase THE GHOSTS OF HARLEM are scheduled for the Jazz Museum in Harlem in July and the WBGO-FM Jazz Gallery in August. For more information, visit hankonealphoto.com.

Posted by Administration at 6/22/2009 6:57 AM | Add Comment

ARISE Africa Fashion Awards

ARISE Africa Fashion Awards Brings Week of Global Style Showcase to an Exciting Finale


R&B Superstar R. Kelly to Perform For The First Time Ever in Africa JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, 20 June 2009, the inaugural ARISE Africa Fashion Awards will bring ARISE Africa Fashion Week (June 12th - 20th) to an exciting conclusion, with one designer winning the once-in-a-lifetime chance to present at New York Fashion Week in the ARISE Africa Rising show in September. A world-class launching pad for the continent's most promising designers, ARISE Africa Fashion Week -- presented by ARISE Magazine and produced by African Fashion International (AFI) -- will present dozens of collections from across Africa, in Johannesburg. The awards ceremony will take place at the Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, in the sumptuous Pavilion Room from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. A panel of fashion insiders and experts will present awards to designers and models in several categories, including Designer of the Year, New Face of the Year and an Award for Innovation. In addition, esteemed humanitarian, philanthropist and former First Lady of France Cecilia Attias will deliver the keynote address, "The Promise of Africa." Recently she founded the Cecilia Attias Foundation to support non-governmental organizations in the improvement of women's lives globally. Nduka Obaigbena, ARISE founder and THISDAY GROUP Chairman, said, "The moment for Africa is upon us. At this time of global economic crisis, the people of Africa must turn disadvantage into opportunity and show the world that we are witnessing the first green shoots of the emerging African century. We have all it takes and we're going for it!" Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Founder of Africa Fashion Week and the Africa Fashion Awards, said, "Our goal is to promote and recognize the best of African fashion talent on a global scale and the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards is a further step towards fulfillment of this goal." Nduka Obaigbena and African Fashion International Chairperson, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to a surprise honoree. Among the event's highlights will be a command performance from international, platinum-selling recording artist R. Kelly. R. Kelly's appearance at the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards kicks off a multi-city tour through Africa and ends in London. R.Kelly said, "I'm very excited about my first visit to Africa, I've dreamed about this for a long time and it's finally here. It will be one of the highlights of not only my career but my life. I can't wait to perform in front of my fans in Africa -- who have been some of the best in the world." THISDAY Music and Fashion Festivals, have brought music and fashion icons as well as world and business leaders, to Lagos, Abuja, London and Washington, DC, including Bill Clinton, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Usher and many more. ARISE Africa Fashion Week launches at a unique moment in history. The U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama's preference for young, multicultural designers, European fashion houses' rage for African motifs and Italian Vogue's recent best-selling issue on black style all point to an unprecedented opportunity for African designers. The ARISE Africa Fashion Awards will train the spotlight on the source of all this inspiration, Africa, and will provide a platform from which its gifted designers can launch international careers and businesses. ARISE Africa Fashion Week has already confirmed the participation of over 51 of the best African fashion designers from 20 countries and all regions of the continent. ARISE Africa Fashion Week is set to become an annual event hosted by different countries on the continent each year following 2010, with Nigeria expected to host the event in 2011. Organizers, African Fashion International, are confident that it will become one of the world's major perennial, must-attend fashion events. THISDAY Music Festival Starring R. Kelly, Presented by ARISE Magazine, tour schedule: Saturday, June 27th at the Superbowl in Sun City Monday, June 29th at the Grand West Casino in Cape Town Friday, July 3rd at the THISDAY Dome in Abuja, Nigeria Saturday, July 4th and Sunday, July 5th in Lagos, Nigeria Wednesday, July 8th at Wembley Arena in London, UK Tickets will be available at Computicket. www.computicket.com ARISE Magazine ARISE, launched in February 2009, is the world's first magazine on global African style, culture, business and politics. Produced in London, ARISE is published by THISDAY Media Group, Leaders & Company Ltd, one of Africa's leading daily news outlets. THISDAY events, including the THISDAY Awards and THISDAY Music and Fashion Festivals, have brought music and fashion icons as well as world and business leaders to Lagos, Abuja, London and Washington, DC, including Bill Clinton, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Usher and many more. ARISE is aimed at a readership throughout the global African Diaspora with an interest in the cultural successes and positive social developments coming out of the continent. Its editorial content and quality are tailored to appeal to young and affluent readers. ARISE is published by THISDAY Media Group, Leaders & Company Ltd. +44 207 292 8900 +44 207 440 1100 www.arisemagazine.net African Fashion International (AFI) African Fashion International (AFI), founded, owns and operates the African continent's most anticipated and directional fashion weeks, namely Cape Town Fashion Week, Durban Fashion Week (50% ownership), Audi JoBurg Fashion Week (autumn/winter), JoBurg Fashion Week (spring/summer) and Arise Africa Fashion Week, in addition to other fashion-related strategic marketing initiatives. AFI values key company traits of excellence, innovation, transformation, development, relationship building and integrity. AFI strives to be globally recognized as the leading authority on African fashion-related strategic marketing initiatives and African fashion brands. AFI aims to improve the quality of fashion design output from Africa, to promote African brands, and to dramatically raise the profile of fashion designers from the continent. AFI is spearheaded by Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Chairperson. +27 11 269 6960 www.africanfashioninternational.com

ARISE Africa Fashion Awards

Posted by Administration at 6/16/2009 12:08 PM | Add Comment

NBA All-Star Legend Shaquille O'Neal Partners With Powerhouse Producer Jeff Clanagan to Produce the ALL-STAR COMEDY JAM Series

NBA All-Star Legend Shaquille O'Neal Partners With Powerhouse Producer Jeff Clanagan to Produce the ALL-STAR COMEDY JAM Series

THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THE ALL-STAR COMEDY JAM HOSTED BY CEDRIC "THE ENTERTAINER" SET TO PREMIERE ON SHOWTIME - WEDNESDAY JUNE 17TH

THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF THE SERIES TO BE FILMED AT THE UPCOMING 13TH ANNUAL AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

NEW YORK CITY, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal teams up with the pioneering Producer and CEO of Codeblack Entertainment Jeff Clanagan to present the ALL-STAR COMEDY JAM series. Featuring some of the most celebrated stand-up comics, the series will provide sidesplitting, no holds barred hilarity on topics ranging from America's new president to shopping at Target.

The ALL-STAR COMEDY JAM series recaptures the spirit of past successful franchises like The Kings of Comedy series, and features some of today's hottest urban comics. It also provides the up-and-coming comedians with an opportunity to showcase their creativity and perform alongside the stalwarts of comedy.

On his partnership with the NBA Legend, says Clanagan, "I am thrilled to collaborate with NBA's most distinguished athlete on these multi-star live comedy events. This partnership will help expand Codeblack's reach into television and further cement our desire to both develop and produce exciting entertainment projects from their inception as a live event through to their subsequent telecast."

Given Shaquille O'Neal's entrepreneurial aspirations this project marks a natural evolution of his brand. "I am excited to partner with a veteran like Jeff Clanagan and I am thrilled to be venturing into the comedy and television world."

At the inaugural show, filmed before a spirited crowd in Phoenix, AZ, the night before this year's NBA All-Star Game, the Original King of Comedy Cedric "The Entertainer" performs 30 minutes of his latest material in between comedy sets by fellow comedians such as Tommy Davidson (In Living Color), Kevin Hart (Soul Plane), Aries Spears (Mad TV), and DeRay Davis.

The ALL STAR COMEDY JAM series, directed by Leslie Smalls, premieres on SHOWTIME on Wednesday JUNE 17th, and kicks off Showtime network's LAUGH OUT LOUD comedy initiative that has become a hub for diverse, no-holds barred comedy for premium television audiences.

The highly anticipated second installment of the ALL STAR COMEDY JAM series will be filmed live at the 13th annual American Black Film Festival on June 26th in Miami and premiere on SHOWTIME in January, 2010. Comedy genius DL Hughley will host this stand-up special alongside some of the industry's most talented and sought after comedians - Earthquake, Arnez J, Lavell Crawford and Melanie Comarcho.

For more information on All-Star Comedy Jam, visit www.allstarcomedyjam.com.

ABOUT CODEBLACK ENTERTAINMENT LLC

Codeblack Enterprises LLC is the first African American-owned new media & entertainment company. Codeblack Enterprises' reach is all-encompassing, from production and national distribution of feature films to its innovative e-commerce arm. The company's portfolio consists of Codeblack Entertainment and Codeblack Interactive. Codeblack Entertainment is the first African American-owned film studio, engaged in the business of producing, acquiring, marketing and distributing quality content to today's urban consumer across a variety of traditional and digital platforms. The studio, which is both independent and vertically integrated, was created out of the necessity for the positive representation of African Americans in film. Codeblack Interactive focuses on distributing content across digitally interactive platforms, including global distribution to mobile and digital carriers such as Codeblack TV, a broadband on-demand channel, by which viewers can download, stream and deliver Codeblack properties over the internet. The company's home on the Web is http://www.codeblack.com/default.aspx.

Codeblack Entertainment

Posted by Administration at 6/16/2009 12:04 PM | Add Comment

Bob Marley's Son, Rohan Marley, Launches 'Marley Coffee'

Rohan Marley, Son of Legendary Musician Bob Marley, Announces Launch of Marley Coffee

Operations of the Organic Coffee Purveyor to be Handled through US and Canadian Distribution Centers

LOS ANGELES, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Rohan Marley is pleased to announce the launch of Marley Coffee (www.marleycoffee.com), a certified organic coffee brand cultivated from the Marley family farm in Jamaica.

The brainchild of long time friends Rohan Marley and Shane Whittle, the company is a labor of love and a tribute to Rohan's father, Bob Marley. "My father came from the farmland in Nine Mile. There, he learned a deep respect for nature and humanity--respect that helped guide his life and ours. He said he would return to the farm one day. That was his dream," said Rohan.

Bob Marley's dream has now become a reality, which is very much alive in the company's core philosophy ITAL, meaning for all things Pure, True and Vital. ITAL is embodied in the ethical treatment of the company's farm workers on the Marley Coffee farm to the sustainable cultivation of coffee trees. Additionally, proceeds from the sale of the coffee will go to the Marley Coffee Foundation, which helps youth soccer programs in rural coffee growing regions of Jamaica.

All of the company's coffee is certified organic, with the beans sourced from the highest Class One Specialty grade. Additionally, each bag has Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, a coffee bean picked by hand and known for its distinctive floral bouquet, rich body and smooth taste. The 5 coffee blends offered are: Mystic Morning Wake Up Coffee Medium Roast, Simmer Down Organic Swiss Water Decaf, One Love Organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Lively Up! Organic 5 Bean Espresso Blend and Jammin Java Organic Bold Full City Roast.

Marley Coffee is currently available for purchase online at www.marleycoffee.com. Marley and Whittle also recently opened a Canadian facility for international distribution. And, just this week, a U.S. distribution center in Los Angeles was opened to better serve domestic customers.

For the sales hotline, call 877-528-2262; for wholesale information, call 323.465.1462; and for additional information, please contact info@marleycoffee.com.

Marley Coffee

Posted by Administration at 6/11/2009 1:25 PM | Add Comment

New Publication, "Swiss Alps" Targets affluent African Americans

New Publication

"Swiss Alps"

Targets Black Elite

Obama's Election Inspires

First Ever Invitation-Only Publication

Aimed at Affluent African Americans

San Francisco, CA - The wildly successful Panache Report.com in conjunction with their "Affluent Report" division is expanding their brand by launching the first ever "invitation-only" publication "Swiss Alps" targeting the Black elite in the following categories: Politics, Entertainment, Sports, Business and Wall Street. The wealthiest and most powerful African-Americans in this country and abroad will receive invitations.

The publication will focus on the needs of the super rich and feature articles on Swiss & Cayman banking, hedge funds, black aristocrats, secret societies, international intrigue, politics, fine wines and champagnes, luxury travel, dining, accommodations, exotic cars, private jets, yachts, powerful think tanks, etc.

Before invitations were sent out (capped at 1,500), a pre-buzz created numerous inquiries regarding "Swiss Alps." So much so, that 1,350 members have been signed up. The remaining memberships to this elite club were sent via Cartier invitations this week.

After member selection is completed and if circulation increases, new members must be nominated by existing members.

According to editor/publisher Myra Panache, "The election of President Obama has turned over a new page in history. There has always been a Black elite, but outside of celebrity, they always remained for the most part under the radar. Currently there are two invitation-only publications targeting mainstream affluence, but there has never been an invitation-only publication targeting the African American affluent, until now!"

The debut issue of "Swiss Alps" will be sent out within two weeks with several issues going to White House staff.

Panache Report.com (http://www.PanacheReport.com) has been covering entertainment since 2004. The site generates over 70 million hits per month and is viewed in 138 countries. Panache Report.com is also recognized as of the the Internet's most definitive sources for breaking news!

Jazzmyne PR

Posted by Administration at 6/10/2009 12:14 PM | Add Comment

LL Cool J Hosts Fashion Delivers' Second Annual Pay It Fashion Forward Event on June 18

LL Cool J Hosts Fashion Delivers' Second Annual Pay It Fashion Forward Event on June 18


NEW YORK, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 18, 2009, Fashion Delivers will host the second annual Pay It Fashion Forward event at New York City's hotspot M2 beginning at 7:30 p.m. where five fashion industry vanguards will be honored for their positive influences on their communities and the environment. The brands selected this year include I/DENTI/TEE, LINDA LOUDERMILK, PHILANTHROPIST and CHLOE JO BERMAN. Additionally, the JONES APPAREL GROUP was selected for distinction as a company for its socially conscious business practices. The band Tamarama from the MTV hit series "THE CITY" will perform, and the evening will be hosted by Grammy award-winning artist and designer LL Cool J. Tickets will be sold in advance at www.fashiondelivers.org. Additionally, for each ticket sold, Earnest Sewn jeans will be donating a pair of jeans to support the relief efforts of Fashion Delivers California Campaign, a national effort to aid those most negatively affected by the global recession. Fashion Delivers is a non-profit charity dedicated to helping those in need by providing donated products from the men's, women's and home goods industry. Created during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Fashion Delivers has donated nearly 34 million dollars worth of products to those in need in the United States and around the world. For more information on Fashion Delivers, please go to www.fashiondelivers.org.

Fashion Delivers

Posted by Administration at 6/4/2009 8:25 PM | Add Comment

Best Selling Author, Jackie Christie, Inspires Black Women In Film

Best Selling Author, Jackie Christie, Inspires Black Women In Film


NBA Wife Chosen to Host the 'Black Women In Film' Tribute at The Hollywood Black Film Festival on June 6th BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., /PRNewswire/ -- Jackie Christie, multi-talented, fashion designer and author is set to host the 'Black Women In Film' Tribute at the 10th anniversary Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) on Saturday, June 6, 2009 during the 'Black Women In Film' Tribute. Christie will be speaking along the theme of inspiration and empowerment which parallels her latest third novel "Proud To Be A Colored Girl." This event is scheduled for 5:30 P.M. at the Laemmle Music Hall #3 theatre, which is located at 9036 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Christie was chosen by founder, Tanya Kersey, to host in addition to speaking during this monumental event because of her philanthropic endeavors and movement she entitles "Colored Girl" (CG). Through her CG franchise, Jackie seeks to empower and inspire women around the world, as well as provide all proceeds to aid impoverished families and single mothers everywhere. "Colored Girl" is a movement born from Christie's desire to unite women from all walks of life, nationalities and cultures. Jackie Christie aspires to remove the stigma that comes with the term, "Colored Girl." The age-old stereotyping of African American women has gone on practically unchallenged for centuries. Christie is ready to change people's way of thinking and feeling about the term. Her book, "Proud To Be A Colored Girl," is titled based on her belief that all women no matter their nationality are beautiful. "I am very honored to be taking part in the HBFF'S 10th anniversary festival to support the women in film series. As well as, pay tribute to Tanya Kersey for her dedication to the entertainment industry and the Hollywood Black Film Festival, which recognizes filmmakers from all over the world," said Jackie Christie. Jacqueline Blaylock, head of programming for the Hollywood Black Film Festival, has once again selected a dynamic slate of films helmed by African American women with a distinct point of view. The Black Women in Film Screening Program will feature the following short films: The Hands, directed by Charise Studesville; I Love You, directed by Sabrina Moella; Birthday and The Morning of, directed by Tracy Taylor; and Gideon Falls, which was directed by notable Judith McCreary. About Jackie Christie: Jackie Christie is a multi-talented model, fashion designer, producer, and author of three very popular books. She also heads the successful record label Jean Rah Fya Records, home to some of the hottest new talent in the business. The label's roster includes teen sensation Chani, R&B heart throb Bobby Tinsley, as well as the dynamic teen singing group Small Change, to name a few. About the Hollywood Black Film Festival: The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF), dubbed "The Black Sundance," is an annual 6-day celebration of black cinema drawing together established and rising filmmakers, popular film and television stars, writers, industry executives, emerging artists and diverse audiences from Southern California and around the world. The festival was founded in 1999 by its executive director, Tanya Kersey, in order to enhance the careers of emerging and established black filmmakers through a public exhibition and competition program. For More Information: www.coloredgirl.com www.hbff.org

Infinite Love Publishing

Posted by Administration at 6/3/2009 6:42 PM | Add Comment

Hollywood Black Film Festival to Screen 'InsideOut' Documentary

Hollywood Black Film festival to Screen InsideOut Documentary

Film Being Used in Nation's Classrooms to Keep Kids in School

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) will screen InsideOut, a documentary produced by The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation. InsideOut is currently being used in the nation's classrooms to combat the high school dropout rate. The film is scheduled for screening at the Festival on June 6 in Beverly Hills, California.

InsideOut is a 26-minute documentary where prison inmates promote education as a way for youth to avoid a life behind bars. In the film, Mattie C. Stewart Foundation founder Dr. Shelley Stewart interviews prison inmates who hope to give others the chance they no longer have - to avoid the pitfalls of dropping out of school and not getting an education. All of the inmates in the film are either serving life sentences or life without parole.

"We never specifically set out to make InsideOut into an artistic work, so to speak. We meant for the movie to keep kids in school and out of jail, period," Stewart said. "But if it's true that the arts inspire us to greater heights, no matter what level we are in life, then let it be called the truest form of art. We are just amazed at the lives that are being changed as a result of this documentary in our nation's schools, along with the other teaching tools that come with our program," Stewart said. The documentary comes complete with a teacher's guide and other materials that help bring the film's lessons home to students. The InsideOut program is currently being used in schools in 39 states across the country.

The HBFF is in its tenth year. Often referred to as the Black Sundance, it draws together established filmmakers, industry leaders and Hollywood's finest to celebrate achievements made by blacks in film. Its mission is to enhance the careers of emerging and established black filmmakers through a public exhibition and competition program. The festival's goal is to play an integral role in discovering and launching independent films and filmmakers by bringing them to the attention of the industry, media and public.

Past festival features in the invitational program have included director John Singleton's 2 Fast 2 Furious; The Hurricane starring Academy Award(R) winner Denzel Washington; director Kasi Lemmons' The Caveman's Valentine starring Samuel L. Jackson; Monster's Ball starring Academy Award(R) winner Halle Berry; the Jam Master Jay documentary 2 Turntables and a Microphone; and director Reggie Rock Bythewood's Dancing in September. To learn more about The HBFF visit www.hbff.org.

To learn more about The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, visit www.mattiecstewart.org.

About The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation

The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the dropout rate. The Foundation was established in honor of Dr. Shelley Stewart's late mother, Mattie C. Stewart, in the summer of 2007 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Its primary corporate partner is o2ideas, Inc., a corporate communications and brand relations firm also based in Birmingham. The mission of the Foundation is to create tools and resources to help educators, community leaders and parents effectively address the dropout rate and increase the graduation rate. The Foundation also partners with America's Promise Alliance, the National Dropout Prevention Center and Communities In Schools. For more information, visit www.mattiecstewart.org.

The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation

Posted by Administration at 6/3/2009 6:35 PM | Add Comment

Back to Main Page

Navigation

Quick Search

Syndicate

Monthly Archives

Category Archives

Recent Entries

Video On Demand

Recent Comments

Subscribe