Prince — born Prince Rogers Nelson — was found dead at the recording studio at his Paisley Park estate in Carver County, Minnesota. There was no immediate word on a cause of death, although he had recently been hospitalized with the flu, prompting him to cancel a pair of performances.

A four-hour autopsy was conducted Friday morning but no official cause of death was announced.

A transcript of the 911 call that brought police and paramedics to his compound reflected the shock and confusion of the unidentified person who made the emergency call. He told the dispatcher he was at Prince’s house and the musician was dead, but the dispatcher had to ask him repeatedly for an address so she can send out officers and paramedics.

Finally, the paramedics arrive and eventually one told the dispatcher they were canceling their trip to the hospital because the victim was a confirmed DOA.”

A master showman, Prince created a musical style of his own, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time, thanks to hits including “When Doves Cry,” “1999,” “Raspberry Beret,” “Kiss” and “Little Red Corvette.”

His talent was on full display in the 1984 film “Purple Rain,” which became a cult sensation and propelled him to superstardom. Prince won an Oscar for best original song for “Purple Rain.” He also won seven Grammys.

“Never one to conform, he redefined and forever changed our musical landscape,” said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy.

Prince fan Julya Baer holds a candle during a vigil Thursday night in Leimert Park, paying tribute and celebrating the life of Prince. (Courtesy photo)

President Barack Obama issued a statement calling Prince “a creative icon.”

“Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince,” he said. “Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent.

“As one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time, Prince did it all. Funk. R&B. rock and roll. He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader and an electrifying performer.”

Justin Timberlake said he was “numb” and “stunned” at the news, while Ariana Grande called him “an artist who showed true creative freedom and challenged all barriers.”

Kiss frontman Paul Stanley called Prince a “truly one-of-a-kind genius.” “His influence is everywhere,” Stanley wrote on Twitter.

Lionel Richie said he was “in total shock” at the news. “So many wonderful memories. I will miss him.”

A candlelight vigil was held Thursday evening in Leimert Park with hundreds of people gathering to pay their respects to the superstar and celebrate his life.

“It hurt because that’s a lost soul, that’s music, I mean he had the soul man, I mean he had a way of wooing you, I was just listening to that guitar part, he has a way with that passion, with that music of making you feel it, and he don’t stop until you feel it,” Anthony Sheriff told Reuters.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck dropped by the vigil.

The post City Hall goes purple in tribute to Prince appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

Her recent musical episode, “Latino Heroes of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” wants the world to know that Latinos have been instrumental in every single element of rock ‘n’ roll and have made huge contributions in the musical genre.

The music editor for Latino USA wanted to tell the stories of the people that were part of rock history. She takes her listeners through time as she talks about the Latino musical characters that helped shape rock, taking you on a musical journey with her.

Reiman wants listeners who haven’t heard of these people to learn how much these Latinos greats had an influence on rock ‘n’ roll.

She wants you to discover each one of these musical pioneers.

“We wanted to shed a light on the huge role that Latinos played in rock ‘n’ roll,” Reiman said. “I want this to be an eye opener.”

Marlon Bishop

Marlon Bishop, a co-producer with Reiman, isn’t surprised that little is known about these Latino heroes.

“The history of rock ‘n’ roll is like many other histories in the United States, it’s told in black and white,” Bishop said. “Latinos are not given credit because they aren’t talked about in this musical area.”

Reiman has been a radio producer since 2005 and wants people to know that the more that this is discussed, the more it will drive home the point that there was not a then and now with Latinos in music.

“Latinos have always been in rock ‘n’ roll,” she said. “ We must show the next generation that people like you made this music.”

At Latino USA, Bishop focuses on long-form narratives, investigative projects, immigration and culture reporting.

Bishop paused during our telephone interview then he said.

“Latinos have always been in the background in rock ‘n’ roll,” Bishop said. “A lot of history has never been told because we put things in boxes. We think Latino music is for Latinos by Latinos.”

Among the people featured in Latino Heroes of Rock ‘n’ Roll are Ritchie Valens, who was a teenager when he died in a plane crash in 1959 along with Buddy Holly and other rock ‘n’ roll personalities.

Chan Romero released the hit “Hippy Hippy Shake” in 1959.

Alice Bag was the front woman of an early punk band and was known for her wild stage shows.

To hear Latino Heroes of Rock ‘n’ Roll, visit 
http://latinousa.org/episode/latino-heroes-of-rock-roll/.

Be yourself. I’m Simply Jessica JcAden. You can reach me at jess.gosnell@gmail.com.

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By now we’ve all heard of Prince’s emergency stop at the hospital after a rescheduled evening in Atlanta, as well as his recovery to greet crowds at his Paisley Park compound in Minneapolis.

Let it be documented, Prince turned it all loose April 14 at the Fox Theatre for two shows. Playing what he was feeling on the piano with a kaleidoscopic screen in the backdrop, he gave the early birds “Pop Life,” “Controversy,” “I Wanna Be Ur Lover,” and a revival rousing “Baby, I’m a Star.”

Late nighters got “Little Red Corvette,” “Diamonds and Pearls” and “Purple Rain,” prompting a sing-along with the lovely and talented Judith Hill in the next seat. “The Voice” star, who also has sung with Michael Jackson, has finished her next album and will be touring this fall.

An added treat for departing concert-goers was Prince’s “Hit n Run: Phase Two,” just recently making its CD debut after being exclusively available on Tidal. It’s easily his most accessible soul album in years with standout tracks including “Baltimore,” “Black Muse” and “Revelation,” performed during the two sets.

Some unexpected entertainment appeared for patrons seated up front when somebody’s drunken uncle boogied in to the aisle to the consternation of many, including Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe and Cee-Lo Green, who at wit’s end, suddenly grabbed the dude by his pants and collar, removing him from the row.

Green and Monáe were just named as headliners for Brooklyn’s 2016 Afropunk (Aug. 27-28) with Ice Cube, Tyler the Creator, TV On The Radio, George Clinton, Saul Williams, Thundercat and a “Superjam” with members of Bad Brains, Fishbone and Living Colour.

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are holding an All-Star Global Concert at the White House April 30 with a jaw-dropping roster of Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, Sting, Terence Blanchard, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Terri Lyne Carrington, Robert Glasper, Buddy Guy, Hugh Masekela, Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, Dianne Reeves, Lee Ritenour, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Trombone Shorty and others.

If you can’t make it, you may certainly join in the fun as the festivities will be broadcast as a one-hour primetime ABC special that evening and streamed on the United Nations, UNESCO, U.S. State Department and White House websites.

SPOTLIGHT: Back when Marsha Warfield was a star on NBC’s “Night Court,” she used to do a stand-up routine around learning at age 30 about the power of naps. When asked what she’s learned now, the pioneer was frank: “The danger of naps. You don’t want to fall asleep too often too many places. I mean at 60, life is different. You get discounts, that’s one of the good things.”

She is making a triumphant return on April 26 as a moderator and host at the fifth annual Comics Rock! Convention.  “I was away for quite a while,” said Warfield, whose first comedy love was Flip Wilson’s “Cowboys and Colored People” album. “I was devastated when I heard about Robin Williams’ death. A lot of people I came up with on the [Richard] Pryor show like Charlie Hill and a few others are gone. It’s part of what made me get back.

“You only have so much time and you might as well do what you love doing. Things have gotten a lot different but if you’re funny, you’re funny. That works no matter what.”

CLIPPETTES: The annual Krush Groove Concert is at The Forum on April 24 with Snoop Dogg, Too Short, Xzibit, Mack 10, Chingy, Warren G and MC Eiht …

Anika Noni Rose, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jasmine Guy and Sean Blakemore were cast in BET’s two-hour college-based pilot “The Yard,” from Felicia D. Henderson (“Soul Food,” “Everybody Hates Chris”). Rob Hardy (“Power”) will begin shooting now through May at the Atlanta University Center …

The great Eddie Levert will perform at the legendary Maverick’s Flat on April 24 with a 7 p.m. showtime …

Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart must have some chemistry in the upcoming “Central Intelligence” because Sony Pictures wants the pair for a remake of 1995’s “Jumanji.” Hart’s hit movie with Ice Cube, “Rush Hour 2” comes to DVD on April 25 …

PICK THIS: “Expect some really great playing from some of the great musicians,” says Robert Randolph, of this year’s Malibu Guitar Festival (April 28-May 1 via Ticketfly.com). The pedal steel sensation just named one of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” will perform with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, the Empty Hearts, Vintage Trouble, Cody Simpson, special guest Albert Lee and many others under the musical direction of Steve Ferrone (currently of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers; formerly of AWB).

Randolph is finishing his first album in three years with some very special guests to be announced. Of the project, the Orange, New Jersey, native says, “I think it’s going to blow a lot of people away. It’s somewhere in between Sly Stone meets Jimi Hendrix meets the Rolling Stones.”

TC ON TV: April 23 – “Lemonade” (HBO): A surprise from Beyoncé. “Second Sight” (TV1): The newly engaged Tatyana Ali stars in this movie about a woman haunted by psychic visions. “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” (OWN): Actresses Diahann Carroll and Lela Rochon.

April 24 – “Game of Thrones” (HBO): Is Jon Snow dead or what?  “United Shades of America” (CNN): Host/Creator W. Kamau Bell visits with “The New KKK.”

April 28 – “Dr. Phil” (SYN): Nick Gordon speaks for the first time since the funeral of Bobbi Kristina Brown. “The 2016 Billboard Latin Music Awards” (Telemundo): Marc Anthony, Juanes, Lucero, Yandel and more.

POST JUICE: Star counsel on FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson” are taking on diverse projects next. Courtney B. Vance (Johnnie Cochran), tackles the part of an Army colonel for the contemporary reboot of “The Mummy,” starring Tom Cruise.

Sterling K. Brown (Christopher Darden) is reprising his NYC starring role in “Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks. The slave drama, co-starring Michael McKean, runs through May 15 at the Mark Taper Forum.

TASTY QUIP: “Superman can’t fight a guy that drives a car! He gets a flat. Like he’s going to fight Superman. Needs Triple A, but yeah, he can fight Superman. He’s got jumper cables, and he’s going to fight Superman.” – CHRIS ROCK to J.J. Abrams at the Tribeca Film Festival via Vulture

“Tasty Clips” is an entertainment column published in The Wave to update readers on the activities and accomplishments of black celebrities and artists in television, in music and at the movies. To reach Bill Vaughan, send email to tastyclips@yahoo.com. He can also be reached on Twitter @tastyclips.

The post BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Before illness, Prince sparkled at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

“And just like that … the world lost a lot of magic,” singer Katy Perry wrote on her Twitter account. “Rest in peace Prince! Thanks for giving us so much.”

Prince — born Prince Rogers Nelson — was found dead at the recording studio at his home in Paisley Park, Minnesota. There was no immediate word on a cause of death, although he had recently been hospitalized with the flu, prompting him to cancel a pair of performances.

A master of showmanship, Prince created a musical style of his own, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His talent was on full display in the 1984 film “Purple Rain,” which became a cult sensation and propelled him to superstardom.

“I had the privilege and pleasure of seeing Prince in concert twice in Los Angeles, including his last world tour at the Forum,” writer and activist Earl Ofari Hutchinson said in an email. “He brought grace, style, and social consciousness to the world of music and art. I hailed him for that then and hail him even more for that now. Prince lives on.”

Hutchinson colleague Najee Ali said a candlelight vigil would be held in Prince’s memory Thursday at 6 p.m. in Leimert Park.

“Prince was an iconic musical genius whose legacy will live on forever,” Ali said. “This is a sad day for music fans all over the world. Our prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.”

Prince won an Oscar for best original song for “Purple Rain.” He also won seven Grammys.

“I loved this man. Too soon. Can’t comprehend it but it’s unfortunately true,” MC Hammer said via Twitter. “Heaven is yours.”

Justin Timberlake said he was “numb” and “stunned” at the news.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti even reacted to Prince’s death while appearing on KNX Newsradio’s “Ask the Mayor” program, saying he remembers watching “Purple Rain” with a girlfriend in eighth grade, and later getting to meet him after a performance at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel.

Actor/talk show host Mario Lopez said he saw Prince in concert “more than any other artist.”

“Soundtrack to my generation,” he said. “‘When Doves Cry’ was on every mixtape I ever made.”

Stunned reactions also came from the world of Hollywood, with entertainers also pouring out their sadness online.

“I’m crushed!” actor Samuel L. Jackson said. “Massive loss for us all! What a genius. Speechless.”

Director/writer/actor Spike Lee added, “I miss my brother. Prince was a funny cat. Great sense of humor.”

Comedian/actor Chris Rock wrote simply, “Say it isn’t so.”

The post Prince found dead in home recording studio appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

The former talk show host survived Hurricane Bertha in 1996 on an island in North Carolina where she spent her summers growing up.

When the hurricane was over, Watts had to eat at the Red Cross for three days. It was there that she met a police officer who knew the island as well as she did.

How could she and this police officer know so many hidden things about the same island that she grew up in yet the two did not know each other?

“We realized it was because of segregation,” Watts said. “Time moved on but destiny lingered.”

It is that reason that Watts decided to write this book.

“We now could be best friends or even lovers if we wanted to be,” she added. “That wasn’t the case back then. I can remember when I was a little girl not being able to go to the park with my class because I was black and they did not let blacks and Jews in that park.”

The former New York journalist wanted to tell a story about how much America has changed. “Destiny Lingers” is about an investigative news reporter in New York City.

“Destiny has covered every story but her own life,” Watts said. “She discovers a long strain of red hair stretched across her husband’s pillow. The one hair unravels a story of deceit and just before Destiny can confront him, she is thrown into a hostage situation.”

Watts poured her heart into a love story about a couple in their mid 20s that she hopes will show today’s young women how different love once was.

In the novel, Destiny goes to the island where she grew up to get her head back together and there she meets a police chief who happens to be the little boy that she was in love with but could not be with because of segregation. The book explores what would you do if you were given a second chance to be with your first love?

“Destiny Lingers” reads like a movie. Watts wanted to take her audience away to a hostage situation in New York City where she had been an investigative reporter.

“It deals with issues of life and love,” she added. “I wanted to capture that time when you had one foot in one area and another in another. I remember segregation. I am one of the last generations to have lived it. I am 56 years old.”

Watts talks about how much love has changed.

“When I was growing up you could die from having a white friend,” Watts said. “Love was restricted back then.”

Watts sees her novel as a bonding read for its readers.

“I want ‘Destiny Lingers’ to be a book that mothers and daughters share their experiences with one another,” she added. “I want it to be a book that they read together.”

It was the late legendary Maya Angelou who helped Watts find the courage she needed to write “Destiny Lingers.”

“Auntie Maya told me ‘do not die with your story still in you,’” Watt said. “She told me to have courage because courage is the greatest of all virtues because without it you can’t exude any other virtue with consistency.”

The journalist, former talk show host, executive producer, actress, speaker, humanitarian and now book author gets teary-eyed as she thinks about how happy she is that Maya Angelou got to see her finish the book before she died.

In fact, Angelou endorsed “Destiny Lingers.”

“I fell for this story and the characters novelist Rolonda Watts introduced. I was not happy to finish the book. In fact, I satisfied myself reaching the end by thinking that Ms. Watts will write a sequel soon and very soon. She is a good writer and a good storyteller. Come on Ms. Watts, let the story continue,” Angelou said.

“I thought of Maya on her birthday which was April 4,” Watts said. “I’m happy she lived to see me finish my book.”

Be yourself! I’m Simply Jessica JcAden. You can reach me at jess.gosnell@gmail.com.

The post SIMPLY JESSICA: Former talk show host writes novel appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

Be on the lookout for “The Roulette Sides” – John Coltrane; “Mo Money Mo Problems” – The Notorious B.I.G.; “Live in Philadelphia” – Allen Toussaint; “Ghetto Walkin’” – Miles Davis; “I Go Shout Plenty” – Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Afrika ’70; “Get Down At The Apollo With The J.B.’s” – The James Brown Revue; “Tha Carter (& II)” – Lil Wayne; “Elevators (Me & You)” – OutKast; and “Andra Day Live,” offering a previously unreleased live performance of songs from the Grammy nominee’s 2015 album “Cheers to the Fall.”

For a list of all the discs and events at each store, visit: www.recordstoreday.com.

RETURN OF THE KING: Jamaican reggae and ska legend Toots and the Maytals will return to the stage for a run of shows in June on the West Coast and in New York City. The tour will celebrate the culmination of three years of extensive physical rehabilitation for Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, after the tragic incident in May 2013 in Richmond, Virginia, when a glass liquor bottle was thrown from the audience and struck him in the forehead during a performance, severely injuring the singer.

“It has been a difficult three years,” Hibbert said. “But I am very happy to be able to now get back together with my musical family and prepare to share my music once again with my incredible fans.” The 2004 Grammy winner’s tour hits L.A.’s Fonda Theatre June 17.

FOR A CAUSE: Patrice Rushen, Chico DeBarge, master violinist Karen Briggs, Sir Stringfellow & The Mo Betta Experience Band and comic Shang Forbes will perform at the Spring Fling Extravaganza Awards Show, a benefit concert event presented by the Knights of the West Social Club at 7 p.m. April 16 at the Prince Hall Memorial Auditorium. Call (323) 481-0228 or (213) 479-0267 for more info.

TASTY QUIP: “Angela Bassett got nominated for ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It.’ What has she done bigger than that since then? Cuba Gooding Jr. Oscar winner, what has he done since then? Lou Gossett Jr., what? Jennifer Hudson, what? […] Terrence Howard, what was the next movie that it launched him in to? For the love of God, please do not nominate me for an Oscar!” – MICHAEL JAI WHITE to Bossip

CLIPPETTES: Sanaa Lathan’s racially charged Fox series “Shots Fired” has added a trio of acting pros: Helen Hunt, Richard Dreyfuss and Stephen Moyer (“True Blood”) before filming this week …

Nine-time Grammy Award-nominated master jazz pianist Kenny Barron brings his long-standing trio to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on April 16 at 8:30 p.m. …

Tessa Thompson (“Creed,” “Dear White People”) has landed her first superhero movie, the upcoming “Thor: Ragnorak” …

“Keb’ Mo’ Live – That Hot Pink Blues Album,” recorded while the three-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist was on tour in 2015, has been released as a double-disc set with 16 songs …

The big bad role for “Fast and Furious 8” goes to Charlize Theron …

“Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives” is screening at the Regent Theatre on April 17 with a Q&A with Bobbito afterward. Also that evening, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are at the Novo DTLA …

KRS-One has released “The Phife Tribute,” dedicated to the late member of A Tribe Called Quest with donations going directly to Phife Dawg’s family …

Indira Milini Khan, formerly of Pretty in Pink and daughter of Chaka, is performing April 17 at the legendary Maverick’s Flat at 8 p.m.

TASTY QUIP: “For me, it’s like if I can somehow expand consciousness by saying ‘Hey you can think like this. You can think removed from the parameters of how you’re supposed to think.’ Like if humor can do that and in some sense try and expand consciousness on any level.” – JERROD CARMICHAEL on “The Breakfast Club”

TC ON TV: April 15 – “Ghost Brothers” (DA): This new series follows two African-American fashion designers and a barber — all raised in religious households — who tour a series of allegedly haunted houses in America to find the truth behind the local tales.

April 16 – “Confirmation” (HBO): Details the explosive 1991 Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings with Kerry Washington (as Anita Hill), Wendell Pierce (as Thomas), Greg Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, Kimberly Elise and Jennifer Hudson star. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa (“Dope”).

April 17 – “Icon Awards” (TV Land): Debbie Allen, John Stamos, Norman Lear, “Key and Peele,” and “The People v. O.J. Simpson” are celebrated in this special hosted by George Lopez. “Mike Tyson Mysteries” (Adult Swim): The late night laughs return.

April 18 – “Independent Lens” (PBS): “Democrats,” 2015 Tribeca Film Fest winning documentary on Zimbabwe’s quest to create a constitution.

April 20 – “Empire” (Fox): With a guest spot on this show and a role in the hit film “Deadpool,” it’s safe to say Leslie Uggams is on a roll!

April 21 – “Sweet Micky for President” (Showtime): Follows Pras Michel (of The Fugees fame) as he returns to his homeland of Haiti post-earthquake, finds a corrupt government in paralysis, and begins to campaign for the island’s most popular and most outlandish pop star. With Ben Stiller, Sean Penn and Wyclef Jean.

TASTY QUIP: “[Public Enemy’s] Chuck D once said rap and hip hop was the black CNN. N.W.A represent that to the fullest. Bringing inner-city life to the forefront and making the world pay attention to our realities. … The fact that a famous group can look just like one of us, dress like one of us and talk like one of us proved to every single kid in the ghetto that you can be successful and still have importance while doing it. That was N.W.A. That was their true message.” – KENDRICK LAMAR inducting N.W.A. into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Tasty Clips” is an entertainment column published in The Wave to update readers on the activities and accomplishments of black celebrities and artists in television, in music and at the movies. To reach Bill Vaughan, send email to tastyclips@yahoo.com. He can also be reached on Twitter @tastyclips.

The post BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Record Store Day offers treats; Toots returns to the road appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

The 13-year-old impressionable car guy saw Paul Newman, James Garner and Steve McQueen as the holy trinity of Hollywood car guys. Stone wanted to race cars and ride motorcycles when he grew up just as his Hollywood car heroes were doing in the movies.

“Garner, Newman and McQueen all put racing and cars into their films,” Stone said. “Each of them had legit chops as car guys. They were handsome, famous, sex symbols who loved cars and motorsports with street credibility in those areas.”

The teen boy who loved following Paul Newman’s racing passion would grow up to co-write a book with Preston Lerner called “Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman.”

The book chronicles Newman’s 35-year racing career. Stone is a former executive editor of Motor Trend Magazine. Lerner is a contributor to Automobile magazine.

The book, ‘Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman,’ was written by Matt Stone. (Courtesy photo)

Stone has never driven a Paul Newman racing car but he hopes to find his way into one in the near future.

He hopes his film producer, Adam Carolla, who owns several of Paul Newman’s racing cars, will let him get behind the wheel of one of his racing cars.

Carolla grew up watching Newman’s movies.

It was his love for Newman’s racing career that led Carolla and Nate Adams to produce the documentary “Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman,” which is based off Stone’s book.

Newman was one of Hollywood’s greatest actors. He was known as a humanitarian and the founder of the Newman’s Own natural food empire. Many people do not know that he had a passion for racing cars off screen.

He was a successful race car driver and car team owner. His racing career began at 47-years-old after he signed on to play a racer in a movie called “Winning” in 1969.

The movie led Newman to his interest in racing.

Newman entered the 24 hours of Daytona at the age of 70 and made his last professional race outing at 82 years old. The documentary shares anecdotes, races, car footage and a list of drivers that were popular at that time in open-wheel racing.

No longer a 13-year-old boy watching Newman’s movies, Stone wants today’s 13-year-old boys to watch the documentary and see what he saw in Newman.

“I want the teen boys of today to see that Paul Newman was a shining example of how a world-class Hollywood actor should handle himself,” Stone said. “He enjoyed his passions, raised a great family, gave back to those less fortunate and he showed a great deal of class in the process.”

He added that Newman was not a dilettante racing actor, but the real deal as a car enthusiast racer and team owner with an Academy Award.

Adams is impressed by Newman’s long and successful racing career.

“Paul said he would stop racing when he got slower,” he said. “No actor has raced on the level that Paul   did. The closest person to that now is Patrick Dempsey.”

Carolla purchased a Paul Newman car in 2004. He also met Bob Sharp, who Newman raced with for 20 years.

The more Carolla learned about Newman’s racing career, he knew he had to share that story with the world. He read Stone’s book and then decided that he would use that as a road map for the Newman documentary that he would fund.

“I knew Paul from the movies,” Adams said. “I didn’t know that in the late 70s and early 80s that Hollywood had to plan its schedule around his racing career because he was so serious about it. He won multiple races against some of the best drivers in the world.”

Adams admits the documentary was a challenging project.

“It’s 35 years of a guy’s life of racing,” Adams said. “Paul didn’t like to be interviewed by the press, so there was not as much press footage as you would think for us to use.”

Adams’ background is in storytelling. Carolla’s background is in cars.

The two producers were determined to create a documentary that anyone could enjoy about racing.

“There is no engine talk,” Adams said. “You understand what it is like to be in the racing world. We leave out the terminology about tire pressure and suspension. Regular people who are interested in learning about Paul’s trials and tribulations during that 35-year racing journey is what this documentary is about.”

It is the ending that brings Adams to tears.

“I get chocked up at the end,” Adams said. “No matter how many times I watch it, the ending gets me each time.”

Adams is not a race car driver but he took a ride with an 82-year-old former driver that left sweat in his shoes.

“It’s too scary for me to be in a race car,” he said. ”I did a hot lap where a driver takes you for a ride around the track and it scared the life out of me.”

He thought it would be an easy ride.

“I thought it would be a slow ride because he was 82 years old, but it was not,” he said. “There was half an inch of sweat in my shoes when it was over. He did not show me any mercy. Race car drivers are geared differently than regular people. To them, they are not risking their life.

“The focus that it takes to do what they do is more important to them than what might happen if they wreck,” Adams said. “They need to do what they do.”

He also learned how calm a race car driver is.

“If I were a race car driver, I would be super tense, my hands would be tight and I would be try to hold onto the car,” he added. “I noticed that the racers I observed were so relaxed that it was unnerving. You either have that in your mind or you don’t. Paul Newman taught himself that. He was such a student of the game. He learned to do that.”

Carolla loves Nissans and Datsuns, the same cars that Newman loved and drove. He acquires the cars, fixes them up and then races them.

Adams loves that Newman’s favorite racing event was one without spectators. He admires Newman’s passion.

“Paul was not a bragger,” Adams said. “He was just a guy who loved to do things. He loved racing and cars. Paul raced to challenge himself. He wasn’t doing it for something special or for people to watch him. He was the biggest actor in the world for 20 years. He was Tom Cruise of today.”

Adams expands on his admiration for Newman.

“He was as good a racer as the professional racer,” Adams said. “He started a company that gave away $430 million to charity. He did not brag about how great he was. He was a classy 50s guy who had a lot of integrity. They don’t make people like that anymore.”

As the interview comes to a close, Adams said the documentary is geared to anyone who wants to learn more about Paul Newman. It is for people who enjoy cars and auto sports. It is an enjoyable documentary for everyone.

“Kids should watch and see how Paul Newman behaved and carried himself,” Adams said. “He did not tweet about everything he did. He just went out and did it. He did what he loved to do and he did it for himself.”

He looks to the future with inspiration.

“I am going to show my young son this documentary when he grows up,” Adams said. “I’m going to tell him this is how a man should behave.”

It was Paul Newman’s 91- year old brother that made the journey worth the grueling hours that were put in it.

“When Arthur said to me with tears in his eyes, ‘You guys got my brother. He would have loved this documentary,’ it brought tears to my eyes,” Adams said. “I wanted to make something that Paul Newman would have liked.”

Be yourself! I’m Simply Jessica JcAden. You can reach me at jess.gosnell@gmail.com.

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“The Cause, My Soul” finds the passionate Shakespearean scholar in familiar territory while presenting the play during the 400-year anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death on April 23, 1616.

Lange was introduced to the bard’s work in Oakland as a ninth grader.

“There were three witches and I got to be Macbeth,” he said. “If you can imagine being 14 and told it’s OK to have a swordfight, that was the first hook right then.”

Iconic roles as Romeo and in King Lear followed through his maturity.

While attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, Othello was dissipated.

“They told me all of the things that happen before the play starts. Othello was a Muslim. Desdemona is being wooed by Roderigo. Iago wants to be a lieutenant and he’s getting passed over. In the 1990s I lectured to students about this. My play ends exactly where Othello begins. Go to my show and you got the back story already.”

He believes Othello was not a fool but trusted Iago.

“You could look at Donald Trump,” Lange said.  “I’ll tell you right now, Jeb Bush finds him one of the greatest villains because Bush walked in like I’m going to get this and Trump said, ‘Buddy, You’re out of here.’ Is Jeb Bush a fool? I don’t think so, but he was dealing with something he’d never seen before. So you take Othello, who is a foreigner. This is not his culture, so the deviousness of a white mind is something that he’s not aware of.”

“They often say Desdemona is a weak person also because she gets manipulated,” Lange added. “But she’s actually a very strong woman. You have to consider this play takes place in 1571. For a white girl to marry a black man in an Italian society, the girl’s got to be strong because she knows what she’s up against.”

The self-titled “footnote historian” has a trilogy completed including the “The Journals of Osborne P. Anderson,” about the black men who fought in abolitionist John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859; and “George Washington’s Boy,” focusing on the first president’s favorite slave and confidant William Lee.

“I want to bring to light those guys,” Lange said. “I found out that George Washington had a black son from a slave that his brother owned named Venus. Now white historians will tell you it is not true because they don’t want to believe that George Washington would screw a black slave girl, but he did. He made a thing in his will so that when the slave child, a son named West Ford, reached 21 he was given 61 acres at Mount Vernon and his freedom. That story needs to be told.”

As for why “The Love Boat,” is one of the few hits of that era to not get rebooted, Lange offers this explanation: “It was very unique for the late 70s, early 80s. AIDS wasn’t around then. You had STD’s but people were fairly conscious. Right now there are so many things that can happen. You can’t be jumping in and out of bed even on a cruise ship. You have to figure out a way to bring the reality of today with the romance of yesterday.”

CLIPPETTES: BET Networks is the new owner of the Soul Train brand including a vast library of over 1,000 episodes and specials. A Broadway show, festival, concert tour and cruises are expected …

Meanwhile, The Africa Channel has partnered with AfricaXP to create a premium African Entertainment channel for Africa …

The Dramatics, Lenny Williams, New Birth and special guests Silk are leading the benefit Music 4 The Soul concert on April 8 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center …

Best-selling author Ta-Nehisi Coates’ first issue as the writer of Marvel Comics’ “Black Panther” is now on the streets.  This tale of the fictional Wakanda king and super-hero T’Challa is titled “A Nation Under Our Feet “ …

Fox’s “Prison Break” reboot is bringing back Rockmond Dunbar (C-Note), Amaury Nolasco (Sucre) and Robert Knepper (T-Bag) …

Busta Rhymes, Just Blaze and WC will perform at the International Street Dance Competition, “KOD World Cup.” through April 8. For more info visit: www.wkoda.com …

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will become a variety host for A&E’s upcoming “50 Cent Presents” …

DMX is coming downtown to The Novo on April 10.  Tickets are $15

TASTY QUIP: “If celebrating my roots and culture during Black History Month made anyone uncomfortable, those feelings were there long before a video and long before me. I’m proud of what we created and I’m proud to be a part of a conversation that is pushing things forward in a positive way.” – BEYONCE on her “Formation” vid to Elle.

TC ON TV: April 8 – “Sleepy Hollow” (Fox): This may be the final episode.  “Tavis Smiley” (PBS): Pianist Andre Watts.

April 10 – “2016 MTV Movie Awards” (MTV): Co-hosted by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin Hart. “Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo): Secrets revealed.  “Fear The Walking Dead” (AMC): An audience is waiting for this series to bring it this second season. “House of Lies” (Showtime): Don Cheadle’s show is back for its fifth season.

April 11 – “Jackie Robinson” (PBS): Ken Burns’ two-part, four-hour film debuts. “Behind the Movie” (VH1): ‘Exploring Chicago in a town hall special with Common and Ice Cube of “Barbershop: The Next Cut.”

April 12 – “Living with Funny” (Oxygen): Reality show on the lives of comics and their spouses featuring Brandon T. Jackson and girlfriend Denise Xavier; DeRay Davis and girlfriends Coco & Caro; and Michael Blackson and girlfriend Georgia Reign …

April 14 – “Live with Kelly & Michael” (ABC): Lupita Nyong’o, Regina Hall

TASTY QUIP: “The very nature of moving through life is at some point you’re going to stumble, but when you stumble it just means oops, detour. Got to move in another direction.” – OPRAH WINFREY to Huff Post’s Talk to Me

“Tasty Clips” is an entertainment column published in The Wave to update readers on the activities and accomplishments of black celebrities and artists in television, in music and at the movies. To reach Bill Vaughan, send email to tastyclips@yahoo.com. He can also be reached on Twitter @tastyclips.

The post BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Ted Lange now a Shakespearean producer appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

It would be a dream come true to be in the NFL.

What could be almost as thrilling as being in the NFL?

You could play a NFL football player on HBO’s TV show “Ballers.”

Donovan Carter was in Miami to shoot the first episode “Ballers” opposite Dwayne Johnson when his mind went blank leading him to forget his lines. He was now in the clouds.

It was up to Johnson to bring Carter back to Earth.

“Everything just hit me at once,” Carter said. “It wasn’t until Dwayne said to me, ‘You are good and we believe in you’ that I snapped out of my trance. It was such a surreal moment.”

In 2012, Carter graduated from UCLA with a degree in history. He had been playing football since he was a 9-year-old boy growing up in the San Fernando Valley with dreams of going into the NFL after graduation.

His dreams of going to the NFL did not work out.  He was cut. Carter was depressed about it.

The 25-year-old football player was determined to find another way to live out his dream of playing in the NFL.

“Spencer is a big brother to Vernon on the show,” Carter said. “He tries to keep Vernon from making the same mistakes he made in football with his friends.”

Carter brings his football expertise to the role.

“Vernon is struggling in a lot of ways,” Carter added. “He needs to learn to take care of himself. He’s taking care of his family and friends. He is young and immature, but making grown-man money. He needs to grow up and learn that money doesn’t last forever and neither does football.”

Carter did a few football commercials before his acting role.

“I went to acting classes prior to shooting,” Carter said. “I am familiar with football but not with the terminology of acting. I had to look the part so I worked out.”

It is contagious hearing Carter talk about football.

“It is a collection of things that I like about football,” Carter added. “I like the comradery and the team spirit. The other guys on the team become like brothers to you.”

It is the life lessons that Carter treasures about football.

“I enjoy the discipline that football gives you,” he added. “It teaches you a good work ethic and it teaches you to work hard. It allowed me to travel and meet new people. No one is better than anyone. But in sports, people put you on a pedestal which makes you feel superior.”

He was born in Washington, D.C., so his favorite football team is the Washington Redskins. He moved to Atlanta with his mother when he was 2. Then at 8, he moved to North Hills.

Carter has a humble spirit about himself.

He pushes past any fears he feels on a daily basis.

“Ballers” began shooting in November 2014.

“The first episode was challenging because I had to get past my fears and all the butterflies,” Carter said. “There is no ego on this show and that is what I enjoy the most.”

“Ballers” is shot in Miami. Carter had never been there.

“I wake up everyday thanking God that I have a job that I love to do,” Carter said. “My relatives work, but they do it to pay the bills. I love what I do and I’m excited about going to work. The whole experience is amazing.”

Carter has things in common with Vernon.

“I’ve gone through many of the same things as Vernon,” Carter said. “You get a lot of money fast. No one can teach you how to experience that. You have to go through it and learn life lessons and make mistakes. There is no blue print. There is no way to learn. You hope you will make the right decisions but if you don’t then you have to learn from it.”

He has one grandmother left that he hopes to spend as much time with her as possible. He is passionate about raising awareness on autism for children.

“I am passionate about being a good person and treating people like you want to be treated and loving everyone,” Carter said. “We need to make the world a better place.”

He describes himself as a funny and silly guy who loves to have fun and enjoy life. He loves playing dominoes, going to the movies and the beach and hanging out with friends.

“You get a blessing by being humble,” Carter said. “I’m a man of my faith. You have to work hard, be easy to work with, never complain and be a team player.”

Be yourself! I’m Simply Jessica JcAden. You can reach me at jess.gosnell@gmail.com.

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“[Deon] just let us go,” Owen said of the experience. “We’d always do a take according to the script, but he let me do my thing. I’m always trying to break into the house. I’m like Tom Hanks in ‘Castaway.’ Up until the last scene, I was by myself the whole time. I thought I did something to somebody.”

Though the comic has been working steadily in films like “Ride Along” and the “Think Like a Man” series, Owen thinks there’s still a really long way to go with diversity in the industry.

“For instance, this pilot season, I went on probably 11 auditions and there wasn’t a black person in the room,” he said. “TV is a few years behind society.”

He longs for real interracial sitcoms where the husband and wife are just doing it like a Ray Romano or Roseanne type show. Not with some external drama that doesn’t need to be in there and without trying to bring up race every other word.

“I’m married to a black lady and we got our kid,” Owen said. “From what I can see in the room, [TV execs] just don’t know. There’s a reason there are so many Jewish characters on TV and so many shows based out of L.A. or New York. All the execs are comfortable with that. I don’t hold it against them, but they’re behind.”

Owen may have the answer as he revealed that BET came to Cincinnati to follow his life for a docu-series pilot.  “It’s time,” he said, “because if you look at the news, at the Donald Trump rallies, you’d think America is about to be in a race war. We’re not. It’s so far from the truth. People aren’t like that. I mean some are, don’t get it wrong, and media wants to jump on that. With the majority of society, it’s never about race. It’s about class. You know what I mean?”

“You got tattoos on your neck and face and your pants are sagging, I don’t care if you’re white or black, I’m not going to run up on you and just ask for directions. Now if you‘re in a polo shirt and some khakis or a suit, black or white, I’m going to approach you and ask how do I get to Starbucks.”

A REAL MOTHER FOR YA: Twenty years after the date Johnny “Guitar” Watson suffered a massive heart attack while performing “Superman Lover” in Japan, a fund-raising salute of his legacy is planned. The first Johnny Guitar Watson Heart for Music Foundation Celebration will be held on May 17 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, with proceeds going towards providing students with musical instruments. Lenny Williams, Raphael Saddiq, Marla Gibbs, Mary Wilson, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Holly Robinson Peete, YoYo and Kool Moe Dee are set with others to be announced.

CLIPPETTES: The Mack Avenue Superband featuring Kirk Whalum, Gary Burton, Tia Fuller and Christian McBride headline April 1 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Singer Jose James opens …

Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus are replacing Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani as coaches on NBC’s “The Voice” for season 11 …

“They Will Have To Kill Us First,” a documentary on Mali’s music scene in the face of ongoing political unrest, opens April 1 at the Laemmle Santa Monica.

TC ON TV: April 1 – “Driven to Love” (WE): Ray J hosts this new dating show on wheels. “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Wendy Melvoin (formerly of Prince’s Revolution band) performs.

April 2 – “Autopsy: The Last Hours of…” (Reelz): Don Cornelius; “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” (OWN): People at the Heart of the O.J. Simpson Case.

April 3 – “Super Soul Sunday” (OWN): Tracy Morgan;  “The Real O.J. Simpson Trial” (ESQ): 12 hours of the actual footage. “The 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards” (TBS/TNT): Jason Derulo hosts Pitbull, Maroon 5, Chris Brown, Fetty Wap, Zayn, Demi Lovato, and others. “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman” (NGC): What happens when we die?

April 4 – “The Haunting of” (LMN): Ernie Hudson returns to a remote mountain lodge in Arizona where he and his family once encountered a paranormal force while he was promoting “Ghostbusters.”

April 5 – “Black Girls Rock!” (BET): Rihanna, Shonda Rhimes, Gladys Knight, Danai Gurira, Amandla Stenberg and the founders of Black Lives Matter are honored. “America’s Greatest Makers” (TBS): Producer Mark Burnett (“Survivor,” “Shark Tank”) has created a tech competition series with Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith among the judges. “Chasing Destiny” (BET): Kelly Rowland (Destiny’s Child) goes on a quest to find the next big female superstar group.

April 7 – “American Idol” (Fox): All the winners may return for this series finale that should be crowning La’Porsha Renae – but stranger things have happened here.

BLAST OFF: “Hardcore Henry: The Ultimate Fan Experience” is happening April 7, before the feature’s national release on April 8. The event will include a screening of the revolutionary action-adventure film, a question and answer session with writer/director Ilya Naishuller and star Sharlto Copley (“District 9”), and a limited-edition collectible comic book for attendees. Visit: www.FathomEvents.com for info.

TASTY QUIP: “When I listen to the radio, I hear “Twist and Shout” by the Beatles and I don’t hear my songs being played. That kills me.  Fred Astaire says the worst thing is to be overlooked. Beach Boys still get played.  Frankie Valli gets played. The Rolling Stones … all these guys from the 60s, their 60s music gets played. I don’t care about them. I care about [“The Twist”].  The No. 1 record in the world [as named by Billboard twice – most recently in 2013] is not [just] a 60s song. It’s a 50’s song.  It’s a 1980 song.  It’s a 2016 song.” – CHUBBY CHECKER on Sirius/XM’s “Tell Me Everything”

“Tasty Clips” is an entertainment column published in The Wave to update readers on the activities and accomplishments of black celebrities and artists in television, in music and at the movies. To reach Bill Vaughan, send email to tastyclips@yahoo.com. He also can be reached on Twitter @tastyclips.

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