By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Byron Allen sure knows how to throw an awards show. After last year’s successful launch of theGrio Awards, honoring Black excellence in several fields, the media mogul is upping the ante.
This year’s edition, to air Nov. 25 on CBS, with Paramount+ streaming afterwards, will be co-hosted by Sheryl Underwood and Roy Wood Jr., with performances by Boyz II Men, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones, Patti LaBelle and Smokey Robinson.
The esteemed honorees include Mariah Carey, Don Cheadle, Misty Copeland, Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett-Helaire, Tamron Hall, Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Eddie Murphy, Rev. Al Sharpton and Denzel Washington.
“As a child, strong, positive African-American icons such as Berry Gordy Jr., Rosa Parks, Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King Jr. helped me see myself differently, and changed the trajectory of my life,” said the founder/chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group and owner of theGrio in a statement. “Celebrating and amplifying iconic individuals is something we can never do enough of, especially for our children.”
LONDON IS CALLING: In advance of gigs in Paris, Brussels, Denmark and at London’s Ronnie Scott’s, Macy Gray, the irrepressible, truly one-of-a-kind singer/songwriter worked out her relatively new band titled the California Jet Club before an enthusiastic crowd at The Eastern in Atlanta.
This was our fourth time seeing the singer/songwriter only she seemed more at home than ever on stage, glowing as she sprinkled hits “Why Didn’t You Call Me?,” “I Try,” and “Sweet Baby” with proper covers of Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” and Rod Stewart’s “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”
Afterwards, she spoke on having to hit the road after a substantial movie role was halted due to the actors strike. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. Fortunately, this one can do almost anything.
She returns to California with concerts in Berkeley and Monterey Dec. 1 and 2.
Also heading abroad for shows at Manchester’s famed Blues Kitchen is legendary trombonist Fred Wesley who led horn sections for both the “Godfather of Soul” James Brown and P-Funk founder George Clinton.
While at South Carolina’s ColaJazz Fest, the 80-year-old was running through party starters like “Pass The Peas,” “Doing It To Death” and “Night Of The Thumpasorus People” in preparation of forming The New JBs featuring Reginald Ward of the SOS Band.
Should all go well, look for some dates in the U.S. next year.
AT THE MOVIES: Award-winning poet, photographer, and filmmaker Raven Jackson’s feature debut, “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,” opens at Landmark Sunset with the Nov. 3 (7:15 p.m.) and Nov. 4 (1 p.m.) showings to be followed by Q&As with the Gotham Awards-nominated director and one of the film’s producers, Oscar winner Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight,” “If Beale Street Could Talk”).
The lyrical, decades-spanning exploration about a woman’s life in rural Mississippi features Sheila Atim (“The Woman King”), Chris Chalk (“When They See Us”), Moses Ingram (“The Queen’s Gambit”), and newcomer Charlene McClure.
Directors Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster’s “Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” comes to the Laemmle Royal and select theaters after winning the U.S. Grand Jury Prize, Documentary at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
This portrait of one of America’s greatest living artists and social commentators shows her reckoning with the inevitable passing of time in intimate verité and revealing archival footage. The film is described as a collision of memories, moments in American history, live readings and visually innovative treatments of her poetry.
CLIPPETTES: Nigerian superstar Burna Boy comes to BMO Stadium Nov. 3, as KISS hits the Hollywood Bowl, and Seth MacFarlane & His Big Band swing at Vibrato Grill & Jazz …
A career-spanning exhibition of artist Kara Walker’s powerful and provocative images are presented in “Cut to the Quick, From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation” at USC Fisher Museum of Art, Nov. 3–Dec. 9 …
Tap master Savion Glover and actor Tony Goldwyn (“Scandal”) are co-directors of a new version of Rodgers & Hart’s “Pal Joey” with Broadway star Ephraim M. Sykes (“Hamilton,” “Motown: The Musical,” “Ain’t Too Proud“) and Loretta Devine (“Dreamgirls”) attached. It opens this weekend at New York City Center …
Denise Nicholas and Hattie Winston are participating in the L.A. Inner City Cultural Center’s Fall Celebration at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center on Nov. 4. Tickets are $25 at innercityculturalcenter.org for the event honoring Glynn Turman and Duane “Chief Yellow Feather” Shepard Jr. …
Also, rapper/singer BIA sings at the Belasco Theatre, Goapele has a pair of album release parties at the Sun Rose, Jerry Seinfeld & Jim Gaffigan co-headline at The Forum, and keyboardist Bob James begins a two-night stand at Catalina Bar & Grill …
Ms. Lauryn Hill & Fugees are at The Forum Nov. 5; while Travis Scott is at SoFi Stadium …
Nov. 6 has Doja Cat at the Honda Center, Daryl Hall & Todd Rundgren at the Pantages, R&B/Soul singer Genesis Owusu at The Fonda, and Jacquees at The Observatory, as Raye plays the Fox Theater (and The Novo the following night) …
The Reunion Tour featuring Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett, The Clark Sisters, David & Tamela Mann and Israel Houghton descends upon Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 7 …
On Nov. 8, YouTube Theater hosts A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop with Black Thought, Bun B, Common, De La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, Talib Kweli, LL COOL J, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, Questlove, Remy Ma, Uncle Luke, Yo-Yo, Arrested Development, Big Daddy Kane, Cypress Hill, DJ Quik, Jeezy, Latto, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, Spinderella, Too $hort, T.I., Warren G, and many more. Also, Freda Payne sings at Vibrato Grill & Jazz …
Sheila Johnson, the BET co-founder who became the first African-American woman billionaire, discusses her memoir “Walk Through Fire” with writer, producer and director Lee Daniels Nov. 9 at Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar …
That date also has Los Lobos at Fox Performing Arts Center, St. Paul & The Broken Bones at The Bellwether, and blues singer Marc Broussard at Lodge Room.
HAVING HER SAY: “I don’t live for prizes or trophies. That’s not why I do what I do. I do what I do because I have to, you know what I’m saying? God gave me this gift to use. It’s not a competition.” – CHAKA KHAN on being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for Musical Excellence. Disney+ streams live on Nov. 3 with honorees, presenters and performers to include Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, The Spinners, DJ Kool Herc, Elton John and the late “Soul Train” impresario Don Cornelius.
TC ON TV: Nov. 3 – “Quiz Lady” (Hulu): Awkwafina and Sandra Oh star in this comedy about estranged mismatched sisters teaming to help cover their mother’s gambling debts. “Sly” (Netflix): Sylvester Stallone is the focus of this documentary. “Nyad” (Netflix): Annette Bening stars as Diana Nyad, the record-setting marathon swimmer. “Great Performances” (PBS): The dance-theater production of “Message In A Bottle” with music by Sting from London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
Nov. 4 – “OWN Spotlight” (OWN): Oprah chats with Nicole Avant.
Nov. 5 – “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” (Paramount+): Taylor Sheridan’s new anthology series launches with the story of the legendary first Black U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. David Oyelowo (“Selma”) is an executive producer and star with a supporting cast featuring Dennis Quaid, Donald Sutherland, Garrett Hedlund, Margot Bingham and Rob Morgan.
Nov. 6 – “First Take” (ESPN): Kicks off its first HBCU Homecoming by visiting Shannon Sharpe’s alma mater Savannah State. “Gumbo Coalition” (Max): Follows civil rights leaders Marc Morial and Janet Murguía as they work to empower Black and Latino communities through four turbulent years in America. “Kitchen Nightmares” (Fox): Can Chef Gordon Ramsey save Brooklyn’s Haitian family-run Juicy “Box?
Nov. 7 – “First Take” (ESPN): It’s Winston-Salem State’s turn as Stephen A. Smith returns to his college home. “The View” (ABC): Tyler Perry “Stand Up & Shout: Songs From A Philly High School” (HBO): The unique music program at Hill-Freedman World Academy is the focus of this heartfelt documentary from executive producer John Legend. “Improv: 60 Years and Still Standing” (Netflix): A special celebrating the milestone of the famed comedy club with Craig Robinson, Deon Cole, Wanda Sykes and more.
Nov. 9 – “Christmas Angel” (BET+): With Dani Leigh, Elise Neal, Tamar Braxton and Romeo Miller. “Temple of Film: 100 Years of the Egyptian Theatre” (Netflix): Guillermo del Toro and others look back at L.A.’s historic movie palace. “Rap Sh!t” (MAX): A second season of the Issa Rae-created comedy about two aspiring lady rappers is here.
END QUOTE: “[My father] was out visiting me in L.A., and I was complaining about [how] 24/7, the Shaft character comes up, and he says, ‘Son, let me tell you something. A lot of people leave this Earth not being known for anything. Shut up.’” – RICHARD ROUNDTREE [R.I.Power]
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
