BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Missy Elliott, Da Brat join ‘Black Music Honors’

By Bill Vaughan

Entertainment Writer

The eighth “Black Music Honors,” an annual event that celebrates the illustrious achievements and exceptional contributions of urban music, premieres on the Stellar TV Network June 3, followed by national broadcast syndication June 10 to July 2, and a special June 19 airing on Bounce TV.

The event, held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, was a celebration of music legends and their contributions to the American music landscape.

Jeffrey Osborne received the prestigious Legends Award, while Evelyn “Champagne” King was honored as the R&B Music Icon, and gospel trailblazers The Hawkins Family received the Gospel Music Icon. The Grammy-nominated group, SWV was recognized as the Urban Music Icon, and multi-Grammy Award-winner Missy Elliott was crowned the Music Innovator Icon.

The stage came alive with unforgettable tribute performances by Anthony Hamilton, featuring The Ton3s, LaTocha Scott of Xscape, Queen Naija, Elle Varner, Sheléa, Tina Campbell, Beverly Crawford, Kelontae Gavin, Zacardi Cortez, Raheem DeVaughn, Kenny Lattimore, Tweet, Nicole Wray, Lil’ Mo, Sevyn Streeter, Da Brat, and Robin Thicke commemorating the remarkable, 25-year career of the late Bobby Caldwell. 

The Stellar TV network is a wholly owned subsidiary of Central City Productions, the oldest Black-owned and Black-operated television production company in the country.

TASTY QUIP: “If your man said he raps and he don’t have a deal, there’s a problem with that. It’s called plan A, get a job. Plan B, hope you make it. This has never changed. Some guys be like, ‘I gotta get a regular job?’ Bro, you gotta get a job! If you got kids and you got this girl that got an apartment and y’all sexin’ it up every day, you got to pay some bills.”  – FAT JOE on IG Live.”

CLIPPETTES: A full slate of offerings begin June 2, starting with the Newport Beach Jazz Festival’s three days of music at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach’s Golf Course with Kem, Gerald Albright, Chanté Moore, Leela James, Boney James, Eric Darius, Richard Elliot & Rick Braun, Justin-Lee Schultz, Ragan Whiteside and more …

Also with a trio of dates is the Re:SET concert series at Brookside at the Rose Bowl Stadium with headliners Steve Lacy, boygenius, and LCD Soundsystem with Big Freedia, James Blake, Toro y Moi, Fousheé and others …

Rico Nasty & Omeretta the Great team at The Constellation Room at The Observatory, Judy Collins and Sophie B. Hawkins are at the Saban Theatre, and jazz man Keyon Harrold blows at The Sun Rose …

Just for laughs, Trevor Noah kicks off two nights at the Santa Barbara Bowl, and Ross Mathews headlines Anaheim’s House of Blues, while Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns co-host the fight card at Pechanga Resort & Casino …

Grace Jones headlines the OUTLOUD Music Festival at West Hollywood Park June 3, as Jason Moran makes his Broad Stage debut with a solo piano concert, Lea Salonga performs at the Cerritos Center (in advance of her starring as former Filipina first lady Imelda Marcos in Broadway’s “Here Lives Love” by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim), and DJs Kai Alce and Zernell spin at The Aster …

Anthony Hamilton hits the stage of the Saban June 4, while comedy is queen with Tiffany Haddish hosting a fundraiser at The Comedy Store, and Largo hosts Best Friends with Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata

Seal sings his hits June 7 at The Greek, as Bryson Tiller does the same at The Wiltern …

In appreciation of Black Music Appreciation Month, the Grammy Museum hosts a special screening of the new film “Heart & Soul: A Love Story” June 8 at 7 p.m. The documentary featuring the untold stories of rhythm and blues heroes will be introduced by Christopher “Kid” Reid and followed by a discussion with its director Kenny Vance. Also that night the famed Ernie Watts Quartet plays the Muckenthaler Cultural Center.

TASTY QUIP: “I know what this baby #HalleBailey has been dealing with. I got so much hate mail [when cast as Dorothy in “The Wiz”], I was told Judy Garland ‘is turning over in her grave.’ All because a little Black girl was playing a [role] that was once played by a white girl. It’s sad to see the same thing is happening to this beautiful, talented, smart and intelligent actress. Halle, God put you in this place and time … so let your light shine. Hold your head up high, walk in your peace, and celebrate the greatness that you are.” – STEPHANIE MILLS in her letter to the star of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” which became the week’s No. 1 movie

TC ON TV: June 2 – “Medellin” (Prime Video): Three comrades go against a drug cartel to rescue a family member with a little help from Mike Tyson in this action comedy. “Searching For Soul Food” (Hulu): Follows rock star celebrity chef Alisa Reynolds as she discovers what soul food looks like in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Appalachia, South Africa, Italy, Jamaica, Peru and L.A. “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” (Max): Streaming premiere of the Channing Tatum sequel with Salma Hayek. “Shooting Stars” (Peacock): Caleb McLaughlin (“Stranger Things”), Wood Harris (“Creed III”) and Dermot Mulroney are featured in this film based on the autobiographical book by LeBron James. “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Kelly Rowland “American Masters” (PBS): “Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock and Roll” explores his far-reaching influence, as well as his advocacy for the rights of Black artists in the music industry. With appearances by Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, and more. “The Greatest @Home Videos” (CBS): Cedric the Entertainer is back with a new batch of humorous and heartwarming summertime videos, from funny dads to goofy grads.

June 3 – “TLC Forever” (A&E/Lifetime): Chronicles the journey of the female group who led the way with their music, their message and their style. For the first time, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and other music industry colleagues detail how the ladies, with the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, broke boundaries, influenced an entire generation and survived against all odds.

June 4 – “Autopsy: The Last Hours of …” (Reelz): Eazy E “The Idol” (HBO): Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is co-creator, executive producer, and star of this controversial series spotlighting the singer as a self-help guru/cult leader. Also starring Lily-Rose Depp, Dan Levy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Jane Adams, Hank Azaria, Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter Moses Sumney and Jennie Ruby Jane (of Black Pink, making her acting debut). “The Lazarus Project” (TNT): After a string of sneak peeks the eight-episode, time-travel action series starring Emmy Award and BAFTA-nominated Paapa Essiedu (“I May Destroy You,” “Gangs of London”) is here.

June 5 – “The Eric Andre Show” (Adult Swim): The new season will feature guests Jaleel White, Blac Chyna, Raven-Symoné, Daymond John, Meagan Good, Rico Nasty, Waka Flocka Flame, Cypress Hill, Lil Yachty and more. “Live with Kelly & Mark” (ABC): Dominique Fishback (“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”) “Stars on Mars” (Fox): Adventurous celebrities, including Marshawn Lynch, Tinashe, Ronda Rousey, Richard Sherman and Porsha Williams Guobadia, participate in a simulated space mission competition hosted by “Star Trek” icon William Shatner.  

June 6 – “Soul of a Nation” (ABC): “The Freedom To Exist with Elliot Page

June 7 – “Secrets & Sisterhood” (Hulu): “The Sozahdahs” follows 10 Muslim American sisters whose faith and bonds are put to the ultimate test while trying to navigate cultural expectations, their careers and love in L.A. “Avatar: The Way of Water” (Disney+/Max): The blockbuster sequel has its streaming premiere. “Big Freedia Means Business” (Fuse): The New Orleans-born innovator of bounce music’s hustle is on display in this new series examining her shaking up the business world with ventures in a hotel, a record label, eyewear, purses and a cannabis line.

June 8 – “Celebrity Prank Wars” (E!): Lil Duval vs. T.I. 

END QUOTE: “I started out as a fan of TINA TURNER, then a full-on groupie, following her from show to show around the country, and then, eventually, we became real friends. She is our forever goddess of rock ‘n’ roll, who contained a magnitude of inner strength that grew throughout her life. She was a role model not only for me, but for the world. She once shared with me that when her time came to leave this earth, she would not be afraid, but excited and curious. Because she had learned how to LIVE, surrounded by her beloved husband, Erwin, and friends. I am a better woman, a better human, because her life touched mine. She was indeed simply the best.” – OPRAH WINFREY

As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly 1 million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.