Podcast appearances and mentions of stephen holden

Hollywood couldn't figure out how to sell a historical fiction political comedy about teenagers set twenty-five years in the past, but we're big fans of Andrew Fleming's 1999 film Dick and we're here to talk about it! Join in as we discuss teenage celebrity crushes, child stardom, an odd choice for weed storage, and a deep cast of sketch performers. Plus: Why does Nixon White House Counsel John Dean have a "special thanks" in the credits? Why is the New York Times review so fixated on connecting this movie to Monica Lewinsky? And, most importantly, why does this dog look nothing like Checkers?? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: Burn After Reading (2008)----------------------------------------------Key sources and links for this episode:Stephen Holden's review in the New York TimesMichael O'Sullivan's review in the Washington Post"Generation X's Tricky Dick" (Washington Post)"Dick Director on the Challenges of Making a Watergate Comedy and Whether it Could be Done Today" (The Hollywood Reporter)"9 Things You Never Really Knew about Dick" (Huffington Post)"Dick at 25: The Watergate Satire's Writer and Director on Putting Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst in Nixon's White House" (IndieWire)"Michelle Williams Bares All for Her Art" (Entertainment Weekly)"Michelle Williams, Naked Angel" (Paper Magazine)"Some Like Her Hot" (2012 GQ cover story on Michelle Williams)"How Did Two Elite Students Fall for the Zizians Cult?" (The Cut)"Stalkers, Disease, and Doubt: A Gymnast's Hard Road Back to the Games" (New York Times piece on Suni Lee's adjustment to fame and adult life)Dear Hollywood - Alyson Stoner's podcast on child acting"Jason Bateman" (Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend)"The Reveal of Emo Kylo Ren's Parentage is Tearing Twitter Apart" (AV Club)"The Story of the Really Weird Night Richard Nixon Hung out with Hippies at the Lincoln Memorial" (Washingtonian Magazine)

The fourth episode of our special retrospective 20th season looks back to the awesome movie year of 2012 with the second of two Christmas episodes, on Edward Burns' The Fitzgerald Family Christmas. Written and directed by Edward Burns and starring Edward Burns, Michael McGlone, Kerry Bishé, Heather Burns, Marsha Dietlein Bennett and Caitlin FitzGerald, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Stephen Holden in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/movies/the-fitzgerald-family-christmas-from-edward-burns.html), Frank Scheck in The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/fitzgerald-family-christmas-review-398753/), and Mary Pols in Time (https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/06/3524768/).Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show.Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @AwesomemoviepodYou can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedyYou can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleedYou can find our producer David Rosen's Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at

Louis B. Mayer: He rose from poverty to become one of the richest and most powerful men in the country. He was the king of his own empire. Of his grand land of make-believe on the sprawling MGM lot. He was a tough boss, he was unfair, and he was downright abusive. But he gave us some of the most iconic film stars in the history of Hollywood. Listen now! Image Source: IMDB Episode Sources: Louis B. Mayer biography from Biography Channel; encyclopedia.com; a New York Times article by Stephen Holden from August 3, 1990; a Medium article from February 16, 2022; IMDB

Discover the enchanting voice of Celia Berk, an award-winning vocalist based in Manhattan who has captivated audiences worldwide. Renowned for her intimate interpretations, warm cello sound, and a penchant for uncovering hidden gems by great songwriters, Celia's music resonates deeply with listeners. Influenced by iconic vocalists of the Great American Songbook and musical theatre, including Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Cook, and Margaret Whiting, Celia has garnered high praise from prominent music champions. Michael Feinstein admires her exquisite vocal style and song choices, Rex Reed hails her as "one of the best singers I've heard in a long time," and Stephen Holden notes her ability to evoke the same emotions for New York as a Cole Porter song does for Paris. Celia's latest album, NOW THAT I HAVE EVERYTHING, was included on the 2023 Grammy Awards Preliminary Ballot and earned accolades as one of the top 10 Vocalist Recordings of 2022. Celia Berk is Someone You Should Know. Tip Jar:Click here to buy the Rik Anthony a cold one.Show Links:Click here to go to Celia's WebsiteClick here to go to Celia's FacebookClick here to go to Celia's InstagramClick here to go to Celia's X/TwitterClick here to go to Celia's YouTube ChannelAll music used by permission from the artistSomeone You Should Know 2024 // CatGotYourTongueStudios 2024Send us a textHow to Contact Us:Official Website: https://Someoneyoushouldknowpodcast.comGmail: Someoneyoushouldknowpodcast@gmail.comTwitter: @RIKANTHONY1Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rikanthonyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/someoneyoushouldknowpodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rik-anthony2019/TikTok: @SomeoneYouShouldKnow2023YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@someoneyoushouldknowpodcastThank you for listening!Theme music "Welcome to the Show" by Kevin MacLeod was used per the standard license agreement.

The finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features our audience choice poll winner, Stephen Frears' High Fidelity. Directed by Stephen Frears (based on the novel by Nick Hornby) and starring John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black and Todd Louiso, High Fidelity defeated two other music-themed dramas in our audience choice poll.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/high-fidelity-2000), Stephen Holden in The New York Times (https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/033100fidelity-film-review.html), and Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/2000/03/24/high-fidelity-8/).Thanks to special guest Rich Rosen of Wax Trax Records in Las Vegas for joining us. Check out Wax Trax at https://www.waxtraxonline.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/waxtraxrecords.Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show.Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @AwesomemoviepodYou can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedyYou can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleedYou can find our producer David Rosen's Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod.You can also follow us all on Letterboxd to keep up with what we've been watching at goforjason, signalbleed and bydavidrosen.Subscribe on Patreon to support the show and get access to exclusive content from Awesome Movie Year, plus fellow podcasts Piecing It Together and All Rice No Beans, and music by David Rosen: https://www.patreon.com/bydavidrosenAll of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.comPlease like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next installment, the epilogue to our...

The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features one of the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winners, Kenneth Lonergan's You Can Count on Me. Written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan and starring Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick, Rory Culkin and Jon Tenney, You Can Count on Me was Lonergan's first feature film after a successful career as a playwright.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/you-can-count-on-me-2000), Stephen Holden in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/10/movies/film-review-a-dysfunctional-family-with-wounds-exposed.html), and Lisa Schwarzbaum in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/2000/11/17/you-can-count-me-4/).Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show.Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @AwesomemoviepodYou can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedyYou can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleedYou can find our producer David Rosen's Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod.You can also follow us all on Letterboxd to keep up with what we've been watching at goforjason, signalbleed and bydavidrosen.Subscribe on Patreon to support the show and get access to exclusive content from Awesome Movie Year, plus fellow podcasts Piecing It Together and All Rice No Beans, and music by David Rosen: https://www.patreon.com/bydavidrosenAll of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.comPlease like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 2000 installment, featuring the other Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner, Karyn Kusama's Girlfight.

Grace McLean called “electrifying” by The Huffington Post and “phenomenal” by The New York Times, Grace McLean is a multi-hyphenate actor-singer-writer. In addition to performing in the New York theater scene on Broadway and off, Grace also makes time for her acclaimed original music. Stephen Holden of the New York Times says “Ms. McLean's voice is a flexible instrument with unexpected reserves of power...Behind her playful adventurousness lies a well of passion.” Grace is a Writer In Residence at Lincoln Center Theater where her first original musical IN THE GREEN was commissioned and produced, received a 2020 Richard Rodgers Award, and a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical. She has had two artistic ambassadorships with the US State Department touring Pakistan (2015) and Russia (2018), and her band performed in both the 2015 and 2016 Lincoln Center American Songbook series. Grace is a Broadway Women's Fund's Woman to Watch (2021), Jonathan Larson Grant recipient (2021), a member of The Civilians R&D Group (2019-2020), MacDowell Fellow (2018) and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' Emerging Artist (2017). Grace McLean & Them Apples have released 2 EPs, “Make Me Breakfast” and “Natrural Disaster,” and are looking forward to releasing a full length album in early 2024. The IN THE GREEN original cast album is available from Ghostlight Records.   Learn more: www.gracemclean.com https://twitter.com/thatgracemclean https://www.instagram.com/thatgracemclean/ Connect more:  https://www.chonacas.com/podcast/ https://www.instagram.com/shesallovertheplacepodcast/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiechonacas/   Thank you, I hope you enjoyed the episode, please share with one person! Please leave a 5 star & review on Apple Podcasts as it really supports me as an Independent Podcaster :)

My very special guest today is world-renowned jazz vocalist Nicole Henry! Since her first release in 2004, Nicole Henry has established herself among the jazz world's most acclaimed performers, possessing a potent combination of dynamic vocal abilities, impeccable phrasing, and powerful emotional resonance.  Nicole has toured in 20 countries, headlining at such venues as Blue Note; Jazz at Lincoln Center; Blues Alley; The Smith Center; Kravis Center; Jazz St. Louis; Feinstein's; Madrid Jazz Festival; and more.   She earned a Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance” as well as four TOP 10 albums on Billboard, JazzWeek, HMV Japan & UK Sweet Rhythms charts. Her soulful interpretations have become a favorite with worldwide audiences and critics alike.  Stephen Holden of The New York Times raved, “Every gesture and inflection conveyed confidence and mastery…time and again she invested familiar songs with an extra fillip of conviction and made you reconsider the words.”  BroadwayWorld says, “So powerful is her charisma, so unique is her personality, so rich is her music, so abandoned is her joy…” On her 8th career release - TIME TO LOVE AGAIN, released in late 2021, HENRY performs an eclectic mix of jazz standards and reimagined pop tunes by a diverse group of iconic composers including Anthony Newley, James Taylor, Rodgers & Hart, Buffy St. Marie, Ned Washington, Stevie Wonder, and Joan Armatrading. It reached #4 on the U.S. JazzWeek chart, remained in the TOP 10 for 10 weeks & ultimately was the 7th most-played U.S. vocal jazz CD of 2022. TIME TO LOVE AGAIN also reached #6 on UK's Sweet Rhythms chart and enjoyed worldwide play on both Sirius XM Real Jazz & Watercolors stations. Find & Listen to Nicole Henry! On Instagram - nicolehenrymusic www.nicolehenry.com

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mVPPLzo9wc&t=34s Are you curious to learn the secrets of cabaret success? In this episode, we will discuss how to create a successful cabaret show, from the planning stages all the way through to performance.  Amanda King: With the sound and soul of a classic chanteuse, it's no surprise that Amanda King showcases a catalog of music gems from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s embodying many of the figures who make up the vivid tapestry that is American Popular Music and Jazz. Possessing a smoothness of voice and surety of style, she has been hailed by New York Times critic Stephen Holden as one of the nightclub world's “exceptional rising talents.” Catch her LIVE as part of Capital Cabaret in Washington DC March 23 Karen Mason has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, television, and recording: and “has few peers when it comes to ripping the roof off with her amazing voice that knows no bounds!” (TheatreScene.net) Karen is a 13-time MAC Award winner, has won the MAC Award for Major Female Vocalist of the Year for six consecutive years, and recently was the recipient of the 2019 MAC Lifetime Achievement Award. Karen Mason brings back her critically acclaimed tribute to Kander & Ebb to Birdland Monday March 20th Daryl Sherman: One of the top swing singers to emerge during the past 30 years, Daryl Sherman has a light high voice that is influenced by Mildred Bailey and also by Ella Fitzgerald, Sylvia Syms, Billie Holiday, Blossom Dearie, and Barbara Carroll. Honored this year with a special Bistro award for Enduring Artistry! Perhaps her most renowned gig was a 14-year run at Manhattan's Waldorf-Astoria, where she played Cole Porter's Steinway.

Examining the “Crazy” Girl Trope In this episode we're getting into the “crazy girl” trope. Are these portrayals helpful or harmful? Both? Is it okay to laugh at our sadness? Can depression ever be glamorous? We discuss Girl, Interrupted, the return of Tumblr, the idea of the Femcel, Elizabeth Wurtzel, Sylvia Plath, Issa Rae, Michaela Coel, Frances Farmer, Zelda Fitzgerald, Gone Girl & the cool girl monologue, Edie Sedgwick & the sad little rich girl, Orange is the New Black, Glenn Close, Fatal Attraction & the femme fatale, pathological liars, the lack of mental healthcare available, and most importantly how these portrayals in media and in our personal lives impact how we treat celebrities, each other, and ourselves. CONTENT WARNING: We do talk about suicide, sexual assault, disordered eating & self-harm in this episode— nothing graphic or too detailed but we want you to know it's in there Sources: Girl Interrupted: Stop Your Whining Little Girl, The New York Times, Stephen Holden, 1999 Everything You Forgot About Girl Interrupted and Why the Story Remain So Vital, E News!, Natalie Finn, 2019 Is Gone Girl Feminist or Misogynist? Eliana Docterman, October 6, 2014, Time Z, Amazon Prime The Take, The “Crazy” Ex-Girlfriend - A Manufactured Trope The Femme Fatale Trope, Explained YouTube Mina Lee, toxic femininity: what's up with girlbloggers, female manipulators, and femcels? YouTube Girl Interrupted, Susanna Kaysen, 1993 Girl Interrupted, Film 1999 Bitch, Elizabeth Wurtzel, Anchor Books, 1999 Madness- Elizabeth Wurtzel, from the introduction Gone Girl- Gillian Flynn Gone Girl, film, 2012 Frances, trailer, 1987 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/broadsnextdoor/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/broadsnextdoor/supportThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5803223/advertisement

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall   Jake Beckhard (Blue Balls NYCFC) challenges the lads to the match of the century as they try to outmaneuver the bopping songs and confounding political intrigue of the infamous Tim Rice/Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus flop musical: Chess. Topics include the many different versions of the show, the innate appeal of a broken musical, and the ever increasing eccentricities of one Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!   Jake Beckhard Website: jake-beck.com Twitter: @jakebeckhard Instagram: @jakebeckhard Blue Balls NYCFC: You've got Blue Balls! How lucky for you. Check in every week for rapturous pod talk on all things NYCFC. With NYC Hosts Jake Beckhard and Trey Fillmore. Listen on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Podomatic The Fled is an artist Collective providing a radically equitable, anti-racist, anti-oppressive platform for theater artists — to build community, expand their artistry, and make theatre that is actively engaged in our collective liberation and the dismantling of colonialist practices and white ideals. With artists at the helm, particularly our global-majority and historically marginalized artists, we lead our community with curiosity, empathy, and celebration. Patreon: patreon.com/serials Instagram: @thefledcollective Twitter: @fledcollective Website: thefled.com Media Referenced in this Episode: Get Onto My Cloud: The Tim Rice Podcast: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts “Chess Seeks to Shed Its Checkered Past” by Stephen Holden, NYTimes Chess (1986 London Concept Cast): Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Chess In Concert (2008): AppleTV / YouTube / Letterboxd TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: brendan-dalton.com / brendandalton.bandcamp.com

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here:  https://youtu.be/Pa6ZuENFQNI “I had the sense of being in the presence of a pop-soul superwoman whose every gesture and inflection conveyed confidence and mastery.” - Stephen Holden, New York Times “(Henry) can sell a power ballad as well as Whitney, Diana and Patti.” - Jazz Times “A paragon of perfection. The voice that pours out of her is even more impressive…the vocal love child of Whitney Houston and Sarah Vaughan." -Jordan Levin, Miami Herald “Listen and you'll hear an artist who knows how to make a song her own… Henry aims right for the emotional center…". - Philip Van Vleck, Billboard Since her debut, Nicole Henry has established herself among the jazz world's most acclaimed performers, possessing a potent combination of dynamic vocal abilities, impeccable phrasing, and powerful emotional resonance. Her passionate, soulful voice and heartfelt charisma have earned her a Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance," and four Top-10 U.S. Billboard, Jazz Week and HMV Japan jazz albums. Heralded by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, El Pais, Jazz Times, Essence and more, Ms. Henry tells real stories through peerless interpretations of repertoire from the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz, popular standards, blues and originals. She has captivated audiences in over 20 countries, headlining at venues in cities including New York, Tokyo, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Miami. Ms. Henry has also performed in more than 30 music festivals worldwide and in some of the world's most famous venues including Blue Note; Jazz at Lincoln Center...  

For Video Edtion, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/Q7JiH9YBWIk Karen Oberlin Telling the story, both musically and lyrically, is what I find most exciting and galvanizing as a performer," Karen Oberlin was quoted saying in an interview. Hailed as one of premier interpreters of the Great American Songbook by both the New York Times and London's Classical Source, Oberlin was deeply honored to receive, in 2013, both the Mabel Mercer Foundation's most prestigious Donald F. Smith Award and an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Dix Hills Performing Arts Center/Five Towns College. She has also been the recipient of the Nightlife Award for Jazz Vocalist of the Year, a Bistro Award for Outstanding Achievement and multiple MAC Awards. Ms. Oberlin's recordings can be heard regularly on the legendary WNYC radio show hosted by Jonathan Schwartz, where he often sings her praises. This year Ms. Oberlin returns for her annual week performing at London's most exquisite cabaret club, the Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zedel, following a return engagement in Paris, this time at Club RaYé. Quoting from among her many reviews in the New York Times, Stephen Holden says, "Beyond having a pretty voice, poise and interpretive insight... Ms. Oberlin has impeccable classic pop style (and) musical intelligence." Rex Reed, in the New York Observer, called her performance "thrilling," and continued, "Oberlin is as lovely to look at as she is to hear -- subtle, elegant and musically spot on... (Her performance) rings true and funny and flawless. She's a keeper!" The music critic, David Yaffe, says Ms. Oberlin "reaches into the minds and muses of our golden repertoire to teach us, dazzle us, and send us to a Tin Pan Alley nirvana, as deep as the ocean and high as the sky."   

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/YzLx9ipWzZs In Every episode, we come together with amazing artists who prove that with just a little ingenuity, we all are creative beings and that the gifts lie within despite the challenges of the outside world. Johnny Rodgers, Bette Sussman, and Deborah Jean Templin join the show for this episode. JOHNNY RODGERS is an internationally celebrated singer-songwriter, pianist, Broadway veteran, and recording artist who is described by Stephen Holden, from The New York Times, as an entertainer “who has show business in his bones” with “fused elements of Billy Joel, Peter Allen and Johnny Mercer.” When she was nineteen years old, BETTE SUSSMAN began her work as a musical director with a touring production of Godspell. By chance, Dick Wagner met her, and introduced her to Tim Curry. She played on Curry's Fearless album and also embarked on her first major world tour with him.She would later work as a musical director and a pianist for music artists such as Cissy Houston, Sarah Dash, Esther Marrow and Patti Austin, with whom she recorded a live album from the Bottom Line in NYC. Accomplished and versatile, DEBORAH JEAN TEMPLIN has performed on stage, screen and television. Her most recent appearance was as the inspired, but vocally flawed, wannabe opera diva, Florence Foster Jenkins, in Stephen Temperley's Souvenir. Her solo show UNSINKABLE WOMEN: Stories and Songs from the Titanic. Having successfully toured the country with UNSINKABLE WOMEN, Templin created her autobiographical play, SINGING FOR THE COWS. These solo shows have played more than 150 venues, including the New York's Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library Series.  

During the summer of 1976, Cory Daye‘s voice wafted through the bamboo forests of New York's Fire Island like an intoxicating fragrance. As the lead vocalist and co-founder of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, she beckoned the island's dwellers to untold pleasures while the group's self-titled debut stirred dancers into sweaty, salty abandon. Boardwalks seldom pulsed with such a bewitching beat.Fire Island was worlds away from the South Bronx where Daye first met composer/arranger Stony Browder, Jr. (guitar/piano) and his brother, lyricist August Darnell (bass). Drummer Mickey Sevilla and vibe master “Sugar Coated” Andy Hernandez (aka Coati Mundi) helped crystallize the group's musical aesthetic, which had morphed from R&B into a blend of big band, soul, Latin, jazz, dance, and pop. Produced by Four Seasons tunesmith Sandy Linzer, Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (1976) brought the grandeur of swing-era bandstands to the discotheque, melding wry social commentary with classic Hollywood romanticism. “Everybody's favorite album is Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band on RCA,” critic Vince Aletti wrote in his “Disco File” column for Record World. “It's this summer's major surprise hit not only because three cuts are eminently danceable (‘Sour and Sweet', ‘Cherchez La Femme', and ‘I'll Play the Fool'), but because the group's fabulously eclectic sound — drawing on several decades of American pop music from big band jazz to doo-wop soul to sophisticated disco, full of sly musical quotes — is so fresh and appealing” (7 August 1976).Aletti would later declare Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band the “Most Essential Disco Album of 1976”, while the Los Angeles Times named Savannah Band “the hottest disco act in the country” (26 November 1976). Even Aletti's peers in the rock press cheered the group's arrival. “It's a pleasure to admit that their music is a fresh pop hybrid with its own rhythmic integrity, and that its sophistication is a lot brighter and more lively than most of the organic bullshit making it to the rock stage in the mid-'70s,” Robert Christgau noted in the Village Voice.Rolling Stone published its own rave review of Savannah Band's debut. “The highest moments introduce a genuinely surrealistic disco whose adventurous use of bitonality and electronic sound effects stands in absolute contrast to the recent disco market's cynical prefabrication of oldies,” wrote Stephen Holden. “‘I'll Play the Fool', ‘Cherchez La Femme', and especially ‘Sour and Sweet', are group originals that literally explode the genre with their brittle scintillating audacity” (23 September 1976).With a sound that signaled disco's penchant for innovation, Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band supplanted the Bee Gees' “You Should Be Dancing” from number one on Billboard‘s “National Disco Action Top 30” in October 1976. A month later, “Cherchez La Femme” debuted on the Hot 100 where it would peak at #27 and introduce one of the era's most indelible opening lines — “Tommy Mottola lives on the road” — to the airwaves. The album itself was certified gold and earned the group a GRAMMY nomination for “Best New Artist”.In '79 Cory Daye released her solo album, “Cory and Me”. Rolling Stone, November '79 - Cory delivers a vocal performance that's direct and elusive, girlishly simple and musically sophisticated, sexy without being huff-and-puffy.   When Daye makes her entrance in any song, it's like the sun breaking through a bank of dark clouds. Paired again with producer-extraordinaire Sandy Linzer, singles “Single Again”, “A Wiggle and A Giggle” and the thumping “Pow Wow” will Listen and subscribe to the BAAS Entertainment Podcast on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Podchaser, Pocket Casts and TuneIn. “Hey, Alexa. Play the BAAS Entertainment Podcast.”

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/r-t5C2KGEW8 Daryl Sherman has been a part of the New York City jazz/cabaret scene since the mid-70s and she is one of the rare singing pianists equally talented in both roles. Sherman is a unique stylist with charm, quick wit, chemistry with her audiences and ability to make herself at home in any musical setting. When Artie Shaw formed a new band after his retirement, Sherman was his chosen singer, calling her "a first rate singer –musician”. Her CDs continue in regular rotation on Cable TV's Music Choice, Pandora,WNYC, WBGO Radio, BBC, Spotify. She's guested on Marian McPartland's NPR Piano Jazz (also guest host!) In Manhattan she's played Birdland Jazz, Jazz at Kitano, Mezzrow , Dizzy's Coca Cola, Iridium jazz club and the Algonquin's Oak Room. She's been a favorite at Highlights in Jazz concert series, Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Convention, and Bryant Park Jazz Piano series, Midtown Jazz at St Peter's and JVC Jazzfest in NYC plus in Newport. Daryl has performed and recorded with notables: Artie Shaw, Dave McKenna, Ruby Braff , Joe Temperley, Dick Hyman, Mike Renzi, Bucky & John Pizzarelli, Jay Leonhart, Boots Maleson, Harvie S, Warren Vache, Bob Dorough , Jon-Erik Kellso, Scott Robinson, Houston Person, Wycliffe Gordon, Harry Allen, Scott Hamilton, Ken Peplowski, Wycliffe Gordon, Howard Alden, James Chirillo, The Anderson Twins, AND her dad, trombonist, Sammy Sherman. “Delightful, swinging, signature jazz sound, a stylistic compendium of Billie Holiday, Mildred Bailey and Blossom Dearie.' - Stephen Holden, New York Times

Stephen Holden is a new trader working to further his career. He left his job and had to return, causing some shifts in his trading. Many of us have been there. Stephen is a Day trader turned swing trader. Everyone has a different trading style. Find YOURS. We dive into Stephens's process of discovering his trading style while also going into detail about swing trading. Remember, everyone's journey is different so find the process that works for you! Learn from this conversation and stay tuned as I share my screen!   Low Commissions, Cheap Borrows, Fast Executions -  https://get.cobratrading.com/bthestory/   Book a 1 on 1 Call with me - https://calendly.com/bthetrader/1-on-1-talk   Click here to sign up for our Newsletter   BTheTrader Merch - https://my-store-11542608.creator-spring.com   Catch me trading live on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/bthetrader

If YOU had a time desk, you too would invite Rolling Stone's chief TV critic, Alan Sepinwall, to burn messages into it about Frequency, the year-2000 time-travel/father-son therapy/serial-killer thriller that kicks off QIF's sixth season. Twenty minutes of clumsy exposition to lead off, "special" effects, Pissy Cop Wife tropes, Chekhov's Mets trivia, Qing Of Queens accentry, and repeated violations of the prime directive AND quantum physics...the movie has zero business working, and yet, we're putty in its hands. Find out why we think that is, and which Emmerich owes Alan five bucks, in the season premiere of Quaid In Full. Overall score: 8.17 QQQ score: 6.5 Days since a lost Kuffs accident: 84 SHOW NOTES Follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/quaidinfullpod) Get EVEN MORE Qontent (...sorry) at our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/quaidinfull) Can YOU get past the first 27 seconds of The Dennissance? (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dennissance/id1503394153) Alan Sepinwall on Twitter (https://twitter.com/sepinwall) Roger Ebert's Frequency review (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/frequency-2000) Stephen Holden's in the Times (https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/042800frequen-film-review.html) Keith Phipps's for AV Club (https://www.avclub.com/frequency-1798192408) Dang, the CW show went THREE seasons? (https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/frequency) Special Guest: Alan Sepinwall.

Amanda King is a classic chanteuse who performs swinging standards and jazz. Hailed by critic Stephen Holden in the New York Times as one of the nightclub world's “exceptional rising talents”, Amanda is a vivacious and captivating performer bringing to mind the great ladies of song. A devoted fan of classic movie musicals, Amanda relishes diving into history to share the stories, songs and people that make up the treasure trove of pre-1950's American popular music. She is also a great educator and has taught jazz education classes for OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at UNLV as well as presented workshops for the SFJAZZ Discover Jazz series. Since moving to Las Vegas in 2017 she has quickly become one of its top jazz performers. Kelly Vohnn is an international known singer, impersonator, actress, comedian and poker player. She has one prestigious awards such as 2010 and 2011 “Chairman of the Year” at Imperial Palace. 2009 Winner of the “Reba McEntire Lookalike Contest” in New York. 2000 “Entertainer of the Year” in Nashville for Indies and 1999 “Canadian Country Artist of the Year”. She has had a number of hits from her Independent CD recordings including going #4 in two weeks in Toronto in 2000. Her voice can be heard worldwide in various jingles as well as TV Shows including charities. Her list of stage performances as well as artist she has worked with is endless, such as Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross and Bill Cosby and continues to grow. If you are ever in the Vegas area you need to check her out, but also follow her social as she might just be coming to a town near you. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Short Cuts waterboarded with sno-cone syrup...Love Actually from factory-irregular parts...a catastrophically premature Magnolia...it's Playing By Heart, which is 40 minutes too long, coy about a meaningless end reveal, and contains very few believable situations or lines of dialogue. How desperate is Angelina Jolie to get a reaction from her wooden scene partner? Why is James Bond obliged to deliver Intercourse PA jokes that are beneath even SDB? Why in god's name didn't Quaid and Anthony Edwards swap roles? And will your co-hosts ever agree on whether Serious Ack-tor DQ has to poo...or can't poo? We're aligned on the poo levels of the film, at least; it's an all-new Quaid In Full. Overall score: 3 QQQ score: 4.5 Days since a lost Kuffs accident: 14 SHOW NOTES Follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/quaidinfullpod) Get EVEN MORE Qontent (...sorry) at our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/quaidinfull) Can YOU get past the first 27 seconds of The Dennissance (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dennissance/id1503394153)? Stephen Holden's review in NYT (https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/012299heart-film-review.html) G. Allen Johnson's in the SF Examiner (https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/What-a-cast-What-a-waste-3099164.php) Joe Neumaier's for EW (https://ew.com/article/1999/08/24/playing-heart/) Jonathan Bernstein's Pretty In Pink (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/532105.Pretty_In_Pink)

Our journey through the constipated-avenging-angel portion of DQ's c.v. continues with Savior, a harsh, weird, budge allegory of war and human connection set in the Balkans. Jeb adds to his collection of hall-of-fame Skarsgard quotes, Sarah doesn't know how sniping works, and a sociopath in a Luke Perry t-shirt trolls everyone, including the accent coach, in an all-new Quaid In Full. Overall score: 7 QQQ score: 2.5 Days since a lost Kuffs accident: 14 SHOW NOTES Get EVEN MORE Qontent (...sorry) at our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/quaidinfull) Can YOU get past the first 27 seconds of The Dennissance (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dennissance/id1503394153)? Time Out's review (https://www.timeout.com/movies/savior) Stephen Holden's for NYT (https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/25/movies/film-review-in-the-butchery-of-bosnia-a-killer-becomes-a-humanitarian.html) Roger Ebert's review (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/savior-1998)

Time is a flat Quaid in our Switchback episode: this miscast, dour late-'90s bag of action clichés is allegedly a remake of a German film called Kidnapped, but we can't find any corroborating evidence of that...or of Quaid's essential Quaidiness, as his Special Agent Hoint LaGlower roams the country trying to find the son someone -- Danny Glover? Jordan Catalano? -- snatched in the opening flashback. Fake map streets, Twitter fights, when you have to poo but you're on a call, useless car chases, broken ankles, and our other podcast, Tomatoes & Dicks on an all-new Quaid In Full. Overall score: 3.75 QQQ score: 2.25 Days since a lost Kuffs accident: 7 SHOW NOTES Get EVEN MORE Qontent (...sorry) at our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/quaidinfull) Can YOU get past the first 27 seconds of The Dennissance (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dennissance/id1503394153)? What about Kidnapped -- any intel there (https://twitter.com/quaidinfullpod)? What's left of that EW piece on the production (https://ew.com/article/1997/11/07/neverending-story-switchback/) EW's actual review from Bruce Fretts (https://ew.com/article/1997/10/31/switchback/) Stephen Holden's for NYT on Glover's too-niceness (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/review97/gangrelatedhunt.htm) Roger Ebert's review (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/switchback-1997) T 'n' D (http://tomatoesanddicks.com)

Allison Kelly, Tyler Lyons, and Beth Dixon are joined by patreon Stephen Holden to break down the first eviction of the jury for Big Brother 23! We go over The Cookout's dominating alliance structure, Brittini's eviciton, and speculate on Sarah Beth's upcoming HoH. We also talk about a rumored triple eviction... uh oh! This podcast is NSFW.Support the show (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgxSgWMxc71-XWetsktzTjQ/featured)

"Michael Jackson brushes shoulders with Sarah Vaughan in the person of Cyrille Aimée , a saucy, curly-haired jazz singer with one foot in tradition and the other in electronics." - Stephen Holden, New York Times

In episode three I talk about Late For the Sky with culture critic and music writer Steven Hyden of Uproxx and the Rivals podcast. After a brief intro and a look at the original 1974 Rolling Stone review by Stephen Holden, our conversation starts around the 7:00 mark. Follow Steven Hyden at @Steven_Hyden.Share the podcast, and rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with me on Twitter at @coxjustinAlso, I made a bracket of Jackson Browne songs so you put yourself through hell deciding on a favorite. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts

In episode three I talk about Late For the Sky with culture critic and music writer Steven Hyden of Uproxx and the Rivals podcast. After a brief intro and a look at the original 1974 Rolling Stone review by Stephen Holden, our conversation starts around the 7:00 mark. Follow Steven Hyden at @Steven_Hyden. Share the podcast, and rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with me on Twitter at @coxjustin Also, I made a bracket of Jackson Browne songs so you put yourself through hell deciding on a favorite.  This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts

Topics: Biggie death, Erykah Badu, Eve's Bayou, Miss Evers' Boys (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)   Notes 1997   1.    President: Bill Clinton   2.    Feb -A Santa Monica jury finds former football legend O.J. Simpson is liable for the deaths of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.   3.    Feb - North Hollywood shootout: Two heavily armed bank robbers conflict with officers from the Los Angeles Police Department in a mass shootout.   4.    Feb - Miss Evers' Boys airs on HBO. It is a made-for-TV adaptation of David Feldshuh's eponymous 1992 stage play, and was nominated for eleven Emmy Awards and won four, Outstanding Made for Television Movie / Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Alfre Woodard / Editing / Cinematography   5.    Mar - Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G. is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles at age 24 before the release of his second album Life After Death. The album was released on March 25.   6.    Mar - In San Diego, California, 39 members of  Heaven's Gate, a UFO religious cult, commit mass suicide.   7.    Apr - The Ellen episode, "The Puppy Episode" is broadcast on ABC, showing for the first time the revelation of a main character as a homosexual.   8.    May - U.S. President Bill Clinton issues a formal apology to the surviving victims of the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male and their families.   9.    Jun - During the Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II boxing match in Las Vegas, Mike Tyson bites off part of Evander Holyfield's ear.   10.    Jun - The base version of the standard WiFi was released   11.    Aug - Diana, Princess of Wales died in hospital after being injured in a motor vehicle accident in a road tunnel in Paris.   12.    Sep - www.google.com is registered by Google.   13.    Nov - Mary Kay Letourneau is sentenced to six months imprisonment in Washington after pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree child rape. Letourneau gave birth to her victims' child and the leniency of her sentence was widely criticized.[3]   14.    Nov - The Emergency Broadcast System is replaced by the Emergency Alert System and it continues to this day. - "This is a test. This station is conducting a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test."   15.    Open Comments:   16.    Top 3 Pop Songs   17.    #1-"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" / "Candle in the Wind 1997", Elton John   18.    #2-"Foolish Games" / "You Were Meant for Me", Jewel   19.    #3-"I'll Be Missing You", Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112   20.    Record Of The Year, Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin   21.    Album Of The Year, Time Out Of Mind - Bob Dylan   22.    Song Of The Year, Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin Colvin)   23.    Best New Artist, Paula Cole   24.    Best Female R&B, On & On - Erykah Badu   25.    Best Male R&B, I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly   26.    Best R&B Duo Or Group, No Diggity - Blackstreet   27.    Best R&B Song, I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly   28.    Best R&B Album, Baduizm - Erykah Badu   29.    Best Rap Solo, Men In Black - Will Smith   30.    Best Rap Duo Or Group, I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans Featuring 112   31.    Best Rap Album, No Way Out - Puff Daddy & The Family   32.    Top 3 Movies   33.    #1-Titanic   34.    #2-The Lost World: Jurassic Park   35.    #3-Men in Black   36.    Notables: Rhyme & Reason, Gridlock'd, Rosewood, Good Burger, Def Jam's How to Be a Player, Hoodlum, Kiss the Girls, Gang Related, Boogie Nights, The Devil's Advocate, Good Will Hunting, Jackie Brown, Love Jones, B*A*P*S, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Booty Call, Donnie Brasco, Soul Food, Gang Related,   37.    Open Comments:   38.    Top TV Shows   39.    #1-Seinfeld   40.    #2-ER   41.    #3-Veronica's Closet   42.    Debuts, The Chris Rock Show   43.    Open Comments:   44.    Economic Snapshots   45.    Income = 37.5 (Previously 36.3K)   46.    House = 124k (118.2)   47.    Car = 17k (16.3)   48.    Rent = 576 (554)   49.    Harvard = 28.9 (27.5)   50.    Movie = 4.59 (4.42)   51.    Gas = 1.22 (-)   52.    Stamp = .32 (-)   53.    Social Scene: Death of Christopher George Latore Wallace, aka ‘Biggie Smalls,’ ‘The Notorious B.I.G,’ or ‘Biggie,’   54.    Childhood & Early Life: Born on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York, to Voletta Wallace and Selwyn George Latore. His mother was a Jamaican preschool teacher and his father was a politician and welder. His father left the family when he was two years old. He attended the ‘Queen of All Saints Middle School’ where he excelled in English, won many awards,  and was given the nickname ‘Big.’ because of his weight, around the age of 10 (1982).  He started dealing drugs as early as 12 while his mother went out for work, and she says he adapted a ‘smart-ass’ attitude, while attending high school, but he was still a good student. He dropped out of school at 17 (1989) and gradually got involved in criminal activities. Shortly after dropping out, he was arrested on weapon charges and was sentenced for probation of five years. He was again arrested in 1990 for violating his probation and again a year later for drug dealing in North Carolina. He stayed in jail for nine months.   55.    Career: As a teen, he began exploring music and performed with local groups, such as ‘Techniques’ and ‘Old Gold Brothers.’ He made a casual demo tape titled ‘Microphone Murder’ under the name ‘Biggie Smalls.’ The name was inspired from his own stature as well as from a character of a 1975 film ‘Let’s Do it Again.’ The tape was promoted by Mister Cee, a New York based DJ and was heard by the editor of ‘The Source.’ In March 1992 (@19), he was featured in the ‘Unsigned Hype’ column of ‘The Source,’ magazine. Shortly thereafter, he was signed by ‘Uptown Records’. In 1993, when Sean 'Puffy' Combs, a producer/A&R with ‘Uptown Records’ was fired, Biggie Smalls signed with Combs’ ‘Bad Boy Records.’ In August, 1993 (@21), he had his first child T’yanna.  To financially support his daughter, he continued to deal drugs. Also in 1993, he worked on the remix of Mary J. Blige’s ‘Real Love.’ While working for ‘Real Love,’ he used the pseudonym ‘The Notorious B.I.G.,’ the name he used for the rest of his career. He followed up with another remix of Blige's ‘What’s the 411’. He debuted as a solo artist in the 1993 film ‘Who’s the Man?’ with the single ‘Party and Bullshit.’   56.    As a solo artist he hit the pop chart in August 1994 (@22) with ‘Juicy/Unbelievable.’ His debut album ‘Ready to Die’ was released in September, 1994, peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and was subject to critical acclaim and soon a commercial success. Three singles were released from the album: "Juicy", "Big Poppa", "One More Chance". "Big Poppa" was a hit on multiple charts, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and also being nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards.  At a time when West Coast hip hop was dominating the mainstream, this album became a huge success, making him a prominent figure in the East Coast hip hop scene. [Side Note: 2 months later in November, Tupac was shot five times in a NYC recording studio].  In July 1995 (@23), the cover of ‘The Source’ magazine featured him along with the caption ‘The King of New York Takes Over.’   57.    Recording of his second album, ‘Life After Death,’  began in September 1995 but was interrupted due to injuries, hip hop disputes, and legal squabbles (much like his friend Tupac). He was in a car accident which hospitalized him for three months. He had to complete rehabilitation and was confined to a wheelchair for a period. The car accident had shattered his left leg and made him dependent on a cane. He was arrested outside a nightclub in Manhattan in March, 1996 (24), for manhandling and threatening to kill two of his fans who were seeking autographs, and again in the middle of the year, he was arrested from his home at Teaneck, New Jersey, for possessing weapons and drugs. On September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur was shot in Las Vegas, Nevada, and he died six days later. Rumors of Biggie Smalls’ involvement in Shakur’s murder were doing the rounds and were reported immediately. In January 1997, he faced an order to pay 41k for a dispute that occurred in May 1995 where a concert promoter’s friend accused him and his entourage of beating him up.   58.    Death: In February 1997, he went to Los Angeles to promote his upcoming album ‘Life After Death’ which was scheduled for March 25th release. On March 7, 1997, he attended the 1997 ‘Soul Train Music Awards’ and presented an award to Toni Braxton. On March 8, he attended the after party at ‘Peterson Automotive Museum,’ hosted by ‘Quest Records’ and ‘Vibe’ magazine. While leaving the party, his truck stopped at a red light, and a black Chevy Impala pulled up alongside it. The Impala's driver, an unidentified African-American man dressed in a blue suit and bow tie, rolled down his window, drew a 9 mm blue-steel pistol, and fired at Wallace's car. Four bullets hit Wallace, and his entourage subsequently rushed him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where doctors performed emergency procedures, but he was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m. He was 24 years old.   59.    16 days after his murder, his double disc album ‘Life After Death’ was released. The album peaked at No. 1 spot on the U.S. charts, ultimately went 11× Platinum, was nominated for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for its first single "Hypnotize", and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for its second single "Mo Money Mo Problems" at the 1998 Grammy Awards. In 2012, the album was ranked at No. 476 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Biggie has been described as ‘the savior of East Coast hip hop’ by some and ‘greatest rapper of all time’ by others.   60.    Tupac and Biggie Best Frenemies: Biggie's first single, “Party and Bulls**t” came out in 1993. By that year, Tupac was already a platinum-selling artist, so Biggie asked a drug dealer to introduce him to Tupac at a Los Angeles party, according to the book 'Original Gangstas...' by Ben Westhoff. An intern who worked with Biggie recalled the meeting. “'Pac walks into the kitchen and starts cooking for us. He's in the kitchen cooking some steaks,”.  “We were drinking and smoking and all of a sudden ‘Pac was like, ‘Yo, come get it.’ And we go into the kitchen and he had steaks, and French fries, and bread, and Kool Aid and we just sittin’ there eating and drinking and laughing...that's truly where Big and ‘Pac’s friendship started.” There was mutual respect between the two and Biggie would crash on Tupac’s couch when he was in California and Tupac would always stop by Biggie’s neighborhood when he was in New York. In essence, they were like any other pair of friends and both of them respected the other's talent. At the 1993 Budweiser Superfest at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, they freestyled together. Biggie often turned to Tupac for advice in the business, and even asked him to manage his career. But Tupac advised him to, "stay with Puff. He will make you a star.”   61.    The first big fallout happened when they were scheduled to work on a project together for another rapper, Little Shawn. Tupac arrived at Times Square’s Quad Recording Studios on November 30, 1994, and was getting ready to head upstairs to where Biggie and Combs were. But instead, Tupac was gunned down in the lobby and shot five times. Tupac reportedly believed that Biggie had prior knowledge of the attack and that he also knew who was behind it. "He really thought when he got shot the first time, not that Big set it up or anything, just Big didn't tell him who did it," Tupac's friend and Naughty by Nature frontman Treach told MTV News in June 2010. "In his heart, he was like, 'The homie knows who did it.' Biggie might have wanted to just stay out of it, like, 'I don't know nothing.' [Tupac] was like, 'Yo, man, just put your ear to the street. Let me know who hit me up.'" Despite Tupac's claims, Biggie remained adamant that he had been loyal to his friend. "Honestly, I didn't have no problem with [Tupac]," Biggie previously said. "I saw situations and how sh*t was going, and I tried to school [Tupac]. I was there when he bought his first Rolex, but I wasn't in the position to be rolling like that. I think Tupac felt more comfortable with the dudes he was hanging with because they had just as much money as him."   62.    Still, Tupac's suspicions were only heightened when Biggie released "Who Shot Ya?" a month after Tupac's attack. Biggie claimed that he wrote the song "way before Tupac got shot," but the rapper took it as Biggie's confession. "Even if that song ain't about it, you should be, like, 'I'm not putting it out, 'cause he might think it's about him,'" Tupac said in an interview with Vibe while incarcerated for an unrelated charge.   63.    When Tupac joined Death Row Records, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry was cemented. While Tupac was incarcerated for another incident, he came to believe Biggie knew about the attack ahead of time. The west coast rapper reached out to Suge Knight, who offered him a place on his Death Row Records roster. Tupac accepted, cementing the rivalry between Knight's label and Combs’ Bad Boy Records. “Any artist out there that wanna be an artist, stay a star, and won’t have to worry about the executive producer trying to be all in the videos, all on the records, dancing—come to Death Row!” Knight proclaimed at that 1995 Source awards show.   64.    There was never proof that Biggie or Combs knew about the incident. But a couple of months later, Biggie’s B-side single was a track called “Who Shot Ya?” which led to Tupac’s response with the song, “Hit ‘Em Up.” In it, Tupac claimed he slept with Biggie’s wife, Faith Evans. According to Vibe, Evans denied the claim, saying, “That ain’t how I do business.”   65.    Open Comments:   66.    Question: What Notable deaths hit you pretty hard? [Aaliyh/Al Jarreau/Andre Harrell/Areatha Franklin/Bernie Mack/Bill Withers/Bob Marley/Chadwick Boseman/Diahann Carroll/Donny Hathaway/Eazy-E/Florence Ballard/Florence Griffith Joyner/Fred “Curly” Neal/Heavy D/Jam Master Jay/Jimi Hendrix/John Lewis/John Singleton/John Thompson/Kobe Bryant/Left Eye/Little Richard/Malcolm X/Martin Luther King, Jr./Micgael Jackson/Muhammad Ali/Mya Angelou/Ol' Dirty Bastard/Otis Redding/Prince/Sam Cooke/The Notorious B.I.G./Toni Morrrison/Tupac/Walter Payton/Whitney Houston]   67.    Music Scene: Black Songs from the top 40   68.    #3-"I'll Be Missing You", Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112   69.    #4-"Un-Break My Heart", Toni Braxton   70.    #5- "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", Puff Daddy featuring Mase   71.    #6-"I Believe I Can Fly", R. Kelly   72.    #7-"Don't Let Go (Love)", En Vogue   73.    #8-"Return of the Mack", Mark Morrison   74.    #13- "For You I Will", Monica   75.    #14-"You Make Me Wanna...", Usher   76.    #16-"Nobody", Keith Sweat featuring Athena Cage   77.    #20- "Mo Money Mo Problems", The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase   78.    #23-"No Diggity", Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre   79.    #24-"I Belong to You (Every Time I See Your Face)", Rome   80.    #25-"Hypnotize", The Notorious B.I.G.   81.    #26-"Every Time I Close My Eyes", Babyface   82.    #27-"In My Bed", Dru Hill   83.    #30-"4 Seasons of Loneliness", Boyz II Men   84.    #31-"G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T.", Changing Faces   85.    #32-"Honey", Mariah Carey   86.    #33-"I Believe in You and Me", Whitney Houston   87.    #34-"Da' Dip", Freak Nasty   88.    #37-"Cupid", 112   89.    Vote:   90.    Top RnB Albums   91.    Jan - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Makaveli   92.    Mar - Baduizm, Erykah Badu   93.    Mar - The Untouchable, Scarface   94.    Apr - Life After Death, The Notorious B.I.G.   95.    May - Share My World, Mary J. Blige   96.    Jun - God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation   97.    Jun - Wu-Tang Forever, Wu-Tang Clan   98.    Aug - Supa Dupa Fly, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott   99.    Aug - No Way Out, Puff Daddy and the Family   100.    Aug - The Art of War, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony   101.    Sep - Ghetto D, Master P   102.    Oct - When Disaster Strikes, Busta Rhymes   103.    Oct - Evolution, Boyz II Men   104.    Nov - The Firm: The Album, The Firm feat. Nas, Foxy Brown, Nature and AZ   105.    Nov - Harlem World, Mase   106.    Nov - The 18th Letter, Rakim   107.    Nov - Unpredictable, Mystikal   108.    Dec - Live, Erykah Badu   109.    Dec - R U Still Down? (Remember Me), 2Pac   110.    Vote:   111.    Music Scene: Erykah Badu, Queen of Neo-Soul   112.    Childhood & Early Years: Born as Erica Abi Wright on February 26, 1971 in Dallas, TX. Her father spent a considerable period in jail, vanished altogether in 1975, and only returned twenty years later. Her mother, a much respected actress in the local theatre, raised the children with the help  of her own mother and her mother-in-law. Erica spent a lot of time with these ladies while her mother was busy on the stage. Erica was born the eldest of 3. Although they were comparatively poor Erica never realized that because everything was neat and clean. Despite the absence of her father, she had a very happy childhood, surrounded by uncles, aunts, grandmothers and cousins. Her mother imbibed in her daughters a love for music, playing the songs of Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder to them. Erica inherited her mother’s artistic traits and a desire to perform. She would often sing in front of the mirror pretending that she was a background singer for Chaka Khan. She would also make her grandmother sit up and watch her while she sang, danced and acted. In 1975, Erica first appeared on stage, performing with her mother at Dallas Theatre Centre and by seven, she started learning to play the piano. Her favorite song was ‘The Greatest Love of All’. Another important aspect of her character was that from her childhood she loved to be in control of the situation around her. Therefore, when it was time for elementary schooling, she refused to continue her education there, mainly because she found that in school she was no longer in control. She began her formal education at a grade school, where her talent was quickly recognized. In her First Grade, she appeared in ‘Annie’, skipping and singing the song ‘Somebody Snitched On Me.’ During the summer vacations, she sang at the choir of the First Baptist Church, honing her choral skills.Along with acting and singing, little Erica also began to expand her cultural horizon, attending different festivals, especially Harambee Festival in South Dallas, slowly developing an interest in African culture and dress. The tall headgear she would wear one day originated from these visits.   113.    In 1980, she was enrolled in a dancing troupe. Later she also learned formal ballet. By 1982, she had also started rapping. When it was time to attend high school, she chose Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School, an arts-oriented magnet school. While studying there she rejected what she considered to be a slave name, changing the spelling of Erica to Erykah and replacing Wright with Badu. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at the Grambling State University, a historically black institution in Grambling, Louisiana, studying theatre until 1993. Thereafter, she returned to Dallas without completing her degree, mainly to concentrate on music.   114.    Career: In 1993, Erykah Badu started her career as a music teacher in Dallas. For a time, she also taught drama and dance at South Dallas Cultural Centre. To augment her income, she also served as waitress. She also formed a hip-hop duo with her cousin Robert Free Bradford, calling it ‘Erykah Free’. Very soon, they started going on musical tours and earning local opening slots. Her big chance came when in 1994 (@23), Erykah opened a show for D’Angelo. Through him, she caught the attention of Kedar Massenburg, an American record producer and founder of Kedar Entertainment. Impressed, he set her up to record a duet, ‘Your Precious Love' with D'Angelo. In 1995, she signed a contract with Kedar Entertainment and moved to Brooklyn. In January 1996, she made her debut with ‘On & On’, which remained at the number-one position on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for two weeks. In 1996, Erykah also recorded her debut album, ‘Baduizm’. Released on February 11, 1997 by Kedar Records, The Grammy award-winning album received universal acclaim from critics, who not only praised the musical style of the album, but also her ‘artistic vision’, establishing her position as the torchbearer of soul music. Her next album, ‘Live’ was a live album released on November 18, 1997, barely a month after the release of its lead single, ‘Tyrone’. It was also a huge hit and reached number four on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. While ‘Live’ was being recorded Badu was pregnant with her first child. After its release, she took some time off to raise her child, not returning until 1999.   115.    Open Comments:   116.    Question: What is neo-soul and why don’t I like it?   117.    Movie Scene:Eve’s Bayou, Written and directed by Kasi Lemmons; produced by Caldecot Chubb and Samuel L. Jackson - Starring: Samuel L. Jackson (Louis Batiste), Jurnee Smollett (Eve Batiste), Lynn Whitfield (Roz Batiste), Debbi Morgan (Mozelle Batiste Delacroix), Vondie Curtis Hall (Julian Grayraven), Meagan Good (Cisely Batiste) and Diahann Carroll (Elzora).   118.    Review #1: “...As these images unfold, we are drawn into the same process Eve has gone through: We, too, are trying to understand what happened in that summer of 1962, when Eve's handsome, dashing father--a doctor and womanizer--took one chance too many. And we want to understand what happened late one night between the father and Eve's older sister, in a moment that was over before it began.   119.    We want to know because the film makes it perfectly possible that there is more than one explanation; "Eve's Bayou" studies the way that dangerous emotions can build up until something happens that no one is responsible for and that can never be taken back.   120.    All of these moments unfold in a film of astonishing maturity and confidence; "Eve's Bayou," one of the very best films of the year, is the debut of its writer and director, Kasi Lemmons. She sets her story in Southern Gothic country, in the bayous and old Louisiana traditions that Tennessee Williams might have been familiar with, but in tone and style she earns comparison with the family dramas of Ingmar Bergman. That Lemmons can make a film this good on the first try is like a rebuke to established filmmakers..."Eve's Bayou" resonates in the memory. It called me back for a second and third viewing. If it is not nominated for Academy Awards, then the academy is not paying attention. For the viewer, it is a reminder that sometimes films can venture into the realms of poetry and dreams. - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times   121.    Review #2: Kasi Lemmons’ fluid, feminine, African-American, Southern-gothic narrative covers a tremendous amount of emotional territory with the most graceful of steps. Young Jurnee Smollett plays 10-year-old Eve, struggling to understand the womanizing of her adored daddy (Samuel L. Jackson in easy, sexy command) and the passions of her big sister; Debbi Morgan, in a blazing performance, plays Eve’s vibrant aunt, infused with good-witch spiritual powers. The film’s dream-state visual elegance is matched by a great soundtrack. Grade, A-. -  Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly   122.    Review #3: First and best, it's got a rip-roaring story. It sweeps you along, borne effortlessly by believable if flawed characters, as it flows toward the inevitable tragedy. But it's also got a heart: It watches as a child harsh of judgment learns that judgment is too easy a posture for the world, and it's best to love with compassion. - Stephen Hunter, Washington Post   123.    Review #4: “You don't have to believe in magic to be gripped by the psychic forces that the characters' sorcery unleashes. Sibling rivalry, sexual jealousy and anxiety are all feelings that, when heated to the boiling point, have incendiary, semi magical powers. And as the psychosexual forces that bind but also threaten the Batiste family heat up, you can feel the lid about to blow. Every element of the film -- from the turbulent, stormy performances to the rich cinematography (which includes black-and-white computer-enhanced dream sequences) to the setting itself, in which the thick layers of hanging moss over muddy water seem to drip with sexual intrigue and secrecy -- merges to create an atmosphere of extraordinary erotic tension and anxiety.   124.    At the center of it all, exuding a dangerous magnetism, is Jackson's Louis, a swashbuckling, flashing-eyed, slightly oily lightning rod of a charmer whose charisma conveys a warning electric buzz. Jackson has never played a character quite this avid. And in a performance that requires him to infuse the role of perfect father and dream lover with a demonic charge, Jackson makes Louis at once irresistibly lovable and slightly terrifying. - Stephen Holden, New York Times   125.    Open Comments:   126.    Question: Are our family dynamics still suffering, internally, from the legacy of slavery or we closer to moving past it.   127.    TV Scene: “Miss Evers’ Boys”: Powerful, haunting and artfully mounted, “Miss Evers’ Boys” is a docudrama of uncommon quality and clarity. The acting is exceptional, the characters vivid, the presentation balanced. Original films for television rarely aim so high as does this HBO NYC production...And cinematographically, it is a revelation, with director of photography Donald M. Morgan lending the production a strikingly dingy, washed-out look that blends perfectly with the piece’s bleak sensibility. The story as told here centers on nurse Eunice Evers (a dynamic, layered performance from Alfre Woodard). Evers went to work at Alabama’s Tuskegee Hospital in 1932 to assist a certain Dr. Brodus (brilliant work from Joe Morton) in caring for poor black men (sharecroppers mostly) who have been stricken with syphilis. Enter Dr. Douglas (Craig Sheffer), a white doctor who brings with him a fully funded program to treat syphilis at the hospital, offering free treatment to any man who tests positive for the disease. A few months pass before Brodus travels to Washington to meet with Douglas and a government panel of doctors who tell him the funding for treatment has dried up. However, money is available for a study of the syphilitic African-American men. The catch: They can receive no medical treatment initially as a way to establish whether syphilis affects blacks and whites differently. Brodus initially is outraged, but acquiesces in the belief the study will disprove the racist notion of physiological inferiority in blacks. Evers also reluctantly follows along, lying to the men while giving them only vitamins, tonics and liniment rubs. But as the months turn into years, it becomes clear that the afflicted men will never receive treatment. Only with their deaths is the study of how the disease runs its course made complete and viable….[the movie] switches gears during its second hour to become an examination of Evers’ gut-wrenching moral ambiguity in sticking around to help perpetrate this ghastly fraud over 40 years. Woodard movingly conveys the conflict weighing down Evers’ guilt-riddled soul, giving a profound resonance to the disturbing ethical questions raised by her dedication in the name of lending the men comfort and a form of loving (if deliberately ineffectual) care….the overall tone and tenor of “Miss Evers’ Boys” is one of subtle brilliance, bolstered by an exquisitely detailed period sheen that screams excellence. After it’s over, you sit disbelieving that such an inhumane, insidious experiment designed to reduce black men to the level of laboratory animals could ever have been conducted in the United States of America — much less gone undetected until 25 years ago. It went far beyond mere institutional racism. It was pure evil. — Ray Richmond Vanity Fair   128.    Open Comments:   129.    Vote: Best/most important/favorite pop culture item from 1997?

Topics: Tupac death, Fugees, Set It Off, Moesha (Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound) http://afropopremix.com 1996 Snapshots 1.    President: Bill Clinton 2.    Jan - Whitewater scandal: U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton testifies before a grand jury. 3.    Feb - Daniel Green is convicted of the murder of James Jordan, the father of basketball star Michael Jordan. 4.    Mar - Lyle and Erik Menendez are found guilty of first-degree murder for the shotgun killing of their parents. 5.    Apr - Chicago Bulls set a new NBA record for the most wins in a season, 70. 6.    May -? 7.    Jun - The Colorado Avalanche wins their first Stanley Cup in their first season based out of Denver and The Chicago Bulls win their fourth NBA Championship by defeating the Seattle Supersonics. 8.    July - The Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics kills 2 and injures 111. 9.    Aug - Tiger Woods makes his professional PGA Tour debut. 10.    Sep - Tupac Shakur dies. 11.    Oct - The Fox News Channel is launched. 12.    Nov - Bill Clinton defeats Republican challenger Bob Dole to win his second term. 13.    Dec - Death of JonBenét Ramsey: A six-year-old beauty queen is beaten and strangled in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colorado; her body is found the following day. 14.    Open Comments: 15.    Music Snapshots 16.    #1 Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix), Los del Río 17.    #2 One Sweet Day, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men 18.    #3 Because You Loved Me, Celine Dion 19.    Record of the Year: Change the World – Eric Clapton 20.    Album of the Year: Falling Into You – Celine Dion 21.    Song of the Year: Change the World 22.    Best New Artist: LeAnn Rimes 23.    Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: You're Makin' Me High – Toni Braxton 24.    Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Your Secret Love – Luther Vandross 25.    Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Killing Me Softly – Fugees 26.    Best R&B Song: Exhale (Shoop Shoop), Babyface, songwriter (Whitney Houston) 27.    Best R&B Album: Words – The Tony Rich Project 28.    Best Rap Solo Performance: Hey Lover – LL Cool J 29.    Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Tha Crossroads – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony 30.    Best Rap Album: The Score – Fugees 31.    Movie Snapshots 32.    #1 Independence Day 33.    #2 Twister 34.    #3 Mission: Impossible 35.    Notables: Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, The Birdcage, Fargo, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, The Nutty Professor, Kazaam, Set It Off, Space Jam, Jerry Maguire. 36.    TV Snapshots 37.    #1 - ER 38.    #2 - Seinfeld 39.    #3 - Suddenly Susan 40.    Debuts: Moesha, The Daily Show, Kenan & Kel, The Steve Harvey Show, In The House, Malcolm & Eddie, Homeboys in Outer Space, The Jamie Foxx Show 41.    Economic Snapshots 42.    Income = 36.3k (Previously 36K) 43.    House = 118.2K (113) 44.    Car = 16.3k (15.5) 45.    Rent = 554(550) 46.    Harvard = 27.5k (26k) 47.    Movie = 4.42 (4.35) 48.    Gas = 1.22 (1.12) 49.    Stamp = .32 (-) 50.    Social Scene: Tupac Killed 51.    Childhood: Tupac Shakur, born Parish Crooks, was born on June 16, 1971, to Black Panther activist parents in New York City. Thirteen days later, his mother, Alice Faye Walker (Afeni Shakur), changed his name. The parents wanted to avoid him being targeted by Black Panther-affiliated enemies. His mother was imprisoned while she was pregnant with him. Tupac's father, Billy Garland, was also a Panther but lost contact with Afeni when Tupac was five years old. The rapper would not see his father again until he was 23 - I thought my father was dead all my life. 52.    Early Life: He had a difficult childhood, as he grew up in the company of criminals, militant activist, violence, and a drugged addicted mother with a transient lifestyle. Art became a constructive and safe escape. His first acting stint was in 1983 (@12 yrs. old) with the Harlem’s 127th StreetRepertory Ensemble when he performed in a play ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ at the Apollo Theater. In 1984, Tupac's family moved from New York City to Baltimore, Maryland.There he studied poetry, jazz, acting, and ballet at the Baltimore School for the Arts and befriended Jada Pinkett. The family later moved to Marin City, California, across the bay from Oakland, in 1988 (@17 yrs. old). They went to the home of a woman Afeni had been close to during her Black Panther days and lived in a poor housing complex, referred to as ‘the Jungle.’ 53.    Early Career: While attending high school he participated in a poetry workshop known as The Microphone Sessions, organized by Leila Steinberg, who would eventually become his first manager. She introduced 19-year-old Tupac to Atron Gregory, a manager for the World Class Wrekin Cru’ and tour manager for NWA, who had just returned to the Bay Area, started TNT Records, and quickly gained attention by signing Digital Underground.  Gregory matched Tupac with Digital Underground as a roadie and backup dancer. Tupac’s talent was soon recognized by the group, and he began rapping in some of their songs. He debuted on ‘Same Song,’ which was featured in the 1991 film Nothing But Trouble. (@20 yrs. old) 54.    Solo Career: He released his debut solo album ‘2Pacalypse Now’ in 1991. (Big hit - 'Brenda's Got a Baby') Also in 1991, Shakur filed a $10-million lawsuit against the Oakland Police Department for allegedly brutalizing him over jaywalking. The case was settled for about $43,000. (1992 - Juice, first starring role) His second album, ‘Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z’ came out in 1993. It was more successful than its predecessor and contained the hits ‘Keep Ya Head Up’ and ‘I Get Around’. (1993 - Poetic Justice, co-starred with Janet Jackson) In 1994, he formed a group Thug Life and they released one album ‘Thug Life: Volume 1. (1994 - Above the Rim, Co-starred with Duane Martin) During this period he had several brushes with the law (he was associated with the shooting of a 6 yr. old Qa'id Walker-Teal in Marin City / shooting two policemen / various physical assaults) and was shot in an armed robbery case. After recovering from the shooting, he was sent to prison on a sexual assault charge. He released the album ‘Me Against the World’ in 1995 (@24) while serving his prison term. The album was an immediate hit and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. 55.    Final Album: During 1995, while imprisoned, impoverished, and with his mother about to lose her house, Tupac had his wife get word to Marion Suge Knight, in Los Angeles, boss of the Death Row Records, at the time a verry successful company, and asked for a meeting. Tupac's mother received $15k, Suge paid Tupac's $1.4m bail, signed the rapper, and went to work on the album ‘All Eyez on Me’. The album was recorded in two weeks! In a matter of two weeks, Tupac recorded and completed the double-disc album, completing two out of three albums he owed Death Row. (The third release would end up being the posthumously released The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory) Released in February of 1996, the album featured five singles and went multi-Platinum in just a few months after its release. 56.    Death: Seven months later, in September 1996, Tupac was killed in a drive-by shooting. He was 25 years old. 57.    Open Comments: 58.    Question: Confused young man or someone to be taken seriously? (What did he represent?) 59.    Music Scene: 60.    Black Songs in the Top 40 61.    #1 Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix), Los del Río 62.    #2 One Sweet Day, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men 63.    #4 Nobody Knows, The Tony Rich Project 64.    #5 Always Be My Baby, Mariah Carey 65.    #6 Give Me One Reason, Tracy Chapman 66.    #7 Tha Crossroads, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony 67.    #9 You're Makin' Me High / Let It Flow, Toni Braxton 68.    #10 Twisted, Keith Sweat 69.    #11 C'mon N' Ride It (The Train), Quad City DJ's 70.    #14 Exhale (Shoop Shoop), Whitney Houston 71.    #16 Sittin' Up in My Room, Brandy 72.    #17 How Do U Want It / California Love, 2Pac featuring K-Ci and JoJo 73.    #20 Hey Lover, LL Cool J 74.    #21 Loungin, LL Cool J 75.    #23 Be My Lover, La Bouche 76.    #27 I Can't Sleep Baby (If I), R. Kelly 77.    #32 Not Gon' Cry, Mary J. Blige 78.    #33 Gangsta's Paradise, Coolio featuring L.V. 79.    #34 Only You, 112 featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Mase 80.    #35 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know), R. Kelly featuring The Isley Brothers 81.    #36 You're the One, SWV 82.    #37 Sweet Dreams, La Bouche 83.    #38 Before You Walk Out of My Life / Like This and Like That, Monica 84.    #40 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New), Coolio 85.    #42 No Diggity, Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre 86.    Vote: 87.    Top RnB Albums 88.    Jan - Waiting to Exhale, Soundtrack / Various artists 89.    Feb - Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, Eazy-E 90.    Mar - All Eyez on Me, 2Pac 91.    Mar - The Score, Fugees 92.    Apr - The Coming, Busta Rhymes 93.    Apr - The Resurrection, Geto Boys 94.    Jun - Gettin' It (Album Number Ten), Too Short 95.    Jun - Legal Drug Money, Lost Boyz 96.    Jun - The Nutty Professor, Soundtrack / Various artists 97.    Jul - Secrets, Toni Braxton 98.    Jul - Keith Sweat, Keith Sweat 99.    Jul - It Was Written, Nas 100.    Aug - Beats, Rhymes and Life, A Tribe Called Quest 101.    Sep - ATLiens, Outkast 102.    Sep - Home Again, New Edition 103.    Oct - Another Level, Blackstreet 104.    Nov - Bow Down, Westside Connection 105.    Nov - Ironman, Ghostface Killah 106.    Nov - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Makaveli 107.    Nov - Tha Doggfather, Snoop Dogg 108.    Dec - Hell on Earth, Mobb Deep 109.    Dec - Muddy Waters, Redman 110.    Vote: 111.    Featured Artist: The Fugees 112.    Lauryn Hill (@21 yrs. old in 1996) was born in 1975 to a high school teacher and computer expert in New Jersey. Her mother played piano and her father sang in nightclubs. Young Lauryn sang in church choirs, gospel groups and showed a strong voice. She loved '60s and '70s soul and by age thirteen, she was playing the amateur night showtime at the Apollo, doing a cover of Smokey Robinson's "Who's Loving You". Hill nabbed minor roles on television's As the World Turns and in the film Sister Act II: Back in the Habit. Her work with the Fugees began in 1987 in high school with friend Prakazrel Samuel Michel. 113.    "Pras" (@23 in 1996) was born in Brooklyn in 1972 and raised in New Jersey. He showed an early interest in music and attended Rutgers University and Yale University, pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Psychology. 114.    Wyclef Jean (@27 yrs. old) was born in 1969 in Haiti, the son of a minister. When he was nine, he moved to the projects of Brooklyn, and later New Jersey, where he took up guitar and the study of music. 115.    The trio formed in the late '80s, named themselves the Tranzlator Crew and used Hill's soap opera acting proceeds to pay for equipment. They toured the tri-state area and were signed to major label Ruffhouse/Columbia in 1993. Hill was still a minor. Shortly thereafter, they renamed themselves Fugees, a derisive slang term for refugees, and released a debut 12-inch Fugees (Tranzlator Crew) "Boof Baf" to no notable sales. 116.    Their 1994 debut LP Blunted on Reality, stylized in a fashion like A Tribe Called Quest, Poor Righteous Teachers, and Digable Planets, did better. However, it was the remixed versions of "Nappy Head (Mona Lisa)" and "Vocab" that earned the group another budget for a follow-up album. (Also, notable, in later interviews Pras would say that a married Wyclef and the underage Hill were having a clandestine relationship at the time) 117.    Combining a mix of conscious hip hp, soul, and reggae, with a homemade basement studio, sampled melodies, live guitars, bass, keys, "The Score" arrived in 1996, filling the void between gangsta and glitter. It became an instant classic, ultimately selling over 18 million copies. 118.    Open Comments: 119.    Internal "Affairs": In the summer of 1996, on the Smoking Grooves Tour, Hill met Rohan Marley, (one of Bob Marley's kids) and even though the former University of Miami football player was initially rebuffed, because Hill was still seeing Jean, , no one knew who the child really belonged to. 120.    In the summer of 1996 Hill had met Rohan Marley, a son of Bob Marley and a former University of Miami football player. Hill subsequently began a relationship with him, while still also involved with the married Wyclef. She soon became visibly pregnant. Marley and Hill's first child was born the following summer. 121.    Soon after Zion was born, she learned that Marley already had a wife and two children from another marriage. 122.    Amid newfound international fame and baby Daddy drama, Wyclef did not support Hill's solo desires (she had made appearances on Wyclef's solo project), thus leading to the group splitting up. 123.    Hill started work on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; blocking out Wyclef Jean from any type of production help after he had snubbed her. Her old-school takes on "Doo Wop (That Thing)" helped it rule the charts in 1998 and win five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album -- the most ever for a woman. 124.    Meanwhile, Hill was having more of Marley's children and becoming close with Brother Anthony, a spiritual adviser who studied the Bible with her several times per week. In 2001, she recorded an MTV Unplugged session where she broke down in tears and admitted to being deranged and emotionally unstable. Rolling Stone called the session "a public breakdown", though it debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and went platinum. 125.    She has been a sporadic and reluctant public figure ever since. 126.    Question: Have you ever had an affair with a co-worker? How did it turn out? 127.    Movie Scene: Set It Off. [Directed by F. Gary Gray Action, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller. Starring Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett, and Vivica A. Fox] 128.    Rotten Tomatoes, Critics Consensus: It may not boast an original plot, but Set It Off is a satisfying, socially conscious heist film thanks largely to fine performances from its leads. 129.    Emanuel Levy, Variety 11-1996: Influenced by "Thelma & Louise" and "Waiting to Exhale," F. Gary Gray's "Set It Off" is a well-crafted girls-n-the-hood actioner, with an acute social conscience and plenty of soul. A tale of female bonding and empowerment, this relevant film boasts a terrific cast, headed by Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah in career-making performances. 130.    Stephen Holden, New York Times 11-1996: Just Trying to Get Even While They Get Rich. On the long list of Hollywood heist movies that make you root for its criminals to steal a million dollars and live happily ever after, F. Gary Gray's film ''Set It Off'' is one of the most poignantly impassioned. If this messy roller coaster of a film often seems to be going in several directions at once, it never for a second loses empathy for its quartet of black female bank robbers who grew up together in a Los Angeles housing project and earn meager wages working for a janitorial service... A pop psychologist might translate the story into a fable called ''Women Who Rob Banks and the Society That Hates Them.' 131.    Roger Ebert 11-1996: “Set It Off” is advertised as a thriller about four black women who rob banks. But it's a lot more than that. It creates a portrait of the lives of these women that's so observant and informed; it's like “Waiting to Exhale” with a strong jolt of reality. The movie surprised and moved me: I expected a routine action picture and was amazed how much I started to care about the characters. 132.    Kent, Entertainment Weekly 09-2019: Why Set It Off is an era-defining film that shouldn't be remade. We are clearly in the age of reboots and remakes, but the '90s heist film is irreplaceable. 133.    Question 1: Remake or Sequel? 134.    Question 2: Do we really want more black female action heroines/stories? (i.e., women of Black Panther, "Breaking In" movie, Berry, Valkyrie, Guardians...etc.) 135.    TV Scene: Moesha 136.    Screen Rant: No show lasts for six seasons without making a cultural impact; Moesha was nominated for 32 awards and won three: two NAACP Image Awards and one SHINE Award. The series was syndicated, and still airs around the world. Netflix picked up streaming rights to the series in 2020, which became available to US subscribers on August 1, 2020. As new viewers will discover, however, despite how influential the show was, it ends abruptly after a significant cliffhanger for the main character in the season 6 finale. Despite the recognition, the show steadily declined in ratings, leading to its cancelation. 137.    Moesha Mitchell went through quite the journey on Moesha. At the beginning of the series, Moesha was still dealing with her mother's death a few years prior and learning to come to terms with her new stepmother, Deirdre "Dee" Mitchel (Sheryl Lee Ralph) — who just happened to be the vice principal at Moesha's school. The final season sees Brandy experiencing the trials and tribulations of being a young adult, complete with an engagement to long-time on-again, off-again boyfriend Quinton "Q" Brooks (Fredro Starr) and attending college. The final episode ends with the reveal of a positive pregnancy test in Moesha's dorm — who it belongs to, however, is a mystery. Since the show never got another season, the storyline was never resolved. 138.    According to EW, at the time, UPN's plan was to address the pregnancy cliffhanger in the spin-off series The Parkers, which premiered on the network in 1999. The Parkers followed Moesha's "boy-crazy" friend Kimberly Ann "Kim" Parker as she navigated attending college with her mother, who has decided to enlist at the same time as her daughter. For unknown reasons, however, the planned resolution never took place, despite The Parkers running until 2005. With there being reports of a possible reboot series in the works, perhaps this Moesha storyline — as well as the question of what happened to Moesha's brother Myles, who disappeared in the finale — can finally be laid to rest." 139.    Question: Is it reboot worthy? / Is any classic black TV show reboot worthy? 140.    Vote: Best/most important/favorite pop culture item from 1996?

In 1929 a German couple fled civilization to live on an uninhabited island in the Eastern Pacific. But other settlers soon followed, leading to strife, suspicion, and possibly murder. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the Galápagos affair, a bizarre mystery that remains unsolved. We'll also meet another deadly doctor and puzzle over a posthumous marriage. Intro: Damon Knight invented a way to compose stories without having to write them. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, why do we regard some tastes as bad? Photo: Captain Allan G. Hancock, Dore Strauch, and Friedrich Ritter at Floreana. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7231, Waldo L. Schmitt Papers, Box 90, Folder 4, Image No. SIA2011-1149. Sources for our feature on Floreana: Dore Strauch, Satan Came to Eden: A Survivor's Account of the "Galápagos Affair," 1936. Margret Wittmer, Floreana: A Woman's Pilgrimage to the Galápagos, 1989. John E. Treherne, The Galápagos Affair, 2011. Elizabeth Hennessy, On the Backs of Tortoises: Darwin, the Galapagos, and the Fate of an Evolutionary Eden, 2019. Alexander Mann, Yachting on the Pacific: Together With Notes on Travel in Peru, and an Account of the Peoples and Products of Ecuador, 1909. K. Thalia Grant and Gregory B. Estes, "Alf Wollebæk and the Galápagos Archipelago's First Biological Station," Galápagos Research 68 (2016), 33-42. Hans-Rudolf Bork and Andreas Mieth, "Catastrophe on an Enchanted Island: Floreana, Galapagos, Ecuador," Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation 19:1 (2005), 5. David Cameron Duffy, "Galapagos Literature -- Fact and Fantasy," Noticias de Galápagos 44 (1986), 18-20. Gavin Haines, "Cannibalism, Nude Germans and a Murder Mystery: The Secret History of the Galapagos," Telegraph, Feb. 12, 2018. Oliver Smith, "Cannibalism, Murder and Chronic Obesity: 10 Island Paradises With Dark and Deadly Secrets," Telegraph.co.uk, Aug. 9, 2017. Allison Amend, "In the Footsteps of Charles Darwin," New York Times (Online), June 20, 2017. Trevor Seymour, "Murder on Seduction Island," [Surry Hills, New South Wales] Daily Telegraph, June 25, 2002, 26. Shiela Waddell, "At the Ends of the Earth," Glasgow Herald, Nov. 20, 1999, 12. Mitchell Smyth, "Satan in Paradise -- Lust and Murder on a Desert Isle," Toronto Star, Oct. 22, 1994, L2. Katherine Woods, "From Utopian Dream to Nightmare," New York Times, May 24, 1936. "Woman Is Leaving Galapagos 'Eden,'" New York Times, Dec. 9, 1934. "Desert Isles' 'Ruler' Escapes Eviction," New York Times, Jan. 23, 1934. Stephanie Merry, "'The Galapagos Affair: When Satan Came to Eden' Movie Review," Washington Post, May 8, 2014. Stephen Holden, "Seeking Eden, They Fled to Far Isle; Hell Followed," New York Times, April 3, 2014. Andrea Crossan, "A New Film Unearths the True Story of a 1930s Murder Mystery in the Galapagos," The World, PRI, April 4, 2014. Moira Macdonald, "'The Galapagos Affair': A Murder Mystery in Paradise," Seattle Times, April 17, 2014. Alan Scherstuhl, "Murder in Paradise in The Galapagos Affair," Village Voice, April 2, 2014. Ryan Gilbey, "Death in Paradise: Ryan Gilbey on The Galapagos Affair," New Statesman, July 28, 2014. Listener mail: "Cremation Medical Certificate," gov.uk, Jan. 2, 2009. "Doctors’ Fees, Cremation Forms & Certificates," beyond.life (accessed June 22, 2020). Trevor Jackson and Richard Smith, "Harold Shipman," BMJ 328:7433 (Jan. 24, 2004), 231. "Harold Shipman (1946–2004)," Biography, April 27, 2017. John Philip Jenkins, "Harold Shipman," Encyclopaedia Britannica (accessed June 22, 2020). This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Alon Eitan. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

In episode three I talk about Late For the Sky with culture critic and music writer Steven Hyden of Uproxx and the Rivals podcast. After a brief intro and a look at the original 1974 Rolling Stone review by Stephen Holden, our conversation starts around the 7:00 mark. Follow Steven Hyden at @Steven_Hyden. Share the podcast, and rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with me on Twitter at @routinelayup or leave me a voice message at anchor.fm/afterthedeluge. Also, I made a bracket of Jackson Browne songs so you put yourself through hell deciding on a favorite. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/afterthedeluge/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/afterthedeluge/support

Wendy Waldman (https://wendywaldman.com) walks us through the origins and making of her debut album Love Has Got Me (Warner Bros. Records). This critically acclaimed album was released in the fall of 1973 and was spotlighted by Rolling Stone as “Singer-Songwriter Debut of the Year” in a detailed piece written by music and film critic Stephen Holden. Wendy talks about the events that led to her major label signing, the historic cultural shifts that propelled pop music into a brand new direction in the early 70s, and tells stories behind the project that set the stage for her entire career.

The Athletic’s Stephen Holden talks Brissett’s new deal and Q&S recap an up-and-down opening college football weekend for IU, Purdue, and Notre Dame.

To paraphrase Ken Burns, the story of Vaudeville is the story of America. And as we head into the 4th of July holiday weekend, it's the perfect time to talk with performer and author Trav S.D. about his fun and highly readable book No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous. Trav talks about how his early love of TV variety shows led to his lifelong interest and discusses how conservatory training leads to working for the Big Apple Circus; how vaudeville resembles English music hall; narrow platforms and the benefits of only having three channels; shout-outs to both Stephen Holden of the New York Times and Chuckles the Clown; the appeal of a funhouse mausoleum as a final resting place; and a warning about terrible parents who don’t introduce their children to classic comedians and performers. (Length 18:35) The post History of Vaudeville appeared first on Reduced Shakespeare Company.

It's a great pleasure to welcome singer, performing and recording artist Jane Monheit. The Paul Leslie Hour is now in our 15th year as of this very episode. Occasionally in the world of music a recording artist like Jane Monheit comes along who sing a song and make it their own. Our guest is a Grammy nominated vocalist, Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote that she has "a voice of phenomenal beauty." Her recent album The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald pays tribute to one of her biggest influences as an artist. It's an incredible honor to welcome Jane Monheit, an artist of incredible integrity and esteem. She's on The Paul Leslie Hour and we find this a good reason to celebrate. Support The Paul Leslie Hour by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-paul-leslie-hour

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Holden, VP of Operations at Holden Brand, to talk not only about the legacy sales at Holden and his experience at launching an e-commerce platform, but also how his adventurous life outside of work, fuels his entrepreneurial spirit.

Corporate Executive by day. Celia Berk has spent over 20 years at WPP, the world's largest marketing communications company.  As Chief Employee Experience Officer, J. Walter Thompson, she reports to the CEO and focuses on ensuring the work lives of JWT employees are as rewarding as possible. As Group Talent Partner, WPP she reports to the company's Chief Transformation Officer and works with over 50 global account teams to advance WPP's strategic focus on “horizontality.” Award-winning Singer by night. Celia set out to have a life in the theatre, and returned to performing in 2009. She is the recipient of the 2017 BroadwayWorld Award for Best Female Vocalist and her highly anticipated second album, MANHATTAN SERENADE, won the 2017 LaMott Friedman Award. Of her extended run of shows at New York's Metropolitan Room celebrating its release, Stephen Holden wrote in The New York Times, “Ms. Berk makes you feel about New York the same way a Cole Porter song makes you feel about Paris.”  It received the 2016 BroadwayWorld Award for Best New York Cabaret Show, Female.  Rex Reed calls Celia "One of the best singers I've heard in a long time" and Michael Feinstein says, “I so enjoy Celia's beautiful vocal sound and style, and her taste in song choices.” MANHATTAN SERENADE is arranged and conducted by Alex Rybeck and co-produced by Tony Award-winning sound designer Scott Lehrer, the team behind her 2014 debut album YOU CAN'T RUSH SPRING. That album and Celia's solo cabaret debut, directed by Jeff Harnar, earned Celia a 2015 Bistro Award: Vocalist, 2015 MAC Award: New York Debut – Female, 2015 BroadwayWorld Award for Best New York Cabaret Debut, and The 2015 Margaret Whiting Award. Celia has made memorable appearances at Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center and The Town Hall. MANHATTAN SERENADE and YOU CAN'T RUSH SPRING are available at iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby.com, and Pandora. More information can be found at GramercyNightingale.com and at Facebook.com/Instagram/Twitter/YouTube: CeliaBerkMusic Paying it forward through Philanthropy. Celia holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hofstra University and serves on the school's Women in Leadership initiative. She is on the Advisory Council of the National Executive Service Corps, and sits on the Global Advisory Board for the Future of Advertising Project at Wharton. She is a Trustee of the Nina Abrams Fund.  In this episode, Celia shares her one way ticket to the "present perfect". She also talks about music, music and more music! And of course, the episode features Celia taking to the mic on three enchanting tunes.  Celia is just one of the extraordinary guests featured on The One Way Ticket Show, where Host Steven Shalowitz explores with his guests where they'd go if given a one way ticket, no coming back! Destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or a state of mind. Steven's guests have included: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, President Jose Ramos-Horta; Legendary Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz; Broadcast Legend, Charles Osgood; International Rescue Committee President & CEO, David Miliband; Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty; Journalist-Humorist-Actor Mo Rocca; ; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.; Abercrombie & Kent Founder, Geoffrey Kent; Travel Expert, Pauline Frommer, as well as leading photographers, artists, writers and more.  

About This Episode:  Robert Cenedella is one of America’s most outspoken artists and he is the subject of a documentary that is receiving Oscar consideration. The film Art Bastard has been the darling of the 2016 film festival circuit and is now on the long list for best documentary. Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a 90% fresh rating and Examiner.com called it “an invigorating celebration to a one-of-kind genius”. This Episode is Sponsored by Jumpstart:HR, LLC HR Outsourcing for Small Businesses and Startups - www.jumpstart-hr.com   Now is your chance to hear from the rebel artist who never fit into today’s art world but has become one of its most provocative, rabble-rousing characters nevertheless. In an art world obsessed with money, fame, and hype, meet an artist who is driven by justice defiance and his own singular style.   About Robert Cenedella: Robert Cenedella's works are known for their pictorial satire, humor and fantasy. His art chronicles the changing rituals and myths of society in contemporary America. In the last 20 years, Cenedella has amassed considerable international praise as well as inclusion in numerous public and private collections. His commissions include works for the Bacardi Int’l, Absolut Vodka, a theater piece for Tony Randall, and two paintings for the Le Cirque 2000 Restaurant in New York and Mexico City. Cenedella’s “Le Cirque — The First Generation” still hangs at the restaurant’s entryway and is featured in the book “A Table at Le Cirque”.[8] Cenedella's life and works are the subject of the 2016 documentary film Art Bastard. The film has garnered multiple awards in the festival circuit, such as Winner of Best Documentary at the Manchester Film Festival and Winner of Best Documentary and Best Director — Documentary at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema. The film showcases "the mischievous tale of a rebel who never fit into today's art world, yet has become one of its most provocative, rabble-rousing characters nevertheless... [It's] as energetic, humorous and unapologetically honest as the uncompromising man at its center: Robert Cenedella." To quote Cenedella, "You can bastardize everything else in your life, but if you compromise with your art, why be an artist?" In 2015, Cenedella was commissioned to create a painting titled Fín del Mundo, a tryptic that "captures the chaos surrounding Donald Trump's march to the White House."[20] It was displayed in time for the United States presidential election on November 2, 2016 at Central Park Fine Arts. What the critics are saying: *New York Times CRITIC's PICK! "Robust documentary portrait of lifelong rebel and art-world gadfly." Cenedella comes across as a reassuring voice of sanity.
-Stephen Holden, THE NEW YORK TIMES   "Michelangelo had the Sistine Chapel. Robert Cenedella has P.J. Carney’s." FILM PUTS ART-WORLD REBEL ON NEW CANVAS
-Steve Dollar, WALL STREET JOURNAL "THE BEST FILM ABOUT ART I HAVE SEEN... A scintillating, visually splendid look at the life and satirical work of socially conscious, talented and articulate art rebel Robert Cenedella. The art establishment should take a fresh look at Cenedella’s work, which certainly deserves a major, reflective New York exhibition at this point in time."
- William Wolf, wolfentertainmentguide.com This segment is brought to you by Concannon Productions

For the first episode of season 3, Renan and Bill consider their second Jeunet et Caro film: 1995's THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN. Featuring Ron Perlman in his first starring feature role (in phoenetically-memorized French!), six times the Dominique Pinon as Delicatessen, incredible constructed harbor town sets and all the water to go with it, Rube Goldberg-inspired sequences, and conjoined twins, CITY is a feast for the senses. So, how does it stack up against other Jeunet films? What makes it work (or not) as a story? How does it borrow from Charles Dickens? What tropes does it trade on? And what went wrong with Alien: Resurrection? This episode has all that, and more! Film links: Wikipedia IMDb 366 Weird Movies Roger Ebert review Stephen Holden review Disenchantment and the City of Lost Children Show links: Rate us on iTunes!  Friend us on Facebook! Reblog us on Tumblr! Follow us on Twitter! Email us at void@enterthevoid.fm!

For the first episode of season 3, Renan and Bill consider their second Jeunet et Caro film: 1995's THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN. Featuring Ron Perlman in his first starring feature role (in phoenetically-memorized French!), six times the Dominique Pinon as Delicatessen, incredible constructed harbor town sets and all the water to go with it, Rube Goldberg-inspired sequences, and conjoined twins, CITY is a feast for the senses. So, how does it stack up against other Jeunet films? What makes it work (or not) as a story? How does it borrow from Charles Dickens? What tropes does it trade on? And what went wrong with Alien: Resurrection? This episode has all that, and more! Film links: Wikipedia IMDb 366 Weird Movies Roger Ebert review Stephen Holden review Disenchantment and the City of Lost Children Show links: Rate us on iTunes!  Friend us on Facebook! Reblog us on Tumblr! Follow us on Twitter! Email us at void@enterthevoid.fm!

Ben Sollee is a cellist/singer/songwriter whose music defies all categories. His unique sound, which you will hear during this conversation, is influenced by classical, bluegrass, and R&B, and was described by New York Times music critic Stephen Holden as "meticulous, fluent arrangements continually morph[ing] from one thing to another." Sollee loves to interact with audiences in small venues, which led to his "Ditch the Van" tours, where he straps his cello to his bike and pedals hundreds of miles from performance to performance.

Ben Sollee is a cellist/singer/songwriter whose music defies all categories. His unique sound, which you will hear during this conversation, is influenced by classical, bluegrass, and R&B, and was described by New York Times music critic Stephen Holden as "meticulous, fluent arrangements continually morph[ing] from one thing to another." Sollee loves to interact with audiences in small venues, which led to his "Ditch the Van" tours, where he straps his cello to his bike and pedals hundreds of miles from performance to performance.