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Posts tagged as ““The Blues Brothers””

Born On This Day in 1942: Singing Legend and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin (WATCH and LISTEN)

Born On This Day in 1942: Singing Legend and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin (WATCH and LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on March 25, 2020

by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (@lakinhutcherson)

GBN would like to take a moment to commemorate the birth of one of the most talented musicians to ever grace planet Earth, Aretha Louise Franklin, on what would have been her 78th birthday.

Although 2020 will offer memorials to the Queen in the form of MGM‘s theatrical movie “Respect” starring Jennifer Hudson and the limited series under National Geographic Channel’s “Genius” banner starring Cynthia Erivo, it’s doubtful either will focus on an oft-overlook aspect of Franklin’s myriad talents: her songwriting.

Above you can watch Aretha performing “Think,” one of her best-known compositions in a clip from The Blues Brothers, while below you can listen to even more gems penned by Aretha in a Spotify playlist called “Rock Steady”: Songs Aretha Franklin Wrote:

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:playlist:7Ebn8wawmhaoNM5h9OCIqN”]

 

R.I.P. "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Star James Avery

By goodblacknews on January 1, 2014

James Avery
As reported in Variety.com, James Avery, the imposing actor who laid down the law as the Honorable Philip Banks – aka Will Smith’s “Uncle Phil” – inThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has died. Avery’s publicist, Cynthia Snyder, told the Associated Press that Avery died Tuesday. The Associated Press reported that he was 65, while TMZ, which said he died in a Glendale, Calif. hospital after heart surgery, said he was 68.

Alfonso Ribeiro who played his son on Fresh Prince, remembered him on Twitter.

I’m deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly. @alfonso_ribeiro

Avery’s movie credits included The Blues Brothers, Fletch, The Brady Bunch Movie and Doctor Dolittle 2. He appeared on dozens of TV shows including Hill St. Blues, L.A. Law, The Division, Soul Food, That ’70s Show, All of Us, Grey’s Anatomy and The Closer.  Born in Atlantic City, N.J., he served in Vietnam and began writing TV scripts and poetry for PBS. He graduated with a drama degree from U.C. San Diego. In addition to extensive work as a voiceover actor on productions such as The Wild Thornberrys and Prince of Egypt, he hosted the PBS travel show Going Places.  To learn more about his life and career, click here.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson