SILVER SPRING, Md. – Hollywood Divas, the series that reveals the highs and lows faced by five Black actresses in Hollywood, whose  cast, comprised of Golden Brooks , Countess Vaughn, Lisa Wu, Paula Jai Parker and Elise Neal, reunite for two, one-hour reunion specials hosted by one of the series’ Executive Producers, Carlos King on Wednesday, December 10 and December 17 at 10p.m./ET.
The season finale finds the ladies on-set for the final day of production on The White Sisters, where Countess’ participation in the film is still in question following a full body liposuction procedure. Paula, who also serves as Director for their film project, makes yet another disappearing act from set leaving Elise hanging and completely fed up. Finally, the ladies come together for a bonding bonfire chat that takes a dark turn as blame – and shade – is thrown as the Divas struggle to reconcile issues from their past.
The two-part reunion special brings the ladies together for a fierce and fiery night as they look back on all of the controversial and meme making moments from the season. The ladies open up about their cosmetic surgeries, Golden gets involved in a major, blow-out argument with not one, but a few of the cast members, and Paula Jai has to face the music and address the countless gripes the ladies had with her this season. Taped in front of a live studio audience, Carlos King sits down with the Divas as they dish about their headline making situations, address old wounds and attempt to forge stronger bonds of sisterhood built throughout the season.

NEW YORK, N.Y.(BlackNews.com) — A brand new star has appeared on the U.S. music scene; her name is Cheyenne Elliott. Cheyenne is the granddaughter of iconic singer Dionne Warwick, and a cousin of the late superstar Whitney Houston. In early 2014, producer Narada Michael Walden discovered her exemplary vocal talent and invited her out to Tarpan Studios in San Rafael, California, where Whitney, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey and many other artists recorded some of their biggest hits. The young New Yorker was signed to Narada’s Tarpan Records. She will initially release a string of dance music mixes in the winter of 2014-15. Her debut EP is slated for release in early 2015.
Cheyenne’s talent was recognized at the tender age of 9 , at which time she started singing in public. Her grandmother, Dionne Warwick, called her to the stage to sing during a performance of her massive worldwide hit “That’s What Friends Are For” in Coney Island, New York. Even as a child she wowed the audience. Cheyenne learned her craft and drew innately from being born into a family of music royalty, including her grandmother, her father David Elliott – who co-wrote Luther Vandross’ massive hit “Here and Now,” and her late superstar cousin Whitney Houston. Dionne would play an instrumental role in Cheyenne’s development as a performer.
By the time Cheyenne was 10, she demonstrated her immense talent while visiting recording studios in the Los Angeles area. She made subsequent appearances with Dionne at renowned venues throughout her youth. The audience’s appreciation of her vocal prowess led to summers traveling with her “Grammy,” performing in dozens of countries all around the world. She made a very special appearance celebrating Dionne’s 45th anniversary of recording at the Hollywood Palladium. Another performance honor included her Carnegie Hall debut at age 12, opening for legendary singer Gladys Knight. At 12 years old, Cheyenne also appeared on Dionne’s My Friends & Me album. She lent her vocals to a duet entitled “Love Will Find A Way,” a song that Dionne had previously recorded with Whitney. Cheyenne later joined Dionne, David, Whitney, Cissy Houston, Dee Dee Warwick, Bobbi Kristina Brown, Felicia Moss and others from the family on the recording of “Family First,” which appeared in the Tyler Perry movie Daddy’s Little Girls.
Cheyenne is following in the socially conscious footsteps of her grandmother, whose 1985 charitable recording of “That’s What Friends Are For” raised awareness and funds all over the world to help people suffering from the plight of AIDS. Cheyenne is featured on Dionne’s brand new release, Feels So Good. Narada produced a touching duet of the dynamic grandmother and granddaughter, entitled “Let There Be Love.”
The song happens to be written by Narada along with Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill, who wrote two of Whitney’s biggest hit songs: “How Will I Know” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).” On the Feels So Good album, she joins the company of other luminaries such as Gladys Knight, Cyndi Lauper, Ne-Yo, Cee Lo Green, Jamie Foxx, Billy Ray Cyrus and many other greats.
Tarpan Records, in association with dance music powerhouse Dauman Records, is releasing a series of dance mixes of Cheyenne’s song “With You”. “With You,” which she co-wrote, is intentionally reminiscent of the classic disco era. The mixes are destined to heat up dance floors throughout the winter of 2014-15.
Cheyenne will be making many appearances over the next few months, including some major performances with Dionne Warwick in support of Feels So Good and their duet “Let There Be Love.” Cheyenne currently performs in nightclubs in and around New York City fine-tuning her craft, most often including Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar.
View Dionne Warwick introducing Cheyenne to her audience in Atlantic City, New Jersey earlier in 2014. Cheyenne then performs her original song “Saltwater Tears”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axx2Ny66GZY.

Will the ladies of SWV finally make the group their top priority or will it be the end of the award winning R&B trio?

NEW YORK— WE tv kicks off the New Year with the return of everyone’s favorite Grammy nominated R&B group, SWV, in WE tv’s hit docu-series SWV REUNITED; premiering Wednesday January 7 at 10p.m. ET/PT
After the fall finale, the group was in complete disarray. Taj’s medical issues threaten the group’s ability to perform; Lelee uncovered a life altering secret about her daughter and Coko had to choose between the girls of SWV or her husband.  All this, management battles and the group’s struggle to put together a new album; once again left their future in doubt.
As the show returns, SWV struggles to balance their lives and take charge of their career. In hopes of recapturing the sound that put them on top, Lelee begins to reach out to writers and producers who were part of the early SWV success.  These men, however, come with skeletons that Taj and Coko do not want to face 20 years later. As the group begins to perform across the country, ongoing difficulties point again toward weak management. Cory fights to keep his job secure, as Taj and Lelee begin searching for a high-profile manager to take SWV to the next level. Lelee, hungry for change, is willing to give it her all to regain fame and fortune; however, she finds herself outvoted by Taj and Coko who have other priorities. Will they be able to compromise and sacrifice for the well-being of the group? Or will this be the end of SWV? Tune in Wednesday, January 7 at 10p.m. ET/PT.

For more on SWV Reunited, visit www.wetv.com for sneak peeks, deleted scenes, photo galleries and blogs. You’ll also find the weekly behind-the-scenes scoop and exclusive videos. “Like” the SWV Reunited page on Facebook and follow @WEtv on Instagram for the full insider experience.

By EURWeb

Congratulations are in order for Tyler Perry and his longtime girlfriend, model and activist Gelila Bekele.
People.com reports the couple welcomed their first child, son Aman Tyler Perry, on Sunday, Nov. 30. According to a source, “mom and baby are happy and healthy. Tyler is so excited.”
  For those curious about the new arrival’s name, Aman means peace and represents “the true meaning of Thanksgiving and then, of course, the holiday season.”
People goes on to note that Perry is ecstatic over his son’s arrival, despite finding out the sex of his firstborn before he came in to the world. The couple’s family and close friends were the first to receive news of the birth as Perry and Bekele asked them to donate to Charity Water, an organization dedicated to providing clean water to developing countries, in lieu of gifts.
“He’s over the moon,” the source shared with People while referencing Perry’s rocky relationship with his own father.
The entertainment mogul’s reaction echoes his feelings in September upon discovering he would be a father.
“Tyler is thrilled. He and Gelila are so excited,” a source told People at the time. “They’ve got the nursery ready and he’s ready to change diapers.”
“He will make a wonderful father,” a second source added. “You will never find a more loving, patient, honorable or decent man than Tyler Perry. Any child would be blessed to have him as a father.”

Event features special discounts, holiday music and refreshments

If you’ve still got some Christmas shopping to do, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s (BCRI) gift store is the place to be, especially on Thursday, December 18. From 4-7 p.m. at the gift store, customers can enjoy holiday music, refreshments, and discounts. From 4-6 p.m., customers can meet local author Marie Sutton, who will be signing copies of her new book “The A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham: A Civil Rights Landmark.”  This event is free and open to the public.
The BCRI Gift Store offers books for children and adults about civil and human rights. It also is one of the few local outlets for Negro League merchandise as well as fraternity and sorority gifts. The store also carries BCRI t-shirts and souvenirs as well as a variety of ethnic jewelry, calendars, Bible covers, and other unique gift items.
“The A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham: A Civil Rights Landmark,” chronicles the fascinating story of the A.G. Gaston Motel and how it became a refuge during a time when African Americans could find none. The motel, constructed by Black entrepreneur and eventual millionaire A.G. Gaston, provided higher-class service to African Americans during the Birmingham’s decades of strictly- segregated business and recreation. It also served as the headquarters for Birmingham’s civil rights movement and became a revolving door for famous entertainers, activists, politicians and other pillars of the national Black community.
Marie Sutton is an award-winning freelance writer who has worked as a journalist, communications professor, radio talk show host and blogger. She is currently the director of student media at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The BCRI gift store located at 520 Sixteenth Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203. Call 205- 328-9696 x 206.

By Esther Callens

Quartet Plus (First Orbit Sounds Music), the latest offering from Jazz guitarist, composer, educator and bandleader Mason Razavi, has proven to be quite impressive. Although this is Razavi’s sophomore release, he has confirmed that he knows great jazz and can perform and record with the best of them. Quartet Plus is comprised of eight tracks that are all Razavi originals. Half of the album features the quartet while the other half incorporates a horn section. Additionally the compositions are thoroughly modern and they run the gamut from smooth ballads to extraordinary improvisational numbers. The tracks Highrise and Moonlit Message are not to be missed.
Album listings:  Moonlit Message; Highrise; From Thoughts to Words; Urban Jungle Blues; Prayer For Newtown; Luck Has Nothing To Do With It; Song for Another Day; Mad Dance. Album personnel:  Mason Razavi (electric and nylon string guitar); Bennett Roth-Newell (piano and Keyboards); Dan Robbins (bass); Cody Rhodes (drums ); Justin Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn 1,5,6,8); Ben Torres (alto sax, flute, clarinet 1,5,6,8); Oscar Pangilinan (tenor sax, clarinet 1,5,6,8); Kevin Bryson (trombone 1,5,6,8); Cory wright (bari sax, clarinet, bass clarinet 1,5,6,8).

It goes without saying that award-winning singer and songwriter Jamila Ford is a powerhouse of a vocalist. Her range is exceptional and her vocals are impeccable. The Deep End, her latest album, showcases just how multifaceted this songstress is (in case you didn’t already know!). It offers four wonderful interpretations with an extraordinary original (Silencio) that Ford penned herself. The Deep End absolutely presents Ford in her element – making beautiful music.
Album listings: All Blues; Gentle Rain; Silencio; Sugar; Wild is the Wind.
Album personnel: Jamila Ford (vocals); Mitchell Long (guitar on tracks 1,2,3,4,5); Pete Kuzma (piano on tracks 1,2,3,4); Leslie King (bass on tracks 1,2,3,4); Chuck Staab (drums on tracks 1,2,3,4); Pete Korpella (percussion on tracks 3,5); Anthony Bonsera (trumpet on track2, flugelhorn on track 3).

By Esther Callens

Returning is none other than the fabulous Meesha Mink. She brings to readers her title Kiss The Ring (Touchstone), a fast paced, in your face urban tale. Yes, the extraordinary author of the Real Wifey series is back. In Kiss The Ring, revenge is on the plate at the top of the to- do list. It is page turner not to be missed!
Naeema Cole knows what it is like out in them streets. She learned at an early age that the game consists of two parties – the player and the played. Strangely though, she was a willing component in this competition. Although at the young age of 11, her mother was killed by a drunk driver and her father was never a participant in her life, she had a loving grandfather who took her in.
Unfortunately she chose the streets over him which led to her being alone and pregnant at the age of 16.
Hoping that her son may just have a chance, she put him up for adoption. Knowing that life goes on regardless, Neema became a barber’s apprentice. This gig was enough to pay bills and support her marijuana habit. Eventually Neema falls in love and gets married. But after five plus years she concludes that she is her own person and leaves her hubby in the dust.
While living her life, Neema finds out that her 14-year- old baby had been brutally murdered. Brandon (her son) was involved with a gang of renowned New Jersey bank robbers and one of them may have killed him. Neema, feeling that the choices he made was her own fault, sets out to get retribution. Eventually, she goes undercover and earns the trust of the crew. Soon the Queen (Neema) is regarded as one of their own. With wheels set in motion, she is ready to avenge Brandon’s death. But problems arise when she falls in love with the gang leader. Neema is now at the crossroads and her emotions is calling all the shots. Kiss The Ring gives a gripping, in-depth look at the hood and it denizens. It offers a healthy dose of realism.
Award winning, bestselling author Meesha Mink has penned more than 30 books under three different pseudonyms. South Carolina is where she currently resides.