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Mon, February 18, 2008 06:50:22 AMFrom:
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Subject:
02-18-08 EUR: 'Girlfriends' Creator Says Now Cancelled Show Made History
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Lee Bailey's EUR/Electronic Urban Report
February 18 2007 (Monday)
The EUR is factual online infotainment on today's hottest=20
celebrities, events and issues in urban/black entertainment and culture.=
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***********************************************************
In This Issue:
* 'GIRLFRIENDS' CREATOR SAYS SHOW MADE HISTORY
* FLAVOR FLAV ENGAGED, YET LOOKING FOR LOVE
* DIDDY SAYS MAN'S FACE RAN INTO HIS HAND
* OPRAH'S FREE 'MONEY' FRENZY
***********************************************************
KENNETH GAMBLE & LEON HUFF: Legendary soul hitmakers impressed by new=20
breed - Part I=20
-- by Kenya M Yarbrough
*There are very few hitmakers that have the clout and legendary=20
masterpiece catalog as the music duo of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff,=20
aptly known as Gamble & Huff.=20
The two music maestros are the men behind such hits as Lou Rawls'=20
"You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine," Teddy Pendergrass' "Turn Off=
=20
the Lights," The O'Jays' "Darling, Darling Baby," and so many, many=20
more, bringing Philadelphia soul music to the world.
In 1971, the duo formed Philadelphia International Records (PIR)=20
and cut a major deal with the largest label at that time, CBS Records=20
and its president Clive Davis. Now, the two have scored a major=20
agreement with mega label Sony/BMG.
"We've just signed a deal and we're re-releasing all of our=20
catalog," Gamble told EUR's Lee Bailey. "We have a licensing=20
arrangement. We're releasing product, but we haven't any new product. We=
=20
have a tremendous catalog and that's what we've been working on."
The thought of the music legends simply re-releasing their=20
classics may not sit well with some fans; both Gamble and Huff explain=20
that this is merely the process and path of legendary music.
"It's a traditional process. It's what all the big music labels do=
=20
every ten years," Huff said, continuing that the duo may be inspired to=20
do some new music, too. "If something special comes along that would=20
spark our creative activities, we would consider it. We pick and choose.=
=20
We don't have that energy that we had in the '70s. We can't just pick=20
any person that sings."
Huff reminisced on his days in the studio with partner Gamble. At=20
times they spent entire days and nights churning out hit songs.
"We worked seven days a week, almost 24 hours a day," he said=20
"We're not trying to compete with the hip-hop guys and all that, but if=20
there is an artist that really excites us, then we'll get involved with=20
it. At this time, we'd like to set our music for TV programs and movies=20
and commercials and everything you can think of."
Gamble revealed that there are a few current artists that have=20
piqued his ears, including American Idol Fantasia, but that the two=20
don't have any current plans to pursue new projects.
"I think she's a great artist," he said of the singer. "There's a=20
couple of other ones out there, but that's a lot for us right now, and=20
the industry is not what it used to be. The music is different."
Huff reiterated the fact that the industry has made some changes=20
and that the hit team has, too; one being to just slow down, enjoy life,=
=20
and get more rest than they did in their heyday in the '60s, '70s, and=20
'80s.
"Music comes in all different forms - in business, too," Huff=20
added. "The way me and Gamble worked in the '70s - I wouldn't say we=20
couldn't do it, but the energy wouldn't allow us to do it [now]. I'm not=
=20
going to get trapped in that illusion. I'll mess around and have a heart=
=20
attack. When me and Gamble worked it was a lot of intensity; a lot of=20
energy. I'm not going to stay up 'til 4 o'clock in the morning. That's=20
what we did."
After all that work to create songs, their hits are now going to=20
work for them. Gamble & Huff classics have resurfaced quite often in=20
many different formats - television shows, movies, commercials.
"I think it's just as rewarding," Gamble said of comparing=20
producing the hits with having them be a part of productions. "For=20
example, you take the Donald Trump 'Apprentice' show; 'For the Love of=20
Money' has been the theme song for that for seven seasons. You got the=20
Coors beer commercial, 'The Love Train' had been on that, you got 'The=20
Rubber Band Man.' You got so many songs from our catalog that were able=20
to transition themselves."
What also might surprise fans is the duo's complete respect for=20
artists that sample their music. While some music legends snub the=20
mixing and sampling of classic hits, Gamble and Huff are quite impressed=
=20
by it.=20
"What it does is keeps the catalog going," Gamble said. "It's=20
probably one of the most sampled catalogs in the industry; probably us=20
and James Brown. We're pretty close behind him, with some of the major=20
artists sampling a lot of our music and it brings our music to a new=20
generation."
Gamble and Huff expressed how thrilled they are with the work of a=
=20
number of hip-hop stars who have used their music in contemporary hits,=20
such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, and Ghostface, just to name a few.
"It's very clever how they use those tracks and apply their=20
version of those grooves," he continued. "They're not making records,=20
they're just making beats. It's very interesting to see how they take=20
the original records and speed them up or slow them down. And they've=20
really done well."
"After the era of Motown and the era of live musicians, there had=20
to be something very powerful to come along - and here came the=20
machines,' Huff added. "These young boys, most of them weren't=20
musicians, but they knew how to work those new machines and they became=20
genius."
"Every generation has its own music," Gamble continued. "They take=
=20
it to the next level. The old way how we made music is still great. This=
=20
is just different."
For more on legendary songwriters Gamble & Huff, and to check out=20
their catalog, go to www.gamble-huffmusic.com.=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
The EURweb Media Expo & Awards Show is Coming!
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EURweb.com will present its first Media Expo & Awards
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EUR Newsbits
'GIRLFRIENDS' CREATOR SAYS SHOW MADE HISTORY: Mara Brock Akil thanks=20
fans, cast and crew following cancellation.
*"Girlfriends" creator and executive producer Mara Brock Akil has=
=20
released a statement expressing appreciation for the sitcom's historic=20
eight-season run, which was the longest-running live-action comedy on=20
network TV when it was cancelled last week by the CW.
"Although it's always difficult to say goodbye, I choose to focus=
=20
my energy on the history that Girlfriends has made, the human stories=20
that we told, the beautifully complex images that we projected and the=20
blessings 172 episodes bestowed on us, both personally and=20
professionally," Akil, said in her statement Thursday.
"Girlfriends" launched on the former UPN network in 2000 with=20
stars Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Golden Brooks and Persia=20
White starring as four friends dealing with life and love issues in Los=20
Angeles.
The show was one of a few comedies to survive UPN's 2006 merge=20
with the WB to create the CW. Rumors of cancellation had followed the=20
run up to last season's premiere, but the CW ultimately decided to bring=
=20
it back. However, its average of 2.1 million viewers this year was not=20
large enough to warrant a return for next season.
"I am immensely thankful to the amazingly talented cast, writers,=20
directors, staff and crew for their endless dedication and hard work for=
=20
eight seasons, to the network that always wanted us and the studio that=20
always supported us," Akil said in her statement. "But mostly to the=20
audience, especially African-American women, who took the time to tune=20
into us every Monday night at nine to have a dialogue with us and who=20
have been our partner in this journey."
Akil confirmed previous reports that the CW is mulling a special=20
"Girlfriends" clip show that will pay tribute to the show's history.
DIDDY SAYS MAN'S FACE RAN INTO HIS HAND: Mogul claims Roosevelt Hotel=20
incident was not his fault.
*Sean "Diddy" Combs filed a declaration in his upcoming assault=20
case stating that the man suing him in civil court actually ran into his=
=20
open hand during an incident outside of the Roosevelt Hotel in=20
Hollywood.
In recent depositions, four witnesses testified under oath that=20
Diddy punched Gerald Rechnitzer around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 26 after he=20
confronted the mogul for flirting with his fianc=E9e, Sofia Sokolov. But=
=20
according to TMZ.com, Diddy filed court papers claiming his hand was=20
open and outstretched as Gerald "lunged" into it with his face.
Diddy said that Rechnitzer "continued moving toward me and,=20
without warning, lunged at me. Instinctively, I outstretched one of my=20
hands, which hand was not closed-fisted, to shield myself ... any=20
contact between Mr. Rechnitzer and myself was caused by his forward=20
motion against my stationary open hand."
Following the incident, Rechnitzer filed a complaint with the Los=
=20
Angeles Police Department. But after a brief investigation, no charges=20
were filed. The civil suit against Diddy is scheduled to begin on May=20
27.
--------------------
LOOKING FOR CELEBRITY DIRT?
If you crave constant info, er "dirt," on your=20
favorite or not so favorite celeb, Dirt123.com is=20
where you should be looking. With continuous=20
updates from top blogs like Perez Hilton, Media=20
Take Out, TMZ, Concrete Loop, Sandra Rose=20
and lots more, you'll be so deep in dirt, you'll=20
wanna take a ... mud bath! :)=20
www.Dirt123.com
Because you want ALL the dirt!
OPRAH'S FREE 'MONEY' FRENZY: Over one million download Suze Orman's book=
=20
offered for free on TV host's Web site.
*Some 1.1 million people took advantage of financial guru Suze=20
Orman's book "Women & Money" being offered for free from Oprah Winfrey's=
=20
Web site, Oprah.com.
Orman was a guest on Thursday's broadcast of "The Oprah Winfrey=20
Show" and counseled a woman who took a financial loss after her husband=20
committed suicide and left her penniless. At the end of the hour,=20
Winfrey announced that "Women & Money" publisher Julie Grau has allowed=20
an e-book edition to be offered free of charge on Oprah's Web site for a=
=20
period of 33 hours.
"I believe 'Women & Money' is the most important book I've ever=20
written," Orman said in a statement released Saturday by Winfrey. "So=20
this was not about getting people to buy the book, but getting them to=20
read it, and that was the intention behind this offer."
The download offer "has built excitement for Suze's book across=20
all formats," Grau said in a statement.
In addition to the 1.1 million copies of Orman's financial advice=20
book downloaded in English, another 19,000 were downloaded in Spanish.
MARIAH & JANET CDS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS: Fox columnist looking forward to=
=20
both releases.
"Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman has weighed in on Island/Def=20
Jam's two big anticipated releases, "E=3DMC2" from Mariah Carey and=20
"Discipline" from Janet Jackson.
Freidman said he spent more than an hour at the record label=20
Thursday listening to both projects. The verdict? Both are "pretty damn=20
good," he says.
Starting with " E=3DMC2," due April 15, Freidman wrote:
In the order I enjoyed them came first "Bye, Bye," a powerful=20
ballad that should be a single and probably will close the album. It's a=
=20
natural singalong in concert, too, which could make it not only wildly=20
popular but a possible Grammy contender next year.
The next most commercial number is "Thanks for Nothing," a witty=20
and rueful tune with another great melody, courtesy of Jermaine Dupri=20
and Carey.
As on "Bye Bye," Carey's vocals are superb. Her infamous eight-octave=20
range has suffered a little wear and tear over the years, but Carey=20
still can flutter from great highs to mellow lows like no one else.
Some other highlights included "Cruise Control," featuring Damian=
=20
Marley with a driving reggae subtext; "Migrate" with T-Pain, which=20
should be a single and perhaps the album's kick-off track; "Last Kiss,"=20
with Dupri on vocals; a breathy disco dance hit called "I'm That Chick";=
=20
and out-and-out pop song "Loving You a Long Time," which samples=20
DeBarge's "Stay with Me" and recalls the melodic riff of the "Hill=20
Street Blues" theme music.
As for Miss Jackson's "Discipline," due Feb. 26, Friedman wrote:
All the ambiguous stuff is gone. Janet is back to hooks, catchy=20
rhythms and defined singing. Besides the single "Feedback," I heard four=
=20
tracks on Thursday that were more like the Janet of "Control" and=20
"Rhythm Nation."
The up-tempo numbers, "Rollercoaster" and "Rock With U," are=20
killer. The former is produced by Rodney Jerkins, a favorite of Michael.=
=20
Ne-Yo, the hottest producer right now in R&B (remember the Neptunes?),=20
contributed the dancing "Rock W U" and a breezy, jazzy "Pillow=20
Talk"-like love song. Another almost rock/R&B mid-tempo ballad, called=20
"Greatest X," shows off Janet's Michaelish vocals and a memorable piano=20
line.
If the rest of the album follows suit, Jackson may be back in a=20
big way. But what's the significance of Janet recording a song called=20
"Rock With U" when Michael once had a huge hit with the same name? Only=20
a family therapist might know that answer. Anyway, my money is on=20
"Rollercoaster."
---------------------
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Who's Minding Your Civil Rights?
Visit: http://www.kingofcivilrights.blogspot.com
=20=20=20=20
THE ROCK IS ON ANOTHER P***T: Dwayne Johnson among lead voices in new=20
animated feature.
*Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will voice one of the main characters=20
in New Line Cinema's first 3-D CG-animated feature "P***t 51,"=20
according to the trades.
The story revolves around a group of residents on the eponymous=20
p***t who live in an innocent world right out of the 1950s, complete=20
with the paranoia that they will be attacked by aliens.
Jessica Biel, Justin Long and Seann William Scott will also voice=20
lead characters in the $60 million film.
Johnson will play astronaut Capt. Charles "Chuck" Baker, who=20
arrives from Earth and confirms their worst fears. He's forced to avoid=20
capture so he can find his spaceship and return home. Long will voice=20
Lem, the local who Chuck befriends. Biel will voice Neera, the film's=20
female protagonist and Lem's love interest. Scott will voice Lem's=20
sidekick, Skiff.
Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad and Marcos Martinez are directing from a=
=20
script written by Joe Stillman ("Shrek," "Shrek 2"). A July 24, 2009=20
release is being planned.
DEE, GIOVANNI, HEIGHT HONORED BY BLACK ENTERPRISE: Women receive awards=20
at Women of Power dinner.
*Actress and activist Ruby Dee, corporate trailblazer Ann Fudge,=20
best-selling poet Nikki Giovanni, and civil rights legend Dorothy Height=
=20
were honored by Black Enterprise at its 2008 Women of Power Summit=20
Legacy Awards Dinner on Wednesday (Feb. 13).=20
The gala kicked off the third annual Women of Power Summit, a=20
four-day executive leadership conference attended by more than 700=20
professional women of color.
"The Women of Power Legacy Award recognizes African American women=
=20
trailblazers whose achievements, influence, and power have helped to=20
open doors of opportunity and success for women of color," said Barbara=20
Graves, Black Enterprise Senior Vice President and Board Member. "We're=20
honored to celebrate this year's award winners, and are confident their=20
accomplishments will continue to set the standard of success for women=20
leaders."
Dee, a 2008 Oscar nominee for her role in "American Gangster,"=20
said of her award: "Making important films about black life has been my=20
passion. It's truly an honor to be recognized by Black Enterprise for=20
making the arts responsible, because that's what is important. I want to=
=20
thank Black Enterprise for making business responsible. That is the=20
spirit of this Summit. I hope it permeates every aspect of our lives."
The EURweb Media Expo & Awards Show is Coming!
-------------------------------
It's been 10 years in the making and on August 1, 2008=20
EURweb.com will present its first Media Expo & Awards
Show at the LA Convention Center. All media companies
should plan on being at this historic event. For more=20
info, visit: www.eurweb.com/mediaexpo/ or send email to
EURwebAwards@eurweb.com or call (toll-free) 866-366-2160
--------------
WHAT DO THE STARS HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU?
Find out by visiting our NEW astrology page
http://www.eurweb.com/dailies.cfm?item=3Del=20
FLAVOR FLAV ENGAGED, YET LOOKING FOR LOVE: VH1 begins season 3 with a=20
pregnant fianc=E9 at home.
*VH1 trotted out Flavor Flav again for a third season of "Flavor=20
of Love," but word has it that he's already engaged to a woman outside=20
of the contest who's carrying his baby.
"Right after season two wrapped Flav got yet another woman=20
pregnant," a spy explained to the New York Post's Page Six. "He decided=20
he was in love with her and they got engaged."
"He has a fianc=E9e he's in love with and doesn't want to cheat on,=
=20
but he'd already cashed his check that VH1 gave him for season three -=20
and the show resurrected his career," the spy continued. "He was dead=20
broke before, so he's doing it for his family."
A rep for VH1 said, "Flav is not engaged. It's true he's on his=20
eighth child but, as he's said in the past, he'd like 10. So there's two=
=20
more to go."
Flav was conveniently dumped by his season-one winner Hoopz, while=
=20
season-two champ Deelishis never even got a phone call from the Public=20
Enemy rapper after the final reunion show.
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
GET LOTS MORE NEWS AT EURWEB
Space limits the amount of news we=20
put in the EUR newsletter, but you'll=20
find LOTS, LOTS MORE stories at=20
EURweb ( www.EURweb.com ).
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GOT NEWS? Share it with us ( info@eurweb.com )
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
OTHER NEWS
BLACKS, HISPANICS HIT HARDEST BY DIGITAL TV SWITCH: Minority groups=20
least prepared for Feb. 2009 transfer from analog cable.
*If TV's big switch from analog to digital broadcasts were to=20
happen today instead of the scheduled Feb. 17, 2009, a large percentage=20
of African-American and Hispanic households would be left in the dark,=20
according to a new report released Friday by Nielsen research.
According to the study, 13 million households would be without any=
=20
service, and another 6 million households would have at least one set=20
that would not be able to receive digital signals.
The report suggested that African-American and Hispanic households=
=20
are the least prepared for the switch -- with 17.3 percent of Hispanic=20
households unable to receive digital signals on any set in their homes.
Affected households can get a digital converter box, buy a new=20
television or sign up for cable or satellite service or one of the newer=
=20
cable-like services being offered by phone companies.
Most U.S. TV stations already broadcast digital signals as well as=
=20
analog. What's happening a year from Sunday is they'll switch off the=20
analog signals. No one with cable or satellite service will be affected,=
=20
nor will anyone who gets stations over the air with a newer TV with a=20
digital tuner.
Those who will be affected are the 13 million or so households=20
that get TV broadcasts exclusively over the air and have a TV more than=20
a few years old - or even a newer TV that's relatively small. Also=20
affected are TVs not connected to cable, even if a home has cable.
A government program said Friday that it will begin sending out=20
coupons tomorrow (Feb. 19) worth $40 each to any U.S. household that=20
requests them to subsidize buying a box. Each household is entitled to=20
two coupons for the boxes, which are just coming into stores now, start=20
at $40 or $50, making this option easy and practically free. The=20
government says it has funds for 33 million coupons. To get one, go to=20
http://www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
=20=20=20=20=20=20
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EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"The only currency you have is influential communication." - Roger
Love: Vocal coach and authority on voice
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Feb. 18: Author Toni Morrison is 77. Singer Herman Santiago of=20
Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers is 67. Singer Irma Thomas is 67. Singer=20
Randy Crawford is 56. Rapper Dr. Dre is 43. Actor Tyrone Burton ("The=20
Parent
'Hood") is 29.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
This site is dedicated to Hip-Hop's love for mobile gadgets and=20
reports on news and trends in digital technology as well as=20
entertainment:
(www.HiTechPimpin.com).
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or=20
less)
description to info@eurweb.com.=20=20=20=20=20=20
BLACK HISTORY
Feb. 18, 1896: H. Grenon patents razor stropping device. (Source:
www.BlackFacts.com)
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