If you knew Lionel Young when he worked here 25 years ago, you’d have been more likely to hear him playing Beethoven than blues. But not long afterward, the concert violinist who won the Carnegie-Mellon Concerto Contest and played with the Pittsburgh Ballet/Opera Orchestra, traded in Horowitz for Howlin’ Wolf and has since won even more acclaim. On Saturday, July 23, Young brings his unique electric blues violin stylings back to town as one of the featured artists in the Pittsburgh Blues Festival at Hartwood Acres. Truth be told, Young, who started playing at age 6 in Rochester, N.Y., was always into the blues. His mother was a pianist who liked 60s funk and R&B, and his father, being from New Orleans, was a fan of that style jazz. LIONEL YOUNG
by Dwight Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier (NNPA)—It’s on! After a lackluster sequel the Transformers franchise gets its mojo back. “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” is the first event movie of the summer, and though it is not perfect, it’s a contender for sci-fi action film bragging rights. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) can’t get any respect. He’s saved America from giant, savage robots, has been commended by President Obama, but can’t find a job in Washington D.C. and is mooching off his lovely girlfriend, Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley). He finally gets a gig in an office as a mailboy, and sooner than later an enigmatic, geeky Asian dude (Ken Jeong, “Hangover”) hips him to a devious master plot that could devour the earth.
You just don’t know what to do. There’s this problem you have to deal with, but it’s kind of thorny and you’re at a loss. You can’t ask your Mama because, well, she’s your Mama. Your best friend is always good at advice, but she can talk and with a sensitive issue like yours, that’s the last thing you need. Can’t afford a counselor. Can’t take this to your pastor. So you throw yourself on the mercy of a voice that sounds like its owner knows what she’s saying. And in the new book “The Strawberry Letter” by Shirley Strawberry (with Lyah Beth LeFlore), you’ll see that you’re not alone. It was not cool to be smart back when Shirley Strawberry was growing up in Chicago, but her uncle made her proud of her brains. Every chance he got, he made sure to show her off, and he inspired her to continue her education. But radio called and Strawberry went for air.
(NNPA)—Dear Gwendolyn: Last year I met a wonderful man and we started dating. I love him and he has asked for my hand in marriage. I have never been married and at times lost all hope in doing so. I am 78 and he is 86. We both reside at a nursing home with assisted living. We each have our separate semi-apartment, but I often find myself late at night tipping to spend the night with him. That is, providing the nurses at the medical station are not being alert on duty. I said all that to say this: He has terrible bad breath. How can I tell him that his breath stinks? I don’t want to lose him. After all, at 78 you don’t get proposals.— Susan
On July 18, local and national viewers tuned in to the Fox network to watch one of Pittsburgh’s own compete on the reality show “Hell’s Kitchen.” 27-year-old chef, Elise Wims will go head to head with other chefs from around the country in the show that began its ninth season this week. ELISE WIMS “I was more determined than ever. To be the only African-American woman on Season 9 and the only one from Pittsburgh, I felt like I had a lot to prove,” said Wims who is one of two African-Americans on the show. Monterray Keys, from Darby, Pa., is the African-American male on the show. “You have to get outside of your own head and you have to continuously rise to the level of achievement. You have to pick yourself up and dust yourself off,” Wims said.
This week I visited the Galaxy Lounge and Entertainment Center in Homewood, CJ’s in the Strip District, the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty (twice) and Savoy Restaurant in the Strip District. My first stop was at the Galaxy Lounge and Entertainment Center in Homewood, where the Smoke Band played hits for their fans and everyone had a great time. Amber, Wadria and Latasha chillin’ at the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty at the “Thriller” event.
Friday 22 Blues Festival The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank presents the 2011 Pittsburgh Blues Festival at 4 p.m. at Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh. The 17th annual three-day festival will feature some of the best blues musicians, such as Tommy Castro, Savoy Brown, the Lionel Young Band, the Blues Women of Pittsburgh and more. There will also be a KidZone activity for kids, vendors, raffles and more. Proceeds will benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. For more information, call 412-460-BLUE or visit www.pghblues.org.
Kelly Stayhorn Executive Director Janera Solomon hopes that the theater’s summer series “Celebrate East Liberty” will get people to appreciate the diversity of East Liberty and the artists that come out of the town. “The Kelly Strayhorn is proud to be here in East Liberty,” Solomon said. “Summer is typically a quiet time for theaters and we created a residency program for artists to grow and develop ideas during weeklong residencies at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater.” JANERA SOLOMON All are open to the public during the residencies and each Friday performance affords the audience the opportunity to experience a work-in-progress showing, which is the culmination of the residency.
by Diane Larche'For New Pittsburgh Courier It’s about music, inspiration and empowerment at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans during the Fourth of July weekend. The annual fest started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Essence Magazine and is now in its 17th year. It is the largest annual African-American cultural event in the country drawing nearly a half million people to the crescent city and Louisiana Superdome and pumping in over 100 million dollars into an economy that could use a boost. NEW EDITION
No money? No worries. Even in a bad economy, you’re a survivor. You got connections, friends, and you got your game on. You won’t starve. A little ingenuity and a few tips, and you can hustle up what you need. It’s all good. But watch your back, even if you have nothing to do with what’s going down. You never know when things might get bad, as you’ll see in the new book “Natural Born Hustler” by Nikki Turner. Desember Day hated when she and Fame fought, but it happened now and then. He was her man, but he sometimes forgot that Desember could hustle snow to a penguin. When he was ignorant enough to tell her where she could and couldn’t sell her merchandise, well, nobody told Desember what to do.
