On Oct. 30, former sitcom star, TV trailblazer and best-selling author Bill Cosby will come to Pittsburgh for a comedic performance at Heinz Hall. Well known for his controversial critiques of the African-American community, Cosby’s performance will throw seriousness aside for a night of laughs. NIGHT OF A THOUSAND LAUGHS—On Oct. 30 at 5:30 p.m., Bill Cosby will take the stage at Heinz Hall. (Photo by Erinn Chalene Cosby) “What value is a Black human being in his or her own neighborhood? People say ‘don’t say that; that’s dirty laundry,’ but we’re trying to save beautiful Black lives. We’re talking about your children, your beautiful Black children,” said Cosby in an exclusive interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier. “Of course, I’m not going to talk about that at Heinz Hall. We’re going to laugh. We’re going to close the doors and we’re going to laugh. We’re going to have a good time.”
This week I visited the Flamingo Lounge in the Hill District, a mansion in Mt. Washington, The Shadow Lounge in East Liberty and the K. Leroy Irvis Towers. My first stop was at a mansion in Mt. Washington where Distinct Sophistication held their annual event called “Elegant in Black II” featuring actor Lamman Rucker. This event has been called the party of the year by those who attended. I have to shout out Tee Jay and Terrance Brown of Distinct Sophistication for doing it up big. The city of Pittsburgh dressed to impress in black attire. The ladies of SteelCityLive.com at the Elegant In Black II in Mt. Washington.
Thursday 28 Jazz revue New Horizon Theater Inc. presents The Jazz Revue, Other Special Selections and Storytelling featuring Levi Barcourt at 7:30 p.m. at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. Barcourt has worked with several musical greats and will perform through Oct. 31. General admission is $20 and students and seniors are $15. For more information, call 412-431-0773.
Times are tough. You’ve tightened your belt so much that you don’t have any notches left. You’ve cancelled everything cancelable, given up all but the necessities, stopped going out and started going desperate. You don’t know what to do next to save your un(der)employed self. It’s decision time. How up-the-creek are you? Would you pick up a gun to pay the bills? In the new book “Tempted by Trouble” by Eric Jerome Dickey, a man learns that firepower is not foolproof.
(NNPA)—Dear Gwendolyn: After much searching, I finally got a good job. This is the problem: Everywhere I work women seem to be attracted to my husband. On this present job, he had to come to my office to get some money for gas in his car. All the women flipped. You see…he is the most gorgeous looking man on earth.
At the age of 14 Albert Jason Brown III aka Al B. Sure! learned that he had the Quincy Jones bug, which is a calling to all aspects of music—performing, composing and producing. “I started out doing my thing on the music side, but as a professional I also produced my music and other artists. My camp at that time consisted of K-Ci, DeVante and JoJo of Jodeci, Faith Evans, Dave Hollister, Case and others. Uptown Records was in full effect at the time and it was a rotating pool of young talented people who all ended up working together and we became family. AL B. SURE!
Charlayne Henry was overcome with emotion when she opened the doors to the Charles A. Stewart Performing Arts Center. She realized the struggles and losses she had overcome to finally own and operate her own theater. “This has been a long seven-year journey. I put myself through a lot these past seven years. My husband passed away last November and my mom passed away four years ago. This past January I lost my grand-dad. I’ve lost so many people who won’t get to see this theater come to fruition. That‘s the hardest part of going after your vision,” Henry said. CHARLAYNE HENRY IN HER NEW ARTS CENTER (Photo by Erin Perry).
This week I visited the Pittsburgh Improv in Homestead, The August Wilson Center for African American Culture in Downtown Pittsburgh, CJ’s in the Strip District, The Shadow Lounge in East Liberty and Calvary Baptist Church in the Hill District. My first stop was the Pittsburgh Improv in Homestead where comedian Arnez J. performed five shows for his fans and he is still as funny as ever. Daniel Bernard Roumain and Pittsburgh’s own Dream Job performing at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.
Thursday 21 Jazz jam CJ’s Restaurant & Lounge presents “The Roger Humphries & RH Factor Jazz Jam Session” at 8 p.m. at 2901-2911 Penn Ave., Strip District. There will be live jazz and fun every Thursday night. Must be 30 years or older and there is a dress code that will be enforced. No tennis shoes, sweats, or athletic gear. For more information, call 412-642-2377.
Ira M. Watkins aka Ira Soul says music has been in his blood as long as he can remember and that’s why he takes his music very serious. “His (grandfather) music has been in my blood since I was around 7 years of age. Back in the day when Watkins’ grandfather was in the army, he played a lot of instruments such as the trumpet, saxophone, drums and trombone. The main reason he played those instruments was to teach kids how they can be something and achieve in life. His grandfather was influenced by great jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Count Bassie. IRA SOUL
