February 8, 2007 at 11:04 pm | In , , , , | February 9, 2007
Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent and General Manager of Z 1470 Totally Gospel (KZTG – 1470) is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist and speaker who is also a National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS - 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.
E.A.R.
T., Tuning In to R.A.
D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management.
Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name and the launch of Totally Gospel radio in the Twin Cities. Call today for booking details. 888-639-9738.
Listen to the Freddie Bell Show, 4 to 7pm, weekdays on Z 1470 KZTG, Totally Gospel, or on the web at www.totallygospel.com.
To enhance your gospel listening experience, you can now hear Z 1470 Totally Gospel on the new www.totallygospel.com website.
Click on the web stream and then click on the link for KZTG.
No matter where you are, lock it in and write it down. The dedicated Minnesota stream for Twin Cities listeners is up and running.
Tell a friend that Z 1470 Totally Gospel is now on the radio and on the internet. Churches, Pastors, Ministers and Evangelists in the Twin Cities and from around the country looking to expand their electronic ministries are invited to partner with Totally Gospel. Call 888-639-9738 today for rates and availabilities.
Anna Nicole Smith Collapses, Dies at 39
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. Anna Nicole Smith, the pneumatic blonde whose life played out as an extraordinary tabloid tale — jeans model, Playboy centerfold, widow of an octogenarian billionaire, reality-show subject, tragic mother — died Thursday after collapsing at a hotel. She was 39.
She was stricken while staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and was rushed to a hospital. Edwina Johnson, chief investigator of the Broward County Medical Examiner s Office, said the cause of death was under investigation and an autopsy would be done on Friday.
Just five months ago, Smith s 20-year-old son died suddenly in the Bahamas in what was believed to be a drug-related death.
Seminole Police Chief Charlie Tiger said a private nurse called 911 after finding Smith unresponsive in her sixth-floor room. He said Smith s bodyguard administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation about an hour before she was declared dead.
Through the 90s and into the new century, Smith was famous for being famous, a pop-culture punchline because of her up-and-down weight, her Marilyn Monroe looks, her exaggerated curves, her little-girl voice, her ditzy-blonde persona, and her over-the-top revealing outfits.
Recently, she lost a reported 69 pounds and became a spokeswoman for TrimSpa, a weight-loss supplement. On her reality show and other recent TV appearances, her speech was often slurred and she seemed out of it. Some critics said she seemed drugged-out.
Her former lawyer Lenard Leeds told the celebrity gossip Web site TMZ that Smith always had problems with her weight going up and down, and there s no question she used alcohol. Leeds said it was no secret that she had a very troubled life and had so many, many problems.
She wanted to be like Marilyn her whole life and ironically died in a similar manner, Leeds said.
Monroe died of a drug overdose at age 36 in 1962.
The Texas-born Smith was a topless dancer at strip club before she entered her photos in a search contest and made the cover of Playboy magazine in 1992.
The Ying Yang Twins are still promoting their latest album, Chemically Imbalanced, but late last year, they announced that they would not be re- signing with Collipark Music nor collaborating with Mr.
Collipark whose real name is Michael Crooms in the future.
Group member Kaine explained that reason for the split. He said, We set out to get (Mr.
Collipark s) label off the ground, and we done that. So, I don t feel like there should be any bad blood. Although I did have some, I don t have it now.
You just gotta learn to be grown. People promote stuff in a good way and bad way, so everything works hand- in-hand. The thing is, everything don t like to shake everything s hand.
Don t nobody really like to play team ball as much as they talking. That was what the whole separation with me and Mr. Collipark was, to keep it real with you.
Kaine added, The contract was up. I was not gonna re-sign, that was the end of that. Me and D- Roc are moving forward.
Next up will be a solo project from Kaine, entitled ChampiYang, in which he will display his Scrooge alter ego. He explained, Hopefully all my hard work, pain, sweat and aggression, love and joy hopefully I can expose it to my fans, so they can see that it ain t bad to be a Scrooge cause you ain t really trying to get to know everybody in your life. I get to express more sides of the Yang s perspective of life.
Being from the Ying Yang Twins, we promote a good feeling so bad, people don t really wanna hear me be a Scrooge. So, I m gotta do the whole Yang s perspective of the Ying Yang Twins on my solo project.
No release date has been set for ChampiYang.
The group is also working on a new Ying Yang Twin album which will be their last one under the current deal with TVT Records but it appears they are more than willing to negotiate to stay with the label. Kaine said, As long as we ve been in the game, TVT has got to be one of the greatest labels, we ve ever been on, in all seriousness.
Rapper NORE has severed ties with Def Jam Records.
Allhiphop.com reports that the tension between the two camps was based on the label s failure to promote the rapper s reggaeton album, Nore Y La Familia, and their indefinite shelving of his traditional rap album, One Fan A Day.
NORE said, I love Def Jam and every bit of history that we have together, but it s time to move on.
I m fully on my own and I want to be my own boss. There will not be a Jay-Z diss or an LA Reid diss record, because this is what I asked for.
NORE asked for and was granted an early release from his contract because he was ready to have some ownership interest in his music.
The rapper said, I ve been in this game quite some time and it s time I own my material, as well as, ringtones and masters. I m just grateful to have a chance to show my executive side. So it s about time and I m very thankful to all of the Def Jam personnel and staff.
I still have great relationships in the building.
The rapper wouldn t share whether or not he will be signing to another major or going the indie route.
NORE is currently recording a new album as well as a group project with his partner Capone as Capone-N-Noreaga.
On Wednesday, February 7th, Jermaine Dupri was named president of Island Records Urban Music, a new division of the Island Def Jam Music Group. Dupri will report directly to Island Def Jam CEO LA Reid and Steve Bartels, President, Island Records/COO, Island Def Jam Music Group.
In the newly formed position, Dupri will oversee Island s entire urban music division and produce music for Island Def Jam artists as well as Universal Music Group artists.
LA Reid said in a released statement, Jermaine s career has grown from strength to strength over the years. As a producer and songwriter and recording artist in his own right, as a respected label executive and entrepreneur, and as a highly esteemed developer of new talent. His deep ties to Atlanta s creative R B and hip-hop community have been the springboard to working with the greatest names in contemporary music.
This is a tremendous step forward for Island Records and its established roster of artists who will benefit enormously from Jermaine s presence.
Dupri, who will be based in New York and Atlanta, added, I m so excited to be reunited with L.A.
Reid because most of my biggest hits were when he and I worked together. And then to be working side by side with Steve Bartels I don t think there s a better team because he s by far the best in the game. I can t wait for us to start stuntin on y all.
Dupri left his post as the head of Virgin s urban music division last October after the disappointing release of his girlfriend Janet Jackson s latest effort, 20 Y.O.
Queens-based rapper Mazaradi Fox is the newest member of 50 Cent s G-Unit.
The rapper, who served eight years behind bars, from 1997 to 2005, explained how he got down with the super crew to SOHH.com. He said, Me and Fif grew up together as kids.
(Tony) Yayo is my pop s man, they hung together. One day, my man said Fif been asking about you. He said that he d be back for me in five days and, five days later, I was G- Unit.
Fox explained what it has been like since he hooked up with 50 Cent. The rapper said, I stayed around 50 for like, four months straight, just watching him record. We didn t sleep, we just recorded from like 12 noon until like 5 in the morning.
I was watching 50 when I was locked up. (When you re in jail) it hurts to see people you came up with on TV. I have to take full advantage of this opportunity.
I can remember doing diamond push ups in my cell until 6 in the morning. To this day, I ride in my whip and tears come to my eyes. I still can t believe this s**t sometimes.
As for getting involved in 50 Cent s beef with Cam ron and The Game. Fox was able to separate real beef from friendly competition. He said, The Cam ron situation just gave us more motivation.
It s all just competition to me. It s not beef. In jail, it s beef with every n***a until you out the door.
I don t know him (Game) and I don t want to know him. If it s beef with 50, it s beef with me too. 50, that s the boss.
Fox will release his untitled debut later this year. The album will feature guest appearances by Prodigy, 50 Cent, M.O.
P., Young Buck and Tony Yayo.
CIARA AND 50 CENT DATING?
R B singer Ciara has been single since breaking up with rapper Bow Wow last year. She was supposedly linked to actor Michael Ealy but nothing seem to materialize from those rumors. Now she s allegedly dating the industry big dog, 50 Cent.
New York s Daily News reports that two were spotted last Thursday in New York City looking like a couple trying not to look like a couple.
Ciara was also spotted riding in the rapper s car in the LeFrak City section of Queens by a source who said, Ciara (was) in the backseat, attempting not to be seen.
Ciara and 50 Cent collaborated on the song, Can t Leave Em Alone, from the singer s latest platinum album, Ciara: The Evolution.
It may be awhile before they officially become a couple because Ciara has shared in the past that she likes to take her time when it comes to serious decisions. She said: You determine your destiny and nobody can get you where you got to be but you. And that s one thing that I have always lived by and I think that s what has helped me to get to where I m at right now.
The singer added: It s the whole thing of saying take your time and enjoy life. Take it a step at a time and move on your own time. Don t let nobody else make you feel pressure to do anything else but what you wanna do.
MARY J. BLIGE GUESTING ON THE GHOST WHISPERER
Grammy nominee Mary J. Blige is exercising her acting chops tonight(February 9th) with a guest starring role on the CBS mystery series The Ghost Whisperer, which stars Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Blige and her music will be part of an episode called Welcome To Haunted High: Revenge Of The High School Spirit, about the vengeful ghost of a high school cheerleader.
Blige is also expected to attend the 49th annual Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday, February 11th, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Her single Be Without You has been nominated for record of the year, song of the year, R B song of the year, and best remixed song of the year.
Her performance of the tune earned her a best R B female performance nomination, while her performance of One with U2 is nominated in the best pop collaboration with vocals category.
In addition, she has two nominations in the R B vocal collaboration field, for I Found My Everything featuring Raphael Saadiq and for appearing with Jamie Foxx on Love Changes. Finally, her smash album The Breakthrough is in the running as best R B album.
Blige s episode of The Ghost Whisperer will air on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
An adult video company in Los Angeles says it has paid $1 million to acquire a sex tape featuring R B singer Ray J with his former girlfriend, Hollywood socialite Kim Kardashian. Vivid Entertainment says it will release the DVD called Kim Kardashian: Superstar to retail outlets on February 21st. A version with additional footage not on the DVD will also be available on the Vivid website or at kimksuperstar.
com.
According to the company, the video was apparently shot by Ray J about three years ago, when he and Kim were in a relationship.
Steven Hirsch, co-chair of Vivid Entertainment, says that he acquired the footage through an unnamed party.
We are comfortable that we have the legal right to distribute this video, despite what others may say, said Hirsch in a release announcing the project. I ve seen the video and it s really great. It has steamy scenes featuring two young and glamorous high profile celebrities that fans of erotica will find very appealing.
As for Kim and Ray J, both 26, Hirsch says they are welcome to discuss the video with him anytime.
Kardashian is described as a fashion retailer who owns a clothing store in Calabasas, California, with her two sisters. She is the daughter of the late attorney Robert Kardashian, who was part of the team that defended O.
J. Simpson in his notorious murder trial.
Ray J has been in the news lately for being seen out and about with rebounding vocal diva Whitney Houston.
He logged a Number Three R B single last year with his tune One Wish from his album Raydiation.
Michael Jackson has been in Las Vegas meeting with some music heavyweights in hopes of reviving his career. According to PerezHilton.
com, he s been working with Spice Girls mastermind Simon Fuller and High School Musical director Kenny Ortega. He recently told Luxe Life, I m doing fine and am well and really enjoying myself in Vegas. It s a great place to call home.
Jackson might be calling Vegas home a little longer, with rumors circulating that he s considering a Vegas residency. Although nothing s confirmed, Ortega said, We re talking business and looking at lots of different possibilities. This is a blue-sky time with a lot of different scenarios up in the air.
We re working through all of them to find the best - the one that makes the most sense that s good for everybody.
Jackson is also working on a new album.
JUDGE FREEZES O.
J. SIMPSON BOOK MONEY
Former NFL player O.J.
Simpson has been ordered to put a hold on the funds he earned to write the hypothetical murder story, If I Did It. Simpson received a million-dollar advance for the novel but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg ruled yesterday (February 7th) that he couldn t spend any of it until another court hearing later this month.
In If I Did It, Simpson explained how he would have killed ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994 if he was responsible for the murders.
The If I Did It book and accompanying TV special were cancelled because of public pressure and objections by Goldman s family.
The Goldmans sued to receive Simpson s book money because he still owes them more than $30 million from a civil judgment which found him guilty of killing Brown and Goldman.
Simpson says he s already spent everything he earned from If I Did It, but the Goldmans believe he s hiding the money.
Oscar-winning actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg was one of the subjects of last year s PBS special African American Lives, a series that traced back the roots of several celebrities to their African origins. When the government of Guinea Bissau, one of the world s poorest nations, heard that Goldberg s DNA test showed that her ancestors hail from there, they decided to issue an official invitation to her.
The West African nation, struggling to recover from a series of political coups undertaken since receiving independence from Portugal, sent a letter to Goldberg via the U.
S. embassy, which passed it on to the U.S.
State Department, according to AP.
The two-page letter praises Goldberg and notes, in part, It is with great euphoria that the government of Guinea-Bissau learned of your ancestral origins. The news has awoken in each and every one of us a deep sense of fraternity.
We simply cannot remain indifferent to the news of your Guinean heritage.
Being rebroadcast for Black History Month on PBS, African American Lives showed Goldberg that her genetic makeup is overwhelmingly Papel and Bayote, tribes indigenous to the country. She will come.
She s Guinean. She s our daughter. She s ours, said Minister of Tourism Francisco Conduto de Pina.
But Goldberg s press rep says the actress never received a letter from Guinea-Bissau and that she s unlikely to make the trip. For one thing, the Ghost star does not fly. She s also busy hosting a live daily radio show in New York.
Oscar nominee Jennifer Hudson performs with up-and-coming saxophonist Jamie Williams on a single from his first full-length CD, titled After Hours. The Dreamgirls star performs a rousing version of Stevie Wonder s Overjoyed on the set.
At his website, Williams writes: Getting the opportunity to work with Jennifer was incredible and to see her stomping through Hollywood and making a name for herself only brings about joy to my heart.
If you have not had a chance to see Dreamgirls yet What in the heck are you waiting for? Jennifer you rock and best wishes at the Oscars.
Hudson is currently working on her debut album for the Arista label with music veteran Clive Davis.
She recently noted that she hadn t thought of herself as an actress until acclaim for Dreamgirls started rolling in: You know last year at this time I wasn t sure if I was an actress, but now this just gives me the confidence to want to carry on, to continue acting. And I did find a new love in acting, I want to continue acting, I want to continue singing as well, but you know I want to have that album in the music industry and separate the two.
Williams grew up in Texas, then attended the University Of Miami.
He moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he polished his chops by playing at the B.B. King s Blues Club.
Williams moved on to Nashville, doing studio work, writing jingles for BET and serving as music director for Latin country star Rick Orozco. After catching a performance by idol David Sanborn, Williams moved to Orlando, Florida to recruit top talent, play clubs and festivals, and start work on his debut CD.
For more information about the artist, or to hear a snippet of the Hudson track, go to jamiewillia msmusic.
com.
The Corporation For Public Broadcasting is launching a new African American oral history project that is to become part of the Smithsonian Institution s future National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
Announced Wednesday, January 7th, the StoryCorps Griot project expects to record at least 1,500 oral histories from black families across the country over the next year for the new museum s archives.
The first recording sessions will take place February 15th in Atlanta at mobile recording studios that will stop in nine cities through 2008. Other stops on the oral history-gathering tour include Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Newark, and Oakland, as well as Clarksdale, Mississippi; Selma, Alabama; and Montgomery, Alabama.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has ponied up $1.4 million to fund the project.
French actor Gaspard Ulliel takes on the role of Hannibal The Cannibal Lecter in the new prequel, Hannibal Rising.
The story sets out to explain how the young Hannibal turned into the flesh- chewing monster of The Silence Of The Lambs and Red Dragon/Manhunter fame.
Anthony Hopkins played the Hannibal character in three movies and won an Oscar for portraying the brilliant-but-mad doctor in 1991. Ulliel made Hannibal Rising knowing the popularity of Hopkins Hannibal, and said he tried connecting to Hopkins while creating his own spin on the cold- blooded murderer: I knew that the audience would look up for similarities between my character and Anthony Hopkins.
But then, you know, it s a bit tricky because my work on this film was not to try to imitate or copy Anthony Hopkins. The idea was more to try to pick a few details in his performance and then mix it to my own recipe to create my own Hannibal Lecter.
Raven Symone, 21, is the cover model for the March issue of Ebony Magazine.
The singer / actress talks about her life as of now, being worth 400 million dollars and what her future holds.
E! columnist Marc Malkin is reporting that Alicia Keys is set on a campaign to land the lead role in Disney s upcoming animated musical, The Frog Princess.
After screening the upcoming Jamie Foxx film The Kingdom in Sacramento, Universal Pictures has decided to push back its original release date from April 20 to Sept. 28, believing a fall opening would reach a wider demographic. Click Here to find out more!
With John Amaechi’s announcement Wednesday that he is gay, the former NBA center, who played for such teams as the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers, makes history as the league’s first player to come out publicly and discuss his homosexuality. Click Here to read full story
Oprah Winfrey’s five-year experience of building a school for disadvantaged girls in South Africa will be stuffed into a one-hour ABC special scheduled to air on the final Monday of February sweeps.
An American Idol contestant from San Antonio, Ashlyn Carr, may not make it to Hollywood.
She was reportedly arrested in August for pouring sugar into the gas tank of her ex- boyfriend. When confronted by police, Carr confessed to the crime. So far, Idol reps have not commented on her fate.
Don’t know who I’m talking about? Click here to see her audition.
Actor Michael Clarke Duncan has allegedly found love on the basketball court after falling for one of his favorite NBA team s cheerleaders.
The movie big guy met Vanessa Bosell at a Los Angeles Clippers game just before Christmas and the actor went public with his new romance when he jetted the sexy cheerleader to the Super Bowl in Miami, Florida at the weekend - as his date. A pal says, They d been trying to keep their dating under wraps, but, as a couple, they re hard to miss.
R B star-turned-movie star Tyrese Gibson has ruled out working with James Franco again after the two hunks had it out on the set of Annapolis.
Gibson didn t get along with Franco and now he s going public with his feelings towards the actor. Tyrese says, Me and Mr. James Franco didn t hit it off too well.
I never want to work with him again, and I m sure he feels the same way. It felt very personal. It was f**ked-up.
Oscar-nominated Dreamgirls star, Jennifer Hudson, has reportedly received lots of flowers and support from her famous fans that include Halle Berry, Alicia Keys, and Whitney Houston, but she’s hoping that the messages and gifts from Whitney will lead to a duet with her. She says, I would love to do a duet with Whitney Houston. That would be a dream for me.
That dream could come true since Hudson starts work on her album next month with Clive Davis, who is also Houston s longtime mentor and friend.
It looks like former D- Child, Kelly Rowland, will have to wait a little longer for her next album to come out. The album is titled Miss Kelly, and was scheduled to come out in this spring, but one insider at her label says that Kelly’s manager, Matthew Knowles, is not ready for the album to come out yet.
Marques Houston third solo album, Veteran is due to hit stores March 20th. Yung Joc guests on the song Like This, while Mya and Shawnna team up on Hold N Back.
Rapper Young Buck s second album, Buck the World, is set for a March 20th.
Buck the World, was co-executive produced by 50 Cent and Sha Money XL, and features production from superstars like Eminem, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Hi-Tek and Jazze Pha. T.
I., Young Jeezy, Pimp C, Snoop Dogg, Trick Daddy, Lyfe Jennings, Trey Songz, Linkin Park s Chester Bennington and Buck s G-Unit homies make guest appearances. Buck recently opened a clothing store (Cashville Clothing) and a restaurant (Cashville Chicken Waffles) in his hometown of Nashville.
He s also been giving back to the neighborhood through the G-Unity Foundation, recently surprising the Boys Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee with a $15,000 donation for their Extreme Game Room Makeover.
Here s how serious Michael Jackson is about getting his career back on track: The not-always- reliable British tabloids say he s been holding secret strategy sessions with Simon Fuller. .
the evil, evil man who created American Idol and The Spice Girls.
According to ATL shutterbug and gossip blogger Sandra Rose, Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls Atlanta premiere was cancelled this past Saturday because permits were not secured in time for his new 60-thousand square foot production studio to hold the event. Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls comes out on Friday, February 16th.
After it was revealed that he was guilty of sexual involvement with a man for three years last November, Ex- Pastor Ted Haggard denies he is gay. Running counter to public opinion and conventional understanding, Haggard believes he is fully heterosexual, a minister has told The Denver Post. Click here to find out more on this story!
NEWS YOU CAN USE: If you thought being the designated driver was the right thing to do, then this story is for you!
A Pinellas Park, Florida man is planning to file a discrimination lawsuit against a bar because he drank too little. The man was with his wife and friends but he wasn’t drinking alcohol.
He was drinking only soda, because he was their designated driver. He claims he was penalized for trying to do the right thing and says the owner and a bouncer threw him out of the bar for not drinking alcohol. He said the bar s owner grabbed him, slammed his head against a door and forced him out.
He was injured and required more than a dozen stitches.
Phillis Wheatley, the first black woman in the United States to be recognized for her poetry, was born in Senegal, West Africa in 1753. After arriving to Boston on a slave ship in 1761, she was sold to John and Susannah Wheatley.
The Wheatleys acknowledged Phillis s intelligence and taught her how to read and write. Phillis quickly learned English, and also learned Greek and Latin without formal education.
She began to write poetry at the age of 14.
Within three years, in 1770, she published her first poem, An Elegiac Poem, On The Death Of The Celebrated Divine George Whitefield.
Whitefield was a respected minister, who was friends with Countess Selina of Huntington. After reading Phillis s poem on Whitefield, Countess Selina brought Phillis to London to help her publish her work.
The result was Poems On Various Subjects, Religious And Moral, published in 1773 in England.
By 1776, Phillis s poem about General George Washington earned her additional acclaim. About Washington, she wrote, A crown, a mansion, and a throne that shine/ With gold unfading, Washington!
be thine.
Phillis eventually obtained her freedom, and married a free man, John Peters, in 1778. But despite the praise she received for her work, she remained poor, and died on December 5, 1784 at the age of 31.
During the 1830s, abolitionists, encouraged by her works, reprinted her writings.
In addition to her poems on Whitefield and Washington, Phillis, a Christian, also addressed the need for salvation, being brought from Africa to America, and her reactions to seeing the works of a young African painter.
Phillis s writings and life are chronicled in a number of books, including Life And Works Of Phillis Wheatley published in 1969, by Phillis Wheatley and Phillis Peters.
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