Marvin Gaye

Apr 19 2012

One of the oldest African American venues

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Howard Theatre, the historic arts landmark that launched the careers of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye and The Supremes, re-opened after a $29-million renovation and a 32-year hiatus. The Howard Theatre came back to life with an opening lineup that included Wale, Wanda Sykes, The Roots, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Meshell Ndegeocello, Bad Brains, Chuck Brown, Chuck Berry, Esperanza Spalding and a weekly Sunday Brunch featuring the Harlem Gospel Choir. The full schedule is available at www.thehowardtheatre.com. 

Terri Schichenmeyer  |   OW Contributor
Feb 16 2012

By Joseph Vogel, foreword by Anthony DeCurtis

There was no way you were sitting down.

As soon as you heard those four notes—just four beats—your feet were itching to move. You were up and on the dance floor quick, not caring that you didn’t have a partner. With songs like that, you’d dance alone, but not for long: other people’s feet were itching, too, and you knew you wouldn’t be by yourself but for a minute.

Stanley O. Williford  |   OW Editor
Sep 8 2011

The private firm, 1-800-AUTOPSY, has franchises

If you ask Vidal Herrera what is the most famous autopsy he has done, he’ll remind you that his company can “never be defined by one case.”

“Many times I’m asked if there is one autopsy that really stands out and usually I tell them no. I’ve done so many,” said Herrera, who owns 1-800-AUTOPSY, a private autopsy company founded in 1988 that has franchises in Northern California, Nevada and Florida.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Aug 25 2011

Motown and the music world pause

South Carolina native Nick Ashford, of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson died of throat cancer at a hospital in New York City on Monday He was 70.

Aug 11 2011

In a hall filled with Soul legends

It’s been nearly 15 years since his self-titled debut album graced the Soul music scene with one of the most distinguishable voices in the industry. Yet, Rahsaan Patterson gave one of the most soulful and vocally pleasant performances of his entire career at a recent Bleuphoria Live concert.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.