Oct. 30, 2006

Back to Page 1 of the BV Buzz

Buzzworthy

Congratulations are apparently in order for New Edition singer Johnny Gill. The 40-year-old entertainer is the proud parent of a baby boy, who is now apparently five months old. The boy, Gill's first child, lives in his hometown of Washington, D.C. (Yes, he was the subject of my Sept. 4 Can't Say Names. The singer still has a long way to go to catch up with his best bud, actor Eddie Murphy, who is expecting child number six with former "Spice Girl" singer, Melanie Brown (also known as Scary Spice).

I went to see the play 'Men Money & Goldiggers' during its recent run at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. I have to say, I see a lot of these touring plays and this one was one of the best. You know by now that the show stars Robin Givens, who talked about the play in the Oct. 9 BV Buzz, as well as Carl Payne ('Martin'), Terri J. Vaughn ('The Steve Harvey Show'), Miguel Nunez Jr. ('Sparks'), Chico Benymon ('Half & Half'), R&B singer Tank (who is a surprisingly good actor), Essence Atkins ('Half & Half') and newcomer Patrice Lovely (she's just as funny offstage). This show is really packed with some Black Hollywood heavyhitters! The play is based on a novel by Je'Caryous Johnson, who along with partner Gary Guidry produced the show. For details on when the play hits a city near year, visit www.imreadyproductions.com.

Hidden Beach Records, the home of such artists as Jill Scott, Kindred The Family Soul, Mike Phillips, Brenda Russell and Lina, is in the process of leaving Sony Music according to industry insiders. Sources tell me that Steve McKeever's seven-year-old boutique record company has opted to leave Sony because Hidden Beach believes Sony hasn't treated the company like a priority. With forthcoming projects by Onitsha, Keite Young, Sunny Hawkins and Jeff Bradshaw coming down the pike, I'm told that Hidden Beach is in final negotiations with the Universal Music Group to house its label there. The Hidden Beach website has a message that reads: "Please bear with us as we reconstruct our Web site in order to gear up for Chapter Two of the Hidden Beach story."

Stellar Award winner Jonathan Nelson will record his sophomore CD on Dec. 1, at Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant's Empowerment Temple in Baltimore. Nelson's guests include gospel singers William Murphy, Sha Simpson, his brother Jason Nelson, Sheri Jones-Moffett of Ted & Sheri, and one of my favorite contemporary vocalists, Nikki Ross.

Gladys Knight, Mandisa ('American Idol'), Shirley Murdock, Lalah Hathaway and the Boys Choir of Harlem all performed during The Ashley Stewart Stores Community Foundation First Annual Benefit Gala 'Back to Harlem' at The Apollo Theater in New York. The event was hosted by shock jock/TV host Wendy Williams, and actress Phylicia Rashad and singer Patti LaBelle were in attendance for the event. Ashley Stewart also introduced Gladys Knight's new line of pajamas, Knight Wear, during the event.

Frankly Speaking

"IF Madonna gets her way, little David will become the first Black Jew since Sammy Davis Jr." - Gossip columnist Michael Musto on MSNBC talking about Madonna's new adopted African son. I think Musto must have forgotten about my colleague, Entertainment News Producer and BV blogger, Karu F. Daniels. He's the second Black Jew I know!

Can't Say Names…

What veteran Hollywood actress looks like she wants to guest-star on the series 'Nip/Tuck.' Said actress's face was pulled so tight at a recent outing that fellow partygoers joked that she looked as though she was constantly smiling. She's a sweet older lady and if you're looking for a name, "I ain't gonna say it!"

BV Scene

Shawn Pyfrom ('Desperate Housewives') shopping in Barney's New York on Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills, moments before Mary Kate Olsen came in wearing a flannel shirt, grey tights and Balenciaga boots she could barely walk in… Chris Brown and Kanye West flying a few rows behind yours truly on a United Airlines flight from Washington's Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport… Billy Bob Thornton, South African freedom fighter Patrick Chamusso and Nicky Hilton dined separately during the must-have Sunday Brunch at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills… 'America's Next Top Model' winner Danielle Evans, Cynthia Bailey and Mia Amber were among the celebrity models in the 'Front Row: Celebrating The Spirit of Innovation in Fashion' runway show sponsored by the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Tanika Ray ('Extra') and music man Andre Harrell hosted the affair and Lloyd Boston, Susan Fales-Hill and Phillip Bloch helped present awards to Iman and Stephen Burrows.