August 30, 2005

R&B veteran Chaka Khan was among the vocalists who appeared on the incomparable gospel great Richard Smallwood's live recording last Wednesday at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. "She's a legend in music, and I'm so glad that she recently gave her life to the Lord," said Smallwood in his introduction of Khan. Smallwood's live CD, which is slated to be titled 'The Journey: Live from New York,' is planned for a spring 2006 release.

Khan was received with a standing ovation and before she began her song 'Holy Is Your Name,' she told the crowd, "Richard Smallwood is right! I got the Holy Spirit in me now, and he's here with us tonight!"

Smallwood and his choir Vision -- a 20-plus member choir that includes accomplished singers such as Maurette Brown Clark, Vanessa R. Williams, Charisse Nelson-McIntosh and Ted Winn of Ted & Sheri -- was also joined by The Hawkins Family (Walter Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, Lynette Hawkins-Stephens and Tramaine Hawkins), classical singer Janice Chandler Enteme (Kathleen Battle was absent due to illness), Kim Burrell (who razzled and dazzled the crowd with her vocal acrobatics on 'I Can't Make This Journey (Without You By My Side),' and a svelte Kelly Price (her song 'Morning Is Breaking' was a fave). An additional highlight was the reunion of the original Smallwood Singers, a six-member ensemble Smallwood founded in the late '70s. Member Dottie Jones, sporting her signature spiked silver locks, wowed the crowd by leading 'He Won't Leave You.'

Donald Lawrence presided over the recording and Donnie McClurkin and Cissy Houston shared words and impromptu singing numbers -- him, 'I Love the Lord' and her, 'Amazing Grace.' Among the other singers and personalities in attendance were Daryl Coley, Ashford & Simpson, Natalie Wilson, Freddie Jackson, Melba Moore, James Hall, Pastor Kevin Bond, Gerard Henry (BET's 'Lift Every Voice'), Melonie Daniels, Teresa Hairston ('Gospel Today'), Patrick Lundy, Bishop Kenneth Moales, Danny Eason, Pastor Jerome Bell and Broadway stalwart Billy Porter.

Aretha Franklin, The Clark Sisters and Smallwood's music teacher, Roberta Flack, will go into the studio to record additional tracks for the album.

Speaking of Kelly Price, she will record her debut gospel album on Oct. 28 at the Zion Cathedral COGIC in Long Island, N.Y. No word on whether the album will be released on Def Soul Records. Price toured last fall on the Sisters In The Spirit tour with Yolanda Adams, Rizen, Sheila E., Martha Munizzi and Prophetess Juanita Bynum, and is also a judge on the Gospel Music Channel's 'Gospel Dream' reality series.

Family Affair

Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson enjoys the perks of being 'The Man' and told us that his wife LaTanya Richardson needs to appreciate them as well.

Richardson told Precious Times magazine in her recent cover story that some people felt she was cast as a costar in her husband's film 'Freedomland' because she was his wife. "It's mind-boggling. His talent is so enormous that people believe that [my husband] handed me the part in his movie... He did not hand it to me. I auditioned like everyone else, and I receive the same treatment as every other actor in the movie," she vented to the glossy.

I spoke to Jackson at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills and asked him what he thought about his wife's feelings. "I was trying to tell her get over it," he began. "If she did get the role because she is my wife, so what. Hollywood is built on nepotism! Everybody's daughter, son, husband or wife gets a position because someone is in the right position for them to get it. You use my name to get hotel reservations and anything else you want, so don't start trying to act like it ain't part of the deal."

Despite it all, Jackson still believes his wife was cast in 'Freedomland' because of her acting ability. "Yes, she is skilled, and she has acted actually longer than I have. She's really good in the film," he added.

Not only is Jackson 'The Man' in Hollywood, but he stars opposite Eugene Levy in the upcoming New Line feature 'The Man.' The buddy comedy hits theaters nationwide on Sept. 9.

Prison Song

Akon may be an ex-con, but the singer, who is from Senegal, is making the best of his second chance at life. "It definitely wasn't meant for me to be sitting behind bars. That's when I pretty much knew this was definitely a situation I had to exercise and take my talents to a whole other level and make it more positive," he shared.

Now the crooner, who was recently nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for his song 'Locked Up,' is hoping to inspire other convicts to capitalize on their second chance at freedom.

"A lot of people don't maximize their second chance because they feel like it's supposed to happen that way," said Akon. "But you can either continue living like you living and let it happen again or take it as a sign and say let me try something new."

The singer is now shopping around a reality show called 'The Big Breakout,' a series that will offer convicts a chance to showcase their musical abilities. "Pretty much what we're doing is going to all of the major [correctional] facilities and picking out the rawest talent and giving them a second chance. A lot of times there are no [options] as far as jobs or other types of employment. If you come out as a convicted felon, you can't even work, you can't vote and you can't get a regular nine-to-five. But you can use the talent that you got and use that as your occupation. It's their way out. A more positive way," he explained.

Maybe he can get Chico Debarge, Lil' Kim and Lyfe Jennings to be judges.

What's Cooking?

Sought-after Hollywood casting director Robi Reed recently gave a backyard barbecue to be remembered in Los Angeles. Reed, who has cast movies such as 'Malcolm X,' 'Soul Food,' 'Set It Off,' 'Love Jones' and 'The Best Man,' as well as television shows like 'Girlfriends' and 'The Tracy Morgan Show,' attracted a who's who gathering at her annual must-attend cookout.

Publicist Lisa Sorensen invited me to the affair where I spotted folks like Henry Simmons ('NYPD Blue'), Rolonda Watts, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon ('The Jamie Foxx Show'), Chico Benymon ('Half & Half'), Trenyce ('American Idol'), comic Chris Spencer, Tamara Mowry ('Sister, Sister'), Edwin Hodge ('Jack & Bobby'), Vanessa Bell Calloway ('Biker Boyz'), producer-director John Singleton, singer Shanice, The Mighty Rasta ('My Wife & Kids'), KiKi Shepard ('It's Showtime at the Apollo'), singer Lina, Kel Mitchell ('One one One'), Keith Robinson ('Over There'), fitness guru A.J. Johnson, comic Joe Clair, Jackee ('Celebrity Fit Club'), Mario Van Peebles, singer Terry Dexter, NBA superstar Kevin Garnett, actress Tami Anderson ('The Real World'), Ali Al ('Punk'd'), Nzinga Blake (Cartoon Network), multi-media diva Tanya Hart, columnist Gil Robertson and numerous other Tinseltown publicists and journalists.

Can't Say Names ...

... Doomed before the debut? Sources say that a personality-driven show premiering this fall is having more than its share of problems behind the scenes. Said show has already fired one executive producer and after poaching half of its producers from a proven successful series, they've already fired half of those folks. Despite the model rollout for its debut, an insider said things are far from the pretty picture being displayed.

Buzzworthy

... Talk about a quick comeback. Former '106 & Park' host Free is rumored to have landed a job as a vee-jay at MTV2. No word on when her debut album will be dropped.

... In Touch Weekly is reporting that rapper 50 Cent is now dating Nia Long. According to In Touch -- and I'm stressing that because Long is no fan of mine, and I don't want any screaming publicists on my phone -- the two have been dating for three months and held court in a separate area of his house during a party there on Aug. 6. The magazine said that Long is playing cool with 50 Cent and doesn't want to go public with the romance because of her young son.

... Miguel Nunez Jr., who was also spotted at the Reed barbecue, has been cast on the NBC 'Friends' spin-off 'Joey.' The former star of 'Sparks' and 'Juwanna Man' will play Zach, a new pal of Matt LeBlanc's character, Joey Tribbiani.

... Romany Malco is dating Mary-Louise Parker, his co-star on the Showtime series 'Weeds.' The couple arrived arm-in-arm at the premiere of his new film '40-Year-Old Virgin.' Parker previously dated her son William's father, Billy Crudup.

... 'Saved By the Bell' alum and 'The Other Half' host Mario Lopez is co-hosting a news magazine show called 'ESPN Hollywood.' The show is airing on ESPN 2.