Golden EraS. Epatha Merkerson took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a TV Movie or Miniseries on Jan. 16 for her role in HBO's
‘Lackawanna Blues.’ "This is so amazing," she said from the podium, during her heartfelt acceptance speech in front of celebrity elite, including
Chris Rock,
Denzel Washington, Rosario Dawson, Jamie Foxx and
Mariah Carey. "I am 53 years old. This is my first lead in a film. I feel like I'm 16. And if I wasn't in the middle of a hot flash, I'd believe that." In
‘Lackawanna Blues,’which aired last year, Merkerson starred as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby -- the matriarch of a boarding house in upstate NY circa 1960s. The critically-acclaimed production was based on actor Ruben
Ruben Santiago-Hudson's one-man play and was produced by Academy Award winner
Halle Berry. Merkerson also won the 2005 Emmy Award for the role. Born and bred in Saginaw, Michigan and known to TV audiences mostly as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on
‘Law & Order,’ she made her film debut as a therapist in
Spike Lee's 1986 breakout
’She’s Gotta Have It.' She’s also appeared on
'The Cosby Show,' and in the film
'Radio' alongside
Cuba Gooding, Jr. Her stage work includes a Tony Award nominated role in
August Wilson's
'The Piano Lesson.’ Next up for Merkerson, is the
Craig Brewer-directed drama
‘Black Snake Moan,' starring
Samuel L. Jackson and
Justin Timberlake, due out later this year.
Female Power A handful of power-wielding entertainment moguls made ‘Black Enterprise’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. They include: media maven
Oprah Winfrey, MTV President
Christina Norman, NBC and Telemundo Los Angeles Regional General Manager
Paula Madison, Johnson Publishing President
Linda Johnson Rice, BET CEO
Debra Lee Radio One, Inc. Founder & Chairman
Cathy L. Hughes and Motown Records President
Sylvia Rhone. ‘Black Enterprise’s newly appointed CEO
Earl "Butch" Graves made the announcement yesterday, stating: “While we’re glad to see our list nearly double since 1991, the fact that there remain few African American women in the C-suite shows that corporate American can do much more to help close the gaps.” In addition to the ‘Most Powerful’ list, ‘Black Enterprise’ will present the Women of Power Summit Feb. 1 through Feb. 4 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix. Atlanta Mayor
Shirley Franklin will serve as the keynote speaker, with additional speakers including Iman, Carol’s Daughter founder
Lisa Price, Time Warner executive
Debra Langford and
Dr. Johnnetta Cole, President of Bennett College for Women. R&B crooner
Gerald LeVert and gospel duo Mary Mary are confirmed perform.
Nina Simone RestoredThe legacy of
Nina Simone is being celebrated with the release of repackaged music, in stores now. ‘Forever Young, Gifted and Black: Songs of Freedom and Spirit’ reflects the upheavals of the late 1960s with complete unedited 1968 concert versions of “Why? (The King of Love is Dead)” and “Mississippi Goddam.,’ along with previously alternate versions of ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ and ‘Ain’t Got No – I Got Life.’ Special liner notes include a foreword by Pop/R&B songstress
Alicia Keys, and a poem and testimonial by
Nikki Giovanni. Other collections ‘Nina Simone Sings The Blues’ and ‘Silk And Soul’ mark the beginning of an extensive catalogue restoration for the late song stylist’s most prized recordings – via SonyBMG. ‘Blues,’ with songs such as “Backlash Blues” and “Since I Fell for You,” features liner notes penned by acclaimed music biographer
David Nathan. ‘Silk And Soul,’ with covers of the
Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic ‘The Look of Love” and
Aretha Franklin’s “Save Me,” includes an introduction by Simone’s daughter,
Lisa “Simone” Kelly.
Urbanworld Gets ‘Vibe’Yesterday,
‘VIBE’ magazine and Urbanworld announced a strategic partnership to present the co-branded “Urbanworld VIBE Film Festival” running June 21 through June 25 in New York City. The five-day event will feature studio premieres, independent film screenings, panels, screenplay readings, talent spotlights, and an awards brunch honoring the festival’s winners. “With VIBE’s participation and influence in the urban space, we are going to establish the festival as one of the most anticipated film events of the year,” said ‘VIBE’ Publisher
Len Burnett. As part of the alliance, the
Quincy Jones,founded magazine will serve as the exclusive national urban consumer magazine, providing pre- and post-event exposure of the festival.
