Entertainment: What Ever Happened To?
Though it was a big deal when it first premiered on the NBC network on Sept. 20, 1984, no one could've expected that the groundbreaking sitcom 'The Cosby Show,' would resonate so well with national audiences and make history as one of the most successful TV shows in history. But it did. Revolving around the life and times of The Huxtables, an upper-middle class African-American family living in a brownstone building in Brooklyn, New York, the Bill Cosby-helmed series was TV's biggest hit in the 1980s, according to TV Guide. Blackvoices.com takes a look at the cast members then and now. (Photo: Everett Collection)
2008 Deaths
Odetta Holmes
"The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement" was a singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter and activist.
December 31 1930 - December 2 2008.
Ray Tamarra , Getty
Bernie Mac
Comedian, Actor
Oct. 5, 1957 - Aug. 9, 2008.
AP
Isaac Hayes
Singer, songwriter, record producer, composer and actor.
August 20, 1942 - August 10, 2008
Reuters
Miriam Makeba, "Mama Africa"
South African folk singer and anti-apartheid activist.
March 4, 1932 - November 10, 2008.
Reuters
Jennifer Hudson's 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donerson, brother, Jason, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, were killed in 2008.
AP
Shakir Stewart
The Island Def Jam executive who became head of the legendary rap label following Jay-Z's departure, killed himself on Nov. 1. He was 34 years old.
Getty
George Carlin
Stand-up comedian, actor and author.
May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008
Getty Images
Madelyn Dunham
Barack Obama's grandmother
October 26, 1922 - Nov 3, 2008.
Getty Images
Levi Stubbs
Oct. 17: The iconic lead singer, second from left, who gave voice to Four Tops classics like "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Baby I Need Your Loving" died at 72 from complications of cancer and a stroke. Abdul Fakir, far left, is now the sole living member of the original quartet.
Corbis
Dee Dee Warwick
Oct. 18: The soul songstress died after months of declining health. Warwick, the sister of soul legend Dionne, also achieved a great deal of success, both as a solo artist as well as with her sister.
Corbis
Black Entertainment News Blog: BV Newswire
From fast-breaking entertainment news updates, exclusive interviews with celebrity notables to off-the-cuff commentary and tongue-in-cheek prose, The BV Newswire prides itself on being the factual online source for all things entertainment -- as it pertains to African Americans and people of color, globally.
Read the Black Entertainment Newswire
Black Movies Blog: It's All Reel
For up-to-the minute coverage of who's coming up and what's going down on the film circuit, BlackVoices.com contributor Wilson Morales delivers the goods with box-office figures, late-breaking casting updates and engaging interviews.
Read It's All Reel
Black Entertainment Gossip Blog: BV Buzz
Jawn Murray is back and better than ever. With the new refashioned version of his wildly popular BV Buzz column -- now a blog -- the Washington, D.C., based celebrity journalist is ready to deliver all the scoop we've grown to expect from him, as it revolves around black Hollywood and beyond.
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Filed under: Exclusives, Music, Gospel After the music site DaGospelTruth.com revealed that several gospel artists were having extramarital affairs, Christian record label Cross Movement Records (CMR) announced that it had suspended rapper Da T.R.U.T.H. (whose real name is Emanuel L. Lambert,... Read More
Filed under: Music, Television "I like rap. We play rap. Oh yeah! When you come to the show you'll see. Rap is fabulous! And it's the liveliest thing for the audience. Rap is big." - Domestic diva Martha Stewart talking about her affinity for rap when asked by talk show host Rachael Ray... Read More
Filed under: Music, Radio It's no wonder AM Records is spending a truck load of money promoting Janet Jackson's 'Number Ones,' her two-CD set of greatest hits music that was released on Nov. 17. According to the New York Daily News, the youngest of the Jackson siblings has inked a new recording... Read More
Filed under: Interviews, Movies "Young men tend to come into relationships feeling very strong and powerful, and they make a lot of mistakes. But they soften when they have daughters. You see women through a whole different light, because now you know that they were once someone's little girl.... Read More
Filed under: Gossip, Music RB singer Brandy will avoid a civil trial for a December 2006 car crash that killed Awatef Aboudihaj. The 'Full Moon' star has settled with the remaining plaintiff in the case, Aboudihaj's husband, though the terms of the settlement are sealed. Back in June, the 'Moesha'... Read More
The BoomBox: Beats, Rhymes & Life
Are you interested in the latest news in Hip-Hop? Well pump up the volume and tune into The BoomBox for the latest in hip-hop news, videos, songs, exclusive interviews and more.
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Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop NewsThe Internet went crazy over rumors that singer Nivea had given birth to rapper Lil Wayne fourth child over the weekend, but those reports were untrue. Nivea hit up her Twitter page to set the record straight. "Ok, I didn't have my baby yet unfortunately!"... Read More
Filed under: Say What!Though Trina's rep claims she and NBA star Kenyon Martin are just peachy, his people beg to differ. "I guess it's finally ok to say why Kenyon left Trina. He was embarrassed at first and only told a few people but now he is talking. He said she has serious anger issues.... Read More
Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News, BustedBrooklyn rapper Fabolous was questioned by Atlanta police about his role in the theft of an extremely rare Lamborghini from a local hotel. Surveillance video reveals that two members of Fab's entourage approached a valet employee at Atlanta's upscale... Read More
Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News According to reports, Universal Records has confirmed that they are delaying the release of Lil Wayne's long-awaited rock album, 'Rebirth,' and his forthcoming Young Money compilation, 'We Are Young Money,' yet again. Though the label has offered no explanation for... Read More
Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop NewsEminem will give fans a second dose of his successful 'Relapse' album when he re-releases it in December. 'Relapse: The Refill' will feature five new songs including the DJ Hero track 'Renegade' and 'Forever' which features Kanye West, Drake and Lil Wayne. "I... Read More
