4 Arts & Lifestyle

Of Interest ... Writer BET Awards lineup grows The is Ralph lineup growing for BET Awards, which will air live at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on June 29 at 8 p.m. Songbird Alicia Keys, rapper Ludacris and hot Wiley new producer/rapper Kanye West will join music superstars Janet Jackson, Usher. Outkast and The Isley Brothers, who dies at 52 are also slated to bum up the FROM NNPA stage with red-hot performanc¬ es. Other new additions to the WASHINGTON Ralph lineup include hip-hop crew 50 Wiley, an outspoken former Cent and the G Unit, and staff writer for Sports Illus¬ gospel music sensation Smok- trated and ESPN the televi¬ ie Norful. sion network, Web site and Jackson Celebrities confirmed to magazine, died the night of appear or present awards June 13 at his home in Orlan¬ include Jamie Foxx. Jada Pinkett Smith. Steve Har¬ do of heart failure. He was 52 vey, Gabrielle Union, Boris Kodjoe, Raven, Dorien years old. Wilson, Twista and Humanitarian Award recipient Wilev. a 1975 graduate of Danny Glover. Knoxville College in Ten¬ The BET Awards recognize the biggest and the nessee, best in film, music and sports personalities. Topping died the list of nominees are R&B's hottest leading lady, three Beyonce; Dirty South luminaries Outkast and Lil Joru" weeks R&B superstar Usher; hip-hop kingpin Jay-Z; and after the newcomer Kanye West. death of Reprising her role as the first-ever female host of a fellow the BET Awards telecast is star of the alumnus Mo'Nique. Usher is the hottest name in music these UPN Network's "The Parkers." popular days. and col¬ league, Sawtooth plans opening Hometown folks Vernon The Sawtooth Center for Visual Art is hosting the say president initial showing of 60 8x 10 photographs taken by local of the National Association of veterans during their tours in Vietnam. The exhibit, Black Jarrett died which will be in the Milton the Journalists, Rhodes Gallery of on May 23 in Chicago at the Sawtooth an Building, will begin with opening night Usher has roots age of 86. reception on Thursday, July I. at 6 p.m. "Knoxville is The N.C. forgot College chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots BY BARRY COURTER Usher, 26, has the mother. Jonetta Patton. noted for producing national¬ Association will a in the First Today, top-sell- display Huey helicopter CHAT1 \NOOGA tTMES-FREE PRESS album, "Confessions," and two sin¬ Wheeler said that after a ly-recognized African-Ameri¬ Church lot across from the Saw¬ ing seeing Presbyterian parking gles in the 5 Billboard music recent television on Usher that can journalists," said Barbara tooth Building from 9 a.m. to 8 TENN. Top special p.m. CHATTANOOGA, charts, "Yeah" and "Bum." His contained no mention of Nu R. Hatton. . president of Wheeler photo¬ Begin¬ (NNPA) Darryl Sr. glances graph is also on the cover of this ning. he decided to tell his story in a Knoxville College in Ten¬ over the May issue of Vibe magazine month's Rolling Stone magazine. Yet, documentary titled "When Dreams Are nessee. "And to have two LiT Kim blocked from leaving U.S. with R&B star Usher on the cover and Wheeler and former members of Nu Shattered." produced by In UR Eye giants in the field of journal¬ reads again the quotes in the story from Beginning say that the R&B superstar Media in Florida. It is slated for release ism die within three weeks of NEW YORK (AP) A federal judge Friday the superstar. "Because of his lan¬ apparently doesn't acknowledge the in June under the imprint of Wheeler's each other is a blow to the blocked Lil' Kim from at a music guage, I don't know that young man." group he spent three years with Comclean Entertainment, profession and brings deep rapper performing he of the nearly company. festival on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts later this says Chattanooga-bom artist when given the chance in national and is being shopped to various music, sorrow to our Knoxville Col¬ month. who has America's No. I record. interviews. film and television companies. lege family." "That's not the same man The performer, whose real name is Kimberly young that "He (Usher) is not a superstar to Usher's mother did not respond to Johnathan Rodgers, now Jones, is barred from lived with me and called me dad." me," Wheeler says. "He's still the faxed and calls seek¬ president and CEO of TV One leaving who questions phone the united Mates as part ot a Wheeler, says he signed the young man that lived in my house and ing comment on the documentary. network, was the first black to star to this first a bail agreement in a shooting recording contract, slept in the same room with my son She and Usher have said in previ¬ work as reporter at Sports case. wonders out loud about the changes and ate at my table. I just want to know ous interviews that she had moved her Illustrated in the late 1960s. Judge Gerard Lynch scold¬ that Usher Raymond IV has gone 'why he doesn't acknowledge us or the son to Atlanta to be nearer the musical He was followed at SI by ed Jones' known for her through since he firsr approached hirii -family triat was the Nu Beginning. big leagues. As for the star himself. George E. Curry (Knoxville revealing outfits and risque in 1990, as a 12-year-old Dalewood In the Rolling Stone article. Usher Usher's publicist, Simone Smalls, College, '70), now editor-in- lyrics for having agreed in Middle School student who wanted to alludes to his days here and Wheeler says, "Usher is not available for any chief of the NNPA News Ser¬ May to perform at the St. Kitts perform with Wheeler's boy band, Nu indirectly. He also talks about the days vice, in the earlf 1970s. Music Festival. She had sur¬ Beginning. after he moved to Atlanta with his See Usher on C8 Wiley began writing for rendered her passport in April Sports Illustrated in 1982 and after she was charged with remained there for 10 years, l" K,m 28 cover lying to a grand jury about a producing stories. Gibbs cast He had been a on 2001 shootout between rival of 'Passions' regular joins ESPN's rap groups at a New York hip-hop radio station. "Sports Reporters," SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE international Black nom¬ had for Lawyer Mel Sachs argued Jones was not a flight gained notoriety. winner. Special Emmy provided commentary After the ninth successful season winner of two ESPN's risk: "Your honor, this is a well-known performer." he inee honoree, "SportsCenter" and said. STUDIO CITY, Calif. of "The Jeffersons." Gibbs landed CEBA Awards and has received a had worked as an NFL analyst Eight-time NAACP Image Award a spin-off series, "Check- host of other national for NBC. "Tell that to Roman Polanski." the judge replied, winner Maria Gibbs has the to the director who fled the joined ing-In, which was inter¬ and local honors. At Knoxvilje College, the referring Oscar-winning cast of "Passions" in the role of States after he was in rupted by a writers strike In 2000, she Memphis native played wide United charged 1977 with hav¬ Irma Johnson. "Aunt Exec¬ sex with a Irma," and never recovered, and received at Best Sup¬ receiver on the football team ing 13-year-old girl. utive Producer Lisa de Cazotte she returned to and "Just because you're a celebrity doesn't mean you "The Jef- porting Actress award obtained his first profes¬ don't bail and leave the announced recently. fersons." from The Southern sional journalism job. writing jump country." Maria Gibbs is a The wore a tan to the her Chicago Soon after, daughter California Method sports for the Knoxville rapper pantsuit hearing: It was a transfer as a was native. job Angela produced the Fest. She recently a weekly. hair streaked in red-oraAge hues. She sat with her Airlines reservation Keyana-Spectrum, hands folded in her and did not United clerk award winning Christine completed starring in After his student days at lap speak. that led an adult Gibbs and her Houston in the feature films "Stan¬ Knoxville Lil' Kim. who won a Grammy Award for her part play "227," College. Wiley three children from Detroit to Los which Gibbs was as and "The as a clerk for in the hit remake of "Lady Marmalade" in 2001. was cast ley's Gig" began copy the to at the music festival June 26 with Angeles. the lead by noted director Visit." Oakland Tribune but quickly perform along Gibbs soon PASLA Ginuwine and Busta Rhymes. Sachs told reporters joined Ed Cambridge. The play Other recent film got a staffjob and was writing (Performing Arts Society of Los was such a suc¬ credits include "The a column when o she would have been paid $35,000. and now will have smashing Gibbs regular Sports with her cess that Gibbs Brothers." "Foolish." Illustrated hired him in 1982. to pay an undetermined penalty calculated by concert Angeles) daughter Angela purchased organizations. and studied at the Mafundi Insti¬ ine i v rigms ana. along Lost ana rouna, Reflecting on his lonely tute and Watts Writers Workshop with Norman Lear's Embassy TV, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love." stint at Sports Illustrated, (both in Watts). Gibbs soon per¬ sold and helped produce the series "Border to Border" and "Up Wiley said it was not easy. formed in several well-received for NBC where it became a five- Against the Wall." She recently "I often thought of myself Museum will offer camps productions-, including "Medea," year hit series, now in syndication. participated in Eve Ensler's play as the Larry Bird of Sports "7\men Corner" and "The Ginger¬ Gibbs is a four-time Emmy "The Vagina Monologues" in New Illustrated during the 10 years Reynolda House. Museum of American Art is bread Lady" at the Zodiac Theatre. nominee, eight-time Family TV York City. I wrote articles there," he said offering a series of classes for children in the areas of After a few bit parts, Gibbs Award winner, Essence Woman of Gibbs' first air date on "Pas¬ in a column. "...Not counting art and creative writing during the months of June landed the plum role of Florence the Year, Frances Williams' sion" was June 14. which was also public sentiment. I know the and July. Summer Enrichment takes place during the on "The Jeffersons," where she Women in Theater West Award her birthday. weeks of June 28-July 2 and July 5-9 from 9:30 a.m. Sec Wiley on C8 to 12:30 p.m. Rising first- through sixth-grade boys and girls look at and learn about selected pieces of art in the is 's newest commentator Reynolda House collection and then create their own Sharpton CNBC art through a series of fun hands-on activities. Linda BY SHENISHE L. KELLY (he Democratic convention in Boston Grimes, a school art teacher and vet¬ public 10-year NNPA INTERN July 26-29 and the Republican con¬ eran of the Summer Enrichment program, leads these vention in New York Aug. 30 through sessions. WASHINGTON Al Sharpton. Sept. 2. "Writing Adventures" has these sessions this who often outshined his opponents his scheduled summer: 2 and 5-9 from 1 Among appear¬ June 28-July July :30 p.m. and entertained the nation during his ances are the "Dennis Miller to 4:30 followed both and afternoon Show," p.m. by morning short-lived presidential candidacy, "Capitol Report" and the new sessions during the week of July 12-16. As in the will now use his insight and quick "McEnroe" shows. Summer Enrichment programs, the children relate wit as a CNBC political commentator who the their creative to art have looked Sharpton. joined Kerry writing projects they during this summer's political con¬ as an adviser last week, at and discussed. Brown will lead the first two campaign Becky ventions. will have direct access to Democrat¬ sessions; Tracy Wilson will lead the last week. "I will be speaking as a person ic discussions and and House is fortunate to have these two strategies may Reynolda that comes from an African-Ameri¬ help CNBC battle conservative com¬ accomplished teachers leading the summer writing can background, which most com¬ sessions for children. petitors. mentators don't, that will see these "It is one of their con- activities include a snack and probably ( Each camp's daily conventions and what they do and do side-rations and am indoor House if it is. 1 proud to a swim in the beautiful Reynolda pool. not do for black communities as well to them do that," information and to children for Summer try help Sharpton For register as Latinos and others that have been said, to the com¬ Enrichment or Adventures, call 758-5389. referring right-wing Writing left out." said Sharpton. "I feel this is an to the session, from $75 petition. absolutely Fees vary according ranging Beginning in July, Sharpton will opportunity to give the opposite view to $90 with discounts for siblings. rile pw appear on various CNBC shows Rev. Al Sharpton was once a Democratic contender. twice a week and then nightly during Sft' Sharpton >>n C8