The Three Degrees Now! by Dolores Dauphine
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CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN THE ARTS… THREE Issue #3 THE THREE DEGREES: L-R HELEN SCOTT, FREDDIE POOLE AND VALERIE HOLIDAY G.E.M.A. NEWS & MUSIC BIZ NEWSLETTER The Three Degrees Now! by Dolores Dauphine The Three Degrees, are known started in Philadelphia. Their then-manager, internationally and have earned numerous the enigmatic Richard Barrett brought three accolades throughout the years. These ladies young teenagers together with a vision for a have performed for Kings and Queens, new sound and style for this female vocal Government and Religious dignitaries. They group. The group made its first mark on the Bobby Eli -2014 Music Director are celebrating more than 50 years in the recording scene by way of the Philly-based Grammy award winning musician, composer, entertainment arts. When the Three Degrees Swan Records. During the Swan years, the arranger, and music producer Bobby Eli is the come to mind, you immediately think of their group's line up was Helen Scott, Fayette 2014 Music Director for the G.E.M.A. Golden Mic most famous song, "When Will I See You Pinkney and Janet Harmon. Their biggest Honors Tribute Ceremony. Bobby has received Again", and the vision of three beautiful success on Swan was probably "Gee Baby", numerous awards and is a multi-platinum women of color, perfectly coordinated in which featured Fayette on lead vocals. Soon composer with hits like “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”, both their dance routines and their vocal thereafter Helen Scott got married and left “Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely”, “Side Show”, harmonies. The Three Degrees current the group. By this time, they had signed with “Three Ring Circus” , “This Time Baby”, “Zoom” and manager, John Abbey knows these ladies are New York-based Roulette Records and the many more. He produced and arranged Deniece still a viable brand and capable of providing line-up was Fayette Pinkney, Valerie Holiday Williams’ Grammy nominated album “Love Niecy an electric, moving, and entertaining stage and Sheila Ferguson and this line-up was to Style”. The G.E.M.A. Foundation congratulates performance. "When Will I See You Again" remain intact for their glory years with him on being a 2014 G.E.M.A. GMH Honoree. was a major hit record throughout the world, Roulette and Philadelphia International. The topping the chart in the U.S.A., the U.K., hits began with a remake of the Chantels G.E.M.A. Human Resource Japan and most European countries, earning 1958 hit, "Maybe" and continued through "I Director the trio every conceivable accolade at the Do Take You", "You're The One", "There's So Celestine Ray, formerly time -- not to mention enough Gold records Much Love All Around Me" (all produced by Chief Operations Officer to make Fort Knox a little envious! More Barrett) and closed out with "Trade Winds" at Imhotep Institute than four decades on, the threesome have for Roulette. It was during this two-year span Charter High School retained all three of their major qualities -- that they made a cameo appearance in the from 1999 to 2009 their beauty, their sparkling choreography movie, "The French Connection", singing where she handled the and their precise vocal qualities. And, in "Everybody Gets To Go To the Moon", schools fiduciary between, they have amassed an impressive portraying themselves in a cabaret scene. In responsibilities and list of hit records. Today, the line-up consists 1972, they aligned their recording destiny personnel needs. She of Helen Scott, Valerie Holiday, and Freddie with Gamble & Huff with super hits from has joined the G.E.M.A. Foundation and Pool. The actual beginning of the group Philadelphia International and the rest is we’re pleased that she is a part of our team. datesd back more than 4 decades, when they history. The Global Entertainment Media Arts Foundation *** www.thegemafoundation.org *** email: [email protected] CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN THE ARTS… THREE ISSUE #3 by M.L. Cedeno Maria Torres, is an acclaimed Performer, Maria has also choreograph the dancing Choreographer and Director with extensive routines for Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony experience in the Theater, Film, Television, in “El Cantante” which she also appeared in. As Video and Commercial industries. Maria has worked, her resume touts diversity from all a teacher, Maria has taught all over the world angles. As a performer, Maria has graced both at an array of prestigious institutions with the the Broadway stage, starring in “Swing”! On goal of sharing her Latin culture with people of the big screen she appeared in “Dance With all backgrounds. Maria’s choreography can be Me”, starring Chayanne and Vanessa Williams. seen in the upcoming movie “Fugly”, is a feature film starring John Lequizamo, Radha Maria worked on projects in the music industry ranging from choreographing the video for Mitchell and Rosie Perez and “The Six Wives of Enrique Iglesias hit single Bailamos to hailed Henry Le Fay” starring Tim Allen, Andie Reggaeton artist Don Omar’s tour King of McDowell, Jenna Elfema and Paz Vega. Maria Kings and the International Dance TV show is known as the “Mother” of the Hustle. This MUSIC PLUS DANCE = MARIA TORRES “Quiero Bailar” where Maria was on camera as year Maria Torres will be launching several Guest Choreographer and on the hit show “So projects including the “The Maria Torres Dance You Think You Can Dance”, “Dance for In 1994, Maria Torres created Hustle USA Dance Championships along with Co- Dreams” that aired on Univision. Fox Upfronts, Theater Company”. Maria Torres is the founders Debra Hampton and David Sarul. Microsoft launch of Windows Phone, “Salt” G.E.M.A. Foundation’s 2014 GMH Honoree in Event in Las Vegas and Entertainer’s Ball Arena . MariaHEADING has 5 worked with John O’Connell Dance. She will also be honored with an award NYC. In the world of Film, Maria has worked andContact trained Info with renowned actors such as in her name, “The Maria Torres Award In with world renowned production houses and Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams in Dance”. We salute you, Maria Torres! directors such as MTV, NBC, HBO, BBC, Walt Disney’s “Enchanted” to Raven Simone in Disney, and John Leguizamo. “College Road Trip”. James has written and produced James Rosin two one-hour sports documentaries, which have aired by Gigi Horne on public television: Philly Hoops: The SPHAS and Warriors (about the James Rosin, a native Philadelphian and a first two professional basketball Temple graduate with a degree in teams in Philadelphia) and The Broadcasting. In New York, he studied Philadelphia Athletics 1901 - acting with Bobby Lewis, and appeared in 1954 (about the former American plays on off Broadway. He also appeared League franchise). on the ABC soap opera “Edge of Night”, and then on “General Hospital”, and also James wrote Rock, Rhythm & appeared on night time dramas’ such as Blues in 2004. In 2006, he wrote “Mike Hammer”, “T.J. Hooker”, “Quincy, Philadelphia: City of Music and he M.E.” and many others. James has written has authored several books on several tele-plays, His full-length classic TV series. play, Michael in Beverly Hills, a comedy- drama, premiered at American Theater Arts in Los Angeles and was later presented off-off Broadway, at the American Musical Dramatic Academy's Studio One Theater. The Global Entertainment Media Arts Foundation *** www.thegemafoundation.org *** email: [email protected] CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN THE ARTS… THREE ISSUE #3 MIMI BROWN – WDAS-FM RADIO Queen Latifah hit the stage for the first time when Mimi brought her in to Mimi Brown perform live at Club After Midnight in Philadelphia. When it comes to by Dolores Dauphine interviews, nobody does it better. Such Mimi's radio career started in Philadelphia was the case during her interview with at a recording studio where she was Vanessa Williams just after losing her 68%discovered by the legendary East Coast Miss America crown while building a radio personality, Dr. Perri Johnson. Under singing and film career. Here is just a his guidance, Mimi started out at a Philly partial list of the other superstars whom hard rock station playing music from Led Mimi has interviewed: Michael Jackson, Zeppelin to Jimi Hendrix. Very quickly her Whitney Houston, Patti Labelle, LL Cool musical talent attracted the attention of J, Stevie Wonder, Barry White, Boys II Bob Klein, the General Manager and Vice Men, Babyface, Isaac Hayes, Gerald President of the pioneering top-rated radio Levert, The O'Jays, Kool & The Gang, station, WDAS-FM. It was at WDAS–FM Sister Sledge, Jody W atley, Public Enemy, where Mimi began to shine. There the R & B Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, Ice and highly funkified format combined with T, Biz Markey, KRS 1, Heatwave, Smokey Mimi's musicality capturing the seventh Robinson, Dionne Warrick, Parliament CELEBRATES 35 YEARS IN RADIO Funkadelic, George Clinton, Bootsy largest market in the nation for over 20 years. Her smooth and sultry delivery, Collins, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole and The Lady with musical knowledge and interviews brought Mary J. Blige. There are very few radio the Golden her the attention of listeners not only personalities whose extraordinary style is Voice… nationwide but around the world. Mimi was matched by their great musical ear and an also the first female Assistant Program amazing list of celebrity interviews. Mimi Brown, the radio Director in the history of WDAS-FM. personality, actress, author and skin stylist is definitely Grammy award winning producers Kenny a multi-talented woman. Gamble and Leon Huff selected her to She has captured her narrate the Teddy Pendergrass album Live listening audience with her Coast to Coast which sold millions of voice.