Central City Productions announces the 7th Annual Black Music Honors live tapping at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Ga. on Thursday, May 19. The star-studded two-hour event will honor artists and musicians who have influenced and made significant contributions to American music.

​This year’s remarkable group of honorees include Multi-Platinum, Award-Winning Supergroup Dru Hill who will receive the Urban Music Icon Award; Five-Time GRAMMY Nominee Tevin Campbell who will be honored with the R&B Icon Award and Multi-Award-Winning; Gospel Duo Mary Mary will be presented with the Gospel Icon Award; NAACP Image Award-Winning Singer Karyn White will also be recognized with the Soul Music Award; Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter Keri Hilson will be honored with the Music and Songwriter Icon Award for her accomplishments penning songs for some of the biggest names in music and the Legendary R&B Group The Whispers will take home the Legends Award for their incredible nearly six-decade music career.

​Multi-hyphenate LeToya Luckett will co-host the epic night of celebration along with Chicago Actor and Comedian DeRay Davis. The televised special is set to air in national broadcast syndication Saturday, June 4 - Sunday, July 3 and on Bounce TV on Saturday, June 25th.

​The 7th Annual Black Music Honors show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Producer and Michael A. Johnson as Producer and Director.

​Tickets for the live-taping event are available at www.blackmusichonors.com or you can purchase tickets at www.ticketmaster.com by clicking here.
For more information about Black Music Honors, visit www.blackmusichonors.com or connect on social media @blackmusichonors on Facebook and Instagram or @blackmusichonor on Twitter. 

ABOUT NELSON RAMOS
​(from sonjazzy.com)​
I was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico, on the Caribbean side of the Island. I come from a family of distinguished musicians, to include my Grandfather who was a master luthier. My musical journey started by observing my uncle’s orchestra, and playing and studying percussion instruments since the age of 5, to include drums, congas, bongos and timbales. My first live performance was at the age 7 with My Uncle's Salsa Orchestra at the Fiestas Patronales de Guayama, Puerto Rico. In 1974 my Father moved us to Atlanta, GA where I continued to play drums and percussion instruments. In June 1979, I graduated High School in Atlanta from Sylvan Hills High School. In 1980 I joined the military and traveled to Europe, and returned back to Puerto Rico in 1983, where I started to study and play guitar and piano with local salsa bands. I left Puerto Rico in July 1985 and moved back to Atlanta, GA and started to study and learn jazz guitar and piano with musical instruction and mentors such as Bill Brannon, Felix Febles, Jazz Organist Joshua Seabrook, percussionist Skip Burney, and drummer Steve Ellington. I started to play regular jazz gigs with local jazz groups, attending jam sessions, studying, performing and collaborating with jazz musicians and groups in the Atlanta area. In July 1991, I organized, recorded South Side Trio, and performed in the 1992 Atlanta Jazz Festival at Grant Park. The Southside Trio was an organ, guitar and drum jazz trio, selected among many local groups to perform in the 1992 Atlanta Jazz Festival. We had the privilege and honor of performing on the same stage where Horace Silver, Carter Jefferson, and Freddie Hubbard performed.

In 1995, I went back in the service and studied piano at the U.S. School of Music at Little Creek Naval Installation in Virginia Beach, VA. I continued the John Mehegan Piano Jazz studies program (1) Jazz Improvisation Tonal and Rhythmic Principles, (2) Jazz Rhythm and the Improvised Line, (3) Swing and Early Progressive Piano Styles, (4) Contemporary Jazz Piano Styles. I was later stationed in Kobe Barracks, Panama, where I performed for local dignitaries, and performed for the Southern Command’s activities for General Wesley Clark. In addition, I performed for Panama’s premier female jazz vocalist Ms. Barbara Wilson. I played with members of Panamanian National Band, and performed weekly at Las Bovedas Restaurant in the French Quarters of Panama City, Ciudad Panama. In 1997 I moved to San Antonio, Texas where I played with: Luis Shati Orchestra, El Combo Rican Orchestra, Orchestra Tropicana, and Orchestra Esencia Latina, backing the best salsa singers such as El Cano Estremera, Luisito Carrion, Albita, Paquito Guzman, and many others. In June 2001 I moved back to Puerto Rico where I performed with my Uncle’s Orchestra, “Orquesta La Grande”. In June 2004, I moved to New Orleans, LA where I played with Blues singer Jimmy Hicks, Ashe Son, Freddie Omar, and many other local jazz and Latin Jazz groups. Performed weekly at Tippitinas’s, Harrah's Casino New Orleans, and Café Brazil in the French Quarter. Performed in the 2006 French Quarter Festival with Asheson, at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz Festival with Ashe Son Cuban Group, and Freddie Omar’s Salsa Band.

From June 2006 to June 2008, I moved to Baltimore, MD were I performed with local bands in Baltimore, and D.C., and performed piano at the Barrack Obama Mambo Inauguration "Mambo" party with Ted David and his Orquesta “La Leyenda” out of Washington, D.C. I recently performed at the 2015 French Quarter Festival with Fredy Omar Con Su Banda. I am currently living and working in Roswell, GA where I lead and direct Son Jazzy Orchestra and perform with other Jazz and Latin groups in the City of Atlanta, Georgia and Southeast United States. Son Jazzy has performed at several venues in the Atlanta Metro area to include Our Place Cafe & Bakery, Churchill Grounds, Loca Luna Restaurant, the Sweet Auburn Festivals, Johnny's Bistro and Pizza, and the Atlanta International Jazz Festival May 2012, New Orleans French Quarter Festival 2015, New Orleans Cervantes International Guitar Festival 2016, City of San Juan, Puerto Rico Adoquin Jazz nights, May 2016. I am also a United States Army Gulf and Iraq War Veteran. I served for over 25 years, and served in leadership positions for over 20 years. 

ABOUT PEACHTREE AWNINGS
Peachtree Awnings installs high quality awnings for both residential and commercial customers throughout the Atlanta region. They offer a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes to fit your home or business. Their friendly design staff is ready to help. Call today for a free estimate or go to peachtreeawnings.com

ABOUT SHAMEIA CRAWFORD
Classically trained singer, & creator, Shameia Crawford, has traveled the world sharing stages with some of the best in the music industry. She gives consistency in her delivery with all that she does. Bringing a uniqueness & connectivity that can be felt & heard.  Shameia Crawford may also look familiar to you because of her creative Tik Tok videos like, Anybody Else Addicted To Amazon?.  For more go to instagram.com/shameiamusic

STARZ hosted a star-studded Red Carpet World Premiere Screening and Concert event in celebration of the new original series “BMF'' at the Cellairis Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Georgia. “BMF '' was produced in Atlanta and Detroit, where the real-life Black Mafia Family that inspired the series had bases of operation from the 1980-2000s. In homage to the true legends, attendees wore all-black attire to the outdoor event. The evening began with guests viewing the first episode of BMF, which will premiere on STARZ on Sunday, September 26. Following the premiere screening, series Executive Producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, “BMF” recurring star Snoop Dogg and others performed. Guests enjoyed live performances of the “BMF”main title song “Wish Me Luck” performed by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Moneybagg Yo and Snoop Dogg. ​

In addition to the musical performers, attendees included “BMF” Executive Producer and Writer Randy Huggins and cast members Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., Da’Vinchi, Russell Hornsby, Michole Briana White, Ajiona Alexus, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Myles Truitt, Steve Harris, La La Anthony and Arkeisha “Kash Doll” Knight.
 
Special guests at the premiere screening and concert included T.I.,  2 Chainz, Flo Rida, Young Thug, Gunna, Monica, Kandi Burruss, Killa Mike, Jacob Latimore, South Side, Reginae Carter, Toya Johnson, Jamira “Cuban Link” Haines, G Herbo, Mimi Faust, Ari Fletcher, Pee, Ty Young, Lecrae, Anthony Hamilton, Angie Stone, Clifton Powell, DC Young Fly, Charles Oakley, Angela Simmons, Blue “Pretty Ricky”, David Banner, Jacquees and STARZ, President and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch. ​​

​GRAMMY® Award winning hitmakers Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music have teamed up to co-release a new EP project, Jonny x Mali: Live in LA. Available for pre-order now, the live project contains six songs, including “Adulting,” which is available now as an instant grat track. The EP will be released on Friday, September 24th.  A live performance video of “Adulting” was also released today.

​A co-artist release between the chart toppers, the live project follows on the heels of their GRAMMY®-winning #1 hit song, “Movin’ On.”Featured in a new performance take on the EP, the prolific songwriters and musicians have taken their artistic collaboration further, co-writing all the songs, which also include the tracks “Jump Ship,” “Enough, “Miracle,” and “Everlasting.” The new EP is a co-artist release in partnership between Jonathan’s label Life Room Label, eOne Music, Mali’s imprint K Approved Enterprises, and RCA Inspiration.        

​Bringing together the fresh lyricism and eclectic melodies that Jonathan and Mali are known for, Jonny x Mali: Live in LA sets the stage for their upcoming co-headlining tour. Bringing their new songs on the road.
​Jonny x Mali Tour kicks off on Thursday, September 30th, in Atlanta, GA at The Tabernacle.
Crossing multiple states with their live shows, the co-headliners will welcome special guest performers on the tour, which hits North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Washington DC, Illinois, and wraps up in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday, October 13th. 

We've had a great 2021 Jazz In The Alley concert series.  Although the rain almost stopped one of the shows, thanks to Anonymous Da Band's willingness to continue and the faithful JITA fans we weathered the rain and the concert continued.

​Held in historic downtown Norcross, Georgia, (Betty Mauldin Park), Jazz In the Alley has an upward attendance of 1,000 and IT'S FREE,  thanks to generous sponsors like the City of Norcross, Peachtree Awnings, Elite Behavioral Medicine, and When We Speak TV so bring your entire family.

September 25, 2021
Concert begins at 7:30PM.

For more information and updates, follow Jazz In The Alley and When We Speak TV on all social media platforms.

On Sunday, September 5th, Atlanta's Piedmont Park will welcome the 9th Pure Heat Community Festival; also known as a free “day of unity.” The free cultural event is equipped with market and food vendors, live celebrity and local performers, entertainment, educational forums, prizes & giveaways - all designed to bring together the spirit of community, pride, and vision. In partnership with The Vision Community Foundation, a portion of proceeds from the weekend’s festivities are used to benefit homeless LGBTQ+ youth and those impacted from HIV/AIDS. ​

This year’s festival will honor veteran hip-hop artist and two-time GRAMMY Award-nominee, Da Brat, and her fiance Jesseca “Judy” Dupart, the multi-millionaire business owner and CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products. ​

Hosted by Bishop Oliver Clyde Allen III, Rashad Burgess, Melissa “DJ M” Scott and Julius "JuJu" James, the Pure Heat Community Festival is a front seat into a spectacular gathering of minority LGBTQ people and their allies in the heart of Atlanta. ​

Follow the festival on social media by using the handle: @PureHeatCommunityFestival. For more information on the Pure Heat Community Festival visit: pureheatcommunityfestival.com and for information on Atlanta Black Gay Pride weekend visit ATLGayPride.com.

​COVID-19 PREVENTION
This event will follow strict CDC Guidelines surrounding COVID-19
Masks or Face Shields are required along with Six Feet Distancing

WHO: Cornishia Thompson of Florence SC will be launching her new brand "Breaking The Stereotypes" in her hometown of Florence,Sc. This event will be hosted by legendary gospel performer and pastor Dr. Dorinda Clark-Cole and attended by  Mayor of Florence Teresa Myers Ervin.

WHAT: "Breaking The Stereotypes" brand launch is an event that will include adult conversations regarding marriage, intimacy and misconceptions surrounding Kingdom Marriages.  There will be discussion, live music, a red carpet for photo opportunities and door prizes. 

WHEN: August 21, 2021 6pm -10pm 

WHERE: Florence Center, 3300 W. Radio Dr. Florence SC 25901

When We Speak TV cordially invites you to historic downtown Norcross, Georgia, for the Jazz In The Alley concert series, highlighting elite and emerging jazz artists.

​Held in historic downtown Norcross, Georgia, (Betty Mauldin Park), Jazz In the Alley has an upward attendance of 1,000 and IT'S FREE,  thanks to generous sponsors like the City of Norcross and Peachtree Awnings, and Elite Behavioral Medicine, so bring your entire family.

Concert begins at 7:30PM

Canelita Sabrosa will be taking over Betty Mauldin Park on July 17, 2021, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m at
Jazz In The Alley in historic downtown Norcross, GA.
​There will be an intermission performance by Port Curtis Band.
​
This event is free!!!
During the band breaks, take an easy stroll and check out the deals in our downtown shops! Bring chairs, a cooler (no glass, please) and come chill.

WEBSITE:  thejazzinthealley.com
FACEBOOK: jazzinthealley
INSTAGRAM:  jazzinthealley