The Rev. Al Sharpton has been quietly forming his own media company to launch a nationally syndicated Sunday-morning TV show that will focus on education, he told The Hollywood Reporter on Monday.  “Education Superhighway,” scheduled to premiere Sept. 26, consists of news and roundtable discussions primarily about education. Guests already lined up include Bill Gates, Newt Gingrich, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and president of the American Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten.

The 30-minute show is already cleared in 150 markets, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The civil rights advocate will premiere it Thursday at the Congressional Black CaucusFoundation’s 40th Annual Legislative Conference.

Sharpton’s media company, ESH Holdings (named after the series’ initials) will produce the TV show as well as a planned print magazine.

Sharpton said that if there is anything controversial about his new show it will come from those who “want education to remain mediocre.”

“If Newt Gingrich and I could tour the country together … at the request of President Obama, and they are like oil and water … then that shows that this is one issue that all Americans should unite over,” Sharpton said. “Newt and I don’t agree on anything at all — not even that today is Monday — but we do agree that we have an education problem.”

The Event premieres on NBC today.  The Event is part of the barrage of new shows on the NBC fall line-up that stars Blair Underwood.  The first episode was premiered to a test audience in Houston, Texas, where we caught a sneak peek of the ‘The Event’ along with NBC’s other new drama ‘Undercovers.’   Blair Underwood was brilliant in The Event, fitting into a role as a U.S. President of Cuban decent named Eli Martinez.   Jason Ritter was also great playing the role of Sean Walker.  The all-star cast made it hard for The Event to do anything wrong.

From beginning to end, ‘The Event’ was non-stop action.  Literally bringing you into the middle of a plot that has you glued to the television trying to figure out why the characters environment is out of balance.  The inciting incident is revealed when a plane crashes towards the ground, setting the tone for the show that never lets up.  With a brisk pace similar to Fox drama “24,” The Event leaves the viewer wondering what the “THE EVENT” is that caused all of the mayhem that un-folds scene by scene.   The drama uses frequent flashbacks over a 13 month span to bring you up to speed on what happened before we get to a certain point.  I won’t spoil it for you, but the shows big event wasn’t completely revealed in episode 1, so I’m really curious to find out what exactly the characters of this drama are in conflict with.  To find out the scope and size of the big event, you will have to tune in to Episode 2.  Whatever it is, it’s something that C.I.A knows about and the president doesn’t.  The Event is a Cliff-hanger that could have you addicted to Monday nights in no time.

On the downside, you may not want to change your remote because missing just a few minutes of this show could have you searching for answers.  Creator of the drama Nick Wauters, never lets you catch your breath.  It will be interesting to see if the show can keep up with the pace it set in episode 1.  If it can’t, the viewer maybe in for a let-down, and NBC could find fans jumping off the thrill-ride if the storyline doesn’t have enough depth to sustain itself.  The Event premieres Mondays at 9/8c.

Critics have gone back and forth about Tyler Perry bringing his version of Ntokage Shange’s seminal work For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf to the big screen.  Perry’s loyal fan base continues to support the Producer who was made popular by his Gospel stage plays.  Now impacting Hollywood, Perry’s films have broad appeal but are often critiqued for having flat characters and story lines and low production values, is taking a stab at a play that is considered high art. Executive produced by Perry and Nzingha Stewart, For Colored Girls will be out in theaters in November.  It features heavy hitters like Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Loretta Devine, Anika Noni Rose, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise and Phylicia Rashad.  Janet Jackson and Macy Gray round out the cast.  Check out the official trailer below.

Gospel music’s dynamic duo has done it again. Black Smoke Music Worldwide CEO, Kerry Douglas, and his superstar protégé, James Fortune, have racked another smash with “I Believe.” The inspirational ballad features James Fortune & FIYA, Shawn McLemore (who has made a full recovery from a recent stroke) and Zacardi Cortez. Douglas orchestrated Fortune’s 2009 breakthrough smash, “I Trust You,” that spent 29 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and Earnest Pugh’s recent #1, “Rain On Us.” Now, Douglas and his ace radio promoter, Tawanda Shamley, have pushed “I Believe” to #1 while also taking it to #41 on the Urban AC airplay chart.

“This is America’s song,” Douglas says of its success. “It’s #1 because America is going through hard times. People are out of work, people are sick, the economy is bad but we all want to believe that things will get better and this song reminds us that with God’s help, things will get better sooner than later. That’s why I keep saying this isn’t just a gospel song. This is a song for all of America.”

The song is available exclusively on the CD/DVD, Kerry Douglas Presents Gospel Mix Volume IV, Douglas’ hit up-and-coming artists compilation that introduced artists such as Earnest Pugh and James Fortune to the public. The package has just debuted at #4 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums sales chart. Six of the CD’s 17 songs are in rotation on the BDS Top 100 Gospel Playlist. The package also includes a 14-track DVD of live performances or concept videos of the various artists on the audio CD such as James Fortune, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, and The Brown Boyz. “We’re doing something no one else is doing,” says Douglas. “We’re not taking old hits and repackaging them. We’re taking new songs by new artists and making them today’s hits.”

MaLinda Sapp, the wife of award winning Gospel music artist and Pastor Marvin Sapp, passed away last Thursday, September 9th, in their home in Detroit losing her battle with colon cancer at the age of 43.  Marvin had just landed in Houston to be part of Verizon’s “How Sweet the Gospel Celebration” when he received the news and immediately returned home. MaLinda Sapp was surrounded by family members when she passed.

Malinda battled stage 4 colon cancer in the past and appeared to be in the clear, until recently. She has been in hospice care for the last few weeks. Marvin opted to cancel most of his travel dates and committed to only being at his church on Sunday, so he could spend all his time with Malinda. 

MaLinda Sapp’s funeral services are set for Thursday, September 16th at noon at Resurrection Life Church, 5100 Ivanrest SW, in Grandville. Family hour will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, followed by “homegoing services” at 12 noon at the Resurrection Life Church in Grandville, Michigan.

A mother of three, MaLinda Sapp was an accomplished woman.  She was a licensed counselor, psychologist, psychology professor at Grand Rapids Community College, and manager of her husband’s gospel career. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. And in 2008, MaLinda was named principal of the future Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology, yet the school’s opening was delayed earlier this year.

Marvin Sapp, 43, is best known for his 2007 gospel-crossover hit, “Never Would Have Made It.” In fact, it was MaLinda who encouraged him to record the song and include it on the ‘Thirsty’ album following the death of his father.  His current CD “Here I Am,” was released in March. The song “The Best In Me” was No. 1 on Billboard’s gospel charts. Prior to Marvin’s successful solo career, he sang with the 1990s gospel group, Commissioned.  MaLinda was the booking manager for her husband and played part in the production process of his timeless music.

Marvin Sapp and his wife were childhood friends that met in elementary school and married 13 years ago.  Mrs. Sapp is survived by three children Marvin II, 16; Mikaila, 13; and Madisson, 11; as well as her mother, two sisters, two brothers, and several nieces and nephews.

CLICK to visit Marvin Sapps’ Facebook Page
CLICK to visit Marvin Sapps Twitter Page

Dorinda Clark-Cole, (an intricate part of the legendary group The Clark Sisters), has signed with Light Records. Dorinda joins the growing imprint that features J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Pastor Shirley Caesar and the recently signed Ricky Dillard & New G.  Dorinda is also a dynamite preacher, and we’re excited to hear the first project that Dorinda releases under her new label.  No word yet on a release date of her forth-coming album.  

So word has it, Brother Larry Jones is no longer with the Yolanda Adams Morning Show.  Sources say that his contract wasn’t renewed.  The original announcement came from parent company syndication 1, and all though the details surrounding his departure are vague; I wish Brother Larry Jones success in his transition and future endeavors.  The nationally syndicated Yolanda Adams Morning Show can be listened to in over 15 markets nation-wide.  Anthony Valary, and Marcus D. Wiley are still with the show.  No word on if there will be a replacement for Brother Larry Jones.

The 12th annual IMAC Conference heads to the Nashville, TN area October 7-9, 2010.  Produced by Jeff Robinson, the event will convene at Celebration of Life Church in Hendersonville, TN.  The conference is designed to empower and inform those involved in faith-based arts and ministries. This year’s conference features workshops including topics such as voice development, marketing & distribution, and artist management & development. Guest clinicians and performers include Lowell Pye, Claude Deuce, Benita Bellamy, Telisa Stinson, Stan Jones, Earnest Pugh, Kyla Jade, and BET Sunday Best finalist Maurice Griffin. The event will also feature a special salute to Angela Spivey.

You can register on the IMAC website.

A Minister of Music and Musician from the Washington, DC area. Active in the Church Music Ministry 40 years Active in the Gospel Industry 25+ years Prolific in the areas of Marketing, Public Relations, and Promotions Journalist for Community, National, and Internet Gospel Publications.  Kenny Taylor advises PATH’s promotion division.

Affiliations:
Gospel Music Workshop of America
N.A.R.A.S
GMWA G.A.G
National Convention of Choruses & Choirs
S.A.G.M.A.
American Gospel Quartet Convention
Gospel Music Association