Sen. Edward M. Kennedy

By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer Glen Johnson, Associated Press Writer – Wed Aug 26, 6:09 pm ET
CHILMARK, Mass. – President Barack Obama marked Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's death Wednesday by declaring his fellow Democrat "one of the single most effective senators" in U.S. history, praise that was hardly a shock to the partisan senses.
But Obama's predecessor, former President George W. Bush, also offered plaudits for Kennedy, leading a group of Republicans who exhibited bipartisan affection for a political figure loved by Democrats, reviled by some in the GOP, but missed by nearly all who knew and worked with him.
Bush was typical, noting that he and the 77-year-old Kennedy worked together on immigration, mental illness and public education issues, including joining forces on the "No Child Left Behind" law still derided by Democrats and their union allies.
"In a life filled with trials," Bush said, "Ted Kennedy never gave in to self-pity or despair."
His father, former President George H.W. Bush, echoed that thought.
"While we didn't see eye to eye on many political issues through the years, I always respected his steadfast public service," the elder Bush said.
The widow of another Republican president, Ronald Reagan, called Kennedy "an ally and a dear friend."
Nancy Reagan said: "Ronnie and Ted could always find common ground, and they had great respect for one another. In recent years, Ted and I found our common ground in stem cell research."
Obama led the nation in mourning, saying of Kennedy: "His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives — in seniors who know new dignity, in families that know new opportunity, in children who know education's promise, and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just — including myself."
Throughout Wednesday, the testimonials flowed from people and organizations whose causes Kennedy championed during a 47-year Senate career.
Kennedy "was simply the greatest champion American workers and the labor movement ever had in the U.S. Senate," said John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the nation's largest federal employee union.
"He was a powerful voice and vote in the Senate during the development, debate and passage of every major piece of environmental legislation since the early 1960s," said the Conservation Law Foundation.
PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said: "Animals — and the people who care about them — have lost an advocate and a friend."
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called Kennedy "a legislator without peer" who "inspired generation after generation of young Americans to enter public service, to stand up for justice and to fight for progress." Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, praised Kennedy's "big heart, sharp mind and boundless energy," which he called "gifts he gave to make our democracy a more perfect union."
During a visit Wednesday to the West Bank town of Ramallah, former President Jimmy Carter spoke of the man he beat for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination. He said Kennedy's life was devoted to improving "the status of life of those who are poor and deprived and persecuted and ignored and in need."
For the governor of California, the loss was personal.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose wife, Maria Shriver, was Kennedy's niece, came to politics after careers as a bodybuilder and actor. He credited Kennedy with helping him as governor.
"Teddy taught us all that public service isn't a hobby or even an occupation, but a way of life, and his legacy will live on," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
Kennedy's death came just two weeks after that of Shriver's mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, one of the senator's siblings.
Vice President Joe Biden fought tears as he spoke about his friend and colleague of many decades in the Senate.
"I truly, truly am distressed by his passing," Biden said. "Teddy spent a lifetime working for a fair and more just America. For 36 years, I had the privilege of going to work every day and sitting next to him and being witness to history. ... He restored my sense of idealism."
Former Vice President Al Gore called Kennedy "a champion for those Americans who had no voice — the sick, the disabled, the poor, the underprivileged."
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a 2008 GOP presidential contender, recalled losing to Kennedy in a Senate race. Nonetheless, the two joined forces in 2006 to help pass a universal health insurance law in Massachusetts.
"He was the kind of man you could like even if he was your adversary," Romney said.
The Senate's top Democrat, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, promised that Congress, while mourning Kennedy's loss, would renew the push for the cause of Kennedy's life — health care reform.
"Ted Kennedy's dream was the one for which the founding fathers fought and for which his brothers sought to realize," Reid said in a statement. "The liberal lion's mighty roar may now fall silent, but his dream shall never die."
Kennedy's junior colleague from Massachusetts, Sen. John Kerry, lauded him for his fight against cancer.
"He taught us how to fight, how to laugh, how to treat each other, and how to turn idealism into action. And in these last 14 months, he taught us much more about how to live life, sailing into the wind one last time," Kerry said.
"No words can ever do justice to this irrepressible, larger-than-life presence who was simply the best — the best senator, the best advocate you could ever hope for, the best colleague and the best person to stand by your side in the toughest of times."

Tiny & Toya Reach Milestone at BET

By Tai Saint Louis
Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and Antonia “Toya” Carter have reached a milestone previously unattained by any reality show on the BET network.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Tiny & Toya, the show chronicling the two women’s lives, finished it’s eight-episode debut season with an average of 1.8 million viewers, more than any other original series in BET history.

The show debuted on June 28 with three million viewers.

Audiences continued to follow Toya’s attempt to evolve beyond her public persona as Lil’ Wayne’s ex-wife and Tiny’s pursuit of her entrepreneurial endeavors while coping with boyfriend T.I.’s incarceration.

One episode even brought the cameras along as Tiny drove T.I to prison through a mob of paparazzi, documenting the former Xscape singer-songwriter’s personal turmoil.

Despite pulling significantly less viewers than the first episode, the Tiny & Toya season finale on Tuesday (August 25) attracted over 1.9 million total views.

Those viewers all seemed to have remained glued to the TV for the premier of Frankie & ; Neffe, thus giving the spin-off series about singer Keyshia Cole’s mother and sister the #2 series debut in BET history.

"Tiny & Toya" Show Producer Phaedra Parks Talks Entertainment Law and Power Negotiations

Phaedra Parks isn’t your typical powerhouse entertainment attorney. Not only has she made an indelible impact on the careers of her clients, which include everyone from Jermaine Dupri to Bobby Brown, but she consistently breaks the mold for how lawyers are expected to think, look and act. “My practice is very different from most entertainment lawyers because I provide services beyond the four corners of the law” says Parks, who currently serves as a producer on BET’s hit series, "Tiny & Toya."

“We want to help our clients maintain a standard of living. We invest in their overall well being.”

In the 10 years that she’s been practicing law, Parks’ has maintained close relationships with her clients through her boutique law firm, The Parks Group, which focuses on litigation and contract negotiation. In fact, it is the genuine concern she has for her clients' careers — and more importantly their lives — that keeps her motivated.

“Many of my clients have become like family,” says Parks, who says she was lead to practice entertainment law through the encouragement and support of her good friends, the late Island Def Jam executive Shakir Stewart, and top Atlanta radio personality Ryan Cameron.

That said, Parks goes beyond her job duties. She is known for helping her clients develop and maintain responsible financial habits — even going as far as taking them to the bank and helping them establish checking and savings accounts. As a woman in a male dominated industry, Parks' diligence and dedication has helped her navigate her way to the top earning her numerous awards which include Super Lawyer, Attorney of the Year and Georgia's Rising Star, to name a few.

“Being a black woman you have to work twice as hard,” Parks says. “But, when you work hard and with integrity, everything else works itself out. I have never compromised and I will never compromise.”

Parks has some key points for artists to find success in a fickle industry.

1. Pay your taxes. What the industry does is give artists unbelievably large lump sums of money and then let them fend for themselves without giving them any fiscal advice.

2. Choose an attorney carefully. Attorneys are like shoes, some of them are too tight and some look good, but don't wear well. You want to get the perfect fit, someone who understands your vision and most all believes in you.

3. Read your contract and close the deal before you begin working.

Ne-Yo Falls ill...

Ne-Yo Falls Ill, Bursts into Tears During Performance
Posted Jul 17th 2009 11:30AM by Tracey FordFiled under: R'n'B News
Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Ne-Yo shocked fans last night when he began to cry while on stage during a concert in Manchester, UK. Apparently, the crooner had been onstage for about an hour and just completed his rendition of Michael Jackson's 'Off the Wall,' before calling it quits due to illness. The seemingly confused crowd cheered -- and some booed -- as the singer wept onstage and promised that he would make it up to them at a later date. "Trust me when I say 'I'll be back," Ne-Yo promised. "I will be back."

June: Black Music Month Celebration at Downing-Gross

Black Music Month was started in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter as a way to honor black musical contributions to America. African people have a rich cultural heritage dating back thousands of years. So powerful was the culture of Africa that one of the first things that the slave traders did was to take away the drums of the captive Africans. Scholars have suggested that "Black" music is the only truly American music. If not for the influence of Black entertainers there would have never been an Elvis, Madonna, Kenny G or a Britney Spears.

During this Month, Downing-Gross celebrated the culture and diversity of African-American music through an amazing lineup of artists, including: Frede Payne, PJ Morton, Nicole Henry, Queen Esther Marrow, Jean Carne, Maya Azucena and Teodross Avery. The month's celebration even spilled into July, with a performance by "Rising Icon," Chrisette Michele, as recently named by BET.

Tim Reid Celebrity Scholarship Weekend

For the past nineteen years, actors Tim and Daphne Reid have worked tirelessly with the Virginia Scholarship and Youth Development Foundation to raise funds for youth scholarships. The major fundraiser for the VSYDF is The Tim Reid Celebrity Weekend. Tim and Daphne Reid invite many of their friends to come to the Tidewater Area to participate in a weekend of events, attracting over 5,000 people annually.

This year Downing-Gross had the distinct pleasure of hosting the Gala, including the celebrity silent auction and banquet. Celebrities such as Kellie Williams (Laura from Family Matters); Charnelle Brown (Kim from "A Different World"); local congresswoman, Tina Vick; local playwright, Dana S. Hubbard and many more came out to show their support and take part in the weekend.

Every Dog Has His Day

Local Playwright Dana S. Hubbard brings Latest Play to Premier in Hometown ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A native of Newport News and another great product of Virginia's talent, Dana Hubbard returned to his hometown from New York to premier his latest project, "Every Dog Has His Day," a stage play based on his debut novel. The play illustrates the story of a man blessed with the God-given talent to sing, but who is caught up by living a life of greed and arrogance instead of faith and understanding. Downing-Gross was proud to be a part of this "homecoming" and was able to provide the cast with a place to convene, rehearse, and be inspired.

His film credits include "Mo Better Blues," "Will A Man Rob God?," "A Woman Like That," and his work with Spike Lee on "Do the Right Thing" among many others. What is truly unique, despite all of his accomplishments, is that Hubbard has never forgotten where he came from. "Every Dog Has His Day" was showcased at his old Alma-mater, Hampton University. Keep an eye out for this rising playwright and be sure to support his upcoming projects.