Greetings! Los Angeles Church of God in Christ was the star-studded setting for a private three-hour memorial service to Grammy Award-winning vocalist extraordinaire Natalie Cole, who passed away from a rare lung disease Dec. 31. Close to 5,000 family members and friends were in attendance at the service, which included eulogies from Lionel Ritchie and Smokey Robinson. Chaka Khan also attended.
ABC News reported that Stevie sang with the choir on one song and played harmonica on another. Cole’s son Robbie also played drums on one selection.
Cole was laid to rest at Glendale’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park next to her parents, Nat King Cole and Maria Cole.
THEATER
“Dare to Be Black: The Jack Johnson Story,” a one-man play written and performed by Tommi J. Moore and directed by Rome Neal, takes place Feb. 4 to 21 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m.). The opening night celebration takes place Friday, Feb. 5. Theatre for the New City, 155 First Ave., between Ninth and 10th streets. Call 212-254-1109 or visit theaterforthenewcity.org.
Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker stars in Eugene O Neill’s “Hughie” (Tony Award winner). Previews begin Feb. 8 for this strictly limited engagemnt. Visit Telecharge.com or hughiebroadway.com or call 212- 239-6200.
“The Color Purple,” now on Broadway, featuring Jennifer Hudson,Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St. Visit colorpurple.com.
In “Hamilton: An American Musical,” Lin-Manuel Miranda is the unlikely Founding Father at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St. For information, call 800-276-2392 or visit boxoffice.broadway.com
“Sistas” tells of the struggles, the joy and the triumphs of being Black and being a woman in America, Saturdays and Sundays, now at St. Luke’s Theater, 308 W. 46th St., New York City. Call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.co
MUSIC
Arrested Development, Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 9 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York City. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com, ticketmaster.com.
Lil Wayne’s “The Dedication Tour,” Friday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theater, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford, Conn. For information, call 203-265-1501 or visit livenation.com.
“Funky Fat Tuesday” with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St. For more information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Babyface with After 7, Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m., One Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888- 466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
Ladies Night R&B Super Jam featuring Jodeci, Faith Evans, Jagged Edge, SWV, the Lox, Carl Thomas, Blackstreet, Total and Black Rob, Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m., Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit barclayscenter.com.
The ’70s Soul Jam Valentine’s Concert with the Stylistics, Dramatics, New Birth, Ray, Goodman and Brown and Enchantment, Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m., Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway at 79th Street, New York City. For information, call 212-247-4777 or visit ticketmaster.com.
“An Evening of Love: Valentine’s Show With Stephanie Mills and Will Downing,” Sunday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m., Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway. For information, call 212-247-4777 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Maxwell and Nas, Sunday, Feb. 14 at 8p.m., Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 917-618-6700 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Maxwell and Nas, Monday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6600 or visit prucenter.com.
“An Evening With Chaka Khan” with special guest Vivian Green, Friday, Feb. 19 at 9 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit kingstheatre.com.
The Temptations and the Four Tops, Saturday, March 19 at 8 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718 -856-5464 or visit kingstheatre.com.
Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire, “The Heart and Soul Tour,” Saturday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m., Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn. For information, call 860-862-TIXX (8499) or visit ticketmaster.com.
Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire, “The Heart and Soul Tour,” Monday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m., Madison Square Garden, Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street, New York City. For information, call 212-465-MSG1 or visit ticketmaster.com.
COMEDY
Wanda Sykes, Friday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m., the Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Road, Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Wanda Sykes, Saturday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m., Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, N.J. For information, call 201-227-1030 or visit ticketmaster.com.
FILM
“Concussion” features Will Smith as accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu uncovering the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play. Check local listings.
Spike Lee’s “Chiraq,” featuring Samuel L. Jackson and more, is now in theaters. Check local listings.
COMMUNITY
The Winter Music Festival 2016 is a celebration of the Harlem School of the Arts Music Department’s brightest rising stars, showcasing advanced students, faculty and special guests such as the Harlem Chamber Players, taking place at 7:30 p.m. at the Harlem School of the Arts, Thursday, Jan. 21 through Saturday, Jan. 23. Donations are welcome and free tickets will be available at the door. This series of concerts by young soloist and ensemble performers features an exciting range of jazz, classical and contemporary selections. Visit hsanyc.org.
The Harlem Fine Arts Show at the Historic Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Ave., between 121st and 122nd streets, Feb. 4-7. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hfas.org or follow #HFASNYC online.
Hear Imhotep Gary Byrd on 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly with “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and simulcast over WLIB 1190AM. The full show can also be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2 and at WBLS.com.WLIB.com and iHeartRadio. IGB is also heard on WBAI-FM 99.5 with Radio GBE: “The Global Black Experience” and “The Global Beat Experience,” Fridays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both shows are archived online at www.wbai.org. To contact us for bookings or to reach us about your event or for comments, email igbexp@gmail.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @GBELIFE or call 212-592-3279.
