Greetings! With the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s announcement of its 2020 Black History theme, “African Americans and the Vote,” the battle is on. Visit: www.asalh.org/asalh-announces-2020-black-history-theme-african-americans-and-the-vote/. Pass it on.
The New York Times reports a racial divide brewing between jazz giant WBGO-FM and the city of Newark.
Hours after news broke of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant’s death with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, along with their pilot and several others in a tragic helicopter crash, Grammy Awards Superstar-host Alicia Keys announced Kobe’s tragic death on the awards show and took the stage with Boyz II Men joining her, in a surprise performance of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” in honor of Bryant.
The late NBA Legend Kobe Bryant is set to be honored in the Naismith Basketball Hall of fame. According to reports, he will be part of its 2020 class. In addition, he is the first-ballot nominee and will be “placed in the hall of talented inductees.” The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame released a statement saying: “The Hall of Fame joins the rest of the basketball world in mourning the untimely passing of Kobe Bryant, a nominee for the Class of 2020 and an icon of the game. We offer our sincerest condolences to the Bryant Family and all of those affected by this tragedy.”
THEATER
Roundabout Theatre Co. presents “A Soldier’s Play” Charles Fuller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece bursts onto Broadway, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (“A Raisin in the Sun”), starring three-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier and two-time Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood, now through Mar. 15, American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St. (btw. 7th and 8th Aves), Manhattan. For ticket information, call: 212-719-1300 or visit: www.roundabout theatre.org/get-tickets/2019-2020-season/a-soldiers-play/.
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th St, Manhattan. The ‘Queen of Rock n Roll,’ in performances now; Tony Award and Olivier Award nominee Adrienne Warren (“Shuffle Along”) is cast in the title role, (Nkeki Obi-Melekwe as Tina at select performances) Daniel J. Watts as Ike Turner. Visit: www.ticketmaster.com/lunt-fontanne-theatre-tickets-new-york/venue/24583.
“Ain’t Too Proud” celebrates The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, written by three-time Obie Award winner Dominique Morisseau. Imperial Theatre, 249 West 45th Street, Manhattan. For information, call: 844-379-0370 or visit: www.secureboxoffice.com.
“Hadestown—Where a Song Can Change Your Fate” from the pen of Anaïs Mitchell, winner 8 Tony Awards, Tony winner Andre De Shields, Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 West 48th St., Manhattan. For more information, visit: walterkerrtheatre.com.
David Lamb, author of the hit play and book “Platanos y Collard Greens” presents his new, hilarious new musical play “The Best Things In Life.” A bonafide music superstar sells out to have it all, loses his name and fame, but ups his game to win back the girl of his dreams and the best things in life. Valentines weekend, Sat. Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Improv Asylum theater on 26th St., Manhattan. Hosted by Imhotep Gary Byrd. For tickets, visit: www.thebestlaughs.com.
MUSIC
Harlem Gospel Choir, every Sun. at 1:30 p.m. at Sony Hall, 235 W. 46th Street, Manhattan. For information, visit: ticketmaster.com.
Boyz II Men, Thurs., Feb. 13, 8 p.m., State Theatre-N.J., New Brunswick, N.J. For information, visit: www.stnj.org.
The Bowery Presents: The Raphael Saadiq-Jimmy Lee Tour, Jamila Woods, DJ Duggz, Thurs, Feb. 13, 8 p.m., Terminal 5, Manhattan. For information, visit: www.terminal5nyc.com
Brian McKnight, Thurs., Feb. 13, 8 p.m., Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, N.J. For information, visit: www.bergenpac.org/events-tickets/box-office.
Ms. Lauryn Hill, Fri., Feb. 14, 7 p.m., 5 Seymour St. The Wellmont Theater, Montclair, N.J. For information, visit: www.wellmontheater.com/
Peabo Bryson with special guest Regina Belle for a special Valentine’s Day concert. Fri., Feb. 14 at St. George Theater in Staten Island, NY! For tickets, visit: ticketmaster.com.
It will be “A Night of Love” when Bell Biv DeVoe, Fantasia, Xscape 3, Monica and Keyshia Cole hit the Prudential Center stage, on Feb. 14. A sweet treat this Valentine’s Day. For information, visit: ticketmaster.com.
COMEDY
Valentine’s AllStar Comedy Jam: Bill Bellamy, Luenell & Don DC Curry in Newark, New Jersey at New Jersey Performing Arts Center-Prudential Hall on Sat., Feb. 15, 2020. New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Prudential Hall is located at One Center St in Newark, NJ. For information, visit: njpac.org.
FILM
“Just Mercy” starring Michael B Jordan and Jamie Foxx. World renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson tells his story of fighting for a condemned death row prisoner he fought to free. Check theater listings. Note: This movie has earned an A+––a perfect score–– with CinemaScore moviegoers.
COMMUNITY
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York presents: “2020 Black Lives Matter Teen Conference + Teen Night Open Mic.” Free! Sat, Feb. 8 at 10:00 am.
“Schomburg Between the Lines: I Love Myself When I Am Laughing: A Zora Neale Hurston Reader” Tues., Feb 11 at 6:30 p.m. For information, visit: www.nypl.org/locations/Schomburg.
The late Dred Scott Keyes, WBAI’s longtime, award-winning engineer and programmer, will be remembered with re-broadcasts of “Cutting Edge” on Wednesdays at 9 p.m.––in his usual spot. Listen at 99.5FM or at: www. wbai.org/listen-live/. Program archives are at: www. wbai.org/ archive/.
Oprah’s “2020 Vision” tour is coming to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sat., Feb 8. Join Oprah as she sits down for an intimate one-on-one conversation with some of the biggest celebrities, headline-makers and game-changers. Barclay’s Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, For information, call: 917-618-6100. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com
Listen to Imhotep Gary Byrd’s “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on WBLS-FM and simulcast over WLIB 119AM. The full show can also be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2 and at WBLS.com, WLIB.com. IGB’s “Radio GBE” is heard Fridays 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Archived online at www.wbai.org. For bookings or to reach us about your GBEvent or for comments, email co-editor Nyerere, nyerere1@aol.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or call 212-592-3279.