President Barack Obama
took to the podium and expressed his gratitude for the slain leader's
work. Obama, who was 6 when King was assassinated in 1968, credited
him with helping to pave his way to the White House as the nation's
first Black president.
He
said that King “stirred our conscience” and made our union “more
perfect.” He reminded spectators that progress did not come easy
and did not come from words alone. King’s tenacity helped
swing open the door of opportunity for generations to come, he said.
Obama noted that the monument was also a testament to the strength and heroism of civil rights luminaries such as Rosa Parks and Rev. Fred
Shuttlesworth, civil rights icon and co-founder of the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference, who died
on Oct. 5. He said that the monument was also for the unnamed “foot
soldiers of justice” who continue in King’s footsteps.
The president talked about the vilification King faced during his life,
and made parallels between the recent vilification of Wall Street,
noting that it wouldn’t be King’s way toward reform. He said that
we must heed King’s teaching to build a stronger country for all.
"I know we will overcome," Obama proclaimed, standing by an
imposing granite monument on the National Mall. "I know this,"
the president said, "because of the man towering over us."
Beforehis remarks, the president left a copy of his inauguration speech in
a time capsule at the monument site.
It's interesting that Obama was there (and of course he had no choice but to be there for the record) because there are so many comparisons to him and King on so many levels which made the event just as historic for his being the first person of color in the 20th century to be Presidnet of teh United States.
Following the dedication, Kennet, Mo. native singer Sheryl Crow (PICTURED)along with
Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and others performed in a special
concert. special impromptu concert on the West Potomac Stage.
Speaking of the World Series, FLOTUS Michelle Obama and Vice Lady Dr.Jill Biden attended the World Series Opener at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Wednesday night to honor military veterans. It was part of MLB’s Welcome Back Veterans program and Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces initiative, which seeks to support veterans and their families.
For the third year in a row, the first game of the World Series was dedicated to the troops and to raising funds and awareness for two critical nonprofits, MLB’s Welcome Back Veterans and the White House’s Joining Forces, MLB.com reports. Prior to the game, Obama and Biden attended a pre-game military ceremony and will field questions from fans through Facebook and Twitter. Major League Baseball also premiered a public service announcement during the first game of the World Series that includes the First Lady as well as several major league players whose fathers served in the military.
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St. Joseph,Mo native rap superstar Eminem appears on the cover of the new issue of GQ magazine, which has named him a “God of Rock,”. Inside the magazine, he speaks frankly about his addiction and recovery. “Sometimes [sobriety] sucks and I wish I was wired like a regular person and could go have a f***in’ drink,” he tells the magazine. “But that’s the biggest thing about addiction: when you realize that you cannot f**k around with nothing ever again. I never understood when people would say it’s a disease…but I finally realized it really is.”
Explaining why he’s an addict, Em tells the magazine, “I’m very much a creature of habit. If I’m used to waking up in the morning and having [a Red Bull], I could do it every morning for the next ten years straight until I find something else to move on to. So if I’m used to taking a Vicodin when I wake up in the morning because I’m hungover from drinking or taking pills … The bigger the crowd, the bigger my habit got.”
At his worst, around the time of the album Encore, Em says he was taking between sixty to ninety pills a day, including Ambien, which he says “ate a hole through my brain” causing him
to forget large chunks of that period. What finally caused him to get clean, he says, was an overdose. “I had a feeling in my arm that was weird, man,” he tells GQ. “Like, it really freaked me out. So I went to some people I trust and said, ‘Look, I know I need help.
I’m ready now.’ I got a room in the same hospital where I overdosed, and I detoxed.”
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superstars Chicago native Kanye
West and Jay-Z over an allegedly uncleared sample on the duo's latest album, "Watch the Throne." In a complaint filed in Illinois
federal court last Friday, Johnson claims the two famous hip hop
artists plus UMG and Def Jam took a portion of his song, "Different
Strokes," used it on a song entitled "The Joy" featuring Curtis Mayfield and released it in August without his permission and without giving him any credit or payment. Johnson says that West originally wanted to use the sample for his own solo album entitled "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," but that the defendant was unable to obtain permission at the time of release. After failure to clear a license for the sample on one album, West's use of the sample on another album without permission
is said to be an example of knowing and willful misappropriation.
Take the long-running $29 million lawsuit against Cypress Hill, accused of illegally sampling Johnson's 1969 song, "Is It Because I'm Black," on the group's 1993 sophomore album, "Black
Sunday." He lost that case due to copyright laws not protecting songs before 1972.
In Johnson's latest lawsuit, the musician is careful to dance around potential defects in a claim over the illegal sampling of "Different Strokes," which was released in 1967. Johnson claims a copyright on the music composition in his latest lawsuit and also says he enjoys rights on the original sound recording via Illinois common law. The latter claim will likely be
challenged soon by lawyers for Kanye and Jay-Z.
Hmm, looks like Mr Johnson may have yet another problem again for the song he is claiming was infringed also fall in the pre-protection year before 1972.
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Chicago native rapper Common is ready to take his fans back to the basics. The Chicago MC, whose
lyrical intrigue has long been based around his appreciation for spoken word poetry, chose to take listeners in a new, yet sonically familiar direction for his latest album, 'The Dreamer, The Believer.'
The biggest feature on the album is that of St. Louis born and acclaimed poet Maya Angelou on the song 'The Dreamer,' for which she penned an original poem. "'The Dreamer, The Believer' drops Nov. 22.
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St.Louis native rock and roll legend Chuck Berry turned 85 this week
St.Louis rapper/producer Vega is receiving national recognition for his St. Louis Cardinals themed song, "Go Cards (the Rally Song)"
just in time for the Cardinals' latest World Series journey this week. Vega released the song last week.
The video, directed by Pascal Beauboeuf, is presented by Rockhouse Entertainment in association with Il Management and has over 5,000 hits on YOUTUBE. The
St. Louis American reports that the 23-year-old's song has become a
hit on St. Louis radio stations and even been played at Cardinals pep
rallies.
And speaking of rallies, On Thursday, October 20 he will perform live at
Fifth Third Bank, 921 Olive, Downtown St. Louis. He'll perform the
“Go Cards Rally Song” at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.
ILLI MO REALITY
Rockford, Ill native and model Kayla Ferrell (FAR LEFT)was safe and advanced to the Top 9 on Americas Next Top Model All Stars that aired Wednesday on CW. She also won the Reward Challenge.
St Louis bred singer Christa Collins (LEFT)was a contestant on 'The X Factor.,' She made the Top 32 and was in the Top 8 in the Over 30 category advance to the Top 4 of her category when the show aired Sunday on Fox.
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Work began on a project to build seven homes in seven days on the Tv show"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in Joplin.Mo . It is another effort by volunteers to reshape the southwest Missouri community that still in the early stages of recovering from the May 22 twister that killed 162 people, one of the worst tornadoes in U.S. history.
OTHER STL NEWZ
Foxy 95 of Radio One will hire two veteran radio personalities that used to work for rival company Clear Channel, DJ Kut and Chaz Saunders. Kut, who used to work for the now defunct 100.3 The Beat as a dee-jay and moved to New York to continue his career will return to STL Halloween and Saunders ,who was a mainstay radio personality at Majic 104.9 then headed her own production company will return Thursday.
We are happy to see both(especially Ms Saunders) back where they belong!
AND
Poet Carl Phillips, a professor at Washington University, is a finalist for this year's National Book Award in poetry for his latest book "Double Shadow,". Phillips has been a National Book Award finalist three other times. The nominees were announced in Portland, Ore.
There was a red carpet event at BBs Jazz, Blues and Soups Thursday for the TV screening of the documentary ‘Welcome To Sweetie Pie’s’ chronicling the successful St Louis based soul food chain founded and ran by former Ikette backup singer Robbie Montgomery as well as her family. The episode aired Oct 15 on Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network with solid ratings.
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Blues legend Buddy Guy and blues artist Jimmy Vaughan will perform Nov 21 at Family Arena
Singer Miguel will host an After Party for his and singer Marsha Ambrosius concert that they will perform at Pageant. The party will take place at The Loft Oct 26. It is promoted by Phil Assets and Topher.
Robert Hale is one of the West Coast’s leading photographers and journalists, has taken him on assignment throughout the world. His images will be displayed at Portfolio Gallery with a reception Oct 22 at 7p.m
St. Louis based rapper Prince Ea is one of several rappers that will perform at Hip Hoppers Holiday at The Gramophone, 4243 Manchester Avenue Oct 22 from 2p.m.to 2a.m. For more info info ; hiphoppersholiday.com.
Singer and entrepreneur Tiffany Glasco will have a launch of her new business venture, Mercado on the Go, with a Taste of Greatness, Nov 10 at the Midtown Alley District. It will be food tasting event to sample various delicacies that will be featured on her online grocery market and catering service.
Primetime Promotions and Pimpin Parties are set to bring an all new Thursday night party. "Glow Thursday's" that will bring the energy back to Thursday nights. GLOWWEEN WILL BE THE SICKEST BADDEST HALLOWEEN PARTY IN THE LOU. We will have go-go dancers and the ultimate glow experience for Halloween. Cash prizes for sexiest female costume.
This weekly event starting October 27th we will be at RUE13 each and every THURSDAY!!
Nicole Pleshette Chapman's stage play: "A Man that finds A Wife Finds A Good Thing" has been postponed. No further information of when the play will be rescheduled.
LOOK LIXE
Socialite Antonio Byrd and comedian Byron Allen
BLIND DISHZ
Which STL mover and shaker got a mad crush on a STL based singer?
HINT 1. The mover and shaker is a male
HINT 2. He is a veteran promoter
HINT 3. His last name is the title of a Oscar winning musical film done in the 1960s that was based on a popular children's novel.
HINT 4. The singer is a female
HINT 5. She goes by one name with an initial that starts with one of the first seven consonants in the alphabet
PRO-MO-CIAL-I-CIOUS. Which mover and shakers in the STL area got it in this week? Singer Seviin Li and playwright Marty K Casey (TIE) and actor/director Joel P.E. King and rapper/producer Vega.
Seviin Lii (RIGHT). This lovely singer will be seen as an actress again this time in the gospel play Treat or Trick that will be staged at the Florissant Civic Center this Friday and Saturday (SEE EVENTZ BELOW)
Marty Casey(FAR RIGHT). This energetic sista is back in the mix with stageplays as she sets to directing the gospel play Treat or Trick that will be staged at the Florrisant Civic Center this weekend.
Joel P.E. King. (FAR LEFT)This mainstay actor/director is bringing back his popular play Issues of Love that he wrote and directed back to the Grandel Square Theater all this weekend (SEE EVENTZ BELOW)
Vega. (LEFT)This swagged out rapper and budding producer from the Rockhouse Entertainment family is making national newz for his song, “Go Cards” in tribute to the St. Louis Cardinals advancing to the World Series as the song make airwaves on Hot 104.1.FM and going viral on YOUTUBE with over 5,000 hits as of this blogging.
WORDZ TO THE WHYZ??????????????????????????
Why are folk outside of St Louis hatin on St Louis for being in the World Series? Why do the Republican debates look like a reality show reunion? Why are folk saying Beyonce is faking her pregnancy? Why is Chris Tucker supposedly broke? Why is the Balloon Boy's Dad making a music video? Why is Harry Belafonte's PR folk trying to spin that he wasnt sleep while waiting to do a TV interview recently? And Why does it seem Simon Cowell has softened up his judging method of operation on his show X Factor?
STL SCORPIOians BDAZEs- Radio personality DJ Kut, rapper Koko Cevere, fashion show producer Dwight Carter, hairstylist Makhat Moore, poet Mocha Williams (PICTURED), and model Jeremy Day
Veteran Country rocker J,D, Souther will perform at Old Rock House Oct 20
On Friday, October 21st, Cafe Soul will celebrate its Lucas House days with a REUNION of all the artists that came month after month there. THE REUNION IS GOING DOWN at 7p.m. at The Loft.
Marty Casey;'s newest play, Treat or Trick will take place October 21 at 7pm and October 22 3pm and 7pm shows at The Florissant Civic Center For more info go call (314) 921-5678
++++++++++++++++++++++++++Sunday Social presents a special benefit event for the Susan Komen for Cure that will take place Oct 21 at Bar Italia at 7p.m. On Maryland Plaza in the Central West End
The Joy Road screening will be Oct 21 and Oct 22 at the St Louis Mills.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, Joel P. E. King of JPEK CreativeWorks has partnered with author and philanthropist Dwayne T. Bess of Perpetual Hand to encore Issues of Love at the Grandel Theater (north of Fox Theater) October 21-23rd. Grandel Theater (north of Fox Theater), 3610 Grandel Square. Premium seating is priced at $30. General seating is priced at $25. Please log on towww.dwaynebess.com to reserve your seat, or contact info@dwaynebess.com or 314.598.5439 for more information.
The hit stageplay “What My Husband Dont Know” will St. Louis at the Fox Theatre Oct 23 . at 3pm and 7:30 pm It stars Morris Chestnut and Michelle Williams.
Straight No Chaser will perform Oct 22 at The Fabulous Fox Theatre at 8pm
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ALIVE magazine and ReMax Platinum is in the search for St. Louis' Best Burger! Sample mini burgers made by St. Louis' best chefs. Don't miss Kyle Patterson of Lucas Park, Jon Lowe of Oceano Bistro, Wes Johnson of Salt, Rene Cruz of Stable, Adam Althnether of Taste and Rex Hale of Three Sixty. The competition will be held at Remax on 4401 Pershing Oct 23 at 4pm.
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The TKT Jazz Scholarship Benefit Concert takes place . Oct. 24 at Webster University's Browning Mainstage, Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts (130 Edgar Road) with Ralph Butler, Denise Thimes and Debby Lennon.
Coming to the Pageant is The Smoker's Club Tour with rappers Curren$y, Method Man and Big K.R.I.T. Oct. 25 at 8p.m.
ADD: Rising Icons present American Music Award nominees Marsha Ambrosius and Miguel in concert at The Pageant Oct 26 at 8 p.m.
FOR ONGOING EVENTZ AND BITZ GO TOhttp://maatology.blogspot.com/2010/03/ongoing-bitz-april-week-one.html
Steve Harris karealot4kidz@yahoo.com
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