Gospel singer, musician, and composer James Edward Cleveland was known as the King of Gospel. Cleveland was a driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound by incorporating traditional black gospel, soul, pop and jazz in arrangements for mass choirs. Continue reading
Category: Black Facts
9/6/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Alicia Graf/Donald Williams in Robert Garland’s Return

Robert Garland made the leap from principal dancer to emerging choreography with his 1979 company debut Return. Garland described the work as “post-modern urban neoclassicism – an attempt to fuse an urban physical sensibility and a neoclassical one.” Continue reading
9/4/24 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Madame Re-Res Dance Scene- School Daze

The iconic salon dance fight sequence choreographed by Otis Sallid from Spike Lee‘s 1988 musical comedy School Daze. Continue reading
8/11/24 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There (Live)

The Staple Singers were a gospel, soul, and R&B family singing group and one of the first early crossover groups. Roebuck “Pops” Staples the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha, Pervis, and Mavis. Yvonne replaced her brother when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and again in 1970. Continue reading
8/2/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Happy Birthday Geoffrey Holder- Banda
By Walter Rutledge

Happy Birthday renaissance man Geoffrey Holder. The dancer, actor, choreographer, director, visual artist and all around force of nature was born on August 1st, 1930 in Port of Spain; the capital city of the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Continue reading
7/19/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: The Wiz-A Brand New Day (Everybody Rejoice)


With Evillene (Mable King*) dead, her powerful spells. Soon all her sweat shop workers and prisoners are free from her hold over them and “strip” way their hideous wicked witch skin. They all celebrate with Dorthy (Diana Ross), Scarecrow, (Michael Jackson), Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), and Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross*). This large cast dance member is the brain child of choreographer Louis Johnson, whose high energy, and interdisciplinary vocabulary captures the energy of the song lead by The Wiz Singers Adult Choir member Luther Vandross. Continue reading
6/30/24 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Gladys Knight Sings His Eye Is on the Sparrow at The Kennedy Center
Gladys Knight performs the 1905 gospel hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” at The Kennedy Center during the annual “Let Freedom Ring” celebration to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Continue reading
5/11/24 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES: You Gotta Tell Diddy No!!

Bryshere Gray finds himself at his first Diddy party. He should have told him no… Continue reading
5/6/24 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: A Ballerina’s Tale


Ballerina Misty Copeland made history becoming the first African-American Woman to earn the position of Principal Dancer with the world renowned American Ballet Theater. Continue reading
5/5/24 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY Pt. 2: Sounds Of Blackness – I Believe

I Believe is a song by ensemble Sounds of Blackness was produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. It was written by the duo along with: Marvin R. Pierce, Ralph Middlebrooks, Eugene Marshall Jones, Clarence Satchell, Gregory Allen Webster and Walter Junie Morrison.The song was released in 1994 as the first single from the group’s third album, Africa to America; The Journey of the Drum (1994). Continue reading










