Iyeoka Okoawo is a Nigerian-American poet, recording artist, singer, activist, educator and TEDGlobal Fellow.Her music includes elements from Soul, R&B, Rock and Hip Hop. Continue reading
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Category: Women’s History Month
3/1/19 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Katherine Dunham And The Katherine Dunham Dance Company
Stormy Weather is a 1943 film musical produced and released by 20th Century Fox. The movie is considered one of the best Hollywood musicals with an all African-American cast and serve to showcase of some of the top African-American performers of the time. Continue reading
1/29/19 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Carmen de Lavallade’s Inspiring Women
Actress, dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade tells the story of her cousin, ballet dancer Janet Collins. “There are times in your life when you want to give up, but she never did,” de Lavallade says. Continue reading
(Repost) 3/14/21 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: The Caravans – Mary Don’t You Weep featuring Inez Andrews
Robert Anderson started The Caravans in 1947. The group reached its peak popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, launching the careers of a number of artists, including: Albertina Walker, Delores Washington, Inez Andrews, Shirley Caesar, Reverend James Cleveland, Dorothy Norwood, Bessie Griffin, Josephine Howard, and Loleatta Holloway.
3/29/18 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY- CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Gloria Gaynor- I Will Survive
I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor’s certified double platinum disco anthem, has remained popular. The song’s lyrics describe the narrator’s discovery of personal strength following an initially devastating breakup. It received heavy airplay in 1979, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the UK Singles Chart on consecutive weeks. Continue reading
3/25/18 O&A NYC THEATRE REVIEW: Chicago- Valerie Simpson Takes No Prisoners As Matron “Mama” Morton
By Walter Rutledge
Songwriter, recording artist, entrepreneur, and restauranteur Valerie Simpson can now add Broadway thespian to her impressive list of accomplishments. On March 12, 2018 Simpson made her Broadway debut as Matron “Mama” Morton in Broadway’s longest running musical Chicago. For her six-week run (through April 22) Simpson is flanked by a talented cast of Broadway veterans including: Amra- Faye Wright as the Vaudeville villainess Velma Kelly, Bianca Marroquin– the murderous ingénue Roxie Hart and Chaz Lamar Shepard as brash barrister Billy Flynn. Continue reading
8/26/21 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY CELEBRATING NICHOLAS ASHFORD: Ashford and Simpson – Found A Cure (Live 1979) And More
Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, the successful songwriting duo and recording artists, met at Harlem’s White Rock Baptist Church in 1964. Their careers as songwriters, producers and powerhouse performers spanned more than forty-five years. On August 22, 2011 Ashford passed from throat cancer. He is survived by wife of 36 years Valerie and their two daughters Asia and Nicole. Continue reading
3/18/18 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY- CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Sister Rosetta Tharpe – Didn’t It Rain
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, is a pioneer of twentieth-century music. Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic/early rock accompaniment. She became gospel music’s first crossover artist and its first great recording star. Continue reading
3/15/18 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Ethel Waters And Lena Horne- Cabin in the Sky (1943)
Cabin in the Sky is a 1943 American musical film based on the 1940 musical of the same name. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the film stars Ethel Waters and Rex Ingram, who reprised their roles from the Broadway production, as well Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson and Lena Horne. It was Horne’s first and only leading role in an MGM musical. Louis Armstrong was also featured in the film as one of Lucifer Junior’s minions, and Duke Ellington and his Orchestra have a showcase musical number in the film.
Taking A Chance On Love
Ethel Waters with Eddie “Rochester” Anderson (guitar)
and Bill Bailey (tap)
Jim Henry’s Club
Ethel Waters, John Bubbles, Eddie’Rochester’ Anderson
and Lena Horne
3/14/18 O&A NYC WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Mya ft. Jadakiss – The Best Of Me
The Best of Me by recording artist Mya Harrison. This was Mya’s first single from her second studio album Fear of Flying and feature Hip Hop artist Jadakiss. The song was written and composed by Mya Harrison along with Teron Beal, Jimmy Cozier, Swizz Beatz and Mashonda Tifrere. Continue reading
