Source: Third World Cinema

If you were seeing a movie in the ’70′s, chances are you were going to be watching a blaxploitation film. That was until Claudine came along in 1974. The movie used unique vehicles to tell a story that had largely been ignored in cinema. Hopefully, you’ve seen this classic. If so, it’s certainly a story you won’t forget. And though you know the story and remembered all the outrageous moments from the movie, we bet you don’t know the behind these scenes secrets.

There was a time when Motown Records owned and ran the music scene. You couldn’t turn on a radio without hearing the collaborative harmonies of The Temptations or the fabulosity of Diana Ross. These artists made you shake your hips and groove before it was even acceptable. You’ll also be surprised that some of these artists weren’t even conceived when the famous record company was at its height. Check out the 15 best artists in Motown’s history!

WENN

Marvin Gaye

He had good looks, sex appeal and music that made you think and want to make love all at the same time. With hits like “What’s Going On?” and “Sexual Healing,” Mr. Gaye helped Motown remain at the top.

George Chin / WENN

As its been said a million times before and remains true, music is a universal language. Before you know it, a song can take you on an emotional roller coaster, feeling things you didn’t know you felt.  The stories told in songs can have you agreeing…and throwing a side eye.  Some of our favorite songs have some of the most trifling situations: cheating, fighting over men, falling in love with someone else, babies, etc.  Check out the list and don’t forget to tell us your fave song that has a trifling meaning!

Gladys Knight will be performing on the second Soul Train Cruise Image: PRNewsFoto/Time Life via AP Images

When the folks over at Soul Train first introduced their celebrity cruise people couldn’t wait to get. The first ever Soul Train Cruise sold out in just days. Now the second one has been announced for next year.

It will set sail October 5, 2013 from San Diego and rock it ol´school with Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, Jeffrey Osborne, The Whispers, Freddie Jackson, Sugarfoot’s Ohio Players, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Paul, ConFunkShun, Jody Watley, Regina Belle, The Bar-Kays, The Dazz Band, The Mary Jane Girls, The Original Lakeside and A Taste of Honey featuring Janice Marie. Comedian Alonzo Bodden and DJ extraordinaire Biz Markie are also confirmed.

The cruise, which is on Holland America’s m/s Westerdam, will take place over seven days and travels to Cabo San Lucas, with two days in Puerto Vallarta and a scenic cruising of Baja Magdalena. And the stop in Puerto Vallarta will include a golf tournament, so pack those clubs. In addition to the back-to-back on-board concerts, they’ve also planned beach parties, a themed ball (with the iconic Soul Train Line led by Original Soul Train Dancers), onboard games and other activities.

The Inaugural Soul Train Cruise featuring Patti LaBelle, The O’Jays and Jeffrey Osborne, is February 17 through 24.

Cabin rates for the 2013 cruise start at $1,900 per person and include all meals, concerts, entertainment and onboard activities. Tickets went on sale yesterday.

The Soul Train Cruise isn’t the only celebrity-themed cruise at sea. Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage has also announced its 2013 offering. The party with a purpose (some of the proceeds go to the foundation’s work) will sail  from Miami April 7, 2013 and return April 14, 2013. It’s visiting San Juan and a private island in Nassau, Bahamas and will include major beach concerts.

This party at sea is more of an “old school meets new school” affair. Celebrity events include Snoop Dogg’s (Snoop Lion’s?) Pool Deck Concert with Bootsy Collins and the Funk Unity Band; Tyler Perry’s Beach Party With Earth Wind & Fire; and Jamie Foxx performs at the Fantastic Voyage White Party on the Beach. Ludacris will also be on deck.  A number of tickets have already sold out, but prices start just over $2,000 and go up to more than $5,000.

Source: Facebook.com

Everybody has their own opinions about the messiness that is the Jackson family right now, but the most bold of all might be the one from fellow celeb Gladys Knight. Yesterday the legendary singer appeared on the CBS daytime show “The Talk” and when the hosts asked her for her thoughts on everything going on with the Jackson clan right now, she didn’t hesitate to say how she really felt.

“It’s drama, that’s what it is. If you lived up under the microscope as this family does, everybody has dysfunctionality in their families, either one way or the other,” she started.

“See, I’m from the south and was raised in that southern way. You have to understand Paris is what, 14? How old is Janet? Who’s the one who tries to direct the other one here? And I would think that it’s a good thing she let’s Paris know who she is. She is a Jackson, she shouldn’t be putting the business out there like that. Cause people read into whatever they want to read into, that’s how they get the drama. So, she’s just trying to protect her, in a way. But if she [Paris] called me that, she wouldn’t have any teeth…You respect your elders.”

I think Gladys might be getting the “spoiled b****” line that everyone has been talking about mixed up because that’s what Janet supposedly called Paris, but everything else I agree with. The public wouldn’t know half of the foolery going on in that Calabasas compound if it weren’t for her tweets—and the police records. When celebrities in their 20s and 30s and even 40s don’t know how to handle Twitter, the social media site can definitely be a dangerous thing in the hands of a teenager who talks a lot of stuff 140 characters at a time 24/7. Eventually she’s going to wish she didn’t have the entire world in her business, especially when there’s enough immediate family to contend with. Maybe Gladys oughtt to pay a trip to the grounds and set them all straight. What do you say?

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Source: Greenobles.com

Often people tune into singing competitions for the judges as much as for the amateur talent and Centric has just announced the lead judge for Apollo Live: The Empress of Soul “Gladys Knight”.

Putting a new twist on an old show, Apollo Live, produced by Jamie Fox and hosted by Tony Rock, marks the Apollo Theater’s legendary return to television after the successful 21-year run of the popular “Showtime at the Apollo”.  It will be taped in front of a live audience at the Theater.

Gladys will be judging with Doug E. Fresh and Michael Bivins of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. Not exactly J.Lo, Christina Aguilera or Anthony Hamilton, but talent shows are known to tap veterans like Steven Tyler and Paula Abdul to judge. The seven-time Grammy award winner, Gladys, is an excellent choice for Centric.

I’m curious that BET, Centric’s parent company, didn’t pick at least one current artists as a judge in an effort to appeal to a younger audience the way Duets got Kelly Clarkson and The Voice hired Adam Levine or even X-Factor picked Britney Spears. There is no shortage of black musicians who we’d love to see judging one of these talent shows.

Centric targets a different demographic though, so it’ll be entertaining to watch these veterans’ responses to any young contestants who happen to emulate the popstars of today.

What does the winner get? Centric told the Associated Press that the reward for the series’ winner has not been determined.

There were many fans of Showtime at the Apollo, and it would be great if “Apollo Live” does for Centric ratings-wise now what American Idol did for FOX in 2001.

Guess we’ll have to see!

Will you be watching Gladys Knight and Apollo Live?

Follow Alissa on Twitter @AlissaInPink

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Source: ToledoBlade.com

Forget an honorary doctorate, Aretha has her sites set on another accomplishment, being a judge on a reality TV show singing competition. The only problem is she’s not getting any offers.

In an interview with the Chicago Sun Times she said,

“I would love to be a judge on one of those shows. But I don’t understand why singers like myself, Gladys (Knight), Natalie (Cole) and Patti (LaBelle) can’t be judges.

“We never get a call. I don’t understand it. I watch those shows all the time. Some of the talent is very good. Some of it is fun. And some of it is really wild.”

You can’t say she doesn’t have a point. Other than the obvious age demographic shows like the “X Factor,” “American Idol,” “Duets,” “The Voice,” etc. are trying to cater to, when you read about someone like Britney Spears, who can’t sing at all, getting $15 million dollars and walking off set the first day, or hosts ogling over women like Nicole Scherzinger and even Kelly Rowland (no shade), who have had mediocre solo careers in comparison to Aretha and them, you have to have a”huh” moment.

The fact that Aretha is said to have a bit of a diva attitude may not be helping her case, but we all know these shows aren’t really about finding a great singer, it’s about finding someone who is marketable. Unfortunately Aretha, Patty, and Glady’s talent would just be wasted on shows like these.

What do you think? Should reality singing competitions be knocking down Aretha’s door?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

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patch.buckhead.com

After 14 years in the restaurant business, Diddy is moving on to other endeavors. The mogul has closed his once wildly successful Buckhead restaurant “Justin’s” that specialized in Southern and Caribbean food.

The AJC reports:

“There was speculation that Justin’s was shut down for renovations and would reopen. Not. Once known for “Martini Mondays” and celebrity-filled weekend nights, Justin’s fell off in recent years and was unable to relocate its early magic.

Combs’ first Justin’s restaurant, in New York, closed after 10 years in 2007.

Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group (BBWEG), founded by Combs, said in a statement that Justin’s was closed in order to pursue “other business ventures in music, television, fashion, fragrance and spirits.” It added that is is “actively exploring business opportunities in Atlanta” and promises “to have a strong presence in the region.”

Diddy isn’t the only entertainer to have his restaurant close in recent years. Usher, Ludacris and Jermaine Dupri’s restaurants have all reached the same fate.

In fact, Gladys Knight’s and Ron Winan’s chicken and waffle joints make them the only entertainers left thriving in Atlanta’s restaurant industry.

This isn’t the first time this restaurant has made headlines. In 2009, the restaurant reportedly owed the IRS $8,000 dollars in back taxes. And last summer, Tony Austin (former A&R man for Def Jam and President of Russell Simmons Music Group) sued Diddy for “failing to maintain a safe environment” after Austin was shot multiple times in the restaurant’s parking lot in 2010. Sheesh!

No one likes to see a black-owned business fail, but we’re pretty sure Diddy isn’t hurting for money. Last year, Forbes magazine estimated his net worth at $500 million dollars, making him the richest figure in hip hop.

Have you ever visited Justin’s in Atlanta? Why do you think these entertainer-owned restaurants don’t survive in that city? 

Alissa Henry is a freelance writer living in Columbus, OH follow her on Twitter @AlissaInPink 

Source: Us Magazine

“Dancing With The Stars” is turning into a funner version of “The Biggest Loser” with stars from Kirstie Alley and now Gladys Knight dropping mega pounds while on the show.

Gladys Knight was eliminated from DWTS earlier this week but the Motown singer walked away 60 pounds lighter, and she told PEOPLE she owes most of the weight loss to her dancing partner, Tristan MacManus.

“Tristan helped [by] wearing me out, she said, adding that Freshology’s Getslim with the Stars program was also a big part of her success. “You’ve got to eat healthy and you’ve got to put a little movement into it.”

“[I won't forget] the family and friends I’ve made, the knowledge I’ve gained. “It wasn’t just about dancing, but getting to know different personalities and how they operate and carry themselves. There are so many life lessons here.”

The 67-year-old hasn’t done a big reveal of her new slim figure yet but when she does we bet she’ll look great—even if her husband jokingly doesn’t approve.

“My husband [William McDowell] was like, ‘I got the divorce papers ready, Gladys joked with Essence before the show began this season. You know I don’t like no skinny women.”

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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From BlackEnterprise.com

On Wednesday, April 18, 2012, package Clark passed away at the age of 82 after suffering a heart attack. Over the course of his storied career, the legendary radio/TV personality entertained millions as he rang in countless New Years Rockin’ Eve specials in New York City’s Times Square and a perpetual game show host. Most notably, Clark was the host of the classic American Bandstand, which broadcast new and popular musicians into the homes of countless viewers. Among the many greats that were featured on the show; Clark also helped break racial barriers by giving many African American artists their first TV appearances.

For the complete story and photo gallery, visit BlackEnterprise.com.

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