Jazz

Black American Music Association (BAM) And Georgia Entertainment Caucus (GEC) Announce The Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame

By bigced 2 days ago

Today the Black American Music Association (BAM) and the Georgia Entertainment Caucus (GEC) announced the formation

Knitting Factory Management (KFM) Signs SAUL WILLIAMS

By bigced 3 weeks ago

KFM Signs SAUL WILLIAMS Knitting Factory Management (KFM) Signs SAUL WILLIAMS Coincides with a Bonanza

Soundtrack To Documentary ‘Billie’ About The Legendary Billie Holiday To Be Released November 13

By bigced 4 weeks ago

Verve/UMe will release the official companion soundtrack for the anticipated documentary, Billie, about legendary jazz

Terence Blanchard to Receive the TIFF Variety Artisan Award at 2020 TIFF Tribute Awards

By bigced 2 months ago

Joana Vicente and Cameron Bailey, Co-Heads of TIFF, announced today that Academy Award-nominated and six-time

National Museum of African American Music Plans Digital & In-Person Experiences For Fall Roll Out

By bigced 2 months ago

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) announces that its previously scheduled grand opening

Queen Latifah Partners with American Lung Association to Raise Funds for Communities Hit Hardest

By bigced 2 months ago

The American Lung Association announced today its first–ever livestream fundraising benefit, #Act4Impact, that will be hosted by Queen

Jazz Icon Charlie Parker’s Centennial Celebration “Bird 100” Continues

By bigced 3 months ago

On the 100th anniversary of Charlie Parker’s birth – August 29, 2020 – it is

SFJAZZ Appoints Denise Young as Board Chair

By bigced 3 months ago

SFJAZZ announces the appointment of Denise Young as its new Board Chair commencing September 1,

Spotify and Universal Music Group Announce Global, Multi-Year License Agreement

By bigced 3 months ago

Spotify (NYSE: SPOT), the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, and Universal Music Group

National Museum of African American Music Announces Music Industry Relations Committee

By bigced 3 months ago

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is proud to announce the appointment of

ASCAP Launches HBCU Internship Program

By bigced 4 months ago

ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, today announced the launch of a

Mike Phillips- Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)

By bigced 5 months ago

The “FLAVA IN YA EAR” (Remix) music video features some of R&B’s most notable voices

The Family Stand Featuring Sandra St. Victor ‘Moon In Scorpio’ Full Album Concert

By bigced 8 months ago

The Family Stand Featuring Sandra St. Victor Presents Their Full Moon In Scorpio Album Concert Original

Raphael Saadiq & Terence Blanchard Join ‘GENIUS: ARETHA’

By bigced 9 months ago

Emmy-Winning Global Anthology Series GENIUS: ARETHA, Starring 2020 Academy Award Nominee Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet,” “The Color

Nina Simone Album ‘Fodder On My Wings’ To Reappear On LP And CD

By bigced 9 months ago

Recorded in 1982, not long after she moved to Paris, Fodder On My Wings was

I’ve had the pleasure and some displeasure knowing Big Ced for the better half of 40 years! I’ve watched him create himself several dozen times for various reasons both professionally and personally. I’ve seen him change for family, for women, for work, for school & by choice. I could call him an innovator, I could call him a copycat, I have called him a promoter, an enthusiast, a writer, and a knucklehead and that was all on the same day. He’s been very fortunate with relationships that have allowed him to continue to rise to many varied occasions & He has not allowed the naysayers & detractors to destroy how great he is to himself or how great he could be in real life. He’s a pretty good friend, when he’s not giving advice, he’s a damn good son, but not always a good brother. He has taken shots, knots, go aways and plenty of Hell No Ced…but like the famous Timex slogan…he has kept on ticking…he’s A King In His Own Right or Mind…and he’s sometimes just too much…but when given the opportunity to do good with lil to say & lots of huffing, puffing and yawns…he’s a good guy with personality & wit to match! He’s a team player with the right team or a leader when asked to be so! Given the chance after he’s exhausted your patience…give him a little more time and the project he’s been entrusted to do will shine & prove his true worth! Ceds a good guy & a great friend! That is Big Ced when all is Ced and done! (Drops Mic & jumps out closest window!)

Tuffy QuestellActor, Casting, Writer, Development Joule Entertainment NYNew York, NY

A 104-page audit of the Mississippi Department of Human Services exposed spending not being used for the purposes the money was earmarked for according to USA Today.
Money that was meant to assist poor residents was used to purchase buy luxury cars, sponsor a college baseball tournament, and encouraged nepotism by hiring family members of a top state official, according to a report from State Auditor Shad White.
The audit, which was released earlier this week, shows how federal welfare grant funds flowed from DHS into two nonprofit groups, which allegedly spent money in inappropriate or questionable ways.
In a written statement, White stated that the report “shows the most egregious misspending my staff have seen in their careers at the Office of the State Auditor.” He said, “If there was a way to misspend money, it seems DHS leadership or their grantees thought of it and tried it.”
White said his office will forward the information they found to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the welfare program. White said this could lead to cuts in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) allotments or other sanctions placed on the state.
The audit found these items questionable:
The two nonprofit groups used welfare money to hire lobbyists, often without paperwork describing the work they were supposed to do.
MCEC gave contracts to, and hired, family members of Davis, sometimes making lump-sum payments. The payments and salaries to his nephew and brother-in-law totaled more than $1 million over the past several years, auditors said.
Both nonprofit groups gave welfare money to a trio of wrestlers, Ted DiBiase, Ted DiBiase, Jr., and Brett DiBiase – some of it for work never performed, some for “unreasonable” travel costs.
MCEC paid Victory Sports Foundation with welfare money to run fitness programs, some of which Mississippi legislators and other officials or staffers participated in, free of charge. The trainer who runs Victory said he did not know he received welfare money.
MCEC bought three cars with welfare money, each worth more than $50,000, for New and two sons. Salaries, cellphones, and other expenses were paid using welfare money. The vehicles included a 2018 Nissan Armada, a Chevrolet Silverado, and a Ford F-250. In each case, the vehicle was registered to MCEC, but in each case, auditors said the vehicles were for personal use.
MCEC used welfare money for sports-related purposes, including sponsoring a college baseball tournament and other NCAA events.
MCEC cut a $3,000 check to a bookkeeper of MCEC, though a handwritten note says “$3,000 cash was given to” Davis, the DHS executive director.
MCEC moved $6 million to a private school and organization run by New and bought supplies for the school.