By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN —There is enormous buzz, discussion and some controversy over the reaction to a pair of singles from the upcoming new Beyonce album. Though the full release won’t be available until March 29, the two songs that were issued via her website and in a Verizon ad, as well as on the Tidal streaming service, are “Texas Hold ‘Em: and “16 Carriages.” This is the second part of her celebrated 2022 “Renaissance” album, which has long been rumored to be a trilogy. Videos posted on her website and on Instagram featured the tease “Act II” along…
Author: Ron Wynn
It was far from a classic for the first three quarters, but there was both tremendous drama and lots of historical significance in the final quarter plus overtime of Sunday’s Super Bowl. By spearheading both the tying field goal and game winning touchdown in the Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 victory, QB Patrick Mahomes forever ended any debate or doubt over whether he’s an all-time great QB. He joins Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks to win at least three Super Bowls. He also now is in select company with Brady and Montana as…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN —Until this week there had not been a biopic done on the life of the great reggae artist Bob Marley. That is no longer the case, as the biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” opened nationwide this past Wednesday. But for many critics the film hasn’t done what they hoped it would do, which is both provide a cinematic portrait of the legendary artist and document the rise of reggae as the dominant international music of its era and a key political and cultural force, not only in Jamaica, but worldwide. The biopic is directed by…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Oscar winners Spike Lee and Denzel Washington have worked together on four previous projects, most recently “Inside Man” in 2006. Last week it was announced that the duo are joining forces once more, this time to reimagine a classic Akira Kurosawa crime drama. They’re collaborating on a remake of the 1963 epic “High and Low” for both Apple and A24. Past joint Lee/Washington projects have also included “Malcolm X” and “He Got Game.” Filming is scheduled to begin in March. The original film was based on Ed McBain’s novel “King’s Ransom,” and it featured…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — New Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan last week made the announcements of several major additions to his revamped coaching staff, all of whom will be critical to helping the team return to contender status after two seasons of double digit losses. Last Friday it was reported by the NFL Network Callahan was hiring former Jacksonville Jaguars passing game coordinator Nick Holz to be the new offensive coordinator. His primary job will be helping build the offense and devising schemes against defenses. Though he didn’t call plays in his former job with the Cincinnati…
Black football coaches at either the major college or pro level seldom face the challenges that confront Sherrone Moore. Moore, who was named head coach of the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines January 26, became the 21st person in school history to have that position. But he’s the first African American named head coach, and he’s taking the reins at the nation’s winningest program in college football history. It’s also one that won a very controversial title last season, a year that saw now former head coach (and new Los Angeles Chargers coach) Jim Harbaugh suspended twice, as well as…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Numerous stars have offered salutes, tributes and accolades to the memory and achievements of actor Carl Weathers. who died Thursday at 76. His array of films and television shows included most notably his role as Apollo Creed in four “Rocky” films and subsequent “Creed” productions, as well as one of the “Predator” sequels. Weathers also starred in a number of television shows, among them “In The Heat Of the Night,” “Street Justice,” “Fortune Dane,” “Chicago Justice,” and more recently “Arrested Development” and “The Mandalorian.” A former college and pro football player, Weathers was able…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Involvement by local symphony orchestras with their communities doesn’t always happen, and even less often in Black neighborhoods. But the Nashville Symphony has been that rare exception. They announced Friday the second iteration of its community engagement initiative “Music in My Neighborhood.” This is a weeklong cultural exchange in the form of a musical takeover of a neighborhood in Nashville. “Music in My Neighborhood” will be held February 12 through 17 in North Nashville and Bordeaux. The Symphony will partner with local organizations to highlight North Nashville and Bordeaux’s history, culture, and residents through…
Coaches are hired and fired all the time in pro sports, often for questionable (at best) reasons. Personality clashes with players or owners, disappointments in key games, or sometimes simply a belief that a coach or manager has been in a job too long are all standard explanations given for coaching moves. But seldom are coaches who are succeeding fired, and even less often first-year head coaches whose teams are in second place in their division and only 3.5 games out of first. Yet, that is precisely what happened to Adrian Griffin, the now former first-year head coach of the…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — He may have given up his role with “The Daily Show,” but Trevor Noah remains firmly in place with the Grammy Awards. He will serve as host for the 2024 Grammys, making this the fourth consecutive year that he’s been in that position. The Recording Academy made the announcement last Wednesday night. “I think it’s also important to acknowledge something. I’m hosting the Grammys,” Noah concurrently announced on his podcast “What Now? With Trevor Noah.” “I’m excited about that, yeah, it’s a lot of fun. I enjoy the Grammys because I get to watch…