By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The saga of a pioneering Black Naval aviator in the Koren War didn’t top the box office in its opening weekend, but “Devotion” starring Jonathan Majors, did finish third for the Thanksgiving weekend. However the biggest film story of the weekend and the year remains the incredible success of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Directed by Ryan Coogler, it scored $45.9 million in its third weekend for a North American cumulative mark of $367.7 million. Globally, the superhero flick has earned about $676 million. Disney’s “Strange World,” launched in second place at $11.9 million, and…
Author: Ron Wynn
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Titans can enjoy some well deserved time off now after completing this week winning both at home and on the road. They followed Sunday’s 17-10 victory over the Denver Broncos at Nissan Stadium and Thursday night at historic Lambeau Field they had their best offensive performance of the season in defeating the Packers 7-3. It was Tennessee’s seventh win in its last eight games and they have a comfortable lead in the AFC South. But more importantly for a Titans team that now has only seven games remaining, if they simply win…
The National Basketball Association is widely regard as America’s most socially progressive league. Its rosters are roughly 75 percent Black, but also feature players from around the world. They have hired two women as executive directors of the players union. Michele Roberts was the first Black woman to hold that position. Tamika Tremaglio, who became the new executive director in January, is the second. Over 10 percent of NBA team presidents or CEOs are women, easily the highest number among American team sports. But despite all that progress, sometimes the league doesn’t handle things well. A pair of recent high-profile…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Chris Botti ranks as one of the world’s most recognizable and popular instrumentalists. His expressive sound and technical mastery of the trumpet have been featured on several specials for PBS, something that’s made him an international celebrity. But he’s perhaps best known for his work with symphony orchestras, and he’s coming to town for appearances with the Nashville Symphony November 29 and 30 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center. There remains an debate regarding whether Botti is truly a jazz musician, even though he frequently appears in jazz clubs and will be headlining at the Blue…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — A new docuseries will honor the legacy and accomplishments of acclaimed rapper and community activist Nipsey Hussle. A trailer was released this week for the forthcoming dosuseriers that will be released sometime in 2023. That date will mark four years since Hussle was killed. LeBron James and Maverick Carter‘s media production company, SpringHill, has partnered with Hussle’s Marathon Films to tell the story, The docuseries will chronicle Hussle’s transition from his early days growing up in Crenshaw to becoming a world-renowned artist, entrepreneur, and activist. It will also present previously unseen archival footage. There…
There weren’t an abundance of Black sports anchors on the airwaves, either broadcast or cable, in 1980. But a fledgling news network called CNN (Cable News Network) introduced a man who became a broadcasting icon. Though CNN was a news channel, they had a few shows that veered away from their regular programming of straight national and international news. One was a show called “Sports Tonight,” and it featured a young, erudite and often hilarious Black sportscaster named Fred Hickman. Hickman, who died last week at 66, was such a natural talent that not only was he among the first…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Blues vocalist and guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd has demonstrated consistent excellence and imagination as a stylist and a soloist, creating a sound that has a firm foundation in traditional blues, while also incorporating influences from rock and pop. Now the Shepherd approach will be spotlighted, along with his current and past music, in a new documentary film that will get a Nashvile premiere Monday night at the Belcourt Theatre. Shepherd, who’s earned five Grammy nominations, is featured in the production Trouble Is…25’.” Proceeds will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Tennessee, This…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Few sequels or follow-up films in recent years have been more anticipated than the upcoming “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Coming nearly four years after “Black Panther,” what should be one of the year’s biggest selling films makes its debut in many theaters Friday. It’s set in the aftermath of King T’Challa’s death. As his family and the rest of the kingdom mourn, they’re thrust into a fight to protect their small but mighty nation as it finds itself under attack from nefarious world powers. Once again, the film will also be available to stream…
A 25-year quest for Dusty Baker finally ended Saturday night. When the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in Game 6 of the World Series. Baker had previously held the dubious distinction of the most wins in managerial history (2,093) without a World Series title. He’d come close before, and is the only manager to win 100 games with teams in both leagues, as well as the only one to lead five different teams to division titles. But he’d never been the ultimate winner until Saturday night. He joined Cito Gaston and Dave Roberts at the only Black managers…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Trumpeter and bandleader George Tidwell has been a major part of Nashville’s jazz and popular music community for decades, having arrived here from Memphis in 1963, and established his prominence as a studio musician, arranger, and of course, jazz soloist. He’ll be in the spotlight this weekend at the Nashville Jazz Workshop’s Jazz Cave, 1012 Buchanan Avenue. The Tidwell Sextet also includes pianist Lori Mechem and bassist Roger Spencer, with the rest of the band members to be announced later this week. Tidwell’s led many groups in Music City through the years. and frequently…