11/4/16 O&A NYC DANCE: Alex Smith Jr. Honored At Bessies

By Walter Rutledge

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In life there are no detours, it is always the course appointed. Despite all of our plans and dreams we can count on the universe to add some unexpected twists and turns. Thelma Hill Preforming Arts Center’s Executive Chairman Alex Smith Jr. knows this all to well. In 1995 Smith become the guiding force of the organization by proxy, now twenty-one years later he was honored with a Service to the Field Award at the 29th New York Dance and Performance Awards- The Bessies. Continue reading

11/2/16 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Solange – Don’t Touch My Hair

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Solange released two music videos for her album A Seat at the Table. Cranes in the Sky and Don’t Touch My Hair are both visually stunning depictions of stripped-down, ethereal dreamlands. Continue reading

11/3/16 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Nat King Cole – Autumn Leaves

Throwback Thursday logo 2 mgid-uma-artist-mtv-com-504837 Autumn Leaves, appears on the 1955 album Nat King Cole Sings for Two In Love, arranged by songwriter Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics in 1947, and the song quickly became a pop standard. Continue reading

11/2/16 O&A NYC WALESTYLEZ HIP HOP WEDNESDAY: Shady Cxvpher

By Adewale Adekanbi Jr.

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Later this month, Eminem will be releasing his new double-disc Shady XV album that will feature one CD with all brand new songs from the Shady Records lineup and one CD of the label’s greatest hits. To help build the anticipation, Shady has put together a special series of cyphers that will showcase different members of the label doing what they do best.  Continue reading

11/2/16 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Envisioning President Trump’s First Term With Trevor Noah

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Trevor Noah and The Best F#@king News Team at the Daily Show take a terrifying look into the year 2020 to find out what America could look like if Donald Trump is elected president. Continue reading

10/30/16 O&A NYC WITH WaleStylez HALLOWEEN SONG OF THE DAY: Evanescence- Going Under

By Adewale Adekanbi Jr. amy-lee-vocal-range

Going Under, a song by American rock band Evanescence released on September 9, 2003, as the second single from their debut album Fallen. Continue reading

10/31/16 O&A NYC HALLOWEEN HOLLYWOOD MONDAY ENCORE: Grace Jones- The Vamp

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Vamp, starring Grace Jones and Chris Makepeace is a 1986 comedy horror film directed by Richard Wenk, and co-written by Wenk and Donald P. Borchers. Continue reading

10/31/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Addams Family- The Mamushka!

Hollywood-MondaysIn The Mamushka!- Dance of Brotherly Love Gomez (Raul Julia) dances with fake Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd).  Continue reading

10/30/16 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Cab Calloway And Betty Boop- Minnie the Moocher (1932)

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Cab Calloway And Betty Boop- Minnie the Moocher cartoon begins with actual film footage of Cab Calloway dancing a slow and sensuous dance in front of his orchestra as they perform the Prohibition Blues. This is the oldest known film footage of Cab. 

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The haunting and beautiful instrumental, Prohibition Blues, is an old Missourians piece that was recorded by them in early 1930, right before Cab took over as leader of their band. This cartoon has the only recording of the piece with Cab Calloway. By early 1932, when this cartoon was produced, the group had been renamed Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, but in this film, they are still wearing their old Missourians uniforms. 

Cab Calloway And Betty Boop- Minnie the Moocher (1932)