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Mayor Shirley Franklin - City of Atlanta

Mayor Shirley Franklin hit the ground running when she came into office on January 7, 2000. With a campaign commitment to bring to the people of Atlanta an efficiently operated, accountable and open and honest government, Mayor Franklin took office with the experience and integrity to meet the challenges facing one of America’s leading urban centers. By mid-term of her dynamic leadership, Mayor Franklin had demonstrated her resilience and ability to get the job done—right, delivering on her campaign promise: “You make me Mayor, I’ll make you proud.”

She has brought ethics, experience, coalescence and a breathe of fresh air to Atlanta’s city government while serving as the first woman elected as Mayor of the City of Atlanta. With her election, Franklin also became the first Atlanta mayoral candidate elected without a run-off and the first African-American woman to serve as Mayor of a major Southern city.

While restoring pride and confidence in city government, Mayor Franklin has skillfully managed the city’s finances and operations, and provided leadership and vision on critical issues confronting Atlanta and its regional partners.

“When I ran for Mayor, I promised the people that I would work hard for them every day, listen to their concerns and ideas, and help make Atlanta the best place to live, work and raise a family in America,” Franklin said.

Shirley Franklin’s public service career began in 1978 when she accepted the appointment by Mayor Maynard Jackson to become the city’s Commissioner of Cultural Affairs. She was later appointed by Mayor Andrew Young as the country’s first woman Chief Administrative Officer (City Manager), responsible for all daily operations of Atlanta’s city government, its annual $1 billion budget and nearly 8,000 employees. Franklin guided the development of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a new City Hall and Municipal Court building and 14,000 new housing units. At the same time, she filled more than 200 police vacancies, advocated for affordable housing and built solid coalitions across racial, gender, socio-economic and cultural boundaries.

Franklin later was appointed Executive Officer for Operations during Mayor Jackson’s third term. In 1991, as Atlanta readied to host the largest gathering of nations in history, the Centennial Olympic Games, she joined the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, Inc. (ACOG) as the top ranking female executive, Senior Vice President for External Relations. While in that position, she was instrumental in the development of such legacies as the Centennial Olympic Park and served as ACOG’s primary liaison with labor unions, civil rights groups, neighborhood organizations and environmentalists. Shirley Franklin can be reached at sfranklin@shirleyfranklin.com

Janice L. Mathis - Vice President, National Director - Rev. Jesse Jackson's  Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Inc.,

Professional:  Private practice of law, Athens, Georgia, 1980-1998.  Chief of Staff, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., 1998-2000.  Vice President and General Counsel, The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Inc., 2000-2002.  Current position:  Vice President, The Citizenship Education Fund, a progressive research and education organization, specializing in affirmative action and other remedies to discrimination, media concentration and corporate diversity and responsibility. Currently serving on The Coca-Cola Company Diversity Supplier Diversity Council and the Georgia Power Diversity Advisory Committee; Deputy Issues Director, Dukakis Bentsen Presidential Campaign.

Education:  University of Georgia, J.D.; Oxford University; Duke University, B.A., Economics and Public Policy.

Civic and Professional:  Democratic National Committee, State Bar of Georgia, League of Women Voters of the United States, United Way, YWCO, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Leadership Georgia, National Council of Young Political Leaders.

Articles and Commentary:  Why Augusta National?”, New York Times Editorial;  Affirmative Action, Rainbow PUSH Journal; Affirmative Action commentary, Georgia Public Television; Speech to Anti-Bush Rally in Tallahassee on day of Bush inaugural, C-SPAN; “Should the Government be in the Gambling Business?”, Zebra Magazine; Federal Courts and Civil Rights, Speech to JJA and Associates seminar; Effective Negotiation, lecture to NAACP continuing legal education seminar; Confederate Flag commentary, Court TV.

Awards/Honors:  Centennial Olympic Community Hero Torchbearer; 100 Young Women of Promise, Good Housekeeping Magazine; A.B. Duke Scholar; National Achievement Scholar; Outstanding Young Women of America. Janice Mathis can be reached at Jlmrainbow@aol.com 

Reporter Alicia Barnes home is Atlanta, Georgia. She grew up in Marietta, Ga., and graduated from St. Pius X Catholic High School.

Alicia joined the ABC Columbia family in May 2008.  Starting in August, she will be the New Primary Anchor for WOLO-TV.  She will co-anchor the evening news with Daniel Seamans, at ABC Columbia's downtown Street Side Studio on Main & Gervais, Weekdays at 6 & 11 PM. 

If you're an early riser, from 6am to 10am you can listen to Alicia deliver morning news updates on The BIG DM 101 FM, during the Steve Harvey Morning Show and on HOT 103.9 FM, during Big Boy's Neighborhood. 

Alicia started her news career as an intern at WLNS-TV in Lansing, Michigan.  She also worked as a freelance reporter for WKBD-TV in Detroit while juggling a full time pharmaceutical sales career and earning her MBA from Wayne State University. 

After her stint in Michigan, Alicia relocated back to her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.   While in Atlanta, Alicia was a General Assignment Reporter for the NBC Affiliate, WXIA-TV and a Freelance Reporter for FOX 5.  During her 3 years back in Atlanta, she covered some of Georgia's worst Natural Disasters.  

After her time in Atlanta, Alicia joined the NBC O&O, KNSD and the CW affiliate KSWB-TV in San Diego, California as the Weekend Anchor.  In the January 2007 Platinum Awards Issue of 944 Magazine, Alicia was voted San Diego's Favorite Female Newscaster. 

Alicia has done live reports for CNN, MSNBC, and The Weather Channel. 

This is the second time Alicia has come back to live in the Great State of South Carolina!  She is a graduate of Clemson University where she pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and made Homecoming Court representing her sorority her senior year in Death Valley.  Go Tigers!    

Alicia has settled in quickly to the Midlands.  Even with her busy schedule, she finds the time to play tennis and golf once a week.  Alicia loves sailing and is getting her sailing certification so she can be a member of the Sailing Club and take advantage of beautiful Lake Murray.   

Alicia hopes to become an active member of the community, and would like to target her efforts to help students and seniors, as well as aid in the fight to stop Breast Cancer.   For more information about Alicia, you can check out her website at www.aliciabarnes.org.  You can email Alicia at abarnes@abccolumbia.tv

Please check her out daily, M - F, at 5p.m. on WSB TV Channel 2 news. You may reach Jovita at Jovita.Moore@wsbtv.com

Tom Jones came to WSB-TV in August 2002. He is a native of Houston, attending high school there before graduating from Texas Southern University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Tom began his career in television as a general assignment reporter at KAMR-TV in Amarillo, Texas. He later held the same position at KLSA-TV in Shreveport, La., and later joined KLAS-TV in Las Vegas. Tom has written for several magazines and once held the title of managing editor of a weekly entertainment publication in Houston.

Tom calls himself a news junkie. He recalls reading both the morning and evening editions of Houston's two newspapers and watching the evening news with his parents. It's no secret then that one of Tom's hobbies is reading, and searching the Internet for interesting news events around the globe. When asked about having the same name as a famous singer, Tom says he gets plenty of jokes about it. People often ask him to sing or they sing, "She's a Lady, or "It's Not Unusual." Tom says he prefers to leave the singing to the other Tom. He'll stick to reporting. You can email Tom at tom.jones@wsbtv.com

You may contact Stephanie at Stephanie.Maxwell@foxcarolina.com

Portia Lake is Reporter and Anchor for WGXA FOX 24 Macon, Georgia. She can be seen on FOX 24 news at ten. Portia came to WGXA from WXVT in Greenville, Mississippi, where she was a General Assignment reporter and anchor. Prior to that, she worked behind the scenes at WWL in New Orleans. She further broadened her news skills by hosting and producing a Community Affairs Program in New Orleans. She describes being a television news reporter as "exciting and the absolute best job I've ever had." She loves the challenge and excitement of live television as well as writing creative stories. Originally born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Portia is a graduate of Louisiana State University. She graduated with degrees in English and Psychology while working at the campus television station. Portia has always had her eye on living in Georgia and is now glad to call the city of Macon home. One of Portia's most rewarding past times is sharing her love of reading with children. In her spare time, Portia enjoys reading, yoga, roller blading, and getting out and seeing the world.

Email Portia: plake@fox24.com

NFL Pro Wide Receiver

Roderick Gardner, former first-round draft pick possesses exceptional strength and size for a wide receiver, presenting match-up problems for opposing secondaries … Physical receiver who provides a big target. Owns six 100-yard receiving games during his pro career, most recently topping the century mark with Washington in 2004 … Produced a career-high six-catch, 208-yard performance vs. Carolina (10/21/01) during his rookie campaign … Has seen action in 90 NFL contests (62 starts), logging 242 receptions for 3,165 yards (13.1 avg.) and 23 TDs with Washington (2001-04), Carolina (2005), Green Bay (2005) and Kansas City (2006) ... Tallied a reception in 55 consecutive contests from 2001-04 before being held without a catch at Detroit (11/7/04) ... Led Washington with 741 receiving yards as a rookie in 2001 after entering the NFL as a first-round draft choice (15th overall) by Washington. Read More

Tiy-E, Muhammed an innovative professor, life coach, poet, and author is taking the world by storm. For over five years, his healing words have saved and improved scores of relationships. As a professional speaker he is known for his holistic approach to revitalizing romance and healthy male-female relationships to brand new heights. Tiy-E captures his audience with a style that is earthy, sensuous and humorous: an approach that relaxes the listener, male and female and leaves them open to receiving his thought-provoking message of love, unity, and peace. He's the relationship expert Jet and Ebony magazines turns to frequently to inspire and educate their readers. Most recently he played the role of the "Good Doctor" on the Gilligan's Island television series. www.onelovepoet.com

Ken Ford has played with the African American Philharmonic Orchestra, where he participated in performances that included the background orchestral styling for Barry White, and featured orchestral performances throughout the Southeast Region, several of which were held by Atlanta's historic Morehouse College. Before leaving the orchestra Ken was promoted to Concert Master. Although Ford was grounded classically, he yearned to play the music he enjoyed most, which is contemporary jazz. He bravely branched out into the jazz clubs, sitting in with various local artists. "It was sort of easy for me to make the transition from classical to jazz. I forced myself to play by ear by trying to play songs from the radio," stated Ford. His persistence molded himself into an exceptionally talented jazz performer in the Atlanta area, catching the eye of some very important people around town, not just because of his soulful and funky sound, but also from his unique sensual, soulful, and electrical stage presence. A recent comment from a fan: "When you play, I can feel it in my soul!" Visit the Website www.kenford.net

Tammie Leady grew up in Port Arthur Texas and is one of four siblings. Since about the age of nine is when her involvement in competitive and recreational sports began. These sports include track and field, basketball, softball, volleyball and cheerleading. In 1997 Tammie relocated to Tampa , Fl, and this is when she discovered her passion for fitness competitions. “I noticed a M&F cover with Sharon Bruneau and Lenda Murray on it and was in awe of their physiques and that is when I decided that I wanted to pursue fitness competitions.

Through hard training and coaching she joined the NPC Sanction. In 1998 Tammie competed in and won the Eastern Seaboard Fitness Championships Overall and best presenter awards. In 2001 she headed to New York for the Team Universe and won the medium class which earned her pro card. Since then Tammie Leady has fast become one of the hottest faces in fitness. She has an extensive fitness background as a Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer, Model, Actress, Group Exercise Instructor, Choreographer and IFBB Professional. Among the fitness elite Tammie has worn many titles, they include “ Atlanta 's Fittest Female”, one of the nations most “Fit and Fabulous Women”, Atlanta 's top Personal Trainers and she is also ranked as one countries top IFBB Professionals.

Her success in fitness has easily transitioned her into the modeling arena. Her magazine features include; Flex, Muscle and Fitness, M&F Hers, Ironman, Today's Black Woman, Oxygen, Muscle Mag, American Curves, The Atlanta Journal Constitution and Atlanta Sports and Fitness to name a few. In addition, Tammie is no stranger to television. She is spent a significant amount of time as a part of the cast on The Man Made Movie on TBS Super station; helped create and star in The YMCA's hip-hop video; was regular featured fitness expert on the Jack Harris show live from Busch Gardens, in Tampa, FL and has been cast in numerous commercials.

In addition, Tammie plans to develop her own fitness videos, fitness competitions, television show and programming for urban youth. Meanwhile, she is dedicated to helping and motivating others to obtain their goals of a fit and healthy lifestyle while pursuing her place on the Olympia stage. Please visit her website at: www.tleady.com

(Deceased) Ken Batie: From the root to the fruit. Godfather nurtured Atlanta's neo-soul seeds!

Neo-soul is a major musical and cultural force in Atlanta, but that wasn't always the case.
A little more than a decade ago, there were no sisters in head wraps performing at venues such as Apache Café, no DJs spinning rare grooves at the Harlem Bar and no one listening to the music of British soul reanimators such as Omar or Incognito.

Then came Ken Batie....

Batie's actual career title was "radio personality." From 1985 to the summer of 2005, he worked as a jock (often with longtime partner-in-crime Ken Rye) at Clark Atlanta University's radio station, WCLK-FM (91.9).

Though WCLK was primarily a jazz station, Batie experimented with emerging styles of soul music during a time when the sound was still called acid jazz.

He also promoted shows and DJ'ed at venues such as the legendary Ying Yang Café. By doing so, he exposed the still-new genre – later called "neo-soul" – to a young audience hungry for more than the bass music and gangster rap of the early '90s.

Before long, his young audience began to pick up its own instruments and started writing and performing. Over time, these artists – India.Arie, Anthony David, Van Hunt, Jiva and Donnie, among countless others – would reach music fans around the world. All of them credit Batie's mentorship as a primary reason for their success.

Batie suffered from poor health in recent years. But he was still active on the scene, and even launched an online radio website, www.HotIceOnline.com, after his WCLK show ended.

Tragically, it was a car accident, not one of his ailments, that claimed his life on February 12, 2007.

The soul community immediately responded with a candlelight vigil at Clark Atlanta University; a public funeral for him that attracted hundreds of people, from family members to musicians and artists; and a memorial jam session at Underground Atlanta's Sugarhill.

Here, a few of Ken Batie's friends and the artists he influenced reminisce over the godfather of Atlanta's progressive-soul scene.

Jamal Ahmad, DJ: "A lot of the artists and musicians owe a lot to Ken. He was truly the first guy to play their music. You have to understand, independents aren't getting any radio play. Ken's show was immensely popular. So if you're getting play on that show, you're getting some serious spins. At one point, Ken had 200,000 listeners in the '90s. He had a lot of listeners because what he was doing was so unique, and people were fiending for it."

Ken Rye, friend/business partner: "The one thing that people don't understand about musicians, and artists in general, is that there's an incubator that they go through. During that time, they're trying to develop confidence in themselves, streamline and fine-tune their skills, and develop confidence to get where they need to be. People would come to Batie at that stage. 'Can you play a couple of tracks from my CD?' 'Can you come and listen to me play here?' He would hear them, understand it and respect it. To the point that it was worthy for widespread distribution, he would put it out there."

Son Christopher, poet: "Groovement was the first soul compilation to come out of the Atlanta scene and have a distinct and unique sound. During all of that, Ken was the guy that was our mentor, our guide and the one we feel gave us the wings to keep moving forward – even when things got rough, and we weren't sure how to work with one another. Some people left. Some people stayed on. Ken was always there, mentoring us."

Anthony David, singer/songwriter: "He was encouraging as hell. For me, my first recordings and stuff, I wasn't really that sure [if what I was doing was good]. Especially the first record. He would give me a lot of encouragement about it. To me, he was a guy you could always count on for a good smile and good words.

"He was a link to the different generations [in the local soul scene]. He was our link to the Mother's Finest and S.O.S. Band era [of the '70s and '80s]. He is a torchbearer and a carrier of tradition in that way."

Donnie, singer/songwriter: "Ken Batie was one of the first people in Atlanta to give me exposure. I did a radio interview with him back in the mid-'90s at WCLK. ... He was very supportive in my efforts to really get out there. He's responsible for a lot of people's careers, such as mine and India.Arie's."

Jamal Ahmad: "[During the last few years] Ken was working on his website, HotIceOnline.com. He was also dealing with a lot of health issues that stopped him from doing a lot. But he was DJing here and there, and getting some things in motion. And then this happened."

Ken Rye: "[Batie and I] would talk about crazy stuff like, 'Who'd you have play at your funeral? Who would be your dream concert?' So in a lot of ways it came together just like that. ... It was a very music-intensive funeral. Julie Dexter came through and did 'God Bless the Child.' I was trying to be cool, but I almost broke down when she sang that."

Julie Dexter, vocalist: (Laughs.) "I tried to hold it together. Yeah, it was one of the hardest performances I've ever done. I've never sung at somebody's funeral before that I'm close to. ... I wanted to be with everybody else, crying and shit, and I had to hold it together for this song. ... People told me that I did him proud, and that's all I wanted to do."

 

Charismatic, influential and passionate are all attributes that describe Lloyd George Geddes, Jr., M.D. In the course of his short-yet-full 40 years his name has bearded many titles, including Honors student, board-certified physician, business owner, published author and most notably, a great host and innovator in entertainment marketing. Doc. G, as he is affectionately called by patients and dedicated staff, never stops elevating his game.

Lloyd also owns and operates one of the hottest new lounges in the "ATL" called Verve, located at 511 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA. Click here to visit the Website: www.verveatlanta.com

Monica Lorraine

Monica Lorraine Arnold, is poised and ready for her national close-up. The Atlanta native is a Television and Print Journalist.  She currently works as a Freelance Reporter and Writer at CNN Headline News, and other TV and Print media outlets across the country.

A graduate of Spelman College, Monica received a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Creative and Professional Writing.  While at Spelman, Monica studied abroad at the University of Sussex in London, England, where she focused on Journalism and Media Studies.  In that same year, she also participated in a Domestic Exchange Program at the University of California at San Diego.

Monica has worked at various TV and Radio stations across the country including KGTV in San Diego, California, WTVM-TV in Columbus, Georgia, as well as V-103 FM, WSB-TV, and WGCL-TV in Atlanta.  She also spent 2 years as the Anchor and Host of “City 26 News”, a cable news show broadcast in  Atlanta.

Monica’s love of acting has lead to parts in Feature Films, Commercials, Music Videos, and Corporate Videos.  With an extensive background in beauty and pageantry, Monica was a finalist in both the 2002 and 2003 Miss Georgia USA Pageants, and was Miss Black Georgia USA 2003!  Monica is a member of several professional organizations including the Atlanta Press Club, Women in Film, (NATAS) National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the National Association of Black Journalists.        

Monica credits her many life lessons of intestinal fortitude to living with her parents and her great-grandmother, who lived to be 114 years old! An active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she enjoys mentoring and speaking to groups of young people.  She also enjoys reading, writing, working out, traveling, learning foreign languages, shopping, and spending time with her pet Pug, Pongo.

Exotic, sexy and articulate are three words used to describe  V A L E R I E   D E N I S E who is steadily reaching for the heights of stardom and success.  She’s not a diva, just a hard-working talented girl from Miami, Florida whose desire is to live out every woman’s fantasy--- being bankable on both the runway and the big screen.  

Before becoming the first African-American pageant entry to ever win the coveted title of Ms. Hinesville, Valerie was well on her way to carving a niche for herself as a respected model, actress and public speaker.  Her hard work and perseverance got the attention of such greats as Les Brown, General Norman Schwarzkopf and Willy Jolly. Her dedication won her the title of “COVERGIRL’s Woman At Her Best”  profiled in GLAMOUR magazine’s December, 1999 issue.  Since winning the coveted title of Ms. Hinesville, Valerie’s been crowned Beautiful Miss, Ms. Alachua County and Ms. Florida. 

As modeling can often lead to television and films, Valerie has starred in several commercials for local television stations and in recording artist Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It” music video.  She has appeared on The Montel Williams Show, Sally Jesse Raphael, and employed to help market The Queen Latifah Show. Informally educated in broadcasting and communications, Valerie’s smooth narration was a primary factor in obtaining the prestigious position as host of her own television show called Video Traxx which is due to hit the airwaves in  2003. Outside of the television scene, Valerie has extensive experience as an on-air personality.  She markets commercials for Magic 101.3 (WTMG-FM) and various other radio stations.  She was featured on The Tom Joyner Morning Show and Walt Baby Love’s Gospel Tracks.  Motivational speaking engagements, random radio interviews, and television appearances are the highlights of this busy woman’s schedule.

Valerie  recently completed her tour with Ebony Fashion Fair, the most spectacular one-of-a-kind traveling extravaganza.  Her name will be remembered amongst such notables such as Diahann Carroll, Dionne Warrick and Richard Roundtree, all of whom enthralled previous Fashion Fair audiences with style, class and savoir faire. Click here to read more about Valerie Denise Click here to visit her myspace page.

Cee Cee Michaela pronounced (MICK-KAY-LA), is a native of Hickory, North Carolina and started singing in church as a little girl. At ten, she began classical voice lessons, by fourteen had a vocal range of four octaves and was singing in five languages. She graduated as a North Carolina Honors Scholar and was named Who's Who Among American High School Students. Cee Cee attended the North Carolina School of the Arts where she majored in Dance and Voice as a Terry Sanford Scholarship recipient. On a BCM Scholastic/Talent Scholarship Cee Cee continued her education at the Boston Conservatory of Music earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater. One early Bostonian morning around 5:00 a.m., she took the forty dollars that her mom had sent her to use for books, cut class, bought a $29.99 Greyhound ticket, arrived in New York, bought a bagel for $2.50, some juice for $1.50 and a BackStage paper for $1.75. She thumbed through the trades, spotted an ad for a new Broadway show called "Jelly's Last Jam," and showed up at the open call at 1:00 pm. Cee Cee moved to New York and was cast in the role of Viola, Gregory Hines's sister, in Broadway's Jelly's Last Jam and appeared as Charlene on the ABC soap, All My Children. She went on to star in the Canadian run of Broadway's Once On this Island in Toronto where she was nominated for the Dora Mavor Moore Award (Canadian Tony) for Best Female in a Musical. Cee Cee also performed in the smash hit Smokey Joe's Cafe, in the role of Brenda, which ran on Broadway for five years. She had the lead, title role in Nomathemba (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo) performed at the Kennedy Center.

For this performance, Cee Cee was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for outstanding actress. Cee Cee has appeared in the HBO film, Gia and feature film, Senseless. She guest starred on The Steve Harvey Show playing Emma Mae (dual characters), CBS's City of Angels, Chicago Hope, Promised Land and Fresh Prince of Bel Air. She had a recurring role on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and is has appeared in multiple episodes as Noreen on the Lifetime Television drama, Strong Medicine executive produced by Whoopi Goldberg. As a series regular Cee Cee starred on the syndicated series Born Free which aired internationally and as Yvonne, the crazy cop (8 episodes) on the UPN comedy, Girlfriends executive produced by Kelsey Grammer. Cee Cee is a singer/songwriter and has released two CD's. Her songs are diverse and the many colors of her musical style ring out loud and clear in a fusion of soul, jazz, folk and world. Her songs have been featured on numerous television shows including UPN's Girlfriends, Fox's Party of Five, Time of Your Life, and CBS's Promised Land. Cee Cee made the decision to handle distribution of her CD through her own record label: Driven By A Vision Records. Cee Cee was honored with winning First Place at the 4th Annual Amassi Center Women in Jazz New Artist Showcase performing at the Wilshire Ebell. A poet and author, Cee Cee has written two books "I'm just an alien and other alienated poetry" and "Pieces of a Moment-Moments of Peace." Judging from her collection of songs and poetry which continue to grow steadily, Cee Cee will never run out of words to say. Read Mini Biography Visit her Website at: www.ceeceemichaela.com

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She, like the child in Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child", has got her own.

- Kymyarda Croomes
This Week On Okinawa/1997

Maria - voice of WJZZ.FM - Smooth Jazz (Atlanta, GA) Listen to an mp3 sample Sample #1   Sample #2   Sample #3

Powerful. Riveting. Sultry. Mere words can only capture the refrain of her awesome talent. Maria Howell is much more. She is the ballad of beauty and elegance. The melodies flowing from the petite vocalist are truly amazing. While casting a spellbinding smile, she mesmerizes her captive audience with incredible harmonies and rhythms. 

Howell's signature film performance as the choir soloist in "The Color Purple" was quoted by one critic as being "one of the most stirring moments!" Her rendition of “God Is Trying to Tell You Something” was memorable for all who saw it, but the offerings of the all-grown-up Maria are truly unforgettable, eliciting stirring moments, one after another.

Some may be inspired to call her a “best kept secret”, but anyone who leaves an imprint on every medium from radio, stage and television to the Hollywood screen is hardly incognito. Howell's talent has been featured as a nightclub singer in “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” as well as other roles on the small screen such as in “Linda” alongside master performers Richard Thomas (“The Waltons”) and Virginia Madsen (“Sideways”) and in “Scattered Dreams” with Tyne Daly (“Judging Amy”) and Alicia Silverstone (“Clueless” and “Beauty Shop”). Her credibility as a true thespian flourished when she nailed a coveted role as the daughter of Maya Angelou's character in Langston Hughes' “ Tambourines to Glory” stage play.

Although acting was a learned craft that has become more refined with each new role, singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Howell as far back as she can remember. She recollects glaring at her six-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear. The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles, and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Fire's point man Phillip Bailey. Performing with the likes of Nancy Wilson, Marvin Hamlisch, and George Benson became her comfort zone - a zone with overlapping genres. Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra, croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not – ought not – be boxed into one musical art form.

Like Howell, her music is a collective soul, smooth, not eclectic. She not only combines sounds such as R&B with jazzy punctuations, she evokes an international flavor into her flambé of recordings. Her first CD, “Peace of Mind,” was produced while her celebrity was peaking in Japan . She followed up with another CD shortly after with a U.S. favorite, “Same Old Story.” Both sets of recordings have romantic overtones, but marinated with opportunities for toe tappin' and finger snappin'. Confident in her own groove, Howell shares the spotlight with several Atlanta artists in her latest compilation, “Acoustically Yours.” Over the course of her career, Howell has availed her illustrious voice to TV and radio commercials for prominent corporations like Haverty's Furniture and Bell South.

In the near future, Howell hopes to use her voice in a more philanthropic spirit. She has an affinity for connecting with children who aspire to “their own unique greatness.” Her drive to shape our youth is commensurate with her acting ambitions. She'd like to star in films that are reminiscent of the times when families would gather to watch poignant documentaries and movies like “Roots.” She is also interested in uniting her talents with animation. Not only does she love this variety of film, she understands that an animated movie is a masterful way to gain a child's undivided attention.

…And that offering up another novel “ Howellistic ” melody is a way to keep ours.

  Visit the Website at: www.mariahowell.com

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Edward M. Garnes, Jr.

Atlanta native Edward M. Garnes, Jr. is a journalist, counselor, educator, editor, producer, and community activist. He is the founder of From Afros to Shelltoes: Art Action & Conversation, a series of inter-generational cultural productions that champion emotional healing, solution focused dialogue, and arts programming to empower hip hop heads, youth, and elders. 

Redefining clichéd visions of leadership, From Afros to Shelltoes (FATS) employs progressive strategies to move the community from rhetoric to reality.  FATS service and productions include Dave Chapelle’s Block Party, Kevin Powell’s Katrina Benefit & Holiday Party Host Committee, MTV Jams, Hands on Atlanta MLK Service Summit, Black Arts Festival, Atlanta Hip Hop Film Festival, and the Southern Poetry Conference. Hailed as a national expert in diversity and multicultural counseling, Garnes and fellow activist Kevin Powell kicked off 2004 launching the State of Black Men National Tour. Dr. Joseph White, noted psychologist and author of Black Men Emerging, calls Garnes a new school leader “equipped with the courage, resilience, and dedication to take us to the next level.” On the forefront of institutional change, he co-founded Depauw University’s Student Coalition for Awareness, Revolution and Education (S.C.A.R.E.) and assisted university administration and legal counsel in the drafting of DePauw’s formal Hate Crime Policy as an undergraduate. Garnes received his BA in English Writing with specializations in Mass Communications and Black Studies from Depauw. He also worked as a Black Studies Department Teachers Assistant and administrator in Multicultural Affairs.

A Competitive Doctoral Fellow in Urban Counseling, he received his M.A. in Counseling from Michigan State University. Garnes has worked as a diversity and leadership development consultant for the Washington D.C. firm Woodard & Associates executing projects with the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Housing.

A finalist for the Fulton County Arts Council Dialog Literary Fellowship, he has shared the stage with such legends Nikki Giovanni, Amiri Baraka, and The Last Poets. A nationally renowned writer, he is currently a music contributor to Creative Loafing, Atlanta’s revered alternative news weekly. Garnes is an award-winning journalist who has worked as the Entertainment Editor for Atlanta's Good News (GN) Magazine and as a contributor for Upscale, the Southeast Performer, and Elemental. Garnes has profiled and interviewed such cutting edge artists as Spike Lee, Outkast, Gerald Levert, DMC of Run DMC, T-Boz of TLC, and Raphael Saadiq. Featured as a cast member of the Black Family Channel's Spoken, hosted and executive produced by Apollo legend Jessica Care Moore, he is currently penning In Search of Dr. Garnes, a provocative book of essays on black leadership, hip-hop, and higher education. Garnes is the co-owner of Babuke Brothers, LLC, a media relations, entertainment, and arts programming firm. Please visit his website at: www.afrostoshelltoes.com

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Mary Ann Johnson, RN, BSN, B. Div., has a diverse healing background, including over 20 years as a nurse working extensively with addictions. She moved to nontraditional studies in 1998, mastering exercises in consciousness at The Light Institute. Blending her education and experience through her compassionate, understanding, and humorous nature, Mary Ann is known as a gentle guide and teacher.

Mary Ann is a certified Radical Forgiveness Coach through The Institute of Radical Forgiveness and received her Bachelor of Divinity as a minister of the Universal Brotherhood. She is also a Reiki Master. Mary Ann's energy practice is in Roswell, Georgia, amidst a wildlife refuge. She facilitates transformational sessions in person and by phone, with clients throughout the United States. She conducts workshops, lectures, and coaches others desiring to start their own energy practice.

 www.energyhealinglink.com

 

 

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Vocalist Tammy Allen has found her niche. It’s a blend of smooth jazz, contemporary R&B and Latin grooves that aims to uplift and entertain listeners. Allen lives in Atlanta. She moved there three years ago after having worked for years in Los Angeles and in Las Vegas. In that time, she paid her proverbial dues, logging thousands of nightclub and casino appearances, mostly across the western United States. She caught the music bug at age 13 at a B.B. King concert. “I’d never heard anything like that, never heard anything with that kind of a pocket,” Allen recalls. “About a week later, I said, ‘That’s what I’m going to do.’” And so she has. As a teen living in L.A., Allen studied voice and piano under the direction of Pearl Felton and later studied with renowned vaudeville performer Violetta Hall before launching her own performance career. Upon relocating to Atlanta, Allen decided she’d had her fill of singing six nights a week in nightclubs and restaurants. Instead, she’s performed less often, but at such choice local venues as Churchill Grounds (Atlanta media’s perennial choice as top jazz venue) and Café 290. It’s an experience, she says, that’s forced her to perform on a higher plane. “If you’re going to play with the big boys, you have to be at their level. If you’re not at their level, you have to get there quick,” she says. “It’s made me a better musician.” In addition to performing and recording, Allen also owns and operates a music education business, Big House Studios, where she provides young wannabes with instruction in voice training and artist development. Big House offers classes and workshops on developing stage presence, on songwriting, and also provides students with access to a project studio. Allen’s primary focus at the moment, however, is Wonderful to Be, her third release, and her first since See, which she released in 1999. Wonderful to Be is a joyous, upbeat recording that Allen says mirrors her current state of mind. “Usually, what a writer writes about is a reflection of what they’re feeling,” Allen says. “I’m in a good space in life, and what I write is going to reflect that.” The album is a continuation of a process that began with See, which came “at the beginning of all the happy stuff, but it was actually more soul-searching. There were happy subjects,” she says sarcastically, “like, ‘On My Own,’ ‘Broken Windows,’ and ‘Making It Hard Was So Easy.’ I’m laughing at the titles now, but that was the beginning of the turn. I was finally starting to ‘see,’ to have a little bit of understanding about life.” Allen’s understanding of what she wants musically has evolved significantly as well. The mix of smooth jazz, R&B and Latin flavors on Wonderful to Be is a recipe Allen says she’s been seeking throughout her musical career. “When I started in music, I was more kind of an alternative, huge mix of every kind of genre – world music, Middle Eastern, rock, R&B. But once I figured out what I wanted to be and what I wanted to do, I got busy doing it.” Visit the website at: www.tammyallen.com

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Gary R. Lewis - Former National Director of Marketing & Events, Vanguarde Media, Inc. Presently working in Marketing and Events Lighthouse Media Group Inc. Gary Lewis' expertise in marketing, events and conference production has elevated the craft of understanding the desires of a target audience, conceptualizing and producing events that entertain and educate. Lewis leveraged his expertise into being a premier producer of conferences and custom events, creating dynamic and powerful programs for Vanguarde Media and its properties.     Sabrina Lamb has twice been an engaging panelist on BET’s “Tonight with Ed Gordon”. Recently, Sabrina appeared on the prestigious OPEN LINE radio program on KISS-FM. Sabrina Lamb co-hosted "The Morning Show" on 1600 WWRL in New York City. She hosted and produced the radio program entitled "Laughing, Lying and Signifying" the history of Black Comedy on WBAI-FM, a Pacifica station. This program featured interviews with comedy legends such as Dick Gregory, as well as excerpt from comedy concerts. She was part of New York's WBLS/WLIB sports team and contributed wit and wisdom on Detroit's WCHB-AM.In addition, comedienne/writer Sabrina was a finalist at Year 2000 NATPE Convention where she impressed a standing room audience with her pitch of the romantic comedy Callaloo and Cornbread. She also conceived and produced the hilarious docu-comedy “UnBeweavable: Woman, What Did You Do To Your Hair?”, which is the top viewed and top rated film on the website: www.urbanworld.com. The film is the winner of The Audience Choice Award at the Jamerican Film and Music Festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Other screenings include Black Cinematheque Dallas (Texas), BFM International Film Festival (England), IGH Multimedia/Reel Alternative Film Salon (New York City), Around the Coyote Film Festival (Chicago) and The Black Film II Festival (Amsterdam). UnBeweavable has been featured on The Queen Latifah Show and The Jenny Jones Show. Sabrina has also produced a pilot for television: Healing Time, a program which starts where human emotions begin. One may remember Sabrina Lamb, a Miami native, from Lifetime Television's "Girl's Night Out", where she wove her comedic skills around issues such as homelessness, foreign policy and spousal abuse. Sabrina got laughs and delivered the message. She was also a political satirist on the America's Talking Network. Sabrina has become very popular in the New York City area. Other credits include NBC's "Saturday Night Live", The Original Improv, Comedy Cellar, Stand Up New York and Black Entertainment Television's Comic view which nominated her Best Female Comic and Best Impersonator. Sabrina does a mean Tina Turner! She has performed at the HBO/Toyota Comedy Festival since its inception. Sabrina is a member of the New York Association of Black Journalists. She also has been involved with the "Valley", a comprehensive youth agency, and Harlem Hospital’s border baby unit. Sabrina is also active in the New York Road Runner's Club and has completed the 1995, 1996 and 2000 New York City Marathon.  Visit her Website www.flirtingtime.com Keith Brown is creative director and head designer for keith a.brown designs. He began his career in the garment industry with the completion of his degree in fashion design from Wades Fashion Merchandising College in Dallas, Texas in September, 1988. The town gossip in Palestine, Texas was that Keith always had his own style and soon garnered a reputation for setting the town's fashion trends every season. By 1992, Keith returned to Dallas to accept an offer to work with the esteemed V.F. Corporation as Retail Marketing Manager, for the Marithe'& Francois Girbaud N.A. Division. Again, his talents prevailed as Girbaud transferred him to Atlanta, Georgia to improve their positioning within the Southeastern Region of the United States. In July of 1994, Keith's career experience had evolved into a place, both creatively and professionally, which allowed him to follow his dream of creating under his own label, keith a.brown. His design philosophy is constituted on the same principles that were amassed while at Marithe'& Francois Girbaud and Esprit de Corp., two of the worlds most reputable and creative corporations. Combined with twists of eclectic sophistication and a hint of extreme opulence, keith takes you on a "journeyintofreedomofexpression". This leads you to simply elegant clothes with the aforementioned twists. This is keith a.brown. The same principals that have allowed Keith to successfully establish his own label have also allowed him to branch out into wardrobe styling for music videos for a diverse group of clients. Keith has also forayed into film and print, both commercial and editorial, providing art direction and production coordination, Keith's designs have been celebrated by many top fashion organizations, including DIFFA, written about by many magazines and have been worn by some of the music industries hottest artist. One can only assume that because he has stayed true to his vision, "Leading vs. Following", his clothes are popping up in the closets of some of the most revered people around the world, and, his name is becoming synonymous with style. Visit Keith A. Brown designs on the Web, at  www.keithabrowndesigns.com

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www.stepsevents.com

Rolling Out Urban Weekly - September 9, 1999 issue by logan "This is a billion dollar business that a lot of minorities, don't know about it. I think it's a wide open market for anyone to get involved in," says Jamahl King. As President and CEO of his own company, S.T.E.P.S. (Striving Towards Excellence with Perfection in Sight) Event Planning Firm, King is literally the king of his own empire. As event coordinator, perfect location finder, interior decorator and overall problem solver, he is to some extent a lifesaver for some of Atlanta's most prestigious residents and organizations. His client list includes, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins of TLC and the Atlanta Superbowl 2000 Host Committee. But King doesn't limit himself to the local market. Among his national clients are Arista Records, HBO, PEPSI, designer Karl Kani, and XXL magazine. A native of Hammond, Indiana, King now based in Atlanta, graduated from Morehouse College in 1993 with a degree in mass communications. Initially, he planned to pursue a career in journalism. After receiving a few job offers, he concluded that there simply wasn't enough money in the field, so he headed for bigger bucks and accepted a position in MCI's business sales division. " I would throw birthday parties, nothing major," says King of his early days in the event planning business. "Then, a co-worker suggested that I do it as a business." As a result of that needed push in the right direction, King now is among the nation's top event planners. When King is not guiding S.T.E.P.S. to success through the extremely competitive waters of event planning and promotion, he embraces his role as a leader in his community. He played an integral role in Congressman John Lewis's Get Out and Vote rally. He served as a member of Jermaine Dupri's Hip Hop for Humanity. He is on the board of director's for the Frank Ski Kids Foundation and Inner Strength, Inc. And as his company embarks upon a limitless future, S.T.E.P.S. is sure to remain the event planning, marketing and promotions firm of choice for those with a discerning taste for events executed with excellence.

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“Integrity, Leadership and Service”  

Ceasar C. Mitchell II,  Atlanta City Council, Post 1 At-Large representative, is deep-rooted in the Atlanta community. A dedicated attorney, community leader and husband, the native Atlantan’s passionate commitment to serve comes from a family that dedicated their lives to Integrity, Leadership and Service within the city. 

As the Atlanta City Councilman for Post 1 At-Large, a seat that represents the interests of all Atlantans, Ceasar will be committed and willing to take the time to listen and understand the needs of each community, from his home neighborhood of the West End to Cabbagetown to Grant Park.  He also seeks to bring a fresh, new generation of leadership to the city. 

“I believe in more work and less talk,” says Ceasar. “We have to restore confidence in government through action, not rhetoric.”  He adds, “ My experiences have taught me that the basic question is ‘Are you willing to serve?’ and the answer must always be an emphatic YES!”

Currently, Ceasar practices real estate law for Thomas , Kennedy , Sampson & Patterson.  He also is president-elect of the Gate City Bar Association and serves as vice president of the board of directors for Hands on Atlanta .  Among his many other activities, Ceasar uses his expertise in the real estate to conduct free seminars for first-time homebuyers, acts as a youth mentor for local elementary schools and is a co-founder of Wolfpack Enterprises, the organization responsible for Atlanta’s First Fridays networking events and other social and community service functions held throughout the city.

Even as a student, Ceasar began honing his leadership skills and commitment to excellence. He graduated in the top of his class from Benjamin E. Mays Academy of Math & Science, in Southwest Atlanta where he also served as captain of the football team and as a top commanding officer in the JROTC. Following the legacy of many leaders before him, Ceasar enrolled in Morehouse College on a full academic scholarship. There he excelled academically, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both English and Economics.  After Morehouse, Ceasar attended law school at The University of Georgia and was awarded his Juris Doctorate in May 1995.

Ceasar is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and active in a number of civic and community organizations, including Morehouse College’s Atlanta Alumni Association, the Southwest Coalition of Concerned Citizens, the Atlanta Black/Jewish Coalition and the United Way Volunteer Initiative Program.

Ceasar is married to ShaJra J. Mitchell, also a Georgia native. They are members of Cascade United Methodist Church and reside in the Historic West End neighborhood in a 1920s bungalow they recently restored.  

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B.A., Morehouse College, J.D., University of Illinois College of Law; Topics Editor, Recent Decisions Law Journal, University of Illinois College of Law; Distinguished Harno Fellow, Top 10% of Class recognition. Jeffrey Riddle currently serves as Managing Partner of Riddle & Schwartz, LLC.His practice focuses on Business/Commercial Litigation, Civil Litigation, Construction Law, Elder Law, and Labor and Employment Law.

An active member of his community, Mr. Riddle has been recognized as the 2003 Morehouse College Alumnus of the Year, Outstanding Young Atlanta Inductee, and Leadership Atlanta Alumnus. In addition, Mr. Riddle has served as Past President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Morehouse College Alumni Association, Governor Appointee of the Georgia Council on Aging, Board Member of the Metropolitan Atlanta Crime Commission, and Member of the American Bar Association, Atlanta Bar Association, National Bar Association, and Gate City Bar Association. Visit the Website at www.riddleschwartz.com

 

 

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Rene Miller - CEO Omega Media / WJJZ-FM 107.5 Radio Personality

 

Weekdays: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Hometown: On the other side of the world...Nuremberg, Germany
First Radio Gig: My first "unofficial" gig was over my High School's PA system!

Stops Along The Way: My Journey has been interesting & full of adventure. I am an "Army Brat", so I've been everywhere & seen everything.

 

Favorite musical artists: Jonathan Butler, John Coltrane, but my favorite above everyone would be EARTH, WIND & FIRE, Those guys rock!

Hobbies, Passions, Interests: I collect movies on DVD; Shopping (I hide clothes at all my girlfriend's houses. thanks..); Cooking; My company, Omega Media, which produces Atlanta's only free Jazz concert series in Centennial Olympic Park. Family members, Loved Ones, Pets: Besides my wonderful husband Kevin, who keeps me laughing...I have two Yorkies who don't know that they're dogs (Alex & Sidney), they are my breathing alarm clocks. Something Unique About Me: If you're a friend of mine, you often say when in my house, "Here she comes. there she goes". I love to roller-skate in the house. Whether I'm cooking or cleaning, I put on my wheels and burn up the hardwoods. What I Like Most About Atlanta: The people are incredible. I love that Atlanta is forever changing and so are the people. Only in Atlanta can you meet successful people doing creative things. Atlanta is always playing the right music at the right time for the right people and so do I. What a union! Favorite Quote: "The darkest hour of the night is always the hour before daybreak."  Click here for more info about Rene at: http://www.1075wjzz.com/article.asp?id=468889

 

 

 

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Mitchell Edward Faulkner ( V-103FM - Atlanta) was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. At the young age of 13, Mitch knew clearly that he wanted to be a radio DJ. He landed his first radio job at the age of 16 at local Country formatted WHOP in his hometown. At the age of 17 he moved on to work at Rock formatted WABD AM/FM in Fort Campbell TN.

He attended Austin Peay State University studying Mass Communication after Graduating from Christian County High School in 1976.

He moved to Atlanta Ga. In 1980 and entered the radio scene at Clark Atlanta University. There he served as Morning Drive announcer on WCLK. From there he worked as Music Director at WIGO Atlanta.While serving as music director at WIGO Mitch received several Gold and Platinum records for breaking rap artists in Atlanta. The artists include Run DMC, Whodini, The Fatboys, Soul Sonic Force, Luke Skywalker and others.

 

From WIGO he went on to WVEE V-103 where he became the First African American DJ to be rated #1 in the Atlanta Radio Market according to Arbitron ratings.

 

During his stint at V-103 he became one of the most sought after Voice talents in the industry and a talented radio producer. His voice has been heard on BET, CNN, Superstation TBS, WGNX TV, WXIA TV and a number of radio Commercials like Advance Auto Parts, Pizza Hut, KFC, Sony Records, Warner Brothers Records, Capitol Records, Luke Records, Concert Tours for Janet Jackson, Prince, and others plus major Stage play tours like Beauty Shop, Mama I want to Sing, Real men Pray and Promo voice for New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and the Full Gospel Ministry in New Orleans LA. He also served as Program director at WEKS Atlanta, WCDX Richmond Va. And Production Director at KMJQ in Houston TX. He returned to Atlanta in 1989 and joined forces with his Brother; Arvester Faulkner to form On Mic Productions, a production services company. While serving as Co Owner and Exec. Producer he became the most heard Black voice in radio. His voice was and still is heard by over 8 million people per day on over 185 radio stations in America. He can also be heard in London England, Nigeria Africa, Canada, Brazil, The Bahamas, Jamaica and Denmark.

Mitch has also served as voice talent for national and local TV stations, Radio Networks and add campaigns. Currently he is the Voice Talent for the National Broadcast of the Trumpet Awards show seen on the Turner Network. Mitch is an avid music collector with an extensive library with over 10,000 titles dating back to the late 60’s up to the present. His library contains titles from Funk, R&B, Rap, Jazz, Blues, Rock and Country. His favorite style of music is Old School Funk and R&B. He grew up in the era and have top of mind knowledge of the artist, producers, and record labels. He can often be heard speaking of experiences as if it was yesterday, bringing back memories for all that will listen. Mitch gives praises to God for his talent and is thankful to his supporting wife Janice. He and his wife have (6) children and 6 grandchildren. And credits his Brother Arvester Faulkner for helping him realize his dream of being among the best in the Radio Industry. 

 

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Art Terrell is greatly recognized for his mesmerizing voice and captivating personality. As an Atlanta native and Benjamin E. Mays H.S. graduate, Terrell embraces the successful expansion of "urban" community, radio and music within the greater "ATL." No stranger to the urban radio scene or to Atlanta's African-American community, Terrell's radio career is permitting him to do what he loves while donating time to causes that are important to him like Atlanta homelessness and the Tsunami and Haitian relief efforts.

Terrell is the host for KISS 104.1's (WALR-FM) Afternoon Drive where he provides listeners with entertainment news, a little comic relief and an excellent mix of music every afternoon for their drive home from 3pm-7pm. Upon Terrell's arrival in the afternoon slot in October of 2004, WALR saw it's highest ratings ever in the daypart (25-54).

Terrell became a contributor to the Atlanta radio community beginning with an internship with WVEE-FM while attending Mays High School in Atlanta. While continuing his career at WVEE he attended Georgia State University and hosted Atlanta's first hip-hop show, The Fresh Party. At WVEE, he also hosted Reggae Jammin' with Lil' John, The Quiet Storm and The House Party.

After the launch of WHTA-FM, Terrell hosted The Morning Party-The Art Terrell and Felesha Love Show. While at WHTA, Terrell also acted as Sports Director and Co-Host and Co-Producer of The Ryan Cameron Morning Show while working along side and training then intern Chris "Ludacris" Bridges. In 1996, station listeners nominated the Art Terrell for "the sexiest voice in Atlanta radio" gaining him notoriety in Atlanta.

Terrell has also produced music and studio commercials for the music industry's top artists like Aaliyah, Usher, 112 and many more. He also acted as a host for Atlanta's first TV dance show, Atlanta Jams. Check out Art's website: http://www.artterrell.com/

Email Art Terrell

Listen to him daily, Monday-Friday, 3pm-7pm, Saturday from noon to 4:00pm on   

 

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Say hello to the bad boy of old school D.J. Mixx Master Mitch... Born March 12, 196? At one of Atlanta's famous landmarks (no not the Varsity) the world renown Grady Hospital (yes a Grady baby!!) Mixx Master had an early love for music "music was all around me... My parents loved music recalling those Friday night card parties (tuna fish &crackers) and you can't forget those 45's... man that was it!!!!!!!
 
From Bankhead to Buckhead from Hunter St. To Sewell Rd. (Gotta be from to a-t-l to know that) a 9+ years straight affiliation with KISS 104.1 (don't forget about KISS 104.7) Mixx Master Mitch stays grounded in his hometown of Atlanta, GA. Several people get credit for Mixx Master's start in radio including cousin Si-Man Baby....but biggggggg shouts out to PD Kris MC Clendon (Captain Kris R.I.P my man) for believing in me and my abilities...for that I will always be grateful!!!! Being a DJ has always been my love...since the early days at Southwest High School to the later days at B.E. Mays High (class of 83' what's up!)

Entertaining people with my music...to have people come up to me after a wedding reception or a party and say "Mixx Master you're a bad boy" that means a lot ... Mixx Master Mitch believes "no matter if it's 2 people or 25,000 those 2 people will tell 25,000 if you did not give them a great show".
 
From the Blue Lights live parties to the Flashback Festival and for every party in between, thanks for your support. .....And for all the PD's On-Air Personalities, Promotion Directors and Account Mangers...I thank you also. Last but certainly not least, to the thousands of KISS 104.1 listeners out there—THANK YOU...Because "Without you there is no us"!
 

 

Check him out on   

 

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Ronnie Devoe is a member of the R&B group New Edition and the founder of The Devoe Broker Associates LLC., other wise known as the Devoe Team. He was introduced to the group in the 80's, by his Uncle Brook Payne, who choreographed for New Edition. Ronnie was originally in a group called the Dramatics and got recruited Into New Edition. The original version of New Edition, consisting of Ricky, Bobby and Michael, had begun singing together in 1978, hoping to perform for pocket cash. A twenty-year old Brooke Payne recognized the potential for promoting a teen singing group, comprised of teen members for a teen audience and in 1978 and 1979, Payne had the three friends performing around Boston. Ralph, a friend of both Ricky and Bobby, later joined the group as the fourth member. After winning a talent show in 1980, Payne’s nephew, Ronnie DeVoe, was then recruited into the group. Another neighbor from Orchard Park, Ronnie had been in another local group called the Dramatics and by Ronnie joining New Edition, the group was five strong. With the aid of Payne and Travis Gresham, an 18-year old cousin of Ronnie’s who would choreograph New Edition’s steps, the group began working regularly around Boston. They weren’t making much money, but they were making a