#Baltimore Crown Awards

[fma03anniversary]

Happy 20th anniversary FMA. Let's put some forgotten feathers back in your cap.

Melissa was the #1 anime theme song to wrap 2003, and peaked at #2 on the Oricon Singles Chart - Japan's music industry standard for charting CD singles. Melissa became the #34th top selling single for 2003 and was only on sale for two months of the year (Melissa went on sale Sept 26th and Oricon is tracked Dec 1 - Nov 30). Melissa ranked #66 in top Japanese singles for 2004 too. The song would be on the Oricon charts for 38 weeks! Melissa won Animage Magazine's 2004 Anime Grand Prix for Best Anime Song.

Ready Steady Go! was the 18th best selling single of 2004 and peaked at #1 on the Oricon Singles Chart, and would do so charting less than half the time of Melissa, 16 weeks.

FMA sweeps Animage Magazine's 26th Annual Anime Grand Prix held in June 2004 - winning best series, best male character (Ed), best female character (Riza), best voice performance (Romi Park), best song (Melissa @ #1, Kesenai Tsumi @ #2), and best episode (7).

FMA is on the cover of all 3 major Japanese animation magazines for July 2004 - Newtype, Animage, and Animedia.

July 31, 2004 L'arc~en~Ciel make their North American debut at Otakon. Prior to their concert held at the 1st Mariner Place (now CFG Bank Arena) in Baltimore, to a crowd of 12,000 the first episode of the upcoming FMA English dub is premiered.

Rewrite peaks at #4 on the Oricon charts and becomes the 63rd best selling single of 2004. Rewrite won Best Anime Theme Song at the American Anime Awards at New York City Comicon in 2007.

FMA gets the rare honour of going to reruns in Japan.

FMA debuts on Adult Swim and is on the cover of all 3 major North American anime magazines for November 2004 - Newtype USA, Anime Insider, and Animerica.

FMA pulls in a ton of new viewers to Adult Swim for December 2004.

TV Asahi ranks FMA the most popular animated TV series in Japan in fall 2005, a year after it finished airing.

FMA is the best selling anime series on DVD for 2005 in North America. Individual DVD volume sales are so strong they rank alongside anime movies.

Anime News Network crowns FMA the best series of 2005.

Link is the #4 anime song for 2005 and peaks at #2 on the Oricon chart.

Conqueror of Shamballa is the #7 anime movie and #47 movie overall in Japan for 2005.

Anime Expo 2006 celebrates FMA. AX teams up with FUNimation to premiere Conqueror of Shamballa at the convention, hosted by guests of honour: Seiji Mizushima (Series Director), Mike McFarland (EN Director), Masahiko Minami (President of Studio Bones), Romi Park (who unfortunately had to cancel last minute), and Vic Mignogna.

Conqueror of Shamballa set to screen in 40 North American theatres. In !!2006!!

In the first ever event to honour voice acting, direction, production, etc of English anime in North America, the American Anime Awards were held at New York City Comic Con in 2007, handing out awards for the Best Of 2006. Online fan voting selected the finalists and FMA led the nominations with 5. The series would lose Best Feature (CoS) to FFVII Advent Children, but win Best Long Series, Best DVD Packaging, Best Cast, and Best Theme Song (Rewrite). Source (1), (2), (3)

Over five years after its Japanese debut and four years after it's North American start, as Brotherhood begins airing in Japan FMA still ranks #7 for best selling anime series on DVD in North America for spring 2009!

[ozzyscollectiblehub]

Elvin Hayes: The Big E — A Powerhouse of Basketball History

Elvin Hayes, known to many as “The Big E,” is a name that resonates with basketball fans and historians alike. His impact on the game is undeniable, with a career that spanned 16 seasons in the NBA and left an indelible mark on the sport. From his collegiate dominance to his storied professional career, Hayes exemplified power, skill, and a relentless work ethic that made him one of the greatest power forwards in basketball history.

Early Life and Collegiate Dominance

Born on November 17, 1945, in Rayville, Louisiana, Elvin Ernest Hayes grew up in a time when basketball was rapidly gaining popularity across the United States. Despite his early struggles with the game, Hayes developed a passion for basketball that would shape his future. By the time he reached high school, he had grown into a formidable player, leading his team to a state championship and catching the attention of college scouts.

Hayes chose to play college basketball at the University of Houston, where he quickly became a standout star. Under the guidance of coach Guy Lewis, Hayes transformed into one of the most dominant players in college basketball history. His most famous collegiate performance came on January 20, 1968, when he led the Houston Cougars to an upset victory over the UCLA Bruins in what is often referred to as the “Game of the Century.” This matchup, played at the Astrodome in Houston, was the first nationally televised regular-season college basketball game and drew over 52,000 fans. Hayes outplayed UCLA’s Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), scoring 39 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, cementing his place in basketball lore.

During his time at Houston, Hayes averaged 31.0 points and 17.2 rebounds per game, and he finished his collegiate career as the all-time leading scorer in school history. His dominance on the court earned him All-American honors and set the stage for his entrance into the NBA.

NBA Career and The Big E’s Dominance

Elvin Hayes was selected as the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft by the San Diego Rockets (later relocated and renamed the Houston Rockets). He wasted no time making an impact in the NBA, leading the league in scoring during his rookie season with an average of 28.4 points per game — a rare feat for a first-year player. This performance earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year award and established him as one of the league’s premier players.

Hayes was known for his powerful presence in the paint, using his 6'9" frame and athleticism to dominate opponents. His patented turnaround jump shot, combined with his tenacious rebounding, made him a nightmare for defenders. Hayes was also a formidable shot-blocker, consistently ranking among the league leaders in blocks.

In 1972, Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets (who would later become the Washington Bullets), where he would spend the majority of his career. It was with the Bullets that Hayes truly flourished, forming a dynamic frontcourt duo with Wes Unseld. The combination of Hayes’ scoring and rebounding prowess with Unseld’s passing and leadership abilities made the Bullets one of the top teams in the NBA during the 1970s.

The pinnacle of Hayes’ career came in 1978 when he led the Washington Bullets to the NBA championship. In a hard-fought seven-game series against the Seattle SuperSonics, Hayes was instrumental in securing the title, averaging 21.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game throughout the playoffs. This championship victory was the crowning achievement of Hayes’ career and solidified his legacy as one of the game’s greats.

Career Achievements and Legacy

Elvin Hayes retired from the NBA in 1984 after a 16-year career that saw him accumulate numerous accolades and records. He finished his career with 27,313 points, ranking him 10th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list at the time of his retirement. He also grabbed 16,279 rebounds, placing him among the top 10 rebounders in NBA history.

Hayes was a 12-time NBA All-Star, a six-time All-NBA selection, and led the league in rebounding twice. His consistency and durability were remarkable, as he played in 1,303 of a possible 1,312 games during his career, missing only nine games due to injury.

In recognition of his contributions to the game, Elvin Hayes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990. His number 11 jersey was retired by the Washington Wizards (formerly the Bullets) in honor of his impact on the franchise.

Life After Basketball

After retiring from professional basketball, Elvin Hayes remained active in the sport and in his community. He has worked as a radio analyst for the Houston Rockets, sharing his insights and expertise with fans. Hayes has also been involved in various charitable activities, including youth basketball camps and mentoring programs.

Beyond his work in basketball, Hayes returned to the University of Houston to complete his college degree, demonstrating his commitment to education and personal growth. His dedication to achieving his goals, both on and off the court, serves as an inspiration to athletes and fans alike.

The Legacy of The Big E

Elvin Hayes’ impact on basketball is profound. He was a dominant force on the court, a leader, and a champion whose contributions to the game continue to be celebrated. The Big E’s legacy is one of excellence, perseverance, and a love for the game that transcends generations. Whether remembered for his collegiate heroics, his NBA dominance, or his lasting influence on the sport, Elvin Hayes will forever be enshrined as one of the greatest players in basketball history.

[novumtimes]

Yankees Aaron Judge Juan Soto make MLB history

New York Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge and Juan Soto could be teammates for only one season, but they’ve been combining to make history in the Bronx. Despite being without ace and reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole all season thus far, the Yankees’ pitching staff has more than held their own. The team entered Friday ranking first in MLB in ERA (2.77) and opponent’s batting average (.209) among other categories. On offense, Judge had a slow start in April but turned it up with a historically good May. The AL’s all-time single-season home run champion has combined with Soto and red-hot second-year shortstop Anthony Volpe to power a potent New York lineup. The Yankees not only lead the AL East at 39-19, but they have the best record in the junior circuit, have the best run differential in MLB (+97) and are only 1/2 game behind the Philadelphia Phillies (39-18) for the best mark in the league. Only the Baltimore Orioles (35-19) have looked like a threat within the division, as the Boston Red Sox (28-29), Tampa Bay Rays (28-29) and Toronto Blue Jays (26-29) are all battling to avoid the group’s cellar. Unlike Judge, who is still seeking his first World Series appearance, Soto has been to the Fall Classic. The 25-year-old Dominican won the crown in 2019 with the Washington Nationals, just his second season in the bigs. Despite racking up five All-Star recognitions, three Silver Slugger honors, an MVP and AL Rookie of the Year Award, Judge has been unable to get the Yankees past the ALCS. Since Judge debuted in 2016, New York lost to the Houston Astros in that round in 2017, 2019 and 2022. Source link via The Novum Times

[playdeepcf]

One of the most powerful hitters of all time who went on to manage four franchises across four decades in the dugout.

Frank Robinson, 1956 NL Rookie of the Year, was the first player to win MVP Awards in both leagues – 1961 with Cincinnati and 1966 with Baltimore. In 1966 he won the AL’s Triple Crown and helped lead the Orioles to their first World Series title.

Robinson was a 14-time All-Star and slammed 586 home runs, 10th all time.

He became the first Black manager in AL/NL history when he took over Cleveland as player-manager in 1975 and was AL Manager of the Year with Baltimore in 1989. He is the only man ever to win Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Manager of the Year awards.

Robinson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982. #BlackHistoryMonth   #MLB

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.12 (before 1970)

475 – Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople, and his general, Basiliscus gains control of the empire. 1528 – Gustav I of Sweden is crowned King of Sweden, having already reigned since his election in June 1523. 1554 – Bayinnaung, who would go on to assemble the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, is crowned King of Burma. 1616 – The city of Belém, Brazil is founded on the Amazon River delta by Portuguese captain Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco. 1792 – Federalist Thomas Pinckney appointed first U.S. minister to Britain. 1808 – John Rennie's scheme to defend St Mary's Church, Reculver, founded in 669, from coastal erosion is abandoned in favour of demolition, despite the church being an exemplar of Anglo-Saxon architecture and sculpture. 1808 – The organizational meeting leading to the creation of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, is held in Edinburgh. 1848 – The Palermo rising takes place in Sicily against the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. 1866 – The Royal Aeronautical Society is formed in London. 1872 – Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, the first imperial coronation in that city in over 200 years. 1895 – The National Trust is founded in the United Kingdom. 1911 – The University of the Philippines College of Law is formally established; three future Philippine presidents are among the first enrollees. 1915 – The United States House of Representatives rejects a proposal to require states to give women the right to vote. 1916 – Both Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann, for achieving eight aerial victories each over Allied aircraft, receive the German Empire's highest military award, the Pour le Mérite as the first German aviators to earn it. 1918 – The Minnie Pit Disaster coal mining accident occurs in Halmer End, Staffordshire, in which 155 men and boys die. 1932 – Hattie Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate. 1942 – World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the National War Labor Board. 1945 – World War II: The Red Army begins the Vistula–Oder Offensive. 1955 – A Martin 2-0-2 and Douglas DC-3 collide over Boone County, Kentucky, killing 15 people. 1962 – Vietnam War: Operation Chopper, the first American combat mission in the war, takes place. 1964 – Rebels in Zanzibar begin a revolt known as the Zanzibar Revolution and proclaim a republic. 1966 – Lyndon B. Johnson states that the United States should stay in South Vietnam until Communist aggression there is ended. 1967 – Dr. James Bedford becomes the first person to be cryonically preserved with intent of future resuscitation. 1969 – The New York Jets of the American Football League defeat the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League to win Super Bowl III in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

[dan6085]

Determining the best TV series of all time is subjective and depends on personal preferences. However, here are 20 TV series that are widely regarded as some of the best ever made, along with details about each:

1. The Sopranos - A groundbreaking drama that follows the life of a New Jersey mob boss and his family. It aired from 1999 to 2007 on HBO and is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV series of all time.

2. Breaking Bad - A crime drama that tells the story of a high school chemistry teacher who turns to cooking and selling meth to provide for his family. It aired from 2008 to 2013 on AMC and won numerous awards.

3. The Wire - A crime drama that explores the drug trade and police work in Baltimore. It aired from 2002 to 2008 on HBO and is known for its complex characters and social commentary.

4. Game of Thrones - A fantasy drama that takes place in a fictional world where different factions vie for power. It aired from 2011 to 2019 on HBO and is known for its epic battles and shocking plot twists.

5. Friends - A sitcom about a group of friends living in New York City. It aired from 1994 to 2004 on NBC and is known for its comedic moments and iconic catchphrases.

6. The Simpsons - An animated sitcom that follows the lives of the Simpson family in the town of Springfield. It has been on the air since 1989 and is known for its satirical commentary on American culture.

7. The Twilight Zone - A science fiction anthology series that explores the strange and unexpected. It aired from 1959 to 1964 and has been cited as a major influence on modern TV shows and movies.

8. The West Wing - A drama that follows the lives of the staff of the White House under President Jed Bartlet. It aired from 1999 to 2006 on NBC and is known for its fast-paced dialogue and political commentary.

9. Mad Men - A period drama that takes place in the world of advertising during the 1960s. It aired from 2007 to 2015 on AMC and is known for its attention to detail and complex characters.

10. Twin Peaks - A mystery drama that takes place in a small town where strange things start to happen. It aired from 1990 to 1991 on ABC and has been cited as a major influence on modern TV dramas.

11. The Office - A mockumentary-style sitcom about the employees of a paper company. It aired from 2005 to 2013 on NBC and is known for its cringe humor and relatable characters.

12. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - A comedy-drama that takes place in the world of stand-up comedy during the 1950s. It has been on the air since 2017 on Amazon Prime Video and is known for its sharp writing and strong performances.

13. The Crown - A historical drama that follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It has been on the air since 2016 on Netflix and is known for its attention to detail and strong performances.

14. The Handmaid's Tale - A dystopian drama that takes place in a world where women are oppressed and fertile women are forced to become "handmaids" to bear children for wealthy families. It has been on the air since 2017 on Hulu and is known for its powerful performances and commentary on social issues.

15. Stranger Things - A sci-fi horror series that takes place in the 1980s and follows a group of friends as they investigate supernatural occurrences in their small town. It has been on the air since 2016 on Netflix and is known for its nostalgic references and strong ensemble cast.

16. Fargo - A crime anthology series that takes place in the world of the Coen Brothers' film of the same name. It has been on the air since 2014 on FX and is known for its dark humor and strong performances.

17. The Americans - A spy thriller that takes place during the Cold War and follows two KGB agents posing as a married couple in the United States. It aired from 2013 to 2018 on FX and is known for its tense storytelling and strong performances.

18. The Good Place - A comedy that takes place in the afterlife and follows a group of people trying to become better people. It aired from 2016 to 2020 on NBC and is known for its creative premise and sharp writing.

19. The Haunting of Hill House - A horror anthology series that takes place in a haunted house and follows a family as they confront their past demons. It aired in 2018 on Netflix and is known for its atmospheric storytelling and strong performances.

20. The Mandalorian - A space western that takes place in the Star Wars universe and follows a bounty hunter as he navigates the galaxy. It has been on the air since 2019 on Disney+ and is known for its impressive visual effects and strong performances.

[jacobkorenblum0]

What is a Horse Racing Match Race?

A match race is one of the most popular types of horse racing. This is when two horses compete on the track against each other for a purse of $500 to $700. The race is frequently fought with considerable enthusiasm and is seen as an excellent opportunity to exhibit a horse's abilities and potential.

War Admiral was a famous American horse in the late 1930s. He was the first horse to win the American Triple Crown and established himself as a notable sire in the United States. The race was remembered as a watershed moment in horse racing history.

The race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral took place at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, and was regarded as one of the most exciting races in horse racing history. The two horses agreed to compete in a winner-take-all match race despite being registered in different fields.

Seabiscuit, a champion Thoroughbred, faced War Admiral, who had just won the second leg of the Triple Crown. Both were regarded as the top horses of their generation. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. and Charles S. Howard, their owners, agreed to a match race. They were excited to host it.

The match race occurred on Memorial Day in 1938, with a purse ranging from $15,000 to $25,000. The race was scheduled for winner-take-all, but the track wasn't ready. Instead, they decided to hold the race on November 1.

The Seabiscuit-War Admiral match race was one of the most thrilling races of all time. The event was held at the Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore. It was a watershed moment for both horses and spectators.

The race between the two was a massive social event. It was so enormous that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had to interrupt a cabinet meeting to learn about it.

Seabiscuit and War Admiral were two of history's most famous and successful horses. They both won the Triple Crown and a slew of additional awards.

For years, Seabiscuit and War Admiral have been rivals. Their owners agreed to a match race to win a large prize. Seabiscuit took the victory. He won by three lengths over War Admiral.

The match race attracted enormous attention in the racing world. Even the media began to speculate about the tragedy. It was even the subject of a film.

In the summer of 1974, the match race between two-year-old champion Foolish Pleasure and Ruffian was a textbook example of horse racing turned into a PR gimmick. Many doubts were raised, including whether or not a match race was a good idea.

Both horses were regarded as the top two-year-olds of their era. They enjoyed an eight-race winning streak at four furlongs. Their coaches were working hard to improve their early speed.

The match race was set to occur on July 6 at Belmont Park. It was going to be televised and attended by 50,000 people. Because of the media and public expectations, Janney felt obligated to enter the race.

Despite being the favorite, Ruffian crashed early in the race. A seagull flew away from the course when the horses began racing closer together.

Vasquez suspected the filly was injured. As a result, he rode her more slowly. He wished to provide her with a fighting chance.

[singletonnewman]

The Baltimore Crown Awards has been a significant event to the Baltimore- regional performing arts community for years. I've been honored to an award recipient (2 times) and apart of other companies impending wins. This was our Grammys, Our Source Awards, Our BET Awards. This meant everything to us! To be recognized by our peers and celebrate each other. Although I've taken a step back from working in the media and the music industry I've learned so much from my time in the trenches. I'm so excited that we will celebrate together again This year the Baltimore Crown Returns. Cast your vote and purchase your tickets ⬇️ . . . . Baltimore Crown Award Memories - Help us Honor Baltimore by Voting today for the 2021 Baltimore Crown Awards - www.thebaltimorescene.org (link in bio) Event is Sat, November 20. (Dress code is white and silver or all silver) to celebrate 15 years of connecting, developing, promoting, honoring and serving Baltimore. Nominee list is based on voting that takes place right now. Let’s give people their flowers and “crown them now” https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-2021-baltimore-crown-awards-tickets-166400742099 . . . . #thebaltimorescene #baltimore #bmore #baltimoremaryland #baltimorecity #charmcity #baltimoreevents #baltimorecrownawards Reposted from @baltimorecrownawards 📸 by @thehighyellabella (at Baltimore, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTfKmowsgaT/?utm_medium=tumblr

[onlymexico]

Aarón Sánchez (born February 12, 1976) is an American award-winning celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, cookbook author and philanthropist of Mexican descent. He is the executive chef and part-owner of the Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans. He co-starred on Food Network’s hit series Chopped and Chopped Jr. and hosted Cooking Channel's Emmy-nominated Taco Trip. He has appeared on Iron Chef America, and is one of the few chefs whose battles have ended in a draw, tying with Masaharu Morimoto in "Battle Black Bass" in Season 2. He was also a contestant on The Next Iron Chef. He is the author of two cookbooks, and has a memoir being released October 1, 2019.

An active philanthropist, Sánchez launched the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship Fund, an initiative empowering aspiring chefs from the Latin community to follow their dreams and attend culinary school. As of 2017, he is one of the judges/hosts of FOX’s hit reality-TV culinary competition series Masterchef U.S. since Season 8 onwards after previously guest-starring in a select number of episodes in Season 7 as a guest judge, co-hosting alongside Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich (Season 8 finale-present) and Christina Tosi (Season 8-Season 9 (guest judge, Episode 11)). He has also joined the judging panel of MasterChef Junior since its 7th season, which debuted in March 2019, after guest-starring in Season 5, which debuted early 2017.

Aarón and his twin brother Rodrigo, an attorney in New York City, were born in 1976, in El Paso, Texas, to Zarela Martinez, a restaurateur and the author of several cookbooks, and Adolfo Sanchez. He began cooking at an early age, helping his mother prepare traditional Mexican foods for her catering business. In 1984, the family moved to New York, and his mother launched the acclaimed Café Marimba, and Sánchez began to cook in a professional kitchen. At age 16, Sánchez's mother sent him to New Orleans to spend the summer working with Chef Paul Prudhomme. In 1994, Sánchez graduated from The Dwight School, and began to work full-time for Prudhomme in New Orleans. Aarón was married to singer Ife Mora from 2009 until 2012. He also has a son named Yuma. On episode 21 of MasterChef season 9, he revealed that his mentor was Jonathan Waxman

In 1996, after working under Prudhomme, Aarón returned north to study culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.[5] In 1996, he returned to New York, and worked in the kitchen at Patria under nuevo-Latino chef, Douglas Rodriguez. Sánchez met his future business partner, Alex Garcia while working there.

Garcia left Patria in 1996 to open Erizo Latino, taking Sánchez to help open the restaurant. Reviews were positive, referring to the restaurant as "casual" and "earthy," and "the fare is enticingly wholesome, and the kitchen's best dishes make a fine introduction to the cooking of Central and South America." Sánchez then became executive chef at L-Ray, which specialized in foods from the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. This was followed by another executive chef position at Isla, a restaurant inspired by pre-Revolutionary Cuba. Sanchez then moved to San Francisco, working under Chef Reed Hearon at Rose Pistola.[8] Eamon Furlong hired Sánchez in 2000, to open Paladar, a pan-Latin restaurant on the Lower East Side. It opened in February 2001, and won Time Out New York's award for Best New Lower East Side Restaurant that year. It went on to be named the Best Latin American Restaurant in their 2002 Eating and Drinking Guide. Paladar had been reviewed as being "colorful, lively circus of a restaurant that’s equal parts serious cooking and serious partying," and was named a Critic's Pick by New York magazine. Sánchez sold his interest in the Paladar restaurant in 2010.

Sánchez went on to become chef of Mexican New York eatery Centrico, which closed in 2012.

He opened the restaurant Johnny Sánchez in Baltimore with fellow chef John Besh in August 2014. The Baltimore location closed in September 2017. The pair opened a second Johnny Sánchez location in October 2014 in New Orleans. As of February 2019, Besh is no longer a part of Johnny Sánchez; Aarón Sánchez and partners, Miles Landrem and Drew Mire, purchased and now own the restaurant. The three partners also are planning to develop a second restaurant in New Orleans, eyeing the Mid-City area, though the name and location have not been announced.  In 2017, he joined Masterchef US Season 8 as a judge alongside Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi, replacing Graham Elliot, to taste and help judge contestants' cooking and baking with Ramsay and Tosi in order to crown the next Masterchef. He is an expert in many cooking techniques and global cuisines, but his specialty of cooking traditional Mexican cuisine is often used throughout the season. In 2019, he guest-starred on the first episode of Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back season 2 as an extra expeditor, and revealed he lives nearby The Trolley Café in New Orleans.

Sánchez announced he will be releasing a memoir, "Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef," on October 1, 2019.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.12

475 – Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople, and his general, Basiliscus gains control of the empire. 1528 – Gustav I of Sweden is crowned King of Sweden, having already reigned since his election in June 1523. 1554 – Bayinnaung, who would go on to assemble the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, is crowned King of Burma. 1616 – The city of Belém, Brazil is founded on the Amazon River delta, by Portuguese captain Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco. 1792 – Federalist Thomas Pinckney appointed first U.S. minister to Britain. 1808 – John Rennie's scheme to defend St Mary's Church, Reculver, founded in 669, from coastal erosion is abandoned in favour of demolition, despite the church being an exemplar of Anglo-Saxon architecture and sculpture. 1808 – The organizational meeting leading to the creation of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, is held in Edinburgh. 1848 – The Palermo rising takes place in Sicily against the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. 1866 – The Royal Aeronautical Society is formed in London. 1872 – Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, the first imperial coronation in that city in over 200 years. 1895 – The National Trust is founded in the United Kingdom. 1911 – The University of the Philippines College of Law is formally established; three future Philippine presidents are among the first enrollees. 1915 – The United States House of Representatives rejects a proposal to require states to give women the right to vote. 1916 – Both Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann, for achieving eight aerial victories each over Allied aircraft, receive the German Empire's highest military award, the Pour le Mérite as the first German aviators to earn it. 1918 – The Minnie Pit Disaster coal mining accident occurs in Halmer End, Staffordshire, in which 155 men and boys die. 1932 – Hattie Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate. 1942 – World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the National War Labor Board. 1945 – World War II: The Red Army begins the Vistula–Oder Offensive. 1955 – A Martin 2-0-2 and Douglas DC-3 collide over Boone County, Kentucky, killing 15 people. 1962 – Vietnam War: Operation Chopper, the first American combat mission in the war, takes place. 1964 – Rebels in Zanzibar begin a revolt known as the Zanzibar Revolution and proclaim a republic. 1966 – Lyndon B. Johnson states that the United States should stay in South Vietnam until Communist aggression there is ended. 1967 – Dr. James Bedford becomes the first person to be cryonically preserved with intent of future resuscitation. 1969 – The New York Jets of the American Football League defeat the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League to win Super Bowl III in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history. 1970 – Biafra capitulates, ending the Nigerian Civil War. 1971 – The Harrisburg Seven: Rev. Philip Berrigan and five other activists are indicted on charges of conspiring to kidnap Henry Kissinger and of plotting to blow up the heating tunnels of federal buildings in Washington, D.C. 1976 – The United Nations Security Council votes 11–1 to allow the Palestine Liberation Organization to participate in a Security Council debate (without voting rights). 1986 – Space Shuttle program: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson lifts off from Kennedy Space Center aboard Columbia on mission STS-61-C as a payload specialist. 1990 – A seven-day pogrom breaks out against the Armenian civilian population of Baku, Azerbaijan, during which Armenians were beaten, tortured, murdered, and expelled from the city. 1991 – Persian Gulf War: An act of the U.S. Congress authorizes the use of American military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait. 1997 – Space Shuttle program: Atlantis launches from the Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-81 to the Russian space station Mir, carrying astronaut Jerry M. Linenger for a four-month stay on board the station, replacing astronaut John E. Blaha. 1998 – Nineteen European nations agree to forbid human cloning. 2001 – Downtown Disney opens to the public as part of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. 2004 – The world's largest ocean liner, RMS Queen Mary 2, makes its maiden voyage. 2005 – Deep Impact launches from Cape Canaveral on a Delta II rocket. 2006 – A stampede during the Stoning of the Devil ritual on the last day at the Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, kills at least 362 Muslim pilgrims. 2007 – Comet C/2006 P1 (McNaught), one of the brightest comets ever observed is at its zenith visible during the day. 2010 – An earthquake in Haiti occurs, killing between 220,000 and 300,000 people and destroying much of the capital Port-au-Prince. 2012 – Violent protests occur in Bucharest, Romania, as two-day-old demonstrations continue against President Traian Băsescu's economic austerity measures. Clashes are reported in numerous Romanian cities between protesters and law enforcement officers. 2015 – Government raids kill 143 Boko Haram fighters in Kolofata, Cameroon. 2016 – Ten people are killed and 15 wounded in a bombing near the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. 2020 – Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupts, and kills 39 people.

[tsgbaltimoreandannapolismaryland]

3 Historic East Coast Wedding Venues to Consider for Your Big Day

BY SARAH DAWSON February 20, 2020

The Duke Mansion. Photography by Lauren Roseneau Photography.

Many factors come into play when choosing a wedding day, from location to size to style to sentimentality. And while some couples gravitate toward sleek, modern venues, others may be more drawn to a locale with a bit of history. For those who are considering making their wedding location their “something old,” we’ve rounded up three historic wedding venues on the East Coast that will serve as the ideal backdrop for the special occasion.

THE DUKE MANSION // CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

The Duke Mansion. Photography by Kristin Byrum Photography.

The background: The Duke Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is operated as a nonprofit with all proceeds being used to preserve and protect this community treasure. Built in 1915, North Carolina entrepreneur James B. “Buck” Duke purchased the home in 1919, later founding Duke Energy and Duke University. Upon his death in 1926, the home passed from family member to family member and eventually landed in the hands of some of the Charlotte community’s most prominent philanthropic families. The Mansion currently operates as a four diamond inn, meeting, and event space.

Fun historical facts: The Cannons, a wealthy textile family, lived in the house in the 1950s. Their daughter, a true southern belle, fell in love with a Yankee Catholic, and the strong Baptist family just couldn’t stand for the partnership, so they sent her away on a cruise hoping she’d fall in love with someone else. Indeed, she did fall in love with John Hershey, and when she later married him at her family home, she invited that ex-boyfriend to attend. To this day, her ex, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, is one of the most famous guests to have attended a wedding there.

What makes it an ideal wedding locale: The Duke Mansion is a sought-after venue not only for its history, but for the lovely indoor/outdoor aspect of the property. With four and a half acres of stunning gardens, and 27 garden rooms, it’s truly an urban oasis. When couples rent the property for the wedding, they gain possession of all 20 guest rooms on Friday and Saturday nights, and it truly feels as if you are hosting the wedding at your personal home. An on-site executive chef and culinary team that includes a horticulturist customize the hyper-local southern menu for guests, with an organic garden full of heirloom tomatoes, beans, kale, and cabbages adding to the offerings.

GLEN GORDON MANOR // HUNTLY, VIRGINIA

Glen Gordon Manor. Photography by Jumping Rocks.

The background: Glen Gordon Manor traces its hospitality roots back to the 1860s when it was a Wells Fargo stagecoach stop. The main house brims with nostalgic spaces, including a fire-lit entrance hall, baronial oak hunt room, stone wine cellar, and a charming country kitchen. Located just one hour from Washington, D.C., and major airports, the Manor feels a world away in its gorgeous hunt country setting.

Fun historical facts: Fans of The Crown will appreciate that the Manor has housed British Royalty. King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, infamously known for their scandalous romance, once visited when the historic estate served as a hunting retreat for the royal family. Their stay allowed their romance to blossom, and they became the namesake for the Manor’s luxurious suites. Earlier in its history, during the Civil War, Union troops marched right in front of the Manor, and guests can tour many historic Civil War sights in the area during their stay.

What makes it an ideal wedding locale: With breathtaking views of the Shenandoah mountains and surrounding valleys, this intimate yet spacious manor home is the perfect spot for a hunt country wedding. Prior to the big event, the wedding party can enjoy the on-site spa, and wedding couples have the run of the entire property for their wedding, with the ability to host guests for an intimate gathering fireside in the Hunt Room or outdoors for a larger, tented reception. The meal is sure to be memorable as well, as award-winning chef/owner Dayn Smith customizes the reception menu to the bride and groom’s specifications.

FOXFIRE // MONKTON, MARYLAND

Foxfire. Photograph courtesy of Foxfire.

The background: A luxurious private estate, Foxfire is situated in a historic area of Monkton, Maryland, known as My Lady’s Manor, which was established more than 300 years ago when Lord Baltimore gave the land to his wife as a gift. Foxfire itself was built in 1932, and has since been regarded as a renowned horse racing and breeding farm. With its close proximity to Washington D.C., and New York City, it’s also served as a retreat for tastemakers and high society over the years.

Fun historical facts: The original 1930 Vulcan stove was built to last—it still has pride of place in the kitchen, and works like a dream. In addition, the estate is home to a long line of renowned racehorses that were bred and raised on the grounds. 

What makes it an ideal wedding locale: Foxfire limits large events to four times a year, so if you’re seeking an exclusive venue, it fits the bill. Every detail on the grounds, as well as indoors, had been thoughtfully designed to enhance the guest’s experience and surround them in a luxurious yet approachable setting. The property impresses from get-go—ancient maples line the quarter-mile driveway, along which visitors will pass a duck pond, a quarry, barns, paddocks, and pastures with grazing horses as they make their way to the main house. During the winter, the quarries on the property can freeze and have long provided opportunities for outdoor ice skating. The pristine countryside and crisp exterior of the Manor House offers the perfect backdrop to endless design palettes, whether you wish to highlight the historic estate or focus your event concept on a different source of inspiration. Couples can also opt to rent the property for the entire weekend and host up to 21 guests onsite (events can accommodate up to 300 people), along with a full range of events beyond their wedding, including a welcome reception, rehearsal dinner, or a Sunday brunch.

[100witches]

29- Laurie Cabot

29- Laurie Cabot (March 6, 1933)

The Official Witch of Salem

Massachusetts icon and legend, Laurie Cabot has become one of the most recognizable witches in the world. As one of the early practitioners of witchcraft who helped popularize the tradition in the United States, Laurie has worked tirelessly to promote the tradition on all fronts. From her establishment of the Witches’ League for Public Awareness, which defends the civil rights of witches and pagans, to her founding of the Cabot Tradition of the Science of Witchcraft, Laurie’s name has become synonymous with both modern witchcraft and the witch capitol of America, Salem, Mass.

Laurie moved to New England from California as a teenager. As is the case with many witches before and after her, her interest in the occult began at a very young age. Frequenting the historical and bewitching city of Boston, Laurie spent time perusing the stacks of the Boston Public Library and it is here where her interest in the occult allegedly grew. One of the librarians helped guide her deeper into other religious texts, eventually confiding in Laurie that she herself was a witch. At age 16, Laurie was initiated into witchcraft by this woman and several other witches.

Throughout the 1950s, she worked as a dancer in the Boston nightclub scene, and by the 1960s had two daughters from different marriages. She decided to raise her daughters as witches, and at this point started wearing what she believed was the traditional witch regalia. Laurie is known for her stark black robes and intense black eye-makeup, all complete with a pentacle pendant. After moving to Salem, Laurie began teaching courses on the subject of Witchcraft for various continuing education programs for Wellesley High School as well as Salem State College. These courses would become the basis for the tradition of witchcraft she would eventually establish.

Laurie opened Salem’s first “Witch Shop” in 1971, following the filming of several episodes of Bewitched (see posts #89, #54, #39) in 1970. The exposure generated from the television show resulted in the shop becoming a popular tourist destination and epicenter. While her first shop closed, she went on to open a second store which went on to become one of Salem’s most iconic institutions, Crow Haven Corner. In 1981, following her eldest daughter’s 18th birthday, Laurie turned over ownership of the shop to her.

Laurie has been a lifelong activist and was fiercely protective of witch’s civil rights. She further encouraged other witches to similarly take up the cause and defend their own equality and rights. This culminated in 1986 when she founded “The Witches’ League of Public Awareness”, which acted as a “media watchdog and civil rights advocate for witchcraft”. The initiating factor behind the creation of the Witches’ League was the release of the 1986 movie “The Witches of Eastwick” (#83) which Laurie felt erroneously  and offensively conveyed witchcraft, referring to the characters as “weekend Satanists”. In an effort to counteract negative stereotypes and misinformation with a public persona and PR campaign (similar to what Britain’s top witches had to do, see Patricia Crowther #57, etc.), Laurie Cabot set off correct the public understanding of witchcraft. The mission of the League, amongst other things, was “dedicated to correcting misinformation about Witches and Witchcraft. The work of the League springs from a shared vision of a world free from all religious persecution”.

Throughout the 60s and early 70s, Laurie is described as achieving what every contemporary witch of the time aspired to be. She had established her own tradition of witchcraft, was an adamant protector of her tradition’s civil rights (see Selena Fox #38), and a successful entrepreneur. In 1973, she started one of Salem’s main annual events, the “Witches’ Ball” in honor of Samhain/Halloween/‘All Hallows Eve’. This is one of the first instances of a “real Witch hosting a real Pagan festival” for the general public to witness. This yielded an increase of state and national exposure as she was becoming a well recognized witch and face of the tradition. As has been the case with other public witches who generate ample attention, such as Alex Sanders (see Maxine Sanders #74), this resulted in jealously and criticism from those who felt she was capitalizing on the tradition.

Laurie’s national exposure and position as a Massachusetts icon was illustrated in May of 1976. After an impressive losing streak by the Boston Red Sox, Laurie was hired by a local radio station. As a genuine “Salem Witch”, she was tasked with removing a curse which was believed to be on the team from a “witch doctor” that had been employed but the Baltimore Orioles. It was this sort of publicity and appearances that left some feeling as though she was taking advantage of her position, though in reality, she was doing what so many witches had done before her, namely fighting to freely participate in the vernacular dialogue of the day.

By 1977, Laurie had managed to earn the title of the “Official Witch of Salem”. While it had been officially denied to her previously, the then governor Michael Dukakis bestowed it upon her. Awarding Laurie with the Patriot Award for citizen’s public service for her work with children with special needs, she became Salem’s Official Witch. Throughout the 1980s, Laurie appeared on several television talk shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show. She has never stopped promoting the tradition and working to increase its visibility through spreading factual information. She continues to live in Salem, having recently (in 2012) closed another well known store after 40 years in service (The Cat, The Crow, and the Crown).

Laurie embodies a stark differentiation between witchcraft and the formal religion of Wicca. Laurie has always identified herself as a witch (and specifically not Wiccan), as she began to practice witchcraft prior to the popularization of Wicca. Her school and tradition of witchcraft is labeled Traditional Witchcraft, as she focuses less on religious systems and archetypes and more on the “art and science of witchcraft”. Where Wicca has a religious structure, world view, and hierarchy, Cabot’s witchcraft focusses instead on personal energy, magic, and self discovery. Without the constant work of Salem’s Official Witch, Laurie Cabot, protecting the civil rights of witches and working to promote the truth of the tradition, witchcraft would be in a vastly different place.

[docscastlemedia]

Doc’s Castle Media had the opportunity to leave our regularly scheduled program to experience something we’re very familiar with outside of our comfort zone last weekend. Doc attended a hip-hop showcase in New York City, and there’s so much to be mentioned about why my experience out of town is worthy of being shared with Baltimore city hip-hop heads.

The Inauguration Concert was hosted my Rockview Entertainment, an independent entertainment group in NYC that specializes in the branding of New York City music artists. Taina and Jus Write are two New York artist of the brand’s roster that came to the showcase that evening. A majority of the Rockview Entertainment events feature local talent from all over NYC. But some artists travel from farther distances to perform. As a part of the entourage for Baltimore recording artist Jae Duckett, I came to work my talent covering the event by taking photos and experiencing the essence of the show. We came with a total of 9 people. All of us bearing cameras and media equipment in support Jae. We did this to show the people of the big apple how we roll. We go hard for Baltimore. But do we really?

I wasn’t the only media present at the Inauguration Concert. There were three internet radio shows present; Lyve Lyfe Radio, WVMR, and Baltimore’s own Strong Way Radio. But what took the icing on the cake was Shani Kulture from Hot 97 dropping by in full support of the showcase, as well.

Shani Kulture of Hot 97

Shani Kulture delivered a message of positivity that was well needed. He encouraged each and every artist’s’ passion for what they do. Coming from someone currently working in mainstream media with large notoriety, encouragement felt like it had come spewing from the fountain of youth. There’s no doubt admiration was projected at it’s finest from prospective talent in the audience that night.

The evening was full of energy and driven individuals. Simply off the atmosphere alone, you’d feel good about what you’re apart of, which is why I needed to write about this particular showcase for Doc’s Castle Media.

Where are these type of shows in Baltimore that have this energy?

Not to knock Baltimore too much, there are plenty of notable showcases and shows that receive a good amount of support from locals; like TheMixx Festival hosted by DTLR and The 2nd Anniversary of Baltimore Beat Club hosted by The Lineup Room. We even have shows like Baltimore Crown Awards that celebrate the successes of artists striving to share their passions in the city. But there are many shows that are “ghost,” without even a handful of spectators insight. Baltimore lacks the artist at the shows showing brotherly genuine support. I always ask why is it this way?

If Baltimore could take just a pinch of energy felt that night at the Inauguration Concert, I’d know it’d be another proud moment and a step forward towards the #NewBaltimore that we idolize in 2014 when there was buzz in the atmosphere of a new generation of artists changing how we celebrate indie artists in Baltimore.  If we gained the energy felt during the Rockview Ent. show, we might actually have a chance to climb out of the barrels this city seems to be too familiar with.

If I were to suggest some things that happened in New York that Baltimore artists should invest in doing, there wouldn’t be much I’d need to share. Simply to show up and show out for your friends is all that’s needed to be done.

Each artist in the building that night came with an entourage of supportive friends. Similar to attending a high energy sporting event, all friends cheered on their artist like no other. The night started off with each group of friends showing love solely for who they came for. But by the end of the night, the love shown spread into a huge circle of love. Everyone became one, with the help of the evening’s special guest Shani Kulture encouraging everyone to support all of their peers. He reminded the audience that performing in front of strangers isn’t easy. These artists had the courage to entertain the room. Shani basically told us to show our respect and listen to them.

Maybe artists in Baltimore don’t understand that concept of support at all. We ask our friends to come to our shows and end up partying with strangers. Every time we get to a point when we feel like we’re crawling away from the barrel of constant hate, we get pulled back in by those who are the closest to us. Trying to gain support in Baltimore is a never ending battle familiar to anyone who wants to pursue a dream.

“We are better off moving to another state to get ahead,” says a majority of dreamers spotted in the Baltimore arts scene. They say it as if other cities, like Atlanta, GA, and Los Angeles, are the chosen “mecca” lands, getaway places for serenity and peace, for their passions and talents.

This is not so if we’d just support everyone where we are.

Otherwise, my surroundings in NYC made me hopeful to see a concert like the Inauguration Concert replicated in my hometown. There were enough Baltimore natives there to experience the night’s vibes. Hopefully, those people can spread its essence somehow, or maybe I could be reaching.

Check out more from the night in the gallery below.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Why do you think Baltimore artist struggle to gain support from their peers? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Did you catch the visuals for Boutzie’s Intoxico? Watch the music video for Intoxico feature Flu_x and Jimmy Apoet on Doc’s Castle Media.

Rockview Entertainment Presents the Inauguration Concert in Queens, NY (What Indie Support Should Look Like) Doc's Castle Media had the opportunity to leave our regularly scheduled program to experience something we’re very familiar with outside of our comfort zone last weekend.

[nwbeerguide]

For the first time ever, Occidental Brewing Company has released their Festbier in cans.

In Munich and surrounding regions, it is often customary to celebrate Oktoberfest with a Feistbier. Brewed in celebration of not only Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig the first) this beer style inspires thoughts of dresses, lederhosen, pretzels, and of course a plethora of prosts!. It's also a beer which reminds us of the rewards that come with sharing a stein with a stranger or loved one. This might be the reason behind Occidental' Brewing Company's release of their own Festbier.

Brewed in the old-world tradition, this easy-sipping lager was inspired by Oktoberfests pasts as it eschews lighter colored beers for something dark and warm-inspiring. Through the use of German noble hops, coupled with traditional Munich and Vienna malts, the beer is not only a nod to Oktoberfest but also a reminder that Summer is soon to end.

Thankfully, those who live in or around Portland don't have to visit the brewery in order to enjoy a Festbier. Rather the brewery is happy to announce they are releasing cans of this festive lager. Packaged up in 16-ounce cans, Occidental Festbier pairs best with pretzels, lederhosens, homemade sauerkraut or the first of many fallen leaves.

Or if you prefer, stop into the brewery's taproom, September 20th, and 21st, during their Oktoberfest celebration. Featuring food from Urban German, this all-ages event is probably as close as you get to Bavaria without a passport.

Occidental Brewing Company's taproom is located at 6635 N Baltimore Ave #102 in Portland. For more information visit http://bit.ly/2TTuQvS.

About Occidental Brewing Company Occidental Brewing Co. was founded in 2011 by Ben and Dan Engler with the goal of making well-balanced continental-style beers in the land of IPAs: Portland, Oregon. Finding a niche with beer drinkers who had grown tired of the hops arms race, we quickly grew (but not too much) with our lineup of approachable, sessionable, and award-winning ales and lagers. We began canning our core beers in 2013 and now bottle multiple seasonal offerings as well. Over the years we expanded our distribution from our Portland brewery to much of Oregon, Western Washington, British Columbia, Idaho, and the occasional shipment to Japan. In 2016 we expanded our retail offerings by opening the Occidental Wursthaus across the way from the brewery in Portland. With a full menu of traditional German fare, the Wursthaus offers a cozy brauhaus atmosphere to enjoy our beer with a beautiful view. In 2018 we opened our second brewery in Sparks, Nevada where we produce the same lineup of Occidental beers for the Nevada market. Look for Occidental beer in your local supermarket, bottle shop, bar or restaurant. Prost!

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide http://bit.ly/33NcNw1

[blackkudos]

Ashanti

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, 1980), known simply as Ashanti, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer and actress. Ashanti is known for her eponymous debut album, which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold over 503,000 copies in its first week of release throughout the U.S. in April 2002. In 2003, the self-titled debut album won Ashanti her first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B album. Her second release achieved a platinum certification and others top 10 singles.

Ashanti wrote and sang background on Jennifer Lopez's "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)", which reached number one on Billboard Hot 100, which was also in the top 10 chart at the same time as "Foolish", "Always on Time" (with Ja Rule), and "What's Luv?" (with Fat Joe). Later that year, she was acclaimed as the "Princess Of Hip-Hop & R&B" by her label and capped off her successful debut by winning eight Billboard awards and two American Music Awards.

Ashanti cites Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Tupac Shakur, Mary J. Blige, Ella Fitzgerald, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, and Blue Magic as her musical influences. She is currently working on her own publishing company titled Written Entertainment.

Early life

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas was born on October 13, 1980, in Glen Cove, New York. Her mother, Tina Douglas, is a former dance teacher, and her father, Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas, is a former singer. Her mother named her after the Ashanti Empire in Ghana; in this nation, women have power and influence, and Tina wanted her daughter to follow that model. Her grandfather, James, was a civil rights activist who associated with Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s. Growing up, Ashanti took dance lessons and joined the church choir. Ashanti went to Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, where she studied different dance styles, including tap, jazz, ballet, African, modern, and hip hop. She danced with the Senior Pro Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Black Spectrum Theater. She also performed at the 1994 Caribbean Awards and dancing with Judith Jamison of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. With actress and choreographer Debbie Allen at the helm, Ashanti also performed in the Disney television film Polly alongside stars Keshia Knight Pulliam, Jomecia Moore and Phylicia Rashad.

When she was three years old, Ashanti sang in a gospel choir called "Having Some Fun and the Handsome Pigeons," but her mother discovered her full singing potential when she overheard Ashanti singing Mary J. Blige's "Reminisce" at age 12. By the time Ashanti hit puberty, her mother was sending out demo tapes of her singing and dancing. The family could not afford to go to a studio and record a formal demo, so when labels called, Ashanti would have to sing 'I'm a little teapot' in front of the record company executives. While attending high school, she began to write songs. As a teenager, she performed in a local talent show and at the Soul Cafe, China Club, Madison Square Garden, Caroline's Comedy Club, and Greek Fest 2000. In her first major singing performance, Ashanti performed Yolanda Adams's "More Than a Melody". She also appeared in a number of big-name music videos, in addition to other dance work.

Ashanti got her first taste of acting as a child extra in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992) and in Who's the Man?. She also started as a dancer in the Disney TV film Polly. She was also one of the students in the 3-2-1 Contact Extra, What Kids Want To Know About Sex and Growing Up. She also had a couple of minor appearances in music videos, such as KRS-One's "MC's Act Like They Don't Know" as well as 8-Off's "Ghetto Girl".

When Ashanti was 16, she was discovered by P.Diddy's Bad Boy Records. Initially, she went to Bad Boy Records and sang one of Mary J. Blige's songs in front of P. Diddy and Biggie Smalls. After being impressed by her singing ability, Diddy had her sign to a development deal. In the end, due to a bad contract, Ashanti did not sign with Diddy. This ultimately led to a record deal with Jive Records in 1997. This relationship soured when Jive tried to make Ashanti into a pop singer. Ashanti subsequently involved herself in schoolwork, cheerleading, and running on her school's track team. She belonged to the English club where she began writing poetry. She was also in the Drama club and performed in a few plays. She put college pursuits aside when Epic Records approached her with a contract in 1998. However, the label's management changes quickly made Ashanti a low priority. She continued to perform at local New York clubs and began hanging out at the Murder Inc. recording studio, hoping for another big break.

Career

2001–03: 

Ashanti, Chapter II and Ashanti's Christmas

Ashanti was first noticed by Irv Gotti because of her vocal skills. Ashanti initially asked him to produce a few demo songs for her to record so she could say she had some strong tracks by the big time producer but Gotti had a different idea. He asked her to pen hooks for his rap artists and to perform with them in duets. Ashanti provided the melodic response to their call. Ashanti was first featured as a background vocalist on rapper Big Pun's song "How We Roll". In the same year, Ashanti was featured on fellow labelmate Cadillac Tah's singles "Pov City Anthem" and "Just Like a Thug". She also appeared on the 2001 The Fast and the Furioussoundtrack as a featured artist on Vita's 2001 hip hop remake of Madonna's "Justify My Love" and on the solo track "When a Man Does Wrong". She was featured on Fat Joe's "What's Luv?" and Ja Rule's "Always on Time". "What's Luv?" and "Always on Time" were released simultaneously and became two of the biggest hit songs of 2002. Ashanti became the first female to occupy the top two positions on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously when "Always on Time" and "What's Luv?" were at numbers one and two, respectively.

Following the success of her collaborations with Ja Rule and Fat Joe, Ashanti released her debut single, "Foolish", which contains a sample of the 1983 song "Stay with Me" by DeBarge (also utilized by The Notorious B.I.G. in his 1995 single "One More Chance", and by Big L in "MVP"). This is her biggest song to date, spending ten weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. She became the second artist (after The Beatles) to have their first three chart entries in the top ten of the Hot 100 simultaneously. Ashanti's self-titled debut album,Ashanti, was released on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. record label in April 2002. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. The album has been certified triple platinum in the United States and sold six million copies worldwide. Ashanti wrote the album's twelve tracks, most of which were written on the spot in the studio. 2002 saw the birth of the careers of many new R&B artists and 'rivals' against Ashanti including Amerie, Tweet, and Nivea. Ashanti's dominance of the R&B world was certified as she had a song in the top ten of the R&B/hip-hop charts every week from January to November 2002. Ashanti's follow-up singles, "Happy" and "Baby", were not as successful as her debut single but peaked inside the top ten and top twenty in the U.S., respectively. During mid-2002, Ashanti appeared on Ja Rule's "Down 4 U" with labelmates, female rappers Vita and Charli Baltimore. The song appeared on a Murder Inc. compilation titled Irv Gotti Presents The Inc. Ashanti's debut album earned her many awards, including eight BillboardMusic Awards, two American Music Awards, and a Grammy Award in 2003 for Best Contemporary R&B Album. She was nominated as Best New Artist and "Foolish" was nominated in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category. FHM credited her as the "Sexiest Woman in Music" in 2002. She also received a Comet Award and two Soul Train Music Awards that same year.

Ashanti became the subject of controversy when it was announced that she would receive the Soul Train Aretha Franklin Award for "Entertainer of the Year", a high school student took offense and started an on-line petition against her, explaining to The Seattle Times that she was too new to deserve the award. Nearly 30,000 people agreed with him, signing the petition. Many said that established artists such as Mary J. Blige and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott or critically acclaimed singers like Alicia Keys and India.Arie were more deserving of an award that carries the name of a musical legend. Despite the petition, the Soul Train committee and Don Cornelius stuck by their decision and Ashanti. Ashanti was applauded by her musical peers as she entered the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to accept her award and she was supported onstage by legendary singer Patti LaBelle, who stated "she's a baby and we have to support our babies." In September 2002, Ashanti and her sister Kenashia appeared on the first DisneyMania CD, which was released under Walt Disney Records and features contemporary Disney songs. Ashanti and her sister sang "Colors of the Wind" from the Disney film Pocahontas. By early 2003, Ashanti had performed at every major award show there was: Soul Train Awards, Grammy's, BET Awards, MTV Awards and the American Music Awards. In 2003, Ja Rule and Ashanti collaborated on another hit song, "Mesmerize", the music video for which was a parody of a scene from the film Grease. In February 2003, the self-titled debut album had her win her first Grammy award for Best Contemporary R&B album. On May 2, 2002 Ashanti received the key to the city of Glen Cove, New York (her hometown), and the day was named Ashanti Day; Ashanti also received a key to the city of Atlantic City, New Jersey (she was crowned princess of hip hop and R&B).

In July 2003, Ashanti released her second album, Chapter II, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 326,000 copies in the U.S.. The album went Platinum, selling over 1.5 million copies in U.S. The album's success was somewhat eclipsed, however, by all the negative drama surrounding the Murder Inc. camp at the time (i.e., the FBI investigation and the G-Unit feuding). Chapter II's first single, "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)", became a hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Its video, which showed Ashanti in a bikini frolicking on a beach and riding an elephant named Bubbles, was nominated for two 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. A remix of the song contains interpolations of Michael Jackson's "Rock with You". The second single, "Rain on Me", reached the number-seven spot on the Hot 100 and number two on the Hot 100 R&B Songs chart. Chapter II was nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album, and "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" and "Rain on Me" were nominated in the categories of Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, respectively. At the end of 2003 in November, Ashanti performed at The American Music Awards and was nominated in two categories. In the "Rain on Me" mini-movie music video—directed by Hype Williams and co-starring Larenz Tate—Ashanti portrays a troubled young woman in an abusive relationship. Her song and lyrics combined with William's visuals to impart the power and horror of the cycle of domestic violence. Ashanti partnered with LidRock to distribute this mini-movie using LidRock's unique platform. This promotion, in conjunction with heavy rotation on MTV, BET and other music video programs, brought the film and her cause to the attention of millions of fans. It also helped to raise money for the cause, with proceeds from the $5 mini-disc going toward helping to stop domestic violence. She received a Lifetime Channel Achievement Award for her message speaking out against domestic violence. Ashanti was scheduled to join Mariah Carey on the U.S. leg of her Charmbracelet World Tour, but due to scheduling issues, she, instead, became the opening act for R. Kelly's five-date tour in mid-2003 instead. In May 2003, Ashanti appeared on VH1 Divas and performed her single "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)". She also participated in duets with Stevie Wonder (who later gave her the nickname Little Libra) on "Do I Do", and the Isley Brothers on "That Lady". That same year, she began dating rapper Nelly.

In November 2003, Ashanti's Christmas album, Ashanti's Christmas. The album containing 10 Christmas songs, six classic covers and four she wrote herself. To coincide with the release Ashanti premiered a "Christmas Medley" video for the album. While on BET's 106 & Park, Ashanti said the concept of the Christmas Album came from a guest spot she did on Steve Harvey's radio show. While playing a game with Stevie Wonder, he began playing Christmas medleys on the piano and Ashanti began singing them, giving her label head the idea to push for a Christmas album. Ashanti went into the studio to record the album during the summer of 2003. Ashanti's Christmas was released that October and sold just around 100,000 units in the U.S.

2004–07: 

Concrete Rose, Collectibles by Ashanti and acting

Before Concrete Rose was released, Ashanti did some major promotion for her single "Only U", when she premiered it at the 2004 Vibe Music Awards. In 2004, Ashanti was invited back to perform at VH1's Divas 2004. She appeared on stage with Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Jessica Simpson, and others. She performed Diana Ross' single "I'm Coming Out", and she performed a soul-influenced rendition of Chaka Khan's funk driven "Ain't Nobody". Later that year Ashanti collaborated with male R&B newcomer and labelmate Lloyd on the song "Southside", which was released as his debut single and was a moderate hit. "Wonderful"—with Ja Rule and R. Kelly—peaked at number five in the U.S. and at number one in the UK, and "Jimmy Choo" with rapper Shyne reached number fifty-five on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. Alongside artist such as Wyclef Jean, Mary J. Blige, Eve, Brandy, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Missy Elliott, and many others, Ashanti participated in a cover of "Wake Up Everybody" in support of ACT, the left-leaning political action committee.

In December 2004, Ashanti released her third studio album, Concrete Rose, the title of which took on Tupac Shakur's pseudonym "The Rose That Grew from Concrete". The album debuted at number seven in the U.S with first week sales of 254,000 copies, and eventually became her third platinum certified album. The first single, the gold-certified "Only U", reached number thirteen on theBillboard Hot 100 and became her biggest hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number two. A second single, the ballad "Don't Let Them", garnered little chart success after Def Jam refused to fund a music video due to Irv Gotti's legal troubles during his money laundering trial. Ashanti used her own money to deliver the second video to her fans, with Gotti acting as director. The single was released only in the U.S., where it failed to chart, and the UK, where it reached the lower end of the top forty. In 2005, Ashanti graced the stage at the MTV Japan Music Awards, where she performed her hit single, Only U. She also won a Style award during the show. She performed alongside huge acts like Mariah Carey and Korean star Rain. After the release of Concrete Rose, Ashanti released the DVD Ashanti: The Making of a Star, which was available only for a limited time. The deluxe DVD includes exclusive photo and video shoot footage, music from the albums Ashanti, Chapter II and Concrete Rose, special concert footage, unreleased childhood school performances and behind-the-scenes interviews with family, friends, and fans. The DVD was also repackaged along with the filmCoach Carter. Later in 2005, Ashanti was invited to Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball, which honored some of the most influential and legendary African American women of the twentieth century in the fields of art, entertainment, and civil rights. In December 2005, Ashanti released a remix album of Concrete Rose titled Collectables by Ashanti. It features six remixes of previously released tracks and four newly recorded songs, including the single "Still on It", which features rappers Paul Wall and Method Man. The album was an opportunity for her to fulfill her contract with Def Jam (and have the option of working with another label), and did not fare well on the charts.

In January 2005, she made her feature film acting debut in the film Coach Carter alongside Samuel L. Jackson, which debuted at number one opening weekend. She played a pregnant teenager named Kyra who has to decide whether or not to abort her unborn child. The movie opened at number-one at the U.S. box office, eventually grossing $67 million in the U.S. Later in 2005, Ashanti beat out Hilary Duff and Jessica Simpson to star as Dorothy Gale in the made-for-television film The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, which pulled in nearly 8 million viewers. In 2006, she starred in the teen comedy John Tucker Must Die, which opened and peaked at number three at the U.S. box office (competing with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Miami Vice) and grossed $68,818,076 worldwide. Ashanti played Heather, the head cheerleader who participates in a vengeful scheme against John Tucker, her unfaithful boyfriend and the school's biggest heartthrob. Ashanti can also be found on Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 7 episode 14: "First Date" and onSabrina the Teenage Witch season 7 episode 3: "Call Me Crazy". In 2007, Ashanti appeared in the sci-fi horror action Resident Evil: Extinction as a nurse named Betty. The film entered at number one at the box office grossing $53,678,580 in its opening week. To date the movie has grossed $83,648,679 at the US box office and around $197,713,442 worldwide. This was Ashanti's second number one movie, the other being Coach Carter. In 2006, Ashanti announced that she would release a book titled Ashanti Style withJump at the Sun, an imprint of Disney's Hyperion Books for Children. The book, which was being touted as Ashanti's "life and style guide", was a behind-the-scenes look into her style, both in her personal and professional life. The book was originally planned for a late-2007 release, but as of April 2008 no release date had been announced. Another venture Ashanti has enlisted in is her own handbags and pocketbook, revealed in 2007.

2008–10: 

The Declaration, departure from The Inc. and The Wiz

Her fourth studio album, The Declaration, was released on June 3, 2008 and sold 86,000 units its first week of release, which were the lowest first week sales for any of Ashanti's studio albums. In mid-2007, MTV News reported that the first single from The Declarationwas "Switch", which was produced by Shy Carter and released digitally in the United States on July 24, 2007. It was later reported that "Switch" may not be included on the album's track listing, and that the first single would be "Hey Baby (After the Club)" it was released to radio and digital outlets on October 16. The song, which does not appear on the U.S. editions of the album, peaked at number eighty-seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "The Way That I Love You", was released to radio and digital outlets in January 2008, was referred to as the "first single" in press material and media reports. It reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Ashanti's first song to reach the top forty since "Only U" in 2004. "Body On Me" was recorded not only for Ashanti's The Declaration, but also for Nelly's fifth studio album Brass Knuckles. The track is produced by Akon and Giorgio Tuinfort. It went to number one on Billboard's Hot Videoclip Tracks chart in its first week, becoming the first number one single from Nelly's album."Good Good" was released to urban radio stations on July 16, 2008. The song contains elements of Elton John's 1974 single "Bennie and the Jets", and has the same melody arrangement as Michael Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine". In July 2008, Ashanti was named an ambassador of tourism for Nassau County, Long Island.

In May 2009, Irv Gotti announced that he was officially releasing Ashanti from The Inc. Records, stating that "The relationship has run its course. The chemistry of what's needed — we're in two totally different places. You're talking to somebody that took her and shaped and molded her and put her out there for the world, and it blew up. We [hold the record] for the [fastest] selling debut by a female R&B artist — 503 [thousand]. We did it! My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up." Gotti also admitted that he and Ashanti have not spoken to each other in a long time. A rep for Ashanti did not respond. On September 24, 2009, Ashanti announced her fifth studio album would be released from her new label, Written Entertainment.

Ashanti headlined the cast of The Wiz in the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars staging from June 12 to July 5, 2009. Ashanti's role as Dorothy has since received mixed reviews from critics as most praised her vocals but was less pleased with her acting ability. BET and Entertainment Weekly both praised the singer's performance as The New York Post and New York Times gave lukewarm reviews. Though the first night was sold out, some of the other shows were unable to follow its success. On October 27, 2008, Ashanti took part in The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken, a one night only concert to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Wicked, featuring songs written by Stephen Schwartz, that were cut from the show.

2011–present: 

Braveheart, and sixth album

Ashanti confirmed via Twitter that she was currently in the studio working on her fifth album, that is being released through her own record label Written Entertainment. Ashanti was rumored to be working with a slew of producers and artist, thus far this is all that has been verified... LT Hutton, Dr. Dre, Game, Theron Feemster aka Neff-U, Cool & Dre, Warryn Campbell, Carvin & Ivan, Common, Darkchild and Tank who co-wrote and co-produced with her the song Paradise. The release date was initially April 17, 2012, however, the release date got pushed back to June 19, 2012. It was later pushed back yet again, with a new release date of August 28, 2012. The album then got pushed back again to January 29, 2013. In July 2011 a promo picture was released, rap-up revealed she had been in the studio with big names including Dr. Dre, Game, and Lil Wayne, and Ashanti had said that a single was coming "very soon". Single titles include "Paradise" and "She Can't." R. Kelly joins the singer on a track titled "That's What We Do", whilst Keyshia Cole appears on "Woman to Woman". Ashanti released her first song in four years, "Never Too Far Away", which was featured in Morgan Creek's film Dream House starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz with Naomi Watts. Ashanti also confirmed via her Twitter account that the song will be on her upcoming fifth album but is not her first single. Ashanti announced the title of the first single from her fifth studio album, BraveHeart, via NBC Today Show, revealing it to be called 'No Good', however the title was later changed to "The Woman You Love". The lead single from her fifth studio album, "The Woman You Love" featuring American rapper Busta Rhymes, was released online on December 15, 2011. Ashanti said on her official Twitter account that the song would be released onto iTunes on 16 December with a new promo picture. Ashanti released via UStream snippets of some songs from her upcoming 5th studio album which included "The Woman You Love", "Never Too Far Away", "She Can't", "Paradise", "Blow" and "Get Lost Together". Ashanti teamed up with Meek Mill and French Montana for the anticipated second single "No One Greater", which was produced by 7 Aurelius, Irv Gotti and Chink Santana. The track was leaked in June 2012. On October 2, the song "That's What We Do" with R. Kelly was released to iTunes for download. In April 2013 she released another single called "Never Should Have". An music video for the track was also released the same month. In November 2012, it was reported that she had landed her first series regular role in the seventh season of Army Wives in which she played Latasha Montclair. The series was cancelled on September 24, 2013. In the fall of 2013, she appeared in a guest spot on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit alongside Clay Aiken and Taylor Hicks. Additionally, her single "Never Should Have" won "Best Independent R&B/Soul Performance" at the 2013 Soul Train Awards and has also earned an additional nod at the 2013 MCP Music Awards. She starred in the Lifetime film Christmas in the City which premiered on December 7, 2013. Additionally, she released a holiday EP titled A Wonderful Christmas with Ashanti on digital services.

In August 2013, Ashanti announced her plans to work with Ja Rule again, who'd been released from prison in July of that year after a six-year sentence stemming from a gun charge. On January 8, 2014, she revealed the official cover art and release date for Braveheart, which was released March 4, 2014. In January 2014, Ashanti shot the video for the official first single from Bravehearttitled "I Got It" featuring Rick Ross. The video was shot in Miami, Florida and was directed by Eif Rivera. In July, Ashanti announced that the second official single from BraveHeart would be "Early in the Morning" featuring French Montana. The video was shot in August 2014 and directed by Elf Rivera. She released a full-length (deluxe) version of her holiday album A Wonderful Christmas with Ashanti in October 2014. The following month, she starred in the SyFy film Mutant World.

In 2015, she announced that she has been working on new music for her sixth album to be released in 2016. Ashanti also teamed with Michelle Obama and her Let's Move campaign to spread awareness of drinking water with her new video and song "Let's Go". The song and video go from dehydrated to hydrated the more #DrinkUpAshanti is tweeted on Twitter. On December 2, Ashanti released her newly hydrated single "Let's Go" on iTunes. The video is also available at www.drinkupashanti.com.

Artistry

Ashanti is known for her lyric soprano voice type. People magazine referred to her voice as "pretty" and her soprano as "sultry" and "sweet but slight." her unique styling of hip-hop soul earned her the title of The Princess of Hip-Hop and R&B, as stated in her song, "Happy." Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic noted her reputation for using her "swooning voice" in duets with Big Pun, Fat Joe and most notably Ja Rule. As a young girl Ashanti was influenced by legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Prince and Tupac Shakur but she cites Mary J. Blige as the main reason she wanted to pursue a singing career. "I didn't want to sing only slow songs and I didn't want to be spittin' rhymes. But Mary [J. Blige] put those concepts together. She cleared the way, and now I'm following my own path."

Philanthropy

In 2003, Ashanti partnered with LidRock and the San Francisco-based Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to distribute the "Rain On Me" mini-movie using LidRock's unique platform. Proceeds from the $5 mini-disc went towards helping to stop domestic violence. Ashanti also recorded a public service announcement that appeared in more than 4,000 film screens and reached millions of people. Ashanti also gives back by raising money for sickle cell research and she is active in helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation stating, "I'll go and do just about anything for them." In 2005, Ashanti helped by recording public service announcement and raising money for the Southeast Asia tsunami disaster. Later that year she helped raise money for the Hurricane Katrina victims and storm evacuees. In 2008, Ashanti, along with others celebrities, taped a PSA to help stop violence and discrimination towards the LGBT community in response to the death of Lawrence King, an eighth-grader at E.O. Green Junior High School who was shot because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. That same year, she launched a special on-line campaign called "I Declare Me..." with Wal-Mart. The campaign's core is a very personal focus on the self-definition and empowerment of women across the United States, with its home base at Ashanti's official website. The campaign creates a safe and inclusive on-line space to for women to share testimonies on the site. Participants are able to openly declare their own breakthroughs, revelations, struggles and victories in every life area they choose: career, birth, death, relationships, and personal situations. "I Declare Me..." also invites women to a virtual discussion with Ashanti on such issues as voter registration, teen obesity, and other concerns facing women today.

In September 2009, Ashanti, along with other artists Mariah Carey, Beyoncé Knowles, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes, Busta Rhymes, Cheri Oteri, Flavor Flav, Queen Elizabeth and Carrie Underwood, teamed up for the song "Just Stand Up!". The charity tune for cancer was conceived by Antonio "L.A." Reid, who produced it with longtime creative colleague Babyface. All 15 singers (along with Nicole Scherzinger) shared the stage to perform the song live on Sept. 5 2008 during the "Stand Up to Cancer" television special, which aired simultaneously on ABC, NBC and CBS, and helped raise $100 million for cancer research. As a result of SU2C fund raising endeavors, the SU2C scientific advisory committee, overseen by the American Association for Cancer Research was able to award 73.6 million dollars towards novel, groundbreaking cancer research in 2009.

In November 2009, Ashanti joined the crew of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The singer assisted in the rebuilding of the Powell Family home in Buffalo, New York. The efforts from the show expanded significantly to include not just the family home but the entire neighborhood surrounding it. The episode aired January 24, 2010.

Ashanti is featured on the 19-track compilation album "Songs For a Healthier America", a collaborative project by the Partnership for a Healthier America, whose honorary chair First Lady Michelle Obama, and Hip Hop Public Health. Her song "Just Believe" also features Artie Green, Gerry Gunn, Robbie Nova and Chauncey Hawkins.

Ashanti has greatly given back to the community. She has a history of supporting good causes. She is affiliated with the Jumpstart reading program, Tupperware Brand and Boys and Girls Club of America.

Personal life

Ashanti met rapper Nelly at a press conference for the 2003 Grammy Awards on January 1, 2003. Ashanti and Nelly ended their nine-year relationship in December 2012.

Discography

Ashanti (2002)

Chapter II (2003)

Concrete Rose (2004)

The Declaration (2008)

Braveheart (2014)

Chapter VI (2016)

Filmography

Films

Bride and Prejudice (2004)

The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)

Coach Carter (2005)

John Tucker Must Die (2006)

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

Christmas in the City (2013)

Mutant World (2014)

Stuck (2015)

Mothers and Daughters (2016)

Television

What Kids Want To Know About Sex and Growing Up (1992)

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2002)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2003)

WrestleMania XIX (Opening: America the Beautiful) (2003)

The Proud Family (voice) (2003)

Pepsi Smash (Commercial) (2003)

Punk'd (2004)

Oxygen: Custom Concert (2004)

Las Vegas (TV series) (2005)

2007 World Series (Opening: 'God Bless America') (2007)

NFL Thanksgiving Day game CBS (Opening: 'National Anthem') (2007)

BET Awards Nomination Special "I Wanna Thank My Mama" (host) (2008)

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2010)

Army Wives (2013)

Law & Order: SVU (2013)

Unforgettable (2015)

Theater

The Wiz (2009)

http://wikipedia.thetimetube.com/?lang=en&q=Ashanti%20(singer)

[historyinfullcolor]

Frank Robinson

"It's nice to come into a town and be referred to as the manager of the Cleveland Indians instead of as the first black manager." – Frank Robinson

In 1975, Frank Robinson was able to use his clout as a top player to become a player-manager for the Cleveland Indians.  As the first African-American manager of a MLB team he made history.  

An African American baseball manager was one of Jackie Robinson’s dream. The baseball legend believed that for segregation in baseball to be truly over, African-Americans needed to be allowed into management and ownership.  

Sadly, Robinson’s skills as one of baseball’s all-time great hitters did not help him as a manger.  He was voted as the worst manager in baseball twice in a Sports Illustrated poll of MLB players.

 As a player, Robinson was one of Major League Baseball’s all-time great home run hitters.  Robinson hit 586 career home runs including hitting a run out of Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Md., on May 8, 1966.  He is the only player to have earned the Most Valuable Player award in both leagues. Robinson earned the American League Triple Crown in 1966, voted into the Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians all retired Robinson’s number 20.

In this image Robinson had swung the bat as the Baltimore Orioles plays the Boston Red Sox on May 19, 1966.