Trends, Travel, Film, History and Books provide readers with information that might be off the beaten path of their traditional news sources.   Whether its innovation, unique travel, classic or new age films and documentaries, looking at history from a different perspective or discovering new and established authors, it brings a fresh look to things that are either old or new again.

LONG LIVE THE KING …

SOURCE:  YOSHI’s Oakland

Freda Payne is a Detroit native who never realized her talents until the early age of twelve. Her piano teacher discovered her singing ability and from that point on Freda was singing for local affairs around Detroit and even entered talent contest on local TV as well as the national TV show, Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour. At age fourteen she joined The Don Large’s Make Way for Youth radio show broadcasted on station WJR in the penthouse of the Fisher Bldg. Freda’s first album deal was on the Impulse label with ABC Paramount in New York. After The Lights Go Down Low and much more. Recording her next album three years later on MGM records. Was an early protégé of Quincy Jones during his big band era, also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2008 in honor of Quincy’s seventy fifth birthday celebration.

Freda may be recognized by her 1970’s hits, BAND OF GOLD and BRING THE BOYS HOME. The producing team of Holland ,Dozier, and Holland were the ones who brought her to worldwide attention with those two gold records. Freda received a nomination for best R&B female vocalist for Band of Gold, and another nomination from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science’s for her album on the Invictus label, CONTACT, also produced by HDH. Freda has film credits as well , The Book of Number’s, Rag Doll, Sprung, Nutty Professor the Klumps. Cordially Invited, Rhapsody, and the Divorce.

Freda has a list of musical theatre and acting in plays. DUKE ELLINGTONS SOPHISTICATED LADIES, AINT MISBEHAVIN, DADDY GOODNESS, JELLY’S LAST JAM, BLUES IN THE NIGHT, and recently starring in ELLA FITZGERALD FIRST LADY OF SONG. Her new CD on the Artistry label for Mack Ave, is a return to Freda’s true jazz roots with the wonderful material written by song writer’s Gretchen Valande and Tom Robinson. Here she shows a smooth connection between jazz and pop . Along with some gorgeous band and string arrangements by Bill Cunliffe,this might be Freda’s best showing yet.

SOURCE:  Oprah Book Club 2.0

Books That Are Better Than a Vacation
These captivating titles will take you on a journey to far-flung points around the globe—and they’re less than $15, too!

• Compulsively readable paperbacks
• 11 books to devour on a long flight
• Jami Attenberg: 9 secrets you can only learn by turning 40
• 6 reads for every smart, forward-thinking woman

GO ON GIRL! BOOK CLUB SELECTS “PASSION’S PRIDE” FOR SUMMER READING

SOURCE:  Blacknews.com

Nationwide — Go On Girl! Book Club, the largest book club serving the reading interests of African-American women, has selected Cathie Wright-Lewis novel, Passions Pride, Return to the Dawning, for its summer reading in the science fiction/fantasy genre.

This spiritual novel traces the connection between 9/11 and slavery through the personal journey of high school teacher Mecca Freeman. As Ms. Freeman watches the Twin Towers burn and crumble, she has a vision of the ghosts of the African slaves long buried at the foot of the Towers reaching up to comfort the souls of the New Yorkers falling to their death.

That horrific event sends Freeman back to the slave auctions of 18th century New York, where she meets one of her ancestors. She then journeys to New York and visits the civil rights demonstrations in the 1960s, where she watches her mother, Passion, a once proud advocate for equality, abandon the civil rights struggle.

Discovering that she is destined to be one of the eternal Agents of Peace on Earth – the Love Warriors – Mecca struggles to accept her divinely predestined role. And she comes to understands the connection between the Twin Towers, symbols of American wealth and power, and the slave trade that led so many African slaves to their death and burial at the foot of the Towers.

At a time when Americans are finally beginning to talk openly and honestly about racism and social inequality, Wright-Lewis’s book makes an important contribution to this important American discussion.

 SOURCE:  Black & Missing Foundation

Special Guest Announced:
Actress, Elise Neal

3rd Annual ‘Hope Without Boundaries’ 5K

Join us along with Special Guests, Actress Elise Neal and Allison Seymour & Micheline Bowman from Fox 5 DC on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at the National Harbor in Fort Washington, Maryland for a day to honor our missing — like Relisha Rudd, Larry Stackhouse Jr., Dashad Smith, Tony Reeves and Shaquita Bell.

“For each missing person BAMFI reconnects, the mission continues to be clear… all lives matter!” —Allison Seymour, News Anchor, Fox 5 DC

“If we join together in masses to reconnect missing loved ones, think of all the happiness we’re bringing the world!” — Micheline Bowman, News Coordinator, Fox 5 DC

“I’m sharing in the concern for the growing number of us who are missing and becoming invisible. Come, get fit and run, and support the Black & Missing Foundation! Register now!” — Elise Neal, Actress

Early registration closes in 7 days!

REGISTER TODAY!

SOURCE:  HOUSTON STYLE MAGAZINE