Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner: A Life of Talent, Impact, and Legacy in Entertainment!

Los Angeles, CA – The world of entertainment recently lost a versatile talent with the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner on July 20, 2025, at the age of 54. Best known globally as Theo Huxtable from the iconic The Cosby Show, Warner's career extended far beyond acting, encompassing directing, music, and spoken word poetry. His profound impact on television and culture, coupled with his understated brilliance, solidified his place as a beloved figure in Hollywood.

Warner's untimely death due to an accidental drowning in Costa Rica has deeply saddened his colleagues and fans. His life was a testament to dedication and artistic exploration, leaving behind a rich tapestry of work that continues to resonate.

Biography: From Child Star to Multi-Hyphenate Artist

Born on August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was named with a nod to significant cultural figures: Malcolm X and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. Raised in Los Angeles from the age of five, his interest in performance blossomed early, leading him to enroll in acting schools by age nine. He honed his craft at The Professional Children's School in New York City, graduating as a child performer.

His breakout role arrived in 1984 with Theodore "Theo" Huxtable on NBC's The Cosby Show. As the relatable, fashion-conscious son of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, Theo became a cultural touchstone, earning Warner an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986. He appeared in all eight seasons of the groundbreaking series, which ran until 1992.

After The Cosby Show, Warner consciously diversified his career, seeking roles that challenged him and exploring his passion for music and directing. He became a respected figure behind the camera, helming episodes of popular sitcoms, and a Grammy-winning musician and poet, further showcasing his artistic depth.

His personal life was largely kept private in later years, though he had notable past relationships with actresses Michelle Thomas and Regina King. He is survived by his wife and daughter, whose identities he chose to keep out of the public eye.

Directorial Vision: Behind the Camera

Beyond his celebrated acting, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a seasoned director. His keen understanding of storytelling and character translated effectively behind the lens. He directed episodes for a number of television series, demonstrating his versatility across comedic and dramatic genres.

Notable Directorial Credits Include:

• The Cosby Show (multiple episodes)
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
• Malcolm & Eddie (where he also starred)
• All That
• Kenan & Kel
• Reed Between the Lines (where he also starred and executive produced)
• The Resident (one episode)

Musical & Poetic Soul: A Grammy-Winning Artist

Warner's artistic expression wasn't confined to acting and directing. He was a passionate musician, particularly in the jazz-funk genre, as the frontman for his band Miles Long. His spoken word poetry also gained significant recognition.

Key Musical & Poetic Achievements:

• The Miles Long Mixtape (2003): His debut jazz-funk EP.
• Love & Other Social Issues (2007): His second CD.
• Grammy Award (2015): Won for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his contribution to the Robert Glasper Experiment's cover of Stevie Wonder's "Jesus Children" (featuring Lalah Hathaway).
• Hiding in Plain View (2022): His spoken word poetry album, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.
• "Not All Hood" (NAH): Recently launched a podcast exploring Black identity, masculinity, and culture.

A Diverse Acting Filmography: Beyond Theo

While Theo Huxtable remains his most iconic role, Malcolm-Jamal Warner consistently challenged himself with a wide array of characters across television and film, showcasing his range and dedication to his craft.

Selected Acting Filmography (Television & Film):

• The Cosby Show (1984–1992): Theodore "Theo" Huxtable
• Here and Now (1992–1993): Shawn (Lead Role)
• Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000): Malcolm McGee (Co-lead)
• The Tuskegee Airmen (1995): Leroy Cappy (Television film)
• Drop Zone (1994): Deputy U.S. Marshal Terry Nessip
• Jeremiah (2002–2004): Kurdy Mallory
• Listen Up (2004-2005): Bernie Widmer
• Fool's Gold (2008): Cordell
• Reed Between the Lines (2011–2015): Dr. Alex Reed (Lead Role)
• Major Crimes (2013–2016): Lieutenant Chuck Cooper
• American Horror Story: Freak Show (2014-2015): Angus T. Jefferson
• American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson (2016): Al Cowlings
• Suits (2016–2017): Julius Rowe
• The Resident (2018–2023): Dr. AJ "The Raptor" Austin (Series Regular)
• Accused (2023): Kendall Gomillion
• The Irrational (2023): Dustin Atwood
• Alert: Missing Persons Unit (2024-2025): Chief Inspector Bill Houston (Recent role)

Awards and Nominations:

Warner's talent was recognized with numerous accolades throughout his career:

• Primetime Emmy Award Nomination: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (The Cosby Show, 1986)
• Grammy Award: Best Traditional R&B Performance (2015)
• Grammy Award Nomination: Best Spoken Word Poetry Album (2022)
• NAACP Image Award: Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series (Reed Between the Lines, 2012)
• Young Artist Awards: Multiple wins for The Cosby Show.Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s enduring legacy is that of an artist who continually evolved, broke barriers, and used his platform to create meaningful work. He will be deeply missed, but his contributions to entertainment will undoubtedly continue to inspire for generations to come. 

Gossips4fans - Bollywood, Hollywood and Tollywood Latest Information for you: Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner: A Life of Talent...

Read More........ → July 28, 2025

Should Taylor Swift be taught alongside Shakespeare? A professor of literature says yes

Liam E Semler, University of Sydney

Does Taylor Swift’s music belong in the English classroom? No, obviously. We should teach the classics, like Shakespeare’s Sonnets. After all, they have stood the test of time. It’s 2024 and he was born in 1564, and she’s only 34. What’s more, she is a pop singer, not a poet. Sliding her into the classroom would be yet another example of a dumbed-down curriculum. It’s ridiculous. It makes everyone look bad.

I’ve heard all that. And plenty more like it. But none of it is right. Well, the dates might be, but not the assumptions – about Shakespeare, about English, about teaching, and about Swift.

Swift is, by the way, a poet. She sees herself this way and her songs bear her out. In Sweet Nothing, on the Midnights album, she sings:

On the way home
I wrote a poem
You say “What a mind”
This happens all the time.

I’m sure it does. Swift is relentlessly productive as a songwriter. With Midnights, she picked up her fourth Grammy for Album of the Year. And here we are, on the brink of another studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, somehow written and produced amid the gargantuan success of Midnights and the Eras World Tour.

An ally of literature

Regardless of what The Tortured Poets Department ends up being about, Swift is already a firm ally of literature and reading. She is a donor of thousands of books to public libraries in the United States, an advocate to schoolchildren of the importance of reading and songwriting, and a lover of the process of crafting lyrics.

In a 2016 Vogue interview, Swift declared with glee that, if she were a teacher, she would teach English. The literary references in her songs are endlessly noted. “I love Shakespeare as much as the next girl,” she wrote in a 2019 article for Elle.

Her interview Read Every Day gives a good sense of this. Swift speaks about her writing process in ways that make it accessible. She explains how songs come to her anywhere and everywhere, like an idea randomly appearing “on a cloud” that becomes the first piece in a “puzzle” that will be assembled into a song. She furtively whisper-sings song ideas into her phone when out with friends.

In her acceptance speech for the Nashville Songwriter-Artist of the Decade Award in 2022, Swift explained how she writes in three broad styles, imagining she is holding either a “quill”, a “fountain pen”, or a “glitter gel pen”. Songcraft is a joyous challenge for her.

If, as teachers of literature, we are too proud to credit Swift’s plainly expressed love of English (regardless of whether we like her songs or not), we are likely missing something. To bluntly rule her out of the English classroom feels more absurd than allowing her in.

Clio Doyle, a lecturer in early modern literature, has summarised Swift’s suitability for English in a recent article which concludes:

The important thing isn’t whether or not Swift might be the new Shakespeare. It’s that the discipline of English literature is flexible, capacious and open-minded. A class on reading Swift’s work as literature is just another English class, because every English class requires grappling with the idea of reading anything as literature. Even Shakespeare.

Doyle reminds us Swift’s work has been taught at universities for a while now and, inevitably, the singer’s name keeps cropping up in relation to Shakespeare. This isn’t just a case of fandom gone wild or Shakespeare professors, like Jonathan Bate, gone rogue.

The global interest in the world-first academic Swiftposium is a good measure of how things are trending. Moreover, it is wrong to think Swift’s songs are included in units of study purely to be adored. Her wide appeal is part of her appeal to educators, but that doesn’t mean her art is uncritically included.

The reverse is true. Claire Hansen taught Swift in one of her literature units at the Australian National University last year precisely because this influential singer-songwriter prompts students to explore the boundaries of the canon.

I will be teaching Midnights and Shakespeare’s Sonnets together in a literature unit at the University of Sydney this semester. Why? Not because I think Swift is as good as Shakespeare, or because I think she is not as good as Shakespeare. These statements are fine as personal opinions, but unhelpful as blanket declarations without context. The nature of English as a discipline is far more complex, interesting and valuable than a labelling and ranking exercise.

Teaching Midnights and Shakespeare’s Sonnets

I teach Shakespeare’s sonnets as exquisite poems, reflective of their time and culture. I also teach three modern artworks that shed contemporary light on the sonnets.

The first is Jen Bervin’s 2004 book Nets. Bervin prints a selection of the sonnets, one per page, in grey text. In each of these grey sonnets, some of Shakespeare’s words and phrases are printed in black and thus stand out boldly.

The result is a palimpsest. The Shakespearean sonnet appears lying, like fertile soil, beneath the briefer poem that emerges from it. Bervin describes this technique as a stripping down of the sonnets to “nets” in order “to make the space of the poems open, porous, possible – a divergent elsewhere”. The creative relationship between the Shakespearean base and Bervin’s proverb-like poems proves that, as Bervin says, “when we write poems, the history of poetry is with us”.

The second text is Luke Kennard’s prizewinning 2021 collection Notes on the Sonnets. Kennard recasts the sonnets as a series of entertaining prose poems. Each poem responds to a specific Shakespearean sonnet, recasting it as the freewheeling thought bubble of a fictional attendee at an unappealing house party. In an interview with C.D. Rose, Kennard explains how his house party design puts the reader

in between a public and private space, you’re at home and you’re out, you’re free, you’re enclosed. And that’s similar in the sonnets.

The third text is Swift’s Midnights. Unlike Bervin’s and Kennard’s collections, in which individual pieces relate to specific sonnets, there is no explicit adaptation. Instead, Midnights raises broader themes.

Deep connection

In her Elle article, Swift describes songwriting as akin to photography. She strives to capture moments of lived experience:

The fun challenge of writing a pop song is squeezing those evocative details into the catchiest melody you can possibly think of. I thrive on the challenge of sprinkling personal mementos and shreds of reality into a genre of music that is universally known for being, well, universal.

Her point is that the pop songs that “cut through the most are actually the most detailed” in their snippets of reality and biography. She says “people are reaching out for connection and comfort” and “music lovers want some biographical glimpse into the world of our narrator, a hole in the emotional walls people put up around themselves to survive”.

Midnights exemplifies this. It is a concept album built on the idea that midnight is a time for pursuit of and confrontation with the self – or better, the selves. Swift says the songs form “the full picture of the intensities of that mystifying, mad hour”.

The album, she says, is “a journey through terrors and sweet dreams” for those “who have tossed and turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching – hoping that just maybe, when the clock strikes twelve […] we’ll meet ourselves”.
Swift claims that Midnights lets listeners in through her protective walls to enable deep connection:

I really don’t think I’ve delved this far into my insecurities in this detail before. I struggle with the idea that my life has become unmanageably sized and […] I just struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person.

Midnights is not a sonnet collection, but it has fascinating parallels. There is no firm narrative through-line. Nor is there a through-line in early modern sonnet collections such as Shakespeare’s. Instead, both gather songs and poems that let us see aspects of the singing or speaking persona’s thoughts, emotions and experiences. Shakespeare’s speaker is also troubled through the night in sonnets 27, 43 and 61.

The sonnets come in thematic clusters, pairs and mini-sequences. It can be interesting to ask students if they can see something similar in the order of songs on the Midnights album – or the “3am” edition with its seven extra tracks, or the “Til Dawn” edition with another three songs.

Portrait of William Shakespeare – John Taylor (1610). Public domain.

Paul Edmondson and Stanley Wells, in their edition of All the Sonnets of Shakespeare, say Shakespeare’s collection is “the most idiosyncratic gathering of sonnets in the period” because he “uses the sonnet form to work out his intimate thoughts and feelings”.

This connects very well with the agenda of Midnights. Both collections are piecemeal psychic landscapes. The singing or speaking voice sometimes feels autobiographical – compare, for example, sonnets 23, 129, 135-6 and 145 to Swift’s songs Anti-hero, You’re On Your Own, Kid, Sweet Nothing, and Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve. At other times the voices feel less autobiographical. Often there is no way to distinguish one from the other.

Swift’s songs and Shakespeare’s Sonnets are meditations on deeply personal aspects of their narrators’ experiences. They present us with encounters, memories, relationships, values and claims. Swift’s persona is that of a self-reflective singer, just as Shakespeare’s is that of a self-reflective sonneteer. Both focus on love in all its shades. Both present themselves as vulnerable to industry rivals and pressures. Both dwell on issues of power.

Close reading

Shakespeare’s sonnets are rewarding texts for close reading because of their poetic intricacy. Students can look at end rhymes and internal rhymes, the way the argument progresses through quatrains, the positioning of the “turn”, which is often in line 9 or 13, and the way the final couplet wraps things up (or doesn’t).

 

Title page of the first edition of Shakespeare’s Sonnets (1609). Public domain

The songs on Midnights are also rewarding because Swift has a great vocabulary, a love of metaphor, terrific turns of phrase, and a strong sense of symmetry and balance in wording. More complex songs like Maroon and Question…? are great for detailed analysis.

Karma and Mastermind are simpler, yet contain plenty of metaphoric language to be unpacked for meaning and aesthetic effectiveness. Shakespeare’s controlled use of metaphor in Sonnet 73 makes for a telling contrast.

The Great War, Glitch and Snow on the Beach are good for exploring how well a single extended metaphor can function to carry the meaning of a song. Sonnets 8, 18, 143 and 147 can be explored in similar terms.

Just as students can analyse the “turn” or concluding couplet in a Shakespearean sonnet to see how it reshapes the poem, they can do the same with songs on Midnights. Swift is known for writing effective bridges that contribute fresh, important content towards the end of a song: Sweet Nothing, Mastermind and Dear Reader are excellent examples.

Such unexpected pairings are valuable because they require close attention and careful articulation of what is similar and what is not. Shakespeare’s Sonnet 129, for example (the famous one on lust), and Swift’s Bigger than the Whole Sky (a powerful expression of loss) make for a gripping comparison of how intense feeling can be expressed poetically.

Or consider Sonnet 29 (“When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”) and Sweet Nothing: both celebrate intimacy as a defence against the pressures of the public world. How about High Infidelity and Sonnet 138 (where love and self-deception coexist), considered in terms of truth in relationships?

There is nothing to lose and plenty to gain in teaching Swift’s Midnights and Shakespeare’s Sonnets together. There’s no dumbing-down involved. And there’s no need for reductive assertions about who is “better”.

Liam E Semler, Professor of Early Modern Literature, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........ → February 16, 2024

Ace Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan dies of cardiac arrest

MUMBAI: Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan, who was admitted to Mumbai's Guru Nanak Hospital last month, died of a cardiac arrest late on Thursday night, reports said. She was 72. Saroj Khan was in the hospital since June 17 after she complained of breathing difficulties. She had tested negative for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Saroj Khan is survived by her husband, son Hamid Khan and two daughters. Copyright © Jammu Links News, Source: Jammu Links News

Read More........ → July 30, 2020

Big B composes poem on coronavirus

MAR 13, 2020 MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has posted a video to share his views on coronavirus, with a dash of poetry. The video starts with Big B addressing the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. He then recites a poem he penned. The gist of the poem pertains to the precautionary measures that people should take in the wake of the outbreak. In the video, Big B is seen giving basic advice on prevention, including washing hands and staying safe. "Concerned about the COVID-19. Just doodled some lines in verse. Please stay safe," wrote the actor. Copyright © Jammu Links News  Source: Jammu Links News

Read More........ → July 15, 2020

Nanavati Hospital Authorities Say Amitabh Health Is Stable Now

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan was admitted to the famous Navati Hospital in Mumbai after testing positive for the ongoing pandemic. With the news attracting attention from various sections, the hospital issued a statement on Amitabh Bachchan's health.

In the statement, the hospital said, Amitabh Bachchan's health is stable now and he developed only mild symptoms. He is in the closeting unit of the hospital as per the statement.

After testing positive for the dreaded virus, Amitabh urged everyone who came in contact with him to undergo pandemic tests to detect the infection.

Amitabh's son Abhishek too tested positive for the virus and admitted to the hospital accordingly for further medications.

When the news of Amitabh testing for the virus broke, many personalities from various fields wished the legendary actor for a speedy recovery. Source: https://english.tupaki.com

Read More........ → July 12, 2020

SRK set to rock this year in never seen before roles in these movies

Mumbai: When talking about Bollywood, who doesn’t know SRK? Shah Rukh Khan - the remarkable actor, the film producer, the most entertaining TV host as well as the biggest star in India - who is also a well known personality all around the world, no doubt is all set to leave his mark once again and conquering our hearts all over again with all his upcoming movies releasing this year and the following years ahead!

Well, whatever the sources may say, Shah Rukh’s fans will always be ready to watch him in his several upcoming blockbusters and guess what you can get discount by using several online movie ticket offers available at the time of booking because we love you KING-KHAN!

So, you all diehard fans of SRK, go get yourselves ready to lend me all your heed as in this article you are going to read about all the upcoming breath-taking movies of your favorite super star of the century in never seen before reoles. Here you go!

1. Zero

Zero is an upcoming Bollywood movie directed by Anand L. Rai, written by Himanshu Sharma and starring none other than King Khan with Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif playing the lead roles. According to sources, Shah Rukh Khan is playing a role of a Dwarf in this movie. Where the story line is all about a dwarf man - Raj, who is struggling to find the love of his life, in short his soul mate.

According to a TOI report, the film shooting is almost over and the releasing date has also been revealed. So get ready for the films which is releasing on December 21, 2018 - just ahead of Christmas.

2. Don-3

After the two blockbuster prequels of Don Series, the multi-talented actor and director Farhan Akhtar is all set to introduce us from his upcoming Action - Thriller film Don-3. According to the sources, this time D -series fame Priyanka Chopra who played a Cop in last two sequels, will not be seen as Director Farhan Akhtar is looking for a new female lead! The suggested location for the shoot is Dubai. However the story line and release date are not revealed yet.

3. Ra.One-2 or G.One?

Remember that virtual gaming addiction action movie right? Ra.One was a virtual reality based superhero film released in 2011, produced by none other than our favorite superstar Shah Rukh Khan, under his house of production Red Chilies Entertainment. According to a report published in Deccan Chronicle, SRK said - there will surely be a sequel of the previous VR addiction action superhero film Ra.One. But, this time, unlike the prequel, the movie title will relay on the superhero that is G.One. However, nothing has been decided yet! The movie release is said to be somewhere in between 2019 to 2020.

4. Operation Khukri

It has been always amazing to watch how perfect and breathtaking SRK looks wearing those colors of Khaki. Starting from his initial TV-days as ‘Fauji’ which was aired in 1988 to his recent looks in ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ (2012), his fans have always liked his army man avatar.

So, guys get ready to see this dazzling personality once again in this killer army look in his upcoming Action-War movie ‘Operation Khukri’ which he desired to produce under his production house Red Chillies Entertainment. The movie, ‘Operation Khukri’ , written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker is based on the real multinational operation launched in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone, involving India, Ghana, Britain, and Nigeria. The actual release date has not been revealed yet but according to the sources the movie would be released in the end of 2019 or in starting of 2020.

5. Remake of Tamil Film 'Vikram Vedha'

According to the sources, Shah Rukh Khan has desired to make a remake of Tamil Film ‘Vikram Vedha’ which is a story about the life of a police officer coping with North Madras rowdy. The movie ‘Vikram Vedha’ is staring R. Madhavan, and is directed by S. Sashikanth and releasing in 2018.

However, there are rumors in the air that the Vikram Vedha director S. Sashikanth has himself stated that he could make a remake of his movie under collaboration of both the production houses (Reliance Entertainment with Y Not Studios). The actual cast is not decided yet. But there are rumors that having the overall cast of this Tamil Thriller/Action to be framed in the Hindi remake. Well, let’s hope that SRK will also be a part of the big screen in this project!

6. Rajkumar Hirani’s Upcoming (untitled)

According to The Times of India, super talented director Rajkumar Hirani, who is brain behind many remarkable works, giving out a number of Bollywood hits including Munna Bhai M.B.B.S (2003), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), 3-Idiots (2009), PK (2014) and many more, admits that he has always wanted to work with Shah Rukh Khan for a very long time. And he will be working with the superstar of the era very soon!

However, according to sources, Rajkumar Hirani is currently busy shooting his upcoming biopic. Well, doesn’t matter how long it takes, but it is for sure that this combo of two dynamically creative hardworking personalities will surely add some new magical flavors on the Box Office and spice up the Bollywood!

7. K. V. Vijayendra Prasad Written Untitled Revenge cum Drama

Talking truly about the Bollywood scenario, Shah Rukh Khan’s movies are not doing so well nowadays. However, the King of Bollywood is very much desperate and hungry for a brand new blockbuster film. According to a recent source, K. V. Vijayendra Prasad, a well-known screen writer as well as director of Telugu cinema who is worldwide famous for his work in Bahubali series and have also written Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming film Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, is showing keen interest in SRK’s profile.

It is said that, last year K. V. Vijayendra Prasad had approached the Badshah of the Bollywood for a movie. It is believed that the super talented writer has already written a story keeping Shah Rukh Khan in mind. A recent report had in fact claimed that the two had recently been spotted having a meeting in Mumbai. It is also believed that Prasad might have narrated the story to the superstar Shah Rukh Khan Source: ummid.com

Read More........ → June 30, 2020

Lata Mangeshkar reveals her plans of singing with Amitabh Bachchan

Lata Mangeshkar talks about her plans for her music label LM Music... 

Congratulations, you've launched your own record label L M Music. What are your plans for your music company? I believe you will now be singing with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan?

Yes! I want to sing with Amitji for sure. We had come together for a duet 'Yeh Kahan Aa Gye Hum' in Yash Chopraji's film Silsila many years ago. But we didn't record it together. I had sung my portion. And later Amitji had recited Javed Saab's poetry. What would you be recording with Mr. Bachchan? I believe he is keen to do shlokas of Lord Tirupati with me. I'd love to do this project with him. I've spoken to him about it already. He has also been kind enough to give the voiceover for an album of devotional songs by Suresh Wadkar released on our label. Suresh had recorded the Kabir Bhajans many years ago but never released the album. When I heard them I thought they just needed some brushing up. That's where Bachchan Saab's commentary came in. What are the other albums to be released on the L M Music Label? We've already released several spiritual albums, and a children's album by my sister Meena. In that album Meena's granddaughter has also sung. In fact during the music-label launch function on January 15, Meena's granddaughter kept rushing to the stage to repeatedly touch Amitabh Bachchanji's feet (laughs). I've also released an album of Bhakti geet 'Har Har Mahadev' with Shankar Mahadevan accompanying me. Then there is an album of Buddha chants entitled Buddham Sharman Gachchami featuring 11 artistes including Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Pankaj Udhas, Anoop Jalota, my sister Asha and me. This is the first time I've sung in Pali. We also have classical vocalist Jeetendra Abhishek's son Shounak singing Bhau Geet for the first time. Shounak's sister who is my sister Meena's daughter-in-law has also sung in that album. The label launch function was attended by the likes of Mr. Bachchan, Neeta Ambani, Sridevi and Boney... Yes, a lot of distinguished people from the film industry showed up for the function. I am fortunate to have so many lovely people's best wishes. Whoever we invited showed up for the function. I am blessed. It was a quiet evening. Four of us Bachchan Saab, Neeta Ambaniji, Pandit Jasraj and I were on stage. Neetaji and Amitji are so busy yet they came to my function for their love of me. Pandit Jasraj is not well and yet he came. Jasrajji released the album. What has the feedback to your label been so far? The feedback to my music label has been heartening. I completed 70 years of singing in 2012. I am deeply indebted to the people of India for liking my voice for so many years. What would I have been if it wasn't for the love of the people? It's my duty to give something back to the music industry now. What are your future plans for the label? We've lots of plans. Usha Mangeshkar is ready to record an album of Garba songs. I also want to record Ghazals. I also want to record poems of Bachchan's Saab's father Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan, selected by Amitji. We're only starting out. Any plans for upcoming singers? But my ardent wish is to create a platform for these children who are seen on reality shows after which they vanish from the music scene. They are known only as long as the show lasts. We want to create our own music show where winners from these shows get a second chance. Those selected from our show can go on to record songs on our label. I feel their talent and hard work are getting lost. Source: Hindustan Times, Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org

Read More........ → March 26, 2013

Adele named Forbes' brightest musician under 30

After having been named by Billboard as its top artist for 2012 just a couple of days ago, singer Adele adds another feather to her cap by topping Forbes' annual list of the thirty brightest music stars under 30 years old. 24-year-old Adele made the list on the success of her second album '21', which has sold over 23 million copies worldwide, reported Ace Showbiz. The 'Rolling in the Deep' hitmaker leads the other acts in the coveted list that includes British-Irish group One Direction and R&B superstar Rihanna. One Direction are included in the list following the back-to-back success of their first two albums 'Up All Night' and 'Take Me Home', while Rihanna's string of sold-out shows and lucrative endorsement deals make her a shoe-in for the '30 under 30' list. Other big names in music that made it to the Forbes list this year are pop superstar Bruno Mars, country music sweetheart Taylor Swift, and teen sensation Justin Bieber. Pop sensation Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Kesha are among the other top female musical artists named to the '30 Under, Source: Screen-India, Image: flickr.com

Read More........ → February 21, 2013

Jagjit Singh most Googled ghazal singer

New Delhi: Late ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh, whose 72nd birth anniversary is on Friday, has topped a list of popular singers of the genre. According to Google Search Trends, Jagjit Singh was people's first choice - both in India and abroad, when it came to songs, lyrics, and mp3s of ghazals. Globally, the Indian subcontinent searches the highest for Jagjit Singh, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates. In India, netizens of Ludhiana, Bhopal and Indore search the most for queries related to Jagjit Singh, best remembered for numbers like "Jhuki jhuki si nazar", "Tum itna jo", "Koi ye kaise bataye", "Yeh tera ghar yeh mera ghar", "Tumko dekha toh yeh khayaal", "Kaagaz ki kashti", "Hoshwalon ko khabar kya", "Koi fariyaad" and "Chitthi na koi sandesh". He died on October 10, 2011, following brain haemorrhage. Singer Pankaj Udhas takes the second place in his online popularity in India, whereas Pakistani ghazal ace Ghulam Ali is number two on the popularity chart worldwide. Source: News-Bullet

Read More........ → February 12, 2013

12-hour marathon Mohammed Rafi concert on Tuesday

(IANS) A 12-hour marathon concert in memory of the legendary singer Mohammad Rafi will be held here Tuesday to mark his 88th birth anniversary, an organizer said Saturday. "The concert will start at 12 noon Dec 25 and conclude at midnight. In between there will be a short break to honour renowned radio personality Amin Sayani and the late composer Naushad Ali with the Mohammad Rafi Award for this year," Spandan Arts chief Ashish Shelar told IANS. Rafi was born Dec 24, 1924 and died July 31, 1980, aged 55, leaving behind a wealth of over 5,000 songs in Hindi, various Indian and even a few foreign languages, which he rendered during his 35-year-long singing career. While the 80-year old Sayani will receive the award in person, the late music director Naushad Ali's son, Raju, will accept the award on behalf of his father, Shelar said at a media briefing here. Well-known stage singers Srikant Narayan, along with Sarita Rajesh and Mona Kamat will regale the audiences with a selection of 101 ever-popular, timeless favourites rendered by Mohammad Rafi. "Music is a universal language and food for the soul. Mohammad Rafi was the 'King of Hearts' and his songs would continue to give tremendous joy and listening pleasure for many more generations," Shelar said. Considered the greatest Indian playback singer of the Hindi film industry, Mohammad Rafi was noted for the rare ability to mould his voice to the persona of the actor on the screen lip-synching the song. "Even though you knew it is Rafi singing, it appeared as if the voice belonged to one of the actors on whom it was picturised like Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Shashi Kapoor, or many others. He was the 'unique' voice of many stars simultaneously. His void remains unfilled even today," said music lover and Rafi admirer Anand Joshi. During his lifetime, Mohammad Rafi was conferred the Padmashri, National Film Award, Best National Singer Award, six Filmfare Awards, besides many other national and international honours. Shelar said that the Tuesday concert would have a complete selection of Rafi numbers - happy, mischievous, romantic, sad, qawwalis, bhajans, duets - which have made him rule the charts even 32 years after his demise. Source: News Track India

Read More........ → December 31, 2012

Justin Bieber is a mama's boy

Teen pop sensation Justin Bieber feels overwhelmed with his life, so he always turns to his mother Pattie Mallette for advice. "When everyone's constantly saying they love you and you're amazing, people start believing it. When I feel like this industry is too much and I get overwhelmed, I think of my mum saying, 'Stick it out'," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Bieber as saying. While the 18-year-old turns to his mother for advice when he is feeling down, he makes sure she doesn't get too involved with managing his music career because he doesn't want to start arguing with her and ending up resenting her. "She wants me to be a good person. A lot of times the parents start managing the artist and that can be tricky - when it becomes your momager. It's too much. You start resenting them. You start fighting and it's not a good thing." "I have my mom, and she helps out, but as far as being my manager, I let my manager do that. Let my mom be my mom," said Bieber. Source: News Track India, Image: flickr.com

Read More........ → December 24, 2012

Jessica Alba Lands Green Parent Award

Actress and eco-warrior Jessica Alba is to receive the inaugural Green Parent trophy at the upcoming Environmental Media Awards (EMA). The Sin City star, who is mom to daughters Honor and Haven, will be feted for her work campaigning for the Safe Chemicals Act as well as her eco-friendly baby product line, Honest. EMA president Debbie Levin says, "Becoming a parent is life-changing and brings into focus the priority of healthy choices and the responsibility of the environmental sustainability of our planet. Jessica is a great example of how you can turn that passion into positive change." Meanwhile, Hollywood films including The Lorax, 21 Jump Street and Big Miracle as well as TV hits Whitney,Veep, Happy Endings, Harry's Law, Dallas and Rizzoli & Isles have all been nominated for prizes for promoting environmental issues. The green ceremony will take place on September 29th in Burbank, California. Photo Credits: PR Photos , Wagner Az, PacificCoastNews.com, Source: Starpulse.com

Read More........ → October 06, 2012

Katy Perry Named Billboard Magazine's Woman Of The Year

Pop superstar Katy Perry has been named Billboard magazine's Woman of the Year and will be honored at the magazine's seventh annual Women in Music event on November 30. The award itself has been given out since 2008 and celebrates the most powerful and talented women in music; and Katy joins only four other stars on the short list: Ciara (2008), Beyonce (2009), Fergie (2010) and Taylor Swift(2011). "Katy Perry broke into the industry not even five years ago, and has already accomplished more than most artists can hope for in an entire career," said Bill Werde, Billboard's editorial director. "We are thrilled to celebrate these incredible achievements and her amazing past 12 months by honoring her with the Billboard Woman of the Year Award. With what seems like a never-ending supply of record-breaking, chart-topping hits, coupled with her unique and fresh style, Katy Perry is hands-down one of the most exciting and inspiring artists in the industry today." Katy's overall success includes setting numerous records, which include her five number-one hits from her second album, "Teenage Dream" -- the first time a woman has accomplished the feat in the Billboard Hot 100 chart's 54-year history. "Teenage Dream" spent over 100 weeks on Billboard's Hot 200 chart; sold 2.5 million copies in the U.S. alone; and 48 million singles have been downloaded. Four of those singles -- "Firework,"California Gurls," "E.T." and "Hot N Cold" are among the top 30 selling downloads of all time. Katy also holds the record (69 weeks) for having at least one song in the top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100. In support of the album, Katy's "Teenage Dreams Tour" sold out in 124 venues around the world and the tour was the subject of a 3D documentary based on her 2011 tour. The film, Katy Perry: Part of Me, is the fourth biggest music documentary ever. Portions of ticket and merchandise sales on the tour were donated to several charities, including The Children's Health Fund, Generosity Water, The Humane Society, and The Red Cross's disaster relief efforts. © 2012 Starpulse.com, Photo Credits: Steve Solis / PR PhotosSource: Starpulse

Read More........ → September 29, 2012

Parineeti Chopra to host Global Indian Music Academy awards

After showing her acting talent in 'Ishaqzaade', actress Parineeti Chopra will host the Chevrolet Star Global Indian Music Academy (GIMA) awards ceremony on October 1. "This is for the first time that I will be hosting an awards function. It is an honour to see several talented people from the music industry come together. I am extremely excited about this. I am looking forward to having a lovely experience at the award function," she said. Chevrolet Star GIMA awards' third edition will see her hosting the show along with a special co-host, whose name is being kept under wraps. A highlight of the award nite, will be a musical tribute of songs from Bollywood's golden era, performed by 40 kids on stage music, under the baton of the music composer duo Salim-Suleiman. Source: Indian Express

Read More........ → September 26, 2012

James Taylor To Receive France's Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters

James Taylor has landed one of France's top cultural awards in honor of his lengthy music career. Officials in the country have told the singer/songwriter he has been named as the latest recipient of the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters, which recognizes individuals who have contributed to the arts. A post on Taylor's website reads, "James has received word that the French government has conferred on him the distinguished honor of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters." "The announcement will be followed by a private medal ceremony at a later date at the French Embassy in New York." The award was established in May of 1957 by the country's Minister of Culture and is given to French citizens 30 year old and older or foreign artists of any age. Previous recipients of the award include Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman. Photo Credits: PR Photos , Metropolitan Talent, Source: Starpulse.com

Read More........ → September 22, 2012

Gwyneth Paltrow named World's Best Dressed Woman

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been named the World's Best Dressed Woman, ahead of fashion forward celebs like the Duchess of Cambridge and Rihanna. Paltrow, who will be 40 in a couple of weeks, grabbed the top spot in the list by People magazine and her stylist said the actress owes it to her secret - less is more, Daily Mail reported. The Duchess, 30, was just behind Paltrow on the list, and was hailed for her "flawlessly elegant attire". Hollywood actresses Emma Stone, 23, Jessica Alba, 31, the Kardashian sisters and Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr, 29, were also included in the list. Rihanna scooped the Best Risk-Taking Style Award and Kerr won the Best Street Style Award. Among men, honours went to actors Andrew Garfield, Brad Pitt, Colin Firth, Robert Pattinson, Chris and Liam Hemsworth and singer Jay-Z.  Source: Screen India, Image: flickr.com

Read More........ → September 13, 2012

Kristen Stewart cancels MTV awards appearance with Pattinson

Actress Kristen Stewart has pulled out of the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony in which she was due to appear with her now estranged boyfriend Robert Pattinson. The 22-year-old actress is now heading to the Toronto International Film Festival to promote her film On The Road instead, reported Daily Mirroronline. Their appearance would have been the couple's first appearance together in public since Stewart's fling with married Snow White and the Huntsmandirector Rupert Sanders, 41, was revealed. Pattinson, 26, will now attend the show alone. "Bosses were hoping that Kristen and Robert would be surprise guests before this scandal blew up. The idea was for them to jointly present awards... but that has been changed," a source said.  Source: Deccan Chronicle, Image: flickr.com

Read More........ → August 18, 2012

At the Music Hall: Billy Mayerl's Marigold, 1927

Billy Mayerl, Image from "The Billy Mayerl Society"

“Marigold” is perhaps the best known composition of celebrated English pianist and composer Billy Mayerl (1902-1959). Mayerl was the “Master of Light Music” and rose to great popularity on the boards of the English Music Halls and musical theatres. His syncopated novelty piano pieces (over three hundred which he wrote himself) were often named for and inspired by flowers and trees. Though he’s famous for these piano pieces, he also composed a variety of more substantial works for piano and orchestra. Mayerl also founded and operated the “School of Syncopation” which offered instruction in modern musical techniques such as 

ragtime. This led to his long-running correspondence course, “How to Play Like Billy Mayerl.” These two videos are quite enjoyable. The first is a recent performance of “Marigold” and the second is a rare film of Billy Joseph Mayerl himself playing the piece.Source: Stalking the Belle Époque

Read More........ → July 22, 2012

Getting to know Miss World New Zealand 2012 Collette Lochore

COLLETTE LOCHORE (18, 181 cm, Auckland) was crowned Miss World New Zealand 2012 at the Alexandra Park Tasman Room Fuction Centre in Auckland on April 28, beating 11 contestants. She will represent New Zealand in Miss World 2012 pageant to be held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia on 18th August, 2012. Special thanks to Miss World New Zealand director Rose Foulger for assisting with the interview. How does it feel to represent New Zealand in Miss World 2012? It is a surreal feeling that fills me with humility and honour. It is a dream come true to be a part of Miss World and represent not only NZ, but myself and have the opportunity to be an ambassador for the World. What three adjectives

PHOTO CREDIT: ALEX TEA

would your friends use to describe you? Unique. Ambitious. Inspiring. What is your best quality? Your worst quality? My best quality are my communication skills and my ability to make everyone feel comfortable. My compassion, consideration for others and humorous personality allow people to feel included and at ease. What is your best quality? Your worst quality? My best quality is sometimes my worst quality. I always want to do my very best with whatever I do, and I can sometimes be too hard on myself. Sometimes it’s good to try and look at yourself with an outside perspective, and realise “this is good enough”, but other times it is also good to just keep searching for that something special to make it just right. My worst quality is that I am a little impatient at times! I always like to get things done and I don't 'fluff around'! I work quickly so when things take longer than they should I get a impatient! However, I have definitely got better. As my father used to say always "patience is a virtue!" If there's anything about yourself that you would like to change, what would it be and why?  I am very happy with who I am and if one can't learn to love what one has and be who one is, one will never be satisfied. I always steer clear of "If only I...." If I could change anything it would be that I wish I could be stronger with resisting the temptations of sweet and fattening food! What do you like to do for fun? I love performing! I love being on stage, speaking, doing drama, acting, singing (in the shower and in the car!) and also dancing. Going out for dinner or to a music gig or festival is something I really enjoy. I also really enjoy meeting new people and learning about others and what interesting things or

PHOTO CREDIT: COLLETTE LOCHORE'S FACEBOOK PAGE

stories they have to tell! If you were to make a time capsule to represent life today, what would you put in it? Photos of my beautiful family. Their support in this journey has brought us all so much closer and they are a huge part of my life! I would also include a video of the Variety children performing and at the rehearsals we have each week. They are such special children with incredible talent! If I could capture the emotion of complete happiness and contentment I would seal it in a jar and put that in too! Name one living person that inspires you and why? There is one girl in particular, a Variety child whose name is Hannah. She is so happy, lovely and warm hearted and she inspires me to keep doing what I am doing! She is very enjoyable to teach and to be around and it inspires me to see that I am inspiring her and many others too. When I make them laugh or when they do an amazing performance it makes me feel so inspired to do more and challenge myself to help and involve myself further. Hannah is a beautiful singer, actor, dancer and person. What do you think about cosmetic surgery in a pageant competition? I wish and would hope every woman involved in pageants would feel confident and comfortable enough with themselves to feel as though they did not need cosmetic surgery.I think that woman who are confident and happy with themselves radiate true beauty and I feel this is much more physically attractive than what any cosmetic surgery can do. In saying that, I do not look down on anyone who has done it because if it is what makes them happy then I am happy for them but I would hope that they feel content with what they have been given. Personally, I would not submit to cosmetic surgery even if it would enhance certain features, I would hope the judges would want someone naturally beautiful, inside and out who others can look up to. What does a woman of substance mean to you? To me when I read "a woman with substance" I immediately think about a woman with a strong and complete personality! I think of characteristics such as confidence, strong minded, influential, positive and enjoyable to be around! Someone who is independent, soulful and an elite role model who has strong values and morals. Someone who is humorous and understanding! Overall, a woman with substance, to me, is someone who has an overall beautiful and inspiring personality! How does beauty pageants promote equality between sexes? Firstly we hold pageants for men too, for example "Mr World NZ" so we can embrace and celebrate like-minded men! I feel with pageants there is respect for both genders. We have male judges, choreographers, managers, mentors and audience members who appreciate the pageants and who see more than the bikini section! Pageants both celebrate and are celebrated by both sexes and I feel this creates equality through mutual respect. What is your position on same-sex marriage? Personally I support same-sex marriage 100%. Everyone deserves a full, happy life and the opportunity to do what makes them feel happy. I do not judge any same-sex relationships and if anything, I embrace it because I think it is very inspiring that people are comfortable with who they are! 

PHOTO CREDIT: KATHERINE ANNE-MARIE

What bothers you the most about what is happening in the world today and why? There is so much in this world that bothers me and when I think about it truly gets me quite down because I wish I could do more to make a difference, such as the environment and its sustainability, the economy, human rights, diseases (both physically and mental), animal rights, etc! There's unfortunately a lot of negativity in this world and a lot of wrong doings. What bothers me the most is probably that some people don’t care about these horrific issues. People think “I can’t do anything about it so why should I care” which bothers me tremendously. This bothers me because I don’t understand how people don’t feel compelled to help or do something by these issues even if they are not directly affecting them. If everyone thought “how can I help” and “what can I do” the world would be a much better place. If you showed me around New Zealand where would you take me and why? The first place I would take you to would be to my grandparents for a home cooked roast and I assure you, you will instantly feel at home and comfortable! I would then take you to a place called Rotorua which is about a 3 hour drive from the main city, Auckland. The reason for that is because it is filled with so much Maori culture and history that still interests me even after my 10th visit! You would learn more about NZ in a way that is interesting and fun and see beautiful landmarks such as significant NZ volcanoes, lakes, mud pools etc! Also, there is so much to do in Rotorua such as the luge, mini-golfing, the zorb, motor biking, lake sailing etc! How are you preparing for the Miss World 2012 competition? I am thoroughly organised so I am constantly creating lists and action plans to ensure I am ready by the time I get on the plane to leave! Apart from making sure I physically have everything I need, I am staying positive and relaxed; I am very excited for what is to come! All I can do is be myself, enjoy the experience and do the best I can and everything will fall into place. You can't prepare being yourself! Why do you want to become Miss World 2012? I want to become Miss World 2012 because I know I have exactly what it takes to not only be an amazing ambassador for the world, but a remembered and inspiring one too. To be able to make a difference on such a large scale inspires me and my dream is to be able to do this full time. I want to work with and for the world to create positive change by taking action. The title holder of Miss World has this unique opportunity to do this. Another reason is that this title is so appealing to me and would be the highest of all privileges I feel possible, bringing far more than the visible rewards. I want to make positive change and to be able to embrace so many countries, peoples, ways of life and find a way of bringing all of these together as one, is something you can only dream of. Another reason that is motivating me too is the fact that New Zealand is a country that unfortunately does not embrace beauty pageants as much as other countries do. If I were to win and be the first New Zealander to win this remarkable title, I feel New Zealander's would finally sit up and take notice of the amazing work Miss World does. The Miss World NZ pageant would gain the recognition it deserves and support would be increased. Within my title of Miss World NZ 2012 one of my goals is to increase the awareness and most importantly the understanding of Miss World and its charitable aims. It is a difficult goal to be sure but if I was to be so lucky to prove I have what it takes and gain the title of Miss World, New Zealand might finally start to understand just how special what Miss World Organisation does. How do you see yourself five years from now? I see myself as a past Miss World title holder who is continuing to work with and for charities and is heavily involved with pageants. I see myself as a well-recognised international positive public figure. To be able to continue with my Drama work and help children and young adults with confidence development and life

PHOTO CREDIT: ALEX TEA

coaching would be  amazing. I want to continue to feel good about the differences I am making to lives. Collette's Favorites:  Singer/Musician – I really do love Christina Aguilera. She has such a soulful amazing voice! Actor & Actree – My Variety (the Children's charity) acting group! They make me laugh or cry more than anything I see on TV! Color – Pink! Always has been! You should see my house, all pink!!! Fashion Designer – I don't really have a favourite but lately I have been adoring the Trelise Cooper's Spring range! Perfume – "Princess" Vera Wang. It is all packed in my suitcases ready for Miss World! It gives me luck! Flower – Any pink flowers! Writer – I don't follow certain writers as I like to read different styles of books and writing. I do, however, love Rhonda Byrne - the writer of the books "The Secret," "The Power," and "The Magic" Book – "The Secret Island” Movie – "Finding Nemo", "Monsters Ink", "Toy

PHOTO CREDIT: ALEX TEA

Story"... Never too old for a classic! Quote – "Even if you’re on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there!"  Source: Critical Beauty

Read More........ → July 11, 2012

Madhuri Dixit and Sushmita Sen honoured for individual excellence in their field!

Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit and former beauty queen and actress Sushmita Sen were honoured for individual excellence in the field of acting and entrepreneurship respectively. While Sushmita was honoured with woman entrepreneur award for successfully running her organisation --I AM SHE, Madhuri was conferred with platinum diva award, at Planman Media's Powerbrands Hall of Fame awards held at Kingdom of Dreams. "I am very proud and honoured after receiving the award. It reiterates the fact that people still look at me with integrity. I have come here with a lot of hard work," told Madhuri, who was accompanied by husband Sriram Nene, after receiving the award. While thanking for the honour, Sushmita told: "It has been a journey for me. I won Miss Universe in 1994, got to do my first film 'Dastak'

Image Link Flickr

in 1996 and now I receive this woman entrepreneur award for I AM SHE, which I opened two years ago." Sen said she opened it with the idea of making "our Indian beauties capable enough to win international titles. All you people have been a source of great strength". Actors Parineeti Chopra and Prateik also received the awards for rising star female and rising star male respectively. "Just a year ago I was not even planning to become an actress. I was working in corporate industry. I always thought of becoming a banker. But I think destiny has its own role to play," told Parineeti who is enjoying new found fame after the success of "Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl" and "Ishaqzaade". "It feels really good that I have been getting so many awards. I promise to keep working harder and I hope to keep everybody happy," she added. Prateik, who has movies like "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na", "My Friend Pinto" and "Aarakshan" to his credit, dedicated his trophy to the people he has worked with so far. "This is really encouraging. I would like to dedicate this to all the people who I have worked in all my films," he said. Theatre veteran Tom Alter was given an award for exemplary contribution to Indian theatre while recently crowned Miss Asia Pacific Himagini Singh Yadu was honoured with the title of inspirational youth icon. Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna was given an award in the category, India Ki Shaan- culinary. People from various corporate and marketing fields were also honoured at the awards ceremony. The event saw the unveiling of Planman's second edition of "Powerbrands", a research-driven book, which talks about 100 most powerful brands of India.Source: GaramGossips

Read More........ → June 29, 2012