BackStage at Grand Performances with Tony Maiden (Rufus), Sly Stone, Rosie Grier …
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Grand Performances presents free performing arts that reflect the best of global culture and inspire community among the diverse peoples of Los Angeles. This was the 11th Annual Gala Fundraiser by Grand Performances. Result was a highly-charged night of funk, soul, and R&B with the legendary Grammy winners and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees, Rufus, who headlined the evening.
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If hits like “Ain’t Nobody,” and “Do You Love What You Feel” aren’t enough, we’re kick-starting the jams with the BlackLight All-Stars featuring Jason Joseph and The Spectacular with special guest Nikki Grier.
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Actors Reporter hosts Kurt Kelly and Kristina Nikols interviewed Tony Maiden of Rufus (architect of funk classics like “Once You Get Started” and “Sweet Thing”). <p< < p=””> </p< <>
Rufus was an American funk band from Chicago, Illinois best known for launching the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including “Tell Me Something Good,” “Sweet Thing,” and “Ain’t Nobody.” Wikipedia
Rufus on Facebook <p< < p=””> </p< <>
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Special Guest was Sly Stone
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Sly Stone is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, most famous for his role as frontman for Sly and the Family Stone, a band which played a critical role in the development of soul, funk and psychedelia in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Sly Stone Music <p< < p=””> </p< <>
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Actors Reporter chatted up some of the VIP talent in attendance included Fun (daughter of Sly Stone)
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DJ Danny Lemos and Miz, hosts of Mornings on the Beach,
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GRAND Performances is L.A.’s true gathering place where people from all walks of life come together to share rich moments of cultural awareness, inspiration, introspection, and most importantly celebration. Here are a few photos and personal experiences from our audience this past summer.
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Some of our VIP guest in attendance for the concert were: (included is their professional marks)<p< < p=””> </p< <>
Charles Joseph Sophy (born on October 2, 1960), best known as Dr. Charles Sophy,DO, is a Los Angeles based psychiatrist, and Medical Director for the County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services.
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Dr. Sophy is the author of Side By Side The Revolutionary Mother-Daughter Program for Conflict-Free Communication, and has appeared on several nationwide television broadcasts, radio broadcasts and numerous print and on-line publications. <p< < p=””> </p< <>
Dr. Gail Wyatt is a clinical psychologist, sex therapist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Bio-behavioral Sciences at UCLA. She was an NIMH Research Scientist Career Development Awardee for 17 years. Her research examines the consensual and abusive sexual relationships of women and men, the effects of these experiences on their psychological well-being, and the cultural context of risks for sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV. She has conducted national and international research since 1980, funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, state and private foundations. The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Wyatt has to her credit more than 110 journal articles and book chapters, and has co-edited or written five books, including Stolen Women: Reclaiming our Sexuality, Taking Back Our Lives and No More Clueless Sex: 10 Secrets to a Sex Life That Works for Both of You. <p< < p=””> </p< <>
Dr Lewis Wyatt: obstetrician-gynecologist at Cedars Sinai
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This Actors Reporter featured backstage event was produced by
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Pepper Jay Productions by Pepper Jay and
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Live Video Inc by Kurt Kelly. <p< < p=””> </p< <>
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Special Note from Kurt Kelly: Over the years of my career at ABC, CBS, NBC, and the interviews with the A List Celebrities from music, film, television, science, technology, and politics. It is also a thrill when I get to have repeat performances. Those very cool moments spent reconnecting with such talented folks who have always inspired me! Truly, it is always good to be open and in tune with your surroundings; because opportunities can happen when you least expect them. Being open led to working with Rufus, and others again.
Following that line of thinking, such an incident happened this past week. You never know who you might bump into walking down the halls in Hollywood, literally! On Wednesday, July 17th, I was at 6465 Sunset Blvd for meetings at SIR [Studio Instrument Rentals, Inc.] walking through the halls and I met Charles Anthony from Maiden Entertainment. As it turned out Tony Maiden’s band, Rufus was rehearsing for a free concert to be held Saturday night [7/20/13]in downtown Los Angeles. After some brief conversation, I met with Tony Maiden, Rufus and manager Mitchaelle. It was truly a warm welcome from both the band and management.
During my visit with Rufus and company at SIR, they kindly invited me to the show that was being held to benefit Grand Performances http://www.grandperformances.org/ with Sly Stone and more. The RUFUS AND FRIENDS WITH BLACK LIGHT ALL STARS for the free concert series was a huge success. Tony and Mitchaelle asked me to bring our camera crew from Live Video Inc and Actors Reporter to capture special moments from the show. Together with my Co-Host Kristina Nikols (a rising star), we interviewed Celebrities and guests of the band backstage.
True a shining night to remember. <p< < p=””> </p< <>
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Thank you to our crew:
Photographer John Michael Ferrari, Producer Director Pepper Jay, Producer Host Kurt Kelly, Director of Photorapher Glenn Dicus, Host Kristina Nikols, cameraman Anthony Cortez, and production assistant Jeremiah Levy. <p< < p=””> <p< < p=””> </p< <></p< <>
Actors Reporter is a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production
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