|
|
Fourth Annual Florida Black Expo
October 7-8, 2005
 Florida
Black Expo ‘05 @ Jacksonville
Enlightening ● Educating ● Empowering
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 7, 2005 Phone: (904) 727-7451 / (800) 419-2417
Contact: Volume Burks
904-403-6960 Volunteers call: 904-434-2357
Thomas McCants Media Inc., publisher of the
Black Pages USA and Winn-Dixie Supermarkets will host the 4th
annual Florida Black Expo on October 8, 2005 from 11 a.m. to 7
p.m. at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Florida Black Expo ‘05
is a one-day event that will be held in Jacksonville, FL featuring over
200 exhibitors and attracting over 20,000 visitors. This is a
family-oriented event that exposes the community to business
opportunities and cultural resources. This year’s Florida Black Expo
05 will include the following: seminars/workshops, health fair,
vendors, national guest speaker, national recording artists, live
entertainment, youth activities and food vendors. Parking is free.
-
Thursday, October 6, 2005: Florida
Black Expo ’05, Kick-Off
Reception 7pm-9pm at the Carnival Cruise Terminal. Featuring Steel
in Motion – steel drums band. By invitation only.
-
Friday, October 7, 2005: Pre-Expo
Jazz Gala Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Florida and Black Pages USA will feature the “silky
soulful” artist Frankie Beverly and Maze at the Times Union
Center. Also featuring Ya’ Gozo’,
Latin Jazz Band. The show will be 8pm to 11pm. VIP $70.00, general
admission $35.00.
FRANKIE BEVERLY & MAZE
FLORIDA BLACK EXPO GALA, OCTOBER 7, 2005 AT 8PM – 11PM
After eight
lean years with
the Butlers,
Frankie Beverly
changed directions. Self-contained bands were the vogue in the '70s, so
after a series of misfires,
Beverly
disbanded
the Butlers.
As a kid,
Beverly
was fascinated by
Frankie Lymon &
the Teenagers so much that he started using the name
Frankie;
his birth name is
Howard.
He was also influenced by Sly Stone. His first professional singing
stint was a yearlong road tour with
the Silhouettes
("Get a Job"); he formed
the Blenders
afterward but didn't record until
the Butlers.
He learned to play rhythm guitar and keyboards, and began
Raw Soul
with fellow Philadelphians
Roame Lowry,
McKinley Williams,
and
Sam Porter.
Gigs were plentiful around Philly, but
Beverly
felt that California held the key; he relocated to the San
Francisco/Oakland area in 1971. The addition of three members made
Raw Soul
a full-fledged funk band. Eldorado Records issued the first
Raw Soul
single, "Open up Your Heart," which features Temptations-ish ping-ponging
leads, a
Larry Graham
sound-alike bass singer, and a Sly Stone/Noman Whitfield production. The
label credits read Raw Soul With Frankie Beverly; two later singles on
Gregor Records are credited as Frankie Beverly and Raw Soul.
 The Gregor
singles, like the Eldorado side, dealt with curing the world's woes,
dissolving social injustices, and ending bigotry and racism. "Color
Blind" (1971) was sweetened with '70s funk horns, and asked the
question: What color is harmony?
Raw Soul's
recordings sold regionally but never broke nationally; they did help to
build a small following on the West Coast. Gregor followed "Color Blind"
with "Understanding" b/w "People in the Know."
Marvin Gaye
gave them a big break when he picked them to back him on a tour and
allowed them to open the show with some original numbers. Before meeting
Gaye,
they had no luck shopping a demo; after the tour, a meeting with Capitol
Records'
Larkin Arnold
resulted in a recording deal.
Beverly
scrapped the
Raw Soul
concept for the smoother sounds of
Maze,
keeping the core members and bringing in others to complete the package.
After years of trying,
Beverly
was selling singles and albums by the truckload. Incorporating the best
elements from
the Butlers
and
Raw Soul,
Maze
became a quiet storm and urban contemporary favorite. Message songs,
nothing new to
Frankie
(check
the Butlers'
first single, "The Sun's Message"), continued with
Maze,
and heartfelt love songs were also a part of the agenda. Everything
worked, and the caps he wore to hide his thinning hair and receding
hairline became a trademark. The fact that Philadelphia International
Records exploded just two years after he left town may have disheartened
him initially, but his success was still phenomenal.
-
Saturday, October 8, 2005: FLORIDA
BLACK EXPO ’05, 11am to
7pm, Florida Black Expo at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
State Farm Insurance Companies in association with Black Pages USA
will feature special guest, gospel sensation Shirley Caesar and
actor Shemar Moore.
 SHIRLEY
CAESAR
A popular gospel singer who often shouts her music in order for her
messages to be received, Shirley Caesar performed with the Caravans in
the '60s before pursuing a professional solo career in 1966. Born in
North Carolina, Caesar is known as the First Lady of Gospel. At the age
of 10 she began singing and performing for family and friends. She
graduated from Shaw University with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Business Administration in 1984. She also received honorary doctorates
from Shaw University and Southeastern University. Her professional
career began in the 60s when she was with the Caravans. In 1966 she
began making a name for herself on the gospel music circuit.
Shirley Caesar performs with an energetic and boisterous style. She
believes that with all the suffering and hardships in the world people
will listen to her recordings and be encouraged. Her live album, He Will
Come, is a testimony to her philosophy of life. The album was recorded
with the choir, band and congregation of her church. In the title song
"He Will Come," Shirley Caesar transcends the message of hope, that
although society is getting worse, the Lord will save us and is coming.
Among her other gospel hits with inspiring messages include "God Is
Good," "Revive Us Again" and "Time to Be Blessed." Shirley Caesar's hope
is that her messages will be listened to and people will be encouraged
to lead good lives. Her 1987 hit, "Hold My Mule," was written to
encourage people to "fight the good fight." All her songs combine music
with ministry to convey her messages.
Shirley Caesar has received numerous awards for her gospel albums. She
has received Grammy Awards for Stand Still, Shirley Caesar Live...He
Will Come, Sailin', Rejoice, Celebration and He's Working It Out For
You. Between 1981 and 1995 she has received seven Dove Awards for Black
Gospel Album of the Year for Live at the G.M.W.A., Live...In Chicago,
Celebration, Christmasing, Sailin', Go and Rejoice. Two Black Gospel
Song of the Year Awards for "He's Working It Out for You" and "Hold My
Mule."
Besides being the minister of her church in North Carolina and
performing concerts nationwide, Shirley Caesar has performed on
Broadway. Her Broadway performances include roles in Born to Sing: Mama
3, Mama I Want to Sing and Sing: Mama 2. She made a guest appearance at
the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney World with fellow artists Peabo
Bryson, CeCe Winans, Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford. Her
activities include performing for President Clinton and Hillary Rodham
Clinton at a campaign function. Despite her busy schedule, Shirley
Caesar constantly finds time to get her messages of encouragement and
peace to people.
SHEMAR MOORE
Shemar Moore was born in Oakland, California April 20, 1970. Shemar
spent the first two years of his life in Denmark where he became fluent
in Danish. After his parents divorced, Shemar traveled with his mother
to various countries including: Bahrain, England, Greece & Africa.
Shemar would later attend Santa Clara University on a baseball
scholarship. While in college, he began modeling to make ends meet. When
a shoulder injury ended his baseball career, Shemar decided to move to
New York City, where he enjoyed a successful stint as a print and runway
fashion model. Shemar was spotted by agent who recommended him for role
of "Malcolm Winters" on "The Young and the Restless".
In 2000 Shemar won a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Dram Series.
In 2001 Shemar made his theatrical debut in the gospel musical, "The
Fabric of a Man". Shemar has also won 6 NAACP Image Awards for his role
as "Malcolm Winters" on "The Young & The Restless".
In 1995 Shemar was featured in the music video for "How Many Ways" sung
by Toni Braxton. Shemar has been linked romantically to Toni Braxton &
Halle Berry.
His credits include: the series "Birds of Prey", the movie "How to Marry
a Billionaire" and hosting the "1999 Miss USA Pageant".
His feature film credits include "Butter", "Motives", "The Brothers",
"Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and the upcoming "The Seat Filler".
Florida Black
Expo ‘05 recognizes that the
growth and advancement of African-American businesses is essential to
the growth of the economy of the Florida First Coast. The focus of the
Florida Black Expo ‘05 will be on identifying and developing
significant business opportunities for black owned businesses,
emphasizing greater awareness of entrepreneurship among
African-Americans.
The primary goal of
the event is to serve as the liaison that builds and strengthens
relationships between black businesses, major corporations, and
government agencies. It is an effective vehicle for facilitating
meaningful business opportunities for more than 200 vendors to showcase
their products and services to interested consumers. It provides major
employers with significant opportunities for recruiting potential
employees for their workforce. The Florida
Black Expo ‘05 will offer a broad range of educational,
business-oriented and entertainment activities that appeal to a diverse
community.
The Expo will
include a series of seminars addressing subjects such as:
-
Exploiting procurement opportunities
with private corporations and governmental agencies like JEA, JTA,
Jaxport and the JEDC.
-
Building wealth in the
African-American community
-
How to Start a New Business,
Thomas McCants
Media currently hosts Black Expo events in Charleston, S.C., Columbia,
S.C., Wilmington, N.C. and Norfolk, VA. The largest Black Expo in the
country is staged in Indianapolis, attracting more than 300,000
visitors. Thomas McCants Media Inc. publishers of the Black Pages
USA directories, has successfully promoted minority business
expositions for the past seven years.
The Black Expo is the largest event of its kind directly targeting the
African-American community.
For
more information call 904-727-7451 or 800-419-2417. Fax 904-721-38099
For
volunteer opportunities call 904-434-2357.
www.blackexpousa.com
## END ##
Black Expo 2005 is pleased to announce its corporate sponsors:
Blacksonville.com,
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Winn
Dixie, State Farm Insurance Companies, City of Jacksonville, Jaxport,
Suntrust, ADT, Florida Lottery, Jacksonville Port Authority, Shands
Hospital, Coggin Automotive, Jacksonville Transit Authority, CSX,
Wachovia, U.S. Army, Comcast, Florida Times Union, Clear Channel Radio,
and Clear Channel TV.
A
portion of the proceeds from this event will go to the
Black Pages USA
Scholarship Fund. |
