FOXXY FRIDAYS - TAMARA DOBSON

Greetings Everyone!

This week for Foxxy Friday I am paying homage to none other than Cleopatra Jones herself, Tamara Dobson!

Tamara Dobson was born in Baltimore, Maryland May 14, 1944(some sources say 1947). She started a career as a licensed beautician and later earned a degree in fashion illustration at the Maryland Institute of Art. Between 1970 and 1971, Dobson went to New York, after the statuesque (6'2") beauty was selected for a fashion show. She embarked on a career as a Vogue model and appeared in a number of commercials before entering films. In 1972, she had small roles in several films, including Come Back, Charleston Blue and Fuzz, but is best known for her roles in the Blaxploitation films, Cleopatra Jones (1973) and Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold (1975).

As if those accomplishments weren't enough, Dobson was also recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records as the "Tallest Leading Lady in Film." With strong performances in Cleopatra Jones, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold, and Norman... Is That You ?, it would seem that Tamara's stardom was assured, but that wasn't the case. The blaxploitation genre perished in the mid 1970s, and many actors suffered because of it. Dobson worked in films and television only sporadically from the late 1970s through the early 1980s; her last film was Amazons, a 1984 made-for-TV film directed by Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky & Hutch).

The late 1990s saw a renewed interest in blaxplotation films and their stars. For several years now, Warner Bros. has shown interest in a remake of Cleopatra Jones, this time with Whitney Houston in the title role, but the remake has not come to pass. Entertainer Beyonce played a character based on Dobson's Cleopatra Jones, ironically named "Foxxy Cleopatra", in the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember.

Sadly, Tamara Dobson passed away from complications of pneumonia and multiple sclerosis on October 2, 2006, at the age of 59. She remains an icon in the 1970s Blaxploitation era.

Here's Tamara:

SEX & THE CITY NYC PREMIERE

I gotta admit, I was never a fan when the show came on HBO, but this Sex & The City hype is reaching epic proportions! I received an email last week giving free passes to see the movie via a party (which means that the producers of the movie weren't really behind it, but I digress), and people are planning group trips to see the 4 ladies & Mr. Big (I know that much, sigh).

Anyway, here are some of the people at the premiere tonight, courtesy of WireImage:

Mary & J. Hud looked great, and L'il Kim...I like how she's softening her look. Keep it up Kim!
Thought I was gonna rag her didn't U? ;-)

THE RETURN OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN...THE TIME IS COMING TO VEGAS!

It's official: The Time is performing in Las Vegas!



The 80s funk band The Time has reunited all 7 members and is taking up residency this summer at the Flamingo Las Vegas between June 24 and Aug. 2. They will be performing 15 shows. This marks the first time the original band will be performing in Vegas together. You can bet this is going to be off the chain!

For those who don't know The Time is comprised of Morris Day, Jerome Benton, Jellybean Johnson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Monte Moir and Jesse Johnson. They first became known with their first hit "Get It Up", followed by "Cool", "The Walk", and "777-9311". Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis left in 1982 and went on to become one of the greatest songwriters of our generation, behind Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff (U can't beat the Philly sound!)

A new version of the band appeared in 1984's "Purple Rain" and performed "Jungle Love" and "The Bird". The original lineup reunited in 1990 for the album Pandemonium and had one of their biggest hits, "Jerk Out". This year they performed together for the first time in 15 years at the Grammys with Rhianna.

I had the chance to see the when they performed at BAM and they ripped it! I am so glad they're back together and if you're in Vegas between June 24 & August 2 this is the show to see! Ticket prices range from $65 to $150 plus fees and taxes.

You can purchase tickets at https://harrahs-web.vegas.com/flamingo/flamingo_thetime.html

Check out "Jerk Out":

FOXXY FRIDAY...

Every Friday I'm going to pay homage to a person in our pop culture who may or may not be well known to the masses, so today I'm paying homage to none other than one of the foxxiest mamas in the 70s, Miss Jayne Kennedy-Overton!

Jayne Kennedy was born Jane Harrison on October 27, 1951 in Washington D.C.

She was crowned Miss Ohio USA 1970 (she was the first African American woman to win the title), and was one of the 15 semi-finalists in the 1970 Miss USA pageant. While starting her modeling career, Jayne met Leon Isaac Kennedy; They married in 1970. They moved to California to pursue careers in acting. She made her film debut in 1972's "Lady Sings The Blues". She also made a cameo appearance in "Let's Do It Again".

She continued to act on television, appearing on "Sanford & Son", "Baretta", "Starsky & Hutch", "CHiPs", and "227".


In 1978, she was one of the first women to infiltrate the male-dominated world of sports announcing with a role on The NFL Today. In the early 1980s she produced exercise videos and released an exercise album (which I still have), and at the same time, she also had a contract with both Coca-Cola's Tab and Diet Coke.

The 80s also brought about a change personally; she and Leon Isaac Kennedy were divorced in 1982. In 1985 she married actor Bill Overton. Jayne also had a battle with endometriosis, which affects the lining of the uterus and can prevent pregnancy. Despite this ailment Jayne was able to give birth to three daughters: Savannah Re, Kopper Joi, and Zaire Ollyea.

Jayne has been on the cover of Ebony and Jet magazines numerous times. In July 1981 she became the first Black actress to grace the cover of Playboy magazine. She and Leon Isaac posed together for a pictorial in the same issue, but none of the pictures showed her nude.

Today Jayne is a wife & mother. She donates her time to various charities and is a Born-again Christian. With all that being said , I begin Foxxy Friday by honoring Miss Jayne Kennedy!

Check out Miss Jayne:

TASHA MABRY AT FRANK'S LOUNGE

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a showcase featuring my friend Tasha Mabry at Frank's Lounge in Brooklyn. Tasha is a vocalist whose vocals are well known on the Old School Rap classic "Ownlee Ewe" by Kwame. In addition to being a vocalist Tasha writes and composes her own music. I have known Tasha almost 20 years, when we both attended High School of Music & Performing Arts (yup, the "Fame" school), so I was more than happy to come down & support her in her endeavors.

Tasha in "Ownlee Ewe"



The evening started with the first act named Kut Kut (pronounced "Koo Koo"). He's a Nigerian born musician residing in Washington DC. He performed songs he wrote & composed and did a great musical impersonation of Teddy Pendergrass, Al Green, Louis Armstrong, and MACY GRAY! He had the crowd in stitches as he nailed her raspy vocal style.

Tasha then took the stage and started off with a freestyle rhyme. She had the crowd going and contnued momentum as she & her band performed cuts from her soon to be released album ( I know, I said album, I'm not totally politically correct...LOL) as well as performing a cover of Sade's "Stronger Than Pride". She ended her performance with the song "Remedy", that she composed.

In addition to seeing Tasha I saw my other buddies from high school including Zach Mabry (Tasha's hubby) and Michelle Sampeur. My, does time fly!

I really enjoyed myself; we have got to start supporting musicians like Tasha & Kut Kut, as well as artists like Alice Smith and Algebra; they're taking the music back y'all!

I will definitely be at her next showcase, keep making mother proud!

Tasha performing at Frank's Lounge:

WELCOME!!!!!

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING BUT I FINALLY MADE IT!

Welcome to my first blog! I am known as BklynGurl and I want to thank all those who have supported me throughout my process. I'm not much of a writer but I have a LOT to say. I hope you all enjoy my posts and definitely send me some feedback, I love to read comments that are good, bad, or indifferent.

There's no time like the present so let's get started!