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Softnotes
''Softnotes'' is a multi-hour music television program created for BET. It debuted in 1987, and was created and produced by Alvin Jones (THE UNSEEN VJ), the former host of '' Video Vibrations''. This program focused on the genre known as Smooth Jazz, mixing up R&B, Soft Rock, & Easy Listening videos. This also showed the growing diversity of BET, and paved the way for other Jazz-dedicated shows like ''Sound & Style with Ramsey Lewis'' and ''Jazz Central''. Eventually, the program spun off the BET on Jazz digital cable channel, which is currently BET Her. ''Softnotes'' remained on the air until 1991, and Paul Porter (Alvin Jones' successor for Video Vibrations) would host the remainder of the show until it went off the air in mid-late 1991. Artists like Anita Baker, Kenny G, Najee, Jeff Lorber Jeffrey H. Lorber (born November 4, 1952) is an American keyboardist, composer, and record producer. After six previous nominations, Lorber won his first Grammy Award on January 28, 2018 f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television (BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting Black American audiences. It is the flagship channel of the BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group. Originally launched as a USA Network programming block on January 25, 1980, BET would eventually become a full-fledged channel on July 1, 1983. , BET is available to approximately 67,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2011 peak of 92,000,000 households. History Early years After stepping down as a lobbyist for the cable industry, Freeport, Illinois native Robert L. Johnson decided to launch his own cable television network. Johnson acquired a loan for $15,000 (equivalent to $55,648 in 2023) and a $500,000 (equivalent to $1,854,921 in 2023) investment from media executive John Malone to start the network. The network, which was named Black Entertainment Television (BET), launched on January 25, 1980. Cheryl D. Miller ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Video Vibrations
''Video Vibrations'' was a 4-hour-long daily video block that showcased popular music videos. It was one of BET's early video shows. The show aired October 1, 1984 until 1997, when it was changed to ''Vibrations''. It was developed to appeal to black audiences and show a wider array of black music than MTV or other networks at the time. The first video on ''Video Vibrations'' was Prince's "When Doves Cry". In the beginning, due to a limited supply of videos from black artists, popular mainstream white artists with crossover appeal were also featured in the lineup. As the supply of videos from black artists expanded, so did BET's position as an influential voice of the music industry. Hosts The show was hosted by a VJ speaking offscreen. All three hosts were prominent in radio as well. *Alvin "The Unseen VJ" Jones (1984–1991), one of BET's other first VJ's,alongside Donnie Simpson. *"Captain" Paul Porter (1991–1996). *Lorenzo "Ice Tea" Thomas (1996–1997) Popular segments *Ra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. (May 27, 1935 – September 12, 2022) was an American jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and radio personality. Lewis recorded over 80 albums and received five RIAA certification, gold records and three Grammy Awards in his career. His album ''The In Crowd (Ramsey Lewis album), The In Crowd'' earned Lewis critical praise and the 1965 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance. His best known singles include "The 'In' Crowd (song), The 'In' Crowd", "Wade in the Water", and "Sun Goddess (song), Sun Goddess". Until 2009, he was the host of the ''Ramsey Lewis Morning Show'' on the Chicago radio station WNUA. Lewis was also active in musical education in Chicago. He founded the Ramsey Lewis Foundation, established Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program, and served on the board of trustees for the Merit School of Music and The Chicago High School for the Arts. Life and career Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. was born on May 27 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BET Her
BET Her is an American basic cable television network currently owned by the BET Media Group subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group. The channel originally launched in 1996 as BET on Jazz, a spin-off from BET with a focus on jazz music programming targeting African Americans. By 2006, the network's name was shortened to BET J and was carrying a broader array of music-based, demographic-centric general-interest programming. In 2009, the network relaunched as Centric, with a focus on lifestyle and music programming targeting an upscale audience. Centric would be re-positioned as a general entertainment brand targeting women by 2014, and in 2017, the network would be relaunched under its current name. , BET Her is available to approximately 33,000,000 pay television households in the United States; down from its 2017 peak of 51,000,000 households. History Music and general entertainment formats The channel launched on January 15, 1996, as BET on Jazz, as a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anita Baker
Anita Denise Baker (born January 26, 1958) is an American jazz and soul singer. She is known for her soulful ballads, particularly from the height of the quiet storm period in the 1980s. Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker released her first solo album, '' The Songstress'', in 1983. In 1986, she rose to fame following the release of her Platinum-selling second album, ''Rapture'', which included the Grammy-winning single " Sweet Love". , Baker has won eight Grammy Awards and has four Platinum albums, along with two Gold albums. Baker is a contralto with a wide range of octaves. Life and music career 1958–82: Early life, career beginnings and Chapter 8 Anita Baker was born on January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio. When she was two, her mother abandoned her and Baker was raised by a foster family in Detroit, Michigan. When Baker was 12, her foster parents died and her foster sister raised her afterwards. By the time Baker was 16, she began ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenny G
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born June 5, 1956) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer. His 1986 album ''Duotones'' brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling artists of all time, with global sales totaling more than 75 million records, making him also the best-selling instrumentalist in history. Kenny G was born in Seattle, Washington and started playing the saxophone at the age of ten, inspired by a performance on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. He attended several schools in Seattle, including the University of Washington. During high school, he took private saxophone lessons and played in the school jazz band. Kenny G's professional career began with Barry White's The Love Unlimited Orchestra at age 17. He played with the Seattle funk band Cold, Bold & Together before joining the Jeff Lorber Fusion in 1980. His solo career took off after signing with Arista Records in 1982. His debut album, '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Najee
Jerome Najee Rasheed (born November 4, 1957, New York City), known professionally as Najee, is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist. Early life Najee was born in the lower west side of Manhattan in New York City and lived his teenage years in Queens, New York. His father died at a young age, and Najee and siblings were raised by his mother Mary Richards. His mother was an important figure and supporter throughout his life and musical career. Najee's musical pursuits began in grade school at age eight, where he began playing the clarinet, but he had a deep desire to play saxophone. He was influenced at this age by listening to his mother's recordings of Miles Davis and other American jazz artists. A pivotal moment in his life came when he made the decision to become a professional jazz musician. In high school, Najee began to study jazz as a student at the Jazzmobile program (co-founded by Dr. Billy Taylor) where he honed his skills on tenor saxophone and flute under the d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeff Lorber
Jeffrey H. Lorber (born November 4, 1952) is an American keyboardist, composer, and record producer. After six previous nominations, Lorber won his first Grammy Award on January 28, 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for ''Prototype'' by his band the Jeff Lorber Fusion. Many of his songs have appeared on the Weather Channel's ''Local on the 8s'' segments and on the channel's compilation albums, '' The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz'' and '' The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II''. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his album '' He Had a Hat'' (Blue Note, 2007) Early life Lorber was born to a Jewish family in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, the same suburb as Michael and Randy Brecker, with whom he would later play. He started to play the piano when he was four years old. After playing in a number of R&B bands as a teen, he attended Berklee College of Music, where he developed his love for jazz. At Berklee, he met and played alongside guitari ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Freddie Jackson
Frederick Anthony Jackson (born October 2, 1956) is an American R&B singer. Originally from New York, Jackson began his professional music career in the late 1970s with the California funk band Mystic Merlin. Among his well–known R&B/soul hits are " Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" (1985), " Have You Ever Loved Somebody" (1986), " Jam Tonight" (1986), " Do Me Again" (1990), and " You Are My Lady" (1985). He contributed to the soundtrack for the 1989 film, ''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' with the Michael Lloyd-produced duet "Love Survives" alongside Irene Cara. He also appeared in the movie ''King of New York''. Biography 1956–1980: early life and education, Mystic Merlin Born in the Harlem section of New York City, Jackson was trained as a gospel singer from an early age, singing at the White Rock Baptist Church of Harlem. There he met Paul Laurence, who would later become his record producer and songwriting partner. After completing school, Jackson joined Laurence's group L ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BET Original Programming
Black Entertainment Television (BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting Black American audiences. It is the flagship channel of the BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group. Originally launched as a USA Network programming block on January 25, 1980, BET would eventually become a full-fledged channel on July 1, 1983. , BET is available to approximately 67,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2011 peak of 92,000,000 households. History Early years After stepping down as a lobbyist for the cable industry, Freeport, Illinois native Robert L. Johnson decided to launch his own cable television network. Johnson acquired a loan for $15,000 (equivalent to $55,648 in 2023) and a $500,000 (equivalent to $1,854,921 in 2023) investment from media executive John Malone to start the network. The network, which was named Black Entertainment Television (BET), launched on January 25, 1980. Cheryl D. Miller de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1987 American Television Series Debuts
Events January * January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency. * January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade. * January 3 – Afghan leader Mohammad Najibullah says that Afghanistan's 1978 Communist revolution is "not reversible," and that any opposition parties will have to align with Communist goals. * January 4 – ** 1987 Maryland train collision: An Amtrak train en route from Washington, D.C. to Boston collides with Conrail engines at Chase, Maryland, United States, killing 16 people. ** Televangelist Oral Roberts announces to his viewers that unless they donate $8 million to his ministry by March 31, God will "call [him] home." * January 15 – Hu Yaobang, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, is forced into retirement by political conservatives. * January 16 – León Febres Cordero, president of Ecuador, is kidnapped for 11 hours by followers of imprisoned ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
