Music legends Anita Baker and Ronald Isley were honored at the 2010 Soul Train Awards, which aired Sunday night on BET.
The second annual Soul Train Awards, hosted again by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, honored Ronald Isley and Anita Baker and featured performances by Cee Lo Green, Erykah Badu, Bruno Mars and others.

The show was originally taped in Atlanta on November 10, and aired Sunday on BET. Howard told MTV News that the Soul Train Awards show how far we have come in America. "It reminds me of the advancement black people have made over the years because Soul Train really was the beginning of that Black Power movement when we could actually see ourselves -- and to have an awards show based upon that Soul Train -- it's headed somewhere," he said. "We have a black president now. The country seems to be more tolerant towards the diversity inside of it so it seems like the train is moving well down the tracks."

ANITA BAKER TRIBUTE
Artists including Chrisette Michele, Goapele, Lalah Hathaway, Dionne Farris, Kem, Tamia, Faith Evans and El DeBarge all paid tribute to the R&B legend by singing a medley of her greatest hits.

Music legends Anita Baker and Ronald Isley were honored at the 2010 Soul Train Awards, which aired Sunday night on BET.
The second annual Soul Train Awards, hosted again by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, honored Ronald Isley and Anita Baker and featured performances by Cee Lo Green, Erykah Badu, Bruno Mars and others.

The show was originally taped in Atlanta on November 10, and aired Sunday on BET. Howard told MTV News that the Soul Train Awards show how far we have come in America. "It reminds me of the advancement black people have made over the years because Soul Train really was the beginning of that Black Power movement when we could actually see ourselves -- and to have an awards show based upon that Soul Train -- it's headed somewhere," he said. "We have a black president now. The country seems to be more tolerant towards the diversity inside of it so it seems like the train is moving well down the tracks."

ANITA BAKER TRIBUTE
Artists including Chrisette Michele, Goapele, Lalah Hathaway, Dionne Farris, Kem, Tamia, Faith Evans and El DeBarge all paid tribute to the R&B legend by singing a medley of her greatest hits.

A few Detroiters popped up on Billboard's list of "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years," which was released today.

The music industry magazine compiled its rankings based on chart performance -- and not so much cultural or artistic impact. The #1 artist on the tally is R. Kelly, beating out the likes of Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Usher and Luther Vandross.

Eminem is No. 38 on the list thanks to six albums hitting the top of the R&B albums chart. "The Detroit emcee has not been as successful on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with his featured spot on Drake's 'Forever' netting him his best showing at No. 2 in 2009. However, his 2010 album 'Recovery' has earned 2010's so-far longest run at the summit of R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with 13 weeks." (Em's protege, 50 Cent, is ten notches higher at No. 28.)

Aaliyah rings in at No. 27 thanks to a brief string of hits that reached the top 10. "Yet, even following her passing, she continued to live on via the charts. Since then, she reached the top 10 five more times, with 'Rock the Boat' (No. 2), 'More Than a Woman' (No. 7), 'I Care 4 U' (No. 3), 'Miss You' (No. 1 for three weeks) and 'Come Over' (No. 9)."

Motown legend Stevie Wonder is not too far behind at No. 26. "Though the legendary Stevie Wonder notched a stellar string of hit singles on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the '60s and '70s, he continued to perform strongly on into the '80s and beyond with such No. 1s like 'Part Time Lover'" and 'Skeletons.'"

Anita Baker places at No. 22 on the list, making her the highest-ranking Detroiter (unless you count Motown-affiliated Michael Jackson, who placed at No. 13). "Everyone was 'Caught Up In the Rapture' of the sounds of Anita Baker back in 1986, when her second album, 'Rapture,' spent three weeks atop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and spawned four top 10 hits on R&B/Hip-Hop songs."

A few Detroiters popped up on Billboard's list of "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years," which was released today.

The music industry magazine compiled its rankings based on chart performance -- and not so much cultural or artistic impact. The #1 artist on the tally is R. Kelly, beating out the likes of Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Usher and Luther Vandross.

Eminem is No. 38 on the list thanks to six albums hitting the top of the R&B albums chart. "The Detroit emcee has not been as successful on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with his featured spot on Drake's 'Forever' netting him his best showing at No. 2 in 2009. However, his 2010 album 'Recovery' has earned 2010's so-far longest run at the summit of R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with 13 weeks." (Em's protege, 50 Cent, is ten notches higher at No. 28.)

Aaliyah rings in at No. 27 thanks to a brief string of hits that reached the top 10. "Yet, even following her passing, she continued to live on via the charts. Since then, she reached the top 10 five more times, with 'Rock the Boat' (No. 2), 'More Than a Woman' (No. 7), 'I Care 4 U' (No. 3), 'Miss You' (No. 1 for three weeks) and 'Come Over' (No. 9)."

Motown legend Stevie Wonder is not too far behind at No. 26. "Though the legendary Stevie Wonder notched a stellar string of hit singles on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the '60s and '70s, he continued to perform strongly on into the '80s and beyond with such No. 1s like 'Part Time Lover'" and 'Skeletons.'"

Anita Baker places at No. 22 on the list, making her the highest-ranking Detroiter (unless you count Motown-affiliated Michael Jackson, who placed at No. 13). "Everyone was 'Caught Up In the Rapture' of the sounds of Anita Baker back in 1986, when her second album, 'Rapture,' spent three weeks atop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and spawned four top 10 hits on R&B/Hip-Hop songs."

The Sensational Josephine Baker, a one-woman play with music by actress and emerging playwright Cheryl Howard, will get an Off-Broadway run Sept. 7-Oct. 3. Howard, who makes her playwriting debut with this project, will also play the late international Jazz Age star.
Emerging Artists Theatre produces the work at TADA Theatre (15 W. 28th St., Second Floor, between Broadway and Fifth Avenue), directed by Ian Streicher.

The life story of the black entertainer "follows Josephine as she journeys from conservative St. Louis, MO, to the risque cabarets of the Rue Pigalle, France, from little girl to showgirl," according to production notes. "Howard gives voice to this uncensored and emotional tale through a series of fascinating women: Josephine's domineering mother, Carrie McDonald; fellow chorus girl Lydia Jones; and Ada 'Bricktop' Smith, owner of the infamous nightclub Bricktop's in Montmarte.

"With these and other fascinating female characters, Cheryl Howard fills the stage with a raw, fearless portrayal of Josephine in her defining moments: from the hilarious antics which rescued her from the obscurity of the chorus; to the humiliation of being shunned by a narrow-minded American public, to her life-long search for unconditional love... throughout it all she exudes an enduring passion to live life to the fullest."

The creative team includes dramaturg Melissa Attebery, production stage manager Alison Carroll, set designer Tim McMath, lighting designer G. Ben Swope, costume designer Nicole Wee, sound designer Aaron Blank and musical director Peter Saxe.

Tickets are $49. Opening night is Sept. 14. The performance scheduled is Monday and Friday at 7 PM, Wednesday and Sunday at 2 PM, Saturday at 5 PM and 9 PM.

The Sensational Josephine Baker, a one-woman play with music by actress and emerging playwright Cheryl Howard, will get an Off-Broadway run Sept. 7-Oct. 3. Howard, who makes her playwriting debut with this project, will also play the late international Jazz Age star.
Emerging Artists Theatre produces the work at TADA Theatre (15 W. 28th St., Second Floor, between Broadway and Fifth Avenue), directed by Ian Streicher.

The life story of the black entertainer "follows Josephine as she journeys from conservative St. Louis, MO, to the risque cabarets of the Rue Pigalle, France, from little girl to showgirl," according to production notes. "Howard gives voice to this uncensored and emotional tale through a series of fascinating women: Josephine's domineering mother, Carrie McDonald; fellow chorus girl Lydia Jones; and Ada 'Bricktop' Smith, owner of the infamous nightclub Bricktop's in Montmarte.

"With these and other fascinating female characters, Cheryl Howard fills the stage with a raw, fearless portrayal of Josephine in her defining moments: from the hilarious antics which rescued her from the obscurity of the chorus; to the humiliation of being shunned by a narrow-minded American public, to her life-long search for unconditional love... throughout it all she exudes an enduring passion to live life to the fullest."

The creative team includes dramaturg Melissa Attebery, production stage manager Alison Carroll, set designer Tim McMath, lighting designer G. Ben Swope, costume designer Nicole Wee, sound designer Aaron Blank and musical director Peter Saxe.

Tickets are $49. Opening night is Sept. 14. The performance scheduled is Monday and Friday at 7 PM, Wednesday and Sunday at 2 PM, Saturday at 5 PM and 9 PM.

Vera Baker is a former political fundraiser. With Muthoni Wambu, she founded Baker Wambu & Associates in 2000. According to The Politico, Baker’s organization became a top fundraising firm for the Congressional Black Caucus. Baker was the Finance Director for Barack Obama’s 2004 Illinois Senate campaign and was identified by The American Prospect as one of the “rare” African-American major fundraisers. She also served as the Deputy Political Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Baker was born and raised in San Francisco. She received duel Bachelor degrees in political,legal and economic analysis and African American studies from Mills College. She also worked toward a Masters of Art in political science from Howard University and a Masters of Art in African American studies.

After leaving political fundraising, Baker worked for Alta Capital Group, a municipal bond broker-dealer. She then launched Cape Caribbean, LLC, with offices in Fort de France, Martinique and Miami, Florida.

Vera Baker is a former political fundraiser. With Muthoni Wambu, she founded Baker Wambu & Associates in 2000. According to The Politico, Baker’s organization became a top fundraising firm for the Congressional Black Caucus. Baker was the Finance Director for Barack Obama’s 2004 Illinois Senate campaign and was identified by The American Prospect as one of the “rare” African-American major fundraisers. She also served as the Deputy Political Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Baker was born and raised in San Francisco. She received duel Bachelor degrees in political,legal and economic analysis and African American studies from Mills College. She also worked toward a Masters of Art in political science from Howard University and a Masters of Art in African American studies.

After leaving political fundraising, Baker worked for Alta Capital Group, a municipal bond broker-dealer. She then launched Cape Caribbean, LLC, with offices in Fort de France, Martinique and Miami, Florida.