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☆ Richard Roundtree, Black action hero who played 'Shaft,' dead at 81
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] FILE PHOTO: Cast member Richard Roundtree poses at the premiere of the movie "What Men Want" in Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 24 (Reuters) - Richard Roundtree, a trailblazing Black actor who played the private eye John Shaft in the "Shaft" films of the 1970s and also took on dramatic roles dealing with race relations in America, died on Tuesday aged 81, the Hollywood Reporter said, citing his manager. Roundtree died at his home in Los Angeles of pancreatic cancer, the Reporter said, citing his manager, Patrick McMinn. Roundtree worked regularly until the end, with 159 acting credits to his name plus three upcoming projects yet to be released, according to IMDB.com. He was married twice and is survived by four daughters - Nicole, Tayler, Morgan and Kelli Roundtree - and his son, James, Variety said.

Persons: Richard Roundtree, Mario Anzuoni, John Shaft, Roundtree, Patrick McMinn, McMinn, Isaac Hayes, Miles, Peter O'Toole's Robinson, Laurence Olivier's, General Douglas MacArthur, Nicole, Tayler, Morgan, Kelli Roundtree, James, Variety, Daniel Trotta, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, America, Los Angeles, Harlem, New York, Mississippi

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Richard Roundtree, the trailblazing actor who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective in several “Shaft” films beginning in the early 1970s, has died. Roundtree’s “Shaft” was part of a change in how Black movies were viewed in Hollywood, which failed to consider Black actors – especially for leading roles — in projects at the time. Isaac Hayes’ “Shaft” theme song — which included the line “You a bad mother— (Shut your mouth)” — helped insinuate the original movie into the pop-cult consciousness. After the film’s success, Roundtree returned in sequels “Shaft’s Big Score” in 1972 and “Shaft in Africa” in 1973. Roundtree reprised his role in the 2000 “Shaft” film, a revival that starred Samuel L. Jackson.

Persons: — Richard Roundtree, Roundtree’s, Patrick McMinn, ” McMinn, ” Roundtree, John, Gordon Parks, –, —, Roundtree, Isaac Hayes ’, ” —, Samuel L, Jackson, Jessie T, Usher, Peter O’Toole, Taraji P, Henson, ”, Mary Jane ” Organizations: ANGELES, Associated Press, Africa ”, CBS, “, MTV Locations: Los Angeles, New Rochelle , New York, New York, Gordon, Hollywood, American, Africa

☆ This pitmaster is keeping his family’s 89-year-old BBQ restaurant alive—it brought in $1.5 million last year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

McCray's Backyard BBQ and Seafood is serving up ribs with a side of rich history — and now CEO and pitmaster Derrick McCray wants to take the mom-and-pop restaurant nationwide. "Uncle Jay brought my father up in the barbecue business and made him a barbecue extraordinaire," he tells CNBC Make It. And he was pretty much the only black restaurant business in his area during that time." Declared the "war on drugs" by President Nixon in 1971, the epidemic hurt the health and profitability of McCray's Backyard BBQ and Seafood. It was a major wake-up call for McCray, and ultimately led him back home to take over the BBQ business.

Persons: pitmaster Derrick McCray, McCray, Jay Harvey, Uncle Jay, Jesse Jackson, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Nixon, FAMU, everything's, Uncle Harvey Organizations: CNBC, Klan, Florida, Mechanical University, Dixie, United States Football League, Super Bowl Locations: Palm Beach , Florida, South Florida, Winn, Dallas , Texas

☆ Former NBA star Zach Randolph & Marcus 'Head' Howell on building NLess Entertainment and the rise of Moneybagg Yo
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( John Lynch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

NLess Entertainment co-founders Zach Randolph and Marcus Howell spoke to Insider about the trajectory of their independent record label. After signing with NLess in 2016, Moneybagg Yo released his debut studio album, "Reset," and steadily built momentum with each subsequent LP. "Man, staying in the studio," Howell reinforced. "Bagg work hard. I asked Randolph and Howell what separates Memphis from the rest of the US in their minds.

☆ Burt Bacharach, legendary composer of pop songs, dies at 94
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Bacharach was both an innovator and throwback, and his career seemed to run parallel to the rock era. He was an eight-time Grammy winner, a prize-winning Broadway composer for "Promises, Promises" and a three-time Oscar winner. Fellow songwriter Sammy Cahn liked to joke that the smiling, wavy-haired Bacharach was the first composer he ever knew who didn't look like a dentist. Bacharach was essentially a pop composer, but his songs became hits for country artists (Marty Robbins), rhythm and blues performers (Chuck Jackson), soul (Franklin, Luther Vandross) and synth-pop (Naked Eyes). He's everybody's composer ... Burt Bacharach!"

Black users have long been one of Twitter’s most engaged demographics, flocking to the platform to steer online culture and drive real-world social change. But a month after Elon Musk took over, some Black influencers are eyeing the exits just as he races to shore up the company’s business. And while there is no hard data on how many Black users have either joined or left the platform over that period, some prominent influencers say they’re actively pursuing alternatives. Some signs indicate a slowdown among Black Twitter users that predates Musk. “It’s crippling to the economies of cities when Black folks leave, platforms when Black folks leave, entertainment sites when Black folks leave,” she said.

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