Spectacular Magazine - August 2014 | Page 34

ENTERTAINMENT DID U KNOW?... ANDRE HARRELL IS NAMED TO NEW POSITION OF VICE CHAIRMAN OF REVOLT TV REVOLT TV CEO Keith Clinkscales announced the appointment of music veteran ANDRE HARRELL to a new role of vice chairman. In his new position, Harrell will use his extensive music industry knowledge to lead the inaugural REVOLT Music Conference taking place this October in Miami. Through the music conference, Harrell will also create new opportunities for REVOLT with technology companies, brands, and the music industry largely focusing on business development, outreach and strategic partnerships. Harrell has a long and illustrious career in the entertainment industry. Over four decades he has built an enviable track record in film, television, music, and branding. He founded Uptown Records, and held executive position at Rush Communications, Motown Records and Atlantic Records. Harrell founded and operated the advertising agency Nu America, working on campaigns for Tommy Jeans, Footaction USA, and Apollo Theater Foundation. As vice chairman of Combs Enterprises, Harrell has advised on marketing efforts for Sean John, Ciroc and REVOLT. He has also worked with Bono to introduce the (RED) campaign for HIV/AIDs awareness among the urban market. Launched in broadcast in October 2013, REVOLT is available in over 40 of the top 50 U.S. markets and attracts over 50 million young adults through television, digital properties, social and mobile. THE NEW ERA OF LUSTRE – NIA LONG MAKES HISTORY WITH HER NEW GIG! Known for her stellar on-screen performances and her timeless beauty, actress NIA LONG has been named ambassador and spokesmodel for Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds. She’s calling the new White Diamonds fragrance, “Lustre.” This makes her the first Black woman in history to become a spokesperson for White Diamonds fragrance. As an ambassador, Long will lend her expertise in the field of beauty to help raise awareness about the fragrance. Twenty-five percent of the royalties from Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds and House of Taylor fragrances go to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS. Elizabeth Taylor launched the original White Diamonds fragrance in 1991 and it has grossed $1 billion in sales during the last 23 years. It is known as “the most popular celebrity fragrance in the world.” SWIZZ BEATZ AND ALICIA KEYS EXPECTING SECOND CHILD Producer Swizz Beatz and his wife Alicia Keys announced on Instagram that they were expecting a second child. The power couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary on July 31 and used the occasion to share the news of their next little one. He was dressed in a nice white and gray ensemble and she was dressed in a beautiful white Grecian gown. Keys and Beatz were married in 2010 and are already parents to 3-year-old son, Egypt Daoud Dean, who made his debut as a model in a Ralph Lauren runway show for children earlier this year. Dean is also father to three other children from 34 previous relationships. Rumors about a possible pregnancy had started circulating after a Beatles tribute concert that Keys was a part of. She appeared to have a baby bump hidden underneath a black camisole that she was wearing while sitting at the piano. WESLEY SNIPES MAKES HIS RETURN TO THE BIG SCREEN IN 'THE EXPENDABLES 3' U.S. action star Wesley Snipes is back on the big screen for the first time since his release from prison as he joins Sylvester Stallone and the cast of “The Expendables 3.” Speaking ahead of the movie’s world premiere August 11, Snipes joked that Stallone had him in mind for the first “Expendables” movie but he was “just a little occupied at the time.” “They reserved a spot for me and when the opportunity came along he reached out again and said come join us, we would like you to be a part of this.” Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison in 2008 after failing to file income tax returns. He began his jail term in December 2010. The movie makes reference to Snipes’ time behind bars with a tax-evasion joke in the opening scenes. The 52-year-old actor is currently looking for new action projects, with a return to the blood-soaked Universe of Vampire “Blade” at the top of his list. “A lot of people are calling for it and I would like to do it,” he says. KEKE PALMER TO BE BROADWAY'S FIRST BLACK CINDERELLA Actress and singer Keke Palmer will be stepping into the title role in "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" starting Sept. 9 at the Broadway Theatre. She will become the first African-American to play the part on the Great White Way. Palmer, who will be making her professional stage debut, will rely on a host of skills she's developed from film — including "Barbershop 2: Back in Business" and "Akeelah And The Bee" — her BET talk show, "Just Keke". She has played Chili in "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story" and starred in Nickelodeon's "True Jackson, VP." Palmer also appeared opposite Cicely Yyson and Vanessa Williams in Lifetime's "A Trip To Bountiful," which was nominated for an Emmy Award. The Illinois-born actress's parents, Sharon and Larry Palmer, both worked as professional actors, and young Keke said she grew up watching theater and welcomes the discipline it will give her. SPECTACULAR MAGAZINE | August 2014 | www.spectacularmag.com