Saturday, April 21, 2007
Block party will featurerapper Kurtis Blow
YOUNGSTOWN -- Artists and vendors are being sought for Community Block Busta, an all-day outdoor street party and talent showcase to be held June 27 on Park Avenue, near Stambaugh Auditorium.
Kurtis Blow, one of the founding fathers of rap music, will be the special guest. Blow is the first rapper to sign with a major label and have a certified Gold single (1980's "The Breaks"). He will bring his Just Do It tour, featuring Toledo rapper ToeJoe, to Block Busta.
Recently, Blow has become a driving force in "holy hip hop," which is meant to spread the Gospel. His CD "Tha Block Iz Hot," a compilation holy hip hop featuring more than a dozen guest artists, will be released this week.
To register to participate in Block Busta, contact one of the following members of event sponsor Stopping the Violence committee: Patricia Owens (1-877-701-2024 or stoppingtheviolence7@yahoo.com); Keith Logan Jr. at (330) 507-5175; or Michele Stevenson (image1966@aol.com).
Valley native's careeris gaining momentum
WARREN -- Jonathan Eldell, a Warren native, is an extra in the final installment of HBO's "The Sopranos" and has a small role in the upcoming Will Smith film "I Am Legend."
Eldell is a 2002 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School, where he was a member of the choir, the National Forensics Society, and the varsity football and basketball teams. He attended Youngstown State University.
Eldell auditioned for the second season of "American Idol," and made it to the New York auditions, where he placed as one of the top 45 vocalists from the Midwest. While in New York, he landed a role in "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen," starring Lindsay Lohan. He also made two appearances on MTV's "Total Request Live."
He also has a role in the as-yet unreleased feature film "Fine-Tune," which was filmed in Youngstown.
Eldell, a model for Wicked Threads Co., is currently working on campaigns for Dunkin Donuts and MTV Spring Break Cancun '07.
Handbell choir concert
ALLIANCE -- The Mount Union College Handbell Choir will give its free spring concert in Presser Recital Hall of Cope Music Hall at 8 p.m. Monday.
The eight-member group is under the direction of music professor Christine Allison.
Each member is responsible for at least three bells and must have excellent inner rhythm, according to Allison.
Cope Music Hall is located on the corner of Union Avenue and Simpson Street.
Chorale's spring concert
SHARON, Pa. -- The Shenango Valley Chorale's Spring Concert, "Carmina Burana Meets Americana," will be performed Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Sharon, and Sunday at Hickory High School in Hermitage.
Portions of the performances, both at 7:30 p.m., are accompanied by the Westminster College Wind Ensemble, and will include performances by the Shenango Area Youth Chorus and the Hickory High School Chamber Singers.
In the first half of the show, the Chorale, under the direction of Edgar S. Groves, and accompanied by Tina Grieg, will sing portions of "Carmina Burana,"; and then be joined by the Shenango Area Youth Chorus on John Ritter's "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Pie Jesu."
The second portion of the show will include sets of sacred and patriotic music.
Admission is 8 for adults, 6 for senior citizens, and 4 for students in grades 9 through 12. Children are free. Call (724) 342-3477 for tickets or they can be purchased at the door.