allen Archives - Good News!

Produces an outstanding Sustainable Art and Fashion Show filled with WISDOM & LAUGHTER

Austin Tang — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:37:57 +0000

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Thought for the Day…10/30/25

Austin Tang — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:00:33 +0000

” IF GOD EXISTS, I HOPE HE HAS A GOOD EXCUSE.” WOODY ALLEN

#GOD #WoodyAllen #GoodExcuse #Hope

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Sheena Spirit and Debbie Allen share their Good News

Austin Tang — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:44:53 +0000

Listen to “Sheena Spirit and Debbie Allen share their Good News” on Spreaker.

Sheena Spirit’s Karmic Collisions Film short

(2 versions)

on our editors page

Epyllion Studios Vimeo

6:48 version ~

https://vimeo.com/150305859

1:47 version ~

https://vimeo.com/144708743

Peace & Unity

Debbie Allen

#SheenaSpirit #DebbieAllen

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Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference Will See Annual Influx Of Media And Tech Moguls, But Economic Climate Freezes Major Dealmaking

Austin Tang — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 17:41:32 +0000

Idaho’s Friedman Memorial Airport, where execs from media, tech, sports and other sectors will arrive this week for the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Allen & Co.’s annual Sun Valley Conference is known for drawing an A-list roster of execs from across the media and tech realms, with a generous sprinkling of sports commissioners, politicos and other notables added to the mix.

This year’s event, which gets under way Tuesday, looks to be no exception to the rule, though the atmosphere is likely to be subdued given the general M&A climate. (On the plus side: No N95 masks required in all that fresh air!) Media chiefs including Disney’s Bob Iger, Warner Bros Discovery’s David Zaslav and Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish and non-executive chair Shari Redstone are expected, as are Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Apple’s Tim Cook and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.

Members of the press making the trek to Idaho are kept at a distance from the goings-on inside the Sun Valley Resort, and event organizers frown on participants doing any media relations beyond waving at cameras and briefly chatting at the valet line. CNBC has typically established a remote set a safe distance away, drawing a few guests, though not to spill any details of what happened inside. This year’s labor situation — with the WGA already out on strike and SAG-AFTRA facing a deadline with the AMPTP on Wednesday — will only add to the incentive to hunker down out of the reach of zoom lenses.

Because of the sheer tonnage of potentates in attendance, and perhaps because of the clampdown on press access, the presumption is that dealmaking dominates attendee agendas. Reports about the annual confab often cite major tie-ups whose roots can be traced back to Sun Valley, though the list is getting a bit long in the tooth. The most often-cited roster includes Disney-Capital Cities/ABC (1995); Comcast-NBCUniversal (2009) and Jeff Bezos-Washington Post (2013).

Even when the economy is humming, the conference isn’t the hotbed of M&A transactions many press depictions make it out to be, though it does provide neutral and luxurious ground where conversations can begin. Still, plenty of massive deals — Disney’s $71.3 billion acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox, the $43 billion merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery — have been negotiated without any river rafting being involved.

Whatever the topics of the day both inside the official sessions and on clandestine coffee runs and power walks, a few factors are casting a long shadow over the deal market. Inflation is the primary economic issue, while the regulatory environment and tighter oversight during the Biden Administration has also emerged as a disincentive.

According to PitchBook, venture capital deals amounted to only $85.6 million through the first half of 2023 and fell by half during the second quarter compared with levels of a year ago. The tally through the first two quarters was the lowest since 2014. Overall M&A deal volume and values have slumped to their lowest levels since the onset of Covid in 2020.

A recent report from PwC suggests that dealmaking could return in the second half of 2023 as long as sellers are realistic about pricing. Still, interest rates are making financing expensive, which is an obstacle to many transactions. “It’s a buyer’s market out there now, especially for cash-rich corporate acquirors and middle-market deals,” said Brian Levy, global deals industries leader and partner at PwC. “It’s essential for sellers to work harder to prepare for upcoming sales—or risk losing out.”

Traditional media companies are in the process of shaving more than $10 billion in costs from their respective operations and streamlining their structures. The prior embrace of direct-to-consumer streaming, which has burdened companies with costs and no clear path to consistent profitability, has given way to new attempts at austerity. The main question, in terms of M&A, is how would they be able to shed legacy assets? Paramount has been exploring the sale of BET Networks and Warner Bros Discovery reportedly had preliminary conversations about offloading CNN but it’s easier said than done.

Until recently, minority investors like private equity firms didn’t have an avenue to allow them to get a piece of film and TV assets. TPG attained 30% of DirecTV when AT&T spun out the pay TV operator in 2021. Last year, Nexstar Media Group used its own estimable balance sheet to move in on The CW, taking on the broadcast network’s debt in exchange for a 75% equity stake. What reshuffling could be next? Lionsgate has said by this fall it will separate its studio business from Starz and the streaming side of the company. Hasbro is in the process of shedding eOne and Paramount has re-engaged in the process of selling Simon & Schuster, with a year-end closing target.

One transaction with ramifications for many entertainment players isn’t technically in the realm of open-market M&A. Disney and Comcast are coming down the home stretch with their put-call negotiations for Hulu. Disney is expected to buy out Comcast’s remaining 33% stake in the streaming service early next year after both sides flirted earlier this year with the idea of Comcast being the buyer. The final price is to be determined, though the floor valuation has been set at $27.5 billion.

Craig Moffett, in a recent MoffettNathanson note about the Disney-Hulu dance, reflected the general sense of restlessness in the media business, which has reached the halfway point of a grueling year amid a lot of unanswered questions. In the case of Comcast, the company’s apparent decision not to go all-in on buying the two-thirds of Hulu it does not already own puts more focus on the company’s larger strategy. “If not Hulu, what then?” Moffett wondered. “Will they simply move on to something else to buy instead?”

As the Magic 8-Ball would say, signs point to yes.

Original site: https://deadline.com/2023/07/sun-valley-conference-media-tech-moguls-economic-climate-freezes-major-dealmaking-1235433357/

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AVOIDING A POTENTIAL ‘TWINDEMIC’ Experts Say Flu & Covid 19=Double Dose of Trouble How You & Your Family Can Help

Austin Tang — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:44:57 +0000

Listen to “AVOIDING A POTENTIAL ‘TWINDEMIC’ Experts Say Flu & Covid 19=Double Dose of Trouble How You & Your Family Can Help” on Spreaker.

Last year, as the United States entered its third wave of COVID-19, lockdowns and mitigation techniques kept people distanced and helped prevent a severe flu season. As a result, according to a new survey, three in five Americans say they may delay or skip the flu shot this season.

Now amidst a different pandemic environment and laxed social distancing that has prompted influenza’s inevitable resurgence, annual vaccination remains the best way to protect ourselves and families.

http://familiesfightingflu.org/

Influenza vaccination is critical in helping to avoid a potential ‘twindemic’ and alleviate the burden on our healthcare system. According to the CDC, it is both safe and effective for a COVID-19 vaccine to be co-administered with a seasonal flu vaccine and may even improve the uptake of both vaccines/boosters.

Key Flu Facts:

Influenza vaccination prevents hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations each year and can alleviate the growing burden on our healthcare system

Flu vaccine is especially critical for protecting vulnerable populations, including young children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions

Children under 18 years of age suffered nearly 52,500 flu-related hospitalizations and 434 deaths in 2019/20, which is why it’s critical for parents of children under 18 years of age to be vigilant about vaccination

Shelle Allen, President, Families Fighting Flu (a national, nonprofit, advocacy organization dedicated to protecting children, families, and communities against the flu) will be available to discuss the importance of flu vaccines and help families plan for it. Shelle has a personal connection to this issue. Her daughter, Madi Allen, was placed on life support when she was 12 years old as a result of influenza, and even had part of her left lung removed more than a decade later due to long-term effects.

Joining Shelle will be Gregg Sylvester, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Seqirus, a global leader in influenza prevention, which is partnering with Families Fight Flu, urging them to take a “Promise” to stay on track for flu vaccines.

#avoiding #twindemic #family #covid #flu #help #families #fighting #vaccination #healthcare #health #care #cdc #boosters #vaccines #influenza #hospital #stelle #allen #gregg #sylvester #promise

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An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times November 5-6, 2019

admin — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 12:05:55 +0000

An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing
On The Defining Issues Of Our Times

November 5-6, 2019

Greenwich, CT USA

Ken Kencel

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times” on Spreaker.

Byron Allen

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Byron Allen” on Spreaker.

Ambassador Craig Roberts Stapleton

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Ambassador Stapleton” on Spreaker.

Charles Davis

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Charles Davis” on Spreaker.

Stephen McConnell Case

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Steve Case” on Spreaker.

Robert Smith

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Robert Smith” on Spreaker.

Leslie Picker, Reporter – Hedge Funds and Private Equity, CNBC. Christopher Hyzy, Managing Director and CIO Bank of America Corporation

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Leslie Picker” on Spreaker.

Marc Lasry, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, Avenue Capital Group

Anton Chan, RMB Specialist, Standard Chartered Bank

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Anton Chan” on Spreaker.

William Ma, CIO, Noah (Hong Kong), CIO, Gopher; CEO,Gopher Redwoods

Eva Shen, Head of WFOE Client Solutions, Guotai Janan Futures

John Tan, Rgional Head, Financial Markets, East, Standard Chartered Bank

Byron Allen, Chairman and CEO, Entertainment Studios

Robert Smith, Founder and Managing Partner, IECP Ventures

David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman, The Carlyle Group

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-David Rubenstein” on Spreaker.

Chuck Davis, CEO, Stone Point Capital

Julia La Roche, Correspondent, Yahoo Finance

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Steve Case, Founder, Revolution and AOL

Gerald Parsky, Founder and Chairman, Aurora Capital

Alan Patricof, Founder and Managing Director, Greycroft

Jim Aiello, Co- Founder, Greenwich Economic Forum

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Jim Aiello part 1” on Spreaker.

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Jim Aiello part 2” on Spreaker.

Listen to “An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times-Jim Aiello part 3” on Spreaker.

Bruce McGuire, Co-Founder, Greenwich Economic Forum

Peter Tesel, First Selectman, Town of Greenwich

Ned Lamont, Governor, State of Connecticut

Ray Dalio, Founder, Co-CIO and Co-Chairman, Bridgewater Associates

Paul Tuder Jones, Co-Chairman and CIO, Tudor Investment Corp.

The Greenwich Economic Forum (GEF) is a global alternative investment industry conference that convenes some of the brightest minds in global finance for discussions on global trade, capital markets and investing. GEF is C-suite level event of 400 leaders and executives at a waterfront setting in Greenwich, CT.

2019 SAMPLE SPEAKERS

Ray Dalio
Founder, Co-CIO & Co-Chairman
Bridgewater Associates

David M. Rubenstein
Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman
The Carlyle Group

Paul Tudor Jones
Co-Chairman and Chief Investment Officer
Tudor Investment Corporation

Mohamed A. El-Erian
Senior Adviser
Gramercy Funds Management

Afsaneh Beschloss
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Rockcreek

Marc Lasry
Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder
Avenue Capital Group

Gillian Tett
Editor-at-Large and Chairman of the Editorial Board
Financial Times

Steve Case
Chairman and CEO
Revolution

Byron Allen
Founder
Entertainment Studios

See All Speakers

2019 ATTENDING FIRMS

Abbey Capital
Abilis
ABL Consulting Group
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
Affiliated Managers Group
AICA
AIMA
Albourne
Alekstra
Alera Partners
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
AllBright Law Offices
Allianz
AMB Consolidated
APG Asset Management
Archdiocese of New York
Ares Credit Group
Aspetuck Capital Management
Asymmetric Capital Management
Aurora Capital
Avenue Capital Group
Awbury
AXIS Capital
Axonic Capital
Bank of America
Banque Commerciale du Congo
Bessley Capital
Bipartisan Policy Center
BJC
Blackstone
Block Tower
Bloomberg
BLT
Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich
Bridgewater Associates
Brook Lands
Bruce Museum
Bullish
Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ)
CalALTs
Cambridge Associates
Carlyle Group
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
China Industrial Securities Co.
China Investment Corporation (CIC)
Churchill Asset Managament
Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation
CNBC
CNH Finance
Connecticut China Council
ConNEXT Consulting
Cornell University
CPPIB
CT-HFA
Dalio Family Office and Philanthropies
David Lynch Foundation
DH Fund Management Co.
Doris Doo Charitable Foundation
Doubletree investment Partners
Dyal Capital Partners
Eagle Point Credit Management
Easton Capital Management
Edgewood Capital Advisors
Entertainment Studios
Episteme Capital
EQT
eRiver Consulting
Eurex
EXOR / PartnerRe
Falls Bridge
Financial Times
Flextone Capital Partners
Forbes
FS Investments
FTI Consulting
Fund Black Founders
Further Global
General Atlantic
Geneve Corp
GirlsWhoInvest.org
Gjensidige Forsikring
Global Alpha Research
Golub Capital
Gramercy Funds Management
Great Wall Fund Mgmt
Greenwich Business Institute
Greenwich Hospital Foundation
Greycroft
Guardian Life
Guotai Junan Futures
Hartford Investment Management Company
HESTA
Howard Family Office
IBM Pension Fund
IECP Ventures
Indus Capital Partners
Institute for Advanced Study
Institutional Investor
Jayaram Law

Jefferies
Jennison Associates
Jersey Finance
JUST Capital
K2 Advisors
Kactus Capital
Kokino
Labaton Sucharow
Lattice Capital Management
Liberty Mutual
Lockheed Investment Management Corp
Louisiana State Employees Retirement
Lucern Capital
Marcum
MassMutual Investment Management
MassPRIM
MediaTECH Capital Partners
Merrill Lynch
Molecular Electricity
Mutual of Omaha
Nasdaq Private Market
Nationwide
Nazarov Collection
NBK Capital
Neuberger Berman
New Holland Capital
Nuveen
NYS Common Retirement Fund
Oak HC/FT
Olympus Hedge Fund Investments
Owl Rock Capital Partners
P/E Investments
PartnerRe
PAXIS Key Holdings
Peak Ten Capital
Penghua Fund Management
Pennington Partners
Perestroika AS
Pfizer
Podomus Capital Partners
Q-Search & Advisory
QP Global Family Offices
R-Squared Consulting
Rayliant Global Advisors
Revolution
RFA
RockCreek
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation
Ropes & Gray
RYZZ Capital Management
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Sarissa Capital Management
Sen Family Office
Shanghai Dongjia Culture
Shenkman Capital Management
Shenzhen Angle Wing Capital
Shenzhen Asset Mgmt Assn
Shenzhen Pusu Mgmt
Shenzhen Shangyuan Capital
Sina China News
Soho Properties
Sompo International
Soros Fund Management
Sotheby’s International Realty
State of Connecticut
Sterling Valuation
Stone Point Capital
Stony Brook Foundation
Strategas
Sunrise Capital Partners
Swiss Re
T5 Equity Partners
Texas Alternative Investments Association
Texas Tech University System
Textron
tFOSE Group Holdings
Titan Advisors
The Economist
The Wall Street Journal/Pensions & Investments
ThyssenKrupp
TIAA
Tudor Investment Corporation
United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund
Universa Investments
University of Miami
University of Pennsylvania
Vanguard
Warburg Pincus
Welton Investment Partners
Wharton Property Advisors
Wilton Re
Winton
Wolfson Group
Yahoo Finance
Yale Investment Office
Yarra Capital
Yinhua Fund Management
ZRG Partners

Venue:

Delamar Greenwich Harbor Hotel
500 Steamboat Rd
Greenwich, CT 06830
203-661-9800

The post An Alternative Investment Conference Focusing On The Defining Issues Of Our Times November 5-6, 2019 appeared first on Good News!.

Byron Allen, is an American businessman, former comedian.

admin — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 18:31:26 +0000

Byron Allen, is an American businessman, former comedian, television producer, philanthropist, and the founder, owner, chairman, and chief executive officer of the U.S. television production company Entertainment Studios.
http://goodnewsplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/byron_allen_1.0.mp3
Early life and education
Allen’s interest in show business began during his childhood, when he would accompany his mother to NBC studios in Burbank where she worked as a publicist.

At age 14, Allen put together his first stand-up routine and began appearing on amateur night at comedy clubs throughout the Los Angeles area.

Career
Comedian Jimmie Walker saw Allen’s stand-up act and invited the 14-year-old comedian to join his comedy writing team alongside promising young comedians Jay Leno and David Letterman. At age 18, Allen made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. One of his earliest roles was as a regular presenter on the NBC series Real People during the show’s entire run.

His show “Jammin” was picked up as “Kickin’ It with Byron Allen” in 1992, and by the end of its run had made the list of longest-running United States television series. Allen’s foray into television production began in Los Angeles in 1993 when he founded Entertainment Studios with the launch of his first series — Entertainers with Byron Allen—a weekly, one-hour series profiling the current stars of film and television.

In 2009, Allen launched eight 24-hour HD television networks simultaneously: Automotive.TV, Cars.TV, Comedy.TV, ES.TV, Justice Central, MyDestination.TV, Pets.TV and Recipe.TV.

Among the company’s top programs are: Emmy-winning Cars.TV, Emmy-nominated America’s Court with Judge Ross and We the People with Gloria Allred, Comics Unleashed, Comedy.TV, Beautiful Homes & Great Estates, Pets.TV, Recipe.TV, Career Day and The Young Icons. His company also made its first foray into scripted programming, producing two weekly primetime sitcoms that debuted in September 2012: The First Family and Mr. Box Office.

In 2016, Entertainment Studios purchased TheGrio, a digital, video-centric news platform devoted to providing compelling entertainment, news and lifestyle content for African-Americans.

In 2017 the game show Funny You Should Ask was added to the roster of Byron Allen produced shows.

Allen acquired the television assets of The Weather Channel for approximately $300 million in March 2018. In 2019, he announced the launch of THE WEATHER CHANNEL ESPANOL which is slated for 2020, and will soon also launch LOCAL NOW, powered by THE WEATHER CHANNEL technology. Also in 2019, he would partner with Sinclair Broadcast Group to acquire Fox Sports Networks, which The Walt Disney Company was forced to sell as a condition of its purchasing 21st Century Fox.

Awards
In 2018, Allen was selected for the Bloomberg 50 for his accomplishments as a global business leader. He was also selected for the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs at the Goldman Sachs Builders & Innovators Summit 2018, and he was honored as a Distinguished Guest Speaker at the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Luncheon in December 2018. In January 2019, Allen was a recipient of NATPE’s 16th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards, presented during the annual NATPE Miami Marketplace & Conference. Allen was also honored with the 2019 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award at the 46th annual Los Angeles Urban League Awards dinner.

Personal life
Allen married Jennifer Lucas in 2007. The couple has three children: two daughters born in 2008 and 2010, and a son, born in 2012.

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The Actors’ Temple Comedy Benefit. Tonight 5/18

admin — Mon, 18 May 2015 17:00:51 +0000

THE ACTORS’ TEMPLE COMEDY BENEFIT Come out for a great night of comedy! presented by Bob Greenberg, Monday May 18th, 7 PM, In Fond Memory of JOE FRANKLIN, Starring: Scott Blakeman, Sandy Ehlers, Mike Fine, Bob Greenberg, Rhonda Hansome, Nancy Lombardo, Dave Rosner, Sassi, Steven Scott, Stone & Stone; Special Guest Stars Jackie Hoffman and Stewie Stone, with Ira Allen on Piano & Carmen Goldberg, Vocalist;

$40 Friend $50 Mensch, $100 Angel, $200 Seraph Tickets by phone, mail, online or at the door. Please send a check made out to The Actors’ Temple or fax credit card info to 212-586-3025 or the online store: www.theactorstemple.org. The Actors’ Temple, 339 West 47th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues, 212-245-6975. More information: info@theactorstemple.org.

Listen to the interview here..

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Human Nature, Australia’s leading pop vocal group, Celebrates Apollo’s 80th Birthday.

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 20:07:42 +0000

As Martha and the Vandellas once put, “They’re dancing in the street in Chicago, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore and DC now…can’t forget the Motor City…Across the ocean blue, me and you.” The music of Motown traveled around the globe, landing on the other side of the world in Sydney, Australia, where four high school students—brothers Andrew and Mike Tierney, Phil Burton and Toby Allen—were more interested in soul, gospel and harmony groups than their country’s usual obsession with “guitars, grunt and good old rock and roll.” Forming a singing group that began as a tribute to their love of a cappella doo-wop, the foursome was directed to the music of the legendary label by a music teacher. That was 22 years ago. Today, Human Nature are Australia’s leading pop vocal group, having released nine albums (many containing their own, self-penned original material), five of which went to #1 in their native continent, selling millions of records world-wide and garnering 23 platinum awards, 70 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits. The group has opened for Celine Dion and Michael Jackson in Europe and Australia. Their chart-topping Motown tribute, Reach Out, went five-times-platinum, attracting the attention of famed songwriter Smokey Robinson, who recorded “Get Ready” with them and presented them in an exclusive booking at Las Vegas’ Imperial Palace, where they have played five and six nights a week to sold-out crowds for the past two and a half years. Having inked a comprehensive worldwide deal that includes merchandise, sponsorships and endorsements, ticket/music bundling, touring and corporate gigs with Universal Music Group’s Universal Music Enterprises (they remain with Sony in Australia), Human Nature are ready to tackle America, and carry the legacy of Motown music for a new generation. The first release under the new agreement will be The Motown Record, featuring 11 soul classics plus a bonus track, including “Get Ready,” the band’s collaboration with Smokey Robinson, distinctive doo-wop versions of “Ooh Baby Baby” and “Just My Imagination,” as well as the Four Tops’ “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “Baby I Need Your Loving,” the Temptations’ “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” Stevie Wonder’s “Uptight,” Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” and the Supremes’ “Stop in the Name of Love.” The versions are faithful, yet updated and freshened, everything we’ve loved about them renewed and revitalized, performed and arranged by four guys who clearly love to sing and harmonize on these particular songs. “There is such beauty in the original material,” says Phil Burton. “We didn’t want to make a carbon copy of the songs, but we didn’t want to change them into something they weren’t, either.” “We put our stamp on these songs by the way we sing them,” explains Andrew Tierney, who is the one with the highest pitch, with brother Mike and Phil in the middle, and Toby on the bottom, trading leads according to whose voice best fits the track. “We wanted to keep the magic by maintaining the energy and fun. It was a learning experience to immerse ourselves into the arrangements, like taking a lesson from the masters.” Human Nature Sings Motown, a special telecast of the group’s Las Vegas state show filmed by longtime Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich, will be at the center of PBS’ fund-raising efforts in December, featuring an appearance by Smokey Robinson. Ehrlich enthused about working with the band: “When you hear their versions of the great Motown classics, you’re not only reminded of the greatness of the originals, but you hear nuances that bring those originals up to date without tarnishing them in the least.” A DVD version of the show includes 40 minutes of bonus content featuring the band discussing Motown’s enduring influence with the label’s legendary songwriters Lamont Dozier, Eddie and Brian Holland, all of whom have given their blessings to Human Nature, as well as more than 20 minutes of performances not shown in the original broadcast. Both CD and DVD are exclusive to PBS subscribers through December before being available at retailers in March 2012. Smokey Robinson, who has nurtured the band and is actively working with them to reinvigorate the Motown brand, says: “The members of Human Nature are extraordinary vocalists who truly now how to entertain and I knew that they would be hugely successful….” “He’s such a big supporter and it’s just fantastic to have him give his stamp of approval for our take on his music,” says Michael about the legendary performer/songwriter/ producer. Adds Andrew: “Every time we do something with Smokey, we’re constantly reminded of how lucky we are to have him as a good friend and mentor. It’s been a career-changer for us.” “I’m still pinching myself,” admits Toby. “Smokey has no need to get involved with something like this if he doesn’t want to. He obviously loves the music, and that’s the greatest satisfaction for us.” “We were always concerned with what guys like Smokey, Lamont Dozier and the Hollands were going to think, but we’re doing this out of a pure love for the music,” adds Phil. “We’re going back to our roots, the songs we’ve been performing since we first started.” And now it’s time for Human Nature to conquer America with its own music. “It was a huge gamble,” reveals Andrew about their decision to come over for a two-week stint at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, where they saw first-hand that their Motown show connected with stateside audiences. “Why should people listen to four white Australians sing these songs when they’re ubiquitous on radio and TV? It just shows that this music is written for everybody, and that it has reached to every corner of the globe, including Australia. And it’s still influencing people, just as it touched us.” Human Nature’s many accomplishments include performing the Australian national anthem at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, and performing on Oprah last summer, when the show was taped before thousands in Australia, but nothing beats making it in America, the home of not only Motown, but much of the music they are most passionate about. “Our roots lie in American soul,” proclaims Andrew. “It’s the ultimate market for what we love. It feels like our options are endless. I’m looking forward to continuing our career, making great music, and playing our original songs.” Get ready… because here comes Human Nature. – See more at: http://www.humannaturelive.com/bio/#sthash.71hY2jcz.dpuf

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Assemblyman Travis Allen Recognizes Dr. Morry Waksberg at Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 14:55:17 +0000

Assemblyman Travis Allen Recognizes Dr. Morry Waksberg at Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony. Dr. Waksberg is running for political office and speaks from the heart with his Good News

Dr. Morry Waksberg, the son of Holocaust survivors Jack and Ida Waksberg is recognized on the Assembly Floor during the Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony

Yesterday, Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) recognized Dr. Morry Waksberg, in honor of his parents, Holocaust survivors Jack and Ida Waksberg, at the Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony taking place Assembly Floor.

“I am proud to join my fellow legislators in proclaiming Holocaust Remembrance Week. To recognize Dr. Morry Waksberg in honor of his historical heritage is the least I can do in observance of such a incomprehensible event” said Assemblyman Allen.

“I think the event was compelling and it was very moving to see how the elected officials understand the horrible experience of the Holocaust survivors. This ceremony demonstrated clearly that the true struggle is good versus evil, not of people of different religions, nationality, or color. I wish that all Californians were here to see this event. They would be proud of the empathy, compassion, and sincerity of our elected officials,” said Dr. Waksberg.

Dr. Morry Waksberg is the son of Holocaust survivors Jack and Ida Waksberg. Dr. Morry Waksberg was born on March 29, 1947 in a Displaced Persons Camp located in Shuttgart, Germany. One year later, in 1948, the Waksberg family moved to Detroit, Michigan where they founded the Michigan Holocaust Museum. He attended medical school at Albert Einstein School of Medicine, interned at Harvard Medical School and completed his residency at UCLA Medical School. Dr. Waksberg practiced medicine at UCLA for many years before starting his own private practice as an ophthalmologist. Now since retired, he has worked as an advisor to President George H.W. Bush, Congressman Brad Sherman and Assemblyman Tom Hayden on health related policy issues.

Honorees attended a welcome breakfast before heading to the Assembly Floor session where the observance of the Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony was held. During the ceremony, the Assembly adopted a resolution which proclaims April 7th through April 14th as Holocaust Remembrance Week. Afterwards, each honoree was acknowledged while seated at their Member’s desk, and viewed a screening of the Holocaust Memorial Project Video, which is a compilation of interviews from honorees from previous years.

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