WCLK | The Jazz of The City

#UPFRONT featuring Kierra Sheard + April Parker Jones (AUDIO + VIDEO)

By Ray Cornelius • 22 hours ago

Check out this past weekend's edition of UPFRONT Inside Atlanta's Entertainment Industry. It features my conversations with TV, film and stage actress April Parker Jones and gospel music sensation and actress Kierra Sheard.

Tyler Perry's If Loving You is Wrong debuts tonight and one of its stars April Parker Jones stopped by to chat about the series finale and her journey as "Natalie." She also opens up about recieving a star on Tyler Perry's Walk of Fame and much more. Watch a sneak peek below...

Aretha Franklin biopic 'RESPECT' to debut on Dec. 25 (VIDEO)

By Ray Cornelius • 23 hours ago

20th Century Studios will release the highly anticipated Aretha Franklin biopic, RESPECT on Christmas Day (December 25). The film was originally set to debut on October 9.

Wallace Roney, Intrepid Jazz Trumpeter, Dies From COVID-19 Complications At 59

By Nate Chinen • Mar 31, 2020

Wallace Roney, a trumpeter and composer who embodied the pugnacious, harmonically restive side of post-bop throughout an illustrious four-decade career, died this morning at St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson, N.J. He was 59.

The cause was complications from COVID-19, according to his fiancée, Dawn Felice Jones. She said Roney had been admitted to the hospital last Wednesday.

WCLK Stands With Marietta's Theatre In The Square

Atlanta's Jazz Station 91.9 WCLK stands with Marietta's Theatre In The Square. Marietta's Theatre In The Square stands with WCLK. During these difficult times, we're all in this together, even if we must be apart. Up to date information about Marietta's Theatre In The Square's plan for the future is available at theatreinthesquare.net or call 770-426-4800.

New Music: Brian Culbertson/Get Up

By David C. Linton • Mar 30, 2020

Get Up is the lead single from Brian Culbertson's forthcoming release XX(BCM Entertainment), the appropriately named 20th album of his career. Get Up is an infectious uptempo song from Brian. In its first week released on radio it received Billboard’s #1 “Most Added” honors. As the weather warms up I know people will be looking to get up and get out, especially in light of current conditions. Get Up features a jazz groove that will have you moving wherever you are!

The Local Take: Faith In A Pandemic--Shabbat Shalom With Rabbi Steve Lebow

By Kiplyn Primus • Mar 28, 2020

Saturday morning at 8am on WCLK's The Local Take I continued my conversations with faith leaders to share with us words of wisdom about Faith in a Pandemic. This week I spoke with Rabbi Steve Lebow, the faith leader at Temple Kol Emeth in Cobb County. Rabbi Lebow explains that the only choice is to have faith. He speaks about everyday faith being our spiritual core. He also speaks about the pandemic of fear being stronger than the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Local Take Talks Coronavirus Vaccine with Dr. Ted Ross from UGA

By Kiplyn Primus • Mar 28, 2020

Last week I had an opportunity to speak with Dr. Ted Ross the Director of the Center for Vaccines and Immunology at the University of Georgia in Athens. His team is working on a COVID-19 vaccine. I start by asking him to refresh our memories of high school biology and tell us exactly what is a vaccine?

He explains that the "pathogen" in the vaccine is not the whole virus, it's not able to replicate it only boost your immunity allowing your body to fight off the effects of the whole virus.

Rev. Joseph Lowery, 'Dean' Of The Civil Rights Movement, Dies At 98

By Debbie Elliott • Mar 28, 2020

The Reverend Joseph Lowery, co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, died Friday, according to a statement by the Joseph & Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice and Human Rights. He was 98 years old.

The statement said Lowery died peacefully at home Friday night, surrounded by his daughters.

New Music: Mike Phillips-Flava In Your Ear

By David C. Linton • Mar 26, 2020

Saxophonist Mike Phillips has shared the stage performing with everyone from Michael Jackson to most recently “Uncle Charlie” Wilson at the Cobb Energy Center. Flava In Your Ear is from his new release Pulling Off The Covers (The Sono Recording Group) where he adds his Jazz touch to many songs including the Doobie Brothers' What A Fool Believes. His take on the Craig Mack classic demonstrates how Jazz music intersects will all genres and features guests players including Stevie Wonder and Trombone Shorty.

AAFCA Offers CoronaVirus Shut-In Streaming Recommendations

By Ray Cornelius • Mar 24, 2020

During this time of global crisis prompted by the coronavirus, the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has compiled multiple lists of recommended streaming titles for both children and adults to help people pass the time.

“These titles are a combination of series, documentaries and feature films, classic and contemporary, that cover the landscape of entertainment content. Our goal is to hopefully help lower the stress threshold and we are committed to recommending titles every week for as long as the crisis persists,” said AAFCA CEO Gil Robertson.

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New Music: Mike Phillips-Flava In Your Ear

Saxophonist Mike Phillips has shared the stage performing with everyone from Michael Jackson to most recently “Uncle Charlie” Wilson at the Cobb Energy Center. Flava In Your Ear is from his new release Pulling Off The Covers (The Sono Recording Group) where he adds his Jazz touch to many songs including the Doobie Brothers' What A Fool Believes . His take on the Craig Mack classic demonstrates how Jazz music intersects will all genres and features guests players including Stevie Wonder and...