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UPFRONT featuring Lee Foster, Markuann Smith and 2021 Oscar Nominees

Check out this week's edition of UPFRONT Inside the Entertainment Industry. It features my conversations with Rialto Center executive director Lee Foster, Godfather of Harlem executive producer Markuann Smith and 2021 Oscar nominees: Andra Day, Leslie Odom, Jr. and LaKeith Stanfield. 

Atlanta's famed Rialto Center for the Arts presents its first-ever virtual benefit galaTONIGHT at 6:30 p.m. I got a chance to chat with the venue's executive director Lee Foster about the artists and supporters who will be featured during the show and how they plan to re-open this fall. 

Markuann Smith, executive producer of the the EPIX series Godfather of Harlem is here to chat about the new season and the drama's leading man---Forest Whitaker. 

Closing out the show are my interviews with actors LaKeith Stanfield, Andra Day and Leslie Odom, Jr. They are all up for Oscars this year for their roles in Judas and the Black Messiah, The United States vs. Billie Holiday and One Night in Miami, respectively.  The live broadcast of The Academy Awards airs tomorrow night at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. 

Ray Cornelius is one of Atlanta’s newest entertainment writers and media personalities. His arts and entertainment website, www.raycornelius.com spotlights the latest in “positive” African-American celebrity news and was established in 2012. Since that time Cornelius has covered a myriad of red carpet premieres, award shows and Atlanta-based films including Tyler Perry’s Temptation, The BronzeLens Film Festival, The Trumpet Awards, and The Steve Harvey’s Neighborhood Awards just to name a few. He has also interviewed a who’s who list of today’s top singers, actors and reality stars. With nearly 20 years of media experience, Cornelius has also worked as an associate producer for the Emmy-winning public affairs program, ATL Insider and with such award shows as The Soul Train Awards, The Trumpet Awards and BET Hip-Hop Awards.