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UPFRONT featuring A.J. Johnson, Terence Blanchard and more (AUDIO)

RayCornelius.com
Ray Cornelius with A.J. Johnson

This week's UPFRONT Inside Atlanta's Entertainment Industry is all about #BlackExcellence. It features conversations with jazz icon Terence Blanchard plus actress turned fitness guru A.J. Johnson. 

Terence Blanchard is in town for his performance TONIGHT at the Rialto Center and talked to UPFRONT about his numerous TV and film projects. He'll be teaming up with Raphael Saadiq this spring to score the soundtrack for NatGeo's GENIUS: ARETHA biopic starring Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo. He is also reuniting with Spike Lee for Da 5 Bloods and a reboot of Perry Mason. Blanchard also reveals his most challenging project to date and his unfailing love for the late jazz legend Billie Holiday. 

A.J. Johnson is back! The actress, dancer and fitness phenom returns to her acting roots and is starring in the new UMC series Stuck With You. The Spelman College alumnus was completely overwhelmed with emotion when she stopped by UPFRONT this week, recalling her days as "Miss Maroon and White" and her quest towards superstardom. She also takes us back down memory lane and discusses her iconic films School Daze, House Party and Baby Boy as well as their directors---Spike Lee, Reginald Hudlin and the late John Singleton. 

02112020upfront_aj_johnson_full.mp3
Unedited version of UPFRONT Inside Atlanta Entertainment Industry interview with A.J. Johnson.

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.