What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 27, 2010
Today’s featured event:
Celebrate Halloween a little early by watching the 1987 horror-comedy cult classic “Evil Dead 2” at 6 tonight during Wednesday Night at the Movies at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave. This movie is for ages 15 and older.
For more information, call 606-3876.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
New releases for Oct. 26, 2010: Wayman Tisdale gets fonky
Wayman Tisdale
Fifteen months after Wayman Tisdale’s passing, the Oklahoma basketball-star-turned-jazz-bassist is releasing his final album: “The Fonk Record.”
The project, which was 12 years in the making, features 11 original songs, Tisdale’s own funky vocals and a crew of down-and-dirty musicians. “The Fonk Record” also boasts three guest stars with extensive funk résumés – George Clinton, George Duke and the late Ali Woodson.
Inspired by great funk artists like Bootsy Collins and Robert Wilson of the Tulsa-based Gap Band, Tisdale created his own funky moniker, Tiz, and named his band The Fonkie Planetarians. Those who were lucky enough to catch Tisdale in concert got a glimpse of his alter ego when he’d perform 20 to 30-minute funk-filled interludes during his jazz shows.
“The Fonk Record” came out of Tisdale’s 12-year collaboration with Derek “DOA” Allen, who produced the record.
“He always wanted to make funk music,” says Allen in the press materials. “People are going to see a whole ‘nother side of Wayman on this record – he was on a mission to play as hard and funky as he could.”
But Tisdale stayed busy with his jazz career, making eight top-selling jazz CDs and one gospel project. But when he was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2007, Tisdale turned his attention to his long-awaited funk project.
“He spent the last two years of his life finishing ‘The Fonk Record,’” says Allen. “Only he knew, when no one else did, that God was going to call him home. While he was in the hospital getting chemotherapy, he used funk music as therapy. I would send him files to listen to and it was part of the healing process. When he died, he was at peace.”
Tisdale died May 15, 2009, but it’s great to think that his winning smile and musical talent lives on in particularly funky style: “The Fonk Record” cover features a colorful illustration of Tisdale sporting an Afro and green shades.
Here is a list of the new CDs, DVDs and books out this week from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Wayman Tisdale, “Fonk Record: Featuring Tiz & Fonkie Planetarians.”
Dixie Chicks, “Essential.”
Various Artists, “The Imus Ranch Record II.”
Carl Wilson, “Youngblood.”
Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, “Space Age Blues.”
Kiske/Somerville, “Kiske/Somerville.”
Madlib, “Medicine Show No. 10: Black Soul.”
Ghostland Observatory, “Codename: Rondo.”
DVDs
Back To The Future: The Complete Trilogy
The Girl Who Played With Fire
Law & Order UK: Season One
Sex and the City 2
Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Complete Season Two
The Venture Bros.: Season 4, Volume 1
Winter’s Bone
You Don’t Know Jack
Books
The Confession by John Grisham
Life by: Keith Richards with James Fox
You Had Me at Woof : How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness by Julie Klam
Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That? by Ina Garten
Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods Series #5) by Melissa de la Cruz
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What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 26, 2010
Today’s featured event:
DEL CITY — Let your teenager solve a mystery with real detectives from the Oklahoma State Board of Investigation at “Detective Beat: Be a Teen CSI” from 6 to 7 tonight at the Del City Library, 4509 SE 15.
For more information, call 672-1377.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Brad Paisley supporting Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma with chance to meet him before Tulsa show
Brad Paisley (Associated Press photo)
With food banks critically low, Brad Paisley, Live Nation and Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma want to raise food donations by offering a pair of gold circle seat tickets and a pair of meet and greet passes to the country music star’s Nove. 20 concert at the BOK Center. Fans are asked to donate canned food or water to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma tent at the main gates of the BOK Center between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. the day of the show.
The person who donates the most food per pound or money (each $1 counts as 2 pounds) by 6 p.m. Nov. 20 will get two gold circle seat tickets to the show and meet Paisley in person after his Tulsa show. For more information, contact Jill Thompson, food drive manager at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, at (918) 585-2800, ext. 111, or jthompson@cfbeo.org.
Paisley and special guests Darius Rucker and Justin Moore will play the BOK Center at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20. Tickets are $25 and $59.75 and are available online at www.bokcenter.com, Arby’s Box Office, all Tickets.com outlets, or by calling (866) 7-BOKCTR.
For tour information, go to www.bradpaisley.com and www.livenation.com.
About Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma:
The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is the largest, private hunger-relief organization in Eastern Oklahoma. Located in Tulsa, we distribute food and other grocery items to 450 Partner Programs in 24 counties of Eastern Oklahoma. In turn, those programs collectively feed 60,000 people each week, the equivalent of 865,000 meals per month. In Fiscal Year 2010, the Food Bank distributed 13.5 million pounds of food. In addition, the Food Bank helps raise public awareness about hunger and the role of food banking in alleviating hunger. Every day hungry Oklahomans are being fed as a result of our efforts to fight hunger, feed hope.
For more information, go to www.cfbeo.org.
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Blake Shelton inducted Saturday into Grand Ole Opry
Blake Shelton performs during his Grand Ole Opry induction Saturday. (Opry photo)
From left, Pete Fincher, VP and general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins attend Shelton's Opry induction Saturday. (Opry photo)
Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry Saturday (Oct. 23) night, inducted by Opry member Trace Adkins before a sold-out Opry House audience including family, friends, and fans.
Backstage before his induction, Shelton said, “tonight for me is the Nashville dream. Tonight is the pinnacle. This is what I wanted from the beginning—to make a mark. And tonight is the ultimate one.”
The Tishomingo resident opened the show with his multi-week No. 1 hit “It’s All About Tonight,” then returned later to sing “She Wouldn’t be Gone” followed by a duet with Adkins on “Hillbilly Bone.” Adkins officially inducted him into the Opry, presenting him with the Opry Member Award and saying, “with great reverence and respect, it means the world to me to be the one to hand this to you and say, ‘Blake Shelton, you’re the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry!’”
Holding the award, the Ada native shared with the audience that he’d been trying to find a way to describe his thoughts on joining the Opry since having been invited to become a member on Sept. 28. “Last night I was lying awake in a hotel room and I finally put it into words,” he said. “I get the same feeling when I come to the Opry as when I see one of my heroes. I am in awe. To me, the Grand Ole Opry is an artist and I’m really proud to be one of its songs.”
The Opry Member Award is a 14-inch bronze and oak wood replica of the Opry’s vintage microphone stand designed by renowned sculptor Bill Rains. Later in the night, Shelton added his own plaque to the Opry’s Member Gallery, a new addition to the Opry House following the venue’s restoration after May’s flood.
Shelton, who made his Grand Ole Opry debut on May 5, 2001, concluded the show with his hit “Home.”
“Blake has developed a strong connection to the Opry and its members since he made his Opry debut in 2001, and it has been great to see his career bust wide open over the past year,” said Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager. “We’re very happy to formally welcome Blake into our family and look forward to great performances and a whole lot of fun ahead.”
Blake Shelton is one of the “most versatile of contemporary country singers” (The New York Times). He continues to prove to be one of the industry’s hottest vocalists as he marks a successful year with career highlights that include the release of his two Six Pak albums – “Hillbilly Bone” and his most recent release, “All About Tonight,” four CMA award nominations (including one for Male Vocalist of the Year) and an ACM and CMT award win, and two No. 1 hits with his albums’ title tracks. “All About Tonight” debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan Top Country Albums chart and No. 6 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, making it Shelton’s highest charting record-to-date.
He has had seven No. 1 hits which include his back-to-back multi-week No. 1 singles “She Wouldn’t be Gone” and “Home,” his five-week No. 1 debut single, “Austin,” and two additional multi-week No. 1 hits with “The Baby” and “Some Beach.”
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Box office report for Oct. 25, 2010: “Paranormal Activity 2″ scares its way into No. 1
The spooky season is here, and the scary sequel “Paranormal Activity 2″ has debuted with $41.5 million, according to the Associated Press.
The follow-up to last year’s micro-budgeted hit “Paranormal Activity” packed theaters with fans eager for another documentary-style thriller about a household plagued by a menacing spectre.
“Paranormal Activity 2″ knocked the previous weekend’s No. 1 movie, the stunt comedy “Jackass 3D,” down to second place. “Jackass 3D” pulled in $21.6 million, raising its 10-day total to $87.1 million. That’s more than either of the earlier two “Jackass” movies took in during their entire runs.
Clint Eastwood’s supernatural drama “Hereafter,” starring Matt Damon, expanded into nationwide release over the weekend and came in at No. 4 with $12 million.
Here are the weekend’s top 10 movies, from IMDB:
1 Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) $41.5M $41.5M
2 Jackass 3D (2010) $21.6M $87.1M
3 Red (2010/I) $15M $43.5M
4 Hereafter (2010) $12M $12.3M
5 The Social Network (2010) $7.3M $72.9M
6 Secretariat (2010) $6.92M $37.4M
7 Life as We Know It (2010) $6.15M $37.6M
8 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010) $3.17M $50.2M
9 The Town (2010) $2.72M $84.7M
10 Easy A (2010) $1.75M $54.8M
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Kings of Leon to perform on Letterman tonight
Kings of Leon (Associated Press photo)
Rock band Kings of Leon, which has Oklahoma ties, will perform tonight on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” which starts at 10:35 p.m. on CBS (KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City). The band is promoting its new album “Come Around Sundown,” which it released last week.
Former pro hoops star Charles Barkley and “The Howard Stern Show” producer Garry Dell’Abate also will be guests on tonight’s Letterman.
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Video: Toby Keith’s “Bullets in the Gun”
Oklahoma country music superstar Toby Keith debuted the video of his new single “Bullets in the Gun” today on Country Music Television and CMT.com. The song is the title track to his 15th studio album, which recently debuted at the top of the both the Billboard 200 and Country Albums charts.
Reflecting back on “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” which remains a country radio staple 17 years after its release, prompted Keith and Rivers Rutherford to pen the song, a modern-day outlaw ballad, Keith told me in an interview last month. The evocative Bonnie and Clyde tale has “Bullets in the Gun” earned so much early airplay that a shortened version has become the album’s surprise second single.
“We said, ‘All right, in the name of love, how far would you commit yourself? If you went to the end of the world as a drifter and loner your whole life and then you found your soulmate … within 24 hours would you love that person enough, if she was as wild-spirited as you, to die for her, with her?” Keith said.
“I love the song … and it just took on a life of its own.”
Keith will host “WWE Raw” tonight live from Green Bay, Wisc. The wrestling show airs at 8 p.m. on USA.
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Toby Keith hosting “WWE Raw” tonight
Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith will host the professional wrestling show “WWE Raw” live tonight in Green Bay, Wisc. The show airs at 8 p.m. on USA.
The guest hosting gig wraps a busy few weeks of TV appearances for the Norman resident, who has been promoting the release of his 15th studio album, “Bullets in the Gun.”
“Bullets in the Gun” debuted earlier this month at the top of the Billboard 200 and Country Albums charts.
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Taylor Swift releases new album, “Speak Now,” today, plans many TV appearances
Four-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift’s highly-anticipated third studio album, “Speak Now,” arrives in stores today.
“For the last two years, I’ve been writing and recording an album called Speak Now. I only have the option of writing about things that happen in my life, so thankfully a LOT has happened in my life in the last two years,” Swift writes on her website about the new album.
“I know I don’t always say the right thing at the right time or speak up when I should, but I write it all down. I get my guitar and a pen and all of a sudden, I have a chance to say exactly what I meant to say in real life. Some of the things I wrote about are things everyone saw me go through. Some of the things I wrote about are things nobody ever knew about. I’m beyond excited for you to hear these stories and confessions.
“I think it’s important that you know that I will never change. But I’ll never stay the same either. Must be a Sagittarius thing.”
The 20-year-old music sensation has planned a bi-coastal week with her fans to launch the Big Machine Records album.
Today, a group of winners of contests held around the world will join Swift for a private performance at the United Nations in New York City. The event will be streamed on many of MTV Networks’ web properties, including CMT.com, MTV.com, VH1.com and websites across Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America.
On Tuesday, she will perform live for fans from Rockefeller Plaza on the “Today Show” as part of their fall concert series. That night, she will do an interview and performance on the “Late Show with David Letterman.”
On Wednesday, her day starts with “Live! With Regis & Kelly,” where she will do an interview and performance. That afternoon, she will visit Scholastic’s New York headquarters, where she will take time out from her release week schedule for a special literacy event, “Read Now! with Taylor Swift,” as part of the company’s 90th anniversary literacy campaign. Later in the day, she will visit Madame Tussaud’s New York – the famed Times Square wax attraction — for the unveiling of her original wax figure.
Her “Speak Now” release week culminates on Thursday in Los Angeles, where “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” will celebrate the release of “Speak Now” by once again devoting an entire hour-long show to throwing Taylor’s official album release party. The partywill air on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Monday, Nov. 1. This is only the second time in history the show has hosted an album launch; the first was for Taylor’s “Fearless” album in 2008.
Taylor will be back on Los Angeles on Nov. 2 to perform on “Dancing With the Stars,” airing on ABC.
“Speak Now” is already making huge inroads at both radio and retail. Individual digital paid song download sales are well over 1.3 million already, and the album’s lead single, “Mine,” is currently Top 10 on Billboards Hot Country Songs chart and Top 15 at Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart.
-BAM
