For the month of July, I’m highlighting some incredible celebrities I’ve met and sharing the positive vibes they bring to the world. We often hear about the negative and the drama, so let’s flip the script and focus on the good!
Day 21: Drea Kelly
Today, I’m thrilled to give a shoutout to the amazing Drea Kelly! I had the pleasure of meeting her at an event, and even more exciting, I got to feature her in my magazine, Where It Begins.
Drea Kelly is a phenomenal choreographer with some seriously impressive moves. She also has a beautiful jewelry line called Hemi Rose, featuring handmade pieces by Drea herself. I couldn’t resist supporting her and ended up purchasing a stunning piece of jewelry.
I want to give Drea her flowers today and celebrate her incredible talent and entrepreneurial spirit. Keep growing your business and dancing, Drea! We all love learning some great moves from you. Stay tuned as I continue to share more positive stories and celebrate the amazing people I’ve met. Let’s keep spreading the love and focusing on the good!
Nichelle Nichols was an actress, singer, and dancer best known for her portrayal of Nyota Uhura in Star Trek and its film sequels. She loved attending conventions and meeting her fans. She inspired a lot of people by opening doors for them, removing barriers and cherishing her family, friends and fans. Here are some of the films she was in:
· The white Orchid
· Star Trek Beyond
· Scooby Doo
· Tru Loved
· Are We There Yet?
· Snow Dogs
Nichelle Nichols had a children’s book that was really inspiring. Everyone loved Star Trek and she played her role. Here are some of my favorite quotes by her:
· “I was very blessed in always knowing what I wanted to do, and by the grace of God, I’ve been able to succeed in my chosen career”
· “Space Travel benefits us here on Earth. And we aint stopped yet. There’s more exploration to come”
· “I think anybody with any intelligence sits down and sees Star Trek not a kids’ show”
What were your most memorable moments you’ve had with Nichelle Nichols? What was your favorite film with her in it? Make sure to follow me @Cece.Atl
Eartha Kitt was a singer, actress, dancer, comedian, activist, author and songwriter. When I think of Eartha Kitt I always think of Boomerang and her being Catwoman. Did you know she had 6 songs on the top 30 hits? Here are some of her songs:
· Santa Baby
· Snuff out the Light
· I Love Men
· C’est Si Bon
· Where is My Man
· I Want to be Evil
She did her thing on Broadway. She also earned two Daytime Emmy Awards. You can’t find too many that can do it all. She could sing, dance, write and act. Here are some of films that she was in:
St Louis Blues
Anna Lucasta
Boomerang
Fatas Instinct
Batman
The Wild Party
She gave her presents with us for a long time and she left us with great films and music for us to remember her by. We have so much talent in this world. We definitely have to keep our memories of all the great talents we have lost. I think I may go watch Boomerang today. I love that movie. What were some of your great memories you’ve had of Eartha Kitt? What was your favorite film or song? Make sure to follow me @Cece.Atl
Dorothy Dandridge was an actress, singer, and dancer. She is the first African American film star to be nominated for the Academy Award for best actress, which was for her performances in Carmen Jones. Did you know that Dorothy was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Porgy and Bess. She was also recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Here are some of the films she was in:
· Porgy and Bess
· Tamango
· Carmen Jones
· Atlantic City
· Sundown
· Lady From Louisiana
Dorothy Dandridge also was a singer and was a very beautiful woman. She sang at venues such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo. When she was young her and her sister toured the United States and they were called “The Wonder Children” later they were renamed “The Dandridge Sisters. Here are some of my favorite quotes by her:
· “Somehow, people just like to look at me”
· “If one person in a thousand criticized me while all the others cheered, I didn’t hear the cheers”
· “I can’t play a slave”
I am a bookworm, but I haven’t had a chance to read any of her books. If you are a fan, check out some of her books and let me know what you think. It’s so sad that so many entertainers overdose and have so many addictions, depression and demons. We have lost so many legends. Thankful for great memories and the impact they left with us. Halle Berry played Dorothy Dandridge and did a wonderful job.
Tell me what your greatest memory of Dorothy Dandridge is. What was your favorite film and song? If you have read any of her books, please recommend them to me so I can check it out. Also make sure to follow me @Cece.Atl.
When we talk about Michael Jackson, we talk about a legend that meant so much to the world through his music. Michael Jackson started out young. He and his brothers had the group Jackson 5. I loved the song “Never Can Say Goodbye” , one of my favorites. Michael Jackson was a singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. He was definitely the “King of Pop”. Michael Jackson was the king of dancing and he can put on a great performance. He loved to dance. He came up with dances like moonwalk and the robot. He is the most awarded musician in history. Some of my favorite songs of his are:
· Billie Jean
· Beat it
· Bad
· We are the World
· Thriller
· Wanna Be Startin Somethin’
· Heal the World
· Man in the Mirror
· Remember the Time
There are so many songs that I can name but those were some of my favorites. Did you know that Michael made an appearance on the United States Negro College Fund’s “Parade of Stars” telethon airing on U.S. television and radio networks, to help raise money to aid 41 historically Black colleges and universities. He also received an award from the UNFC and an honorary doctorate from Fisk University. Check out some of the books he has and let me know how they are. I know it is going to be good because it’s Michael Jackson. Here are some of the films he was in:
· The Wiz
· Moonwalker
· Bad
· Captain EO
· This Is It
· Michael Jackson Number Ones
· Michael Jackson Ghosts
· Thriller
Michael Jackson had two pet llamas on his ranch, Lola and Louis, now that’s a fun fact you probably didn’t know. The album Thriller was number one on the Billboard Chart for 37 weeks. Michael won 13 Grammy Awards, including 8 for the album Thriller. Here are some of my favorite quotes by him:
· “In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope”
· “Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons”
· “We have to heal our wounded world”
· “If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with”
· “No matter what, the most powerful thing in the world is the human mind, and prayer, and belief in yourself and confidence and perseverance. No matter how many times you do it, you do it again, until it’s right. And always believe in yourself”
Michael Jackson empowered so many people in the world. He was different and very musical. Tell me your most memorable moment of Michael Jackson. What was your favorite song? What did you learn from him? Also, If you checked out any of his books let me know how you liked it? Follow me @cece.atl
I had a chance to read Michael Williams’ book “Scenes from My Life” . It was really good. I got to know more about how he grew up and his journey. He was a great actor. Everyone loved him on the HBO drama series “The Wire”. Did you know that he was a dancer before he started acting? Here are some of the films he played in:
· Breaking
· Body Brokers
· Doing Hard Time
· Superfly
· Snitch
· The Red Sea
· Belly 2
· Triple 9
He also appeared in “Gone Baby Gone” and “12 Years A Slave” that earned him a 2007 NAACP Image award. Music brought him joy. He loves house music. He had a rough life growing up and he turned to drugs to take away some of the pain he had been through. If you are a fan check out his book to learn more about his life and how he got to where he was. Some of his quotes that I liked are:
“My only goal is to stay focused on my craft and make sure my life is as sharp as it can be to attack any character that is given to me”
“Revenge is not a positive state of mind or energy to indulge yourself in”
“I come to work on time. I focus on my job. I bust my scenes out and everything else kind of happens from there”
These are some of his Great memories with us watching him in shows and movies. Even though he went through a lot he played his roles. He also did things in the community. You never know what people are going through, we just have to pray over everyone. What was your greatest memory of Michael K Williams? What Movie or show did you love the most? What did you think of his book? Also follow me @Cece.Atl
