His career was peaking yet again.

He just dropped an album.

He was acting again.

And now he’s gone.

R.I.P Heavy D. We got nothing but love for you baby!

According to President Obama’s proclamation on May 31st June African American Music Appreication Month! In 2002 President Bush decreed that June was Black Music Month. However 32 years ago today President Jimmy Carter, decreed that June would be Black Music Month. What’s the difference? Black Music or African American Music…. same difference to me.

What say you?

Check out the proclamation below…

The music of our Nation has always spoken to the condition of our people and reflected the diversity of our Union. African-American musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters have made enormous contributions to our culture by capturing the hardships and aspirations of a community and reminding us of our shared values. During African-American Music Appreciation Month, we honor the rich musical traditions of African-American musicians and their gifts to our country and our world.

From the cadenced hums of spirituals to the melodies of rhythm and blues, African-American music has been used to communicate, to challenge, to praise, and to uplift in times of both despair and triumph. The rhythmic chords embedded in spirituals have long expressed a deep faith in the power of prayer, and brought hope to slaves toiling in fields. The soulfulness of jazz and storytelling in the blues inspired a cultural renaissance, while the potent words of gospel gave strength to a generation that rose above the din of hatred to move our country toward justice and equality for all.

Today, African-American musicians continue to create new musical genres and transform the scope of traditional musical formats. The artistic depth of soul, rock and roll, and hip-hop not only bring together people across our Nation, but also energize and shape the creativity of artists around the world. The contributions of African-American composers and musicians to symphony, opera, choral music, and musical theater continue to reach new audiences and encourage listeners to celebrate fresh interpretations of these and other genres.

In cherished songs passed down through generations and innovative musical fusions crafted today, African-American music continues to transcend time, place, and circumstance to provide a source of pride and inspiration for all who hear its harmonies. This month, we celebrate the legacy of African-American music and its enduring power to bring life to the narrative of our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as African-American Music Appreciation Month. I call upon public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs that raise awareness and foster appreciation of music which is composed, arranged, or performed by African Americans.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

Here at the B.O.N.E. Chronicles we LOVE cartoons. I mean we really heart them big time; so much that our children have renamed all the members of our family to Justice League characters. Today I heard about the passing of Dwayne McDuffie, the creator of many Kids WB action cartoons that were well written, educational and super entertaining.

Dwayne McDuffie, wrote comic books for Marvel and DC and co-founded his own publishing company before crossing over to television and animation, he passed away on 2/22 at the age of 49 one day after his birthday. A few of our favorite comics that Dwayne was responsible for are “Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths” and the animated TV series “Static Shock”. I just saw a commercial for a new Superman animated movie titled “All-Star Superman” which he too penned.

Besides comics, McDuffie was a producer and story editor on Cartoon Network’s “Justice League Unlimited,” and wrote and produced episodes of other cartoons, including “What’s New, Scooby Doo?,” “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien” and “Teen Titans.”

Love the theme song for Static Shock rapped by Little Romeo

Christopher Chambers, a journalism professor at Georgetown University and author of the graphic novel “The Darker Mask,” told The Associated Press that McDuffie’s influence resonated in animation and comic books.

“For minorities in this mode of entertainment … he was a hero, he was a pioneer,” Chambers said Tuesday. “Not just for we who are fans but also for content creators. He spilled over into other media.”

Bruce Timm, executive producer of the DC Universe animated original movie series, heaped praise on McDuffie’s talents and character.

“As a writer he was simply brilliant — adventurous, effortlessly funny, ferociously smart. As a person, he was all that and much, much more — more, in fact, than my puny words can even hope to express,” Timm said.

McDuffie was nominated for two Emmy Awards for “Static Shock,” a Writers Guild award for “Justice League” and three Eisner awards for his work in comic books, his website said.

Organizers of Seattle’s annual Emerald City Comicon said they planned to hold a memorial panel remembering McDuffie at the three-day event on March 5.

Dan DiDio, co-publisher of DC Entertainment, said McDuffie “left a lasting legacy on the world of comics that many writers can only aspire to. He will not only be remembered as an extremely gifted writer whose scripts have been realized as comics books, in television shows and on the silver screen, but as the creator or co-create of so many of the much-loved Milestone characters, including Static Shock.”

Tom Brevoort, Marvel’s senior vice president for publishing, said McDuffie was a force behind bringing more diversity into comics.

“He was very interested in creating a wider range of multiculturalism in comics, having been profoundly affected by the example of the Black Panther when he was growing up, and wanting to give that same opportunity to others of all races, creeds and religions, which is one of the reasons he left Marvel and co-founded Milestone,” Brevoort told the AP. “And he eventually came back to write both Beyond! and Fantastic Four for me.”

McDuffie is survived by his wife, Charlotte, and his mother, Edna McDuffie-Gardner.

I’m on a dance kick and want to feature 5 of my all time favorite line and group dances.

According to Wikipedia

A line dance is choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps in which a group of people dance in one or more lines or rows without regard for the gender of the individuals, all facing the same direction, and executing the steps at the same time. Line dancers are not in physical contact with each other. Older “line dances” have lines in which the dancers face each other, or the “line” is a circle, or all dancers in the “line” follow a leader around the dance floor; while holding the hand of the dancers beside them.

These are not all old school but pretty fun to do at your New Years Eve party tomorrow!

#1 The Cha Cha Slide

#2 Macarena (couldn’t possibly leave that off!)

#3 Thriller (Dancing Inmates)

#4 The Electric Slide – How could I get away with this list without adding it???

#5 The Cupid Shuffle

I have more dance tributes coming so watch out. Who else should I feature?

Until next time…

Keep Jammin!

Hey Folks:

Thanks to my very dear friend Ms. KO, last night I was comped tickets to BAM – The Brooklyn Academy of Music – to see Alvin Ailey; and honey I am still speechless. The show was fabulous! The music, the movement and the MEN! Honey these beautiful black people had it going on!

I really hope you had a chance to take a look at the video I posted just to get a taste of the choreography of the great Alvin Ailey.

The video I posted is a dance that is a part of the Revelations collection which is laced with the beautiful sounds of spiritual hymns and songs. Songs like, Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel and Fix Me Jesus, Take Me To The Water and the classic Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham. Each dance was awe inspiring and breathtaking… I sat on the edge of my seat the entire night! BAM is a beautiful theater and the perfect setting for this Dance Company to perform.

The program began with five modern dances that were phenomenal, the women in the show were absolutely gorgeous and 100% African American with hips and curves to prove it. The men, chile the men were exceptionally fit (that was tame enough right?) their bodies were well oiled machines (literally) picking up women and tossing them around. Made me want to jump on stage and do a grande plie! My very cultured friend and I had the time of our lives looking at the fabulous eye candy… I mean look at the picture to your left! Need I say more?

The music in the modern set featured Nina Simone and Duke Ellington, dance tributes to Zora Neal Hurston, W.E.B. DuBois and Langston Huges. The Welcome to Harlem set made it feel like Black History Month in that theater. I’m  so glad I was a witness to this show during Black Music month instead!

What a wonderful tapestry of talent we African American’s are!

Just in case you’ve never heard of him here is a bit of information on Mr. Ailey and his dance company.

Alivn Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a now-fabled performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York. Led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African American modern dancers, that performance changed forever the preception of American dance. The Ailey company was gone on to perfrom for an estimated 23 Million people in 48 states and in 71 countries on six continents, including tow historic residencies in South Africa. In 2008, the US Congress designated the Company as “a vital American cultural ambassador to the world,” promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage.

Born in Rogers, Texas on January 5, 1931, Alvin Ailey was introduced to dance by performances of Katherine Dunham Dance Company and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. His formal dance training began with an intoducton to Lester Horton’s classes by his friend, Carmen de Lavallade.

When Mr. Ailey began creating dances, he drew upon his “blood memories” of Texas, the blues, spirituals and gospel as inspiration, which resulted in the creation of his most popular and critically acclaimed work – Revelations.

Although he created 79 ballets over his lifetime, Alvin Ailey maintained that his company was not exclusively a repository for his own work. Today, the Company continues Mr. Ailey’s mission by presenting important works of the past and commissioning new ones. In all, more than 200 works by over 80 choreographers are part of the Ailey company’s repertoire.

Before his untimely death in 1989, Alvin Ailey asked Judith Jamison to become Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Remaining committed to furthering Alvin Ailey’s legacy, she brought the Company to unprecedented success.

Until next time…

Keep Jammin!