T.I. dumped by GM: rapper loses endorsement deal
by George Appiah

General Motors has severed ties with Atlanta based rapper T.I. following his conviction on federal gun charges.

T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, was arrested in October while trying to purchase unregistered machine guns and silencers, but it wasn't until the self proclaimed "King of the South" pleaded guilty to federal weapons possession charges in Atlanta last month that GM decided to pull the plug on the deal.

"GM had to back up off of me," T.I. told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution when asked about the endorsement deal. "There are films that I missed out on. Not speaking of, of course, shows. Tours. Tons of business. I’ve probably lost about 10 to 12 million dollars."

While the rapper won’t be making the type of money that he's losing out on, he will be very busy completing 1,000 hours of a total 1,500 hours of community service while awaiting sentencing. The topic: talking to youth groups about the dangers and pitfalls of guns, gangs and drugs.

'Toni Braxton: Revealed' April shows cancelled
by George Appiah

Singer Toni Braxton and The Flamingo Hotel and Casino Las Vegas have cancelled all of Toni's shows for the month of April citing the need for more medical tests after her most recent heart scare.

Earlier this month, Toni was admitted to St. Rose Dominican Hospital after suffering from heart palpitations following a Monday night show at the Flamingo. She was released the following day. While the illness remains undisclosed, Toni suffers from a pre-existing heart condition called pericarditis, which causes an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.

In 2006, "Toni Braxton: Revealed" replaced Wayne Newton as the casino's new headlining act and was originally slated to run from August until March 2007. Due to the success of the show, which became the first headlining show by an African-American performer in Vegas to enter the top 10 Vegas show charting, it was reported that Toni would extend the show to August 2008.

The Flamingo said the singer will be taking a break and is offering refunds for cancelled shows. Shows will resume on May 6.

Mary Ida Vandross (Photo by Calvin Terrell)
Luther Vandross' Mother Passes
by George Appiah

Mary Ida Vandross, mother of the late Grammy award winning singer Luther Vandross, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, after being in a coma for more than a month due to complications from diabetes.

Mary Ida Vandross, the last surviving member of the Vandross family, was 82.

Luther, who was the youngest of her four children and also suffered from diabetes and hypertension, passed away in 2005, two years after suffering a stroke.

Mary Ida Vandross, who lost all four of her children, her grandchild, husband and mother to diabetes and diabetes-related illnesses, spent her latter years as an advocate and spokesperson for the "Diabetes Aware" campaign.

Bobby Brown UPDATE!!!
by Calvin Terrell

Don't call it a comeback but Bobby Brown, the original "King of Stage," is making news with reports about the release of his new tell-all book, Bobby Brown: The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But, due in May. In addition to the book and its shocking claims about his life and relationship with ex-wife Whitney, Bobby has been in the recording studio finishing his new R&B album. On it, he's working with a string of hitmakers including Stevie Wonder, Rodney Jerkins and an exciting new producer named Ben Franklin, S2S was told. Bobby also did a duet with singer Macy Gray.

But Bobby is not abandoning his country music aspirations. Look for Bobby to appear on the Country Music Awards —this since his appearance on the CMT series "Gone Country" was such a bit hit. John Rich of country duo Big & Rich, who hosted "Gone Country," was so impressed with the response Bobby received on the show that he’s interested in possibly working with Bobby on a country music album.

I also hear that Bobby has a new television show in the works (but keep that on the low).

In other Bobby Brown news, he’s continuing to tour in California and abroad. Bobby is also currently making a cameo appearance as himself in a new stage play called "All For Love." Howard Hewitt and Bern Nadette Stanis (Thelma of "Good Times") also appear in the play. Bobby is scheduled to be on Tom Joyner’s "Fantastic Voyage" cruise, which sets sail May 18 until May 25.

As for the latest with Bobby's family, we’re told that Bobby talks to his daughter Bobbi Kris all the time and he was just in Atlanta, attending her 15th birthday party. Bobby's eldest son Landon appears on the new MTV series "Rock The Cradle."

Sean Levert speaks to the press at brother Gerald's tribute service back in 2006

Sean Levert

BREAKING NEWS     BREAKING NEWS       BREAKING NEWS      BREAKING NEWS

Sean Levert the 39-year-old son of legendary singer Eddie Levert and brother of the late R&B great Gerald Levert died on Sunday March 30,2008.  Sean was sentenced to 22 months in jail on Monday March 24, 2008 by Judge Nancy Margaret Russo for failure to pay $85,427.68 in child support. Sean was being held at the Cuyahoga County Jail in Celeveland, Ohio, at the time of his death.  Details are emerging by the minute and we will bring them to you as soon as we confirm them.  Sean had just completed a new Levert album along with original member Marc Gordon. All of us at Sister 2 Sister wish to express our deepest sympathies to all of Sean's family, particulary his children, his mother Martha and his father Eddie Levert.

Sean Levert speaks to the press at brother Gerald's tribute service back in 2006	Sean Levert at the Soul Train Music Awards

UPDATE

New details are emerging in the sudden and tragic death of Sean Levert.   Mr. Powell Caesar, spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Coroner's office, has told Sister 2 Sister that Sean Levert is scheduled for an autopsy this afternoon, which will include a full toxicology report. The results will not be available for 4-6 weeks. However, a preliminary finding may be determined before that. Officials tell Sister 2 Sister that Sean was placed under restraints while at the Cuyahoga County jail because he was hallucinating.  He was transferred to Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland because his situation had deteriorated. Sean was pronounced dead at 11:57 p.m. on March 30,2008.

Gerald and Sean Levert on stage during a concert in Philadelphia in 1988. (photo by Calvin Terrell)
Update On The Death of Sean Levert

Sister 2 Sister has learned additional details surrounding the sudden death of Sean Levert. There was no evidence to support speculation of any violence involved, said prison officials. After being sentenced to jail last Monday, Sean was later brought to a prison in Cuyahoga County near Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained for a week. He would have remained there until he was to be transferred to a state prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. Last Sunday, he reportedly complained of hallucinations and other complications, which are unknown at press time.

Sean was said to be acting a little strangely and then was placed in the prison's psychiatric ward. For a short time he was placed under restraints. "It was not a long term thing," said Warden McDonough. "Just while he was acting up." The warden said Sean had no problems leading up to the incident last night. Prison officials were said to be in touch with the Levert family last night. "People have a hard time adjusting to jail," the warden said. "He wasn't on any special precautions. He was just there on observation. That's not that unusual. Sometimes when inmates come in jail, they have a hard time adjusting to the environment. Sean was welcomed by other inmates and there were no reports of confrontations with any other inmates due to Sean's celebrity status. It's very surprising," said Warden McDonough. "We don't know of any pre-existing medical conditions that he had. The prison houses about 2000 inmates. At press time, an official cause of death had not been determined. Stay tuned...

WASHINGTON DC -MARCH 14: (L to R) Julie Edwards, Janice Borlandoe, Lil Mo, Shannon Emamali, Tom Goldfogle, Raheem DeVaughn, DJ Flexx, Bomani, Chance Patterson, and Harry Thomas attend Grammy Career Day 2008 on March 14, 2008 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya Dreyvitser/WireImage)
Grammy Career Day attracts hundreds of high school students
by Donna Broadway

On March 14, the Washington D.C. chapter of The Recording Academy (The GRAMMYS), sponsored the 21st annual GRAMMY Day. The event, which was held at the University of the District of Columbia, served as an opportunity for more than 600 DC-metropolitan area high school students to gain exposure to different careers in the entertainment industry.

Participants included Grammy-nominated singer and DC-area native Raheem DeVaughn, producer Chucky Thompson, Lil' Mo, rapper and poet Bomani, acting UDC President Stanley Jackson, DC Councilmember Harry "Tommy" Thomas Jr. and many others.

GRAMMY Career Day began with a panel of recording and music industry artists interacting with students in a talk-show-type format. After the panel discussion, students attended workshops on topics such as songwriting, engineering, production, instrumental techniques, marketing and public relations, music video production and new media careers. GRAMMY Career Day also offered a special workshop in graphic design and a recording package design contest.

"GRAMMY Career Day is at the core of our GRAMMY in the Schools music education programs," said Neil Portnow, president/CEO of The Recording Academy and president of the GRAMMY Foundation, in a January press release. "For more than 20 years, GRAMMY Career Day has provided students with an immersive setting in which they can interact directly with a talented group of music industry professionals and gain meaningful insights into the broad range of career opportunities in the music industry."

Remaining GRAMMY Career Day dates are:
May 7 - St. Paul, Minneapolis - McNally Smith College of Music
May 14 - Miami, Florida - University of Miami Frost School of Music
TBD - Philadelphia - TBD
TBD - Portland, Oregon - Portland Community College