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Artists Worth Checking Out Awards Monday Mashup Theatre

Monday Mashup 2017: Vol 7

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone in love.  Thought we ‘d kick off this week’s Monday Mashup with the latest music video from our friends at Redhead Express.  This original song was written by lead singer Kendra and features her husband Kelly and their son in a simply beautiful homage to love.  Check it out and share it.  If you love what they’re doing, please consider becoming one of their Patreon supporters.

INDIE ARTIST MAKES HISTORY AT GRAMMY AWARDS

Chance the Rapper, an unsigned independent artist who has never recorded a physical album, took home three Grammys last night from his seven nominations.  He won for best rap album for Coloring Book, best rap performance for “No Problem,” and best new artist.  What sets him further apart is the fact that this award winning album is only available through streaming.  Way to set the bar high, Chance.  Here’s to the future of the music industry!

Speaking of the Grammys – huge shout out to a couple of indie artists who performed at the show.  Adrienne Woods played her cello during John Legend’s performance, while indie triple threat actress Tiffany Phillips was a part of the Beyoncé performance.  Way to go!

BALCONY TV HOSTS STREETS OF LAREDO

We introduced you to the amazing sound of Streets of Laredo back in October 2016.  Balcony TV recently hosted them and filmed a music video for their hit single “99.9%,” which they released today.  Check it out.

MORE MUSIC VIDEOS

Two more indie artists recently released music videos.  First up is the amazing Shannon Hurley, who released a stunning Max Headroom-esq video of her forthcoming single “Someday.”

Our second video is a premiere from a new artist we were recently introduced to.  We like what we see so far – please let us know your opinion.  His name is Dario and his tune is called “Good Morning World.”

Enjoy your week!

 

 

Categories
Women in Entertainment

Women in entertainment: Tiffany Phillips, inspirational quadruple threat is all pro

Happy Monday.  Now that we’ve all survived the Super Blood Moon, let’s take a look at our next Women in Entertainment featured artist, Tiffany Phillips, actress, dancer, singer, comedian and inspiration to all women, especially those of color.

After receiving a full scholarship, Phillips left her hometown of Apple Valley, California at the tender age of 17 to attend the prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.   After graduating, she wasted no time in landing roles in Off Broadway shows as well as traveling as part of several national theatre tours.   She also became a member of the renowned Negro Ensemble Company and National Black Theatre, where she performed on the main stage.  Her national tours included Beehive, the 60’s girl group musical; Sweet Charity; and More Magic, the Motown review starring Florence Larue of The Fifth Dimension.

When she was 19, she became the youngest singer in the Motown Moments at New York’s Motown Cafe, singing the hits of the Supremes, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas and much more.  Among the Motown legends who attended her performances were Diana Ross, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, as well as the one and only Mohammed Ali.

Disney cast Phillips in the role of Princess Kibbibi in their musical Festival of the Lion King staged at Walt Disney World ‘s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.  She also hosted shows on the ABC Soundstage and Superstar Television, as well as performing at special seasonal events.  During this time she also appeared in numerous national commercials and began her string of guest starring roles on network television, including a run as the co-host and on-air announcer for Nickelodeon’s Double Dare 2000.

That run continued when Phillips returned to the West Coast, where she secured roles on such diverse shows as Charmed and Mind of Mencia, as well as several independent films.  Phillips expanded her reach when she starred in several critically-acclaimed plays, including Diary Of A Catholic School Dropout and Jesus’ Kid Brother at the Theatre Rows’ Hudson Theatre, and Soldier’s Don’t Cry and Girls Of Summer, for which she received rave reviews.

This love of theatre prompted Phillips to create the female sketch comedy troupe BoomChickBoom that garnered the attention of Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Robert Townsend, who later became producers on the project.

Disney came calling again and Phillips was chosen to be the on-camera spokesperson and host for their Up and Bolt national tours.  She still found time to make the rounds as a stand-up comedian, gracing such comedy landmarks as The Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory.

In 2010, she returned to her vocal roots when she became the lead background vocalist for Michael Bolton’s “One World One Love” tour.

Tiffany wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed one-woman play I Never Met a Jerk I Didn’t Like,” which debuted at the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival and went on to become the highest grossing solo show in the 30-year history of LA’s  Whitefire Theatre, as well as selling out Off-Broadway theaters in New York City.

What inspires Phillips?  “I am inspired by quotes from a diverse range of artists.  Among my favorites are “A woman who walks in purpose doesn’t have to chase people or opportunities. Her light causes people and opportunities to chase her;”  “I’m so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I’m saying.” (Oscar Wilde); and “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.” (Marianne Williamson)

More recently, she has co-starred on The Soul Man with Cedrick “The Entertainer,” performed on Comedy Central’s Workaholics and just completed filming the movie Chocolate Is Not Better Than Sex and the new web series Under The Radar with John Wesley and Cleo King.  She has also made several appearances as a guest on HLN’s The Daily Share, as well as an upcoming co-starring role on ABC’s Scandal.

What are her plans for the future?  “I’m currently turning my one woman show into a novel and am in the process of writing a comedy web series.  I definitely want to get my show up again and would love to tour it because the message is so relevant and universal.  I’m also looking to start a non-profit for teen girl providing self esteem workshops and mentoring.”

For more information on Tiffany Phillips, check out her Facebook and iMDB pages, follow her on Twitter and Instagram or subscribe to her YouTube channel.