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24TH ANNUAL SUPER BOWL SOULFUL CELEBRATION HOSTED BY REACH MEDIA SYNDICATED RADIO PERSONALITY WILLIE MOORE, JR. SCORES BIG WITH PRAISE WORTHY PERFORMANCES FROM PATTI LABELLE, KIERRA SHEARD-KELLY, ISRAEL HOUGHTON, TYE TRIBBETT & THE PLAYERS CHOIR

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2023

We Speak Media

Honoring Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts as

“Faith In Action” Award Recipient, Appearances By Sports Agent

Nicole Lynn, NFL Players Donovan McNabb, Demario Davis,

Kelvin Beachum, Justin Herron and More

The 2023 Super Bowl Soulful Celebration was a night of uplifting performances, unique tributes, and words of encouragement by NFL players Demario Davis (New Orleans Saints), Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles), and hosted by syndicated radio personality Willie Moore, Jr.

One of Gospel music’s prolific artists, Tye Tribbett, kicked off the show with “Get Up” & “We Gon Be Alright,” which brought the audience to its feet. Grammy-winning contemporary gospel artist Israel Houghton set the atmosphere by performing “You Are Good” and “Moving Forward.” The powerhouse gospel music artist Kierra Sheard-Kelly took the audience higher with “Something Has To Break” and a spirited collaboration of her song “Miracles” with the Players Choir. Comprised of current and former NFL Players, the choir celebrated their 15th milestone year in the same city where they first performed together as a group back in 2008. Other players making appearances include Kelvin Beachum of the Arizona Cardinals and Justin Herron of the Las Vegas Raiders.

The legendary Patti LaBelle closed out the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration by performing her signature hits “Something Special (Is Gonna Happen Tonight),” “If Only You Knew,” and more, which kept the audience on its feet, dancing and inspired.

This year’s honoree Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback, Jalen Hurts, received the “Faith In Action” award, which honors current and former NFL Players making an impact in their communities and the lives of others off the field. Nicole Lynn, Hurts’ sports agent and the first black woman to represent a National Football League draft pick, serves as the president of football operations for Klutch Sports Group and accepted the award on Jalen’s behalf.

The Super Bowl Soulful Celebration brings together NFL players, gospel and contemporary Christian performers, comedy, and award-winning musicians on one stage for a spectacular show filled with song, hop, laughter, and uplifting messages of inspiration. Produced by Melanie Few, the only woman and person of color, and an NFL-sanctioned event during Super Bowl week.

Super Bowl Soulful Celebration: An Evening of Inspiration and Culture, formerly Super Bowl Gospel Celebration (SBGC), is founded and executive produced by Atlanta-based marketing consultant Melanie Few. Conceived in 1999 as a gospel brunch in Miami, Super Bowl Soulful Celebration continues as the only multicultural program and inspirational event sanctioned by the NFL during Super Bowl weekend. The annual event joins together key NFL Players, top Gospel/Contemporary Christian and mainstream GRAMMY® Award winning artists, and special guests all on one stage to bring audiences an evening of uplifting music, laughter, and inspirational messages.

SBSC SPECIAL HONOREE JALEN HURTS

In addition to uplifting and inspiring audiences with musical tributes, Super Bowl Soulful Celebration honors current and former NFL players making an impact in their communities, and in the lives of others off the field. This year’s honoree is Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts. Previous special honorees include Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, Tim Brown, Russell Wilson, Tony Dungy and Troy Vincent, among others.

“I’m truly honored to receive the ‘Faith in Action’ award just because I know how much faith that it’s taken — faith and work and belief, courage and perseverance; being steadfast throughout everything,” said Hurts in a pre-recorded video message.

”The beautiful part is it’s just the beginning of it and everyday I get the opportunity to dictate how the story goes and that’s something I embrace; that I enjoy. I find it thrilling in being able to determine my own destiny; be the master of my own fate. So, I’m blessed to receive the award. I’m blessed to represent the Philadelphia Eagles and my community, and really blessed to have the opportunity to, whoever is watching this, to encourage them to keep going in whatever they’re chasing too. So, it’s all an honor. ”

**Jalen Hurts**
*Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback*
***“Faith In Action” Award Honoree***

Nicole Lynn, Hurts’ sports agent and the first Black woman to represent a National Football League draft pick, serves as the President of Football Operations for Klutch Sports Group and accepted the award on Jalen’s behalf.

Mesa hosted big names in soul, gospel music for Soulful Celebration; The annual event is the NFL’s kick-off for a week long series of concerts, events and more.

MESA, Ariz. — Good music, faith and fellowship. On Wednesday evening in Mesa, the Super Bowl Host Committee hosted the 24th annual Super Bowl Soulful Celebration featuring the biggest names in gospel, praise and soul music.

In 1999, the Super Bowl Committee designated the annual event to share uplifting and inspirational music preceding Sunday’s Big Game. With its rich historical ties to Black culture and celebration, the concert was a warm and soulful kickoff for the week’s festivities. Amongst the big names in attendance were Patti LaBelle, Tye Tribbett, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, the NFL’s own Player’s Choir and Israel Houghton, who was raised here in the Valley. The event also recognized Eagles’ QB Jalen Hurts as the 2023 ‘Faith in Action’ honoree.

The Super Bowl Soulful Celebration brings together NFL players, gospel and contemporary Christian performers, comedy and award-winning musicians on one stage for a spectacular show filled with song, hope, laughter and uplifting messages of inspiration.

24TH ANNUAL SUPER BOWL SOULFUL CELEBRATIONRED CARPET ARRIVALS

Pictured (l to r):Super Bowl Soulful Celebration Host Willie Moore, Jr.; Israel Houghton, Willie Moore, Jr., Judge Mablean Ephriam, Melanie Few, and Donovan McNabb attend the 2023 Super Bowl Soulful Celebration at Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, AZ.

Current and former NFL Players appearing with The Players Choir include: Mike Martin, Cincinnati Bengals; Kelvin Leslie, Frankfurt Galaxy, NFL Europe; Dwayne Wright, Buffalo Bills; Cameron Newton, Atlanta Falcons; Bryan Scott, Atlanta Falcons; Stephen Pierce, Cleveland Browns; Nathan Palmer, San Francisco 49ers; and KeShun Freeman, New Orleans Saints.
Below: Player Choir members Trey Williams, Dallas Cowboys; William Dominic “Billy” Austin, Indianapolis Colts; and Tully Banta Cain, 2x Super Bowl Champion with New England Patriots, attend 24th Annual Super Bowl Soulful Celebration.

MEET THE VISIONARY BEHIND SBSC

Melanie Few, Founder, Executive Producer, and NFL Sanction Holder of Results Marketing and Media (RMM). Melanie is the only female and person of color with an NFL sanctioned event. She also founded the (NFL) Players Choir in 2014, which has become a staple performance at Super Bowl Soulful Celebration. The Players Choir drew national recognition with their fan favorite appearances on “America’s Got Talent” in 2022 and NFL Honors during Super Bowl .

Melanie’s company RMM has partnered with agencies and corporations alike to create, plan and produce over two hundred integrated marketing events, representing more than thirty brands across sixty product categories.

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Author Burt Kearns (“Shemp: The Biography of the Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard: The Face of Film Comedy”) Guests On Harvey Brownstone Interviews

Published

2 days ago

February 19, 2025

Jimmy Star

Harvey Brownstone conducts an in-depth Interview with Burt Kearns, Author, “SHEMP! The Biography of the Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard”.

Burt Kearns is an award-winning producer, director, writer, journalist and author who is renowned for his work in nonfiction television and film, in TV shows like “Breaking the Ice”, “Legsville Oral History”, “Guinness World Records Unleashed”, “Joe Rogan Questions Everything”, “The Secret History of Rock ‘n’ Roll” with Gene Simmons, “All The Presidents’ Movies”, and many more. He produced the excellent 2001 documentary, “Death of A Beatle”, about the death of John Lennon, and he co-wrote and produced the 2006 movie, “Cloud 9”, starring Burt Reynolds. He’s an Emmy Award winning newswriter, and he served as managing editor and producer of the highly popular TV shows, “A Current Affair” and “Hard Copy”.

But beyond all of that, Burt Kearns is also a highly acclaimed author. He wrote, “Tabloid Baby”, which traces the evolution of the tabloid television genre. He then co-wrote “The Show Won’t Go On: The Most Shocking, Bizarre, and Historic Deaths of Performers Onstage”, followed by “Lawrence Tierney: Hollywood’s Real-Life Tough Guy”.

Last year, he appeared on Harvey Brownstone Interviews to discuss his brilliant bestselling book entitled, “Marlon Brando: Hollywood Rebel”.

And now, he’s back to talk about his brand new book entitled, “Shemp: The Biography of the Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard: The Face of Film Comedy.” The Three Stooges are widely considered to be the greatest, most successful and most influential slapstick comedy group in modern history, and if you’re a fan of The Three Stooges – and who isn’t? – this extremely well-researched book is an absolute must-read, because the author enlightens us on the incredibly impressive – but until now, largely unexplored – life and body of work of the most misunderstood and the most underrated member of The Three Stooges, Shemp Howard, who was actually a highly accomplished, influential and respected comic actor in his own right.

Along with his brother Moe and vaudeville comedian Larry Fine, Shemp was an original member of the Three Stooges, but in 1932 he quit the group to pursue a solo acting career. He appeared in over a hundred movies alongside the biggest Hollywood stars, including W.C. Fields, John Wayne, James Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, William Powell, Lon Chaney Jr., Myrna Loy, and the team of Abbott & Costello. But in 1946, when Curly became too ill to continue working, Shemp gave up a successful film career to help his brothers out by returning to The Three Stooges.

What’s really fascinating and compelling about this book, is that, because of his meticulous research, Burt Kearns challenges and debunks the “official” version of Three Stooges history, largely promoted by Moe, that’s been repeated for decades. The book shatters many myths and uncovers the surprising and often troubling facts behind the scenes surrounding Shemp’s departure from and return to The Three Stooges, and the circumstances surrounding his untimely death. But more than anything, the book confirms Shemp Howard’s well-deserved place in cinematic history.

Harvey Brownstone is a retired judge of the Ontario Court of Justice and was the first openly gay judge in Canada. He is also the bestselling author of “Tug of War: A Judge’s Verdict on Separation, Custody Battles and the Bitter Realities of Family Court” and hosted “Family Matters with Justice Harvey Brownstone,” a television talk show on matters involving the family justice system.

After a distinguished legal career, Harvey was appointed a judge at the age of 38 in 1995. He has presided in family and criminal courts. He has been a trailblazer in several ways. He was the first openly gay judge in Canada. He was the first sitting judge in the world to write a national best seller and to host a TV talk show.

Harvey has been a role model and icon in the LGBTQ community. When same-sex marriage was legalized in Canada in 2003, he was the only judge to make himself publicly available to officiate at weddings for lesbian and gay couples travelling to Toronto from all over the world to get married. In 2007, he officiated at the wedding of Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer, the American couple whose marriage triggered the 2013 United States Supreme Court decision overturning the definition of “spouse” in the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

In February 2021, Harvey launched his online talk show “Harvey Brownstone Interviews” on his own YouTube channel. He saw this as an interesting hobby. Within several months, the show attracted hundreds of thousands – and then eventually, millions – of viewers. Because of the overwhelming success of the show, Harvey decided to retire from the judiciary on December 31, 2021 after having presided as a full-time judge for 26 1/2 years. Free from the constraints imposed upon judges regarding the expression of opinions and the endorsement of private enterprise, Harvey now happily devotes his full-time attention to hosting “Harvey Brownstone Interviews” as a regular member of the public – albeit one with a rather illustrious and unique career history.

Watch Burt Kearns on Harvey Brownstone Interviews on Youtube here:

The official website for Harvey Brownstone Interviews may be found at https://www.harveybrownstoneinterviews.com

Get “The Talk Show Blend” – Coffee For The Modern Day Trailblazer! By Harvey Brownstone from Breakfast At Dominique’s available at https://www.HollywoodBlends.com

For more information about Harvey Brownstone, here’s his Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Brownstone