Healthy Hip-Hop: Volunteer Uses Rap To Promote Health [VIDEO]

 

Watch this story: Volunteer Uses Hip-Hop To Promote Health

 Is there such a thing as hip-hop healthy? James Christos says, “Yes.”

 The local hip-hop artist told KMBC’s Maria Antonia that he uses his psychology degree to promote better health in the community. He counsels people with mental health issues and volunteers at a couple of health facilities.  

Christos said, “I’m a rap artist, but I’m here promoting urban health relief programs.”

 At the Samuel U Rodgers Health Center, Christos brings his message to young African-American men to live a healthier life. His songs are meant to show his listeners how to keep themselves healthy mentally, and how to look at themselves in a positive light.

 The 33-year-old rap artist said he’s “trying to make sure we’re taking care of ourselves.”

 He talks to people at health centers and also privately counsels patients who have mental health issues. Christos said he wants his music to address more mental health concerns, such as depression.

Christos said he knows that rapping about eating celery and lettuce would not be entertaining. His primary goal is to reach his audience and present his message in a way that’s fun.

 He will be taking his message on a multi-city tour in June. 

90-year-old couple does duet [Video]

Fran & Marlo Cowan (married 62 years) playing impromptu recital together in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. He’ll be 90 in February.

 

Susan Boyle singing is most watched video in history of the Internet

The Internet has not seen anything quite like Susan Boyle, whose online popularity is headed straight to the history books.

The video of Boyle’s performance in the reality show “Britain’s Got Talent” has set the record for the number of views in a week — and shows no sign of slowing down.

According to Visible Measures, which tracks videos from YouTube, MySpace and other video-sharing sites, all Boyle-oriented videos — including clips of her television interviews and her recently released rendition of “Cry Me a River,” recorded 10 years ago for a charity CD — have generated a total of 85.2 million views. Nearly 20 million of those views came overnight.

The seven-minute video that was first posted on YouTube and then widely circulated online easily eclipsed more high-profile videos that have been around for months. Tina Fey’s impersonation of Sarah Palin has clocked in 34.2 million views, said the folks at Visible Measures, while President Obama’s victory speech on election night has generated 18.5 million views.

But it’s not just in online video where Boyle, the unassuming woman from a tiny Scottish town, has dominated. Her  Wikipedia entry has attracted nearly 500,000 page views since it was created last Sunday. Over the weekend, her Facebook fan page was flooded with comments, at some points adding hundreds of new members every few minutes. The page listed 150,000 members at 1 p.m. Friday. By last night there were more than a million.

Indeed, the sleepless Internet is her round-the-clock stage, and the 47-year-old who has said she’s never heard of YouTube is the Web’s hottest entertainer. “She’s really the world’s singer right now,” said YouTube spokeswoman Julie Supan. In her four years at the company, Supan said she cannot remember a video raking in this many views in such a short period of time.

Read more: How a Villager Became the Queen of All Media

Family band wins recording contract [Video]

Here is a follow-up to a story we brought you last month! It’s from my buddy Phillip Murrell.

From singing in their Dad’s church in Bluff City, to singing in front of America, the kid’s lives of the local pop band J4 were changed forever the moment opportunity knocked

The four siblings never thought much would become of a tape they sent to the CBS Early Show Singing Family Faceoff competition.

“We never thought we’d ever get this far since we put all this together the day of the deadline,“ said Jessi Smith of J4.

J4 was chosen from an estimated 700 entries from all over the U.S. to compete against five other bands in New York City.

As they competed, they wowed both the judges and America. With every performance, votes poured in for J4 and they soon made it to the semifinals, then the finals, and early Wednesday morning, they won a recording contract with CBS Records.

“We didn’t think we’d end up winning it. It’s crazy!“ said Jessi.

Needless to say, folks back home in Bluff City are proud.

“It tells me again about the profound amount of talent that’s in our area,” said Jim Hunter, a Tri-Cities resident.

J4 is thankful for all the support they got back home from their fans.

“Thank you guys so much for voting and the support and the prayers and everything you’ve given to all of us. We just really appreciate all of it.“

Jessi reflected on the group’s journey.

“Overall we’ve just really enjoyed this whole experience.“

Watch this story: J4’s Road To Fame

Behind the scenes at Cirque de Soliel’s Kooza [Video]

Pretty interesting story. Lucky reporter to get to do this story… it looks like fun.

Cirque de Soleil’s Kooza is acclaimed for the acrobatics, the whimsy, the fantasy and something else.

“They’re known for their costumes,” said Velvet Grove, head of wardrobe. “There’s about 1,500 costume pieces. That includes shoes, hats and wigs.”

What better way to understand how the transformation happens, then to go through it? Weijia did it.

“We always exaggerate a little, the lips, the eyes we make bigger,” said Grove.  “There’s a step-by-step for each artist. They all do their own make-up for the show.”

For such a dramatic circus, the make-up is nothing less than that. They use bright neon eyeshadows and charcoal liners.

Lots of gold foil is used because the costumes make the artist.  After some cinching and pinching with the outfit, Weijia is done.

She says the outfit is very comfortable, It has to be. Velvet Grove says the artists, aside from the glitz and glamour, have to be safe.

“They have to do their tricks and you have to make it safe for them, nothing loose, nothing can fall off,” said Grove.

Then after a show, it’s six hours of repairs and sewing for the next show.

“There’s 10 loads of laundry every night,” said Grove.

Read more and watch this story: Costumes & Make-Up Take Center Stage For Kooza

Do you know the National Anthem? [Video]

This is a simple story that is just plain fun! You’ll want to watch this one.

Today is National Anthem Day. It’s a day set aside to remember the history behind Francis Scott Key’s “Star-Spangled Banner.“

Although the song was written in 1814, it didn’t become our country’s national anthem until March 3rd, 1931.

Seventy-eight years later, many Americans still don’t know the words to the famous song. Digital Journalist Phillip Murrell asked the students at ETSU to perfect their pitch.

Watch this story: Do You Know the National Anthem?

Meet a 5-year-old fiddler [Video]

Meet a young fiddling phenom that hasn’t even started kindergarten yet.  This is a story from the series “Cable Country” from Tim Cable. Tim has a way of telling great stories about characters  he meets in East Tennessee.

Watch that story: 5-Year-Old Fiddler

The family that sings together… [Video]

My buddy, Phillip Murrell, and his reporter, Tim Cable, tagged along with CBS Early Show Weatherman Dave Price as he surprised the band “J-4” with an early morning knock on their door.

The band found out early that morning that they may become stars thanks to a CBS contest. Viewers will decide who wins a CBS recording contract in this competition.

Watch that story: Surprise 4 J4

Photo: Flickr user Joan Marie

Barbershop quartet brings love for Valentine’s Day [Video]

I thought that the first entry should be from a friend of mine.

Here’s a great story that will surely choke you up at the end.

Sydney Swails Brant is one of the best photojournalists that I know.

See that story: Barbershop quartet brings love for Valentine’s Day