Arts & Entertainment
The Legacy of Black Business Thrives on the Big Screen
The Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in Partnership with
The 2019 Milwaukee Film Festival – Black Lens, Presents
“Boss: The Black Experience In Business”
MILWAUKEE (October 11, 2019) — Small businesses create 65 percent of U.S. jobs and African American business owners are a significant and growing part of this number. African American leaders are also blazing trails in industries from technology to finance.
Director Stanley Nelson’s latest documentary, “Boss: The Black Experience,” celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of African-American business owners and corporate leaders, both past and present. The Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. joins the 2019 Milwaukee Film Festiva-l – Black Lens in presenting the film on Sunday, October 20, at 2:15 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre, located at 2230 N. Farwell Ave.
“It is such an honor to be selected to serve as a Community Partner with the 2019 Milwaukee Film Festival – Black Lens,” said Dr. Anita Sparks, President of the Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter. “When we selected this film to host, we wanted to help tell the story of African American entrepreneurs. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. expects its membership to support African Americans in the arts and support African American businesses. This film offers the opportunity to do both as well as provide historical accounts of the contributions made by African Americans, past and present. It is a duty and privilege to support this vitally amazing documentary.”
In “Boss: The Black Experience in Business,” inspiring stories of trailblazing African American entrepreneurs of the past and present are brought to the screen along with the significant contributions of today’s business leaders. Among those highlighted are entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker, publisher John H. Johnson, Motown CEO Berry Gordy, and business pioneer and philanthropist Reginald F. Lewis, to name a few.
Tickets for the film are $13 for regular admission and $11 for students, seniors and the military. Tickets can be purchased online at mkefilm.org or at the Oriental Theater box office. Box Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
As part of the Milwaukee Film Festival, now in its 10th year, Black Lens provides a singular focus on spotlighting fiction and documentary films by emerging and established Black storytellers, the Black Lens film series explores stories and topics rooted in the Black community and relevant to all in order to inspire conversation, celebration, and community.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded in 1913 on the campus of Howard University to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the underserved; educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities. Today Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has over 250,000 initiated members and more than 900 chapters worldwide, including seven in Wisconsin. The Sorority uses its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust of economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement to create its national and local programs.
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UPAF President & CEO Deanna Tillisch Will Retire Following 2020 Campaign
Special arts fund created to celebrate Tillisch’s commitment to underserved individuals
The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) today announced that Deanna Tillisch, president and CEO, will retire next year on September 30, 2020. Tillisch will lead the 2020 Campaign to ensure a smooth transition of continuing UPAF’s mission to secure community resources, promote the performing arts as a regional asset and improve the quality of life through responsible investment in and financial support of the performing arts in Southeastern Wisconsin.
“Deanna has tirelessly served our community since she began her tenure at UPAF in November 2011,” said Rob Sanders, UPAF board chair. “She’s played a critical role in amplifying the voice of the performing arts and the impact these assets have on delivering entertainment excellence, driving our local economy and educating our children. The performing arts are in a far better place thanks to Deanna’s dedication to UPAF’s mission.
In addition, Tillisch will be known for expanding the arts impact on underserved communities. The innovation of UPAF Connect makes performing arts accessible to surrounding communities by providing professional experiences in music, theater and dance, and UPAF Bright Minds, which raises dollars exclusively for arts education, reaching more than 100,000 youth each year.
Following the 2020 Campaign, Tillisch will have led efforts to secure over $100M in fundraising for the Southeastern Wisconsin performing arts. For eight years in a row, UPAF has earned Charity Navigator’s four-star rating, the highest distinction, for its financial management, accountability and transparency. Further, UPAF is now the No. 1 arts fund in the country in terms of dollars raised.
“It is a privilege and an honor to lead this amazing organization and see first-hand the generosity and enthusiasm people in this community have for our locally-produced and world-class performing arts,” said Tillisch. “I continue to be amazed by the dedication to and commitment throughout the community for
For more information: Katie Korek 414-239-6274 (O) 414-331-4334 (C) or Michelle Phillips 414-239-6296 (O) 414-614-2609 (C)
these assets, as demonstrated by dollars raised every year. I look forward to closing out my time at UPAF with an exceptional 2020 Campaign.”
Following retirement next fall, Tillisch plans to continue her nonprofit board service and helping families with special needs children. Deanna and her husband, Eric, have three daughters, one with cognitive and physical disabilities who has benefited tremendously from the performing arts. After witnessing and experiencing the positive impact of arts on her own family, Tillisch will continue to promote the importance of arts and accessibility with special needs individuals outside of UPAF.
UPAF will celebrate Deanna’s focused dedication to performing arts education and expanding accessibility with a special fund in honor of her disabled daughter, Kasey. New to the 2020 giving season, Kasey’s Fund will invest in those that are challenged to enjoy the performing arts, bringing distinct experiences to better their lives – something they may not have experienced otherwise. More information will be announced with the 2020 Campaign.
About UPAF
The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) has been setting the stage since 1967 by providing critical investment in our region’s vibrant performing arts scene. UPAF’s mission is to secure community resources, promote the performing arts as a regional asset and improve the quality of life through responsible investment in and financial support of the performing arts in Southeastern Wisconsin. In 2019 UPAF raised nearly $12 million to support the area’s performing arts environment. UPAF proudly bears Charity Navigator’s highest distinction for nonprofits – a four-star rating – and is the No. 1 united arts fund in the country in terms of dollars raised.
As an umbrella organization, UPAF supports a breadth of performing arts groups that collectively offer something for everyone through its 14 Member Groups and numerous Affiliates. More than one million people are touched each year through performances, educational outreach, special events and community partnerships.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater Announces Limited Run Play White Rabbit, Red Rabbit at the Arc Theatre at Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel
Featuring Rep Favorites Di’Monte Henning, Michael Doherty, James Pickering and Laura Gordon
September 18, 2019 – (Milwaukee) Milwaukee Repertory Theater is partnering with Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel to produce White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, a one-person “theater experiment” by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour.
With no director, no set and no rehearsal, only a sealed script waits onstage for the solitary performer inWhite Rabbit, Red Rabbit. The result is one-of-a-kind theatrical experience full of surprises where the play stays the same, but the production is entirely new. Performed by theater heavyweights Nathan Lane, John Hurt, Whoopi Goldberg, Cynthia Nixon and more, it’s now Milwaukee Rep’s turn to deliver that sealed envelope to Milwaukee’s waiting audiences.
Each of the four performances will feature a different Rep favorite: former Rep Emerging Professional ResidentDi’Monte Henning (Junk, Milwaukee Rep); Michael Doherty, who will be playing the titular role in MilwaukeeRep’s upcoming production of The Nerd; Rep Associate Artist James Pickering, who will be reprising the role of Mr. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol and Rep Associate Artist Laura Gordon (Our Town, Milwaukee Rep).
The play will run for four performances at the Arc Theatre, a 90-seat black box theater in the new Saint Kate –The Arts Hotel, which opened June 2019.
See White Rabbit, Red Rabbit on the following dates:
- – Saturday, October 12 at 8pm with Di’Monte Henning
- – Saturday, October 26 at 4pm with Michael Doherty
- – Saturday, November 9 at 8pm with James Pickering
- – Saturday, November 30 at 4pm with Laura Gordon
General admission tickets are priced at $20 for the public and $15 to Rep Subscribers. Tickets can be purchased online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by calling the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490 or in person at the Ticket Office, 108 E. Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee.
For more information, please visit our website www.MilwaukeeRep.com###
About Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel
Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel, Milwaukee’s first and only arts hotel, is the community’s stage. Opened June 4,2019, Saint Kate is more than a hotel. It is a venue – a platform for exploration, connection and expression. From music to dance, painting to sculpture, film to poetry and beyond, Saint Kate celebrates artistic expression in all forms and shines a light on the vibrancy of process, the beauty of progress. Saint Kate is a hub for the established and the emerging, the curious and the visionary. This is a place where creators can feel represented, where they can feel at home. A place where they can come together, meet, collaborate and create.
About Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin in terms of audiences served and one of the largest professional theaters in the country. Each year, The Rep welcomes up to 275,000 people at nearly 700 performances of 15 productions ranging from compelling dramas, powerful classics, new plays and full-scale musicals in its three unique performance venues – the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio and Stackner Cabaret. For over 65 years, The Rep has gained a national reputation as an incubator of new work, an agent of community change and a forward-thinking provider of vital arts education programs. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world- class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audiencerepresentative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.
Applications Open for 2019-20 Let The Music Play Grant Program
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. and American Family Insurance are excited to announce the second year of The Let The Music Play program grant program. The online application process is now open at https://summerfest.com/let-
“Milwaukee World Festival Inc. and American Family Insurance were proud to support six deserving organizations during the 2018-19 Let The Music Play grant cycle. After the success of the program’s inaugural year, the advancement of music education remains a priority and we encourage any qualifying Milwaukee County organizations to apply. We look forward to the 2020 performances of this year’s recipients during Summerfest,” said Don Smiley, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.
The 2019 Let The Music Play grant recipients were Carmen Schools of Science and Technology, Girls Rock MKE, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), Mitchell School, Townsend Street School, and TRUE Skool.
Let The Music Play grant program is open to non-profit organizations and schools that serve Milwaukee County through music based programming for students aged 11 – 18. The program is intended to represent the variety of music based activities taking place in the greater Milwaukee community and is open to programs ranging from band, orchestra and jazz to musical theater and dance. Recipients must demonstrate the ability to present a finished, 7-10 minute performance, at Summerfest.
About Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. is an independent, private 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1965 that produces Summerfest, presented by American Family Insurance, an 11-day festival that generates approximately $186 million in direct and indirect economic impact for the community each year. Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. also maintains Henry Maier Festival Park, located on 75 acres on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, WI. In addition to Summerfest, Henry Maier Festival Park hosts a variety of ethnic and cultural festivals, concerts, walks, runs, and other special events, attracting nearly 1.3 million people.
The mission of the organization is to promote an understanding of different ethnic cultures, the histories and traditions of various nationalities, harmony in the community, civic pride and provide a showcase for performing arts, activities and recreation for the public and employment opportunities for the youth of the community. For more details, visit Summerfest.com, Facebook.com/summerfestor Twitter: @Summerfest.
About American Family Insurance
Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance group is the nation’s 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group and ranks No. 306 on the Fortune 500 list. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, primarily through its exclusive agents in 19 states. American Family affiliates (The General and Homesite) also provide options for consumers who want to manage their insurance matters directly over the internet or by phone. Affiliate Main Street America sells insurance products through independent agents. Web: https://www.amfam.com/; Facebook www.facebook.com/
Hamilton Tickets on Sale September 10
There is a maximum purchase limit of eight (8) tickets per household for the engagement. Prices will range from $80 to $199 with a select number of $399 premium seats available for all performances. There will be a lottery for forty (40) $10 seats for all performances. Details will be announced closer to the engagement.
Jeffrey Seller notes, “It’s tempting to get tickets any way you can. There are many sites and people who are selling overpriced, and in some cases, fraudulent tickets. For the best seats, the best prices and to eliminate the risk of counterfeit tickets, all purchases for the Milwaukee engagement should be made through Ticketmaster.com.”
HAMILTON is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now.
With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.
The HAMILTON creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award®-Winning Best Musical In the Heights.
HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA, and General Management by Baseline Theatrical.
The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.
The HAMILTON Original Broadway Cast Recording is available everywhere nationwide. The HAMILTON recording received a 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album.
For information on HAMILTON, visit:
HamiltonMusical.com
Facebook.com/HamiltonMusical
Instagram.com/HamiltonMusical
Twitter.com/HamiltonMusical
About Marcus Performing Arts Center
Established in 1969, the Marcus Performing Arts Center is the premier performing arts community gathering space in Southeastern Wisconsin. As the Marcus Center celebrates its 50th anniversary, it continues to build bridges between diverse members of our community through high-quality arts entertainment in the region and the state. The touring Broadway series, sponsored by Associated Bank, is recognized as bringing the best of Broadway entertainment to Milwaukee for the past 20 years and provides opportunities to educate, entertain and engage audiences. The Marcus Center is also the home to the Milwaukee Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet, Florentine Opera, First Stage plus a variety of other important community and family events throughout the year. For more information about events visit the Marcus Center website at www.MarcusCenter.org. The Marcus Center is a private non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation and is a dedicated veterans memorial in Milwaukee.
Johnson Financial Group is a privately owned financial services company offering banking, wealth and insurance solutions through Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, and Johnson Insurance. The $5 billion financial services company operates in Wisconsin, Arizona and Minnesota. Principal owners of Johnson Financial Group are members of the Samuel C. Johnson family. Helen Johnson-Leipold is Chairman of Johnson Financial Group. For more information visit www.johnsonbank.com.
Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com and Group Sales Box Office. Led by 14-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 45 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, The Phantom of the Opera and Hamilton. Current and past productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Moulin Rouge! and To Kill A Mockingbird.
Maker Faire® Milwaukee – the “Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth” – Promises to Delight Visitors of all Ages Sept. 14-15 at the Wisconsin Center
More than 200 exhibitors are expected to display projects and share their skills and interests with Faire-goers at the nation’s largest free Maker Faire at the Wisconsin Center.
The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum announces 2019 Maker Faire® Milwaukee special attractions that will be featured during the family-friendly, free event Sept.14-15 at the Wisconsin Center.
Maker Faire Milwaukee will connect and entertain thousands of attendees who will gather to see the work of more than 200 talented makers, including the area’s leading employers and manufacturers, start-ups, entrepreneurs and individuals. The Faire will showcase innovative products and processes, offer skill-building workshops, provide tech-inspired entertainment, and serve as a community hub for STEM-related education and career path resources. Maker Faire Milwaukee 2019 attractions include:
Power Racing Series, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton
The Power Racing Series event returns to Maker Faire with 19 teams from around the country. Power Racing vehicles are designed from ride-on toys and enhanced with batteries and other features, as well as decorations that earn points in the “Moxie Competition.” Scheduled races will take place indoors at the Wisconsin Center throughout the weekend.
The Dark Room, sponsored by the We Energies Foundation
Maker Faire’s signature Dark Room will be anchored by Rook, the Tesla Knight. A Faire favorite, this live show created by local makers Jake Bissen and Sam Catania features a knight in a hand-made suit of armor doing battle with six Tesla coils, as well as demonstrations of how Tesla coils work. Other exhibits include film, electronics, coding applications, games and light sculptures, and displays that transform minute by minute in the low-light environment.
Robofest 8
Maker Faire will host RoboFest 8 with as many as 24 high school FIRST teams competing from around the state. FIRST team competition robots are built in 6 weeks and can weigh up to 125 pounds. Each robot will complete in a series of challenges. FIRST Robotics is an international competition and RoboFest 8 serves as one of the biggest events of the off-season.
Robotic Football
Valparaiso University will bring robotic football to Maker Faire for the first time this year. Just like human football, two teams are on a field the size of a basketball court with a ball snapped to a quarterback, passing or running plays and tackles indicated by LED displays on each robot. These Robotic Football National Playoff winners will present two 20-minute games, a 10-minute intermission and a modified running clock.
Beauty and the Bolt
Beauty and the Bolt is a nonprofit organization focused on providing STEAM education for young women and minority populations. Visitors to the Beauty and the Bolt booth will be able to participate in a broad range of hands-on projects that explore 3-D printing, laser cutting, soldering, and engineering.
Maker Highlights
The Faire will also feature more than 200 other talented makers representing a broad range of fields, including: Northwestern Mutual’s Cream City Labs, demonstrating 3D modeling (Tinkercad) and 3D printing; the UW-Milwaukee College of Engineering & Applied Science, sharing student and faculty research projects; school and community makerspaces from throughout the state; and dozens of individual makers showing projects – everything from a hand-built ceramic 3D printer to sewing.
For a full list of spectacles, activities and makers, visit milwaukee.makerfaire.com.
About the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum serves more than 250,000 people annually and produces Maker Faire® Milwaukee as part of its Maker Initiatives. The Initiatives were established in 2013 and expand the organization’s core “learning by doing” mission to the larger community through year-round maker programs, outreach and other activities. The Maker Initiatives represent a critical investment in education, and in Milwaukee’s long-term economic and workforce development.
The Museum’s Maker Initiatives include:
- Brinn Labs, the Museum’s makerspace in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee;
- The Be A Maker space at the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Be A Maker field trips and extensive outreach programming that bring maker education experiences to high-needs neighborhoods; and
- Community and school partnerships that integrate maker education into curriculum and increase community access to tools and technology that can develop maker skills and entrepreneurial projects.
About Wisconsin Center
The Wisconsin Center, located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, is the hub of convention business in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Center offers 188,695 square feet of contiguous exposition space and 37,500 square feet of ballroom space, accommodating up to 1,000 vendors and 10,000 guests. Well-appointed spaces are also available for groups as small as ten. The Wisconsin Center is ideal for trade and consumer shows, conventions, banquets, business meetings, and celebrations. The Wisconsin Center is experience obsessed and dedicated to providing unforgettable buzzworthy experiences for all clients and guests. The Wisconsin Center is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Center District. For more information and to book an event, visit wisconsincenter.com.
About Maker Faire
Founded in 2006, Maker Faire is a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness. People of all ages and backgrounds gather to show what they are making and share what they are learning. With more than 200 Maker Faires happening around the world, the events engage more than 1.4 million annual attendees across 44 countries. In 2014, there was even a Maker Faire on the grounds of The White House. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, MAKE: Community has been widely credited with jumpstarting the worldwide Maker Movement, which is seen as a community using technology as a creative tool to push the boundaries of innovation in engineering, robotics, healthcare, education, manufacturing, the arts and many other fields.
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A celebration of innovation and DIY culture, Maker Faire Milwaukee 2019 is free to the public Saturday, Sept. 14 from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Milwaukee.milwaukee.makerfaire.com
Maker Faire Milwaukee 2019 Sponsors
Maker Faire Milwaukee 2019 sponsors include: Presenting Sponsor: Wisconsin Center District; Community Partner: Anthem; Silversmith Sponsors: BizTimes Media, Briggs & Stratton, and Rockwell Automation; Activity Sponsors: ARMY ROTC, Harley- Davidson Foundation, Northwestern Mutual and We Energies Foundation; Coppersmith Sponsor: A.O. Smith Foundation; and Locksmith Sponsors: Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The Late Jackie Wilson to Finally Receive a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Presentation of a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and release of a 50-song compilation album, “The Definitive Jackie Wilson,” coincides with the bereavement of Jackie Wilson’s Widow Harlean Harris Wilson
Nationwide — Harlean Harris Wilson, 81, was scheduled to make the acceptance speech at the presentation of a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her late husband, the legendary Detroit-born singer Jackie Wilson, September 4, 2019 in Hollywood. However, she passed away unexpectedly this past Saturday and in her place their son John Wilson will accepted the award for his father.
Speakers and guests set for the ceremony include Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Marshall Thompson of the Chi-Lites, and Jackie’s Goddaughter Jody Watley will be among those attending.
“Though we are deeply saddened that Harlean will not be with us physically to accept Jackie’s star on September 4th, we are certain that she will be there with Jackie in spirit. Harlean Wilson was a beautiful woman inside and out who lived her life with tremendous grace and dignity and was loved by us all,” said Paul Tarnopol of Brunswick Records.
Prior to her unfortunate death, Harlean was involved with a forthcoming authorized biography and a documentary film about Wilson, a two-time Grammy Hall of Fame Inductee, a winner of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s special Legacy Tribute Award and Roll Hall of Fame recipient. She was very excited about the release of a 50-track compilation of remastered hits, The Definitive Jackie Wilson, available on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and all other major digital platforms.
Less than two weeks ago, esteemed music journalist Jeff Tamarkin spoke with Harlean about her life, the forthcoming projects and Jackie Wilson’s legacy. The following is her story:
More than 35 years after his death, Jackie Wilson – one of the greatest soul singers of all-time and a second-year inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – is getting some overdue recognition, and no one could be more pleased about that than his widow, Harlean Wilson. On September 4, 2019, Jackie – known in the music business as “Mr. Excitement” – will be recognized with a star on Hollywood’s fabled Walk of Fame. For Harlean, the honor is the culmination of decades of tireless work keeping the late entertainer’s name in front of the public – and protecting both his legacy and her own.
“I’m so elated for him, so ecstatic about my husband getting this star,” says Harlean. “That title Mr. Excitement wasn’t just given to him; he worked for it.”
Harlean Harris—her maiden name—was only a teenager in the early 1950s when she first came across the name Jackie Wilson. Born in White Plains, New York, in 1937, she had been serving as the president of the Billy Ward and the Dominoes Fan Club when the rhythm and blues vocal group announced that its lead singer, Clyde McPhatter, was leaving to join the Drifters. Harlean, along with many other fans, was upset by the news that a young unknown named Jackie Wilson would be taking his place.
Then Harlean went to Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater, where she heard Jackie sing. “I had never heard a black entertainer sing on Jackie’s level, at all,” she says. “Nobody had.” At first she remained solely a fan but then one day she received a call from Jackie, who had seen her picture on the cover of Ebony magazine—Harlean was modeling at the time—and remembered her from the fan club. Jackie and Harlean (who had previously dated Sam Cooke and Sammy Davis Jr.) became a couple and several years later, in May 1967, they were married.
By that time Jackie Wilson had long ago launched a solo career and logged hit after hit, both uptempo numbers and ballads, including such timeless smashes as “Lonely Teardrops,” “That’s Why I Love You So,” “Night” and “Baby Workout.” Just months after the wedding, he scored his final Top 10 single, “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.” In a business that chewed up artists and spit them out, Jackie Wilson’s popularity never flagged—onstage he was a virtual dynamo, as charismatic a performer as any, while in the studio he was capable, says Harlean, of “singing anything.”
Jackie, she adds, owed much of his commercial success in the music business to his dedicated producer at Brunswick Records, Nat Tarnopol, who was also the head of the label and had originally brought Jackie to New York from their shared native city of Detroit. Unlike many other African-American entertainers of the day, Wilson was treated fairly by Brunswick and Tarnopol, says Harlean, but outside of the confines of the company, that wasn’t always so: The singer and his wife were often subjected to painful, vicious rumors and untruths, legal entanglements and other indignities, including women who claimed to be linked with Jackie romantically and, later, both men and women claiming to be his children. One crazy, completely fabricated story that persisted for some time had Jackie being held outside of an upper story of a building upside down by thugs until he agreed to sign a contract.
Reality did hit them hard one evening in 1961 though, when the couple experienced a horrific close call: Jackie had been shot by a woman who was reportedly jealous of his relationship with Harlean. “Jackie had stepped outside of our apartment to get the mail and I heard what sounded like two firecrackers going off,” says Harlean. She went to investigate the noise, and found Jackie grimacing and screaming, “She shot me,” while a woman stood nearby claiming she hadn’t meant to do so. Jackie summoned enough strength to hobble outside the building, where a patrol car happened to be passing by. But rather than take the victim to a hospital, the officers chased down the shooter inside the apartment building. Fortunately, Jackie’s injuries were not fatal, but it took more than a year before he felt ready to resume his career.
Rumors aside, Jackie and Harlean did produce one child together, a son they named John, known as Petie throughout his life. The young boy’s world was shattered irrevocably when, on September 29, 1975, Jackie Wilson suffered a massive heart attack while performing at a nightclub in New Jersey. Jackie, in a coma, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where Harlean (then separated from him) and Petie were denied visitation until they were able to produce paperwork proving that they were his legitimate family.
Jackie Wilson never fully regained his ability to function; he remained in the care of others, his career cut short unexpectedly and permanently. Harlean became his caretaker, simultaneously entering into a never-ending series of legal situations that would linger long past the death of Jackie Wilson on January 21, 1984, nearly a decade after he collapsed onstage. “I was the administrator of the estate because I was his court-appointed guardian,” says Harlean, “and everybody wanted to take the estate from me, with all kinds of excuses. Everybody came out of the woodwork. The whole matter went into federal court when it first happened and it’s still going on. Jackie wasn’t a businessman.”
Despite all of the hardships she has been through, Harlean Wilson retains nothing but admiration for the man she met more than six decades ago. While she is the first to admit that there were difficulties in their marriage—“I have eyes, I could see what was going on,” Harlean says—she remembers Jackie as a man who was “very vibrant, very effervescent, generous to a fault. He loved to sing and he loved life.”
Harlean Wilson has spent a lifetime doing her best to make sure that the world remembers and knows the truth about Jackie Wilson. Now, finally, with the unveiling of his Hollywood star and other high-profile projects soon to be announced, she will have accomplished her goal.
More information at www.JackieWilsonMusic.com
Hip-Hop Week MKE schedule for TODAY and the weekend include Financial Literacy & Real Estate Seminar, Hip-Hop Goes to the Polls and Legacy Concert and Awards
It’s been an amazing week so far and Alderman Khalif J. Rainey invites the community to take part in the remaining events of the second annual Hip-Hop Week MKE celebration (Monday, August 19 through Sunday, August 25).
DJ Envy said he is looking forward to sharing insights and knowledge today during his Hip-Hop Seminar on Financial Literacy and Real Estate later today. “I’m always excited to discuss real estate and investing and Hip-Hop Week MKE allows us to come together in our natural element to tackle the important issue of financial literacy,” he said.
Events scheduled for TODAY – Friday, August 23rd:
DJ ENVY OF THE BREAKFAST CLUB – A HIP-HOP SEMINAR ON FINANCIAL
LITERACY & REAL ESTATE
@GEE’S CLIPPERS
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
2200 N. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
MUSIC ON THE BLT
@BLT PERFORMANCE STAGE
5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Corey Pieper, Shle Berry, Jazzaveli, DJ Nu Stylez.
3334 N. Holton St.
THE HIP-HOP MUSEUM POP-UP EXPERIENCE EXHIBIT AND HIP-HOP HAPPY HOUR
@THE RAVE
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.
THE HIP-HOP LEGACY CONCERT & AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE CREATOR OF THE SOURCE AWARDS
@THE RAVE
Honorees and performers include: Scarface, Bun B, Mystikal, Devin The Dude, Do Or Die and Milwaukee’s own Coo Coo Cal. Guest performance by Benny The Butcher. Special guests and local legends TBA.
7 p.m. – 11p.m.
2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Brad “Scarface” Jordan looks forward to Saturday’s ‘Hip-Hop Goes to the Polls’ session at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society. “Those within the Hip-Hop community have the ability to transform politics in America. Hip Hop Week MKE presents the perfect platform to connect with disengaged and apolitical community members,” Mr. Jordan said.
Events scheduled for tomorrow – Saturday, August 24th:
HIP-HOP & CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM SEMINAR SCREENING OF “FREE MEEK” DOCUMENTARY
@BLACK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Hosted by The Larry Hoover Project & Attorney Justin A. Monroe, Esq.
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Wisconsin Black Historical Society
2620 W. Center St.
HIP-HOP GOES TO THE POLLS WITH BRAD “SCARFACE”JORDAN
@BLACK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Hosted by Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Wisconsin Black Historical Society
2620 W. Center St.
THE TURNUP DJ SPIN SESSION AT CHORDS & CURDS
@DEER DISTRICT
1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
THE HIP-HOP MUSEUM POP-UP EXPERIENCE EXHIBIT AND HIP-HOP HAPPY HOUR
@THE RAVE
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.
HIP-HOP SHOWCASE
@CACTUS CLUB
Mudy, Nile, Twan Mack, Larry Bull, Jaecar
9 p.m.
2496 S. Wentworth Ave.
KEVIN GATES
@THE RAVE
8 p.m. – 11 p.m.
2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Events scheduled for Sunday, August 25th:
THE HIP-HOP MUSEUM POP-UP EXPERIENCE EXHIBIT AND HIP-HOP HAPPY HOUR
@THE RAVE
12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.
SUMMER JAM BAND BAZAAR
@MR. J’S
Coo Coo Cal, Baby Drew,
Ray Nitti, Ray Rizzy, Adi Armour, Cigarette Break
7 p.m.
Mr. J’s
4610 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Hip-Hop Week MKE for 2019 is focused on how Hip-Hop has the power to transform communities through the lens of financial literacy, health/wellness and civic engagement. A complete list of activities is attached to this release.
Hip-Hop Week MKE is sponsored by the City of Milwaukee in partnership with dozens of business and community organizations. For a complete list, please see the attachment.
Additional information about Hip-Hop Week MKE is available at hiphopweekmke.com/.