Behind The Real Podcast

My guest speaker is Actress/Singer/Writer/ Host & Creator of Her show The Nitty Grit as well as Artist-Influencer Chantel Deniese she is a natural-born storyteller. This southern girl with her Texas roots and LA boots has been performing all throughout the US. With over 20 years of experience inspiring others through the arts and entertainment, her credits include musical theater, national commercials, and live performances. Her latest single, “The Vision,” is now available on all major music platforms. She is a Dramatist Guild member, with two stage-plays and a short film called “Emerald King” which was featured in the Shreveport Urban Film Festival, the San Antonio Black International Film Festival, and the Studio City International Film Festival. Her latest endeavor is a conversation platform called “The Nitty Grit,” in which she highlights the unique value of life learning found in the stories of everyday lives. We learn this and more on “Behind The Real”.

My guest speaker Olusheyi is an actor/singer/pastor he was born in San Jose California and resides in Los Angeles. He is a devoted father as well as a grandfather who loves life as well as everyone he comes around. He has his new album coming out called “Welcome to the love room” we talk about his part in the live stage play “Godspell” what inspired him to become a pastor, his podcast called Big O’s countdown, as well as some of his future goals, we find out about all of this and more on “Behind The Real”.

My guest speaker is Composer, Arranger,Orchestrator,Vocalist, and Musical Director Eric Butler

Eric Butler brings a wealth of musical diversity and experience to every project he gets involved with. Originally Eric hails from East Orange, New Jersey, and now resides in Los Angeles, California. He played in the New Jersey All-State Orchestra holding the 1st-Chair/Principal Trumpet position as well as being a member of the New Jersey All-State Chorus, judged as the top tenor voice in the state and awarded the position of section leader in a 500-voice choir.

Attending Boston, Massachusetts’ prestigious Berklee College of Music with a major in arranging, composition, and orchestration. He performed as lead vocalist for the Annual Music Educators of Massachusetts Conference, arranging and orchestrating his own compositions, and receiving recognition in the world-renowned Down Beat (the jazz magazine) for his exciting performances.

He composed, orchestrated, and produced the themes and underscored music for the films: The Club, starring Tommy Ford; Art and Atoms, Getty Musem documentary; the orchestral score inclusive of sound design for The Gifted, starring Dick Anthony Williams; NBC-TV-syndicated series: Images and Realities’ episodes: African American Men, hosted by Louis Gossett Jr.; The African American Family, hosted by Danny Glover and Esther Rolle; and African American Women, hosted by Vanessa Williams, Queen Latifah, and poet/author Maya Angelou, He composed the theme for the weekly TV series, ABF–America’s Black Forum, hosted by Julian Bond.

His compositions, arrangements, and orchestrations have contributed to The Tonight Show, hosted by Johnny Carson; Lou Rawls–UNCF Parade of Stars, The 1992 U.S. Olympic Festival, and the TV series Fame. Additionally, he was responsible for the acclaimed dance, vocal and choral arrangements and orchestrations for The Martin Luther King- Kennedy Center Special production number, For All We Know medley, choreographed by Dream Girls/Michael Jackson‘s choreographer, Michael Peters, with a featured performance by Michael Peters and Fame/Academy Awards’ choreographer, Debbie Allen.

Eric has written choir arrangements for Pattie Labelle on the Frank Sinatra TV special, Sinatra–80 Years My Way and choir arrangements for the Doobie Brothers’ tour. Additional orchestrations for CDs include: The Road To El Dorado by Elton John for Dreamworks’ animation feature film and soundtrack of the same title, plus The Young Americans, produced by Quincy Jones, and Luis Miguel’s 2000 CD on Lion’s Records.

My guest speaker Chris Martin, Esq. was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles and is a proud product of Dorsey High School. An all around rennaissance man, he is also a lawyer, lead singer of the band Brownsuede and made his acting debut in 2020. The Brownsuede EP is available on all streaming platforms! We Learn about all of this and more on “Behind The Real”! SECwORiu9cG8Dw8DafDO

My guest speaker Joan Moten, is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. She is also a retiree from United Airlines in Houston, Texas, after 25 years of service. Among her multifaceted list of attributes, she is also a former model, and interior decorator. Currently, Moten is honing these skills masterfully as a set designer for both, stage and film. Joan has also penned an associate producer credit to her name, for the short film "Maggie".

As a devoted mother, grandmother and friend, Joan utterly shocked those who've known her best, when her adventurous spirit relocated her to Los Angeles, where she followed in her youngest sons footsteps into the acting industry. A new beginning that Joan has since embraced with passion, fortitude and commitment.

Under the tutelage of one of the most recognized acting coaches nationally, the multi award winning, Choice Skinner, Joan, is vastly becoming a force to be reckoned with, in the genres of stage and film. Noted for her seamless delivery in some of the most tender notations on stage, to her electrifying, show stopping performances on film, Joan is undeniably making her mark, in Hollywood and beyond.

Her earlier to most recent works

Include:

Stage Productions:

-White Nights - Black Paradise

-Same Stranger

-Maggie (One Woman Show)

Films:

Black Lightning - Tobias Revenge

Once Upon A Lifetime

Right Where You Need To Be

Maggie (Short Film)

A New Life

Producer credits:

Associate Producer "Maggie" (Short film)

My guest speaker is Actor/Writer/ and creator of the hit show “Unpacked” on fox soul Hari Williams he is a Southern California native and proud alumni of Howard University where he earned a BFA in Theater Arts and Film Production. He was fortunate to find his passion for performance and storytelling early and has been pursuing it ever since.

His 2017 lead performance in the in the Road Theater’s production of “Little Children Dream of God” was awarded ‘Star Making Performance’ by Stage Scene LA. His recent TV appearances include guest stars on the “For the Love of Jason” on UMC and Bounce TV comedies “In the Cut” and “Family Time” along with Freeform’s “Famous in Love” and Netflix’s “Drug Lords.” His lead role in the short film drama “Mid City Blue” earned HBO Best Narrative Short at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and the engaging romantic comedy, “Stuck” has won audience awards at film festivals across the country including Best Actor at the Shreveport Urban Film Festival. He has written webseries, shorts, feature films, and TV series. One of the most notable being his historical action drama “Unconquered” that tells the heroic true story of the Black Seminoles of Florida; it was a Quarterfinalist in the 2019 Academy Nicchols Screenwriting competition. He is the creator of the sketch comedy, discussion series “Unpacked,” a combination of ‘Chappelle’s Show’ and ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’, the show uses satire to engage around pressing social issues. Unpacked premiered this past summer and is currently preparing for it’s upcoming season. You can follow @HariWilliams on social media to keep up with his creative journey. We learn about all of this and more on “Behind The Real”.

Actor, Director, Producer, Writer and now Author of the “Covid Letters” Spencer’s book chronicles the time line of Covid-19 and the personal losses of family members and friends while dealing with his own depression brought on by the isolation of the mandated lockdowns.

My guest speaker Parnell Damone Marcano grew up in Denver, CO but has called LA home for over 30 years. Moving here after graduating from Loretto Heights College with a BFA in Musical Theatre. He is most recognized for his recurring role as "Carlton Cruise" over five seasons of the hit series "Greenleaf ". But he has toured the world as "the one and only male Supreme" with Mary Wilson, and singing with the legendary Thelma Houston.

He has performed in several musicals such as: Dreamgirls, Evita, Ragtime, Hello Dolly, The All Night Strut, The Producers, and originated the role of "Desmond" for his Off-Broadway debut in The Babies. Plays include: Booty Candy, Follow, Fucking Men, Jerker. Film/Television roles: "Tyrone Jones" "Old Dogs & New Tricks", "Daughters of Legend", "Furst", "The Black Dawn: Catalyst", "Blood For The Gods".

Besides Mary Wilson and Thelma Houston, Parnell has sung with Rita Coolidge, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Patti Austin, Ben E. King, Loretta Divine, Jennifer Holiday, Tremaine Hawkins, Dianne Reeves.

He is the company manager at Celebration Theatre; the country's oldest, continually producing LGBTQ+ theater company. He and his husband, Michael recently celebrated ten years together. We learn about all of this and more on “Behind The Real “.

My guest speaker is a independent rapper his name is Zay Zayy we talk about his journey as an artist growing up in the hood, his time in prison, his eye for fashion and how he met his manager James Knox as well as independent rapper Circle Marsh.

LOS ANGELES – Actor Keith Burke delivers high drama and sizzling romance recurring as ‘Derrick David’ in Tyler Perry’s acclaimed original series, THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS, on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network.

Introduced at the beginning of Season Five, Derrick David (Burke) shows up to fix more than just the house Hanna Young (Crystal R. Fox) currently lives in. With each trying to get their life back on track after a few tragic turns, their chemistry can’t be denied and a budding romance develops. Fast forward end of Season Five and beginning Season Six. Derrick reveals the “Lion Tattoo” of which Hanna said she saw on the chest of the man who rapped her over 20 years ago. Now the questions have to be answered:

Was Derrick the man who rapped her? Where do we go from here?

Burke was excited at the opportunity to work with Tyler Perry and be part of this fan- favorite series, “The audition process was such a whirlwind. After the first read, I was called back the next day for a chemistry read with Crystal Fox. A few hours later, I was offered the role and told to be in Atlanta three days later. I must admit, I was a little nervous my first day on set but Crystal and Mr. Perry quickly put me at ease. After that, things went smoothly and it really felt like a supportive family environment. I’m beyond grateful.”

Audiences will also recognize Burke from his numerous television appearances, as Jake O’Hare on the season three opener of AMC’s popular series, Preacher, opposite Ruth Negga (Loving) and Raelynn Bratten (The Ant Man & The Wasp).

Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Burke first honed his acting skills at Philadelphia’s famed Freedom Theater. Shortly after, he made his way to Los Angeles, quickly landing roles in the films Players Club and Life, and scoring a cameo in the hit-series, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, alongside his childhood acquaintance Will Smith. Since then, Burke has appeared on a variety of television shows, including Southland, NCIS, Cold Case, and Criminal Minds to name a few.

In addition, Burke has had a noteworthy career on stage. His hard work and disciplined love of plays has earned him numerous theater roles, including Don B. Welch’s “My Brother’s Keeper,” alongside Emmy Award Winning actress Loretta Divine