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Bronx born dancer and actor Darrin DeWitt Henson is one of the hottest choreographers in the entertainment business.  Darrin learned his dance craft on the streets of New York and got his first break performing with world-renowned music and dance producer DJ Scott La Rock.  After a successful stint on Broadway, Darrin set out on his career as choreographer.

In 2007, Darrin starred in the critically acclaimed HBO film "Life Support," starring Queen Latifah, Wendell Pierce and Evan Ross. 

Without any formal training, Darrin became one of the hottest dancers and choreographers in the world, working with all of the major players in the music industry including LL Cool J, Michael Jackson, Prince, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Usher, Justin Timberlake, ‘N SYNC and Jennifer Lopez.  His skill and dedication as dance teacher has won him numerous awards including the highly prestigious MTV Music Award for Best Choreography. 

In 2002, Darrin released his first DVD, Darrin Henson’s Dance Grooves – it was a massive success across the world and became the one of the biggest dance instructional video of all time! The DVD sold over 3,000,000 copies worldwide and won a Billboard Award for the biggest selling Health and Fitness Video. 

In 2005, Darrin produced his follow-up DVD: Darrin Henson’s Dance Grooves 2. With 5 new routines, fresh from the street, this new DVD breaks down the moves step by step to give you an insight into how to get into professional dancing, keeping fit and how to learn the secret dance moves of the stars.  In 2000, and again without any training, Darrin landed a starring role in hit TV show Soul Food, which ran for five seasons. Christmas 2005 sees the release of The Salon in which he stars alongside Vivica Fox.  Darrin is currently filming The Last Stand with Anthony Anderson and Guy Tory, and early next year he will produce and star in his first feature, In The Groove, with Loretta Devine.  

Darrin uses his experience and knowledge of street dance to keep his students up to date with the hottest moves and at the cutting edge. Darrin’s Dance Grooves Workshop has traveled throughout the US, and on to Iceland, Japan, Germany, France, China and this August he took the school to the United Kingdom. 

Darren recently took time to talk with us about his career. 

 The Darrin Henson Interview

BMIA.com:  Darrin, thank you for taking the time to participate in this interview.  Brother, you are some kind of talent.  Where do I start?  Tell us about your background.

Darrin Henson:  I grew up in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx, with 6 brothers and 2 sisters in the same neighborhood as Jennifer Lopez and just minutes away from where Africa Bombarda would throw Zulu Anniversary jams.

BMIA.com:  You are accomplished at so many things.  Tell our readers a little bit about your career as an actor, choreographer, producer and as a director?

Darrin Henson:  I started off as a dancer, I was frustrated for certain artists that I was dancing for and I didn’t always like the steps they were doing… so, I started making up my own. Whilst I was choreographing, I kind of blew up after a about 5-6- yrs in the business and then, after wining the MTV music award I didn’t feel challenged anymore so, I decided to start acting and partaking in my own career. As an actor, I learned about camera work and lighting, which segued me into directing my first film Violation for Showtime – I guess you can say that I caught the bug. I am, currently producing, directing and starring in my own musical, Dreams Do Travel (11/25/05 and 11/26/05).

BMIA.com:  How long have you been in the entertainment business?

Darrin Henson:  All my life.

BMIA.com:  What TV shows and movies have you been a part of?

Darrin Henson:  Soul Food, The Salon, April Fool’s, The Last Stand, fabric of a man Stage play, if these hips could talk, stage play.

BMIA.com:  Who are some of the musical artists that you’ve worked with?

Darrin Henson:  Michael Jackson, Prince, Britney Spears, J-Lo, MVP, Christina Aguilera, *NSYNC.

BMIA.com:  Do you consider your talents to be a gift?  Hard work?  Or both?

Darrin Henson:  Both.

BMIA.com:  When you think about all of your entertainment talents, which one is your favorite?

Darrin Henson:  I don’t have a favorite.  I love them all. BUT, if I could only do one thing it would be dance.

BMIA.com:  There are several shows on TV that have renewed an interest in dancing. (Ballroom, Steppin’ and Handancing).  What do you think about all of the interest in dancing now?

Darrin Henson:  I think America is slow to wake up in general.  They have been sleeping. If they would have taken notice they would have seen that dance is in just about every medium (TV, Movies, Commercials) either selling products or just being the driving energy in a movie or TV show.

BMIA.com:  Tell us about Darrin’s Dance Grooves?

Darrin Henson:  Darrin’s Dance Grooves was created after I booked Soul Food. I could not be in the normal areas that I was used to being in as I was in a TV series now. So, I devised a video that could be everywhere. I took the dance steps that I created for the stars and gave them to the world.

BMIA.com:  How many copies has the video sold?

Darrin Henson:  It has sold over 3,000,000 copies, won numerous awards including a Billboard Award for Best Fitness Video and was the biggest selling direct response TV product of 2002.  This year I produced, directed, choreographed and starred in the follow-up, Darrin’s Dance Grooves 2. This video focuses on street and Hip Hop dance and I’ve been getting the most amazing response from people who bought the first video and those new to the Darrin Henson experience.

BMIA.com:  Who are some of the people in your life that you admire?

Darrin Henson:  Michael Jackson, Prince, Mohammed Ali, my dad and truthful, spiritual leaders

BMIA.com:  Who are some of the people in “show business” that have mentored or helped you in your career? 

Darrin Henson:  Gregory Hines was a big inspiration, God Rest His Soul. Prince. Jim Brown.  

BMIA.com:  What role did they play in your personal and/or professional development? 

Darrin Henson:  Knowledge and information. 

BMIA.com:  OK, this is the part of the interview where we “strap” you in the Black Men In America.com Hot Seat.  This is our version of “Call and Response,” where we say something and you call out the first thing that comes to mind.  Are you ready? 

Darrin Henson:  Ready

BMIA.com:  Great. 

BMIA.com:  Who is your favorite choreographer?  

Darrin Henson:  Jerome Roberts 

BMIA.com:  Favorite musical artist

Darrin Henson:  Michael Jackson 

BMIA.com:  Favorite dancer

Darrin Henson:  Gregory Hines 

BMIA.com:  Favorite movie 

Darrin Henson:  West Side Story 

BMIA.com:  Movies or television  

Darrin Henson:  Soul Food 

BMIA.com:  Snoop Dogg 

Darrin Henson:  Weed 

BMIA.com:  James Brown 

Darrin Henson:  Bad 

BMIA.com:  Beyoncé or Mariah Carey 

Darrin Henson:  Fine 

BMIA.com:  Your Best Album or CD 

Darrin Henson:  Best of Lionel Richie 

BMIA.com:  Darrin Henson, you are officially off of the Black Men In America.com Hot Seat!

BMIA.com:  What’s the best thing about being Darrin Henson?

Darrin Henson:  Being Darrin Henson

BMIA.com:  What’s the hardest thing about being Darrin Henson?

Darrin Henson:  Being Darrin Henson

BMIA.com:  You spend a lot of time trying to educate people about HIV and AIDS.  Why?

Darrin Henson:  It’s an ongoing problem in the Black Community and I feel that I have a voice now that people will listen to so I must use it to help.

BMIA.com:  In your opinion what’s the biggest challenge facing black men in America?

Darrin Henson:  Education

BMIA.com:  How can people reading this article support you?

Darrin Henson:  By educating themselves firstly, and second, research.

BMIA.com:  What’s next for Darrin Henson?

Darrin Henson:  Dreams Do Travel is scheduled to play for two dates in November 2005 (25^th and 26^th) if all goes well the show will be picked and be an ongoing off-Broadway show.  Then who knows?

BMIA.com:  What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into the entertainment industry?

Darrin Henson:  Educate, research and study. Know your craft.

Click here to check out Darrin's web site or to buy one of his tapes and DVD's.

Special thanks to Pippa Lambert for arranging this interview.  This interview was posted on December 5, 2005 and conducted by conducted by Gary Johnson.

 

Jesse Norwood:  Reflections Of A Legend Through The Eyes Of His Son

In March of 1948, Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers came to Mobile, Alabama, on a whistle stop tour that had remarkable consequences for the city, the black community, and for baseball itself.  Robinson's brief appearance fueled a passion for the game among the city's black population.  One man, however, saw more than just excitement for a sport.  Thirty-year-old Jesse Norwood saw a way to help the kids in his neighborhood. 

Ten years ago, writer Joe Formichella got a call from Jesse Norwood Jr., who said, "If you like to write about baseball, have I got a story for you."  The story has now become a book Here’s to You Jackie Robinson: The Legend of the Prichard Mohawks, about the Negro/Black baseball league in Prichard (Mobile, Alabama). 

The book chronicles the making of a youth baseball team in Prichard in the 1950’s and how the team's founder, Jesse Norwood Sr., used the game to teach a group of neighborhood kids who played stickball in the streets life skills.   

Jesse Norwood was a man who lived in the segregated south.  With no baseball experience and no knowledge of the game, Norwood transformed a group of neighborhood boys into a strong team and a genuine force in the community.  The Mohawks weren't just a baseball team, they were part of a community that taught kids much more than how to hit and field.  Norwood, Sr. taught these young men how to grow up and become good citizens. 

With very little money, the team started off with “baseball bats” that were actually broom handles.  Step by step, the team took form until the Mohawks were playing in a league, wearing uniforms and playing in a field in a corner of a cornfield.  The field started as the makings of a diamond and eventually became the community's top entertainment attraction, complete with dugouts, backstops and concession stands. 

Gary Johnson caught up with Jesse Norwood, Jr., who shared heartwarming stories about his father.  You can read that interview below.

The Jesse Norwood, Jr. Interview

Johnson:          Mr. Norwood, thank you for arranging your schedule to accommodate me.  Can you give me a little bit of background about the team?

Norwood:          Sure.  In the late 50’s, I guess 1956 or 57, my father, who was born in Albany Georgia, left at an early age, he was about 13 or 14 years old.  He barely finished the 6^th grade.  He traveled to Mobile, Alabama and settled in a little community called Prichard.

My father worked at an Air Base.  In the afternoons after he would come home from work and see the little boys playing stickball in the streets.  He would see them get into arguments and fights.  They only had broomsticks and bottle caps to play with.  So, one day, he bought them a couple of balls, and said, “Here are some balls so you guys can stop hitting those bottle caps.” A few weeks later he organized the kids to play baseball with help from some of his co-workers.  After a while the team grew pretty large, I mean beyond the standard baseball team size. They got so large until they developed a facsimile of a baseball farm system.  

Johnson:          No kidding. 

Norwood:          Oh yeah.  They had the “Apaches” which were the younger guys, and there was another team that I can’t recall that was for the younger guys.  They started playing on a vacant lot in Prichard, Alabama.  Soon after the crowds grew so large they moved to another open field in an area called Trinity Gardens.  Later the crowds were so large that my father leased an old cornfield in Mobile and the guys got together and turned that into a baseball park.   

Johnson:          Did your Dad talk about racism during that time and how it affected him and the team? 

Norwood:          There were very times when they had encounters with white players or white teams, that were negative.  There’s this one story I was reminded of on yesterday, where they were playing in Mississippi and a white sheriff was umpiring the game and he was really cheating the boys because the white hometown crowd was hooping it up.  And, I understand that my father pretty much got tired of it and went and stood up to him and told him “either you gonna call this game right or we’re going to pack up and go.” Well at this time, some of the deputy sheriffs came out of the stands and they came down to support the umpire, who was the sheriff, and he stood up and the players were all standing and the crowd, I’m told, was pretty quiet.  Everybody was a little tense.  And the sheriff said, “Okay, we’re going to play ball.” And, I’m told that from that point on the Mohawks went on the win that ballgame.  Now, that’s a significant story in that you had to be in lower Alabama, or lower Mississippi to appreciate a black man and 15 or 16 little black kids standing up to an all white crowd, where the sheriff was being accused of cheating the game. (Laughter) 

Johnson:          Absolutely. I’ve been reading a lot about your father. 

Norwood:          You know, I was at a reception recently and one of them boasted about the fact that of all the players that came through the Mohawks Ball Team, not a one of them ever got into any kind of trouble, you know with the law or criminal activity or anything.  And all of them turned out to be bright, hardworking individuals.  We have a couple of lawyers, we got a couple of dentists, and we got some preachers and teachers, and everything else that came out of that group. But, what they learned in addition to camaraderie was the value of organization, because that was the linchpin, if you will, of the club.  They played great ball, they were champions, but their organization was one that was the envy of everybody else because they ran it pretty much like a major league baseball team and like a business.  There were rules and fines.  They had to raise money because they weren’t getting paid.   

Johnson:          Do you recall any sacrifices that your dad had to make? 

Norwood:          I can remember as a kid when he would come home and tell my mother that there were certain things that we had planned as a family that he had to put off because he needed to buy a couple of guys shoes and he needed to buy somebody a class ring for high school and somebody else needed a necktie or shirt, because they just didn’t have it.  And, of course welfare in the South was non-existent.  My father did those things because he loved those kids.  He never wanted recognition for his hard work. 

Johnson:          But, you know, from what I’ve read, your father was quite an entrepreneur. 

Norwood:          Yes, he was.  You know having such limited formal education, my father was the kind of person who used to tell me that the whole world was at your disposal and that all you had to do was pick up the books and read.  And that’s pretty much how he taught himself the game of baseball and the game of business. He read.  He read profusely.  And he instilled that in all of us, not only in our household, but also in the team.  He used to say, “If you want to keep a secret from people, put it in a book.” 

Johnson:          Yea, unfortunately, I think that holds true for too many people in our community. 

Norwood:          I know, sad but true.  But, you know, his legacy, you’re right, will live on because long after he’s passed, I think he passed in 1970, those guys over the years and they insisted over ten years ago that I do something about writing the legacy, writing the story, and so for ten years we worked on it off and on.  About two years ago these publishers out of San Francisco contacted me and said, “We’ve got to write this story.” “We just cannot let this story go untold.” So, they convinced me, two years ago, or maybe three years ago, it was three years ago, to try and help them pull together these guys and this story back on track, because it was one they had inkling to get done.  

Johnson:          Do you have any stories or memories that stand out in your mind? 

Norwood:          I tell you, one of my most memorable stories as a kid of traveling with the Mohawks was the warden at one of the state prisons in Alabama would call my father and ask him if he would bring his Mohawks up to play the prisoners who were incarcerated, which was usually a big draw at the prison, and my father, he went because he knew that those players needed interaction.  I think we were the only team they played.  It kind of reminds you of The Longest Yard, the football story. 

Johnson:          Yea. 

Norwood:          But we were the only team that they played outside of the prison.  And so, once a year he would carry his little Mohawk players up to this prison and they would play.  And, of course, the Mohawks would be hanging in there, but the prison had a variety of player that were really good.  So, some years they’d win and some years they’d loose.  I can remember one year, the year that stopped the baseball games was when one of the prisoners escaped and blended in with the crowd.  And the warden said, “We can’t have that.” And I think that ended the Mohawks playing the prisoners every year.

Johnson:          There are some people here in Washington DC, for example, like Dwayne Simms, who runs the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame, who will be very interested in this story.  Who are some of the people that you recall your father talking about who influenced him? 

Norwood:          You know that’s an interesting question.  I think at the time that my father organized this team I must have been seven or eight years old and I don’t remember his influencing factors as much as it was the kids in the neighborhood who had no outlet.  I think he was driven by the fact that he saw he was making a difference and I will tell you that some of the people who was able to help influence were Amos Otis, who played I believe with San Francisco.  In 1957/1958, Jackie Robinson was still a big name in baseball and of course, I remember him always talking about Roy Campenella, who was another very influential baseball player. 

Johnson:          That’s great.  I’ve got two questions that stand out that I want to make sure that I ask you, and I want to ask them right now.  What are some of the biggest challenges facing Black men today? 

Norwood:          You know, oddly enough, I would say that the biggest challenges are some of the same grassroots challenges that we faced in the late 50’s.  There is such a lack of Black men standing up and being responsible and then when they are, and they are successful, I am always happy about that.  Too many forget what my father used to say, “each one teach one.” 

Johnson:          You know I checked out your Mohawk Foundation web site.  I really liked the site and will encourage our readers to visit your site.  What can people do to help your organization? 

Norwood:          Well, you know, the best thing for them to do is to make a donation of their time and/or money.  Of if they have access to a partner who can help us with the enrichment of children’s lives through some of the activities that we have on the site.  We’ll accept any kind of assistance. 

Gary, I applaud you for taking the mission that you have with this web link and doing the work that you’re doing. I’ll tell you, I think it’s bold, I think it’s refreshing, and I will tell you that if there’s anything we can do with our little small sphere of resources, you can count on to help out.  

Norwood:          Oh yea.  Well, first let me tell you that the book publisher as well as the writer is donating 40% of their royalties and proceeds to the foundation. 

Johnson:          Excellent. 

Norwood:          And, the book, itself is absolutely awesome.  I mean, we’re not in this for the money; we just want to make sure the story is told.  And if someone else, somewhere else, can do something to help them and give some resources then I think my father’s dream will leave.  And, I think a lot of those guys who are still Mohawks will remember and know that their time spent was not in vain. 

Johnson:          Well, I have a copy of the book. I haven’t finished reading it. But, from what I can tell it is a very good book and it’s, I haven’t read a bad review. The reviews are great. 

Norwood:          Well, let me tell you, I think an outlet like Black Men In America.com is awfully powerful.

Norwood:          Thank you Gary.  I appreciate your time and thanks so much for your help.

Johnson:          Mr. Norwood, it has been my pleasure.  Thank you.

Please visit and support The Mohawk Foundation.  You can visit their web site at http://www.mohawksfoundation.org. 

Thank you Tammy Richards-LeSure of RICHARDS PUBLIC RELATIONS for arranging this interview.

 

Kevin Eubanks is gifted guitarist, who is probably best known as the Musical Director of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."  Eubanks who is Leno’s “setup man” and comic foil appears on television as a good-natured guy.  Guess what?  From all that we could gather, Kevin Eubanks is the guy that he appears to be on television. 

This son of a preacher has been with the show since 1992 and is in his 10^th year as the Musical Director of the show.  Eubanks replaced the band’s original director, saxophonist Branford Marsalis.  

For those who don’t know, at one time, Kevin Eubanks is one of the hottest music players in the music business.  Kevin Eubanks has toured extensively and recorded with many top jazz artists, including Branford Marsalis, Buster Williams and Dave Grusin.  Eubanks lists Wes Montgomery, John McLaughlin and Jimi Hendrix as his major musical influences.   

He remains of the most prolific jazz guitarists in the country and has recorded 12 albums in his 17-year recording career.  In addition, Eubanks also scored the HBO Pictures presentation, “Rebound,” directed by “ER’s” Eriq La Salle and composed the score for the five-part PBS documentary series, “Black Westerners,” which traces the story for African-American leaders, heroes and others who lived in the old West. 

 The Kevin Eubanks Interview

 

BMIA.com:  Hey Kevin, thanks for taking time out to chat with us.  You’ve been with The Tonight Show since 1992, and as Musical Director since 1995.  What’s been the best part of being with the show? 

Kevin Eubanks:  Thanks for having me, a pleasure to be here. Let's see the best part? Well I can pay my rent now. I guess I could always do that but now I can get an apartment with heat.  I use to have this place in Brooklyn that had no heat. Serious.  And I had to get up at 4:00 am to get the Village Voice newspaper, find the place and get there before anyone else did so I'd have a better chance of getting an apartment with no heat.  I was experiencing life in New York and being broke.  Actually as it turned out I did pretty good there.  Let's see the other “best part,” of being on The Tonight show is that I get to meet and hear musicians and comedians from all over the place.  I also get to play with some of the groups too when they ask, like Willie Nelson, Al Green, Little Richard, Isaac Hayes etc.  You ever been on Willie's bus?  

BMIA.com:  Uh, no Kev.  (Laughing) 

Kevin Eubanks:  It's always a fun show when he's there. He has a great tour bus.  So much talent comes to the show.  Oh yeah, I get to watch Serena Williams walk across the stage.  In my mind it's all happening in slow motion.  Hmmm, I'd better stop right there. 

BMIA.com:  Yeah, let’s move on before we both get in trouble.  Most people associate you as a guitar player.  A lot of folks don’t know that you also play the piano, violin and trumpet.  What other instruments do you play?

Kevin Eubanks:  Well I just kind of dip and dab at the piano and I don't play trumpet at all anymore.  I do consider myself a pretty decent electric bass player though.  I wish I could sing.  I love singers but I am way too shy.  Scares the hell out of me. Did you see the time I had to sing on the show?   

BMIA.com:  Actually, I did.  You looked very nervous.  I remember watching you and saying to myself:  “It’s a good thing he’s a solid musician, because he can’t sing a lick.”   

Kevin Eubanks:  Opening my mouth during the monologue can be dangerous, that's how the whole thing started, I was doggin' Jay and I wound up having to sing.  That was a big mistake, but I did my best.

BMIA.com:  Where did you grow up?

Kevin Eubanks:  The home of the worse fans in pro sports, Philadelphia--North Philly.  I love it but if you start losin' in Philly, forget it.  You get no love, none.  They call it the City of Brotherly Love.  A Brother better be winnin' or you'll get the “Brotherly Shove.”  GO EAGLES!  Can we get Iverson some help please? 

BMIA.com:  Yeah, y’all need some help with all your teams.  It looks like T.O. (Terrell Owens) is cutting up this year with his contract, and [Chris] Webber and Iverson don’t look like a good match on the basketball court.

BMIA.com:  What was your earliest or most vivid recollection of being different?

Kevin Eubanks:  That's a strange question.  Why do you say different?  In what way?  You think I'm gay?  Yo, you should rephrase the question man.  Just cause a brother gave up cheese steaks don't mean a brother is gay.  LOL!  LOL!  I'm just a vegetarian, that's all.

BMIA.com:  Naw Kev.  C’mon man, it OK to be down with the vegetarian thing and NOT be gay.  (Laughing)  OK, let me try to ask the question in a different way.  Who’s had the most influence over you in your life? 

Kevin Eubanks:  My mother and father.  You know the things I really learned I learned from watching my parents.  They take care of business.  Always have.  Yeah we had the  ‘ol’ school ‘ discipline, but it was all love and concern and somehow I knew that.  Dad made it to Gold Shield Detective, so you know he always busted Robin, my oldest brother and me.  Always got caught whatever we were doing'.  In those days as my father found out, Gold Shield was as far as they would let him go.  You could at that time, and then pursue a Captainship and from there a whole other level of things were open to you.  The glass ceiling was very much in place.  So he split and worked executive security management for ATT.  He was and is cool and I learned to do a good job when I gave my word to do something.  Mom has a Masters degree in Music Education so the music thing is in my blood. I can remember her giving music lessons.  As a matter of fact most of my first memories is of Mom giving lessons.  Hearing J.S. Bach inventions.  I knew those melodies from such an early age.  She also has directed Gospel choirs since she was 13 years old.  Mom is a retired public school teacher of music.  My Grandmother had a ministry and we all came up in her Baptist church.  Mom can play her ass of.  She hates it when I use that word, but she can play.  So Dad and Mom had mad discipline and as a child when that is such a routine part of what you see day in and day out, you learn.  I mean in an emotional way.  It becomes a part of you because you see it with love and just a way of livin', no big deal.  But it was a big deal.  I just didn't know it at the time.  I took it for granted.  I am blessed to have Mom and Dad. 

BMIA.com:  Wow!  That’s great man.  Kevin, what’s the best part about being Kevin Eubanks?  Is there a worst part of being Kevin Eubanks?

Kevin Eubanks:  I guess the best part is…man you ask some different kind of questions?   

BMIA.com:  Is that a good thing?

Kevin Eubanks:  I don’t know yet.