Showing results for "west" in Entertainment & Celebrities

For all of the West's failings—terrible food, cold weather and questionable politicians with funny hair to name a few—it has its upsides. Konstantin would know. Growing up in the Soviet Union, he experienced first-hand the horrors of a socialist paradise gone wrong, having lived in extreme poverty with little access to even the most basic of necessities. It wasn't until he moved to the UK that Kisin found himself thriving in an open and tolerant society, receiving countless opportunities he would never have had otherwise.

The youngest daughter of a rock star father and clothing designer mother, Lola and her siblings (including actress Jemima and celebrity doula Domino), spent their childhoods freshly plucked from their English heritage in an eclectic West Village brownstone, hosting everyone from Cuban exiles to Courtney Love. But behind the enviable exterior of worldly coolness, was a home in disarray.

In 1989, a young Michael Ball landed the lead role in the musical Aspects of Love. It was a moment that changed his life forever. It was the first time he worked with legends of the stage like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn; it was from that show that came his smash hit song, Love Changes Everything, which rode high in the charts for 15 weeks; it was then, also, that he first met his long-term partner Cathy McGowan and battled back against the stage fright that had threatened his career.

"Why don't you come up and see me sometime?" Mae West invited and promptly captured the imagination of generations. Even today, years after her death, the actress and author is still regarded as the pop archetype of sexual wantonness and ribald humor. But who was this saucy starlet, a woman who was controversial enough to be jailed, pursued by film censors, and banned from the airwaves for the revolutionary content of her work, and yet would ascend to the status of film legend?

Charles Fletcher Lummis began his spectacular career in 1884 by walking from Ohio to start a new job at the three-year old Los Angeles Times. By the time of his death in 1928, the 3,500 mile "tramp across the continent" was just a footnote in his astonishingly varied career: crusading journalist, author of nearly two dozen books, editor of the influential political and literary magazine Out West, Los Angeles city librarian, preserver of Spanish missions, and Indian rights gadfly.

In this lucid, illuminating profile, journalist David Handelman presents Sean Combs as he strives to make a positive impact on black lives despite the ever-present shadow of the East Coast/West Coast hip-hop feud, showing us why, in addition to being a CEO, visionary, father, and role model, Puff Daddy reigns as The Notorious VIP.

In this “triumphantly funny” (AV Club) memoir, comedian Jensen Karp tells the story of how, as a Jewish kid from the L.A. suburbs, he became a rap battle legend—and then almost became a star. “The funniest person I follow on Twitter finally got smart and wrote about his unlikely—and...

In 1889, 24-year-old Rudyard Kipling was making his way from India to England. On his trip, he traveled to San Francisco and went from Yellowstone National Park to Salt Lake City, and then headed to London. This audiobook focuses on Kipling’s time in the West on that trip, using an excerpt of From Sea to Sea: Letters of Travel, published most recently in 1913. The excerpt includes letters 22-32. Kipling reveals a wit and sarcasm, pointing out American foibles. The mix of what Kipling likes and dislikes show us imperial and racist attitudes all too common in Kipling’s day.

He is one of basketball's towering figures: "Mr. Clutch," who mesmerized his opponents and fans. The coach who began the Lakers' resurgence in the 1970s. The general manager who helped bring "Showtime" to Los Angeles, creating a championship-winning force that continues to this day. Now, for the...

In this vulnerable and enlightening book of life lessons, globally renowned performer Cynthia Erivo draws from her singular experience to show us how to embrace being “too much” and to live up to the fullest iteration of ourselves. This program is read by the author. It is never too late to...

Rollyson accumulated what's now another book about Rebecca West. This new collection tells the story of how his biography got written, of what it means to think like a biographer, and why West's vision remains relevant. She's one of the great personalities and writers of the modern age, and one that we are just beginning to comprehend.

Get to know the "real" Nipsey Hussle behind the music. Here's just a taste of what you're about to listen to in this concise Nispey Hussle biography. Nipsey Hussle's personal life: Hussle has a daughter named Emani from a previous relationship. He dated actress Lauren London from 2013 till his death in 2019. They have a son named Kross together, who was born on the 31st of August, 2016.

NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE A revelatory biography of the world-famous playwright and actor Sam Shepard, whose work was matched by his equally dramatic life, including collaborations with the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan as well as tumultuous relationships with Patti Smith, Joni...

Recent research has revealed that the richest person of all time lived in the 14th century in West Africa and went by many names, including Kankan Musa Keita, Emir of Melle, Lord of the Mines of Wangara, Conqueror of Ghanata, and the Lion of Mali II, but today he is usually referred to as Mansa Musa. Adjusting his wealth to modern values, he was worth about an estimated $400 billion as the Sultan of ancient Mali, which controlled the trade routes across the Sahara Desert.

How do you define a real artist? Is being a good singer, actor or dancer enough? Talent is either innate or enhanced through constant practice, and it is one of the requirements to become a certified artist. However, the ability to touch other people's lives, influence them through your acts, and be able to change in the society is something worthy of praise, recognition, and of course admiration from millions of people.

Have you ever longed to leave everything behind and escape to a place that speaks to your soul? Shapeshifting in Key West: An Audacious Memoir takes listeners on a journey through the life of Fannie Bessie, who zigzagged through life with grace and ferocity as a mother, socialite, author, restaurateur, and columnist in Key West.

In keeping with The Rehearsal Club mission to “preserve its legacy,” a national network of former residents came together to tell their stories while living at The Rehearsal Club. Spanning four decades, 1940s-1970s, The Rehearsal Club “Cinderellas” (coined by TV Guide in the 1950s) captures New York City and Broadway history while charting the journey leading to The Rehearsal Club’s incorporation in 2019.

This is the first full-length biography of this mid-twentieth century multi-faceted star. One of the central tensions of Dale's life revolved around chasing the elusive work/family balance, making her story instantly relatable to women today. In addition to fame, Dale longed for a happy, stable, family life. Her roles of wife and mother became the foundation for her public persona: the smart, smiling, cheerful cowgirl. Unusual for the time were Dale Evans's attempts to control the trajectory of her career at a time when men dominated decision-making in the entertainment fields.

The Literary Legacy of Rebecca West is the first book to explore the entire corpus of her extraordinary 71-year writing career. The general introductory studies of West are outdated and do not take into account her posthumous publications, or her large literary archive of unpublished letters and manuscripts. Previous scholarly books have chopped West up into categories and genres instead of following the evolution of her career.

In Jerry West: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Greatest Point Guards, you'll learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's greatest of all time, Jerry West. Jerry West is one of the few individuals in the game of basketball who has seen success both as a player and as an executive. A 14-time All-Star, West won an NBA Championship in 1972 as a player, and has also won eight titles as an executive at the time of this writing.