MUSIC INDUSTRY VETERAN VINNY RIBAS TO SPEAK AT MOTLOW SMYRNA

 

            SMYRNA — Music industry veteran Vinny Ribas will speak Nov. 12 (Tuesday) on the Motlow Smyrna campus as part of the ongoing “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.”

 

            Ribas, an author and artist manager who serves as the founder of Indie Connect, will present the talk “20 Ways to Best Support Your Favorite Indie Artist.” His talk will occur from 2-3 p.m. in HSC 323. The free activity is open to students, faculty and staff with seating available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

            “I will talk about the struggles of being an artist these days, then share 20 ways to help support them,” said Ribas, who developed Cartne, an e-learning platform for indie artists and songwriters.

 

            The Nashville music industry professional will share stories, videos and a PowerPoint to help bring the reality of artist challenges and successes to life. He noted that the world of music has drastically changed since the 1990s because of the Digital Revolution. CD sales have dropped sharply from around $13 billion in 2000 to an anticipated $500 million in 2024, with streaming and downloads generating the most income.

 

            Meanwhile, artists and songwriters face lower royalties in a profession that requires more paid performances with merchandise sales at entertainment venues. The days of knocking on record company and music publisher doors have ended. Fan followings are mostly built online through social media, including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

            Ribas also serves as the assistant business manager for Razzy Baily Music Enterprises, managing a catalog of 1,000 songs and executive producing recording and film projects. He co-authored the books “Leverage: Achieve a Lot with the Little You’ve Got” and “CEO Secrets.” Hundreds of his business and music industry articles have been published worldwide.

 

            In his 60 years in the music business, Ribas has also been a full-time performing artist, a booking agent, the entertainment director of the Nevada State Fair, a producer, a studio owner, a band leader, and a songwriter.

 

            Outside of the music business, he has served as an executive coach, strategic business consultant, and business plan writer. He has advised entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to set up their businesses to grow without limits. This has included clarifying and solidifying success strategies with the writing and execution of business plans.

 

            The "Famous Communicators Speakers Series" is staged by the Mass Communications program and sponsored by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts & Media Club. For more information, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu .

City Native 'Red' Grooms Cultures Nashville at Tennessee State Museum

By JaJuan Isaacs

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The recently built Tennessee State Museum is culturing Nashville by temporarily hosting Charles “Red” Grooms works for an exhibit called “Red Grooms: A Retrospective” at its new location at 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. in Nashville.

             Of all exhibits, the Red Grooms art display was by far the most interesting being held. The artist, Charles “Red” Grooms, goes in-depth with his various styles of art. Grooms has created art in pop art, animations, portraits, paintings, sculptures and many other genres.

While most famously known for his pop art, visitors enjoy Grooms’s extraordinary portraits. His painting “Self Portrait” provides fine detail to the man’s neck and head. The subject’s neck was long and skinny, and his head was bigger and rounder toward the top, symbolizing a big brain.

            The exhibit had five panels that increased by decade with text that explained more about the artist’s life and works. The titles of the panels are “Artistic Awakening,” “New Media, New Forms,” “Urban Expression,” “Into New Dimensions,” and “Home and History.” Visitors were able to gain more knowledge about his inspirations, what art he created, and how he produced his works.

            The “Artistic Awakening” panel read, “Grooms spent the 1950s discovering his style. As a teenager, Grooms joined adult artist organizations. He attended several college art programs and studied with various artists.”

Visitors are able to further understand how important learning new styles was to Grooms.  

“His diversity as an artist is why I chose him out of all other Nashville artists,” said Hoobler.

“New Media, New Forms” explains his experience with film in the ‘60s and how he and Rudy Burckhardt created the film “Shoot the Moon.”

“Urban Expression” explains how Grooms took city living and captivated 1970s urban life in a color lithograph he titled “Nervous City.”
                “Into New Dimensions” explains how Grooms combined printmaking with sculpture in 1981. He teamed up with lithographer Bud Shark and they created “Ruckus Taxi.” “Ruckus Taxi” was their first three-dimensional print.

“Home and History” explains how Grooms paid tribute to Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock by making his own versions of their works. He used his home state of Tennessee for inspiration and created the “Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel” to honor the state’s history.

 The exhibit displayed sculptures, pop-art and paintings in various categories. Grooms was better at painting than any of the other mediums.

            Jim Hoobler curated the Red Grooms exhibit and chose him in particular because of his history in the city.

 “Red Grooms is just a remarkable artist born in Nashville, and I wanted to have some culture by someone from the city,” said Hoobler.

The free exhibit will be open through Jan. 13. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The museum hosts many temporary exhibits that indoctrinate Tennessee and America. There are exhibits about the Civil War, WWII, artists and Memphis musicians.

            You can find more information about the Tennessee State Museum at https://tnmuseum.org/ and more information about “Red” Grooms at http://www.artnet.com/artists/red-grooms/.

Frist Exhibit Commemorates Nashville's Civil Rights Movement

By Amelia Zeller

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Frist Art Museum is proudly displaying an exhibit titled “We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957-1968” through Oct. 14, 2018 in its Conte Community Gallery.

The Conte Community Gallery is free to everyone, and it is located in the front section of the Frist Center at 919 Broadway. The exhibit is presented in honor of the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, which occurred in Memphis on April 4, 1968. It consists of 50 black and white photos from the Civil Rights movement in Nashville between 1957 and 1968. 

King's casket being transported from Memphis to Atlanta for burial.

First day of desegregation in Nashville schools Sept. 9, 1957.

In 1957, desegregation in Nashville schools began to take place. The exhibit also includes photos from the year that King was assassinated, and both events are among the photos in the exhibit. The Nashville sit-ins, which took place in 1960 as an effort to desegregate lunch counters in the area, are another historical event included in the photos.

Agitators attack a sit-in demonstrator at a Nashville lunch counter.

All photos in the exhibit were taken by the two daily newspapers in Tennessee at the time, The Tennessean and The Nashville Banner. The exhibit displays strong photos that helped shape the public's opinion at the time.

Although much change has come since the Civil Rights movement, these photos serve as a reminder of issues that are still relevant. Race is still a common subject in American life, and it is a good time to take another look back at the brave people who stood up for change so that we could have a more equal country.

"We always try to bring in knowledgeable exhibits that are relevant to the time," said Frist Museum Visitors Center Manager Bonnie Wells. "This exhibit is important because it refreshes the public's memory of what people have been through just for equality. It shows the passion and pain that drove the Civil Rights movement."

The Frist Art Museum hosted or will host three events related to the exhibit. At noon on April 14, there was a panel discussion titled “Voices from the Front Lines” with participants from the local Civil Rights movement.

“The pictures themselves are powerful, but nothing makes the movement more real than the first-person accounts that were given at this event,” said Wells. “No one can better express the inequality of the times than the ones who were there.”

Among those who spoke were King Hollands, Gloria McKissack, and Rip Patton.

 At 7 p.m. on April 16, there was a concert titled “Songs of Freedom” in the Frist Auditorium. The concert included spirituals from slave days, freedom songs created in the civil rights era, and the jazz that resulted from these times. This event featured performances by local artists and musicians. “Songs of Freedom” was presented with the future National Museum of African-American Music in Nashville.

Another event to be held in association with “We Shall Overcome” will be a two-day educator workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 19 and 20, which is open to K-12 teachers of all subjects. This workshop will allow teachers to examine the photos in the exhibit while participating in a group gallery discussion that will allow them to gather teaching materials. The event is limited to 20 educators, and registration is due by July 16. Breakfast, lunch, studio activities, materials and gallery admission will be $50 for Frist members and $60 for non-members.

It is the perfect time to view the Frist's “We Shall Overcome” exhibit because the country is still very conscious of race relations. Those who inspired through the stormy Civil Rights era deserve recognition, and these powerful photographs take individuals from 1954 to 1968 with a whirlwind of emotions provoked by the images of the times.

The Frist Art Museum has a vision to inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways, and this exhibit brings that vision to life. Regardless of skin color, individuals can benefit humanity by learning of the heroism of people from the past and learning more about things that are important.

For more information, visit www.Fristartmuseum.org. 

Woodbury Hosts 26th Annual Cannon County Christmas

By Elise Floyd

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

WOODBURY, Tenn. – The “Old Fashioned Cannon County Christmas Festival” resounded as an immediate success with numerous Christmas joys located around the square of Woodbury beginning at 5 p.m. on Nov. 17.

As the sounds of jingling bells grew louder, the throng of visitors cheered as a jovial white-bearded Saint Nick came dashing into the square on a mule-drawn buggy. As the festive cart came to a stop on the front lawn of the Cannon County Courthouse, Santa heartily greeted and waved to children crowded around the North Pole gazebo. Known throughout the Middle Tennessee area for hosting one of the most seasonal and traditional small town Christmas celebrations, this year’s yuletide festivity left their visitors with smiles on their faces and shopping bags on their arms. 

Photo By Elise Floyd

        Santa was not the only main attraction of the evening, however. Surrounding the Square was a live nativity scene, beautifully lighted buildings, and endless amounts of punch and cookies inside every surrounding shop.

“It’s the highlight of the season,” said Hannah Gribble, a volunteer for the Cannon County Dance Studio. “This is my first time participating, but so far it’s been so fun to see so many people show up.”

An estimated 200 to 400 people attended the festival around the Square on Friday evening.

Upon visiting Cannon County, guests would find themselves walking under canopies of twinkling lights and Christmas merriment spilling out from the doors of shops like Lynn’s Pickett Fence, Lelands Consignment, and even Regions Bank.

Every shop was elaborately decorated, inside and out, distributing punch, hot cider, and a wide assortment of freshly baked goods one could purchase upon their visit.

Shop owner Bek Parton from Bek’s Boutiques and Custom Designs explained that the shops on the Square had been willingly participating in this annual Christmas event for many years.

“No one from the courthouse needed to come knocking on our doors,” she said. “It was just something that we’ve always done and everyone loves doing for the community.”

Photo By Elise Floyd

Not only was this Christmas on the Square a hit for visitors, but it also served as the grand opening for Bek’s Boutiques. The store features items such as fashionable children’s and women’s clothing.

 “We just opened last Sunday, and today we have already been super busy and really successful so far,” Parton continued.

In hopes of spreading yuletide cheer, to provide yet another outlet for Christmas gift-shopping, and to pay a visit to Santa Claus, locals encourage visitors to experience the festival for themselves next year for the 27^th celebration. Middle Tennesseans can visit at other times or events to explore the town’s creative shops and restaurants.

Cannon County lies directly in the middle of all four Motlow campuses, located on U.S. Highway 70 South, 19 miles south of Murfreesboro. Individuals who are passing through can stop by to see for themselves what this little town of Woodbury can offer to them for Christmas.

Other Middle Tennessee towns offer holiday events through New Year’s Day. They include,

·         “Opryland Christmas Lights” free admission at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville from Nov. 1 to Jan. 1, open from 4 p.m. until midnight.

·         “Chad’s Winter Wonderland” from Nov. 23 until Jan. 1 is located in Lebanon. Its admission prices are $15 per vehicle.

·         “The Nashville Ballet Presents the Nutcracker” at the Andrew Jackson Hall at TPAC from Dec. 2 till Dec. 23, with ticket prices ranging from $35 to $97.

·         “Murfreesboro Christmas Parade” will take place on at 2 p.m. Dec. 10.

·         “Downtown Nashville Christmas Parade” begins on at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 2.

For more information about Woodbury, visit www.cannontn.com.

Football… the Battle of Shiloh… Country Music…

By Ramona Shelton

Motlow Buzz Managing Editor

SMYRNA, Tenn. – These words pop to mind when you think about Tennessee, but to that list should be added the Parthenon. The original Greek version sits atop the Acropolis in Athens, a temple dedicated to Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom. Built in the fifth century B.C., the Parthenon was the center of all things Athenian.

         So how did Tennessee get its replica of the famed Greek temple? Twenty-five members of Motlow Smyrna’s Honors American and World History classes took a field trip to Nashville on Sept. 29 to answer that question for ourselves.

Thanks to the nickname, “Athens of the South,” Nashville was inspired to build our Parthenon as the centerpiece of the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Although it was only supposed to be temporary, the popular exhibit was not torn down at the end of the exposition like the other attractions. Unfortunately, the wood and plaster structure was not built to stand the test of time and had to be redone in concrete, starting in the 1930s. Its last full renovation was done in 2002.

 

Nashville’s Parthenon includes cast replicas of the marble carvings found in its namesake, but it has something the Greeks lost over time: Athena herself. The centerpiece of the exhibit is the 42-foot-tall statue of the goddess, gilded with over 8 pounds of gold and holding a 6-foot-tall statue of Nike, Greek goddess of victory in her hand. The effect of standing in front of this statue is overwhelming! 

Once you are finally able to tear yourself away from the piercing stare of the great one herself, the Parthenon includes an interesting and connected-to-controversy gallery behind the Athena statue. There are replicas of a series of statues known as the “Elgin Marbles.” On the original Parthenon temple were a border of statues representing many of the gods, goddesses, and characters in Greek Mythology sculpted by Phidias during the fifth century B.C. In 1801, while Greece was under the control of the Ottoman Empire, Thomas Bruce, the Earl of Elgin, made a deal with the Ottoman sultan to remove about half of the statues and add them to his own personal collection. In the 200-plus years since, many including the poet Lord Byron, have denounced this deal as antiquities looting. The original statues are now in the British Museum.

For all of you Greek Mythology movie fans, the Parthenon may look familiar. In 2010, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” was filmed in the Athena gallery. Percy and his friends fought against the Hydra, destroying much of the ornate column work in the room. Luckily the damage was Hollywood magic rather than reality.

 

On a more local note, in the second-floor gallery, Tennessee artists often hold exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and other forms of artwork. At the time of our visit, the featured exhibition was “My Tennessee Home” by impressionist oil painter Camille Engel. If that name looks familiar to you, you might have read in another article in this issue of The Buzz that Ms. Engel is a friend to our own Buzz creator, Professor Charles Whiting, and will be here at Motlow Smyrna as a part of the “Famous Communicators” lecture series.  Her amazing paintings showcased things like the iris, Tennessee’s state flower, and the ladybug, Tennessee’s state insect.

If you have never been to the Parthenon before, we highly encourage you to visit. Not only is it slightly overwhelming to have the eyes of the goddess of wisdom boring into your soul, but it is also cool to realize that you are standing inside of a building that is important to Tennessee, America and World Histories!

Tennessee Lawyer Jerry H. Summers Speaks at Fort Negley

 By Chanton Pace

Motlow Buzz Reporter

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee lawyer Jerry H. Summers spoke at Fort Negley on April 12, 2017, telling the audience that “You don't just get anywhere on your own.”

Summers, a well-known Tennessee lawyer who has argued cases before the United States and Tennessee supreme courts, provided insights on one of the most forgotten trials of the 20^th century, Schoolfield 1958.  In his book, “Rush to Justice?”, Summers recounts the trials and tribulations of Judge Raulston Schoolfield.

            “I wanted to tell this story because I feel like it is a forgotten piece of history,” said Summers.

            About 53 people showed up to the event eager to hear what Summers had to say about the topic. Audience members lined up early to hear him speak.  Summers spoke for approximately an hour and even talked some about his personal life and how he became a lawyer.

 “I went to Sewanee to earn my bachelor’s and then to University of Tennessee Knoxville to earn a law degree,” said Summers.

            “Rush to Justice?” centers on Schoolfield’s influential 1958 trial in Nashville, Tennessee.

In his book, Summers writes about the legal career of Schoolfield, including his impeachment and removal from office as a criminal law judge on charges of bribery and extorting campaign funds from racketeers.  The Tennessee Senate convicted Schoolfield of three impeachment charges of unethical conduct, plus 19 other charges.

            “Schoolfield had a lot of enemies,” he said.  “A lot of politics were involved.”

            Summers also talked about how Schoolfield was a man of the people and how much the community loved him.  “A lot of people supported Schoolfield, especially Hamilton County. Those people loved him down there.”

            After his speech, Summers gave audience members about 15 minutes to ask any questions that they had about his career or the Schoolfield 1958 trial.  One man asked Summers to say who was right or wrong in the trial.  Summers responded back, “That my friend is for you to decide.  I know that is not the answer that you want to hear, but I wanted to tell this story for what it is and not who was right or wrong.”

After his presentation, audience members lined up to meet Summers and to buy his book.

 Summers signed autographs and posed for pictures.  He even gave one child a free book and an autograph.

            “Remember that you don’t just get anywhere on your own,” he told the boy.  “Someone always helps you get there.”

            You can find Summer's book,” Rush to Justice?”, at Amazon.com for $40.

            Summers is a lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Hamilton County. Summers has served as president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and the Tennessee Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He has served on the national boards of the American Association for Justice and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and he is a life member of both the state and national organizations.  He also has another book, “The Turtle and the Lawyer,” that talks about the people who helped him get to the position where he is.

The event was hosted by the Tennessee Historical Society. The group's next event will occur at Fort Negley on May 3, when Dr. Abigail R. Gautreau speaks about the court case “State vs. Jane, a Slave in 1841.”  For more information about the event, visit www.Tennesseehistory.org.

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Nashville Brings Japanese Culture and Cherry Trees to the South

By Austin Clark

Motlow Buzz Reporter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nashville officials celebrated the ninth annual Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival on April 8 by announcing that the Japan-America Society of Tennessee Inc. has planted over 900 cherry blossom trees throughout the city.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has partnered with Consul General of Japan Masami Kinefuchi to set a goal of planting 1,000 cherry trees throughout Nashville’s Metro Parks to glorify the long-lasting friendship between Japan and Tennessee. The Cherry Blossom Festival has made this goal possible through the celebration of Japanese culture and traditions.

The Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival is held every spring in Nashville Public Square to commemorate the blossoming of cherry trees. The festival is a free, non-profit celebration that includes activities such as Japanese games, food catered from local restaurants, merchandise, lectures, musical performances, artwork exhibits, martial arts, traditional clothing, and much more.

CEO Leigh Wieland said that the numbers attending the festival grow each year. The dramatic increase in the community’s attendance makes it possible for a genuine experience of Japan, free of charge, for thousands of individuals who will never have the opportunity to travel and experience it for themselves.

“Over the last nine years, we have planted over 900 Japanese Cherry Blossom trees in Metro Parks and public spaces, beautifying Nashville’s landscape for all to enjoy as a reminder of Japan-Tennessee friendship,” Wieland said.

In Japan, the cherry blossom is a symbolic representation of life. When these trees blossom in early spring, their bright colors serve as a visual representation of how delicate life is and how we take it for granted. These people not only come together to admire this beautiful phenomenon, but to also celebrate the underlying meaning of life as a whole.

Festival attendees enjoyed a taste of Japan through local food vendors that included sushi, fresh hibachi, fried rice, and various dessert options. The full experience also included a marketplace that sold anime merchandise from past conventions, local Japanese paintings, limited edition collector’s items, and hand-sewn komotos.

Established in 2000, JAST is a non-profit organization that is funded by individual and corporate membership fees and grants from government institutions and private foundations. Headquartered in Nashville, JAST is overseen by a 25-member volunteer board of directors from leading businesses, institutions and organizations from across the state. Honorary co-chairs of the society include Haslam and Kinefuchi.

As another annual festival comes to an end, JAST inches closer to its goal with less than 100 cherry blossom trees remaining to be planted. The group hopes to achieve its goal by next year.

“We welcome the involvement of corporate and civic groups, student organizations and individuals interested in helping us raise funds for the tree planting and festival.” Wieland said. “We also welcome volunteers to help with tree planting and on-site at the festival each year.”

Links for the online donations and volunteer sign-ups are found on the festival website at www.nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org 

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The Rise of Middle Tennessee State University Basketball

By Tyler Cobbs

Motlow Buzz Reporter

Middle Tennessee State University men’s basketball head coach Kermit Davis is in the mist of his 15^th season and has led the basketball program to a historic run in the last few seasons. Coach Davis has secured two Conference USA Championship titles, earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, and won at least 25 games in the last four seasons. Senior Reggie Upshaw Jr. and junior Giddy Potts are also responsible for MTSU’s recent success.  

Coach Davis has led the men’s basketball team to yet again another fantastic year, ending the regular season at 30-4 and becoming the 2016-2017 regular season Conference USA Champions. After this season, Kermit Davis is now the all-time winningest coach in program history with a total of 276 victories.

       Lightning Start for the Blue Raiders

The Blue Raiders started off this season with a bang, winning 10 out of their first 11 games. Also, early in the season, MTSU was invited to the Nashville “Music City Challenge,” a mid-season tournament held at Bridgestone Arena every year. Effortlessly, the Blue Raiders won the tournament title for the first time and defeated UNC Wilmington, Toledo, and Evansville along the way.    

Blue Raiders Gallop Through Conference USA 

After a grueling non-conference schedule, the Blue Raiders are focused and prepared for Conference USA play. Senior and four-year-starter Reggie Upshaw Jr. led the team to an incredible 10 game win streak to start of their conference schedule. On New Year’s Day, Upshaw scored a career and season high 34 points against the University of Alabama Birmingham in their conference opener. After the final buzzer, the crowed gave the senior a standing ovation after his unbelievable performance.

MTSU went on to finish with a record of 17-1 in the Conference USA, only suffering a loss to the University of Texas El Paso. Still with the best record in the conference, MTSU claimed the regular season conference championship for the fifth time in the last seven years.

  MTSU Thrives in Conference Tournament

The next big challenge for the Blue Raiders was the Conference USA Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. The winner is crowned champions and earns a guaranteed spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Raiders were the victors over Marshall University, 83-72, in the championship game, and were led by junior standout-guard Giddy Potts, who finished the game with 36 points.

NCAA Tournament Bound

The Blue Raiders clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in a row. MTSU was rewarded the 12th seed in the South Region bracket and faced fifth seeded Minnesota University in the round of 64. The immaculate Blue Raiders advanced to the next round, defeating Minnesota, 81-72. In the following round, MTSU’s season came to an end. The Blue Raiders fought in a tough game and were defeated by fourth-seeded Butler University, 65-74. While at the watch party in the student union building at MTSU, students and I were left stunned after suffering from defeat.

        The Beginning of Something Great

The season may have come to an end for the Blue Raiders, but the start of a dynasty may be on the horizon. With head coach Kermit Davis at the helm and some talented incoming freshmen, anything is possible for MTSU’s men’s basketball program. The future looks bright for an already well-established ball club. Next year looks to be the year for the Blue Raiders to make the next big step towards greatness. 

To learn more about MTSU basketball, visit

http://www.goblueraiders.com/index.aspx?path=mbball

For more information about Conference-USA Men’s Basketball, visit

            http://conferenceusa.com/index.aspx?path=mbb

Dick Gregory fills the stage with laughter at Zanies

By Akira Siharaj

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. ----- Comedian Dick Gregory preformed at Zanies comedy club in Nashville on Nov. 6, drawing laughs and tears from the sold-out audience.

A variety of comedians perform each day at the popular club on Eighth Avenue. The jokes are never the same.                

After walking up to 10 minutes, guests enter the club to the cheering and excitement of fans happily waiting for the show. After paying, the maître d’ escorts guests to a table. The club has a variety of places to sit, including the bar, close to the stage, or far from the stage. Sitting in one of the corners gives individuals a wide view of the audience and the stage, allowing them to see people’s faces as they laugh. 

                Gregory, who is 85 years old with 10 children, is known as a Civil Rights activist and a comedian. He spent part of his career helping Martin Luther King.  Now he is a performer who makes memorable jokes for adults while offering insights about political issues. Two other comedians opened for Gregory, giving the audience a good laugh before he took the stage. Their job was to loosen the nerves the audience had built up after waiting for more than an hour.

                During the show, staff members visited the tables to take orders for food or drinks. Attendees ordered items such as chicken wings, burgers and fries.

One of the jokes that was funny and memorable to the fans was Gregory describing the difference between an ape and a human. He told the crowd how humans’ mid-sections are not as big as an ape’s belly or lips nearly as wide. The way he described it made the audience howl.

After the show, attendees were clapping hands and whistling. Some even cried after seeing Gregory’s performance.

“We love you Dick Gregory,” said one female audience member.

 A man named Joe and his wife love Zanies for giving them good laughs every time they visit. They have been to Zanies seven to eight times and have never been disappointed.

“I liked how Dick Gregory was different from the other comedians,” said Joe. “He was slow sharing, not to mention we are talking about a legendary speaker. In his comedy talk, he challenges you to think and exposes you to something very different.”

                Soon after everyone stop clapping, fans gathered around Gregory to get an autograph or picture, shirt or book. He was happy to answer any questions a customer had, and people didn’t mind the wait.

One fan asked Gregory how he got his talent for comedy.

“How I developed my comedy is time,” said Gregory. “It’s like lifting weights; you keep doing it. You are funny, you just have to look in the mirror and practice.”

Audience members left with a smile, looking forward to returning soon for another Zanies comedy show. For more information about Zanies, visit http://www.nashville.zanies.com/.

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Historic Samurai Collection Is Here in Nashville Till Jan.16, 2017.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is presenting a historic samurai collections including weapons, armor, techniques and the Japanese way of life to the people of Nashville from Nov. 4, 2016 to Jan. 16, 2017.

The exhibition "Samurai: The Way of the Warrior” examines the traditions of this legendary class warrior, whose political dominance affected Japanese art and culture for nearly 700 years. The collection is drawn from the rich holdings of the Museo Stibbert, a museum primarily devoted to arms and armors in Florence, Italy.

“It is considered the largest museum in the world outside of Japan in samurai collection,” said Frist Center tour guide and teacher Keith McLusky.

 The exhibition features more than 90 different functional and decorative objects created between the 15th and 19th centuries, providing information and insights about the samurai's traditions, lifestyles, morals, culture and aesthetic code. The exhibition includes a mini-cinema room that displays a small part of the program, "Samurai and Cinema".

The selective collection includes up to nine full suits of armor, 12 expressive samurai helmets or so-called "Kabuto", and spectacular helmets or "Kawari Kabuto". While the samurai armor’s main function is to protect its wearer, it is also incredibly visually stunning, constructed from materials such as bearskin, silk, buffalo horns, and horsehair. The armors display the power, elegance and proudness of the individual samurai. The armors are usually displayed at home when they are not in use.

The sword of the samurai (Katana) is widely recognized and popular across the globe for its aesthetic design, cutting-edge technology, effort in its craftsmanship, and its performance. The katanas are not always the same. They vary in many sizes and designs and have their own purposes. However, the katana is not the only main weapon of the samurai. The long bow (Yumi) is also a very effective weapon of the samurai. The bow is incredibly tall, typically over 2 meters. Since the Yumi is not that much different from other types of long bows in other cultures, it is not as widely known as the katana.

The term samurai refers to elite warriors who played an important role in Japanese politics and society from the late 12th century until the mid-19th Century. The samurai is incredibly brave, courageous, honorable and loyal.

"Samurai are elite fighters, very well-trained,” said Keith McLusky. "They live to fight. Even if samurai don't fight anymore, they still train, wear uniform and armors, and get involved in civil life and politics. They will still display their armor and wear their uniforms at home to show that they are proud samurais, fighters."

The admission to the First Center is free for visitors that are 18 or younger and $12 for adults. College students with ID only need to pay $9. The Frist Center is open seven days a week on the following schedule: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; and 1 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information about the exhibit “Samurai: The way of the Warrior”, visit www.fristcenter.org/calender/detail/samurai-the-way-of-warrior.