There was a time when yours truly would not go to the theater for a Tyler Perry film. From the snippets that one way or another I had seen, I was reminded of “those” Black plays that I hate, but a certain type of Black audience loves.

What lured me to a Perry movie, “Madea’s Family Reunion,” was that major, much respected, highly accomplished stars such as Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Maya Angelou and Boris Kodjoe were in it. I said to myself, surely none of them would risk their reputation by appearing in anything crappy.

I liked the movie, and it wasn’t a fluke because I also enjoyed “Why Did I Get Married?” with Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, etc.

Also worthy of a thumbs up is Perry’s latest, “Meet the Browns,” featuring the always perfect, powerful and likable Angela Bassett and a surprisingly effective performance by Rick Fox. True, as in all Perry’s films, certain “comedy reaches” are over the top, and the cameo appearance by the Madea character is annoying.

But the film is still enjoyable. Funny, but containing serious, useful messages.

Tyler Perry, like Spike Lee, has carved out a unique place for himself in the filmmaking industry, which is an extremely difficult thing for African Americans and other minorities to achieve.

However, it is interesting to note that Lee has strongly implied that he does not have a high opinion of Perry’s work.

SPEAKING of that movie, Jenifer Lewis is mostly funny, as always, but she is one of those actresses who plays characters that are usually the same (loud, abrasive). Just as Sherman Hemsley was basically the same character on “Amen” as he was on “The Jeffersons.”

On the local front, fans of Kem, who has two certified Gold albums to his credit, are looking forward to his new CD, to be titled “Intimacy: Album 3.” A release date has not been set, but it will be in the near future.

Dionne Warwick’s gospel album, “Why We Sing,” has been released. It’s okay, but not special. She is obviously singing from the heart, but her voice and basic style come up short with regard to delivering gospel material to fullest effect. Plus, some of the arrangements are rather lackluster. But still, not a bad album.

It’s not likely that anyone reading this right now will be in Tobago (a Caribbean island near Trinidad) this month, but the 4th Annual Plymouth Jazz Festival sure has an exciting and diverse lineup. It includes Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Shakira, Smokey Robinson, James Ingram, En Vogue, Peabo Bryson, Steel Pulse and Rickey Minor (familiar to most people as bandleader/musician on “American Idol”).

But we have to ask, where is the “jazz”?

ROZONDA THOMAS, better known as Chilli from the now disbanded group TLC, is to be commended for putting her child before her career. She says her son (now 10) comes first, at all times, no matter what. The singer even turned down two movie roles because they would have taken her away from home. However, as time and circumstances permit, she is putting together a solo CD.

Like most people, we were happy to hear that super actress Angela Bassett had recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who could be more deserving? Just think of those remarkable performances in, among many others, “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,”
“Waiting to Exhale,” “What Love Got To Do With It?” and the lesser known “Music of the Heart.”

Dionne Warwick is not the only female vocalist introducing a gospel project. On May 13, Regina Belle’s gospel album, “Love Forever Shines,” will be released. Belle is first lady and minister of music at New Shield of Faith Ministries, in Atlanta. Her husband, John S. Battle, is senior pastor of that church.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that contrary to pop--ular belief, Morris Day was born in Springfield, Illinois, not Minneapolis. He was, however, raised in Minneapolis.

MEMORIES: “Here and Now” (Luther Vandross), “Love, Need and Want You” (Patti LaBelle), “It Only Takes a Minute” (Tavares), “Delirious” (Prince), “I’ll Be Good to You” (the Brothers Johnson), “Our Love” (Natalie Cole), “How Long? (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)” (the Pointer Sisters), “The Chokin’ Kind” (Joe Simon), “Lady” (the Whispers), “Boogie Down” (Al Jarreau), “How Could I Let You Get Away?” (the Spinners).

BLESSINGS to Tom Walk-er, Horace Boyington, Annette Helton, Kerry Davis, Roz Ryan, Derek Farrar (thanks for the kind words and the suggestion!), Claudreen Jackson, Kelvyn Ventour, Ali Majid, Donafay Collins, Duane Davis and Alexis Williams.

WORDS OF THE WEEK: “The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, sidestepping responsibility and pushing their luck.”
Let the music play!

(Steve Holsey may be reached at Svh517@aol.com and P.O. Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.)