Dolly Parton 1946-2026 R.I.P

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America and the World are still morning the loss if Dollly Parton. The Actress, Singer-Songwriter, Entrepreneur and Humanitarian passed away on August 25th 2026.

Although many considered her to be a “force if nature” she was really sweet and unpretentious in character.

Born from a large, but poverty-stricken i family in Tennessee, Dolly started playing the Guitar at age 6 and writing songs, then performing om TV at 10 and writing songs and at 16 was a professional songwriter..

Dolly was signed to the first of many Nashville publishing companies and her songs were becoming hits for other Artists.

But Dolly wanted more, she wanted to be an Artist in her own right.

She found it being on the Porter Wagon show,  replacing Norma Jean. Initially the audience didn’t like her but she won them over.

That was Dolly.

From 1967 to her debut  release Hello I’m Dolly, Parton  made strategic choices that helped her conquer the Country Charts and continued to campaign to Mainstream success.

From appearing on maintream TV shows, to film Dolly was broadening her success. literally everything she touched turned to gold.

She started a foundation to champion Humanatian causes also.

She truly had a heart if gold and talent to match.

In May of 2026 she was hospitalized “to fix some things that were out of wack” as she shared in a video but was later released.

Sadly and unfortunately Dolly passed away on August 24th 2026

She was 80 years young.. Thank you Dolly for being you.

 

Checkin’ Out Flicks #83

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Here’s the countdown of the top 5 grossing movies in the US over the weekend of August 7th 2026 to Aug 9th 2026.

TW       LW                                                                                                                           1           1       Spider Man A New Day                                                                                 2           2        The Odyssey                                                                                             3           N       One Night Only                                                                                   4       4           N       Super Troopers 3                                                                                         5           3       Toy Story 5

 

N=New Entry                                                                                                                      * Source Box Office Mojo

Clive Davis 1932-2026 R.I.P.

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Record Company Executive, Author, Impresario, and Attorney, Clive Davis has passed away. Known for his ability to spot talent, Daivs made his initial mark as President of CBS Records from his tenure from 1967 to 1973  signing ground breaking acts Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin and countless others who became household names in America and Internationally.

After his firing from CBS, (under dubious circumstances) he went on to form Arista records in 1974 The name came from a New York City Public School secondary Honor Society in which he was also a member.

The label was originally known as Bell records. Using his skills he acquired while at CBS, Davis reorganized the label, sending many of it’s acts to subsidiary labels and built the label roster from Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester, and the Bay City Rollers.

As Arista rolled into the 1980’s Davis made two major signings, Aritha Franklin, who just left Atlantic records and in 1983, Whitney Houston who would become a Superstar and one of the labels top selling Artists.

Davis always liked to keep an eye and follow what was happening in Rock and Roll and Pop music. and loved in being referred to as a, “Hitmaker” in the music industry.

He was revered by many for his ability to “sign and break” new artists, and he reveled in that. Davis also took to being a Godfather of sorts, nurturing and giving guidance to many of his Artists.

Although he was married and had four children from these unions, Davis stunned the world by coming out is Bi-sexual in 2013 at the age of 80. Davis was already for this lauded for his success in the music industry.

He hoped that his coming out as Bi-Sexual man would help create better understanding of Bi-Sexuality as he told Katie Couric.

Davis passed away in New York, on June 22nd 2026 at the age of 94.

 

Checkin’ Out Flicks #82

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Here’s the countdown of the top 5 grossing movies in the US over the weekend of June 19th 2026 to June 21st 2026.

TW       LW                                                                                                                           1           N       Toy Story 5                                                                                                   2           1        Disclosure Day                                                                                             3           2        Obsession2                                                                                                   4           4        Backroom                                                                                                     5           3        Scary Movie

 

N=New Entry                                                                                                                      * Source Box Office Mojo

 

Just saw”MIchael” Excellent!

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I just cane in from seeing the Bio Pic “Michael” a film about Michael Jackson.

I will not qualify it at all.   I simply liked it.

Since Mr. Jackson and I are age peers I saw his rise from recording with his Brothers known as the Jackson 5  to his eventual solo career I also dabbled in the music industry starting my own group and releasing material through my own label and Music Publishing companies.

I could relate to all he was going through.

The film does underscore that Michael was truly a one in a generation talent.

It also points out the conflict between him and his domineering Father, Joe Jackson.

Joe saw talent in his sons, but living in Gary Indiana where he worked in the steel mills and formed a singing group known as the Jackson 5.

He proved to be as “taskmaster” pushing the boys to their limits and pushing Michael seemingly harder.

Michael who was10 years old, took verbal and physical abuse from his Father and the film implies how this may affected him.

The movie chronicles their meteoric rise as Pop stars signing to Motown and eventually leaving to CBS records. There also became a dichotomy of visions coming into view.

Papa Joe had visions of the group dominating the music industry and becoming a “worldwide” force.

Michael was ready to start a “solo” career and take the world over “by storm” and become the biggest performer in the history of show business by any means neccessary.

That becomes the focus of the film the tug of an overbearing Father and a Son who wants to get out from under him.

The film does include historical facts that keeps the storyline moving to the eventual ending where Michael  truly is victorious.

There are flaws in the story’s time line with the appropriate music and year of release but that would be nit picky and would be argueable among hardcore MJ fans.

I’m glad an actual family member portrayed Michael Jackson, Nephew Jaafar Jackson.

And there was truly a collaborative effort between the representatives of the Estate of    Michael Jackson and family members who served as Executive Producers.

And they remembered their late brother, Tito at the films end.

I think Michael would be proud.

It’s a Film that’s a must see.

 

 

Checkin’ Out Flicks #81

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Here’s the countdown of the top 5 grossing movies in the US over the weekend of  May 15th 2026 to May 17th 2026.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 TW               LW                                                                                                                     1                  3       Michael                                                                                                  2                  1       The Devil Wears Prada 2                                                                       3                 N       Obession                                                                                                 4                 2        Mortal Kombat II                                                                                     5                 4        The Sheep Detectives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  N=New Entry                                                                                                                      * Source Box Office Mojo

Entrepreneurs Advice: How to use 15 hours to build your business

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Now more than ever is a good time in becoming an Entrepreneur based on the times we are we living in and a good time is now.

Keep in mind “when a door closes a window opens”.

This may be the time to look ahead and come up with a plan of action

Devoting 15 hours in a week in building a side hustle or starting a new business may be as simple as:

3    Hours on Research                                                                                                        5    Hours on creating content                                                                                            4    Hours on Acquiring/Servicing clients                                                                            3    Hours on Marketing on your chosen business.

This can work with effort, focus and desire and knowing what your desired outcome      can be for lasting change.

 

 

Checkin’ Out Flicks #80

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Here’s the countdown of the top 5 grossing movies in the US over the weekend of  April 10th 2026 to April 12th 2026.                                                                               TW                 LW                                                                                                         1                   1     Super Mario Brothers Galaxy Move                                               2                   2      Project Hail Mary                                                                           3                   3      The Drama                                                                                   4                   N      You, Me and Tuscany                                                                   5                   4      Hoppers

 

 

N=New entry

*Source Box Office Mojo