If you’re from the Old School, you’re probably very familiar with actor, Stan Shaw. He’s had several movie/television roles throughout the decades, including in “Rocky,” “Roots: The Next Generations” miniseries, “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings,” “Starsky & Hutch,” and more. It was his role as the stuttering boxer, ‘Jack Jenkins,’ in “Harlem Nights,” that REALLY put him on the map in the late 80’s era though.

Harlem Knights Stuttering Boxer

Though his camera time in “Harlem Nights” was miniscule in comparison to his co-stars, Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Della Reese and Redd Foxx, Stan Shaw most definitely stole the show in every scene he was in. For example, we could never forget the classic scene (see in the video above) where “Jack” was talking to Murphy, Pryor, and Foxx, as they patiently waited for him to get through his stuttered sentence about beating his next opponent.

FYI: The fact that Stan Shaw played a fighter in “Harlem Nights” (1989), “Snake Eyes” (1998), “Tough Enough” (1983) and “Rocky” (1976) is not a coincidence. Before becoming an actor, he was a Karate, Judo, and Ju Jitsu instructor in Chicago, with a black belt in all three sports.

After years of going largely unseen in the public eye, Stan Shaw has been spotted out and about in recent years. At 68 years young, the brotha looks happy and healthy, just like he did back then.

Who Are His Famous Soul Singer Cousins?

Upon further research of Stan Shaw, we learned a cool fun fact about him- his cousins are none other than the late, soul singer, Sam Cooke, and singer, Tyrone Davis, who’s best known for his classic 70’s slow jam, “In The Mood!” Who woulda thunk it, right?

In addition to Cooke and Davis, Shaw has several other musical family members. His famous father, Eddie Shaw, was a well known blues saxophonist in the 60s and 70s and he also was the leader of the late Howlin’ Wolfe’s band, the Wolf Gang. Eddie Shaw passed away in January 2018. Stan’s brother, Vaan Shaw, is also a well known guitarist.

What He’s Doing Now

These days, Shaw has made his way back to the Hollywood big screen. In more recent years, he’s starred in the films, “Christmas Winter Song” (2019), “The Pale Door” (2020), and in the popular 2017 horror film, “Jeepers Creepers 3.” Check out the ‘Jeepers’ trailer below…

Via Variety– The original “Jeepers Creepers” was released in 2001, followed by a sequel, “Jeepers Creepers 2,” in 2003. The two movies centered on an ancient creature, known as “the Creeper,” which hunts for 23 days every 23rd spring for human body parts and organs. Myriad Pictures will finance the threequel. “Jeepers Creepers 3” reunites the original creative team behind the first two films, including writer-director Victor Salva.

Well Respected Among His Peers

I’ve always thought Stan Shaw was one of the most highly underrated actors in the game. Apparently I am not alone, because Stan, himself, posted a video collage of his former co-stars, Sylvester Stallone and Nicolas Cage, revealing how much respect they have for him as an actor, in the video up top.

The post The ‘Stuttering Boxer’ “Harlem Nights” Actor Resurfaced…And His Cousins Are Two Music Icons appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Harlem Knights Stuttering Boxer

Though his camera time in “Harlem Nights” was miniscule in comparison to his co-stars, Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Della Reese and Redd Foxx, Stan Shaw most definitely stole the show in every scene he was in. For example, we could never forget the classic scene (see in the video above) where “Jack” was talking to Murphy, Pryor, and Foxx, as they patiently waited for him to get through his stuttered sentence about beating his next opponent.

FYI: The fact that Stan Shaw played a fighter in “Harlem Nights” (1989), “Snake Eyes” (1998), “Tough Enough” (1983) and “Rocky” (1976) is not a coincidence. Before becoming an actor, he was a Karate, Judo, and Ju Jitsu instructor in Chicago, with a black belt in all three sports.

After years of going largely unseen in the public eye, Stan Shaw has been spotted out and about in recent years. At 65 years young, the brotha looks happy and healthy, just like he did back then.

Who Are His Famous Soul Singer Cousins?

Upon further research on Stan, we learned a cool fun fact about him- his cousins are none other than the late, soul singer, Sam Cooke, and singer, Tyrone Davis, who’s best known for his classic 70’s slow jam, “In The Mood!” Who woulda thunk it, right?

https://youtu.be/XH25EUgFMmI

In addition to Cooke and Davis, Shaw has several other musical family members. His famous father, Eddie Shaw, was a well known blues saxophonist in the 60s and 70s and he also was the leader of the late Howlin’ Wolfe’s band, the Wolf Gang. Eddie Shaw passed away in January 2018. Stan’s brother, Vaan Shaw, is also a well known guitarist.

What He’s Doing Now

These days, Shaw has made his way back to the Hollywood big screen. In 2017, he starred in the popular horror ilm, “Jeepers Creepers 3.” Check out the trailer below…

Via Variety– The original “Jeepers Creepers” was released in 2001, followed by a sequel, “Jeepers Creepers 2,” in 2003. The two movies centered on an ancient creature, known as “the Creeper,” which hunts for 23 days every 23rd spring for human body parts and organs. Myriad Pictures will finance the threequel. “Jeepers Creepers 3” reunites the original creative team behind the first two films, including writer-director Victor Salva.

Well Respected Among His Peers

I’ve always thought Stan Shaw was one of the most highly underrated actors in the game. Apparently I am not alone, because Stan, himself, posted a video collage of his former co-stars, Sylvester Stallone and Nicolas Cage, revealing how much respect they have for him as an actor, in the video up top.

The post “Harlem Nights” Actor Resurfaces & He’s Also The Cousin Of 2 Iconic Singers appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Sad news to report ILOSM family. Actor, Ji-Tu Cumbuka, passed away on July 4th, 2017, at the age of 77. Many of us may not have known him by name, but we definitely remember his face from his roles in a few iconic classic films.

He played the fearless warrior-turned-slave, ‘The Wrestler,’ in Alex Hailey’s 1977 classic film, Roots. He also played the Toothless Gambler’ in Eddie Murphy’s the 1989 classic, Harlem Knights. Some of his other roles were as ‘Melvin’ alongside his good friend, Richard Pryor, in Brewster’s Millions, and in the film, Moving. Ji-Tu also several other roles in films and TV shows such as Sanford and Son, The A Team, Mandingo, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and many more.

His Niece Recalls How Ji-Tu Cumbuka Told Her He Was About To Die

Sadly, Ji-Tu Cumbuka died at 2:40 a.m. ET in Atlanta, Ga.. His niece discussed what he’d told her just a week before his passing:

“I (talked) to my Uncle Ji-Tu last week after he spoke to his doctor and he told me wasn’t going to be here much longer then a week,” his niece, Amber Holifield, wrote on Facebook. “Once it registered what he was telling me, I ask him if he leaves then what do I do?? He said (as he would) ‘Deal with it… I’m dealing with it’ … so l laugh and said you iiiss right!” -via NYDailyNews

Read his niece’s full statement below…

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Ji-Tu’s Many Other Life Accomplishments

Aside from acting in his 40+ year career, Ji-tu, accomplished several more feats in his lifetime.
– He was an Army paratrooper in the Vietnam War
– Up until his last days, he was helping people with addictions through his nonprofit outreach program, Help Somebody Foundation Ministries. The purpose of the organization is to helped recovering drug addicts rebuild their lives and make smooth transitions back into their community as productive, sober citizens.
– He was an author. In 2011, Ji-Tu published his book, “A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood.”

For 40+ years, Ji-Tu has graced the entertainment world and those in need with his talent and generosity. He will be sorely missed, but through his many contributions to the arts and the everyday citizen, his legacy will continue to shine. Rest easy Ji-Tu Cumbuka.

The post RIP- Roots/HarlemNights Actor Dies..Niece Tells Painful Convo Days Before His Death appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Michele’s Harassment Allegations Against Murphy

Murphy originally chose Michael Michele for the “Harlem Nights” film, but she says she barely lasted two days one filming began, due to Murphy’s alleged flirtatious advances. She spoke with People Magazine, at that time, and gave her side of the story.

Via People: After signing a [Harlem Nights] contract for $27,500, Michele showed up for rehearsal at the Paramount lot. At first Murphy was cordial, says Michele, but by the second day, his attitude shifted. “I was sitting reading my script. Eddie taps me on my shoulder and says, ‘Bravo. You deserve an award for not even looking at me, Michael. Good. Real good.’ ” Michele says she laughed. “I wasn’t being unfriendly. I admired him.”

Through the rest of the run-through, she says, “he yells, ‘Speak up! Speak up! I can’t hear you!’—angrily.” Yet at the next rehearsal, April 7, Michele says Murphy “asked me out.” When he then tried to “fondle and caress” her, “I said no. He stormed off.” She soon heard that Murphy was boasting he’d fired her—a claim Paramount confirmed.

Her Rejection Of Severance Pay After Getting Fired

After being fired from Harlem Nights, it was reported that Michele was offered a healthy severance pay, but that she turned it down, even though many people around her thought she was crazy for doing so. Michele explained why she didn’t except the money:

Via People: Michele forfeited that pay by refusing to free Paramount of responsibility and [chose] to go up against the full weight of the Murphy marquee. She slapped him with a $75 million sexual harassment and breach of contract suit, alleging that his “attempt to attain a personal, sexual relationship” led to her firing and caused her “severe emotional and psychological damage.”

Eddie’s Shoots Down Michele’s Claims

Via People: Murphy…has called Michele’s charges “absurd and totally false. My integrity and professionalism are being attacked.” His [then] manager, Robert Wachs, [threatened] a counter-suit. “Women throw themselves at him,” says Wachs. “Why would he need to do this? Eddie felt her attitude was antagonistic. She did not fit into this movie’s healthy environment.”

Michele On Whether Or Not She Lied

After Murphy shot down her allegations, Michele responded with this:

“It’s the God’s honest truth and when the ball hits the fence, it’s my word against his. If he’s lying about it now, I guess he’ll have to lie about it in court too,” says Michele – viaPeople

Michael Michele On Why She Spoke Out About Lawsuit

At the time of her interview (in 1990), Michael Michele was asked why she chose to keep going with her lawsuit:

“Everyone thinks I should allow this to happen because it’s Eddie Murphy,” she says. “But if keeping a job means lowering yourself to the casting couch, then we’re in a bad place. And if having integrity, ethics and morals means never being able to work in the entertainment industry,” she adds, “then maybe I did choose the wrong profession.” -Michael Michele, via People

Where Michele Ended Up After Settlement

After Eddie fired Michele, she went to work at the Gap clothing store to make ends meet until she got the role on “New Jack City.” She and Eddie Murphy eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed amount of money, but it was probably a pretty penny she got paid because she made it clear that she was going for Eddie’s jugular with this lawsuit.

The post “New Jack City” Actress Revealed Why She Once Filed $75Million Lawsuit Against Eddie Murphy appeared first on I Love Old School Music.