Miami Times, Novemeber 20, 1948

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

​In the wake of the recent Nocturnal nightclub shooting that killed one, hospitalized others, and sent hundreds stampeding through Downtown Miami, we found evidence of stabbings and shootings at another area establishment, the Cafe Society (1994 NW Third Ave., Miami), way back in 1948.

The front page of the Miami Times from November 20 of that year details knife- and gunplay that left four dead and four wounded in a two-month span. The article reveals an incident where "More than ten shots were fired in a shooting spree" at club bouncer Lawrence Rolle, 32, who was killed.

Meanwhile, a neighboring article shows that misdirected police violence at an unarmed Overtown civilian resulting in death is nothing new either. And apparently in 1948 a black life taken by police was only worth $350 ($1,000 if they had a good lawyer).

Here's the full text from both. Draw your own conclusions.
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​Betty Wright is a legendary, Grammy-winning,  Miami-based singer-songwriter who has released 16 albums.

She scored her first big hit in the '70s at the age of 17 with the million-selling "Cleanup Woman." Later, she became the first black woman to release a gold record on her own label.

In hip-hop, her work has been sampled by artists such as Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, and DJ Quik. She still works in music to this day, developing the vocal abilities of major artists in the industry.

See the cut for a an interview she gave in 1977. It eerily foreshadows the terrible Super Bowl halftime show performance by the Black Eyed Peas at last Sunday's big game.
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Photo by Ari Justin Rothenberg

TopSpot USA asking Alesana's Shawn Milke the tough questions

​The Broward-Palm Beach Crossfade contingent is definitely the opposite of emo about our feature, "TopSpot USA Showcase Punks Up the Talent Farm" in this week's music section.

We caught up with TopSpot USA founders Sean Russell and Frankie "Famous" Nobile preparing for their first industry showcase at the Talent Farm this Saturday. The show features Naples keyboard punk outfit Vega Under Fire, and the glam-fused support act, So Long Davey, comes from San Diego. The other three acts all have ties to South Florida: Ex-Hey Monday  drummer Elliot James' Easton (West Palm Beach), pop-punks Not Here Now (Miami), and electro-punks New City Lions (Fort Lauderdale).

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​Just a few items we wrestled from the jaws of this week's New Times Broward-Palm Beach print edition.

In Music: Aside from massive WMC/Ultra coverage from Miami, Lee Zimmerman confirms that Rodney Atkins really is just a simple guy and Gilberto Gil rolls through the Broward Center.

In News: Fighting crime does pay. And professional alligator wrestling is real even if Hulk Hogan isn't taking part.

In Film: Soak in '80s nostalgia with Hot Tub Time Machine.

In Food: Nu-Sushi rolls right over the competition.

In Calendar: How to Train Your Dragon, puppet animation A Town Called Panic, and the piano prodigy Lang Lang.

​Just a few items we cultivated from in this week's New Times Broward-Palm Beach print edition.

In Music: Alkaline Trio rolls through Revolution next week, Aretha Aretha Aretha, Miami's Raffa & Rainer rocks a Fort Lauderdale CD release party, and there will be Jazz in the Gardens this weekend.

Night Watch: "Large calves and all."

Feature: Growing pot can be worse for your health than smoking it.

Food: Japanese soul food?

In Calendar: Whiskey Blue gets gay-friendlier, go see the Dr. Radio show, a quality Art Walk in Fort Lauderdale, and Wine, Dine and Design

​Just a few items we tackled in this week's New Times Broward-Palm Beach print edition.

In Music: Pitbull is throwing a party on Sunday. Carnaval Miami and Calle Ocho's guest list includes T-Pain, Flo Rida, Sean Paul, Spam Allstars and a million or so of their closest friends. Someone was also gonna throw a party featuring Drake, but no one told Drake.

News: A must-read about the Lingerie Football League's Miami Caliente. Some guy who's not Fidel Castro, but is named Fidel Castro.

Food: El Guanaco Taqueria has "fluffy pupusas larded with stringy cheese, crispy fried tostones, and pollo à la plancha smothered with a rustic sofrito of tomatoes, onions, and peppers." (!)

Night Watch: The Wreck Bar returns: "I'm sorry -- you appear to be wet. Is it safe to conclude that you are a mermaid?"

Calendar: Nelly and Bow Wow will battle... on the basketball court, Churchill's own Dave Daniels celebrates 50 years in the music biz, some rednecks tell some redneck jokes, The Dumb Waiter at Nova, Vagina Monologues at Miniaci, Miami Film Festival, and there's some Irish holiday coming up.

public domain image via Florida Guy 128 on wikimedia commons.

Hallandale Beach at Sunset

​The image above is of the sleepy-looking beachside town called Hallandale, Florida and gives no indication of the city's Black musical history. But the Palms in Hallandale, just north of Miami, otherwise known as the Million Dollar Palms, was a major stop on the Chitlin Circuit, a nationwide string of venues where it was safe for African-Americans to perform and experience live music during segregation. After the jump, check out the top 10 moments in black music history that happened at the Palms.

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Miami New Times archives week of November 2 - 8, 1988

​Ron Wood is one of the world's most famous bass guitar players thanks to his tenure with the Rolling Stones. But did you know that back in the '80s he was part owner of a live music venue on Miami Beach called Woody's?

Well, it's true. Woody's Miami Beach was a live music venue, bar, and club located at 455 Ocean Drive on Miami Beach, and according to the ad we pulled for this week's Archive Diver, Ray Charles was booked for a show there way back on November 3, 1988.

Ray Charles is the famous blind musician who took a gospel singing background, applied it to making pop music, and changed the world.
By 1988 he was already a legend. It would have been cool to see him perform.

Here's the full ad for the show as it appeared in the November 2 - 8, 1988 issue of the Miami New Times.
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via Miami New Times archives week of October 12 - 18, 1988

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NewTimes week of Oct 5 - 11. 1988

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