With ‘RESPECT,’ 11-year-old could advance in Apollo competition

When AlexAnndrea Yohontas Simpson takes the stage at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York, on July 10, she could win the respect of the audience.

In fact the 11-year-old will sing “RESPECT,” Aretha Franklin’s signature hit song from the 1960s, and “put her own spin on it,” said Katrina Whitfield, AlexAnndrea’s mother.

“She will be creative. She will make the song her own,” she said.

Eleven-year-old AlexAnndrea Simpson is
ready to audition for Amateur Night at the
Apollo in New York in April. (Courtesy photos)

Whitfield will be front and center at The Apollo Theatre for the Amateur Night competition to cheer on AlexAnndrea when she belts out her version of “RESPECT.” She’s her daughter’s most ardent supporter.

AlexAnndrea nevertheless remains confident using her voice to relate to the audience, to garner their respect, to kindle their emotions and to keep The Executioner from sweeping her off the stage.

“Being on stage gives me the confidence,” she said. “When you can take over the stage, you feel strong with emotions…and it makes me feel kind of powerful.”

AlexAnndrea will need that power to convince the tough and no-holds-barred audience that she is just that good. In fact, she has to “Be Good or Be Gone,” an edict of sort from the audience signaling who stays and who leaves.

Undaunted by the competition, AlexAnndrea plans to perform her very best under the circumstances. She’s not planning on getting swept off the stage. Instead, she said, “I want to take it to another level.”

The emerging singer, dancer and actress first auditioned in April in the Child Star category for Amateur Night at the Apollo. If she makes it past the curt audience on July 10, she’ll move to the third and final round on Sept. 27 for an opportunity to be the Grand Finale Winner and collect a cash prize of $5,000.

“Right now she’s on vocal rest,” said Whitfield, and added that AlexAnndrea’s diet has been changed to maximize her voice in order to beat the competition and win the audience’s approval.

“She’s ready,” her mother said.

Singing has always been a part of
AlexAnndrea Simpson's life.

Whitfield noted that AlexAnndrea has been ready for an opportunity of this magnitude since she first arrived in the world.

“She was born with it (innate talent),” she said. “She was humming songs before she started talking. I knew it before she came out because she had the cry of a six-month-old baby.”

It was a “soprano cry,” she added.

The household was conducive for AlexAnndrea’s arrival and her inclination to sing. “That’s all we do is play music. We don’t watch TV,” said Whitfield, mother of six daughters, all of whom are talented, and a son, James Whitfield, 27.

For example, Mariah Simpson, 21, sings, acts and dances; Jamesha Whitfield, 29, writes poetry; and Andrea Simpson, 17, will play Dorothy; and Shamiah Simpson, 19, will play Evilene in “The Whiz” on July 25 at the University of Memphis Rose Theater.

The sisters are behind AlexAnndrea 100 percent, said Whitfield, and added that Andrea Simpson will audition at the Apollo in September.

“She’s (AlexAnndrea) a natural. When I first met her at eight, I told her she was going to be a star,” said Chrysti Chandler, founder and artistic director of the Young Actors Guild (YAG), a nonprofit dance and theatre academy.

AlexAnndrea is one of Chandler’s prized students. “We provided vocal training,” she said. “I’ve worked with her for three years. She’s real good. She has a powerful voice…that raspy soul voice.”

Chandler also taught her about the importance of stage presence.

“I feel lucky to be there (at YAG),” said AlexAnndrea. “Ms. Chrysti puts me on the spot and I thank her. She pushes me to sing and sing out on stage.”

 Whitfield said her daughter has an old spirit. “She listens to Aretha Franklin, Frank Murphy, Yolanda Adams, Fantasia, and, of course, Beyoncé. But she is drawn to ‘Old School’ music.”

If AlexAnndrea’s voice were compared to another singer, it would be the legendary Ella Fitzgerald, a gifted jazz singer once referred to as the First Lady of Song and the Queen of Jazz.

“I like her voice; I like her music,” said AlexAnndrea, who has an affinity as well for gospel music, up-tempo songs and the classics.

While AlexAnndrea is honing her skills as a singer, she hasn’t neglected school. She had a 4.0 GPA at Vision Preparatory Charter School in South Memphis and will start the 2019-2020 school year as a sixth-grader.

Before graduating Vision Prep, AlexAnndrea had divided her time between school and practice. “I’d go to school, come home and do my homework, and practice my singing from seven to nine.”

Memphis is known for its hotbed of talent the world over and now serves as a launching pad for AlexAnndrea. Born in Alabama, the family moved to the Bluff City from Detroit in 2011.

Now Memphis is home.

“My mom and dad moved to Memphis in 2008,” said Whitfield. “He was diagnosed with Parkinson in 2010. So I came here to help them out.”

She fell in love with Memphis and found the right people at the right time to help prepare AlexAnndrea for the big stage.

“It’s the rich history, the ‘Old School’ music, and the weather,” said Whitfield, confident that her daughter’s talent will lead to the caviar of entertainment success some day.

Amateur Night at the Apollo could be that barometer – if The Executioner doesn’t sweep her off the stage.

Young author converts a chapter in his book into a full-fledged movie

Tony M. Jackson, author and director of "The Story of Randolph," listens intently
to Kelvin Humphrey (seated), who handles the film's audio. Everette Thomas (on
Jackson's right) provides input on the soundboard. (Photo by Dellguan Coleman)

A movie based on the fourth chapter in a book written by Tony M. Jackson is his foray into storytelling via the big screen. He is directing “The Story of Randolph: The Man of the Cloth.”

The fourth chapter is one of six stories that Jackson has weaved together in the book “The Fair Shot That Was Never Given.” It is a compilation of stories about the overlooked that persistently forced their way to the top.

In a sense, Jackson has worn several hats over the years to feed his entrepreneurial ambition. He is an author, business owner, community leader, realtor and now movie director. The latter hat seems to fit the 35-year-old rather snuggly.

Clarence Randolph Scott Jr., owner of C Scott Run
Productions in Memphis, and Victoria Jones, owner of
VA Jones Films in Nashville, take a short break after
filming a scene. (Photo by Tony M. Jackson)

The book was published this year on Feb. 8. The next day Jackson decided that he wanted to transition “The Story of Randolph” into a film project and bring the story to life with a local cast.

“When people read the book, they understand it,” said Jackson, who has sold a number of copies. “But I wanted people to see it the way I wrote it.”

The operative word is see, which prompted Jackson to choose the fourth chapter for starters. “I think that’s one of the best stories in the book,” he said.

Jackson said the story is based on the life of a friend, Mynoris Woods, who, like Randolph, has had a difficult time balancing his calling as a pastor with his private life outside the church.

Woods is the assistant pastor at Cane Creek Missionary Baptist Church and owner of a janitorial company. He plays the leading role of Bishop Randolph, who is sweet on Kelly, played by Sweetrica Baker.

“It’s an excellent role,” said Woods. “To me, it helps people to better understand not to be judgmental with people with a title.”

Woods sees himself in Randolph, his mirror reflection.

“Throughout my dating life, it almost makes you hesitant to tell people you’re a pastor – not that you’re ashamed, but because people don’t always accept you for who you are (away from the pulpit).”

As the story goes, Randolph is a single man looking for love and just by happenstance runs into Kelly. He asks her out on a date and cruises in his droptop to Broadway Pizza. Everything is hunky-dory until Randolph pops in a rhythm and blues CD.

Kelly cringes, expecting perhaps Yolanda Adams or Tamela Mann. At Broadway Pizza, she orders Sprite; Randolph orders his usual – two Bud Lights. Not expecting a pastor to chug a beer, Kelly orders Randolph to take her home.

“I can identify with Kelly quite a bit,” said Baker, assistant secretary and office manager for Memphis AFLCIO. Kelly, she pointed out, is a little more flirtatious and added: “People shouldn’t have to change to be with you.”

“Pastors are under the microscope all the time,” said Jackson, a member of Breath of Life Seventh Day Adventist Church. He said Woods had discussed with him the conflict and dichotomy between the natural man and God’s servant.

“I just feel his pain,” he said. “I’m not saying the pastor should go out and drink a beer.” However, he added, “In this day and time, you are guilty by association.”

Before Jackson began production, he mentioned on the fly the storyline to Victoria A. Jones, owner of VA Jones Films in Nashville. Jones is a former client who patronized Jackson’s first business, Arlington Computers.

“She said specifically, ‘Let’s do it!’ Jackson recalls. “And I replied, ‘Well, let’s do it!’”

Jackson brought Jones onboard to direct the movie. He and his wife, Monica Jackson, backed her up as co-directors. With a film crew led by Jones, the movie slowly began to unfold.

Jackson started filming in February and expects to finish production in late summer. “I’ve seen the editing and can’t believe the quality,” he said.

While “The Story of Randolph” is not a big budget movie, Jackson nevertheless made a reasonable investment, mostly on production. The actors, he said, didn’t mind coalescing around him to produce the movie.

“We’re working with a distribution company out of Los Angeles that will get us onto the major streaming and video platforms, such as Vimeo, Amazon Prime and the popular IMDb site,” he said.

The movie trailer is scheduled to premiere online July 4 on “The Story of Randolph” Facebook page.

Jackson said both Office Depot at Wolfchase and Triumph Bank in Arlington, Tenn., offered to sponsor a private viewing in August at the Malco Cordova Cinema. The date has not been determined.

Meanwhile, Jackson is seriously thinking about making a movie or short film of the other five chapters in his book, “The Fair Shot That Was Never Given.”

He’s a little gung-ho about that possibility.