PITTSBURGH GOSPEL CHOIR—Dr. Herbert V.R.P. Jones conducts the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir (Photos by Gail L. Manker)

Bridging Pittsburgh's racial divide through music and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s inspirational message of togetherness is why Kris Rust helped create the Let Freedom Sing! choral festival six years ago.
“I'm inspired by Dr. King's commitment to lifting up humanity which is common to all people," said Rust, who also serves as the director of choirs at Franklin Regional High School. "The sense that we have to be together and love one another. Dr. King said all that so eloquently in his words and vigorously in his actions. He's a figure in history.”
Rust always holds the free, two-day concert on the Martin Luther King Jr., holiday and has one concert in the City of Pittsburgh and another in a suburb of the Golden Triangle.
“We want to make this a joint effort of the city and the suburbs. This brings adult groups from churches and people from all stages of their lives. It's great for my students to see that singing is something they can do their whole lives,” Rust said.
This year's events were held at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in East Liberty, Jan. 19, and at Murrysville-based Franklin Regional High Jan. 21. The concerts featured folk singer Ellen Gozion, who performed a set of American folk songs, in addition to multi-disciplinary artist, photographer, poet, actress and designer Vanessa German, who weaved her original words into Dr. King’s words. In addition, Murrysville native and jazz artist Carolyn Perteete performed in addition to the Franklin Regional High School Choir, McKeesport Area High School, Norwin High School, the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir and the Wilkinsburg High School.
Songs performed included old Negro spirituals “I Opened My Mouth To The Lord,” and “Don’t Let Nobody Turn Me Around,” in addition to Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise” and Keith Hampton’s “Celebrate!” Joe Doblick served as baritone on “Celebrate!”
“African-American music is so rich and wonderful and I wanted my students to be a part of that experience," said Rust when asked about the music chosen for the choral festival.
In addition to the musical component, Rust wants to use the annual concerts to build a stronger since of community in the city of Pittsburgh and beyond its boarders.
“We are all a part of Pittsburgh and the same human family," said Rust. "On Saturday we had the biggest crowd we ever had. People were on their feet and the guests artists had sing along's in their repertoire and there was a lot of clapping and response and we got a lot of compliments afterwards. We are also using these concerts to help with two food banks because Dr. King was very concerned about poverty as am I. For most people, the food bank is easy to support.”
Those food banks are the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Westmoreland County Food Banks. In 2012, Rust estimated the concerts raised $2,500 for the food banks.
“We hope to top that this year,” Rust said.
(For more information or updates on the Let Freedom Sing! concerts visit www.letfreedomsing.net or visit the Let Freedom Sing face book page.)

COVER GIRL--This magazine cover image released by Vogue shows singer Beyonce on the March 2013 issue of the popular fashion magazine. (AP Photo/Vogue)

NEW YORK (AP) — Beyonce calls the making of her upcoming HBO documentary "Life is But a Dream" a therapeutic process.

She tells the March issue of Vogue, "this movie healed me in so many ways" and thinking about it makes her "want to cry."

The film addresses topics that the notoriously private singer normally doesn't address in public. It chronicles her 2011 decision to no longer have her father Matthew Knowles as her manager, her miscarriage and even the rumors that she was faking her pregnancy with daughter Blue Ivy by really using a surrogate.

"That was very odd," says the singer.

"Life is But a Dream" airs Feb. 16 on HBO.

Online:

http://www.vogue.com/

http://www.hbo.com/

Black History Celebration
    FEB. 16—The Rachel Randall Education Department of Pentecostal Temple COGIC, 6300 East Liberty Blvd., East Liberty, will host their Black History Month Celebration. The two-day celebration will begin with a College Fair at the Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd., from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., for students of all ages; then a special Youth Service at 3 p.m. at the church with the Wilberforce University Choir; a presentation of the William L. Mann Writing Competition winners; followed by an Evening Service on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. featuring the August Wilson Dance Group, the California University of Pa. Gospel Choir and others. There will also be a presentation of the Men of Distinction Awards. The events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 412-361-7000.
Benefit Concert and Dinner
    FEB. 16—The Greater Emmanuel Fellowship will host its “He Held Me Close” Benefit Concert and Dinner from 4-8 p.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 250 N. Highland Ave., East Liberty. The evening affair will include soloists LaVertta Shouse, Keesha Sheffey, Jordan Welch and Clifford Howard. There will also be a signing of the book “He Held Me Close” by Tawanda Alston. For more information, call 412-781-2780.
Women’s Brunch
    FEB. 23—The SHOUT (Sisters Hanging Out United in Truth) Women’s Ministry of Union Baptist Church of Swissvale, 2117 Collingwood Ave., Swissvale, will host a Women’s Brunch from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Every fourth Saturday of the month, women will come together for food, fun and fellowship to praise the Lord and hear a Word from a woman of faith. For more information, call Synthia Brown at 412-862-6750.
Prayer Breakfast
    FEB. 23—The Pastoral Anniversary Committee of Triedstone Baptist Church of Rankin, 18 Harriet St., Rankin, will host its 9th Pre-Pastoral Anniversary Prayer Breakfast at 9 a.m. This is honor of the pastoral anniversary celebration of Rev. Nathaniel and Rev. Terry Pennybaker. The guest preacher will be Rev. Richard Wingfield of Unity Baptist Church, in Braddock. The cost is $10. For more information, call 412-271-3000.
Women’s Conference
    MARCH 1—The Thelma Tines Mitchell Ministries will host its 2013 Women’s Conference at the Georgetown Centre, 526 E. Bruceton Rd., Pleasant Hills. This two-day conference will feature spiritually uplifted guest speakers and more. All are welcome, registration is required and the cost is $10. For more information, call 412-233-0971.
Revival Services
    MARCH 6—Triedstone Baptist Church of Rankin, 18 Harriet St., Rankin, will host its Pre-Anniversary Revival Services at 7 p.m. The three-night event will feature several guest preachers, along with their congregation and choirs. They include Rev. Delbert Harris, Rev. Robert Tedder and Rev. Robert Young. There will also be a pre-anniversary Concert on March 9 at 5 p.m. The anniversary celebration will take place March 10 at 11 a.m. with guest preacher Pastor Darryl Grayson and at 5 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Braddock with Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis as the guest preacher. For more information, call 412-271-3000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Heroes In Our Midst
    MARCH 9—The Baptist Minister’s Conference of Pittsburgh and Vicinity will host “Heroes In Our Midst” from 1-4 p.m. at Stratigos Banquet Center, 131 Colonial Manor Rd., North Huntingdon. The theme is “Shifting into 21st Century Ministry.” The event will honor Pittsburgh Steeler Charlie Batch and Rev. Dr. William Curtis, senior pastor at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. The Steelers Ryan Clark will be the master of ceremonies. Registration is required and the cost is $50 per person. For more information, call Rev. Barbara Gunn at 412-823-4049.

SHOWSTOPPER--Jennifer Lopez arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

by Nekesa Mumbi Moody

Associated Press Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A warning not to show too much skin didn't seem to deter the stars out Sunday for the Grammy Awards.

Jennifer Lopez was among those showing off thigh-high — or higher — openings in their dresses. Katy Perry showed down-to-there cleavage in a seafoam gown.

CBS put out a memo earlier in the week asking that "buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered" for the televised award show. The memo sent out Wednesday also warned against "see-through clothing," exposure of "the genital region" and said that "thong type costumes are problematic."

"As you can see, I read the memo," Lopez joked as she took the stage.

Miranda Lambert revealed some leg on the red carpet and laughed about the guidelines.

"I thought it was funny," she said. "Country music has never really been a problem with that."

Singer-songwriter Skylar Grey let out an "oops!" when asked about it. "I had to show the side boob," she said. "What are they gonna do, kick me off?"

Andrew Dost of fun. said he read the memo, "but all we wanted to do is go as classy and timeless as possible." Bandmate Jack Antonoff joked that he was "showing off a lot of ankle" going sockless with high pants.

Rihanna seemed to get the memo: The usually provocative star covered up in an elegant red gown. Taylor Swift wore a prim gold metallic floral cocktail dress by Jenny Packham to the pre-telecast awards before changing into something a bit more revealing for the red carpet. Beyonce wore a modest pantsuit. All three won early awards.

"I think it's just, you know, we should always stay classy and dress according to the event that's being held," Ashanti said. "So I don't think people should be limited so much and told what you can and cannot do. But, you know, you do have to have a certain class and prestige about yourself."

Even she, though, revealed a fair amount of leg and cleavage. Hey, this isn't the Oscars.

Comedian Kathy Griffin joked about the fashion warning.

"I'm here to watch all the pomp and circumstance," she said. "You want to see a lack of underwear. I'm open to all the forbidden parts."

The Recording Academy's president says this year's great clothing cover-up kerfuffle was "much ado about nothing."

"For some reason people thought this was something new or different or even foreboding as far as being restrictive," Neil Portnow said backstage after the show.
What was outlined in the memo was simply the standard the show has followed every year for at least a decade, he said.
What's more, he added, every TV network has to communicate its standards and practices to anyone appearing on its shows.

AP reporter Beth Harris contributed to this report.

Follow AP Fashion on twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Fashion