Articles by: Dustin Fitzharris

Fifty years ago a young lady from East Orange, N.J. named Dionne Warwick began her career as a singer by recording demo records. Within months "The Demo Queen," as she became known, earned her first Top 40 hit, "Don't Make Me Over" and the hits kept coming. Today at 70, the five-time Grammy Award-winner is celebrating her golden anniversary in showbusiness by releasing a new CD, "Only Trust Your Heart." The project predominately features the songs of American composer Sammy Cahn...

Whether it's as Clair Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" or Gilda in "For Colored Girls," Phylicia Rashad has built her career on playing strong and memorable women. In the new Halle Berry film "Frankie & Alice," based on a true story of a go-go dancer who suffers from dissociative identity disorder, Rashad continues that tradition and tackles the role of Edna Murdoch, Berry's on-screen mother. Rashad says she didn't think twice about accepting the role because it's a "fine, very well made film." Rashad, a native of Houston, Texas, is also honing her talents behind the scenes. On March 23, the Ebony Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles will present Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," directed by Rashad. She spoke with ESSENCE.com about "Frankie & Alice" and reprising "A Raising in the Sun." Here's what you said: Jai commented via Facebook: "I loved her in 'The Old Settler.'" Vanessa said via Facebook: I loved her in 'The Cosby Show' as Claire and I also loved her in 'Raisin in the Sun.'