CRBR Women of Influence the exclusive Caterpillar dealer for South Carolina held a groundbreaking ceremony recently to mark the beginning of construction on its new 150,000-square-foot facility at Sandy Run Industrial Park Blanchard Machinery breaks ground on $65M South Carolina facility A heavy machinery supplier with deep roots in South Carolina has begun work on a new $65 million facility The $65 million investment will support the company’s continued growth and create 30 new jobs Situated on more than 60 acres in Calhoun County just minutes from the Interstate 26/Interstate 77 interchange component rebuilds and full machine rebuilds The location will also expand Blanchard Machinery’s capacity to serve its 14 branches across the state “This groundbreaking represents more than a new building – it’s a step toward enhancing the support we provide to customers across South Carolina,” said Boyd Blanchard “Calhoun County has proven to be a strategic location for our growth and we are excited about the opportunities this facility will bring to our team and the surrounding community.” Blanchard Machinery is one of the newest additions to Sandy Run Industrial Park which boasts an array of globally recognized brands “We are honored that Blanchard Machinery has chosen Sandy Run Industrial Park for its new location,” said John McLauchlin administrator and director of economic development for Calhoun County good-paying jobs to our community but also reinforces the park’s advantages including proximity to major interstates and robust infrastructure We look forward to the lasting impact this partnership will have on Calhoun County.” Over its 45-year history in South Carolina Blanchard has established deep roots within the Midlands region and this milestone is the next phase in this longstanding relationship “Blanchard Machinery’s decision to grow in Calhoun County is a strong testament to the region’s competitive assets and business-friendly environment,” said Jason Giulietti president and CEO of the Central SC Alliance “We’re proud to support companies like Blanchard that are investing in the long-term success of our communities This groundbreaking represents not just growth for one company but ongoing momentum for the entire Central SC region.” Blanchard Machinery will maintain its corporate campus in West Columbia which will continue to house administrative functions used parts and Blanchard Energy operations with operations at the new facility expected to begin in 2026 The 17,179-square-foot coworking space will feature 84 offices and stunning city views in downtown Columbia The executive will lead the award-winning paid The company that began nearly 40 years ago has grown into a full-scale commercial landscaping company The move expands the agency's design and letterpress capabilities allowing it to offer more specialized print[...] seeks to drive social and economic progress in South Carolina Sign up for your daily digest of Columbia Business Report Hundreds turn out to see what governor and South Carolina Department of Employment and Wor[...] Blanchard Machinery begins construction on a $65M Calhoun County facility to boost growth Ritedose secures FDA approval for its formoterol inhalation solution expanding COPD treatment optio[...] Kimberly-Clark will invest $200M to expand its Beech Island plant creating 150+ jobs and enhancing [...] South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis will stay in office for now as the House opts not to act on S[...] Techo-Bloc will open its first South Carolina facility in Lexington County Columbia Business Report is the market leader in business media in South Carolina We connect you with decision-makers and stakeholders throughout the state Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Log in for access to the latest digital and special editions OKLA (KOKH) — Residents in Blanchard are stranded after County Road 1322 washed out after severe flooding The people who live on the other side of the washout do not have another road to use Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCALHOUN COUNTY (WIS) - A new plant being built in the Midlands is expected to bring an economic boom to the area a dealer of Caterpillar construction equipment broke ground on a new facility Friday in Calhoun County “The I-26 corridor and the connection to [Interstate] 95 is just the main vein of South Carolina The growth and the connection that’s happening from Charleston to Orangeburg and right down here in Calhoun County in the Midlands Officials said the 62-acre site will bring 30 jobs paying a minimum of $52,000 a year It’s the first business on the property Calhoun County wants to develop into an industrial park Calhoun County Administrator John McLauchlin said the money coming in should help residents from seeing any drastic property tax increases “If we didn’t have the industrial make up of Calhoun County we would have to have much more of an increase both on the general as well as the fire tax,” he said Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. 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Click here UPDATE: This street has been repaired and is now reopened Blanchard's washout-damaged street reopens A section of County Road 1322 in Blanchard has developed a hole large enough to fit a military tanker Blanchard resident Ryen Menefee told News 9 that the hole appeared small Wednesday night and didn’t raise much concern “I woke up to a phone call from my mom saying not to come home because of how much it had grown overnight,” Menefee said Menefee has been communicating with her parents from the opposite side of the road She spent what was supposed to be her last day of high school as a senior buying toiletries and finding temporary shelter I’ve got like a rental cabin right now and I’m having to go buy a bunch of like mouthwash Brayden Gae has also been separated from his parents by the collapse “Last night there was only a very small part and I grabbed a bag of clothes and went to my buddy’s house where I could still get to school and everything.” Fiber-optic cables and fish—some dead and some still alive—were exposed as the road gave way A mail carrier was seen delivering to one side of the road but was unable to reach the other She said mail for affected residents will be held at the post office until it can be safely delivered Stephanie Maniche is an experienced news reporter with a passion for telling compelling stories that inform Blanchard's washout-damaged street reopens and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox Blanchard Machinery held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new facility in Calhoun County The company is making a $65 million capital investment in the new facility and the state of South Carolina The new facility is expected to lead the way for economic development in Calhoun County says this is just the beginning of building a better future in South Carolina He shared his excitement about the state’s potential and officials say Calhoun County is an ideal spot for infrastructure investment (WOLO)– Calhoun County is one step closer to seeing a $65 million investment become a reality officials broke ground on Blanchard Machinery’s new location in Gaston Officials say the investment will create 35 new jobs Blanchard Machinery is the state’s exclusive dealer of cat construction equipment Officials who spoke with ABC Columbia say they are excited about building toward the future Blanchard Machinery has been in business since 1952 Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday April 9th at 1 PM at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Adel at the family’s home in Dallas County Bonnie graduated from Van Meter Community School She also played the clarinet in the high school marching band She enjoyed playing the piano and accordion as well She married Robert (Bob) Blanchard on Nov 6 she added chickens and pigs to her yard décor you knew she’d be sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee One of her favorite things to do was eat out It’s still being debated if that was because she wasn’t really a very good cook or she just didn’t like to do dishes are these cookies supposed to be black on the bottom and crunchy” Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents Brent (Esther) Blanchard; Lisa (Jason) Briley; Denny (Ruth) Blanchard; daughter in law Karen Blanchard; 10 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; sister Vera (Kerry) Pomeroy; and brother Dennis (Pam) Prouty Donations in Bonnie's memory may be directed to D.A.V. (Disabled American Veterans) or any other Veterans Support Organization Make a donation to one of the following charities in remembrance of Bonnie Blanchard Add to Calendar Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory - Adel Chapel This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors After intense periods of rainfall pelted Oklahoma for multiple days this past week several roadways received extensive damage with some even being washed out from underneath County Road 1322 was washed out just west of County Street 2990 isolating several households who rely on the road to leave their neighborhood News 9 Storm Tracker Jeromy Carter traveled to Blanchard for the latest on the damage It is unknown how long it will take for the roadway repairs to be completed Christian Hans is a Digital Content Producer for News 9 He joined News 9 full-time in July of 2022 after graduating from the University of Oklahoma and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox III—always known and loved as Gus—was born in Laurel He was diagnosed in 2020 with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and achieved his goal of being “the best patient” for the next few years as his body succumbed to Parkinsonian symptoms he kept his memory till the end and died peacefully surrounded by his wife and children at Waverly Gardens in North Oaks he moved with his brother Bob and their parents AZ where he graduated from Phoenix Central High School you knew he went to Princeton University and was a Tiger to his core that he enjoyed re-living again and again at reunions with the class of 1965 and his Tower Club brothers His history major led to his lifelong love of reading and learning He read three papers every morning with his large coffee Immediately after graduation Gus went to work for AT&T but his career was interrupted by three years in the Army including Officer Candidate School and a tour in Vietnam in 1968 and whom he married (in a hotel room with a 103 fever due to that year’s flu pandemic) on November 30 and within a few years their daughters Kate and Anne made it a foursome perfect for road trips and roller coasters His career at AT&T flew him all over the country and often to Japan MA (where he earned a master’s degree at MIT) and NJ until he retired (for the first time) in 1991 Gus and Mary then moved to Chicago where Gus worked for two different companies and moved again to White Bear Lake where Gus became the proud CEO of the Deluxe Corporation in 1995 he built close working relationships in India and initiated a diversity program that was ahead of its time He returned to Phoenix for a couple of years when Deluxe spun off another company Gus stayed busy with both corporate and volunteer leadership he liked to try to remember all the golf courses he had played He loved to make frequent cross-country road trips to visit friends and family Five decades of summers were spent with family on the shore of their beloved Torch Lake in northern Michigan Gus loved living in the land of snow and ice—he never considered moving somewhere warmer—not least because of St Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi where he and Mary have been dedicated members for almost 30 years Through the church they made lifelong friends and surrogate children and grandchildren (a.k.a “the good kids”) who enriched Gus’s life with laughter Sassy) moved to Waverly Gardens where they spent four challenging but meaningful years among friends and beloved caretakers as his health deteriorated He inspired everyone with his positive attitude and sense of humor about the indignities of a body that no longer did what he wanted it to do Mary; his daughters Kate Blanchard (Chris Moody) and Anne Carpenter (Scott); his grandchildren Lizzy Carpenter and Charlie Carpenter; his brother Bob; his brother- and sister-in-law Charles and Judith Hibbard; nieces and many close cousins; and so many other people he loved as dearly as if they were family Gus Blanchard was an epic man who led an epic life He is impossible to describe in a few short words but certain terms come up again and again when people talk about him: kindness His family would like to thank everyone who cared for him at the Gables and everyone who called and visited in his last weeks One of the last things he said to those at his bedside was “There are fifty of you and only one of me but I think I could out-love you all.” Andrew’s Foundation or the LBDA ( Lewy Body Dementia Association) Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text boost statewide service from strategic Sandy Run site — Blanchard Machinery Company has officially broken ground on a $46 million facility at Sandy Run Industrial Park in South Columbia marking a major investment in Calhoun County that could shape the region’s economic and infrastructure future The new six-acre facility will serve as a hub for parts and support services for Blanchard’s 14 branches across South Carolina The expansion is expected to create 30 new jobs and increase the company’s ability to meet growing statewide demand “This marks the first step in the first chapter of a bright future for our business and our state,” said Boyd Blanchard He emphasized the strategic location near major interstates including I-26 County leaders say the development will strengthen the local economy while preserving the area's low tax rates so anything we can land in industry like this helps,” said Calhoun County Council Chairman James Haigler “Calhoun County has one of the lowest tax rates in the state and this helps us keep that going.” Blanchard Machinery is the lead distributor for Caterpillar equipment in South Carolina The company serves key sectors such as construction a construction worker with Morgan Corp—a longtime customer of Blanchard—spoke to the importance of the company’s equipment “This equipment is our lifeline on the job site The efficiency has increased greatly over the years and there’s a lot of comfort for the operator to get the job done.” Blanchard Machinery will continue to operate its West Columbia location with the new facility expected to be completed by 2026 WGNO and bandleader performing with his band E-Collective at several venues in New Orleans this weekend The New Orleans Police Department is trying to arrest a burglary suspect who wore a clown mask to disguise his identity the Den of Distinction has inducted only 22 outstanding alumni to come out of Loyola University's Communication and Design program Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office announces seizure of Central City car wash Fiesta in Lafreniere Park for Cinco De Mayo Fest Alleged accomplice in Kansas City reporter death case will face second-degree murder charge: KPD and Ro Brown to be inducted into the Loyola University Den of Distinction Cinco de Mayo & Happy Birthday Milton at Felipe's in Old Metairie Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Felipe's in Old Metairie French Chef Delivers Lunch at NOLA French School Metairie 12-year-old has award-winning handwriting Kathy is survived by her husband of 43 years Nicole Eldridge and her husband Samuel of Framingham and Natalie Smith and her husband Kaleb of Shrewsbury Francis “Skip” Bird and his wife Michele of Lakeville and Richard Bird and his wife Kristine of Oxford; two sisters She was predeceased by two brothers-in-law (Ciuffredo) Bird and has lived here all her life She graduated from Burncoat High School and went on to receive a certificate from Salter’s School of Business Kathy worked for the Worcester District Attorney's Office for many years before having her daughters She then returned to the workforce as a grant and contract specialist in Molecular Medicine at UMass Medical School where she spent 24 years before retiring in 2021  With her sparkling blue eyes and joyful spirit always supporting those who needed her and offering words of advice She had a unique way of making everyone feel loved Kathy cherished time with family and friends Her proudest moments were having her loved ones around her table with food she had so lovingly prepared for holidays and birthdays Her life was filled with excursions and traveling to new places with her best friend She would reminisce about their early days when they would cruise around in his 78’ Pontiac Grand Prix their time together was filled with laughter and endless love pouring her heart and soul into every aspect of her daughter’s lives She was always active in their schools PTO grabbing lunch or catching up with a cup of tea Kathy drew endless energy from her close-knit family but it was her role as Nonni that truly defined her transformed her home into a haven of giggles where every shared moment became a treasured memory She especially enjoyed spending time at OOB playing in the sand collecting shells and flying kites with her grandchildren May her memory be as constant and enduring as the sea from 4 pm until 7 pm in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL departing the funeral home at 9:40 am enroute to a 10 am Funeral Mass at Saint Stephen’s Church Interment will follow at North Cemetery in Oxford donations in her memory may be made to Girl’s Inc. Pieter Rossouw Jr. finished seventh overall capping his best performance of the season with a 1-under 71 in the final round he responded with two birdies over the next four and closed with 12 consecutive pars to finish at 7-under for the tournament Chapman Barnett recorded his best round of the week with a 2-under 70 Stefan Jacobs contributed the final team score in the last round shooting 2-under for his best round of the championship He also carded an eagle and three birdies before bogeying the final two holes—after the team title had already been secured Behn Heyns was the final Jaguar on the course and finished with a 77 Augusta now awaits the NCAA Selection Show to learn its regional destination for postseason play Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Gypsy-Rose Blanchard feared for her life ahead of a meet-and-greet book signing for her memoir on the April 28 episode of 'Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up' BenBella Books; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Music Credits: “NY” composed and performed by Kosta T Used courtesy of the Free Music Archive.Terence Blanchard “The Water” from the album A Tale of God’s Will (a requiem for Hurricane Katrina) Composed and performed by Terence Blanchard “I Dare You” from the album Absence Composed by Terence Blanchard Jo Reed: From the National Endowment for the Arts This is part two of my 2023 conversation with NEA Jazz Master Terence Blanchard we explored his early years in New Orleans his time with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and his evolution as a composer and bandleader we continue the conversation by looking at the many ways Terence has expanded his artistry—with his groups and his role as artistic director of SFJAZZ We’ll talk about his album Absence dedicated to NEA Jazz Master Wayne Shorter and how composing for opera pushed him into new creative territory We’ll also explore his passion for music education and the ways he’s helped shape the next generation of jazz musicians we turn to one of the most defining moments of his life both personally and artistically—Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina hit the United States killing over 1,800 people and devastating much of New Orleans Katrina and its aftermath became the subject of Spike Lee’s four-part documentary Terence was living in LA [Los Angeles] as well as New Orleans and brought his family Their return to New Orleans became a part of the documentary Terence Blanchard: When we did When the Levees Broke But what was crazy about that was when I worked on 4 Little Girls and the visuals of that and the storyline I would take a break and I would come down and hang out or go to the park because I was really stepping right into what it was I was looking at in my studio And then to go through the thing of taking my mom back to the house was probably one of the hardest things I had to do other than bury my father because she was holding out hope that nothing had happened to the house I had to let her experience it herself.  And they're seeing my house that I grew up in destroyed But then when I started to see the documentary I was totally amazed at what Spike put together it was supposed to be a two-hour documentary But our budget stayed at a two-hour budget and it's probably one of the most comprehensive things I've ever seen done on this area because there's so many different cultures and facets here He had all of those things combined in this one piece And that's the way that I tried to approach it in scoring it But the most important thing was I was just thankful for him to do it Jo Reed: But then you also came out with the album A Tale of God's Will: A Requiem for Katrina building on some of the themes you used in When The Levees Broke Jo Reed: Tell me about the story that you felt like you wanted to tell with that album it was more that I couldn't get past the whole notion of what had happened to my city Just seeing all that type of stuff in your hometown And while I appreciated what Spike had done I felt like I needed to make my own statement about it and the guys were creating their tunes and arrangements and there was so much magic that was happening “this is a tale of God's will.” It just came out nowhere We didn't have a title for the album at all everything just started to fall into place for that album people were telling us how the music had affected them and how it helped them get through the grieving process Jo Reed: And A Tale of God's Will was the first Grammy you won as a leader It was interesting because A Tale of God's Will was the first Grammy that I'd ever won in my life as a leader It just meant a lot because we didn't create the album for that Jo Reed: And you addressed the impact of Katrina through your role as an educator….The Monk Institute is a multi-faceted organization dedicated to music education and you were instrumental in bringing the institute to New Orleans I loved all of the work that we would do in the high schools I love working with the students themselves They were semi-pro soon to be pro musicians But I was really excited about sending those guys out into the high schools and middle schools So when we talked about bringing it to New Orleans that meant a lot to me because I knew at that time that there were kids that were suffering When you go through something that's traumatic like that I remember stepping off of my porch being picked up I was about four years old being picked up and put into a boat And (we) couldn't find my dad for a couple of days and we were staying in somebody's front room of a house sleeping on the floor I'm four years old and I still have that's stuck in my head So I knew that there were kids here that were in dire straits And I also knew that music could probably be one of the things to help them So that's why I wanted the Monk Institute to come to New Orleans when we started sending our kids out into the high schools and the middle schools That's what my life turned around in terms of why I create music When you see the power in it and how it can help people deal with these tough topics like this you start to feel a responsibility to address these things you more than anyone are capable of doing more than one thing simultaneously And the album Absence is your love letter to Wayne Shorter it features your group E-Collective and The Turtle Island Quartet and I think it needs some flowers in this conversation I love Wayne Shorter so much that I had to do something to let him know that before he passed and the thing about doing an album for Wayne they don't want you to just do their tunes So we did a mixture of some of his tunes and some originals we got a chance to go and hang out with Wayne before we recorded Obviously I've been on him for a long time he just gives you a life lesson of just a general conversation And I'll never forget when we left the house please convey the one where he said to you “It takes courage to be happy.” Because I read that I was playing at the New Orleans Jazz Festival he starts to tell me about some violinist who never would win an audition for an orchestra and her style didn't mix with other string players And she had gotten to the point of having so much rejection that she was at a low point in her life almost at a point where she wanted to commit suicide and just like any mom could hear something was wrong with her child it takes courage to be happy.” And when Wayne told me that story the best way I can explain it is that I was trying to live up to an image that wasn't real It was what I thought a jazz musician should be it was like something was lifted off to my shoulders It takes courage to be happy."It brought me back to something that a great musician in New Orleans the easiest thing to do is to learn how to play like John Coltrane." He says "Because everybody loves John Coltrane." He said "The hardest thing to do is to be yourself But that's what being an artist really is." So when Wayne told me that story but I was trying to fit it within an aesthetic And when Wayne told me that the walls came tumbling down everything became a possibility for me then Jo Reed: The composition you wrote for the album Absence is “I Dare You.” And that's an important title it's a very important title for a number of reasons it's a tune that I'd written to prove a point to my students about Jo Reed: I kept thinking of Beethoven's Fifth So what's funny about that is that when I introduced it to the audience and I try to remind 'em of what they heard "Do you remember that kind of funky Beethoven us thing that we start with?" I said "That's one of my tunes." And what's crazy about that to me is because that the introduction was written the morning of the day we recorded that introduction was written the morning of the day We recorded the tune because I noticed we didn't have anything for "We need something for this beginning of the tune." So I wrote that string introduction that morning and brought it in And the title comes from something that Wayne said when he was asked by Tavis Smiley “Jazz means I dare you.” And it was another one of those life lessons you say And it's one of those things where in the Buddhist philosophy is like to fight So it's kind of how I'm trying to live my life through his examples Were you fulfilling this suppressed longing that was not something that was even on the plate whatsoever I kind of leaned across the table to smell his breath That's some of the funniest stuff I've ever heard it was such a journey because I didn't know what I was doing Jo Reed: And Jim Robinson was artistic director of Opera Theatre of St Louis They really stepped me through the process understanding when music should be turned in understanding how to do a piano vocal score so we could rehearse And then finally getting down to the final thing you sit at a piano by yourself for two years crafting this story there are people who are singing these lines like sound familiar to you and all of a sudden now they have costumes on and there's lighting "I'm looking forward to doing my third opera now," but probably when I'm in the middle of it your first opera was Champion based on the life of Emil Griffith who was a boxer and he was gay Terence Blanchard: I found out about Emil Griffith from my best friend And he had talked to me about Emile Griffith So I think the thing that got me about Emile's story I thought about the time that I won my first Grammy They called my name this guy became welterweight champion of the world and could never really celebrate that openly with anybody that he loved And what was beautiful about doing it with opera theater St People from the health community that deal with dementia And everybody was just thankful that there was something that treated these topics with dignity and allowed us to talk about But the most important thing was I got hooked Get over it." I am hooked on how it all comes together My favorite part is when we get into the theater in rehearsal and you see it and you can kind of understand what's going on but they don't have the wardrobe yet lighting And when you get into the theater and the lights and the and then it really doesn't really pop until that performance There's something that happens to those guys when that curtain goes up man with all of a sudden everything just gets raised up a notch and it's an amazing experience to have in your life.  Jo Reed: I have to think that all your experience in scoring films really helped you when it came for you to sit down with an opera Terence Blanchard: My experience in the film world helped me tremendously in the operatic world because I wasn't so concerned about writing for orchestra and creating sonic colors for certain situations was fine And the most problematic part is different from singing to singing Sopranos all be baritones and all be different So that part was the part that took some time to learn But when you learn that for a specific singer knowing the abilities of the singers to be able to do those things that's when the storytelling process really becomes a big deal and the thing that I love about Puccini is that I love how the melody line develops with the story I also try to make the musical lines feel natural I would spend a lot of time reading the libretto out loud and when I would read the libretto out loud I would hear the rhythms and what it was that I was reading One of the other things that I had to learn about the human voice is that being a trumpet player but a lot of times they want to run up to the note So you have to take that into consideration when you're writing especially if you want it to be big at a certain point of the storyline All those things play a factor in how you develop your melody lines Fire Shut Up in My Bones based on the memoir by Charles Blow So what is the origin story for that particular opera Terence Blanchard: My wife knew of the book Fire Shut Up in My Bones and asked me to read it Still think he's probably one of the smartest people out there And then you find out that he was molested as a kid but that dude came through that in a way that's so impressive Jo Reed: Fire In My Bones opened in 2019 at the Opera Theater of St and then you get a phone call from the Metropolitan Opera I get a phone call from a friend of mine named Peter Gelb I never really saddled up for this musical journey in my life the production has gone from being this one little thing to being this huge production at The Met I remember walking into the rehearsal for the first day "Whoa." And I'm the only dude in there that couldn't sing But the beautiful thing about it was everybody was on the same page as to the purpose We had a round table discussion the first day of rehearsal this is the first role they've ever done that they can relate to One of the young kids said it gave him hope because he was bullied at school because he wanted to be an opera singer but it didn't really click until I had a conversation with the late Arthur Woodley and we were talking about how a lot of African American singers grew up in a church or sang R&B or jazz and they were told to turn all of that off to sing opera And then it hit me that day of that first day at a rehearsal where we had the round table bring all of that to this man in Angel Blue Because she grew up in a church singing a church But I think the reason why we were all in tears was because it was like we've been avoiding this for how long and it was who she was as a person who has a deep faith turned everything around for everybody  Jo Reed: Fire Shut Up in My Bones opened the 2021–22 season at the Metropolitan Opera—the first opera staged there after the long Covid closure and it was first opera by a Black composer to be performed by the Met Which shocked the hell out of everybody so for you it had to have been on one hand "Oh my God "How do you feel being the first African-American to have an opera at the Met?" I'm like but then I'm doing an interview on television and they bring me a ledger of operas that were rejected and William Grant Still's name is in there three times And I had just heard one of those operas the summer before in St So the thing that was so crazy about that period in my life I'm the first African American to have an opera at the Met but I'm not the first qualified African American to have an opera at the Met They were many other guys who were well qualified to have that moniker Opera is the highest form of musical theater you could ever experience and I think with all of the talent out there the possibilities are endless to create stories and tell stories that could be really intriguing to a fan base Jo Reed: What was opening night like at the Met Terence Blanchard: I was emotionally just blown away at the level of support that was shown to us And I had never been that nervous before in my life I knew that they were stepping up to the plate All the performances to such a degree where I felt weird coming out to take a bow at the end of it those people that went out there and performed and did it There were so many people who had never been to the Met before It was probably one of the most diverse audiences they've ever seen at the Met And one of the things that we learned is that those first timers bought tickets to other shows Jo Reed: You are passionate about education Jo Reed: You have a whole career as an educator Talk about why this is central to your artistic life Terence Blanchard: I am the beneficiary of great teachers and great programs as well all of the summer programs that I went to at Loyola University I see now how important they are because we don't have a situation where guys are learning on the streets but guys are coming to these bands well prepared because of these systems The guys in my jazz band with Kendrick Scott and some of those guys Those arch high schools really helped shape their careers and gave them strong musical foundations which allowed them to go out and grow and prosper When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and there was talk of taking music out of the schools I remember they did a study and they found that kidswho were involved in music did better in math and science the arts really help us develop another side of our brain And I'd like to think that it helps us to develop the compassionate side of us–that along with these experiences as musicians allow us to create music to help people heal It allows you to enter into a world where you could put aside things that are bothering you things that are troubling you just for a moment which could help rejuvenate your soul to get back to doing the work that you need to do So I think it's a win-win for everybody involved because music education is not just about creating musicians but it's about creating a community that really appreciates the arts I'm here to tell you arts education is vital People don't really get it sometimes because they keep looking at the big picture They're not understanding that this is not necessarily about creating the next Wynton Marsalis But it's about creating the next productive person who understands what art is and what life is about much bigger than what they see on the block And that's what having these broader experiences for young kids does Jo Reed: I'm wondering when you're teaching students who are at the college level who are really thinking about a career in music how do you help them develop their own style when I'm working with kids who really want to become professional musicians I teach them composition the way Roger taught me So when I give 'em all of these rules about how to take their idea and runthrough all of these various permutations is that none of them sound the same because I'm not giving them the idea and I'm showing them how to take that idea no matter how small An example I always use is (scats the beginning of Beethoven’s Fifth) Jo Reed: And you are now the artistic director at SFJazz was really attractive because it's San Francisco And when you think about music and art in San Francisco there's a lot of cutting edge stuff it that's come from that area the tech world is kind of taking it over now in terms of the impression of what's there it's always been this haven for the arch for me Had no idea I'd be working there—running a joint I want people from all over the world to come to San Francisco and check out SFJazz We are already well entrenched in the community and there's more things that we could do in terms of outreach to students that I'm working on We want to go more into the schools and some communities and have a bigger footprint in those areas I want to offer opportunities for musicians that are kind of caught in the middle of things You got to understand that it's a different world from when I got into the music industry So we have to figure out how to help some of these musicians who are not major stars They're kind of caught in the middle a little bit And so some of us realize we have to take a chance on them to build a relationship with audiences That's the reason why It's a nonprofit organization There's some technological things we're going to do I'm excited about how we're going to incorporate that into live shows I actually want to curate a series of matching video artists with musicians and have them collaborate on things There's so many things coming down the pipe with SFJazz it's because the sky's the limit with that organization I really feel like I've been given the keys to a Ferrari with SFJazz because it's already been doing a lot of great work I'm just coming in there and just kind of putting my take on things and trying to expand it in other areas Jo Reed: And you have been named an NEA Jazz Master I was not expecting that at all—the NEA Jazz Master thing because I had seen so many people receive it When it finally dawned on me and I realized that it was real It's a huge honor to be in a class with all of my heroes It's something I didn't think of that it just never crossed my mind that's kind of cool that these guys are being recognized like this in such a way because they've been contributing so much to the world of music ask me when it's all after the thing is done It is kind of like going to the Met for the first time It's like I can't really put into words what it feels like because I'm still processing the entire thing huge overwhelming honor to be amongst some of the greatest of our time Jo Reed: That was part two of my conversation with 2024 NEA Jazz Master Terence Blanchard I am off to my retirement after 696 shows…and each one has been sheer pleasure Art Works has been possible all these years because of the support from my colleagues at the Arts Endowment most particularly those in the Office of Public Affairs I’m Josephine Reed—thank you for listening Blanchard shares the challenges of scoring the documentary When the Levees Broke and discusses how his Grammy-winning album A Tale of God’s Will emerged from those themes evolving into a deeply personal statement on loss and resilience he examines how his musical voice has expanded across genres culminating in his historic operas Champion and Fire Shut Up in My Bones—the first opera by an African American to be produced at the Metropolitan Opera He also discusses his role in bringing the Monk Institute (now the Herbie Hancock Institute) to New Orleans and his ongoing dedication as an educator and mentor to young musicians He discusses his then-new role as Artistic Director of SFJAZZ where he provides opportunities for mid-career as well as emerging musicians and brings innovative programming to audiences As he reflects on receiving the NEA Jazz Master honor Blanchard considers the legacy of those who came before him and the responsibility of carrying the music forward Thanks for visiting Click To Call Johnnie was the son of James and Virginia Blanchard who preceded him in death Seven of his brothers and sisters preceded him in death; another sister transitioned a couple days after Johnnie transitioned Johnnie was fondly known as “John,” “Ted,” and “Lent.”  Full of fun and love He was educated in the Chesapeake Public School System After graduating he enlisted in the United States Airforce in which he was honorably discharged He worked briefly as a Sheriff for the City of Chesapeake He retired from the City of Norfolk Public Works as a meter reader He loved to travel and tried so hard to be an excellent bid whist card player Johnnie loved to talk and ended up in “serious” conversations to get his point across He was such a humorous soul who kept the laughter flowing The love in the Blanchard family flows strong and deep Edmonds (Nicky) and Columbus DeShawn Wilkes (sons); 12 beautiful grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; Sheldia Bell and Veronica Godfrey Michael (Adrienne); Deacon George (Gina) and Norman (Gloria) Blanchard he will be missed by a host of  relatives and friends of which almost everyone he met was considered to his “cousin.” Let me not defer nor neglect it; for I will not pass this way again.”  Stephen Grellet May God bless your family at this difficult time My deepest sympathy to the Blanchard Family.Rest in peace my childhood friend A life well lived and a Buttssation Legend thoughts of you will forever be in my heart Sorry for your lost he was like a big brother to me and a very good friend 🧡 he will surely be miss by me and the guys that knew him God bless You will truly be missed Uncle Lent I have enough memeories to last til we meet again so keep my spot warm til then Love you Always Unk ❤️ #LongLiveUncleLent# I’ll never get to hear you call me whippersnapper again passed away while surrounded by his family on Saturday He was a loyal employee of MMR for the last 25 years He loved teaching his children how to fish hunt with both a bow-and-arrow and firearms and cooking meals for his family and friends His smile and passion was contagious and will be missed by everyone who knew him and Joni and wife Rochelle; Grandparents: MaryAnn and Ambrose “Boo” Blanchard; thirteen grandchildren; Furry Best-Friend Finley; and numerous family members and friends Kenneth is preceded in death by his grandparents Blanchard were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium under the direction of Broussard’s kenny sorry to hear bout ur passing.we grew up together lots of memories i will say a prayer for u tonight rest in peace my brother Pray for us Ken that we all can understand Gods will In all of what endured Your fighting spirit will be an inspiration to all of us forever Some day we will all know that your fight to continue in this life has opened a door so that one will ever have travel that same path Help us to get through this.Please forgive us if we were being selfish to see you one last time It’s so hard to let go of someone we Love so much We all feel you close to us so guide us and help us to go on with our lives and help us to understand the bigger picture that God has created a place for all of us SOOO Looking forward to the day we can all rejoice in his presence There will be the sounding of trumpet swans and ducks calls throughout the heavens for all to hear The smile on your face will light up the heavens Me & Marco Hernandez send our deepest condolences to you Tangi Kenny was an amazing colleague and friend to us He taught us both many things in work and in life May your Angel rest in peace and watch over you Much love and many prayers go out to you I send out my condolences to you and your family I love yall with all my heart 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 May God grant you peace during this time of sorrow My heart is breaking for you and your family Rickey and I are praying for you and your family Tangi my condolences on the loss of your husband My continued prayers for you and his family yall were able to reunite after so many years apart proving just how strong and lasting y’all’s love truly is Kenny was a wonderful person and will be missed Every time I seen him he was always optimistic and I know he fought hard as long as he could May he RIP🙏 my condolences to his family and friends I’m so sorry for the loss of your son and grandson please know that yall are in our thoughts and prayers My prayers go out to you and all of the family I’m so sorry to hear of Kenny’s passing. and website in this browser for the next time I comment Beaumont - McFaddin Ave. Beaumont - Major Dr. Nederland ©Broussard's Mortuary 2017-2025 Built By Americom Marketing Thanks for visiting Gypsy Rose Blanchard shared that she did not pass along a rare chromosomal condition to her baby daughter Aurora Raina Urker Gypsy Rose Blanchard is celebrating good news for her baby girl After welcoming daughter Aurora Raina Urker with fiancé Ken Urker in December the Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup star admitted there was one trait she did not want to pass along to her infant—and fortunately it appears the 4-month-old is in the clear “We're overjoyed to share that our sweet girl, Aurora, has tested negative for the rare genetic condition known as microdeletion 1q21.1,” Gypsy Rose wrote in a post on Instagram April 23 adding that she and Ken felt “such immense relief and gratitude.” The health abnormality—which the reality star described having in her 2024 memoir My Time to Stand—is described as a chromosomal change that causes a small portion of chromosome 1 to be deleted in each cell, which “increases the risk of delayed development, intellectual disability, physical abnormalities and neurological and psychiatric problems,” according to the National Institute of Health’s MedlinePlus went on to note that her little one “is happy healthy and growing beautifully at 4 months old,” adding “We’re looking forward to cherishing every moment with her “We are moving in that direction,” he told E but it definitely is at the forefront of our lives It's something that we all want as a family For a closer look at Gypsy Rose’s life since leaving prison After being released from prison on Dec. 28, Gypsy Rose Blanchard snapped her first Instagram selfie Gypsy and then-husband Ryan Anderson shared a glimpse into their new era together Gypsy reunited with her sister Mia Blanchard amid her new chapter "A New Years Eve Eve kiss with my hubby." Gypsy also ended 2023 with an Instagram selfie Gypsy and Ryan walked their first red carpet at the premiere of her Lifetime docuseries The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard Gypsy and Ryan kissed on the red carpet at the premiere In late March 2024, three months after her prison release, Gypsy shared that she and Ryan broke up "People have been asking what is going on in my life," she wrote in a statement on her private Facebook page "Unfortunately my husband and I are going through a separation and I moved in with my parents home down the bayou." Gypsy underwent a rhinopasty and septoplasty (nose job) April 5 Her physical transformation will be documented on Lifetime's Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up Gypsy filed for divorce from Ryan on April 8 according to court documents obtained by TMZ The filing came nearly two years after their July 2022 prison wedding Gypsy's Tribute to Her "Soulmate" In late April 2024, weeks after filing for divorce, Gypsy announced she got back together with ex-fiancé Ken Urker she made their rekindled romance social media official by sharing a video montage of their romantic moments on TikTok Gypsy described her love story with Ken as "legendary." And when a fan, using her own past comments about ex Ryan, took the oppotunity to ask her in the comments a NSFW question about Ken, Gypsy responded quickly and candidly a Double-Double burger served animal-style Gypsy called getting to meet Kim Kardashian, who has become a criminal justice advocate in recent years, a "huge honor." "She's a really sweet woman and I really appreciate her taking the time to talk with me," Gypsy told E! News host Keltie Knight "We had a lot to talk about as far as prison reform goes I know that she's done some really amazing things with prison reform And that's really close to my heart because I've been on that side of the fence." Less than three months after filing for divorce Gypsy announced that she and her new boyfriend Ken are expecting their first baby together "I'm happy to announce that I am 11 weeks pregnant," she shared in a July 2024 YouTube video Gypsy showed off her meaningful new tattoos in July Gypsy and Ken celebrated at a sex reveal party for their first baby in August 2024 and, at a baby shower in November, shared that they'll be naming her Aurora Raina Urker With co-authors Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani, Gypsy told her dramatic life story to date in her book My Time to Stand Blanchard was first diagnosed with microdeletion 1Q21.1 in 2012 Gypsy-Rose Blanchard has revealed she’s lost 25 lbs since giving birth to her baby girl crediting her body transformation on having a “healthier” diet Blanchard took to her Instagram page to share a side-by-side photo showing off her weight loss “My 25lbs weight loss 💗,” she captioned the post In one photo, the Life After Lock Up star is seen in a black dress at a red carpet event The photo beside it is a more recent mirror selfie showing Blanchard in a white sleeveless vest Blanchard shared further details in the comments section “I’ve seen a lot of comments of people asking how I lost the weight so my weight loss journey started once getting out of prison so when I started eating healthier instead of prison food I started eating twice a day and smaller portions.” A post shared by Gypsy-Rose Blanchard (@gypsyrose.ig) Fans jumped into the comments to share their reactions “Healthy and Happy looks amazing on you “Your hard work shows ~ Congrats!” said another “You look AMAZING!!!” another added There’s nothing wrong with changing your looks After everything you deserve it,” said one commenter returned to Instagram later that day to share a rare video with her baby daughter Blanchard is seen trying to comfort her three-month-old baby while rocking her on a chair and rubbing her back “Night 3 of Colic,” she captioned the post According to the Mayo Clinic prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in a healthy infant Colic can be particularly frustrating for parents because the baby’s distress occurs for no apparent reason and no amount of consoling seems to bring any relief.” Blanchard previously revealed she and Urker wouldn’t be sharing public photos of their child I will not be posting pictures of Aurora,” Blanchard wrote in her Instagram Stories shortly after she gave birth “I understand everyone’s excitement and we appreciate the support but we value the privacy and safety of our daughter.” Sign Up “Oh- By The Way” from the album Oh-By the Way performed by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers “Sing Soweto” composed and performed by Terence Blanchard composed and performed by Terence Blanchard.  Jo Reed: For the National Endowment for the Arts bandleader—Terence Blanchard is a six-time Grammy winner he’s left an indelible mark from his early years with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers to his decades-long collaboration with Spike Lee to his groundbreaking work in opera In this first of a two-part conversation recorded at the end of 2023 Terence takes us back to where it all began—New Orleans He talks about growing up in a city filled with music and the pivotal moments that set him on the path to becoming one of today’s most influential musicians one of the things that has remained constant is the influence of New Orleans So I began by asking him how the city—its music New Orleans is one of those cities where growing up here either you are a musician or you have been heavily affected by the music I've heard a lot of great music from the time that I was a little kid I remember going to picnics and there being live bands of people that really could play Jo Reed: You grew up in a city full of music and in a house that was full of music too because the house that I grew up just had music everywhere My mom's sister played piano and taught voice My dad loved opera and was an amateur baritone and sang all the time So there was always performances when I was a little kid So it became second nature just to be around it And my grandmother had a piano at our house and I used to just try to bang on the piano because everybody was playing it at some point So I would try to take my turn and I didn't know what I was doing And then that's when they started me on lessons when I was five years old I guess they got tired of me trying to play Batman without knowing what I was doing I remember Andre Previn would come on television I remember Oscar Peterson was on television one time Look at how he uses his fingers and how his hands are placed it all resonated around the whole notion of being excellent at what it is that you did My father used to come home when I was a little kid My dad would come home and he sold the insurance and he always had a lot of change in his pockets and a lot of keys I could hear him in the back of the house and I'll be like here he is." And he comes back there and I must be about eight or nine years old man?" And he would make me go up there and practice and he would sit on the couch right next to me while I would practice So he would never let me get away with anything when I was a kid Jo Reed: When did you start playing trumpet switching to trumpet was an interesting endeavor a guy named Alvin Alcorn came to my elementary school to give us a demonstration on New Orleans traditional music And it was something about the way the trumpet resonated What made that interesting was my grandmother had the piano and he had just rented a piano for me to have at the house after he calmed down and the swearing stopped Letting me know what the work ethic was about or maybe it was a year or something after I had my horn we get to a stoplight and there's Alvin Alcorn in the car next to us He's the reason why I'm playing the trumpet You think you could teach him how to play jazz?” And I got excited because I'm like He's got to learn how to do that on his own.” I was a little kid and I think it was probably the best thing for me to hear about learning how to go out and get it yourself you always speak so highly of your teachers throughout your life because educators don't get enough respect but they are the real superheroes in a lot of our lives Martha Francis was my very first piano teacher The only reason why I laugh is because when I was studying with her my bedroom's in the back of our part of the double So I would hear them play the piano all night long I was about 11 or 12 years old when I started studying with her but she was teaching me theory and giving me ear training lessons when I was 11 or 12 years old with some other kids We thought this is what you were supposed to do So we were learning about how music was constructed she went to college with Roger at Dillard University maybe I should take him over to Roger to see if Roger will take him as a student Because Roger was only teaching college students I was about 14 or 15 years old and asked me some questions and then he took me on as a student He felt like somebody in my immediate family And he would challenge my thinking all the time tell me why is that significant?” I had to have answers And he taught me in such a way where everything that I had written or would write There had to be some relevance to the original musical idea which really started to make me understand about being concise And having some type of consistency throughout whatever it is that you create And I would get there and he would look at it and he'd go And he would start to mark up my thing when I'm like But I love that level of attention to detail because it's done me well in my career now And I don't have any shame in my game about saying it because he saw something in me I didn't see in myself I would call him whenever I had big moments in my life these people are asking me to write an opera “trust your training.” He said,” trust your training.” He said And then George Jensen was my trumpet teacher So all of these people played a role in my life Jo Reed: And NOCCA is the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts You and the Marsalis family go back a long way we were at the Loyola University summer music camp And me and Wynton had the last two chairs in the trumpet section New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.” He said So I immediately started to do some research about New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts And it was hard for them because the private school I was going to was one of the prestigious schools in the city So to leave that to go to a public school was something they really couldn't put their heads around but my parents stuck with me throughout all of that stuff that was another big shift in my life because I was around kids like me who really wanted it badly And it was an amazing experience that school was so smart and how they designed that program because we would have a gala to raise money at the end of the year Because the gala was a performance where we brought all of the disciplines together to interact to make one big show and sometimes there would be crosspollination between those disciplines And it was a beautiful thing to witness because we all got a chance to learn Jo Reed: You ended up going to Rutgers University and what it really boiled down to was who were the trumpet teachers there They had a great jazz program there with great jazz teachers who's a great jazz pianist and was actually one of my piano teachers and it just made sense because then I would be close to New York I stayed with Paul Jeffries before school started He was playing in Lionel Hampton's band at the time and he took me on one of the gigs and told me to bring my horn And then I'm out there and the band is setting up and some of the trumpet players asked me to pull on my horn and play And then Lionel Hampton walked up behind me and goes let me hear you play a blues with the piano player So I started traveling with Lionel Hampton's big band maybe a week or two before I started school Jo Reed: What was that experience like for you being in that first thing about being in Lionel Hamptons band is that you realize when you get on the bus And I'm a young kid and I'm like 18 years old I had Curtis Fuller in that band who's a great trombone player who played with Sonny Rollins was in that band; Oliver Beaner--he was a trumpet player in the section there were great musicians in that band man And it was an education being around those guys because they would all play on a high level And it was interesting because they treated me with respect but they treated me like they had expectations I had to live up to everything by being in that band And I think that band really helped prepare me to be in Art Blakey’s band after that because I was getting training and learning how to elevate myself by being around those guys Jo Reed: It had to have been a transition going from Lionel Hampton's band to Art Blakey’s Band it was a big transition going from Lionel Hampton to Art Blakey So it placed a lot of responsibility on me really quickly I tell people all the time when I never forget when I first saw Art Blakey’s band and saw him play live and played with him live I had to go back and re-listen to all of my albums because it sounded different to me There was a practicality about what it was that he was playing And then to hear how he would shape our compositions was amazing because this is the dude I've been listening to on all these records with Wayne Shaw or Herbie Hancock And now I'm standing in front of him and he's playing one of my tunes I was there for four years and wound up becoming the musical director of the band I'm going to make you the musical director And which meant I needed to announce the tunes just like trying to talk in public was not my thing But the most important thing about playing with Art was not just playing with him I met all of my heroes while I was in that band I met all those guys while I was in that band and we had just taken a break intermission me and you go out and we both play two ballads I'm going to play a ballad and you play piano for me it's the first time you heard vibrato on a piano and I'm up here playing a piano with Dizzy Gillespie But that was the kind of experiences that I had even though I was in that band for four years I felt like I aged by 40 because it was such a rapid thing of seeing all of these great musicians hanging out with him Roy Haynes and Jack DeJohnette sitting at the table right in front of us while we're playing But that was the kind of rapid acceleration of growth that I experienced while I was in that band for four years Jo Reed: And you also experienced a lot of growth in terms of composition because Blakey demanded that musicians composed Talk about that and beginning to come into your own as a composer I want you to bring your music to the group.” And what was the most challenging thing for us in that band was by the time we got to that band he had already made a bunch of iconic records So there's a sound in our head about what the Jazz Messengers were He wanted us to have our own version of that I don't know if a lot of people noticed this but when Wynton and Branford and all of them left the band It was a little subtle thing that he would do all the time But that's just the type of guy that he was I remember one time we were playing at Sweet Basil’s “I want this band to get to the point where we could just go out there and create a tune just on the fly.’ That's Art Blakey saying that even though he had a strong musical personality It was really about how we could really craft the music to really have our own version of the Messengers while we were there Jo Reed: And while you were still with The Messengers New Orleanian Donald Harrison got together and created your own quintet Jo Reed: What did you and Donald want to do together musically And tell me about that time that you were together What happened while Donald and myself were in the band was George Wein approached us and he said it was an opportunity to create and to create our own sound One of the things I'll say about Donald and myself we never really tried to sound like anybody And when we put the band together at first and started touring that was an education because all of a sudden now we don't have that strong thing coming from Art Blakey but we had to get adjusted to playing with other people give them a kind of sense of where we were coming from musically We have this moment in time where we have this band together I listen back to 'em and they make me smile The thing that I'm proud of is that we made the effort We really tried our best to create our own sound Jo Reed: You have banner years throughout your life In 1991 was one you started your solo career with release of the self-titled album Terence Blanchard you began your more than 30 year collaboration with Spike Lee What happened was George Butler at Columbia Records and just so happened to be working with Spike for Mo Better Blues and I started going through that song for that album "it's a song that I'm working on called 'Sing Soweto' something that I'm working on for my album." He goes can you write a string arrangement for it?” And it's one of those moments where do I lie I got to write a string arrangement for it because he was scoring the film and Spike's dad goes I went back to my high school training where we used to do sight singing classes So all of that stuff was happening at the same time And I look back on it now and think about how crazy it was at the time it was just there were opportunities that were in front of my face that I had to try to experience and try to take advantage of Jo Reed: And Jungle Fever was the first film for Spike that you actually scored And the reason why I'm laughing is because he loved “Sing Soweto” so much So I kept trying to write these other themes for him "Nobody will know." So that's what happened And then I literally didn't think he was going to call me to do Malcolm X because it was such a big movie I want you to do Malcolm X." I immediately started listening to some scores I was cramming because Jungle Fever was a great experience but I knew Malcolm X was going to be something totally different And I did a lot of work before we started working on that So I know that I did the best that I could at that time because I'd studied so much and what goes into working with Spike in particular Terence Blanchard: So when it comes to film scoring really my job is to help with director tell a story the best way they see fit because sometimes with certain young directors and sometimes you have to hone them in and say let's make a decision about an approach so we can have some consistency throughout the entire thing but that's the great thing about working with Spike he respects all of the different crafts that it takes to make a movie The most that I hear from him is when we are initially creating the themes this person to have a theme." Then I'll come back here and I'll start to work on a theme And I'll send him to him and he listens to him and he sings him And then either we get together or he'll call me and he says I want number 11 to be so-and-so's theme number four to be so-and-so's theme." And we go through an entire thing like that I don't hear from him until we get to the studio but I think it's like a psychological thing because if somebody puts that kind of trust in you Because you don't want to let that person down if they're giving you that type of room I want to make sure that things are going to be right I don't like getting into the studio and still having to write music I try to make sure all of my scores are done when we get to the stage And it is been great working with Spike because I'll show up and I get to the studio maybe two hours ahead boom." And then we go out and we'll start the first scene I realized it's him wanting to hear the entire score for the first time So one of the things about working with Spike that I should have alluded to earlier It's like you're on a fast break and you are the last guy and he's about to pass you the ball So Spike has always made me stretch in ways other directors haven't because of his cinematic style Jo Reed: And you were nominated for an Academy Award for a best score for two of the films Da Five Bloods and BlacKkKlansman "was it working together for 30 years?" And we were really But the thing that I had to say when the guy asked us that is that it's been brilliant working with those guys for 30 years because they never talked about demographics They only talked about what was best for the movie every time And it was something I never really noticed until he asked me that Whenever they were making about editing or storytelling it was all about what was best for the story And you got to give them credit for that being an artist and being true to their art And I just wonder if there's a different way you have to approach an ongoing series as opposed to a single film.  Terence Blanchard: What's interesting about doing series episodic television is that if the series is great There's nothing for me to manipulate or add a supplement And when you have John Lithgow and Matthew Reese The cool part about that was just that it was a remake of something that I grew up watching There was so many things about the story that I thought was just brave and they were mixing up all of these things I don't think that's what this thing needs But what happened was we did the first season during the pandemic so I was upstairs in my studio working on it So we had to get everybody to do their parts in their home studios We had to get everybody to do their stuff in their home studios and then piece it together I don't know who we're going to give for a lead instrument because I had been thinking about maybe a voice or maybe something else it became fun because I didn't have to create the palette that was already created in season one but I did have to think about how am I not going to beat people over the head with those themes it had to be integrated into the storyline and the storylines was powerful I was really sorry that we didn't get picked up for a third season but I thought it was an amazing month for me you're pushing your own solo work forward in albums like Flow produced by Herbie Hancock all coming together in a really wonderful hole Can you talk about putting that together and the relationship you and Herbie have it was so interesting working on Flow because we didn't have a title for it first We knew we wanted to do an album of our original music that was a pivotal moment for us as a group we're still trying to figure out our way as a band And we get into the studio and Herbie just starts talking to us in a way Those are the three bands that I like.  But the funny part was we realized we were running out of material for the album y'all jazz musicians go out there and create something because one of the things that we were experiencing is being in the moment And it's funny because a lot of people think art and creating stuff is about a struggle and it's not because sometimes when you're on the flow of something Jo Reed: Let’s talk about your current band The E Collective for a moment How do you allow musicians their own voices and give them room for their own compositions but at the same time to still create a coherent Terence Blanchard: With The E Collective man it's been such a blessing playing with those dudes because it's like my other bands too and everybody in the band is extremely creative So what generally happens with us is that when we take on a new project guys will jot down ideas to come up with things and we run through ideas and we try different things and all of a sudden we'll start to implement things into the lineup Because once these guys get it in their minds and they know what it is they tried things every night and then it just kind of grows from there It's been such a great thing playing with them That's the reason why we did the live album but when we're playing live is when a lot of the magic really happens I love playing with those guys because they're so flexible and they're brilliant Jo Reed: That was part 1 of my two-part interview with trumpeter composer and 2024 NEA Jazz Master Terence Blanchard Terence discusses the impact of Hurricane Katrina on his life and his work his ongoing exploration of music with his current band taking on the role of artistic director of SFJAZZ and his role as an educator mentoring the next generation of musicians Follow Behind the Mic wherever you get your podcasts and part 2 will simply appear in your feed You’ve been listening to Art Works produced at the National Endowment for the Arts where he honed his skills as a composer and bandleader The new mom showed off her long blonde hair in stunning new photos at the age of 73 following a battle with cancer John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Plaquemine She was also active in the Bayou Pigeon Heritage Association Sue touched many people in her life with her kindness children and grandchildren was endless.  Sue is survived by her loving husband of 36 years Kelly Blanchard Landry (Brandon); 14 grandchildren and 2 future great granddaughters; sister Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 9:00am until 11:30am at St A Rosary service led by the Bayou Pigeon Rosary group will be held at 11:30am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at noon Burial will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.  Resthaven Gardens of Memory & Funeral Home Steve “BIRDMAN” Blanchard  Stephen Lewis Blanchard born in California & raised in the heart of Texas has gone to be with our loving Lord on February 16 Steve's overall other health remained intact due to a very healthy and active life style.  Graduated from MacArthur High School in 1974; Steve was an avid athlete From childhood through a baseball scholarship to Bee County College; later Sam Houston State University and his parents supported his love of the game Three pointers were Steve’s second love; he later went on to coach his son in basketball and baseball He was an athlete and coach by nature.  Steve met his wife Nancy on the exact day he went to be with our Lord 1985 and gave birth 3 years later to their first born son then in 1993  Steve operated Blanchard’s RENT WORLD with his parents & wife from 1988-2007 Steve is and was incredibly proud of his son Christopher and his daughter Melissa and grew into a fine drummer which he had a band named: BACKBONE with his dear friends Steve loved and was very proud of his grand babies; Wesley son and friend to many; Steve never met an enemy and a sincere heart for animals now lay to rest and will be greatly missed His funny stories and wild adventures will forever be in our hearts Thank you for teaching us that MUSIC IS THE DOCTOR self-control and devotion to what is right Christopher Blanchard and wife Nicole; daughter Melissa Villalobos and husband Roger; father Karen Brougham and husband Doug; and grandkids and Noah Villalobos; and several nieces and nephews The verse of Steve’s life is from Romans 12: 9-10 “ Love must be sincere Honor one another above yourselves.” and honor are under the direction of Kerrville Funeral Home Thanks for visiting Catahoula- A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM Bill Melancon will officiate the memorial service  A rosary will be prayed at 9:00 am by the Men's Rosary Group Burial will follow at Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery He will be remembered for his immense love for his family Carol dedicated many years to a successful career in the oil field as a supervisor He found great joy in visits to the casino and took pleasure in watching sports the Washington Commanders and the Houston Astros He will deeply be missed by all who knew and loved him Brook Melancon (Mitch) and Callie Delcambre (Kahnan); grandchildren Lillian Suire (Wilton "Kini") and Evelyn Barras (James "Ti-boy"); and brother-in-law Pellerin Funeral Home (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements Gypsy Rose Blanchard surprised fans on Friday with a bold new look in a recent Instagram post showcasing her ongoing transformation following a 25-pound weight loss since giving birth to daughter Aurora in December The reality TV personality unveiled a new hairstyle featuring long a sharp departure from the short brunette bob she had been seen wearing as recently as Easter Dressed in denim shorts and a plunging black leather top Blanchard completed her outfit with white boots and layered gold chains Blanchard's striking new look arrived just weeks after she first revealed her weight loss progress in April sharing side-by-side photos that documented her journey she had attended the premiere of The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard while a more recent photo showed off her toned figure in casual attire Blanchard has emphasized that her transformation was achieved through consistent exercise and yoga not weight-loss medications as she wrote in January "I bought small gym equipment for my home to start getting healthy also took to social media to share a photo of the couple attending the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival marking another public appearance following their recent reconciliation who were previously engaged during Blanchard’s time in prison reconnected after her split from husband Ryan Scott Anderson earlier this year was released from prison in December 2023 after serving eight years for her involvement in the 2015 murder of her mother The case garnered national attention and inspired Hulu’s The Act Blanchard reflected on motherhood and its impact on her life as she shared I’m a lot more mindful about my decisions because they affect [my daughter] as well.” Blanchard also disclosed that her daughter’s name a shared fascination between her and Urker during their early relationship Directory Search A-Z Index Applying for financial aid? Be sure to complete your FAFSA! To apply, visit the Federal Student Aid website Sagittis adipiscing netus fusce amet ornare id purus sit Sed nisl purus morbi sed aliquam ultricies MyCSU Request Information Student Life Give to CSU Blanchard, who welcomed a daughter in December, shared a parenting update on her Instagram Stories on Sunday, April 13 Blanchard, who welcomed a baby daughter in December, shared a photo of her slimmer look on Instagram on Sunday, April 13 Erin Clack is a Staff Editor for PEOPLE. She has been writing about fashion, parenting and pop culture for more than 15 years. SearchSearchTexas Tech rewards Blanchard with new contract February 07, 2025 | Football James Blanchard has signed a new three-year contract to remain Texas Tech’s general manager as she was known by her family and friends She completed grade school and started high school in Goodhue before transferring to Our Lady of Good Counsel Academy in Mankato where she completed her high school and college education earning her bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate She served as an elementary school teacher for several years They lived together in Rochester until Roger passed on January 6 Pat was also preceded in death by her parents She is survived by her sisters Peg (Busby) and Cathy (Ryan) and her brothers Joe She will be remembered with a Celebration of Life on Monday November 4 at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Homes The service begins at 11 and will be followed by lunch Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Blanchard family Robert 'Rocky' Joseph Blanchard Junior died peacefully at home in the arms of his wife of 49 years Rena Mae and Robert Joseph Blanchard Senior; and his father and mother-in-law He is a devoted and loving father to Melissa (Matthew) and Josh (Leidy) A lifelong resident of Marrero and graduate of the 1964 class at Immaculata High he cared deeply about his roots and his community He will always be remembered for his humor and love for his family and the music of Fats Domino Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Immaculate Conception Parish He will be deeply missed by anyone who ever knew him 2024 at 12pm at Immaculate Conception Church in Marrero Breaux Bridge - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 am on Monday Bernard Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge for George Blanchard A visitation will take place at the funeral home in Breaux Bridge on Sunday It will continue on Monday at the Carmelite Monastery in Lafayette from 9:30 am until 10:45 am A Rosary will be prayed in French at 7:00 pm on Sunday evening by Tommy Guidry Father Michael Richard will officiate at the Funeral Service Readers will be Donna Maynes and Summer Champagne owner and operator of Blanchard Electric Inc He had the upmost respect and dedication to the Carmelite Monastery in Lafayette George was known for always saying what was on his mind and for having friends everywhere George loved to scroll on Facebook and often found himself in "Facebook jail" He was a history buff that loved to learn and share with others especially his grandchildren and great-grandchild George will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him Katherine "Kathy" Lavergne Blanchard; daughters Connie Dumatrait (Chad) and Pamela Olivier (Craig); grandchildren Lucy Olivier and Dalaney Doran (Holden); great-grandchild Vincent Blanchard and Marie May Broussard Blanchard; and his brother the family requests donations be made to the Carmelite Monastery at 1250 Carmel Dr. Pellerin Funeral Home of Breaux Bridge (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.