Written By Darlene McCoy
When you hear the name Darlene McCoy, the song “I’m Every Woman” would be the ideal preamble. She bears a plethora of titles in an attempt to define her. Mother, National Recording Artist, Radio Personality, Actress, Author, Songwriter, Mentor, Entrepreneur, Comedian, Speaker; and it is evident that we have not witnessed all that God has placed behind this bright shining star of a woman! She has made an iconic stamp in the gospel industry from the launch of her career in music keeping us eager for her next creative move.
Darlene McCoy was introduced to the Industry when she appeared on the Platinum Soundtrack of Tyler Perry’s first movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman with the powerful melodic hit song “Fallen in Love” from her Self Titled debut album that earned her 2 Dove Award Nominations. She released a single independently in 2011 called “I Shall Live and Not Die” that quickly raced up the gospel charts and landed in the movie “Somebody’s Child’ which features Lyn Whitfield and Michael Jai White.
She is the first African American Female to have a nighttime syndication as she hosts the Nightly Spirit with Darlene McCoy, through Reach Media. She has developed her brand as the nation's “Inspirational Girlfriend” where everyone endears her as “My girl Darlene McCoy ". Darlene is known for her bold and broad approach to controversial topics and she is spiritually centered with an undeniable anointing and call from God to reach her listeners. She makes cameo appearances periodically on the Nationally Syndicated “Rickey Smiley Morning Show” either singing the “Praise Break “ live in Studio, or giving an encouraging word for the day.
Darlene has gained IMBD credibility as she has appeared on the sitcoms “the Rickey Smiley Show” and “In Sickness and in Health”. Darlene has also appeared in stage plays and is continuously developing her craft as an actress. She has released several short films and videos on YouTube that has gained well over a half a million views to accompany her hysterically hilarious Comedy CD called “Random Foolishness”. Random Foolishness which features parodies of popular songs like Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” and her Hit “Take Me to Burger King”, a parody of Stellar Award Winning vocal powerhouse Tamela Mann. Darlene is Co-Founder, Writer and Co-Producer of Rickey Smiley’s Comedic Quartet group “Joe Willie and the Deuteronimaires”. Darlene McCoy is the Author of “Jenimac Moments, Inspirational Words of Wisdom” and the soon to be released “I Shall Live and Not Die-Survivor’s Manual”. She writes and inspires through Blogs and features these writings on her show with a segment called “Jenimac Moments” that touch the hearts of readers and listeners, as if they are in a one on one counseling session with Darlene McCoy.
One could only conclude that she is empowered and equipped with God’s divine Grace as this single mother of three maintains a poised position as a multi-faceted, gifted, entertaining, ministering media mogul we richly adore!
Praise 102.5 Featured Video
CLOSE
Lakewood Fairgrounds
From the AJC.com:
The vote appeared to be a no-brainer for the Atlanta City Council: Approve a multi-million dollar, 50-year lease to rent out the Lakewood Fairgrounds to EUE/Screen Gems and move Atlanta a step closer to Hollywood.
It ultimately was approved 13-0, but not without a fierce battle over the language in a proposed amendment and a spat over council territory.
Joyce Sheperd, who represents the district, fought throughout the day to get an amendment passed that would have required EUE/Screen Gems to guarantee a certain number of jobs for the community. It was a request some council members, plus Mayor Kasim Reed, saw as unreasonable.
“As this new industry comes into our city, I want to make sure at the end of the day I can drive by and know that people are working,” Sheperd said.
Throughout the tense debate over the amendments, Reed was an influential spectator.
“He pulled me out several times during the day and told me not to kill this deal,” Sheperd said, conceding that her jobs guarantee demand could have put the deal in jeopardy.
At stake was a proposed 50-year leasing agreement that would have EUE/Screen Gems pay the city $250,000 a year for a decade, and $600,000 thereafter.
In a compromise, the council voted to create a task force for setting up training programs and creating jobs in the area.
“I wanted to get a guarantee, but you can’t mandate jobs,” Sheperd said.
Sheperd was hoping that the studio opening will create at least 1,000 new jobs.
“This will be a face-lift for my community,” she said. “This will jump-start the creation of restaurants, hotels and shops right here in our community.”
Reed praised Sheperd for her work on the project.
“I believe this is a very important step the council took,” the mayor said. “This transaction will move Atlanta among the top five cities in the U.S. in terms of having motion pictures made. And it will create several hundred jobs.”
Once the Lakewood studio is up and running, every television and movie sound stage in the city will be in use, Reed said.
EUE/Screen Gems will utilize about 30 acres of the fairgrounds and the fairground’s Spanish Mission Revival exhibition halls and convert them into sound studios, according to the agreement. Some 40,000 square feet of new sound stages will accommodate television, commercial, digital and film productions.
Read the full story here.
RELATED: Is Hollywood Coming To Lakewood?
