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  • Bryan Michael Cox Hosts His Annual ‘Breakfast Club’ Pre-Grammy Brunch Honoring Music Elites, Pays It Forward To HBCUs With $50K Scholarship Fund

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    Source: Photo Credit: Robin Lori / The Break Club Grammy Brunch

    Los Angeles was buzzing last weekend as the stars rolled in for the annual Breakfast Club Pre-Grammy Brunch, and the guest list did not disappoint. From R&B hitmaker and podcast favorite Tank to legendary singer-songwriter Eric Roberson, the celebration felt equal parts reunion, tribute, and cultural moment.

    The music industry’s elites also paid it forward, creating a scholarship fund for HBCU students aspiring to break into the industry.

    What began as a modest gathering two decades ago has grown into one of GRAMMY Week’s most cherished traditions. Hosted by multi–award-winning producer Bryan-Michael Cox on Feb. 1, the Breakfast Club Grammy Brunch returned this year with added meaning, marking its 20th anniversary while spotlighting the importance of mentorship, education, and uplifting HBCUs.

    This year’s brunch shone a spotlight on three powerful figures whose influence runs deep within the culture. Music publisher Walter Jones, acclaimed recording artist Eric Roberson, and the late Jerrell Allen were honored for their lasting impact on R&B, soul, and the broader music industry.

    The Breakfast Club Pre-Grammy Brunch
    Source: Photo Credit: Robin Lori / The Breakfast Club Grammy Brunch

    Walter Jones, Eric Roberson and the late Jerrell Allen were honored during the brunch.

    Jones and Roberson were celebrated for careers defined by authenticity, creative excellence, and a deep respect for the art form. Their contributions have helped shape the sound and spirit of Black music, rooted in storytelling, craftsmanship, and a commitment to cultural preservation.

    GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer Eric Roberson has long been a trailblazer in R&B and soul music. A proud Howard University alum, he is widely regarded as a pioneer of the independent movement, thriving outside the confines of major labels and mainstream radio. From writing and producing for artists like Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Dwele, and Vivian Green to headlining sold-out tours nationwide, Roberson has built a career rooted in authenticity. With more than 20 years as an independent artist, he continues to create change and innovate through his brand, “Honest Music,” which he launched in 2001.

    The Breakfast Club Grammy Brunch
    Source: Photo Credit: Robin Lori / The Breakfast Club Grammy Brunch

    Walter Jones is a respected music industry executive who serves as Executive Vice President and Head of A&R at Sony Music Publishing in Los Angeles. Appointed in February 2022, he oversees U.S. A&R efforts, champions songwriters, and helps guide artist development. Prior to joining Sony Music Publishing, Jones was Co-Head of A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group, where he played a key role in working with and supporting artists such as H.E.R., Lil Baby, A$AP Rocky, G-Eazy, Alessia Cara, and City Girls.

    The brunch also paused for a moving tribute to Jerrell Allen, a visionary music and lifestyle manager and marketing executive whose behind-the-scenes work helped elevate countless artists and brands. For nearly two decades, the Philadelphia native led Urban Architects, earning a reputation as a trusted strategist with a bold, forward-thinking approach. Widely respected as a thought leader, Jerrell was known for pushing the industry forward while always centering the creatives he served.

    Jerrell played a key role in shaping the career of vocalist Algebra Blessett, guiding her through the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, Purpose. The project earned her New Artist of the Year honors and offered an early glimpse into Jerrell’s creative leadership.

    In true Breakfast Club fashion, the celebration didn’t stop at honoring the past; it invested in the future. Partnering with HBCU Week as its philanthropic arm, the 2026 brunch raised $50,000 to establish the Jerrell Allen Memorial Scholarship. The fund ensures Jerrell’s passion for education, mentorship, and opportunity will continue to uplift the next generation of students and creatives in music. Tank led the incredible mission, according to Bryan Michael Cox’s Instagram video.

    The Breakfast Club Pre-Grammy Brunch
    Source: Photo Credit: Robin Lori / The Breakfast Club Grammy Brunch

    The vibe inside the room was warm, intimate, and electric. Conversation flowed easily as industry leaders, artists, and tastemakers connected and celebrated together. Attendees included Tank, Jon B, Teedra Moses, Estelle, Erik Sermon, Jermaine Dupri, Shyne Barrow, London On Da Track, Yo-Yo, Nefetari Spencer, Gabby Samone, Lauren LaRosa, Jimmy Allen, Algebra Blessett, and Algee Smith, each adding to the magic.

    The Breakfast Club Pre-Grammy Brunch
    Source: Photo Credit: Robin Lori /The Breakfast Club Grammy Brunch

    While many industry events lean on flash, the Breakfast Club Grammy Brunch has always been about substance. Two decades in, it remains a space where community comes first, legacies are honored, and the culture is celebrated with intention, and that’s exactly why it continues to shine.

    RELATED: Who Looked More Bangin’ At The 2026 Grammys?

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    Shannon Dawson

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  • Opinion | The Brains Behind Ukraine’s Pink Flamingo Cruise Missile

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    Kyiv, Ukraine

    If politics makes strange bedfellows, war sometimes makes strange career paths. In her 20s, Iryna Terekh was a “very artsy” architect who viewed the arms industry as “something destructive.” Now Ms. Terekh, 33, is chief technical officer and the public face of Fire Point, a Ukrainian defense company. She and her team developed the Flamingo, a long-range cruise missile that President Volodymyr Zelensky has called “our most successful missile.”

    Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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    Jillian Kay Melchior

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  • One Musicfest Showcases the Women of Today’s R&B Sound

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    Jai’Len Josey (above) during her One Music Fest performance on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2025. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    The landscape of R&B music is constantly changing, from the singing-in-the-rain type yearning to self-assured women owning their femininity. There’s a debate on whether real R&B is dead and gone, but as long as there is love, the genre will never cease to exist, even if it sounds a little different. R&B is in good hands, and the women at Saturday’s One Musicfest showcased that.

    The day started with UK girl group FLO, who, as a trio, have been bringing back the essence and power of girl groups. Renée, Jorja, and Stella can easily be compared to girl groups of the past, such as Destiny’s Child, and the influences are certainly there, but the girls have blended their own form of fun and sensual music. They commanded the stage with silky, cohesive harmonies and a synergy only seen from a group that had been friends first. They ran through hits from their EPs and debut studio album, such as “Immature,” Fly Girl,” “Walk Like This,” and their breakout debut single “Cardboard Box.” 

    British girl group FLO (above) during day one of One Music Fest 2025. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Atlanta native Jai’Len Josey has been steadily building a name for herself in the city she calls home, and it’s not hard with a voice as soulful as hers. With a unique texture and grit to her voice, she serenades whether it’s an intimate crowd like her set at OMF’s Toyota Stage or a concert venue. Josey opened up with a cover of “Need U Bad” by Jazmine Sullivan, her inflections mirroring those of the powerhouse songstress. Backed by Vibe Ktrl, Poetry on Peter’s resident band, she moved into her own songs, “Southern Delicacy,” “New Girl,” and “Willie’s Interlude,” the latter a dedication to her late grandfather. 

    Kehlani rounded out the new age R&B acts for the night. Her confident persona on stage was a testament to her longevity in the music industry, with over a decade of hits complemented by smooth vocals, effortless dance breaks, and a boldness that can’t be taught. Kehlani’s set was one filled with gratitude. The singer-songwriter acknowledged how, even a decade later, her career continues to grow in ways she never imagined, evident by her latest song “Folded,” which has taken over the charts and snared the hearts of listeners and R&B legends such as Brandy, Toni Braxton, and Tank. She began her set with a teaser of the song before moving into hits such as “The Way” featuring Chance the Rapper, “I Hate the Club,” “Can I,” “Nights Like This,” and “After Hours.” She ended the set with “Folded,” but it was more of a collaborative effort. The audience swayed, hugged, and waved their hands as they sang along to every word.  

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    Laura Nwogu

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  • North Sacramento residents regain power after railcar fire, officials say

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    Evacuations were almost called in north Sacramento after a railcar caught fire on Monday morning in a mostly industrial part of the city, officials said. Crews were dispatched around 2:08 a.m. to the 3900 block of Roseville Road underneath the Highway 80 overpass near Del Paso Park.A railcar caught fire with the potential to spread to two other railcars, one tank containing ethanol and another containing diesel, both explosive materials. A three-alarm fire was called for additional units to help, the Sacramento Fire Department said. The fire extended into some grass, six vehicles in a tow yard and a trailer containing lead-acid batteries. Power lines were damaged and people lost power, the fire department said.The SMUD outage map showed 1,859 customers lost power in the area around 2:52 a.m. due to damaged equipment. Power had been restored to all but 31 customers as of 5:20 a.m. Roseville Road is shut down between Marconi Avenue and Longview Drive. I-80 was not closed as the fire was contained. It was unclear what caused the fire or where it originated. No injuries have been reported at this time. Sacramento Valley Railroad, under Patriot Rail, operates the railcar that caught fire. Patriot Rail told KCRA3 that the railcar that caught fire was carrying telephone poles and the fire didn’t spread to any other railcars. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. —

    Evacuations were almost called in north Sacramento after a railcar caught fire on Monday morning in a mostly industrial part of the city, officials said.

    Crews were dispatched around 2:08 a.m. to the 3900 block of Roseville Road underneath the Highway 80 overpass near Del Paso Park.

    A railcar caught fire with the potential to spread to two other railcars, one tank containing ethanol and another containing diesel, both explosive materials. A three-alarm fire was called for additional units to help, the Sacramento Fire Department said.

    The fire extended into some grass, six vehicles in a tow yard and a trailer containing lead-acid batteries. Power lines were damaged and people lost power, the fire department said.

    The SMUD outage map showed 1,859 customers lost power in the area around 2:52 a.m. due to damaged equipment. Power had been restored to all but 31 customers as of 5:20 a.m.

    Roseville Road is shut down between Marconi Avenue and Longview Drive. I-80 was not closed as the fire was contained. It was unclear what caused the fire or where it originated. No injuries have been reported at this time.

    Sacramento Valley Railroad, under Patriot Rail, operates the railcar that caught fire. Patriot Rail told KCRA3 that the railcar that caught fire was carrying telephone poles and the fire didn’t spread to any other railcars.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • L.A. firefighters critically injured in truck explosion are ‘making progress’

    L.A. firefighters critically injured in truck explosion are ‘making progress’

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    Two members of the Los Angeles Fire Department are “making progress” after sustaining critical injuries while fighting a semi-truck fire that led to an explosion on Thursday, according to a department spokesperson.

    Nine firefighters were injured in Wilmington by the catastrophic explosion of a tank of compressed natural gas used to power the truck, including two who were hospitalized, fire officials said.

    One of those firefighters was discharged Friday night, and another is “critical but stable” and remains in the intensive care unit at Los Angeles General Medical Center, which operates a burn unit, Los Angeles Fire Department Public Information Officer Erik Scott said in a statement Saturday.

    The latter firefighter has been taken off a ventilator, Scott said.

    “With a happy heart and a sense of relief, we are pleased to report that our most injured #LAFD #Firefighter was successfully extubated this morning. He is awake, alert and talking. Next steps will be to introduce food as tolerated,” Scott posted to X.

    The other seven firefighters “have various medical appointments and remain off duty due to their injuries,” Scott said. Some of the firefighters sustained burns, blunt-force trauma, injuries from shrapnel and hearing problems from the explosion, he said.

    The cause of the explosion, which shot 30-foot flames into the air early Thursday morning at 1120 Alameda St., is still under investigation.

    Firefighters responded after receiving a call that the truck had caught fire. The driver was unharmed and told officials she stopped driving after noticing “abnormalities” with the vehicle.

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    Mackenzie Mays

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  • Today in History SUN JAN 01

    Today in History SUN JAN 01

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    Today in History

    Today is Sunday, Jan. 1, the first day of 2023. There are 364 days left in the year.

    Today’s Highlight in History:

    On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that slaves in rebel states shall be “forever free.”

    On this date:

    In 1892, the Ellis Island Immigrant Station in New York formally opened.

    In 1942, the Rose Bowl was played in Durham, North Carolina, because of security concerns in the wake of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor; Oregon State defeated Duke, 20-16.

    In 1953, country singer Hank Williams Sr., 29, was discovered dead in the back seat of his car during a stop in Oak Hill, West Virginia, while he was being driven to a concert date in Canton, Ohio.

    In 1954, NBC broadcast the first coast-to-coast color TV program as it presented live coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.

    In 1959, Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries overthrew Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista, who fled to the Dominican Republic.

    In 1975, a jury in Washington found Nixon administration officials John N. Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman and Robert C. Mardian guilty of charges related to the Watergate cover-up (Mardian’s conviction for conspiracy was later overturned on appeal).

    In 1979, the United States and China held celebrations in Washington and Beijing to mark the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

    In 1984, the breakup of AT&T took place as the telecommunications giant was divested of its 22 Bell System companies under terms of an antitrust agreement.

    In 1985, the music cable channel VH-1 made its debut with a video of Marvin Gaye performing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

    In 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two new countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

    In 2006, President George W. Bush strongly defended his domestic spying program, calling it legal as well as vital to thwarting terrorist attacks. The Medicare prescription drug plan went into effect.

    In 2014, the nation’s first legal recreational pot shops opened in Colorado at 8 a.m. Mountain time.

    Ten years ago: The Senate approved a compromise in the small hours to avert the “fiscal cliff” and sent it to the House, which approved it in a late-night vote; President Barack Obama announced he would sign the measure. In Maryland, same-sex marriage became legal in the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line. No. 8 Stanford held off Wisconsin 20-14 in the 99th Rose Bowl. Singer Patti Page, 85, died in Encinitas, California.

    Five years ago: Former Fox News Channel anchor and 1989 Miss America Gretchen Carlson was named chairwoman of the Miss America Organization’s board of directors, with three other past pageant winners joining her on the board. In the first Rose Bowl to go into overtime, Georgia advanced to college football’s national championship game with a 54-48 win over Oklahoma. Alabama advanced by beating top-ranked Clemson, 24-6, in the Sugar Bowl. Peter Martins, the longtime leader of the New York City Ballet, announced his retirement in the midst of an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct. California launched legal sales of recreational marijuana, with customers linking up early for ribbon cuttings and promotions.

    One year ago: A Louisiana federal judge ruled that President Joe Biden could not require teachers in the Head Start early education program to be vaccinated against COVID-19. A year after New Year’s Day passed without a Rose Parade due to the coronavirus pandemic, the floral spectacle marched on in Pasadena, California, despite a new surge of infections. Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was remembered at a state funeral in South Africa for his Nobel Peace Prize-earning role in ending the country’s apartheid regime and for championing the rights of LGBTQ people. Chicago police said 2021 had ended as one of the deadliest years on record in the city, with 797 homicides. Former Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves died at his Atlanta home at the age of 77.

    Today’s Birthdays: Documentary maker Frederick Wiseman is 93. Actor Frank Langella is 85. Rock singer-musician Country Joe McDonald is 81. Writer-comedian Don Novello is 80. Actor Rick Hurst is 77. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., is 69. The former head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, is 67. Rapper Grandmaster Flash is 65. Actor Renn Woods is 65. Actor Dedee Pfeiffer is 59. Country singer Brian Flynn (Flynnville Train) is 57. Actor Morris Chestnut is 54. R&B singer Tank is 47. Model Elin Nordegren is 43. Actor Jonas Armstrong is 42. Actor Eden Riegel is 42. Olympic gold medal ice dancer Meryl Davis is 36. Rock musician Noah Sierota (Echosmith) is 27.

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxToday in History

    Today is Sunday, Jan. 1, the first day of 2023. There are 364 days left in the year.

    Today’s Highlight in History:

    On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that slaves in rebel states shall be “forever free.”

    On this date:

    In 1892, the Ellis Island Immigrant Station in New York formally opened.

    In 1942, the Rose Bowl was played in Durham, North Carolina, because of security concerns in the wake of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor; Oregon State defeated Duke, 20-16.

    In 1953, country singer Hank Williams Sr., 29, was discovered dead in the back seat of his car during a stop in Oak Hill, West Virginia, while he was being driven to a concert date in Canton, Ohio.

    In 1954, NBC broadcast the first coast-to-coast color TV program as it presented live coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.

    In 1959, Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries overthrew Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista, who fled to the Dominican Republic.

    In 1975, a jury in Washington found Nixon administration officials John N. Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman and Robert C. Mardian guilty of charges related to the Watergate cover-up (Mardian’s conviction for conspiracy was later overturned on appeal).

    In 1979, the United States and China held celebrations in Washington and Beijing to mark the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

    In 1984, the breakup of AT&T took place as the telecommunications giant was divested of its 22 Bell System companies under terms of an antitrust agreement.

    In 1985, the music cable channel VH-1 made its debut with a video of Marvin Gaye performing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

    In 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two new countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

    In 2006, President George W. Bush strongly defended his domestic spying program, calling it legal as well as vital to thwarting terrorist attacks. The Medicare prescription drug plan went into effect.

    In 2014, the nation’s first legal recreational pot shops opened in Colorado at 8 a.m. Mountain time.

    Ten years ago: The Senate approved a compromise in the small hours to avert the “fiscal cliff” and sent it to the House, which approved it in a late-night vote; President Barack Obama announced he would sign the measure. In Maryland, same-sex marriage became legal in the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line. No. 8 Stanford held off Wisconsin 20-14 in the 99th Rose Bowl. Singer Patti Page, 85, died in Encinitas, California.

    Five years ago: The nation’s first legal recreational pot shops opened in Colorado at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. Actress Juanita Moore, 99, died in Los Angeles. No. 4 Michigan State romped to a 24-20 victory over No. 5 Stanford in the 100th Rose Bowl. No. 15 Central Florida pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the bowl season by outlasting No. 6 Baylor 52-42 in the Fiesta Bowl.

    One year ago: A Louisiana federal judge ruled that President Joe Biden could not require teachers in the Head Start early education program to be vaccinated against COVID-19. A year after New Year’s Day passed without a Rose Parade due to the coronavirus pandemic, the floral spectacle marched on in Pasadena, California, despite a new surge of infections. Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was remembered at a state funeral in South Africa for his Nobel Peace Prize-earning role in ending the country’s apartheid regime and for championing the rights of LGBTQ people. Chicago police said 2021 had ended as one of the deadliest years on record in the city, with 797 homicides. Former Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves died at his Atlanta home at the age of 77.

    Today’s Birthdays: Documentary maker Frederick Wiseman is 93. Actor Frank Langella is 85. Rock singer-musician Country Joe McDonald is 81. Writer-comedian Don Novello is 80. Actor Rick Hurst is 77. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., is 69. The former head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, is 67. Rapper Grandmaster Flash is 65. Actor Renn Woods is 65. Actor Dedee Pfeiffer is 59. Country singer Brian Flynn (Flynnville Train) is 57. Actor Morris Chestnut is 54. R&B singer Tank is 47. Model Elin Nordegren is 43. Actor Jonas Armstrong is 42. Actor Eden Riegel is 42. Olympic gold medal ice dancer Meryl Davis is 36. Rock musician Noah Sierota (Echosmith) is 27.

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  • Celebrity birthdays for the week of Jan. 1-7

    Celebrity birthdays for the week of Jan. 1-7

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    Celebrity birthdays for the week of Jan. 1-7:

    Jan. 1: Actor Frank Langella is 85. Singer-guitarist Country Joe McDonald of Country Joe and the Fish is 81. Comedian Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci) is 80. Actor Rick Hurst (“The Dukes of Hazzard”) is 77. Rapper Grandmaster Flash is 65. Actor Renn Woods is 65. Actor Dedee Pfeiffer (“Cybill”) is 59. Actor Morris Chestnut (“The Brothers,” ″The Best Man”) is 54. Singer Tank is 47. Actor Eden Riegel (“The Young and the Restless”) is 42. Bassist Noah Sierota of Echosmith is 27.

    Jan 2: TV host Jack Hanna (“Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild”) is 76. Actor Wendy Phillips (“I Am Sam”) is 71. Actor Cynthia Sikes (“St. Elsewhere”) is 69. Actor Gabrielle Carteris (“Beverly Hills, 90210″) is 62. Actor Tia Carrere is 56. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is 55. Model Christy Turlington is 54. Actor Renee Elise Goldsberry (Broadway’s “Hamilton”) is 52. Actor Taye Diggs (“The Best Man,” ″How Stella Got Her Groove Back”) is 52. Singer Doug Robb of Hoobastank is 48. Actor Dax Shepard (“Parenthood”) is 48. Sax player-guitarist Jerry DePizzo Jr. of O.A.R. is 44. Singer Kelton Kessee of Immature and of IMX is 42. Musician Ryan Merchant of Capital Cities is 42. Actor Kate Bosworth is 40. Actor Anthony Carrigan (“Barry,” “Gotham”) is 40. Musician Trombone Shorty is 37. Singer Bryson Tiller is 30.

    Jan 3: Actor Dabney Coleman is 91. Singer-songwriter Van Dyke Parks is 80. Singer Stephen Stills is 78. Bassist John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin is 77. Actor Victoria Principal is 73. Actor Mel Gibson is 67. Actor Shannon Sturges (“Port Charles”) is 55. Jazz saxophonist James Carter is 54. Contemporary Christian singer Nichole Nordeman is 51. Musician Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk is 48. Actor Jason Marsden (“Ally McBeal”) is 48. Actor Danica McKellar (“The Wonder Years”) is 48. Actor Nicholas Gonzalez (“The O.C.”) is 47. Singer and former “American Idol” contestant Kimberley Locke is 45. Actor Kate Levering (“Drop Dead Diva”) is 44. Actor Nicole Beharie (“Sleepy Hollow”) is 38. Drummer Mark Pontius (Foster the People) is 38. Singer Lloyd is 37. Guitarist Nash Overstreet of Hot Chelle Rae is 37. Actor Florence Pugh (“Don’t Worry Darling,” “Little Women”) is 27.

    Jan 4: Actor Barbara Rush (“Peyton Place”) is 96. Actor Dyan Cannon is 84. Country singer Kathy Forester of the Forester Sisters is 68. Guitarist Bernard Sumner of New Order (and Joy Division) is 67. Actor Ann Magnuson (“Anything But Love”) is 67. Country singer Patty Loveless is 66. Actor Julian Sands (“24”) is 65. Singer Michael Stipe of R.E.M. is 63. Actor Dave Foley (“NewsRadio,” ″Kids in the Hall”) is 60. Actor Dot Jones (“Glee”) is 59. Actor Rick Hearst (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) is 58. Former Pogues singer Cait O’Riordan is 58. Actor Julia Ormond is 58. Country singer Deana Carter is 57. Harmonica player Benjamin Darvill of Crash Test Dummies is 56. Actor Josh Stamerg (“The Affair,” “Drop Dead Diva”) is 53. Actor Jeremy Licht (“Valerie”) is 52. Actor Damon Gupton (“Empire”) is 50. Actor Jill Marie Jones (“Girlfriends”) is 48. Actor D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place”) is 43. Singer Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath is 40. Comedian-actor Charlyne Yi (“House,” “Steven Universe”) is 37.

    Jan 5: Actor Robert Duvall is 92. Singer-bassist Athol Guy of The Seekers is 83. Former talk show host Charlie Rose is 81. Actor Diane Keaton is 77. Actor Ted Lange (“The Love Boat”) is 75. Drummer George “Funky” Brown of Kool and the Gang is 74. Guitarist Chris Stein of Blondie is 73. Actor Pamela Sue Martin (“The Poseidon Adventure,” ″Dynasty”) is 70. Actor Clancy Brown (“Highlander,” ″SpongeBob SquarePants”) is 64. Actor Suzy Amis (“Titanic”) is 61. Actor Ricky Paull Goldin (“All My Children,” “Guiding Light”) is 58. Actor Vinnie Jones (TV’s “Deception,” film’s “X-Men: The Last Stand”) is 58. Drummer Kate Schellenbach (Luscious Jackson) is 57. Actor Joe Flanigan (“Stargate Atlantis,” ″Sisters”) is 56. Dancer and talk show host Carrie Ann Inaba (“The Talk,” “Dancing with the Stars”) is 55. Guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen of Queens of the Stone Age is 55. Singer Marilyn Manson is 54. Actor Shea Whigham (“Fast and Furious 6,” ″Boardwalk Empire”) is 54. Actor Derek Cecil (“House of Cards,” ″Treme”) is 50. Actor-comedian Jessica Chaffin (“Man with a Plan”) is 49. Actor Bradley Cooper is 48. Actor January Jones (“Mad Men”) is 45. Actor Brooklyn Sudano (“My Wife and Kids”) is 42. Actor Franz Drameh (“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”) is 30.

    Jan 6: Accordionist Joey, the CowPolka King, of Riders in the Sky is 74. Singer Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds is 72. Country singer Jett Williams is 70. Actor-comedian Rowan Atkinson (“Mr. Bean”) is 68. Singer Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge is 64. Chef Nigella Lawson is 63. Singer Eric Williams of BLACKstreet is 63. Actor Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead”) is 54. TV personality Julie Chen is 53. Actor Danny Pintauro (“Who’s The Boss”) is 47. Actor Rinko Kikuchi (“Babel”) is 42. Actor Eddie Redmayne (“Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them,” ″The Theory of Everything”) is 41. Comedian Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”) is 39. Actor Diona Reasonover (“NCIS”) is 39. Singer Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys is 37.

    Jan 7: “Rolling Stone” magazine founder Jann Wenner is 77. Singer Kenny Loggins is 75. Singer-songwriter Marshall Chapman is 74. Actor Erin Gray (“Silver Spoons,” ″Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”) is 73. Actor Sammo Hung (“Martial Law”) is 71. Actor David Caruso is 67. TV anchor Katie Couric is 66. Country singer David Lee Murphy is 64. Bassist Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s) is 64. Actor David Marciano (“Homeland,” ″The Shield”) is 63. Actor Hallie Todd (“Lizzie McGuire”) is 61. Actor Nicolas Cage is 59. Singer John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting is 58. Actor Rex Lee (“Entourage”) is 54. Actor-rapper Doug E. Doug (“Cool Runnings,” ″Cosby”) is 53. Actor Kevin Rahm (“Desperate Housewives,” ″Judging Amy”) is 52. Jeremy Renner (“The Avengers,” ″The Bourne Legacy”) is 52. Country singer John Rich of Big and Rich is 49. Actor Reggie Austin (“Agent Carter,” ″Pretty Little Liars”) is 44. Singer-rapper Aloe Blacc is 44. Actor Lauren Cohan (“The Walking Dead”) is 41. Actor Brett Dalton (“Marvel’s Agents of Shield”) is 40. Actor Robert Ri’chard (“One on One”) is 40. Actor Lyndsy Fonseca (“Marvel’s Agent Carter,” “Nikita”) is 36. Actor Liam Aiken (“Lemony Snicket”) is 33. Actor Camryn Grimes (“The Young and the Restless”) is 33. Actor Marcus Scribner (“black-ish”) is 23.

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  • Watch Eager Troops Fighting For Ukraine Roll Into Battle Atop A Tank

    Watch Eager Troops Fighting For Ukraine Roll Into Battle Atop A Tank

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    One skirmish in one sector of one front of a wider war that’s grinding into its eighth month isn’t indicative of much. But watch closely the below video depicting volunteers from the Republic of Georgia riding into battle atop a T-64 tank.

    Infantry rolling into an assault on top of a tank is an old tactic called “tank desant.” Many modern armies—in particular, the U.S. Army—mostly have abandoned the tactic as being too risky for the infantry.

    That the Georgian Legion in Ukraine has adopted the practice says something important about their capacity for risk—that’s to say, their aggression—as Ukrainian forces barrel toward victory in southern Ukraine.

    Since the first tank rolled into combat with the British Army during the Battle of the Somme in September 1916, tanks and infantry have worked together. The tanks’ armor-clad firepower helps to smash enemy defenses and terrify enemy troops. The infantry screen the tanks from ambush and fill in behind the lumbering vehicles to secure enemy positions the tanks clear out. “Tanks can take anything, but can hold nothing,” S.D. Rockenbach, a U.S. Army general, wrote in 1920.

    A century later, effective modern armies combine tanks and infantry in the same formations. But they usually travel separately. To keep pace with the tanks, the infantry ride in fighting vehicles such as the Russian BMP or the American M-2.

    The infantry usually do not ride on top of the tanks themselves, despite some European armies—the Soviets, in particular—adopting that tactic as an expedient in the 1930s and ’40s. When Soviet troops practiced tank desant, it usually was for a lack of dedicated infantry carriers.

    Infantry are exposed and vulnerable while sitting on top of a tank within range of enemy gunfire. The U.S. Army’s Field Manual 7-8 advises against tank desant unless “contact is not likely.”

    The Americans so rarely practice tank desant that they designed their main tank, the M-1, with a hot engine exhaust on the rear hull, which relegates infantry—no more than nine of them—to squeezing together atop the turret.

    Ukrainian tanks, such as the T-64 the Georgian Legion uses, are more comfortable for infantry. Ukrainian tactics clearly embrace tank desant despite the risk. It’s possible some Ukrainian units such as the Georgian Legion are short of good fighting vehicles. It’s also possible these units appreciate the simplicity, directness and shock potential of tank desant in the attack.

    Consider again the video, depicting Georgian Legion troopers and a T-64 assaulting a Russian strongpoint, apparently in Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine, where Ukrainian brigades launched a powerful counteroffensive in late August.

    While a Ukrainian drone observes from above, a dozen Georgians piled onto the back hull of the T-64 and roll toward the Russian trench. The T-64 approaches, apparently nearly to machine-gun range. The infantry dismount and line up behind the tank.

    The tank and infantry move along a dirt track toward the strongpoint, the tank firing its turret-mounted 12.7-millimeter machine gun and 125-millimeter main gun. A shell explodes right in front of the Russian position, blanketing it in dust.

    The T-64 peels off. The Georgians split into fire teams and clear the trench. It all happens fast. The drone watches Russian troops flee. At least one crawling. At least one dying a short distance away. Sixteen Russians perished in the attack, according to the Georgian Legion.

    In its aggression and violence, the tank-desant assault on the Russian position is consistent with other Ukrainian assaults we’ve seen on social media—in particular, a shockingly vicious attack by Ukrainians riding in thin-skinned Humvees, firing machine guns and rockets as they sped toward a Russian position in Kharkiv Oblast last month during the early days of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the northeast.

    The Ukrainian army has the momentum across Ukraine. And it knows it. Ukrainian commanders clearly are eager to press their advantage while they can—in the last few weeks before the coming winter soaks the Ukrainian landscape, likely compelling both sides to pause in place.

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    David Axe, Forbes Staff

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