Michael Jordan Shatters Records With Jaw-Dropping $10 Million Donation to Make-A-Wish

Photo Courtesy Make-A-Wish 

Basketball legend Michael Jordan broke a record with a $10 million donation to Make-A-Wish in honor of his 60th birthday.

 
The gift is the largest from an individual in the charity's 43-year history and reflects Jordan's 30-year commitment to the cause.

"For the past 34 years, it's been an honor to partner with Make-A-Wish and help bring a smile and happiness to so many kids," the six-time NBA champion said in a statement. "Witnessing their strength and resilience during such a tough time in their lives has truly been an inspiration."

The organization hopes Jordan's donation inspires others to help grant the wishes of the many children on its waiting list.

"Michael using his birthday as a chance to make history for Make-A-Wish speaks to the quality of his character and his loyal dedication to making life better for children with critical illnesses," said Leslie Motter, the charity's CEO. "We hope that the public will be inspired to follow in his footsteps by helping make wishes come true."

Jordan, now the owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, has been an integral part of the organization's efforts since he granted his first wish in 1989.

He has granted hundreds of wishes to children worldwide and has become one of the all-time most requested celebrity wish-granters. In 2008, he was named Make-A-Wish Chief Wish Ambassador.

His donation will establish an endowment to help fund the wishes of children with critical illnesses in the future.

"I can't think of a better birthday gift than seeing others join me in supporting Make-A-Wish so that every child can experience the magic of having their wish come true," Jordan said.

R&B Pioneer Huey 'Piano' Smith Dead at 89

Legendary R&B pianist and early rock 'n' roll pioneer Huey "Piano" Smith has died at the age of 89.

Smith passed away in his sleep on Tuesday at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His daughter, Acquelyn Donsereaux, confirmed the news to the New Orleans Times-Picayune/Advocate.

RIP #HueySmith whose trilling piano style was a major influence in New Orleans (and beyond) rock & roll in the 1950s. #RockinPneumonia #DontYouJustKnowIt, etc. Also had the original track for #SeaCruise snatched away to create a Frankie Ford hit. A godlike NOLA master... pic.twitter.com/gjCUuDBpP2

— Kurt Loder (@kurt_loder) February 15, 2023

Smith was best known for his boogie-woogie piano style and recorded with many New Orleans musicians in the 1950s, including Little Richard, Lloyd Price and Earl King.

RIP #HueySmith: "Don't You Just Know it," 1958: https://t.co/Cy3zNX9oIh

— Kurt Loder (@kurt_loder) February 15, 2023

His most famous recording, "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu," was a minor hit in 1957 but had a lasting influence on music for decades to come.

The track was covered by many artists, including Johnny Rivers, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty, the Beach Boys, the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett and the Grateful Dead.

Smith also wrote and recorded the 1958 single "Sea Cruise," which became a platinum-selling hit the following year when Frankie Ford replaced Smith's vocals on the track.

Smith's band, the Clowns, recorded several other popular tracks, including "Don't You Just Know It," which was inspired by a catchphrase often used by their then-driver Rudy Ray Moore.

Moore, an entertainer and vocalist, went on to create the persona of Dolomite, leaving a lasting impression on the world of hip-hop and Black cinema as the driving force behind the creation of "blaxploitation" films.

RIP to Huey "Piano" Smith, legend of R&B who helped shape the sound of rock & roll.

Dr. John performed this Huey "Piano" Smith medley on his Gumbo album. https://t.co/wAJKbgnive

— Dr. John (@akadrjohn) February 15, 2023

In the early 1980s, Smith moved to Baton Rouge and mostly left music behind. However, in 2000 he returned to the stage to perform at the Rhythm and Blues Foundation gala in New York City.

He received the foundation's Pioneer Award, which recognizes "the artistic contributions and excellence of legendary Rhythm & Blues artists who have impacted the world through their music."

Diddy Reveals New Name for Business Empire

Hip-hop entrepreneur and Bad Boy Billionaire Sean "Diddy" Combs has unveiled his latest business venture, Combs Global, a rebranding of his parent company Combs Enterprises.

The company, which started in 2013 with brands such as Bad Boy Entertainment and Cîroc Vodka, has now expanded to include Empower Global, Our Fair Share, Love Records and a presence in the cannabis industry.

“Combs Global represents the next chapter in my journey as a business leader and a bigger vision to build the largest portfolio of leading Black-owned brands in the world,” Combs said in a statement on Tuesday.

"I've enlisted world-class teams of top executives, specialists and strategic partners to bring this new dream to life and put us in the best position to keep making history while leading another 30 years of dominance across industries.”

With the launch of Combs Global, there has been a complete rebranding of the website, social channels, and brand communications. The new visual identity coincides with plans to take the company and its business units international.

The new logo was unveiled in a Uber One Super Bowl commercial starring Combs where he dreams up a hit song for Uber One, a reminder of Combs' unrivaled success as a hitmaker.

Combs, who is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Bad Boy Entertainment, the 15th anniversary of his partnership with alcohol brand Diageo, the 10th anniversary of REVOLT — the first Black-owned multiplatform cable music network, now reaching over 80 million homes and 20 million monthly viewers digitally — shows no signs of slowing down.

This year has already been a busy one for Combs, with his acquisition of The Nile List and his $2M investment in creator platform REC Philly. He also expanded his Capital Preparatory charter schools to now include campuses in the Bronx, New York and Hartford, Connecticut.