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"The purpose of our Family Reunion is to bring together families for a fun-filled weekend of fellowship, information and entertainment. It's all about love, and that's what family is all about," said the new 'King of all Media' Tom Joyner, who held his annual Tom Joyner Family Reunion over Labor Day weekend at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The family-themed festival attracted thousands of people from the 115-plus radio markets the syndicated morning show jock and his Morning Show crew (J. Anthony Brown, Sybil Wilkes, Myra J., Miss Dupree and Tavis Smiley) reach every day.

The activities were kicked off at the BET Soundstage Club on Pleasure Island with a special taping of Joyner's upcoming show, 'Tom's Big Break,' a syndicated one-hour weekend variety-comedy program, which launches in October.

Soul veteran Al Green and comedian Akintunde performed during Joyner's Sky Show, a live version of his four-hour morning show that began broadcasting at 6AM EST from Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. (The Sky Show is also taped and edited down to two hours for airing on TV One.) Preceding the Sky Show was a six-hour block party presented by Joyner affiliate Star 94.5 FM in Orlando that featured a performance by R&B sweetheart Shanice.

The Tom Joyner Family Reunion also included performances by Lionel Richie, Damon Wayans, Jill Scott, New Edition, Morris Day & The Time, Ashanti, Smokie Norful, M.C. Hammer, Dr. Bobby Jones and The Nashville Super Choir, Shirley Caesar, Lil' iRocc, C.O.C.O. Brown and the Scream IV Tour lineup (Bow Wow, Omarion, Marques Houston, Bobby Valentino, Pretty Ricky and B5).

Maintaining his mantra of "partying with a purpose," Joyner had as many educational and information seminars as parties. Among them were his wife, Donna Richardson-Joyner's 'Sweating in the Spirit' exercise sessions; Home Depot's "How To Build A Picture Frame" seminar; a Pine-Sol presentation with The Pine-Sol Lady Diane Amos; and an extensive health fair, all of which took place at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort Convention Center. Joyner also signed copies of his newly released book, 'I'm Just A DJ But...It Makes Sense To Me' (Warner Books, $22.95).

Hurricane Katrina was the hot topic during the weekend, especially since Joyner's 2004 Family Reunion was cancelled because of Hurricane Francis. Last year's guests, including yours truly, had to be bused on Disney charter carriers to Atlanta because of the abrupt airport closings in Orlando.

Joyner announced during this year's Family Reunion the creation of the BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund. The storm "hit the heart and soul of Black America," said Joyner. "This is our tsunami and we want to take care of those people who now may have family or friends who are going to be in their homes for an extended period of time."

Tom Joyner Morning Show has suspended its "TJMS Cash Call" contest and will donate $75,000 of contest money directly to relief efforts. Show personalities Smiley, Wilkes and Brown have each pledged $1,000, and Joyner also shared that Miss Dupree lost her home in New Orleans and now lives with him in Dallas.


Fight Plan
Damon Wayans wowed the crowd at Tom Joyner's Family Reunion with his candid comments about President George W. Bush and war in Iraq. Wayans said that he's concerned about the possibility of Bush reinstating the draft and vowed to shoot both of his twenty-something sons in the foot before allowing them to fight in combat.

"I'll send my sons if he sends his daughters," began the 'My Wife and Kids' star. "Put those two drunk b--s on a plane and let them go fight. At least I know my sons would be getting some on the way."

Impersonating a phone conversation with his sons, Wayans said, "Hey boys, how'd you survive? Oh Dad, in the Bushes!"


Too Legit To Quit
M.C. Hammer and his wife, Stephanie, recently gave birth to a premature baby boy. "He's two pounds now, and his name is Samuel," Hammer told me during the Tom Joyner Family Reunion.

"He's in intensive care. We have to go see him and speak life to him and help him grow spiritually," explained the rapper.

The doting father of six said that family life is now his first priority, despite his newly launched music comeback. "Family means everything to me. Without family you're absolutely nothing. There's no one to share your joys with, nobody to pass anything down to. A man who comes home to no family is a lonely man," he offered.

The hip-hop minister, who recently performed as a surprise guest on the MTV Video Music Awards, said he had to work to find the balance between his ministry and performing. "I had to wait to get the green light. I'm a man who believes in God, and I needed him to give me the green light before I did my thing again. I had to make sure everything was in its proper perspective again. So right now I'm back full speed because I'm free," he said.

Can't Say Names
Can't Say Names ...
... Sources say a musician-actor is going through a bitter feud with their "former" music manager and the disgruntled "ex"-manager recently had a gang member attack the entertainer's assistant in a Miami club. Apparently said multi-genre star attempted to fire his music manager, but the situation is extremely complex since the manager inked the recording contract and the deal forbids him from being nixed from the equation.
(Guesses are Jamie, Nelly, Lenny, Jimmy Cozier and Keith Robinsion)

Buzzworthy
... Film and television producer Stephanie A. Frederic earned rave reviews for her documentary 'The Donnie McClurkin Story: From Darkness...To Light.' I hear now that the sought-after producer is contemplating making the "Queen of Gospel Music" Albertina Walker her next subject. "As revered as Albertina Walker is in Christian music, Stephanie hopes that folks really come through and help finance this documentary," said a source familiar with the producer. Frederic was unable to be reached for comment because she was in Houston covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for the BET News division.

... Is singer Maxwell married? There's a rumor circulating that he is indeed. The sometimes-reclusive crooner was rumored to be dating German-bred 'Law & Order' star Elisabeth Rohm, but lately he's been spotted all over New York City with an exotic looking brunette that resembles Penélope Cruz. Maxwell, who recently chopped off his locks and now sports a close-cut, recently attended a CD release party for Kanye West in Queens, N.Y. with the mystery woman on his arm. His publicist was unavailable for comment at press time.

... Gossip maven Flo Anthony is launching a brand new magazine called 'Black Noir.' Anthony was given a distribution deal by Cable News Group -- sans any partners -- and her premiere issue of 'Black Noir,' featuring Vanessa L. Williams and the 50 Top Black Women in Entertainment, will be on newsstands Sept. 20. "I'm so excited! We also just signed a huge deal with Fred's Discount Stores, which is the largest discount chain throughout the south," exclaimed Anthony. The syndicated radio host -- her segment 'Gossip to Go with Flo' is in more than 20 radio markets -- told me that she is still one of the owners of 'Black Elegance' magazine, though she is no longer affiliated with the title.

... 'Living Single' star Kim Fields is working on the follow-up to her 2003 spoken word CD, 'Smooth is Spoken Here.' Under her recording alias Blondielocks, Fields recently recorded a new track called 'Harlem Honey,' which was produced by singing-producing veterans Full Force. The actress-poet, who recently relocated to Harlem, was also featured on the single 'Mocha Soul' by the music collective Impromp2.

... VH1 Soul is kicking off a national club tour with Jaguar Wright, Kindred and 'American Idol' contestant Latoya London. The outing jumps off on Oct. 2 in San Diego and is slated to wrap on Oct. 28 in Washington, D.C. VH1 Soul will also present newcomer Leela James on national tour dates. James, who is being touted as one of the industry's "next big things" by the network, will launch her promotional tour Sept. 12 in Chicago with additional dates scheduled throughout the country.

... English actress Marsha Thomason won't be back for the third season of the hit NBC series 'Las Vegas' when it returns on Sept. 19. No official word why Thomason, who stars next in the film 'Caffeine,' is not returning to the show. Lara Flynn Boyle ('The Practice') and Rachael Leigh Cook ('Josie and the Pussycats') will join the drama.