Music & Movie Mojo: Chicago Author Herbert Pitman's "An Early Winter", Prince's Protege Andy Allo & Bill Bellamy Hosts "Stand Up For Family" In Chicago

First time novelist Herbert Pitman excels at shedding light on the dichotomy between men and women in romantic relationships by providing a diverse group of characters and personalities letting the reader get an introspective look on the thoughts and feelings of the characters. 

By setting the novel around a murder mystery plot which invokes high level of emotion, Pitman is able to cleverly expose universal commonalities that we all experience in dealing with love and loss. 

One of the major themes of the book is uncertainty which is explored through the murder mystery aspect of the book as we learn that some characters are not who they seem to be, but also uncertainty is expressed through the romantic relationships. 

One can see that Pitman wants the readers to understand how much of our actions in love are predicated on the idea that we always have more time and how we are not aware of how uncertain life is. 

Pitman’s knowledge of his hometown city of Chicago allows the city to not only be the  backdrop of where the story takes place, but an essential character that breathes its racial, political, and religious ideals that heavily influence  the mindset and actions of all the characters.

Herbert Pitman

Mr. Pitman does what few first-time authors are able to - he scores a home run his first time at bat!  This novel is a page-turner that won't allow the reader to be satisfied until they find out whodunnit!  

Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book, then get your friends copies of this book! The holidays are coming and they will make a perfect gift--not to mention a book club selection for any Girl's Night Out you may be planning.

You can enjoy a preview of the book here and purchase a copy of the book on Amazon here.

Andy Allo, funk/soul artist extraordinaire, has been announced to perform live at Prince's after-jam at Chicago's House of Blues on September 24, following a special performance by Prince himself, at his "Welcome 2 Chicago" engagement.  The "Welcome 2" event will be held at the United Center earlier that evening, in support of the Rebuild the Dream foundation, founded by Van Jones, whose mission is to mobilize thousands of everyday people who come together to build strong vibrant communities, and to fix the U.S. economy from the ground up.

Allo, who opens for Prince on-tour and is a guitarist/vocalist in his band, The New Power Generation, will be releasing her sophomore CD on Prince's NPG Records on September 20 titled "Superconductor."  The album is executive produced by Prince, and features six self-penned tracks by Allo, with three songs co-written by Prince - "Superconductor," "The Calm" and "Gone." The album also includes featured artists Maceo Parker, Prince and Trombone Shorty.

As soon as we felt Andy Allo's energetic presence on tour with r band," says Prince, "we knew she'd b leading her own revolution soon!"

Adds Allo, "Touring with Prince & The NPG has been a challenging and rewarding experience and Superconductor is a work of art that encapsulates the journey thus far."

A poet, songwriter, singer and dancer, Allo has been a member of The New Power Generation since 2011.  Allo will continue to tour with Prince in conjunction with the release of "Superconductor."

For more information visit: Website: www.alloevolution.com

American Family Insurance's Stand Up For Family Comedy Special, hosted by Bill Bellamy, features some of today's hottest comedians providing entertainment for the entire family. Inspired by experiences from their own families, the performers offer their own perspectives on daily life with loved ones, finding the humor that we all can relate to.  

Stand Up For Family is a non-stop laugh-out-loud showcase perfect for families of all ages to enjoy, and it is designed to align with American Family Insurance’s commitment to supporting and adding value to consumers’ lives. 

Dean Edwards, Bill Bellamy, Felipe Esparza

Thursday night, Chicagoans got an opportunity to hang-out with Bill Bellamy and some of his colleagues at Lumen-Chicago for a special screening of the latest volume of the series.   Fellow comedians Dean Edwards (Saturday Night Live), Gary Owen (Think Like A Man), and Felipe Esparza (Last Comic Standing) took time to mingle with guests.

Attendees were also treated to a special musical performance by Grammy award-winning R & B singer/actress Mya, as well as complimentary cocktails courtesy of Moet Hennessy USA and yummy passed hors d'oeuvres of meatballs, shrimp, Teriyaki chicken, and fudge-brownie wedges!

DJ Webstar kept the music flowing and everyone on their feet with his mix of Old School and Hip Hop selections!

Bellamy told C-Style he was honored to be a part of American Family's initiative and supports the company's vision of keeping families safe and secure.

Mya

Bellamy also told us he is currently touring with his  "Ladies Night Out" tour and will be back in Chicago at the Arie Crown Theater on October 20th as part of the "All-Stars of Comedy" tour featuring Bellamy, Tony Rock, Sheryl Underwood (The Talk), Don D.C. Curry, and George Wilborn.

Jennifer Williams of Basketball Wives

To view the Stand Up For Family series or for more information on American Family Insurance go to http://youtube.com/standupforfamily

Photo credits: An Early Winter/Herbert Pitman courtesy of Herbert Pitman
                              Andy Allo courtesy of Rogers and Cowan
                              American Family Insurance: Stand For Family courtesy of Donna Binbek Photography for  C-Style Magazine