“Enter Miss Thang” wins two USA Best Book Awards

Big congrats are in order for Brian Edwards and his autobiography – Enter Miss Thang – which ends 2014 as one of the most honored LGBT non-fiction books of the year as the tome just won 2 USA Best Book Awards.

At the USA Best Book Awards announced this morning in Los Angeles, “Enter Miss Thang” received top honors for “Best Gay & Lesbian Non-Fiction” and (not surprisingly) “Best Humor.”

I wrote about the terrific read here when it was released in late 2013.

Openly gay Brian Edwards – talent executive, multi-award winning producer, writer and occasional performer – may have a lot of hyphenates to his job descriptions, but to friends such as Cindy Crawford and Vanessa Williams, he is known quite simply as “Miss Thang.”

Edwards released Enter Miss Thang late last year to great fanfare, and considering the pedigree, why not?  The late, great Joan Rivers wrote the foreword to the humorous & touching autobiography, and Crawford penned the introduction. Touching, funny, irreverent, and chock full of A-list celebs, I couldn’t put the book down.  I loved it.

A total of ten national and international awards have been added to Edwards’ mantle this year in various categories, in addition to dominating the field of LGBT Non-Fiction with wins at The International Book Awards, The Beverly Hills Book Awards and The National Indie Excellence Awards, where it was also named Best Autobiography of the Year.

Make sure you check it out on Amazon or any other major retailer.

Brian Edwards' debut book "Enter Miss Thang" wins two Beverly Hills International Book Awards

Big congratulations are in order for my pal (and ultimate Hollywood insider) Brian Edwards, whose debut book “Enter Miss Thang” just won TWO Beverly Hills Book Awards.


“Enter Miss Thang,” Brian’s hilarious autobiographical look at the beginning of his successful career in entertainment was awarded “Best Gay, Lesbian, Transgender (Non-Fiction)” and “Best Cover Design (Non-Fiction).”


The Beverly Hills Book Awards are synonymous with excellence, the best of the best. After decades in the publishing industry and listening to colleagues talk about the ever-growing challenges when promoting books, the organization decided that since there were so many books being done well, they wanted to celebrate the physical book in print that has always and will always be a part of American culture. 

I wrote about the book last year when it was released, and couldn’t be happier for Brian’s success. Here’s just part of my review of the book from last October when it was released:

The book is a fabulous romp through the career – highs and lows – of a man who has literally done it all in the world of show business. His career has led to campaigning for honors on the Hollywood Walk of Fame or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; serving as manager of celebrity talent to television networks American Movie Classics (AMC) and WE: Women’s Entertainment; and working side by side with some of the biggest names in Hollywood – Joan Rivers, Cindy Crawford, Vanessa Williams and legendary talent agent Sam Haskell — all of whom Edwards considers close, personal friends and confidantes.

I expected Enter Miss Thang to be fun and funny. And it is – a true reflection of it’s author. What I didn’t expect was the inspiration Edwards provides throughout his journey. In a world of “but I can’t” and “but how do I,” Edwards chronicles a spirit of determination and courage that gets things done one way or another. If he didn’t know how to approach an obstacle, he made his own way. If he made a misstep, he self-corrected. Over and over, with a lot of humor, he shows an original “can-do” attitude that “does.”


Awards aren’t new to Brian – in 2012, the International Press Academy honored him with the Satellite Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Entertainment, making him only the third recipient of this honor in the academy’s history. 

Congratulations to Brian!

Check out the book on Amazon by clicking here.

Shop-a-holic in training

One of my “Roving Reporters” spotted one of my favorite entertainment insiders, Brian Edwards, down at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica after a mad-dash thru the Converse Store.  Gee, shopping for a change.  Imagine that!

Its rumored that friends of Rusty Joiner and his wife Charity are concerned that Brian will turn baby Cariss Alaina into a shop-a-holic before she’s 5! Story at 11:00! 🙂

#MissThangShoppingPro
#TeachThemYoung
#DivaInTraining

New “must-read” – ENTER MISS THANG by Brian Edwards

ENTER MISS THANG by Brian Edwards

For over thirty years, Brian Edwards has enjoyed an enormously successful career in the entertainment industry as a celebrity talent executive, producer and writer. He has worked closely with such celebrities as Donna Summer, Vanessa Williams, Susan Sarandon, Shirley Jones and Whoopi Goldberg.

In addition to client relations, Edwards served as a talent executive and talent producer for three Emmy Award-winning shows.

Now, you can add the title of “author” to Edwards long list of accomplishments.

 In Enter Miss Thang, his new memoir tracing his amazing road to success, Edwards shares in his very unique voice the “how, why and what” that led to taking on and succeeding at just about every challenge possible in the world of entertainment.  And it’s a star-studded road, to be sure.

The foreword of the book is by none other than Joan Rivers herself. Of Edwards, she writes “Despite various obstacles, minor setbacks, and challenges, as you will read in this book, Brian’s thirty-year career in the field of entertainment has afforded him many opportunities as a client relations rep, producer, writer, and even a surprisingly good occasional performer and along with that a host of accolades and industry awards to boot. But to those of us who know him well, his loyalty as a friend is perhaps the most rewarding achievement of all.”

And in the introduction – penned by the one and only Cindy Crawford – Miss Cindy writes, “Let’s start off by saying he’s a well-respected veteran in the field of celebrity client relations, a multi-award winning talent executive / producer, a writer and recently a Social Media Maven. That begins to sum up the business side of Brian Edwards. On a personal level, add to that someone whose Southern charm, incomparable kindness, loyalty and unwavering support of the enter- tainment industry and those in it, is what places him notches above the rest.”

The book is a fabulous romp through the career – highs and lows – of a man who has literally done it all in the world of show business. His career has led to campaigning for honors on the Hollywood Walk of Fame or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; serving as manager of celebrity talent to television networks American Movie Classics (AMC) and WE: Women’s Entertainment; and working side by side with some of the biggest names in Hollywood – Joan Rivers, Cindy Crawford, Vanessa Williams and legendary talent agent Sam Haskell — all of whom Edwards considers close, personal friends and confidantes.

In 2012, the International Press Academy honored Edwards with the Satellite Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Entertainment, making him only the third recipient of this honor in the academy’s history.

Along the way, his work with major stars has earned their respect and, more so, their friendship. Award-winning actress and recording star Vanessa Williams writes of Edwards, “With a heart of gold laced with profound generosity, Brian is the perfect example of a true friend — and to so many. Enter Miss Thang is his story, filled with humor and passion for his work and the people he loves the most. A diva indeed, but it’s a title he’s definitely earned by managing to survive almost thirty years in Hollywood, cushioned by intelligence, flamboyance, gut instinct, loyalty, and, most of all, his sense of humor.”

I expected Enter Miss Thang to be fun and funny. And it is – a true reflection of it’s author. What I didn’t expect was the inspiration Edwards provides throughout his journey. In a world of “but I can’t” and “but how do I,” Edwards chronicles a spirit of determination and courage that gets things done one way or another. If he didn’t know how to approach an obstacle, he made his own way. If he made a misstep, he self-corrected. Over and over, with a lot of humor, he shows an original “can-do” attitude that “does.”

I highly recommend this book. You’ll laugh, you’ll be impressed, and you’ll be inspired by a guy who continues to make his own way through the rocky world of show biz.

WITH a “2 piece and a biscuit” at his side.

Check out the book on Amazon by clicking here.

Donna Summer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – finally

This past Thursday, April 18, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, Donna Summer was officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Finally. And deservedly.

Summer’s family — husband singer-songwriter and producer Bruce Sudano; their two daughters, Brooklyn and Amanda; and daughter Mimi from her first marriage — posted a message on her website, donnasummer.com:

“We are overjoyed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has recognized Donna’s tremendous musical achievements. It’s an honor we know she quietly hoped for and would very much cherish. We are deeply grateful.”

Brian Edwards, Summer’s assistant from 1989 to 1995, and her client relations representative for the last seven years of her life, shared his thoughts on the long-overdue induction:

“Donna was more than just ‘the Queen of Disco,’ ” Edwards wrote in an email. “Yes, her introduction to stardom was a result of her major successes in the field of disco at the time. However, her career encompassed so many different musical genres, including R&B, gospel, pop, jazz and pure rock and roll.”

And Edwards wasn’t done defending the artist who won the very first Grammy for rock vocal performance by a female for 1979’s “Hot Stuff.”

“No disrespect to Madonna, but given the majority of her hit records are pop/dance-oriented, no one said anything when she was inducted [into the Rock Hall],” Edwards wrote. “And she has NEVER even been nominated for a Grammy in the rock [vocal] category, yet she shares the same distinction as Summer as a recipient of a Grammy in the best dance recording category.”

The Dance Recording category was introduced in 1997, and the first winner was – Donna Summer.

“The facts speak for themselves,” the ever-loyal Edwards wrote. “In my opinion, Donna Summer is more of a true rock artist than Madonna will ever be.”

2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

What: The Class of 2013 will be inducted in the Cleveland-based Hall of Fame.

Performers:
Rush
Heart
Randy Newman
Public Enemy
Donna Summer
Albert King

Ahmet Ertegun Award for Lifetime Achievement:
Lou Adler
Quincy Jones

Daughter Brooklyn Sudano, Client Relations rep Brian Edwards and husband Bruce Sudano

Super model Cindy Crawford, Client Relations rep Brian Edwards and Summer’s longtime manager Susan Munao
on the red carpet of the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony

All smiles on the red carpet at seeing longtime friend and client Donna Summer inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

An edited version of the show will be broadcast 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18 on HBO.

(source)

International Press Academy’s Satellite Awards event honoring Brian Edwards

With Brian Edwards and his Satellite Award from the Internationals Press Academy

What a terrific event.  Brian Edwards was honored for his work in client relations at the International Press Academy’s Satellite Awards event last night.

Some of the famous folk attending included Vanessa Williams, Cindy Crawford, Pam Tillis, Nita Whitaker and Sasha Cohen.

The award presentation included video greetings from Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Ali Landry and many others.

I had a great time catching up with Vanessa, especially about Broadway theater – comparing notes of what we’ve seen so far, friends being nominated for awards, and what we still want to make sure we see. Once you’ve lived in the theater, it’s in your blood. There’s just no losing that passion.

Vanessa also sang an impromptu a cappella version of “Happy Days Are Here Again” in honor of Brian that was amazing.  What a voice.  She sounded great.

Check out the pics below:

Posing with Vanessa on the red carpet

Cindy Crawford, Brian Edwards and Chris Williams on the red carpet
From L to R: Sasha Cohen, Nita Whitaker, Pick Pasqualone, Cindy Crawford, Brian Edwards,
Vanessa Williams, Cory Churko, Pam Tillis and Tiffany Fallon
Brian and I on the red carpet

Enjoying a glass of wine during the event

Michael, Vanessa and I discussing Broadway theater before the award ceremony