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KATT IS PIMPIN' Comedian/actor Katt Williams' audio version of his fourth stand-up DVD, It's Pimpin', Pimpin' , is now in stores. The DVD version was recently released and features a collection of the comedian's routines from his 100-city tour. THRILLING The 14-minute video of Michael Jackson's song Thriller will be developed into a musical theater production, according to reports. The Nederland Organization , which has acquired rights to turn the 1983 video into a stage extravaganza, said in a state- ment: "This musical will be the exclusive Michael Jackson authorized version of 'Thriller' and Jackson will participate in every aspect of the creative process." Titled Thriller The Musical , the effort will include songs from Thriller and Jackson's 1979 album Off The Wall . ISRAEL "JUST WANNA SAY" Award-winning gospel recording artist, Israel Houghton' new CD will drop March 24. The upcoming studio release, The Power of One , is his eighth. The first single is Just Wanna Say . Houghton won back-to-back Grammys in the last two years for his Alive In South Africa and A Deeper Level recordings. NORDSTROM In celebration of Black History Month, Nordstrom will offer customers a new, exclusive CD entitled, The Royal Blues - Celebrating the Queens of Blues and Jazz . The Royal Blues features tracks from Billie Holiday , Ella Fitzgerald , Etta James , Sarah Vaughn and Shirley Horn . This compilation also includes a special track recorded exclusively for Nordstrom by jazz artist Lizz Wright . The CD sells for $18.95 in all Nordstrom stores and online at www.nordstrom.com/blackhistorymonth. EDMONDS "KNEW" Kevon Edmonds , a onetime member of the R&B group, After 7 , will release his sophomore solo CD, Who Knew in the spring. The compilations will include some of Edmonds' most personal songs. The first single, April's Fools , ( Make Entertainment/IMAGE Distribution ) will drop Feb. 24. It was produced by KADIS & SEAN and written by Courtney Harrell . Edmonds is credited with co- executive producing his debut solo project, 24/7, alongside sibling Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds . NEGRO SERMONS ON CD HighBridge Company ( Penguin-HighBridge imprint ), in cooperation with the Grace and James Weldon Johnson Foundation , will release, God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse on CD. The release coincides with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the NAACP , for which James Weldon Johnson was an early pivotal figure. James Weldon Johnson was a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance. In "God's Trombones, one of his most celebrated works, inspi- rational sermons of African-American preachers are re-imagined as poetry. For information: www.highbridgeaudio.com. AMAS TURNS 40 Amas Musical Theatre celebrates its 40th Anniversary on March 30, with a gala benefit concert featuring hit songs and num- bers from four decades of Amas (Latin for "You Love"). The musical will honor Grammy-winner Dionne Warwick and produc- er/director Woodie King, Jr. with The Rosie Award . The concert features a special "Blast from the Past" concert of songs includ- ing Bubbling Brown Sugar , It's So Nice to Be Civilized , Zanna Don't! , SHOUT! The Mod Musical , Four Guys Named Jose , Stormy Weather , Langston Hughes's Little Ham , From My Hometown , Lone Star Love , and Wanda's World, among others. For information: www.amasmusical.org. Black Meetings & Tourism February/March 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 17 kevon