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Greg Simms Jr.

Dayton Made-Famous People From Our City: Nancy Cartwright

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Nancy Cartwright grew up in Kettering and discovered her talent for voices at an early age. While in the fourth grade at St. Charles Borromeo, she won a school-wide speech competition with her performance of Rudyard Kipling’s How the Camel Got His Hump. Cartwright graduated from  Fairmont West High School where she participated in theater and marching band. She regularly entered public speaking competitions, placing first in the “Humorous Interpretation” category at the National District Tournament two years running.

In 1976, Cartwright landed a part-time job doing voice-overs for commercials on WING radio. A representative from Warner Bros. Records visited WING and later sent Cartwright a list of contacts in the animation industry. One of these was Daws Butler, known for voicing characters such as Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Elroy Jetson, Spike the Bulldog and Yogi Bear. Cartwright called him and left a message in a Cockney accent on his answering machine. Butler immediately called her back and agreed to be her mentor.

 

And now Nancy Cartwright  is widely known to be the voice of Bart Simpson, of The Simpsons. That in itself is a massive accomplishment, since the character of Bart Simpson and the Simpson’s show is such a huge part of American pop culture. 

 
But, Cartwright has done soooo much more throughout her career. Along with voicing Bart, she also voices several more voices on The Simpsons, such as: Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, and Nelson Muntz.
She also was the lead in a made for television movie released in 1982 called Marian Rose White. She played the substantial role as Ethel in one of the better segments of Twilight Zone: The Movie.
She’s done more voice-work for other hit cartoons like: Rugrats, Animaniacs, and Pinky and the Brain. She’s also appeared in front of the camera on television shows and movies, such as : The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Godzilla, and 24. And all of those items are just the tip of Cartwright’s amazing career iceberg.
In 2011 Ms. Cartwright was inducted into the Dayton Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame and in 2016 a stone honoring her was placed in the Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame in Wright Dunbar Village.
 
Gotta say, though, her being Bart Simpson is, possibly, the coolest thing ever. 

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: Charles Michael Davis

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If you’ve been watching mainly network television over the years, you’ve probably noticed this guy. Or, your wife or girlfriend has noticed him. This handsome actor/entertainer is Charles Michael Davis. And Davis was born right here in the Dayton area. 

Davis grew up in Riverside, and he comes from a mixed marriage. His African American father is from Kentucky, and his Filipino mother is from Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.  He graduated from Stebbins High School, and Miami (Ohio) University.  He got his start in the entertainment industry by modeling with Wings Model Management, which was based in Cincinnati. He later worked with the talent agency Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ (AMTC). Soon after, Davis did television commercials and print ads for Nike and FootLocker.

Here’s an interview from 2014:

Davis transitioned from modeling, to acting. Throughout the 2000’s and the 2010’s, he appeared on a number of television shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Switched At Birth, The Game, and That’s So Raven. In 2013, Davis got the first of three lead roles in TV shows that he would come to have. He was made a lead character in the CW vampire show The Originals. In 2018, he was named a lead in the series Younger, in its fifth season. And, in 2020, he was cast in the role of Special Agent Quentin Carter in NCIS: New Orleans.

At the rate Davis is going, we shouldn’t be surprised if he were to end up a leading man on the big screen, movies, any day now. Davis shows us all that nothing is impossible with a little bit of Midwestern magic, and a lot of Ohio grit. 

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: Sherri Saum

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Born in Dayton on October 1, 1974,  this former model and long time actress actually  got her start in the entertainment industry in Kettering.  She attended Oakview Elementary School  and then was  involved in  drama club and was also a cheerleader while Fairmont High School.  She would actually take the RTA to the Dayton Mall almost every day.
She transferred from Ohio State University after one semester, to New York University where she got a major in psychology. While she studied in New York she did modeling work and worked as a waitress.
Sheri Saum was a regular on the soap opera Sunset Beach, and had roles in numerous television shows and films. Her most notable role, arguably, was on the TV show The Fosters. She played the role of Lena Adams for five seasons. The role was a trailblazing one , as Lena was a lesbian who was in a long term relationship, who also ran a household with several  children of diverse backgrounds. Sherri now has a recurring role on the cable television show Power Book II: Ghost. 

In 2020 she appeared in 9 episodes of Locke & Key, American supernatural horror drama streaming television series that premiered on Netflix on February 2020.

Sherri is indeed repping well for the DYT.

Keep up with he on Instagram @saumdays.

A Driving Guide For The Miami Valley. So You Dont Die.

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Let’s keep it real, folks. The Miami Valley has some of the worst drivers in the world. All of us have a horror story about driving our vehicles in this region. You probably have one from driving today.

I actually care about you fine readers, so, I’m gonna help you all. Below is a quiz I created to assist you in choosing your options when you need to deal with a driving incident. I can’t tell you what options/answers to choose, but I can say…there’s really no wrong answer. This is a no judgement zone.

Unless you are a bad driver. Then, you’re automatically a jerk.

Behold. The quiz.…

1. You’re driving on I-75, and because the overstressed idiots around you think it’s the Indy 500, you may not be able to get off your planned exit. What do you do?

A. Make like “The Road Warrior”, and demolition derby your way to the exit.
B. Miss the exit, get off at the next exit, and then get back on the highway.
C. Just keep.driving to Atlanta, and start a new life in a town with better drivers.

2.You’re driving in Dayton, and you keep running over potholes, which can surely damage your vehicle. Because the potholes are pretty much EVERYWHERE in the area, there’s not much you can do to avoid them. What are your options?

A. Strap up, buckle up, and hope you aren’t drinking hot coffee, because your going to keep driving over those suckers.
B. Get your “Fast and The Furious” on and swerve around the holes, which means you’ll get to your destination a half hour later.
C. Curse out loud and then drive to Atlanta and start a new life.

3. You’re driving on I-35 , bound for Xenia, and you get into the Left Lane of Death. And, predictably, a hopped up on Monster energy drinks teenager appears out of nowhere, and rides your bumper criminally close. And now, he makes it nearly impossible to turn left to get to your job, because that’s why you got in the left lane in the first place. How do you handle this?

A. Give the guy the finger for the entirety of your trip.
B. Continue on your route, and hope the kid eventually backs off.
C. Pull over to the right lane, eventually get to I-75, and drive to Atlanta, and…you know.

4. You’re driving up Woodman Drive towards Kettering, and you come to the five lane intersection I like to call The Choke Point. It’s 5:30 pm, and the traffic there is an unholy mess. And, because it’s a mess, an accident happens right ahead of you. So now, traffic could be stuck for a loooong time.

And…you have to use the bathroom.

Your move is?

A. Yell in agony. And then look for a bottle.
B. Stay calm and try and meditate, so you can still your soul and your bladder.
C. Turn your car off, get out, and just start walking to Atlanta.

If you answered with all “A’s” for the quiz, I get it. I suggest a beer and a hug…but I get it. If you answered with all “B’s” , you are a true grownup, and I’m super jealous of you. And, if you answered with all “C’s”..

….let me know about Atlanta’s job market when you get there.

Just kidding.

3 Ways to Fix Dayton

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You didn’t think I’d write about repairing this city without offering any solutions, did you? Below are a few ideas of mine for helping this ‘burg reach its dazzling potential.

The city of Dayton should…

1. Embrace and weaponize the Funk: Let’s be honest, historians care about the Wright Brothers, typical people care about the Ohio Players. From a historical perspective, the Wright Brothers pioneering modern flight was…significant. Ok, massive. In too many ways to list. That’s obvious.

But, when was the last time you danced in a bar to a Wright Brothers song? Or at a party? Or a holiday BBQ? Or your college frat party? You didn’t. You danced to Lakeside. Slave. Zapp. Dayton, Ohio’s Funk music from the 1970’s through the 1980’s is this city’s biggest and most important export. If you still don’t believe me, go check out some of the biggest Rap music hits of the last 40 years. So many have sampled Dayton Funk songs. Not to mention a few rock groups. Dayton does celebrate its Funk scene, but it needs to do more than that. Funk should be Dayton’s ace in the hole marketing plan. It’s main identity to the world. When a person enters Dayton city limits, there should literally be a sign that says “Welcome to Dayton, Ohio. Home of The Funk!” with a picture of the Ohio Players on it.

Baby boomer dads may revere the Wright Brothers, but everyone else digs the Funk. Dayton city officials need to realize and then capitalize on this fact.

2. Start bringing people together: The Coronavirus has made it difficult to move forward with annual events. But, when (if?) things get back to normal, city leaders should look to influence or create gatherings that are more inclusive. Over a decade ago, a local bank (I forget which one) threw an Ohio State Football viewing party at Riverscape. They showed a Buckeyes game on a gigantic television on a Saturday afternoon, and invited the general public. It was a fantastic time. I was surrounded by fellow Buckeye fans who were from different parts of the Miami Valley…people from regions that don’t usually intentionally mix. Our common thread that day was our love for our team, and it bonded us strongly for three plus hours.

 

 

And, I’ve seen nothing like it since. I think it’s high time the city innovates and creates events with a wider vision and scope, and attempts to bring people together. Let’s bust up those decades old redlined intra-city divisions, and try to…at least drink a few beers together.

3. Entice and invest in tech and pharmaceutical companies: The manufacturing sector isn’t what it once was. And now, with many jobs in that field becoming automated, manufacturing companies don’t even want to hire humans these days. Which is why Dayton should no longer court traditional manufacturing companies to move and build in the city. City leaders should instead look to influence and fund pharmaceutical manufacturers and tech companies. Granted, there are already a few of those corporations that are already located in the Miami Valley, but, there should be a push to reach out to more of those companies. Bigger companies. Drug making and digital tech are the hot fields for now and the foreseeable future. Dayton should start gearing up for this change, and embrace it. We need more Pfizers and less Fuyaos.

What say you, fellow Miami Valley peeps?

Masks Aren’t Cool. Wear Them ANYWAY.

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Wearing masks, cloth face coverings, or N95 respirators, is awful. It’s a nuisance. It sucks. I get it. I wear them, and I hate it. As a matter of fact, I now have to wear them when I go to the gym. I don’t have to tell you that working out while wearing a face covering is awkward.

But…I’ll still wear my masks.

And, you should too.

Once again, I get it. No one wants to be told what to do by Big Brother. A mandatory mask ordinance was passed in Dayton last week. No one wants to be told to wear an itchy, smothering thing around their nose and mouth, in order to even enter a:

– Grocery store.

– Mall.

– Gas station.

– Gym.

– Or restaurant.

And no one wants constant reminders from every different direction to “WEAR YOUR MASK!!!!” from every conceivable media platform. Simply put, the entire concept of wearing masks in 2020 makes most of us uncomfortable.

However, ‘uncomfortable’ is actually what Americans do. And very well. Americans were uncomfortable when they were ordered by local governments to wear masks during the influenza pandemic of 1918 and 1919. And, they wore them anyway. Americans were uncomfortable with war rationing during World War II, but they did it anyway. Americans were uncomfortable during The Great Depression, when the phrase “Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.” became a way of life. Many Americans ended up poor, or poorer, and got resourceful, creating and tweaking things like kitchen gardens, thrift gardens, and potluck meals. They made it through anyway.

Actually, we do things in our daily lives that make us uncomfortable, and we power through them. Paying bills. Going to work. Watching Tik Tok videos. Tasting your friend’s homemade hummus. Doing uncomfortable things for the greater good of a population, neighborhood, or, your loved ones is something we all do or have done on our lives. It’s real, it’s responsible, it’s American, it’s right.

So, if you are on the fence about wearing a mask, don’t be. There is proof that wearing a face mask does prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. And yeah, it won’t be fun wearing a friggin’ sock on your face…in the summer.

But, you’ll save lives. And what’s better, and more American, than that?

Dayton Can’t Improve Unless Its Racism Ends

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“Come on, man!”

My co-worker plead with me as we drove to our destination. We both worked for a home healthcare company for disabled people in the Dayton area. Both of us were staff members in a particular house located in Dayton that had three adult occupants at the time. To protect my co-worker’s identity, I’ll call him “Shawn” in this article/op-ed.

One of the directives from our supervisors was to have our clients, all of them with developmental disabilities, interact with the public as often as possible. So, Shawn and I were supposed to take our guys to a facility in West Carrolton, where a dance/event would be held for a large group of people from the DD population. We had to get them there at a specific time, and also leave at a certain time. Both Shawn and I had done this before, so, it would be a cinch. The only real ‘difficulty’ would be the drive, as we had to drive the clients from Dayton to West Carrolton, which, depending on traffic, can be sort of a long drive. I thought the length of the trip would be the issue.

The trip itself was the problem.

As we drove on the highway toward West Carrolton, I saw Shawn start to look uneasy. And, he got more uneasy as we got closer to West Carrolton. When we got off the highway, and exited into city limits, Shawn started to squirm and contort in the passenger seat, as if he was in pain.

I asked him what was wrong. He replied to me, “Man, we’re going into West Carrolton. I never go to West Carrolton! I don’t like leaving Dayton.”

As he spoke to me, I saw something that startled me. It was fear. Fear coming from Shawn. Fear, coming from a guy because he was scared of leaving the confines of the Dayton area, which was his turf, for the unknown of West Carrolton, a town that exists in the same county as Dayton. But, even though his reaction shocked me, there were two other things that floored me.

1. Shawn was easily 6’5”, 220lbs plus. And yet, he was in the fetal position because of a trip.

2. This happened in 2014. Not 1954. 2014.

Dayton’s biggest problem in 2020 isn’t its lack of jobs, or a mask ordinance. It’s the city’s decades’ old racism. It’s the second most segregated city in Ohio, and has one of the most segregated school districts in the country. If you aren’t a fan of stats and data, ask around on the street within the city, and by extension, the rest of the Miami Valley. The views of the Dayton area are not flattering.

 Dayton cannot move forward with any positive changes unless its years of social and economic separatism are changed. Full stop. The city can’t ask new (to the area) corporations and innovators to put down roots in a city that actually may not welcome them if they are non-White, or White with more liberal views. There has to be frank discussions with key city people of power about fixing the social ills of the Dayton metro area. Only then can work start on a rebuild of the city.

 Fixing Dayton’s racial issues can start work on the Miami Valley as a whole. (This entire region needs it) Because, no citizen should ever feel like Shawn did that day.

 Unfortunately, many of us who are Black have been Shawn, while living in this area.

I know I have.

 

Dion Lack: From The DYT To Hollywood

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Dion Lack in the famous Doritos commercial.

You all saw it. The hilarious Dion Lack Doritos Commercial (see below) that aired during the 2010 Super Bowl. The one where the cute kid pimp slaps a grown man for dating his Mom and eating his Doritos. Here’s where things get interesting. The adult male in the commercial is from Dayton. And his name is Dion Lack.

Dion has been in the entertainment business as an actor/comedian for eleven years. And as you can guess, his career got a nice boost from the Doritos ad. Lack took some time out of his busy schedule to talk about what he’s been working on, and life as a Dayton transplant living in La La (Los Angeles)

Greg Simms Jr.: The Doritos commercial. That made a lot of noise when it aired. How did that come about?

Dion Lack: “Yeah, the commercial was surprisingly a HUGE success. It came about from a buddy of mine that I worked with as an extra on the set of Fast Furious 4. He approached me a couple months prior with the idea and we collaborated and made it come to life. A lot of people thought I came up with the commercial because I have my own production company. (LackToast Entertainment) but I was just the actor in it.”

 

G.S.: What was the response to the commercial (from your perspective)? How did the commercial affect your career?

D.L.: “My honest opinion, I didn’t think it was that funny but I kept getting rave reviews from my surroundings that made me fall in love with it. I praise God for the commercials buzz because it had definitely got me a lot of acting and writing jobs that boasted my drive to be more successful.”

G.S.: You are from the Dayton area. when did you move to California? And why?

D.L.: “Yes I’m a proud Dayton native! I was born and raised in Dayton View and moved to Los Angeles in 2001. I came out here to act and was forced to get into the stand-up comedy world. Which I do not regret. Comedy has been my best move yet as far as networking and growing.”

G.S.: Obviously, you are a comedian. When did you know you wanted to pursue this career? And why?

D.L.: “Like I said on the previous answer, I’ve done comedy in high school but never thought I would pursue it as a career. When my family and folks got word I was in L.A., people started hooking me up with the right people that were already established for encouragement and motivation. I slid in just fine and performed and traveled with some of the greats. ”

G.S.: How often do you perform stand-up comedy?

D.L.: “That’s kind of a hard question seeing that I do open mics all the time to try out new jokes. Just like exercising, comedy is a muscle you need to workout. But I average about four scheduled comedy performances a week.”

G.S.: Have you been to the Dayton area lately?

D.L.: “No I haven’t been in back home since April of 2011. Which was a Redemption Comedy show at the RTA Center. It was a lot of fun with my Good Comedian Comrades Mark Gregory, Nate Washington, Will Speed, and produced by Terrance Dorsey. ”

G.S.: If you had to talk to any Dayton area up and coming entertainers, what you tell them?

D.L.: “Dayton is a small market and you can easily be unmotivated because there’s not a lot of encouraging people inspiring your dream. Please stay encouraged!!! Surprise yourself and allow you to be your only competition. Don’t follow and compare someone else’s success with the speed of yours because it will always frustrate you. Everything you do in life should make your life better. ”

G.S.: Do you have anything that you are working on currently?

D.L.: “I am always working on something. I have a Comedy CD that I’m working on which is full of pranks, sketches and most importantly comedy! It will be complete in the Fall of 2012.
I’m working on a fantasy trilogy that was inspired by my oldest daughter a few years ago. Its an analogy novel that I’ve done intense research on and been working on the 3 simultaneously for almost a year now. The working title is Boats which should be complete early Winter.
Like I said on my previous answer, I’ve developed a production company (www.LackToastEnt.com) with my Best Friend Twilla Tanyi. We provide full service to help anyone bring out that vision they have on paper. We’ve done skits, short films, Reality shows, sketches, commercials etc. Check out our new YouTube page (www.Youtube.com/TheLackToastEnt.com)Also, you can follow us on Twitter : @LackToastEnt, and
“Like” us on Facebook : LackToast Entertainment”

G.S.: What is your ultimate goal?

D.L.: “My ultimate goal is to live out all my dreams with no regrets. If I say I’m going to do it, it will be done! I want to be an example of “It Can Be Done!” I don’t cut corners and try to inspire the people around me to stay encouraged. And I will leave you with this: don’t allow money to be your motivation. God Over Money!”

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qIkou5oNXo’]

Veteran Dayton Rapper DeMarco Still Making Noise

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When I wrote for another Dayton-based media outlet nearly a decade ago, I wrote a story about a rap duo called 275. The duo consisted of DeMarco and Snipes. At the time I wrote about them, the men released a single called “Hustle Man” that shook the streets of Dayton. The duo made noise nationally as well, as they were rumored to have had talks with major labels to sign contracts. For a few years, 275 were Dayton’s best bet for national hip-hop stardom.

A few years have passed, and things have changed. The duo is no more, and lone voice from 275 is DeMarco. The Montgomery County hip-hop veteran has decided to push on and continue rapping. The results so far have been impressive. DeMarco dropped a well received Mixtape, “Hank Music Vol 1”. Buzz is surrounding the mixtape, and it doesn’t hurt that DeMarco has well connected Core DJ affiliated DJ Skno in his corner. DeMarco had some time to sit down and talk about his dues paid, the history of 275, and his most recent moves.

Greg Simms Jr. : How long have you been rapping, professionally?

DeMarco: “I’ve been rapping for about 13 years professionally. I was a young’n starting out. It’s been a blessing to stay relevant through a few eras of hip- hop.”

GSJ: You were in the group 275. Are you still in the group? What’s the status of it?

DM: “Yes, I started out as half of 275. We had a chemistry that was bananas. 275 was defunct in 2005 due to Snipes pursuing a family setting, and moving. He’s still my homie though, we been cool since we were nine years old, so I had to respect his decision.”

GSJ: Did 275 have a major label deal? Or talks with a major?

DM: ” We had a distribution deal with SMD (Southern Music Distribution) in Atlanta, a deal on the table with Jive, Def Jam South (they ended up signing Ludacris) and Bad Boy.”

GSJ: . When did you decide to go solo?

DM: ” Around 2006. Once Snipes retired, it was still a passion for me, and I knew I had the talent to succeed because we were there. I just had to adjust to being solo which was tough. I started out with snipes and never thought I’d ever be solo. I just had to turn it up.”

GSJ: Tell me about the mixtape.

DM: “: ‘Hank Music, vol 1 What The Streets Want‘, hosted by DJ Skno, is another masterpiece. It’s my 9th project, 3rd as a solo artist, but its probably my most complete project because of the range. I got trap music, music for the ladies, hip hop heads (crazy bars) just everything you wanna hear, a one stop shop. I pride myself on being versatile, and speaking 100% truth on all topics, because I been through it on all those levels.”

GSJ: Where is the mixtape available?

DM: ” It’s available online at www.polishedmoney.com, in Dayton, Ohio at 14 Carat on Gettysburg Avenue, Xclusive CD Store on Philadelphia or catch DJ Skno in the streets, he keeps them on deck.”

GSJ: How has the mixtape done sales wise?

DM: ” How has the public reacted to it? We’re at about 400-500 now, steady rising, it’s all promotion so I plan on hitting the entire Midwest and flood the streets. The public has shown me a lot of love, the streets have always embraced my music, and my fans see I respect this art form so I stay on ten with every verse. They love it.”

GSJ: Are there any more mixtapes on the horizon?

DM: ” I got two more joint projects on deck for this year, with two of Dayton’s best lyricists, they should both be dropping within the next few months. I’ll be dropping again towards the end of this year. Just keeping the momentum going towards the album.”

GSJ: Are you touring, or doing any shows now, or in the near future?

DM: ” We’re setting up a 6-7 city tour throughout the Midwest in June, and hopefully I’ll be on a East coast tour also that’ll start in July. I have shows around Dayton coming up, and also a live band show on the riverboat to support breast cancer on May 5th. ”

GSJ: Is it hard for a Dayton-area rap artist to break out?

DM: ” Yes, now it’s harder than ever. It was hard for us when I first started because we were from Dayton, a small city nobody was checking for, but there wasn’t that many artists. Now it’s still a small city, but there are ten times more artists, so the lane is so clogged up, there’s almost more rappers then hip hop fans in general, so the support is divided so much that no one artist can gain any real momentum. So, long story short, you gotta get outta Dayton and create your buzz elsewhere also, and in most cases it takes long money.”

GSJ: What do you make of Dayton’s Hip-Hop scene?

DM: ” I respect it, as I mentioned on the previous question I think it’s over-saturated, but there’s more talent here then there’s ever been. I’ve seen artists that have improved a lot over the years, and some new artists that just got it, they just need that push.”

GSJ: What are your future plans as an artist?

DM: ” I plan to drop more projects long as the lord is willing, I’m setting up further distribution deals, multiple videos for hank music and my album “Something Epic”, and also working with my daughter Jayla, who is the real future of this hip hop. mark my word. the new label is Polished Money music, so as of now it’s my daughter and me, but I plan to expand and sign new artists in the future.”