Last week was Raven-Symone's 26th birthday. And it so happens I did a BlogTalkRadio show on her birthday a couple of years ago. In that show's description I wrote, "Come with me as we celebrate Raven-Symone's life in this birthday tribute to one of America's favorite entertainers." The show itself, titled "It's Raven-Symone's 24th Birthday!", went like this:
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. This is 'Gene On The Scene' coming to you live with news, profiles, and commentary on BlogTalkRadio this Thursday, December 10th, 2009 from Woodbourne Library in Centerville, Ohio on a very cold, blustery day.
"Newsflash! It's Raven-Symone's 24th birthday today! I actually remember the day she was born-on Tuesday, December 10th, 1985. My father and I were grocery shopping that day, a sunny day at that, at a grocery store in Miamisburg, Ohio called Freedom Foods. But of course any day Raven is born would have to be a sunny day, wouldn't it?
"Born Raven-Symone Christina Pearman in Atlanta, Georgia to parents Christopher and Lydia Pearman, she showed an early knack for entertaining and charming people. She became a local Atlanta model for print ads while still a toddler. Then Raven joined a New York City ad agency, made commercials, and at the tender age of three years old, won the coveted role of Olivia Kendall, the first grandchild of Dr. and Mrs. Huxtable , and won Bill Cosby's heart as well. As Cosby would later tell Arsenio Hall on his show, Raven has uncanny comedic talent and would go anywhere with a line he wanted to go in a scene. And that showed in the many scenes Cosby and Raven did together, which were hilarious, intriguing, and intelligently done.
"Raven was a smash! She's been a part of America's heart and culture ever since, staying with 'The Cosby Show' until it ended in 1992. Raven gave a memorable performance in Alex Haley's TV mini-series 'Queen', then had another hit TV series role in, as Nicole Lee in 'Hangin' With Mr. Cooper' in 1993. Raven was Stymie's girlfriend in her 1994 cinematic debut in 'The Little Rascals'. After 'Hangin' With Mr. Cooper' wrapped in early 1997, Raven started working with Eddie Murphy in her second movie, 'Dr. Doolittle', filmed during the spring and summer months, then hit the talk show circuit to promote the movie. I got to interview her via telephone hookup on my Dayton area public access television show on September 20th.
"She's a very charming lady. We talked about school, working on TV vis-a-vis recording studios, her friendship with Muhammad Ali-she was on his 50th birthday show-all in a wide ranging interview for half an hour. She was a fantastic experienced interview. After the show, I told her mom I had a feeling she'd be working for Disney someday. And my prediction came true two years later with a 1999 Disney TV movie 'Xenon: Girl of the 21st Century'. The Walt Disney Company was so impressed with that that in 2003, it built a new TV series around her called 'That's So Raven', which became a hit, leading to big, very successful records based on the series although Raven had been making records, singles and albums, as far back as five years old starting with MCA Records. Stevie Wonder even composed and wrote a song for her that she recorded titled 'I Love You'. He also played harmonica on that record, which has led to concerts, more records, and more movies. At 24, she is a show business legend in the making.
"But Raven is looking beyond performing in the production work she's achieved so far. In an interview earlier this year shown on YouTube, Raven says she's planning to retire from performing in ten years to have her own stable of talent as a Hollywood agent and manager. Raven seems to know when to change paths. And it's worked for her so far. Raven is imbued with and exudes greatness, and can work anywhere in the entertainment industry. And she'll always be a star no matter what she does. Happy birthday, Raven!"
