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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 30 august 2019
Beyoncé's music director on Emmy nod : 'It feels good'

NEW YORK (AP) — In true colleges and universities)
Beyoncé fashion, when her idea ... it was a machine
music director learned he after that. It was just months
earned his first-ever Emmy and months of prep work,
nomination for his work on making it sound authentic,"
the pioneering project, he said. "She has tons and
"HOMECOMING: A Film by tons of classic records that
Beyoncé," he was too busy when putting the show to-
to celebrate — because he gether, you have to main-
was focused on producing tain the classic feel of the
the superstar's next album. record but make it feel
Derek Dixie has worked like you're in a stadium at
with Beyoncé for almost a homecoming."
decade, rising through the Beyoncé's Coachella per-
ranks from assisting the mu- formance marked the first
sic director to eventually time a black woman head-
holding the title himself. His lined the famed festival
first credit as an MD for Be- and made the singer just
yoncé was her first concert the third woman to score
since giving birth to Blue Ivy the gig, behind Bjork and
in 2012, where former first Lady Gaga. And it made
lady Michelle Obama and This Aug. 24, 2019 photo shows Derek Dixie at NRG Studio in Los Angeles. history: "HOMECOMING"
her daughters Sasha and Associated Press earned a whopping six
Malia were among the at- Emmy nominations, includ-
tendees. good. Like, I've kind of ac- engineered and arranged captured Beyoncé's bril- ing four for Beyoncé, giving
Now, Dixie is competing for complished something for songs for the singer. liant and trailblazing 2018 the 23-time Grammy win-
outstanding music direc- the home team and for the "Just being on the road all Coachella performance ner a good chance to snag
tion — shared with Beyon- family." the time, sometimes you that highlighted black col- her first-ever Emmy.
cé — at the Emmy Awards, When the Emmy nomina- might have to record an lege culture, Dixie said they In addition to outstanding
slated for Sept. 22 (the cre- tions were announced in idea or something and planned months ahead music direction, Beyoncé
ative arts Emmys, a precur- July, Dixie was adding the need somebody to hop of the performance, first is nominated for outstand-
sor to the main ceremony, finishing touches to "The in there and record some- by trading ideas over the ing directing for a variety
takes place Sept. 14). Lion King: The Gift," released thing quick. And I had phone. Then he went into special (shared with Ed
"It feels good obviously. I days after the nominations those skills," said Dixie, who the studio with a small Burke), outstanding writing
haven't really digested it were revealed. The Be- also produced songs on band to churn out more for a variety special and
completely yet," Dixie said yoncé-curated album was Beyoncé's epic "Lemon- concepts (the final perfor- outstanding variety special
in a phone interview with inspired by the 2019 film ade" album, earning him mance included more than (pre-recorded), where she
The Associated Press from version of "The Lion King," his first-ever Grammy nomi- 100 performers onstage, is nominated as the film's
Los Angeles. "My family's where the singer voices the nation at the 2017 awards including a full marching performer and executive
looking at me like, 'Wow, character Nala. show. "I think it's segued band, majorette dancers producer (she shares the
my son is Emmy-nominated, Though Dixie came on Be- from the live world into the and steppers). nomination with fellow EPs
my brother Emmy-nominat- yoncé's team in music di- studio world in my case." "Once she honed in on the Erinn Williams, Steve Pamon
ed, so that part of it is really rection, he's also produced, For "HOMECOMING," which HBCU (historically black and Burke). q
Leslie Jones exiting 'SNL,' Kate McKinnon back next season

By LYNN ELBER sions have become a "SNL" lebrities including Whoopi
LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Satur- staple. Goldberg, whom Jones has
day Night Live" cast mem- Whether departures or ad- called an inspiration.
ber Leslie Jones is leaving ditions, cast changes have She started with "SNL" as a
the NBC show after five become a part of the writer, hired after the show
seasons, while Kate McKin- comic institution's ritual as it was criticized in 2013 for a
non is sticking around. gets ready for another sea- lack of diversity, particularly
Jones' departure was con- son, this time around No. 45 the absence of an African
firmed by a person famil- starting Sept. 28. American woman among
iar with the change who Earlier this month, Jones 16 regular or featured play-
spoke Tuesday on condi- announced she's doing a ers. Cast members Kenan
tion of anonymity because Netflix stand-up special. In Thompson and Jay Pharo-
they were not authorized an appearance on Jimmy ah, who has since left the
to publicly discuss Jones' Kimmel's late-night show, show, commented pub-
status with the long-running the "Ghostbusters" star said licly about it and refused
sketch series. it's great to be an actress to dress in drag to portray
The exit comes as Jones is but that she's really a "hard- This March 3, 2018 photo released by NBC shows Leslie Jones, black women.
branching out into other core" stand-up comedian. center, flanked by Ice Hockey Olympian Hilary Knight, left, and Jones was promoted to
Colin Jost during the "Weekend Update" segment on "Saturday
projects. She hasn't abandoned Night Live," in New York. cast member early in the
McKinnon will return for acting: Jones is part of the Associated Press 2014-15 season and re-
her eighth season with voice cast of the recently ceived three Emmy nomi-
the show, the person said. released "The Angry Birds "Coming to America" mov- the show in 35 years . nations for her work. Her
McKinnon's portrayals of Movie 2" and reportedly has ie sequel. Murphy is sched- Her tenure on "SNL" was representatives did not
political figures including been in discussions to join uled to host "SNL" later this marked by an exuberant return a message seeking
Hillary Clinton and Jeff Ses- Eddie Murphy's announced year, his first time back on style and portrayal of ce- comment Tuesday.q