According to the Hebrew Bible, Keturah or Ketura (Hebrew: קְטוּרָה, Modern Ktura Tiberian Qəṭûrā ; "Incense") was the woman whom Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, married after the death of his wife, Sarah. Keturah bore Abraham six sons, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.^[1] The spelling of the sons' names vary as can be seen in 1st century CE Historian Flavius Josephus, who mentions Keturah and her sons in Antiquities of the Jews 1.238.

Keturah is referred to at different times as either Abraham's wife in Genesis 25:1^[2] or Abraham's concubine in 1 Chronicles 1:32.^[3] While Abraham left everything to Isaac, he made grants to his sons by his concubine during his lifetime, and sent them east away from Isaac.^[4] He died at the age of 175.^[5] Keturah's six sons represent Arabian tribes south and east of Canaan.^{[citation needed]}

Some, but not all, Jewish philosophers identify Keturah with Hagar, stating that Abraham sought her out after Sarah's death,^[6][7][8] and that Hagar's change of name to Keturah (a reference to incense used in worship) was symbolic of the pleasantness of her teshuvah (repentance) from her sinfulness during her exile.^[9] This interpretation is set forth in the Midrash^[10] and is supported by Rashi, Gur Aryeh, Keli Yakar, and Obadiah of Bertinoro. The contrary view (that Keturah was someone other than Hagar) is advocated by Rashbam, Abraham ibn Ezra, Radak, and Ramban.^{[citation needed]} In the genealogy of 1 Chronicles, Keturah and Hagar are listed as two different people:

"These were [Abraham and Hagar]'s descendants: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.^[11]

"The sons born to Keturah, Abraham's concubine: Zimram, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were decendents of Keturah." (New International Version)^[12]

Adherents of the Bahá'í Faith believe their founder, Bahá'u'lláh, to have been a descendant of both Keturah and Sarah.^[13]

In the eighteenth century, some writers believed that Keturah was the ancestor of African peoples, thereby explaining the similarities between some African and Jewish customs. Olaudah Equiano cites John Gill's claim to this effect in his Interesting Narrative.^[14]

Reb Yakov Leib HaKohain states (as part of Donmeh West teaching) that the children of Keturah moved Eastwards and were ancestors to the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Shinto, which then should be counted as Abrahamic religions.^[15]

References[link]

External links[link]

• "Keturah" in Easton's Bible Dictionary
• "Keturah" in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Descendants of Abraham, Part IV: Sons of Keturah at Christian Churches of God, No. 212D

See also[link]

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Concrete Blonde is an alternative rock band based in the United States. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2004, and once again in 2010.

Biography[link]

Singer-songwriter/bassist Johnette Napolitano formed the band Dream 6 with guitarist James Mankey in Los Angeles in 1982, releasing an eponymous EP in France on the Happy Hermit label in 1983. When they signed with I.R.S. Records in 1986, labelmate Michael Stipe suggested the name Concrete Blonde,^[1] describing the contrast between their hard rock music and introspective lyrics. A "Concrete Blonde" is also a derogatory term for the heavily hair-sprayed, permed and big haired appearance adopted by "Sunset Strip Metal" bands, such as Poison and Ratt. During an MTV interview, Napolitano can also be quoted as saying that the name Concrete Blonde is just "two words that sound good together." They were joined by drummer Harry Rushakoff on their eponymous debut album. Roxy Music drummer Paul Thompson replaced Rushakoff on Bloodletting and several tracks on Mexican Moon, while Rushakoff was in treatment for drug addiction. Rushakoff rejoined the band to record 2002's Group Therapy, but was kicked out of the band for failing to show up for shows.^{[citation needed]} He was replaced by Gabriel Ramirez.

Concrete Blonde was featured prominently in the film The Hidden (1987). Clarence Felder's character Lt. John Masterson rocks out to Concrete Blonde after being taken over by the alien.

Concrete Blonde's "Your Haunted Head" was also used in Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 in 1986. When L.G. Returns to the Radio station he pulls up listening to it on the radio then while walking to the staircase he sings "Ghosts Inside Your Haunted Head!"

The B-side to the single of "Joey", "I Want You," was featured in Kathryn Bigelow's 1991 cult film Point Break. The song plays as Lori Petty's character changes out of her bikini and into her clothes in the beginning of the film.

Their most commercially successful album was Bloodletting (1990), fueled by the top 20 radio hit "Joey," which in turn inspired Sugarland's 2009 single of the same name. The band broke up in 1993, but reunited in 1997, and again in 2001, releasing the albums Group Therapy (2002) and Mojave (2004). On June 5, 2006, Napolitano announced in a MySpace blog entry that the band has officially retired.^{[citation needed]} From the Concrete Blonde website, there is the following open message: "Thanks to everyone who heard and believed in the music. Music lives on. Keep listening. Keep believing, keep dreaming. Like a ripple, the music moves and travels and finds you. Drive to the music, Make love to the music, cry to the music. That's why we made it. Long after we're gone the music will still be there. Thanks to everyone who helped us bring the music to you & thanks to every face and every heart in every audience all over the world."

In 2007, Napolitano performed the main vocals on the score of the new Australian film West written and directed by Daniel Krige. She also sings the title song, "Falling in Love". West had its World Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. According to the SXSW music website, she also supplied music for another Australian movie titled Candy, and for two other films, besides touring the United States to promote her solo work entitled Scarred in an acoustic set featuring Concrete Blonde classics.

On November 25, 2008, "Long Time Ago" was used during the final credits during the series finale, Season 7 of The Shield.

On July 13, 2010, Shout! Factory released a remastered 20th anniversary edition of Bloodletting, compiled without blessings, input, or involvement from the band, it features six bonus tracks: "I Want You," "Little Wing," the French extended version of "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)", and live versions of "Roses Grow," "The Sky Is A Poisonous Garden," and "Tomorrow, Wendy." An error in the packaging of the re-release uses early non-album period photos featuring original drummer Harry Rushakoff, who had been replaced the night before the first studio session for "Bloodletting" by Roxy Music drummer Paul Thompson. The essay included in the booklet also gives incorrect release dates for the band's previous albums.

Current drummer Gabriel Ramirez is featured on "Live in Brazil," "Mojave," and the CD single "The Real Thing," and toured with the band during the summer of 2010 on the "20 Years of Bloodletting: The Vampires Rise" North American tour and on select international dates through the rest of that year.

Discography[link]

Studio Albums[link]

• Concrete Blonde (1986)
• Free (1989)
• Bloodletting (1990)
• Walking in London (1992)
• Mexican Moon (1993)
• Concrete Blonde y Los Illegals (1997) – collaboration with a Los Angeles-based Chicano punk band
• Group Therapy (2002)
• Mojave (2004)

Compilation and Live Albums[link]

• Still in Hollywood (1994) – a compilation of live recordings, B-sides, and previously unreleased material
• Recollection: The Best of Concrete Blonde (1996) - Includes 17 tracks from first five albums, plus a live cover version of Mercedes Benz.
• Classic Masters (2002) - 24-bit remastering of 12 tracks from their first five albums
• Live in Brazil 2002 (2003) – double live album
• The Essential (2005) - Remastered by Capital Records Essentials Series, includes 13 tracks from first four albums, with a slightly different version of the song Sun.

Re-release Album[link]

• Bloodletting: 20th Anniversary Edition (2010) – with six bonus tracks

Chart singles[link]

Related albums[link]

• Dream 6 – Dream 6 (1983) – reissued in 2003, Pre-Concrete Blonde group featuring Johnette Napolitano and Jim Mankey
• The song "Everybody Knows," written by Leonard Cohen and performed by Concrete Blonde, originally released on Pump Up The Volume : Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1990) and re-released on Recollection: The Best of Concrete Blonde (1996) as well as on Still in Hollywood (1994)
• Andy Prieboy – ...Upon My Wicked Son (1990) – Johnnette sings backing vocals to Andy's lead on "Tomorrow, Wendy"
• Contributed the song "Endless Sleep" to the compilation Fast Track to Nowhere (1994).
• Vowel Movement – Vowel Movement (1995) – Johnette Napolitano and Holly Vincent
• Pretty & Twisted – Pretty & Twisted (1995) – Johnette Napolitano and Marc Moreland of Wall of Voodoo
• Johnette Napolitano – No Talking, Just Head (1996) – Lead Singer for The Heads, re-formed Talking Heads project with Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth
• Johnette Napolitano – Sound of a Woman, (1998) – unreleased solo album
• Johnette Napolitano – Sketchbook "Arms to Heaven" (2002)
• James Mankey – Jam (2002)
• Johnette Napolitano – Sketchbook 2 (2006)
• Johnette Napolitano - Scarred (2007)
• Johnette Napolitano - Sketchbook 3 (2010)

Other work[link]

• Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick was in the video for "Someday?".

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Huey, Steve. "Concrete Blonde" Allmusic Guide. Retrieved on May 20, 2007.
• Golde, Kimberlye (2002). "Almost Famous" San Francisco Herald. Retrieved on May 20, 2007

External links[link]

• Concrete Blonde official website
• Johnette Napolitano
• History of Concrete Blonde w/ Johnette Napolitano

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Jim Iyke is a Nigerian actor. He started acting in 2005, and was crowned Sexiest Man in Nigeria in 2008. He has starred in over 200 Nollywood movies in Nigeria, and is also popular for starring in roles alongside Rita Dominic.

External links[link]

• http://showbiz.peacefmonline.com/news/200909/27311.php
• http://nigeriamovies.net/starprofiles/Iyke.php
• http://www.jimiykefoundation.com/