Mario

Mario L. Schack, an award-winning architect and educator who influenced Baltimore's skyline with his buildings and his critique of others' designs, died Thursday at Gilchest Hospice Care of complications from surgery he had in October. The Riderwood-Lake Falls-area resident was 81. Over a career that spanned more than five decades, Mr. Schack balanced jobs as an architecture professor and department chairman at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and a partner in several Baltimore-based design firms, including RTKL Associates; Marks, Cooke, Schack and Thomas (now Marks, Thomas Architects)

R&B singer Mario wants a mulligan. The Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling Baltimore native wants people to forget about the sloppy way his last album, "Go," was handled. His record label kept pushing back "Go" until, when it was finally released in late 2007, it had disappointing sales. When Mario started working on his new album, "D.N.A.," he did everything he could to make sure that wouldn't happen again. He took more creative control over how the songs were presented and how the album was handled.

"Cribs," an MTV program that provides a peek inside celebrity homes, came to Locust Point not long ago so Mario could lead them through a fancy Silo Point condo. The one-named R&B singer showed off a sweeping (if industrial) waterfront view. A closet full of Italian jackets. A sleek kitchen stocked with, you guessed it, frozen dinners and ice cream. "Gotta have the Edy's," he said. Mario even gave a tour of the bathroom, pointing out how the mirror has a television built right inside.

Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets' star forward and former Towson Catholic standout, is back in Baltimore to head up his favorite cause. Starting today, he teams with Grammy-nominated R&B artist Mario Barrrett for the "Melo and Mario Face Off Weekend," a series of fundraising events to help underprivileged city kids. A kickoff celebration will be held at 4 p.m. today at the Carmelo Anthony Center at 1100 E. Fayette St., where hundreds of kids are to receive school supplies. A celebrity bowling tournament will take place Friday evening at a private location, followed by a 10 p.m. after-party fundraiser at 700 S. Caroline St. that is open to the public.

On January 1, 2009 MARIO ANTOINE WILLIAMS. On Thursday, friends may call at VAUGHN C. GREENE FUNERAL SERVICES (RANDALLSTOWN), 8728 Liberty Rd. from 4:00-8:00 p.m. On Friday, Mr. Williams will lie in state at Macadonia Baptist Church, 718 W. Lafayette Ave., where the family will receive friends from 10:30-11:30 a.m. with services to follow. Inquiries to 410-655-0015.

It seems like an odd marriage: Mario, with his plumber's hat, goomba-stomping shoes and delightfully clunky theme music, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, with their suit tails, bow ties and classical repertoire. But the two will come together Friday when the BSO performs a night of music from popular video games. Called PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, the concert features theme songs from games such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog, Final Fantasy and others.

Susan V. Edwards of Jackson and Mario T. Rossilli of Joppa, Maryland were married February 23, 2008 in New Orleans, LA on the Fantasy Cruise ship. Susan is the daughter of Mrs. Sue Van Zandt and the late Woodie Van Zandt of Jackson, MS. Mario is the son of Mrs. Carol Rossilli and the late Mario T. Rossilli of Joppa, MD. Drew Edwards, Susan's son presented the bride in marriage. Susan received a B.S. degree in Pharmacy from the University of Louisiana School of Pharmacy and her Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi . She is a clinical pharmacist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Mario and Fantasia, two standout talents in the overly calculated realm of modern R&B, have placed big hits on the pop and urban charts and sold millions of albums. But neither has fulfilled the promise of his or her talent. There's still hope, though. Mario and Fantasia, the marquee names at Friday night's African American Heritage Festival at Camden Yards, are younger than 25. So with time (and, with any luck, better material), both should soar artistically. But for now, the two are churning out mostly trite urban-pop tunes and albums brimming with rudimentary, trend-conscious production.

ON A VERY RAINY DAY IN Towson, you won't find many fashion plates outside, unless you count the drenched, trench-coated folks huddled under umbrellas. But step inside the Lluminaire Salon, and you'll see fashion shining brightly, courtesy of its trendy staff. That begins with salon co-owner Mario Rentuma. In addition to being a stylist, Rentuma has also been a singer and keyboardist with the Christian band "Unveiled" for the past 10 years. It's immediately apparent this guy knows style -- music styles, hair styles and his own style.

Baltimore-born R&B singer Mario lost out on one of the biggest stages in show business when he was voted off ABC's Dancing with the Stars this week. But his impressive run on the hit TV series has given the 21-year-old performer a shot at reaching new audiences - not just as a musician but also as an actor, industry analysts said yesterday. The question now is what use he makes of the newfound momentum. "Being on Dancing with the Stars opened up Mario to a whole different audience who didn't know of his talent and personality - and they got to see him in a different light than your usual R&B singer," says Biff Warren, president of The Agency, a multicultural marketing and media company that includes such clients as Alicia Keys and Jamie Hector.