Our favorite celebrity spottings in Dayton this year

The stars were in Dayton this year, and more than once!

Here’s a look back at some of our favorite celebrity spottings of 2018:

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1. BRADLEY COOPER

We all win when our favorite resident celebrity Dave Chappelle brings his famous friends to town.

It just so happens that one of them happened to be behind one of the biggest films of 2018.

Bradley Cooper came to town for a special screening of his directorial debut  “A Star is Born” at The Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs.

The special event included a Q&A with both superstars.

We were lucky enough to be among the special guests at the private event. Cooper said he traveled to Yellow Springs twice to convince Chappelle to take this role. One of those trips was to Chappelle’s famous Juke Joint in 2016, which Cooper said inspired a wedding scene in the film.

>> Bradley Cooper in town for special screening of “A Star is Born” hosted by Dave Chappelle

>> PHOTOS: Bradley Cooper and Dave Chappelle screen ‘A Star is Born’ in Yellow Springs

2. A CELEBRITY WEDDING IN DAYTON

Why were members of famous rap group Public Enemy in town for a Dayton wedding this fall?

The answer is simple. The groom was a member of the famous band and he married a Daytonian.

Robin Dugger and Norman “DJ Terminator X” Rogers were married Saturday, Nov. 17 at Residence Park Church of Christ, 4328 Hoover Ave. in Dayton.

Rapper and activist Chuck D. toasted the couple, Dugger said.

SW1 member James “Brother James” Norman was a groomsman.

Flavor Flav, DJ Lord, Khari Wynn, Sammy Sam and all other members of the band except Professor Griff and two S1W members attended the wedding and reception at Country Club of the North in Beavercreek, Dugger, now Robin Rogers, said.

The band, the groom included, reunited for the first time since 2017, Chuck D. said in a Twitter exchange with this news organization.

The band performed “Rebel Without a Pause,” "911 Is a Joke," “Don't Believe the Hype,"and "Fight the Power."

Dugger, a Belmont High School graduate, was a featured artist on DJ Terminator X’s 1991 song “Homey Don't Play Dat” as part of the duo Bonnie 'N' Clyde.

>> Public Enemy performs at Dayton woman’s wedding

>> PHOTOS: Public Enemy at Dayton couple’s wedding

3. CARLOS SANTA SPOTTED IN YELLOW SPRINGS

The legendary rocker Carlos Santana was spotted in Yellow Springs over Labor Day weekend.

Santana had dinner at The Winds Cafe on Saturday night, the Yellow Springs restaurant posted to its Facebook page.

But what brought him to Yellow Springs in the first place?

Santana’s wife and jazz rock drummer Cindy Blackman was born there! She served as the drummer in Lenny Kravitz’s band for many years.

That same weekend, he was spotted at Ellie’s Restaurant for brunch.

>> Legendary rocker Carlos Santana spotted in Yellow Springs

4. DAVE CHAPPELLE’S JUKE JOINT

Those lucky enough to score tickets to Dave Chappelle’s Juke Joint 2018 over Memorial Day weekend were in the company of some famous faces.

Actress Amy Schumer was among the celebrities spotted Monday during the second and final night of Dave Chappelle’s sold-out Juke Joint sessions in a tech-ed out barn on Whitehall Farms in the Tecumseh Land Trust.

Schumer posted about it on her Instagram page using a photo taken in a photo booth at the party.

Rapper Talib Kweli was also spotted at Monday’s show.

Comedian Hannibal Buress, singer Jill Scott and Jarobi White of A Tribe Called Quest and were at both nights of the Juke Joint.

Other celebrities spotted this weekend included Doug E. Fresh, Martin Luther McCoy, comedian Donnell Rawlings and Grammy-nominated art director Mathieu Bitton.

The event featured DJ D-Nice and musician Fred Yonnet and The Band With No Name.

>> Stars in Yellow Springs for Dave Chappelle’s sold-out Juke Joint

>> Amy Schumer among celebrities spotted in Yellow Springs for Dave Chappelle’s Juke Joint

5. Pete Davidson visits Dave Chappelle in Yellow Springs

We don’t have any photo evidence yet, but several national news outlets have reported that the “Saturday Night Live” star and comedian spent a few days at the Yellow Springs farm of the Dayton area’s resident superstar around Christmas.

According to an Us Weekly report, a source close to Davidson told the magazine:

“Pete spent a few days before Christmas hanging out with Dave Chappelle in Ohio. They have been friends through the comedy world. Pete wanted to get away for a few days to feel better, so Dave invited him there.”

>> Pete Davidson latest special guest of our resident celebrity Dave Chappelle

Credit: Lisa Powell

Credit: Lisa Powell

6. John Legend on the campaign trail

Springfield’s favorite son made a stop in Dayton just days before the election.

Legend appeared at the Dakota Center in Dayton on Sunday, Nov. 4. He was in town in support of Democrats up for election on Nov. 6.

The Springfield native frequently visits the area and has stomped for candidates here in the past.

>> John Legend on the campaign trail in Dayton

>> PHOTOS: John Legend on the campaign trail in the Dayton area

7. ‘Star Wars’ and ‘True Blood’ star in town to promote new film

Another celebrity spotting brought to you by the Dave Chappelle.

Janina Gavankar, born in Joliet, Illinois, is an American actress and musician best known for her roles as Iden Versio in “Star Wars Battlefront II,” Luna Garza in “True Blood,” Shiva in “The League” and her most recent role as Val in “Blindspotting.”

Gavankar was in town over the summer for a special screening of “Blindspotting” at The Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs.

We had a chance to join Gavankar and Chappelle for coffee at Dino’s in Yellow Springs.

>> Why Dave Chappelle is backing this ‘Star Wars’ and ‘True Blood’ star’s new film

8. George Clinton brings the funk to Dayton

Before headlining a concert at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway with Parliament Funkadelic, George Clinton paid a visit to the Funk Music Hall of Fame and Exhibition Center, 113 E. Third St. in downtown Dayton’s Fire Blocks District.

David Webb, the museum’s CEO and president, told us that Clinton said he enjoyed the museum and pledged to donate artifacts and memorabilia.

The Funk Museum celebrated its grand opening earlier this year.

>> What was George Clinton doing in downtown Dayton?

9. Celebrities in town for new sports event

A who’s who of NFL and NBA players were participants in a new charity event in August at NCR Country Club in Kettering.

The guest list included Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Willie Reed, Ross Browner and Dennis Hopson.

The Jim Cleamons Celebrity Golf Classic and Charity Event was a benefit for Hoopology Camp, Cleamons’ Columbus charity for student athlete development.

>> Sports legends heading to town for new celebrity golf tournament

10. Jermaine Jackson spotted at iconic local music store

It is not every day a member of the Jackson 5 strolls into your music shop and walks out the door with a guitar.

Jim Hauer of Hauer Music, 528 Miamisburg Centerville Road in Centerville, now knows that more than most.

Jermaine Jackson, the fourth-born in the iconic musical family that also includes Michael and Janet Jackson, stopped by the music shop in June en route to Detroit and bought a 12-string guitar for his tour.

>> Jermaine Jackson spotted at iconic local music store

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