Patty Jackson's 411 for the week of June 5th, 2006
After a long battle with his health, Singer/Songwriter/Musician Billy Preston has died. The 59-year old entertainer died from kidney failure. He had been in a coma for the past 8 months. Preston had an extraordinary career. He started as child prodigy playing keyboards for Gospel Great Mahalia Jackson, and he was mentored by Ray Charles. He was affectionately known as “The Fifth Beatle” for the work he did with the group early in his career. He played keyboards on the albums Let It Be, The White Album and Abbey Road. He played with The Rolling Stones on their classic song Miss You. He also did organ work on many of The Sly & The Family Stone classics. Preston also wrote Joe Cocker’s most famous song You Are So Beautiful. Billy Preston also had a great solo career with the hits Space Race, Will It Go Round In Circles, Nothing from Nothing and the great love song With You I’m Born Again, a duet with the late Singer Syreeta. We have a tribute to Billy Preston on our wdasfm.com home page.
Stevie Wonder is mourning the loss of his mother Lula Mae Hardaway. She passed away last week after an undisclosed illness.
At the age of 79, entertainer Eartha Kitt is still going strong. Kitt has been battling health issues most of this year after a recent bout with colon cancer.
Janet Jackson looks good! Everybody is talking about Janet Jackson’s body and incredible 60 pound weight loss. In recent photos, she has looked stunning. The naysayers are wondering how she did it. Janet says she lost weight and toned her body through diet and exercise, but skeptics are doubting her story. Some people believe this is another Jackson publicity stunt. Was she wearing a fat suit or clothing all those months letting the paparazzi take pictures of her looking fat? Did she take steroids to aid in her weight loss and toning efforts? Her arms are awesome. Janet has been less than truthful in the past about her life (secret marriages, does she have a teenage child). Janet has a new album coming out in the fall. Right now, with the covers on Us Weekly and JET magazine, she is creating a lot of buzz and looking fabulous to boot. She recently did a photo shoot for Vibe magazine that will come out just in time for the release of her new album. Janet knows how to work the press, and she needs a successful comeback after the boob incident at the Superbowl.
There may be changes going on at the ABC talker The View, but don’t look for Gayle King to be a part of the shenanigans. Gayle (Oprah’s best friend) was being courted by Barbara Walters to replace Star Jones on the show. Barbara wants Star off of the show after years of difficult behavior. Plus, insiders say Barbara cut a deal with new Host Rosie O’Donnell to move that plan forward since Rosie and Star don’t like each other. Gayle was interested. She was ready to say yes and step out of Oprah’s shadow. But, Oprah stepped in and stopped it from happening. Oprah told Gayle do not get involved in the show’s madness. If they want to get rid of Star, they will not use Gayle to do it. Oprah feels it’s an underhanded move, and she doesn’t want her best friend caught up in it. Years ago, Barbara wooed Oprah’s protégé Motivational Speaker and Author Iyanla Vanzandt away from her. Iyanla was a featured guest on the Oprah show and was very popular. Oprah had big plans for Iyanla. She wanted to sign her to a syndicated deal, ala Dr. Phil, but Iyanla was impatient and went with Barbara Walters instead. Oprah saw it as a slap in the face because Barbara did not show her professional courtesy by stealing Iyanla. Oprah felt that Iyanla was ungrateful for the opportunity she gave her. Well, the union between Barbara Walters and Iyanla was disastrous. Iyanla’s show only lasted a few short months because of poor time slots and creative differences. At the end, the two women were not even speaking. Oprah never forgot that incident. So years later, when Barbara came knocking on Gayle’s door, Oprah stepped in and urged Gayle not to accept the offer. Iyanla went through hell, and she didn’t want Gayle to experience the same thing.
Look for Oprah on June 11th for The 60th Annual Tony Awards on CBS. Her Broadway musical The Color Purple is up for a ton of awards, including Best Musical.
Check out these upcoming DVD releases:
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, June 13th;
Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, June 27th;
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion, the movie, June 27th;
Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married, with Kelly Price, June 27th;
Akeelah and The Bee with Laurence Fishburne, Keke Palmer and Angela Bassett, August 29th;
Patti LaBelle will be receiving the 2006 Gamble and Huff Community Partnership Award Tuesday, June 13th at Citizens’ Bank Park right before the Phillies-Mets game. She will be honored in a special ceremony.
Actor Jaleel White is the latest celebrity involved in a cruel internet hoax. He is not dead. He is alive and well. There was a rumor going on stating he had died. It is not true.
NFL Player Roy Williams recently gave a candid interview about the collapse of his engagement to Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child. The wedding was set, the gown picked out and the invitations were ready, but Roy says he realized they didn’t know enough to get married. He says they barely knew each other, and it was going too fast. What a smart decision. Maybe the two will hook up later, but it’s better to realize these things before the wedding, not after.
After a successful year, the cast of the hit ABC show Grey’s Anatomy is getting a bonus. Cast members were recently given a $200,000 bonus. The show’s Creator Shonda Rhimes also renegotiated a three-year deal worth $10 million. In addition to Grey’s Anatomy, which is moving to Thursday at 10pm in the fall, she is also developing a show about female journalists.
Actress Sanaa Lathan is joining the cast of the hit F/X show Nip Tuck. The show is about to enter its fourth season. Sanaa will play a sexy powerful woman in her 30’s who is married to a rich, old man.
Jamie Foxx is set to portray Reggae Superstar Bob Marley on the big screen in a movie based on his life.
Nicole Murphy is one rich, happy, Divorced woman. The ex-Mrs. Eddie Murphy is the talk of the town with her cars and shopping sprees. She is no longer dating Businessman Alan Daniels. He was probably a casualty of the divorce settlement. Nicole is currently enjoying something new in the form of a young Italian boy toy.
Robin Givens is ready to tell all. She has a new book coming out in January entitled Grace Will Lead Me Home. In the book, she discusses how the women in her family have a history of domestic abuse dating back three generations. She plans to go into detail about her troubled and violent marriage to Boxer Mike Tyson. How he would slice her clothes, choke and beat her.
Actress Lark Voorhies is going after the tabloids. Voorhies is best known for the character “Lisa Turtle” on the TV show Saved By The Bell. She also dated Martin Lawrence. Voorhies claims she was slandered by the tabloids who claimed she has a cocaine addiction. She says it is not true, and the incident left her humiliated, suffering from mental anguish, emotional and physical distress. She is seeking $25 thousand in damages.
Is the famed TV newsmagazine show 60 Minutes dissing Legendary Correspondent Ed Bradley? Bradley, who once worked here at WDAS, is getting no respect as CBS executives work out his new contract. Bradley is 64, and word has it younger correspondents are being groomed for the show (Katie Couric, Anderson Cooper). Is Bradley going to be pushed out of 60 Minutes?
The Queen of All Media Wendy Williams is about to release her third book and first novel. Drama Is Her Middle Name: The Ritz Harper Chronicles Volume 1 is due out on June 20th. Wendy’s previous books include Wendy’s Got The Heat and The Wendy Williams Experience.
WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This Young Celebrity is tired of people complaining about her weight. Yes, she’s too skinny, but when she was heavier she underwent stomach stapling surgery. So now, she can only gain but so much weight.
Friday, June 9th kicks off The 31st Annual Odunde African Festival celebration. The weekend will be filled with events including the grand finale outdoor festival at 23rd and South, 10am until 8pm. Floetry will be the special musical guest, and I’ll be involved with a special ceremony. For more information, log onto odundeinc.org.
The BET Awards air June 27th with Host Damon Wayans. Nominees include Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, Denzel Washington, Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah and Alfre Woodard. Chaka Khan will be getting the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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