Fall 2K5 NEWS - Page 37

jitterbug13 · #**541** 10-31-2005, 10:30 PM

These are taxing times indeed for R&B legend Ronald Isley.

A federal jury in Los Angeles on Monday convicted the singer of five counts of tax evasion and one count of willful failure to file a tax return. Isley faces up to 26 years in prison for the tax dodging at his sentencing Jan. 9.

Jurors deliberated for a day and a half before rendering their verdict in the trial, which stretched over three weeks. The panel was apparently swayed by a steady stream of prosecution evidence that included documents showing "It's Your Thing" singer hiding homes and a yacht under the name of his former wife and cashing royalty checks belonging to his late brother, O'Kelly Isley.

During the trial, IRS officials said Isley tried to further avoid taxes by asking to be paid in only cash for performances between 1997 and 2002--amounts that added up to around $12 million, per California's CNS News Service. The IRS also claimed Isley bought personal cars using a business account and paid band members in cash to keep transactions off the books.

The Ohio native was indicted in October 2004. He entered a not guilty plea in January.

Isley, who suffered a minor stroke last summer, remains best known for his smooth vocals that have graced Isley Brothers hits for the better part of 40 years.

The group got its start in 1951 and struck it big with the 1959 single "Shout," followed by a hit 1962 cover of "Twist and Shout," the 1965 Motown classic "This Old Heart of Mine" and 1969's "It's Your Thing," before having even greater success in the 1970s. The band helped define the R&B/funk groove of the era with hits like "Who's That Lady" and "Fight the Power (Part 1)" before moving toward a more disco sound as the decade ended.

In 2003, the Isleys topped the charts with Body Kiss and, later that year, Ron Isley collaborated with Burt Bacharach on the album Here I Am. An Isley Brothers remix album, Taken to the Next Phase, dropped in August 2004.

lostnfound117 · #**542** 11-01-2005, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
I used to love their songs

Surface Singer David Townsend Found Dead
Date: Monday, October 31, 2005
By: PRWeb

Vocalist/writer/producer David Townsend from the '80s vocal trio Surface, known for such lush ballads as "Happy," "Closer Than Friends," "Shower Me With Your Love" and "The First Time," was found dead inside his Northridge, California home Wednesday night by a close friend.

The cause of death was unknown. Townsend was 50.

Townsend was the son of the late songwriter/producer Ed Townsend, who was responsible for co-writing "Let's Get It On" by the late great Marvin Gaye and had his own solo hit, "For Your Love" back in 1958. David Townsend followed his father's footsteps and wrote, produced and performed with numerous artists over the past three decades. These artists included The Isley Brothers, Sister Sledge, New Edition, Rebbie Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and the legendary Aretha Franklin.

Randy Lopez, a spokesman for RDMJ Entertainment Management, Surface's management, released a statement early this morning. "We are all shocked and saddened by the sudden death of David Townsend. He was one of the most down to earth and nicest persons. He was such a great producer and a major talent. We will miss him."

The group's surviving members, Bernard Jackson and David "Pic" Conley, released a statement that read, "We are both shocked and very saddened by our loss of our close friend David. He was a great producer, songwriter and a great friend. We will miss him. We also want to say thank you to all our fans around the world for their love and support during this difficult time."

Funeral arrangements are as follows; the service is open to the public.

Thursday, November, 3, 2005 @ 3 p.m.
Inglewood Mortuary
3801 W. Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA
(310) 412-6811

I'm sad b/c I was just listening to my Surface Greatest Hits

NUPE4LIFE · #**543** 11-01-2005, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jitterbug13
These are taxing times indeed for R&B legend Ronald Isley.

A federal jury in Los Angeles on Monday convicted the singer of five counts of tax evasion and one count of willful failure to file a tax return. Isley faces up to 26 years in prison for the tax dodging at his sentencing Jan. 9.

Jurors deliberated for a day and a half before rendering their verdict in the trial, which stretched over three weeks. The panel was apparently swayed by a steady stream of prosecution evidence that included documents showing "It's Your Thing" singer hiding homes and a yacht under the name of his former wife and cashing royalty checks belonging to his late brother, O'Kelly Isley.

During the trial, IRS officials said Isley tried to further avoid taxes by asking to be paid in only cash for performances between 1997 and 2002--amounts that added up to around $12 million, per California's CNS News Service. The IRS also claimed Isley bought personal cars using a business account and paid band members in cash to keep transactions off the books.

The Ohio native was indicted in October 2004. He entered a not guilty plea in January.

Isley, who suffered a minor stroke last summer, remains best known for his smooth vocals that have graced Isley Brothers hits for the better part of 40 years.

The group got its start in 1951 and struck it big with the 1959 single "Shout," followed by a hit 1962 cover of "Twist and Shout," the 1965 Motown classic "This Old Heart of Mine" and 1969's "It's Your Thing," before having even greater success in the 1970s. The band helped define the R&B/funk groove of the era with hits like "Who's That Lady" and "Fight the Power (Part 1)" before moving toward a more disco sound as the decade ended.

In 2003, the Isleys topped the charts with Body Kiss and, later that year, Ron Isley collaborated with Burt Bacharach on the album Here I Am. An Isley Brothers remix album, Taken to the Next Phase, dropped in August 2004.

Damn Mr. Biggs you going to jail. Now if R. Kelly is convicted do you think they will release 'Trapped in the Penetentary" Parts 25-Life?

AKA2D '91 · #**544** 11-01-2005, 09:24 AM

^^^
That's funny.

lostnfound117 · #**545** 11-01-2005, 12:31 PM

http://www.eonline.com/News/firstlook.html?tnews

jitterbug13 · #**546** 11-01-2005, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NUPE4LIFE
Damn Mr. Biggs you going to jail. Now if R. Kelly is convicted do you think they will release 'Trapped in the Penetentary" Parts 25-Life?

LOL!

Sorry to hear about Gabrielle and her cute husband.

NUPE4LIFE · #**547** 11-01-2005, 02:00 PM

Sad to hear about Gabrielle Union and Chris Howard. Chris use to play for the Jaguars. As a once Jacksonville native, I was happy to put it mildly when he was dating and then married Gabrielle Union. Sadly, I never ran in to her in town.

AKA2D '91 · #**548** 11-01-2005, 02:17 PM

Chris is from Jeff. Parish, LA. He played 'ball against one of our cross-parish rivals.

jitterbug13 · #**549** 11-01-2005, 03:25 PM

Dear Barbara,

You are late on the third person metioned in this story.

And the first person mentioned is touched(translate:something's wrong with him).

Signed,
JB13
----------------------
NEW YORK - Tom Cruise, Teri Hatcher and Kanye West are among the names on Barbara Walters' list of the 10 most fascinating people of 2005.

The list of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, politics and sports also includes Lance Armstrong, Michael Jackson's lawyer Tom Mesereau and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, ABC announced Monday.

"Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2005" will air Nov. 29 (10 p.m. EST). The No. 1 most fascinating person of the year will be revealed on the special, now in its 12th year.

AKA2D '91 · #**550** 11-02-2005, 02:20 PM

Partos Co. is suing director Hype Williams on behalf of crew members who worked on Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” video last July.

According to the New York Times the LA based agency accuses Williams’ Naaila Entertainment of fraud, and breach of contract, claiming it’s owed thousands for providing wardrobe, hair, and makeup artists on the shoot.

Williams’ lawyer says the two parties are in the process of settling. Def Jam Records had no comment other than that, generally, beyond budget costs are attributed to the production company.

www.nobodysmiling.com