Double success for Take That at the Brits & other: May 2008

David Cully Appointed President, Baker & Taylor Retail

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 30 -- Baker & Taylor, the world's
largest book and entertainment distributor, today promoted David Cully to
President, Retail Markets. In his new role, Mr. Cully will add domestic and
international retail book and entertainment sales to his merchandising,
purchasing and Baker & Taylor Marketing Services responsibilities. "David's
retail and merchandising experience will ensure that we continually adapt
to changes within the industry and that excellent customer service remains
our primary focus," said Arnie Wight, President of Baker & Taylor. Bill
Preston, Sr. V.P. Books, and Frank Wolbert, Sr. V.P. Entertainment, will
now report to Mr. Cully.

Mr. Cully joined Baker & Taylor in January 2008 as Executive Vice
President of Merchandising and Baker & Taylor Marketing Services. Since
joining Baker & Taylor, he has re-engineered the company's approach to
merchandise buying and supply chain management and worked closely with both
customers and vendors. Cully has extensive experience in the book and
retail industry, as well as in merchandising, marketing and distribution.
Before joining Baker & Taylor, he held various management positions at
industry leaders, including Barnes & Noble, Inc., Simon & Schuster, Inc.,
Waldenbooks, Inc., and Putnam/Berkley Publishing Company. Most recently, he
was the CEO/Co-Founder of Blue Tulip Corporation in New York.

About Baker & Taylor, Inc.

Baker & Taylor, Inc. (http://www.btol.com) is a global information and
entertainment services company that offers books, videos, music, games and
services to libraries, educational institutions, and retailers. Based in
Charlotte, N.C., the company has been in existence for over 180 years,
developing long-term relationships with major suppliers, including book
publishers, movie studios, and music labels. Baker & Taylor maintains one
of the largest combined in-stock book, video and music inventories in the
United States, and services the broadest customer base in the industry.
Baker & Taylor is majority owned by Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P., a
leading private equity investment firm.

About Castle Harlan

Castle Harlan, founded in 1987, invests in controlling interests in the
buyout and development of middle-market companies in North America, Europe
and, together with CHAMP Private Equity, Australasia. Since inception,
Castle Harlan has invested in companies representing over $9 billion in
enterprise value. Castle Harlan's current portfolio companies, which employ
more than 42,000 people, include AmeriCast Technologies, a leading designer
and manufacturer of large, complex steel castings used in mining trucks,
locomotives and energy equipment and Ames True Temper, a leading
manufacturer of lawn and garden tools and accessories.

See Also

Stereophonics

Artist: Stereophonics

   Genre(s):
Rock
   Alternative
   Pop
   ROck: Alternative
   Indie

Discography:

Pull the Pin

Year: 2007
Tracks: 12

Language. Sex. Violence. Other?

Year: 2005
Tracks: 11

You Gotta Go There To Come Back

Year: 2003
Tracks: 17

Private Session

Year: 2001
Tracks: 17

Just Enough Education to Perform

Year: 2001
Tracks: 11

Performance and Cocktails

Year: 1999
Tracks: 13

Word Gets Around

Year: 1997
Tracks: 12

A bright new noise in U.K. alternative stone in the '90s and into the new millennium, Stereophonics ar comprised of vocalist/guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist Richard Jones, and drummer Stuart Cable (until the latter's replacement by Javier Weyler). They were formed in Cwmaman, South Wales, in the first place as the teen overcompensate band Tragic Love Company. Early reviews cited the Manic Street Preachers as their well-nigh obvious influence, and their initial mess of singles struggled to disabuse cynics of this whim.

Yet in Jones, Stereophonics possess an able author as well as a singer of some distinction, a fact that was only truly acknowledged next the release of their debut LP. One of the low bands on Richard Branson's young V2 label, they were signed by top dog executive Jeremy Pearce in August 1996 in front the label was officially up and linear. They made their debut in November with "Looks Like Chaplin" b/w "More Life in a Tramp's Vest," which later became a single in its possess right. They entered the charts for the low time with "Local Boy in the Photograph" and didn't look back. Each of their subsequent singles sold increasingly bettor, culminating in a U.K. Top Ten placing for their debut record album, Word Gets Around, and Top 20 honors for "Traffic." The latter's resigned themes provided the perfect platform for Jones' plaintive vocals. A reissue of "Local Boy in the Photograph" besides made the Top 20, in the same calendar week as they received a Brit Award for Best New Group. As a singles band, they seem overburdened with wealth -- "The Bartender and the Thief" duly became a British wireless staple through the closing months of 1998, followed the adjacent year by the full-length Public presentation and Cocktails.

The band's third studio attempt, Scarcely Enough Education to Perform was initially slated to go by the abbreviated J.E.E.P.; withal, Daimler-Chrysler objected to the plan and claimed ownership of the actual word Jeep. In September 2003, Stereophonics returned with their most dependable material to date on You Gotta Go There to Come Back. Not even a calendar month after the long-player's domestic expiration, the band announced the loss of creation phallus Cable. Frontman Jones said Cable had had issues committing himself to the band ever since Just Enough Education to Perform. Stereophonics planned to transport on as duet piece ex-Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman sat in on drums for several tour dates. Speech. Sex. Violence. Other? appeared in 2005. It as well marked the debut of drummer Javier Weyler. The band's first live album, Live from Dakota, arrived in spring 2006. After an extensive tour, including performances in Moscow and Latvia, the group returned to the UK and released iII formats of their single "It Means Nothing" two weeks earlier Perpetrate the Pin stumble shop shelves in mid-October 2007.

Naomi Campbell - Naomi Campbell Charged Over Airport Arrest

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has been charged after her arrest on suspicion of assaulting a police officer at Heathrow last month.

The 37-year-old was detained at the airport's new Terminal 5 in April after a row broke out between the model and airline staff when she was informed that some of her baggage had been lost.

As a result of the row, police were called and Campbell was arrested, handcuffed and led off the plane, before being later released on bail.

She answered bail at Heathrow police station today (Thursday May 29th) and was charged with three counts of assaulting a police officer, as well as disorderly conduct and threatening behaviour towards a cabin crew member.

She will appear at Uxbridge magistrate's court on June 20th to answer the charges.

Campbell was banned from flying with British Airways (BA) after the airport scuffle, though her spokeswoman said at the time it was hoped the dispute could be "resolved amicably".

However, a spokesman for the airline said last month: "All incidents of abusive or disruptive behaviour towards fellow passengers or staff are taken extremely seriously and will not be tolerated.

"We deal with cases on an individual basis and take appropriate action where necessary."

Last year Ms Campbell was sentenced to community service in New York after being convicted of assault.

As punishment for throwing a mobile phone at her maid the model was made to clean toilets and sweep floors for five days.

29/05/2008 12:17:46

See Also

Pete Doherty - Fascinating Fact 5388

Troubled rocker PETE DOHERTY has played a secret gig with STING's daughter COCO. The BABYSHAMBLES frontman played drums for the singer - real name ELIOT PAULINE STYLER SUMNER - during a concert in London on Thursday (29May08) night.

See Also

Son of Rambow - movie review

My wife lives in a house of boys. Our oldest son is four, our youngest three months.
And my maturity level falls somewhere between the two. The next time this poor, outmatched
saint-in-the-making shoots me one of her quizzical looks as she tries to decipher what
giddily adolescent thoughts are rocketing through our brains, I'm going to show her
Garth Jennings' Son of Rambow. The exceptional coming-of-age comedy so accurately captures
how boys behave, you'd think Jennings planted his camera inside a 10-year-old's skull,
then beamed the child's imagination directly through his saucer-wide eyes onto the
theater's screen.

The titles refers to Sylvester Stallone's initial Rambo adventure, First Blood, which
directly inspires ruffian Lee Carter (Will Poulter) and his puritan school chum Will
Proudfoot (Bill Milner) to make their own movie in the summer of 1982. There are
obstacles, of course. Will's family belongs to a strict religious organization tha
t forbids movies, television, and other forms of pop culture. Lee's own family is
nonexistent. His parents travel often, leaving him in the care of an older brother
who could care less.

I love Lee Carter. More accurately, I love Poulter, the young genius blessed with
the talent (and stones) to breathe angst, attitude, and a glimmer of hope into this
savagely sarcastic young character. Jennings told me during a recent interview that
Poulter's a sweetheart in person -- every parent's dream. If that's the case, the boy
deserves an Oscar for his work in Rambow.

But Poulter's one of a million things you'll love about this film. The sum total
of memorable performances reaches double digits, highlighted by aloof Jules Sitruk
as French foreign exchange student Didier Revol. Jennings shows a fantastic eye,
discovering imaginative places to place his camera to capture his offbeat action. But his script
shows true understanding of both boys, who couldn’t come from more different worlds
but find a common bond in their love of storytelling, fantasy, and all-around fun.

If you adore movies -- and why would you be reading this if you didn't? -- you are
going to go crazy for Son of Rambow. It is the best movie Stallone has ever (indirectly)
been involved in.

Recruits are getting younger and younger these days.

See Also

Sigur Ros announce details of 'nude' new album

Sigur Ros have announced details of their next album.

The band have confirmed on Sigurros.com that their fifth record will be called 'Me� Su� � Eyrum Vi� Spilum Endalaust'.

The record will be released worldwide on June 23.

The tracklisting is as follows:

'Gobbledigook'
'Inn� M�r Syngur Vitleysingur'
'G�an Daginn'
'Vi� Spilum Endalaust'
'Festival'
'Su� �'
'�ra B�tur'
'Illgresi'
'Flj�tav�k'
'Straumnes'
'All Alright Eyrum'

According to Sigurros.com the album cover features the Icelandic band streaking across a motorway.

Jul 19, 2008 at Latitude Festival, Southwold -
More Sigur Ros tickets

Wong Ker-wai

Artist: Wong Ker-wai

   Genre(s):
Soundtrack

Discography:

In the Mood for Love

Year:
Tracks: 21

Jack Wagner

JJ Grey and Mofro

Artist: JJ Grey and Mofro

   Genre(s):
r&b

Discography:

Country Ghetto

Year: 2007
Tracks: 12

90210 star is cast in new series

Former 'Beverly Hills, 90210' star Jennie Garth has been cast in a lead role in the upcoming CBS pilot 'My Best Friend's Girl'.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new show is based on two best friends and co-owners of a biker shop whose relationship becomes complicated when one begins dating the ex-wife, Garth's character, of the other.
Garth, 35, who played Kelly Taylor in the iconic 1990s American teen drama, recently boosted her profile with a fourth place finish in the hit American show 'Dancing with the Stars'.

Pandit Majumdar

Artist: Pandit Majumdar

   Genre(s):
Ethnic

Discography:

Dhyana

Year:
Tracks: 3

Lee Ryan - Ryan Attacked Driver In Road Rage

Spears still not allowed to visit sons

Pop singer Britney Spears has failed to regain access to her two young sons following a closed-door court hearing.
Spears, who was recently admitted to hospital for psychiatric evaluation, was barred from visiting her sons last January after she refused to hand the children back to their father Kevin Federline, who currently has primary custody of the boys.
Los Angeles Superior Court spokesman Alan Parachini told reporters after yesterday's hearing that there had been no change in the orders handed out by the family judge who last month stripped Spears of her visitation rights.
The court denied a motion by Spears' lawyer to issue a gag order to keep attorneys from talking to the media.

Blunt is critical of Spears' media treatment

Singer James Blunt has hit out at the media for reporting on Britney Spears' personal life and habits rather than her music.
In an interview with the New York Daily News, Blunt described Spears as a "phenomenal artist", before criticising the media for reporting on the fact that she was photographed wearing no underwear.
"I think when you put the emphasis on her knickers and not on her talent, you lose perspective," he said.
"It really detracts, as a whole, from things that are really important, like global warming and war."
"Sending paparazzi to investigate things like this is useless. We're better than that; we have the power to teach and educate. Let's spend our time on that."

Toni Braxton's Las Vegas shows canceled

Singer has been ill since April 7

A Las Vegas hotel has announced that the rest of Toni Braxton's scheduled shows have been canceled so the singer can focus on her health.
The show, "Toni Braxton: Revealed," at the Flamingo Las Vegas had been dark since the 40-year-old entertainer was hospitalized April 7 with what hotel officials said at the time was a complaint of chest pain. The show had been scheduled to resume June 6.
Harrah's Entertainment spokeswoman Deanna Petit says she could not comment on the singer's current medical condition. Braxton has been treated in the past for pericarditis, a viral inflammation of the heart.
Braxton's two-year run at the Flamingo Las Vegas was scheduled to end in August.

AMPTP Breaks Off Talks With SAG

As expected, the Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers ended their first round of bargaining talks on Tuesday without an agreement. However, although reports had previously described the negotiations as cordial, the latest ones said that they had ended on a bitter note, fueling the belief that the industry would be staggering into another strike in July. Indeed, SAG President Alan Rosenberg told Daily Variety that the guild may ask its members to authorize a strike as early as next week. In a statement, the AMPTP said that SAG's insistence on "unreasonable demands" had been the reason for its decision to discontinue the talks. SAG, it said, had rejected the "fundamental business and labor principles" that the directors', writers' and producers' guilds had already accepted. For its part SAG maintained that it had "modified" its original demands while the AMPTP had refused to budge from its own position. "Our negotiating team is prepared to work around the clock for as long as it takes to get a fair deal. We want to keep the town working," Rosenberg said in a statement. Meanwhile, negotiators for the AMPTP are expected to open negotiations with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists today (Wednesday). SAG reportedly has 120,000 members; AFTRA, 70,000. About 44,000 belong to both unions.

See Also

Flies On Fire

Artist: Flies On Fire

   Genre(s):
Other

Discography:

Outside Looking Inside

Year: 1991
Tracks: 11

Baby joy for Bonham Carter & Burton

The Hangmen

Artist: The Hangmen

   Genre(s):
Rock

Discography:

In the City

Year: 2007
Tracks: 7

Play Dead

Year: 2003
Tracks: 18

Spice Girls play Cupid for Clooney

Echo Is Your Love

Artist: Echo Is Your Love

   Genre(s):
Indie

Discography:

Paper Cut Eye

Year:
Tracks: 12

'American Idol': Can David Cook Sustain A Rock Career After The Show?

InMe

Artist: InMe

   Genre(s):
Rock
   Alternative
   Metal

Discography:

Daydream Anonymous

Year: 2007
Tracks: 13

White Butterfly

Year: 2005
Tracks: 12

Overgrown Eden

Year: 2003
Tracks: 12

Britney Spears back in the recording studio

�Forward, Russia! concept album gets US release date

iForward, Russia! have announced the US release of their forthcoming concept album, �??Life Processes�??.

Recorded in Seattle last year, the album is the follow-up to their well-received debut LP �??Give Me A Wall�?? and was produced by Matt Bayles whose previous work includes Pearl Jam and Mastadon.

According to singer Tom Woodhead, on �??Life Processes�?? the themes are universal �?? fear, love, hate, pride, nervousness, confusion and finally acceptance. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end, in a literary sense as well as a musical one."

And unlike the Leeds-based band�??s debut which listed tracks only by number, this album actually has song titles.

The track listing is:

�??Welcome To The Moment (The Rest Of Your Life)�??
�??We Are Grey Matter�??
�??A Prospector Can Dream�??
�??Spring Is A Condition�??
�??Don't Reinvent What You Don't Understand�??
�??Some Buildings�??
�??Breaking Standing�??
�??Gravity & Heat�??
�??Fosbury In Discontent�??
�??A Shadow Is A Shadow Is A Shadow�??
�??Spanish Triangles�??

--By our New York staff.
Find out more about NME.

Cantet's 'Class' takes Palme d'Or honor

'Gomorra' takes Grand Prix; Jury prize to 'Il Divo'

CANNES - French director Laurent Cantet proved that last is certainly not least when his docu-like fiction "The Class" won the coveted Palme d'Or after screening on the last day of the Festival de Cannes. The win was the first Palme d'Or for a French title since 1987.

Based on an autobiographical novel by Francois Begaudeau, who also plays himself as a French teacher, the realistic film stars real teachers and pupils in a rough Parisian neighborhood high school. Though "The Class" screened on the last day of Competition at the Festival, the film received high marks across the board from international critics and audiences.

Robert De Niro, who stars in closing night film Barry Levinson's "What Just Happened?" presented Cantet, Begaudeau and all 25 students who star in the film with the prize at the traditional ceremony in Cannes Palais de Festival grand theater.

"It is ironic that tonight's closing night film is 'What Just Happened?' because when we announce the prizes, many of you will say "What Just Happened"? And that's how it should be," jury president Sean Penn said before presenting the awards. His words rang true as the list of mostly surprising winners unspooled.

Roman Polanski presented the Grand Prix to Matteo Garrone's "Gomorra," a harrowing exploration of organized crime in Naples.

The Jury prize went to Paolo Sorrentino's caricatural tale of seven-time Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti, "Il Divo."

Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan was named Best Director for his film "Three Monkeys."
"I would like to dedicate the prize to my lonely and beautiful country which I love passionately," Ceylan said.

In additional to the traditional prizes, Penn's jury chose to bestow two special prizes acknowledging the work of French actress Catherine Deneuve and American director Clint Eastwood.

"In this very peculiar place of trying to focus acknowledgement in a field of such powerful work, there are special awards sometimes that are simply acknowledging a piece of work or a body of work," Penn said before presenting the awards. "For the special prize of the 61st Cannes, there are two people that we have to acknowledge, Catherine Deneuve and Clint Eastwood."

Benicio Del Toro's portrayal of Che Guevara in Steven Soderbergh's two-part, four hour, 28 minute biopic of the Latin American revolutionary figure earned him the best actor award.

"I'd like to dedicate this to the man himself, Che Guevara," Del Toro said upon accepting the award. "I want to thank Cannes, I want to thank the Jury and I also want to thank and share this with director Steven Soderbergh who got up every day, forced me to do this. He was there pushing it and pushed all of us."

French actor Jean Reno took the stage for the announcement of the prize for best actress, which went to Sandra Corveloni for her role in Walter Salles' Brazilian drama "Linha de Passe." The actress was not present at the ceremony.

Last year's best screenplay award-winner Fatih Akin handed off this year's prize to three-time Palme d'Or-winning Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne vie for their drama about a young Albanian woman in Belgium, "The Silence of Lorna."

Previous Camera d'Or winner Dennis Hopper awarded this year's Camera d'Or prize, given to the best first film in selection, to Steve McQueen's "Hunger" by a jury presided by Gallic filmmaker Bruno Dumont.

The awards were handed out at a gala ceremony presided by master of ceremonies, French comedian Edouard Baer. They took place ahead of a screening of Levinson's film starring De Niro alongside Catherine Keener and self-parodying appearances from Cannes Jury President Sean Penn and Bruce Willis. Art imitated life as an ironic film-within-a-film plot saw the fictional film in "What Just Happened?" playing at Cannes as real-life Festival crowds watched on the large Palais screen.

Guests then headed to a closing night dinner and cocktail in the Palais Salon des Ambassadeurs followed by a night of dancing at the Majestic beach.

See Also

Baldwin & wife celebrate baby's birth

Actor Daniel Baldwin and his wife Joanne are celebrating the birth of a baby daughter.
According to People magazine, the baby girl was born at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles and weighed 7lbs 10oz. The couple plan to call the baby Avis Ann Baldwin.
Baldwin told the magazine: "Thank God she looks like her mother."
His wife said: "I'm ecstatically happy. Daniel wasn't as nervous as me. He's a little used to this sort of thing. I'm glad he's got some experience in this area."
This is Baldwin's fourth child, his first with model and chef Joanne Smith-Baldwin, whom he married in July 2007.

Hilary Duff at Allure's photo exhibition: Photos

Hilary Duff at Allure Magazine's "Most Alluring Bodies" Photography Exhibition and Silent Auction to Benefit Skin Cancer Research at Skylight Studios, New York City, May 7. Photo Credit: PR Photos
May 8, 2008 () - Hilary Duff attended Allure magazine's Most Alluring Bodies photo exhibition and silent auction to benefit Skin Cancer Research at the Skylight Studios in NYC on Wednesday, May 7, dressed in a LBD accompanied by hockey star beau Mike Comrie.

Allure's naked-themed May issue features Hillary Duff on its cover, and includes nude photos of actresses Angie Harmon, Gabrielle Union, Zoe McLellan, Jill Scott, and Ana Ortiz.
Hilary Duff at Allure Magazine's "Most Alluring Bodies" Photography Exhibition and Silent Auction to Benefit Skin Cancer Research at Skylight Studios, New York City, May 7. Photo Credit: PR Photos
Hilary's strapless bustier dress had deep cut armholes. She matched the dress with golden studded sandals and carried a golden clutch. Her golden hair, set in loose curls with a middle parting, framed her face adding softness.

Mike and Hilary have been seen together a lot lately, as Hilary has done the rounds promoting her film War, Inc. at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie at Allure Magazine's "Most Alluring Bodies" Photography Exhibition and Silent Auction to Benefit Skin Cancer Research at Skylight Studios, New York City, May 7. Photo Credit: PR Photos

Reacting to recent reports that she and Mike are engaged and plan to walk down the aisle soon, Hilary told OK!, "I'm not engaged!"

Duff's new film War, Inc a political satire set in Turaqistan, will release in theaters on May 23.

Duff was ranked at #7 in the Forbes "Top 20 Earners Under 25" in December 2007, with an annual earnings of $12 million. Duff has been ranked # 7 at FHM's list of the Sexist Women in the World, on the UK edition, she came in at #8.

Mariah and Nick's Roller-Coaster Romance

Still no word of a honeymoon, but newlyweds Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are planning a big blowout tonight.
A source tells E! News that the two lovebirds are renting all of Six Flags...

Jeru The Damaja

Artist: Jeru The Damaja

   Genre(s):
Other

Discography:

Divine Design

Year: 2003
Tracks: 16

Yoko Ono sues to remove John Lennon song from film

Kylie Minogue - Martin Axes Minogue Lyrics

Pop princess KYLIE MINOGUE took time out of her busy schedule to record a vocal for British band COLDPLAY - but frontman CHRIS MARTIN erased it from the final cut.

The Spinning Around hitmaker - who shares the record label, Parlophone, with the band - agreed to add her vocals to a track on their forthcoming album Viva La Vida.

But Martin scrapped the star's input.

Martin says, "Kylie is awesome. She's like Girls Aloud rolled into one.

"I took apart the song she did with us, like a (electrical appliance) Corby trouser press."

See Also

Clooney: Kidman will be 'a perfect mother'

George Clooney has congratulated Nicole Kidman on the news that she is pregnant by saying she will make 'a perfect mother.'
Clooney and Kidman have been long-term friends, with the actress famously betting her friend $10,000 that he would still be a bachelor when he turned 40 in 2001.
Clooney told People magazine: "I'm thrilled for her. [She'll be] a perfect mother. She'll be great. She'll be a tall mother."
Kidman confirmed yesterday that she is expecting her first child with husband, Keith Urban.
She already has adopted children with Tom Cruise, 15-year-old Isabella and 12-year-old Connor.

Ruth Brown

Artist: Ruth Brown

   Genre(s):
R&B: Soul
   Rock
   Gospel
   Blues

Discography:

Good Day for the Blues

Year: 1999
Tracks: 12

Fine and Mellow

Year: 1991
Tracks: 10

Miss Rhythm CD1

Year: 1989
Tracks: 20

Blues on Broadway

Year: 1989
Tracks: 9

Gospel Time

Year: 1962
Tracks: 11

Miss Rhythm (Disc 2)

Year: 1953
Tracks: 20

Rockin' In Rhythm

Year:
Tracks: 23

Collection (Boogie Woogie)

Year:
Tracks: 1

They called Atlantic Records "the house that Ruth reinforced" during the fifties, and they weren't referring to the Sultan of Swat. Ruth Brown's imperial hitmaking reign from 1949 to the close of the '50s helped tremendously to base the New York label's predominance in the R&B field. Later, the business sector all but forgot her -- she was forced to labor as domestic help for a time -- only she returned to the top, her condition as a postwar R&B open up (and hardworking counselor-at-law for the rights and royalties of her peers) recognised world-wide.

Young Ruth Weston was elysian initially by jazz chanteuses Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Dinah Washington. She ran away from her Portsmouth home in 1945 to hit the road with trumpeter Jimmy Brown, whom she shortly marital. A month with bandleader Lucky Millinder's orchestra in 1947 complete abruptly in Washington, D.C., when she was tinned for delivering a round of drinks to members of the isthmus. Cab Calloway's babe Blanche gave Ruth a gig at her Crystal Caverns cabaret and sham a managerial role in the youth singer's life. DJ Willis Conover dug Brown's behave and recommended her to Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson, bosses of a fledgeling imprint named Atlantic. Unfortunately, Brown's debut school term for the firm was delayed by a nine-month hospital quell caused by a serious automobile accident en route to New York that badly injured her peg. When she eventually made it to her first gear date in May 1949, she made up for helpless time by waxing the blowtorch ballad "So Long" (backed by guitarist Eddie Condon's band), which proved to be her first gear hit.

Brown's seductive vocal delivery shone incandescently on her Atlantic smashes "Teardrops in My Eyes" (an R&B chart-topper for 11 weeks in 1950), "I'll Wait for You" and "I Know" in 1951, 1952's "5-10-15 Hours" (some other number one rocker), the germinal "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" in 1953, and a tender Chuck Willis-penned "Oh What a Dream," and the seasonable "Mambo Baby" the next year. Along the way, Frankie Laine labelled her "Miss Rhythm" during an booking in Philly. Brown belted a series of her hits on the groundbreaking TV programme Beginning at the Apollo in 1955, exhibiting yummy comic timing piece trading dodgy one-liners with MC Willie Bryant (ironically, ex-husband Jimmy Brown was a member of the show's house isthmus).

After an tied xXIV R&B chart appearances for Atlantic that concluded in 1960 with "Don't Deceive Me" (many of them featuring raising hell tenor saxophone solos by Willis "Gator" Jackson, wHO many mistakenly believed to be Brown's hubby), Brown attenuated from view. After lift her deuce sons and working a nine-to-five job, Brown began to reconstruct her musical career in the mid-'70s. Her comedic signified served her well during a TV situation comedy stretch co-starring with MacLean Stevenson in How-do-you-do, Larry, in a meaty role in conductor John Waters' 1985 sock-hop satire film Hairspray, and her 1989 Broadway stellar call on in Black and Blue (which south Korean won her a Tony Award).

On that point were more records for Fantasy in the '80s and '90s (notably 1991's jump Fine and Mellow), and a protracted tenure as host of National Public Radio's Harlem Hit Parade and BluesStage. Brown's nine-year ordeal to recoup her plowshare of royalties from all those Atlantic platters light-emitting diode to the formation of the nonprofit organization Rhythm & Blues Foundation, an system dedicated to helping others in the same frustrating situation. In 1993 Brown was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and 1995 saw the release of her autobiography, Miss Rhythm. Brown suffered a fondness plan of attack and solidus following oR in October 2006 and never full cured, departure on November 17, 2006.

Bachir Attar

Chan Plans Chinese Earthquake Movie

Movie action man Jackie Chan is planning to make a film about last week's (ends16May08) devastating Chinese earthquake, which left almost 60,000 dead and more than five million homeless. The 7.9-magnitude quake stunned the world and now Chan wants to do everything he can to help the shellshocked survivors - and that involves making a film about their plight. The Rush Hour star, who is an icon in China, is planning a meeting with the country's leading studio bosses and film financiers to discuss his movie plans. He says, "There are so many touching stories (and) through this movie, we will be able to show the whole world what happened. This will also be another way to raise money." Chan also plans to raise money through benefits for the victims and their families. He tells America's People magazine, "I can spend six years doing a movie, but I can plan an event in 72 hours. An event we're doing on June 1 in Hong Kong will include more than 100 artists from Asia." Chan has already visited hospitals, schools and the ruins of streets of houses in the areas worst hit by the earthquake, and he has already donated more than $1 million (£500,000) to the relief effort.

See Also