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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 18 > Entry
Really going hip-hop? Elton spied with Timbaland
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Peachtree Road resident Elton John might just be following through on his recent threat about trying his hand at a hip-hop album. Las Vegas Review-Journal gossip Norm Clarke (think Buzz but with a wicked cool eye patch) reports that Sir Elton and producer Timbaland were spotted teaming up at the Palms recording studios over the weekend “on a super secret project.” John is in Vegas this week performing his “Red Piano” shows at Caesars Palace.
Clarke says work might well be continuing on the trans-Atlantic Broadway debut of John’s London hit “Billy Elliot” musical as well. Sir Elton’s hubby, David Furnish, was seen at Krave Nightclub on Sunday with “Billy Elliot” director Stephen Daldry.
Aaron, friends quietly mark wife’s birthday
When highly respected retired CNN chairman Tom Johnson sends a text message to inform us that we’ve missed a significant milestone in the city’s history, we tend to sit up straight and take a few notes.
But since we’re well aware of how humble Billye and Hank Aaron are, it didn’t surprise us that they didn’t issue a press release regarding Billye’s private 70th birthday celebration Sunday night at City Grill downtown.
“I go to a lot of functions in this city and around the world, but this was truly a special evening that perfectly captured the magic of Billye and Henry,” Johnson reflected Tuesday.
Among the 200 or so guests who flew in from all over the country: Cissy Marshall, the widow of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young; CNN founder Ted Turner; Morehouse President Walter E. Massey; and the birthday girl’s sisters and brother. An entertainment highlight was an a cappella performance by Aaron’s grandson, singer Victor Aaron Haydel.
Said Johnson, who attended with his wife, Edwina: “It was an evening of Billye thanking the many people from all walks of life she’s encountered through the years. It was quite a wonderful tribute.”
Bouquets of yellow roses greeted the Texas College alumna as she entered the celebration.
A delayed ‘Aftermath’
It’s every singer-songwriter’s worst nightmare. The release party for your debut CD has to be scrapped when your master recording gets lost by a certain shipping service. That’s the position pianist and singer Luke Myers was in last month when the 23-year-old Marietta native’s first EP project temporarily went missing, forcing him to reschedule his release party for Tuesday night at the Red Light Cafe in Midtown. “It was a little frustrating,” Meyers told us.
But now with “Aftermath,” his disc of five songs that evoke the work of Sarah McLachlan and Coldplay, available at cdbaby.com and iTunes.com, the shy singer was only left with one task — presenting the personal works live.
“It’s actually pretty terrifying to get up there by yourself with just a piano,” Myers said. As for the autobiographical nature of the tunes centering on lost love, the singer cracked: “The songs aren’t totally about me and my experiences, but there’s enough of me in there.” For more info: www.myspace.com/lucassimonmyers.
Final tallies in
Word trickled into Buzz Central Tuesday that last weekend’s seventh annual Pink Tie Ball, which had 500 guests at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead, helped to raise more than $700,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Attendees sported pink dresses and pink bow ties, the symbolic color for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. … Across the street at the InterContinental hotel, the Russell Athletic Roses 65 Sweatshirt Ball was busy raising more than $225,000 for cystic fibrosis. Ball guests helped to celebrate the 80th birthday of the venerable workout garment by creatively incorporating bits of sweatshirts into their formal attire. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation board member and former Atlanta Hawks star Dominique Wilkins sported a red cummerbund created from a red sweatshirt.
Celebrity docket
Actor Wesley Snipes was indicted Tuesday on eight counts of tax fraud for allegedly failing to pay nearly $12 million in taxes and failing to file returns for six years.
Federal prosecutors in Tampa said Snipes fraudulently claimed refunds in 1996 and 1997 on taxes already paid and then failed to file returns from 1999 and 2004. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 16 years in prison.
The “Blade” actor had not been arrested at press time because authorities didn’t know where he was.
Celebrity birthdays
Actor Peter Boyle (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) is 71. Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is 45. Actress Erin Moran (“Happy Days”) is 45. Country singer and “American Idol” contestant Josh Gracin is 26. Actress Joy Lauren (“Desperate Housewives”) is 17.
Contributing: Marylin Johnson and news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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