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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 10
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
State Grammy nominees rock at Tiffany’s
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just about any day in Phipps Plaza you can spot a recording artist.
But rarely are they walking into the Tiffany & Co. store on a red carpet, with a violin quartet playing on one end.
That’s just two of the things that made the local chapter of the Recording Academy’s party for its Georgia Grammy nominees special Tuesday night.
Tops on that list, however, had to be the star power.
Of the 30-plus nominees up for a record 52 nominations, rappers Ludacris and T.I., rockers Mastodon, Christian group Third Day, contemporary gospel artist Byron Cage and producer DJ Toomp were all at the dressy event. And sipping flutes of champagne with them were radio personalities (Ryan Cameron, Leslie Fram, Morris Baxter), record execs (Michael Mauldin, Dee Dee Murray), entertainment attorneys (Joel Katz, Donald Woodard), one “American Idol” finalist (Diana DeGarmo) and the Atlanta chapter’s senior executive director Michele Rhea Caplinger.
Each nominee was given an Elsa Peretti heart with their name etched on it and a Tiffany gift certificate. (The registers were open.)
“Atlanta, Georgia, is really doing it big tonight,” remarked Ludacris, who picked up his first Grammy last year.
This year’s four-time nominee T.I., on the other hand, has yet to win one of the music industry’s highest honors. But Tuesday evening he was feeling like his luck might change at the upcoming Feb. 11 ceremony. “Nights like this almost make you feel like you already won,” he said.
Caffey court call
Legal representatives for former NBA Milwaukee Bucks forward Jason Caffey are expected to be in Fulton County Superior Court on Friday. The Atlanta resident is being sued for failure to pay child support. Caffey is being taken to court by Lorunda Brown, the mother of Justin Amir Caffey, 4, for not paying nearly $74,000 in child support and other fees.
According to an order filed in Fulton County Superior County in October 2002, Caffey is required to pay $4,250 to Brown each month. According to legal papers obtained by Buzz, beginning in February 2005, Caffey began making partial payments or no payments at all. In an amendment to a motion for contempt filed Jan. 5, Brown alleges that Caffey has failed to pay any support for November, December or thus far in January.
When we contacted Brown’s attorney, Randall Kessler, on Tuesday, he told us: “We’ve tried to keep it out of court, but with this much at stake, my client cannot keep waiting and hoping for him to do the right thing. We intend to ask the court to incarcerate Mr. Caffey until he pays what he owes.”
Caffey’s lawyer, James Altman, had no comment when reached by Buzz on Tuesday. Altman did confirm, however, that he expected to represent his client in court Friday.
Junior GOPs
When Georgia governor Sonny Perdue stepped off the stage Monday night after welcoming guests at his inaugural gala inside the Georgia World Congress Center, two of his youngest supporters were waiting in the wings with a digital camera to document the moment. David Bachman, 18, the treasurer of the Georgia Teen Republicans, had driven to Atlanta from Cherokee County for the soiree. A friend, Amanda Pugh, 18, accompanied him.
“It’s really an amazing night,” Bachman observed as he looked around the massive exhibit hall filled with Perdue pals his parents’ ages. “It’s great to see that kids are getting politically active. Normally, kids don’t start to care until taxes start getting taken out of their paychecks.”
Donald vs. Rosie: Round 286
Sure, sure any rational human being would have left those pre-holiday playground put-down antics of Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell behind in the new year. But then again, who said that O’Donnell and Trump were rational? O’Donnell returned to the airwaves of “The View” Monday, causing another eruption from the New York Daily News and the New York Post. The tabs reported Tuesday that before Monday’s broadcast, O’Donnell strongly criticized “View” creator Barbara Walters for not talking up for her adequately during the skirmish. Naturally, Trump forwarded a letter addressed to O’Donnell to “Extra,” who promptly forwarded the contents to Buzz Central.
In the missive, Trump continues to assert that Walters is in his corner. “After your maniacal rant against me, Barbara called me from her vacation to apologize for your behavior,” Trump writes. “She said that ‘working with [O’Donnell] is like living in hell’ and ‘don’t worry, she won’t be here for long.’ Barbara knows exactly what she told me and she has to live with it.” Reps for Trump confirmed the letter’s authenticity to Buzz. Reps for “The View,” no doubt lying in a fetal position under their desks, did not return our call for comment by deadline.
Overscene
Atlanta R&B singer, Broadway star and recently minted restaurateur Usher (above) holding court at Houston’s in Buckhead. Before his lunch Monday, he mentioned that he was in the early stages of a possible James Brown tribute, tentatively set to happen in May in New York.
Celebrity birthdays
Singer Frank Sinatra Jr. is 63. Singer Rod Stewart (right) is 62. Singer-keyboardist Donald Fagen of Steely Dan is 59. Singer Pat Benatar is 54. Singer Shawn Colvin is 51. Singer Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies is 43. Guitarist Matt Roberts of 3 Doors Down is 29. Rapper Chris Smith of Kris Kross is 28.
Celebrity docket
Undergarment-impaired hotel heiress/reality TV star Paris Hilton pleaded not guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor drunken driving charges in Los Angeles following her arrest last year for allegedly weaving around a Hollywood street in her Mercedes-Benz.
Hilton, 25, wasn’t required to be in Superior Court. Her attorney entered the pleas on her behalf to one count each of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or above.
Judge Michael T. Sauer set a Jan. 23 pretrial hearing date and said the case must go to trial by Feb. 23.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. However, the minimum penalty for a first-time offender is a fine, probation and participation in an alcohol rehabilitation program.
Hilton’s attorney, Shawn Chapman, declined to speak with reporters after the hearing.
Motorcycle officers said they saw Hilton’s McLaren SLR being driven erratically and stopped it just before 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 7.
Hilton later said she may have been “speeding a little bit” and was on her way to get a hamburger because she had filmed a music video all day without eating.
Celebrity birthdays
Singer Frank Sinatra Jr. is 63. Singer Rod Stewart (right) is 62. Singer-keyboardist Donald Fagen of Steely Dan is 59. Singer Pat Benatar is 54. Singer Shawn Colvin is 51. Singer Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies is 43. Guitarist Matt Roberts of 3 Doors Down is 29. Rapper Chris Smith of Kris Kross is 28.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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