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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 02 > Entry
Stevie keeps it real in Wonder-ville
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Stevie Wonder’s second concert in Atlanta this year — held at Philips Arena on Thursday night — only underscored how much the country could use the peace-and-love advocate on stage currently.
The relaxed, reflective, story-filled two-plus-hour show was distinguished early on when the singer improvised some pointed words into the conclusion of “Visions.”
“I can’t believe in 2007 that we have bull [expletive] like Jena Six!” the singer, seated at the keyboards shouted. “I can’t believe that with all the leaders we have in the world, there’s not one strong enough to stand up and say, ‘War is not the answer.’ I can’t believe we’re still dealing with starvation … Stop the crime.” The singer then encouraged the packed house to shout “Stop it!”
Wonder followed the rant with a slew of his ’70s classics, including “Living for the City,” “Master Blaster (Jammin’),” “Higher Ground,” “Golden Lady” and “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing.”
And as she did a few months back at Chastain, Stone Mountain songstress India Arie once again joined Wonder on stage for an extended duet of “Ribbon in the Sky,” where the singers divided up the audience according to gender to sing along.
The playful sexual banter seemed to have Arie on the verge of blushing at points as she knelt barefoot on a piano stool next to Wonder.
Encouraging the women in the crowd to respond as boisterously as the men were singing along, Wonder grinned and advised: “Let’s keep it real in Wonder-ville!”
Steve & Vikki sign off at Star 94
Steve McCoy and Vikki Locke offered a poignant, low-key farewell on their final Star 94 morning show Friday after 17 years. “We’ve had this unwritten rule of being professional on and off the air,” McCoy said. And that meant there would be no bitterness, no angry words.
Orchestrated by their soon-to-be-former boss Mark Kanov, more than 20 staffers surprised the two radio vets in the middle of the show by entering the studio and holding signs saying “Star 94 will always love Steve & Vikki.”
While Locke is leaving for health reasons, Star chose not to keep McCoy, who is not going on his own terms. “This is not the way I envisioned leaving,” McCoy said to listeners. “I have no plans to retire.”
“We’re going to be greeters at the Wal-Mart in Roswell,” Locke joked. “You have made me a better person for knowing you,” McCoy then said to Locke, his voice getting shaky. “You are family.”
He ended the show at 9:45 a.m. with a version of “Your Song” Elton John sang at Star a few years ago and after hugging staff, the pair left the studio for the final time.
McCoy and Locke declined to be interviewed for now, citing their contracts, which are in effect until the end of the year and include a six-month noncompete clause. Locke said their contracts note if they say anything disparaging about Star, they could potentially void their contracts, a chance they weren’t willing to take. “I don’t want to lose my benefits,” she said.
From Llanview to the ATL
This Sunday, in exchange for a $25 donation to the Ganter Family Foundation benefitting the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, “One Life to Live” fans will get an opportunity to chat with fan fave Hillary B. Smith during a cocktail reception at The Grape at Phipps Plaza from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The 15-year cast member who plays alliterative attorney Nora Hanen Gannon Buchanan rang us up this week to chat about the worthy cause bringing her to the ATL and some November sweeps dish.
“It’s really an amazing organization and I’m only too glad to help out,” Smith told Buzz. This month, Nora and much of fictional Llanview, Pa., heads to Texas for the reading of late prickly patriarch Asa Buchanan’s will. The storyline features a guest appearance by Asa’s longtime portrayer, veteran Hollywood cowboy Phil Carey, who recently hung up his spurs after decades of work.
“There’s a twist coming that’s just brilliant,” says Smith. “Your jaw will be on the floor.” But Smith says viewers shouldn’t get too used to Carey.
“He’s done this a long time and he’s in his 80s and he’s battled cancer,” Smith explained. “I adore Phil and miss him, but I think he wants to stay retired.”
Back on the road
Bon Jovi’s “Lost Highway” tour will stop at Philips Arena on April 30, the band announced. Tickets to the Atlanta show go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Nov. 10. American Express cardmembers are eligible to purchase advance tickets via www.ticketmaster.com between 10 a.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. on Nov. 9.
HIGH FIVE
Television The top OnDemand programs for the week of Oct. 22-28 as determined by Comcast customers in metro Atlanta:
1.”Crank Dat Soulja Boy” Soulja Boy, music video, Music Choice 2. “Hypnotized” Plies featuring Akon, music video, Music Choice 3. “Kiss Kiss” Chris Brown, music video, Music Choice 4. “Pop Bottles” Birdman, music video, Music Choice 5. “Shawty is a Ten” The Dream, music video, Music Choice
— Courtesy: Rentrak’s OnDemand Essentials
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Today: Composer John Barry is 74. Singer Lulu is 59. Actress-comedian Roseanne Barr is 55.
Sunday: Walter Cronkite is 91. Actress Doris Roberts (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) is 77. Actress Kathy Griffin is 47. “Survivor” host Jeff Probst is 46. Actor Matthew McConaughey is 38. Rapper-producer Sean “Diddy” Combs is 38.
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Contributing: Rodney Ho 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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