PEACH BUZZ: ‘Captain’ Ted expounds on sea of issues

A not entirely unfounded fear of lodging a luncheon roll in one’s windpipe aside, CNN founder and memoirist Ted Turner delighted and entertained a sold-out crowd of admirers Friday at the Atlanta Press Club at the Commerce Club downtown.

Introduced by former CNN chairman and old pal Tom Johnson as “a hero and the only genius I’ve ever known,” Turner, the author of “Call Me Ted,” strode to the podium for a wide-ranging series of remarks and answers to questions from the audience.

With apologies to Atlanta Press Club sponsor General Motors and its employees in the room, the co-founder of Ted’s Montana Grill said he’d rather bail out the U.S. restaurant industry than auto workers.

“They deserve what they’ve done,” said Turner. “Toyota will take them over at some point. Giving the auto industry $25 million might get them through Christmas!”

Calling President George W. Bush “one of the dumbest people in the country,” Turner expressed hope for the incoming Barack Obama administration. “We need to have smart people instead of dumb people running things,” he explained.

When Buzz asked him to finish the thoughts on the economy that he started to explain on “The Late Show with David Letterman” earlier this week, Turner told us: “It’s simple: You shouldn’t spend more money than you make. You don’t buy more than you can afford. That’s how you get rich. We need to start saving money. This could be as bad as the Great Depression.”

Turner reminded the audience that no one is immune from corporate changes.

“I would love to have kept my job at Time Warner, but I was let go. And I was Time’s Man of the Year! I’m proof that anybody can be let go. Don’t think you have job security.”

Georgia State journalism major Heath Croft asked the question of the luncheon, however.

When the college senior quizzed him on what he thought of the current CNN Headline News, Turner made a gagging noise.

Said Turner: “How many people think I like Nancy Grace?! And that other guy whose name was bigger than the [CNN] logo? That guy who went to Fox [News], thank God? Glenn Beck. I can’t watch it anymore.”

Staton has ‘Praise’ for her choir

For “I Will Sing My Praise to You,” her brand new praise and worship album, R&B and gospel legend Candi Staton shares the spotlight with Snellville’s Hope & Life Fellowship choir and its music director John Brockman.

“I’m so blessed to have them on this record with me,” the Stone Mountain resident told Buzz. So how did Staton find the talented singers? She’s a member of Hope & Life Fellowship. A nonsinging member at that.

“I just love sitting there listening to other people praise the Lord,” she explained. “It’s never ‘Candi, did you bring a track?’ They don’t do that to me. I can go there and just be a worshipper. You have to have a moment, you know?”

Today at 5 p.m., Staton will perform numbers from “Praise” and sign copies for fans at the Stonecrest Mall Borders Books & Music in Lithonia.

Staton performs her R&B and disco hits annually in Europe in concerts before 50,000. The singer says it’s those old R&B fans who are more likely to check out her gospel offerings. But not the other way around.

“A lot of folks still think if you sing secular, you’re going to hell. But I look at Jesus’ life. He didn’t hang out with the religious folk too much. He went where he was needed. Instead of taking water to the ocean, he was taking it to the desert,” she said.

Celebrating 50 with the ASO

When the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary Saturday night in Symphony Hall, there will be a special guest more than twice as old as the orchestra itself.

Ruth Allen, 101, was one of the orchestra founders. She taught violin in Atlanta for over 70 years. Former students can be found in professional symphonies in London, Boston, Baltimore, Atlanta and other cities.

Buzz recently caught up with the lively Mrs. Allen at Lenbrook retirement home on Peachtree Road in Buckhead. She no longer plays music, but reads voraciously. She had a copy of “Audacity of Hope,” by Barack Obama, and cast her absentee ballot for the president-elect.

Allen said began playing violin when she was 8 —- a late start these days —- and studied under legendary Hungarian violinist Leopold Auer shortly after he moved to the U.S. in 1918.

She said aspiring musicians should start “as early as possible to get their muscles used to play and to train their ear.”

“She was a wonderful teacher,” said former student Raymond Page of Raleigh, who teaches music and played with the Alard Quartet for many years.

“She’s basically a sweet person, and I never saw her get angry, but you knew when you disappointed her.”

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Today: “People’s Court” judge Joseph Wapner is 89. Actor Ed Asner is 79. Actor John Kerr (“South Pacific”) is 77. Singer Petula Clark is 76. Actor Sam Waterston (“Law and Order”) is 68. Bandleader Kevin Eubanks (“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”) is 51.

Sunday: Actress Marg Helgenberger (“CSI”) is 50. Jazz singer Diana Krall is 44. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal is 31.

OVERSCENE

Professional race car driver Danica Patrick dining on an apple walnut salad prior to greeting 200 awaiting fans at ESPN Zone in Buckhead. Patrick challenged fans on a racing simulator for a pair of round-trip AirTran tickets. The racing star was doing well until the final turn of the last lap when a finalist put her virtual car into a wall. She finished third.

Contributing: Kirsten Tagami and news services.

Got a tip for Peach Buzz? 404-526-2749 or buzz@ajc.com