Showing posts with label Anita Baker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anita Baker. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

PICS FROM DONDA WEST'S FUNERAL; KANYE GIVE 'EMOTIONAL', 'HUMOR-FILLED,' HEARTBREAKING' EULOGY.

SPENCER, OKLA. - Kanye West fought back tears as he paid tribute to his mother Tuesday at a funeral service sprinkled with music industry celebrities. The prolific hip-hop artist told a crowd of more than 1,500 mourners, including rap moguls Jay-Z and Beyoncé, he still couldn't believe his mother was gone. "You gotta grow up now," the 30-year-old West said softly of his reaction to getting word his mom had died while he was on tour in Europe. West said he remained abroad for a few days because it was what his mother would have wanted. "She had her hands on me," he said. The rapper and record producer, whose climb to super-stardom began just four years ago, said, "I didn't expect this to happen this year." A single mother and accomplished academic who rose to head the English Department at Chicago State University, Donda West became her son's first manager, closest adviser and "my biggest fan," West said in an impromptu eulogy that was both humor-filled and heartbreaking. Before stepping off the stage, he said simply, "I love you, Mom."

R&B songstress Anita Baker sang Donda's favorite song Summertime before being greeted and thanked by Kanye.

Kanye's fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of those who attended the service which took place at the True Vine Ministries Church in the suburb of Spencer. The media and general public were not allowed into the service or onto church property, but news cameras set up across the street showed Kanye West, as well as friends and fellow stars Jay-Z and Beyonce, emerging from vehicles. After the service Donda’s casket was placed onto a horse drawn carriage and taken to a nearby cemetery.




MORE PICS OF KANYE, BEYONCE AND JAY-Z AT DONDA WEST'S FUNERAL AFER THE JUMP! (click 'MORE AFTER THE JUMP!' below on bottom left)


Meanwhile, Dr. Jan Adams made a bizarre one-minute appearance on "Larry King Live" last night during which he removed his earpiece and walked off the set as King was trying to ask him questions. Apparently West's family threatened to seek his decertification from the Medical Board of California if he went through with the interview. "I had come here to talk about things in the press that aren't accurate about me, but I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for the West family, and they've asked me not to go on," Adams told King.


READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

STARS COME OUT FOR (PRIVATE) FUNERAL OF DR. DONDA WEST; JOHN LEGEND & ANITA BAKER PERFORM.

Surrounded by his friends and family, Kanye West arrived at the True Vine Ministry church on Tuesday, to lay his mother to rest. Early Tuesday morning, flowers poured inside the church, which can accommodate up to 2,500 people. It was a solemn day as a white hearse, carrying the body of Dr. Donda West arrived and her coffin was carried inside. Inside the private service, John Legend and Anita Baker reportedly performed. Other stars also came out to lend Kanye their support including Beyonce and Jay-Z.

After the service, two horse drawn carriages transported her body to the cemetery.

The evening before, Kanye took to the stage in Brussels, Belgium, paying tribute to his mother. He spoke out about continuing to tour in her memory. "If she was here, she would tell me to 'get on that stage and kill it, dawg!' That was her favorite word: dawg. She would tell me to go on this Glow in the Dark Tour and 'take over the world and be number one like I taught you to be, baby.'"

Meanwhile, Access Hollywood reported yesterday that West paid for the plastic surgery his mother received from Dr. Jan Adams, which took place one day before her death. But the rapper did not want her to undergo the procedures. He wanted his mom to go to a trainer instead, Access Hollywood reported.

Her father, Oklahoma City civil rights leader Portwood Williams Sr., told The Oklahoman newspaper, his daughter was a great person. “We were real close — very close,” Williams said. “She was just number 1. One in a million. We have four children, and I’ve never heard them have an argument with each other. She was just a number 1 person.”

Donda West, 58, died as the result of possible complications from a cosmetic surgical procedure.

Kanye West is set to resume his Glow in the Dark Tour on Thursday night in London.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!
Related Posts with Thumbnails
Template Designed by Douglas Bowman - Updated to Beta by: Blogger Team
Modified for 3-Column Layout by Hoctro