JACKSON FAMILY ISSUES PERSONAL STATEMENT.

Michael Jackson's family issued a heart wrenching statement regarding his passing on Thursday, June 25th. Read it in its entirety below:

In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter. Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.

We miss Michael endlessly, our pain cannot be described in words. But Michael would not want us to give up now. So we want to thank all of his faithful supporters and loyal fans worldwide, you – who Michael loved so much. Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you. Continue to spread his message, because that is what he would want you to do. Carry on, so his legacy will live forever.

In addition, Joseph Jackson wishes to personally convey: "My grandchildren are deeply moved by all the love and support you have shown for them and their father, Michael Jackson."

Joseph Jackson & Family

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MICHAEL JACKSON DEAD @ 50 + B.E.T. AWARD TRIBUTES & MY PERSONAL STORY.

As I write this post, I am beyond beside myself with grief. I hope you all can read it without it sounding too choppy and all over the place. Anyhoo, to say that we have lost the greatest entertainer this world has ever known would be a gross understatement. I know I'm not alone in thinking that. I have cried and cried and cried since hearing the news. I must've freaked out my 9-year old niece because she had no idea why her auntie was crying so hard. So much so that my head is still throbbing. My chest was literally aching. Last night, I cried for hours. I cried just as hard as I did when my daddy died (Michael was the same age as my father when he passed). I cried even more when I would turn to MTV or BET and see one of his videos playing. After a while, I said to myself, 'SouthernGurl, stop it. You're going to make yourself sick. It's okay to mourn his passing, but you should also celebrate his life.' And that's what I did. I pulled out my Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad and Greatest Hits cds and commenced to singing and dancing my ass off something proper like. And it's funny because once I got that hard cry out, I realized that, like my daddy, Michael also lived a full life. But my heart still hurts for Michael. I pray he's at peace. I love him so much. He will be sorely missed. Real talk. I also want to give a shout out to my childhood friend of over 25 years, Asia, who I hadn't talked to in years. It was Michael's death that motivated her to reach out to me...she was the first person to do so. Our talk was long overdue and I'm just so happy we were able to reconnect. I still don't know if the buckets of tears I shed during our phone call was due to Michael's passing or us finally being able to talk again! I'm just glad it happened. I'll see you soon, Acey-A!

Back to Michael. I've been in love with that man since I was 4 years old (ask my mama or anybody who knows me) when my parents bought me my first album ever: Off the Wall in 1979! By the time I was in kindergarten I knew the words to every song on that album! True story through and through, yall. I ain't lying. My love for this man is damn near unexplainable. I remember asking my parents if they would take me to Jacksonville, Florida to see Michael on his Victory tour. They said, 'yes,' and I thought I was going to lose my mind because I was going to see Michael up close and personal! So imagine my surprise when they later told me something came up and I wouldn't be able to go. Months later that something happened to be the birth of my funky little sister. I went from being a spoiled only child who was on her way to see Michael Jackson to being a bitter big sister to a rugrat born at the most inopportune time in MY life! But still my love for Michael never wavered. Let's see: When other little girls slept with their Care Bears stuffed animals and Cabbage Patch Kid dolls, I slept with my Off the Wall and Thriller album covers. Yes, it was that serious. Oh, and I cried when his hair caught fire in that Pepsi commercial. I used 10 stamps on a fan letter that I wrote to him because I wanted to make sure that letter had enough postage to make it to its destination. I kept my bedroom walls covered with Michael Jackson posters (Word Up, Right On! and Blackbeat magazines were a must in my household). I learned the dance routine to his Bad video and would dance to it every morning before going to school (he was so sexy to me in that video)! I HATED every woman he was associated with especially Ola Ray, Brooke Shields, Stephanie Mills, Tatum O'Neal, Siedah Garrett (she co-wrote Michael's song Man in the Mirror and also did a duet with him on I Just Can't Stop Loving You), the skinny knock-kneed chick in his The Way You Make Me Feel video...hell, I was even jealous of the figure laying in the bed in his Billie Jean video!

You know we joke around about the way Michael looked or the weird things he's done (i.e. buying the hyperbaric chamber, his fascination with Bubbles, buying the Elephant Man's bones, etc.) but that man has left an indelible mark on the music industry ever since he became a part of it. What he has accomplished in music, no one else never, ever will. No one. The man is the epitome of a musical icon. We can never deny him that. He sacrificed his childhood to entertain us. For that I'll be forever grateful. I just pray his soul's at rest and that he knew how much he was loved and revered as an artist and a humanitarian. Despite all the criticism and negativity that surrounded his life in the past several years, he was still and will always remain the first and last of his kind. God broke the mold when he made Michael. These singers today should forever give this man his just due...even in death. His videos were original and phenomenal and actually made sense. He sent messages without using obscene language (i.e. the N word, calling females b!tches and hoes, bragging about how many women he bedded) and he performed his ass off all while doing it. Yeah, I'll be the first to admit that I would often jump back if I suddenly came upon a photo of him during his post-Bad era. But once I saw him perform, his facial features became secondary. He entertained us for decades, hell for generations. My mama would tell me how she and her girlfriends use to crush on him back in the day. A generation later and me and my friends were doing the same thing!

Needless to say, his legacy is eternal and cannot/will not be erased by even the most horrible of charges and allegations ever made against him. His music and performances are historic and I will cherish his memory until my dying day. My heart goes out to Michael's family, especially the three children he leaves in his memory. I also learned that another reason Michael wanted to do this comeback tour (besides for financial reasons) is because he wanted to show his kids why he is the King of Pop, respectively. Also, a BET spokesperson told Tom Joyner that this Sunday's BET Awards (at 8:00 pm) will be dedicated entirely to Michael. Special tributes will also be made to the fallen legend. Because of this, the awards ceremony will air longer than the normal 3 hours as BET will allow celebrities in attendance ample time to pay homage to the singer. I gotta thank my big sister Nikki for emailing me that info. Thank you, gurl! I predict this year's awards show will be the most watched ever.

Now excuse me while I go pop in his greatest hits cd.

R.I.P. Michael. You were truly loved and adored by many. May you find the peace you were searching for here on Earth in the heavens above.

TO READ WHAT CELEBS HAD TO SAY ABOUT MICHAEL'S UNTIMELY PASSING PLUS THE LATEST NEWS ON HIS DEATH , HEAD OVER TO BLACKCELEBRITYMEN.BLOGSPOT.COM

Here's my favorite Michael Jackson performance of all time.

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BREAKING NEWS: JENNIFER HUDSON'S MOTHER & BROTHER FOUND SHOT TO DEATH IN CHICAGO; JENNIFER'S YOUNG NEPHEW KIDNAPPED.

CHECK BACK PERIODICALLY FOR UPDATES.

Condolences goes out to Jennifer Hudson and her family. The singer/actress' 57-year old Darnell Hudson Donnerson was one of two victims found shot to death in Donnerson's Southside Chicago home at around 3 p.m. today. According to TMZ.com, Jennifer's brother 29-year-old Jason Hudson is the other victim. He was found shot in the chest and Donnerson was found fatally shot in the head. The bodies were reportedly discovered by a cousin who lived down the street from Donnerson. The shooting is believed to be domestic. When the fire department arrived and discovered the bodies were already dead, police were brought in and the home was declared a crime scene.

Jennifer is on a private plane headed to Chicago. She learned of the deaths and boarded the plane immediately.

Hudson became famous after appearing on American Idol in 2004. She went on to win an Oscar for her performance in the film Dreamgirls.

Jennifer has got to be inconsolable right about now, and understandably so. I was just reading her interview in Upscale magazine where she talked about how close she is with her mother and her two siblings (a brother and a sister) and how tight they are as a family. She said they (especially her mama and sister) wanted nothing at all to do with the media spotlight and all the other crazy stuff that comes along when you're related to a celebrity. Now that they have gotten the spotlight, so to speak, it's bad news such as this. This is so unbelievable.

UPDATE: Chicago law enforcement authorities say Jennifer's nephew, 7-year-old child Julian King, is missing from the home. According to a source, the actress' sister reported the boy as missing. At this time police are now searching for a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban with license plate X584859. It is believed that the child was either kidnapped for ransom or is being held as hostage. An Amber Alert has been issued.

UPDATE: According to Chicago police, it was Jennifer's sister's husband who stole Jason's van and kidnapped Julian. Julian is described as being 5-foot tall, 135 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

UPDATE: Apparently, the neighborhood where Jennifer's mother and brother were killed is so used to crime and violence, they paid no attention to several gunshots that were reportedly fired near the home at around 8 or 9 am this morning. According to the Chicago police, Darnell's body was found in the living room of the home while the body of her son Jason was discovered in a bedroom. Sources say Jason was last seen my his neighbors at around 2 am this morning.

UPDATE: The police said that they are searching for a William Balfour (the husband of Jennifer's sister Julia and Julian's step-father) as a suspect in the double homicide. They said he is considered to be armed and dangerous, and may be driving a white 1994 Chevrolet Suburban with Illinois license plate No. X584859 or a teal/green Chrysler Concord four-door with a left front headlight hanging out that is scratched all along its left side. The Chrysler is displaying temporary tags of 332K823. While police identify Balfour as a suspect in the Amber Alert, he has not been charged. Public records list one of Balfour's previous addresses as Donnerson's home.

Court records show Balfour pleaded guilty in 1999 to attempted murder and vehicular hijacking. He also was convicted in a 1998 case of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, the records show. According to the Illinois Department of Corrections website, Balfour is currently on parole after serving jail time for attempted murder.

This is a damn shame. What is really going on?

In an interview last year with Vogue, Hudson credited her mother to audition for American Idol, which launched her career. The singer, whose father died when she was a teenager, described herself as very close to her family. In a recent AP interview she said her family, which includes older siblings Julia and Jason, helped keep her grounded.

"My faith in God and my family, they're very realistic and very normal, they're not into the whole limelight kind of thing, so when I go home to Chicago that's just another place that's home," she said. "I stand in line with everybody else, or, when I go home to my mom I'm just Jennifer, (so she says), 'You get up and you take care of your own stuff.' And I love that; I don't like when people tell you everything you want to hear _ I want to hear the truth, you know what I mean?"

Julia's husband and #1 police suspect William Balfour; Jennifer's sister Julia and their brother Jason Hudson.


Jennifer and Julia


Jennifer and her estranged brother-in-law William Balfour


Jennifer's mother Darnell with her grandson Julian and his mother Julia.


Julia and her husband William


Jennifer with her mother Darnell and sister Julia


Jason picking up his sister Julia from her job after her husband William stole her car.


A dated Myspace image of William getting faded at Jennifer's mother's home.


Julia with her son Julian at an afterparty thrown for Jennifer in 2008.

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CAUSE OF ISAAC HAYE'S DEATH REVEALED; PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BE HELD NEXT MONDAY.

Isaac Hayes' contribution to soul, rock and South Park may live forever, but in the end, the man himself was a mere mortal. Hayes died Sunday at the age of 65. And according to paperwork filed by his family doctor, David Kraus, he was felled by a stroke brought on by chronic hypertension, according to a statement released Tuesday by Shelby County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Schular. No autopsy is scheduled, so this is being treated as the official cause of death and a death certificate should be on file at the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department within the next few days. "The Hayes family is comfortable with Dr. Kraus' recommendation to not conduct an autopsy," Schular said.

A family member discovered Hayes unconscious next to a running treadmill in their Memphis home early Sunday morning. The pioneering Black Moses artist, who was hospitalized in 2006 for what his reps characterized as exhaustion, was lately being treated for illnesses associated with high blood pressure, according to Kraus' report.

Also on Tuesday, Hayes' family announced that a public memorial service will be held Aug. 18 at 11 a.m. ET at Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova, Tenn. "We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and love from Isaac's dear friends, colleagues and fans from every corner of the world, and we thank each and every one of them for their kind thoughts and prayer," the family said in a statement. "While he was an iconic figure to many, to us he was husband, father and friend. We will ever miss his love, wisdom, humor and the familiar comfort of his voice."

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ISAAC HAYES DEAD AT THE AGE OF 65; CAUSE OF DEATH STILL UNKNOWN.

24 hours after the world became a little less funny, it then became a little less SHAFTY with the unexpected loss of one of the entertainment industry's most famed, musical pioneers: Isaac Hayes. I swear, I had absolutely no intention of updating this blog today especially after learning of Bernie Mac's passing. Today I had planned to pop my favorite Bernie Mac movies into my DVD and get my laugh on something proper-like. Well, there's a saying that goes 'if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.' Something told me to get up, log on and check my email; and now, here I sit, at my computer making yet another blog post on the death of another fallen celebrity, who was coincidentally, Bernie Mac's co-star in the new movie Soul Men which also stars Samuel L. Jackson.

Steve Shular, a spokesman for the Memphis sheriff's office, said authorities received a 911 call after Hayes' wife and young son and his wife's cousin returned home from the grocery store and found him collapsed in a downstairs bedroom. A sheriff's deputy administered CPR until paramedics arrived. "The treadmill was running but he was unresponsive lying on the floor," Shular said. Hayes, who was just 10 days shy of his 66th birthday, was pronounced dead early Sunday morning at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis.

The cause of death was not immediately known. Hayes is survived by his fourth wife Adjowa Hayes; their 2-year-old son Nana Kwadjo Hayes; 12 children, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

CONTINUE READING MORE ON THE LIFE OF ISAAC HAYES: SOUL LEGEND, SINGER-SONGWRITER, MUSICIAN, ACTOR, GRAMMY & ACADEMY AWARD WINNER AFTER THE JUMP!

Hayes was about to begin work on a new album for Stax, the soul record label he helped build to legendary status. And he had recently finished work on a movie called Soul Men in which he played himself.

In the early 1970s, Hayes laid the groundwork for disco, for what became known as urban-contemporary music and for romantic crooners like Barry White. And he was rapping before there was rap. His career hit another high in 1997 when he became the voice of Chef, the sensible school cook and devoted ladies man on the animated TV show South Park. The album Hot Buttered Soul made Hayes a star in 1969. His shaven head, gold chains and sunglasses gave him a compelling visual image. Hot Buttered Soul was groundbreaking in several ways: He sang in a "cool" style unlike the usual histrionics of big-time soul singers. He prefaced the song with "raps," and the numbers ran longer than three minutes with lush arrangements. "Jocks would play it at night," Hayes recalled in a 1999 Associated Press interview. "They could go to the bathroom, they could get a sandwich, or whatever."

Next came Theme From Shaft, a No. 1 hit in 1971 from the film Shaft starring Richard Roundtree. "That was like the shot heard round the world," Hayes said in the 1999 interview. At the Oscar ceremony in 1972, Hayes performed the song wearing an eye-popping amount of gold and received a standing ovation. He won an Academy Award for the song and was nominated for another one for the score. The song and score also won him two Grammys. "The rappers have gone in and created a lot of hit music based upon my influence," he said. "And they'll tell you if you ask."

Hayes was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

"I knew nothing about the business, or trends and things like that," he said. "I think it was a matter of timing. I didn't know what was unfolding." A self-taught musician, he was hired in 1964 by Stax Records of Memphis as a backup pianist, working as a session musician for Otis Redding and others. He also played saxophone. He began writing songs, establishing a songwriting partnership with David Porter, and in the 1960s they wrote such hits for Sam and Dave as Hold On, I'm Coming and Soul Man.

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*UPDATED* DETAILS ON BERNIE MAC'S FINAL HOURS; COMEDIAN'S WIFE & DAUGHTER WITH HIM TIL THE VERY END; FUNERAL PLANS MADE.

There's so much we didn't know.

FROM PEOPLE.COMBernie Mac’s wife and daughter were with him until the very end, says the late comic's sister-in-law in a personal and touching interview with PEOPLE that took place Saturday. Speaking of a heartbreaking moment between her younger sister, Rhonda, and the 50-Year-old actor-comedian – who succumbed to complications from pneumonia in a Chicago hospital at 2 a.m. Saturday – Mary Ann Grossett says that the night before Mac died, "He struggled for his life. He couldn't breathe. He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her. She smiled at him and told him, 'Don't leave me … 'I'm waiting for you to come back.' He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that's when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired." Rhonda, Mac’s wife since 1977, and their 30-year-old daughter, Je'Niece, 30, were with him when he died. "[The doctors] were working on him," says Grossett. "They tried to resuscitate him two times. One time he came back for about an hour. Then he went into cardiac arrest the second time."

AFTER THE JUMP, READ ABOUT BERNIE'S WIFE'S REACTION TO HIS DEATH AS WELL AS DETAILS FOR HIS FUNERAL WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK.

Prior to that, the couple had last communicated on July 31. "He told his wife [non-verbally] that he could breathe on his own, and he wanted the ventilator out. He motioned that he wanted it out," says Grossett. The sister-in-law says Mac's inflammatory lung disease contributed to his death. "He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remission," she says. "But because he had it, his immune system was compromised. He had an infection ... He was on a new medication that suppresses the immune system, and that's where the pneumonia came from." She reveals that Mac – having trouble breathing and running a fever – was actually hospitalized on July 24, eight days before the date given for his admittance. The actor was diagnosed with pneumonia and immediately placed on a ventilator. "He was critically ill when he was in the hospital," says Gossett. "He was in intensive care the whole time." She adds that doctors kept the star sedated, although he was conscious at times and he contracted a second strain of pneumonia while in the hospital.

Of her widowed sibling (like Mac, Rhonda is 50), Grossett says, "She’s devastated. However, she's at peace about his transition because of her faith in God. Her faith is what is sustaining her." She says of the couple's enduring union, "They had 30 years of marriage. That's unprecedented in today's time, particularly for celebrities. That brings joy to her. They loved each other and respected each other on a daily basis. She was by his side to the very end." Recalling the couple's early years, when they were still in their teens, Grossett says, "When they started dating, he said, 'Girl, you better come on board this train, because I'm going to be rich.' And her response was, 'Okay,' and they were married. That's how he charmed her, with his sense of humor." She adds, "When they got married they were kids. He was 20 and she was 19. They both grew up together, and they both matured in this marriage. What she will treasure the most is the fact that she was his wife for 30 years – and not only was she his wife, but she was his best friend. She's going to miss him dearly."

Mac’s funeral is scheduled for 12 noon on Saturday, August 16, at House of Hope on 11401 S. Prairie in Chicago. The family requests that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. Ninth St., Suite 601, Chicago IL 60605.

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**EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS** COMEDIAN BERNIE MAC DEAD AT THE AGE OF 50.

Actor, comedian, author and one of the Original Kings of Comedy Bernie Mac is dead at the age of 50. I'd like to send condolences to the family and friends of Bernie who,according to Sun-Times Columnist, Stella Foster, passed away early this morning (Saturday, August 9, 2008) at Northwestern Memorial hospital in Chicago. I was absolutely floored when I my baby sister, who was watching Good Morning America when she learned of the news, rewind the DVR twice to make sure she heard correctly. I rushed to my computer to log on to the Internet hoping this wasn't another celebrity death hoax. Needless to say, I was past astounded upon seeing an article posted on Chicago's Suns-Time website confirming the worse. To say I'm at a lost for words would be an understatement. Mac had been hospitalized recently for pneumonia. Foster said that she received calls early Saturday morning from a close friend of the Mac family, confirming the reports of Mac's death. The columnist also said she was deeply saddened to receive such a phone call just an hour after Mac was pronounced dead. "It brought tears to my eyes because Bernie Mac has always been my all-time favorite entertainer and comedian. It pains me to have to report that," Foster said during a phone interview on Saturday morning.

"[He] passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital," his rep, Danica Smith, said in a released statement. "No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family's privacy continues to be respected."

On Friday, a spokeswoman for the actor, whose real name is, Bernard McCullough, said that he had been responding well to treatment for the illness. Publicist Danica Smith said Thursday in a statement that Mac's condition is ''stable.'' Smith first announced on August 1st that Mac was hospitalized in Chicago. Smith has said the pneumonia isn't related to an inflammatory lung disease Mac also has. That condition has been in remission since 2005. Foster noted that last weekend, several web sites reported wrongly that the comedian died. Mac made waves last month with off-color jokes during a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

There is no word on whether public services will be held. Bernie Mac is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Rhonda McCullough; one daughter, Je'Niece (30-years old), a son-in-law and one granddaughter, Jasmine. Bernie was proceeded in death by his mother, Mary, who passed way when Bernie was just 16-years old.

SOURCE: SunTimes.com

BELOW, WATCH MY FAVORITE BERNIE MAC CLIP FROM HIS ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY STAND-UP ROUTINE.

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY AFTER THE JUMP AND FIND OUT HOW BERNIE MAC BECAME ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST RECOGNIZED COMEDIANS OF HIS TIME! SHARE YOUR FAVORITE BERNIE MAC MOVIE/TV ROLES IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. I'VE ALSO ADDED MOVIE STILLS FROM BERNIE'S LATEST MOVIE, SOUL MEN, STARRING HIM AND SAMUEL L. JACKSON. CHECK THOSE OUT AFTER THE JUMP AS WELL!

Mac started his comedy career at age 8, with a standup performance at a church dinner. In 1977, at age 20, he took that act to comedy clubs in Chicago. His film career started with a small role as a club doorman in the Damon Wayans movie Mo' Money in 1992. Mac went on to star in the Ocean's Eleven franchise with Brad Pitt and George Clooney and his turn with Ashton Kutcher in 2005's Guess Who? — a remake of the Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn 1967 classic Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? — topped the box office. Mac also had starring roles in Bad Santa, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Transformers.

The comedian drew critical and popular acclaim with his Fox television series The Bernie Mac Show, which aired more than 100 episodes from 2001 to 2006. The series about a man's adventures raising his sister's three children, won a Peabody Award in 2002. At the time, judges wrote they chose the sitcom for transcending "race and class while lifting viewers with laughter, compassion — and cool." The show garnered Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Mac. He also was nominated for a Grammy award for best comedy album in 2001 along with his The Original Kings of Comedy co-stars, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Cedric The Entertainer.

In 2007, Mac told David Letterman on CBS' Late Show that he planned to retire soon. "I'm going to still do my producing, my films, but I want to enjoy my life a little bit," Mac told Letterman. "I missed a lot of things, you know. I was a street performer for two years. I went into clubs in 1977." Mac was born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on Oct. 5, 1957, in Chicago. He grew up on the city's South Side, living with his mother and grandparents. His grandfather was the deacon of a Baptist church.

In his 2004 memoir, Maybe You Never Cry Again, Mac wrote about having a poor childhood — eating bologna for dinner — and a strict, no-nonsense upbringing. Mac's mother died of cancer when he was 16. In his book, Mac said she was a support for him and told him he would surprise everyone when he grew up. "Woman believed in me," he wrote. "She believed in me long before I believed."

Foster says she was remembers Bernie's comedic beginnings through his show, Midnight Mac, which aired for four shows on HBO and was taped in Chicago in 1995. "It was a variety entertainment show," she said, "He even had dancers called Macaroni's. That was my first exposure to how talented Bernie Mac was. And after that show, that's when Hollywood started beating down his door."

The actor's upcoming movies include Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa starring Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer; and Soul Men with Samuel L. Jackson and Isaac Hayes.

If everything works out the way it's supposed to, Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac will be bringing some vintage Stax soul to the big screen this November. Soul Men is about two former backup soul singers Louis (Jackson) and Floyd (Mac) who travel cross country to perform at a tribute concert in honor of their famous former band leader, played by John Legend. They haven't spoken to each other in 20 years but reluctantly agree to travel together for the tribute performance. Both Jackson and Mac will do their own musical and dance performing in the film.

The film is directed by Malcom Lee (Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins with Martin Lawrence) and also stars Sean Hayes, Sharon Leal, Jennifer Coolidge, Isaac Hayes, Affion Crockett, Adam Herschman, Fatso Fasano, and Jackie Long.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

RUMOR OR REAL: SISTER OF FORMER SUPREME SINGER FLO BALLARD WANTS BODY EXHUMED TO PROVE SINGER WAS MURDERED.

According to The Globe tabloid, a story claiming the sister of late Supremes star Florence Ballard (pictured in the center of the photo above) wants to dig up the singer's body to prove she was in fact murdered, and not the victim of a coronary artery thrombosis as an autopsy concluded. Maxine has never accepted that official cause of death, which happened more than 30 years ago, according to the Globe. Ballard's 65-year-old sibling believes she was murdered because she knew too much about some of the music industry's biggest players and was plotting an expose' about Motown when she died. She tells The Globe: "[Florence] didn't have a history of heart disease. There was this brown cereal-type substance (in her system) that was never identified. I believe she was killed because someone wanted to silence her... Florence had big plans for the future. I believe she was killed." The Globe points to an old interview the late soul star gave to the Detroit Free Press just before her death, when she admitted she feared for her life after suing Motown founder Berry Gordy for what she claimed was missing millions in royalty money. She revealed, "I began to get scared. I don't know why, I just had a fear."

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Throughout her childhood and early teens, Florence's biggest desire was to express her musical talent. Her desire was realized at the age of fifteen when she formed a quartet that later became the number one popular music group in America. This group was the Supremes. As a member of the Supremes, Florence helped define a chapter of popular music history. She, Diana Ross and Mary Wilson dazzled the world with their style and became role models to millions of people. Florence left the Supremes in 1967 as a superstar. She started a solo career but suffered many setbacks that led her life in a different direction. She fought a persistent battle for several years and eventually prevailed and reestablished herself. At the time of her death, she was on her way to a comeback. Seven months before she died, Florence sang to a packed house in Detroit's Ford Auditorium. The public never forgot her even after an eight-year absence from the spotlight.

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CORONER: SEAN LEVERT DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES & A VARIEITY OF OTHER AILMENTS.

The R&B singer Sean Levert, who died at age 39 after falling ill in jail, suffered from a variety of ailments and died of natural causes, the county coroner ruled Thursday. The 39-year-old Levert, a member of the 1980s R&B trio LeVert and son of lead O’Jays singer Eddie Levert, died March 31 at a hospital after he was taken from the Cuyahoga County jail. He was serving a 22-month sentence for failure to pay child support. Levert’s family had questioned officials’ account that Levert had been acting strangely and was restrained before he fell ill. But in his ruling, County Coroner Frank Miller ruled out foul play or trauma. Patti Webster, Levert’s publicist, did not return a call seeking comment on the coroner’s findings, according to the Associated Press. Miller said Levert died from complications of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease. The coroner said Levert also suffered from other conditions, including cardiovascular disease and withdrawal from alprazolam — a drug used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY AFTER THE JUMP!

After Levert died, jail warden Kevin McDonough said he had been sick and guards were watching him because he had been acting strangely. When he started pounding on his cell door, guards strapped him in a restraint chair, McDonough said. Levert’s breathing became shallow and he was taken to the hospital. Levert’s family questioned McDonough’s account and wanted the FBI to investigate. Levert’s cousin, Michael Gibson, said Levert never had any outburst such as the type described by McDonough. FBI spokesman Scott Wilson said in April that agents were willing to meet with Levert’s family. Wilson said Thursday that the FBI was never contacted by the family.

Levert and his brother Gerald formed LeVert in the 1980s with childhood friend Marc Gordon. Their hits included “Baby I’m Ready,” “(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind” and “Casanova.” His brother died in 2006 at age 40 of an accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Sean Levert, who was trying to start the group LeVert again, had pleaded guilty in March to six counts of failure to pay child support. He was accused of failure to pay $89,025 to children ages 11, 15 and 17. He had pleaded guilty in 1995 to drug abuse and was placed on probation and required to get treatment.

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RAPPER XZIBITMOURNS DEATH OF NEWBORN SON, XAVIER.

Rapper Xzibit is mourning the death of his newborn tot XAVIER, who died on Monday (5.26.2008). The host of TV motor makeover show Pimp My Ride - real name Alvin Nathaniel Joiner - was delighted following his son's premature birth on 15 May (08). But in a moving post on his MySpace.com blog, Joiner writes about how his elation turned to grief after learning his son's lungs were damaged.

He writes, "Well, this week was extremely difficult for him, because his lungs were not strong enough to handle regular oxygen on his own. Xavier passed away this morning and I must tell you this, it is unnatural for a parent to bury a child." And despite his grief, Joiner told fans, "Hold on to your kids if you have them, protect them and show them you love them everyday you wake up and see them. Don't take a second you get to hug them teach them and care for them for granted. You can have all the material wealth in the universe but it is nothing compared to having your family. I am thankful for all of my blessings and I'm not one to question God's perfect plan."

Bless his heart and his son's soul. The 33-year-old rapper, whose starred in films such as The Wash, XxX: State of the Union Gridiron Gang and Derailed, also has a teenage son, Tremaine.

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ORISH GRINSTEAD, TWIN SISTER OF 702 MEMBER IRISH, DIES AT THE AGE OF 27 OF KIDNEY FAILURE.

Orish Grinstead, founding member of R&B girl group 702 out of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away on Sunday, April 20th from kidney failure. She was 27 years old. Orish, who created the group along with her twin sister, Irish and big sister Lameisha, was what friends called 'a good person, sweet, sincere, humble and full of life.' According to friends Orish had been ill for a long time, and sadly, due to other medical complications she suffered from including cancer that had yet to be treated, she was not expected to live too long. I'll post more details as they become available. But for now, my condolences sincerely go out to the Grinstead family, especially to Orish's twin sister, Irish, during this time of their bereavement.

702 got its start during the mid-90s. after being discovered by comedian/actor Sinbad in the lobby of Caesars Palace where they would sing to anyone who would listen during big boxing matches. Originally called 'Sweeta than Suga' before they knew it, with the help from Sinbad, the three sisters headed to Atlanta to compete in a talent show, coming in second place. Later that same night, the ladies met Michael Bivins (New Edition, Bell, Biv, DeVoe) and sang for him. Bivins, who had already signed Chicago-based boy-band Subway to his Biv 10 Entertainment record label--a subsidiary of Motown Records) agreed to work with the sisters. According to Wikipedia, the sisters (along with their cousin Amelia) made their recorded debut on Subway's hit single This Lil' Game We Play (watch video HERE.) Before their solo album No Doubt was recorded and released in the fall of 1996, Orish left the group and was replaced by childhood friend, Kameelah Williams. The three members renamed themselves '702,' which is Las Vegas' area code.

Thanks to DSR at LSA for the details.

No Doubt, spawned such hits as Steelo, All I Want, Get It Together and the album's title track; as well as a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for BestR&B/Soul Album of the Year - Group, Band or Duo in 1997. It went gold for selling over 500,000 copies worldwide. In 1999, the release of the group's self-titled sophomore album, 702, awarded the girls only one hit single, Where My Girls At? (which was written and produced by Missy Elliott). Still, the album eventually went gold.

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SEAN LEVERT LAID TO REST AFTER PRIVATE FUNERAL IN CLEVELAND; SINGER LEAVES BEHIND A WIFE & 6 CHILDREN.

Eddie Levert has laid to rest his second son in 16 months. The wake for Sean Levert was held last Thursday (April 3rd) and Friday (April 4th) at E.F. Boyd & Sons Funeral Home in Cleveland, Ohio. The family held private services for the funeral. Sean, who died Mar. 30, leaves behind his wife, Angela; children Sean, Jr., Chad, Keith, Breoni, Brandon and Shareaun; his parents Martha Byrd Levert and Eddie Levert Sr; siblings Eddie Jr., Kandice, Asha, Eury, Ryan, Shawnquetta and the late Gerald Levert. Sean, 39, died just before midnight Mar. 30 at Lutheran Hospital. He was taken there from the Cuyahoga County Jail after guards said Levert was pounding on his cell door and had to be placed in a restraining chair for his own safety. Levert's breathing became weak while he was in the chair so he was taken to the hospital. The Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office ruled out foul play or trauma in Levert's death and also performed toxicology tests on the body. The autopsy was completed Monday but the test results won't be back for four to six weeks. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's office also is investigating the circumstances surrounding the jail incident. The family has told the media that they also want the FBI to investigate the circumstances surrounding Levert's death.

This was the second death in 16 months for the legendary R&B Levert family. Sean's brother Gerald died Nov. 10, 2006 of an accidental overdose in his sleep at his Newbury home. He was only 40. Sean Levert was in the Cuyahoga County Jail awaiting transfer to a state prison after being convicted of being $85,000 behind in child support payments. He had been in the jail since March 24.

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MORE DETAILS ON SEAN LEVERT'S DEATH: SINGER REPORTEDLY SHACKLED & BOUND BEFORE COLLAPSING; LEVERT FAMILY RELEASES STATEMENT.

More details have emerged on the sudden death of Sean Levert. The singer had to be physically restrained by prison guards because he was "out of control" shortly before he collapsed and died. The 39-year-old son of The O'Jays star Eddie Levert collapsed in his cell at Cuyahoga County Jail on Sunday night night and was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. He was being held behind bars after allegedly failing to pay $80,000 in child support to the mother of his kids. Now website TMZ.com is reporting that Levert had been "hallucinating" late on Sunday, and had to be strapped to a restraining chair because prison staff were convinced he posed a danger to himself and others. Jail warden Kevin MCDonough claims Levert co-operated with staff and "went willingly" when he was taken from his cell to have his wrists bound and feet shackled. The Cuyahoga County Coroner has admitted there were no signs of physical trauma on Levert's body and his death is not considered suspicious. He is believed to have suffered from high blood pressure, but jail officials claim they were unaware of any health condition he may have had. They are currently waiting on results from toxicology tests to determine Levert's exact cause of death.

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In a statement released on Monday night, the Levert family says, “There are no words that can express what we are feeling today. There is no song that can capture the loss that we have in our hearts. But we are humbly overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of love, condolences and support from the many friends, fans and admirers of our son Sean. At this very difficult time, we thank you for your prayers and hope you will understand our need for privacy.”

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SEAN LEVERT DIES IN JAIL; EDDIE LEVERT TO BURY HIS SECOND SON IN NEARLY 2 YEARS

Let's keep Eddie Levert and his family in our prayers. In November of 2006 the legendary singer of the O'Jay's bear the burden of burying his beloved son, Gerald after he died suddenly of an accidental overdose on prescription and over-the-counter drugs at the age of 40. Now, just 17-months later, he's been forced to bury yet another son.

According to the Associated Press, Sean Levert, a third of the 1980s R&B trio LeVert and son of lead O'Jays singer Eddie Levert, has died after falling ill while serving a jail term. He was 39. Authorities said Monday that an autopsy was inconclusive but foul play was ruled out. Levert was sentenced last week to one year and 10 months in jail for failing to pay $89,025 in child support to his three children whose ages ranged from 11 to 17. He died at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland late Sunday, less than an hour after he was taken there from the jail, said coroner Frank Miller. Levert was sentenced by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Margaret Russo, who said a presentence report indicated he had been addicted to marijuana from the time he was 14 until recently. He didn't speak at his sentencing and gave no indication of any health problems, the judge said Monday.

A nursing supervisor at Lutheran Hospital confirmed to Cleveland's Fox 8 News that Levert died of natural causes. However, an autopsy was done Monday but no immediate cause of death was determined, according to Powell Caesar, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County's coroner's office, but he said there was no evidence of foul play or trauma. Levert suffered from high blood pressure and had been hallucinating in jail, Caesar said. Toxicology reports could take four to six weeks, he said. Warden Kevin McDonough said earlier that Levert had been sick and guards were watching him at the jail's regular cellblock because he had been acting strangely.

AFTER THE JUMP, CONTINUE READING THIS STORY + SEE ONE OF SEAN'S LAST PICTURES TAKEN IN THE MEDIA BEFORE HIS DEATH.

The brothers had formed LeVert in the 1980s with childhood friend Marc Gordon. Their hits included Baby I'm Ready, (Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind and Casanova. Casanova was nominated for a Grammy in 1988 for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal. It was also nominated for best R&B song.

At Gerald Levert's funeral service in November 2006, Sean Levert and his father performed Dance With My Father and personalized the words for Gerald. The elder Levert's group, the O'Jays, was known for such smash hits as Back Stabbers, Love Train and For the Love of Money. Sean Levert found a new third partner last year and was trying to revive LeVert.

To the right is one of Sean's last pictures taken in the media. Eerily, he and his mother, Martha attended the 50th annual Grammy Awards this past February to accept Gerald's Grammy award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.

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FAMILY & FRIENDS THREATEN TO SUE CLOTHING COMPANY OVER TLC's LISA 'LEFT EYE' LOPES IMAGES.

The family and friends of late TLC R&B star Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes have threatened a trendy Los Angeles clothing company with legal action after learning the owners have used the star as an inspiration for new designs without permission. Dragonfly designers staged a photo shoot with models posing as dead stars as part of reality show Janice Dickinson's Modeling Agency, which aired on Tuesday night - and Lopes' loved ones were horrified to see the singer's likeness created. (click on picture on the left to see its full size).

Lopes' stunned former best friend and publicist Jay Morose says, "They explicitly said they are portraying Elvis, Kurt Cobain and my friend, Lisa Lopes. The photos are now online as a catalogue for this company. They even identify the models by their rock star names." Morose approached Dragonfly bosses after speaking with the late star's family - in an effort to have the upsetting images taken down. He adds, "An assistant told me they can do whatever they want with the images. But it's tasteless - and also highly illegal. In California, tort law generally prohibits commercial use of a celebrity's likeness without consent. This matter has been passed on to the family's attorneys."

Lopes was killed in a car accident in Honduras in 2002.

So not only are these images taken in Lisa's likeness illegal, they're also super-duper beyond hideous looking. Just horrible. The company should be sued for that reason alone. The model looks nothing like Lisa visually and/or figuratively. As a matter of fact she reminds me of a busted-looking Babs (from Da Band)...and that is not a good look.
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J. DUPRI'S DAD TURNS SCREAM TOUR SUCCESS INTO A MEDIA EMPIRE; DR. JAN ADAMS SAYS HIS MEDICAL PRACTICE IS 'NEARLY DESTROYED' FOLLOWING WEST'S DEATH.

Jermaine Dupri's father, Michael Mauldin, announced Wednesday (January 23) his plans to launch a label based on the popular Scream Tour, which was headed up by T.I. and Ciara last year under the banner Screamfest '07. Mauldin has also announced that R U The Next SCREAM Star? will be coming to a city near you in search of music’s next superstar. R U The Next SCREAM Star? is a national talent contest that aims to discover and establish unsigned artists; molding their dreams into reality. Male and female contestants aged 13-25 within the genres of Hip-Hop, R&B and Pop will compete for the opportunity to receive a recording contract with SCREAM Star Entertainment / Atlantic Records, and a management contract with Mauldin Brand Agency. When considering the enormous success the SCREAM Tour concert series has had and the amazing showcase from an A-list of performers, why not give undiscovered talent with extreme ambition a chance to shine? The Atlantic Records-distributed Scream Star Entertainment will also feature a revamped Web site, ScreamStar.com, which is set to include video highlights from each Scream tour, featuring the likes of Omarion, Ne-Yo and Bow Wow. Last year's monumental New York stop — which saw Jay-Z, Diddy and Kanye West join T.I. onstage — will also be included in the Scream Tour Anthology that's scheduled to go live on the site later this week. ...

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Speaking of Kanye West, Dr. Jan Adams, the plastic surgeon who operated on the rapper's mother, Donda West, returned to CNN's Larry King Live on Tuesday to discuss the case more than two months after abruptly walking off the set of the show. According to The Associated Press, Adams said the fallout from West's death has impacted his medical practice "horribly ... it's almost destroyed [it]." West, 58, died at a Los Angeles-area hospital on November 10, a day after Adams performed plastic surgery on her, including a tummy tuck, breast reduction and liposuction. A coroner's autopsy report found that West most likely died of heart disease coupled with complications after plastic surgery, though an exact cause of death couldn't be confirmed. "The autopsy said what I expected," Adams told King, though he would not go into detail, citing patient-doctor privilege...

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REAL OR RUMOR: KANYE BLAMES HIMSELF FOR HIS MOTHER'S DEATH?

Kanye West is reportedly wracked with guilt over the death of his mother, believing the cosmetic surgery he paid for killed her. A recent inquest confirmed the tummy tuck and liposuction Donda West underwent the day before she died in November (07) didn't contribute to her passing. She died from a "pre-existing coronary artery disease". But the rapper still blames himself for encouraging his mother to go under the knife.

A source tells the National Enquirer, "It was his money that paid for the operation and his fame that opened up this very different world to Donda. Donda was so proud of Kanye and all he had accomplished, and gave up her job as the head of Chicago State University's English department to look after his career. It would never have occurred to her to have plastic surgery before Kanye hit it big. He can't help thinking it shouldn't have happened."

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DR. JAN ADAMS CLEARED OF ANY WRONGDOING IN THE DEATH OF DR. DONDA WEST.

Dr. Jan Adams has been cleared of any wrong doing in the November 10 death of Kanye West‘s mother, Dr. Donda West, who died of complications from plastic surgery at the age of 58. Adams released a statement in regards to West's autopsy report. “What came out of the autopsy was exactly what I thought was going to be reported. Out of respect for Kanye West’s family, I want to honor the doctor patient confidentiality agreement.” The L.A. County Coroner has concluded that Kanye's mom died of "coronary artery disease and multiple post-operative factors due to or as a consequence of liposuction and mammoplasty." The report indicates her final manner of death "could not be determined." The coroner says several things could have played a role in her death, but they could not say for sure what exactly killed her, adding there was no evidence that anesthesia -- or even the surgery -- caused or contributed to her death.

According to the coroner’s report, West acted against doctor’s orders by returning home after her surgery, though she was advised to receive post-operative care at another facility. The report also suggests that West might have had difficulty breathing, which could have triggered a cardiac event. Speaking to the Associated Press, Captain Ed Winters of the LA County Coroner’s office stated that West “could, possibly” still be alive if she had not had surgery; however, he went on to say “she could have also died because of pre-existing cardiac issues.”

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The Coroner's report narrative states that Stephen Scoggins (Donda's nephew), a nurse with an advanced degree in Public Health, was called by a friend of Donda to go to the surgery center where the procedures were performed, because Ms. West was not "waking up soon enough."

Her family declined to release a statement.

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CORONER: DR. DONDA WEST DIED OF HEART DISEASE WHILE SUFFERING 'MULTIPLE POST-OPERATIVE FACTORS.'

Donda West, the mother of rapper Kanye West, died of heart disease while suffering "multiple post-operative factors" after plastic surgery, the L.A. coroner said Thursday. But an autopsy failed to determine the exact role these factors played in her death following liposuction and breast-reduction surgery, officials said. West, 58, died on Nov. 10 at Centinela Freeman hospital after friends and family made a frantic 911 call for help from her home in Playa Del Ray. "The final manner of death could not be determined," the coroner said in a statement. "Multiple post-operative factors could have played a role in the death. The exact contribution of each factor could not be determined. There was no evidence of a surgical or anesthetic misadventure."

Just a day before her death, West had undergone cosmetic surgery with Dr. Jan Adams, who has faced tremendous scrutiny since West died. At the time her death, a family spokesperson said West had passed away "as the result of complications from a cosmetic surgical procedure."

West had been on the faculty of the English Department of Chicago State University for over two decades before retiring from academia to manage her son's career. She recently published Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star. Her only son, in turn, dedicated his song Hey Mama to her.

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PHIL SPECTOR ATTEMPTS TO REVEAL THE SOFTER SIDE OF IKE & THE SHEISTY SIDE OF TINA @ IKE'S FUNERAL.

Music legend and murder suspect, Phil Spector, isn't trying to make friends or curry favor with old pals while he waits for a second trial. The thin and frightful-looking music producer turned up at reviled R&B legend Ike Turner's Los Angeles funeral on Friday and gave an impromptu speech that laid into both Tina Turner and Oprah Winfrey. And for someone who 'wasn't prepared to say anything,' he sure did say a lot. "Nobody had told me that I was going to speak. This is a very sad occasion for me," said Spector. Below are several detailed excerpts taken from his impromptu semi-eulogy about his Grammy Award-winning brother from another mother:

"First of all, the things that were said about Ike, that were in that piece-of-trash movie they made about him were ... (applause), it was a piece-of-trash movie. I haven't seen the movie but it was told to me, and [Barney] Kessel was the world's greatest guitar player in the world and the only reason that Ike didn't play on 'River Deep, Mountain High' was because Ike was the second greatest guitar player in the world. I treasured him and everybody knew it except Ike. That's how good he was.

"Ike made Tina the jewel she was. When I went to see Ike play at the Cinegrill in the '90s after his absurd reason for being sent to prison for no reason other than being a black man in America, there were at least, and I counted them, five Tina Turners on the stage performing that night, any one of them could have been Tina Turner."

"And sell-out, whom you really love and respect but I have an ambivalence towards Oprah Winfrey. She made Tina Turner's book into a bestseller, which demonized and vilified Ike. The book wouldn't have sold 10 books. It was badly written. It was a piece of trash and because Oprah idolized Tina, she didn't feel it wrong to vilify a 'brother.'"

READ MORE EXCERPTS FROM PHIL SPECTOR'S EULOGY TO THE LATE IKE TURNER AFTER THE JUMP!

"Other black sisters did the same thing to Ike and there was a very famous story about Whoopi Goldberg, who had a television show for about five minutes, interviewed Ike. Ike had called me and said, 'Shall I do the show?'

"I said, 'You can't get hurt.' And he said, 'OK, I'm going to do it.' And we figured it would be good because it's Whoopi and Whoopi asked him, 'I understand before you were married when you were living together, you beat the hell out of her and she tried to commit suicide because she was so terrified of you and she tried to jump out of a window,' and Ike said, 'Yeah, but it's hard to jump out of a window from a basement floor.'"

"It was only one Ike. I learned more from Ike than any professors I've been around. He never, ever bothered me. He never interfered with me. He never got in my way."

"When we did 'River Deep Mountain High,' people said you can't put Ike and Tina Turner's name on that record. It won't sell because they are rhythm and blues and it's a pop record. I said I signed Ike and Tina Turner, it won't even say featuring Tina Turner; it's Ike and Tina Turner."

Spector said part of the reason he became disillusioned with the record business was because he could not make Ike and Tina as big of an act as he wanted.

"I wanted them to be the biggest revue in America. They were the first act that I recorded that ever could play big-time and break it in Vegas and America."

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