Tag Archives: Singer

A Cool Treat for a Hot Celeb

Forget about the life-size statutes, the park benches with engraved plaques and the namesake streets, avenues and boulevards. The one true way you can tell if you have arrived in Hollywood is when you get your own ice cream flavor. I certainly would consider it one of life’s highest honors. Jerry Garcia, Dave Matthews and Phish are among the lucky musicians who have gained the prestigious honor from Ben & Jerry’s and now legendary rocker Sir Elton John is being immortalized in frozen sugar and cream as well. This Friday you’ll get your first chance to dig into “Goodbye Yellow … Continue reading →

Celine Dion Says So Long to Sin City

So much for wanting to get my mom tickets to see Celine Dion perform live in Las Vegas. Last night the 39-year-old French-Canadian singing sensation took her final bow on the Caesars Palace stage that she has called home for the last five years. Dion performed 717 shows in Caesars’ $95 million, 4,100-seat Colosseum, which was designed and created specifically for her five-year engagement. In return, the singer walked away with more than $160 million—-a record for a live entertainer. But that’s peanuts compared to how much Dion’s show “A New Day…” has grossed since opening in Vegas in March … Continue reading →

Being Part of Luther’s Legacy

If you are looking for unique holiday gifts to give friends or relatives who loved Luther Vandross I have good news for you. The legendary singer, who died in 2005 at 54, lived large and now his prized possessions are going on sale. Which means not only can you listen to the award-winning crooner in the confines of your own home, you now have the chance to wear one of his diamond watches while you do so. Diamond watches, Picasso charcoal drawings, mink coats, crystal vases, and about 1,000 other items previously owned by the singing superstar are going up … Continue reading →

Celebrities Going Back To School

It’s no rumor… Singer Shakira is resting her hips for a while and letting her brain get a workout at the University of California Los Angeles. Shocking, right? UCLA has had its share of celebrity students in the past, but none, I’m sure, that can shake it quite like the Colombian star. According to her reps, Shakira is attending classes at the California college and studying the history of western civilization. The singer says one of the reasons she signed up for the class is so she could “learn from the best.” The prestigious professor Robert Cleve, who has his … Continue reading →

Luciano Pavarotti Dies

He was arguably the most famous opera singer in the world for more than 35 years… and now, as actress Whoopi Goldberg announced this morning on ABC’s “The View,” God’s choir of angels just gained an amazing tenor. For those of you who missed the news: Luciano Pavarotti, the great Italian tenor who helped popularize opera in the 20th century, has died. He was 71. The singer had been battling pancreatic cancer since last year and last night (early morning in Italy) he finally succumbed to the insidious disease at his home in Modena. According to Pavarotti’s manager, the Maestro … Continue reading →

Bette Midler’s Boo-Boo

The queen of green has some explaining to do. According to news reports, Bette Midler has been accused of chopping down more than 230 trees around one of her properties on the Hawaiian island of Kauai–without a permit. It may not sound like a big deal to you, but there are a couple of reasons why the news is making headlines in the Aloha State. First of all, cutting down native (and non-native) trees in picturesque Hawaii is a major offense. Currently, The state’s Board of Land and Natural Resources is recommending the actress pay $6,500 in fines for chopping … Continue reading →

A Tribute To An Island Legend

In a previous blog I shared my memories of legendary Hawaiian entertainer Don Ho. The iconic singer died from heart failure on April 14th. According to news reports, in the days and weeks since his death, cards and flowers have poured into his family’s home and to the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, Ho’s venue from 1994 until his death. In addition, those who knew Ho best have been feverishly organizing a memorial befitting of the entertainer’s legendary status. If you are a fan of the late Don Ho you may consider heading to Hawaii this weekend (yes, I know, if it … Continue reading →

My Don Ho Memories

The man who made me feel at home 5,000 miles away from where I grew up is dead today. Legendary Hawaiian entertainer Don Ho died Saturday morning of heart failure. Long-time friends of the singer called Ho “the greatest ambassador of Hawaii,” and that he was. I was born and raised in the “Aloha State,” but no matter where in the world I travel when people learn I am from Hawaii they ask me if I know Don Ho. Until a few years ago my answer was: “Not personally.” It wasn’t until a few days before my 30th birthday that … Continue reading →

Don Ho Dies

Fans of the song “Tiny Bubbles” are in mourning today. According to news reports, award-winning singer Don Ho suffered a heart attack at his home in Hawaii Saturday and died shortly after at a Honolulu hospital. He was 76-years-old. In previous blogs I chronicled Ho’s string of heart problems. In 2005 the singer traveled to Thailand to undergo an experimental stem cell procedure on his ailing heart. Then just last fall he had a pacemaker installed and felt well enough to return to his home stage at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel where he had performed for the past 12 years. … Continue reading →

Britney Spears—Free At Last

“Free at last. Free at last.” I can only imagine that Britney Spears likely uttered a phrase similar to that upon checking out of Malibu’s Promises treatment facility on Tuesday. Yes, she’s out… and about. Several media sources have reported that the “new and improved Britney” (we’ll just see about that) has been quietly going about her life since completing her stint in rehab. According to a Los Angeles newspaper, Spears’ two young sons and their father Kevin Federline visited her the day she was sprung from Promises (though reports say that the children will remain with K-Fed until “he … Continue reading →