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Sol Kerzner, South African Hotel and Casino Magnate, Dead at 84, Made Friends with Nelson Mandela After Sun City Apartheid Troubles

Roger Friedman
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Sol Kerzner, South African Hotel and Casino Magnate, Dead at 84, Made Friends with Nelson Mandela After Sun City Apartheid Troubles

Sol Kerzner, the South African hotel and casino magnate, is dead at age 84. A real impresario and entrepreneur, he blazed trails and shook up the hotel world. His Atlantis casino and hotel in the Bahamas, One and Only resorts around the world, and his Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut were among his popular properties.

Kerzner loved music and knew the power of rock stars. He threw lavish parties and concerts around the world, working with producer Jerry Inzerillo, to bring A list talent to his venues for launches. He was a bigger than life character with a big heart.

But his initial music venues in South Africa, during apartheid, caused him a lot of trouble. His Sun City resorts blocked black South Africans from attendance. Boycotts were called for and some rock stars acquiesced. Eventually, in 1985, Little Steven van Zandt of the E Street Band mounted a huge attack on Sun City and Kerzner, even recording a “We Are the World” type song, “I Ain’t Gonna Play Sun City.” Kerzner got the message, and in time even became friends with Nelson Mandela.

Kerzner set his sights on other locales, like the Bahamas, the Middle East, Mexico, and the Caribbean. He built an empire not just for the very rich, but with prices in reach for professionals. In 2014 he sold all his post-Africa holdings to Investment Corporation of Dubai for upwards of $600 million.

For his 80th birthday in 2014, Kerzner staged a Malcolm Forbes-type extravaganza that entailed flying in guests from all over the world, entertaining them with A list talent, and lots of yachting.

No mega successful businessman of Kerzner’s stature has a simple story. How he made his fortune and stayed on top could fill volumes that would entail lots of crazy stories. But he was a good friend to many, a good father, and one of those few giants who make the world tilt toward him. He will be sorely missed and wildly– and widely — remembered.

(Watch) Dolly Parton’s Lovely Video Remembrance of Kenny Rogers: “I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend”

Roger Friedman
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(Watch) Dolly Parton’s Lovely Video Remembrance of Kenny Rogers: “I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend”

Dolly Parton has posted this lovely remembrance of Kenny Rogers. More to come.

Two Broadway Productions Close Before They Open Because of Corona Virus: “The Hangmen,” Revival of “Virginia Woolf”

Roger Friedman
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Two Broadway Productions Close Before They Open Because of Corona Virus: “The Hangmen,” Revival of “Virginia Woolf”

Trump Virus has laid claim to two Broadway productions that would have opened for this season but now never will.

The worst news is that Martin McDonagh’s “The Hangmen,” which already a triumphant run off Broadway, has packed up and gone home. I swear, this show is jinxed. After its run with star Johnny Flynn at the Atlantic Theatre Company it was supposed to open on Broadway two years ago.

But nothing worked out. Flynn said his wife was pregnant and had to return to the UK. The play ended its run and didn’t return. This production would have starred Dan Stevens, who left “Downton Abbey” after three seasons playing Matthew Crawley. This might have been a good comeback for him. Well, maybe one day we’ll see “The Hangmen,” which I loved, on Broadway at last. The sad part is, it probably would have won the Tony Award for Best Play.

DOA is Scott Rudin’s revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” starring Laurie Metcalf and Rupert Everett. I can’t say I was ginned up see another revival of this play so soon. Rudin has now developed this meme of bringing in Metcalf for the spring season, pick up a Tony nomination or win, and then close soon after. (Last year it was that Hillary and Bill thing with John Lithgow.) Now the closure happened before the show opened. This was a strange cast anyway, with Everett replacing Eddie Izzard.

The Tony Awards, meantime, are looking less and less possible for June 7th since shows are dropping out and the temporary closure of Broadway seems like it may not end on April 12th. What a mess for everyone who works on Broadway or in any form of theater and depends on it as a livelihood. But why not have the Tonys in the late fall to spur business for Christmas?

I do think the next announcement we’ll get is for “Beetlejuice,” which was going to close anyway as it was supposed to lose its theater. It will be too bad if that excellent cast and production don’t get to a farewell week. It’s hoped they’ll be back sometime soon.

 

Country and Pop Superstar Kenny Rogers Dies at Age 81, Hits Included “The Gambler,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town”

Roger Friedman
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Country and Pop Superstar Kenny Rogers Dies at Age 81, Hits Included “The Gambler,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town”

Kenny Rogers, the country music and pop superstar, has died at age 81. He’d been in poor health for a couple of years.

What a career, though. He had 24 number 1 hits, 3 Grammy Award wins, and 6 Country Music Awards. His career started with the New Christy Minstrels in the later 60s. By 1968, fronting the First Edition, he hit the top of the charts with  “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”, followed by “Something’s Burning” and “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town.”

In 1975, Kenny went solo, leading to his breakthrough album, “The Gambler,” in 1978. In 1980, Kenny’s cover of Lionel Richie’s “Lady” went to number 1 on the pop charts. It was a huge crossover hit that solidified his career as a star. It also led to a career in acting, as “The Gambler” movie followed, with plenty more on TV. In 1983 he got his second number 1 pop hit with Dolly Parton, singing the BeeGees’ “Islands in the Stream.”

In 1985 he was the only country singer to appear on “We Are the World,” the Michael Jackson-Lionel Richie collaboration of top stars to raise money for hunger around the world. Appearing with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, Kenny was by now — with Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn — the face of country music for a generation and known to pop audiences as well. Besides sheer talent — that buttery voice was unmistakable– his career was aided by manager Kenny Kragen, who managed Richie and put together “We Are the World” and Live Aid in America with the likes of Quincy Jones and Bob Geldof.

Kenny Rogers had five children from five marriages. In 2017, he announced his retirement and played one final show with Dolly Parton at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Before she sang her classic “I Will Always Love You” to him, Dolly declared on stage: “I have a spot (in my heart) for you that’s never ever going to be touched by anybody else.”

PS You’re going to see a lot of photos of Kenny Rogers today. He had a full face lift at one point that drastically changed his looks. Vanity is a big part of show biz, it always has been. I like the original Kenny, the one I grew up with. But it didn’t change his voice, or his appeal to his millions of fans.

 

 

UPDATE White House Correspondents Dinner Finally Cancels After This Site Reminds Them They Were The Only Hold Outs

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE White House Correspondents Dinner Finally Cancels After This Site Reminds Them They Were The Only Hold Outs

SUNDAY 3/22 8PM: They just cancelled. Thank ME.

SATURDAY 3/21: Everything is cancelled, you know that. I mean, everything. Cannes, Broadway, movies, Bloomingdale’s. Even the Met Ball has been postponed.

Only one major spring event remains: the White House Correspondents Dinner. Did they forget?

A little over a month ago, the White House Correspondents Association, currently headed by ABC News’s Jonathan Karl, announced that Kenan Thompson and Hasan Minhaj– two big name comics– were hosting the dinner. The response was huge. Everyone was excited that after disastrous years, the dinner was getting a shot in the arm.

But now the White House correspondents are at war with the White House. Trump is calling reporters names and proposing to throw them out of the briefing room. The discussion of COVID-19 and Trump Virus is a 24/7 subject.

But did someone forget to cancel the event at the Washington Hilton set for April 25th? Or is Washington the last place where groups of more than 10 can congregate? I’m sure the Hilton ballroom seats a couple thou, no?

Since the dinner is almost exactly a month from tonight, maybe the WHCA should put a notice on its website. So far, there’s no mention of cancellation or the existence of the virus. At the very least, someone should tell Thompson and Minhaj that they’re not going to be needed– unless, of course, some virtual streaming thing is being planned. But I don’t think Mrs. Karl wants all those people in her house.

 

Where is the New Alicia Keys Album That Was Supposed to Be Released Today? Postponed, Along with Tour

Roger Friedman
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Where is the New Alicia Keys Album That Was Supposed to Be Released Today? Postponed, Along with Tour

There was a lot of anticipation for the new Alicia Keys album, which was supposed to drop today.

Where is it? Postponed. Along with its accompanying tour.

Alicia has her first real hit single in a long while, “Underdog,” which made the album even hotter. Her last real album was a dud because it had no single. (There were good songs.) I love “Underdog.” Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.

So Trump Virus has cost us more good thing. The virus, however, didn’t stop Tower of Power or The Weeknd from releasing solid albums today.

Alicia posted:

My Beautiful Fam, ⁣
⁣
I wanted to officially tell you the #MoreMyself Tour & my new album #ALICIA will be postponed. (Good Note: More Myself book will still be available on 3/31) ⁣
⁣
Everyone’s health and safety is the #1 priority! Thank you for your deep love and support, I’ll let you know about new dates as soon as possible. Stay positive! Stay powerful! Keep your frequency high and be kind to one another. I adore u 

Okay, so we’ll wait.

 

Trump Snaps and Loses it At Press Conference, Calls NBC’s Peter Alexander “A terrible reporter,” Labels Comcast “Con-cast”

Roger Friedman
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Trump Snaps and Loses it At Press Conference, Calls NBC’s Peter Alexander “A terrible reporter,” Labels Comcast “Con-cast”

Donald Trump really became unhinged today at his presser. His tried to insult NBC’s terrific reporter, Peter Alexander, calling him a “terrible reporter” and criticized him for asking “a nasty question.” He called Alexander’s employer, Comcast, “con-cast.”

Alexander’s question: what do you say to people who are scared? You can watch below to see Trump lose it. Later, when someone else asked Mike Pence, Trump’s lapdog, the same thing, Pence replied: “Don’t be afraid. Be vigilant.”

The rest of the press conference was the usual muddle of Trump making stuff up and being contradicted by health officials. He persisted in calling COVID-19 “the Chinese virus” and blaming Barack Obama for the whole thing. How he hasn’t been locked up in a mental hospital is beyond me.

For the record, Alexander’s question was totally appropriate. Trump’s response was not. Peter Alexander is one of the best reporters in the world, and has worked his way up through the ranks to deserve to be in that briefing room. Trump has not.

you can ffwd to 1:45:

Brit Singer Duffy, MIA for Years, On Track for Adele-like Career, Drops Terrific New Single Called “Something Beautiful”

Roger Friedman
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Brit Singer Duffy, MIA for Years, On Track for Adele-like Career, Drops Terrific New Single Called “Something Beautiful”

Duffy, who reappeared two weeks ago saying she’d been raped and abused, surfaced Thursday and put a new single on You Tube. The song is called “Something Beautiful,” and it is. I don’t know what happened to Duffy, but this is a lovely surprise.

This was Duffy’s big hit in 2008

Cannes Cannes-cels: Film Festival Gives in to Trump Virus, Will Explore New Dates

Roger Friedman
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Cannes Cannes-cels: Film Festival Gives in to Trump Virus, Will Explore New Dates

It’s a first since student riots sent everyone home in 1968. Cannes has cancelled its famous film festival. They hope to find a date this summer. But that’s unlikely if tourist season goes on.  They could move to the fall perhaps. Quel domage!

Unfortunately a festival in June or July, if the tourist season is allowed, would be impossible. Cannes, Antibes, Juan les Pins and the surrounding area is a massively popular beach resort for Europeans– who will be desperate for vacations this summer. Rates would be prohibitively high for festival participants.

Will Cannes just miss this year? Probably. But imagine how great it will be in 2021!

 

Here’s the statement from the festival:

At this time of global health crisis, our thoughts go to the victims of the COVID-19 and we express our solidarity with all of those who are fighting the disease.

Today, we have made the following decision : The Festival de Cannes cannot be held on the scheduled dates, from May 12 to 23. Several options are considered in order to preserve its running, the main one being a simple postponement, in Cannes, until the end of June-beginning of July, 2020.

As soon as the development of the French and international health situation will allow us to assess the real possibility, we will make our decision known, in accordance with our ongoing consultation with the French Government and Cannes’ City Hall as well as with the Festival’s Board Members, Film industry professionals and all the partners of the event.

Paul Simon & Edie Brickell to Join Willie Nelson & Family, Jewel, Lucinda Williams in Streaming Concert Today at 7pm Eastern

Roger Friedman
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Paul Simon & Edie Brickell to Join Willie Nelson & Family, Jewel, Lucinda Williams in Streaming Concert Today at 7pm Eastern

Great news for those who are bored out of their gourd!

Paul Simon and Edie Brickell will join Willie Nelson, his talented sons Lukas and Micah, plus other stars for a live streaming concert at 7pm today.

The Luck Reunion presents “Til Further Notice” right at this link today at 7pm Eastern, 6 Central, whatever that is. These people are all performing for home, which I love because we can see if they have granite countertops. They say a small number of local acts are slated to (safely) broadcast from Austin’s premier recording facility. Lucky them!

Others on the show are Jewel, Lucinda Williams, Nathaniel Rateliff, Margo Price & Jeremy Ivey, Randy Houser, Lucius, Paul Cauthen, David Ramirez, Nikki Lane, Devon Gilfillian, Early James, Katie Pruitt, Tré Burt, Ian Ferguson, Sunny War, Tami Neilson, Thomas Csorba, and others.

I just hope Paul and Edie get in a few numbers. New York will be watching them with much pleasure!

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