Hall of Fame reception set for Ray Charles exhibit

Hall of Fame reception setfor Ray Charles exhibit
CLEVELAND -- Less than six months after his death, Ray Charles may be more popular than ever with a movie about his life and a posthumously released album. Now he is being recognized with an exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. "The Genius of Ray Charles" exhibit opened Nov. 19, and a reception to celebrate the opening is planned for Wednesday. Charles memorabilia is on loan from his Los Angeles studio/headquarters and includes electronic keyboards, a saxophone, sunglasses, and a collection of awards. The exhibit, expected to remain through Labor Day, also includes video recordings of his performances. "Ray was very gracious for anything done for him," said Joe Adams, Charles' friend and business manager of 47 years. "He fussed about it, but he loved it. This would have been meaningful to him, definitely. He was among the first people inducted into the Rock Hall, and he was very honored by that." Charles, 73, died June 10 of liver disease.
Sarah Jessica's sexy adis too much in Israel
It looks like Sarah Jessica Parker is too sexy for some Israelis' tastes, reports ABC News. A poster and billboard campaign showing the "Sex and the City" actress in a skimpy, sequined dress was quickly replaced with new ads of her in a dress that covered her arms, back and thigh, reportedly after ultra-Orthodox consumers objected to her outfit. The sexy ads promoting Lux soaps had begun appearing on billboards across the country in recent days. But after an angry phone call from a prominent rabbi, the consumer goods giant Unilever quickly gave Parker a more modest wardrobe, the Haaretz daily reported. Ultra-Orthodox Jews, who require women to dress modestly, account for roughly 10 percent of the Israeli population, making them a sizable market for local Unilever products. A spokesman for Unilever Israel said Wednesday the wardrobe was altered just days after the posters first appeared to be more suitable for the arrival of winter in Israel. "The winter came suddenly. Last week it was summer. Now it's rainy and cold. Everyone has the flu," said the spokesman, who declined to give his name. He said company officials were unavailable to discuss the reported complaints by religious Jews.
Show-biz memorabiliato go up for auction
LONDON -- Beatles fans, take notice. For $500,00 you can own a guitar used by George Harrison. Stones fans, however, won't need as much green. For perhaps a mere $400,000 they can take possession of an ax wielded by Keith Richards. That is what the two jewel items are expected to fetch in what Christie's describes as its biggest auction ever of show-business memorabilia Dec. 17 in its London showroom. If those estimated prices seem a bit steep, maybe you'd like to bid on the veil worn by Madonna in the "Like a Virgin" video, expected to sell for $2,500. Or how about the mug shot and fingerprint card of singer Cat Stevens (now Muslim convert Yusuf Islam) when he was arrested for assault in New York in 1981? You might be able to get that for as little as $800. Also in the 400 lots to go on the block are (no kidding) a school book report written by Britney Spears and a letter from Kurt Cobain to wife Courtney Love. Estimates weren't provided on those items. The Beatles guitar was played by Harrison from 1966 to 1969, was used by him while recording the Beatles' "Revolver" album, and also was played by John Lennon on "The White Album." The Richards guitar was played by him when the Rolling Stones appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show. Singer Mick Jagger also used it during the "Beggar's Banquet" recording sessions.
Notable death
NASSAU, Bahamas -- Arthur Hailey, author of "Airport," "Hotel" and other novels that became movies and TV miniseries, died in his sleep of an apparent stroke Wednesday, his wife said. He was 84. Hailey, who plucked characters from ordinary life and threw them into extraordinary ordeals, died at his home in Lyford Cay on New Providence island. Hailey's knack for turning the mundane into thrilling tales brought 11 books published in 40 countries and 38 languages, with 170 million copies in print.
Today's birthdays
Actor James Avery is 56. TV host Bill Nye ("Bill Nye, the Science Guy") is 49. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg is 47. Rock musician Charlie Burchill (Simple Minds) is 45. Rock musician Charlie Benante (Anthrax) is 42. Rock musician Mike Bordin (Faith No More) is 42. Actor Fisher Stevens is 41. Actress Robin Givens is 40. Actor Michael Vartan ("Alias") is 36. Rapper Skoob (DAS EFX) is 34. Actor Jaleel White is 28.