Music stars help Mandela raise money to fight AIDS

Music stars help Mandelaraise money to fight AIDS
GEORGE, South Africa -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela, playing host to his second AIDS awareness concert Saturday, told a crowd of 20,000 that women bear the brunt of the AIDS pandemic that has infected some 25 million people in Africa. The disease "carries the face of women," whether through infection or caring for those who are ill with the deadly virus, said the 86-year-old Mandela. Mandela, who lost his eldest son to the disease earlier this year, compared the plight of women coping with AIDS to the isolation he felt when imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Islands for fighting against white racist rule. Master of ceremonies Will Smith said he agreed to a personal request from Mandela to be an ambassador for the 46664 campaign. "I have made movies and music," said the star of "Men in Black" and "Independence Day." "I felt like that's not enough. I want to fight and I want to struggle," he said. "In Africa more people are wiped out by AIDS ever year than in the entire Asian Tsunami disaster," said former Eurythmics star Annie Lennox. Star after star appealed to men to take responsibility and stop unsafe sex -- and to women to stand up for their rights. "I want you to use your power to stay alive," shouted Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith's wife.
Murphy: No way to drugs
LOS ANGELES -- Brittany Murphy -- who played a speed freak in the 2002 film "Spun" -- has opened up to Jane magazine about rumors that her weight loss is attributed to cocaine. "Wow. No, just for the record I have never tried it in my entire life, I've never even seen it, and I don't leave the house too much, except to go to work," she said. "My worst vice is caffeine. The rumor is really pretty darn far-fetched -- it couldn't be further from the truth. I have known people over the course of my life that have bad problems with drugs, and it's something really serious. "I am also way too high-strung," she continues. "I can't even take a Sudafed. Can you imagine? My God. I think my heart would explode. I mean, literally something terrible. That's awful."
Notable death
BOTHELL, Wash. -- Justus "Buddy" Webber, a radio personality and television show host in the 1960s and 1970s, died recently. He was 82. Webber, known for goofy stunts and an uncanny ability to avoid verbal pitfalls at the last second, died of pulmonary fibrosis, relatives and longtime associates said.
Today's birthdays
Violinist-conductor Joseph Silverstein is 73. Actor Al Freeman Jr. is 71. Actress Kathleen Widdoes is 66. Singer Solomon Burke is 65. Actress Marie-Christine Barrault is 61. Singer-musician Rose Stone (Sly and the Family Stone) is 60. Actor Timothy Dalton is 59. Singer Eddie Money is 56. Rock singer-musician Roger Hodgson (Supertramp) is 55. Rock musician Conrad Lozano (Los Lobos) is 54. R & amp;B singer Russell Thompkins Jr. (The Stylistics) is 54. Actress Sabrina LeBeauf is 47. Actor Gary Oldman is 47. Actor Matthew Broderick is 43. Comedian Rosie O'Donnell is 43. Rock musician Jonas "Joker" Berggren (Ace of Base) is 38. Rock MC Maxim (Prodigy) is 38. Rock musician Andrew Copeland (Sister Hazel) is 37. "Hip-hop DJ" DJ Premier (Gang Starr) is 36.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.