McCartney: John helps me sometimes when I write

McCartney: John helps mesometimes when I write
NEW YORK -- Paul McCartney sometimes gets a little help from a friend. "When I write, there are times -- not always -- when I hear John [Lennon] in my head," McCartney says in the latest issue of Time magazine. "I'll think 'OK, what would we have done here?' and I can hear him gripe or approve." The newest work by the former Beatle will be released Sept. 13 on his 20th solo album, "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard." He starts a U.S. tour in Miami on Sept. 16. "Since The Beatles, I've approached making records every which way. A lot of times, it's a really casual thing," McCartney said. "Normally I kind of say 'I'd like to make a good album.' This time there was motivation, determination. 'I'm going to make a good album. I'm going to, and that's that.'"
Grisham sets up fund
TUPELO, Miss. -- Best-selling writer John Grisham and his wife usually keep their charitable donations private. But they've decided to disclose their $5 million contribution to establish a relief fund to help Mississippians rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. "In these very, very rare circumstances -- this tragic time -- we hope the gift will get some attention and inspire other people to contribute money and help our fellow Mississippians on the Gulf Coast," said Grisham, who maintains a home in Oxford, Miss. The fund at BancorpSouth in Tupelo will be called the Rebuild the Coast Fund Organization.
Pitching for popster
CINCINNATI -- While pop singer Justin Jeffre was speaking at a rally in his bid for mayor, dozens of teenage and 20-something women were backstage trying to talk to his 98 Degrees bandmate Nick Lachey. Lachey, husband of actress Jessica Simpson, made a pitch on stage for Jeffre's candidacy as the group reunited for a rare appearance together. "It's a very important time for Cincinnati," Lachey said. "Don't take it lightly. This is a big deal -- and this guy knows what he's talking about." After Saturday's rally, the group, which hasn't appeared together in concert in four years, moved to a nightclub for a $10-a-person Jeffre for Mayor fund-raiser. Jeffre, 32, is one of seven candidates in the nonpartisan Sept. 13 mayoral primary; the two top vote-getters will move on to a November runoff.
Notable death
Fred Joerger, one of Disneyland's original model makers who crafted miniature versions of the park's Sleeping Beauty Castle and other attractions, died Aug. 26. of natural causes. He was 91.
Today's birthdays
Comedian JoAnne Worley is 68. Country singer David Allen Coe is 66. Country singer Mel McDaniel is 63. Rock singer-musician Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) is 62. Actress Swoosie Kurtz is 61. Comedian-actress Jane Curtin is 58. Country singer-songwriter Buddy Miller is 53. Country musician Joe Smyth (Sawyer Brown) is 48. Actor-comedian Jeff Foxworthy is 47. Actor-comedian Michael Winslow is 45. Rock musician Perry Bamonte is 45. Rock musician Kevin Miller is 43. Country singer Mark Chesnutt is 42. Actress Rosie Perez is 41. Singer CeCe Peniston is 36. Rhythm-and-blues singer Darryl Anthony (Az Yet) is 36. Rhythm-and-blues singer Macy Gray is 35. Rock singer Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries) is 34. Actor Justin Whalin is 31. Rock singer Nina Persson (The Cardigans) is 31. Rapper Foxy Brown is 26.