Prince to attend jazz festival

Friday, August 11, 2006 Prince to attend jazz festival PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Prince Albert II of Monaco will attend the opening-night concert of the Newport Jazz Festival today, part of an anniversary celebration of the 1956 film "High Society," which starred his mother, Grace Kelly. Set against the scenic backdrop of Newport and its storied mansions, "High Society" was Kelly's last film before her marriage to Prince Rainier III. She then became Princess Grace. The musical comedy also starred Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, with original music by Cole Porter. Louis Armstrong sang the title song. The Friday-night concert, a tribute to Sinatra, will be performed by guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli, who opened concerts for Ol' Blue Eyes in the early 1990s. "There's an extra, added excitement to the whole thing," Pizzarelli said in a phone interview from his country home in New York State. "It's more than just a music story, it seems, at this point." The weekend festivities will include a private dinner-dance gala for Albert, 48, at Marble House, constructed as a Vanderbilt family summer "cottage," where "High Society" will be screened in different rooms. "Newport has always been the sort of resort of royalty in the northeastern United States," said Brian O'Neill, owner of the Carnegie Abbey Club in nearby Portsmouth. The exclusive golf, equestrian and yachting club invited Albert to Newport. Founded in 1954 and now formally known as the JVC Jazz Festival-Newport, the festival has hosted a who's who of jazz over the years. Miles Davis made a memorable comeback performance at a jam session in 1955, followed a year later by Duke Ellington and his orchestra. Sinatra, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and Harry Connick Jr. have also played Newport. The festival runs through Sunday. Other featured performers include jazz guitarist George Benson and pianist Dave Brubeck. Hatch: Prison life is difficult adjustment MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Richard Hatch, who won the $1 million prize on the debut season of "Survivor," says he's finding it difficult to adjust to life in prison. Hatch, 45, of Newport, R.I., was convicted by a federal jury in January of failing to pay taxes on the prize and other income. He was sentenced in May to 51 months in prison by a judge who said the reality TV star had repeatedly lied on the witness stand. He arrived at the minimum-security facility in Morgantown on July 25. Hatch, who became known as the "fat naked guy" for refusing to wear clothes on the CBS show, is now required to wear khaki shirts and pants. "I'm doing lots of intake stuff, like clothing and getting to know the place ... but I don't think I will adjust to any of this until I can prove I was unethically prosecuted," he told The Dominion Post of Morgantown during a phone interview Wednesday. Hatch said he will be tutoring inmates, helping them to earn their GEDs and hone their job-hunting skills. "Sure, people know my name ... there are 1,300-plus inmates who think they know me, so it's an interesting experience," he said. While his lawyer works on his appeal, Hatch said he is using his time to read and write a book about his experiences on "Survivor" and his subsequent legal problems. Actor's car nets funds for charity DALLAS — The winning bid for Matthew McConaughey's 1971 Corvette Stingray convertible, auctioned for hurricane relief, was $61,600, according to the eBay Web site. The name of the winning bidder wasn't immediately released. The Web site indicated that 72 bids were received. McConaughey, a native of Texas, said he's donating all proceeds from last month's sale to Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network for Katrina and Rita recovery efforts. Film credits for the 36-year-old actor include "Failure to Launch" and "The Wedding Planner." In 2005, he was named the "sexiest man alive" by People magazine. Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29. Rita made landfall in southeast Texas on Sept. 24. 'Screech' charges woman with assault OMAHA, Neb. — Dustin Diamond, who played geeky Screech Powers on the '90s teen comedy "Saved by the Bell," says he scuffled with a woman at an Omaha hotel earlier this week. Diamond, who performed at the Funny Bone Comedy Club from Thursday through Sunday, told a Tampa, Fla., radio station that a woman broke into his room in a west Omaha hotel early Monday. Diamond said the woman grabbed some video games, and he held her until police arrived. The 28-year-old woman denied attacking Diamond and told police he had assaulted her. Omaha Police Sgt. Teresa Negron said no charges have been filed. "It's a case of 'he said, she said,"' Negron said. Diamond, 29, is touring the United States with an 18-and-older standup comedy show. In June, Diamond said he was selling T-shirts with his photo on them to try to raise money to save his Milwaukee home, which was under a foreclosure order. Today's birthdays Former TV talk show host Mike Douglas is 81. Actress Arlene Dahl is 78. Rev. Jerry Falwell is 73. Actress Anna Massey is 69. Songwriter-producer Kenny Gamble is 63. Rock musician Jim Kale (Guess Who) is 63. Country singer John Conlee is 60. Singer Eric Carmen is 57. Wrestler-actor Hulk Hogan is 53. Singer Joe Jackson is 52. Actor Miguel A. Nunez Jr. is 42. Actress Viola Davis is 41. Actor-host Joe Rogan is 39. Rock guitarist Charlie Sexton is 38. Rhythm-and-blues musician Chris Dave (Mint Condition) is 38. Hip-hop artist Ali Shaheed Muhammad is 36. Actor Will Friedle is 30. Rapper Chris Kelly (Kris Kross) is 28. Singer J-Boog is 21. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.