In lawsuit, singer claims he was duped

In lawsuit, singer
claims he was duped

NEW YORK — Ginuwine says he was duped into signing a contract with a record company that doesn’t exist. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court, the R&B singer says he was persuaded to sign on May 8, 2007, with King Music Group Inc., a company that a personal acquaintance, Michael Bourne of Memphis, Tenn., said he owned. Terms of the contract gave Ginuwine, whose real name is Elgin Baylor Lumpkin, $1.75 million to record his first album with King, including a $500,000 advance, according to court papers. In nearly five months, the singer hasn’t made any records and hasn’t been paid a cent, the lawsuit said. In addition, the lawsuit said, there is no corporate record for King Music Group Inc. anywhere in New York, California, Florida or Tennessee. The lawsuit accuses King Music and Bourne of breach of contract, fraud and negligent misrepresentation. It asks for a total of $4 million in damages. Ginuwine’s lawyer, Corey D. Boddie, said Thursday that his client is now unable to record anywhere else. He said the singer could be sued if he made records for another company while under contract to King. Boddie said he has been unable to contact Bourne. Bourne’s telephone number in Memphis was unlisted and directory assistance had no listing for King Music Group. Ginuwine’s albums include “Back II Da Basics,” “Ginuwine ... The Bachelor” and “The Life.”

Marquez novel gets nod
as Oprah book selection

CHICAGO — Oprah Winfrey has picked “Love in the Time of Cholera,” the epic love story by Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as her next book club selection. On her TV talk show Friday, Winfrey called the novel one of the greatest love stories she’s ever read and the 79-year-old Marquez one of the world’s literary giants. “Love in the Time of Cholera” tells of a love triangle that spans 50 years. A film version, directed by Mike Newell and starring Javier Bardem, is due out in November. The Colombian-born Marquez won the Nobel prize for literature in 1982. His most famous work, “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” was a previous selection for Winfrey’s book club.

Today’s birthdays

Singer Al Martino is 80. Retired South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu is 76. Former National Security Council aide Oliver North is 64. Rock musician Kevin Godley (10cc) is 62. Country singer Kieran Kane is 58. Singer John Mellencamp is 56. Rock musician Ricky Phillips is 56. Actress Mary Badham is 55. Actress Christopher Norris is 54. Rock musician Tico Torres (Bon Jovi) is 54. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma is 52. Gospel singer Michael W. Smith is 50. Recording executive and TV personality Simon Cowell (“American Idol”) is 48. Rock musician Charlie Marinkovich (Iron Butterfly) is 48. Country singer Dale Watson is 45. Pop singer Ann Curless (Expose) is 44. Rhythm-and-blues singer Toni Braxton is 40. Rock singer-musician Thom Yorke (Radiohead) is 39. Rock musician-dancer Leeroy Thornhill is 38. Actress Nicole Ari Parker is 37. Rock singer-musician Damian Kulash is 32. Singer Taylor Hicks (“American Idol”) is 31.