Barenaked Ladies singer faces drug charge

Barenaked Ladies singer faces drug charge

FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. — Barenaked Ladies singer and guitarist Steven Page faces a cocaine possession charge after his arrest while visiting two woman at their suburban Syracuse apartment.

Page, 38, of Toronto, was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison, Manlius police Capt. Bill Bleyle said Wednesday.

The arrest comes as the band, known for its clean image and cross-generational appeal, recently released a new album for children titled, “Snacktime,” a collection of two dozen original children’s songs.

Terry McBride, the Vancouver-based manager for the band, said Barenaked Ladies shows are still scheduled.

Natalie Cole has hepatitis

NEW YORK — Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole has been diagnosed with hepatitis C, her publicist said in a statement Wednesday. Hepatitis C is a liver disease spread through contact with infected blood. The statement said the disease was revealed during a routine examination and was likely caused by her drug use years ago.

Comic has Buckeye love

COLUMBUS — Comedian Richard Lewis wants to leave them laughing at Ohio State, where he studied advertising and got his degree in 1969. The 61-year-old comic known for his neurotic style says he has saved every act he’s done since 1971 and would like to establish an archive at his alma mater.

Lewis told a gathering of TV critics in Los Angeles on Tuesday that he needs to find a “tremendous donor” to give life to the project.

Curator Nena Couch at Ohio State’s Lawrence Lee Theatre Research Institute says the school is honored and enthusiastic about the prospect of housing Lewis’ collection.

Petersen leaving ‘CSI’

LOS ANGELES — William Petersen is leaving “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” a move that might have fans of his brainy crimebuster Gil Grissom screaming bloody murder. Petersen has agreed to return for occasional guest appearances and will remain a “CSI” executive producer but his run as an original cast member will end this coming season, executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar said. The air date for his final episode, the season’s 10th, will be at the beginning of 2009, the producers said.

Today’s birthdays

TV personality Art Linkletter is 96. Comedian Phyllis Diller is 91. Actor Donald Sutherland is 73. Actress-singer Diahann Carroll is 73. Guitarist Spencer Davis of the Spencer Davis Group is 66. Bassist Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath is 59. Actor David Hasselhoff is 56. R B singer JC of PM Dawn is 37.