Boy band mogul Pearlman pleads guilty to charges

March 8, 2008 at 12:30a.m.

ORLANDO, Fla. — For years, Lou Pearlman wowed banks and investors with slick talk and a lavish lifestyle. But when the one-time architect of the Backstreet Boys and ’N Sync set his hand on a courtroom Bible, he set the act aside. Pearlman pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of conspiracy, money laundering and making false statements during a bankruptcy proceeding. The plea was the result of a lengthy federal probe alleging he bilked investors and banks out of more than $300 million. Pearlman’s Transcontinental Airlines Inc. didn’t have 41 airplanes, as he represented to investors. He had two, he said in court. He will be sentenced May 21, and faces up to 25 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Shoulder injury sidelines violinist

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Itzhak Perlman has canceled a concert because of a shoulder injury. The 62-year-old Israeli-American violinist, who in 2003 was treated for a rotator cuff tear on his right shoulder, was to perform Sunday at the University of Missouri-Columbia. On Thursday, his agent called to say he needed to cancel because of shoulder inflammation, said Kimberly Mouser, assistant director of the Concert Series. “We are canceling the performance this weekend but are looking for another date with the hope of rescheduling as soon as possible,” said Elizabeth Sobol, Perlman’s manager. Perlman’s recordings have won 15 Grammy awards. Last month, he won a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement.

Today’s birthdays

Actress-singer-dancer Cyd Charisse is 86. Actress Sue Ane Langdon is 72. Actress Lynn Redgrave is 65. Actor-director Micky Dolenz is 63. Singer-musician Randy Meisner is 62. Pop singer Peggy March is 60. Baseball player Jim Rice is 55. Singer Gary Numan is 50. NBC News anchor Lester Holt is 49. Actor Aidan Quinn is 49. Country musician Jimmy Dormire (Confederate Railroad) is 48. Actress Camryn Manheim is 47. Actor Leon (no last name) is 45. Rock singer Shawn Mullins (The Thorns) is 40. Actress Andrea Parker is 38. Actor Freddie Prinze Jr. is 32. Actor James Van Der Beek is 31.