Timberlake needles boss

Timberlake needles boss

NEW YORK — Justin Timberlake was on hand to pay tribute to his record label boss at a charity event. But he couldn’t help needling him, too.

Timberlake told about the time he played Barry Weiss a song he was working on for his new album, and Weiss — who’s the president of RCA/Jive Label Group — was lukewarm about it. That song turned out to be “SexyBack,” one of Timberlake’s biggest hits.

But Timberlake went on to praise Weiss as one of the wisest men in the music business. Weiss was honored by the UJA Federation of New York, which provides aid to the needy worldwide.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Gena Rowlands is 79. Singer Spanky McFarlane of Spanky and Our Gang is 67. Actress Phylicia Rashad is 61. Actress Kathleen Turner is 55. Country singer Doug Stone is 53. Singer-dancer-choreographer Paula Abdul is 47. Actor Andy Lauer (“Caroline in the City”) is 46. Singer-guitarist Brian Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe is 45. Former Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch is 39. Actress Robin Tunney is 37. Actress Poppy Montgomery (“Without a Trace”) is 34. Actor Paul Dano (“Little Miss Sunshine”) is 25.