newsmakers

March 26, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

newsmakers

Brooklyn Bridge singer Maestro dies

NEW YORK

Singer Johnny Maestro, who performed the 1958 doo-wop hit “16 Candles” with The Crests and enjoyed a decades-long career with The Brooklyn Bridge, has died of cancer. He was 70. Les Cauchi, a friend and original Brooklyn Bridge member, said Maestro — born John Mastrangelo — died late Wednesday in Florida. His last residence was in Cape Coral, Fla.

After beginning his career in the 1950s with The Crests, Maestro joined a local New York group, The Del-Satins. It merged with a Long Island band, The Rhythm Method, to form Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge in 1968. Hits by the rock ’n’ roll and doo-wop group included “The Worst That Could Happen,” which Cauchi said earned “gold record” status with a million sales.

Elton John to play event for AIDS victim

INDIANAPOLIS

Singer Elton John will headline a celebration of the life of Indiana AIDS victim Ryan White in an event benefiting the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the singer’s AIDS foundation. Museum officials announced Thursday that John will perform during the April 28 benefit at Butler University. White was diagnosed with AIDS at age 13 after receiving a tainted transfusion of a blood-clotting agent. He died April 8, 1990, at age 18. He became the public face of AIDS education as he fought to be allowed to attend school. He forged friendships with celebrities including John, who performed at his funeral.

No porn for Octomom

LOS ANGELES

Nadya Suleman’s octuplets have brought her plenty of fame, but fortune appears to be another story. Her father, Ed Doud, has defaulted on a $450,000 balloon payment on a half-million dollar house he bought last year for the family to live in, mortgage holder Amer Haddadin said Wednesday. Suleman’s lawyer, Jeff Czech, said he was negotiating with Haddadin’s attorney for more time to refinance.

Steven Hirsch, co-chairman of Vivid Entertainment, one of the world’s largest purveyors of adult films, announced this week that his company would pay off Suleman’s mortgage if she would make a porn film. But Czech indicated she had rejected it out of hand.