newsmakers
newsmakers
Temptations singer Woodson dies at 58
DETROIT
Ali-Ollie Woodson, who led the legendary Motown quintet The Temptations in the 1980s and ’90s and helped restore them to their hit-making glory with songs including “Treat Her Like A Lady,” has died, a friend said. He was 58.
Woodson died Sunday in southern California after battling cancer, Motown Alumni Association President Billy Wilson said. Wilson said Woodson’s wife, Juanita, told him about the death Sunday.
Woodson was not an original member of the group, which had several lineup changes since it started in the 1960s. But he played an integral part in keeping the Temptations from becoming just a nostalgia act.
By the early 1980s, the Temptations no longer were posting hit after hit like they did in the 1960s and ’70s with classics such as “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “My Girl,” and “I Wish It Would Rain.”
The group had lost original members, and Woodson was charged with replacing Dennis Edwards, whose passionate voice defined the group during the 1970s.
Woodson’s voice, though similar to Edwards’ with its fiery tone, was distinct in itself, and helped the group notch the R&B hits “Treat Her Like A Lady,” “Sail Away” and “Lady Soul” from 1984 to 1986.
Celine Dion pregnant at last — with twins
LOS ANGELES
Celine Dion’s struggle to have one more baby has more than paid off. She’s pregnant with two.
Publicist Kim Jakwerth told The Associated Press in an e-mail Sunday that the 42-year-old Canadian songstress is 14 weeks pregnant with twins, and she plans to find out the sex of the babies next month.
Dion and her husband and manager, Rene Angelil, have a son, 9-year-old Rene Charles.
She had undergone several rounds of in-vitro fertilization in an attempt to get pregnant again.
The pregnancy was first reported by People magazine.
Dion is working on new albums in English and French and returns next year to Las Vegas for a three-year residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Dio’s funeral resembles spirited rock concert
LOS ANGELES
The mammoth service for fiery frontman Ronnie James Dio was more akin to a spirited rock concert than a dreary funeral.
With chants of “Dio, Dio, Dio,” headbangers were loud and proud Sunday as they paid tribute to the late metal legend, who died from stomach cancer May 16 at age 67.
More than 1,200 fans commemorated Dio inside Forest Lawn Memorial Park’s Hall of Liberty. Hundreds more gathered in the scorching heat outside the auditorium to watch monitors of the proceedings, which featured performances from some of Dio’s rocker friends, including Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, Geoff Tate of Queensryche and Paul Shortino of Quiet Riot.
“He touched all of us with his music and his message and his magic,” said David Feinstein, Dio’s cousin and Elf bandmate. “I know that Ronnie truly loved all of you. He had a great appreciation for your loyalty. I’m talking about all you out there, all the fans.”