Sunday, January 29, 2012
newsmakers
Etta James honored at funeral as trailblazer
GARDENA, Calif.
Etta James was remembered at a service Saturday attended by hundreds of friends, family and fans as a woman who triumphed against all odds to break down cultural and musical barriers in a style that was unfailingly honest.
The Rev. Al Sharpton eulogized James in a rousing speech, describing her remarkable rise from poverty and pain to become a woman whose music became an enduring anthem for weddings and commercials.
Perhaps most famously, President Barack Obama and the first lady shared their first inaugural-ball dance to a version of the song sung by Beyonc . Sharpton on Saturday opened his remarks by reading a statement from the president.
“Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and her contributions to our nation’s musical heritage,” Obama’s statement read.
The Grammy-winning singer died Jan. 20 after battling leukemia and other ailments, including dementia. On Saturday, her legacy was on display as mourners of all ages and races converged on the City of Refuge church in Gardena, south of Los Angeles.
Among the stars performing tributes to James were Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera, who told the gathering that she has included “At Last” in every concert she’s performed as a tribute to her musical inspiration.
Wonder performed three songs, including “Shelter In the Rain” and a harmonica solo.
SAG Awards menu is months in the making
LOS ANGELES
When your dinner party guests include Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Kate Winslet and Glenn Close and the whole affair is televised live, it can take months to plan the menu. That’s why the team behind the Screen Actors Guild Awards began putting together the plate for today’s ceremony months ago.
It was still summer when show producer Kathy Connell and director Jeff Margolis first sat down with chef Suzanne Goins of Los Angeles eatery Lucques with a tall order: Create a meal that is delicious at room temperature, looks beautiful on TV, is easy to eat and appeals to Hollywood tastes. Oh, and no poppy seeds, soups, spicy dishe, or piles of onions or garlic.
“It can’t drip, stick in their teeth or be too heavy,” Connell said. “We have to appease all palates.”
The chef put together a plate of possibilities: Slow-roasted salmon with yellow beets, lamb with couscous and spiced cauliflower and roasted root vegetables with quinoa. There also was a chopped chicken salad and another chicken dish with black beans.
To ensure the dishes are both tasty and TV-ready, Connell and Margolis, along with the show’s florist and art director, dined together at this summertime lunch on tables set to replicate those that will be in the Shrine Exposition Center during the ceremony. The pewter, crushed-silk tablecloths and white lilies you’ll see on TV tonight also were chosen months ago.
Today, it’s up to Goins to prepare 1,200 of the long-planned meals for the A-list audience.
Associated Press