B.E. Taylor dies at 65

B.E. Taylor dies at 65

PITTSBURGH

A musician whose annual Christmas concerts and recordings made him well known in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia has died of complications from brain cancer. B.E. Taylor was 65 years old.

Taylor had played in the Youngstown-New Castle, Pa., area at least once a year. Taylor lived in Wheeling, W.Va. The general manager of a funeral home there confirms Taylor died Sunday.

The Aliquippa, Pa., native’s series of popular Christmas recordings began in 1991 and led to seasonal shows that drew thousands of people.

A family spokesman says he was working on “B.E. Taylor Christmas 4” at the time of his death.

Taylor was a popular performer in Pittsburgh in the 1980s, partly on the strength of the song “Vitamin L.”

Woman blasts Cosby request to have lawyer attend deposition

PHILADELPHIA

Lawyers for the woman Bill Cosby is charged with sexually assaulting in 2004 say his request to have his attorney attend her deposition in a Pennsylvania civil case is “a continuation of his campaign to harass and intimidate.”

Andrea Constand asked the court last week to deny Cosby’s motion to have his lawyer present during her deposition in her lawsuit against former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor. Constand is suing Castor for defamation.

Cosby settled a lawsuit in 2006 that Constand filed against him.

Cosby’s motion says Constand is barred by the settlement from discussing her allegations against him. He says he wants an attorney present to ensure the confidentiality of that agreement isn’t violated.

A judge hasn’t ruled.

New Orleans-flavored funeral for Fountain

NEW ORLEANS

Famed jazz musician Pete Fountain, who died Saturday at age 86, will get a New Orleans-flavored send-off during funeral services next week.

Fountain’s son-in-law and manager Benny Harrell said services will be Aug. 17 at the city’s St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. Harrell said the service will be open to the public. He added, “Pete was loved by the world so the world can come say goodbye.”

The visitation will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. followed by a eulogy and then a funeral Mass at noon. A traditional New Orleans second-line parade will then go from the cathedral to the Hotel Monteleone.

The renowned clarinetist died of heart failure.

Associated Press