The New York Post’s Page Six is reporting that Jimi Hendrix’s fired her manager Benny Medina Friday “over rumors that he was courting his former client, and her nemesis, Jennifer Lopez, again.” But Medina told the column: “I just had lunch with Mariah today. We’re restructuring her company and streamlining it. That’s all.” Page Six commented: “If he ends up streamlining himself out of a job, Carey would be his third major loss this year – Tyra Banks and Usher both recently left him.”
*Jimi Hendrix’s incendiary 1970 concert album, “Band Of Gypsys,” will be issued Sept. 30 on fiery red 180-gram vinyl from Capitol/EMI’s high quality “From The Capitol Vaults” U.S. vinyl. All “From The Capitol Vaults” titles feature carefully replicated artwork and packaging true to their original single or gatefold jacket LP releases. More “From The Capitol Vaults” titles will soon be announced.
*Actor Carl Weathers, best known for his role as Apollo Creed in “Rocky,” is divorcing his third wife after just 17 months of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. According to divorce papers filed Thursday in L.A. County Superior Court, Weathers is asking a judge to make his soon-to-be ex, Jennifer Peterson, pay for his legal costs, reports TMZ.com.
*David McCoy Franklin, ex-husband of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and a key adviser to former Mayor Maynard Jackson, died Sunday at the age of 65. Longtime friend Tom Houck, an Atlanta political consultant, said Franklin had suffered several strokes in recent months. A native Atlantan, Franklin joined Jackson’s law firm in 1972 after returning home from Washington. D.C., where he had attended American University law school. It was there he met Atlanta’s current mayor. Before entering politics, Franklin represented a celebrity clientele including Richard Pryor, Miles Davis and Peabo Bryson. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Sept. 11 at Radcliffe Presbyterian Church on Hamilton E. Holmes Drive in Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Morehouse College Scholarship Fund in honor of David Franklin. Franklin is survived by three children, Kai, Kali and Cabral Franklin, all of Atlanta; two sisters; and three grandchildren.
*New York’s Feinstein’s At Loews Regency opens their 10th Anniversary season with the return of Ashford & Simpson. Their engagement began Tuesday and will run through Sept. 20. In addition to performing many of their greatest hits – including “I’m Every Woman,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Solid” and “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” – they will also include several new songs from “Invisible Life,” their upcoming musical based on the best-selling novel by E. Lynn Harris. All shows are at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st St.). For ticket reservations and club information, please call (212) 339-4095 or visit www.feinsteinsatloewsregency.com and www.TicketWeb.com.
*The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) will present award-winning journalist and author, Charlayne Hunter-Gault with the 2008 Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award on Sept. 16 during its annual conference. The honor was established in 1992 in memory of the late Texas Congressman and his advocacy of social justice and equality for people around the world. Scheduled for Sept. 14-16, the 22nd Annual NAMIC Conference will be held in Manhattan at the New York Marriott Marquis. For more information or to register, visit www.namic.com
