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When you think of elegant, classy and glamorous black women, you automatically think of Diana Ross and Diahann Carroll.

Before Ross and Carroll, there was Josephine Baker and Donyale Luna (the first black woman to appear on the cover of Vogue), above.

La'Baker and Luna set Paris on fire in the 60's and 70's with their elegant antics.

Josephine was spotted walking down the French Riviera on different occasions with either her pet tiger or pet cheetah. They wore bejeweled collars around their necks attached to diamond studded leash.

As we reported before, Luna was so stunning that four French boys camped outside her apartment each night and followed her around Paris during the day, walking behind her, carrying the train of her dress.

Baker and Luna were the first known black women to bathe in milk. This expensive milk was provided by overseas designers who admired their beauty, class and elegance.

Diana Ross and Diahann Carroll would eventually be known in the states for milk baths but Baker and Luna were the originators of this practice.

Behind the scenes-there was a lot of tension in Vanity 6. Prince wanted Brenda (left), the most musically merited member of the group to take responsibility for the girls' rehearsals but Vanity saw herself as the one in charge of the group, resulting in an uneasy relationship between Brenda and Vanity. "There was quite often friction between Vanity and Brenda," Roy Bennett confirms. It was their personalities. And it was based on the fact that a lot of times Brenda was the person that was set up to babysit Vanity, making sure she could sing and handle the vocals in rehearsals. So you had Prince telling 'you're responsible for her singing' and Vanity saying 'well, it's my band.'

Brenda and Vanity got into a huge fight one time. Brenda allegedly had Vanity up against the wall with her hands around her throat.

Adding to the tension was the fact that Prince was dating both group members-Vanity and Susan (above, center). "It was a nightmare, according to one of the crew members. "Prince was also seeing Jill Jones (not pictured). And the girls had to ride on the same bus so it was pretty frightening. Vanity was freaking out when Prince came to ask for Susan. It was chaotic."

"WHERE ARE THEY NOW?" (VANITY 6)

Denise Matthews (formerly Vanity) is an evangelist who lives in the bay area.

Brenda Bennett worked with musicians in London and Washington D.C., and attracted some record label interest but nothing came of it. She currently resides in Phoenix.

Susan got married and left the music business and moved to Canada.

Source: "Prince: The First Decade," by Per Nilsen

We all know that Prince and Rick James didn't get along and a bitter rivalry developed between the two in the 80's but what few people know is: Vanity may have contributed to their fall out. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Prince stole Vanity from Rick James. Allegedly, Prince opened a tour for James in the early days of his career and he invited Vanity to visit him on his tour bus and she never left.

There have always been stories and rumors about possible Prince collaborations and that Michael Jackson or Quincy Jones allegedly offered him a lead vocal spot on "Bad." Prince turned it down, largely because he wasn't with Jackson snarling, "Your butt is mine," at him in the very first line of the song.

Prince also backed out of a suggested pairing with Miles Davis and shortly before Miles died, he played at Prince's Glam Slam club in Minneapolis but Prince refused to go on stage. Despite this, Miles regarded Prince as the real thing. A "Duke Ellington" of the 80's.

Prince also flirted with Madonna, allegedly, Madonna suggested they merge Paisley Park with her Maverick operation but Prince declined.

Source: "A Thief In The Temple," by Brian Morton

Quincy Jones met his future wife Peggy Lipton (Mod Squad) on a boat trip with Sidney Poitier and his future wife, Joanna. Poitier invited Quincy and Sammy Davis, Jr., and his lady for a vacation on his yacht in the Bahamas.

According to Quincy, "Sammy usually traveled with everything he owned, so Poitier told him, "Sammy, you can bring your fifty suits, your thirty cameras, all your records, drawings, but no entourage." Just you and your lady."

"It was the first vacation Sammy had ever taken in his life and he showed up with actress/model Peggy Lipton."

"We flew from New York to Nassau to meet the boat and by the time we got there it was clear to everyone that Peggy was in over her head and wasn't having fun. At the time, she had just broke up with film/music producer, Lou Adler."

"The boat was just leaving the dock when Peggy upped and split with baggage and all. Adler was waiting at the end of the dock. She left Sammy high and dry and he was devastated. All the women were pissed that Sammy's first vacation ever was in jeopardy."

"Sidney Poitier's lady (Joanna) came to the rescue. She told Sammy, "Let's call Shirley Rhodes and Altovese." Altovese was the lead dancer in one of Sammy's shows, and they'd long had a crush on each other. Shirley ran all of Sammy's affairs. Altovese immediately flew down from New York and met us at sea by plane. Sammy later married Altovese, and strangely enough, four years later I married Peggy Lipton.

Peggy had dated Elvis and Paul McCartney in her past. One evening, she ran into my daughter Jolie at a party and asked, "What do you think my chances are with your dad?" Jolie later asked me the same question, got my answer, and then called Peggy and said, "You know how my dad is but you're definitely in the top ten." Peggy asked Jolie to see what she could do. Jolie arranged for me to join her and Peggy for a previously planned Sunday dinner."

"Falling in love with Peggy was like a breath of fresh air. She was independent, smart, charming, musical, beautiful and understanding." The rest is history."

Source: "The Autobiography Of Quincy Jones."

Jason A. Michael makes the following allegations in his book, "Strength Of A Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story."

"Phyllis had recently begun seeing yet another younger man, Jay Love, whom she met through the "Living In Confusion," video. But, according to Michael, she was also involved in a lesbian relationship with a woman, her personal assistant, Martha David."

Martha is quoted as saying, "There were periods of our relationship that were monogamous and periods that were not. It was tumultuous. It wasn't always a healthy relationship. Yet, the love and attachment between us, I felt, always remained but there was a lot going on at times that wasn't good."

Having accompanied Phyllis to the Arsenio taping one evening, Martha feared that the new man in Phyllis's life might find his way into the on-air conversation. In the dressing room before the show, Martha shared her concern with Phyllis. "I brought it up and told her that it bothered me that she was probably going to talk about Jay on the show.

Phyllis didn't care for being told what she could or could not talk about and things got a little out of control backstage. "She got very angry and we had a big fight about it before the taping," Martha said.

On Arsenio's couch, Phyllis did, in fact, talk about Jay when the host inquired about her love life. "We went out and he had a limousine and he brought me a black teddy bear and he had a bottle of champagne. "I like him," Phyllis continued. "He is fun. He's young. A lot younger than me. He's 25, owns a restaurant and he's black. What more could I ask for?"

These remarks made Martha, who was standing backstage, cringe. She felt a special bond with Phyllis, and this line of conversation seemed an affront to it. Martha knew that to be involved with Phyllis she would have to make certain concessions but she also hoped that Phyllis would make some too. "I didn't expect her to mention me," said Martha, "but perhaps, out of respect for me, she might not have mentioned him."

After the taping, the argument between Phyllis and Martha continued.

MYSTERY: (THE TRAGIC DEATH OF JESSE BELVIN)

If Jesse Belvin (pictured above) would have lived-he would have changed the landscape of R&B and Rock & Roll. Not only was he a gifted and electrifying entertainer, who was often compared to Jackie Wilson, Little Richard and Elvis Presley. Belvin was also a gifted songwriter who penned the classic “Earth Angel,” by the Penguins. This song was the biggest record of 1955. Belvin was unaware that publishing rights would become so lucrative; he sold the rights to the song for $200.

Belvin’s recording of “Goodnight My Love,” was used-by Dick Clark as the closing theme for “American Bandstand,” for several years. Belvin was also a great balladeer and was often compared to Nat King Cole.

According to Etta James, Jesse's driver, a guy named Charles, had once worked with Ray Charles. Ray let him go because Charles liked to party a little too much. When he should have been napping, he was drinking. After Ray felt the car weaving back and forth on the highway, he fired him. Jesse hired him. Jesse would give anyone a break.

Belvin, his wife Jo Ann and his band were on a tour of the south; they had recently arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas. Belvin called his mother to complain about the racism and hostility. He added, ‘the racism is so intense, I’m thinking about canceling the remaining shows.’ Later that night, Belvin performed before an integrated audience. White supremacists managed to halt the show twice, shouting racial slurs and urging the white teenagers to leave at once. After the show, Belvin, his wife, and band returned to the hotel and hurriedly packed their bags.

Within an hour, Jesse Belvin, his wife Jo Ann and his driver would die in a horrific automobile crash. One of the troopers stated that both rear tires on Belvin’s black Cadillac had been tampered with, while others say the driver was intoxicated.

Due to (tampered) tire damage or intoxication, the driver was straying off into the incoming lane. Jesse had his arm around his wife, sensing trouble, he grabbed her head and shoved it beneath the car radio. At that moment, a car coming in the opposite direction hit them head on. The collision was so powerful that when they opened the door they saw that Jesse's head had gone through the windshield; he was nearly decapitated and his nose was separated from his mouth.

Jo Ann was rushed to the hospital, fighting for her life. When she came out of a coma a few days later, she started banging the side of the bed. The nurses didn't know what that meant. But her dad did. She was hearing everyone's voice but Jesse's. She was banging for her husband. She wanted to hear Jesse. Finally, her father told her that Jesse was gone. She expired minutes later.

Etta James said she traveled from Chicago to the funeral in Los Angeles. "It took them three days to sew Jesse together. The open caskets were devastating. To see two beautiful young people dead, a man and a wife."

Jackie Wilson sang but he was so broke up he could barely make a sound.

We all knew Jesse was the next superstar. He'd just gotten the big break with RCA but none of that mattered, he was now dead.

As word reached the black community in Belvin’s hometown of Los Angeles, there were rumors of foul play and a thorough investigation was never conducted. We are left to wonder, was the accident caused by tampering or intoxication?

Belvin and his wife Jo Ann were only 26 when they died; their two children were left orphans.

Source: "Rage To Survive," by Etta James & David Ritz

According to Teddy Pendergrass, "One of the most frightening moments in my life occurred one day when I was playing pool with Harold Melvin." Despite everything negative that had happened between Harold and me (below), we still socialized now and then."

"While I was setting up for my next shot, Harold looked out the window and said, Teddy, there's a cop out there writing you a ticket, getting ready to place it on your Rolls Royce." I rushed over to the window, and sure enough, he was right. I ran downstairs and out onto the sidewalk with a pool cue in my hand."

"Excuse me, officer, I called politely, that's my car." Without looking up, he replied nastily, "Well, it's in the wrong place," and he kept writing the ticket." But I live here, I said. "I don't care where you live or who you are. I'm writing you up."

Just then, the policeman glanced up from his ticket book and noticed the pool cue in my hand. He shouted, "what are you going to do with that weapon? You gonna hit me with that stick?"

I was stunned. "No, no, Officer. I was just shooting pool and I ran down here to try to (I never got a chance to finish the sentence) because he slammed me up against the wall and slapped handcuffs on me in a matter of seconds. "Let's go!" he snarled, gripping my arm roughly. I asked, "What the hell are you doing?" "Come on! You're going with me!" "Wait a minute Officer. My daughters, I have two little girls upstairs! "Shut up and get in the car!"

"I glanced up to see my daughters Tisha and LaDonna at the front door, their frightened faces pressed against the glass, wailing, "Daddy! Daddy!"

I hadn't mentioned that there was another adult in my home, so as far as this policeman knew, he was leaving two preschoolers totally alone without regard for their safety or welfare. He didn't care.

When I got home from the station a few hours later, I held my girls and comforted them. I seriously considered suing the Philadelphia Police Dept. over this incident but I knew what a hassle it would become, so I dropped it.

"NOSTALGIA ARCHIVE"

Incident #1:

Teddy Pendergrass reveals in his book, “Truly Blessed,” that Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes arrived in Los Angeles for a performance. Pendergrass and the Blue Notes were forced to stay in fleabag motels whereas Harold Melvin occupied an enormous penthouse suite. Pendergrass decided to discuss their living situation with Melvin. He arrived at the hotel and passed a uniformed doorman. Inside Harold’s suite he found his well-heeled friends and a white drift of cocaine on the coffee table. Harold was playing the gracious host. The first chance he got, he pulled him aside and told him. “Harold, here you are in this suite and the other guys are sitting down in Hollywood with no money.” Harold stared at him blankly, as if to say, “So?”

Pendergrass continued, “You just don’t get it, man. We work our asses off and are barely scraping by and you’re up here having a big fucking party. It’s just not right.

Harold said, “Just a minute,” I followed him into his bedroom, as I peeked around the door frame, Harold, with his back to me, lifted up the mattress of his bed to reveal what looked to be thousands and thousands of dollars he’d stashed underneath. Only later did I learn that this was our royalty money-thousands of dollars that Gamble and Huff had given Harold in a check with the understanding that he would cash it and split it equally among the group. That never happened.

Harold came to the doorway and handed me a small stack of bills. “Here,” he said. “You take this, for you. But don’t tell the rest of them about it.” I took the money and went back and split it with the guys.

Incident #2:

‘Harold Melvin fancied himself something of a jet-setter and he took great pleasure in hosting parties at his hotel suites and playing the big shot. One night Harold was entertaining some people I’d never met before. They were white folks and by the way Harold acted around them you could tell they were important, at least to him.'

We were hanging out, drinking and snorting cocaine. Everything seemed fine. Exactly what happened, I’ll never know but the upshot is that one of the guys told Harold that I had behaved disrespectfully toward him. Either I didn’t answer this guy when he spoke to me or I said something he took the wrong way.

Whatever it was, Harold, who had a temper, got furious. Out of the blue he slapped me. “Say what?” It took me a few seconds to figure out what was going on. “What the hell.” Harold said nothing but he glared at me with his cold, dark eyes. “What did you say to him? You insulted my friend. Don’t you ever insult my friends like that again,” he hissed.

Rage surged through my body like a jolt of electricity. The same instincts that kept me alive on the streets of Philly locked in. My muscles tensed, my heart raced, my jaw clenched. I was ready to whip his ass. Nobody had slapped me since I was a kid. Then as quickly as the rage came over me, I stopped myself.

I was smart enough to realize that if I’d struck Harold right then, I’d have hurt him and found myself in very serious trouble. I looked Harold straight in the eye and growled, “Don’t you ever think about putting your hands on me again! Not ever again!” Harold stepped back and we left it at that.

Later, back in my cheap motel room, I decided, it was time for me to leave the group and launch a solo career. This incident was the turning point.

According to author Tony Turner, at David Ruffin's funeral, Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards walked straight up to the casket, past the ushers, a hush fell over the church, a hush broken only by the flashing of flashbulbs. Aretha Franklin quietly told me where we were to be seated and we made our way there. Just as we sat down the Four Tops arrived, looking very somber. Stevie Wonder was already in the church.

The Four Tops had just reached the casket when someone asked me, "Who is the dame with the horrible hair, up there at David's casket?" A short while later, Eddie and Dennis both turned around and stared me at curiously, so I leaned up and Eddie said quietly, "Tony, don't tell me you're not going to speak to Mary Wilson." "She's right over there." Mary had been the woman with the horrible hair. This was the same Mary Wilson who had me thrown out of a Beverly Hills bookstore that had booked us both for autograph sessions on my last book tour. I went over and gave her a polite hug. Eddie and Dennis were now satisfied. The family was intact.

A short time later, two men arrived and tried to arrest Eddie for back child support. Louis Farrakhan told the detectives that if they dared to handcuff Eddie and take him out, he would personally go up to the podium and tell the whole church what was going on. The announcement would go out over the loudspeakers in the street. "You will never get this man out of the church."

Eddie was returned to his seat after he promised to settle his back child support totaling $26,000 dollars.

Source: "Deliver Us From Temptation," by Tony Turner

1. According to Richard Pryor, "Huey Newton and I met at a party in Oakland and then did cocaine in my hotel room. As we got high, the Black Panthers' minister of defense got angry because his woman was coming on to me and I didn't tell her to stop."

"The scene got very tense. It seemed certain something was going to happen. Either Huey was going to lose control and hurt me or I was going to provoke him into hurting me by saying something stupid. Both seemed likely."

"We were talking about jail. He admitted to being worried about going to prison himself.

"Why you scared of jail?" I asked.

"Because if I go, everyone's going to want to f**k me," he said. I didn't disagree. "And if they try and put their d**k in my mouth, he added, "I'm going to bite it off."

"That's a plan," I said. "But right before you bite, you know, you're going to taste it in your mouth and wonder whether or not you like it."

Huey Newton shot up from his seat and punched me. The blow caught me on the side of the head.

"Fuck you."

It could have been messy. Both of us were high, we had guns and we were out of our minds. Fortunately, I decided my best move was to watch as Huey grabbed his woman and marched out of my room.

2. RIchard Pryor and Billy Dee Williams never got along, it started on the set of "Lady Sings The Blues," and continued on the set of "Bingo Long & The Traveling All-Stars."

Things were so tense and bitter between the two stars, they didn't even acknowledge or speak to each other off-set, during the entire shoot.

Richard Pryor often told friends, he was put off by Billy Dee's behavior of being too full of himself and taking himself way too seriously. Billy Dee has never commented on the rift.

Source: "Pryor Convictions & Other Life Sentences," by Richard Pryor

For Phyllis Hyman, even harmless situations could quickly turn awkward. But, it was par for the course for someone afflicted by bipolar disorder. One night, Sal Licote, the president of EMI sat out front enjoying her show. He was taken backstage because he wanted to meet Phyllis. Phyllis was in a robe and slippers. Just as the record executive walked in, Phyllis's finger slipped on a curling iron and she went berserk. "Cocksucker, motherfucker!"

Licote was taken aback because he expected a more ladylike reception.

Phyllis often made quotes to magazines that she was alone and in pain when she was in fact in a committed relationship. She always said she wanted to marry and have children but behind the scenes, she was always adamant about not wanting kids.

Later this same year, Phyllis went to her regular physician and received a second abortion.

Just days before the second abortion, Phyllis said, "I can't relate to my body being in that shape. Women are programmed to believe that motherhood is the ultimate area of life and that's bullshit. For centuries, it's been a tradition that since women had the reproduction equipment, that's what we're supposed to do. That's a crock! "Women are supposed to be people first and foremost and for those who want to have children, have them because we have that option. I just can't relate to being in that sort of physical condition, whereby there's something growing inside of me and my stomach is sticking way out."

"Nor can I relate to labor pains. I've had enough pain with menstrual cramps over the years. But I do relate to children. I think they're wonderful, especially when they're somebody else's."

Source: "Strength Of A Woman," by Jason A. Michael

OLD SCHOOL ARCHIVES: (WOMACK BROTHERS WERE SCANDALOUS)

Bobby Womack admits in his autobiography "Midnight Mover," that Sam Cooke's family had a real problem with him marrying Sam's widow (Barbara). Especially, Sam's brother, Charlie. He told Womack, shortly after the marriage, "Man, anybody else could have married Sam's wife, but you. Sam loved you, man." If you ever come to Chicago...The threat was left hanging in the air but I knew what it meant.

I figured if Charlie was going to do something, I wanted to get it over and done with. Barbara and I flew to Chicago. We checked into the 'Roberts Motel,' and I called Charlie. I told him, 'I'm here. We're in 2112.' In the motel room, Barbara busied herself loading bullets into a pistol. Barbara had a mean streak in her.

Charlie showed up with his two brothers David and L.C. I opened the door and Charlie punched me. He beat me so bad-my whole head swelled up like a melon. My teeth came through my lip. He beat me unconscious. He even broke my jaw. Barbara came out of the bathroom screaming.

She made a grab for the gun, she pointed it and pulled the trigger. It just clicked (I had removed the bullets while she was in the bathroom, before our guests arrived). Charlie and his brothers left. The cops were called, when they arrived and saw my condition, they said Charlie would do time. They arrested him later that evening but I declined to press charges. He was released and Barbara and I went on with our lives.

BOBBY WOMACK SEXUALLY MOLESTED SAM COOKE'S DAUGHTER:

It was bad enough that Bobby Womack (Sam Cooke's protege) married Cooke's widow (Barbara) three months after his death 'But' what Womack reveals in his new autobiography, "Midnight Mover," is even more disturbing.

Womack was also raising Sam's daughter, Linda (pictured above) with Barbara, Linda was just 16 years old at the time.

Unbeknownst to Cooke's widow (Barbara), Womack was creeping into his stepdaughter's room at night and having sex with her until Barbara caught him and held a gun against his head. She told him to get the fu** out of her house. Womack ran to the garage, Barbara followed and shot at him, the bullet grazed his scalp. This is the reason for their divorce in 1970.

Linda would marry Bobby's brother, Cecil, (pictured above) and she would never speak to her mother again. Linda and Cecil wrote the Teddy Pendergrass hit "Love TKO."

Before Linda, Cecil was married to Mary Wells, they had 3 kids, after the divorce, Wells dated Cecil's brother-Curtis and they have one daughter together.

"MARY WELLS WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSED BY WOMACK BROTHER"

Tony Turner reveals in his book, "Deliver Us From Temptation."

"Before her death in 1992, Mary Wells was in very bad shape and had been involved at different times with two of the Womack brothers, she was now living with one of them, who not only managed her but also sang with her. Mary was touring as a nostalgia act with her baby daughter in tow, taking on just enough work to feed herself and her children while quietly suffering the physical and mental abuse of her lover."

"While I was traveling with the Tempts, I would see her on the road from time to time, nursing a black eye or a bruise. One night in Westbury, Long Island, after an argument about money, Womack went crazy. He started cutting up Mary's Louis Vuitton suitcases. Then he threw everything she owned out the window into the parking lot, which had just been covered in fresh, wet, black asphalt, took her money, and left her on the road alone with their baby."

I went to the local mall the next morning and picked out a dress for her to wear and some cosmetics for that evening's show because she had absolutely nothing but the fans didn't know it."

"They loved her for who she had been in their lives and as long as she sang, "My Guy," and "Two Lovers," they didn't care that she was singing for survival.

While Nat King Cole was in the hospital receiving treatment for lung cancer, he mailed 50 $100 dollar bills ($5,000) to his mistress, Gunilla Hutton (above). He then called Hutton from a pay phone.

Three days later Maria Cole got a phone call from Gunilla Hutton. She bravely explained to Maria that she was in love with Nat and he was in love with her. And then she asked Maria why she did not give the man a divorce so he might follow his heart's desire? That was her straightforward proposal.

Maria thought it strange, that Hutton didn't seem to have an inkling that Nat was dying. Nat had yet to tell her.

Maria's brief response was: "He never asked for a divorce but if he does you can have him."

Maria went to confront Nat in the hospital. She burst into his room and lit into him. Her voice could be heard by everyone in the North Wing.

Nat said nothing, after a few minutes, he gave Maria-Hutton's phone number, she dialed it and handed him the phone. In a faint voice he asked Hutton, "What do you mean by calling my wife on the phone?" He then told her that he had to be with his family.

This probably was the last time Nat ever communicated with Gunilla Hutton.

Source: "Nat King Cole," by Mark Epstein

According to Martha Reeves,"In the early days of Motown, me and the Vandellas arrived in London, we were all having a wonderful time. One night after a very successful performance, the Vandellas and the Supremes were grouped together and treated to a show featuring the legendary Eartha Kitt. At the dazzling nightclub the "Top Hat." The atmosphere was one of sheer excitement. Just being there in the audience filled me with dreams of one day performing on that same London stage.

"Eartha was superb, at her best, looking and sounding great. With each selection she grew more and more intriguing. She boldly and expertly captured and held the audience's attention. She had us eating out of her hand, totally mesmerized by every move. After one of her breathtaking numbers, she stood behind a screen with a pinpoint spotlight illuminating just her face and changed clothes with an alluring expression-using her eyes to full effect. When the lights came up she had executed a dramatic complete wardrobe change. She ended her next song lying on an exotic cat-skin rug, purring the lyrics to "Santa Baby." She received several curtain calls and standing ovations."

"I was even more elated when she agreed to receive us fellow performers after the show. We were ushered backstage with the Supremes. An assistant swung the door open and we entered the inner sanctrum of this glamorous star. There she sat at her dressing room table, looking every inch the diva in full command."

"Before anyone else could say hello, Diana Ross stepped ahead of us all and blurted out, "Eartha, a lot of people tell me that I look like you."

"Well, after that you could have heard a pin drop. Eartha said not one word in reply. In the icy silence we were all suddenly nervous and uncomfortable.

Eartha didn't miss a beat, though. Without saying anything, she scooped up her makeup and deposited it into her evening bag. She snapped it shut, stood up and turned to our group of dumbfounded girls. She just stood there-staring first at Diana and then looking over the lot of us. As she draped her cheetah-skin coat about her shoulders, she exited saying, "I'm not half as beautiful as you."

Eartha left us all standing there with our mouths agape and bewildered. I was deeply disappointed not being given the chance to tell her how much I loved her show. Quietly, we left."

Source: "Dancing In The Streets," by Martha Reeves & Mark Bego

BLACK GARBO/PARTY GIRL OF THE 1930'S (RISE & FALL):

In the 1930-1940's, Nina Mae McKinney (above) was the sexy black glamour goddess that film executives fantasized about.

One evening, black actress Nina Mae McKinney accompanied her good female friend "Pepi," to Marion Davis' mansion. Davis' was an actress and the mistress of William Randolph Hearst. Pepi was house sitting while Davis was on location.

Pepi decided to give a party in the house while Davis was away and invited other black actors and actresses over for a good time. The party lasted for three straight days and might have gone on longer but a nosy white neighbor, shocked by the sight of black people running in and out of the mansion, telephoned Davis. An assistant was sent over, when she opened the bedroom door she caught Pepi and Nina Mae McKinney in bed together. The party came to an abrupt end.

McKinney was always seen in the black section of town in expensive cars, jewelry and furs. She also gained a reputation as a fun party girl.

McKinney was one of the first black vivacious sex pots to come out of Hollywood, not only could she act but she could also sing. She signed a five-year production contract with MGM and in the mid 30's, ended up going to Europe, performing in Paris, Dublin and Budapest, where she was sometimes billed as the "Black Garbo." In England, she won a plum role opposite Paul Robeson in "Sanders Of The River." During this time, McKinney made history, becoming the first black actress to appear on British television.

But that was about it regarding her career. She later married Jimmy Monroe (a onetime husband of Billie Holiday). They would later divorce.

Sadly, in the 1940's, McKinney was rumored to be strung out on dope and booze. Her last big appearance was in "Pinky."

Restless and searching, she later lived in Athens, Greece. She would later return to the States. Her Kewpie-doll looks were gone. So were her sexy curves.

Years later, a technician from the film "Hallelujah," recalled attending a dinner party in New York where he was served by an obese maid who looked familiar. He was shocked to realize it was Nina Mae McKinney.

Sadly, Mckinney died on May 3, 1967 of a heart attack. In 1978 she was inducted into the "Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame."

Source: "Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams," by Donald Bogle

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THE NIGHT AL GREEN WAS DOUSED WITH HOT GRITS?

*I recently received an email from the sister of the late Carlotta Williams (who appears in the following Al Green "Hot Grits," story). She wanted to set the record straight on what really happened the night Al Green was doused with hot grits by Mary Woodson. Carlotta Williams was a guest at Green's home when this tragic event occurred.

Al GREEN'S VERSION:

In Al Green's own words: "It was at one of those prison concerts, for the inmates at the New York State Correctional Facility, that I first met Mary Woodson. She was the kind of woman that when you first saw her, you'd take a second look, and then a third look, and then, after a while, your eyes would just become accustomed to turning her way. Mary was a radiant and ravishing woman. Mary had a classy way of carrying herself: She was statuesque graceful and proud. She was at the prison visiting a friend but she never told me what her friend had did to land in prison. Mary had all kinds of secrets, more that I could have imagined at the time. I casually asked Mary where she was heading after the concert but I already knew the answer and it was "There's nowhere else you're going but home with me."

But Mary didn't fall under my spell quite so easily. She begged off my invitation to come back with me to the hotel. It was late, she had to get up early. So, I offered her a ride in my limo into the city. I wasn't pushing anything. She was pretty and I liked having pretty women around me." But Mary had other things on her mind, right from the beginning. She was a real woman, I loved the smell of her perfume, she was new and exciting.

After my tour, I returned home to Memphis, Mary was in town. The infatuation I had for her blinded me to all the warning signs. I didn't care where she had come from or the baggage she'd picked up along the way. When I asked her about her past, she lied and told me that she had never been married and of course she didn't have any kids. The truth was, Mary had left behind a whole family in New Jersey to come and be with me but I'd only find that out later, after it was way too late.

Soon, her husband had come down from New Jersey to bring her back. She refused but he wasn't going to let her go and made it clear that she belonged to him and their children. She was living out a fantasy on borrowed time.

One night, I was in the studio working on new material when the door opened and a good looking woman rushed in and gave me a hug. It took me a minute to recognize her, her name was Carlotta Williams, a flight attendant I'd met on my travels.

When Mary came to the studio later, I introduced the two women and suggested that we all go back to my house.

The women seemed to get along fine as we all piled in my Rolls Royce. Carlotta sat up front with me and Mary sat in the back.

I kept glancing at Mary through the rearview mirror, disturbed by the strange expression she had on her face. Once she caught me looking at her and fixed me with a cold, appraising stare that sat my nerves on edge.

I went to my room to change my clothes. When I went to the kitchen, Mary was standing at the stove, stirring a big pot of water with a wooden spoon. She turned around and asked me had I ever thought about getting married, I replied, "Maybe we should talk about that in the morning."

When I asked her what she was cooking, she didn't answer me. Then suddenly, she whispered in my ear, "I would never do anything to hurt you."

Carlotta was in another part of the house listening to music. I then decided to take a bath. After I got in the tub, I soon heard a noise, I looked up and Mary was standing with the steaming pot in both hands. In the next second, my world exploded into a thousand splatters of pure agony. Mary had added grits to the water, making a thick, boiling hot paste. With all her strength, she hurled it at me. The grits scorched my naked back. The pain was so intense that I started screaming.

Carlotta burst in. "Al!" she screamed. It was then that I saw the egg sized blisters rising on my burned flesh. Mary rushed out of the bathroom.

Carlotta called a ambulance and was tending to me as best she could-when suddenly, we heard a gunshot. Despite being in pain, I rushed to Mary, she lay on the floor dead, clutching a gun.

CARLOTTA'S VERSION OF EVENTS (SHE SHARED WITH HER SISTER)

Myra: I recently received a copy of your article regarding the “grits” episode and I became incensed as I read this story as reportedly told in Al Green’s own words. Incensed because I am the oldest sister to the late Carlotta Williams and her side of the story needs to be shared with your reading audience.

My sister was smart, stunningly beautiful, a statuesque model, flight attendant and truly a lovely young vibrant woman who met Al Green in a furniture store in Denver, CO while he was doing a radio promotion for his evening concert. She and my youngest sister were shopping for furniture at the time and he approached Carlotta and offered both of them front row tickets to his concert. They graciously accepted the tickets and attended the concert that night and that’s when Carlotta and Al started a long distance relationship. He would call her often and was even planning to have Thanksgiving dinner with our family that year.

As is the case when two people have a relationship, Al invited Carlotta to his Memphis home so they could spend the weekend together. He dismissed his house staff for the weekend because he had planned a romantic weekend for just the two of them. Yes, he went to the studio and of course, Carlotta being his weekend guest accompanied him (she didn’t just “rush in and hug him”). Mary Woodson showed up and the two were introduced to each other. Al invited Mary to come out for dinner and she did in fact ride in the backseat of the Rolls Royce. Later it was discovered that Mary had a huge butcher knife in her purse.

When they arrived at his home, the three shared in conversation around the kitchen table. Carlotta dismissed herself and went upstairs. But prior to leaving, she noticed that Mary had a pot of water boiling on the stove. Asked why water was being boiled, Mary indicated that there wouldn’t be enough hot water for her to shower/bathe once the two of them had showered. While Carlotta was in an adjacent bedroom, she heard a blood curdling scream from Al. Carlotta rushed to his bathroom and found him covered in the grits. She then yanked the shower curtain down and wrapped it around Al. She barricaded the bedroom door and Al told her to retrieve a gun he had stored in his night stand drawer but I believe it was missing. (At the time, he was licensed to have a gun since he was either a deputy sheriff or sheriff in his county). A few minutes later, they heard a gun shot. Both being frightened and not knowing what was going on, they stayed in the bedroom. Finally, recognizing the dead silence, Carlotta had to cautiously open the door to see what was going on. The house had a long hallway with a wall of mirrors which allowed Carlotta to see out along the hallway. It was then that she saw Mary’s lifeless body lying on the floor. Carlotta called the police and ambulance. Once they arrive, she had to walk towards and step over Mary’s body to let them in.

Al was hospitalized and my sister was taken into custody until an investigation could be completed. Can you imagine the horror my family felt as each of us heard over the news that a women was found dead (because a name had not been released) at Al Green’s house when we only new of Carlotta’s visitation? My mother calling the Memphis police station to inquire about the woman and not being given any information? After many hours, the police finally told my mother that it wasn’t Carlotta. Carlotta was released and she returned immediately back to Denver. Only to have to undergo psychiatric treatments because of the intense traumatic experience.

My sister, who comforted Al Green during this horrific attack, never received, (1) any calls from him just to check on how she was doing or (2) a card of thanks for her heroic efforts. After reading your article, I couldn’t sit quietly and allow this story to be told without speaking out on behalf of my deceased sister. How dare he falsify this story and not give credence to my late sister and her acts of courage.

Thank you in advance for printing this truth for your readers in honor of my sister, Carlotta Williams.

In the 1940's-1950's, the most popular after-hours joint for black celebrities was "Brother's," in Los Angeles. On any given night you could see the Nicholas Brothers, Joe Louis, Brock Peters, Ethel Waters, Hattie McDaniel, Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, etc.

The owner, known as 'Brother,' was legitimately employed at the Dunbar Hotel as a bartender," said Bobby Short. Standing behind the bar, he'd be immaculately dressed "in a white vest jacket and black tie and trousers."

Brother would quickly leave that job when it closed and rush to his house. A nicely furnished house. And it operated all night long as an after-hours club. Brother greeted his famous guests in Chinese drag or Russian female attire.

Brother's was the black Studio 54, ahead of it's time. No ordinary people could get in, even showbiz people couldn't be sure the doors of Brother's would be open to them.

Soon, the crowd became mixed and white stars began patronizing the club. People like Tyrone Power, Rita Hayworth, Orson Wells and Cesar Romero.

Some nights at Brother's, with both Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge in attendance, patrons weren't sure where to look, so dazzling did they find each woman. Even at this time, patrons at Brother's seemed to understand that these two women would come to define two distinct eras in Black Hollywood's history.

Later, the press would depict them as rivals. The two stars "would be friendly," but nothing big came out of their friendship.

According to Dorothy Dandridge's best friend Gerri Branton, "I would get invited to Lena's house. Lena was quite a hostess. A good cook."

Unfortunately, according to Bobby Short, there were restaurants where Lena Horne didn't feel welcome. Horne once yearned to dine at the restaurant Trader Vic's but knew it was notoriously segregated. Her friends Humphrey Bogart and Barney Josephson intervened on her behalf. That night, she dined at Bogart's table and the management said nothing.

Short adds, "Years later in a Beverly Hills restaurant, a man called Lena a "n**ger." Horne threw an ashtray, a lamp, and just about whatever she could get her hands on."

Source: "Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams," by Donald Bogle

Jermaine Jackson's ex-girlfriend and mother of two of his sons makes explosive allegations in her book, "Jackson Family Values."

According to Margaret Maldonado, on page 90, she says: "When Jermaine returned from Africa, I met him at the airport and drove him to our beautiful home in Buckhead on the same street where the governor lived."

"The next day, Jermaine mentioned that he thought he must have bathed in dirty bath water in Africa or perhaps that he had been in an unclean bathroom. He told me he felt a burning and irritating sensation when he urinated. I didn't think much about it at the time."

"A couple of days later, however, I began to notice that something wasn't quite right with me either. Since I was new to Atlanta, I turned to Jermaine's lawyer and his wife Kane. Sensing the urgency in my voice, Kane offered to drive me to a doctor. When Jermaine found out where I was headed, he insisted on coming along."

"The doctor examined me and said he could not find anything wrong. I told him to test me again. He said I had an infection. He stammered and stuttered his way through the diagnosis. I thought he went out of his way to tell me it was not contracted by sex."

"That night I got a phone call from Kane. She said, "I've just spoken to the doctor and he was too scared to tell you that you've got gonorrhea and you got it from Jermaine. He was making threatening gestures to the doctor behind your back, holding his fist up. Jermaine gave you gonorrhea. He must have brought it home from Africa."

"I confronted Jermaine. I told him, "It's bad enough you had sex, but you didn't even use protection."

"If I had expected the father of my children to apologize, I could have saved my breath. Jermaine told me the doctor was lying."

Jermaine Jackson continues to vehemently deny these allegations.

Source: "Jackson Family Values," by Margaret Maldonado

According to the late Dorothy Dandridge, "One morning I felt the labor pains beginning. My husband (Harold Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers) and I were expecting our first child."

"Harold," I said, "I think It's time." He replied, "Take it easy. It's probably soft labor." I said, "There's nothing soft about it." "Come on Dorothy, you're just overanxious."

Harold wanted to play golf and he seemed unconcerned. I told him I was calling my mother.

"Call her," he said.

Mother said , it's time to go to the hospital. Next, I called my sister-in-law Jerri Nicholas, She said, "Dottie, you have to get to the hospital," I told her, Harold doesn't think so.

Harold took me over to Jerri's. There, he had a big argument with Jerri, she told him his obligation was to stay with me now and to forget about golf but Harold loved golf and said he' d only be gone a short time.

By six that evening, Harold still hadn't returned and the labor pains were coming regularly. I wanted my husband with me. I thought he should take me to the hospital but he was nowhere around and we couldn't locate him.

All evening, I fretted over Harold's absence.

Later, Jerri rushed me to the hospital but when I arrived, nobody was ready for me. Further delay.

It was a difficult birth and the obstetricians had to use forceps.

When Harolyn entered the world, her father was still nowhere to be found. There was no reason to suspect anything was wrong with her. But later on, it was determined that she was mentally disabled and would never be able to communicate. When she got older, she sat at the piano, playing the same key over and over again for hours.

I don't know if her disability was caused by the delay to get to the hospital or the use of forceps or the combination of both.

Regardless, I blamed no one but myself. Harold's indifference to me wasn't new. I should have taken the initiative and gone to the hospital directly.

Source: "Everything and Nothing: The Dorothy Dandridge Story," by Dorothy Dandridge & Earl Conrad

"INTERRACIAL UNDERCOVER"

As we reported before, white actress Mae West loved black boxers and black music men. Now, we can finally put a face to some of the black celebrity men she had discreet relationships with over the years. L-R: Joe Louis, Jack Johnson and Duke Ellington. It's also rumored that West allegedly kept nude photos of her boxer conquests on display in her powder room.

During his teenage years, it was becoming more difficult for Stevie Wonder to attend his school classes regularly as opportunities for out-of-town performances arose, and as he hit the charts and became well known in Detroit, there were stirrings at the board of education regarding his schooling.

According to Stevie's mother (Lula) his father Judkins was upset that he was not allowed to share fully in his son's success (money). Out of spite, he made a complaint to the board that Stevie was neglecting his schooling which resulted in the school board giving Lula a stern warning as the 1962-1963 school year came to a close: If there was no education, there was to be no performing. The message was clear: Unless some acceptable arrangement would be worked out, Stevie's career would be put on hold.

Stevie was devastated by the development. He had attended the school board meeting and when the decision was announced, he began to cry. Eventually, the matter was settled and Stevie was able to get an education and pursue his musical career.

Source: "Blind Faith," by: Stacy Brown & Lula Hardaway

According to Quincy Jones: One evening, I was rehearsing with my junior band when Bumps Blackwell (an agent) marched in and announced, "Billie Holiday is coming to town and you're going to back her up." We freaked in disbelief.

We were so excited we couldn't stand it. Lady Day was like Michael Jackson back then: People talked about her upcoming concert for weeks. Five minutes before show time, I was standing in my cardigan jacket at age 15, in front of a packed house of 900 people at the Eagle Auditorium, the biggest singer in the world standing in the wings, I was scared to death.

Billie was standing offstage in a long sequined dress. She looked just like she looked in the pictures, elegant, beautiful, with the gardenia in her hair. The MC announced, "Miss Billie Holiday!"

"Bobby (musical director) counted off the intro and we started in. Billie didn't come onstage. She stood in the wings, completely stoned. She was numbed out, totally unconscious from dope. Then this guy next to her, who had to be her man, almost kicked her out of the wings. She swayed unsteadily, then walked onstage and wandered right past the microphone. Then she came back to it and just stood there. By then we'd already played the intro and were well past her entrance."

"Bobby stopped us and counted the intro off a second time. We hit it tight and she came in right on the money. She sounded like the legend she was once she started-just beautiful.

Soon, we became star struck and Bobby got pissed off. He leaned over his piano and hissed, "If you motherfuckers are gonna stand there gawking at Billie instead of reading the music, get off the bandstand and go buy a ticket." That straightened us out. We buried our faces in those charts and got it together, quick.

The concert was a success, but afterward Bumps said, "You see what bad shape she was in? That's a perfect example of what not to do," and I silently agreed."

Source: "The Autobiography Of Quincy Jones," by Quincy Jones

According to Tammi Terrell's childhood friend George Cloverdale: "In high school, I was one year ahead of Tammi. We were platonic friends. We would go to a lot of "red light parties," or what they called "basement parties" in Philly. That's when kids would have a party, have punch, chips and other snacks. There would be dancing and music and just talking and hanging out. The parents were home upstairs for these kinds of parties and they would come down and end things when it started to get late."

"Tammi was fun loving and had a zest for life. I remember her coming over to my house to visit. My uncle was Cab Calloway (2nd photo). My Uncle Cab was a big shot then and he drove a Lincoln Continental. Tammi would see his car parked out front and knock on our door. She would say, "Is Mr. Cab here? Can I come in and see Mr. Cab? She would visit with my uncle and me often, just the three of us sitting around talking and Tammi telling him that one day she was going to be famous. He was a gentleman to her and encouraged her career goals. We had good times and fun."

Claudette Robinson (Smokey Robinson's ex-wife, 3rd photo) was one of Tammi's best friends. She says, "Tammi was so bubbly, charming, personable and captivating, today, she would have been considered a true diva in a positive sense. She seemed to exude a sophistication and maturity beyond her years. Tammi was also dynamic on stage. She had a drop-dead gorgeous figure, she was built like a brick house. As I reflect, she was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She was confident and at times misunderstood. It was a matter of a girl being beautiful, young, talented and smart in one package.

Tammi was so secure, she was never jealous or resentful of other women, instead, she appreciated and helped other female talent because she was confident in her abilities.

Source: "My Sister Tommie," by Ludie Montgomery & Vickie Wright

At a party, Sammy Davis, Jr., told Lucille Ball, "You can't possibly know sexual pleasure until you've tried it with a black man." She did not accept his offer, but asked why one of his fingernails was painted bright red. David replied, "I practice Satanism." The red nail is how we Satanists identify ourselves to each other. He added, "I dabble around the edges of it for

sexual kicks."

Shortly after President Gerald Ford's term was up, rumors circulated that R&B singer Freda Payne and Ford's son Steven (second photo) had gotten cozy. Allegedly, conservatives were very unhappy about this union or friendship and it was disbanded very quickly. Interestingly, there is no mention of it in Google. Payne was also linked to the late Edmund Sylvers (4th photo) despite Sylvers being 15 years younger.

In the early 1960's, Otis Redding often performed at the "Fillmore," in San Francisco. On one particular trip, when he arrived for a sound check, a young white girl went out of her way to treat him like a God. She went to soul food joints in the black part of town to pick up his food, she went to the corner store to get cigarettes and beer and she referred to him as Mr. Redding at all times.

A few months later, Mavis Staples was booked for a gig at the Fillmore. This same white girl befriended Mavis and went all over town picking up food and snacks for her as well. When Mavis performed, she watched from the back of the theater, nodding her head and singing along to every song. She also referred to Mavis as Miss Staples.

This woman was Janis Joplin (before she made it big).

She worshipped black artists, male and female.

Unconfirmed rumors have circulated for years that Janis Joplin ran away from home because certain relatives wouldn't allow her to associate with Blacks while she was growing up.

According to authors Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince: Frank Sinatra learned about Ava Gardner's lesbian streak when Donna Caldwell, a Hollywood madam of the 50's, told Sinatra that she had once supplied some of her girls to both Ava and him. Sinatra allegedly shouted, "You mean, Ava and I have f**ked the same pu**ies?"

In his biography of Ava Gardner, Lee Server wrote: "Ava had a continuing curiosity about the sexual demimonde and through the years paid visits to gay bars, red light zones and brothels all over the world. On her most notorious brothel visits, she was allegedly accompanied by Grace Kelly."

Actor Peter Lawford (2nd photo) also became engrossed with lesbian sex acts after the death of Dorothy Dandridge (the love of his life) as follows:

In the 1950’s, Dorothy Dandridge was one of the few African-American women in this country to travel to Europe to view fashion collections. She dazzled the international jet set and billionaire Greek tycoon-Aristole Onassis couldn’t take his eyes off her. Back in the states, a young British actor was in love with her.

Actor Peter Lawford (pictured above) was married to one of the Kennedy sisters but before the marriage, he only had eyes for Dorothy Dandridge, some say, she was the true love of his life. One evening, they almost went public with their relationship up until the last minute when they decided-it would be a bad career move for both of them. They arrived at a Cole Porter party separately.

When Dorothy walked in, every man in the room (including Richard Burton and William Holden) couldn’t keep their eyes off her. Peter Lawford found her irresistible. Lawford was far more taken with her than she was with him. He even told her, he loved her. At Dandridge’s funeral, Lawford was so devastated by grief; he was unable to deliver the eulogy.

Lawford was never the same after Dandridge died, he dranked and cried constantly. To get his mind off Dandridge, he hired lesbians to perform sexual acts. Sinatra told Lawford he was disgusted with his behavior. Sinatra then helped him get sober and he was instrumental with Lawford getting over his grief.

Source: "Bold Boulevards, Bold Dreams," by Donald Bogle

According to Teddy Pendergrass: "I'm not sure what prompted it, but one day shortly after I turned eleven, my mother announced, "We are going to see your father."

"I was apprehensive and anxious. I was meeting one of the most important people in my life, yet he was also someone to whom I had no emotional connection. Odd as it may sound, I'd never wondered what my father was like or whether I looked like him or what he would say to me when we finally met. I didn't miss him in the way a kid who's had a dad would miss him. He'd never made himself a place in my heart."

"We walked a half block over to the house where he lived. My mother knocked on the door, a woman answered and my mom said, "I came to see Jesse."

"The woman let us in. My father's girlfriend left the house to find him."

"We were eating when my father entered. My mother looked up and said, "Teddy, this is your father, Jesse. I looked up at him. My father was tall, imposing and handsome."

"I'll never forget my mother saying, "Teddy, take a look at your father's face so that you will know him if you ever see him again." I looked again, but I don't remember if he said anything to me. What I do remember, very clearly, is something that happened a little bit later.

"So this is my son, huh?" he said, looking at me. And then he turned to my mother and asked for money. Out of kindness, she opened her purse and handed him money which he put in his pocket. It was a moment I will never forget. How could a man who'd never given me anything in my life dare ask my mother for money, and in front of everybody? I didn't understand it and it seemed so wrong to me."

"We stayed a little while longer and them my father walked us to the trolley stop."

"Just over a year later, on June 12, 1962, my father was murdered during a fight with a drinking buddy. He was stabbed with a eight-inch butcher knife in the chest."

"My mother would learn through a newspaper article that my father was married to another woman although he was not divorced from her. I also learned that I had a half-sister named Peaches. Even though we talked a little, we never connected. Over the years, I never heard from her again, even after I became famous.

Source: "Truly Blessed," by Teddy Pendergrass

(EARTHA KITT & ETHEL WATERS)

According to Eartha Kitt: "I was at a Broadway rehearsal for the play "Blue Holiday," starring Ethel Waters and Avon Lang."

"We girls were supposed to be Hawaiian dancers. We were dressed in very scanty costumes, placed on a block and then told to wiggle wiggle our way across the stage."

"Here we were all doing our wiggles when a voice screamed in the harshest tone, "Get those naked bitches off my stage!"

"This was the start of my experience in the theater world. Thank God, this was only a rehearsal. We all looked in the direction from which the voice came, to be met by the thunderous sound of footsteps coming towards us from the wings."

"Ethel Waters came on stage with lightning speed, shooing us away with arms flailing."

"I don't want those naked bitches on my stage. Get them damn "things" out of here!" she screamed.

"She and the producers and directors had a small conference on stage as we hovered in the wings trying to hear what was being said. Eventually we were called back to begin our routine again. We continued to wiggle wiggle, when suddenly, without warning, a tap dancer (who was Ethel's boyfriend) entered on stage in front of us, rudely, tap dancing.

"We stood stunned, wondering how a tap dancer could tap on sand, but that was the way Ethel Waters wanted it and that was the way it stayed. Needless to say the show did not last more than a few weeks, if that."

Source: "Confessions Of A Sex Kitten," by Eartha Kitt

At an early age, Stevie Wonder became a prankster at Motown, often using his blindness as a prop. Knowing when he was being watched, he would pretend to stumble and fall, only to laugh when the concerned onlooker rushed over to help. He would ask someone to describe what a certain person was wearing, and then would proceed to lavish praise on that person about her dress or his suit, as if he could suddenly see.

Dionne Warwick may have been the most successful brunt of this particular routine. Backstage one evening, the Shirelles saw Warwick in a bright red dress that the group didn't especially care for and decided to recruit Stevie, always a willing accomplice, to their cause.

Stevie always knew Warwick by her perfume (Shalimar). When she approached him that evening, he recoiled as if struck by lightning. It's that awful red dress, he told her. Warwick, shaken, took the dress off and never wore it again. Only years later did the Shirelles confess their conspiracy to Warwick.

Stevie also developed a huge schoolboy crush on the older Diana Ross. It was the voice; he loved to hear her sing, and he loved to hear her talk. Love-stricken, he would listen to the Supremes' "Time Changes Things," over and over, simmering in heartache.

Source: "Blind Faith," by Dennis Love & Stacy Brown

NOSTALGIA GALLERY:

Basking in his position as Hollywood's number one Negro star, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson also experienced the ugly side of the industry's racial politics. When he appeared in "Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm," Bojangles motored to the Desert Inn in Palm Springs to teach Shirley Temple new dance routines. The Desert Inn-a series of cottages with a main building, at the foot of the spectacular San Jacinto Peak was a refuge for the wealthy and privileged L.A. set., including Hollywood stars.

Robinson was relegated to sleep where the chauffeurs slept. Shirley Temple said, "But you're not a chauffeur." Bojangles replied, "Now, darling, don't you fret. I've got a secret," he told her. "I may be staying in the chauffeur quarters but my chauffeur is staying there too!"

Later at the commissary, Temple noticed that Robinson took a single table against the back wall and ate alone because Blacks and Whites did not mix in the commissary.

Lena Horne always clashed with Bojangles and according to her daughter Gail Buckley, she considered him "the biggest Uncle Tom in show biz."

Away from the set, Bojangles had a penchant for gambling and always carried a .32 caliber gold plated revolver and he never walked away from a fight.

One evening he got into an altercation with a UCLA football player. Bojangles at 60-held his own against a 21 year old 220 pound football center. He was later booked on suspicion of assault.

Up until his death, Bojangles loved Hollywood and he delighted in the gorgeous young women-the showgirls, the playgirls, the models and even the wives of friends who flattered and fawned over him.

Source: "Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams," by Donald Bogle

In 1964, according to author Mark Epstein: "Nat King Cole began distancing himself from his wife Maria, seeking more chances to perform and travel without Maria. At first, watching his curious behavior, elation one minute, irritation the next, Maria attributed it to depression, anger and sadness over JFK's death and career pressures. But the more Nat was away, the less he wanted to come home. Maria needed him and so did the children."

"One weekend, he was performing in San Diego, and Maria thought he might be pleased if she brought the twin girls down with her to see him. When Maria arrived, she and the children arrived at Nat's hotel room. She was devastated when he allegedly said, "Well what are you here for?" The remarks stung and she said he had never been mean to her like that before.

"And, not long after this he came home from touring and Maria was upstairs unpacking his bags when she came across some unfamiliar things in his luggage from another woman. "Accessories to the act of love."

She says, "It was a message from the other woman. A woman who meant for me to find these items because she probably knew that I unpacked his bags." I later found out the woman's name was-Gunilla Hutton.

Cole carried on affairs throughout his marriage. By the time he developed lung cancer, he was estranged from his wife Maria in favor of actress Gunilla Hutton (above), best known as Nurse Goodbody of "Hee Haw," fame. However, he was together with his wife during his illness and she stayed with him until his death. In an interview, Maria has expressed no lingering resentment over his affairs, but rather emphasized his musical legacy and the class he exhibited in all other aspects of his life.

Source: "Nat King Cole," by Mark Epstein

Quincy Jones reveals in his autobiography that he got caught several times by his wife (Jeri), cheating. One of the most notable times being with Jazz and Blues legend, Dinah Washington. Quincy and Dinah had a big friendship and a series of affairs.

During this time, Dinah was a superstar and Quincy was not established. Quincy describes her voices as the "pipes of life." She could also do something a lot of singers then and now could not do. She could take the melody in her hand, hold it like an egg, crack it open, fry it, let it sizzle, reconstruct it, put the egg back in the box and back in the refrigerator and you would've still understood every single syllable of every single word she sang. Every single melody she sang she made hers. Once she put her soulful trademark on a song, she owned it and it was never the same. She was complete, original and magnificent.

Quincy adds, "Dinah was something else in her personal life. She was married five times. I'd seen her take an ex-lover's clothes she'd bought, brand-new clothes, and put all of them, shoes, hats, overcoats, everything in the bathtub, pour kerosene on them and set them on fire. One night, she announced from the stage, "Ladies and gentlemen, in one month this man (my man) in the audience, will be gone in three and a half weeks from my life."

"Yes, she was tough but she had to be. "Dinah could get black belt ghetto on your ass in a New York minute. Make no mistake about it but she was always in my corner. She was my true, kind, sweet, generous sister-friend who wanted what all good women want: true love."

"One evening after spending the night with Dinah, I returned home to my wife. Dinah later called my wife and told her we got drunk and did the doggie three times. My wife hung up and she filed for divorce a short time later."

BLACK ENTREPRENEUR'S IN HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN AGE:

In 1934, Ralph Cooper (above) had launched the Apollo Theater's famous Amateur Nights.

A young Billie Holiday was so popular that the audience wouldn't let her leave the stage until she sang the only two songs she knew again. When visiting New York, Hollywood stars like Mae West, Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley headed uptown to watch the Apollo amateurs make a bid for the big time.

Tall, broad-shouldered, light-skinned with almost jet black hair, Cooper was sometimes called "Dark Gable."

He was not only an actor but a dancer and comic and choreographer. Twentieth Century Fox hired him and the studio brass offered him a five year contract and enrolled him in its in-house training school along with Tyrone Power and Jack Haley.

At Fox's training school, he learned as much as he could about directing, script writing, lighting, set designing and everything you needed to know about filmmaking.

Afterward, Cooper formed "Million Dollar Productions," with two brothers. Many of the black stars saw the potential of Million Dollar Productions right away. Lena Horne, Louise Beavers and Theresa Harris signed up.

Cooper had a successful run and produced several moderately successful black films.

Source: "Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams," by Donald Bogle

Paul Revere Williams is one of the most successful architect's in history. He designed homes for: Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Lon Chaney, Anthony Quinn, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Barbara Stanwyck.

Williams also designed the Saks Fifth Avenue building in Beverly Hills, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles International Airport, The L.A. County Courthouse and the MCA building.

Despite his success, he was a victim of racial discrimination. He once said "I designed the most beautiful home for a client today, sometimes I dream of living in this home, I could afford such a home but this evening leaving my office, I returned to my small inexpensive home in an unrestricted undesirable section of Los Angeles because I am a Negro."

Paul Revere Williams died at the age of 86 in 1980.

Joyce Bryant, "the Bronze Blond Bombshell," never achieved Eartha Kitt or Lena Horne popularity, but the supper club chanteuse is still fondly remembered. The four octave singer, aka the black Marilyn Monroe, was also known as "The Voice You'll Always Remember," and "the Belter," was born in Oakland, CA, but raised in San Francisco (the oldest of eight children). She moved to Los Angeles to live with cousins when she was in her late teens. The move came after a disastrous marriage; she eloped at 14 but the marriage ended on the wedding night without consummation. Her father was a carousing railroad chef only home long enough to in-pregnant his wife, a devout Seventh-Day Adventist. An impromptu sing along in a Los Angeles club in the late '40s was Bryant's first public performance. From there, she picked up other gigs and built a strong reputation.

Her act was outrageously sexy; she wore provocative, tight, backless, cleavage-revealing mermaid dresses that left little to imagine and they were so tight, she had to be carried off-stage. Supposedly, Bryant twisted so much she lost four pounds a performance. The blond hair probably inspired Etta James -- who, like Bryant, was also raised in San Francisco and lived in Los Angeles -- to copy the blond hair image later. Bryant's hair was naturally black, but not wanting to be upstaged by Josephine Baker at a club, she doused it with silver radiator paint, slithered into a tight silver dress and voila: the Bronze Blond Bombshell and even Baker was impressed.

The gimmick and Bryant's elastic voice elevated the singer to heavyweight status; she earned as much as $3,500 dollars a gig and $150,000 dollars a year in the early '50s. She was called one of the most beautiful black women in the world and regularly appeared in Afrocentric magazines like Jet. A Life magazine layout in 1953 depicted the sexy singer in provocative poses.

She recorded a series of 78s for OKeh Records with the Joe Reisman Orchestra around 1952 that includes "It's Only Human," "Go Where You Go," "A Shoulder to Weep On," "After You've Gone," and "Farewell to Love." Two recordings, "Love for Sale" and "Drunk With Love," were banned from radio play.

As meteoric as her career took off, it landed even faster. The paint damaged her hair and, raised to fear God, she started having second thoughts about her image. She disliked working on the Sabbath and hated the clubs and the men (often gangsters) who frequented them, lusting after her body. She was once beaten in her dressing room for refusing an admirer's advances. Years later, she told Essence magazine that she never enjoyed her career. She wanted to quit earlier, but couldn't because of nefarious managers and prior commitments.

She found solace in pills: pills for sleeping and pills for energy. The first phase of her career ended in 1955 when she denounced it for the church. Despite problems with the IRS (she owed 60,000 dollars), she enrolled in a Seventh-Day Adventist College in Alabama and later became an evangelist. She recanted because of false accusations and returned to entertaining in the '60s, finding work with touring foreign opera companies. She returned to the rocky club scene and sang on cruise ships; this time without the theatrics, blond hair, and tight dresses. Bryant was honored at the Arlington County Library in Arlington, VA, during Black History Month at an event hosted by jazz historian and WPFW radio host Jim Beyers (who calls her the Lost Diva).

Sources~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide & Donald Bogle.

In 1987, Jackie and Enid Jackson's (1st photo) divorce was finalized. Enid recalled, "I admit, at first my feelings about Jackie was 'If you have one single penny left when I finish with you, that will be one penny too much. In fact, you and Paula Abdul (2nd photo) won't have enough change to take the bus to the recording studio."

Looking back on it, "I feel the affair wasn't all Paula's fault. She was wrong for harassing me and for breaking up my marriage but nobody forced Jackie to do anything.

"You hear stories that all the Jacksons helped Paula get her start, but that's not true, Enid continued. Jackie gave her all the breaks. When the Jacksons did that "Torture," video, they already had a choreographer. She convinced Jackie to get rid of that choreographer and hire her. Then after that she hooked up with Janet. But when Paula became famous, she refused to acknowledge that Jackie was the one who cared about her, made her a star and gave her a career. She dogged him, I must say. And he was so hurt. It's a sad, heartbreaking story."

Sadly, Enid Jackson would die of a brain aneurysm in a movie theater bathroom in 1997.

In October 1987, two months after Enid and Jackie's divorce. Hazel Gordy filed for divorce from her husband, Jermaine. Jermaine had began having an affair with Margaret Maldonado and she became pregnant. Six months later, Hazel gave Jermaine the news that she was also pregnant. Jermaine and his mistress had the audacity to take their new child to Marlon Jackson's birthday party although Jermaine was still married to Hazel at the time. Surprisingly, all of the Jacksons' fussed over the baby.

Hazel often declared an undying love for Jermaine and she didn't want to leave her husband's side, even if he had a child with another woman. She even offered to adopt the new baby, provided Jermaine stopped seeing Margaret. He apparently didn't want to end the affair.

To some family members, the story eerily resembled that of Joe and Katherine and Joe's illegitimate child."

Source: "The Magic & The Madness," by J. Randy Taraborelli

The late Rick James on his drug addiction: "Once again, my life was slowly going out of control. My bedroom windows had been darkened again and I'd have sex with 3-4 women at a time while getting high, then lay and watch them."

"That was all my life seemed to consist of. The only time that I felt released from my addiction was when I went down to the Island of St. Marten, rented a yacht, and just sailed and smoked grass."

"Something about the sun and the peacefulness of the yacht would almost cause me to lose my desire to do cocaine. As soon as I was back in Buffalo or L.A. the monster would return."

According to author Kevin Ammons, in 1993, Robyn Crawford, 2nd photo, (Whitney Houston's personal assistant) called him. She asked, "Did Whitney's father (John) offer to pay you to beat me up?" Ammons skated around the question without admitting anything.

A hour later, John Houston called. He asked me, "Kevin, did I ever ask you to hurt Robyn Crawford in any way?" I knew he had to have me on the speaker phone and someone was there. I said, "John, we both know what happened." He went ballistic, screaming and cursing. "You fucking liar! If you ever go public with this shit, I'll flatly deny it make your life a living hell!" I'm warning you, keep your fucking mouth shut or you'll be one sorry bastard!"

According to Ammons, "Several months earlier, I had loaned my mistress, (Whitney Houston's former publicist) Regina Brown $5,000 dollars because she gave me the impression she was broke since she no longer worked for Whitney." Much to my surprise, she was far from broke. I was spending the day with my sons. One of my boys said, "Daddy, somebody left a wallet in the backseat." He handed it to me and it wasn't a wallet, it was Regina's savings account book. She had $89,000 in her account. I was livid but kept my cool." When I confronted her, she started crying, clinging to me, begging me to forgive her. According to Ammons, she said, "It's our money, Kevin, because we're in love and we're getting married just as soon as you get a divorce."

"She would sob hysterically and threaten to kill herself if I ever left her. She had a .25 automatic pistol and on several occasions she had taken it out and pointed it to her head."

"In November 1993, I pulled up in front of Regina's building and saw her sitting in a sports car with another man. When she saw me, she jumped out, ran over and started babbling. I pushed her away and left."

"About a week later, I heard over the radio that Whitney Houston's former publicist Regina Brown was engaged to George Daniels. I had introduced them and now they were getting married. It shocked me. I didn't know they had even dated."

"The next time she called, according to Ammons, she said, "I don't want to give you up, baby, I don't want to give up the great sex." Despite this alleged statement, Regina married George Daniels.

Ironically, George and Regina Daniels (directly above) would go on to do publicity for R. Kelly until earlier this year after it was revealed that Kelly was allegedly sleeping with their daughter Maxine- behind their backs.

Source: "Good Girl, Bad Girl," by Kevin Ammons & Nancy Bacon

In January 1975, Diana Ross was in Rome starring in a glamorous movie titled "Mahogany," about her life in the fast lane as a fashion designer.

While Diana rode around in chauffeur-driven limousines in Rome, Florence Ballard was bussing it around Detroit.

The first time she had to use public transportation, she waited at the bus stop feeling self-conscious, all the while praying that no one would recognize her. Earlier, she had remembered to wear large sunglasses and to raise the hood over her winter coat before she left the house.

When automobiles would slow down at the intersection to allow for crossing pedestrians, Florence certain they were slowing down to stare at her, would turn her back in shame. Finally, the bus pulled up to the curb and she got on while rummaging through her purse for change. A few seconds later, she got off. She didn't have exact change for the fare.

Florence walked across the street to a run-down liquor store and politely asked for change of a dollar. The person at the cash register sized her up and began saying, "Say, ain't you...? No, I ain't Florence said, cutting him off.

Then she went back to the bus stop and sat on the bench. Finally, another bus pulled up. After Florence got aboard, it drove off in the direction of the Brewster projects.

Diana Ross had heard that Florence was about to lose her home because she owed a few thousand dollars on it. Apparently, few people know, Diana tried to communicate with Florence but she refused to take her calls and some of the calls were intercepted by Flo's family.

Despite this, Diana had her business office issue a check for the amount owed on the home and made arrangements for the money to be delivered to Flo's husband, Tommy Chapman but Diana didn't trust Chapman and she insisted the check be made payable to the bank holding the mortgage but Tommy insisted that the check be made out to him personally. Diana thought, if he really had his wife's best interests at heart, he would have accepted the check made out to the mortgage company, instead, he refused the check and the check was voided.

Florence lost the house and had to move herself and her three young children in with one of her sisters. She received $135 every two weeks from welfare.

It's not known whether Florence realized what Diana had tried to do.

Source: "Call Her Miss Ross," by J. Randy Taraborrelli

According to soul legend Etta James, "Mick Jagger was never shy about showing his "crotch," on stage." Etta also claimed, she knew the reason for the bulge in the star's tight pants.

"It's padding," she says, after discovering him backstage. Allegedly, his "wad" had slipped out of its position and was hanging down to his knees. He was feverishly trying to readjust his so-called "love bulge," before strutting on stage again.

According to a young Quincy Jones, when he toured with Lionel Hampton's band. "The musicians sat in four groups, clean and sober, heroin addicts, potheads and alcoholics."

"Each time the tour bus arrived in a new city, the four groups would scatter in all directions to bone up on their various needs. Most of the time, the dope dealers would be waiting for us at the hotels when we arrived. There were several at the Majestic Hotel in Detroit who were like that, and there was another character among them who caught my eye.

"He was tall, thin, light-skinned, a handsome cat, with red hair, dark shades, a brimmed hat, shiny shoes and an Italian fitting suit. A cool customer. Always polite and calm. He'd watch as our bus pulled up at 4 a.m. then step out from the shadows and watch the dope dealers do business, saying nothing. No dope dealer fucked with him."

"He dug the band and I was curious about him, so I asked him his name. He said, "They used to call me Detroit Red, but my true name is Malcolm X."

"Lionel "Hamp" Hampton (1st photo) liked Malcolm X. He used to tell Malcolm to find the Lord. Malcolm would laugh and say, "I've already met Him." Malcolm used to say that Hamp had a lot of racial pride, and he was right.

"Hamp's wife, Gladys (2nd photo), a black woman, was his manager and she made a ton of money for him, which was unheard of in the 40's and 50's. Hamp was a groundbreaker on a lot of levels. He and his wife dealt with some of the toughest, smartest cats in the business, including Joe Glazer, who got his start running concessions for Al Capone and whose ABC company managed Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. All of those people respected Gladys. She and Hamp owned their band. They owned every single musician in the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, including me."

Source: "The Autobiography Of Quincy Jones," by: Quincy Jones

IN RELATED NEWS: (MALCOLM X ASSASSIN FIGHTS FOR FREEDOM)

Thomas Hagan, 66, (2nd photo) the killer of Malcolm X is fighting for a complete release, demanding that he be set free. Hagan currently spends 12 hours a week in jail. The rest of the time he works at a fast food restaurant and lives with his wife and kids in New York City.

His alleged accomplices were paroled in 1985 and 1987. Yet, Hagan's request for complete freedom at his 13th parole hearing last year, was denied.

"I've been incarcerated for 40 years and I've had a good record, I don't see any reason for them continuing to hold me."

After Malcolm X was shot and killed, three assassins tried to flee in the panic but Hagan was shot in the leg by one of Malcolm X's bodyguards and captured.

Since 1982, Hagan has been in a work release program, spending two nights a week at a minimum security facility and the rest of the time outside working and with his family.

While he says he "has repeatedly expressed remorse for his actions," he has never apologized to Malcolm X's family."

"INTERRACIAL UNDERCOVER IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD"

Black actor Stepin Fetchit (1st photo) dazzled everyone with his fame offscreen and stories circulated of his opulence and his extravagant spending sprees. He also owned 12 cars, including a Dusenberg, a Locomobile and a pink Rolls-Royce with his name lit up in neon lights on the side.

Fetchit also had a very discreet and close friendship with white actress Jean Harlow (3rd photo) and word spread that white actress Mae West (center) was often seen in the passenger seat of his Rolls Royce.

Source: "Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams," by Donald Bogle

After Diana Ross married billionaire Arne Naess, his first wife (Filippa) and mother of his three children had to surrender to Diana her Chateu in Switzerland. The home was called "Chalet Filippa." Diana completely redecorated when she moved in and changed the name.

Diana sensed that Filippa had ambivalent feelings about her so she had her first husband Bob Silberstein call Filippa for a pep talk. Filippa was stunned. Given the circumstances of her problems with Arne and the financial settlement she had never been able to get, she must have felt Silberstein's advice was rather presumptuous.

Diana also invited Filippa to her palatial Connecticut estate owned by the very rich second wife (Diana) of her ex-husband. It's not difficult to imagine that she might have felt a bit awkward, especially considering the unfinished business she had with Arne regarding their divorce settlement but Diana said later that she thought Filippa had a fine time.

Source: "Call Her Miss Ross," by J. Randy Taraborrelli

Author Kevin Ammons (the boyfriend of a former Houston publicist) makes explosive allegations in his book "Good Girl/Bad Girl."

According to Ammons, allegedly, Whitney's former publicist (his girlfriend at the time) approached him and said, "Whitney is a nervous wreck about all the stories in the tabloids about Bobby's drug-dealing ways and she is afraid to buy any pot."

"She wants to know if you (Ammons) would bring her some pot in from Chicago, the next time you fly in?"

Ammons says, "I would have done anything for Whitney by this time, so, like a fool, I agreed. I stuffed an ounce of marijuana down into my underwear and went to the airport. I was sweating like crazy, afraid some drug-sniffing dog would go after me, I can't tell you how nervous I was during the entire trip, and I vowed I would never take a foolish chance again. So the next time I was approached, I declined."

"A day before Whitney Houston's and Bobby Brown's wedding, I had to face the fact that I wouldn't be there. My invitation never arrived, and I couldn't get Regina (publicist) on the phone. It was obvious even to the biggest fool in the world what had happened. The copy of the invitation I'd seen in the Globe had been mine. Regina had intercepted it and sold it to them. It broke my heart. It was the most devastating disappointment of my life."

Source: "Good Girl/Bad Girl," by Kevin Ammons & Nancy Bacon

While Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were going on to fame and glory. The Supremes seemed to be stuck in a rut. The battle lines were drawn. Berry Gordy made the mistake of booking both groups on a show together at the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C. with the Supremes as an opening act.

As the Supremes walked out onto the stage, radiant and proud in the new stage gear Diana purchased for them with money she begged Berry to wire her. Only problem, their dresses were identical to the one's Martha Reeves & The Vandellas had planned to wear that evening.

In the middle of their second number, Mary and Florence realized that two Vandellas were standing in the wings and glaring at them.

Florence would later recall that Diana was fully involved in her performance when out of the corner of her eye she noticed Martha Reeves standing just off stage to her right. Her fists were clenched.

When the Supremes came off stage, Diana dashed across the stage and made a hasty exit on the opposite side. "Quick, let's get to the dressing room!" she screamed as she raced down the hall.

As Mary and Florence followed, Martha Reeves sprinted across the backstage area, weaving in and out of the startled stage technicians who were standing in her way. The Supremes screeched in unison as they scampered up the flight of stairs barely out of Martha's reach. They dashed into the dressing room, slamming and locking the door behind them.

"I'm going to get you, Diana Ross," Martha yelled from outside. "You just wait!"

"You mean to tell me you found out where they got their dresses and bought three just like them?" Florence asked Diana inside the dressing room.

"Well, we looked good, didn't we?" Diana answered.

When Martha and the Vandellas hit the stage, they were attired in cheap, tacky stage wear because of Diana's stunt.

Source: "Call Her Miss Ross," by J. Randy Taraborrelli

Their "Cotton Club,"performances made the Nicholas Brothers famous. At the "Cotton Club," where they became regulars, and where they were to dazzle the rich and famous club goers. At the club, black entertainers were not supposed to mingle with the white patrons but the boys were given free rein to run around, sit or chat with whomever they pleased.

The entire Nicholas family and their parents (Ulysses and Viola) moved from Philadelphia to a luxurious apartment. Hollywood came knocking on their door in the mid-1930's with an offer for the brothers to appear in films. A few months later, Ulysses Nicholas suffered a massive heart attack and died. Afterward, Viola managed her son's career.

Viola saw to it that both boys were always immaculately groomed and splendidly dressed, usually in suits and ties and they were squired around town in a car driven by their personal chauffeur. No appearance, personal or professional went unnoticed.

According to former DJ Joe Adams, "When I was a kid, I was in awe of the Nicholas Brothers, as kids, they were making more money than adults. I used to go to a barbershop and they came into the barbershop when they were in town. They would pull up in a limousine and get out. Every black kid was trying to be one of the Nicholas Brothers during this time."

Source: "Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams," by Donald Bogle

According to Bob Jones, Michael Jackson's former publicist, "Michael is so out of touch, that he wanted to replace Will Smith in the "Men In Black," sequel. Jones says, "Michael told film executives to get Will Smith out of the movie and let him have the part." Jones adds, "Michael even offered to do the movie for free if they gave him Will Smith's role."

During a publicity shoot for "Waiting To Exhale," Whitney Houston dashed in and disappeared behind a curtain for makeup and wardrobe without even acknowledging the cast or crew. When she emerged, the public face was in place, frozen, beautiful, closed. After the shoot and a brief interview, Angela Bassett graciously thanked everyone in the studio, but Whitney simply spun around on her heel and left without saying goodbye to anyone (with her entourage in tow-hastening to keep up). On the sidewalk, fans rushed her for autographs, she ignored them as well as her bodyguards hustled her into her new black Rolls Royce limousine and sped away.

According to author Kevin Ammons, "I was friends with Whitney Houston's brother Michael. One day we went to a gym and shoot hoops but before we left we were sitting in my house, smoking weed and drinking beers. Michael pulled a packet out of his pocket and asked if I had any baking soda and could he borrow a spoon. I grew up in the projects and knew the ritual for smoking cocaine."

"After I drove him back to his hotel. Just as we entered the lobby, we saw Whitney and Cissy coming out of the bar and the look on Whitney's face told us she was furious. She stomped up to Michael and said, "Where the fuck have you been and why didn't you tell me where you were going?" "We were at the gym," Michael said.

"I don't give a fuck," Whitney yelled. "You answer to me. If you ever pull that shit again, you won't be working for me!"

"So fire me then," Michael yelled back, just as angry as his sister. He turned away saying, "Fuck you," Whitney," and she slapped him across the face.

"You bitch," Michael yelled and slugged her in the face with his fist and she slugged him right back with her fist! They were standing toe-to-toe throwing punches like a couple of men and Cissy was just watching.

After they exchanged a couple more blows, Cissy stepped forward, raised her cane and bopped Michael right on top of the head. Real hard. "That's enough," she said. "Michael, don't you hurt my baby."

Michael grabbed his cap off the floor and went up to his room to smoke some pot. He told me, "She's my sister and I love her but that bitch his crazy!"

Source: "Good Girl/Bad Girl," by: Kevin Ammons & Nancy Bacon

One night at the China Club. Rick James claims he ran into his friend Herbie Hancock and they got blitzed on tequila. By the time Rick went on stage to perform, he was drunk. All of the sudden, he fell out cold. He was pulled up and carried to the backstage area. They laid him down. He says, "I couldn't believe the pain. I think I broke a few ribs. When I looked up, I saw faces of anxious people, including actor Lawrence Hilton Jacobs. A few years back I had lent Jacobs $30,000 dollars and he had never repaid me, the stinking motherfucker. I was groaning with agony but when I saw his face I wanted to jump up and smack the motherfucker. He still hasn't repaid me."

According to Rick James, "One night, after one show, I hung out with actor Christopher Reeves before his accident. We snorted coke and Reeves eventually snorted up all of my cocaine. I think he was taking his Superman role too seriously that night."

"One evening when I was having dinner with a friend (Joey) at Chasen's restaurant. We were sitting right next to Ron and Nancy Reagan. I was fucked up and laughing hysterically. When they got up to leave, my friend Joey called to him. Ronnie! Ronnie! Come here! Reagan walks over with Secret Service in tow. Reagan put out his hand and we took turns shaking it. Then I said, "You might know my cousin, Congressman Louis Stokes? Reagan looked right at me. I thought he was going to answer but all he said was "Thank you very much." I almost fell on the floor laughing. I couldn't believe this man had actually run this country. Scary.

According to author Kevin Ammons, he accompanied Whitney Houston on tour in London. A white van had picked up Whitney and her entourage enroute to a function for sick children.

Ammons says, "We piled into a big van, everyone was laughing and joking and having a good time. Whitney was talking to me and Robyn Crawford kept interrupting until finally Whitney turned on her and snapped, "Shut the fuck up before I kick your ass out!"

I chuckled, thinking she was kidding, but she was serious. "I mean it Kevin," she said. "I'll beat this bitch's ass and put her out alongside the road. Just ask her what happened yesterday on the paddleboat's."

"Huh," Robyn snorted. "Nothing happened on the paddleboat's and you fucking well know it."

"You fucking liar," Whitney yelled. "You know damn well I beat your ass and made you walk back to the hotel!"

Robyn glared and muttered, "We beat each other's ass, okay?"

We arrived at the function, Whitney ran onstage and held out her hands, the sick kids flocked to her and engulfed her. She was crying, hugging and kissing them.

She then turned and motioned to me and I took her hand and helped her offstage. She was still smiling and waving but under her breath she said to me, "Get me the fuck out of here, away from these musty-assed, smelly kids!" I stared at her and she was dry eyed; the tears had completely vanished.

Source: "Good Girl/Bad Girl," by Kevin Ammons & Nancy Bacon

Two days after Malcolm X's assassination, his widow Betty Shabazz showed photographer/filmmaker Gordon Parks (1st photo) a bloodstained list of likely hit men that had been in Malcolm's pocket when he died. Parks copied the list for reference, knowing "Life," magazine would expect him to write the story.

As Parks was leaving, two powerfully built men who had caught and broken the leg of one of Malcolm's assassin's pulled him to the side and said, "Harlem's too hot for us tonight. How about taking us to your place." Parks said, "fine!"

The next day, long after the bodyguards had left, Parks went to his typewriter to write a story on the assassination of Malcolm X.

One day after the story appeared on the stands the FBI informed the editor of Life magazine that Parks' life was in danger. Four men had been assigned to kill him. Pictures of them had been sent and Parks' recognized two of his would be assassins. Life magazine quickly surrounded him with five detectives and within 24 hours his entire family were aboard a private jet bound for a foreign destination.

Parks and his family eventually returned to New York and everywhere he went, at least four men were beside him with guns beneath their coats. Weary of the situation, Parks decided to end it one way or the other. After giving his bodyguards the slip, he drove up to Harlem, strode into the Muslim restaurant and asked for brother Joseph X. He was the then commander of the Fruit of Islam, the Muslims tough force of bodyguards. According to Parks, "We had tea and talked mostly about the weather and parted with a handshake."

That was the end of it. I went back downtown and asked Life magazine to call off the bodyguards.

Source: "Voices In The Mirror: An Autobiography," by Gordon Parks

According to author Kevin Ammons, Cissy Houston had always been strong, dominant and formidable but so was Whitney's personal assistant, Robyn Crawford (3rd photo). In fact, friends say out of the three women (Whitney, Cissy & Robyn), Robyn was the most dominant. Whitney was strong but it was easy to recognize who was the "boss" in their friendship.

By 1988, Robyn had taken charge of Whitney's career, replacing Cissy. Cissy was livid. When Whitney bought her lavish estate and moved Robyn in, all hell broke loose. When Cissy came to visit, she was relegated to a separate guest house, albeit a luxurious one with a sauna, spa and all the amenities. Cissy was sad because she wanted to be in the main house with her daughter.

Ammons says, "Regina Brown, (Whitney's then publicist), told me that Cissy and Robyn often fought over Whitney. Whitney hated being in the middle but at that time, she wasn't about to give up Robyn for anyone."

Ammons adds, "Regina met Cissy in 1986 when Regina worked in Chicago for a not-for-profit organization. She approached Cissy about during a fundraiser with Whitney and promised Cissy she would do everything in her power to secure a record contract for her. "I was playing her," Regina told me, "because I wanted to get to Whitney, but Cissy has such a big ego, she went for it. She still thinks her voice is better than anyone else in the world!"

Regina had also managed to sign Luther Vandross and the fundraiser was a huge success. She managed to get a few write-ups in the newspapers for Cissy but no record deal. "Nobody wanted to sign her," Regina said. "She was washed up but she was the only one who didn't know it."

Cissy allegedly poured out her feelings about Robyn Crawford. Cissy was unhappy with Whitney's sudden display of independence and Robyn's strong influence in her life. "She tried everything to break it up, Regina said, "but Cissy finally met her match in Robyn. She was younger, stronger and a hell of a lot more stubborn and determined than Cissy ever dreamed possible."

Source: "Good Girl/Bad Girl," by Kevin Ammons & Nancy Bacon

"CELEBRITY RELATIONS"

Artist/producer/pianist George Duke is the first cousin of songstress Deniece Williams.