Home

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

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.

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

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

"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.

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."

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.

Doing the time Richard Pryor was romancing and dating actress Pam Grier, one evening, he walked into a Hollywood club with friend Paul Mooney and saw Deboragh McGuire.

According to Pryor, she was an exquisite black model in her early 20's. He had seen her before, at other clubs, and she always ignored him despite his celebrity status. And, she was stacked with a Dolly Parton type chest that received a lot of male attention.

This made Pryor want her even more. He turned to Mooney and whined how badly he wanted to leave with her.

Pryor sent her a bottle of champagne and then walked over and according to him, she talked to him like a dog. But he liked it.

Reluctantly, she agreed to drive back to his house for a party. Pryor invited Lola Falana and some other friends. Later, Deboragh confessed the only reason she had gone was to meet Soul Train's host Don Cornelius.

Pryor said, "Even though I was bedeviled by her, Deboragh didn't like me. She didn't need me. As a teenager, she had met this rich, older white man who helped her skip through the massacre. He taught her things, took her places and she loved him."

"That fact alone made me insanely jealous. I telephoned her like hers was the only number I knew. Day and night. The more attached she was to him, the more determined I was to take her away. It was sick, really it was."

Pryor tried to get Deboragh to hang out with him on the set of "Uptown Saturday Night," but she wasn't ready to get involved with his craziness. One night, he got so pissed at not being paid nearly $100,000 in royalties owed for "That Ni**er's Crazy," he opened fire on his gold album with a .345 Magnum. Another night, Freddie Prinze and Pryor got nuts on cocaine and stood in his backyard and fired round after round into the sky.

Despite dating Pam Grier who according to Pryor, was telling everyone that they were getting married, he eventually wore down Deboragh's resistance and married her, instead.  This didn't stop Pam Grier from showing up at the wedding, uninvited.

At the wedding reception, Pryor went into his back pocket and gave Deboragh his wallet and told her to go on a shopping spree the next day before they took off on their honeymoon.

The marriage collapsed after 6 months.

Source: "Pryor Convictions," by Richard Pryor & Todd Gold

"CELEBRITY FEUD" (REWIND)

According to author Kevin Ammons, in retrospect, 1988 seems to be the year Whitney Houston rebelled in a big way. She had been offered the film version of "Dreamgirls," which would eventually be shelved until years later.

When word got back to Diana that Whitney had been offered "Dreamgirls," Diana Ross was infuriated. If a movie of "Dreamgirls," was going to be made, she would play herself, not some young brash newcomer.

When Whitney heard about Diana's reaction, she allegedly laughed and said, "Then they'd have to retitle it "Dreamgrannies," how old is she anyway, about 50?

Just to set Diana Ross off again. Whitney allegedly pretended like she wanted to play Josephine Baker in a film, a dream role of Ross's.

Diana accused Whitney of fawning interest just to "one up me."

As it turned out, the role of Josephine Baker went to Lynn Whitfield and both women lost out.

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

According to Frank Sinatra's black male valet (George Jacobs), notorious playboy Porfirio "Rubi" Rubirosa (3rd photo) had developed a reputation as the greatest playboy since Casanova, partly due to his 14 inch endowment. Rubi was tremendously black friendly and often dated black women but never charged them a gigolo fee. The James Bond character was also based on Rubi and he was a former diplomat, chef, race car driver and political assassin. Rubi also counted Sammy Davis, Jr. among his black friends and he dated Eartha Kitt.

According to Jacobs, Rubi loved having black buddies and took Jacobs to meet Madam Claude, at the time, the world's most famous madam. A few of her call girls went on to achieve success as actresses in Hollywood.

Jacobs said Madam Claude spoke no english but welcomed him as if he was royalty because he was Rubi's friend. When Jacobs told her that he was Frank Sinatra's right hand man, she lit up and begged him to bring Sinatra over. It would be her honor to have one of her girls service him. Her girls had serviced everyone from the Rothschilds to Lord Mountbatten to the shan of Iran to Picasso.

According to Jacobs, Sinatra wasn't interested in Madam Claude's services because he had something else on his mind, actress Grace Kelly.

He called her "Gracie," and she called him "Francis." Sinatra had been crazy about Gracie since he's first gotten to know her on the set of "Mogambo."

To achieve his goal of spending some "quality time" alone with Grace, despite Grace being married to Prince Rainier. Sinatra sent Jacobs to the palace with a case of special bonded Jack Daniel's for Prince Rainier.

According to Jacobs, Prince Rainier was the nicest guy in the world. He was also fluent in five languages and he loved cars. He took Jacobs to his garage and showed him his collection of Bugattis, Daimlars and grand prix Ferrari's.

Sinatra was so happy that Jacobs and the Prince bonded-he sent Jacobs back to Monte Carlo bearing more gifts. He was using him as a decoy to get to Grace Kelly.

When Sinatra and Grace were on a balcony, Jacobs overheard them making elaborate plans to meet at some villa near the David Nivenses at Cap Ferrat.

Later that day, when Jacobs went to the palace, he was served a fabulous lunch in the state dining room, the prince said that the princess was at the flower market. Jacobs said nothing because he knew she was really with Sinatra.

Jacobs adds, "Later, the prince and I listened to his Count Basie and Duke Ellington collections and he talked about seeing Josephine Baker and how her performance changed his life. I felt bad being part of any plan to deceive this good man."

Source: "My Life With Mr. S," By George Jacobs.

FLORENCE BALLARD'S BODY TO BE EXHUMED?

The sister of tragic Supremes star Florence Ballard wants to dig up the singer's body and prove she was murdered. The soul star died more than 30 years ago, but her sister Maxine has never accepted coronary artery thrombosis was the true cause of death.

Maxine, 65, believes Florence was murdered because she knew too much about some of the music industry's biggest players. She says, "She didn't have a history of heart disease. There was this brown cereal-type substance (in her system) that was never identified.

"I believe she was killed because someone wanted to silence her... Florence had big plans for the future. I believe she was killed."

A lost interview has been unearthed that Ballard gave to the Detroit Free Press just before her death, when she admitted she feared for her life after suing Motown founder Berry Gordy for what she claimed was missing millions in royalty money. She revealed, "I began to get scared. I don't know why, I just had a fear." Maxine reveals her sister was plotting an expose all about Motown when she died.

According to Jackie Jackson's late wife Enid (2nd photo): "I had a date with Jackie who was staying at his brother's Randy's place due to our separation. We had planned to talk about our marriage and a possible reconciliation."

"When I left, I noticed Paula Abdul driving down the street on her way to Jackie's. The next day, I went back to talk to Jackie, and sure enough, she was there."

"Accompanied by my secretary, we waited for Paula to leave. A car chase ensued. Finally, Paula found herself trapped in an alley, facing off against an angry, hurt wife and a witness."

"I asked her, I want to know what's going on? Paula replied, "I'm seeing Jackie, that's what's going on. Enid answered, "I thought Jackie and I were getting back together but apparently we're not." Listen, you don't know what you're doing. It's not just you and him. This hurts a lot of people. There are children involved here. Family."

Paula didn't say anything.

Enid continued, "You're not going to be the only one for Jackie. If he's done this to me, he's going to do it to you one day."

At that, Paula broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. "Every time he's with me, he wants to be with you, she cried. "And when he's with you, he wants to be with me."

Enid suddenly realized that underneath all of that bravado, Paula Abdul was just a bewildered young woman who had gotten herself into a painful, humiliating situation. She was in love with a married man and didn't know what to do about it.

Enid thought, "Here I was, a grown woman, mature enough to try and understand this. And Jackie was a grown-ass dirty old man, who had gotten himself involved with a girl who didn't know any better. That day, Enid had found out that Jackie had bought Paula a new car, a Rolex watch, a diamond and sapphire necklace and matching bracelet and a diamond engagement ring. Jackie had also taken Paula to the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Game.

After the confrontation, Enid felt so sorry for Paula, she followed her to her place to make sure she got home okay. When they got in the house, Paula was still sobbing and told Enid that she needed to call her mother. Enid offered to dial the number.

When Paula's mother answered the phone, Enid introduced herself and said, "Listen, I'm very concerned about your daughter. I hate to see your daughter in a situation like this, having an affair with my husband.

According to Enid, Paula's mother said the following: "Well, listen here, from what I understand, this isn't the first time your husband has had an affair. He has had many women over the years. It just so happens that my daughter is the one he wants to leave you for. So what do you think about that?

Enid was too stunned to answer.

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

In 1978, director John Boorman submitted a movie treatment to John Calley, head of Warner Brothers. The film, entitled "The Bodyguard," was intended as a vehicle for Diana Ross and Ryan O'Neal. O'Neal thought the treatment was great and Diana was immediately intrigued.

Ross had known O'Neal for four years, since she owned a multi-million dollar Malibu Colony beachfront home close to his. O'Neal used to jog on the beach in the nude; he wasn't easy to ignore.

Berry Gordy had reservations about "The Bodyguard," not because of the obvious sensitivity of the subject matter but because he didn't see it as a suitable vehicle for Diana Ross.

O'Neal had never been linked to a black woman, Diana would be the first.

It is not clear if Diana Ross was aware that "The Main Event," a film O'Neal did with Barbara Streisand was originally intended for her.

The "Bodyguard," never materialized for Diana Ross and Ryan O'Neal but they remained friends, some say lovers.

Over dinner one evening, Diana discussed her problems concerning Berry Gordy and Motown. O'Neal responded, "If I had what you make, I'd be rich forever." He then advised her on investments.

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

According to Quincy Jones, "In 1962, my wife (Jeri) and I decided to separate. I moved out of our apartment and into Morris Levy's place."

"On my first night as a single man, I went to my office, finished some work and made a call to a gorgeous honey named Freda Payne; who at the time was just 19."

"I'd met this beautiful woman at Danny Simm's club in New York and we'd fallen in love. Little did I know until a year later, when she jumped onstage in Chicago with my big band after drinking almost a bottle of champagne and killed it on "If I Were A Bell," that she was a really talented singer. We put her in the band on the Billy Eckstine tour."

"Freda went on to have a major career and a huge hit, "Band Of Gold."

"Freda and I were at Morris's and I was in the shower when she said, "Somebody's at the door." I said, "Answer it." Morris' apartment wasn't the safest place in the world. Reputedly he had mob connections and the last time I'd opened his door, a big dude named Big Sneeze dressed in a black suit and dark shades was looking down at me."

Freda said, "I think you better answer it."

Morris had a big cedar closet in his apartment, so I made Freda climb in it just to be safe and opened the apartment door. It was worse than I thought. Instead of a thug waiting there to break my knees, it was my wife, Jeri.

She said, "I just wanted to see how lonely you were on our first night apart."

"She walked into the apartment, into the kitchen, straight up to the closet where Freda was and said, "I felt it when I saw you two at the Apollo. Honey, you can come on out now."

"Then, Freda emerged."

Jeri turned to go, and left without saying another word.

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

In the summer of 1981, Diana Ross interviewed prospective candidates to distribute a cosmetics line for one of her new business ventures. Revlon set up a meeting with Ross.

"Miss Ross," one of the Revlon representatives eagerly began, "we are certain that you could do quite a bit for the black women's market of cosmetics." According to another rep, Ross's fingers tightened on the edge of the table and she abruptly stood up and elegantly walked out of the room.

The meeting was concluded without explanation.

Later, one of the executives informed a Revlon rep that "Miss Ross is not black. Not in her mind and not in the mind of anyone who works for her. She crosses all color barriers, that's why she left the room."

When Ross was later asked on how she feels about being criticized by blacks for allegedly abandoning the cause, she allegedly got defensive and replied, "That's not true. Anyone who looks at me can tell I'm black. I can't pass."

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

According to Quincy Jones, "One late night in Palm Springs, Frank Sinatra told me about a crush he'd had on Billie Holiday when he was young but he couldn't follow it through because of the times. "Q," you couldn't get away with that back in those days, no matter who you were," he said.

"Frank was so buzzed about Count Basie's band that he took the entire band to Las Vegas in 1964 and hired a bodyguard for each member. Vegas was mob territory back then. No black musician in their right mind would wander around those casino hotels alone. Harry Belafonte, Fats Domino, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Lena Horne, they performed in the casinos but ate in the kitchen and slept in black hotels across the tracks."

"Sinatra assembled the bodyguards back at the Sands and told them, "If anybody looks funny at any member of my black band, break both of their fucking legs."

"Count Basie was the sweetest cat in the world but a serial, black-belt gambling junkie. He'd go to the roulette table and put $100 on every number, and while they spun the wheel, Sinatra, who was a 10 percent owner of the Sands, would slip over and sweeten some of the bets with a $500 chip on top of the pile. With one hand at the roulette wheel, Basie was simultaneously placing bets with the other hand at the closet blackjack table; from there he'd go to the telephone to call his bookie. He also loved to play the ponies. He'd lay money on horse races in California, Ireland and Florida at the same time. I'd finish a show at midnight, gamble with him for four hours, go to bed, or whatever and wake up to find Basie downstairs still in the casino, gambling at noon, still wearing his tux from the night before. They had slot machines in the Vegas airport, and after losing everything, Basie would still be dropping quarters into them until I dragged him aboard the plane."

"Frank Sinatra led me into a new world. A land of dreams, high living, anything you felt like doing, whatever, with whomever, whenever you felt like doing it and making the music I loved."

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

According to Richard Pryor, "Paul Mooney started taking me to Redd Foxx's club located in Central Los Angeles. Redd was a player, a hard player from the old school. He carried a switchblade, sometimes a gun."

"He ran the club like a gangster, treating friends like relatives and enemies with scorn. People were beat up regularly."

"Redd also liked the cocaine, too. I felt as if we were in the coke Olympics."

"One night, I spent the entire night and most of the next morning at his club. We were battling each other for the attention of a sexy waitress, listening to jazz and snorting cocaine by the spoonful. I kept asking for more, more, more and Redd kept giving it to me, until finally I was too tired to inhale."

I asked Redd, "Why do I always want more?"

He said, "Because you are a junkie." I said, "Bullshit."

"I just didn't see it."

Source: "Pryor Convictions," by Richard Pryor & Todd Gold

According to author Kevin Ammons, one day, Whitney Houston's personal assistant, Robyn Crawford started crying and told him that her heart was breaking. Because Robyn knew Whitney was with some guy, and suspected it was that punk gangster Bobby Brown.

"I'm the only person in Whitney's life who has given her unconditional love; everybody else just uses her, even her parents. If it wasn't for Whitney, they'd be on welfare."

"When Whitney and I first got together, it was a different story. We were living in a crummy little one-room apartment with no refrigerator and very little food, but nobody helped us. Nobody offered a helping hand. The only helping hand that's ever been offered to Whitney was mine."

Ammons adds, "She went on to say that all the Houston's hated her and wanted her dead."

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

According to the late Richard Pryor, "I didn't expect the reaction I got when I disavowed the N-word." Paul Mooney allegedly told Pryor, that people would think he went soft, sold out and turned his back on the cause. Pryor adds, "I received death threats and kooks showed up at my house and threw trash over the gates. I also got letters and comments from people who thought they owned me and didn't want me to stray."

Richard Pryor also claims, "Late on the night of March 4, 1982, John Belushi, Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro had come by the Comedy Store looking for me to participate in their wee-hours carousing. Luckily, I wasn't there. Otherwise, I would have ended up going back to the Chateau Marmont and doing cocaine with Belushi, who died early on March 5th. It could have easily been me."

Source: "Pryor Convictions," by Richard Pryor & Todd Gold

According to author Kevin Ammons, Cissy Houston allegedly walked in on Bobby Brown and his boys doing lines of cocaine in Whitney's kitchen and threatened to call the police.

Also, according to Ammons, after Whitney Houston fired her publicist Regina Brown who Ammons was dating. He alleges that Regina approached him, telling him "The Globe," would pay him $50,000 dollars for a story about Whitney Houston.

Ammons was given a polygraph test by an ex-CIA agent. He passed the test but decided against doing the story.

Unbeknownst to Regina, Ammons had been writing a manuscript of his own. He said, "Regina is very protective of her reputation in the music business and would not want anyone to know how she really treats her clients."

One evening, he was having dinner with Regina and advised her to take the severance pay package John Houston was offering. "You're making everyone miserable with your hostile behavior." "If you keep this up, the Houston's are going to get so pissed, they won't give you anything."

"Fuck 'em," she said. "I'll make millions on a book." Ammons replied, "Think about Whitney. Whether you want to admit it or not, she was very good to you for many years. She doesn't need this kind of shit in her life.

"I really want to help you out," and I'm willing to go to John Houston and negotiate your severance pay, but you'll have to sign a disclaimer, promising you'll never write anything about the Houston's."

She laughed in my face, and that's when I took my own manuscript out of my briefcase. I had more copies at home because I knew she would try to destroy it if she got her hands on it. "This is it baby. Either you make a deal with the Houston's or I'll publish my own book exposing you as a thief and a liar. I don't think you want that. Your reputation will be destroyed in the music business. You won't be able to get a job working for Tiny Tim."

"You're bluffing," she said, but I saw the fear in her eyes as it dawned on her all the things I'd been privy to in the past few years."

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

I was first introduced to Nina Simone's music while watching the espionage/female assassin thriller, "Point Of No Return." The female assassin in the film, portrayed by actress Bridget Fonda was such a Nina Simone fan that she used the code name "Nina," in honor of Simone. Nina Simone was a phenomenal singer/pianist and an staunch civil rights activist. RIP.

In 1963, Nina Simone played her first mixed race concert at Miles College in Birmingham, AL. Johnny Mathis was also on the bill. She said, "Johnny always liked to talk about how he had been a track star in college. At Miles College they had built a temporary stage using large sheets of plywood over a metal frame. As usual there had been threats made about how people would be shot if they went to the concert, or how they were going to bomb the stage and kill the artists-the sort of threats we got all the time when we played the south."

"We took those threats very seriously and it was always a funny feeling when you walked on stage, knowing that some redneck had sworn tonight would be your last show."

"That night, Johnny was halfway through his set when the stage collapsed. The wooden boards couldn't hold the weight any more, and with a mighty crash they gave way. The first crack as the planks split sounded exactly like a shot from a high-velocity rifle and people ducked. Then, as the stage collapsed, the second thought was that a bomb had exploded."

"When the dust settled and the place calmed down, everybody realized what had really happened and began to laugh. Then we looked on stage for Johnny, but he was long gone. The ex-champion athlete had heard what he thought was a rifle shot followed by what he assumed was a bomb exploding around him, and boy, did he hit the floor running! He was off the stage before anyone knew he'd even gone. The guys backstage curled up laughing with relief, not spite, saying, "Hell, it's true, he was a sprinter!"

Additional information:

Nina Simone is often cited by artists (Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys) as a source of inspiration.

Nina Simone had a lengthy relationship with Barbados Prime Minister, Errol Barrow in the 1970's.

Nina Simone traveled the world, living in Switzerland and the Netherlands. She died in France in 2003.

Source: "The Autobiography of Nina Simone," by Nina Simone & Stephen Cleary

Two of the greatest black men (Gordon Parks & Richard Wright) in history once had lunch at Maxim's in Europe. Maxim's was filled with the rich and famous. Next to their table sat Rita Hayworth and Aly Khan- the wealthy prince. Parks introduced Hayworth to Wright. She spoke with high praise of Wright's famous novel, "Native Son." An extremely modest man, he seemed surprised to know that she had even heard of him.

When Parks picked up the check, Wright insisted on seeing it. Shaking his head, he said, "Good Lord, I could feed my family for a month on that."

After drinking a bottle of wine, Wright told Parks, "Mississippi, my friend is a brute. It killed and still kills blacks by the thousands. Killing blacks is a part of its grandeur and cotton is still God down there. All I had to fall back on, to save me, was constant fear, and that left so many black people helpless. Yes sir, I learned how to live Jim Crow down there, to fear whites and most importantly, keep away from them. As a kid I watched my father sharecropping his life away and on some of the richest land in America. We lived under white hatred and I was educated by it."

Wright asked Parks, "Have you read Native Son?" Parks replied, "Several times but I never quite understood the character Bigger Thomas. He puzzles me."

Wright put his wine down and said. "I could not have written Native Son without Bigger. When I was a kid I knew several Biggers and none of them seemed to have any fear inside them. They never kowtowed to the white man."

Wright then smiled and told Parks, "You know, I secretly admired Bigger. He was crazy but, man, he had guts."

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

According to Mayme Johnson, (Bumpy Johnson's widow) "One of the first jobs I got when I arrived in New York, was a job as a hostess at "Hagar's Barbecue." The restaurant was owned by actress/singer Ethel Waters. She named it after the character "Hagar" she played in the Broadway play, "Mamba's Daughters," in 1939. In 1940, when I got the job at Hagar's, Ethel was one of the highest paid black actresses in Hollywood."

"Ethel was famous and rich but could be a real bitch. She wasn't that much to look at and was jealous as hell of anyone who was and she really hated on people who had talent that rivaled hers. She used to bad mouth people like Sarah Vaughn, saying she could sing circles around that girl. And she really hated on Lena Horne, especially when she got the lead part in the 1943 movie "Stormy Weather," with Bojangles. Ethel gave Lena pure hell when they starred together in "Cabin In The Sky," because she thought the crew was paying too much attention to her. A lot of people in show business respected Ethel Waters but they didn't like her."

"Everyone at the restaurant was afraid of her, including her husband, Eddie Mallory. Eddie was about 10 years younger than Ethel and she talked to him like a dog. He said he didn't mind, as long as she paid the bills. And boy did she pay some bills keeping that man dressed! Whew! Eddie was always sharp and always in a brand new sporty cars which he used to escort beautiful girls around whenever Ethel was on tour."

"I'm not going to lie and say that Ethel was ever mean to me, but I didn't like her because of the way she treated everyone else."

"New York gangster Red Dillard (above) was once considered the most dangerous black criminal in the country and in his younger years he was extremely handsome and considered a pretty boy. Red didn't like Bumpy, and Bumpy didn't like Red but the two of them would later admit that they did admire each other. But, I'm sure one of them would have eventually killed the other if Red hadn't gotten busted on cocaine charges in early 1950."

"When he was sent away newspapers reported that 30 beautiful women were there to see him off, including Carrolle Drake Faulkner, a beautiful model type. She was one of Red's many girls and had managed to get thousands of dollars in cash and gifts out of the very married Heavyweight champion, Joe Louis-all of which she promptly turned over to Red Dillard. Even the assistant district attorneys shook their heads when they saw Faulkner and the rest of Red's girls, and were heard to mutter that "he was one lucky ni**ger."

Source: "Harlem Godfather," by Mayme Johnson & Karen E. Quinones Miller

According to Richard Pryor, "Despite being expelled from Catholic school, I was forced by my stepmother to continue going to catechism on weekends. One Saturday a priest came on to me like a girlfriend. He snuck up on me and gave me a smooch on the lips."

"I ran home, bawling and heaving the whole way but especially hard as I told and retold the story. "See, I was in church," I explained. "And the guy there gave me some smooches."

"Where?" my daddy asked.

"On the lips."
"Where were you?" my Uncle Dickie asked.

"In the church."

"Now, who kissed you, baby?" my grandma wanted to know. "You said a man kissed."

"Yeah. The priest."

I knew it was serious when everyone gasped after I identified the molester as a priest.

"What else, honey?"

"Well, Mama, after he kissed me, he said that he'd like to call me someday."

I saw my dad and Uncle Dickie pass the point of being angry.

"And, what'd you say?"

"I said, 'Call me tonight, later tonight,' and then I ran like hell," I said.

The next move was debated. My grandma and some aunties wanted to let it blow over but my dad and uncle realized that they could probably get some money by blackmailing the priest. They hatched a plan in hushed tones. If the priest called, they told me to goad him into making incriminating comments. They'd listen on another extension. They also told me to arrange a meeting, at which they would surprise the priest and demand money.

"We'll collar him," my Dad said.

I was excited by the scam, but more so suddenly being the center of attention. I also liked thinking about the monies my dad and uncle said we'd get. I thought that I might also get a cut and use it to go to the baseball games or the movies. Buy my way into the big time.

Later that night, the phone rang. My dad and uncle ran for the extensions. I nervously did my thing.

"Hi baby," I purred in the soft, seductive voice they told me to use.

"Oh, my little doll," the priest said.

I heard the excitement in his voice. We cooed sweet nothings back and forth like that for a few minutes. Suddenly, my grandmother heard what was going on and called a halt to the charade from her bedroom.

"Don't do that to that boy!" she hollered.

Her loud, booming, angry voice threw me and the script off and ended my lovey-dovey conversation with the priest before the crucial meeting was set. My Dad and uncle scrambled into the kitchen. They made me promise to call him back. But then Grandma Marie yelled for us to get our ass into her bedroom and asked what the hell we were up to.

My father and uncle denied everyhing but I caved in. 'Mama, I don't want to do this," I said.

Mama shook her head in disgust and ordered us to put an end to the scheming.

Source: "Pryor Convictions," by Richard Pryor and Todd Gold

"INTERRACIAL NOSTALGIA"

Black actress Jeanne Bell was also a highly ranked martial artist who starred in the 1970's film "TNT Jackson."

Bell was also there for actor Richard Burton when he was going through a severe bout of alcoholism.

He never forgot her kindness and was so smitten with her, he offered to fund her son's six figure annual tuition at one of the most prestigious academy's in the world, located overseas (Europe).

We all know that  white actress Doris Day (America's sweetheart) had been linked with Sly Stone. Allegedly, they shared cozy lunches and went on romantic picnics. Rumors have also persisted that Day had a discreet relationship with black baseball player Maury Wills (4th photo) and now an upcoming unauthorized biography reveals that Day was also allegedly involved with former L.A. Laker, Elgin Baylor (2nd photo).

Tupac was incarcerated at the prison that housed notorious mobster, Charles "Lucky" Luciano years earlier. His album "Me Against The World," had shot to number one but Shakur had also spent his share of the money while recording the album, he hadn't recouped and almost all of the money he did have went for legal fees. He was also the sole support of his mother and other members of his extended family.

He had the same problem as a boy, he could never save money.

Shakur remembered the time when Shock G from Digital Underground offered him keys to his condo in Los Angeles. "This is my condo," Shock told him. "If you ever want to be someplace where nobody knows where you're at, you got a place.

In prison, out of jealousy, allegedly, inmates threatened his life and the guards went out of their way to humiliate him.

It didn't matter to him that people whispered about him getting raped in jail. That didn't happen because there were enough people in the Black Power movement, people with ties to his stepfather, Mutulu Shakur and Geronimo Pratt and his mother who could prevent something like that from happening.

Despite receiving very few visitors during his prison stay, several celebrities sent him flowers, cards and letters but Suge Knight sent a bullet-proof vest with a Death Row logo on it.

Source: "Mo Money, Mo Problems," by: Cheo Hodari Coker

"CELEBRITY FEUD"

In the early days of "Vibe," magazine, Quincy Jones was instrumental in selecting the covers. A Vibe staffer wanted to feature Madonna & Dennis Rodman (who were involved at the time) on the cover. Quincy replied, "Over my dead body, because it makes it look as though we're pandering. That we're not sure Vibe can be a black magazine and make it." We've already misfired by featuring the Beastie Boys on a cover."

Jones' says, "It wasn't about Madonna or Dennis, it was about our not having been around long enough at that time to establish a personality as an urban magazine."

"When I called Madonna as a friend to explain that it wasn't at all personal, she took it very personal and got an attitude about it."

She said, "Quincy, you and I could change the world together if we wanted to. See you around, pal."

According to Quincy, "Madonna and I haven't spoken since."

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

According to author Kevin Ammons, when Whitney Houston's "I'm Your Baby Tonight," tour hit Miami in 1991, he was invited to join the tour as a bodyguard.

In his words, "As excited as I was about traveling with Whitney Houston and experiencing all the perks of being with a superstar, I soon realized this was the tour from hell."

"I saw firsthand what was going on behind the scenes and it wasn't a pretty picture. There was so much stress and strife all the time I didn't see how Whitney could put on a decent show."

"Everybody was doing drugs and drinking and hopping from bed to bed. Bobby Brown was calling Whitney all the time and this made Robyn so jealous she would sleep with the dancers in the group and she slept several times with Whitney's brother Michael just to annoy Whitney. Whatever dancers that were left over were passed between Michael and Whitney's other brother, Gary. It was total chaos."

"Whitney didn't seem to care and gave lackadaisical performances. She was always late, sometimes up to two hours, and would be met by an angry, booing crowd. To add insult to injury, she didn't bother to apologize or even make up some excuse for her tardiness, she just didn't give a damn."

"She still had a lot of loyal fans, however, and when they tried to approach her for autographs, she would freeze them in their tracks with the coldest, most hateful look imaginable."

"Some of her fans grumbled to the press that Whitney Houston is a real b**ch in person and she treats her fans like garbage."

In late October 1991, Ammons attended the Black Achievement Awards in Los Angeles. He was a part of Whitney's entourage and was taken aback when his mistress (Whitney's publicist) told him "Kevin, please don't try to socialize with any of the stars, okay? Security will see that you're a nobody and throw you out."

Source: "Good Girl/Bad Girl," by Kevin Ammons

Smokey Robinson says, "I remember the last time I saw Marvin Gaye. Gwen Gordy gave a party for her brother Fuller and Marvin was back from Europe on the heels of "Sexual Healing." He was triumphant.

"Told you I had a plan, man," he said, hugging me. I said, "I'm happy for you Marvin. This is the best comeback I've ever seen." "You ain't pissed I left Motown?" I said, "I'm just glad you're working again, man. Everyone's glad for you."

He was high that night and I could feel the drugs manipulating his moods. I knew he still wasn't right. Months later, he went on tour and there was talk that the tour was bedlam, talk that Marvin was so coked out he was dropping his pants during the shows, there was also talk that he was acting crazy and falling into deep despair. I tried contacting him but never got through.

Then, on April Fool's Day, 1984, the news came in that his father had killed him. I wept and later on, I spoke and sung at the funeral.

Afterwards, for me, it was, another coked-soaked cigarette, another good cry, another call to my pusher for more rock.

The next morning, the knock on the door was loud and persistent. Leon Isaac Kennedy (3rd photo) was on the other side of the door yelling, "open the door, man! open it now! I let him in. "Smokey," he said. "You look like shit. What the hell are you doing to yourself, man? Why do you want to die?" I said, "I ain't dying, just cooling out." Leon screamed, "Coke's got you so disgusted with yourself, you can't stop. Can't you see the vicious cycle?" I said, "Get off my ass, Leon. You don't know what you're talking about," I lied. Addicts always lie to cover up.

Leon stayed and prayed for me all night. The next morning, he took me to the "Ablaze Ministry." After that night, so many years ago, I haven't touched or wanted any form of any drug. Just like that, after that moving service, the desire left me. I've been clean since 1986.

Source: "Smokey: Inside My Life," by Smokey Robinson & David Ritz

1. Author, Kevin Ammons reveals, when Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown and her personal assistant Robyn Crawford were spotted shopping at Barneys in New York. "They picked out an armload of men's clothes and the clerk assumed they were for Bobby, but Whitney allegedly said, 'No, I want to try them on.' She and Robyn tried on men's suits, jackets and shoes and ended up buying identical men's Dolce & Gabbana sweaters. Robyn took offense at Bobby's negative opinion about the clothes sharing and jumped to her feet, jabbing her finger in his face. The argument soon escalated into a shouting match with Robyn taking a swing at him. Whitney grabbed her, pulling her off and leading her away while stunned customers stared in disbelief.

2. According to Kevin Ammons, Robyn Crawford hired a private investigator to check out Bobby Brown when he became engaged to Whitney Houston. Crawford found out that a woman had recently given birth to the second of Bobby's babies. Crawford was counting on Whitney's famous temper to break off the engagement but her plot backfired.

3. Ammons adds, "I accompanied Whitney's parents, John and Cissy Houston to a function. John was trying to be cozy with Cissy, pretending they were still a happily married couple, and every time he leaned in close to talk to her, I saw a look of pure hatred spread over Cissy's face. She was still humiliated by his affair with Whitney's maid, Peggy Griffith. Cissy knew people were whispering behind her back and feeling sorry for her and she couldn't stand that. She also knew that friends and relatives were laughing at how ridiculous it looked, a 72-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman. It made Cissy look like a fool, and nobody got away with making Cissy looking like a fool. "I saw her pick up a fork from the table and turn to face John. Her teeth were clenched, her expression filled with venom. "Get the fuck away from me," she hissed, "or I'm gonna stick this fork right in your eye!" John quickly moved away from Cissy. After his divorce with Cissy, John married Peggy. There were fewer than a dozen guests and not one member of his immediate family, not his sons and most certainly not Whitney. Everyone boycotted the nuptials.

Source: "Good Girl, Bad Girl," by Kevin Ammons

1. In his book, "Pryor Convictions," Richard Pryor is quoted as saying: " I never connected with Eddie Murphy. People talked about how my work had influenced Eddie and perhaps it did but I always thought Eddie's comedy was mean. I used to say, "Eddie, be a little nice," and that would piss him off."

2. "My behavior on the set of "Family Dreams," in Seattle was ornery from drugs, I must have worn out Cicely Tyson to the point where she spoke to her husband Miles Davis. He called me one afternoon in my trailer and in his own way asked me to shape up. "Rich," he said. "That's my woman," and then he hung up. Even so, I knew what he meant but I was too far into drugs." Sorry brother.

Leon Isaac Kennedy (2nd photo) arrived in Hollywood in 1972 from Cleveland, where he had been a popular deejay, known as "Leon The Lover." It was his intention, upon landing in Hollywood, to become a leading man. Kennedy managed to worm his way into one of Sammy Davis, Jr.'s parties.

According to Kennedy, "Sammy was the first big star who befriended me." Sammy kept inviting him back.

Sammy became like a mentor to Kennedy. He peppered Sammy with questions about the business and Sammy was happy to explain some secrets.

Kennedy adds, "You could go by Sammy's house and on any given night meet the biggest stars in the world. The first time I met Liza Minnelli was at Sammy's. His big parties were the best of the best of the melting pot. If another black person had a party it was a 'black party." If a white person had a party, it was a 'white party.' At Sammy's, it was a party for everybody. I also met Jim Brown, Milton Berle, Red Skelton. All these people. They were great parties."

Kennedy found himself co-producing and starring in "Knights Of The City." He wrote a part especially for Sammy. Before filming got under way. There was a little problem: money. He told Sammy he could afford to pay him only $15,000. Sammy's wrap parties cost as much. But, then Kennedy's phone rang. It was Sammy. "Leon, he said, "I'm going to do the movie for you but it can never be said somebody got Sammy Davis for $15,000 dollars. You keep it. When the movie comes out, if it does well, you give me what you want."

And then the unthinkable happened, never before had Sammy Davis, Jr. wound up on the cutting room floor. When Kennedy told him he was cut out of the movie. Sammy said, "How could you allow that to happen? You're the producer and star."

The conversation and friendship degenerated from there.

Source: "In Black And White," by Wil Haygood

Songwriter Ann Gore met Phyllis Hyman through mutual friends, they often hung out together. One day, both women found out they were involved with the same man at the same time-singer Christopher Williams. Christopher was nearly 20 years younger than Phyllis and was the nephew of Ella Fitzgerald. According to Gore, "We both were seeing him and we both knew it. But he didn't know we knew it. He thought he was being slick."

Meanwhile, actor/director Fred Williamson (third photo) was pursuing Phyllis to star in his film, "Soda Cracker." Visiting with Williamson backstage, Phyllis was skeptical, but she eventually came around.''

One evening, Phyllis told her audience about her new film project. She added, "White actor Bo Svenson is going to play my boyfriend and white actress Maude Adams is going to play Fred's girlfriend. I think that's a little screwed up. She's a white girl. I'm a black woman. I think I should be Fred's girlfriend and Maude should be Bo's girlfriend. Keep it in the family."