Posts Tagged ‘Los Angeles’

The biggest names in the American music industry attended the 2009 American Music Awards last November 22, 2009 at the Nokia Theatre LA Live in Los Angeles, California. Some of the singers spotted were Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Adam Lambert, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Fergie, and Whitney Houston.

Enjoy the rest of our photo coverage!

(November 21, 2009 – Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America)

Finally! The R&B star Chris Brown has been sentenced to five years probation and ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from his ex-girlfriend Rihanna for the same time.

The singer, who reached a plea deal with prosecutors in June 2009, to avoid jail, was in court on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 for sentencing in relation to his attack on his then girlfriend, Rihanna.

Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Patricia Schnegg also ordered Brown to take a yearlong domestic violence prevention class. He also faces six months of hard community labor in his native Virginia.

Brown was arrested in February 2009 for beating and threatening Rihanna during an argument following a pre-Grammy Awards party.

Both stars pulled out of their planned performances at the awards show immediately after the incident.

The sentencing will also cost Brown almost $6,000 – $5,000 in restitution and probation expenses. He must also pay a small criminal conviction fee and a $400 to a domestic violence fund.

Outside court, Rihanna’s lawyer Donald Etra said there were “no surprises” in the sentencing.

Speaking of his client, Etra said, “She was advised of what the plea agreement would be and she did not object that… The court just imposed the sentence envisaged by the plea agreement.

“She’s doing fine and she’s pursuing her career… She’s tremendously appreciative of the support her family, her friends and her fans have given her throughout the world.”

(via WENN)

A spokesman from the Jackson family have confirmed that Michael Jackson will be buried on what would have been the King of Pop’s 51st birthday, August 29, 2009.

After weeks of rumors, speculations, and erroneous reporting—the King of Pop will finally be buried in a mausoleum at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.

The Jackson family spokesman tells Brink Notes Entertainment Daily:

“Michael Jackson will be laid to rest at Holly Terrace in The Great Mausoleum at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at 10:00am, on what would have been his 51st birthday.

“The private ceremony will be limited to family and close friends.

“The Jackson family once again wishes to express its gratitude to Michael’s fans around the world for their support during these difficult times.”

Jackson’s body has reportedly spent the past six weeks at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, where the family staged a private memorial on the morning of a much more public service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last July.

Millions of fans all over the world watched Michael Jackson’s public memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Tuesday, July 7, 2009 (Wednesday Manila time). International and local networks (whether radio or TV) have interrupted their regular programming to cover the event.

The Jackson Family, close friends and thousands of Michael Jackson fans, attended the public memorial.

As The Andrae Crouch Choir started singing gospel tune We Are Going To See The King, the King of Pop’s coffin, covered with red roses, was carried through the Staples Center, where 18,000 people had gathered to pay tribute to the late star.

Following a moment of silence, Pastor Lucius Smith took to the stage to begin the memorial service to the King of Pop. He recalled that the late star had been performing at Staples Center in the days leading up to his death.

He stated, “As long as we remember him, he will be there forever to comfort us. In his very beautiful and human heart, Michael Jackson wanted nothing more than to give love to the world…
and perhaps be loved back in return.”

After the pastor’s solemn words, Mariah Carey hit the stage to begin the celebrity performance tributes with her rendition of Jackson 5 hit “I’ll Be There,” as images of Jackson appeared on a big screen behind her.
Trey Lorenz, who recorded a 1992 duet of the song, which became Carey’s first worldwide number one, joined her onstage.

Carey finished her tribute by stating, “We miss you.”

On the other hand, Queen Latifah delivered a poem by Maya Angelou in tribute to Michael Jackson.

Latifah said, “Michael was the biggest star on earth.”

She added, “He let me know that, as an African-American, you could travel the world.”

The singer/actress then read out Angelou’s touching tribute, We Had Him, in which the poet called Jackson “a bright and shining star”.

Britain’s Got Talent finalist Shaheen Jafargholi performed the Jackson 5 hit “Who’s Loving You.”

He then added his own personal tribute to the late pop superstar, stating, “I just wanna say I love Michael Jackson and I tell you now I just wanna thank him so much for blessing me and every single individual on this earth with his amazing music.”

The young Brit was invited by Jackson to join him onstage as part of his planned comeback concerts in London.

Michael Jackson’s longtime friend Brooke Shields fought back tears at the late star’s memorial as she recalled magical moments with the King of Pop when they were just kids.

The actress insisted her pal was “one of a kind” and revealed the pair could never quite understand why the media was so mean about their friendship.
The ultimate tribute to Michael Jackson is to be debated before the House of Representatives – a resolution declaring the King of Pop an “American legend”.

Jermain Jackson performed “Smile,” a song written by Charlie Chaplin, Michael’s favorite song.

Texas congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee announced Resolution 600 would be presented to politicians this week.

She told the cheering masses at the Staples Center, “It claims Michael Jackson as an American Legend and musical icon, a world humanitarian (and) someone who will be honored forever and forever and forever and forever and forever.” She concluded her stirring speech by stating, “We are the world and we are better because Michael Joseph Jackson lived… Michael Jackson, I salute you.”

Motown founder Berry Gordy said that Michael is like a son to him. He also said that Michael “accomplished everything he dreamed of. At 10 years old, he had passion — passion to be the greatest entertainer in the world.”

For Gordy, the title “King of Pop” is insufficient. Instead he called Michael “simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.”

Several personalities also took the stage during the public memorial service including Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Usher, Lionel Richie, Martin Luther King III among others.

Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris had the last word at her late father’s memorial service in Los Angeles—as she had the world sobbing for her loss.

The 11 year old took to the stage at the end of the tribute to join her aunts and uncles in remembering the King of Pop, who died on June 25, 2009.

And few were able to hold back tears as she cried, “Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine and I just wanted to say I love him so much.”

It is still unknown where Michael Jackson’s body would be buried. But, his newly released death certificate listed Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills as a “temporary” burial site. The cause of death is still unknown.

More than 17,000 fans of Michael Jackson will get the chance to bid their final goodbyes to the late “King of Pop” at an official memorial service at the Staple Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 7, 2009.

In a press conference last Friday morning, July 3, 2009, at the Staples Center, AEG Live President and CEO Tim Leiweke announced the rules for the tribute to Michael Jackson next week

The AEG Live boss stated he hoped the event would be a “dignified and very uplifting memorial for the Jackson family”, which has made available a “worldwide (TV) pool feed from the services for every network for free.”

“We request and encourage everyone to join us for the memorial service by following the worldwide pool. There will be no funeral procession.”

E! has already announced that they’ll be covering the public memorial live.

Councilwoman Perry added, “I want to stress to those people who are coming or thinking about coming here to our city for this special event that you might want to consider watching this from the comfort of your own home.”

Publicist Sunshine stated, “No details are forthcoming about the memorial; it’s still being developed.”

TICKETS
AEG’s Tim Leiweke said, “The family has also made available 17,500 tickets for Michael’s fans to be part of this service. 11,000 of those tickets will be at Staples Center, 6,500 of those tickets will be at the Nokia Theatre for a simulcast of the funeral on three big screens across the street.”

Fans will be able to register for tickets on Staples Center’s official website until 6pm on Saturday, July 4, 2009. Those people selected in a lottery will be alerted on Sunday, July 5, 2009, and they will be able to pick up tickets and wristbands on Monday, July 6, 2009.

Staples Center’s official website, www.staplescenter.com, received more than 120,000 hits per second for the first 90 minutes of Friday’s Michael Jackson memorial ticket giveaway.

Over 500 million people had already visited the site, which caused the website’s server to crash a couple of times. An additional server was brought in to accommodate the volume of traffic.

Leiweke, whose company is planning the memorial, insisted, “There will be no tickets sold for this memorial service… There will be no distribution of tickets at Staples Center… There will be no outside broadcast of the memorial service in or around Staples Center of L.A. Live.

JACKSON’S BURIAL SUIT
Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush, Michael Jackson’s longtime costumers, will design the King of Pop’s burial suit.

Tompkins and Bush, who have worked with Jackson for the last 20 years, were also responsible for creating the late pop star’s “This is It” comeback concerts costumes in London.

PRIVATE MEMORIAL
A private family funeral will be held on Tuesday morning, July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles before a public memorial at the Staples Center.

Some reports said that Jackson will be laid to rest in a replica of James Brown’s bronze casket at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, where his grandmother was buried in 1990.

Other stars including Lucille Ball, Bette Davis and Liberace are also buried at the Forest Lawn.

JACKSON’S DOCTOR
Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray has decided not to attend the King of Pop’s memorial service next week for he fears that his presence might be too much for grieving fans and family members.

Dr. Conrad Murray was by Jackson’s bedside when the King of Pop died on June 25, 2009; he conducted CPR on the singer after finding him unconscious at his rented home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles.

Police have questioned Murray about his treatment of Jackson.

The doctor has decided not to be a part of next week’s tributes, stating he’ll be “mourning in private”.

His spokeswoman, Miranda Sevcik, tells People.com, “He (Murray) is in seclusion, not speaking even with family and friends, and won’t attend the singer’s memorial next week.

“He feels his presence would remind people of Michael Jackson’s death, and the doctor would prefer that people remember his friend as he was in life.”

Murray has declined to comment publicly on his care of Jackson, pending the outcome of toxicology tests.

Sevcik adds, “He is completely off the radar until the toxicology results are revealed.”

The Jackson family has confirmed the news reports about a planned public viewing of Michael Jackson’s remains at his former Neverland Ranch have been scrapped.

The remains of the King of Pop were expected to arrive at the Santa Barbara County, California Estate on Thursday, July 2, 2009, ahead of the scheduled public viewing on Friday, July 3, 2009. Some reports said that Jackson would be laid to rest at Neverland—the home he deserted after investigators raided it looking for evidence to use against the singer in his 2004 child molestation trial.

Unfortunately, fans and media members who camped outside the ranch in Santa Barbara, in the hope to be part of the King of Pop’s big farewell, have wasted their money, and effort.

A recent statement from the Jackson family said, “Contrary to previous news reports… there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland.

“Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson.”

But, CNN reported this morning that Michael Jackson’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, June 7, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES — Conrad Murray, a 56-year-old cardiologist who tried to resuscitate Michael Jackson after the latter collapsed at his home met with the Los Angeles police detectives Saturday afternoon (Los Angeles time). The police clarified that they are not conducting a criminal investigation.

A statement from the Los Angeles Police Department said that detectives conducted “an extensive interview” with Dr. Murray. The interview lasted for three hours. The statement also said that the doctor was “cooperative and provided information which will aid the investigation.”

Recent reports said that the Jackson family has ordered a second autopsy to help determine Mr. Jackson’s cause of death. Mr. Jackson, who was preparing for a series of concerts in London, suffered cardiac arrest and died at the UCLA Medical Center last Thursday.

Edward Chernoff, Dr. Murray’s lawyer also released a statement saying that they had “answered every and all questions asked by L.A.P.D. in an attempt to help piece together the mysteries surrounding” and tried to clarify “some inconsistencies.” The statement also clarified that Dr. Murray is not a suspect but a witness to this tragedy and will remain in Los Angeles  ”until investigators no longer need his assistance with the investigation.”

The coroner’s office had returned Mr. Jackson’s body to his family late Friday but is still waiting for the results of tests before ruling on a cause of death. The results are expected to be out in a few weeks.

With reports from The New York Times’ Randal C. Archibold and Liz Robins