MY TUESDAY COLUMN was dedicated to my memories of the late and great King of Pop Michael Jackson. That column brought about so many responses from my faithful readers. I recalled in that column the first time I saw Michael and his brothers perform when he was just a mere child at the now defunct Guys & Gals Club on West 69th Street in Englewood. I decided to devote this entire column (which is a first) to running some of those e-mails, and here they are:
THE NEWS Of THE UNTIMELY and shocking death of the King of Pop aka, Michael Jackson, Thursday left this reporter stunned but for some reason ... not surprised. I have always felt that this musical genius whose life became an open book through the media and his music was not destined to live to a ripe old age. And I am not so sure that Jackson, 50, wanted to see old age. I think he wanted to eternally be youthful.
WHAT A TIP! ACTOR JOHNNY DEPP was in town last Thursday evening for the red carpet screening of his upcoming blockbuster movie "Public Enemies," opening nationwide July l and co-starring Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard. It's directed by Michael Mann. Late that night, Depp and his entourage partied and relaxed at Gibsons till about 2:30 a.m. I understand that the bill came to $4,400 and that Mohammed A. Sekhani, aka Mo, who is known as "the waiter to the stars" because they all love to sit in his section, received a tip from Depp to the tune of $4,000.
THE SCOOP: The lovely Desiree Rogers, the first African-American White House social secretary, is celebrating her 50th birthday with a fabulous and private bash Saturday at the new hot spot Fred's on the top floor of Barneys New York. I have heard from so many sources that at first she was thinking about hosting it in her hometown of New Orleans, but because of her tight schedule decided to do it in Chi Town. You can bet her White House circle of pals will be on hand to honor this birthday babe . . . who looks more like 20 than 50! And who knows, maybe her boss will even show up!
MY DEEPEST condolences to renowned historian and Ebony magazine Executive Editor Emeritus Lerone Bennett Jr. and family on the death of his beloved wife of 52 years, Gloria Sylvester Bennett, who passed away on Friday at Northwestern Hospital from complications related to asthma. This beautiful and classy lady, even at the age of 78, could still turn heads ... especially her devoted husband's. She was a writer, civic leader, mother, grandmother, deeply religious and most of all strong and proud. Cardinal Francis George phoned the family to express his sympathy. She certainly will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
RUTH L. RATNY'S reelchicago.com Web site is reporting that Johnny Depp and Christian Bale are expected to be in Chi Town June 18 to promote their latest movie, "Public Enemies." This press junket sponsored by Universal Studios is taking place at Union Station. How appropriate since a great deal of the movie was filmed in and around Chicago and directed by native Chicagoan Michael ("Miami Vice") Mann. Depp plays the role of the notorious gangster and bank robber John Dillinger, and Bale is the relentless FBI agent, Melvin Purvis, who brought him down. This thriller opens nationwide July 1.
OPRAH IN THE 'BURBS: Oprah Winfrey attended the annual "Athletes Against Drugs" golf outing spearheaded by her ever-lovin' longtime beau, Stedman Graham, at the Hotel Arista in Naperville on Sunday. Former WMAQ-Channel 5 anchor Art Norman handled the mic chores, and folks on hand included athletes Dickie Simpkins, Ben Gordon, Charles Woodson, actors Anthony Anderson, Tim Reid and Sheila Frazier. Graham founded AAD in 1985 with the purpose of helping youth develop life skills and stay away from drugs.
