Gerald Levert to be charged with assaulting a Police Officer
Well this one is certainly for the books and personally one storyline I didn't think I'd see. Loverable R&B crooner Gerald Levert is to be charged this week for assaulting a police officer among other charges over the weekend.
The confrontation with the officers happened in Cleveland this past Friday when Levert and a friend James Austin Jr, intervened when they authorities stopping a friend of his for speeding at 12:45 A.M.
When Levert asked why his friend was bring stopped, Patrolmen Ronald W. Ross and Daniel Lentz told him to leave and when he didn't that's when the confrontation supposedly took place. Patrolmen Ronald W. Ross said he hurt his wrist while dealing with Levert while Daniel Lentz said he hurt his shoulder while trying to detain Austin. Prosecutor Anthony Jordan said that there was no evidence the singer caused serious physical harm to either patrolmen.
"If these officers were assaulted and injured as a result of that assault, there should have been a charge of assault on a police officer, a felony," said Bob Beck, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association. Austin, 27, is charged with felonious assault for allegedly punching Lentz in the face.
Levert, 38, was cited on charges of driving under the influence and impeding the flow of traffic.
He was then arrested on charges of obstructing official business, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.
source: blackamericaweb.com
__________________________________________________________________Usher, Alicia Keys takes top honors at Soul Train Awards
It's becoming an all too common practice for Usher these days as he takes the top spot for the most awards won at last weekends 19th Soul Train Awards.
The singer won 4 awards including the award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Male ('Confessions Part II'), Best R&B/Soul Album, Male ('Confessions') and Best R&B/Soul Single Group, Band or Duo ('My Boo' with Alicia Keys).
And speaking of Alicia, Ms. Keys was the night's other big winner with three awards. In addition to her win for "My Boo," she won for Best R&B/Soul Single, Female
('If I Ain't Got You') and Best R&B/Soul Album, Female ('The Diary of Alicia Keys').
Usher and in the news singer Ciara were winners of the male and female recipients of the 2005 Sammy Davis, Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award and Ciara was also a winner in the Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist category for 'Goodies' featuring rapper Petey Pablo.
The evening's other special honoree was Ice Cube. The rapper received the Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements. Although's he's made inroads in film as an actor/writer/director, Ice Cube said backstage that he's "never retiring from hip-hop. It's in my blood. Don't let the suit I have on fool
you."
The 19th Annual Soul Train Music Awards were hosted by Brian McKnight, Fantasia, Nick Cannon and Nicole Richie.
- Source: soultrain.com
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UK newcomer Keisha White to release debut set today
You may not recognize her name here in the states but she's certainly making a big time splash in Europe and her native homeland with her music. I'm referring to the rising UK R&B singer Keisha White.
Her lead off single 'Don't Care Who Knows' that featured Cassidy, is aleady a big hit in her native UK and today sees the release of her debut set called 'Seventeen' (Warner Bros).
The singer (who hails from Tottenham in London debut) co-wrote several songs on the album that includes producion from some of the industry's elite Scott Storch (Dr Dre, Beyoncé, Janet Jackson), Marko Rakascan (Maxwell) and Lucas Secon (P. Diddy, Tweet, Sugababes) and features a duet with Bob Marley called 'I've Got Love'. You can listen to clips from the album at HMV.co.uk."
- Source: RnBdirt.com
Supermodel Heidi Klum pregnant with Seal's child__________________________________________________________________
The baby boom of the rich and famous is in full swing. There's rumor that actress Demi Moore is pregnant with her toyboy boyfirend Astun Krutcher's child and the latest reports have a very well known singer and a supermodel as the latest parents to be.
According to the reports, British pop rock singer Seal and his blond German supermodel fiancee Heidi Klum are expecting their first child together.
Klum who just recently gave birth to her first child, daughter LENI last year with former beau Flavio Briatore is due to give birth this coming September.The couple, also got engaged in Canada in December of last year. A friend of the couple told New York radio station KIIS FM, that "They are very, very happy"
- Source: bbc.co.uk