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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 6 March 2019
Smokey Robinson remembers Aretha Franklin at tribute concert

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. tion in 2009.
Associated Press Music mogul Clive Davis
LOS ANGELES (AP) — For told the crowd “there will
Smokey Robinson, the late never ever be another
Aretha Franklin was more Aretha Franklin” at the trib-
than just the Queen of Soul. ute put on by the Record-
Robinson told a packed ing Academy. Some of the
venue that Franklin was his singer’s family members in-
longtime neighbor in De- cluding her grandson who
troit, calling the acclaimed spoke at her funeral were in
singer his “little sister” whom attendance at the tribute,
he still misses at the “Aretha! hosted by filmmaker and
A Grammy Celebration actor Tyler Perry.
for The Queen of Soul.” He Robinson called Franklin a
along with some of music’s “game-changing sensa-
well-respected artists such tion” who had one of the
as Alicia Keys, Celine Dion “greatest voices” of all
and Patti LaBelle took the time.
stage to help bring Frank- “She was a gifted song-
lin’s favorite songs back writer, a fantastic musician
to life during the Jan. 13 and a great political activ-
taped tribute concert in Los ist,” he said. “But for me, she
Angeles. was always my little sister
The tribute will air March 10 This Jan. 13, 2019 file photo shows Smokey Robinson at the “Aretha! A Grammy Celebration For who I loved so much. I still
on CBS. The Queen Of Soul” tribute in Los Angeles. love her so much. But she’s
“She was the girl next door. Associated Press gone home now to be with
In fact, she was the girl right Robinson talked about to, I know she’s going to be memorial in 2011. She per- her father. I believe she has
around the corner who be- meeting a 6-year-old Frank- somebody really important formed at the inaugura- been reunited with her en-
came a lifelong friend, who lin for the first time after her in show business.’” tions of President Bill Clinton tire immediate family.”
became a musical icon,” family moved from Buffalo, Franklin certainly left her and Jimmy Carter and the Many others echoed Rob-
said Robinson of Franklin, New York, to Detroit. He imprint on music and the funeral for civil rights pio- inson’s sentiments.
who last year died at age said their first encounter world. She had dozens of neer Rosa Parks. President A video montage of Frank-
76 from pancreatic can- came at Franklin’s home, hits over the span of half a George W. Bush awarded lin was shown at the show’s
cer at her home in Detroit. which he called a “man- century and took home 18 her the Presidential Medal start as quotes paying
When they were younger, sion.” “I went into this little Grammy Awards. In 1987, of Freedom, the nation’s homage to her were dis-
he said they played hide- room, peeked in and saw she became the first wom- highest civilian honor, in played on the screen from
and-seek and kick-the-can this little 6-year-old girl sit- an inducted into the Rock 2005. Obama, Barbra Streisand,
games outside. ting there playing the pia- and Roll Hall of Fame. One of Franklin’s best- Tony Bennett and Willie Nel-
“Before Aretha passed no and singing up a storm. The prolific singer and pia- known performances was son. The video also showed
away, she was my lon- ... ‘Amazing Grace,’” he nist sang at the dedication when she sang “My Coun- the singer in a joyful mo-
gest living neighborhood said. “She was amazing. I of her longtime friend the try ‘tis of Thee” at President ment laughing alongside
friend,” he said. said to myself, ‘If she wants Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Barack Obama’s inaugura- with King.q

Why small US theaters have canceled ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

By MARK KENNEDY Christopher Sergel. Massachusetts, said it re-
Associated Press Anger over the move has ceived a letter threatening
NEW YORK (AP) — Dozens triggered an online revolt damages of up to $150,000,
of community and nonprof- using the rallying cry #Boy- a staggering amount for
it theaters across the U.S. cottRudinplays. Chris Pe- a venue where tickets for
have been forced to aban- terson, founder of the On- plays are $20 and $25 for
don productions of “To Kill Stage Blog , wants ticket musicals.
a Mockingbird” under le- buyers to steer clear of all “Due to the substantial fi-
gal threat by Broadway current and upcoming Ru- nancial impact defending
and Hollywood producer din productions on Broad- such an action would have
Scott Rudin. The combative way, including “Hilary and on our small theatre group,
move has prompted calls Clinton,” ‘’Gary: A Sequel we have no choice but to
for a boycott of Rudin’s to Titus Andronicus,” ‘’King comply and, thus, cancel
work. Lear,” ‘’The Ferryman” and our upcoming production
Rudin is arguing that author “The Book of Mormon.” of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’
Harper Lee signed over to “If a theatre was con- Not doing so would put our
him exclusive worldwide This combination photo shows Hollywood and Broadway sciously stealing creative theatre at great risk,” the
rights to the title of the nov- producer Scott Rudin at The National Board of Review Motion license, that would be one theater said in a statement.
el and that Rudin’s current Pictures awards gala in New York on Jan. 11, 2011, left, and the thing. This is something else In Ohio, the Dayton Play-
adaptation on Broadway cover of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.” entirely. This is wrong,” he house, an active commu-
— written by Aaron Sor- Associated Press writes. “Prohibiting others nity theater since 1959, had
kin — is the only version al- ues as the Grand Theatre falo, New York, as well as a to perform this piece goes to abruptly cancel its “To Kill
lowed to be performed. in Salt Lake City; Mugford planned United Kingdom against everything the nov- a Mockingbird.” The cast
That means different ad- Street Players in Marble- and Ireland tour. They had el is about in the first place.” and crew have been hard
aptations have had to be head, Massachusetts; and licensed the rights for a dif- The all-volunteer Curtain at work on the production
scuttled in such small ven- the Kavinoky Theatre in Buf- ferent version, written by Call Theatre in Braintree, for weeks.q