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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Alzheimer’s diagnosis for singer Womack

From Wire Reports

After sparking widespread comeback chatter last year with his album “The Bravest Man in the Universe,” soul singer Bobby Womack has announced that he’s experiencing early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

“The doctor says, ‘You have signs of Alzheimer’s,’ ” Womack told the BBC’s Gilles Peterson in an interview on the latter’s Radio 6 program. “It’s not bad yet, but it’s gonna get worse.”

Womack, 68, admitted that he’s having trouble remembering things, including the name of Damon Albarn, who co-produced “The Bravest Man in the Universe” with XL Recordings chief Richard Russell. At October’s Q Awards in London – where Womack won the award for best album – he introduced the Blur/Gorillaz frontman as “Damon Osbourne.”

“That’s so embarrassing,” Womack said of the memory lapse. “Here’s a guy I work with – I would never belittle him like that.”

‘Runway’s’ Gunn guides princess

Tim Gunn has advised divas for years on “Project Runway,” so working with a princess is no big deal.

In the new Disney Junior animated series “Sofia the First,” Gunn’s royal steward character, Baileywick, helps the young Sofia adapt to royal life after her mother marries a king. Baileywick not only helps Sofia (voiced by Ariel Winters) dress like a royal, but he also guides her on developing manners, grace and an independent spirit.

“I feel very comfortable in this role,” he says.

Certainly, 2- to 7-year-old children are a new audience, Gunn says, but being a teacher who knows when to give congratulations and critiques – and how to look after his charge – are skills he’s honed for most of his professional life.

Before Heidi Klum came calling for him to work on TV with aspiring designers, Gunn was chair of Parsons The New School for Design fashion department.

The birthday bunch

Record producer Sir George Martin is 87. Actor Robert Loggia is 83. Actor Dabney Coleman is 81. Journalist-author Betty Rollin is 77. Hockey hall-of-famer Bobby Hull is 74. Musician Stephen Stills is 68. Rock musician John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) is 67. Actress Victoria Principal is 63. Actor-director Mel Gibson is 57. Actor Jason Marsden is 38. Actress Danica McKellar is 38. NFL quarterback Eli Manning is 32. Pop musician Mark Pontius (Foster the People) is 28.