Knighthood choice peeves Australians
Australia’s prime minister on Wednesday promised to consult more widely before bestowing knighthoods in the future as he weathered an avalanche of criticisms over his decision to make the husband of Queen Elizabeth II an Australian knight.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that the Duke of Edinburgh would be awarded Australia’s highest honor on Australia’s national holiday on Monday, prompting some to question the wisdom of knighting a British royal on a day meant to commemorate Australians.
The most stinging criticisms have come from within the conservative government’s ranks, with some lawmakers questioning Abbott’s political judgment and whether he should retain the leaderships of the nation.
“I stand by the decision. I understand why some people don’t like it,” Abbott told reporters Wednesday. “I do want to assure people that I have heard and there will be considerably more consultation around these awards in the future.”
Australian media, including conservatives, have largely condemned the honoring of Prince Philip, 93, with the award.
Stone awarded $5 million in royalties
Seminal soul and funk composer Sly Stone has been awarded $5 million in royalties and damages by a Los Angeles County court. In a unanimous jury decision, the court found that Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, was denied royalties by his former manager Jerry Goldstein, attorney Glenn Stone and Even St. Productions.
The initial 2010 complaint, filed in Superior Court by Stewart’s attorneys, accused Goldstein and partners with unjust enrichment, fraud, breach of contract, negligence and dozens of other charges stemming from money earned from Sly Stone’s work with his longtime band the Family Stone while purportedly under contract with Goldstein.
While tens of millions of dollars rolled into Goldstein’s accounts from his longtime label Sony/Columbia and through publishing royalties, attorneys alleged that Stone saw little of it save for the occasional cash advance.
Stone, who long struggled with drug addiction, has mostly been removed from the public eye. Through decades starting in the late ’70s, the artist responsible for such American classics as “Stand!” “Everyday People,” “Dance to the Music” and the entirety of his funk masterpiece “There’s a Riot Goin’ On,” faded while his music endured.
In 2011, Stone made news when it was learned he was virtually homeless and living in an RV in South Los Angeles.
The birthday bunch
Actress Katharine Ross is 75. Actor Tom Selleck is 70. Singer Bettye LaVette is 69. Actress Ann Jillian is 65. Singer Charlie Wilson (The Gap Band) is 62. Oprah Winfrey is 61. Actress Heather Graham is 45. Actress Sara Gilbert is 40. Actor Sam Jaeger (“Parenthood”) is 38. Actor Andrew Keegan (“Party of Five”) is 36. Guitarist Jonny Lang is 34. Singer Adam Lambert (“American Idol”) is 33.