Look To The Stars News: Bo Derek

Elvis' Hit Making Team Returns For Charity

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:30:00 -0000

The unmistaken Memphis Sound is back in full force. For the first time since the death of Elvis Presley in 1977, the King’s entire “Hit Making Team” recently returned to the recording studio with the singer/songwriter John Krondes to make new music and keep the dream alive.

A celebrity red carpet CD launch and book signing event hosted by Elvis’ friend George Barris with Joe Esposito – Elvis Presley’s best man – will rock the music world on Tuesday September 22nd. The event will benefit Elvis’ favorite charity, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The guest list for the event is incredible and includes Suzanna Leigh (Elvis’ co-star “Paradise Hawiaan Style”), Darlene Tompkins (Elvis’ co-star “Blue Hawaii”), Ray Walker (The Jordanires), Jay Leno, Bo Derek, Shirley Jones & Marty Ingels, Lou Ferrigno, Nancy Sinatra, John Schneider, Phyliss Diller, Joe Mantagna, ZZ Top, Billy Bob Thornton, Erik Estrada and many others.

Featured in the new recordings are all of Presley’s vocal groups: the Jordanaires, the former original Stamps Quartet, Imperials, and Sweet Inspirations. Both of the King’s Bands rock the house for the comeback; included are the TCB Band and the “Memphis Boys” – the American Studios Band. Elvis Presley’s first drummer DJ Fontana, and star drummers Ronnie Tutt, Gene Chrisman, Steve Gadd and Anton Fig keep the beat for the “Hit Team”. This heart-Stirring project also includes scores of super talent who accompanied the King; Millie Kirkham, Shane Keister, Bobby Ogdin, Gary Herbig, Lanny Morgan, Elvis Presley’s original Horn Section, Arrangers, Elvis composers Paul Evans, Paul Parnes, Al Byron, Jimmy Krondes, Randy Starr, and many others.

John Krondes and the “Hit Making Team” salute the King and dedicate this epic CD as a fresh start and New Beginning for the music. Spectacularly friends, the melodious Memphis Sound is Back, the spirit has risen, and the music will never die.

The event takes place tonight at Barris Kustom City, 10811 Riverside Drive (at Lankersham Blvd. north of Universal Studios) N. Hollywood, CA 91602

Muhammad Ali Attends Celebrity Fight Night

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The legend himself, Muhammad Ali, was the guest of honor at Celebrity Fight Night XV, held at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday. And this year’s event once again lived up to its reputation as one the nation’s largest fundraising efforts, as celebrities and sport stars lined up to support the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.

Since it’s inception 15 years ago, Celebrity Fight Night has raised more than $52 million for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Center in Phoenix and other charities.

Country star Reba McEntire emceed the event for the fourth time, while guests such as Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and Forest Whitaker were this year’s honorees who ‘best represented the qualities associated with the Champ and his fight to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.’

Kurt Warner, who received the Sports Leadership Award, said, “We’re just blessed. God put us in a position to try to make an impact and you receive honors like this and you accept them humbly.”

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, who received the Sports Achievement Award, couldn’t have been happier. “It is good to be here with so many great people and Muhammad Ali especially,” he said. “I had the privilege of meeting him 4 years ago so being here and being with everyone it is a special night.”

Actor Forest Whitaker received the Entertainer Award and President of Kinray, the largest privately held drug distributor in the U.S, Stewart Rahr, received the Entrepreneur Award.

Guests also enjoyed musical performances by Jon Bon Jovi, Charice Pempengco, Ray Firestone and Michael Johns, while bidding on some incredible auction items. Celebrities in attendance included: Bo Derek, Jordin Sparks and Josh Groban among others.

Flockhart, Ford to Attend Peace Over Violence Benefit

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:29:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Calista Flockhart is set to host the 37th Annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner benefitting Peace Over Violence this Friday night, November 7th.

Flockhart, who is the National Spokesperson for the charity, will be joined by special guests Harrison Ford, Bo Derek, Jane Seymour, James Keach and many others. Honorary Co-Chairs for the event include Cheryl Burke and Eve Ensler.

The event, to be held at The Beverly Hills Hotel, begins at 6 P.M. with a Festive Cocktail Reception and a Silent Auction, followed at 7 by Dinner and the Awards Ceremony. Guests are asked to bring old wireless phones for the Verizon Wireless Hopeline program, which works to help curb domestic violence.

The awards recognize people who are working hard to build a world of healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence.

This year’s Verizon Wireless Hopeline Corporate Award is going to Southern California Edison and Frank J. Quevedo, Vice President of Equal Opportunity, and Gloria Romero, the California State Senate Majority Leader, will be receiving the Public Service Award. The Leadership Award is going to Elise Buik, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Also to be recognized are Art Blair, Jennie Campbell, Jeri Elster, Lucinda Guarino, Robbie Rutstein, Christina Stevenson, Lora Luczywo, Rebecca Tomasini, Anabella Vara, Amara Wilson and Michelle Yee, who will be receiving the Empowerment Award as part of the Voices Over Violence:Survivors Who Speak Out initiative.

For more information on the event, and how you can help, visit PeaceOverViolence.org.

Get Ready For The Carousel Of Hope This Weekend

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The annual Carousel of Hope Gala will take place this weekend to raise money for the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes.

Presented by Jay Leno, the gala will take place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, October 25, and will honor Denzel Washington for his charity work.

This year celebrates 30 years of helping children with diabetes through the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. Held every two years, this is the 18th Carousel of Hope. From its inception in 1978, the Ball has raised over $70 million.

The gala will feature performances from Josh Groban, the Jonas Brothers, Katharine McPhee and many more under the music direction of David Foster. The guest list is expected to be huge, with stars such as Tom Arnold, Melanie Griffith & Antonio Banderas, Halle Berry, Valerie Bertinelli, Lara Flynn Boyle, Bo Derek, Geena Davis, Daisy Fuentes, Selena Gomez, Kelsey Grammar, Tom Hanks, Taraji P. Henson, Anjelica Huston, Magic Johnson, Dr. Phil McGraw, Holly Robinson-Peete & Rodney Peete, Nicole Richie, Jane Seymour, Nicollette Sheridan, Forest Whitaker and James Woods all expected to attend. Clive Davis, Quincy Jones and Sidney Poitier will take part in Denzel Washington’s presentation.

The evening will feature a silent auction that includes an array of eco-friendly shirts donated by Guess and signed by Jason Bateman, Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Will Ferrell, Harrison Ford, Cuba Gooding Jr., Whitney Houston, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Lee, Jared Leto, Bill Maher, Steve Martin, Jack Nicholson, Ray Romano, Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rod Stewart, Usher and many more. There will also be handbags signed by Joan Collins, Courteney Cox, Cindy Crawford, Dakota Fanning, Mariska Hargitay, Fergie, Susan Sarandon, Britney Spears and Racquel Welch, as well as items from Trace Adkins, P. Diddy, Marcia Cross, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Andie MacDowell, Alyssa Milano, Eva Longoria, Dolly Parton, Priscilla Presley, Denise Richards, Joel Madden, Sharon Stone, John Travolta, Carrie Underwood and many more.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit clinical care and research at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes (BDC) where over 5,000 children and young adults receive specialized care.

Harrison Ford Gets In Behind Tiger Initiative

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:36:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Hollywood giants Harrison Ford, Bo Derek, and Robert Duvall attended an event yesterday to throw their support behind a new global initiative by the World Bank to save tigers from extinction.

The event, held at Washington’s Smithsonian National Zoo, launched the global development agency’s new Tiger Conservation Initiative, a program that will bring together scientists and governments to try to halt the killing and illegal trade in tiger skins, meat and body parts used in traditional Asian medicines.

“I’m here to celebrate the World Bank’s plan to form a global alliance of conservation partners, to work with the tiger range nations in order to secure a future for these magnificent creatures,” said Ford, Indiana Jones star and environmental warrior. “By committing to help wild tigers, the World Bank is sounding its intention to be a global leader in biodiversity conservation.”

The initiative will focus on 13 countries where tiger poaching threatens remaining populations in the wild: Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, India, Russia and Vietnam. World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the decline in the number of tigers was “shocking” – from over 100,000 a century ago to currently less than 4,000.

The program will work with local populations to ensure the species is conserved, and the World Bank will hold a series of discussions with countries, conservationists and the private sector to initiate funding for tiger conservation, and launch studies on how better to protect the cats.

Actress Bo Derek, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s Special Envoy for Wildlife Trafficking, said she will focus her efforts on public awareness of the problem.

“It was very embarrassing for me to find out that the U.S. is number 2 in consuming endangered wildlife,” said the 51-year-old. “I travel often, and so many times someone will tell you ‘you can buy this, it’s made of tortoiseshell, but it’s a safe tortoiseshell. It’s not endangered.’ I think education and awareness is critical.”

Robert Duvall also voiced his concerns.

“I’ve always thought they might be the single most beautiful animal in the world,” Duvall told CNN, adding that “people hunt them like crazy. They’re wacko when it comes to shooting things.”

The World Bank is planning to host a “Year of the Tiger” summit in 2010 to provide a forum for those involved in tiger conservation to review the status of the wild tigers and their habitant.

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