Starr recruits star-studded choir
If Ringo Starr calls to ask if you’ll sing on a song for him, who could possibly say no?
The beloved Beatle dug into his contacts for help on the chorus of “Here’s to the Nights,” his most recent song written by Diane Warren, and he recruited quite a choir.
Paul McCartney. Sheryl Crow. Dave Grohl. Lenny Kravitz. Joe Walsh. Ben Harper. Finneas. Chris Stapleton. Yola. Jenny Lewis. Corinne Bailey Rae. Eric Burton (of the Black Pumas). Steve Lukather.
“Here’s to the nights we won’t remember, with the friends we won’t forget,” they all sing. It’s a perfect sentiment for the 80-yearold drummer.
“Everyone was really kind to me to do what they did,” Starr said.
Starr’s EP of five new songs was slated for release Friday.
Hollywood calls to #StopAsianHate:
Dozens of Hollywood luminaries are condemning the recent surge in anti-Asian violence after several women of Asian descent were killed this week in shootings at Atlanta-area spas.
Gemma Chan, Margaret Cho, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Shonda Rhimes, Daniel Dae Kim, George Takei and other celebrities have responded publicly to the attacks, which left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent.
“Please pay attention to what is happening,” wrote “Crazy Rich Asians” star Chan on Instagram. “Racism and misogyny are not mutually exclusive. In fact, sexualised racial harassment and violence is something that many of us face regularly.
“We need to stop the dehumanisation of Asians. We need to stop the scapegoating of Asians for Covid. We need to unite against all forms of hate.”
“Star Trek” actor Takei and comedian Cho were among many who urged others to recognize the attacks as hate crimes.
Others who have spoken out include “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” actor Chloe Bennet and “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” star Lana Condor, who pleaded with her followers to support and check in on their Asian loved ones.
Atwood, Grisham among contributors to pandemic novel:
One of the first novels about the pandemic will be a collaborative effort, with Margaret Atwood, John Grisham and Celeste Ng among the writers.
The Authors Guild Foundation announced Thursday that it had reached a deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media to publish “Fourteen Days:
CHRIS PIZZELLO/AP
An Unauthorized Gathering.”
“Hunger Games” author Suzanne Collins made a “major” donation to the guild foundation to support the project. Atwood is editing “Fourteen Days” and helped recruit a wide range of contributors, including Dave Eggers, Ishmael Reed, Monique Truong, Hampton Sides, Mary Pope Osborne and Emma Donoghue.
“Fourteen Days” is tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2022.
March 19 birthdays:
Actor Renee Taylor is 88. Actor Ursula Andress is 85. Singer Clarence “Frogman” Henry is 84. Singer Ruth Pointer is 75. Actor Glenn Close is 74. Actor Bruce Willis is 66. Actor Connor Trinneer is 52. Actor Abby Brammell is 42. Actor Craig Lamar Traylor is 32. Actor Philip Bolden is 26.