Pink Floyd musician Wright dead at 65
NEW YORK, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Pink Floyd founding member and keyboardist Rick Wright has died of cancer at the age of 65, his family said Monday.
"The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer," Wright's spokesman told Rolling Stone magazine. "The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."
Wright was one of the rock band's original members, along with the late Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason.
The London-born musician played with the group until a falling out with Waters after "The Wall" in 1979. Wright later rejoined the band when David Gilmour took over after Waters departed in the early 1980s.
Wright also played with the band when it reunited in 2005 for the Live 8 concert in London and had recently performed with David Gilmour on his solo tour, Rolling Stone said.
NME.com noted Wright worked on all but one of the band's 14 studio releases, including "The Dark Side Of The Moon" in 1973.
"He was such a lovely, gentle, genuine man and will be missed terribly by so many who loved him," the BBC said Gilmour wrote on his Web site. "And that's a lot of people. Did he not get the loudest, longest round of applause at the end of every show in 2006?"
Wright is survived by his wife Millie and three children, NME.com said.
BET scores 1st Kelly post-trial interview
NEW YORK, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- BET Networks said Monday it has landed the first interview with R. Kelly since the R&B singer was acquitted of child pornography charges in Chicago in June.
"R. Kelly Speaks," an exclusive BET News interview with the Grammy Award-winning recording artist packaged as a half-hour special, is to air Tuesday night.
The not-guilty verdict came six years after the singer was first charged with videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl who prosecutors believe may have been as young as 13 at the time.
"By answering the hard-hitting questions surrounding his recent case, career, critics and more, Kelly hopes to close this major chapter in his life -- once and for all," BET said in a news release. "Kelly will speak openly about his feelings during and after the trial, the fans he lost along the way, his brother who openly expressed concern about the superstar's sexual age preference and more."
Silverman says Kimmel broke her heart
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Sarah Silverman said at the "Creative Arts Emmys" presentation in Los Angeles that fellow comedian and former boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel broke her heart.
The couple went their separate ways in July after dating for about five years.
Silverman won the Emmy for best original music and lyrics, as well as a picture-editing prize for her funny, foul-mouthed video, "I'm (Expletive) Matt Damon," which she made with Damon and which was written and recorded for "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
After the video became a huge hit, Kimmel taped his own star-studded rebuttal, aptly titled, "I'm (Expletive) Ben Affleck," a nod at Damon's long-time best friend.
"Let's be honest, Matt Damon had very little to do with this being popular," People.com quoted Silverman as saying as she collected one of her awards during the weekend. "Thanks to the person for whom this whole video was made: Jimmy Kimmel, who broke my heart -- oh, who'll always have a place in my heart."
Short, Belushi sign up for animated 'Oz'
BURBANK, Calif., Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Canadian entertainer Martin Short and U.S. actor Jim Belushi have accepted roles in the animated production of "Dorothy of Oz," Alpine Pictures Inc. announced.
Short, a former "Saturday Night Live" player who has appeared in the films "Three Amigos" and "Innerspace," is to voice the role of the Jester.
"We are delighted and excited to work with Mr. Short. He is perfect for the role of the Jester, which requires his nimble abilities at comedy, impressions, music and spontaneity," Executive Producer Neil Kaufman said in a statement.
Belushi, best known for his TV sit-com "According to Jim," is to play the role of the Lion.
"I've been a huge fan of Jim's for many years and am pleased and excited to be working with a fellow Chicagoan on this project," said Alpine's Chief Executive Officer Ryan J. Carroll.
"Dorothy of Oz" is the first in a planned series of animated feature films by Alpine Pictures, in association with Box Office Productions III, based on the work of children's writer Roger S. Baum.
Baum's work continues the legacy begun by his great-grandfather, L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
