People

ANKA SIGNED FOR ENGAGEMENT IN 'VEGAS

Venerable entertainer Paul Anka has been signed to perform at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Anka, considered to be a legend in popular music, has been a household name for more than 50 years. He will perform from Sept. 26 through Oct. 2, with nightly shows at 9 in the facility's Hollywood Theatre. Ticket prices are set in the "moderate range" for 'Vegas ... $60. Even though most people think of Anka as the 1950s rock singer who became a balladeer, he is also responsible for writing some of the most enduring songs of the last half century -- "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "My Way" and the theme from the Johnny Carson-era "Tonight" show on NBC. It is estimated that his introductory and other music written for that late-night broadcast has been heard over 1 million times. (Talk about royalties!) Additionally, Anka is the only singer to have charted on the Billboard listings in five consecutive decades. For more, check out paulanka.com on the Internet.

STONES STILL ROLLING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

The Rolling Stones, rock's "bad boy band," continues to jam after all these years with what can only be described as a high-voltage potency. According to UPI music critic John Swenson, the 2002 tour of the Stones proves that "old age" doesn't mean sitting in a rocking chair. Even though the band has gained a great deal of mainstream acceptance in recent years -- and seen Mick Jagger become Sir Mick -- its musicianship and sheer electricity prove that there has never been a band like it. Swenson says that this week's visit by the Stones and its 40th anniversary tour to Boston's Fleet Center created an on-stage sound that hasn't been heard in years. The performance put The Who to shame. (That group sadly is still wincing from the unexpected death this summer of John Entwistle, just as it was preparing to kick off its tour in Las Vegas.) Still hitting on all cylinders, this strange ensemble continues to be the world's premiere rock band.

RAY CHARLES TO MAKE RARE TV APPEARANCES

Singer-songwriter Ray Charles has been drowning in requests to do something patriotic on Sept. 11 before large audiences. Instead he's opted to make two appearances on the eve of the anniversary. His publicist tells United Press International that Charles will appear on the "Wayne Brady Show" and also on "Live with Regis and Kelly" on Sept. 10, singing his classic rendition of "America the Beautiful." The two rare small-screen appearances for one of the country's best-loved singers will mark the 30th anniversary of his singing the patriotic song, using an arrangement done especially for him by Quincy Jones. Charles first recorded and released the song in 1972. It did not sell well. Then U.S. ice skaters used it as a background to some of their routines during the 1976 Winter Olympic Games, and it went to the near top of the charts. By the way, there's a new "animated" doll on the shelves. It's a Ray Charles Doll that sings "America the Beautiful." Proceeds are going to charities. Charles is now 71.

A NEW BABY FOR TRACY BYRD

Recording artist Tracy Byrd is a new dad. According to his publicist, the RCA star has a baby boy, the third for the singer and his wife. Michelle and the infant are reportedly doing fine. The strapping baby weighed-in at 9 pounds, 1 ounce. Byrd told reporters that his new son is "a tank." The Byrds have a daughter Evee and a son Logan. By the way, Byrd's latest single, "Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo," is now in country's Top 5 and still climbing. That's making the singer and RCA very happy. He is slated to appear on the Grand Ole Opry in a couple of weekends and will be performing several cuts from his latest CD, "Ten Rounds."

DISNEY TO FILM NEW NAUTICAL FLICK

If you've ever been to Disneyland, you've no doubt ridden through the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. With all the moving "people," the smoke and gunfire and the many voices done by the late Paul Frees, the attraction has been a mainstay at the park for decades. Now, according to the Hollywood Reporter, Disney is about to film a movie version of the concept. British actor Orlando Bloom has been signed to star with Johnny Depp in the film. Bloom played Legolas Greenleaf in the recent "Rings" movie. Much of the cast is not in place. The female lead has yet to be announced. The publication says that it has learned that Geoffrey Rush will portray the evil Capt. Blackheart. Two of the writers responsible for "Shrek" have been assigned to pen the script. No word on a possible release date. It's likely to be a summer '03 film.

NIA VARDALOS IS A ONE-WOMAN SHOW

When actress-writer Nia Vardalos took the stage some time ago with a one-woman show depicting the best and worst of Greek-American families, her frenetic performance drew the attentions of Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson. Eventually, they would back the little-known Vardalos in a recreation of the plot line as a full-fledged movie. Now, according to UPI's veteran Hollywood reporter Vernon Scott, the resulting film, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," has managed to emerge from a "sleeper" into a huge hit. The movie -- about a young WASP guy who falls in love with a Greek-American single woman -- revolves around the efforts of the massive Greek family to take the boy into the fold and to inculcate Greek life into this "foreigner." Scott says that the film has managed to garner a huge audience during the past three months without the benefit of the traditional (and costly) Hollywood hoopla, without personal appearances by the cast on major talk shows, and without vulgarity or special effects -- or a well-known cast. What the film does have is great word-of-mouth about an intriguing movie about real people, "warts and all," from the fertile mind of one Nia Vardalos.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 408

Today's question is being asked today so that the answers can be printed on Sept. 11. Here goes: "How did you find out about the terror attacks and what did you do when you heard?" Put TERROR in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 403 (CHARITY)

Last week, we asked about your charity work. From a random sampling of the e-mailbox, we found that nearly 40 percent of respondents did some charity work with groups that help animals. For example, Mary EO (who has a wonderful butterfly on her e-mail script) says that she works for a non-profit animal organization dedicated to helping homeless animals. She says that she takes in cats of all ages until homes can be found for them. Her group also tests for the most common feline diseases. Even though she is on a limited income, she says, she does all she can. Anne M should give Mary EO a call. She also does much the same thing and has eight cats under her care right now. Cards says that (sadly) she and her husband have had to cut their donations by one-fourth because of financial problems. But she still pays tribute to her favorite charity, St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Good choice, Cards. Danny Thomas would be proud of you. RB joins in your respect for the Memphis-based hospital and includes the North Shore Animal League (founded by Doris Day) and the ASPCA. Other groups getting votes are the Salvation Army (of which I have never heard anything bad said) and Catholic Charities. TOMORROW: O Brother! GBA.