Jim Croce's "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" May Live On As A Movie

Reportedly, Warren Zide who was involved in production for both the AMERICAN PIE and FINAL DESTINATION films has struck a deal with the widow of Jim Croce, Ingrid Croce, to produce a live action comedy based off the famous hit song, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown".

Zide hopes to create a whole new franchise of films based off the character from the song, Leroy Brown, Who is "the baddest man in the whole damn town".

Writers are currently working on the project in which Jim Croce's widow is excited about.

Jim Croce was only 30 years old when he was killed in a plane crash after a concert in Louisiana, when either human error or else a heart condition caused the pilot to miss a pecan tree at the end of the runway, killing everyone onboard. After Croce's death, his last album I GOT A NAME, which was recorded only eight days before his death was released. Croce had two #1 hits in his career, including "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", which sounded like it was recorded in a music in the round-type atmosphere. It was a fun recording.

Croce actually had created music since 1960, when he graduated from high school. However 1966's FACETs and a 1969 album with his wife Ingrid gained little traction. But when he signed a deal with ABC Records in 1972 to produce three albums, his career finally took off. His first ABC single, "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" which peaked at #8 on the charts was another fun song somewhat like "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", which became his biggest seller by far. The album sold two million copies. Jim Croce was a hot star with a bright future. But then the accident robbed him of what would likely have been superstardom.

Dolly Parton vs. U.S. Senator Story Takes A Strange Turn

The story reported yesterday by the country western THE BOOT news, took a very strange turn today, as the office of U.S. Senator Bob Corker now claims that the interview of Dolly Parton by WAXO1220AM (Kickin' Country) never took place. Spokesperson for Corker's office, Laura Herzog claimed that the senator's office had checked with the radio station as well as Dolly Parton's representatives, claiming that Dolly Parton wasn't on that station in an interview segment.

Herzog also claimed that it was "categorically false" that the senator carved out any exemption clause for payday loan companies. However, THE NEW YORK TIMES reports just the opposite to be true, claiming that Corker was indeed the driving force to exempt payday loan companies from proposed new consumer law legislation. Further, W. Allan Jones, who owns Checks Into Cash has been a longtime friend and political supporter of Corker. Since 2001, Corker has received $31,000 in political contributions from Jones and other employees of the business.

So far, no official statement has come from Dolly Parton or WAXO radio about the claimed interview. And according to one source, military families are already protected somewhat from higher interest rates by payday loan companies, which are capped at 36% under provisions of the Federal Military Lending Act of 2007.

So, who's telling the truth here? Did Dolly Parton actually do a radio interview tearing into the senator or not yesterday? Why did Corker's office misrepresent his actual involvement and support for provisions exempting the payday loan industry?

A strange entertainment news story grows stranger.

Charlie Sheen's Problems Shorten TWO AND A HALF MEN Season

This year's season for TWO AND A HALF MEN will be two episodes shorter this year because of Charlie Sheen's legal problems which landed him in rehab. Instead of the usual 24 episodes, just 22 will be filmed. But, what will be missing is the big season finale episode because it got cut from the schedule. But, TWO AND A HALF MEN is a really great comedy, so you can still expect a very good episode to wrap up this season.

TWO AND A HALF MEN is the most important comedy that CBS has and the #1 comedy on TV. However, Charlie Sheen's legal and rehab problems this year have caused plenty of problems for the show. The show has maintained it's quality despite all of this and really hasn't witnesses any audience slippage according to the ratings.

Dolly Parton Tears U.S. Senator A New One In A Radio Interview

Dolly Parton is at war with her U.S. senator over his apparent support for payday loan companies that charge U.S. service-person families 400% interest rates. Parton stopped just short of calling U.S. Senator Bob Corker a crook, by accusing him of "behind closed door" efforts to work with the payday loan industry to rip off military families. Parton was a guest on the country western station WAXO-1220AM in Lewisburg, Tenn(Kickin' Country) and decided to tear the senator a new one during what would have been a normal interview about her life and music.

It was a surprising and abrupt political statement from the country music legend, who even called the senator "unAmerican". Corker blocked a move in the U.S. Senate to limit the payday loan industry to 36% maximum interest rates by law. In the last few months, the Senate voted to put new regulations on the credit card industry. However, these regulations had mixed results since the credit card industry had nine months before the law took effect, and then raised interest rates and added new charges while the industry lawyers sought clarification from the Federal Reserve Board about certain provisions. Corker removed language from the bill so that the payday loan industry would be exempt from proposed new rules regulating other money lenders.

Tennessee has 2,700 military families, and these families are highly likely to use payday loans to survive between pay checks for survival.

Dolly Parton added in the radio interview, that "Growing up poor, I know the hardship and tragedy that money matters can cause to a family".

No comment from the senator as of yet what it feels like being torn a new one by the country music legend.

Conflicting Stories Emerge About Possible Divorce For Sandra Bullock

Entertainment sources are reporting conflicting stories about whether Sandra Bullock and her husband are seeking divorce lawyers. ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT claims that a representative of Sandra Bullock has denied that she is seeking a divorce or has hired a divorce attorney at this time. On the other hand, TMZ reports that both Sandra Bullock and her husband Jesse James have been interviewing divorce lawyers.

Both entertainment sources are no doubt getting their information from different sources accounting for the differing stories. This is a developing story that will take some days to play out.

The Shocking Ages Of Rock Stars!

It's absolutely shocking just how old some of the greatest rock stars now are. This isn't for the faint hearted. Read at your own risk!

Ray Manzarek, the the legendary keyboardist for The Doors was born in 1939, and is now 71 years old! Manzarek has continued to produce music since the days of The Doors, including a number of solo and instrumental albums.

Jet Black, the drummer for the punk group, The Stranglers, was born in 1938. He's also 71 years old now. Black was actually a successful businessman in England in the mid70's before deciding to join The Stranglers and to become one of the oldest punk rockers out there.

Mick Jagger, the fantastic front-man for The Rolling Stones is 66, and was born in 1943. Jagger's middle class family background led him to study economics in college, where he kept The Rolling Stones a business for all these years. making the group one of the most successful business ventures ever.

Eric Clapton, long considered to be one of the greatest guitar players of all time is 64 years old, and was born in 1945. Clapton's career spans successful acts such as Blind Faith, Derek And The Dominoes, Cream, The Yardbirds as well his highly successful solo career.

Alvin Lee, the Gibson 335 guitar superman from Ten Years After is 65 now, born in 1944. Allvin Lee continues to record and turn out great solo albums, proving himself to be one of the most enduring ring rock legends of all time.

Jerry Lee Lewis, the original keyboard wildman of the 1950's, was born in 1935, and is now 74 years old. He continues as real legend in both rock and roll and country music.

Chuck Berry, the great pioneering rocker of the 1950's is 83 now, born in 1926. He remains an active legend in rock and roll, and has even performed for President Carter at the White House.

Little Richard, who combined a hard rock sound with R&B, is 77 years old, born in 1932, probably was a great influence to later performers like Elton John for his outrageous stage presence and dress. Little Richard remains one of the biggest influences on music to this day, probably originating a hard rock sound more than any early performer.

Paul McCartney, at age 67, still has plenty of his boyish good looks going for him. He was born in 1942, and remains the most successful of the surviving members of The Beatles.

Ringo Starr, 69, born in 1940, has had a less successful solo career than Paul McCartney, but still remains a beloved music legend by all means. Ringo never thought of himself as a great drummer, but many music disagree and call him great. Further, his vocal style has a "everyman" quality about it that is sort of cute in it's own way.

Carlos Santana, at age 62, born in Mexico in 1947, continues to be one of greatest and most hypnotic guitar legends of all time.

Patti Smith, at 63, born in 1946, is called the "Godmother of punk", by some for her pioneering style in this genre of music. In the late 70's comic actress Gilda Radner based her "Candy Slice" character off of Patti Smith, although the real Patti Smith has always been a very intelligent person and hardly the "burn out case" that the character lampoons.

Bruce Springsteen, "The Boss" turned 60 this year. Born in 1949, Springsteen continues to remain one of the greatest live performers of all time.

Bob Dylan, born in 1941, aged 68, remains a legendary singer and songwriter, and continues to produce some of the best albums of his entire career.

Tom Petty, aged 59, born in 1950, seems like a baby here. Yet, the aging singer- songwriter continues have legions of loyal fans attracted to his own unique rock and roll style.

The Strange Story Behind "Gimme Dat Ding" By The Pipkins

In 1970, a very unusual novelty single, "Gimme Dat Ding" hit the charts and became a top hit both in the UK reaching and in the U.S. But this very unusual single has an even stranger history.

In many ways, "Gimme Dat Ding" was the first rap song ever, using two voices in a strange duet, one very similar to that of legendary radio announcer Wolfman Jack, and another much higher pitched voice. The song also made liberal use of ragtime-era styled music as well. The popular British comedy show, THE BENNY HILL SHOW, often made use of the music from this song which was originally written for a British children's program, OLIVER AND THE OVERLORD.

Tony Burrows, the lead singer on the song actually hit the charts in 1970 using four different act names. With The White Plains, "My Baby Loves Lovin"" was a hit both in the Uk and the U.S., with Edison Lighthouse, "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes", and with The Brotherhood Of Man, "United We Stand" was also hit both in the UK and the U.S. It was probably the first time in chart history that one singer had four chart hits in one year in both the UK and the the U.S. using four different act names, each with a different style of music. Two other singles by Burrows recorded under the group names Current Kraze and The Naked Truth apparently failed to chart in 1970, otherwise Burrows would have had even more hit singles in a single year. Tony Burrows sang the deeper voice parts, while it was Roger Greenaway who did the falsetto style voice on "Gimme Dat Ding".

Interestingly, since Tony Burrows was a session singer, he wasn't always available, so live show versions of "Gimme Dat Ding" were performed by British singers, Davey Sands and Len Marshall. A few years ago, "Gimme Dat Ding" was rerecorded using new digital recording technology. However, fans of the songs complain that the new version simply lacks the sheer fun of the original recording.

Tony Burrows was sometimes describes as "the human hit machine" because he had an usual knack for picking the right songs to sing that became hits. Burrows also rates in the record books as having the most chart hit singles by any human being ever. Burrows had hit singles recording under his own name, as well as with a huge number of group names. He was also the lead singer of First Class and had the hit "Beach Baby" with them as well.

Incidentally, Albert Hammond who co-wrote "Gimme Dat Ding", with Mike Hazlewood, also wrote the hit song for The Hollies, "The Air That I Breathe". Hammond also had a big hit single with the song, "It Never Rains In Southern California".