Fans, rescued miner celebrate Elvis' 76th birthday

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Hundreds of Elvis Presley fans, including Chilean miner Edison Pena, gathered Saturday at Graceland to sing "Happy Birthday" on the late rock n' roll icon's 76th birthday.

Pena, the guest of honor at Elvis' birthday party, cut into a 4-foot high cake fashioned to look like stacked television sets as fans cheered both the singer and the miner outside Elvis' longtime Memphis home.

An avid Elvis fan, Pena has been on a whirlwind tour of Memphis, getting a private tour of Graceland, attending a Memphis Grizzlies NBA game and leading the walking of the ducks at the Peabody Hotel.

Pena and 32 other miners spent 69 days trapped underground after a mine collapse in Chile. Pena sang Elvis songs to lift the morale of his friends before their rescue in October. He speaks little English — except for the words of Elvis tunes — and has been using a translator.

"It's a pleasure to be here, with so many beautiful people," Pena said in Spanish. "I never thought I would survive, and escape my trap. This is a gift from God. Viva Elvis. Viva Memphis."

Then, he uttered two newly learned words in English of the Southern variety: "Hey y'all." That drew loud laughter from the crowd.

Some fans asked Pena for a song, so he led everyone in singing Elvis' "The Wonder of You." He was reluctant at first — he's been asked to sing by fans and media at nearly every turn — but he showed off his good singing voice once again and did some of Elvis' trademark pointing and swirling arm motions.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton read a list of musical artists who've said they were influenced by Elvis' music and performance style, from Elton John to John Lennon.

"Before people over fainted over Michael Jackson, screamed over Van Halen, swooned over the Jonas Brothers, and even goo-gooed over (Lady) Gaga, Elvis Presley set the world on fire," Wharton said.

Elvis was born Jan. 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Miss. His birthday, while meaningful to Elvis fans around the world, does not attract the throngs of people who make the pilgrimage to Graceland to remember his death. He died Aug. 16, 1977.

Jerry Engelby, of Jefferson City, Mo., has been an Elvis fan since she was 13. She comes to Memphis as often as she can.

"He's been part of my life for almost 60 years," said Engelby, 68. "I love my youth. When I come back, I relive my youth with Elvis."

Some fans were as eager to see Pena as they were to honor the king of rock n' roll.

Sue Mack waved at Pena and took photos of the miner.

"I followed the miners the entire time they were under there," Mack said. "When I found out he was an Elvis fan, I said 'I've got to see him.' He was the topping to the cake today."

Standing nearby, Pat Parris asked Pena in Spanish to give her a kiss. He obliged.

"He's so sweet. You never meet a real hero," Parris said.

For one moment, Edison Pena again did what seemed impossible: He was bigger than Elvis.

Art Basel Miami Beach opens its doors to VIPs

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – South Beach is ready to host a huge art party.

Art Basel Miami Beach organizers chose about 250 galleries from more than 700 applications to show their art during the fair, which kicked off for VIPs on Wednesday. It opens for the public on Thursday and ends on Sunday.

Gallery owners at the Miami Beach Convention Center are hoping to sell works ranging from Spain's Pablo Picasso and Colombia's Fernando Botero to Argentina's Mondongo group and New York-based Kehinde Wiley. Collectors from around the world walked through the booths, with some strictly browsing and others ready to buy.

Organizers have also planned for fairgoers to visit Miami art museums, talk to artists, see outdoor art projects, attend receptions and even visit artists' studios.

"Part of the reason why Art Basel came to Miami Beach in the first place is because it is a gateway to the Latin American countries, and for many years we have been hoping that would catch on creating more opportunities for galleries to come," said fair co-director Annette Schonholzer.

Sean Kelly, who owns a New York-based gallery, said he has already sold some of the 40 works he brought. The pieces range from $8,000 to $500,000.

"I think everybody feels it's going to be a very strong year," he said.

Kelly said he believes that collectors are now more willing to put money in art because they're less confident about having financial instutitions guide their investments.

"We are benefiting from the trust being placed in us," he said.

At the NeugerRiemschneider gallery's booth, Tim Neuger was also hopeful he would profit from the fair. Works at the booth included nine plastic and metal sculptures by Pawel Althamer, which resembled modern versions of bandaged mummies.

"We see the fair as platforms, advertising billboards," he said. "We focus on the greatest installation we could have."

Fair organizers said they are expecting a better turnout than in previous years because the Art Basel fair in Switzerland in June was very strong.

"Of course, the blue chip work, the work that if you don't buy it now you'll never have access to again, will move, in the same way of course that some young artists will be favored," said fair co-director Marc Spiegler. "But, I think, what we have seen in the last two years, with the economy being different, is that people are really focused as much on the midcareer artists as the young artists."

But, in the end quality always sells, he said.

South Florida collector Norman Braman, chairman of the fair's host committee, agreed.

"What the fair brings is excellence and collectors. We're always looking for something that will improve our collection, that will raise our level," he said. "I think what the recession has done is positive in one sense that it's brought those prices down to a realistic level."

Collector Jutta Kraus came from Munich, Germany. She collects modern German paintings, but she said she doesn't anticipate buying anything unless the price is good and painting is appealing.

"I don't think we will buy, but you never know," she said.

Pat Davidson flew down from New York City "to visit the things I would like to have bought."

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Online:

Art Basel Miami Beach: http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/

Chilean miner accepts invite to Graceland

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – For rescued Chilean miner Edison Pena, New York comes first. Next are Graceland and Las Vegas.

Pena is set to arrive in New York on Thursday to attend Sunday's New York City Marathon after officials invited him. Word is the triathlete wants to run it.

The 34-year-old Pena's trip to New York also will include a scheduled appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Thursday evening.

But the star treatment won't end there.

On Wednesday, Elvis Presley Enterprises said Pena accepted an invitation to Graceland, set for Jan. 6 to Jan. 9, which coincides with the anniversary of Elvis's birthday on Jan. 8, 1935. Pena will get a private tour of the mansion and Elvis' grave, and will visit the exhibits across the street.

After that, he will be flown to Las Vegas to watch "Viva Elvis," the Cirque du Soleil show based on Elvis' music.

Pena is an Elvis fan who reportedly jogged to his music and conducted sing-alongs while trapped underground for 69 days with 32 fellow miners in Chile. Their saga and rescue last month earned worldwide attention.

When Elvis Presley Enterprises heard Pena was a fan, it sent various gifts to Chile, including a picture, DVDs, CDs, a book and sunglasses. "Viva Las Vegas" and "Jailhouse Rock," were among the movies.

Both the Las Vegas and Graceland trips are on the house, with the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau and Delta Airlines helping with the tab. The visit to Memphis will include a stay at The Peabody Hotel and the chance to try Memphis' famous barbecue.

Michael W. Smith talks about surviving success

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There's never been a time quite like the present for multiplatinum Christian artist Michael W. Smith.

"I'm really more at peace than I ever have been in my life. I feel more secure. I'm not as afraid. I'm probably more full of life today than I ever have been," he said in a recent interview.

Smith, 53, recently released his 22nd album, "Wonder," which debuted at No. 2 on the Christian album charts, and finished the "Make a Difference" tour with Third Day and TobyMac. While that level of success may bring financial peace, it also can cause more problems than it solves for many celebrities in the spotlight.

"I just pinch myself," he said. "Because I think if there's anything I can be proud of, I've survived success, which I think is difficult these days."

Smith credits the people in his life, including his wife, their five children and his pastor of 30 years, for keeping him accountable. That, and as he puts it, "the grace of God." Smith clearly remembers the days of constantly "striving and trying to make things happen." He is still as active in music as ever, but his perspective has shifted.

"Selling millions of records is great, but at the end of the day it really doesn't bring peace," he said. "For me, (God is) really the only one who can fill the gap, fill the holes."

Smith's leadoff single was "Save Me From Myself," in which he acknowledges that the temptations are ever present. Smith has written books about his rocky teen years when he did give in to temptation. He said he went down a drug and alcohol path and ended up having a nervous breakdown on his parents' kitchen floor.

"I haven't been the same since then, November of 1979," he said.

Through that experience, Smith can relate to troubled youth. During the process of creating "Wonder," Smith began to hear accounts of bullied teens committing suicide around the country. He also thought about his friend who had been sexually abused in the church years ago. Those stories of abuse compelled him to write the song "Leave."

"I came out on my deck one night, extremely emotional thinking about all that, and I sat down, wrote all the music and the chorus lyrically," he said.

He then brought in a co-writer to help him finish it. Smith describes different stories of abuse throughout the song, connected by the shared feeling in the chorus, "I just wanna leave. Oh, God, please help me now, I wanna leave." He brings in a sense of optimism at the end when "leave" changes to "believe."

Smith said it's important to keep these issues in the forefront, even when the news cycle moves on to other topics.

"Not talking about it and covering it up with addictions for years, I don't believe those individuals will ever come into a really fulfilled life until they deal with the pain and invite God into the pain and be able to come to a place where they can not only forgive themselves, but forgive those who have abused them," he said.

Despite intense songs like "Leave" and the recession anthem "I'll Wait for You," Smith shows his softer side by dedicating the album to his wife, Debbie.

They met about two years after his nervous breakdown, were engaged less than a month later and married four months after that. Moving so fast in a relationship isn't what Smith generally recommends to youth groups, but he said he does believe in love at first sight.

After 29 years together, Smith said their marriage is stronger than ever. He wrote two songs on the album for her, "You Belong to Me" and "Forever Yours."

"I have this amazing woman ... who just so believes that God has got a call on my life. When you have that support from your soul mate, there's nothing better," he said.

Smith hopes this record strikes a chord with fans and helps them connect with God when they are feeling lost.

"Hopefully as I encourage people with this music, it will muster up more faith than they thought they could ever have, and that faith will get them through whatever comes their way, no matter how hard life gets," he said.

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Online:

http://www.michaelwsmith.com

Zutons singer gets community service for assault

The lead singer of The Zutons was ordered to do 150 hours' unpaid work and and pay compensation on Friday, after breaking a man's nose in a drunken row.

Dave McCabe, 29, headbutted Peter Appleby outside a nightclub in Liverpool after his girlfriend was insulted.

McCabe, who wrote the hit song Valerie which was covered by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson, reacted violently after one of Appleby's friends said the fur collar on his girlfriend's coat made it look like she had a beard.

The singer -- who has released three albums with The Zutons -- claimed he had acted in self-defence, but was convicted of assault by a jury following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in September.

He was given a community order on Friday and told to pay the victim 1,500 pounds plus court costs of 3,500 pounds.

US offers condolences after Barbados PM dies

WASHINGTON — The United States on Saturday offered condolences to the Caribbean island nation of Barbados after the death of prime minister David Thompson, who passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

"On behalf of President (Barack) Obama and the people of the United States, I offer my deepest condolences to the people of Barbados on the passing of Prime Minister David Thompson," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

"Barbados has lost a leader and the nations of the Americas have lost a friend and valued partner," Clinton said in a statement.

"Prime Minister Thompson was a champion for democracy and justice in the Caribbean and an advocate for wider prosperity and opportunity throughout the region."

She added that the country's "strong democratic institutions... will ensure a smooth transition of power, and I am confident that under its new leadership, Barbados' strong friendship with the United States will continue."

Thompson, 48, held office since January 2008. He was the sixth prime minister of the country which declared its independence from Britain in 1966.

His personal doctor announced in mid-September that Thompson had cancer of the pancreas, the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation said. He is survived by his mother, father, wife and three children.

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart was sworn into office on Saturday, shortly after Thompson's death.

Clinton rebukes Israel over settler homes

WASHINGTON — In a rare sharp rebuke, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chided Israel for plans to build new settler homes, saying it sent a "deeply negative signal" about Israel's ties to its top ally.

In unusually harsh words, Clinton told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington strongly objected to the announcement made during a landmark trip to Israel by US Vice President Joe Biden.

"The United States considered the announcement a deeply negative signal about Israel's approach to the bilateral relationship," the top US diplomat told Netanyahu in an early Friday morning telephone call.

Her comments were backed by the Middle East Quartet -- made up of the European Union, the United States, Russia and the United Nations -- which said in a statement it "condemns Israel's decision to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem."Related article:Middle East Quartet condemns Israel settlement plan

Clinton added the Israeli move ran "counter to the spirit of the vice president's trip," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.

Clinton heaped further scorn on the Jewish state's announcement after speaking with Netanyahu.

"The announcement of the settlements, the very day that the vice president was there, was insulting," she told CNN in an interview.

"I mean, it was really just an unfortunate and difficult moment for everyone."

It was an unusually strong rebuke from the United States for its main regional ally, and almost unprecedented in decades of strong ties.

In June 1990, secretary of state James Baker, frustrated by the intransigence of Israel's then-prime minister Yitzhak Shamir, told the Israelis: "When you're serious about peace, call us."

But while today's frustration also stems from the stalemated Middle East peace process, the political landscape is completely different, analysts said.

"Clinton and Biden are very close friends to Israel. Bush and Baker weren't so close," the analyst said, asking to remain anonymous, referring to the former president George H.W. Bush.

A member of Clinton's close entourage said she was clearly "frustrated" by the announcement which came just as the US was hoping to coax the two sides back to the negotiating table.

The Israeli interior ministry announced Tuesday during Biden's visit that 1,600 new settler homes would be built in predominantly Arab east Jerusalem triggering swift fury among Arab and Palestinian leaders.

Clinton told Netanyahu that "she could not understand how this happened particularly in light of the US strong interest in Israel's security," Crowley added.

"And she made clear that the Israeli government needed to demonstrate not just through words, but through specific actions, that they are committed to this relationship and to the peace process."

Netanyahu, who is due to address the powerful pro-Israeli American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual conference in Washington from March 21-23, has apologized for the timing of the announcement.

The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their promised state while Israel, which seized it in the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community, considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said earlier he would not enter into any negotiations with Israel until the Jerusalem settlement project was frozen, while the Arab League withdrew its support for indirect talks.

Crowley acknowledged that top US regional envoys George Mitchell and Jeffrey Feltman had spent the past 24 hours calling Arab leaders in a bid to keep the peace talks on track.

"We have reached out... to a range of leaders. And I think we jointly remain committed, you know, to this process, acknowledging that, obviously, it is a difficult environment, given the Israeli statement," Crowley said.

And Crowley made it clear that while Washington accepted Netanyahu's apology, they held him accountable.

"We accept what Prime Minister Netanyahu has said. By the same token, he is the head of the Israeli government and ultimately is responsible for the actions of that government," Crowley said.

The United States also announced Friday it was providing an additional 55 million dollars to a UN program aiding Palestinian refugees.

Spanish photographer stripped of wildlife prize

LONDON — A Spanish photographer was stripped of a major wildlife prize Wednesday after organisers in London said it was likely that the apparently wild wolf featured in his entry picture was tame.

Jose Luis Rodriguez won the highly prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition in October with a stunning picture of a wolf leaping over a gate entitled "The Storybook Wolf".

However, doubts were raised about the wolf's provenance and following an investigation, the Natural History Museum in London and BBC Worldwide, who jointly run the prize, said the entry had been disqualified.

"It saddens us to confirm that after a careful and thorough investigation into the image 'The Storybook Wolf', the co-owners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition... have disqualified the winning entry of the photographer Jose Luis Rodriguez," they said in a statement.

"The judging panel was reconvened and concluded that it was likely that the wolf featured in the image was an animal model that can be hired for photographic purposes."

Rodriguez "strongly denies" that the wolf in the image is tame, it said.

The competition rules clearly state that photographs of tame animals may not be entered and any transgression "is taken very seriously", it added.

The 10,000-pound prize was never awarded to the photographer although he did receive 500 pounds for winning his category, which organisers said they had agreed he could keep in lieu of royalty payments.

As a result of his disqualification, there will be no 2009 winner.

Blockbuster 'Avatar' to accelerate 3D revolution

LOS ANGELES — The runaway success of science fiction blockbuster "Avatar" will accelerate the 3D movie revolution, which has already powered Hollywood to a record year at the box office, analysts say.

James Cameron's futuristic fantasy is on course to become the highest-grossing movie of all time after smashing the one-billion-dollar barrier in only three weeks over the weekend.

The film, which has a reported budget of between 300 and 500 million dollars, has been hailed as a landmark in movie history and its impact will be felt across the industry, experts say.

"The ramifications of 'Avatar's' performance are huge," said Jeff Bock, chief analyst with box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations. "Ripple effects are going to occur fast and furiously."

Bock said the stellar success of "Avatar," which is already the fourth highest-grossing movie in history, would persuade other studios that big budget 3D films represented an attractive investment.

"The gains far outweigh the risks right now and if you can have someone like James Cameron helming your 3D film, then you're okay to spend 300 to 500 million dollars on your film because you're going to get your money back and then some," he added.

"Right now, 3D is going to be all the rage and studios are going to jump on a big bunch of 3D films."

According to organizers of a recent 3D film festival in Belgium, more than 150 3D films are currently in various stages of production.

Among them is the long-awaited movie adaptation of comic-book hero "Tintin," directed by Oscar-winner Steven Spielberg and tentatively scheduled for release in 2011.

Cameron meanwhile is reportedly mulling a 3D version of his 1997 mega-blockbuster "Titanic," which remains the top-earning film in history with 1.8 billion dollars.

The 3D boom has been made possible by technological advances, according to movie industry insiders.

"There has been a real resurgence in 3D because the technology of digital cinema has allowed 3D to be sharper and brighter on screen and a much better audience experience," Mark Zoradi, former president of Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, said in a recent interview.

"It gives movie-goers just another reason to actually continue to go to the cinema. It's something you can't experience at home. It's here to stay and on many movies it has to be experienced."

Jason Constantine, president of acquisitions and co-productions at Lionsgate, whose properties include the "Saw" horror films, said 3D was more than just a passing fad.

"I think the experience of 3D is going to last for more than just a few years," Constantine told AFP. "I don't think it's just a moment in time."

Action, adventure, science fiction and suspense films were all prime genres for 3D to exploit, Constantine said, provided there was "something intrinsic about the story that 3D will enhance."

Lionsgate plan to unveil the seventh film in its "Saw" franchise this year with the movie designed from "day one as a 3D experience," Constantine said.

Brittany Murphy had several movies in the works

LOS ANGELES — Brittany Murphy was a hardworking actress who was juggling multiple movie projects in the months leading up to her unexpected death.

While none of the films boasted the big budgets of Murphy's "8 Mile" or "Sin City," directors who recently worked with the 32-year-old actress say she was dedicated, insightful and happy as she wrapped two indie thrillers and prepared to start shooting a romantic comedy next month.

Murphy was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after collapsing at her Hollywood Hills home Sunday morning. The county coroner's office is awaiting the results of toxicology and tissue tests before releasing an official cause of death.

Murphy spent the month of June shooting "Abandoned," a thriller in which she stars as a woman who embarks on a frantic search for her boyfriend when he disappears from a hospital after a routine treatment.

Director Michael Feifer said the actress was delightful to work with and dedicated to the project.

"She knew her material, and she was on her game," he said Tuesday. "She was professional. She was there for me. She was healthy."

The role required Murphy to sprint through a parking structure and run up and down stairs.

"She's such a pro and so good at her craft that she could turn it on and off as necessary," Feifer said. One minute she'd be immersed in a dramatic scene, the next she'd be joking around with the crew or playing with her white Maltese, which often accompanied her on set.

Her husband, Simon Monjack, was also on set, serving as Murphy's hair and makeup artist.

"The two of them really took care of each other," Feifer recalled. "He was her teddy bear, and she was just his little princess."

Murphy took on "Abandoned" just days after wrapping her role as a psychiatrist in the mystery thriller "Something Wicked." Executive producer Scott Chambers told the Los Angeles Times that though Murphy appeared frail, he was impressed with her work ethic.

"She looked ill, as much as 10 pounds underweight, and she's a small person to begin with," he said. "She easily could have made an excuse not to come to work, but she didn't. She said, 'I've got to get better, but I want to do this part.'"

She spent three weeks working on the film. Next, she was set for another thriller, "The Caller," but parted ways with the filmmakers last month amid rumors she was fired.

In January, she was to begin shooting the romantic comedy "Shrinking Charlotte." Writer-director Rene Eram told E! News that Murphy was "impressive" and professional, but looked very thin.

"I noticed that she had dropped a lot of weight in the last six months," he said.

The future of the three films is unclear. None have secured theatrical distribution.

"Abandoned," which also stars Dean Cain, Mimi Rogers and Peter Bogdanovich, will complete post-production in about three months, Feifer said. He hopes the film will be released in 2010, but producers want to be sensitive about the timing.

"We don't want it shown in a bad light and don't want it to look like anybody's trying to make any money on her passing away," he said. "It's a very fragile situation."

Post-production work also continues on "Something Wicked," which could begin festival screenings in the spring. Chambers said the Murphy family's wishes may be considered and could result in postponements of those screenings.

Eram said he hopes to recast Murphy's part in "Shrinking Charlotte."

Meanwhile, the county coroner's office is investigating how the celebrity Web site TMZ obtained details on prescription drugs contained in an investigator's report on Murphy's death. TMZ declined to say how it got the confidential report, which notes that numerous bottles of prescription medications were found in Murphy's name at the home where she collapsed. The medications ranged from depression and anti-anxiety meds to painkillers.

Los Angeles police detectives have said their initial inquiry found no evidence of wrongdoing. Police and the coroner's office continue to investigate the death — and now the leak of confidential information.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said he's concerned about other information about Murphy's death being released before his office issues its conclusions in four to six weeks.

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AP Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney contributed to this report.

(This version corrects that Murphy shot "Abandoned" after "Something Wicked.")