New York Post
Fame gala beckons Aretha
Last Updated: 1:03 AM, June 16, 2012
Aretha Franklin left Sarah Jessica Parker’s fund-raiser for President Obama, reportedly staying a mere 20 minutes at the $40,000-a-head event, to join Clive Davis and others in the audience at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards gala Thursday night.
Inductee Tom Jones was excited to meet fellow honoree Bette Midler. “I’ve written a musical I think she’d be great for,” Jones, lyricist of “The Fantasticks,” told us of his melodic rendition of “Harold and Maude.” “They are probably gonna think I am crazy because the woman is 80 years old. I think [Midler] could play 80 years old,” he said of the role.
Gordon Lightfoot, also inducted, was looking forward to sight-seeing here with fiancé Kim Haase. “I want to go see the new building downtown. I could see it coming all the way from the airport,” he said of One World Trade Center. Bob Seger, Stevie Nicks, Steve Miller, Meat Loaf and others performed. Ben E. King sang his classic “Stand by Me” with music group Take 6.
