Celebrity Mound

Patti may have been the LaBelle of the ball at the Apollo Theater’s 75th Anniversary concert, but it was she who felt honored by the A-list celebs who showed up to support her.

The usually reclusive Prince came out of hiding to applaud the soul diva, calling her, “My mother, my teacher, my cook and my stylist” at the Monday night bash. He added, “She taught me so much. I love her with all my heart, and I’m here for her.”

Mariah Carey, who took a break from finishing up her new CD, broke down in tears as she spoke about LaBelle – the woman she calls her “godmother.” “I’m sorry [I'm crying], but she just makes me so emotional,” she said. Turning to the singer, Carey sobbed, “I am so honored to know you, and I thank you for always sharing your gift of love and friendship with me.”

LaBelle was clearly moved by the lovefest. After making her way to the podium, the legend admitted, “I was sitting up there and Prince snuck up behind me and said he wouldn’t miss this for anything, and I was shocked. When I heard Mariah was giving me this award, I was shocked. I’m shaking.”

Not shaking, but equally emotional, was Quincy Jones, who was also inducted into the Apollo’s Hall of Fame. Jamie Foxx did the honors, and revealed his favorite Quincy memory before going on stage. “It was just being at his house,” the Oscar winner said. “One party, he had Sidney Poitier there; Oprah Winfrey was hosting and a slew of actors and actresses from his era came. He just brought family together. And that’s what we’re really missing today.”

Onstage, Foxx praised his “Ray” dialogue coach, stating proudly: “Quincy taught me not to settle for mediocrity. He has connected us all.”

Jones was equally impressed with his young pal, and not just as an actor/musician. “Jamie is an amazing person, and I love him. He’s such a serious artist, but he’s also a maniac!” he exclaimed. “We do it together. We are two party animals.”

But Foxx was the only party animal we found scampering around Mr. West later in the evening, having morphed from respectable presenter to club king. The “Blame It” singer danced, performed and poured shots down the throat of birthday girl DJ Sky Nellor with a little help from Jay-Z into the wee hours of the morning.

You can have an awful high school experience and still hit the big time: just ask Pharrell Williams. “In high school, I wasn’t getting girls because I wasn’t a jock. And I was a C/D student, but still made mostly F’s,” the performer (below) confessed at Billboard’s Music & Advertising Conference. “The only thing I showed up for since seventh grade was band practice.”

Fortunately, Williams quit the slacker act and got on track. “I’d like to say that my humble beginning in music was that of fortune,” he said, “but I’ve been smart enough to pay attention from that moment on.”

(source)

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Jenni Garth