Celebrity Mound

The most exclusive invitation-only event during this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach turned in to an award-winning bombshell on Friday night, when one hundred of the music industry’s closest contemporaries were taken by complete surprise by one today’s leading music icons during a private dinner party at Vic & Angelo’s in South Beach.

Half way through devouring mammoth sized dishes of 11oz kobe meatballs, one hundred of the closest friends of acclaimed songwriter and music producer, Rico Love, stopped to listen while one of the co-hosts of the evening stood up on his chair to address the party as the music stopped.

“I have something very special to give Rico tonight, and I’m glad you’re all here to share it with me.”

With a large sized black leather bag on the table in front of him, and with a starry-eyed Rico Love sitting alongside, legendary pop icon, Usher, unzipped the bag and reached in. In front of an audience of dozens of astonished onlookers, the king of urban pop touchingly presented his last Grammy award to his good friend and mentor.

“This is one of many, but I just wanted to say how my successes are your successes. Without him, I wouldn’t have completed this journey, so I wanted to present this to you as a good friend.” The crowd cheered in delight.

“This category of Best Male R&B Artist no longer exists, so I wanted to give you something memorable from my personal collection.”

A whole host of well-known personalities came out in force to celebrate the 29th birthday of Rico Love at the newly opened Vic & Angelo’s Coal Oven Enoteca that was attended by a who’s who list from the sports and entertainment world. Lining up on the red carpet inside the patio of the restaurant were: co-host and R&B legend Mary J. Blige, actress Gabrielle Union, R&B singer-songwriter and actress Deborah Cox, Miami HEAT kingpin Chris Bosh, Miami HEAT NBA All-star Juwan Howard, emerging Hip Hop artist Yelawolf, E! News correspondent and DJ for the night Clinton Sparks, Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis, Singer-songwriter Teairra Marí, A&R legend Sylvia Rhone and local philanthropist Tracy Mourning.

Following the main course, servers treated guests on each table to Tiramisu, ice cream and a Vic & Angelo’s specialty, the giant cotton candy tree served with a raging sparkler – a popular talking point on Rico Love’s table. Following dessert, Rico Love, Usher and Mary J. Blige gathered around the three-tower chocolate birthday cake as the giant sparklers were lit.

“I want to thank you all for being here with me on this special day,” said Love. “I wouldn’t have made it this far without each and every one of you.”

Usher kicks off his annual Camp New Look this week. The two-week program brings in kids from all over the country to Atlanta and focuses on service leadership and social entrepreneurship.

Campers will learn the importance of citizen power and the origins of personal power.

In a two-day Power Summit, Usher explains, campers will take an in-depth look at relevant social issues and design campaigns utilizing their artistic talents and abilities to bring awareness to the issue. Once campers return to their home cities, they will utilize their personal power to implement the service campaigns and to incite local youth into action.

“When I started New Look I had reached a point where writing a check for charitable causes just wasn’t enough,” Usher says. “I wanted to know that I’ve made a difference in a child’s life; that I’ve significantly used my own talents, passion and resources to impact the lives of young people (and ultimately their families and communities) in positive and stable ways.”

This year’s theme is Issue, Action…Power! and it’s interwoven throughout the business component curriculum as well as the sports and entertainment components.

“Through Camp New Look, we are creating new paths of entry and opportunities to learn and improve skills and are supporting the growth and success of young people from disadvantage circumstances,” Usher shares.

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A lawyer who’s opposed rapper T.I. and boxer Evander Holyfield in child-support cases is representing R&B singer Usher’s wife in their split.

Usher filed for divorce on Friday from Tameka Foster Raymond after less than two years of marriage. The singer whose real name is Usher Raymond IV has two sons with Foster Raymond.

Sports and entertainment family lawyer Randy Kessler said Monday his 38-year-old was a “faithful wife and loving mother.” He declined to comment on the singer’s conduct during the marriage.

The singer wed his former stylist in a glitzy ceremony in August 2007.

Kessler also represented rapper Mack 10 in his divorce from R&B singer T-Boz of TLC.

It may be over for Usher and Tameka Foster. The R&B star and his wife of nearly two years are reportedly in the process of divorcing.

“The papers haven’t been filed yet, but we had a telephone conversation last week with an attorney asking how to file for them,” a clerk with Cobb County Superior Court in Georgia told The News’ Nancy Dillon. The employee added that she wasn’t sure which party the lawyer represented, or who had instigated the proceedings.

Reports surfaced yesterday that the singer and his wife had been living separately for the past year. News of the split came a mere four months after Foster suffered cardiac arrest during routine cosmetic surgery in Brazil. Usher flew to South America to be at his wife’s side, but the two have not been photographed together since February.

One thing is clear: Usher hasn’t been happy for some time. In March, he told pals he was dissatisfied with his marriage. “He was tired of how demanding she is. He always had to cater to her constant insecurities,” says one friend. “But now he’s ready to move on and take care of his kids [Usher Raymond V, 18 months, and Naviyd, 6 months].”

Confirms a second insider, “Everyone close to Usher knew how unhappy he was. [Tameka] is crazy. His mother didn’t even go to their wedding because she didn’t approve!”

Usher’s mom, Jonnetta Patton, has reportedly disliked Foster since day one — and the feeling may have been mutual. Just three months before the couple’s August 2007 wedding, Patton was dismissed from her job as Usher’s manager, with many blaming Foster for the firing.

Last week, the “Yeah!” warbler tellingly went wedding-ringless at the Do Something Awards in NYC. Although he wore sunglasses throughout the entire event, “Usher seemed to be in great spirits,” says an eyewitness.

A rep for Usher and Foster did not respond to repeated calls for comment.

(source)

President and CEO of Cartier North America Frederic De Narp and Usher