RUTH BROWN - RUTH BROWN MEMORIAL SERVICE PLANNED FOR NEW YORK

LATEST: R+B legend RUTH BROWN will be remembered by peers including LITTLE RICHARD and MABEL JOHN at a memorial service in New York on Monday (22JAN07). Stars will perform tributes to the late singer at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in a service led by the chairperson of the Rhythm + Blues Foundation KENDALL MINTER. Dubbed Miss Rhythm, Brown, who played the original MOTORMOUTH MABLE in JOHN WATERS HAIRSPRAY movie, died in November (06) from complications following a heart attack and stroke she suffered after surgery.