James Cleveland

A man who says that he is the adopted son of the late Rev. James Cleveland wants to lay claim to a share of the fortune left behind when the Grammy-winning singer known as the "King of Gospel" died in February. Andre M. Cleveland of Northridge, a rhythm and blues record producer, asserted at a news conference Tuesday that he is entitled to half of the Cleveland estate, estimated at $6 million.

RANKINGS, COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY IN LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN(?) 1. Cleveland (41-11) Way LeBron's going, Kobe should be flattered just to be compared to him. (1) BEST OF THE REST 2. Lakers (39-13) Remember hunger? Nuggets have it. Lakers waiting for room service. (2) 3. Denver (34-17) Billups, supposedly washed up at 31, averaging 24 since Jan. 1 at 33. (4) 4. Orlando (33-17)

The Rev. James Cleveland, the acclaimed "King of Gospel" whose voice was stilled recently by health problems, died Saturday of congestive heart failure, according to his manager, Annette Thomas. He was 59. Cleveland's singing style and commitment to excellence inspired an array of secular singers. Cleveland was admitted to Brotman Medical Center in Culver City on Thursday suffering from respiratory problems, Thomas said.

Remember the NBA draft of 2009 . . . as in "What draft?" On the eve of the event, the ground trembled under the NBA amid reports from myriad sources that the Phoenix Suns are close to a deal with the Cavaliers, sending Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland. If the deal is done today, it will be remembered as the day the Clippers got Blake Griffin (that's nice) and the Cavaliers got Shaquille O'Neal (HOLY MT. OLYMPUS, SHAQ AND LEBRON JAMES TOGETHER!).

When the Rev. James Cleveland began his gospel-singing career as a young boy 50 years ago, said an emcee during a tribute concert Monday night, "a voice came from heaven and said, 'This is my beloved son in whom I am well-pleased, and you can't touch this .' " Professionally speaking, she was right. Time, however, has finally touched the oft-crowned King of Gospel, who has suffered health problems and cannot sing right now because of a tracheotomy.

It has been four months since famed gospel singer and pastor James Cleveland died, leaving the members of his Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church to hold his organization together. But some of them now say it is going to take a miracle to prevent infighting from destroying the well-known church, as members battle over money Cleveland left in trust and whether the building at the corner of Slauson and Western avenues should be sold.

Members of the church run by the late gospel singer and pastor James Cleveland won a temporary court order Friday preventing the financial manager of the church from selling the property. Various members of the Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church in Los Angeles claim that Annette Thomas, who managed the church funds, gained control of the church's assets through a trust set up just before Cleveland died in February, 1991. According to their attorney, Stephen M.

Andrae Crouch shared a reminiscence. Stevie Wonder sang one of his songs. Politicians heaped him with praise. And about 4,000 other friends and admirers danced and swayed in the aisles as the voices of 500 choir members resounded across the ornate auditorium. For the Rev. James Cleveland, the acclaimed king of gospel music, it was a fitting final tribute. Cleveland, 59, the first gospel singer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, died Feb.

"I'm not worried about the undertaker!" exclaimed buoyant Shirley Caesar at a tribute concert for the Rev. James Cleveland, the extraordinarily influential gospel figure, last October. "I'm thankful for the Upper-taker!" Cleveland, his friends and fans would bittersweetly agree, has finally fallen into the hands of both.

The infectious gospel music cascading from the Los Angeles Convention Center's cavernous Exhibit Hall K this week drew the faithful and the curious. Inside, a 3,000-voice mass choir was rehearsing songs it will record Friday--a highlight of the Gospel Music Workshop of America's 28th annual convention, which wraps up Saturday.

at Orlando 99, Cleveland 88: Dwight Howard had 22 points and 18 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 19 points for the Magic. LeBron James, who was 10 of 27 from the field and had 23 points, spent much of the night complaining to the officials. " . . . It can get frustrating at times when you continue to just get beat up and you don't get the attention of the refs," he said.

What's ABC's matchup to watch in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Tim Duncan vs. Anderson Varejao? Game 1's ballyhooed matchup of Duncan vs. LeBron James wasn't exactly one for the ages. Duncan was Duncan, scoring 24 points with 13 rebounds and five blocks. James laid an egg big enough to hatch an elephant, scoring 14 points, missing 12 of 16 shots with six turnovers as the Spurs cruised to an 85-76 win over his Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.

Unlike his teammate-to-be LeBron James, there is no $90-million Nike deal or even a guaranteed rookie contract for Jason Kapono. But the UCLA forward with the solid shooting stroke is overjoyed at being drafted in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining top pick James. "It presents a great opportunity for a player like me," said Kapono, taken with the 31st selection. "Cleveland is an up-and-coming team with a lot of young talent.

The infectious gospel music cascading from the Los Angeles Convention Center's cavernous Exhibit Hall K this week drew the faithful and the curious. Inside, a 3,000-voice mass choir was rehearsing songs it will record Friday--a highlight of the Gospel Music Workshop of America's 28th annual convention, which wraps up Saturday.

Jerry Wexler, who was head of Atlantic Records in 1972, had been begging Aretha Franklin for years to record in church, for he knew that of all the elements that combined in her brilliant sound, gospel truly was the key. She finally agreed to cut this album live at a Baptist church in Los Angeles on two successive nights.

Members of the church run by the late gospel singer and pastor James Cleveland won a temporary court order Friday preventing the financial manager of the church from selling the property. Various members of the Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church in Los Angeles claim that Annette Thomas, who managed the church funds, gained control of the church's assets through a trust set up just before Cleveland died in February, 1991. According to their attorney, Stephen M.

Unlike his teammate-to-be LeBron James, there is no $90-million Nike deal or even a guaranteed rookie contract for Jason Kapono. But the UCLA forward with the solid shooting stroke is overjoyed at being drafted in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining top pick James. "It presents a great opportunity for a player like me," said Kapono, taken with the 31st selection. "Cleveland is an up-and-coming team with a lot of young talent.

at Orlando 99, Cleveland 88: Dwight Howard had 22 points and 18 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 19 points for the Magic. LeBron James, who was 10 of 27 from the field and had 23 points, spent much of the night complaining to the officials. " . . . It can get frustrating at times when you continue to just get beat up and you don't get the attention of the refs," he said.

A man who says that he is the adopted son of the late Rev. James Cleveland wants to lay claim to a share of the fortune left behind when the Grammy-winning singer known as the "King of Gospel" died in February. Andre M. Cleveland of Northridge, a rhythm and blues record producer, asserted at a news conference Tuesday that he is entitled to half of the Cleveland estate, estimated at $6 million.

It has been four months since famed gospel singer and pastor James Cleveland died, leaving the members of his Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church to hold his organization together. But some of them now say it is going to take a miracle to prevent infighting from destroying the well-known church, as members battle over money Cleveland left in trust and whether the building at the corner of Slauson and Western avenues should be sold.