John Larkin

John Larkin, a lifelong stutterer who in middle age turned his speech problem into international fame as "Scatman John," has died of lung cancer at the age of 57. Larkin, a jazz pianist and songwriter before he turned to scat singing, selling 8 million CDs and earning 14 gold and 18 platinum records, died Friday in his Los Angeles home. "I'm a star . . . not although I stutter, but because I stutter," Larkin often told his fans around the world. "Stuttering has paid off!"

The Los Angeles County probate judge who oversees an elderly heiress' trust fund approved $50,000 in compensation Tuesday for a Kabbalah Centre official who is under criminal investigation for his handling of the woman's financial affairs. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael I. Levanas signed off on John E. Larkin's payment request without comment. The money covers work that Larkin, a veteran Hollywood financial advisor, performed last year as a trustee for an $11-million family trust fund benefiting 88-year-old Susan Strong Davis.

Sean Larkin was a Cal State Northridge accounting grad trying to break into the entertainment industry when he met a hip-hop act that performed in local clubs. The Black Eyed Peas didn't need high-level financial advising in the mid-1990s, when they were often broke and handed out fliers to fill their shows. Larkin signed on as their business manager anyway and remained at their side as they became international superstars who routinely pulled in $1 million a night. What seemed a rare story of loyalty rewarded in the music industry has revealed itself as a cautionary tale in recent years.

Federal authorities have taken over an investigation into the management of an elderly heiress' fortune by a key figure at the Kabbalah Centre, police said Tuesday. A supervisor with the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department, which had led a criminal probe into the handling of the housebound widow's affairs, said the department turned over files concerning her longtime business manager, John E. Larkin, to federal agents last month. Sgt. Steve Barber declined to name the agency but said its focus was "financial activities" involving the 88-year-old heiress, Susan Strong Davis, and Larkin, a veteran Hollywood business manager who helps oversee the Kabbalah Centre's money.

John Larkin can hardly get through a sentence without coming upon a word that takes six or seven attempts to get out. He's been a stutterer since he began to speak. A few years ago the pianist, who speaks fluent bebop with his fingers at the keyboard, discovered that when he sang a song, and then offered a scat--or random vocal syllable--solo, his stuttering took a well-needed hike. Now, he says, he's found his vocal language.

Federal authorities have taken over an investigation into the management of an elderly heiress' fortune by a key figure at the Kabbalah Centre, police said Tuesday. A supervisor with the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department, which had led a criminal probe into the handling of the housebound widow's affairs, said the department turned over files concerning her longtime business manager, John E. Larkin, to federal agents last month. Sgt. Steve Barber declined to name the agency but said its focus was "financial activities" involving the 88-year-old heiress, Susan Strong Davis, and Larkin, a veteran Hollywood business manager who helps oversee the Kabbalah Centre's money.

The Los Angeles County probate judge who oversees an elderly heiress' trust fund approved $50,000 in compensation Tuesday for a Kabbalah Centre official who is under criminal investigation for his handling of the woman's financial affairs. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael I. Levanas signed off on John E. Larkin's payment request without comment. The money covers work that Larkin, a veteran Hollywood financial advisor, performed last year as a trustee for an $11-million family trust fund benefiting 88-year-old Susan Strong Davis.

Los Angeles County officials said Monday that they were opening an investigation into possible financial exploitation of a housebound Palos Verdes Estates heiress by her money manager. The launch of a probe into the handling of Susan Strong Davis' affairs came in response to a Times article describing how the 87-year-old widow spent millions of dollars on a four-bedroom home in Beverly Hills despite suffering from what relatives said was dementia that left her unable to make even minor decisions.

Perry Mason is here. He's there. He's everywhere. Click on your TV set weekday mornings to TBS and you'll catch Raymond Burr in action as Erle Stanley Gardner's ace defense attorney on the classic series. Turn the dial to KDOC weekday afternoons for another dose and every Saturday evening for two hours of prime-time Perry. "Perry" mania doesn't stop there.

Sean Larkin was a Cal State Northridge accounting grad trying to break into the entertainment industry when he met a hip-hop act that performed in local clubs. The Black Eyed Peas didn't need high-level financial advising in the mid-1990s, when they were often broke and handed out fliers to fill their shows. Larkin signed on as their business manager anyway and remained at their side as they became international superstars who routinely pulled in $1 million a night. What seemed a rare story of loyalty rewarded in the music industry has revealed itself as a cautionary tale in recent years.

Los Angeles County officials said Monday that they were opening an investigation into possible financial exploitation of a housebound Palos Verdes Estates heiress by her money manager. The launch of a probe into the handling of Susan Strong Davis' affairs came in response to a Times article describing how the 87-year-old widow spent millions of dollars on a four-bedroom home in Beverly Hills despite suffering from what relatives said was dementia that left her unable to make even minor decisions.

John Larkin, a lifelong stutterer who in middle age turned his speech problem into international fame as "Scatman John," has died of lung cancer at the age of 57. Larkin, a jazz pianist and songwriter before he turned to scat singing, selling 8 million CDs and earning 14 gold and 18 platinum records, died Friday in his Los Angeles home. "I'm a star . . . not although I stutter, but because I stutter," Larkin often told his fans around the world. "Stuttering has paid off!"

John Larkin can hardly get through a sentence without coming upon a word that takes six or seven attempts to get out. He's been a stutterer since he began to speak. A few years ago the pianist, who speaks fluent bebop with his fingers at the keyboard, discovered that when he sang a song, and then offered a scat--or random vocal syllable--solo, his stuttering took a well-needed hike. Now, he says, he's found his vocal language.

JoMarie Payton, who plays Mrs. Freeman on "Will & Grace" and was a regular as the mother on the hit sitcom "Family Matters," and her husband, novelist Landrus Clark, have listed their home in the hills of Ladera Heights at $1.8 million. Payton, who played Harriette Winslow on "Family Matters," also portrayed Hakeem's mother on the series "Moesha." She and her husband are selling their home so that they can move to Las Vegas, where she plans to pursue her singing career.

LONDON - The opening of Northern Ireland's first private abortion clinic Thursday in Belfast drew hundreds of noisy demonstrators, who hoisted placards with messages such as "Keep Ireland abortion-free. " The clinic, operated by Marie Stopes International, will offer sexual health and family planning advice and, in certain cases, treatment with nonsurgical abortion and follow-up counseling. "We understand the culture here in Northern Ireland; we don't want to change the culture … and have abortion on demand.