Jazz Vocalist Dakota Staton, 76, Dies

by *Nate Guidry
*Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 12, 2007

Dakota Staton, an iconic Pittsburgh jazz vocalist who achieved international
fame, died Tuesday at Isabella Geriatric Center in New York after a lengthy
illness. Ms. Staton was 76.

Sharynn Harper, a spokesperson for Ms. Staton's brother, Fred Staton, said
Ms. Staton had been in declining health after suffering a triple aneurysm
several years ago.

Ms. Staton's last major performance in Pittsburgh was in 1996 when she
performed at the Hill House Auditorium as part of the Mellon Jazz Festival.

Born and raised in Homewood, Ms. Staton attended Westinghouse High School
and was a member of the famed Kadets, a swing band that played music ranging
from "String of Pearls" to Coleman Hawkins' "Body and Soul."

After cutting her teeth working with the Joe Westry Orchestra at several of
the bigger nightclubs in the Hill District, Ms. Staton moved to Detroit in
search of other musical opportunities.

In 1954, Ms. Staton recorded a single for Capitol Records and began a series
of highly visible concerts on the East Coast. Two years later, she was named
"the most promising jazz vocalist of the year" by the critics at Downbeat
Magazine. When her first album, "Late Late Show," appeared the following
year, it was hailed a classic.

In the mid 1960s, Ms. Staton moved to England.

"From England I ventured all around the world," Ms. Staton told the
Post-Gazette in a 1996 interview. "Most of the venues I played there were
for international audiences that spoke and understood English, like the
Intercontinental hotel chains and other places I worked. Many of those
people had never heard the blues, and I was an oasis for them. I imagine
some of them have never heard it since."

Disney opens 'fairytale weddings' to gay couples

The Walt Disney Company has changed its policy to allow same-sex couples to have "fairytale weddings" at its US resorts.

Disney previously allowed gay couples to organise their own weddings or commitment ceremonies at rented meeting rooms at the resorts, but had barred them from purchasing its fairytale wedding package and holding the event at locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World that are set aside specifically for weddings.

Disney Parks and Resorts spokesman Donn Walker said the change was prompted by "an inquiry from a guest that asked about this service".

"We are updating our fairytale wedding guidelines to include commitment ceremonies," Walker said.

"This is consistent with our policy of creating a welcoming, respectful and inclusive environment for all of our guests."

Disney had allowed gay couples to take part in its vow renewals program but excluded them from buying wedding packages by requiring a valid marriage license from California or Florida, which do not permit or recognise gay marriages.

Last month, gay Web site AfterElton.com criticised Disney for not allowing same-sex couples to participate in the fairytale weddings and honeymoons program.

Disney's fairytale wedding packages start at $US8,000 ($A9,770) and include a wedding planner, the ceremony, food and beverages, flowers and table decorations.

The "lavish wedding" option also includes a ride to the ceremony in the Cinderella coach, costumed trumpeters heralding the couple's arrival, and attendance by Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters dressed in formal attire.

Disney has come under fire from religious conservatives, including the Southern Baptist Convention, who have accused the company of promoting a gay agenda.

The groups, which lifted an eight-year boycott of Disney in 2005, had criticised the company for such corporate policies as giving health benefits to same-sex partners of employees, allowing "Gay Day" celebrations at its theme parks and airing a prime-time television show on its ABC network featuring openly gay comedian Ellen DeGeneres.

But Mr Walker has rejected the criticism.

"We are not in the business of making judgments about the lifestyle of our guests," he said.

"We are in the hospitality business and our parks and resorts are open to everyone."

Sto meglio

Nonostante ce la stiano mettendo tutta per distruggermi l'organismo,
oggi mi sento meglio. Ok, ok, stanno cercando di guarirmi, che nel
caso della Leucemia si puo' pure chiamare "salvare la vita". Ma
credetemi gli interminabili ricoveri, i continui effetti collaterali,
l'impossibilita' di lavorare....sono tutte concause che mi abbattono
sia fisicamente che moralmente.

This is just a trial

I'm in the hospital right now, with my mobile phone. I have leukemia
and I have to stay in the hospital for months...