MDA Chairman of the Board R. Rodney Howell issued a statement on
August 3, saying that Jerry Lewis “will not be appearing on the telethon”
and “we will not be replacing him as MDA national chairman.” The 85 
year old Lewis had announced in May that he was retiring as host of
the show, which he has done since 1966. Lewis also had said  that he
planned to make his final appearance on this year’s telethon which is 
scheduled for this evening. The nonprofit agency made no explanation
for the moves. 

Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor who is probably best known for
his roles in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), Speed (1994), Point Break
(1991), and the 1999 groundbreaking science fiction action film The Matrix. In
addition to his film roles, Reeves has also performed in theatre. On January 31,
2005, Reeves received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Fleetwood Mac in 2009 … From left: John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie
Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fleetwood Mac could be back on the road soon.

Lindsey Buckingham says the band is considering another tour and even
recording a new album in the near future.

The guitarist, songwriter and producer says there have been "a lot of rumblings"
about another Fleetwood Mac tour, but that nothing is on the books yet. Stevie
Nicks has also hinted at future Fleetwood Mac concerts. The band reunited for an international tour in 2009 (above).

Buckingham is set to begin a solo tour next month to support his sixth solo album,
"Seeds We Sow," which is set for release Sept. 6.

"Dreams” was the band’s first and only U.S. number one (1977)
and remained at No.1 on the American albums chart for 31 weeks.

Martha Raye was a comic actress and standards singer who performed in
movies, and later on television. She was honored in 1969 with an Academy
Award as the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award recipient for her volunteer
efforts and services entertaining the troops during World War II, the Korean
War, and the Vietnam War. Raye’s life as a singer and comedy performer
began very early in her childhood. She is the only woman buried in the
SF (Special Forces) cemetery at Ft. Bragg. She was an honorary Colonel
in the Marines and an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army.

Martha Raye with a group of soldiers at LZ Center, 40 miles southwest of DaNang
in 1968

  
                    (August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990)

Leonard Bernstein was a conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and 
pianist. According to The New York Times, he was "one of the most prodigiously 
talented and successful musicians in American history." Bernstein had a long
tenure as the music director of the New Your Philharmonic. He is also known
for his music in both the Broadway and film productions of West Side Story
(1957/1961).