Happy Birthday to Italian DJ Benny Benassi (1967), R&B singer Gerald Levert (1966), bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent (1962), film director Cameron Crowe (1957), South African musician Johnny Clegg (1953),

Yesterday, Atco Records, an imprint of Rhino Entertainment, released Just Me, the first new studio album from R&B legend Keith Sweat since his 2002 Rebirth set. The original "new jack" hitmaker,

R&B singer Sean Levert had to be physically restrained by prison guards because he was "out of control" shortly before he collapsed and died. The 39-year-old son of The O'Jays star Eddie Levert collapsed in his cell at Cuyahoga County Jail on Sunday night and was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Happy Birthday to Italian DJ Benny Benassi (1967), R&B singer Gerald Levert (1966), bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent (1962), film director Cameron Crowe (1957), South African musician Johnny Clegg (1953), Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard (1951), "Nash Bridges" actor Cheech Marin (1946), The Byrds singer Roger McGuinn (1942), "Indiana Jones" star Harrison Ford (1942), "Jackie Brown" actor Robert Forster (1941), soul singer Bobby Freeman (1940), "X-Men 3" actor Patrick Stewart (1940), "Hogan's Heroes" star Bob Crane (1928; d. 1978), and actor Ben Johnson (1918; d. 1996).

It was all tears and tributes at the B.E.T Awards in Los Angeles on Tuesday night as Diana Ross was feted and Gerald Levert and James Brown remembered. Ross used her Lifetime Achievement honor to call for young R&B stars to "keep it classy" while Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu and her kids sang her praises.

50 Cent is to show off his classical skills in a new TV ad for energy drink Vitamin Water. The rapper will be seen relieving a symphony orchestra conductor of his duties, and leading musicians through a rendition of his breakthrough hit In Da Club.

Prince, Krs-One and Outkast star Andre 3000 have teamed up with civil rights activist Dr Cornel West for a new album project to promote hip-hop. The trio will join the likes of Talib Kweli, Killer Mike and the late Gerald Levert on Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations, the brainchild of learned West and his brother Clifton.

In October, Justin Hawkins, lead singer of The Darkness, announced that he's leaving the band because he can't live the rock 'n' roll lifestyle again after completing rehab... Weird Al Yankovic's White & Nerdy becomes the parody singer's first ever top-ten hit... and legendary NYC nightclub CBGB, where bands like the Ramones, Talking Heads and Blondie got their start, closed; Patti Smith was the final act...

2006 was a great year in the entertainment world; however, let us not forget those who entertained us for generations but have moved on. We look back on those entertainers and cultural icons who left us in 2006 to pay our respects... Jazz, R&B and pop singer Lou Rawls, lost a two year fight with brain and lung cancer (1/6). He was 72. Prolific film star of the 50s, 60s and 70s and star of such hits as Alfie and The Poseidon Adventure, Shelley Winters at age 85 (1/14). 60s soul star Wilson Pickett, who brought us such hits as Mustang Sally and In The Midnight Hour age 64; of a heart attack (1/19); and actor Anthony Franciosa, 77 (1/19). Country singer Janette Carter, of cuuntry music's founding family, the Carters, 82 (1/22); and actor Chris Penn, 40, brother of actor Sean Penn who starred in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1/24). And Coretta Scott King (76), civil rights activist and wife of Martin Luther King, Jr (1/30).