Thursday, April 18, 2024

Billboard: Nile Rodgers Celebrates New Autobiography With Gayle King, Beatriz Perez, Kyle MacLachlan, More

By Danyel Smith, New York - Photos: Shahar Azran / WireImage


The Guest of Honor: Nile Rogers holding a copy of his new autobiography "Le Freak" at New York's Crosby Hotel. (Photo: Shahar Azran/WireImage)

The rainy remnants of Tropical Storm Lee could not stop entertainment glitterati and music literati from streaming into New York's Crosby Street Hotel last night to join Spiegel & Grau as the publishing house celebrated legendary producer/Chic founder Nile Rodgers' (@nilerodgers) new autobiography, "Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny."

Excerpted in this Sunday's New York Times T-Style Magazine (Sept. 11-18), the book is set for publication October 18. Gayle King (O the Oprah Magazine, OWN, Sirius XM) hosted the event with Beatriz Perez, chief sustainability officer of the Coca-Cola Company. Also in the candle-lit, lounge-y space was Kelly Cutrone of People's Revolution, Andrew Essex of Droga5, Angela Yee of New York's WWPR Power 105 (Clear Channel), and BET correspondent Lola Ogunnaike, among many others.

Rodger's editor, Spiegel & Grau executive editor Chris Jackson (who signed and edited Jay-Z's "Decoded"), also presided over the event, and guided a lively Rodgers-who has been writing about his struggles with cancer at his blog -through a series of anecdotes about creative partners Sister Sledge ("We are Family"), Diana Ross ("I'm Coming Out"), David Bowie ("Let's Dance"), Madonna, ("Like a Virgin"), and more.

The murmuring in the room was about Lil Wayne's new album, the tiny spring rolls, and about how well Rodgers looked. Many also wondered aloud about what Chris Jackson's next big project might be-though, as per usual, he remained mum on the subject.


Famous Friend: Co-host of the evening Gayle King (left) addressing the book party. (Photo: Shahar Azran /WireImage)

C'est Chic: Nile Rogers (left) putting it into music while Spiegel & Grau's executive editor Chris Jackson (right) looks on.
(Photo: Shahar Azran/WireImage)

Celebrities (and Tiny Spring Rolls): From Left: Actor Kyle McLachlan, Angela Yee of New York's WWPR Power 105, Nile Rodgers, Gayle King
(Photo: Shahar Azran/WireImage)

C'est Chic: Nile Rodgers with B.E.T. correspondent Lola Ogunnaike
(Photo: Shahar Azran/WireImage)

C'est Chic Redux: (From left) Sooze Plunkett-Green of Nile Rodgers Productions and We Are Family Foundation; flmmaker, artist, writer, and musician Michael Holman; and Nancy Hunt, President, We Are Family Foundation
(Photo: Shahar Azran/WireImage)

Author, Publisher Arm-in-Arm: Nile Rodgers and Julie Grau, Senior VP and Publisher of Spiegel and Grau
(Photo: Shahar Azran/WireImage)

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Read the original article here:
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/backbeat/backbeat-nile-rodgers-celebrates-new-autobiography-1005341012.story

Category: PRESS