Jun 17, 12:27 PM (ET)


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Stevie Wonder has arranged to pay the funeral expenses for five children who were killed in a city row house fire, his publicist said.

Wonder was heartbroken after hearing about the blaze and wanted to do something to help the family, said his publicist, Ira Tucker.

"I don't think he's ever done anything like this before," Tucker said. "It's just good that something can be lifted from them."

Wonder, 55, also hopes to visit with the families while he is in Philadelphia for the Live 8 concert on July 2, Tucker was quoted Friday as saying.

"Stevie feels good about this," Tucker said. "It's been just a heart-wrenching thing."

The June 12 blaze in the city's Kensington neighborhood killed three sisters, Summer Cooke, 5; Samantha Bowers, 4; and Sabrina Dickson, 22 months; and two of their cousins who lived nearby, Amber Johnson, 3; and Reginald Ringgold, 1.

The three sisters' mother, Shannon Bowers, 21, and her boyfriend, Lester Cooke, 33, escaped by jumping from a second-floor window into a children's wading pool on the sidewalk.

Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked the fire.

http://apnews.myway.com//...FJPG0.html

PurpleKnight said:

Certainly.

I'm sure stevie has good intentions and felt sympathy for the family, but I think people should remind themselves how they now know about this - a publicist's press release.
A Time To Love is out soon, available in all good stores.
[Edited 6/17/05 12:31pm]

Number23 said:

Oooo you cynic.

Marrk said:

Little does he realize that there is no release date in sight for A Time to Love

Number23 said:

Please tell me you're not suggesting that Stevie is doing this as a promotional stunt


and besides,there is no release date for his new CD anyway,which kinda destroys your theory

Number23 said:

How do we know about ANYTHING? A press release of some sort. Think this is the only good thing Stevie does? Think again. If he wanted press, he would announce everything he does. The real question is...WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? When someone does something nice for someone else, regardless of the motive, treat it as a blessing and move on. Before you start criticizing the deeds of others, be sure YOUR deeds are at least equal or better.

BlaqueKnight said:

Thank You BK For Breaking Down For Them. You Said Exactly What I Was On Tip Of My Tongue.

Number23 said:

WTF ??

Stevie is a great humanitarian, and it's not the first time that he helps some people... HE has nothing to earn ...

So, stop talkin shit about him...