It was just five years ago, June of 2000 to be exact, that rumors of Luther Vandross' death surfaced days before he was scheduled to appear at the ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans. Vandross then showed up at the festival and poked fun at the rumors. "I sound real good for somebody who's dead," he laughed then.

Because of that, attendees at this year's Coca-Cola presents the ESSENCE Music Festival were leery of believing the news that the singer had passed on the festival's July 1 opening day.

But the reports of Vandross, 54, passing became more believable as 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard kicked off the sold-out three-day festival with a medley of Vandross hits. "I'm still sad right now. Luther was a big influence on me. I'm blessed to be able to have seen him do his thing and have him influence me musically. He will be truly missed," said Studdard to the crowd.

Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Lionel Richie and numerous others also paid homage to the late crooner, who died at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, N.J. after his two-year battle to recover from a stroke. "He was the funniest man I knew, and he will surely be missed," said Keys.

More Festival Notes

There was a wardrobe malfunction at the Coca-Cola presents the ESSENCE Music Festival courtesy of Destiny's Child. During the dance introduction to their song 'Soldier,' a male dancer performed a stripper-like routine that ended with him dropping his pants and pouring water down his bare chest. The 50,000-plus who had packed into the New Orleans Superdome gasped in shock as the dancer appeared on jumbo monitors throughout the arena not realizing his penis was exposed through his white boxer-briefs.

Coca-Cola pulled out all of the punches for its exhibit booth at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. 'Girlfriends' stars Golden Brooks and Jill Marie Jones returned by popular demand to host the interactive game show 'How Well Do You Know Your Girls?' at the booth. Coca-Cola also emphasized empowerment during its Coca-Cola Youth Day, which featured an appearance by Bad Boy Entertainment newcomers B5. "Everything we do in support of the Coca-Cola Presents the 2005 ESSENCE Music Festival is about real connections -- with each other, with youth and with the community," said Ingrid Saunders Jones, senior vice president of The Coca-Cola Company.

Chevrolet showcased a local New Orleans model named Zuyapa in its campaign capturing the ideal ESSENCE woman at this year's festival. The campaign was shot by popular photographer Keith Major, who has also photographed everyone from supermodel Iman to Kim Catrall of 'Sex in the City' and jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. The campaign was used to kick off Chevy's new mini-truck, the Chevrolet HHR.

In an effort to attract a younger demographic, ESSENCE organizers booked hip-hoppers Kanye West and the Black Eyed Peas to perform on its main stage. While younger singers such as Fantasia, Destiny's Child, John Legend and Ruben Studdard went over well with the audience, neither West nor the Peas were able to fully connect with the crowd. At one point, West's frustrations with the audience's lack of interest in his performance showed. "I'm up here performing new material for ya'll, and ya'll aint getting with me," he griped to the crowd.

Among the others spotted over the course of the three-day festival were Chico Benymon ('Half & Half'), Kym Whitley, Darrin Dewitt Henson ('Soul Food'), fitness guru A.J. Johnson, playwright David E. Talbert with wife Lyn, comedienne Myra J, Mel Jackson ('Deliver Us From Eva'), Laurence Fishburne, Rosie Perez, Sinbad, Tavis Smiley, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Micah Stampley, Jonathan Slocumb, Babyface, author Dr. Ro, Michael Eric Dyson, Kevin Edmonds of After 7, author Kevin Powell, Luther "Luke" Campbell, Eva Pigford ('America's Next Top Model'), Shaun Robinson ('Access Hollywood'), Magic Johnson and wife Cookie, Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, Karen Clark-Sheard, Terrence Dashon Howard ('Hustle & Flow'), comic Roland Powell, Lamman Rucker ('All My Children'), author Farrah Gray, Jacque Reid ('BET Nightly News'), Keith Robinson ('Fat Albert'), screenwriter Michael Elliott and Detroit Piston Richard Hamilton.

Kinky Business

Newlyweds Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Parker Kodjoe are the new spokespersons for Chevrolet trucks. The duo represents the auto makers in upcoming print, radio and television spots, offering their seal of approval on the Chevy brand.

Kodjoe, who stars opposite Idris Elba and Nona Gaye in the upcoming film 'The Gospel,' says the Tahoe is one of his favorite vehicles by Chevy, especially since the company gave the couple a fully-loaded one.

"They pimped it out," laughed Kodjoe. "Well, they didn't pimp it out. They tricked it out!"

The former 'Soul Food' and 'Second Time Around' stars used their Tahoe DVD player to screen a pilot that their manager sent over for Parker Kodjoe to consider. "We watched the DVD of the pilot in the backseats," shared Kodjoe. "Then we, well, uh... I'll just say that the Tahoe has great backseats. They're great!"

Brand New

Seagram's Gin & Juice unveiled its hot new look and sleek design with a star-studded party in partnership with TVT Records, the Ying Yang Twins and Smooth magazine following the BET Awards in Los Angeles. The party was one of the go-to post bashes following the awards, and celebrities including director Penny Marshall, Petey Pablo, Kym Whitley, actress-singer Mayte Garcia, singer Nicci Gilbert, Brian J. White ('Second Time Around'), Corey Clark, singer Monifah, Dorian Gregory ('Soul Train'), rapper Won-G, Demetria McKinney ('Meet The Browns'), Jacksonville Jaguar linebacker Akin Ayodele, R&B group 4-Mula 1 and Bishop Don "Magic" Juan.

"I love Seagram's Gin & Juice. Some folks would say maybe I love it a little too much," joked Kym Whitley. "Actually, since I am sweet like Seagram's Gin & Juice, maybe they should hire me as their spokesperson. They need a new pink colored Seagram's since that's my favorite color, and let me be in all of the print ads. Oops, did I just ask Seagram's for a job? I guess I did!"

In support of the re-launch, Seagram's Gin & Juice will also set the summer season off with a nationwide promotional campaign called Seagram's Gin & Juice Barbecue Blast-Off, where consumers across the country will have an opportunity to win barbecue-themed prizes. Among the giveaways are a custom cooler bag with built-in sound system, oversized drinking tumblers and limited edition, commemorative playing cards, all designed to add the perfect accent to year-round entertaining. For more details, visit www.SeagramsGin.com.

Can't Say Names...

... What actor was on the verge of heading to a New Orleans jail courtesy of a showboating Big Easy cop during the Coca-Cola presents the ESSENCE Music Festival. Apparently said actor and the disgruntled officer exchanged words at the W Hotel, and the cop cuffed the actor in the hotel's lobby in front of exiting partygoers. Sources say an actress passing by intervened, the cop recognized his wrongdoing and let the actor go. Could a lawsuit now be in the works?

Buzzworthy

... BV Buzz scooped everyone by learning that The Fugees would be the special guest on the 2005 BET Awards. While many didn't pick up on the clue -- "check back next week and see if we're ready or not" -- BET's Executive Vice President for Music and Entertainment Programming, Stephen Hill, sure did and cornered me in the radio room the day before the show to make sure I hadn't "officially" announced it. Because Hill is such a good guy, BV Buzz didn't "announce" it, well at least not all of the way. But those with a knack for figuring out blind items knew what to expect all along.

... Overbrook Entertainment, Trace magazine and XM Radio presented a pre-BET party in celebration of Amerie. The sexy soiree was held at the Beverly Hills hotspot Four Twenty Four on Beverly Blvd., a new Indian-inspired underground nightspot in the heart of the swank shopping district. Seems as though only male celebrities attended Amerie's bash and among them were Malik Yoba, Brian J. White, Henry Simmons ('N.Y.P.D. Blue'), comic Tommy Davidson, Fonzworth Bentley, Rashaan Nall ('Cuts'), comic Earthquake and veteran actor T.K. Carter. Even Prince showed up and hung out for a little while.

... Lil' Mo, Common, Shanice, Trina, singer Goapele, Norm Nixon, actor Delroy Lindo, producer Jazze Pha and Outkast's Big Boi were among those who attended a private party for Universal-Motown president Sylvia Rhone at the Vine Street Lounge following the BET Awards. Stevie Wonder performed during the party, veering off track from singing a few of his hit songs and opting, instead, to sing the 'Happy Song'-- a polka-flavored made-up tune he created on the spot. "The more champagne I drink the happier I am/happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy," he sang. Some guests were chatting as Wonder sang and Rhone turned around, grabbed the wrist of Cash Money rapper Lil' Wayne, yelled at him and told him to stop talking. Unfortunately, Wayne, who stood with a lollipop in his mouth, had never uttered a word. He was angry about the mishap and left.

... Also worth mentioning is that Violator Entertainment's Mona Scott was at the Rhone shindig as well. Scott is apparently still not-too-happy with the finale spoiler BV Buzz ran on the God-awful UPN reality series, 'The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott. "How do you sleep at night doing things like that," Scott asked yours truly. I replied: "Very well!" Anyone who knows me can second that notion! Maybe I should have asked Scott how she was able to sleep knowing that her "reality" show attempted to fool the few viewers who decided to watch the show, by selecting an artist who Missy Elliott had worked with before and act as though Elliott was "discovering" her. But I didn't. I was more concerned with getting back to my room at the Beverly Hills Hotel so that I could, well, uh, go to sleep!

...Special thanks to all who attended the intimate party by America Online's Black Voices at the Vine Street Lounge the night before the BET Awards. Mad Linx, new host of BET's 'Rap City,' hosted the shindig.