The cable goes on to present a tale of lavish living, including a six-figure sum for Elton John to sing at a birthday party and a palace in the United Arab Emirates.

CNN: WikiLeaks reports another electronic disruption

He had a good tenor voice (as did John Joyce), and he loved to sing and to dance.

NEWYORKER: Silence, Exile, Punning

Observing that the indiscriminate use of pesticides were killing songbirds, she was inspired by a phrase from a John Keats poem "And no birds sing" to name the book.

UNESCO: Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

It was eventually agreed, for example, that, behind the formal gun carriage bearing the coffin, the mourners should wear lounge suits not uniforms, although a ludicrous debate persisted as to whether Elton John, a friend of the princess, should sing at the service.

ECONOMIST: A modern mourning for a modern star

In 1835, "...the tune that we now sing... was married to the words of John Newton, " Turner says.

NPR: 'Amazing Grace'

Heart, Randy Newman, Public Enemy and Rush are expected to perform at Thursday's star-studded event, while Usher will sing for Jones, Carole King will perform for Adler and John Mayer and Gary Clark Jr. will pay tribute to the late King.

NPR: Rock Hall Set To Induct 2013 Class At LA Ceremony