By Jamie Foster Brown

I attended the Whitney Houston all-star gala given for her children's foundation. It honored the fabulous Anthony Quinn for his lifetime achievement in the arts, as well as producers and songwriters like Kevin Briggs (who wrote hits like "No Scrubs" and "Bills, Bills, Bills") and Rodney Jerkins (who wrote Brandy's hit, "The Boy Is Mine" and Whitney's "It's Not Right But It's Okay"). I sat at the table with Jerry and Prudence Inzerillo and Luther Vandross. Prudence is on CNN. Jerry runs the Atlantis hotel in the Bahamas. We all were the guests of Denise Rich and Jimmy Hester.

Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson were there, too. Val sported red satin shoes that Luther had given her for her birthday. Luther was cracking jokes all night, and he sure looked good. He's smaller now. He said he's on some sort of carbohydrates diet. His hair is red. He's in good spirits, too.

Michael Jackson was there strictly for Rodney Jerkins. Rodney is producing him now. They say Michael is just crazy about the talented Rodney. Michael is said to be particular about where he sleeps (you know the oxygen chamber rumors), but he even sleeps on the floor at Rodney's studio. He came to sit with Rodney and his family when Rodney got his award, then Michael jetted.

The highlight of the evening for me was meeting Patrick Swayze. I told my husband I was unfaithful that night because I sho' wanted to dirty dance with Patrick. He's so affable and down to earth. Did you know that his mom formed the first all Black dance company in the South? She still supplies dancers to the Arthur Mitchell Dance Company.