Names and faces

Aretha Franklin held an exclusive and small party Saturday in New York City for her 72nd birthday, and Denzel Washington helped the Queen of Soul celebrate in style. Washington entered the Ritz-Carlton Hotel quietly, though the crowd got excited after realizing it was the Oscar winner under a baseball cap. Franklin thanked the actor for attending. Just hours earlier, she saw him onstage in the Broadway play A Raisin In the Sun. Her longtime musical collaborator, Clive Davis, also attended. The singer was all smiles at the event. When asked what she wants for her birthday, Franklin said, “I’m looking for a record deal for my granddaughter Victorie and my son Kecalf.” They both performed recently at the BET Honors special, which paid tribute to Franklin. “I would be happy with that,” she said. She also said in an interview that she’s working on new music with rapper Andre 3000 and singer-songwriter Babyface. “Babyface is working on the tracks,” she said. Babyface is guest starring through Sunday with Toni Braxton in the Broadway musical After Midnight. “So, I’m just waiting for him to finish that so he can finish my tracks, please,” Franklin said. In the meantime, Franklin performed earlier this month at the White House alongside Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott and other soul singers. “What a shoutin’ good time we had,” she said. “The White House is still rocking right now.”

Bronchitis has sidelined Gregg Allman for at least two dates of the Allman Brothers Band’s annual s h ows a t the Beacon Theatre in New York City, but his manager said the musician hopes to return to the stage in a few days. Allman was forced to sit out shows Friday and Saturday. Manager Michael Lehman said Allman is under a doctor’s care and is doing better, and he intends to return for the group’s final four shows this week. Lehman said the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had been feeling fine up until the illness; the 66-year-old Allman has had health issues in the past, including a 2010 liver transplant. The Allman Brothers Band is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Its annual run at the Beacon Theatre started March 7 and wraps up Saturday.