Organisers of a jazz festival in Trinidad & Tobago have dismissed calls by local Christian leaders to ban birthday boy SIR ELTON JOHN from the event lineup next month (APR07), because he is still considered "one of the world's greatest performers".
The God-fearing officials have lobbied the Tobago House of Assembly to join them in calling for a boycott of Elton's appearance at the Plymouth Jazz Festival, amid fears he will turn locals gay. The ROCKET MAN star, who celebrated his 60th birthday in New York at the weekend (25MAR07), married his partner DAVID FURNISH in 2005.
But despite religious protests, festival organisers insist the show will go on.
Festival spokesman ANTHONY MAHARAJ says, "Elton John is coming as what he is - one of the world's greatest performers.
"He is not coming here to preach about what lifestyle people should have."