Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
The first of two new songs from Sade’s upcoming Greatest Hits collection has arrived, and it is—as one would expect from the smoky, ever-elegant chanteuse—a cover of a 1974 lighters-up power ballad from a hard-riffing arena-rock gods Thin Lizzy.
Are we joking? We are not! Stream her eminently smooth take on the band’s “I’m Still in Love With You” below: READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Rick Rowell/ABCSinging and acting talent Jennifer Hudson has plenty on her plate. And judging by her newly slimmed figure, hardly any of it is topped with food.
In addition to promoting her upcoming album, Hudson attended the 83rd Academy Awards last night. The 2007 Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress in Dreamgirls was on hand as a presenter last night, and on the pre-show red carpet, the American Idol alum told EW a bit about the meaning behind her forthcoming I Remember Me, out March 22.
As reported often, President Obama loves of a variety of music. This being Black History Month, though, the White House will host a musical tribute to Motown Records on Feb. 24, USA Today reports. Motown icon and lead singer of the Miracles, Smokey Robinson will headline the event, scheduled to air nationally March 1 on PBS.
Sheryl Crow, Jamie Foxx, Natasha Bedingfield, John Legend, Nick Jonas, Seal, Gloriana and Jordin Sparks are also scheduled to perform, as are Glee‘s Amber Riley and Mark Salling. Will you be tuning in? Let us know.
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Image Credit: George Pimentel/FilmMagic.comMick Jagger will perform in-person at the Feb. 14 Grammy Awards for the first time in his historic career. The AP reports that the Rolling Stones frontman will join Raphael Saadiq in a musical tribute to the late Solomon Burke, the legendary soul singer who occasionally opened for the Stones. Jagger and his famous rock band technically performed for the 1986 Grammys, when they played via satellite from London.
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Also performing at the Grammys: Cee-Lo Green, Gwyneth Paltrow … and the ‘Jim Henson Comapny puppets’
Image Credit: Peter Francis/Retna Ltd.Spinner has posted an agreeably catholic-minded list of the 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs in Rock ‘n’ Roll. True, most of the usual suspects are present, from “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos to that scourge of guitar store employees, Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.” However, the list also finds space for a slew of great but less obviously riff-tastic tracks, including The Smiths’ “This Charming Man,” The Meters’ “Look-ka Py Py,” and Chic’s “Le Freak.”
Image Credit: Times-Picayune/LandovA court battle over the finances and care of soul icon Etta James has revealed that the 72-year-old singer is suffering from leukemia and dementia, according to Southern California’s Press Enterprise.
The information came to light during a civil case between her husband of 41 years, Artis Mills, who is seeking financial control of her accounts, and her son Donto James, who wants that responsibility assigned to a third party.
According to her doctor, James has dementia and organic brain syndrome, and is currently being treated for leukemia. She is no longer able to sign her name or feed and dress herself, but does recognize her husband and children.
Beyonce Knowles portrayed James in the 2008 film Cadillac Records, and sang her 1961 classic “At Last” at President Obama’s inauguration the following year (an event which famously displeased James at the time).
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Though she didn’t address whether or not she recently underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer (as some reports claim), Aretha Franklin talked to JET about her health troubles. “I am not going to even deal with that,” the singer said when asked about whether or not she has pancreatic cancer. “I don’t have to talk about my health with anybody other than my doctors….[But] the problem has been resolved.” The 68-year-old Franklin had surgery on Dec. 2.
Read more:
Aretha Franklin resting at home following surgery
Aretha Franklin released from hospital
Image Credit: Samir Hussein/Getty ImagesOutside of spot appearances here and there, Amy Winehouse has been missing in action since wowing us with her soulful vocals on 2006′s Back to Black. But NME reports that she finally may be making a real comeback. Starting this Saturday at the Summer Soul Festival at Il Divino Florianopolis in Brazil, Winehouse will begin a four-date stint where she’ll perform some new cuts. Her backing singer Zalon spilled the beans on Twitter, writing “Band rehearsing for Brazil tour! Get Ready! New songs.” And pictures of her rehearsing have been posted on a fan site.
Bernard Wilson, a member of R&B vocal group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, died Dec. 26 in New Jersey, Variety reports. A specific cause of death has not been disclosed.
Wilson was the group’s baritone singer until 1977. During those years, the Blue Notes became one of the biggest Philly Soul acts, well known for their immaculate harmonies. Wilson helped back late lead singer Teddy Pendergrass on many classic hits from this era, including “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (listen after the jump) and “Wake Up Everybody.”
Please join the Music Mix in sending our kind thoughts to Wilson’s family and friends. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Vallery Jean/FilmMagic.com Lauryn Hill, who’d already been performing a few intimate concerts, announced that she’ll be taking her show on tour beginning next week. In a release, Hill expressed enthusiasm for the relatively small venues, enabling her “to see her loyal supporters up close and personal again.” Hill is expected to play reworked versions of the songs from her Grammy-winning album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
12/27 — New York, N.Y. @ Highline Ballroom
12/28 — Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
1/1 — New York, N.Y. @ Bowery Ballroom
1/3 — New York, N.Y. @The Blue Note
1/4 — New York, N.Y. @ The Blue Note
1/5 — New York, N.Y. @ The Blue Note
1/8 — Charlotte, N.C. @ Amos’ Southend
1/9 — Asheville, N.C. @ The Orange Peel
1/12 — Charleston, S.C. @ The Music Farm
1/14 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Centerstage
1/16 — St. Louis, Mo. @ The Pageant
1/18 — Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue
1/20 — Chicago, Ill. @ House of Blues
1/22 — Toronto, Ont. @ Sound Academy
1/23 — Montreal, Quebec @ Metropolis
1/29 — Atlantic City, N.J. @ House of Blues
2/4 — Montclair, N.J. @ The Wellmont Theatre
