Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on July 14th, 2026

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael has reached an extraordinary milestone -- the first biopic of not only a music star but of any famous individual to earn $1 billion at the box office. Michael, which stars the late singer's nephew Jaafar Jackson and follows the life of MJ from his days in the Jackson 5 up until his 1980s "Bad" world tour, debuted to the largest-ever opening weekend for a biopic and subsequently becoming the highest-grossing biopic ever made, beating the Oscar-winning best picture Oppenheimer. It has now been confirmed that Michael has taken in $1.001 billion (£750 million) globally, making it the first of its genre to pass the milestone. "Reaching this extraordinary $1 billion milestone with Michael is a deeply humbling moment that celebrates the tireless dedication of our incredible producers, cast, crew, and partners," director Antoine Fuqua said in a statement. "This achievement belongs to everyone who came together with a shared vision to honour one of the greatest artists the world has ever known. I am profoundly grateful to the audiences around the globe who embraced this film, showed up in theatres, and connected with this story across generations and cultures," he added. - New Musical Express, 7/13/26...... ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus was the opening keynote speaker at the UN's AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland on July 13 and said artists "deserve a place at the table" in the age of AI. Ulvaeus asked the simple question "AI is good for whom?" and urged the audience to remember the point of view of artists and creatives in the pursuit of AI development. "A technology is good when the human beings whose work made it possible are not erased by it, when they consent to it, when they share in what it creates," he said. Ulvaeus continued that he hopes "one extra chair will always be reserved at that table for the creators whose work made these systems possible. These tools are extraordinary, but they could not have been built without us." Ulvaeus has never been shy about embracing emerging technology -- just a few years ago, the iconic Swedish pop quartet used "motion capture and motion learning" to create the groundbreaking virtual ABBA Voyage show in London, which uses technology to de-age and simulate the performances of the four singers night after night. "Some people sometimes ask me, 'How can you lecture the world about AI and human creativity, and then sell tickets to watch a machine perform as you?'" he explained. "The answer is one word: consent. We chose it. We participated in it. We are paid for it. The technology serves the artist because the artists were at the table from the very beginning, and the audiences love it. So, I guess that's AI for good." Ulvaeus continued, "I'm not going to stand here and tell you that machine-made music is cold or soulless, and that audiences will always hear the difference. I know that isn't true. I am genuinely in awe of the tools that have been built, but awe is not the same as acceptance." Notably, Ulvaeus did not complain about how record labels and publishers specifically are treating licensed training data, but his address added to the growing chorus of music industry power players asking for consensual AI training in 2026. - Billboard, 7/13/26...... Appearing at his annual "Peace and Love" event on July 7 to celebrate his 86th birthday, Ringo Starr revealed that The Beatles had one rule on long van rides: "own up to the fart." Offering the tip to young musicians starting out, he said: "If you're in the van and you fart - own up to it." "We just occasionally with four guys in a three-hour car journey, one of us would make a noise. And at the beginning, it was like 'well, it wasn't me." Starr continued: "And we realized, well, just to get it out of the way, say I did it. And it worked a treat and it took the pressure off. It wasn't a thing. We didn't like go oh, 'I'm going next'." Elsewhere, Ringo -- who continues to hit the road with his All Star Band -- confessed that he intended to quit touring in 2021, but five years on, he cannot get enough of playing live. "I have been calling it the last tour since 2021 -- and my kids are fed up with me now. I say ' That's it - I am not going out anymore'; and they are like 'oh dad you said that last year'," the infatigable musician said. "And I out again. I am out this year. It is what I do. It is how it is. I have got a great band and it just works. We used to rehearse for two days, now we rehearse for two hours and we are ready to rock." Ringo also admitted he's clueless about why he connects so strongly with younger generations: "I don't know (why I appeal to them), but I have got 10 grandkids. I don't know what it is. It is one of those things." - Music-News.com, 7/13/26...... Co-founding Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward took to Instagram on July 9 to reveal he now uses a wheelchair, but said he "can still play pretty good for 78." In a post captioned "Something New To Let You Know About," the percussionist said: "I'm announcing today somewhat sadly but nonetheless truthfully, that I've reached a place where publicly more and more I need to use a wheelchair, mostly in airports, or public events. I can still walk, let there be no doubt, but I can't walk very far without needing to rest, meaning I need to sit down." He went on to explain that he first began using the wheelchair occasionally about 18 months ago, "mostly in airports," but has started depending on it more following his 78th birthday this past May. "I was a long distance walker, I've walked in many different parts of the world, and I'm still a drummer," Ward continued. "I can still play pretty good for 78 years old." "My talents and ambitions, and my unyielding need to be artful, and to play drums, is still as strong as it was so many years ago now," the rocker added. "I'm just saying if you see me in a wheelchair, I'm just catching a ride, I'm not in retirement or ill or giving up, or any of those thoughts that ignite when we see people in wheelchairs." Ward ended his message with a promise to "keep rocking until I'm dead" and his thought that because secrets "can be dangerous to our health, I'm letting transparency prevail, with love and progression." He also shared a photo of himself in his wheelchair, smiling at the camera. Ward helped found Black Sabbath in the late '60s before leaving the lineup in the early '80s. He would still make occasional appearances with the band up until Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert in Birmingham, England in July 2025. - Billboard, 7/9/26...... The Sex Pistols have announced a new reissue of their 1996 live album Filthy Lucre Live to mark 30 years since the band's shock reunion. The album captured their performance at London's Finsbury Park on June 23, 1996, with Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock back on stage together in one of the decade's most unexpected returns. Filthy Lucre Live is set to be reissued on Nov. 20 via UMR as a 2LP red vinyl set and single CD, and featuring the bonus tracks "No Fun" and "Buddies" for the first time on the release. The Pistols' Finsbury Park show came at the height of Britpop and Euro '96 fever. In football England had beaten Spain on penalties the previous day, and Stuart Pearce and future England manager Gareth Southgate were at the show to introduce the band on stage. - NME, 7/10/26...... The Rolling Stones launched their new album Foreign Tongues in London on July 8 with a spectacular drone show and star studded party. Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood hosted friends, guests and the likes of Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Sam Fender, Sacha Baron Cohen, John McEnroe and Glen Matlock at the St. Clement hotel. Along with longtime keyboard collaborator Matt Clifford, the Stones also treated the crowd to an intimate live performance of the Foreign Tongues track "Ringing Hollow," which can be viewed on Instagram. Following their performance, a spectacular, light show was staged over the River Thames, illuminating the London skyline with the band's classic tongue and album artwork, above the London Eye and Big Ben. The light show was linked to their recent release "In The Stars," and can also be viewed on Instagram The display was created by internationally acclaimed designer Patrick Woodroffe, who said: "The music for the 500 drone light show was set to the new Stones song 'In The Stars' and is a fitting metaphor to see the iconic and much loved Stones' tongue hanging over the River Thames to celebrate a record made here in the city of London." Meanwhile, Foreign Tongues is charging toward the top spot on the current U.K. Official Albums Chart and is on track to become the British rockers' 15th U.K. No. 1 album. The landmark achievement comes an incredible 62 years after their self-titled debut record first topped the U.K. charts back in 1964. Elsewhere, Mick Jagger appeared on Conan O'Brien's "Needs a Friend" podcast on July 13 and revealed he regretted taking John Lennon advice about not meeting Elvis Presley, as The Beatles famously once did back in 1965. "I remember John telling me, 'You should never meet your heroes. I would never meet Elvis, Mick, if I were you,'" he recalled. "And so, I didn't. I took John's advice. It was really stupid of me, really. I'd love to have met Elvis." Jagger said Lennon gave him the warning on several occasions before the King of Rock and Roll passed away in 1977 at the age of 42. "I wanted to keep my Elvis to myself, my version of Elvis," the 82-year-old mused. "And so, I didn't want my version of Elvis shattered like John's was, but maybe my Elvis version would have been different." Lastly in Rolling Stones news, on July 8 the band announced that they will take fans on a six-decade trip through their history in an immersive Roblox game that launched July 10, the same day they dropped Foreign Tongues. According to a release announcing the project, the Stones teamed up with more than a dozen members of Roblox's global creator community to reimagine their iconic tongue-and-lips logo on both virtual and physical merchandise that fans can transfer from their avatar into the physical world. The on-platform game will allow players to interact with items from the band's history trapped in colorful crystals inspired by their 2023 Hackney Diamonds album, with users progressing through decades representing the group's various eras. A preview of the game can be streamed on Instagram. - NME/Music-News.com/Billboard, 7/9/26...... Black entrepreneur George E. Johnson, known for founding a leading Black hair care products company and sponsoring the iconic hit R&B dance show Soul Train, died on July 6 from respiratory illness or natural causes. He was 99 years old. Mr. Johnson founded Johnson Products in 1954 alongside his wife, Joan, creating brands such as Ultra Sheen, Afro Sheen, Classy Curl, and Curly Perm. The company served a market largely ignored by mainstream beauty brands, introducing innovations like a smoke-reducing home-use straightener for women. By the 1960s, Johnson Products held a dominant share of the Black hair care market, influencing styling trends from hair relaxers to Afros and Jheri curls. In 1971, Johnson Products became the first Black-owned company listed on the American Stock Exchange, marking a milestone for Black entrepreneurship. It was also the first Black-owned national sponsor of Soul Train which expanded the show's reach from a local program to a cultural fixture. The sponsorship gave unprecedented national exposure to a Black-owned brand while aligning it with the era's expressions of Black pride. Beyond business, Mr. Johnson supported educational and civic initiatives, mentored entrepreneurs, and was honored with awards including Harvard University's W.E.B. Du Bois Medal in 2025 for his contributions to African American history and culture. - MSN.com, 7/7/26...... Actor Randolph Mantooth, known for playing paramedic Johnny Gage on the 1972-77 NBC series Emergency!, died July 9 in a Ventura, Calif. hospice, according to his brother. He was 80. Mr. Mantooth broke out in 1972 when he was cast in Emergency!, which introduced the profession of paramedics to the public. He co-starred with Kevin Tighe in the popular series which ran for six seasons, and performed most of his own stunts. The Sacramento native, whose father was of Cherokee and Seminole descent, studied at Santa Barbara City College and earned a scholarship to New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After he was discovered onstage in New York and signed to a Universal contract, he began appearing on TV shows including Ironside, The Virginian, Marcus Welby, M.D. and The Bold Ones. He also played his Emergency! character Gage on other shows such as Adam-12, and remained an advocate for firefighters, paramedics and EMTs throughout his life. Other credits include appearances in Dallas, Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat, Loving and the soaps As the World Turns and One Life to Live. Mr. Mantooth had been diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and is survived by his wife Kristen and his siblings Donald and Tonya. - Variety, 7/10/26...... New Zealand actor Sam Neill, one of Hollywood's most beloved actors, passed away in Sydney, Australia, on July 13. He was 78. Neill was best known for bringing Dr. Alan Grant to life in the Jurassic Park franchise, and leaves behind a career that spanned five decades and earned admiration across film and TV. Neill began building his screen career in the 1970s before becoming an international star. He earned early acclaim with films such as My Brilliant Career and Possession, but global audiences came to know him as paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park (1993). He was also featured in such well-known titles as The Hunt for Red October, The Piano, Event Horizon and The Horse Whisperer. His credits also include Peaky Blinders, where he portrayed Chief Inspector Chester Campbell. Over the years, he built a reputation as an actor who could fit into almost any kind of role. That versatility earned him plenty of recognition, including several AACTA Awards and New Zealand Film and Television Awards. In an Instagram post, his family said he died on July 13 in Sydney "surrounded by family" and passed away "with the dignity that has characterised his whole life." - ComingSoon.net, 7/13/26...... Welsh pop singer Bonnie Tyler, the voice behind such hit power ballads as "Total Eclipse of The Heart" and "It's a Heartache," died on July 9 in a Portugese hospital. She was 75. A statement posted by her reps on her Facebook page later that day said that the singer "unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for." Her death follows emergency intestinal surgery in May, which took place in Faro, Portugal, where Tyler had a home. She was later placed in an induced coma. Born Gaynor Hopkins in Neath, Wales, Tyler rose to international prominence in the late 1970s with ballad "It's a Heartache," before reaching global superstardom in 1983 with "Total Eclipse of The Heart." Written and produced by Meatloaf collaborator Jim Steinman, the dramatic mini-epic spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Tyler the first and only Welsh-born singer to top the chart to the present date. The song, which featured on her album Faster Than the Speed of Night, earned Tyler Grammy nominations for female pop vocal performance and female rock performance, and became one of the defining records of its era. She then followed with another enduring classic, the urgent "Holding Out for a Hero," from the film soundtrack to Footloose. Tyler's distinct, raspy vocal style, developed after early vocal cord surgery, became her signature. Across a career spanning more than five decades, Tyler released 18 studio albums. She represented the U.K. in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Believe in Me," finishing in 19th place. She was also made an MBE in 2023 for her services to music, after being named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Tyler had been due to perform at the Sunshine Festival in Worcester, England this summer, along with a number of European dates, and was also booked to perform at Cardiff's Utilita Arena on Dec. 17. Her final full show took place at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on Mar. 19. Tributes to Tyler on social media included Wales Secretary Jo Stevens, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Sir Cliff Richard, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bryan Adams, Suzi Quatro and Katrina of Katrina and the Waves. - Billboard/NME, 7/9/26...... Comedic actress Louise Lasser, best known for playing the befuddled Mary Hartman on the hit 1970s syndicated sitcom Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, died on July 6 at her home in Manhattan. She was 87. Born in Manhattan on Apr. 11, 1939, Ms. Lasser spent her childhood in the Bronx, where she attended Fieldston, a prestigious private school. At Brandeis University, she majored in political science but also appeared in shows that friends wrote. She dropped out during her senior year and began acting lessons with Sanford Meisner. Living with her parents in Manhattan, she worked in theater and cabaret, and appeared in television commercials, notably for NyQuil and Excedrin. She was the first actress to win a Clio Award, the advertising industry's highest honor. In 1962 she understudied a rising star, the 20-year-old Barbra Streisand, in the Broadway musical "I Can Get It for You Wholesale," and briefly took over the role when Streisand left. She met future husband Woody Allen on a double date -- he was with the other woman -- and made her screen debut in The Laughmakers, a 1962 TV pilot Allen wrote. Set at a comedy club, it never became a series but was broadcast as a special. The two began dating and married in 1966. After an uncredited part as a masseuse in the Peter Sellers comedy What's New Pussycat? (1965), written by Allen, she had a voice-over in What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966), Allen's directorial debut. She later appeared in three additional movies helmed by Allen -- Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask). But Ms. Lasser became best known for her portrayal of the Ohio housewife Mary Hartman, dressed in the pigtails and puffed sleeves. Premiering in January 1976, the Norman Lear-created Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman was a phenomenon, a syndicated parody of midcentury soap operas that ran Mondays through Fridays after the late news in most major markets. It followed Mary as she tried to hold herself together amid mass murders, sex scandals and everyday consumer anxieties. She wore pigtails, puffed sleeves and gingham (while real American women were in Dorothy Hamill bobs and designer denim); fretted about waxy yellow buildup on her kitchen floor; and was emotionally abused by her conveniently impotent blue-collar husband (Greg Mullavey). Articles about the series proliferated, and Ms. Lasser -- somehow simultaneously neurotic and girlish -- appeared on the covers of major magazines, including People, Newsweek, Ms. and Rolling Stone. The show ran only a year and a half, from Jan. 1976 to July 1977, but racked up 325 episodes. She is survived by her longtime partner, Michael Citriniti. - The New York Times, 7/10/26.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on July 9th, 2026

Foreigner co-founder Mick Jones has struck a deal with the music publishing and talent management company Primary Wave for Jones' share of the band's publishing and master recordings, along with name, image and likeness rights. Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, Primary Wave typically includes buying a majority stake in an artist's music assets, likely Jones' publishing and his share of Foreigner's artist royalties from the band's master recordings from its hit albums, which are not owned by the band. The deal also includes a stake in the later Foreigner albums that Jones owns, including the upcoming Foreigner concert LP, In the Eye of the Storm Live, to be released on July 24. In a statement, Jones praised Primary Wave as a "unique company that focuses on heritage artists and develops them with incredible success" and he is "personally thrilled" that the company will be "working alongside his long-term friends and managers, Phil Carson and Stewart Young, to build upon the awareness of Foreigner and our songs." According to the announcement, Foreigner has accumulated more than 80 million album consumption units around the globe from its catalog of nine studio albums, 11 live albums and 16 compilations, and its catalong is still generating healthy activity in the U.S. Primary Wave has previously struck similar deals with such artists as Bad Company's Paul Rodgers, America and Paul Anka. - Billboard, 7/8/26...... The Ramones announced on July 7 that a 50th anniversary tribute to the iconic '70s punk rockers' eponymous 1976 debut LP will take place on Aug. 30 at Los Angeles' Hollywood Forever Cemetery and hosted by movie legend John Travolta. Headlining will be an all-star Ramones cover band fronted by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, Rancid's Tim Armstrong, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and former Ramones bassist CJ Ramone, as well as some as-yet-unannounced special surprise guests. "The spirit of the Ramones is alive in every backyard punk show, punk club and festival," said Billie Joe Armstrong in a statement. "Generation after generation of cretins and weirdos become Ramones lovers. Kids are influenced by the Ramones and they don't even know it yet. Viva Ramones!" Armstrong added, "From the moment I first heard the Ramones, music was never the same. They are my favorite band of all time! I can't wait to play those great and perfect Ramones songs with my friends CJ, Travis and Billie. It's gonna be wild!" In addition to the all-star set of Ramones covers, the evening will include a double-feature screening of the 50th anniversary edition of the horror classic Carrie, as well as Travolta's new film, Propeller One-Way Night Coach. Proceeds from the event are earmarked for the David Agus MD Cancer Research at Ellison Institute, and tickets for the event are currently available at ticketwave.com. The Ramones, released on Apr. 23, 1976, is considered to be the spark that lit the global punk revolution thanks to its 14-song, 30-minute blitz of indelible classics including "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Beat on the Brat," "Judy is a Punk," and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." As part of the yearlong celebration of the group's golden anniversary, Rhino Records is preparing a limited edition, first-time picture disc pressing of The Ramones on July 17, as well as a 2LP colored edition of Live at the Roxy, 8/12/76 on July 31. - Billboard, 7/7/26...... People magazine has revealed that Paul McCartney was among the performers at the July 3 wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at New York's Madison Square Garden, reviving The Beatles' US breakthrough classic "I Want to Hold Your Hand" live for the first time since 1964. "After the ceremony, Taylor's mom Andrea invited everyone into the reception room where the stage was set up," a source told People on July 5. The reception space was also where Stevie Nicks performed, the source said, which was confirmed by Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts on July 4. Prior to the Swift-Kelce wedding, Sir Paul had not performed "I Want to Hold Your Hand" live since the Beatles' Sept. 1964 concert at New York's Paramount Theatre, according to setlist.fm. The John Lennon/McCartney composition was a seven-week No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart that same year. Swift recently showed her admiration for McCartney by sharing an Instagram post from the former Beatle promoting his newly released solo album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane. "Never not inspired by this eternally exceptional artist," Swift wrote on her Instagram Stories. McCartney also attended one of Swift's Eras Tour shows at London's Wembley Stadium in 2024 as a VIP guest, where fan-captured video showed him dancing along to The Tortured Poets Department track "But Daddy I Love Him." - Billboard, 7/5/26...... In other Beatles-related news, Ringo Starr was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Liverpool on the occasion of his 86th birthday on July 7. "I want to thank the University of Liverpool for this honorary degree and for coming all the way to LA to bestow it. I'm really honoured," the BBC reported Starr as saying, and the drummer also encouraged attendees to "follow your dreams." "I've been thinking back on my life a lot lately," Starr mused. "And when I chose to become a drummer full-time, my family discouraged me. And they could have been right, but they weren't. It all worked out." Ringo continued: "So to all the graduates back in Liverpool, I send peace and love and want to say don't be afraid to follow your dreams, or take that right turn and see where it goes." University of Liverpool chancellor, Wendy Beetlestone, added that it was a "great privilege to recognise Ringo, whose influential musical work, particularly in The Beatles, has helped shape the identity and global reputation of Liverpool," the BBC reported. Starr's birthday is a globally recognised event in the music world. Since 2008, he has hosted an annual event encouraging fans everywhere to pause and say or think "Peace and Love" precisely at noon in their local time zones. - Music-News.com, 7/8/26...... On July 8 Elton John took to Instagram to announce two final surprise shows in Mexico City, as the final conclusion of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, three years after it originally ended. The tour was originally scheduled to conclude in 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside a hip injury which forced him to postpone his remaining European and UK dates in Sept. 2021, led to the tour's extension into 2023. Among the shows cancelled were a number in Mexico. Now, the Rocket Man has announced two shows at Mexico City's Estadio Banorte on Oct. 2 and 3. "Mexico City has always held a special place in my heart," Sir Elton noted in his Instagram post. "I was truly disappointed that the pandemic kept me from touring Latin America during my Farewell tour which makes this return especially meaningful. I'm thrilled to finally share this very special moment with my fans after all these years," he added. Elton last played Mexico in 2012 at the Auditorio Nacional. He recently revealed that he had completed a new album while at the Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto, where he received the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize. Meanwhile, the superstar is among several high-profile celebrities to lose a hacking court case in the U.K. John and husband David Furnish were joined by Prince Harry, actor Elizabeth Hurley and more in their battle against the British tabloids The Daily Mail and Mail Sunday. The plaintiffs claimed the papers had unlawfully obtained information by hacking into their messages, tapping landlines or acquiring medical records. Both publications' parent company, Associated Newspaper Limited (ANL), denied wrongdoing. The ruling by judge Matthew Nicklin on July 7 dismissed the claims, saying they had "failed to prove the allegations of UIG (alleged unlawful information gathering)" during a 10-week trial at London's High Court, which began in January. "This is a magnificent vindication of the Daily Mail's journalism," a spokesperson for ANL told the BBC. "The reputations of our decent and hard-working journalists were terribly impugned, and today they have been exonerated." - New Musical Express/Billboard, 7/7/26...... Ozzy Osbourne's widow Sharon Osbourne has marked her first wedding anniversary without Ozzy with a tribute to her late husband on Instagram on July 4. Alongside a close-up photo of the couple holding hands, Sharon wrote: "Today would have been our 46th wedding anniversary. Instead, it is a celebration of a love that even death could not diminish. I miss your hand in mine, but I carry your love with me every step of the way. Forever my husband. Forever my heart." Ozzy died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, following a public battle with Parkinson's disease. His passing came just 17 days after he headlined a massive farewell concert, "Back to the Beginning," at Villa Park in his hometown of Birmingham alongside Black Sabbath. The couple married in Hawaii on July 4, 1982, and remained together -- through well-documented highs and lows, including a brief separation in 2016 -- for 43 years until his death. They renewed their vows in 2017, raising children Aimee, Kelly and Jack Osbourne. In other Ozzy-related news, Black Sabbath have announced plans to release their first ever official book, The Masters of Reality - Why Black Sabbath Matter. The book will document the iconic metal band's history from their formation in Birmingham in the late 1960s to their epic final "Back To The Beginning" show in July 2025. Created by photographer Ross Halfin, a long-time friend of the band, it will also feature a huge wealth of rare photographs and memorabilia, in the huge 500 page volume. It will be published in three separate editions including a "Super Deluxe Signed Metal Edition," which is printed on silk art paper, in October, via Rufus Publications. "Ozzy and Sharon wanted the book out soon after the final show in Birmingham but Ozzy suddenly passing away caused the music world to stop," said Halfin. "Ozzy was fully involved with the book and he signed the book plates months before the final show, as did all the band members. So now, we all thought the time was right, one year after 'Back To The Beginning', to announce the project. A book we all feel celebrates both Black Sabbath and Ozzy and illustrates just how important they are. I hope fans enjoy it." The book's covers can be viewed on Instagram. - Billboard/NME, 7/5/26...... Earlier in 2026, Def Leppard recorded their forthcoming album in the basement of a casino on days off during their Las Vegas residency. The band performed Def Leppard: Live at Caesars Palace at the casino's Colosseum venue throughout February and frontman Joe Elliott has now revealed they kept busy throughout the run by setting up a makeshift studio space where they could work on tracks for their next record. "We did a Vegas residency in February, and we wanted to play a new song, so it made sense to actually put it out," Elliott said. He went on to reveal they are still working on their new music after starting the recording process off in Las Vegas, adding: "The album won't be out until early '27, 'cause we're still recording it. We were actually recording parts of it in Vegas on days off. We would go down into the basement of the casino and set it up as a studio, and we would record. So we're still actively recording now and mixing." Elliott added the band have around 18 songs for the new project, which he described as "a very eclectic collection of tunes." "We're working on it actively," he added. "We're touring this summer, and we'll be working on the album up to going on tour and then when we come off. So we need to get it finished by the end of the summer for an early release next year." - Music-News.com, 7/7/26...... Herb Alpert revived his '60s band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass for a show at the iconic Hollywood Bowl on July 5, returning to pack the storied venue for the first time in 59 years. Although the "Rise" performer hadn't shown much interest in reviving The Tijuana Brass as a concept for an entire tour, family members and business partners convinced him that if he built this more purposefully nostalgic a show, fans would come. The prophecy came true last fall, when Alpert and the Brass sold out all shows on a theater tour that climaxed in November in a buzzy pair of appearances down the street at the Dolby Theatre. His July 5 show began with a surprise introduction, a crowd-pleasing appearance that went on so long, it pretty much counted as an opening act: a laudatory speech by fellow pop legend and one-time Alpert protege Paul Williams. "There's nothing to worry about, but Herb left his horn at home," joked Williams. Alpert and company took the stage, inevitably, with "The Lonely Bull," the top 10 hit that started everything for the artist and the newly minted A&M label in 1962, followed by 22 hits and deeper cuts whose titles were meant to reinforce the Latin flavor he was bringing to the charts: "Memories of Madrid," "Spanish Flea," "Bittersweet Samba," "Mexican Shuffle," and "Tijuana Taxi." Alpert and the Tijuana Brass have 17 additional dates lined up across North America before the tour wraps on Oct. 23 at Chan Centre in Vancouver, B.C. - Variety, 7/6/26...... Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Brian Potter, best known for co-producing Glen Campbell's 1975 Rhinestone Cowboy album, died June 30 in Granada Hills, Calif. He was 87. Mr. Potter, who was born in Essex, England, played in bands as a teen and even toured across the U.K. and Europe briefly as the drummer for Chuck Berry, scored his first hit in 1965 as a songwriter on the Small Faces' debut single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It," written with Ian Samwell. The song reached No. 14 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Potter met Dennis Lambert, a singer/songwriter in the U.S. Army stationed in Europe, and the pair became songwriting partners, leading to Potter moving to the U.S. Together, the pair landed numerous hits starting with 1969's anti-war song "One Tin Soldier," which was first recorded by The Original Caste. A 1971 version by Coven became the theme to the movie Billy Jack, and Skeeter Davis' rendition received a Grammy nomination for best female country vocal performance. Several hits penned by the Potter/Lambert team followed, including writing and producing a number of albums for The Four Tops following the R&B group's departure from Motown, that included such hits as "Keeper of the Castle" and "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)," from the Lambert/Potter-produced album 1972's Keeper of the Castle. The pair landed their own imprint, Haven Records, at Capitol Records, and in the mid-'70s began working with Campbell on the 1975 Rhinestone Cowboy concept album about an aging country musician. The title track, written by Larry Weiss, earned Potter and his collaborators (also including Bari Weiss a Grammy nomination for producer of the year, and won him an Academy of Country Music Award as well as American Music Award. Other 1970s' Billboard Hot 100 hits penned by the duo included Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds' "Don't Pull Your Love" (No. 4), The Grass Roots' "Two Divided By Love" (No. 16), The Righteous Brothers' "Dream On" (No. 32), and Tavares' "It Only Takes a Minute" (No. 10). As producers, they also continued to score hits, including Player's No. 1 tune, "Baby Come Back." In 2025, Lambert and Potter were nominated for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in the non-performing songwriters category. According to his daughter, Mr. Potter passed away following years living with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Karen; daughter Courtney and stepdaughter Mary Shirley; two brothers; and a number of other relatives. - Billboard, 7/8/26.

As rumored, Stevie Nicks was among the performers during the wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in New York on July 3. Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, who attended the wedding with her GMA colleagues, confirmed Nicks' performance the following morning on GMA. Swift also took part in a soundcheck with Nicks at Madison Square Garden earlier Friday, according to The New York Times. It was unclear which songs Nicks performed during the ceremony or whether Swift joined the iconic singer onstage. Swift and Nicks have shared a close friendship for years, performing together at the 2010 Grammy Awards, and Nicks later contributed a poem titled "For T-- and me" to Swift's The Tortured Poets Department album. Swift also referenced Nicks on "Clara Bow," the closing track on the standard edition of her 2024 album. Meanwhile, Dolly Parton is expressing her gratitude to Swift and Kelce for the couple's generous pre-wedding donation of $2 million to Parton's Imagination Library, a literacy program that provides free books to children. The couple donated a total of $26 million to charities across the U.S., including the Grammy Museum Foundation, New York Cares, Harvesters in Kansas City, and Parton's Imagination Library. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm blown away and overjoyed with that gratitude," Parton said in part in an Instagram post. "So, hey, when you have your first born, can I have it? Because that is gonna be one special baby!," she added. - Billboard, 7/4/26...... Elton John has reportedly landed a hologram residency in Las Vegas with "more advanced" technology than the ABBA-themed project ABBA Voyage. John, 79, stepped away from touring in 2023 but is now believed to have landed a mega-money deal for the show at the brand-new Hard Rock Hotel opening in Las Vegas in 2027. Not only will it feature the "Tiny Dancer" hitmaker in hologram form, but avatars of his past collaborators Dua Lipa and Kiki Dee will duet with Sir Elton. "It's similar to the ABBA Voyage show in London, but far more advanced as the technology has come on so much," a source told the U.K. paper The Sun's "Bizarre" column. "It's going to look phenomenal." Despite scaling back his live performances, Elton shows no signs of slowing down completely. The rock superstar recently revealed he quietly completed a brand-new album -- and it only exists because his eyesight troubles forced him to rebuild his entire creative process from scratch. While accepting the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize at the Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto in May, he explained that his eye condition made his usual lyric-first method impossible. "I've had eye trouble recently and I always make records by looking at lyrics and writing to lyrics, and so I'm kind of f----- at the moment," he told the audience. - Music-News.com, 7/1/26...... Rush have teamed up with Fantoons -- the L.A.-based animation studio that has created Rush-themed puzzles, mugs, cereal boxes and bass pickguards over the past decade -- for a special-edition T-shirt benefiting the victims of the devastating earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24. The two massive magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes which struck less than a minute apart, have claimed more than 2,200 lives and left 11,000 injured, with thousands of citizens still unaccounted for. "In the rawest hour, asking for help, the band answered the way they always have: without hesitation, with open hands and open hearts, collaborating on this one-of-a-kind shirt that will change lives," Venezuelan Fantoons director David Calcano said in an Instagram statement. All profits from the colorful, limited-edition shirt featuring the group's iconic Starman logo will go to Hogar Bambi, an organization that has provided shelter for Venezuela's orphaned and abandoned children for more than three decades. The charity is now working to provide food, medicine and shelter for the youngest victims of the disaster. The T-shirt news comes after Rush was forced to postpone two Texas shows on June 30 and July 2 at Dixies Arena in Fort Worth due to singer/bassist Geddy Lee's health. "We are deeply sorry to share that we must postpone our June 30 and July 2 shows," the band posted on Facebook. "Geddy has been diagnosed with laryngitis and bronchitis. After being evaluated by his doctors, he has been advised that he needs additional time to rest and recover before returning to the stage," it added. As a result, the show originally scheduled for June 30 has been pushed back to July 11, while the July 2 gig will now take place on July 13, with tickets for both shows to be honored on the new dates; fans who cannot attend the rescheduled shows can get refunds at point of purchase. Following next week's rescheduled Fort Worth shows, the group is slated to move on to a four-night stand at the United Center in Chicago on July 16, 18, 20 and 22. The reunion tour is currently scheduled to wrap up with an April 10, 2027 gig in Helsinki, Finland. - Billboard, 7/2/26...... David Bowie's archive at London's V&A East Storehouse is set to go on tour across the UK. The David Bowie Centre opened at the new working store and visitor attraction at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford last autumn. It comprises over 90,000 of the late star's possessions, as well as curated exhibitions of objects by Bowie collaborator Nile Rodgers and super-fans The Last Dinner Party. On July 1, organizers announced that a new national tour will bring highlights from the V&A's Bowie archive to venues across the UK over multiple years. More than 100 pieces from the collection are to go on show in Dundee, Blackpool, Hull, County Durham, Bristol and beyond for "David Bowie: On Tour," The trek will give fans the only opportunity to see such a range of items from the icon's personal archive up close, outside of London's V&A East Storehouse. Visitors can expect a "rare glimpse into David Bowie's creative process and how he shaped his iconic image, music, video, TV and film work", per a press release. Highlights include Bowie's legendary costumes, musical instruments, career-spanning photography, and some never-before-seen items such as Polaroids for make-up and costume fittings. Next up, the archive will head to Showtown in Blackpool (June to Sept. 2027), the Bowes Museum in County Durham (Oct. 2027 to Jan. 2028), the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull (Feb. to May 2028), and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (June to Sept. 2028). Further venues are to be announced in due course, according to organisers. - New Musical Express, 7/1/26...... Bob Dylan guitarist Bob Britt has spoken out about his recent departure from Dylan's live backing band. Over the last weekend in June, Britt was reported to have left the touring line-up after he shared a brief social media post that was later deleted. He had played with Dylan since 2019, and been a regular fixture during the "Rough And Rowdy Ways" tour. Britt has now shared an update on the situation via Facebook, confirming that he was "not fired" by Dylan. "Apparently there are quite a few threads out there with people speculating about my departure from the Bob tour. I'd like to clear it up," he began. "I was not fired but left of my own accord for reasons I would prefer to keep private. I will miss my band mates and crew." Britt continued, saying he was "looking forward to getting back to doing sessions (give me a call)". He then hinted that a return to live performing could be on the cards at some point, adding: "As far as any touring goes, we will see what the future holds." Dylan has since enlisted Chicago-based jazz and blues musician Joel Paterson as his sole guitarist, after Britt's original replacement, acclaimed jazz guitarist Julian Lage, is said to have stepped back due to scheduling conflicts. Paterson played his first show with Dylan and co. in Austin, Tex. on June 29. Dylan's current trek is set to wrap in Nashville on Aug. 1. - NME, 7/1/26...... Jermaine Jackson is getting another chance at defending himself against claims that he raped a session musician coordinator in 1988. The Jackson 5 member, who has also had a prolific solo career with hits like "Daddy's Home", "Let's Get Serious" and "Do What You Do," was sued for sexual assault and battery in 2023. Jackson did not respond to the claims for more than two years, leading a Los Angeles judge to award a $6.5 million default judgment to accuser Rita Butler Barrett in June. It was at this point that Jackson finally appeared in court, flatly denying the rape allegations and saying he was unaware of the case until reading media reports about the default judgment. Jermaine, who lives in Bahrain, argued that he did not receive legal papers served at his mother's Encino home or via notices in the Los Angeles Times. He also noted that he changed his name to "Jermaine Jacksun" in 2013, meaning he was sued under the wrong legal name. Judge Elaine W. Mandel credited these arguments in her June 30 order, which wiped the $6.5 million judgment and restarted the litigation process. Jackson will now get another opportunity to file legal papers responding to Barrett's lawsuit, which alleges he showed up at her Los Angeles-area home unannounced in the spring of 1988, forced his way through the door and violently raped her. A music contractor who worked with Jackson in the late 1980s, Barrett brought the case under a one-year legislative window that lifted the statute of limitations for certain sexual assault claims. "Jermaine is adamant that he did not rape the plaintiff," said his lawyer, Bret Lewis, in a statement to Billboard. "I would add that the alleged conduct is not characteristic of the Jermaine Jackson/sun that I have known for years as his long-time attorney. We intend to vigorously defend these allegations." In other Jackson family news, Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Human Nature," "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough," "Thriller," "Bad" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" are currently dominating Billboard's Top Movie Songs chart for May 2026 on the heels of the release of the MJ biopic Michael in late April. After "Billie Jean" bowed at No. 3 on the April 2026 Top Movie Songs survey, the 1983 tune rules May's list on the strength of 84.2 million official streams and 8,000 downloads sold in the U.S. that month, according to Luminate. Those metrics drove the song, which reigned for seven weeks on the Hot 100 in its time, back onto the weekly chart, rising as high as No. 15 on the May 23 ranking. - Billboard, 6/30/26...... Bruce Springsteen was among the music dignitaries to speak at Clive Davis' funeral on the morning of June 29 at Central Synagogue in New York City. Springsteen shared fond memories of his early days finding his footing in the music industry and how Davis' tutelage shepherded him to stardom. (Springsteen signed to Columbia Records in 1972, where Davis served as president, when he was just 22 years old, and the two have remained close friends for over half a century.) He recalled turning in his Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. debut album, but Davis kicked it back to the rocker after listening and implored him to record songs that could have radio appeal. That same night, Springsteen recalled, he wrote "Blinded by the Light" and "Spirit in the Night," both of which went on to be singles from his debut and catalog-defining tracks. "Two songs that totally changed the profile and perception of that album," he said. "Clive then filmed himself reciting the lyrics to 'Blinded by the Light' like it was some New Jersey Shakespeare." "Clive was big and bombastic and brave and full of ideas and just believed, believed, believed. He dressed like a king. He was born to run everything," the rocker playfully continued. He added that Davis never missed a New York performance of his for the rest of his career, even attending his tour stop in Newark, N.J., earlier this year, which saw Davis standing up for the entire show. Clive Davis passed away at 94 on June 22 while surrounded by family at his New York home. A private burial followed on June 29. Springsteen concluded his remembrance: "Nothing but love, Clive, thank you." - Billboard, 6/29/26...... Lionel Richie returned to the stage in Pittsburgh on June 30 a week after postponing dates on his co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire due to an unexplained illness. On June 24, Richie cut short his June 24 show in St. Paul, Minn., due to what was described at the time as an unexpected dizzy spell on the opening night. "I had you worried there for a minute, huh?" he joked during the show. "You have no idea what I have been through in the last 24 hours, listening to my friends tell me their advice on what I should be doing." While Richie has not made a statement about his condition or diagnosis, after doctor-ordered rest, the 77-year-old singer appeared to be in fine form in fan-posted footage of him performing his 1984 No. 3 hit "Stuck On You" and his 1977 Commodores No. 4 hit "Easy." Richie's 26-date joint tour with the "Shining Star" hitmakers -- their third batch of shows together after earlier runs in 2023 and 2024 -- is slated to run through an Aug. 14 stop in Austin, Tex. - Billboard, 7/1/26...... The B-52's set at Frances's Retro C Trop music festival on June 27 was cancelled just minutes before a violent storm hit the area. "We are so sorry to everyone who came out to Chateau de Tilloloy yesterday," the band shared in a Facebook post after their slot on June 27 got cancelled. "The storm made it impossible to continue, and the safety of our fans and everyone on site had to come first," they continued. "A huge thank you to our touring crew for their work and care in keeping everyone as safe as possible throughout an incredibly dangerous situation. We hope everyone got home safely." The band also hit out at promoter who they claimed knew that a "dangerous storm was brewing." The festival, which described the storm as a tornado, later announced that they would be cancelling its final day the next day following the evacuation from the night prior. B-52's frontman Fred Schneider detailed the effect the chaotic weather had on the day in a lengthy post on his personal Facebook account, describing it as a "total disaster." "We felt terrible for the fans that have waited in the heat all day for us to perform. And then get very little warning to no warning from the promoter that it wasn't safe to stay out and make our way to the stage, there was lightning striking the band before our set," he posted. - NME, 6/29/26...... Authorities in the U.K. have charged disgraced British glam rock star Gary Glitter with additional counts of child sexual abuse in the country. Glitter, 82, (real name Paul Gadd) has repeatedly been convicted of pedophilia and is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in England for sexually abusing three young girls in the 1970s. On July 2, London's Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service accused him of abusing a fourth girl under the age of 13 during that same period at a home in Kensington. "This follows allegations made by a woman relating to a period of alleged abuse that took place between 1978 and 1981," said lead prosecutor Bethan David in a public announcement. "Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to do so." Glitter is charged in this new case with one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and three counts of indecent assault. Police say the victim reported the alleged crimes in Jan. 2025 and that Glitter was interviewed as part of their lengthy investigation before charges were filed. Glitter, currently incarcerated at Channings Wood Prison in Devon, England, has been ordered to appear in Westminster Magistrates' Court to address the charges on Aug. 5. - Billboard, 7/2/26...... Victor Willis, the longtime lead singer and frontman of costumed disco group the Village People and cowriter of such indelible dance anthems as "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man," died on June 30 following a brief illness, according to a post on the group's Facebook page. He was 74. "We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People," the post reads. "Victor passed on Tuesday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy is requested." Willis' wife, Karen-Huff Willis, posted a similar message on her husband's FB page. Willis, who performed as both a police officer and naval officer in the group whose members were known for their colorful stage attire and fit physiques, was born on July 1, 1951, in Dallas, Tex., growing up in San Francisco's notoriously funky Haight-Ashbury district and singing gospel in his Baptist minister father's church as a young man before pivoting to soul music with his high school band. He used his acting and dance training at Antioch College to transition to musicals after a move to New York, where he joined the Negro Ensemble Company and appeared in the original Broadway production of "The Wiz" in 1976. His life changed in 1977 when French music producer Jacques Morali and his Can't Stop Productions partner Henri Belolo put out a call for background singers to lend a hand on an album by their group the Ritchie Family. Arranger/conductor Horace Ott suggested Willis, who was then tapped by the Can't Stop team to front a new kind of group they were putting together. Taking inspiration for the name from Manhattan's Greenwich Village neighborhood, the producers quickly pulled together a backing band to make an appearance with Willis on American Bandstand. After the original lineup -- pretend cop Willis, Felipe Rose (American Indian), Alex Briley (soldier), Lee Mouton (biker), Mark Mussler (construction worker), David Forrest (cowboy) and brief, early non-costumed member Peter Whitehead -- made a splash on the show, the producers posted a recruitment ad that read "macho types wanted: must dance and have a mustache." They also leaned into what became the group's signature gimmick: job-related costumes for each man, with the original lineup shuffled to include Glenn Hughes (leather daddy), David Hodo (construction worker) and Randy Jones (cowboy). Formed at the peak of the disco revolution, the gay-coded group quickly became dance floor icons thanks to such booming anthems as the Willis cowritten "Macho Man" from their 1978 album of the same name, which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Leaning further into the are-they-or-aren't-they nature of the group, the title of the band's third album, 1978's Cruisin', was either an homage to hopping in the car for a drive or a not-at-all-subtle reference to the gay slang term for searching around for casual sex. That album spawned yet another huge hit with "Y.M.C.A.," another Willis cowrite that hit No. 2 on the Hot 100 in early 1979 before going on to be one of the group's most successful and beloved singles. The Grammy Hall of Fame track with its signature hand jive motions has since become a staple at parties and sporting events, as well as being one of Pres. Donald Trump's favorite songs, one he frequently gyrates to during public appearances. Willis, who was straight, steadfastly denied that he wrote "Y.M.C.A." to be a "gay anthem," despite the double-entendre lyrics that appeared to suggest otherwise. "Young man, there's a place you can go, I said/ Young man, when you're short on your dough/ You can stay there and I'm sure you will find/ Many ways to have a good time," he sings on the tune. Willis left the group in 1979 amid the production for their disastrous movie musical Can't Stop the Music, and was replaced by the band's former tour backup singer, Ray Simpson. With disco's popularity at a nadir amid the rise of new wave, the group's 1981 album, Renaissance, which had them adopting the makeup and new romantic look of the day, was a flop. Willis briefly came back into the fold for 1981's equally unimpressive eighth album, Fox on the Box, which was later released in the U.S. in 1983 as In the Street. By 1983, Willis took leave again as the band underwent another in a rolling series of lineup changes and he began a decades long battle over copyright issues. After leaving the group, Willis would not perform Village People songs and did not record new music, though a 1979 solo album, Solo Man, was finally released in Aug. 2015. Willis, who entered the Betty Ford Clinic in 2007 following years of substance abuse, rejoined the group yet again in 2017 after a 2015 out-of-court settlement that gave him 50% ownership of some of the group's biggest hits. He appeared on the 2018 Christmas album, A Village People Christmas and performed with them at several events tied to Trump's second inauguration in Jan. 2025. - Billboard, 7/1/26.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on June 29th, 2026

Two longtime guitarists in Bob Dylan's live band have seemingly stepped away from the rock legend's ongoing "Rough and Rowdy Ways" tour. Acoustic guitarist Bob Britt was reported to have left the band after sharing a brief post social media that was later deleted. According to screenshots circulated by Dylan fans on Reddit.com, Britt posted "Sayonara Bobby" alongside an image showing a flight route from Austin, Tex., to Nashville during a day off from the tour. In a later comment, he reportedly wrote: "I quit." Britt has played with Dylan since 2019, and has been a regular presence during during his current tour. Britt's departure follows another recent change in Dylan's band, after electric guitarist Doug Lancio was recently replaced on stage by acclaimed jazz guitarist Julian Lage. Lancio, who had been part of Dylan's touring band since 2021, was absent from Dylan's June 17 show at the Santa Barbara Bowl. A reviewer for the Los Angeles Times noted that Lage had replaced Lancio onstage, although it remains unclear whether he is filling in temporarily or joining the line-up more permanently. Dylan's current US run is due to continue on June 29) at Moody Amphitheater in Austin, Tex., before wrapping in Nashville on Aug. 1. Dylan has dusted off several rarely performed live cuts lately on the tour, including "I Shall Be Released" and "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." - New Musical Express, 6/28/26...... The huge personal record collection of Tom Verlaine, the late frontman of the acclaimed '70s punk band Television, has gone on sale. Verlaine passed away in Jan. 2023 at the age of 73, and now his extensive archive of 4,000 vinyl records is being made available to the public, offering fans a glimpse into the music taste of the trailblazing New York band. The collection spans jazz, avant-garde, garage rock, psychedelia and experimental, and includes Verlaine's personal copies of Television's debut single "Little Johnny Jewel" and their landmark 1977 debut album Marquee Moon, alongside records by The 13th Floor Elevators, Nico, Albert Ayler, The Sonics, Love and Slint. The first batch of records became available through Discogs.com on June 26, with further titles set to be sold in person at Academy Records' Banker Street location in Brooklyn on July 10 and 11. Any remaining records will then return to Discogs on July 31. Purchases made through Discogs will include a certificate of authenticity confirming that the record came from Verlaine's personal collection. The collection can be checked out on Discogs.com. Television were one of the defining bands of the 1970s New York punk scene, emerging from CBGB alongside the likes of Smith, Ramones, Blondie and Talking Heads. Their debut album Marquee Moon is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitar records of the era. Television released just one more album during their original run, 1978's Adventure, before splitting that year. They later reformed in 1992 for a self-titled third album and continued to tour intermittently in the decades that followed. - NME, 6/28/26...... In related news, Mick Jagger has named some of his favorite Rolling Stones albums and songs in a new interview with Today as he promotes the band's upcoming album Foreign Tongues. Asked if he had a favorite Stones album, Jagger replied: "I think Sticky Fingers is really good. I think Beggars Banquet is really good. I think Hackney Diamonds is pretty good, too." When asked if he had one favorite Rolling Stones song, Jagger answered: "I mean, there's so many different styles," he said. "You're running the gamut of 'Sympathy For The Devil', you know, 'Start Me Up', 'Angie', 'Honky Tonk Women'." The Stones are now preparing to release Foreign Tongues, their 25th studio album, on July 10 via Polydor/Universal Music. The 14-track record has been produced by Andrew Watt, who also worked on Hackney Diamonds. The iconic band has recently shared tracks from the new album -- "Divine Intervention" on YouTube, and "Jealous Lover" on Amazon.com. Meanwhile, Jagger has revealed that the idea of a big-screen Rolling Stones biopic "interests" him in a new interview with GQ magazine, although he admitted it would be difficult to decide which period of the band's sprawling 64-year career to focus on. The legendary frontman was asked about the possibility of the band receiving the biopic treatment in the context of Sam Mendes' upcoming four-film Beatles project. "Yeah, it interests me," Jagger replied when asked whether a similar treatment for the Stones would appeal to him. "I don't want to impart it to you, but, I know how I see it," he continued. "There's lots of ways of doing biopics. So most of the time when you do a biopic, you do one small section of someone's life bookended by some other stuff." Jagger then pointed to the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, which starred Timothée Chalamet and focused on Dylan's early years in New York and his controversial move from folk to electric music. "Take the Bob Dylan movie," Jagger said. "You do the moment when Bob went electric. You'd have to think, what are you going to zero in on? And where's your two years of interest? I mean that Bob Dylan one was two years, [the] James Brown one that I produced was slightly more." Asked which section of the Stones' history he would choose, Jagger added: "I don't know which section, because it's a long period." - NME, 6/28/26...... The estate of late Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Leonard Cohen has decried the use of the singer-songwriter's classic track "Hallelujah" during Pres. Donald Trump's rally kicking off the "Great American State Fair" in Washington, D.C. on June 24 celebrating the U.S.'s 250th anniversary. During the event, Long Island opera singer Christopher Macchio joined forces with the Marine Band's Master Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear to perform the oft-covered 1984 song. Ahead of the rally, Cohen's estate posted its objection to the planned use of song, which was still used at the rally. "The Leonard Cohen Estate has learned that the song 'Hallelujah' is to be performed at a Donald Trump rally on June 24," a statement posted to Cohen's Instagram account reads. "This use is not authorized, and the Estate does not support or approve of this or any similar usage." The statement ends with a tongue-in-cheek nod to one of the president's favorite social media sign-offs, simply stating: "Thank you for your attention to this matter." According to the Recording Industry Association of America, "Hallelujah" has been performed by more than 300 singers across multiple languages and decades, including high-profile versions by Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Pentatonix and the Shrek soundtrack. Before Cohen's 2016 death, he had reacted to the song's multitude of covers in a 2009 interview with The Guardian, saying, "I was reading a review of a movie called Watchmen that uses it, and the reviewer said, 'Can we please have a moratorium on "Hallelujah" in movies and television shows?' and I kind of feel the same way. I think it's a good song, but too many people sing it." - Billboard, 6/24/26...... Lionel Richie has postponed his next two concerts after cutting the opening night of his co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire short after suffering a dizzy spell on stage in Minnesota earlier in June. Richie, 77, told the crowd he needed to sit down while performing because he felt dizzy. He forged ahead with singing "Dancing on the Ceiling," then left the stage for an intermission. Nevertheless, Lionel took the opportunity to joke to the crowd. "When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down," he said. Less than an hour later, saxophone player Dino Soldo told the crowd that the show was canceled because Lionel was "not feeling well," according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. On June 25, Live Nation Chicago posted on Instagram that the former Commodores member and '80s solo superstar's back-to-back performances in Chicago on June 26 and Columbus, Oh., on June 27 had been pushed back "under advisement by doctors to rest and return to full health." "Lionel is heartbroken to postpone these two shows and cannot wait to be back performing for his fans," it reads. "We apologize for any inconvenience this causes fans who have tickets for these two shows. Rescheduled dates will be announced soon." His concert on June 30 in Pittsburgh is still expected to go on as planned. - Billboard, 6/26/26...... Billy Joel's 1974 breakthrough hit "Piano Man" has topped Billboard's Top TV Songs chart after a synch in the eighth episode of Amazon Prime Video's The Boys' fifth season which was also its series finale. In a scene that helped conclude the show's seven-year run, "Piano Man" racked up 19.1 million official U.S. streams and sold 1,000 downloads in May 2026 en route to its No. 1 bow on the TV Songs chart, according to Luminate. Other '70s songs making the chart include Bill Withers' "Lovely Day" from Netflix's The Boroughs (No. 3), Bob Seger's "Night Moves" also from The Boroughs (No. 5), and Steely Dan's "Do It Again" from HBO's Euphoria (No. 6). - Billboard, 6/25/26...... As tension builds for the rumoured anxiously-awaited imminent marriage of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in early July, Stevie Nicks is said to be among the performers during the ceremony for the worldwide pop superstar and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. Swift was also recently spotted celebrating the New York Knicks' recent victory with the HAIM sisters, notably while wearing a shirt that read "Stevie Nicks," which many have taken as an Easter egg about her upcoming nuptials. Now, reports from Page Six and Rolling Stone have seen multiple sources claim that not only will Nicks be in attendance, but will be performing at the ceremony. The pair's friendship is well-documented, with Swift saying she was "very lucky to have the guidance of Nicks last year." The two also went on a celebratory night in Dublin after Swift wrapped a three-show run in the city on her "Eras Tour" trek in 2024, and, the same night that they were pictured at the Hacienda bar, Nicks was seen looking visibly emotional at Swift's concert after she performed the Midnights track "You're On Your Own, Kid." The Fleetwood Mac frontwoman previously thanked the singer-songwriter for penning the song, because it captured how she felt about losing her bandmate Christine McVie. Wedding plans have so far been shrouded in secrecy, but further details emerged this week with a New York Times report that revealed a permit had been filed with New York City to close the streets around Madison Square Garden for an event on July 3, which points further towards the city's arena as the chosen venue. The Times additionally reported that festivities will kick off on July 2 with "an intimate gathering of about 100 people followed by a larger event that will include "about 1,000 guests the next day." Before those reports appeared to confirm the date, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared to have let it slip that the ceremony would be held in the city in early July. - NME, 6/28/26...... Billy Idol and his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens were inducted into the Hollywood Rockwalk on June 23 during a ceremony at Guitar Center's flagship Hollywood location on Sunset Boulevard. The ceremony was hosted by legendary radio personality Richard Blade, and Idol and Stevens commemorated the occasion with a handprint ceremony outside the store. They joined more than 150 artists and innovators who have been honored by the Rockwalk since its founding in 1985, including the likes of Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. Idol, who began his career in the late '70s as a member of Generation X, received a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards on May 25, where he and Stevens performed three of his biggest hits, "White Wedding," "Eyes Without a Face" and "Dancing With Myself." On Nov. 14, Idol and Stevens will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony to be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. - Billboard, 6/24/26...... Daryl Hall posted a statement on Instagram on June 23 saying he's "already feeling better" after he underwent a kidney transplant. The Hall & Oates co-founder announced that he had received the kidney from a "living donor." "Hi everybody!" he began. "I thought you should know that I recently received a kidney transplant from a very kind and generous living donor. It happened a couple of weeks ago, and I'm already starting to feel better. It was, according to my doctors, a complete success!" He went on to note that he should be "back to normal" in a few months. "So get ready for more music and lots of Daryl's House shows. You all take care!" the 79-year-old added. Back in 2005, Hall was forced to postpone a string of Hall & Oates shows as he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Though Hall & Oates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, Hall and John Oates announced in 2023 that they would no longer perform together due to a legal battle over their publishing rights. The dispute was resolved in August 2025. Hall released his sixth solo album, D, in June 2024. Most recently, he has hosted Live from Daryl's House, an online music series in which the singer-songwriter performs with his band and various guests at his home in Millerton, N.Y. - Music-News.com, 6/24/26...... Rising Scottish singer-songwriter Callum Beattie has joined the line-up for "Bowie: Live On The Loch," the upcoming charity celebration of David Bowie's life and legacy. The event is taking place at Cameron House on the banks of Loch Lomond on Nov. 7 and 8, in aid of Save The Children, and it will mark the 10th anniversary of Bowie's death. The band that backed Bowie during his legendary Glastonbury 2000 headline set -- guitarist Earl Slick, keyboardist Mike Garson, bassist Gail Ann Dorsey, multi-instrumentalist Mark Plati and drummer Sterling Campbell -- are reuniting for a one-off live performance over the weekend. Reflecting on joining the line-up, Beattie said: "Being asked to play with this band is one of the greatest honours of my life. If it wasn't for Bowie, there's no way I'd be a singer or a songwriter." "My dad had a 'magic cupboard' that was filled with vinyl and Bowie was at the forefront of that," he added. "It's an incredible privilege to share the stage with such legends. I just hope I can do the songs justice." - NME, 6/28/26...... Actress Ann Blyth, who drew a 1946 Oscar nomination for her memorable performance as the spoiled, selfish daughter of Joan Crawford's hard-working, devoted title character in the classic film Mildred Pierce, died on June 24 at age 98. The dark beauty was also noted for her roles in prison drama Brute Force (1947), the Mario Lanza vehicle The Great Caruso (1951) and 1957's The Helen Morgan Story with Paul Newman. Ms. Blyth made her single Broadway appearance in the original production of Lillian Hellman's WWII drama "Watch on the Rhine" in 1941-42. She toured with the show in Los Angeles, where she was noticed and given a screen test at Universal. The Mount Kisco, N.Y., native and devout Catholic focused on family after her film career essentially ended in 1957 as well as musical theater, appearing in "The Sound of Music," "The King and I," "Carnival," "Bittersweet," South Pacific," "Show Boat" and "A Little Night Music." She made several appearances on the TV Western Wagon Train in the early 1960s and starred in the "Queen of the Nile" episode of The Twilight Zone in 1964. Later she appeared a couple of times on Quincy, M.E. before her final television appearance on Murder, She Wrote in 1985. - Variety.com, 6/26/26...... David Clayton-Thomas, the Blood, Sweat & Tears lead singer and songwriter behind such hits as "Spinning Wheel, "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and "And When I Die," died on June 24 at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. He was 84. No cause of death was provided, but the rep said the musician died peacefully and that a memorial benefit concert will soon be held in his honor supporting Peacebuilders Canada, an organization that promotes restorative justice for youth, which he championed for years up until he died. Born in Surrey, England on Sept. 13, 1941, Mr. Clayton-Thomas started out as a soloist who first earned major recognition in Canada for anti-war song "Brainwashed" in 1966. He joined Blood, Sweat & Tears a couple of years later following the departure of former bandleader Al Kooper, and the group entered a period of immense popularity. The group's first album, Child Is Father to the Man, was not a huge hit (only climbing to No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart in June 1968), but it was highly-regarded, receiving a Grammy nomination and voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. BS&T's next two albums, Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969) and Blood, Sweat & Tears 3 (1970) topped the Hot 200, with the former climbing to No. 1 for seven nonconsecutive weeks and the latter heading the charts for two weeks. The band spawned three No. 2 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with Blood, Sweat & Tears 3: "Spinning Wheel," "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and "And When I Die." It won a Grammy for album of the year in 1970. A track from the album, "Variations on a Theme by Eric Satie," won Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance, and the album was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. After helping usher several other tracks onto the top 40, including 1970's "Hi-De-Ho" and 1971's "Go Down Gamblin'," the group's popularity began to wane and Mr. Clayton-Thomas briefly left the group in 1972, the same year his self-titled solo album charted on the Billboard Hot 200. A few years later, however, he returned, remaining as a constant in Blood, Sweat & Tears' lineup until 2004, with the act billed as "Blood, Sweat & Tears Featuring David Clayton-Thomas." Mr. Clayton-Thomas would resume his solo work shortly after that, releasing album Aurora in 2005 followed by The Evergreens in 2008, Soul Ballads in 2010, A Blues for the New World in 2013, Combo in 2016, Canadiana in 2016, Mobius in 2018 and Say Somethin' in 2020. He also worked as an A&R rep for several labels, as well as a reporter for TV stations. His accolades include an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, a Juno Award and a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. He is survived by his daughters, Ashleigh Clayton-Thomas and Christine Graham. He is survived by his daughters, Ashleigh Clayton-Thomas and Christine Graham. - Billboard, 2/25/26.

In a new interview with the UK's Uncut magazine, Keith Richards has suggested that The Rolling Stones may favor residencies over traditional touring because physical demands of travel have become the biggest obstacle to the band performing live. "I don't know if tours are possible," Richards said. "It's the travelling that takes it out of you. But I do see the possibility of us doing residency somewhere. Wherever it is, London, New York, Paris, anywhere. I'll play Rome! But I don't see why they shouldn't be able to throw some shows together in a new format." Richards' comments come after Mick Jagger recently told BBC Radio 2 that he hopes to tour the Stones "as soon as possible" -- though he acknowledged it would not happen this year. The band scrapped plans for a U.K. and European stadium tour in 2026 after Richards was unable to commit to the run. The band's latest and 25th studio album, Foreign Toungues, will drop on July 10 via Polydor/Universal Music and feature guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Steve Winwood, and the band's late drummer Charlie Watts. It includes previously released tracks "Rough and Twisted" and "In the Stars," as well as a cover of Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good." Meanwhile, on June 19 the Stones announced the launch of a Speaking in Tongues podcast featuring interviews with Jagger, Richards and guitarist Ronnie Wood. Narrated by Norah Jones, the podcast will feature behind-the-scenes insight into the making of the LP over six episodes, with the band sharing studio techniques, creative influences and their songwriting process. The first episode goes live on June 25, and its trailer can be streamed on Spotify.com. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 6/23/26...... During a concert in West Valley City, Utah on June 19, Rod Stewart was forced to pause after nearly fainting onstage and requiring an oxygen tank. Stewart, 81, appeared visibly unwell and was seen doubling over in discomfort before using an oxygen tank to assist with his breathing, according to TMZ.com. After struggling to finish his hit "Young Turks," Stewart appeared less mobile than usual and leaned against stage equipment before members of his team brought out an oxygen tank, as seen in video footage published by TMZ. The "Maggie May" singer later told the crowd that he had nearly fainted but insisted that the "show must go on." He then jokingly asked, "Would you mind if I sat down for this one?" before continuing the performance and finishing the show seated in a chair. TMZ noted that West Valley City sits at approximately 4,300 feet above sea level, which may have contributed to the incident. In late May, Stewart suggested that his current "One Last Time" farewell tour could mark the end of his large-scale touring career. "I've got 40-odd shows this year and that's not really a lot," Stewart said during a football chat show in the U.K. And I'm touring the U.K. next year and doing the O2 and that will probably be it, I think. I'll have to do something new... come on your show more often." He added that after his remaining dates this year and a planned U.K. run in 2027, he may step away from major touring commitments. Stewart currently has numerous U.S. dates scheduled throughout July and August as part of his "One Last Time" tour. The trek is set to conclude with a show in St. Louis on Aug. 15, then he'll head to Las Vegas for a handful of residency dates. - Billboard, 6/21/26...... Actor Paul Avery and his wife Sheila Avery died in a house fire in their Blairstown, N.J., home early on June 16. Firefighters responded to their home, approximately 80 kilometres west of Newark, and found the couple in critical condition, New Jersey State Police told the Ridgeview Echo, a local news organization founded by the late actor. Upon the troopers' arrival, the residence was fully engulfed in flames," police said in a statement Friday. "Two individuals were in the residence at the time of the fire, and both succumbed to their injuries. The fire remains under investigation, and no additional information is available." They were both treated with CPR, but died shortly after being rescued, police said. The blaze was declared under control around 1 a.m. shortly after firefighters entered the home. The cause is still under investigation. Mr. Avery, 81, began his acting career in the 1970s, playing a TV cameraman in Superman: The Movie in 1978 and Hughie the bartender on All My Children. He remained in the recurring role for a dozen years before his exit from the soap opera. He also made appearances in Tales from the Darkside, Three's Company and Soap. In addition to acting and writing, the former journalist was also a member of the United States National Guard and spent a year serving as a helicopter crew chief in the Vietnam War. - Canoe.com, 6/19/26...... The Jackson 5 members Marlon and Jackie Jackson announced on Instagram on June 22 they are reuniting for a string of U.K. shows later in 2026. The siblings are co-founders of the beloved Motown group -- which also starred their late brother Michael Jackson until 1984 -- and will be taking to the road in "Jackson 5 Live In Concert" for four concerts, kicking off on Nov. 6 in Manchester. Following the performance at the O2 Apollo, the pair will move on to Cardiff's Utilita Arena on Nov. 8, before heading to the Wolverhampton Civic on Nov. 11. The tour will wrap at London's Eventim Apollo on Nov. 13. Marlon and Jackie will be supported on the concerts by London disco band Heatwave, most famous for tracks such as "Boogie Nights" and "Always and Forever." "Jackson 5 Live In Concert" comes amid the huge worldwide success of biopic Michael, which documents the "Thriller" singer's life and stars his nephew Jaafar Jackson, son of J5 member Jermaine Jackson, in the lead role. Speaking recently about seeing Jaafar on the big screen as his late sibling, Marlon recently told People: "Jaafar is unbelievable. As a matter of fact, I think he's the only one that could have done this. I'm watching the movie and sometimes I'm thinking I'm watching Michael up there, and I forget 'Oh, it's Jaafar.'" - Music-News.com, 6/22/26...... It's not as good as catching Paul Simon on the singer-songwriter's "A Quiet Celebration Tour," but it's the next best thing. On June 26, fans can enjoy Simon's brand-new two-hour concert special, Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert, streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Expect deep cuts, new arrangements and timeless hits recorded live at McCaw Hall in Seattle. It's also a story of triumph -- a legendary performer learning the stage again after beginning to experience hearing loss. - AP, 6/24/26...... Actress Anne Schedeen, best known for playing ALF matriarch Kate Tanner on the 1986-1990 NBC sitcom, died on June 14. She was 77. Born in Portland, Ore., in January 1949, Sheeden first tried acting in a local theatre before she moved east to New York to kick-start her professional career in the entertainment industry. She was cast as one of Jack Tripper's (John Ritter) girlfriends in Three's Company, and also had credits in Magnum, P.I., Murder, She Wrote, and ER. In 1986, she was cast as Kate Tanner in ALF, which follows the titular alien who landed in the family's garage and moved in. Speaking of her time on the show, she recalled to People magazine: [It was] extremely slow, hot, and tedious. If you had a scene with ALF, it took centuries. A 30-minute show took 20 to 25 hours to shoot. Some of the actors in the cast had difficult personalities. The whole thing was a big, dysfunctional family." In a post on Schedeen's Facebook page, her family penned: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share Annie has passed peacefully. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of creative energy, whip-smart humour, delight in her family, adoration for little dogs, burning hatred for Trump, passion for second-hand thrifting, and love for a good story. We are bereft without her. We loved her so so much, as did all who met her." A cause of death is yet to be revealed. - NZHerald.co.nz, 6/18/26...... Director and television creator James Burrows, who helmed episodes of such beloved TV comedies as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Laverne & Shirley, The Bob Newhart Show and many other classic shows, died on 19. He was 85. "We celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James 'Jimmy' Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family," his family said in a statement. "For more than five decades, [he] was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history [who] helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world," the family added. The time and place of his death were not disclosed. Mr. Burrows won 11 Emmy awards for excellence in television and helmed more than 1,000 episodes of hit programs, working as a director, producer and writer. He was among the early innovators of the multi-camera sitcom when his prolific career began in the 1970s directing episodes of Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart and Laverne & Shirley. He is first Emmy came for directing Taxi, a groundbreaking comedy starring Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman and Tony Danza, about the rough and tumble staff of a New York City taxicab company. He directed 236 episodes and also co-created Cheers with longtime collaborator James Brooks, as well as its spin-off Frasier. His other hit shows include The Big Bang Theory Mike & Molly, and 3rd Rock from the Sun. Recently, the director took a rare step in front of the camera and starred as himself in The Comeback, reuniting with Friends star Lisa Kudrow for a show that pokes fun at life behind the scenes working on a sitcom in Hollywood. - AFP, 6/20/26...... Clive Davis, the legendary music exec who guided the careers of such stars as Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys, died on June 22 at his home in New York from age-related illness. He was 94. Mr. Davis rose to prominence while serving as president of Columbia Records from 1967 to 1973, before founding his own label, Arista, where he signed Manilow and stars including Aretha Franklin, Patti Smith and Dionne Warwick, among many others. In 2000, he founded J Records, which was responsible for launching acts including Keys and Maroon 5 to superstardom. Known as "The Man With the Golden Ears," Mr. Davis became an industry icon for helping shape the popular sound of genres including pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop during a career that spanned more than 60 years. In the process, he signed, mentored and/or worked closely with such legendary artists as Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Alan Jackson, Luther Vandross, Kenny G, Usher, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone, Rod Stewart and Jennifer Hudson. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and received a Trustees Award from the Recording Academy in 2000. Born in Brooklyn on Apr. 4, 1932, Mr. Davis attended New York University, from which he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in political science. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1956, he began his music business career in the legal department of Columbia Records at age 28. In 1967, he rose to president of Columbia's parent company CBS Records, where he signed Janis Joplin and her band Big Brother and the Holding Company after seeing them perform at the Monterey International Pop Festival. While at CBS, Davis demonstrated a knack for signing other future stars, including Santana, Billy Joel and Aerosmith. Fired from CBS Records in 1973 after being accused of misappropriating company funds, which he denied, Mr. Davis formed his own label, Arista Records, where he worked with artists as diverse as Manilow and Patti Smith. Manilow had Arista's first No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, "Mandy," in 1975. That same year, Davis plucked Patti Smith from relative obscurity to release her hugely influential and successful 1975 debut album Horses. He also helped engineer comebacks for a number of older stars whose careers had lost some of their shimmer, from Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick to Santana, whose 1999 collaborative album Supernatural went multi-platinum and scored a total of nine Grammy wins, including album of the year. Including his Grammy win for that album, Davis won four Grammys during his lifetime out of five nominations. Mr. Davis' biggest success at Artista came when he signed Whitney Houston, the younger cousin of Arista artist Dionne Warwick. On the release of her 1985 self-titled debut album, Houston shot to fame with a trio of No. 1 hits on the Hot 100, including "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love for You" and "Greatest Love of All." Houston went on to become one of the best-selling artists of all time, notching a total of 11 No. 1 hits on the pop charts during the course of a career that was cut short with her death in 2012. In 2002, after BMG purchased a majority stake in J Records, Mr. Davis was named president and CEO of RCA Music Group. He remained in that role until 2008, when, at age 76, he was named chief creative officer at Sony BMG, and, later, chief creative officer at Sony Music Entertainment, a title he held until his death. He published an autobiography, The Soundtrack of My Life, in 2013. Outside of music, Mr. Davis became known for his humanitarian efforts, including his work battling the AIDS epidemic beginning in the mid-1980s. "To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives," said the Davis family in a statement. "He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations. Barry Manilow reflected on the pair's partnership spanning more than five decades. "My heart is heavy with the loss of my friend Clive Davis," Manilow wrote. "For fifty years we worked together, created together, argued together, and celebrated together. Yes, some would say it was business. But to Clive, it never was. It was family. And I was honored to be a part of his. Thank you Clive. I wish we could do it all again." - Billboard, 6/22/26.