Classic songs from such artists as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Journey, John Denver, Bruce Springsteen and Creedence Clearwater Revival have reentered the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart following a festive Fourth of July holiday and continued buzz surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026. Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" returns at No. 31 (9.3 million streams, up 75%), marking the Southern rockers' first appearance since 1978. The song hit No. 8 in 1974. Plus, Journey is back on the Hot 100 for the first time since 1997 with "Don't Stop Believin'." The No. 9 hit from 1981 re-charts at No. 35 thanks to holiday streams (8.2 million, up 27%) and after it was played June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle as the crowd of 67,000 sang along. Fans that day also crooned John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads," a reentry at No. 41 (7 million, up 62%). Denver, who died in 1997, last appeared on the Hot 100 in 1984. The song, with Fat City, became his breakthrough hit, rising to No. 2 in 1971. "Born in the U.S.A." hit No. 9 on the Hot 100 in 1985, becoming one of seven top 10s from the blockbuster set of the same name. It had last appeared on the chart that March. "Fortunate Son" reached No. 14 in 1969. CCR makes its first Hot 100 visit in more than 50 years, since the band's version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" wrapped its run in March 1976. - Billboard, 7/14/26...... 
On July 16 Bob Dylan officially announced he'll embark on a brand-new UK tour in 2026 in November and December that will feature a five-night stand at London's Royal Festival Hall. Alongside his London residency, the tour will stop at major venues across the country, including Bournemouth, Birmingham, and Sheffield, followed by a double-night run at the Opera House in Blackpool before he heads to London. Dylan's ongoing "Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour" -- named after his surprise, critically acclaimed 2020 studio album -- has been met with massive international praise. The upcoming London dates will mark the legendary artist's first performance in the British capital since a triumphant three-night run at the Royal Albert Hall back in 2024. The UK tour will be hosted in partnership with Yondr, which requires all attendees to secure their mobile phones and video cameras in specialized pouches for the duration of the performance to ensure an intimate and completely undistracted atmosphere. - Music-News.com, 7/16/26...... As they score their 15th UK Number One on the Official Albums Chart on July 17 with their 25th studio LP Foreign Tongues, The Rolling Stones have equalled The Beatles in number one albums in the UK, with only Robbie Williams ahead of them by one album on the all-time list. The OAC announced the Stones' latest feat on its Instagram page, writing "It's official - The Rolling Stones and The Beatles now have more Number 1 albums than any other band in history... upon Foreign Tongues topping the Offical Albums Chart today." Featuring guest contributions from Paul McCartney, The Cure's Robert Smith, Steve Winwood and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Foreign Tongues has received positive critical reception as well, with People magazine writing "its relentlessly energetic swagger and delicious riffs make for the group's best stuff in years." The Stones' first chart-topping album was their self-titled debut in 1964, meaning the band have now returned to the summit more than 62 years later. Meanwhile, frontman Mick Jagger's reaction to England's recent lost in the World Cup semi-final game has gone viral across the Internet. Jagger attended the game between England and Argentina on July 15 which England lost 2-1, and footage of Jagger's disappointed head shake after the loss has resonated with fans across the globe. "Mick Jagger speaks for the nation," said one fan of the clip, which can be viewed on X/Twitter. - New Musical Express, 7/18/26...... England's Birmingham City Council has authorized "Ozzy Day" celebrations to celebrate perhaps its most famous son, metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, exactly one year after his passing. Featuring festivities, music and film screenings, Ozzy Day will take place on July 22 to commemorate the Black Sabbath singer and solo star. According to the BCC, the city center will include "a free program of live music, public art, special performances and shared moments celebrating the life, legacy and Birmingham roots of the Prince of Darkness." Writing on its website, the council said that key locations in his upbringing and musical journey will be a part of the tribute, including the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham New Street Station, Bullring, Selfridges and Martineau Place. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will perform a special lunchtime performance at the Bullring shopping center, while the city's train station will feature an Ozzy the Bull statue in reference to the city's famous statue. The full program of the festivities can be viewed at www.birmingham.gov.uk. Osbourne died at his Buckinghamshire home following a heart attack at the age of 76 on July 22, 2025, two weeks after Osbourne and his bandmates hosted the "Back to the Beginning" charity concert. - Billboard, 7/17/26...... 
AC/DC kicked off their 2026 North American tour in Charlotte, N.C., on July 11 with a 21-song setlist packed with hits. The Aussie headbangers opened up with their classic "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" from 1979's Highway To Hell, followed by the title track from that record later in the night. Two songs from their latest album, 2020's Power Up made the cut too: "Shot In The Dark" and "Demon Fire," as did five songs from fan favorite 1980 album Back In Black, including "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Hells Bells" and the title track. The set wrapped up with "T.N.T" and "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)," and the set also came just two days after their late frontman Bon Scott would have turned 80-years-old. The dates, which mark the latest leg of the rock icons' "PWR/UP" tour, continued in Ohio, before more shows in Wisconsin, Texas and Colorado later in July. In August, AC/DC will play in California, Nevada, Georgia and more, before wrapping up the North American leg in Montana, New Jersey, Philadelphia and more. - NME, 7/15/26...... David Byrne has announced a new UK book tour later in 2026 to promote his new book Sleeping Beauties, which will drop on Oct. 8 in the UK and Oct. 6 in the US. Published by Penguin Random House, the book centers on philosophical questions including why some ideas are considered ahead of their time and naturally move back into the spotlight when the world is ready for them. Across the tour, the former Talking Heads frontman will share his own answers to questions like that, and also share his admiration for certain visionaries who helped craft the world around them or make art that resonates with him. Kicking off at Hackney Empire in London on Nov. 8, the tour will continue to Brighton (11/9), Manchester (11/11), and Bristol (11/12) before wrapping at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on Nov. 13. The artist has announced he will donate his fees from the upcoming book tour to the Rocksteady Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides free music lessons to children around the UK. Earlier in July Byrne performed live at the 10th anniversary edition of Mad Cool festival in Madrid, Spain, and his upcoming shows include Edinburgh on July 21, Cardiff on July 26, and a headlining slot at Latitude Festival in Suffolk on July 24. - NME, 7/17/26...... Early David Bowie recordings produced by legendary producer Shel Talmy in 1965 are to be released on a new album featuring contributions from a pre-Led Zeppelin Jimmy Page. Featuring 10 previously unheard Bowie songs, David Bowie: The Shel Talmy Recordings is set for release on Sept. 18 via Parlophone and will feature the most complete collection of songs before he officially became Bowie and recorded under the name Davie Jones. Shel Talmy, who produced hits for The Who and The Kinks, recorded the songs with Bowie and his band at the time, The Lower Third, as well as some solo demos for Bowie. - NME, 7/16/26...... Speaking of The Kinks, founding brothers Ray and Dave Davies are joining forces with acclaimed painter Christian Furr for a landmark summer art exhibition in the UK. Titled "The Kinks: Brothers," the exhibition will run from July 24 to September 6, 2026, at the prestigious Gibson Garage London, marking a unique creative reunion for the legendary musical siblings. The inspiration for the collection stems from a vintage 1968 passport photobooth photograph of Ray and Dave taken in East Finchley, North London. Furr has reimagined this intimate moment across a series of vibrant, original paintings. When Dave Davies first saw the completed artworks, he was so deeply moved that he immediately began painting directly onto the canvases himself, adding a raw, collaborative layer to the physical pieces. Visual art has always been deeply woven into the fabric of Kinks history. Before helping to change the face of global rock music, Ray studied painting at Hornsey College of Art, while Dave has pursued painting for decades. The brothers' creative journey originally began in the front room of their childhood home in Muswell Hill, where they wrote and rehearsed their earliest material, including the seminal 1964 hit "You Really Got Me." - Music-News.com, 7/14/26...... 
KISS announced on July 15 they are cruising back to Las Vegas for their annual "KISS Kruise: Land-locked in Vegas" event. The second edition of the terra firma-based dry voyage will take place from Nov. 13-15 at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and feature a special all-star tribute to the band's original guitarist Ace Frehley, who died in Oct. 2025 at 74. "The Ace Frehley All-Star Tribute" will feature a memorial to the "Spaceman" from singer/bassist Gene Simmons, guitarist/singer Paul Stanley, former guitarist Tommy Thayer and longtime drummer Eric Singer. The bandmates -- who each personally selected a song that they will perform individually as part of the tribute -- will be joined by as-yet-unannounced special guest stars, with support from the Ace Frehley Band. "Another year of the KISS Kruise experience and the best one yet is on the way. Everything we've learned at sea and on land over the past years is going into making this the ultimate weekend with us," said Stanley in a statement. "No ship?!? No problem! What's so awesome about KISS Kruise: Land-Locked is that it's a full-scale resort takeover created to give us all 100% of what we've come to love and expect. We can't wait to be back together with the KISS Army and Navy from around the world for more killer performances, incredible artists, events, and exclusive experiences you won't find anywhere else." Other festivities include a KISS look-alike contest, KISS Army karaoke, late night DJ sets, interactive and replica exhibits, archival displays, and exclusive merch. Ticket and accomodations information can be found at kisskruisevegas.com. - Billboard, 7/15/26...... A new book by Paul McCartney's former manager Richard Ogden includes claims that Sir Paul wasn't exactly the most genial musician all the time, despite his outward appearance as the eternally "thumbs aloft" family man in Wings and in his solo career since. In Bigger Than The Beatles - Sixty Years in Show Business, Ogden writes that when warned his tours were losing money, McCartney would apparently repeat (loudly) the mantra: "Paul McCartney doesn't lose money!" He also reportedly said at an early meeting with Ogden: "I don't work to budgets, I don't need to." Ogden, who oversaw five of Macca's solo albums plus two tours between 1987 and 1993, describes how the former Beatle would routinely dress him down for hours as they wrangled over tours and finances. In one of his first acts, Ogden recalled that he told Paul that none of the 20 tracks on his new album was "strong enough" to be released as a single. "[Paul's late first wife] Linda, looking at me all wide-eyed, said, "Ooh, now you've done it. No one ever spoke to him like that before." "It undoubtedly earned me my first black mark," Ogden writes. - DailyMail.com, 7/16/26..... Speaking to podcaster Rick Beato in a new YouTube interview, Billy Joel said he quit songwriting more than three decades ago because he didn't want to "dilute his legacy." Joel, 77, said he knew he was finished after completing River of Dreams in 1993. "When I got to the end of writing River of Dreams, I felt like I was done," Joel said. "I was married, I had a child. I didn't want to lock myself in a cave and devote myself like a monk to writing anymore. I had done it 12 times and I thought, 'You know what? The Beatles had 12 albums.' And that was just enough for me." The Piano Man said he didn't want to become another artist who slowly fizzles out. "Maybe they're not as good as they used to be or they're not as motivated as they were, but it ends up trailing off. I didn't want to go like that Saying no sometimes is really hard to do," he said. Although he stopped making pop records, Joel didn't stop creating music entirely. He released his classical album Fantasies and Delusions in 2001 and returned with the standalone single "Turn the Lights Back On" in 2024. He said: "I did a whole album of classical piano pieces after that. That's where I wanted to go I didn't want to just keep beating a dead horse and being played because I was Billy Joel." Billy noted the pressure to match his own past work became unbearable. "You get to a point you can't do it anymore. You've tapped it out, you reached such a high level that you can't stand not reaching that level anymore and you hate yourself. You beat yourself up, and I didn't want to put myself through that anymore." Joel admitted he even warned others about the emotional toll of chasing perfection: "You better learn how to stop songwriting because it's gonna drive you crazy. You'll go insane." - Music-News.com, 7/15/26...... 
In a new interview with BBC Radio 2, Queen drummer opened up about the chances of the band touring again. "Well, it is a big machine to gear up, if you know what I mean." He went on to say that he "loved playing live, always have," but the possibility of a future tour is largely down to how guitarist Brian May feels about it. "I think it's more down to Brian [May] than me," he said, before giving it his approval, adding, "So if we both wanna do it, I'd be happy to. But we'll see. Never say never." Taylor then praised current Queen frontman Adam Lambert, saying, "We have been working for a while with Adam Lambert, who has the most incredible voice." Taylor's comments come after May said earlier this year that he would refuse to tour in the US, reasoning that the country is a "dangerous place." Before that, the longtime animal rights activist said that Queen would not headline Glastonbury Festival "because of the politics of the people who run it," citing founder Michael Eavis' support of badger culling in the UK over the years. Last fall, May revealed that Queen had worked on some new material with Lambert, and said they had considered bringing their live show to The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. "I'm very keen on the Sphere," May explained. "It's got my mind working." May's wife Anita Dobson implied in December that, despite Queen working on new music, it was unlikely that they would resume full-scale touring. "They will do little bits and bobs, but they won't do those big tours," she said. May suffered a minor stroke in 2024, and last November said his health issues had served as a "wake-up call." - NME, 7/14/26...... Speaking of The Sphere, Rush are reportedly "in talks" over a residency at the innovative Las Vegas venue. The "Tom Sawyer" hitmakers -- who were previously said to have rejected a Vegas residency at the T-Mobile Arena in late 2015 and early 2016 -- are thought to have been in talks with Sphere bosses "for a while," according to The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column. "The Sphere has become the premium entertainment spot in Vegas," the source said. "All the acts who have performed there have been at capacity for every show because audiences love the audio-visual experience." - Music-News.com, 7/17/26...... Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker, whose career stretched decades but who became unforgettable to millions as the gentle "Pigeon Lady" in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, died on July 16. She was 81. At 19, Ms. Fricker landed an uncredited role in the 1964 film Of Human Bondage, kicking off a career that would eventually make her one of Ireland's most respected performers. After years of television and film work, Ms. Fricker broke through in 1986 as nurse Megan Roach on the BBC drama Casualty. Four years later came the role that changed everything -- playing the mother of Daniel Day-Lewis' Christy Brown in My Left Foot, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1990. U.S. ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh described Ms. Fricker as "a giant of Irish film," writing on X that "From Dublin to Hollywood, her work brought Ireland's stories to the world and inspired generations on both sides of the Atlantic." - Canoe.com, 7/17/26...... Veteran TV actor Hal Williams, who appeared in American sitcom staples like 227 and Sanford and Son, has died, according to his manager. He was 91. Mr. Williams appeared in 22 episodes of the top-rated Sanford and Son as Officer "Smitty" Smith. The character was part of a duo with Howard Platt's Officer "Hoppy" Hopkins. The pair had a recurring bit where Hopkins would lead by outlining a case with complicated police jargon, and it would be up to Smith to spell it all out again in layman's terms. Mr. Williams' other TV credits include On the Rocks, The Waltons, Private Benjamin and The Sinbad Show. His most recent TV role was on CBS' Matlock remake. On the film side, Mr. Williams appeared in Hardcore, The Rookie, Percy & Thunder, Guess Who and Flight. - Variety, 7/16/26.
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.
The Ramones announced on July 7 that a 50th anniversary tribute to the iconic '70s punk rockers' 
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 
Ozzy Osbourne's widow Sharon Osbourne has marked her first wedding anniversary without Ozzy with a tribute to her late husband on 
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 
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 
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 
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 
Victor Willis, the longtime lead singer and frontman of costumed disco group the Village People and cowriter of such indelible dance anthems as 
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.
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 
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 
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 
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 
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,