Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on May 26th, 2024

Stevie Wonder treated fans to surprise impromptu performance of his 1977 classic "Sir Duke" following his delivering of the 2024 commencement address at the Peabody Conservatory's graduation ceremony at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore on May 22. The Motown legend also was honored with the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America during the ceremony. Fred Bronstein, dean of the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, presented Wonder with the medal. The George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America is the highest honor bestowed by the Peabody Institute, and was also presented to a dancer, Misty Copeland for the first time ever. "Stevie Wonder and Misty Copeland have dedicated their lives to making art and to lifting up others through music and dance, inspiring audiences and setting powerful examples for generations of younger performers," Dean Bronstein said in a statement. Wonder, also a 25-time Grammy winner, won album of the year with three consecutive studio albums in the 1970s, a feat that has yet to be duplicated. In 1999, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. - Billboard, 5/24/24...... As the new highly anticipated Beach Boys authorized documentary The Beach Boys premiered on May 24, BB co-founders Al Jardine and Mike Love sat down with Billboard at Hollywood's EastWest Studios to comment on the film. Jardine says he first met Brian and Carl Wilson, cousins of Love, in high school some 60 years ago and, according to Love, "the blending developed into something much more sublime." The key to the Beach Boys' stunning vocal arrangements, was "sublimating your individuality" for the good of the overall sound...we were obsessed with that," Love adds. The Beach Boys, initially comprised of Jardine, Love, Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, have charted 55 songs on the pop charts -- starting with their first sun-drenched single, "Surfin'," in 1962, and including four No. 1's: 1964's "I Get Around," 1965's "Help Me, Rhonda," 1966's "Good Vibrations" and 1988's "Kokomo." The documentary examines the band's creation in Hawthorne, Calif., and how they became, as the film attests, "America's band" -- and have remained so, with their upbeat music spanning more than half a century. "Certainly my goal was to find out how it all happened, and to tell the individual stories of each member," says director Frank Marshall, who has directed previous music documentaries on the Bee Gees and James Taylor/Carole King. "It's very complicated. A couple of members come and go and come back. And so it was really a journey for me of exploring how this group came together and what made it tick." The five original band members reunited again briefly on May 21 at the premiere of the documentary in Los Angeles, and Love says he looks at the whole process as a gift. "We're grateful and thankful and somewhat honored to have this documentary that Mr. Marshall has taken under wing," he says. "It's a fantastic thing to have happen at this stage of our lives." The official trailer of The Beach Boys can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 5/24/24...... On May 23 a Tennessee chancery court judge blocked the planned auction sale of Elvis Presley's iconic Graceland residence in Memphis, just days after if was reported that Elvis' grandaughter Riley Keough was taking legal action to halt the court-approved sale of the property. Keough, the daughter of Elvis' only child Lisa Marie Presley, is currently the owner of the iconic 13.8-acre estate, and came into the position following the sudden death of her mother in Jan. 2023. The fate of the iconic residence was thrown into question due to events stemming back to 2018, when a deed of trust was allegedly signed by Lisa Marie and secured a $3.8 million loan from Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC in Missouri. The company claimed that Graceland was used as collateral in the loan, which was never paid back. Keough, best known for her roles in such Hollywood productions as Daisy Jones & the Six, Logan Lucky and Mad Max: Fury Road, has been instrumental in fighting these claims, and stated that the Tennessee residence shouldn't go to auction as her mother never signed anything over nor borrowed any money from the company. Her lawsuit was filed on May 15 and also saw Keough claim that the creditor -- identified in a public notice of sale as Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC -- doesn't exist, and the loan's notary public never notarized it. Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins issue a temporary injunction against the proposed auction, ruling that "there was no validity to the claims" and "there will be no foreclosure." Judge Jenkins added that "Graceland will continue to operate as it has for the past 42 years, ensuring that Elvis fans from around the world can continue to have a best-in-class experience when visiting his iconic home." The case will now proceed toward more detailed litigation over the Keough's allegations that the evidence "strongly indicates the documents are forgeries," and eventually toward a final ruling. Naussany Investments have not publicly shared a statement following the ruling. The 14-acre Graceland compound was opened to the public in the '80s as a music history theme park. It is still open today and, according to the venue, it attracts roughly 600,000 visitors a year and is the second most-visited private residence in the US, behind The White House in Washington. - New Musical Express, 5/23/24...... The winners of The Ivors with Amazon Music were revealed at the annual Ivor Novello Awards ceremony held at Grosvenor House, London, on May 23, with Bruce Springsteen in attendance to receive Fellowship of The Ivors Academy, presented to him by previous Fellow and close friend, Sir Paul McCartney. With this, the New Jersey rocker becomes the first ever international songwriter that the Academy has inducted into Fellowship in its 80-year history, recognizing his outstanding contribution to the craft of songwriting and impact on the UK's cultural landscape. Presenting the prize, Macca, who jammed with Springsteen onstage along with Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl during his headline slot at the UK's Glastonbury festival in 2022, jokingly said: "Like Bruce's concerts, I'm going to keep this brief," referencing the Boss' trademark 3+ hour concerts, before adding that he "couldn't think of a more fitting" recipient "except maybe Bob Dylan, or Paul Simon, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift. The list goes on." McCartney's good-natured ribbing continued: "He's known as the American working man but he admits he's never worked a day in his life." Accepting the award, the 74-year-old Springsteen hugged the former Beatles star and referenced his "long and wonderful history" in the UK, thanking the "extraordinary" fans who have been with him since his first show in Hammersmith some 50 years ago. He went on to say that performing for his fans "remains one of the greatest privileges and honours of my life as a musician." "I want to thank you for taking my music into your hearts and into your souls. I want to thank you for including me in the challenging and beautiful cultural life in the UK," he added. During the ceremony Springsteen also treated the audience to a performance of his classic number "Thunder Road." Also during the ceremony, Elton John's esteemed songwriting partner Bernie Taupin was recognized with the Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. It is the ninth Ivor Novello awarded to Taupin, 50 years on from his first win for "Daniel" with Sir Elton in 1974. Known for his longstanding and hugely successful songwriting partnership with John, he has also written for artists as diverse as Starship, Heart, Willie Nelson, Courtney Love and Brian Wilson. Taupin recently revealed that Elton's 32nd studio album is "done" on the The Other Songs Live podcast, saying "Elton and I have an album coming out very soon, but I daren't say anything about it because I'm under strict orders to keep schtum. It's all done and recorded." He went on to hint that the album will "surprise" and "excite" people, adding: "I think it's quite brilliant and quite contemporary and it will certainly surprise a lot of people and excite a lot of people and hopefully be successful." The Ivors with Amazon Music, as the awards are officially branded, went to a total of 26 songwriters and composers across 14 categories. - Music-News.com/NME, 5/24/24...... In other Springsteen-related news, The Boss's country artist daughter Alana Springsteen recently brought friends together in a Nashville backyard to crack a Bud Light beer and offer a glimpse into her songwriting process and more. "When I think of country music, I think of home. I think of where I grew up -- family -- all the best things," the Alana explained in her installment of the Billboard presents Bud Light Backyard content series. "I've just always experienced my life through music. Once I started writing my own songs, I never looked back. That was it for me." A 23-year-old country singer with a soulful voice and vulnerable songwriting style, Springsteen had a publishing deal by her mid-teens, and knows a thing or two about storytelling. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Va., she grew up singing in church and received her first guitar at the age of seven. She credits her uncle for teaching her chords and technique early on. After an impressive 2019 self-titled debut EP, she shared two more projects ahead of her first-ever full length LP, Twenty Something, which dropped in 2023. "The secret to writing great songs and being creative is just keeping it casual," she added, adding that collaboration with her trusted circle of friends that includes Corey Kent and Dalton Dover helps the everyday process. Her interview has been shared on YouTube. Fans 21 and older in age can catch Alana when she and several country hitmakers perform as part of Billboard presents Bud Light Backyard, a two-day concert event at Tin Roof Nashville set amid CMA Fest. The singer is scheduled to hit the stage, alongside Kent and Dover, on June 7. - Billboard, 5/22/24...... In the latest episode of his The Osbournes podcast, shared on YouTube Shorts, the Prince Of Darkness' son Jack Osbourne asked his family - consisting of Ozzy, his mother Sharon Osbourne and his sister Kelly Osbourne -- what their greatest fears are. Ozzy Osbourne that he is scared of rats and then followed that by saying "And your mom," referring to his wife and manager, Sharon (a seemingly odd response following his legendary infamous 1982 incident where he bit off the head of a live bat during a concert in Iowa). Kelly went on to respond to her dad saying that his fear was Sharon by calling him "such a dick," with Sharon agreeing with her. Sharon went on to reveal that her greatest fear are both heights and fire, and Kelly shared that she is currently "dealing with" being "faced with death in everything" that she does. The full episode can be viewed on YouTube. - NME, 5/23/24...... Nile Rodgers, the award-winning songwriter, composer, producer and guitarist and co-founder of Chic, was one of two recipients of the 2024 Polar Music Prize from the hands of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at a royal ceremony held at Stockholm's Grand Hotel on May 21. Rodgers spoke from the heart when accepting his award from the king. "I know that music changes lives," Rodgers told the audience of 532 invited guests. "I've been told, 'Artists are the gatekeepers of truth.' I am honored to be here tonight in such distinguished company. Congratulations to the outstanding Esa-Pekka Salonen and all the past recipients of the Polar Music Prize. To have been acknowledged in the same way as Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, Chuck Berry, Joni Mitchell, Ennio Morricone and so many more of my heroes is a dream come true." Also honored with the 2024 Polar Music Prize that night was Esa-Pekka Salonen, world-renowned composer and conductor and the current music director for The San Francisco Symphony. - Billboard, 5/21/24...... Apple Music has released its own list of "The 100 Best Albums of All Time," and the result has been surprising to many music fans. Lauryn Hill's 1998 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill topped the list, with Michael Jackson's timeless classic Thriller taking the second spot, and the Beatles Abbey Road coming in third. Also placing in the top 10 were the likes of Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Amy Winehouse and Beyoncé. Streaming giant Apple's experts worked alongside a select group of artists, songwriters, producers and industry professionals to curate the list, fully independent of any streaming numbers on Apple Music. The entire list can be viewed at 100best.music.apple.com/us. - Music-News.com, 5/23/24...... Rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, already the object of several accusations alleging he raped or abused at least eight women, has yet another story that makes him look even worse than he already does -- this time that he disprespected iconic R&B singer Chaka Khan and had her son beaten up, according to Khan's daughter. Indira Milini Khan brought her anger toward the 54-year-old Diddy by commenting on his Instagram apology video from May 19. "I'm glad this is happening to you," Indira posted on X. "You got in my mother's face and publicly disrespected her yelling and screaming like a lunatic." Khan continued, revealing what happened when her younger brother attempted to defend his mother. "When my little brother tried to get you out of my mother's face your security jumped my 19 year old brother," she wrote. With one family member disrespected and another physically harmed, Indira could only revel in all that was happening to the former REVOLT chairman, especially given the fact they were the consequences of his actions. "These may be your dark days but I'm singing and dancing watching your demise...@chakakhan isn't it great mom," she wrote with several smiling and dancing emojis. Diddy's public perception took its worst hit yet on May 17 when CNN shared footage of him assaulting his former partner Cassie Ventura in a now-closed Los Angeles hotel in 2016. His former partner attempted to enter an elevator, only for Diddy to find her, grab her by the neck, and toss her to the ground. He kicked her once, gathered the belongings she'd dropped, and then kicked her again. He then attempted to drag her back to their hotel room while wearing just a towel. Later in the video, the father of seven could be seen throwing objects at her. Although Combs took to social media to apologoze, other social media users weren't receptive to his apology for two major reasons: one, the apology contradicted his Dec. 2023 statement where he denied all of the allegations against him and promised to fight for his name, truth, and legacy. Secondly, he did not address Ventura by name or directly apologize to her. - Vibe.com, 5/23/24...... An unauthorized Earth, Wind & Fire "Reunion" band has agreed to fork over the cash after a judge ruled that it had infringed the R&B group's trademarks by suggesting it was the real thing. The tribute act has been ordered to pay the legendary R&B group $750,000 in damages for using its trademarked name in ways that a federal judge called "deceptive and misleading." The payment, announced in a court filing on May 21, will effectively end a year-long lawsuit in which the band alleged that the tribute act -- "Earth, Wind & Fire Legacy Reunion" -- infringed the trademark rights to the famous name by suggesting it was the real thing. Earlier in 2024, the federal judge overseeing the case sided with EWF, ruling that the tribute act's conduct had been "deceptive and misleading." A trial had been scheduled to figure out how much Legacy Reunion would need to pay, but the two sides have now reached an undisclosed settlement on that question. In the May 21 filing, the judge disclosed the total that Legacy Reunion had agreed to pay -- $750,000, plus interest -- a rare step following settlements, which are typically kept private. Neither side immediately returned requests for comment. EWF has continued to tour since founder Maurice White died in 2016, led by longtime members Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson and White's brother, Verdine White. The band operates under a license from an entity called Earth Wind & Fire IP, a holding company controlled by Maurice White's sons that formally owns the rights to the name. - Billboard, 5/22/24...... Taking to Instagram on May 20, Queen's Brian May has praised The Who's Pete Townshend, saying that he "basically invented" rock guitar. May shared an image of himself with Townshend alongside a past quote he'd given about the musician, in which he described him as "the master of mood change, a master of the suspended chord." It added: "Pete Townshend's a god of guitar and always will be! I'd seen him stand there and let the guitar explode into life on its own." In the caption, May reiterated his admiration for Townshend. "I'm glad I said this -- I probably don't say it enough," he said. "I can't imagine Rock Guitar without Pete Townshend. Looking back, it seems to me he basically invented it!" He continued: "I was lucky enough to be there watching. My playing owes so much to him. I'm not talking about the blues-influenced playing which also underpinned the evolution of 70s and 80s rock music -- Townshend brought to the scene a blistering clang of super-amplified but not over-saturated chords -- razor-edged monoliths crashing angrily through our brains, biting rhythmic hammer blows which would change the likes of me forever." May went on to instruct his followers to "listen to those suspended chords in 'I'm A Boy'", adding: "How did Townshend invent that?" Other recommendations included "Substitute" and "I Can't Explain." May signed off with: "Good Morning folks !! You have your assignment for the day!" - NME, 5/21/24...... The Grateful Dead spinoff band Dead & Company kicked off its six-week residency at Las Vegas' spectacular Sphere venue on May 17. Other May dates include 24-31. In June, the band will perform on June 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. July dates include July 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12 before wrapping on July 13. The Sphere gives artists the opportunity to give fans a fully immersive concert experience that'll transform how they watch groups perform. The Dead joins a growing list of legendary artists taking over Sin City, but with a twist. Instead of performing on a simple stage, the Sphere gives a 360-degree view filled with graphics associated with the band -- and that includes the classic dancing bears. Tickets are still on sale for you to see the Dead & Company: Dead Forever residency live and in person, but dates quickly are quickly selling out. - Billboard, 5/21/24...... Speaking of Las Vegas, the Nevada city is reportedly a "strong contender" for a new KISS hologram show. After KISS played their final concert at New York's Madison Square Garden in Dec. 2023, they surprised fans by debuting digital versions of themselves created by the teams behind ABBA's lucrative Voyage hologram show. Speaking at the "Keep Memory Alive" annual Power of Love gala in Las Vegas this month, KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer is quoted by the UK paper The Sun's "Bizarre" column as saying: "A show like this needs a theatre which is built specifically for the show, so we have to decide where it's going to be. And there's considerations about New York, Singapore, Dubai, London of course, but Las Vegas as well is a strong contender. And I'm a big fan of Las Vegas. This is where I live. So I can see something like that possibly happening here, but we'll just have to wait and see." - Music-News.com, 5/23/24...... Even though a Rush reunion is unlikely to happen, guitarist Alex Lifeson has been playing songs from the band he was a member of for five decades with lead vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee again. In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock he says he and Lee have been playing old Rush songs during weekly hangouts. "We decided that we would play some Rush songs. Because, you know, we haven't played these songs in 10 years," Lifeson tells the magazine. "We started that a couple of weeks ago. We get together one day a week over at his place. We just picked some Rush songs and we started playing them and we sound like a really, really bad Rush tribute band." Rush played their final show in 2015 and called it quits after drummer Neil Peart died in Jan. 2020. In the years since, Lifeson and Lee have kept themselves busy with a variety of side projects -- including Lifeson's Envy of None band he co-founded in 2021 -- but the two have maintained a close bond that stretches back to the early '70s. Playing together, casually, has been a fun exercise, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Lifeson says. "Trying to figure out the songs, I'm thinking, 'Why did we write that so difficult? Why is this so hard to play?'" he says. "After about three run-throughs of all of these songs, muscle memory kicks in and your hand just goes to where it goes. You sort of get out of the way and you play and you go, 'Thank God, I did make this simpler than it felt.'" But Lifeson cautioned that he and Lee have no plans to reform Rush with a new drummer for a tour. "I'm 70. It's not as easy to get my fingers to do what my brain tells me to do," he says. "They're much lazier than they used to be and they have a poor memory. Doing this really helps a lot, and it's fun. That's it. The whole thing was that in the beginning, it was just fun. We're having a riot together doing that. There's no rhyme or reason. We're not planning on going back on the road, finding a new drummer or anything like that. It's just fun to do it." - Canoe.com, 5/22/24...... Neil Young and Crazy Horse have announced a new archival album, Early Daze, which they collaborated on in 1969. The album is due to arrive on June 28 via Reprise Records, and is now available for pre-order. Early Daze, per the Neil Young Archives website, "showcases the band's unique style at the end of the 1960s, capturing the essence of their live performances and their contribution to the evolution of rock & roll." It will comprise 10 songs, including a total of six unreleased tunes from Crazy Horse's early line-up of guitarist Danny Whitten, drummer Ralph Molina, bassist Billy Talbot, keyboardist Jack Nitzsche and Young. Familiar songs like "Everbody's Alone," "Cinnamon Girl" and "Birds" will receive releases with different mixes with the new release. Early Daze will be available on CD, digital and vinyl formats. Two vinyl packages will be available: a standard black vinyl, and a limited edition clear vinyl that comes with an exclusive poster. In February, Crazy Horse revealed their new album FU##IN' UP, which contains songs from the band's 50 year career, freshly recorded for 2024. The album arrived in April, and the band are currently on tour in North America until May 23. - NME, 5/20/24...... Dolly Parton has shared an emotional tribute to actor Dabney Coleman, who died at his home in California on May 16 at age 92. Mr. Coleman starred as Franklin Hart Jr. in the 1980 film 9 To 5 alongside Parton (who played Doralee Rhodes), Jane Fonda (Judy Bernly) and Lily Tomlin (Violet Newstead). In an post on Instagram on May 20, Parton wrote: "Dabney was a great actor and became a dear friend. He taught me so much when I was doing my first movie, 9 to 5. He was funny, deep and smart." She continued: "We remained friends through the years and I will miss him greatly as many people will. Love, Dolly." Directed by Colin Higgins, 9 To 5 catapulted Parton -- who was already an established country/pop musician -- permanently into mainstream popular culture. The film was adapted into a five-season TV show of the same name, which aired in the 1980s. A musical stage version opened on Broadway in 2009, with Parton writing new songs for the project. It hit the West End in London in 2019, and has toured the UK in 2012-2013 and 2021-2022. The movie's theme song, also titled "9 To 5," became one of Parton's biggest hits. The track earned the country star an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, and four Grammy Award nominations. - NME, 5/21/24...... Famed Italian disco and progressive trance DJ and vocalist Franchino died on May 19 after "weeks" of hospitalization for carcinoma, a form of cancer that begins in cells that make up the skin or the tissue lining organs, such as the liver or kidneys. He was 71. Franchino started DJing in 1970 at the 7eleven Disco Club in Florence, Italy before taking on residencies across the country in cities like Tuscany and Elba. After spending a good amount of time in Ibiza, he developed a love for progressive trance and began pioneering the genre in Italy in the late '80s and early '90s. His death was announced by his management via a post on Instagram. A translation of the statement reads: "With immense sadness and deep sorrow, the family and close friends announce the passing of the beloved Franchino, who passed away today after several weeks in the hospital. You were a special person for all those people who were lucky enough to know you, and you brightened our lives with your smile, your strength and your courage." - NME, 5/21/24...... Richard M. Sherman, the Oscar-winning songwriter who partnered with his late brother to craft tunes for such Disney classics as Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Jungle Book, died on May 25 at the age of 95. Mr. Sherman, who also co-wrote "It's a Small World (After All)" -- considered to be among the most performed songs ever -- as well as "You're Sixteen," a 1960 hit for Johnny Burnette which Ringo Starr took to No. 1 on the hit parade in 1974, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of age-related illness, Disney announced. Members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and recipients of the National Medal of Honor, Richard and his older brother, Robert Sherman, wrote an estimated 1,000 songs and music for 50 movies, and they were reportedly responsible for more movie musical songs than anyone in history. For their work on Mary Poppins (1964), the Sherman brothers made two victorious trips to the Academy Awards stage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, accepting the trophies for best original score and best song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee"). Their movie work also included The Parent Trap (1961) -- which featured "Let's Get Together," their inventive "duet" performed by Hayley Mills -- The Sword in the Stone (1963), Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966), The AristoCats (1970), Snoopy, Come Home (1972), Charlotte's Web (1973), Tom Sawyer (1973) and The Tigger Movie (2000). Richard Sherman was born in Manhattan on June 12, 1928, 30 months after his brother. Their mother was a Broadway actress and their father was Tin Pan Alley composer Al Sherman. Robert died in March 2012 at age 86. B.J. Novak played him, and Jason Schwartzman portrayed Richard, in the Disney film Saving Mr. Banks (2013), about the making of Mary Poppins. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth; his children, Gregory, Victoria and Lynda; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. - The Hollywood Reporter, 5/25/24...... Country music artist Frank Ifield -- who also is credited with helping to launch The Beatles into stardom -- died "peacefully" on May 18. He was 86. Mr. Ifield was reportedly given a guitar at the age of 13 and self-taught when it came to playing and writing songs. The musician released 44 records in just six years and was the top recording artist in Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. After moving to the UK, he introduced his fans to soon-to-be rock legends The Beatles, as the band acted as the opener for him at his live shows. He also famously performed to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1965 as he appeared at the Royal Variety Show. In 2009, Mr. Ifield was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the arts as an entertainer. He is survived by his wife Carole Wood and two children. - NME, 5/20/24.

As the sale of Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion and burial site is set for May 23 in Memphis, Tenn., Presley's actress granddaughter Riley Keogh is challenging what she claims is the "fraudulent" sale of the iconic property. Keogh, 34, is the current owner of Graceland and has filed a lawsuit against the company that her late mother Lisa Marie Presley borrowed money from for a $3.8 million loan, using Graceland as collateral. Now the company is claiming Lisa Marie didn't pay back the loan before her untimely death in Jan. 2023 at age 54. Keogh is claiming her mother never borrowed any money from the company, and documents that reportedly show otherwise "are fraudulent." A hearing on the intended sale of the Graceland property is set for chancery court in Shelby county on May 22. Keogh became the estate heir when Lisa Marie died, and was named sole trustee of the property after a legal dispute with her grandmother, Elvis' ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, 78. Lisa Marie inherited the property when Elvis died in 1977, and it became open to the public as a museum in 1982. Elvis, Lisa Marie, and Lisa Marie's son Benjamin are all buried at Graceland. Priscilla confirmed last year that it's her wish to be buried next to her father on the estate when she dies. - Music-News.com, 5/20/23...... Prince's Oscar-winning film Purple Rain is getting a 4K high definition re-release to celebrate its 40th anniversary. A special-edition Blu-ray re-release that features the film in 4K Ultra HD quality is set to drop on June 25. The set also includes a digital code that allows viewers to watch and stream Purple Rain on their laptop or portable DVD player. Special bonus features include commentary from the film's director and music videos for the singles off the album. On May 21, a Purple Rain 40th anniversary book featuring rare photography and track-by-track analysis from music journalist and author Andrea Swensson was released, and already landed itself the No. 1 spot on the bestseller list on Amazon for romance movies. - Billboard, 5/16/24...... Willie Nelson has joined the list of grown musician cookbooks by teaming with his wife Annie Nelson for a cookbook featuring their favorite recipes, all infused with cannabis. Willie and Annie Nelson's Cannabis Cookbook: Mouthwatering Recipes and the High-Flying Stories Behind Them, due on Nov. 12, is based on meals the country/pop legend has consumed on his nationwide tours, at the ranch, at home and in his favorite cities. Each recipe in the Nelson weed cookbook is paired with stories from the artist and his wife and aim to be easy to recreate. You can expect everything from Buffalo wings, chocolate cake and even fried chicken as well as a chapter dedicated to providing cannabis-infused base ingredients such as cannabutter, finishing oil, simply syrups, sugars, salts and tinctures. In addition to authoring his new cookbook Nelson, who celebrated his 90th birthday earlier in 2024, has been keeping active by attending the Stagecoach festival, performing with Kermit the Frog for the Luck Reunion concert, and is gearing up for his annual Fourth of July Picnic celebration. - Billboard, 5/20/24...... Queen's Brian May teamed up with the American punk band The Offspring for a live performance of The Offspring's "Gone Away" and Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy" during the band's recent set at the Starmus VII festival in Bratislava, Slovakia, on May 13. The festival was billed as the "world's largest science, music and other arts festival" and is the brainchild of astrophysicist Garik Israelian and the Queen guitarist himself (who also happens to be an astrophysicist). Video of the May/Offspring jam has been shared on YouTube. Elsewhere, May also joined French composer and performer Jean-Michel Jarre at Bridge from the Future, the opening concert for the Starmus Festival. May came on stage as a special guest and performed "Deuxime Rendez-Vous" -- the first live performance of the piece since December 2013 -- "New World Symphony," "Last Horizon" and a cover of Queen's "Brighton Rock." He then came back on stage for the encore "The Time Machine" to close out the night. - New Musical Express, 5/20/24...... Despite previously claiming there was "not a lot of joy" in the newly restored Beatles documentary Let It Be, Ringo Starr has now given the 1970 Michael Lindsay-Hogg-directed film his seal of approval. Earlier in May, Ringo told the AP that "I think [restorer/director] Peter Jackson has done an incredible job. For me, not a lot of joy in it. It's from the point of view of the director, and that was up to him." In 2021, Starr also said: "I didn't feel any joy in the original documentary, it was all focused on one moment which went down between two of the lads [Paul McCartney and George Harrison]. The rooftop concert was also only about seven to eight minutes long. With Peter's [documentary] it's 43 minutes long." Now, Starr has seemingly done a U-turn on his original comments. Speaking to the UK's Evening Standard paper, Ringo said: "I thought the re-edit of Let It Be was great. The original one has just come out again that Michael Linsday-Hogg did, and the edit -- I love the edit." He did however continue to state that he was disappointed in the original film, but felt that the re-edit of Lindsay-Hogg's work contained a greater focus: "It's just on the lads and the playing and the music and the chat about the songs." - NME, 5/17/24...... In other Beatles-related news, a "wall of noise" at a recent Fab Four tribute concert has led to concertgoers walking out of the venue. The gig took place at the 1,000-year-old Winchester Cathedral in England, and saw numerous attendees leave the event early due to the "deafening acoustics" at the historic venue. Hundreds of people were in attendance to see the "ultimate tribute" to the iconic rock band, but reports later emerged that the choice of venue led to a "wall of sound" being created, and the songs becoming indistinguishable from one another. With tickets for the event going for around £40 per person, numerous attendees claimed they couldn't tell which song was playing at the "Beatles by Candlelight" concert. "We had been looking forward to it for weeks, we were really excited. We thought it would be a really nice evening, but no," one concertgoer told The Telegraph about the experience. "The noise level was unbelievable. You could not understand which track they were playing until there were a few breaks in it my ears were ringing," they added. "I'm not sure whether it was the acoustics of the cathedral. I don't think the band could have been that bad. I feel for them." The paper also shared that while some left early, just a "handful of people" returned following the interval. A spokesman for Winchester Cathedral shared a statement that the venue was "very disappointed that the quality of the concert that we hosted on Saturday fell short of the cathedral's and our guests' expectations" and they are "working with the Beatles by Candlelight production company and our sound engineers to understand what went wrong and to ensure this does not happen in the future." Winchester Cathedral was immortalized to American pop fans with a 1966 No. 1 hit of the same name by The New Vaudeville Band, the creation of British composer/record producer Geoff Stephens. - NME, 5/16/24...... Weeks after legendary The Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli and his son Emilio Valli were granted a temporary restraining order against Valli's oldest son, Francesco Valli, a judge extended the order on Apr. 29 for three more years. Emilio, 29, said in his initial court filing that his brother Francesco, 36, had repeatedly threatened both Emilio and Frankie, 90, over "the past several months," as Frankie had been financially supporting Francesco but recently made that support contingent on Francesco's entering a residential drug-treatment program. The most recent incident occured on Apr. 5, when Francesco allegedly "repeatedly physically threatened to harm or kill" Emilio. "Frankie is saddened by these unfortunate events," a rep for the "Grease" singer said in April. Frankie has another son, Brando Valli, who is the twin of Emilio, and the siblings attended their dad's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on May 3. - People, 5/27/24...... On May 17 Cher and her son Elijah Blue Allman agreed to "pause all legal proceedings" surrounding the "Believe" singer's attempt to act as his temporary conservator. Cher and Elijah Blue attended a private mediation session, after her request to act as his conservator was denied for a second time in January, and agreed to suspend the conservatorship plans "to allow the Parties to continue working together to privately and confidentially resolve this matter," according to a spokesperson. Cher, 77, has been trying to get a conservatorship for her son, 47, due to him being able to access large sums of money from his late father Greg Allman's estate. Cher maintained that being able to access that amount of money put Elijah at risk due to his previous mental health and substance abuse issues. Elijah's legal team argued that a conservatorship wasn't necessary. Elijah has been in rehab and is currently three months sober. Court documents requested that if a conservatorship is needed, Cher is "unfit to serve" in the role, and he would prefer it was given to his wife, Marieangela "Queeny" King. "Under no circumstances am I comfortable having my mom as my conservator even if that was necessary," Elijah stated in documents. Elijah filed for divorce from Marieangela in 2021 after ten years of marriage, but have recently reconciled. - Music-News.com, 5/17/24...... Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett has shared the reason why he "made the right decision" to leave the band with Classic Rock magazine. "There was an aspect of claustrophobia that invaded my time with Genesis," Hackett told the magazine, "and I had to work outside the band. I think if you're feeling creative and you've got that album or that book or that film inside you, you don't want to let it fester. You've got to get it out there." Hackett continued: "Genesis was becoming a little bit too much of a closed shop and it was affecting my ability to sleep. I agonized over leaving the band for a good two years and then I thought, 'No, I've got to make a leap of faith at this point in time.' And there's no doubt that I made the right decision." The lead guitarist was part of the band from 1971-1977, where he helped shape their creative arc in the band's early days. He has since been cited as an influence on musicians such as Eddie Van Halen and Rush's Alex Lifeson. Genesis played their last show together in Mar. 2022 at London's O2 Arena. - NME, 5/16/24...... Appearing on The Madhouse Chronicles podcast with his close friend and host Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne revelaed that he would "jump at the chance" to play a final Black Sabbath show with co-founding drummer Bill Ward. Towards the end of the interview, Ozzy watches footage of Sabbath's final show at Birmingham's Genting Arena on Feb. 4, 2017. "That must have been cool for you? How did you feel? Were you glad it was done?" Morrsion asked Ozzy, to which he replied: "Yeah, but I was sad that Bill wasn't there. I mean Tommy Clufetos, my drummer, did a great job. But he ain't Bill Ward." Morrison then went on to ask Osbourne if he was content with the "arc of the legend of Black Sabbath?" "No," Ozzy replied. "Because it wasn't Black Sabbath that finished it. It's unfinished. If they wanted to do one more gig with Bill, I would jump at the chance. Do you know what would be cool? If we went to a club or somewhere unannounced and we just got up and did it. We started up in a club." Originally, Ward was part of the Nov. 2011 Black Sabbath reunion but pulled out in early 2012, attributing an "'unreasonable contract" as his reason for departure. Drummer Clufetos stepped in and performed live on the Black Sabbath Reunion Tour and the swansong The End Tour. - NME, 5/16/24...... The long-awaited first authorized Led Zeppelin documentary, Becoming Led Zeppelin, has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics, which has announced plans to distribute the film in North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia (except Japan) and Benelux. The hybrid documentary-concert film reportedly features never-before-seen footage, performances and music and is described as an "experiential cinematic odyssey exploring Led Zeppelin's creative, musical and personal origin story," told in Led Zepp's own words in the first officially sanctioned movie about the band. In 2021, a work-in-progress version of the film was screened at the Venice Film Festival, and received a 10-minute standing ovation. The film follows the band's four members -- singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and late drummer John Bonham -- as they rise up through the British music scene in the 1960s playing in small clubs. It follows them to a fateful rehearsal in 1968 that changed the course of their careers and culminates in their first tour of America in 1970 as they ascended to rock superstardom. The film features a new sound mix, previously unseen materials from the archives of all four members, including home movies and family photos, as well as exclusive interviews with Page, Plant and Jones, and never-before-heard interviews with Bonham. Becoming Led Zeppelin was written and directed by Bernard MacMahon (American Epic) and Allison McGourty, with director MacMahon saying that the team spent "years designing this film to be experienced on the big screen with the best possible sound." A release date has yet to be announced for the film, but you can watch an official Venice teaser clip prepared for the Venice debut on YouTube. - Billboard, 5/16/24...... The premium cable channel HBO premiered the first two episodes of Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. on May 20, a four-part series that tells the story of the famous Memphis sould label, founded by Jim Stewart in 1957. Stax Records, co-owned by Stewart's sister Estelle Axton, hurdled racial barriers to become mainstream classics by artists such as Otis Redding ([Sittin' On] the Dock of the Bay"), Isaac Hayes ("Theme from Shaft"), Sam & Dave ("Soul Man") and Booker T. & the MG's ("Green Onions"). In relaying its story, Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. integrates restored and remastered archival performance footage and interviews with the creatives and executives who helped shape the label's musical and cultural impact amid its business highs and lows. In addition to Stewart and Axton, interviews are featured with former Stax president/owner Al Bell, guitarist Steve Cropper, musician/songwriter David Porter, singer-songwriter Carla Thomas, just to name a few. - Billboard, 5/20/24...... Jamaican-born singer Jimmy James, the frontman of the '60s Jamaican dance band The Vagabonds and the voice behind the enduring ballad "Come to Me Softly," died on May 15 in London from complications of Parkinson's disease and a heart condition that ultimately led to his decision to retire from performing. He was 84. Born in Brown's Town, Jamaica, Mr. James moved to the island's capital of Kingston to pursue music in the 1950s. He recorded songs for producers including Clement Dodd and Lindon Pottinger, the latter of which produced the early and original version of "Come to Me Softly." The Vagabonds were formed in 1960, and the group relocated to the United Kingdom at the height of the British Invasion in 1964. Throughout their time together, the group played alongside fellow legends including The Who, Rod Stewart and Jimi Hendrix. They released six studio albums together from 1966 through 1977. Mr. James & the Vagabonds released two Billboard Hot 100 hits: Come to Me Softly" (which James wrote), which hit No. 76 in 1968, and "I Am Somebody," which hit No. 94 in 1976. In between those two hits, they bubbled under the Hot 100 with a version of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine." Mr. James went on to record throughout the 1970s, with "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" and "Now is The Time." He is survived by his wife Paula, his five sons, two daughters and his grandchildren. - Billboard, 5/16/24...... Filmmaker Roger Corman, who directed and produced hundreds of low-budget horror and sci-fi movies and helped launch the careers of Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard and others, died on May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif. No cause of death was given. He was 98. - People, 5/27/24...... Popular comic actor Dabney Coleman, best known for his roles in such iconic films as 9 to 5, Tootsie and On Golden Pond as well as a stint in the Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman TV series, died on May 17 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 92. Described as "the actor audiences loved to hate," the Emmy-winning Mr. Coleman also portrayed an irascible talk show host in upstate New York on NBC's Buffalo Bill, but that critical favorite lasted just 26 episodes. He had at least three other cracks at headlining his own sitcom, but ABC's The Slap Maxwell Story, Fox's Drexell's Class and NBC's Madman of the People never made it through their first seasons before being canceled. More recently, the good-natured Mr. Coleman brought along his signature mustache to play Burton Fallin, the owner of a law firm and father of Simon Baker's character, on the CBS drama The Guardian; was Atlantic City power broker Commodore Louis Kaestner on HBO's Boardwalk Empire; and played John Dutton Sr. (the father of Kevin Costner's character) on the Paramount+ hit series Yellowstone. Born Dabney Wharton Coleman on Jan. 3, 1932, in Austin, Tex., Mr. Coleman was the youngest of four children. After his father died of pneumonia when he was 4, Mr. Coleman's mother raised the family in Corpus Christi, and he became a nationally ranked junior tennis player. After attending Virginia Military Institute and serving in the Army, he moved back to Austin to study law at UT. He left college a semester short of graduation and headed for Manhattan and Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse at age 26. His first onscreen speaking appearance came on a 1961 episode of Naked City -- he earned $90 for that -- and he and his second wife, actress Jean Hale (the Mad Hatter's fetching moll on Batman), moved to Los Angeles in 1962. Mr. Coleman appeared on such shows as Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Outer Limits, Hazel, I Dream of Jeannie and The Fugitive before recurring as Marlo Thomas' neighbor, the obstetrician Leon Bessemer, on the first season (1966-67) of That Girl. In 1976, Mr. Coleman appeared as the feisty Fernwood, Ohio, mayor Merle Jeeter on Norman Lear's late-night soap-opera satire, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. His voluminous other film credits include The Trouble With Girls (1969), Downhill Racer (1969), The Towering Inferno (1974), North Dallas Forty (1979), Melvin & Howard (1980) and Modern Problems (1981), among many others. Mr. Coleman won a supporting actor Emmy in 1987 for his work on the ABC telefilm Sworn to Silence, was nominated twice for playing Buffalo Bill Bittinger, and once for his turn as old-school sportswriter Slap Maxwell. "My father crafted his time here on Earth with a curious mind, a generous heart and a soul on fire with passion, desire and humor that tickled the funny bone of humanity," Mr. Coleman's daughter, singer Quincy Coleman, said. "As he lived, he moved through this final act of his life with elegance, excellence and mastery. A teacher, a hero and a king, Dabney Coleman is a gift and blessing in life and in death as his spirit will shine through his work, his loved ones and his legacy & eternally." In addition to Quincy, survivors include his other children, Randy, Kelly and Meghan, and his four grandchildren. - The Hollywood Reporter, 5/17/24.