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.
Meanwhile, Neil Young's erstwhile Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young bandmate Graham Nash made a surprise appearance at a Crosby, Stills & Nash tribute concert on May 13 at New York's Carnegie Hall. Various artists including Todd Rundgren, Steve Earle, Yola, Iron & Wine, Real Estate, and more were enlisted to perform at the event, and each broke out renditions of CSN's most iconic tracks in the name of charity. David Crosby died in Jan. 2023, and neither of the surviving members of the trio, Stephen Stills and Nash, were set to perform on the night. However, the latter surprised fans by coming onto the stage at the end of the night and performing two of his tracks -- a moving rendition of "Our House" (the beloved song he wrote while living with folk icon and former romantic partner Joni Mitchell) and participating in a final sing-along encore of the 1970 Stills' favorite, "Love The One You're With." Graham's comments upon entering the stage included "My only sadness is that I wish [David] Crosby was here." Other highlights of the night included Todd Rundgren putting his own spin on the track "Almost Cut My Hair," and Yola delivering a moving performance of "Wooden Ships." The concert was held as the 19th edition of Michael Dorf's annual Music Of charity show, which has raised over $2 million for music education and previously honored iconic names in rock such as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Prince and Paul McCartney. On Oct. 1, Nash is set to return to Carnegie Hall as one of the dates on his upcoming US headline tour. - New Musical Express, 5/15/24...... Cher is promising to have some choice words for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when she's inducted into the Cleveland-based hall and museum on Oct. 19 alongside the likes of Peter Frampton, Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne and Mary J. Blige. While walking the red carpet recently at the Paley Center in L.A. for the premiere of the documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion -- about the fashion designer who has made so many of her glitter-dripping costumes over the years -- Cher said she was grateful for her pending induction. She thanked longtime friend and one-time paramour former music executive David Geffen and RRHOF Foundation chairman John Sykes for the honor and, in her inimitable way, warned that she will not go quietly into that very good night. "I'm going to have some words to say," Cher promised. "I'm going to accept it as me." Cher's first No. 1 hit was 1965's "I Got You Babe" with late partner Sonny Bono and she had been eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame since 1991. The "Believe Me" singer, 77, also has the incredible record of scoring No. 1 US hits over seven decades. - Billboard, 5/15/24...... On May 13 David Gilmour announced a series of shows at an historic Rome landmark as well as a handful of shows in the US. The guitar virtuoso and former Pink Floyd guitarist will perform at Rome's historic chariot-racing stadium Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) during a six-night run taking place from Sept. 27 through Oct. 3. It will mark his return to the legendary venue and in Italy since his Rattle That Lock Tour in 2016. After performing six shows at London's Royal Albert Hall on Oct. 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15, Gilmour also announced four shows taking place in North America. He'll perform at L.A.'s Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 29 and 30 and New York City's Madison Square Garden on Nov. 4 and 5. Gilmour is touring behind his forthcoming 
The Hulu and Disney+ streaming channels announced on May 14 that a new Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band documentary that gives fans an up-close look at their touring process is coming to both platforms this October. The documentary will feature both archival footage of the longtime collaborators as well as behind-the-scenes video of the band's ongoing 2023-24 world tour. It will also include confessional interviews with the 74-year-old "Dancing in the Dark" singer, while members of the band will give first-hand accounts of performing onstage with the living legend and "keeping the magic of The E Street Band as potent as ever," according to a release. 20-time Grammy winner Springsteen is also involved in an upcoming biopic about his life and career from 20th Century Studios and Disney, in which The Bear's Jeremy Allen White will star as the New Jersey rocker. The announcement comes shortly after Springsteen and The E Street Band wrapped the U.S. leg of their 2024 world tour in April, and are now in the midst of playing a string of venues in Europe this spring and summer, after which they'll return to North America for more dates from August through late November. Playing in Ireland on May 12, The Boss and company paid tribute to the late Shane MacGowan with a rousing cover of the Pogues' classic "A Rainy Night in Soho" while performing in Ireland, fan-shot footage of which has been shared on 
On May 14 Earth, Wind & Fire reached a settlement with a tribute act that used the R&B group's name without permission, avoiding a looming trial over how much the unauthorized group would have to pay in damages. The settlement came two months after a judge ruled that the tribute group had infringed Earth, Wind & Fire's trademark rights by calling themselves "Earth, Wind & Fire Legacy Reunion" -- a name the judge called "deceptive and misleading." Following that ruling, a trial had been scheduled for later this month over how much "Legacy Reunion" would be required to pay in damages. But in a recent joint filing, attorneys for both sides said those proceedings would no longer be necessary. "The parties are in the process of preparing documents that reflect their agreement on the damages issues and that should fully dispose of the damages issues that remained unresolved in this action," the lawyers wrote. The terms of the agreement, including how much Legacy Reunion will pay to Earth Wind & Fire, were not disclosed in court filings, and neither side has yet commented. 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. Tribute acts -- groups that exclusively cover the music of a particular band -- are legally allowed to operate, and they often adopt names that allude to the original. But they must make clear that they are only a tribute band, and they can get into legal hot water if they make it appear that they are affiliated with or endorsed by the original. - Billboard, 5/14/24...... In a Q+A event at Abbey Road Studios in London on May 13, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys discussed their new Disney+ documentary, the support they had from The Beatles, and the health of founding BB Brian Wilson. Love and Johnston reminisced freely about the band's early '60s origins as a family concern attempting to emulate the vocal blend of The Everly Brothers and The Four Freshmen. "The first time I ever remembered Brian singing was sitting on grandma Wilson's left singing 'Danny Boy'," Love said. "And I'm telling his voice was angelic at that time, when he was maybe eight or nine-years-old." The pair also paid tribute to the Beatles, as friendly competition and inspiration. Love recalled attending the Maharishi's retreat in India with the band and having Paul McCartney play him an early version of the Beach Boys-inspired "Back In The USSR" over breakfast there, while Johnston told of coming to the UK with a tape of [1966's] Pet Sounds and finding McCartney and John Lennon their biggest champions at a time when their US record label didn't know how to sell it. "They loved it and later on I found out that Paul was so influenced musically and vibe-wise by "Wouldn't It Be Nice" that he wrote "Here, There And Everywhere" for the [1966's] Revolver album. Our best promo guys in the whole world were Lennon and McCartney. Without them, Pet Sounds could have failed." The pair also revealed that 81-year-old Brian Wilson -- who has recently been placed under conservatorship for what his doctors call a "major neurocognitive disorder" -- was still able to perform with the band for the film. "Brian remembered things that I had forgotten from high school at times," said Love. "His long-term memory is right there. He does need the help medically -- but I think as long as he's alive he'll play that piano." The band are promoting their Disney+ documentary, The Beach Boys which hits the streaming platform on May 24. - NME, 5/14/24...... In a new interview with the BBC promoting his new photography exhibit Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection, Elton John explained he hates being photographed despite being a photography fanatic. Despite collecting thousands of photos, Elton said that "I would never put myself up on the wall (at home), no thank you. It's extraordinary that I collect photographs because I don't like being photographed. I find it really painful." He continued: "A lot of them I haven't seen hung properly or hung at all. And so walking through, it's been hung so beautifully and the different sections and wall colours. I couldn't be happier." Photography fans can expect to see a wide range of imagery in Elton's exhibit including significant moments from history including the civil rights movement, AIDS crisis, 9/11 and the Jan. 6 United States Capitol attack. John said that seeing his collection on the walls of London's V&A museum took his breath away. "A lot of them I haven't seen hung properly or hung at all. And so walking through, it's been hung so beautifully and the different sections and wall colours. I couldn't be happier." Fragile Beauty, which has more than 300 images captured by 140 photographs, will run at the V&A from May 18 through Jan. 5, 2025. - Music-News.com, 5/15/24...... Brian Eno, as well as members of Fontaines D.C., R.E.M, Bastille and more have read out letters from Palestinians suffering in Gaza as part of a "Voices For Gaza" initiative. The clips have been shared on the Instagram page for Voices For Gaza, and sees famous faces from across the entertainment industry read letters from those in Palestine aloud, recalling the graphic details of the current Hamas-Israel War. It aims to help raise funds for the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians and bring awareness to the ongoing crisis happening in the country. The conflict so far has led to the deaths of over 34,600 Palestinians, and the attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year killed over 1,200 people. The full letter can be viewed on 
AC/DC have shared a photo of their new line-up on 
Renowned jazz saxophonist David Sanborn, who is credited on songs for Stevie Wonder, David Bowie and many more famous musicians, died on May 12. He was 78 years old. A message posted to 
On May 9 an L.A. Superior Court Judge found that Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson should be in a court conservatorship to manage the 81-year-old's personal and medical decisions because of what his doctor calls a "major neurocognitive disorder." Judge Gus T. May approved the petition filed by Wilson's family and inner circle after the death in January of his wife, Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, who handled most of his tasks and affairs. "I find from clear and convincing evidence that a conservatorship of the person is necessary," May said at the brief hearing. The judge said that evidence shows that Wilson consents to the arrangement and lacks the capacity to make health care decisions. A doctor's declaration filed with the petition in February said Wilson has a "major neurocognitive disorder," is taking medication for dementia, and "is unable to properly provide for his own personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter." A court-appointed attorney to represent Wilson's interests, Robert Cipriano, said he visited Wilson at his "impeccably well maintained residence in Beverly Hills," where he lives with two daughters and a long-term live-in caregiver. Cipriano's report said he visited Wilson at his "impeccably well maintained residence in Beverly Hills," where he lives with two daughters and a long-term live-in caregiver. Wilson can move around with help from a walker and the caregiver, Cipriano said, and he has a good sense of who he is, where he is, and when it is, but could not name his children beyond the two that live with him. He said Wilson was "mostly difficult to understand and gave very short responses to questions and comments." Cipriano said he approved of the conservatorship, mostly because of Wilson's general consent. The deeply revered and acclaimed California musician has struggled with mental health and substance abuse issues that upended his career in the 1960s. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 along with his bandmates, including his brothers Carl and Dennis Wilson and his cousin Mike Love. - AP, 5/10/24...... Late country music artist Cindy Walker, best known for penning the famous cross-genre classic "You Don't Know Me" which was covered by Ray Charles and countless others, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) in a special event on Apr. 19 at historic Columbia Studio A in Nashville. The ceremony took place during a SHOF Master Session with Liz Rose, a 2023 SHOF inductee. Rose spoke fondly of her close relationship with Ms. Walker and presented the award to Walker's niece Molly Walker. Rose's daughter Caitlin Rose performed "You Don't Know Me," which Walker co-wrote with Eddy Arnold, who had the initial hit with the song in 1956. Ms. Walker, who died in 2006 at age 87, was in the first class of inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. In 1997, she became the first female songwriter to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and in 2009, received the Poet's Award from the Academy of Country Music. Ray Charles recorded "You Don't Know Me" on his landmark 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeks. Charles' version of the song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ms. Walker's many other country hits for other artists included "Sugar Moon" (Bob Wills, 1947), "Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me" (Eddy Arnold, 1950), "Cherokee Maiden" (Merle Haggard, 1976) and Mickey Gilley's 1981 cover of "You Don't Know Me." She even had a hit record as an artist in 1944. "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" reached No. 5 on an early version of Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in 1944, and was later covered by Elvis Presley. - Billboard, 5/9/24...... 
Paul McCartney unveiled a photographic exhibit of his personal photos as the Fab Four shot to international fame in 1963-64 to an American audience on May 3 at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City. Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm were put on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London in 2023 and have now made their way to the US. The exhibit takes outsiders into the Liverpool native's surreal reality when he was just 21 years old, on the precipice of becoming one of four of the biggest music stars history has ever seen. The immersive exhibit also features video footage and archival materials and traces the Beatles' ascent from touring at small concert halls in England to dodging hordes of rabid fans and paparazzi in the States. "His vibrant photographs from The Beatles' first visit capture the energy of the city, the excitement of the American fans, and the frenzy of the band's status as celebrities," says the Brooklyn Museum's Catherine Futter. "Through McCartney's lens, we feel the intensity of being at the center of such extraordinary events." The exhibit will be on display at the Brooklyn Museum through Aug. 18. - Billboard, 5/6/24...... The Disney+ streaming channel premiered a new, restored version of The Beatles' 1970 film Let It Be on May 8. The film's title track uses rarely-seen alternate camera angles of the Fab Four and Billy Preston as they were recording the song, and the video has been shared on 
Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz teased a possible reunion of the band in a May 7 Instagram post of a photo of a theater with the band headlining it, and captioned the picture: "We shall return." The 72-year-old Frantz, who played in the iconic New Wave band alongside David Byrne, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth, saw the break up in Dec. 1991 after frontman Byrne left the band. Frantz explained he only found out that Byrne was leaving the band after reading the story in a newspaper, previously telling the Los Angeles Times: "As far as we're concerned, the band never really broke up. David just decided to leave." During an interview with People, he said: "I think [the end] wasn't handled well. It was kind of ugly. I have regrets on how that was handled. I don't think I did it in the best way, but I think it was kind of inevitable that would happen anyway." Byrne, 71, conceded he acted like a "little tyrant" during his time in the group. "As a younger person, I was not as pleasant to be around. When I was working on some Talking Heads shows, I was more of a little tyrant," he noted. "And then I learned to relax, and I also learned that collaborating with people, both sides get more if there's a good relationship instead of me telling everybody what to do." - Music-News.com, 5/7/24...... Dennis Thompson, the high energy drummer for influential Detroit band MC5, died on May 9 at MediLodge of Taylor in Michigan, where he had been recovering following a heart attack in April. He was 75. Thompson was the last surviving member of the band, who are set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this fall in the musical excellence category. Thompson was preceded in death by singer Rob Tyner, guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis and guitarist Wayne Kramer, the last of which died in February of this year. Thompson joined the MC5 in 1965. While the band had little commercial success initially and its core lineup did not last beyond the early 1970s, its legacy has endured, both for its sound and for its fusing of music to political action. The band released three studio albums, 1969's Kick Out the Jams, 1970's Back in the USA and 1971's High Time. - Billboard, 5/9/24...... Actress-dancer Susan Buckner, best known for her turn as the bubbly and often-teased Rydell High cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 blockbuster musical 
Legendary grunge rock engineer/producer Steve Albini, who also worked with such '70s acts as Cheap Trick and The Stooges, died of a heart attack on the evening on May 7. He was 61. In addition to recording Nirvana's final full studio album, 1993's In Utero, he also worked on the beloved 1988 album Surfer Rosa by one of late Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain's favorite bands, the Pixies. Constantly toggling between albums by A-list major label acts (PJ Harvey and Bush) and beloved indie bands from his native Chicago (Urge Overkill, The Jesus Lizard, Tar), Albini was also a prolific musician in his own right with a series of hardcore and noise bands, including Big Black, Rapeman and Shellac. Though he disdained the term "producer," preferring "engineer" instead, the Pasadina, Calif.-born Albini said in a 2018 interview that worked on more than 2,000 albums. Albini positioned himself as a staunch outsider in the mainstream music industry, which he considered exploitative, refusing to accept the traditional producer royalties for any of the albums he recorded at his Chicago studio. Often working on dozens of albums per year, Albini -- also an award-winning poker player -- kept up his torrid pace until his death, re-teaming with frequent collaborator folk singer Nina Nastasia in 2022, as well as working on albums by Black Midi, Spare Snare, Liturgy and Code Orange over the past two years. Shellac were poised to release their first album in a decade, To All Trains, later in May, and had booked a series of shows in England in June, followed by a run of U.S. dates in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles in July. - Billboard, 5/8/24.
Legendary R&B singer Al Green has reacted to modern rapper Kendrick Lamar sampling Green's song "What a Wonderful Thing Love Is" for Lamar's new track "6:16 in LA," which is another diss at Lamar's rival Drake. Produced by Willie Mitchell, Green's "What a Wonderful Think Love Is" originally appeared on Greens's I'm Still In Love With You album, which was released in Oct. 1972 and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 200 LP chart. Green took advantage of the spotlight by tweeting out the 
Stevie Wonder will be one of the 2024 recipients of the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America, the highest honor bestowed by the Peabody Institute. In addition, Wonder and the other honoree, dancer Misty Copeland will deliver addresses for the Peabody Conservatory's 2024 graduation ceremonies on May 22. Copeland, the first dancer to receive the George Peabody Medal, will address undergraduates at the morning ceremony; Wonder will speak at the afternoon ceremony for graduate students. The following day, Johns Hopkins University will present an honorary doctorate to Wonder at its commencement ceremony. Wonder, 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, 5/2/24......On May 3, David Gilmour posted on 
Appearing on the 6 Music podcast with host Chris Hawkins, Sean Ono Lennon discussed his parents' legacy, working with James McCartney and a the collaboration potential with other musical Beatles children. "Well it was really special for me," Sean said when asked about his "Primrose Lane" collaboration with James. "It actually happened quite some time ago, so I wasn't sure if the song was going to come out or not. He had made another record since we'd worked on that song. And so I was very surprised when he gave me a text and said "Hey, can we put 'Primrose Hill' out?" and I was like "Well, it's about time I was hoping you would put it out!" So yeah, I was thrilled you know. I thought he had forgotten about it or whatever." Lennon continued: "But it happened very naturally. I think a lot of people, I've been seeing just the comments section (which I guess one should avoid) but I've noticed that people kind of assume we're trying to start something or we were doing it in order to fulfil something for the Beatles fans. I was just at his flat in London and he was telling me about a girl he had a crush on, and he was sort of writing a song about it and he kind of wanted me to help him. And so all I really did was say "Well hey, where did you guys go on your first date?" and he was like "Well we went and had a picnic on Primrose Hill and we sat on Primrose Hill" and I said alright and I just wrote that down "we sat on Primrose Hill," "Next what happened next?" and I just sort of took a dictation really of him telling me the story about his memories and his feelings. So that's all I really did. I didn't do much. I just sort of helped him get his ideas down, you know?" When asked about a potential collaboration with other musical Fab Four children, Sean said, "That seems like it would take a lot more planning than we're probably able to deal with. But we all like each other and we're all friends and I do support what they do. I mean I love Zac [Starkey]'s new band Mantra of the Cosmos, it's really cool. It's really cool, what I've heard so far. And you know Dahni [Harrison] and I are very close because we've been working together indirectly I guess through Beatles stuff and I really love his last album and the one he did with [inaudible] that Mongolian band... Basically I'm open to working with people with whom I feel a natural affinity. But I'm not gonna do it because of some expectation or some other idea, if that makes sense." - Music-News.com, 5/5/24...... It took him 61 years to do it, but Sir Paul McCartney has replied to a declaration of love from a fan of the Beatles named Adrienne after she declared her love for him. In 1963, Adrienne was interviewed on CBS ahead of the Fab Four's first ever visit to the US, where she excitedly proclaimed: "I love The Beatles and I'll always love them!... Even when I'm 105 and an old grandmother, I'll love 'em. And Paul McCartney, if you are listening, Adrienne from Brooklyn loves you with all her heart!" Now, Macca has finally got round to reciprocating the love. "Hey Adrienne, it's Paul," he said in a video on 
Richard Tandy, the longtime keyboardist for Electric Light Orchestra has died of as yet undisclosed causes at the age of 76. Tandy's death was revealed by his former bandmate and ELO leader Jeff Lynne on 
1950's rock & roll legend Duane Eddy, known for his influential style as well as hits such as "Rebel-'Rouser" and "Peter Gunn," died of cancer on Apr. 30 in Franklin, Tenn., according to his wife, Deed Abbate. He was 86. Born in April 26, 1938, in Corning, N.Y., Mr. Eddy began playing guitar as a young child. He went on to become one of few artists in the past century to find national fame purely as an instrumentalist, notching 27 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 such as "Rebel-'Rouser," which peaked at No. 6 in 1958; "Forty Miles of Bad Road," which peaked at No. 9 in 1959; and "Because They're Young," which peaked at No. 4 in 1960. He also had 10 albums chart on the Billboard 200. He was the last surviving artist to chart in the top 10 of the inaugural Hot 100, which was published on Aug. 4, 1958. The other artists in the top 10 that week were Ricky Nelson, Perez Prado, Bobby Darin, Elvis Presley, Kalin Twins, The Coasters, Jack Scott, The Johnny Otis Show and Peggy Lee. In 1987, Mr. Eddy released a self-titled album -- his first record in 20 years -- featuring guest appearances from music greats like Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Fogerty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Cropper and many more. That year, he also performed on McCartney's "Rockestra Theme." Mr. Eddy was also a Grammy-decorated musician, winning on his first-ever nomination in 1987 as a featured artist on The Art of Noise's remake of "Peter Gunn" in the best rock instrumental performance category. In 1996, he earned a second Grammy nod as a featured artist on Doc Watson's "Thunder Road/Sugarfoot Rag" for best country instrumental performance. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. "Duane inspired a generation of guitarists the world over with his unmistakeable signature 'Twang' sound," a rep for Mr. Eddy told Variety. "He was the first rock and roll guitar god, a truly humble and incredible human being. He will be sorely missed." Those paying tribute to Mr. Eddy on social media include Mick Fleetwood, Dave Davies and Nancy Sinatra. - Billboard, 5/1/24.
Appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show on May 1, Cher revealed the reasons why she prefers to date men who are half her age of 77 years. "I'm really shy when I'm not working and kind of shy around men," Cher told host Jennifer Hudson the singer's daytime talk show. But here's the real kicker: "And the reason I go out with young men is because men my age or older -- well, now they're all dead -- but before they just never, they were always terrified to approach me and younger men were the only ones that would." "They're bold," Hudson contributed, with Cher laughing, "Yeah! Raised by women like me!" The topic came up after Cher's latest romance with 38-year-old music exec Alexander "A.E." Edwards, which began in late 2022 after Cher posted an Instagram pic of the two holding hands. Cher also confirmed that she'd once turned down a date with Elvis Presley, also for good reason. "It was because I was nervous and I knew of the people around him and it wasn't that they were bad people, it's just that I was kind of nervous of his reputation," she explained. The "Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves" singer also talked about how she still has it so together at her age, giving her late mom credit for good genes. "I stole my mom's voice and used it to become Cher." She also revealed that Tupac Shakur is now one of her favorite artists, and that the late rapper was the person who introduced her to Edwards. The full interview can be viewed on 
The estate of John Lennon has partnered with the company behind the popular smartphone app Lumenate for a series of meditation mixes, developed from the former Beatles member's 1973 track "Mind Games." On May 1, the project was unveiled and aims to help people reach a relaxed, meditative state, and "help guide your mind into deeper states of consciousness." In the newly transformed mixes, various sound design techniques and processes have been applied to the original 1973 recordings by Lennon and, in some instances, have been enhanced with additional instrumentation from producer Sean Ono Lennon, who is also the son of John and Yoko Ono. The song was written by Lennon after reading the 1972 book Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space, by Robert Masters and Jean Houston, which offered brain training exercises to help people take a more positive outlook. The song then came as the title track for the 
The Rolling Stones kicked off their highly anticipated Hackney Diamonds tour to a fired-up audience at the sold-out NRG Stadium in Houston, Tex., on Apr. 28. Fans erupted as the legendary rockers launched into their classic repertoire, treating fans to iconic hits such as "Gimme Shelter," "Paint It Black," and "Start Me Up." The band also delighted the crowd with fan-favorite deep cuts like "Out Of Time" and music from their new album Hackney Diamonds, such as "Angry," "Mess It Up" and "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven." The Stones closed out the show with their signature hit, "Satisfaction." While in Houston, frontman Mick Jagger had an out-of-this-world experience when he stopped by the headquarters of the National Aereonautics Space Administration (NASA). "Thanks @nasa for being so welcoming to us and great to be shown around by astronauts Josh Cassada, Bob Hines and Jessica Meir," Jagger captioned a series of photos from his visit to the Johnson Space Center that he posted on 
In a new interview with UK's The Metro newspaper, Dionne Warwick said she refuses to listen to her own music, although shed by happy to watch herself "live" in an ABBA-style hologram avatar show. "Oh, yeah. I'd love to see me. But I don't listen to my music. I listened to it one time when I recorded it," the 83-year-old iconic singer told the Metro's "60 Seconds" column. "I am so critical I will say things to myself like, 'Why didn't you sing this other note?' or 'Why didn't you do it this way?' So I refrain from listening to me. I listen to my peers," she added. Warwick admitted she would rather listen to the likes of Johnny Mathis, Tina Turner and "a lot of Brazilian music" instead. She said she "fell completely in love" with Brazil when she first toured there in the 1960s, and feels "a mutual love affair" with the people and their music. When it was suggested that there is a big difference between Brazilian music and her own, she replied: "I describe it as happy music. Music that makes you smile, makes you move." While some people may try to label her sound, Dionne is keen to point out that music should simply be enjoyed for what it is: "I don't categorise music. Music is music. They try to put you into a box all the time. But you can't put me into a box." Warwick will kick off an 10-date UK tour on May 4 in Scarborough, also visiting Gateshead (5/5), Edinburch (5/7), Glasgow (5/9), Birmingham (5/11), Salford Quays (5/12), London (5/14), Bristol (5/16), Southend-On-Sea (5/19) and Belfast (5/26) before performing stateside at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif. on Aug. 18. - Music-News.com, 5/1/24.