Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the same museum that hosted Aretha Franklin's public visitations after her death, will debut an exhibit honoring her legacy on Sept. 25. Billed as a "tribute to the Queen of Soul," the exhibit will feature photographs, videos and the red shoes she wore at the first funeral viewing that drew global attention. Images and artifacts that span her life, including a photo of her birth home in Memphis, Tenn., a framed copy of the first record she cut in her longtime home of Detroit, and a close-up shot of her singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" at Pres. Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration, will be on display. Museum officials say the show, which will run through Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 21) in 2019, is a prelude to a larger, long-term exhibit that could debut later in 2019, or early 2020, which could evolve into a permanent museum honoring Franklin and her family. Museum officials say their museum takes great pride in hosting the Franklin exhibit, as well as maintaining a connection with Franklin, who died Aug. 16 at 76. They say roughly 31,000 people came through to pay their final respects to her during the Aug. 29-30 visitation period. - AP, 9/23/18...... 
Paul Simon wrapped his "Homeward Bound - The Farewell Tour" on Sept. 22 in Queens' Flushing Meadows Corona Park with his last-ever live show that included such solo hits as "Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War," "Kodachrome," "Late In the Evening" and "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard," as well as Simon & Garfunkel classics as "America" and "The Sound of Silence." Telling the crowd that he wanted to "play a quick game of catch," Simon picked up a glove and threw a baseball into the crowd no less than three times, with lucky audience members tasked with tossing it back to him. During "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard," Simon trotted out his wife, Edie Brickell, to take care of that tune's iconic whistling section, and the crowd whooped with glee to hear Simon sing about "Rosie queen of Corona" in Corona Park. He brought the two-and-a-half-hour show to a close with a hushed performance of "Sound of Silence. - Billboard, 9/23/18...... In a new interview with Canada's Radio X, Paul McCartney revealed that a "new version" of the 1970 Beatles film Let It Be is in the works for a special anniversary re-release in 2020. "We keep talking about [a re-release]," Paul said. "We have meetings at Apple, you know, the original Beatles Apple. And it's one of the things you never quite know what's gonna happen with it. So there's no [definite] story at the moment. But I keep saying 'what's gonna happen?', because people ask about it." McCartney continued: "I think there may be a new version of it. That's kind of the latest gossip. There's a lot of footage, and the original movie came out, and it was really sort of about the break-up of The Beatles. And so for me, it was a little sad, the movie. But I know people have been looking at the [unreleased] footage; there's about 56 hours of footage. And someone was talking to me the other day and said: 'The overall feeling is very joyous and very uplifting. It's like a bunch of guys making music and enjoying it', you know. So I think there is some talk about making a new movie, re-editing it from the same period, from the same footage. We can make a new film out of it. So who knows, that may be happening in a year or two." Capturing the making of what turned out to be the Beatles' final studio album, Let It Be was originally released in 1970 and has not officially been available to purchase in any format since the 1980s. Plans for a DVD re-release of the film were shelved in 2008 following a request from McCartney and Ringo Starr. - New Musical Express, 9/19/18...... In other McCartney news, the music legend has reacted to his latest album, Egypt Station, reaching No. 1 in the US on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. "You know, it feels really great," Sir Paul told Billboard, "'Cause you can't get much higher than No. 1, you know? It really feels great. We put a lot of really hard work into it. Me and all the guys on the team. Greg Kurstin, Ryan Tedder, all our engineers. We've got a great little team. Everyone really worked hard. We put our heart and soul into it. 'Cause we really wanted to make something that was worthwhile, you know, that we could be proud of. So it's just great that it's actually got the results." - Billboard, 9/19/18...... Meanwhile in other Beatles-related news, previously unseen raw footage of John Lennon and George Harrison during an intimate recording of Lennon's "How Do You Sleep" was posted on the internet on Sept. 21. Recorded in Ascot, England, the video shows Harrison playing on Lennon's blue guitar along with longtime friend Klaus Voormann on bass, Alan White on drums, Rod Lynton and Ted Turner on acoustic guitars, and a few other listeners present. The lyrics of "How Do You Sleep," originally released in 1971 on Lennon's Imagine album, were directed at John's former Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney following the band's break-up the previous year. "How Do You Sleep?" (Takes 5 & 6, Raw Studio Mix Out-take) will appear on the upcoming six-disc album set Imagine: The Ultimate Collection which will be available on Oct 5. - Billboard, 9/21/18...... 
Allman Brothers Band founding member Dickey Betts has undergone successful surgery after what was described as a "freak" accident on Sept. 17 in which he slipped and hit his head while playing with his dog in Florida. According to posts on Betts' social media accounts, the "Blue Sky" singer-songwriter was in his backyard in Little Sarasota Bay, Fla., playing with the family dog when he "slipped and cracked his head," which caused "bleeding from the brain." Betts was then transported to an undisclosed local hospital, where he was reported to be "in critical but stable condition." Betts' wife Donna posted that "The family appreciates all of your thoughts and prayers during this very trying time... Dickey is a notorious fighter and he is displaying that now!" It was only in August when the 74-year-old musician suffered a "mild stroke" at his home and had to cancel upcoming tour dates. He had been responding well to his treatment, his longtime friend and manager David Spero said, but with his latest health concern, a slate of upcoming November shows are canceled. "It is very unfortunate, for all involved, that we need to cancel those shows," Spero said in a statement. "Please add Dickey into your thoughts and prayers." Betts, who was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame with the Allman Brothers back in 1995, currently tours with the Dickey Betts Band, whose lineup features his son Duane Betts on guitar. - AP/Billboard, 9/22/18...... The legal battle between Ozzy Osbourne and concert promoter AEG came to a close on Sept. 21 after lawyers representing Osbourne agreed to drop a lawsuit against AEG after company officials announced plans to end its policy requiring acts that wanted to play the O2 Arena in London to also play Staples Center in Los Angeles. Ozzy's attorney Dan Wall filed a stipulation to dismiss the case before U.S. District Court Judge Dale Fischer, a procedural move that brings an end to the anti-trust lawsuit filed in March against AEG. The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning Osbourne can't refile the lawsuit. "Sharon and Ozzy are pleased, there is nothing left to litigate," Wall said. - Billboard, 9/22/18...... Cher released her cover of the iconic ABBA song "One of Us" on Sept. 21, marking the third and final single to come off of Cher's new ABBA-based album Dancing Queen. While the original song is filled with funky melodies and rhythms to mix up the depressing lyrics, Cher trades them in for a piano and a few violins, making the already-melancholy song a bonafide heart-wrencher. Dancing Queen will drop on Sept. 28, and Cher has announced plans to tour behind the album via her new "Here We Go Again" tour, in which she will cover ABBA classics as well as some of her own best-known songs. - Billboard, 9/21/18...... Elton John announced on Sept.21 that his Rocket Entertainment company has struck a long-term partnership with Universal Music that will cover his recorded music, music publishing, merchandise, brand management and licensing rights for the rest of his career. The pact ensures that not only is all of John's voluminous catalog under one roof, but so are his future recordings. John has been signed to companies now under UMG's umbrella for his five-decade recording career. David Furnish, John's husband, became Rocket Entertainment CEO in 2015, with an eye toward growing John's presence on streaming services and social media, as well as enhancing his touring, branding and licensing. John is expected to release new music under the deal. His last studio album, Wonderful Crazy Night, came out in 2016. Earlier in 2018, Revamp, a pop collection of John/Bernie Taupin covers came out, as did a companion country album of covers, Restoration. Paramount will release Rocketman, a biopic based on John's life, in May 2019. - Billboard, 9/21/18...... In other Elton news, John and partner David Furnish have won a libel judgement against a UK media company that owns the tabloid The Sun over a story in February that claimed the couple's dog severely injured a child while on a play date and inflicted "Freddy Krueger-like injuries" -- a reference to the violent character in the Nightmare on Elm Street. The couple were not at London's High Court on Sept. 21 but their lawyer, Jenny Afia, says the allegation was false and that NGN agreed to apologize and to pay "significant damages as well as to reimburse their legal costs." - AP, 9/21/18...... The Rolling Stones' classic track "She's a Rainbow" has entered the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart after being featured in an Acura car commercial. "She's a Rainbow," from the band's 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties, made its maiden appearance on the chart for the week ending Sept. 13, with a boost of 274 percent in sales (to 6,000) and 138 percent in streams (to 366,000). Meanwhile, a cover of the Simon & Garfunkel standard "The Sound of Silence" by the band Disturbed has re-entered the same chart thanks to the recirculation of a 9/11 tribute video (originally uploaded in 2016) featuring the song. Disturbed's "Sound of Silence" re-entered at No. 9 for its 54th total week on the tally since its September 2015 debut; it peaked at No. 3 in April 2016. Also experiencing a boost in streaming is Earth, Wind & Fire's "September," which every year has a hefty streaming spike when September rolls around. In 2017, "September" saw a 286 percent increase in views on YouTube compared to its annual daily average. While the whole month of September is generally good for the track, the month also sees an annual spike in views for the band's "September" video. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the EWF "September" video should expect another surge on top of its over 225 million views to date. - Billboard, 9/20/18...... 
Bob Dylan has announced he will release the latest album in his extensive bootleg series, More Tracks, More Blood - Volume 14, on Nov. 2. The 6-disc collection will include everything from the first recording session of his 1975 album, Blood on the Tracks, and will also be released as a condensed single CD and a double LP set. The deluxe edition will include every recording from the famed "New York Sessions," including studio commentary, and the most basic versions of hits like "Tangled Up in Blue," and "Idiot Wind," both of which appeared in their final form on Blood on the Tracks. The deluxe version will also include a replica of one of Dylan's notebooks from his golden era. - Billboard, 9/20/18...... The third single from Tom Petty's forthcoming box set An American Treasure, "Gainesville," has been released ahead of the set's Sept. 28 release. "Gainesville," a 1998 recording, pays homage to Petty's hometown and is a previously unreleased track from Petty's Echo recording sessions. An American Treasure will include 60 tracks over four CDs, including never-before-heard tracks, live performances, alternate versions of songs and much more. - Billboard, 9/20/18...... '70s soul singer Gladys Knight will be among the headliners at the 2018 Carousel of Hope Ball on Oct. 6 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The biennial event, which benefits the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes and programs run by the Children's Diabetes Foundation, has raised more than $110 million since its 1977 inception. Past performers include Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Smokey Robinson, Sting and Whitney Houston. - Billboard, 9/20/18...... Stevie Wonder has grossed $4.2 million in August from seven shows at MGM-owned venues in Las Vegas and Oxon, Md., giving him a No. 3 position in the Billboard Hot Tours roundup dated Sept. 22. Wonder's shows mark a return to the road for the elusive Motown legend. Despite being wildly prolific throughout his career, Wonder has only toured once this decade, on the 2014-2015 trek celebrating his Grammy-winning 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. - Billboard, 9/20/18...... The Beach Boys' lead singer Mike Love will release a Christmas album, Reason for the Season, on Oct. 26. The album will feature a 12-track mix of original holiday songs and Christmas classics, including "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and "Little St. Nick," which the Beach Boys recorded back in 1964. Love and the Beach Boys will embark on a 22-city U.S. holiday tour on Nov. 16. - Billboard, 9/20/18...... In related news, Star Trek actor William Shatner has announced he will release his very first Christmas LP, Shatner Claus - The Christmas Album, in October. The album will feature an eclectic group of contributors including Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Judy Collins and more covering such yuletide classics as "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "White Christmas," respectively. - New Musical Express, 9/20/18...... Appearing on NBC's America's Got Talent on Sept. 19, KISS announced they will launch an "End Of The Road" farewell tour in the coming months. Dates have yet to be announced, but the band's website will have more information in the weeks to come. The multi-year stint will give fans one last opportunity to witness the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees' famous explosive live shows. "All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who've filled clubs, arenas and stadiums over those years," KISS said in a statement. "This will be the ultimate celebration for those who've seen us and a last chance for those who haven't. KISS Army, we're saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we'll go out the same way we came in... unapologetic and unstoppable." - Billboard, 9/19/18...... 
About 80 of Burt Reynolds' friends and relatives, including his former wife Loni Anderson, shared memories of the late actor at a private memorial service in North Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 20. Anderson, who had a famously difficult divorce from Reynolds, shared fond memories of their time together, calling their son their "greatest collaboration." The couple's son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds, was also among the speakers at the service at Quattlebaum Funeral Home. Bobby Bowden, former football coach at Florida State University, where Reynolds was a player, opened the service with a prayer and stories from the actor's life. Reynolds died at age 82 on Sept. 6, and, according to a death certificate issued Sept. 10 that was obtained by Entertainment Tonight, he was cremated. No cause of death has been revealed. - AP, 9/21/18...... Nashville's legendary Grand Ole Opry will host a tribute concert to Ray Charles on Oct. 8. Hosted by Opry member Darius Rucker and featuring Boyz II Men, Cam, Brett Eldredge, Leela James, Lukas Nelson, Allen Stone, Travis Tritt and Chris Young, the concert will pay homage to to the iconic R&B artist, airing on PBS in November. The PBS special will also feature behind-the-scenes footage, a visit to the Ray Charles Library and rare video of the legendary artist, courtesy of the Ray Charles Foundation. - Billboard, 9/19/18...... One of James Brown's daughters, Venisha Brown, died on Sept. 19 at AU Health Medical Center in Augusta, Ga., due to complications from pneumonia. She was 53 years old. A songwriter and musician, Brown was active in the James Brown Family Foundation and is remembered as "one who fully embodied the dance moves of her father," who died on Christmas Day 2006. The foundation says Brown's family thanks everyone for their "prayers and telephone calls" but asked for privacy. - AP, 9/20/18.
A restored version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1972 film Imagine began a one-off and limited-run of theater screenings worldwide on Sept. 17. The film has been restored, remixed and remastered with Ono serving as producer and creative director. Eagle Vision is pairing Imagine and another restored John and Yoko film, Gimme Some Truth, for release on DVD and Blu-ray on Oct. 5, the same day the six-disc box set, Imagine: The Ultimate Collection, drops. Paul Hicks, who remixed and remastered the soundtrack, won Grammys for his work on The Beatles Box Set and The Beatles' Love, and recommends people see it at the cinema for optimal audio and visual experience. He added the restoration of Imagine, which was originally made for TV and then did a theatrical run in America and the U.K., took eight years. - Billboard, 9/17/18............................ 
Kiss announced on Sept. 18 that they'll celebrate their heady days of the '70s by reissuing their 1978 eponymous solo albums from all four members -- singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist/singer Gene Simmons, drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley -- as a lavish box set on Oct. 19, exactly 40 years after they were released in 1978. Kiss: The Solo Albums -- 40th Anniversary Collection will be a limited-edition, 180-gram 4-LP box set from Casablanca/UMe with only 2,500 copies available. Simmons' album will be pressed on red vinyl, Stanley's purple, Frehley's blue and Criss' green, and all four packaged in a deluxe black-matte slipcase with glossy black images of each member's face surrounded by the band's iconic logo. The set will also include four 12x12-inch posters of each album cover and an exclusive turntable slipmat with the four Eraldo Carugati-painted album cover images from the originals. Meanwhile, Kiss will open the two-hour season finale of NBC's America's Got Talent series on Sept. 19. at 8 p.m. ET. America's Got Talent is currently in its 13th season, and 10 finalists will vie for the grand prize. - Billboard, 9/18/18...... As expected, Paul McCartney has achieved his first No. 1 album on Billboard's Hot 200 LP chart in over 36 years with his new album Egypt Station. Released via MPL/Capitol on Sept. 7, Egypt Station bowed with a larger-than-expected 153,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Sept. 13 according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 147,000 were in traditional album sales (his largest sales week for an album in over 10 years). Egypt Station is Sir Paul's eighth No. 1 on the chart, his last being a 3-week consecutive run in 1982 with Tug of War. The gap between those two albums gives Macca another record -- for the longest gap between No. 1's for a living artist in the history of the Billboard 200 chart. Egypt Station is also McCartney's first album ever to debut at No. 1 -- he had previously logged a pair of No. 2-debuting sets with 1997's Flaming Pie and 2001's Wingspan: Hits and History. Paul has also released a new video for one of Egypt Station's tracks, "Back In Brazil." The beautifully shot clip, which tells a tropical love story, follows its main character, Yasmin, in So Paulo, Brazil, as she goes about her day in the city streets, meets a man named Zach, falls in love, and more, mirroring the events in McCartney's lyrics. Meanwhile, the Spotify.com streaming site is prepping the release of "Paul McCartney & Spotify Singles: Under The Staircase," a playlist of exclusive audio and video recordings captured at one of McCartney's gigs at the famed Abbey Road Studios this past summer, at which he previewed tracks from Egypt Station. Spotify hosted McCartney at the intimate gig at Abbey Road's iconic Studio 2, where many of the Beatles' classic tracks were recorded. The session -- which was overseen by producer Giles Martin (son of "the fifth Beatle" Sir George Martin) -- featured many iconic tracks from the Beatles and Wings, as well songs from Egypt Station. Participating in an interview with New Musical Express on Sept. 16, Sir Paul was asked whether he's ever thought about playing a Beatles album in full on tour. "No," he replied. "I think that's kind of a cool idea but I'm not tempted at all to do that. It'd be too limiting. It's the kind of thing other people do, and I wish them well with it, but to me if I'm doing one album and 'Hey Jude' isn't on it, and I'm in a crowd of 40,000 people, I'm going to want to do 'Hey Jude' because it brings people together." - Billboard/New Musical Express, 9/16/18...... In other Beatles-related news, Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band headlined a two-hour show at New York's iconic Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 13. Audience members, who spanned three generations, may have come to be in the presence of a Beatle, but they also shared flashbacks of early MTV with such hits as Men At Work's "Down Under" and Toto's "Africa" and cheered on the old Santana jams "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va," courtesy of current All Starr Band contributors Colin Hay, Steve Lukather and Gregg Rolie, respectively. Ringo, 78, closed the show with his signature song, the Lennon-McCartney composed "With a Little Help from My Friends." He didn't need to introduce it, and hardly needed to sing it. He held out the microphone to the crowd and everyone seemed to join in. - AP, 9/14/18...... On Sept. 18 Bob Seger announced what he says will be the "final" outing with his Silver Bullet Band. Sixteen dates have already been announced as makeups for shows from his 2017 "Runaway Train Tour" which were postponed due to Seger's spinal surgery, while an additional 10 concerts have been announced, including the tour opener Nov. 21 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Dates are currently booked on his upcoming "Travelin' Man Tour" through May 2, 2019, and more shows will be announced in the coming weeks for Las Vegas, San Diego, Vancouver, cities in Florida, Fresno, Calif., and more. Seger has been entertaining the possibility of quitting touring for over 30, saying in 2014 that "The big deciding factor for whether I leave or don't leave is my voice, whether it holds up... I just want to be graceful about it, you know what I mean? I don't want to stay too long, that's all. So we'll see." - Billboard, 9/18/18...... 
As the family, former bandmates and friends of Tom Petty prepare to release a new 60-track Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers collection An American Treasure on Sept. 28, Petty's widow Dana says, "It was very emotional, and, especially at first, hearing the songs was brutal. But music is healing; it got easier. It felt like Tommy would be so proud of this." It took Dana, Petty's daughter Adria, Heartbreakers bandmates Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, and producer Ryan Ulyate roughly seven months to assemble the rarities, unreleased songs and live renditions. Dana says that "there's so much more in the vault, so much more that we tried to put on this record, that everyone needs to hear... I just don't want them to think we're greedy, because it's not about the money -- it's about getting the stuff out there for the world to love." - Billboard, 9/17/18...... Also due on Sept. 28 is a tribute to the legendary FAME Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Ala., which hosted greats like Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and Etta James. Small Town, Big Sound is a 16-track set featuring the likes of Steven Tyler, Michael McDonald, Vince Gill, Chris Stapleton and Grace Potter, who were among the 22 artists who visited the 16.5-square-mile town to rerecord classics originally tracked at the two studios. - Billboard, 9/17/18...... Hitting stores on Nov. 9 will be a 50th anniversary box set of Jimi Hendrix's classic album Electric Ladyland. Electric Ladyland - 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition arrives 18 days before the late guitar god would have celebrated his 76th birthday and in addition to the original double album includes Electric Ladyland: The Early Takes, which gives fans a look into demos and studio outtakes from the recording period. The new deluxe edition will also give listeners a new 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire original album by Hendrix's original engineer, Eddie Kramer. The release also includes a full color, 48-page book that contains Hendrix's handwritten lyrics, poem and instructions to his record label, and never before published photos from the recording sessions shot by Kramer. - Billboard, 9/14/18...... Willie Nelson and friends' annual Farm Aid benefit bash is set for Sept. 22 in Hartford, Conn. "The crisis farmers are in now is even worse than 1985, because there are fewer farms left to lose," says John Mellencamp, co-founder of Farm Aid. "They have a whole system stacked against them. The crisis farmers are in now is even worse than 1985, because there are fewer farms left to lose. They have a whole system stacked against them, and time is running out for Americans to demand a fairer playing field. Farm Aid 2018 has to be a rallying cry for all of us to stand up and fight for these families," he added. At Hartford's Xfinity Theatre, the headlining foursome of Nelson, Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews will be joined by Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Jamey Johnson, Ian Mellencamp and Particle Kid to raise funds during the 33rd annual show for what Mellencamp says is "the most crucial benefit concert in a generation." - Billboard, 9/18/18...... Rod Stewart has just announced dates for his forthcoming 2019 UK tour. Stewart will kick off the 7-city jaunt on May 31 in Southampton, also hitting York (6/1), Milton (6/4), Ipswich (6/7), Wolverhampton (6/8), Aberdeen (6/12) and Bolton (6/14). He'll be supporting his upcoming album Blood Red Roses, which drops on Sept. 28. Stewart's UK tour is his first in three years there, following sold out runs with his "Hits" stadium tour and the arena tour "From Gasoline Alley to Another Country Hits." - New Musical Express, 9/15/18...... 
Arriving on Sept. 21 will be a reissue of The Ramones' 1978 LP Road to Ruin from Rhino Records featuring a new version of the punk icons' song "Don't Come Close." Not only does Road contain one of the NYC quartet's most enduring street hits "I Wanna Be Sedated," the original 12-track mix also featured maneuvers that were aimed directly at attaining the group more radio airplay. Road To Ruin - 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition contains two different mixes of the album, unissued rough mixes for every album track, and an unreleased 1979 Ramones concert in New York. - Billboard, 9/18/18...... A rep for The Rascals guitarist Gene Cornish said on Sept. 13 that the musician is recovering at home after being implanted with a pacemaker. Cornish, 74, collapsed onstage in Billings, Montana, on Sept. 7 while performing with keyboardist Felix Cavaliere and guest drummer Carmine Appice. The rep says Cornish, who suffered a heart arrythmia, has been cleared by doctors to start his rehabilitation and resume performances in October. The musician said in the statement he was grateful for the two nurses in attendance who came to his aid, along with others. - AP, 9/13/18...... The Memphis Music Hall of Fame announced on Sept. 13 that its Class of 2018 class will include the late soul songstress Aretha Franklin, the '60s rock/soul group The Box Tops, gospel artist O'Landa Draper, R&B singer-songwriter Eddie Floyd, and rockabilly pioneers The Rock and Roll Trio. Others being inducted include Memphis rappers 8Ball & MJG and George Klein, a radio personality and close friend of Elvis Presley. The Memphis MHOF will hold its induction ceremony on Nov. 1. - AP, 9/13/18...... As Fleetwood Mac gears up for the Oct. 3 launch of its "An Evening with Fleetwood Mac" tour, co-founding member Mick Fleetwood says that "change is not an unfamiliar thing in Fleetwood Mac." "Every man and woman in Fleetwood Mac wish Lindsey [Buckingham] well in any ventures he's doing and also have a huge respect for what he did with Fleetwood Mac," says Fleetwood about the recent departure of its longtime guitarist/vocalist. "Having said that, it wasn't working for us and we made the decision as a band to continue, and that's what we've done with open heart," Fleetwood says. "We've found two unbelievably talented gentlemen that have more than their own story to tell -- which, by the way, is what's made this work. They're stylists, and they have their own integrity as artists, which I think was a huge help in what we're doing," he adds. Joining Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, singer Stevie Nicks and singer-keyboardist Christine McVie on the upcoming trek will be Split Enz/Crowded House veteran Neil Finn and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell in his first public endeavor since Tom Petty's death last Oct. 2. The tour kicks off on Oct. 3 in Tulsa, Okla. - Billboard, 9/13/18...... Cher has revealed in a new interview that her dyslexia once led to a bizarre fling with actor Tom Cruise, and that Cruise was one of her best lovers and they are still friends today. Cher says two stars first met at Sean Penn and Madonna's wedding in Malibu back in 1985, when Cruise was only 22 but already a star through his movie Risky Business. Cher, then 38, says she re-united with Cruise after the pair were invited to Ronald Reagan's White House with other fellow dyslexia victims. "Then a bunch of people who were dyslexic were invited to the White House, and Tom and I are both dyslexic," Cher revealed. And although the sparks didn't fly immediately the couple did later become an item. "No, no, no, we didn't go out till way later, but there definitely was a connection there," she said. Cher claims that she is currently single but is still on good time with most of her former lovers, who include Val Kilmer, David Geffen, Richie Sambora and Rob Camilletti. And she remains hopeful of finding love in the future. "I'm still on the lookout," she said. Cher will release her new ABBA-themed album, Dancing Queen, on Sept. 28. - American Media, Inc., 9/17/18...... 
In theaters on Sept. 21, Love, Gilda is a heartfelt new documentary tracking the rise of legendary comic Gilda Radner from underground sensation to whirlwind star of Saturday Night Live to the coda of her life: a tragic battle with ovarian cancer, which she succumbed to in 1989. The Lisa D'Apolito-directed film's most touching storytelling tool -- stars like Amy Poehler and Melissa McCarthy reading the late comedian's personal diary entities -- will leave you wanting more... but then again, so did Radner's radiant and all-too-short career. - Entertainment Weekly, 9/21/18...... It has been revealed that actor Burt Reynolds, who died on Sept. 6 of cardiac arrest, excluded his only son Quinton Reynolds from his will, but not because he wanted to disinherit him. Burt's will specifically says that 30-year-old Quinton is intentionally omitted from the will, however it adds that Burt created a trust years ago for Quinton's benefit and the money from the trust will continue to go to Quinton. This is typically done to avoid estate taxes. It appears all of Burt's assets are in the trust, so the will is effectively a hollow document, providing that all assets not accounted for in the trust will funnel to it. - TMZ.com, 9/17/18...... Actor Peter Donat, whose long career spanned roles on Broadway, television and in films, died on Sept. 10 at home in Point Reyes Station, Calif. from complications of diabetes, according to his wife. He was 90. The Canadian-born character actor was best known for his role in six episodes of TV's The X Files, where he recurred as Agent Fox Mulder's father. Mr. Donat was a frequent presence on such TV series as The F.B.I., Hawaii Five-O, Mannix, McMillan & Wife, Hill Street Blues and Murder, She Wrote. One well-received television role came on the original Dallas as the doctor treating J. R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) after he had been shot in one of TV's most famous cliffhangers. Other roles include the lawyer in The Godfather Part II (1974) and as US Attorney Otto Kerner in the film Tucker: The Man and His Dream. - Deadline.com, 9/15/18.
During the Apr. 21 episode of the long-running talent competition series American Idol, host Ryan Seacrest and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Lionel Richie revealed which artists will constitute the 
The Eagles have flown back onto the charts with their new best-of collection, 
Former Pink Floyd guitarist-vocalist David Gilmour has announced 
Deep Purple have shared details of a new studio album titled 
10cc's Graham Gouldman has announced a new solo album that includes collaborations with Sir Brian May, Sir Ringo Starr, Hank Marvin and Albert Lee. Gouldman will release his sixth solo LP, I Have Notes, via British independent record label Lojinx on July 5. As well as the four above named legends, Graham is also joined on the record by Nashville-based singer/songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, who has previously worked with the likes of Bette Midler, Trisha Yearwood and Neil Diamond. The two artists co-wrote "We're Alive," the first single from the record, which also features guitarist Gordon Kennedy -- who has played with Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton and Garth Brooks. Queen guitarist May, 76, joins the 77-year-old Graham on literal space-ballad "Floating In Heaven," while Beatles legend Ringo, 83, adds his talent to "Couldn't Love You More" which is inspired by The Fab Four. I Have Notes will be released on vinyl LP, CD and digital on July 5. Gouldman's work with 10cc continues to endure in the build up to next year's 50th anniversary of the band's iconic album 
Mike Pinder, the last surviving original member of the veteran psychedelic prog rock band The Moody Blues, died on Apr. 24 at his home in Northern California of undisclosed causes. He was 82. Moody Blues bassist John Lodge shared a statement from Pinder's family on Facebook, in which they wrote, "Michael Thomas Pinder died on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at his home in Northern California, surrounded by his devoted family. Michael's family would like to share with his trusted friends and caring fans that he passed peacefully. His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family. Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart." It continued, "He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, 'Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground.' His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in the cosmos will touch generations to come." Born in Erdington, Birmingham England on Dec. 27, 1941, Pinder co-founded the group in May 1964 with multi-instrumentalist/singer Ray Thomas, singer/guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist/singer Clint Warwick. Laine and Warwick left the band in 1966 after the release of 1965's debut album, The Magnificent Moodies, and were replaced by guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist Lodge. Pinder and Laine co-wrote all the original songs on Moodies, which included the band's wistful, R&B influenced breakthrough single, "Go Now." The new lineup released one of the landmark early prog rock albums, 
The album also featured what would become the group's signature mind-trip single, "Nights in White Satin," which rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart when it was re-released in 1972. Pinder's experimentation with the then-new mellotron helped it become a staple of prog and psychedelic recordings by groups including Yes, Genesis and King Crimson. His explorations continued on the Moody's 1968 album In Search of the Lost Chord, another concept LP which explored the concepts of inner exploration and discovery. He contributed vocals to the propulsive single "Ride My See-Saw" and is the credited songwriter on the mind-tripping psychedelic journey through the universe "The Best Way to Travel." The group's 1972 LP, 
Taylor Swift's new album 
Barbra Streisand has recorded a new song, "Love Will Survive," for the upcoming Sky/Peacock original series The Tattooist of Auschwitz. The track recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra was composed by two-time Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer in collaboration with Emmy-nominee Kara Talve and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey); the song's lyrics were penned by Grammy and Golden Globe nominee Charlie Midnight; Afanasieff and Peter Asher produced the track. "Because of the rise in antisemitism around the world today, I wanted to sing 'Love Will Survive' in the context of this series, as a way of remembering the six-million souls who were lost less than 80 years ago," Streisand said in a statement. "And also to say that even in the darkest of times, the power of love can triumph and endure." The song, Streisand's first-ever recording for a TV series, will be released by Columbia Records on Apr.25, a week before the series launches globally on streaming on May 2. Zimmer also composed the original score for the six-part limited series starring Harvey Keitel, Melanie Lynskey, Jonah Hauer-King, Anna Prchniak and Jonas Nay. It tells the story of a Slovakian Jewish man, Lali (Hauer-King), who in 1942 was deported to the Nazi death camp where more than one million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. The series will be available beginning May 2 on Sky Atlantic and the NOW streaming service in the UK and Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as Peacock in the U.S. and Stan in Australia. - Billboard, 4/17/24...... The Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Okla., has announced the recipients of its inaugural Bob Dylan Center songwriter fellowship. Tega Ethan, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Nigeria, and Taylor Zickfoose, a 28-year-old native of Washington state, were selected by global panel of leading artists and songwriters, including Juliette Armanet, Patty Griffin, John Mellencamp, Carla Morrison and Nas, and reviewed by executives at BDC in Tulsa, Okla. and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). Each fellowship includes a $40,000 project stipend, public engagement and presentation opportunities, dedicated time in the Bob Dylan Archive to study the legendary artist's creative process, roundtrip airfare to Tulsa and accommodations, mentorship from the music publishing giant's songwriters and executives, recording time, and more. Nearly 600 works were submitted from around the world, organizers say, based on the criteria that applicants were 18 years or older and unsigned to a publishing agreement of any kind at the time of the Fellowship start date, May, 1, 2024. Announced last August, the fellowship is to be awarded each year to two standout talents, through an initiative that identifies, mentors and develops rising talent, doing so with the resources of the BDC. - Billboard, 4/17/24...... In a new interview with Mark Goodman and Alan Light on the 
Director Peter Jackson, who helmed the Beatles' The Beatles: Get Back documentary series in 2021, has announced that director Michael Lindsay-Hogg's legendary 1970 documentary 
Co-founding The Allman Brothers Band singer-guitarist Dickey Betts passed away on the morning of Apr. 18 following a battle with cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 80. "It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announce the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard 'Dickey' Betts (December 12, 1943 -- April 18, 2024) at the age of 80 years old," his family announced on his 
During his stint in the group the unpredictable, mustachioed Betts -- who famously inspired the wildman character Russell played by Billy Crudup in director Cameron Crowe's rock-themed film 
As 
On June 1 Steve Miller shared his thoughts on rap superstar Eminem's interpolation of Miller's chart-topping hit "Abracadabra" in Eminem's latest single, "Houdini." "There is a long chain of stories, poetry, lyrics, and musical roots that have crossed cultures and generations inspiring the whole world for hundreds of years and in all those lines of thought, music, and rhythm there are special artists who take it all in and create new original ideas from their own feelings and experiences," Miller wrote in a lengthy message on 
Former The Sex Pistols members Glen Matlock, Paul Cook and Steve Jones are joining forces with Frank Carter to save the historic West London venue Bush Hall with two concerts on Aug. 13 and 14. The Sex Pistols, one of the most influential rock bands of all time, will be joined by the electric frontman Frank Carter at Bush Hall to perform the Sex Pistols' iconic 1977 album 
Elton John announced on 
The iconic "lost" 1964 Framus Hootenanny acoustic guitar used by John Lennon during the 1965 sessions for the Beatles' Help! album set a new record when it sold for $2.9 million at a Julien's auction on May 29. The auction was conducted at the Times Square Hard Rock Café in New York. The Framus 12-string -- which was also used by Lennon's late Beatles bandmate George Harrison during the sessions for the Fab Four's 1966 Rubber Soul LP and was heard and seen on the Help! album and movie -- was purchased via a phone bid from an undisclosed buyer. The guitar went missing for nearly 50 years after Lennon gave it to Gordon Waller of the British duo Peter & Gordon, who he and Paul McCartney had been writing songs for. Waller, in turn, gave it to his manager, who stashed it in an attic of his home, according to Julien's. Julien co-founder Darren Julien said in a YouTube video that a British man found the guitar and its case in his parent's attic when they were moving out and promptly reached out to the auction house, who authenticated it with a Beatles expert. The guitar was initially valued at an estimated $600,000-$800,000 before selling to the anonymous buyer for $2,857,500. Julien's said the sale made it the most expensive Beatles guitar to ever sell at auction. In 2015, another Lennon acoustic guitar sold at auction for a then-record $2.4 million. - Billboard, 5/30/24...... In other Beatles news, a blue plaque of English Heritage has been placed at George Harrison's childhood home in Liverpool. Harrison's widow, Olivia Harrison, unveiled the tribute at the house in Arnold Grove, Liverpool. Olivia went on to say that the plaque was "a source of family pride." Harrison -- who passed in 2001 at the age of 58 after battling cancer -- was born in 1943 and lived in the terraced house in the Wavertree district of the city until the age of seven. The plaque is one of the first official English Heritage blue plaques to be placed on a property outside London. The Liverpool Beatles Museum posted a pic of the plaque to their 
On May 30 Heart announced in an 
"Eye of the Tiger," the legendary pump-up anthem by classic rockers Survivor used in the 1982 Rocky III movie, has just hit 1 billion views on YouTube. The 
Barry Manilow was back on stage at the London Palladium on May 28 after cancelling one of his farewell shows at the legendary venue the previous day on "doctor's orders." According to Metro UK, the singer, 80, called off his May 27 gig with just hours to go, writing on Instagram, "Unfortunately, under doctor's orders, we must cancel tonight's 27th May Barry Manilow concert." Hundreds of disappointed fans were reported to be lined up outside the theater when the news was announced. Though upset, "Fanilows" spread the love to the "Mandy" singer in comments on the X post about the rescheduling, with one writing, "Good news, what a relief to know you're feeling better (if the doctor is OK, I'm happy you can perform today). You can count on me tonight and for the 10 other concerts (evening & afternoon)." Manilow is in the middle of a nine-show residency run at the venue entitled "The Last, Last UK Concerts." The shows are slated to run through June 9. The setting is fitting because the London Palladium was where the "Mandy" singer performed his first UK gigs in 1978. Manilow's tour schedule can be viewed on 
Peter Frampton will be honored as a recipient of the Les Paul Spirit Award during a private event at the Gibson Garage venue in Nashville on June 9. The annual award, created and presented by the Les Paul Foundation, goes to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the late Les Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music. In addition to the award, a grant from the Les Paul Foundation will be made in the honoree's name to the charity of his choice. Frampton is the fourth recipient of the award, following Bob Weir, Nile Rodgers and U2's The Edge. The Les Paul Spirit Award is made from hand-carved acoustic boards built by Paul, who died in 2009 at age 94, that he used in his home studio. Given the unique nature of the studio pieces which are being used to create them, no two Les Paul Spirit Awards will be exactly the same. Frampton, 74, was diagnosed with a degenerative muscle condition called inclusion body myositis (IBM) in 2019. Despite that health challenge, he continues to write and perform. - Billboard, 5/28/24...... The Swedish five-piece rock band The Hives have teamed up with Spotify for their Spotify Singles to release their rendition of Blue Swede's 1974 hit track "Hooked on a Feeling." Released on March 29 of that year, "Hooked on a Feeling" made history by becoming the first single by a Swedish artist to take the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. "Hooked on a Feeling" has racked up over 660 million streams on Spotify to date, in part thanks to its feature in movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Reservoir Dogs. For their version of the song, which can be streamed on 
Doug Ingle, the original singer and organist of psychedelic rock band Iron Butterfly, died on May 25. He was 78, and a cause of death was not provided. Ingle's son Doug Ingle Jr. shared the news of his father's passing on Facebook, writing, "It's with a heavy heart & great sadness to announce the passing of my Father Doug Ingle. Dad passed away peacefully this evening in the presence of family. Thank You Dad for being a father, teacher and friend. Cherished loving memories I will carry the rest of my days moving forward in this journey of life." Ingle, writer of Iron Butterfly's signature song