Chris Rock Isn't Laughing
2008-03-24 01:00:14.638814
Click href="http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/chrisrock/articles/story/19400269/video_gallery_chris_rock" target="blank">here to watch Chris Rock's greatest film and stand-up moments.
Here in the Time of Rock, wherein Christopher Julius Rock III rules again as he has ruled before, but only more so — international sweep! colossal forums! better transportation! — promptness counts for much. "There's no such thing as early," Rock himself will tell you, just as his late heroic father often impressed upon him under threat of belt strap. "There's on time and late. I'm always on time." Unsurprisingly, then, he has made it a point to be on time for his Time, which is a very good thing for a dire populace that suddenly seeks racial clarity with historic fervor (no mortal, of course, sifts matters of class and skin divide with sharper acuity than Rock, who is black but sometimes employs the term "a fine mocha" because he is just that precise.) Moreover, he concedes that seizing this seismic American...
Video Gallery: Chris Rock
2008-03-24 05:00:28.984477
Click href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/19551925" target="blank">here for an excerpt of the Chris Rock cover story.
Though Chris Rock had minor success on Saturday Night Live and with the HBO special Big Ass Jokes, his true breakout came in 1996 with the premiere of Bring the Pain. The stand-up special (and subsequent album Roll With the New) introduced the world to a number of instant-classic Rock bits, including "Niggas vs. Black People." The controversial routine is everything that's great about Rock: it's honest, insightful, vulgar and above all hilarious.
value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kpUSElgJcyI&hl=en type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="325" height="275
Why Can't Adam Duritz Get Any Respect?
2008-03-24 20:00:14.156643
For half a second, Adam Duritz is airborne — and then he comes down hard. It's early February, during the second song of a rare Counting Crows small-club show in New York, and a moment ago, Duritz was teetering on a monitor speaker at the edge of the stage. Now, he tumbles backward, dreadlocks flailing, and his head collides with a piano. It looks painful. But Duritz springs back up, not missing a note — though his voice seems to quaver even more than usual as he sings, "Have you seen me lately?"
Then he climbs up onto that same speaker, again and again, like a man who has everything to prove. And maybe he does. Duritz is all too aware that some people hate him. They say his voice is whiny. They say his dreads are fake (which they are). And they don't like his band, either. "For some reason, everyone decided we were a piece of shit," he says a few days after the concert, describing a low point a couple of years back. "So the only thing to do was to go out there and show we weren't."
..."Fifth Beatle" Neil Aspinall dies at 66 in New York
2008-03-24 23:00:17.04327
BEIJING, March 25(Xinhuanet) -- Neil Aspinall, a longtime friend and business associate of the Beatles, died in New York City of lung cancer Sunday night at 66, the surviving band members said Monday. Aspinall became road manager and personal assistant
'Fifth Beatle' Neil Aspinall dead at 66
2008-03-24 18:00:16.289199
LONDON, March 24 (UPI) -- Neil Aspinall, the British business adviser known as the 'Fifth Beatle,' has died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He was 66.The Daily Mail said former Beatle Paul McCartney flew from London during the
'Fifth Beatle' dies
2008-03-24 18:00:16.290896
London - Neil Aspinall, a schoolfriend of Beatles Paul McCartney and George Harrison who managed the band's Apple Corps music empire and was dubbed 'the fifth Beatle', has died, the firm said on Monday. Aspinall was 66 and died in New York after a brief
'Fifth Beatle' loses cancer battle with Sir Paul McCartney by his bedside
2008-03-24 17:00:14.830087
The man known as the 'Fifth Beatle' has died aged 66. Neil Aspinall had been fighting for his life in hospital in New York. Sir Paul McCartney flew out over the weekend to be by his bedside. Aspinall is believed to have been suffering from lung cancer.
'Fifth Beatle' loses his fight to live with Sir Paul McCartney by his bedside
2008-03-24 17:00:14.831864
The man known as the 'Fifth Beatle' has died aged 66. Neil Aspinall had been fighting for his life in hospital in New York. Sir Paul McCartney flew out over the weekend to be by his bedside. Aspinall is believed to have been suffering from lung cancer.
Attorney in Britney Spears case loses appeal (Reuters)
2008-03-24 18:00:15.455215
By Bob Tourtellotte 19 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California court on Monday denied an attorney's bid to challenge an order that gave control of troubled pop star Britney Spears' personal and business affairs to her father, Jamie Spears.A three-judge panel of California's 2nd District Court of Appeals said on Monday an appeal to the conservatorship granted to Jamie Spears cannot be heard by them. The ruling marks the second time attorney Jon Eardley has failed to insert himself into the legal proceedings on Spears' behalf.
"An order granting letters of temporary conservatorship is specifically excluded from those orders made appealable" under...
B.B. King buys club in Miss. hometown (AP)
2008-03-24 08:00:12.272847
1 hour, 32 minutes ago
INDIANOLA, Miss. - B.B. King is the new owner of a juke joint in his Mississippi Delta hometown. Mary Shepard has owned Club Ebony in Indianola for the past three decades. King and other artists have played there throughout the years.A Mississippi Delta Blues Trail Marker outside Club Ebony says Count Basie, Ray Charles, James Brown, Ike Turner are among the musicians who have played there since 1945.
Shepard says she sold the club to the bluesman because she wants to relax and spend time with her family.
Indianola is about halfway between Jackson and Memphis.
Email Story IM Story Printable View Yahoo! Buzz RECOMMEND THIS STORY Recommend It: Not at All Somewhat...Bailey Rae's Hubby Found Dead (E! Online)
2008-03-24 02:00:19.427302
Josh Grossberg Sun Mar 23, 6:34 PM ET
Los Angeles (E! Online) - Jason Rae, the musician-husband of soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae, was found dead Saturday in a London flat of a suspected drug overdose.He was 31.
According to British media reports, police have arrested an unidentified 32-year-old man for allegedly "supplying controlled substances." He was subsequently released on bail.
Rae, who played the saxophone, was scheduled to perform with his band, Haggis Horns, on Sunday night at the HiFi Club in Leeds. That gig has subsequently been cancelled.
No word on his more famous wife's whereabouts or whether she was with him when he died. An autopsy was inconclusive and police are currently waiting on the results of toxicology tests before making a final determination on cause of death.
Corinne Bailey Rae is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist who shot to fame two years ago with her self-titled debut album which spawned the hit, "Put Your Record On." She shared a Grammy Award this year for Album of the Year with Herbie Hancock for her contributions to his new disc, River: The Joni Letters. Last year's Best New Artist nominee was also up for a Grammy this year for her single, Like A Star.
The songstress reportedly met Jason Rae when she attended the University of Leeds and worked as a hat check girl at a local jazz club, occasionally sitting in with various groups when business was slow. The two fell in love and eventually tied the knot in 2001 after which she added his last name to her own.
Per the band's Myspace page, Haggis Horns touts itself as "an eight-piece live funk extravanganza" mixing heavy breakbeat funk, soul, hip-hop and afrobeat "with the virtuosity of trained jazz musicians."
Rae and other members have performed with such acts as Cinematic Orchestra, Nightmares on Wax, Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse among others.
No word yet on funeral arrangements.
...Bailey Rae's husband discovered dead
2008-03-24 09:00:13.614365
Soul star Corinne Bailey Rae's musician husband has been found dead of a suspected drugs overdose. The body of saxophonist Jason Rae, 31, was discovered in a Leeds flat on Saturday. Police have arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of supplying
Beatles sue to block 1962 tapes release
2008-03-24 00:00:13.64758
MIAMI - Lawyers for the Beatles sued Friday to prevent the distribution of unreleased recordings purportedly made during Ringo Starr's first performance with the group in 1962. The dispute between Apple Corps Ltd., the London company formed by the
Beatles' Friend Neil Aspinall Dies at 66
2008-03-24 15:00:14.61808
LONDON -- Neil Aspinall, a longtime friend and business associate of The Beatles, has died in New York City, the surviving band members said Monday. He was 66. Aspinall died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he had been
Beatles' close friend Aspinall dies (Reuters)
2008-03-24 17:00:13.924622
21 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Neil Aspinall, a close friend of The Beatles, died in New York of lung cancer, former band members said on Monday. He was 66.After going to school in Liverpool with Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Aspinall became road manager and personal assistant for the so-called Fab Four, one of the most successful pop bands of the 1960s. He died after receiving care at the Sloan-Kettering hospital in Manhattan.
"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man," McCartney, Ringo Starr and the widows of John Lennon and Harrison said in a statement released by Aspinall's family.
...Beatles' close friend Aspinall dies in NY (Reuters)
2008-03-24 16:00:14.473829
1 hour, 26 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Neil Aspinall, a close friend of The Beatles, died in New York of lung cancer, former band members said on Monday. He was 66.After going to school in Liverpool with Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Aspinall became road manager and personal assistant for the so-called Fab Four, one of the most successful pop bands of the 1960s. He died after receiving care at the Sloan-Kettering hospital in Manhattan.
"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man," McCartney, Ringo Starr and the widows of John Lennon and Harrison said in a statement released by Aspinall's family.
...Beatles' friend Neil Aspinall dies at 66 (AP)
2008-03-24 14:00:17.729931
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Neil Aspinall, a longtime friend of the Beatles who managed their business enterprises and helped make the group a moneymaking phenomenon decades after they split up, has died. He was 66.Aspinall's death was announced Monday in a statement from surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison, and the band's Apple Corps Ltd. company.
Aspinall died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he had been receiving treatment for lung cancer, Sunday night, according to Geoff Baker, who formerly represented both Aspinall and Apple Corps.
Aspinall's wife and five children were by his side; McCartney visited him before his death.
He was a childhood friend of McCartney and Harrison in Liverpool, England. While he didn't contribute musically, he played several key roles in support of the Beatles, most notably as the head of their Apple Corps business, which oversaw the commercial concerns of the group, including licensing.
"I've known Neil many years and he was a good friend. We were blessed to have him in our lives and he will be missed," Starr said in a statement Monday.
Aspinall was the Beatles' first road manager and would drive them to gigs in his van. He later became their personal assistant, and in 1968, he took over the management of Apple Corps and continued to oversee the growth of the Beatles, even after they broke up in 1970.
As head of Apple Corps, Aspinall was executive producer of the hugely successful "Beatles Anthology" album and was behind other successes, including the "Beatles One" album and the recent Cirque du Soleil production "Love," which has been a hit in Las Vegas.
"As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come," the band's statement said.
Aspinall stepped down from Apple Corps last year.
Email Story...Beatles' friend Neil Aspinall dies in New York (Reuters)
2008-03-24 18:00:16.287384
By Christine Kearney 48 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Neil Aspinall, a close friend and former road manager of The Beatles who was sometimes referred to as the fifth member of the band, died in New York of lung cancer, former band members said on Monday. He was 66.Aspinall became road manager and personal assistant for the Fab Four after going to school in Liverpool with Paul McCartney and George Harrison. He was a longtime friend, confidant and overseer of The Beatles' business empire, Apple Corps Ltd., for 40 years.
"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man,"...
Candiria Recruits Isis, DEP For Remix Album
2008-03-24 04:00:21.289585
Candiria has announced a handful of artists that will participate in their upcoming remix album, which will 'include remixes by members of Candiria and other artists.' The following have been revealed thus far: DalekIsisPoleKevin Hufnagel
Closings at Remy Ma's NY shooting trial (AP)
2008-03-24 21:00:15.844943
By SAMUEL MAULL, Associated Press Writer 51 minutes ago
NEW YORK - A lawyer for Grammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma conceded Monday that his client shot a friend she suspected of stealing $3,000 from her but argued that the shooting was an accident — a claim the prosecutor disputed.Defense lawyer Ivan Fisher said Remy Ma (real name: Remy Smith) got into Makeda Barnes Joseph's car after a party at a Manhattan nightclub on July 14, 2007, and demanded that she dump her purse's contents. He said Joseph refused and struggled with the 26-year-old rapper over the bag.
Their hands hit the car's rearview mirror during the tussle, and the gun went off, Fisher said.
"There is no other explanation for why Remy Smith would have chosen that unique moment in time to shoot her," he said.
Joseph, who was shot in the abdomen, testified that she underwent three surgeries during a three-week hospital stay after the shooting.
Fisher said Smith had good reason to believe Joseph had taken the $3,000. He cited the victim's own testimony that she had reached into Smith's purse without consulting her to answer a call on the rapper's cell phone.
Assistant District Attorney Michael McIntosh defined an accident as "an unforeseen occurrence," and he told the jury, "That's not what happened here."
The prosecutor told jurors: "Ms. Smith took an illegal .45-caliber automatic and loaded it with hollow-point bullets and got into Ms. Joseph's car."
Adding that Smith used both hands to cock the weapon as she got in, McIntosh said, "She took every step you had to take to shoot somebody."
The prosecutor said Smith, after shooting Joseph, did not check for wounds, call for medical help or take Joseph to a hospital.
"Instead, she ran," McIntosh said. "The reason she ran was because she knew what happened in the car. Your friend is shot. Do you run or do you call 911?"
The prosecutor said Smith jumped into her $70,000 sport utility vehicle and sped away. He said she slammed the SUV into a parked car a few blocks away, abandoned it and made her way to a friend's apartment.
...Corinne Bailey Rae's husband dead (AP)
2008-03-24 09:00:12.81089
13 minutes ago
LONDON - The husband of Grammy-nominated British singer Corinne Bailey Rae has been found dead.Police say Jason Rae was found in an apartment in the northern English city of Leeds on Saturday. Officers are awaiting results of toxicology tests to determine the cause of death.
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of supplying him with drugs but has been released on bail, officials said.
Thirty-one-year-old Jason Rae was a saxophonist with a funk band, the Haggis Horns.
Bailey Rae's self-titled debut album sold more than 1 million copies in the U.S. after its release in 2006.
The 29-year-old was nominated for song of the year at the Grammy Awards in both 2007 and 2008.
Email Story IM Story Printable View Yahoo! Buzz RECOMMEND THIS STORY Recommend It:...Corinne Bailey Rae's husband found dead (AP)
2008-03-24 11:00:13.425742
1 hour, 36 minutes ago
LONDON - The husband of Grammy-nominated British singer Corinne Bailey Rae has been found dead.Police say Jason Rae was found in an apartment in the northern English city of Leeds on Saturday. Officers are awaiting results of toxicology tests to determine the cause of death.
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of supplying him with drugs but has been released on bail, officials said.
Thirty-one-year-old Jason Rae was a saxophonist with a funk band, the Haggis Horns.
Bailey Rae's self-titled debut album sold more than 1 million copies in the U.S. after its release in 2006.
The 29-year-old was nominated for song of the year at the Grammy Awards in both 2007 and 2008.
Email Story IM Story Printable View Yahoo! Buzz RECOMMEND THIS STORY Recommend It:...Daytime Line-Up Returns To Xfm
2008-03-24 01:00:13.61904
sees the return of daytime presenters to your favourite radio station so get ready, check your pants and strap yourself yourself in for the rollercoaster that is Xfm's Daytime Schedule. So what's new? From 6am until 9am Alex Zane and his Merry Men will
George Michael plans first U.S. tour in 17 years (Reuters)
2008-03-24 21:00:15.288068
By Bob Tourtellotte 18 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - George Michael has a lot of "Faith" in his North American fans.The British pop singer on Monday unveiled plans for his first tour of the United States and Canada in 17 years, beginning June 17 at San Diego Sports Arena. The 22-date arena trek runs through August 3 at the BankAtlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Tickets for the "25 Live" tour go on sale to the general public on April 6th, a week after fan club members get first dibs. Ticketmaster currently lists one show, the July 7 gig at Saint Paul, MN., where the top price is $175.
...George Michael to tour North America (AP)
2008-03-24 22:00:13.242726
1 hour, 15 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Ladies and gentlemen, George Michael is giving North America one more try. The pop star is gearing up for his first tour of the United States and Canada in 17 years, opening a multi-city "25 Live" tour in San Diego on June 17, Michael announced Monday. The tour is scheduled to wrap in Sunrise, Fla., on Aug. 3,Other stops include Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Boston, Toronto and Montreal.
Michael, 44, sang in the '80s pop group Wham! before embarking on a successful solo career. His hits include "Faith," "Father Figure" and "One More Try."
He'll release his greatest-hits album "Twenty Five" in the U.S. on April 1.
___
On the Net:
George Michael:
http://www.georgemichael.com/
Email Story IM Story Printable View Yahoo! Buzz...Hip-Hop Rumors: T.I. Preaches At Church!? Polow's Big Man-Hug! A Relative Disses The S**t Outta Juvenile!
2008-03-24 11:00:13.427957
I KNOW IT WAS JUST MENTIONED, BUT... But, we had a lot of fun with yesterday's rumors. You have to see the trailer for Suge's reality show. DMX and Dennis 'Man/Woman' Rodman have beef. Al Sharpton Sons Fox. Davey D. Scares the crap out of a Fox reporter.
Hip-hop, Taiwanese style
2008-03-24 04:00:21.295697
Employing a host of traditional music styles, Kou Chou Ching successfully creates a uniquely Taiwanese brand of hip-hop STAFF REPORTER Kou Chou Ching, the thinking music lover's hip-hop crew, keeps it real and local. PHOTO: COURTESY OF KOU CHOU CHING
Illnesses cause 2 more debuts at Met (AP)
2008-03-24 08:00:12.633133
By RONALD BLUM, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 33 minutes ago
NEW YORK - At this rate, the surgeon general could issue a warning that singing at the Metropolitan Opera can be hazardous to one's health.Illnesses have knocked out stars at dizzying speed, with six singers making unscheduled debuts in leading roles over 13 days.
Three tenors appeared as Tristan, one of whom stopped the show when a set malfunction sent him tumbling into the prompter's box. A soprano took over Isolde in mid-performance, and two other sopranos were thrust into Verdi operas on short notice.
Some singers spend years waiting a chance to sing on the Met's stage, working their way up at regional theaters with the hope they can become the next Luciano Pavarotti or Birgit Nilsson. Various viruses have catapulted those waiting in the wings into the spotlight, usually with not even a single stage rehearsal.
Angela Meade, a 30-year-old soprano still in vocal school, hadn't sung a single professional performance before her debut Friday night as Elvira in Verdi's "Ernani."
A little more than 16 hours later, tenor Robert Dean Smith sang Tristan in a performance simulcast to theaters worldwide. He jetted in from Berlin on Thursday, had a few piano rehearsals Friday and planned to head back to Europe on Sunday. Even Met General Manager Peter Gelb joked that the revival of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" was "cursed."
The string of substitute Tristans may end. Ben Heppner, who had been set to star alongside Deborah Voigt in this highly anticipated revival, planned to fly to New York on Sunday night and intends to sing Tuesday and Friday, according to his manager, Bill Guerri. Heppner missed the first four performances because of a blood-borne infection that abscessed in his pelvic region.
Both weekend debuts were warmly received. There's a distinguished list of singers who made unscheduled Met debuts because of illnesses, including by Placido Domingo, Astrid Varnay, Roberta Peters, Cornell MacNeil, Renee Fleming and Salvatore Licitra.
A winner of the 2007 Met National Council Auditions, Meade replaced Sondra Radvanovsky (viral infection) in "Ernani," which before this revival had not been performed at the Met since 1985.
"I was a little nervous the first 15 minutes," Meade said.
No wonder. She enters for the first time to sing her cavatina "Ernani! Ernani, involami," filled with coloratura trills.
Meade, a student at Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts, showed a vibrant voice with nice color and an assured technique. She sang like an old pro from start to finish, combining for moving duets with Marcello Giordani (Ernani) — she happens to share the same voice teacher as Giordani, Bill Schuman.
...Israeli singer embraces Britney, Apple for success (Reuters)
2008-03-24 10:00:14.399615
By Christine Kearney 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Folksy French-Israeli singer Yael Naim found commercial success after her song "New Soul" played in Apple's MacBook Air laptop ads, pushing the song to No. 7 on U.S. music chart Billboard's Hot 100.She already had gained fame for what some saw as a comic choice to cover pop singer Britney Spear's "Toxic," singing a soulful, poignant version of the commercial hit while playing piano.
But Naim, 29, whose self-titled new album was just released in the United States two months earlier than originally planned following the success of the Apple ad, says she's not worried...
Lawyer in Britney Spears case loses appeal (Reuters)
2008-03-24 19:00:13.803735
By Bob Tourtellotte 13 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California court on Monday denied an attorney's bid to challenge an order that gave control of troubled pop star Britney Spears' personal and business affairs to her father, Jamie Spears.But attorney Jon Eardley vowed to continue his battle on behalf of the 26-year-old singer, saying he will now challenge the conservatorship order on two key issues.
A three-judge panel of California's 2nd District Court of Appeals said on Monday an appeal to the overall conservatorship granted to Jamie Spears cannot be heard because "granting letters of temporary conservatorship is specifically excluded...
Longtime Beatles friend and business associate Neil Aspinall dies in New York
2008-03-24 23:00:17.914346
Nekesa Mumbi Moody, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK - Neil Aspinall, a longtime friend of the Beatles who managed their business enterprises and helped make the group a moneymaking phenomenon decades after they split up, has died. He was 66. Aspinall's
Longtime friend of Beatles Neil Aspinall dies
2008-03-24 16:00:14.857531
LONDON - Neil Aspinall, a longtime friend and business associate of The Beatles, has died in New York City, the surviving band members said Monday. He was 66. Aspinall died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he had been
Madonna song used for Japanese TV drama (Reuters)
2008-03-24 06:00:13.697982
By Julian Ryall Mon Mar 24, 3:16 AM ET
TOKYO (Hollywood Reporter) - A ballad from Madonna's upcoming album will provide the theme music for a new Japanese television show, the first time the pop diva has licensed a tune for a TV drama here.The song, "Miles Away," will be used for the show "Change," which is scheduled to begin airing in April. It is taken from Madonna's "Hard Candy" album, which is set for release here April 30.
The show stars local heartthrob Takuya Kimura in the tale of a small-town elementary school teacher who is suddenly -- if improbably -- propelled into the position of prime minister of...
Monastery of sound goes universal (Reuters)
2008-03-24 00:00:14.137968
By Andrew Hough Sun Mar 23, 8:12 PM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - A group of Gregorian chanting monks are on the cusp of international fame, after being signed by one of the world's biggest music labels.The Abbey of the Holy Cross monks, whose heavenly notes are enjoyed by Pope Benedict, have signed with London-based Universal Records, the company told Reuters on Monday.
The record giant, home to international artists including Amy Winehouse, Bryan Adams and Eminem, will produce the Austrian-based choir's album, which is due for worldwide distribution later this year, it said.
The company discovered the choir, from the world's second...
Music Review: Ricky Skaggs (AP)
2008-03-24 13:00:13.182728
By STEVEN WINE, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, "Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947" (SkaggsFamilyRecords)To kick off his latest record, Ricky Skaggs rips into the fierce mandolin introduction of "Goin' Back to Old Kentucky" the same way Bill Monroe did when he was busy birthing bluegrass.
Throughout "Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass," Skaggs and his crack band Kentucky Thunder remain faithful to the original renditions of '40s tunes by Monroe and his "Original Bluegrass Band," which included Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. There are the same keening vocals and the same solos at breakneck speed, only now they're in stereo.
Skaggs and his band often replicate the original tempos, solos and intros, even down to the slow guitar strum that opens "Mansions for Me." But the group does take a few liberties — Cody Kilby's jaw-dropping guitar work highlights the instrumental "Bluegrass Breakdown," while Lester Flatt was content merely to play G runs over and over.
Scruggs — the lone surviving member of Monroe's group — makes a guest appearance on the opening cut. In the end, the 12-song set strikes a proper balance between reverent tribute and good fun, and the record serves as a fine showcase for Skaggs and company. At times they play faster than a person can listen, and all too soon "Honoring the Fathers" is over.
CHECK THIS OUT: "Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong" features marvelous two-part harmony by Skaggs and Paul Brewster, singing high tenor and higher tenor.
Email Story IM Story Printable View Yahoo! Buzz RECOMMEND THIS STORY...Music royalties group sues clubs, restaurants (Reuters)
2008-03-24 20:00:13.271088
44 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - ASCAP, a performing rights group that collects royalties on behalf of songwriters and copyright owners, said on Monday it sued 29 nightclubs, bars and restaurants across the United States for playing music in public without a license.The copyright infringement lawsuits were filed as "a last resort" after frequent contact with the defendants over the last one to two years, said Vincent Candilora, ASCAP's senior vp licensing.
"In most cases, they probably just figured that we would go away," Candilora told Reuters.
The group, which represents more than 315,000 members,...
On Beatles' track
2008-03-24 10:00:14.401338
New Delhi, Mar 23 (UNI) Long after the Beatles imbibed Indian spiritualism and classical music, a rock star from Russia is scorching down their track. Known to his fans simply as BG, Boris Grebenshchikov is awestruck by India and all things Indian. India
Pamela Anderson's brief marriage ends (AP)
2008-03-24 22:00:12.786057
1 hour, 6 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES - Pamela Anderson has ended another brief marriage.The "Baywatch" star's nuptials with Rick Salomon were officially annulled Monday, according to documents filed in Superior Court.
The documents listed fraud as the reason for the annulment but did not include further details.
Salomon and Anderson, 40, were married Oct. 6 in Las Vegas then separated Dec. 13.
Messages left for Anderson's attorney Larry Ginsberg were not immediately returned. The documents did not name a lawyer for Salomon, and he could not be reached.
Court papers entered Friday showed that Salomon agreed to a filing by Anderson in late February requesting that the marriage should be voided. No spousal supported was included.
Anderson was previously married to Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee and rocker Kid Rock. Rock and Anderson each filed for divorce in 2006 after less than four months of marriage.
Salomon, known for making a sex videotape with then-girlfriend Paris Hilton, was previously married to actress Shannen Doherty for nine months.
Email Story IM Story Printable View Yahoo! Buzz...Raconteurs Release Album in a Hurry
2008-03-24 07:00:13.796028
Jack White's rock n' roll super group The Raconteurs have decided to put out a release date for their sophomore album, apparently just weeks after it was completed. The makeup of the band consists of musicians from other groups. Jack White and ex-wife
Remy Ma Trial Update: Victim Admitted Shooting Was Accident, Claims Defense
2008-03-24 21:00:15.848099
Grammy nominated rapper Remy Ma was back in Manhattan Criminal Court today (Mar. 24) for the closing arguments in her assault trial. According to the Associated Press, the Bronx rapper's attorney, Ivan Fisher, told jurors in his closing statements that
SOHH Exclusive: Diddy's Boy Band, Day 26, Warns The Competition, "We Are A Triple Threat"
2008-03-24 05:00:27.575796
Diddy's male R&B group, Day 26, is preparing to drop their debut album on Tuesday (Mar. 25). In this SOHH exclusive, we talk to the Bad Boys about how they're coming to take over the game, the video for their first single, 'Got Me Going,' and the group
Spears goes for laughs on CBS' `Mother' (AP)
2008-03-24 22:00:12.3944
By ERIN CARLSON, Associated Press Writer 9 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Britney the Trainwreck showed how she can still be Britney the Performer.Britney Spears made her much-hyped guest appearance Monday night's "How I Met Your Mother," submersing her tumultuous personal life and portraying a sweet-natured receptionist, Abby, with a crush on unlucky-in-love Ted (Josh Radnor).
Problem is: Ted only has eyes for Abby's boss Stella (Sarah Chalke), a dermatologist. Ted's goal: to win a date by his 10th session with Stella. Nothing's working.
Finally, he figures: "The receptionist — that's my way in."
So he brings Abby coffee in a bid to impress Stella, but it charms Abby even more. During one visit, Abby trails him and Stella into an office to deliver a book — a self-help tome called "The Power of Me" — that he left behind in the waiting room.
The 26-year-old pop star, who previously was on a 2006 episode of "Will and Grace," appeared fresh-faced and relaxed, capably filling the small role. She was also the host and musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" in 2000.
Of course, she's made news in recent months not for being Britney the Performer but for her split with ex-husband Kevin Federline in late 2006, their subseqent custody battle, Spears' bizarre behavior and two hospitalizations.
Spears' cameo on the CBS sitcom may mark the beginnings of a more successful comeback attempt than last September's MTV Video Music Awards.
She remains under the conservatorship of her father, James.
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On the Net:
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/
...Taping of early show not authorized, Beatles say
2008-03-24 10:00:14.402884
Miami -- Lawyers for the Beatles sued Friday to prevent the distribution of unreleased recordings purportedly made during Ringo Starr's first performance with the group in 1962. The dispute between Apple Corps Ltd., the London company formed by the
Tejano singer Navaira hurt in bus crash (AP)
2008-03-24 04:00:21.281786
By CHRIS DUNCAN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 45 minutes ago
HOUSTON - Grammy-winning Tejano singer Emilio Navaira was critically injured Sunday when his band's bus crashed on a highway in the metro area, city and hospital officials said.Navaira and his band Rio had performed at a Houston nightclub on Saturday night. At about 5 a.m. Sunday, the band's bus slammed into traffic barrels on Interstate 610 northbound in Bellaire, a well-to-do enclave within the city west of downtown Houston, Bellaire police Sgt. Daniel Kerr said.
Navaira was one of eight passengers on the bus who were injured, said Houston Assistant Fire Chief Omero Longoria. Navaira was listed in critical condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was being treated in the intensive care unit, said hospital administrator Lisa Lagrone.
He had surgery Sunday to remove a blood clot in his head, said Joe Casias, his agent, who was at the hospital with the hospital.
"The next 24 hours are very critical," Casias said. "....on behalf of his family, we hope his fans will pray for Emilio."
Navaira remained in critical condition early Monday, said Casey Smith, the hospital's operations administrator.
The bus was the only vehicle involved, Kerr said. Initial news reports, based on video from traffic cameras at the scene, had said three vehicles were involved.
Navaira, 45, and Rio have released more than a dozen albums, including "Acuerdate" that won the 2003 Grammy for best Tejano album.
According to the band's Web site, Navaira was born in San Antonio and earned a music scholarship from Texas State. In 1989, he formed the band with brother Raul, who was among those who suffered minor injuries, two Houston television stations reported.
Five people were taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where their conditions were not immediately known, Longoria said. A hospital spokeswoman would not give out any information, citing health privacy laws.
Two others were treated at Memorial Hermann and released, Lagrone said.
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...Tejano star Navaira critically injured in crash (Reuters)
2008-03-24 05:00:26.630514
46 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tejano music star Emilio Navaira was in critical condition late on Sunday in a Houston hospital after his tour bus struck traffic barriers, the Houston Chronicle reported.The Grammy-winning singer was thrown through the windshield and suffered life-threatening head injuries. Navaira, 45, was among eight people injured, the Chronicle said.
The San Antonio native and his band won a Grammy award in 2003 for best Tejano album.
(World Desk Americas)
Email Story...Tejano star Navaira may not survive injuries: doctor (Reuters)
2008-03-24 20:00:12.791407
35 minutes ago
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Grammy-winning Tejano music star Emilio Navaira may not survive severe brain injuries from a Sunday morning bus crash, the neurosurgeon overseeing his treatment said on Monday.Navaira underwent two hours of emergency surgery to relieve a large blood clot on the surface of his brain underneath the skull, and he has been put into a chemically induced coma, said Dr. Alex Valadka.
"There is a chance he may not make it," Valadka said during a Monday news conference at Memorial Hermann hospital in Houston. "(The clot) was pushing on the brain, causing a lot of pressure," he said.
...Timberlake donates $200,000 in Memphis (AP)
2008-03-24 19:00:14.68604
39 minutes ago
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Justin Timberlake has made two separate donations of $100,000 each to the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Foundation.The 27-year-old area native, who was in Memphis for filming on the independent movie "The Open Road," presented the checks to the two groups last week at the museum.
Timberlake, who grew up in the Memphis suburb of Millington, became a star as part of the boy band 'N Sync. He has since become a best-selling solo artist. He also has appeared in the films "Alpha Dog" and "Black Snake Moan" and voiced a character in "Shrek the Third."
Timberlake said he donated the money because music education and keeping Memphis' music legacy vibrant are important to him.
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