Sunday September 4th, 2005
New CD's this past week:
- Rick James - Rick James forever
- Laurnea - I remember (UK release)
Music news headlines this week:
Aretha Franklin To Duet With Stevie Wonder At “Soul
Train Lady Of Soul Awards”
Aretha Franklin will perform with Stevie
Wonder at the taping of the 10th
Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, taking place September 7th in Los
Angeles. At the show's taping she'll be honored with the prestigious Lena
Horne Award for Lifetime Achievement, as well as presenting the Aretha
Franklin Entertainer Of The Year Award to newcomer Amerie. The syndicated
10th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards begins airing on September
17th. Check your local listings for stations and times.
Franklin told the Los Angeles Daily News that while in L.A. she'll be
meeting with movie producers about an upcoming film project. Franklin was
tight-lipped about the details but did reveal that, quote, "It comes from
Broadway, (but) I have to keep the name under wraps right now. I have the
script, and I like it a lot, and I want to do it." Franklin added that if
all goes well the project could begin filming by Christmas.
Franklin has a handful of West Coast dates lined up for early next month,
beginning on September 4th in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
After that she'll be playing two shows, on September 9th and 10th, at
Universal City, California's Gibson Amphitheatre, followed by one show on
September 14th in San Diego at Humphrey's By The Bay.
Franklin's mini-tour wraps up on September 17th in Santa Barbara at the
Santa Barbara Bowl.
Diana Ross Skips World Music Awards Performance To
Be With Ailing
Diana Ross canceled her performance at
last Sunday's (August 28th) World
Music Awards in Los Angeles due to a family emergency. Ross explained to
the New York Post's Page Six that she missed the award show taping at the
Kodak Theatre explaining that, "My father is ill. I have an 84-year-old
fragile father who has diabetes and he is blind, and whenever family
calls, you have to run. He is my only living parent."
The show's organizer, Michael Levitt, went on to say that, "She called us
personally to let us know the reason she had to decline. It was a very
classy thing for her to do, and we were impressed by her sincerity."
The World Music Awards will air on ABC TV on September 13th at 9 p.m.
Ray J Is Back With New CD "Raydiation"
Ray J is back and poised to take the
entertainment industry by storm with
the upcoming release of his new Knockout/Sanctuary CD "Raydiation" and his
new starring role on the popular UPN series "One on One." The show
premieres Sept 19 while the CD will hit stores the following day,
September 20. The busy entertainer will also continue his high profile
hosting role on the hit BET program "BET.com Countdown" where he has
emerged as the networks most popular talent.
The new album, appropriately titled "Raydiation", has already received
wide acclaim. While it has Ray J's style written all over it, "Raydiation"
is enhanced by the production work of hit makers such as R. Kelly,
Timbaland and Rodney Jerkins, who produced the lead, blossoming single
"One Wish."
Ray J's new album features guest vocals by the likes of Fat Joe (Keep
Sweatin,') Mya (Sexy,) R. Kelly (Quit Actin',) and sister Brandy (War Is
Over).
R&B Vocal Group Public Announcement Ready To
Delight Fans With New Release.
One of R&B music’s strongest, long-lasting
vocal groups, the four men of
Public Announcement have been readying some sizzling new music to delight
their fans, both current and soon-to-be. The popular Chicago quartet,
comprised of Feloney, Earl L.C., Glenn Mac and new member Mar-K, will have
their third CD "When The Smoke Clears" released on October 25 on Boss
Entertainment/Fontana Music.
Leading off with their debut single, "Guessing Games", the fellas are sure
to grab immediate attention with their unmistakable signature sound, with
this smooth, midtempo groove, which is accentuated with a sexy guitar
line.
The new Public Announcement CD contains offerings for both lovers of music
to dance to and those who relish romantic ballads. Dance aficionados will
gravitate toward the club joints, "Put Your Drink Down", which features
guest rappers Gitt It Boyz, from Chingy’s camp and the popping "Freaky In
The Club". Ballad lovers will swoon over "What It Gonna Take" and the
remake of the Rene and Angela classic, "You Don’t Have To Cry". And being
true to the Windy City tradition, Public Announcement throws down on
"Stepper Friend". Fans will enjoy the “sequel” to the group’s memorable
hit , “John Doe,” with "John Doe 2" on this new CD, where “John” himself
weighs in on the affair, along with female guest vocalist Tre Azure.
Public Announcement has regaled music fans since 1998, when they released
their debut CD, “All Work, No Play.” There are few who aren’t familiar
with their smash, “Body Bumping,” which established them as a vocal force
to be taken seriously. Their second CD, “Don’t Hold Back,” yielded some
wildly popular tunes in the controversial “John Doe” and the
Spanish-themed rumpshaker “Mamacita.”