Sunday February 1rst, 2004
New CD's this past week:
- Nodesha - Nodesha
Music news stories this week:
Teena Marie To Return With New Album
Veteran R&B singer/songwriter Teena Marie
reunites with duet partner Rick James
on her upcoming self-produced Cash Money/Universal Records project. Titled "La
Dona," the album is due in late spring/early summer. Marie and James will pair
on
the track "I Got You." Additional guest collaborations include Gerald Levert on
"A
Rose by Any Other Name" and rappers MC Lyte and Medusa on "The Macking
Game." The set's lead track is "Still in Love," co-produced by Marie and Cash
Money's in-house producer Mannie Fresh.
Signed to Motown in the late '70s, Marie teamed with producer James on her debut
album, "Wild and Peaceful." That 1979 release yielded their top-10 R&B duet,
"I'm
a Sucker for Your Love." She later scored such hits as "I Need Your Lovin'" and
"Square Biz" as well as another memorable duet with James, "Fire and Desire."
Marie moved to Epic Records in 1983; her last release was the 1994 set "Passion
Play" on her own label, Sarat Records.
R. Kelly To Attend The Grammy’s But He Must Avoid
Michale Jackson
Singer R. Kelly, who is facing child
pornography charges in Chicago, was
cleared by a judge on Monday, January 26th, to attend the Grammy Awards in
Los Angeles next month, but the judge added the condition that Kelly must
avoid singer Michael Jackson, according to the Associated Press.
Kelly will be allowed to leave Chicago via bus this week, and must return
to Chicago by February 18th.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers never raised the issue of a meeting
between Kelly and Jackson, who is currently facing child molestation
charges, during the Monday hearing. But Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent
Gaughan took it upon himself to address the issue. Kelly's lawyer, Edward
Genson, said, "What's the difference if someone makes an order not to see
someone he didn't want to see in the first place?"
While Kelly has been nominated for two Grammys, including best
contemporary R&B album for Chocolate Factory and best male R&B
performance, it is still unclear if Jackson will even attend the ceremony.
The two have worked together in the past when Kelly produced two songs for
Jackson, including 1995's "You Are Not Alone" and 2003's "One More
Chance."
Kelly was arrested in June of 2002 and charged with allegedly producing
and disseminating child pornography, and with soliciting a minor to
participate in sex acts on tape or film. The arrest came after a videotape
surfaced depicting the star and what authorities believe was an underage
girl performing numerous sex acts.
Jackson was arrested in November of 2003 and charged with seven counts of
performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14, and two counts of
administering an intoxicating agent, allegedly wine, to a minor.
Both men have professed their innocence and remain free on bail.
The 46th Annual Grammy Awards will be held at the Staples Center in Los
Angeles on February 8th. The show will be broadcast on CBS-TV from 8 to
11:30 p.m. ET.
Faith Evans Arrested On Drug Charges
R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband and
manager, Todd Russaw, were
arrested on Tuesday night, January 27th, after being stopped in their car
on North Central Avenue in Hapeville, Georgia. The couple was initially
pulled over for having an improper tag but the two were subsequently hit
with drug possession charges, according to the Atlanta Journal
Constitution.
Evans was charged with having an improper tag, and two violations of
Georgia's controlled substance act for possession of marijuana and
cocaine. Russaw was charged with possession of powdered cocaine and
possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
On Wednesday, January 28th, Fulton County Magistrate Mike Wallace set bail
at $12,000 for Evans and $11,000 for Russaw. The couple's attorney,
Vincent Dimmock, told reporters, "Speaking for both my clients, these
charges are absolutely ridiculous, especially concerning Ms. Evans. She
was never in possession of any drugs. She asks her fans to pray for her."
The couple is due back in court on February 4th.
Evans, who is a mother of three, was previously married to the Notorious
B.I.G., who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1997. She is the mother
of the rapper's son, Christopher Wallace, Jr.
Evans' last release was 2001's Faithfully, which was certified gold.
Evans' first two sets, 1995's Faith and 1998's Keep The Faith, were both
certified platinum.
Godfather Of Soul James Brown Arrested Again
The man known as the Godfather of Soul,
singer James Brown, was arrested
Wednesday, January 28th, in Aiken, South Carolina, on domestic violence
charges. The 70-year-old performer was booked into the county jail and was
set to appear at a bond hearing.
According to thesmokinggun.com, Brown was arrested after allegedly pushing
his former wife to the ground during a domestic dispute. Tomi Rea Brown,
33, claimed that she suffered scratches and bruises to her hip during the
altercation. The Browns, who married in 2001 and have a young son, took
out an ad in Variety last July to announce their split.
Brown previously served a two-and-a-half-year prison term after being
arrested in 1988 on drug and assault charges. He was convicted in 1998 of
drug-related charges, but was pardoned by the South Carolina Department of
Probation, Parole and Pardon Services last May for all past crimes in the
state, including assault, weapons, and drug charges.
Brown was just recognized last month at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony
as, quote, "one of the most influential musicians of the past 50 years."
Beyoncé Announces Tour With Alicia Keys, Missy
Elliot
Beyonce Knowles, Missy Elliott and Alicia
Keys are heading out on a joint
21-city tour, starting March 17th in San Antonio, Texas, according to the
Destiny Child singer's official website, beyonceonline.com. The tour is
likely to be a mutual admiration society, considering the talent involved.
Elliot said last year that she was a fan of Alicia Keys: "Oh, she's
amazing. I mean, first of all, we always have a lot of different talents
come out, but never somebody who can get out there and play the piano. I
think she contributed and changed what we normally hear from music on an
R&B side."
Meanwhile, Knowles will sing the national anthem prior to Super Bowl
XXXVIII in her hometown of Houston on February 1st.