Sunday March 6th, 2005
New CD's this past week:
None to report
Music news headlines this week:
Stevie Wonder Releases First Single From “A Time To Love”
Beloved pop and R&B hitmaker Stevie Wonder is due to return to the
marketplace May 3rd with his first studio album in 10 years, A Time To
Love. Radio stations will give fans their first taste of the long-awaited
Wonder album via the new single, "What The Fuss," which is available this
month.
Wonder's project is said to feature 14 songs and is expected to showcase
the skills of several special guests, like India.Arie, who reportedly
co-wrote the title tune with Wonder.
Usher & Alicia Keys Top Soul Train Awards
Usher collected four statuettes, and a special honorary award, en route to
becoming the top winner at the Soul Train Music Awards. The 19th annual
ceremony was staged last night (Feb. 28) at Paramount Studios in Los
Angeles.
Heading the list of nominees with five, Usher took home awards for best
R&B/soul single, male ("Confessions Part II"), best R&B/soul or rap dance
cut ("Yeah!"), best R&B/soul album, male ("Confessions") and best R&B/soul
single group, band or duo ("My Boo" with Alicia Keys).
Keys was the night's other big winner with three awards. In addition to
her win for "My Boo," the artist garnered best R&B/soul single, female
("If I Ain't Got You") and best R&B/soul album, female ("The Diary of
Alicia Keys").
Both Usher and Ciara were the male and female recipients of the 2005 Sammy
Davis, Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award. Ciara was also named best
R&B/soul or rap new artist for "Goodies" with Petey Pablo.
The evening's other special honoree was Ice Cube. A founding member of
N.W.A. and Westside Connection, the rapper received the Quincy Jones Award
for outstanding career achievements. Although's he's made inroads in film
as an actor/writer/director, Ice Cube said backstage that he's "never
retiring from hip-hop. It's in my blood. Don't let the suit I have on fool
you."
The 19th annual Soul Train Music Awards were hosted by Brian McKnight,
Fantasia, Nick Cannon and Nicole Richie. The program will air in
first-run, national syndication on March 12 via Tribune Entertainment
Company Distribution.
Here is the complete list of Soul Train Awards winners:
R&B/soul single, female: "If I Ain't Got You," Alicia Keys.
R&B/soul single, male: "Confessions Part II," Usher.
R&B/soul single, group, band or duo: "My Boo," Usher and Alicia Keys.
R&B/soul album, female: "The Diary of Alicia Keys," Alicia Keys.
R&B/soul album, male: "Confessions," Usher.
R&B/soul album group, band or duo: "Destiny Fulfilled," Destiny's Child.
R&B/soul or rap new artist: "Goodies," Ciara.
R&B/soul or rap music video: "99 Problems," Jay-Z.
R&B/soul or rap dance cut: "Yeah!," Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil Jon.
Gospel album: "Live from Another Level," Israel & New Breed.
Levert Won't Be Charged With Assault After Getting Arrested
R&B star Gerald Levert will not face assault charges for his confrontation
with police in Cleveland on Friday. Prosecutor Anthony Jordan said that
there was no evidence the singer caused serious physical harm to patrolmen
Ronald W. Ross and Daniel Lentz.
Levert, 38, was charged with drunken driving, impeding traffic,
obstructing police business and resisting arrest. Police said Levert and a
passenger in his car, James Austin Jr. of Canton, intervened when
authorities stopped a friend of Levert's for speeding at 12:45 A.M.
Ross said he hurt his wrist while dealing with Levert and Lentz said he
hurt his shoulder while trying to detain Austin.
"If these officers were assaulted and injured as a result of that assault,
there should have been a charge of assault on a police officer, a felony,"
said Bob Beck, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association.
Austin, 27, is charged with felonious assault for allegedly punching Lentz
in the face.
Levert was arrested early Friday in Cleveland during a confrontation
with police at a downtown intersection, authorities said.
Levert, 38, was cited on charges of driving under the influence and
impeding the flow of traffic.
He was then arrested on charges of obstructing official business,
resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, police Lt. Wayne
Drummond said.
Levert was driving one of two cars that stopped near where another
motorist had been pulled over for speeding at 12:45 a.m. As people in both
cars approached police for an explanation why the driver had been stopped,
they were told to leave, but refused, police reported.
Drummond said Levert became angry and shoved an officer, who used pepper
spray to subdue him. Levert is a native of Newbury, about 20 miles east of
Cleveland.
"The allegations against Mr. Levert have no merit whatsoever," the
artist's lawyer said in a statement. "In compliance with the law, Mr.
Levert is eagerly awaiting his day in court so that he can not only show
his community and his fans that he is not guilty of any of these charges
but so he can also be fully exonerated.
Toni Braxton Gets Remixed
An upcoming remix project breathes some new life into several of Toni
Braxtonís hits entitled, Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection. The
album features 11 tracks that include some never-before-released
recordings like Joe Clausell's Main Mix of "Spanish Guitar," a club mix of
"Hit the Freeway" by HQ2, mixes of "He Wasn't Man Enough", a remix of
"Maybe" that blends work by HQ2 and fellow DJ duo Dynamix, Frankie
Knuckles' club mix of "Un-Break My Heart" and David Morales' classic mix
of "You're Makin' Me High." The remix album will drop April 12th via
LaFace/Legacy. Meanwhile, Toni Braxton is now a spokesperson for the
American Heart Association, this after being diagnosed with a serious
heart condition called pericarditis. Braxton suffered from chest pains and
fatigue during her run in Aida and first attributed it to being a new
mother. She is now urging women not to take chest pains lightly - and get
them checked as soon as possible.
Mariah Carey Readies For Global Release Of New Disc
Mariah Carey is getting ready for the global release of her first studio
album since 2002's Charmbracelet. Carey announced yesterday that The
Emancipation of Mimi will be released internationally on April 4th. As
previously announced, the U.S. debut is scheduled for April 22nd.