Sunday November 6th, 2005                                               

          

New CD's this past week:

- Freddie Jackson - Personal reflections
- Incognito - Eleven (UK release)



Music news headlines this week:

Jaheim Crafting "Classic" Third Album

R&B artist Jaheim has set a Dec. 13 release date for this third album,
"Ghetto Classics." The Divine Mill/Warner Bros. set is led by the single
"Everytime I Think About Her" featuring Jadakiss, which climbed 52-40 last
week on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Although the full track list has yet to be nailed down, "Ghetto Classics"
is tipped to feature such songs as "Masterpiece," "Daddy Thing," "All in
the Name of Love" and "Come Over." Jadakiss' one-time Lox group-mate
Styles P makes an appearance on an as-yet-unannounced cut.
Production was supplied by Scott Storch, KayGee, Giz and the team of Eric
Williams and Wesley Hodges, among others.
"Ghetto Classics" is the follow-up to 2002's "Still Ghetto," which debuted
at No. 8 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 1.19 million copies in the
United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

 



Ronald Isley Convicted Of Tax Evasion

Vocalist Ronald Isley was convicted of tax evasion in a Los Angeles
federal court on Monday (October 31st). The jury found the Isley Brothers
frontman guilty on five counts of tax evasion and one count of failing to
file an income tax return. The 64-year-old entertainer, who will be
sentenced January 9th by U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson, faces up to
26 years in prison.
After a three-week trial, jurors deliberated just a day and a half before
rendering their verdict.
The prosecution's evidence showed that Isley's IRS evasion tactics
included cashing royalty checks issued to other members of the band,
including his dead brother, O'Kelly; demanding performance fees and
royalties in cash; paying his band members in cash; and purchasing a yacht
and two mansions in Missouri in the name of his then-wife or a
corporation.
Isley's previous legal problems included numerous tax and bankruptcy
problems in the '90s, leading to an auction in L.A. bankruptcy court in
2000. Last year the singer, who also performs as alter-ego Mr. Biggs with
R. Kelly, suffered a minor stroke, but has recovered.

 



R&B Singer, Member of Soul Trio Surface Found Dead

David Townsend from the 80's soft soul vocal trio Surface known for such
lush ballads as "Happy", "Closer Than Friends", "Shower Me With Your Love"
and the "The First Time" was found dead inside his Northridge, CA home
Wednesday night (October 26) by a close friend. The cause of death was
unknown. Townsend was 50.
Surface member vocalist/writer/producer David Townsend, was the son of the
late legendary singer/songwriter/producer Ed Townsend. Ed Townsend was
responsible for co-writing "Let's Get It On" by the late great Marvin Gaye
and who had his own solo hit "For Your Love" back in 1958. David
Townsend followed his father's footsteps and wrote, produced, and
performed with numerous artists over the past three decades. These artists
included The Isley Brothers, Sister Sledge, New Edition, Rebbie Jackson,
Jermaine Jackson and the legendary Aretha Franklin.
Surface’s management (RDMJ Entertainment Management spokesman Randy Lopez)
released a statement:. "We are all shocked and saddened by the sudden death
David Townsend. He was one of the most down to earth and nicest person.
He was such a great producer and a major talent. We will miss him."
The other two members of Surface, Bernard Jackson and David "Pic" Conley
released a statement: "We are both shocked and very saddened by our loss of our
close friend David. He was a great producer, songwriter and a great
friend. We will miss him. We also want to say thank you to all our fans
around the world for their love and support during this difficult time."
The dynamic million-selling group Surface has charted numerous times on
the Billboard Magazine Pop and R/B charts over the past two decades.
In 1987, the group's self-entitled album peaked at No 11 on the Billboard
R/B Album chart which also spawned two top ten R/B singles, "Happy" and
"Lately" and a top 25 R/B single "Let's Try Again".
The group's follow-up sophomore album "2nd Wave" which was released in
1989 was an instant smash and was certified platinum. The album peaked on
the top of the R/B album charts at No 5. The album released five singles,
three of which went No 1 on the R/B charts "You Are My Everything"
featuring guest vocalist Regina Belle, "Closer Than Friends" and "Shower
Me With Your Love". The latter song was certified gold and was a crossover
hit on the Billboard Pop 100 singles chart peaking in at No 5 and the
Adult Contemporary chart at No 3. The singles "Can We Spend Some Time
Together" and the up-tempo dance floor cut "I Missed" were top 5 R/B hits.
In 1991, the group's third album "3 Deep" was released and was yet another
success for the group. The first single from the album was titled "The
First Time" which was certified gold and went No 1 on the Billboard R/B,
Pop and Adult Contemporary singles charts. The hits continued with "All I
Want Is You" (peaked at No 8 R/B) and "Never Gonna Let You Down" (peaked
at No 17 on the R/B and Adult Contemporary singles charts). The next
single from the album "You're the One" reached No 24 on the R/B singles
chart.
Due to the group's huge success and releasing numerous hits, the group's
record company decided to release a greatest hit's package "A Nice Time
For Lovin - The Best of Surface" which later spawned the single of the
same name.
Surface was currently in the recording studio laying tracks for their new
upcoming release due later next year. Surface is scheduled to perform at
the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA on December 29 and 30.

 



R. Kelly Still In The Closet

R&B superstar R. Kelly has written 22 chapters for his ongoing musical
saga, "Trapped in the Closet," he said Wednesday backstage at BET's 25th
anniversary concert in Los Angeles. As previously reported, the first 12
installments are collected on the DVD "Trapped in the Closet," due Tuesday
(Nov. 1) via Jive.
Kelly also said he's like to convert "Trapped" into a television show and
that has recently been in the studio recording a new, as-yet-untitled
album. The artist's recent set, "TP3: Reloaded," debuted at No. 1 on The
Billboard 200 and has sold 1.02 million copies in the United States,
according to Nielsen SoundScan.

 



Tyrese’s "Alter Ego"

Tyrese will be making a transition from R&B into rap under the moniker
Black Ty. The artist is at work on an album called "Alter Ego," a double-CD
project that will feature R&B on one disc and hip-hop on the other. Among
the confirmed guests artists is Kurupt.
Tyrese's last album, 2003's "I Wanna Go There," peaked at No. 2 on
Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 16 on The Billboard 200.
Having recently been seen opposite OutKast's Andre 3000 and Mark Wahlberg
in the film "Four Brothers," Tyrese will appear in the Navy-themed
"Annapolis," which will hit U.S. theaters in late January.


 


Ashanti Releases "Collectables"

Ashanti will on Dec. 6 release the compilation "Collectables" (the Inc./Def Jam),
featuring six remixes of singles and album tracks and four newly recorded songs.
New tracks on the disc include "Still On It," featuring Paul Wall and Method Man,
"I Love You," "Show You," and "Found It In You."
The set also assembles remixes of "Rain On Me," featuring Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore
and Hussein Fatal, and "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)." Other guest artists include Nas
("Love Again"), Cam'ron and Juelz Santana ("Only U") Caddillac Tah, ("Still Down"),
Free ("Focus"), and Black Child ("Break Up 2 Make Up").
Ashanti's last album, 2004's "Concrete Rose," has sold 845,000 copies in the United
States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
 

 

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