Prince to headline Coachella music fest

Purple rain was to fall in the desert Saturday night when Prince was scheduled to play his much-anticipated headlining performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Prince's concert, the centerpiece of the festival, was announced only two weeks ago, adding a high dosage of star power to the ninth annual Southern California music festival. The Purple One was easily the most in-demand act to see among the 125-plus bands playing over the weekend.Paul Tollett, the founder of Coachella and head of concert promoter Goldenvoice, declined to say how much Prince's payday for the performance was but said a figure of $4.8 million that had been reported was incorrect.
Tollett had pursued Prince since the festival's first edition in 1999. Prince has rarely performed festivals in his career, and Coachella -- the unofficial start to the summer's festival season -- promised to be his most high-profile gig since playing the Super Bowl last year.Prince was scheduled to take the main stage shortly before 11 p.m. PDT, after performances by Death Cab for Cutie, Kraftwerk and the newly reunited Portishead. Friday night's shows were headlined by surfer singer-songwriter Jack Johnson. Sunday night's festivities are to be headlined by Roger Waters.Coachella music festival: http://www.coachella.com Source:boston.com

Kitty Wells: Queen of Country Music to Open in August 2008

Nashville, TN -- The Country Music Hall of Fame(r) and Museum will pay tribute to the genre's first female superstar, Kitty Wells, with the cameo exhibition Kitty Wells: Queen of Country Music. The exhibit will open in the Museum's East Gallery on August 15, 2008, and will run through June 2009.

"Kitty Wells is, quite simply, a trailblazer," said Museum Director Kyle Young. "Her many hits were sung from a woman's point of view, something that was new to country music at that time. She was marketed as a solo performer in an industry where women previously had performed as members of family groups. And her success in selling records and concert tickets led record companies to open their doors to women artists. Many of contemporary country music's biggest stars are women, but Kitty Wells is the prototype."

Born Muriel Deason, the Nashville native grew up surrounded by music: Her father and uncle were country musicians, her mother a gospel singer. In 1934, during the height of the Great Depression, 15-year-old Wells dropped out of school to take a job ironing shirts at the Washington Manufacturing Company. She also formed a group – the Deason Sisters – with her cousin Bessie Choate, and they began performing regularly on the radio.

Three years later, Wells married singer Johnnie Wright, and the two of them, along with Wright's sister Louise, performed as Johnnie Wright and the Harmony Girls. In 1939, Wright and Jack Anglin formed the duo Johnnie & Jack, and Wells performed with them as the "girl singer" on radio shows throughout the South. It was during this time that Wright began to refer to his wife as "Kitty Wells," a name taken from a popular old-time country song.

Johnnie & Jack took a hiatus during World War II, but reunited postwar and, accompanied by Wells, moved to Shreveport to join influential country radio show the Louisiana Hayride. During this time, RCA Records signed both Johnnie & Jack and Wells to the label, but the eight sides cut by Wells were poorly promoted and distributed, and no hits materialized. Johnnie & Jack, however, scored a breakthrough in 1951 with their Latin-flavored tune "Poison Love," and the Grand Ole Opry lured them back to Nashville.

By this time, Wells had three children and was ready to halt her career. Instead, a chance meeting between Wright and Decca Records executive Paul Cohen in 1952 jumpstarted it. Wells had previously sent a demo to Cohen, but had not received a reply. When Cohen attended a Johnnie & Jack performance on Ernest Tubb's Midnite Jamboree, Wright asked Cohen if he would be interested in signing Kitty. Cohen said yes, and mentioned that he had a song in mind for her: "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels."

Wells wasn't enamored of the tune, an answer song to Hank Thompson's hit "The Wild Side of Life," but decided to take a chance on it. The epochal single, with its premise that deceitful men are responsible for fallen women, gave voice to the feelings of countless women in postwar America and soared to the top of the country charts, where it remained for six weeks. The record sold more than 800,000 copies.

The song's runaway success earned Wells an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry cast, and during the 1950s she became the Opry's first female singing star. More importantly, her unbridled success opened the doors of Nashville's recording studios to dozens of female artists. Wells' sales triumph decimated the heretofore prevailing notion that women could not sell records, and she paved the way for subsequent superstars such as Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and many others.

Wells' follow-up hits, all produced by Owen Bradley and featuring her trademark gospel-touched vocals and tearful restraint, included "Release Me," "Makin' Believe," "A Woman Half My Age" and dozens more. She garnered top female vocalist honors in country trade magazines from 1952-1965, and starred with Wright in their own syndicated television show in 1968. Wells was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976; in 1991, she was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the first female country artist to be thus honored. Wells and Wright continued to perform throughout the 1990s.

Kitty Wells: Queen of Country Music will be accompanied by an ongoing series of programs throughout the exhibit's duration.

http://www.cybergrass.com

Polenzani gets third annual Sills Award

NEW YORK - Tenor Matthew Polenzani was selected Tuesday to receive the third annual Beverly Sills Artist Award from the Metropolitan Opera.

The award, for American singers from aged 25-to-40 who have appeared in featured solo roles with the Met, carries a $50,000 prize.

Baritone Nathan Gunn won in 2006 and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato in 2007.

The 39-year-old Polenzani made his Met debut in 1997 and appears there next starting April 26 as Belmonte in Mozart's "Die Entfuehrung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio)." He received acclaim as David in Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg" and Tamino in Mozart's "Die Zauberfloete (The Magic Flute)." He also has sung as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, The Royal Opera, the Paris Opera and the Vienna State Opera.

Amy Winehouse's album ultimatum

Amy Winehouse has been ordered by her record company to stay out of trouble if she wants to release another album.
The troubled singer - who has had a well-documented battle with drug addiction - was given the ultimatum by bosses at Universal who are dismayed by her recent behaviour.
A source close to Amy - who was ordered into rehab earlier this year by the label's European chief Lucian Grainge after he saw footage of her smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine - said: "Amy has been reminded of her responsibilities. Unless she is clean she will not be allowed to release another album.
"She took notice when Lucian talked to her earlier this year and agreed to go to rehab. But she didn't take it seriously enough.
"They would never release her from her deal, they would just not put an album out."
Amy - whose Grammy Award-winning second album Back to Black catapulted her to worldwide fame - recently scrapped plans to record her third LP in the Bahamas.
Universal bosses now accept it is unlikely her album will be released until 2009 and are urging her to get help.
The source added to Britain's The Sun newspaper: "The label were not impressed. She has been warned about her behaviour and needs to keep the standards up."

Music News http://www.nzherald.co.nz

Snoop Dogg writes a book

Hollywood is full of surprises. This time it’s not some stupid children’s book about mermaid and the pirate written by Katie Price. No, it’s glamorous gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg who is working on the book ‘Where’s the Cheese’.

This will be series of urban books illustrated by his cousin Joe Cool. The idea is to “help city youngsters cope with the problems that can arise in their environment.”

The main character is Lil Mouse and her constant quest for cheese, says allhiphop.com. Not bad, Snoop! Big respect and just a lil bit of bitchiness: hey, were you having munchies from weed when you got the idea for your book?

Music news

Britney Spears: The Secret Video Diaries

According to several sources, Britney Spears has reportedly been keeping a video diary chronicling all her problems for the last six months or so.
Oh, and she’s is threatening to release them online or on MTV.
As well as rants about her mother Lynne Spears, father Jamie Spears, sister Jamie Lynn Spears, and friends, the singer reveals intimate information about her ex, Justin Timberlake, and her one-time rivalry with Christina Aguilera.
“Britney Spears’ video diaries are currently the talk of the Tinseltown elite,” said a source. “Her high-profile friends and exes - including Justin - knew what she was up to but assumed she was just filming herself as a form of therapy. If she does decide to go public with some of this footage, it will be explosive.”

Eminem WIll Perform At Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Party

Rapper Eminem will give a rare performance in June, when he performs at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday party.
According to reports, organizers contacted Eminem last month and he agreed to perform for the former South African president and former head of the African National Congress (ANC).
While Eminem's name had surfaced in earlier reports about the celebration, it was not clear if he would take part in the event.
Fellow rapper Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith are hosting the star-studded celebration, which takes place June 27 in London’s Hyde Park.
Eminem will join a growing roster of stars that will pay tribute to Mandela, who was imprisoned from 1964 until 1990 for opposing apartheid.
The concert, which is expected to draw over 45,000 people, will help raise money for Mandela’s 46664 AID’s charity.
Other performers confirmed for the event include Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Razorlight, Keane and others.
According to reports, The Spice Girls, Sir Paul McCartney and U2 may also join the bill but these artists are not confirmed.

Music News : Forum.trshady.com

Lil' Wayne Album Release Delayed

Lil' WayneLil' Wayne's long awaited new album Tha Carter III's release date has been pushed back - to allow the rapper more time to create an LP that will "stick with you forever."

The star - real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. - was set to release his latest hip-hop offering in May, but the release has been delayed until June, according to music site SOHH.Com.

The hip-hop star's upcoming LP will be his first solo release since 2005's smash hit Tha Carter II, and is set to complete the rapper's Tha Carter trilogy of albums.

But the star has defended the setback, insisting the album is worth waiting for: "It's one of those albums people are really waiting on, it will stick with you forever. I'm taking my time with it."

Even though fans will have to wait an extra month for the album, the LP's first single "Lollipop" has proved a hit, shooting up to number four on the U.S. Hot 100 chart last week.

Music News : Starpulse.com

Jennifer Lopez asks Tom Cruise to be godfather to her twins ...

The singer's husband, Marc Anthony, is supposedly against the plan
Jennifer Lopez has supposedly asked Tom Cruise to be godfather to her recently born twins, according to The Metro.

The newspaper says Lopez's husband, Marc Anthony, is opposed to the idea. Anthony is a Roman Catholic, and is supposedly concerned about Cruise's standing as a senior scientologist.

The paper quotes an anonymous source close to the couple as saying, "Marc wasn't sure if it was a good idea but in the end Jennifer managed to convince him to agree. Tom is delighted."

Cruise is reported to have spent over £100,000 on presents for the twins already, and is said to have paid for a fish tank to be installed in their nursery.

Beyonce and Jay-Z married!

So this was true the “Crazy in love” couple was planning to have a secret wedding. The secret isn’t completely revealed yet, but sources say it is obvious cause all of Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s friends and family are in town and booked rooms all in one hotel.

After six years of dating the couple finally tied the knot. Lots used to say it was never gonna happen, but they were wrong. According to some rumor Jay-Z proposed Beyoncé Knowles last year during the Cannes film festival.

There hasn’t been such a big wedding gossip so far and this one is of a high importance. Both of the A list singers are extremely successful and talented, it is great they could make it this far. I wonder what the wedding was like. Beyoncé and Jay-Z both have very pretentious and expensive tastes; I believe it was “big white wedding” type.

Music News: GlamourVanity

Mariah Carey Discusses Her Single-Packed New Album, "E=MC2," And More In An Expanded Version Of Her Billboard Cover Story

On a recent Monday morning, Mariah Carey flew the red-eye from New York to Los Angeles, stopped by Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show to chat, recorded a background vocal track for the song "I Stay in Love" for her upcoming album, then went through hair and makeup and recorded a video for Wal-Mart's "Soundcheck" series, which will be used as bonus footage online and played in stores. By the time all of this was done, it was just past noon. Her afternoon consisted of another radio interview on rhythmic KPWR (Power 106) Los Angeles, and then a return to the studio at night to work on mastering the album. For Carey, "E=MC2"—due April 15 via Island Def Jam— is the representation of her formula for success, and it's one that requires an extreme expenditure of energy. After the comeback success of 2005's "The Emancipation of Mimi," 38-year-old Carey is in overdrive to make "E=MC2" another hit. A multitude of promotional plans—from mobile initiatives to copious TV appearances—are designed to appeal to fans of the classic balladeer Carey and her current hip-hop incarnation. Mariah Carey made time during her busy schedule to sit down with Billboard and chat about her new album, her Elizabeth Arden fragrance, voice maintenance and much more.

How do you come up with lyrics?

I do write down phrases or things that I'm thinking of and keep them in the book. I like to see that, OK, I was doodling and I was thinking of this. With "We Belong Together," I had written that down that phrase and when we were writing the song, it was right there and it was just very obvious. Even "Migrate" on "E=MC2," we'll be at my apartment, and let's say it's getting a little bit light out, and we're upstairs in the Moroccan Room. I'll be working on something and we'll listen to it up there because I have a good sound system there [but then] I'll say, 'We have to migrate [to the] Mermaid Room!' It's a room that's inspired by water and sand, but it has blackout shades as opposed to the light of day, like a media room.

You write or co-write almost all your songs—what's your process? What inspires you to write?

For each album, I try to have a book that I write the whole thing in. This was a long time ago. I don't have birthdays, I only have anniversaries [laughs]. But actually, this was the last birthday party I had . . . I think it was my 21st birthday, even though I'm only 12. We had it in advance [laughs]. Cyndi Lauper came to the party and I've always been a big fan of hers since I was growing up. She gave me this book, and I wound up writing the whole "Music Box" album in this book, which I still have. Jay-Z said something to me that was really interesting, and I don't even know if he really remembers this. He's known me for a long time, and he's like, "You need to use some of your phrases in your music." I have my own little slang that I make up and say stupid stuff just for laughs. [On] the song "O.O.C."— that's a Swizz Beatz track—it means, "Out of control." So me and my friends will say that to each other, like, "OK, you're a little O.O.C. right now, tone it on down." Da Brat, who's a really good, close friend of mine since we worked on "Always Be My Baby," we wrote the lyrics together and it was so fun. By saying [sings], "I get so O.O.C./So out of control, baby," we could explain it. When somebody was helping me type up the lyrics, and they wrote "Out of Control" in parenthesis [next to the song title], I was like, "Get rid of that. It's 'O.O.C.'! Let them figure it out! It's not that tough! I say it in the next line!"

What's your ideal schedule?

I'm kind of a nocturnal person. I don't really go outside during the day much, because I'm usually sleeping; I need like 15 hours of sleep before I sing. I have to schedule in days off for vocal rest. A lot of people say, 'What do you mean she needs this day off for that?' And it's like, well, I do. My vocal chords are very different than most people's -- even though they're strong, they're different, because I actually have nodules that are actually helpful in hitting certain high notes. But they require maintenance, and that's why you'll talk to me, like today, on a not-that-much sleep day, and I don't know if I could hit any notes today [Laughs.]

What else do you do in terms of voice maintenance ­ you've often called it 'your instrument.' The days of rest are really it. I sit here with my throat sprays, and spraying water and drinking a lot of water is kind of the only thing I can do. A lot of people get obsessive with trying to take things for their throat ­ it doesn't work the same for me. And I just got over the flu, so that can be something that will stop me in my tracks. But sometimes I'll sing better with a cold, as long as it's not in my throat. It's weird. My voice has a mind of it's own [Laughs]. You have to maintain it, and you have to have these vocal rest days. I'll be doing what you're doing, just writing notes instead of talking. It's total silence, and sometimes I'll whisper softly. It's not good to whisper for your voice, it's not good to stage whisper.

Have you thought about touring for this album? It's come up, and I'm probably going to do it, but I don't know exactly how we're going to do it or when. I'm thinking probably September. But I think it's important to tour with this album, because there are so many songs that I really want to sing live, that I really enjoy. Fun songs, like "I'm That Chick" or "O.O.C.," and then the ballads, of course. I really want to do "I Wish You Well" and "I Stay in Love" and "Bye Bye."

Do you ever think about surpassing the Beatles with their 20 No. 1s? I do, because people bring it up. [laughs] But it's not like I sit around thinking about that type of stuff while I'm creating something. I did write this record in terms of wanting it to be a lot of songs that could potentially be singles, because people like that.

What else do you have going on right now besides music? I did a perfume, and that's something where I didn't just say "OK, do this for me." This was very much a creation and a collaborative moment with Elizabeth Arden and the people that worked there. It did take a little bit ­ a lot ­ of my time, and I'm very grateful 'cause it's by the grace of God, it's been a big success for me. It just got nominated for a Fifi Award! [By the Fragrance Foundation for best Women's Luxe fragrance.] It's a big deal! It's like major, people. It's been really cool. But the point is, anything else that I want to do does take away from the old school get in the studio and make the album. Get to singin'!

Music News: Billboard.Com

Christina Aguilera - Five Fun Facts

1. In 1992, Christina Aguilera belted out the national anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team and the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. The 11-year-old was the youngest person to perform the national anthem at a major sporting event at the time.
2. When Christina Aguilera was a member of The New Mickey Mouse Club in the mid-'90s, the other members nicknamed her "Diva."
3. Christina Aguilera has five tattoos: "Xtina" on the back of her neck; one above her left hip; one on her left wrist; "Te Amo Siempre" on her left elbow and a Hebrew psalm lyric meaning "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" on her lower back.
4. By 2004, Christina Aguilera had 11 piercings removed with the exception of the one in her right nipple. She said she'd gotten the them as a release during bad times.
5. A satin thong that Christina Aguilera wore on the cover of Maxim magazine was purchased on eBay for $1,542.69.