MUSIC NEWS: MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015
CANADIAN GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
Toronto's The Weeknd is in the running for seven Grammys including the Record of the Year and Album of the Year awards.
The breakout R&B star, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, was also nominated for best pop solo performance, best R&B performance, best R&B song, best contemporary album and best song written for visual media.
Nominated are his album ``Beauty Behind The Madness,'' the chart-topping hit single ``Can't Feel My Face,'' and ``Earned It'' from the ``Fifty Shades Of Grey'' soundtrack.
Fellow Toronto native Drake is nominated for best rap performance, best rap song and best rap album.
And Stratford, Ont.'s Justin Bieber is nominated for best dance recording.
The Grammys will be handed out on Feb. 15, 2016.
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BIEBER CONCERT
Justin Bieber is set to perform in Toronto tonight to benefit an outreach centre in his hometown of Stratford, Ont.
Proceeds from the acoustic concert at the Danforth Music Hall will go the Stratford House of Blessing, which has a food bank and services to help those in need.
The organization says Bieber's mother used its services when he was little.
The 21-year-old pop superstar has helped out the group before.
Last year, he and his grandmother donated several of his childhood items for the group to auction off on eBay.
Bieber has also donated $10,000 to the group.
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COCAINE FOUND ON SCOTT WEILAND'S BUS
Police in Bloomington, Minnesota, say they have found a small quantity of cocaine in the bedroom of the tour bus where Scott Weiland (WY'-land) was found dead last week.
Investigators say they also found a small amount of cocaine elsewhere in the bus. A California man travelling with Weiland has been arrested but not charged. Police will not say anything else about Weiland's cause of death, saying the local coroner will release that information.
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SCOTT WEILAND, IN HIS OWN WORDS
In a February interview with The Associated Press, Scott Weiland (WY'-land) described his health in one word: ``excellent.'' Weiland was found dead on his tour bus Thursday night outside Minneapolis. Police say cocaine was found on the bus but they have not given a cause of death. Weiland said in a 1998 Associated Press interview he wanted to be remembered as a person who wrote great music and an artist who was in no way mediocre. He said, ``I would rather be loved and hated than not thought about at all.''
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STP, VELVET REVOLVER PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO SCOTT WEILAND
The surviving members of Stone Temple Pilots and of Velvet Revolver have issued statements about Scott Weiland's death. Eric Kretz, Dean DeLeo and Robert DeLeo of STP say Weiland was ``gifted beyond words'' and part of that gift was part of his curse. They say together they crafted a legacy of music together that has given so many people happiness and great memories. Slash, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan and Dave Kushner of Velvet Revolver say they experienced a good chunk of life with Weiland, and even in his darkest times they ``all had hope and love for him.''
They say there is no doubt that Weiland's artistry will live on.
Weiland was found dead on his tour bus Thursday night at the age of 48.
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MUSICIANS MOURN SCOTT WEILAND
Billy Corgan says he initially wrote off Stone Temple Pilots when they first came out, but Scott Weiland's phrasing made him a fan. Corgan writes on his website he considers the great voices of our generation to be Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley and Scott Weiland. Courtney Love is offering her deepest condolences for her ``amazing talent and friend.'' Ryan Adams tweets, ``RIP Scott Weiland. Universe, please take care of him.'' Foster The People tweet, ``Just heard some news that broke my heart. May heavens doors be wide open for you friend.'' Brandon Boyd of Incubus tweets condolences to Weiland's family and friends and adds he is ``sending love and light.''
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RINGO STARR'S WHITE ALBUM SELLS FOR $790,000
An anonymous buyer paid $790,000 for Ringo Starr's copy of the White Album with serial number 1. Julien's Auctions reports the sale beats the record for the highest amount paid for a record, which was set in 2015 when Jack White bought Elvis Presley's acetate recording of ``My Happiness'' for $300,000.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay confirms he paid $1.75 million for Starr's first Ludwig drum set. More than 800 items owned by Starr and his wife, Barbara Bach, were sold in a two-day auction.
Part of the proceeds will benefit the couple's Lotus Children Foundation.
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ADELE'S ``25'' ALBUM SELLS ANOTHER MILLION COPIES
Adele's ``25'' album is still a huge seller.
Billboard reports it sold another 1.11 million copies in its second week of release. It's the first album to sell more than a million copies in two separate weeks. In two weeks, it has sold 4.49 million copies. The ``25'' album became the bestselling album in all of 2015 in just three days.
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CAROLE KING - KENNEDY CENTER HONORS
Carole King has won numerous Grammys, sold millions of albums and has had her songs covered by a host of artists along the way. And last night, she picked up the Kennedy Center Honor. So what does she feel is her greatest accomplishment?
She had them with her last night: her children. She says they are the thing in life that she is most proud of. As for her music, King says she's pleased that she was able to write music that so many people feel means something to them. Honored along with King last night in Washington were actress, singer and dancer Rita Moreno, ``Star Wars'' creator George Lucas and actress Cicely Tyson.
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ARETHA FRANKLIN - ON CAROLE KING
It didn't take very long for Aretha Franklin to come up with the Carole King song she likes best. And that's probably because it's one she has ended up being associated with herself. Franklin says ``(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman''
is her favourite King tune. Franklin performed the tune during last night's tribute to King at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Accompanying her on the red carpet was veteran music mogul Clive Davis.
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(The Canadian Press)