MUSIC NEWS: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2016
RICHARD INMAN
Winnipeg based singer/songwriter Richard Inman returned to Dauphin last night with accompanied by Simon Davis at Bruce's Firehouse.
Although Inman was suffering from a bit of a cold last night he was able to locate a couple of helpful cups of tea and made it through a rather lengthy set of both songs from his previous 3 recordings as well as many of the new songs that will be on his forthcoming album.
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BEYONCE - POLICE
Will they or won't they? Police unions in a number of cities are calling for a boycott of officers working security for Beyonce's concerts because of her new song ``Formation.'' Unions in Miami; Tampa, Florida; and Nashville, Tennessee want members to skip volunteering to do security for her shows in those cities. This all started after Super Bowl Sunday when Beyonce performed ``Formation,'' a day after releasing the video online. Because the performances feature pro-black images and denounced the shooting of unarmed black citizens, some critics considered it ``anti-police.'' Beyonce's tour kicks off with a show in Miami on April 27th. A Tampa police spokeswoman says there's no indication officers are heeding the call to skip the voluntary shifts for the show _ and that the idea of a widespread boycott ``has been blown way out of proportion.''
(NOTE: Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack confirmed to T-V station CP-24 on Sunday that Toronto police will not boycott Beyonce's performance at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on May 25th)
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TAYLOR SWIFT - KESHA
Taylor Swift is among the stars giving both support and money to help Kesha's cause. Kesha has been involved in a drawn-out court battle to get out of a contract with Dr. Luke _ who she claims sexually assaulted her. A representative for Swift has confirmed that the singer has donated a quarter-million dollars to Kesha as part of what Swift calls a ``show of support.'' On Friday, a judge in New York denied her effort to get out of her contract with Dr. Luke, who has denied the allegations. While the ruling isn't the final judgment in the case, the decision has led to an outpouring of support from Kesha on social media from other celebrities.
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JOHN LENNON - HAIR- AUCTION
A lock of John Lennon's hair snipped as he prepared for a film role has sold for 35-thousand dollars. The auction house that ran the sale says the 11.4-centimetre lock was purchased by a U-K-based memorabilia collector. The hank of hair was kept by a German hairdresser after giving the former Beatle a trim. The haircut came before Lennon began work on the comedy ``How I Won the War.'' The hair was one of the more interesting pieces in the lot.
But it wasn't most expensive one. A photo of the Beatles signed by all four members went for $42,500.
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J-LO AND SAOIRSE RONAN
Jennifer Lopez might have declared that she's ``from the block.'' But she isn't the only one to claim the New York City borough of The Bronx as her home. That point was driven home recently when actress Saoirse Ronan met Lopez on a red carpet. Ronan says she called out to J-Lo _ and let her know she was from the Bronx, too. Ronan says Lopez acknowledged the shout-out, but didn't say more. Ronan says doesn't think Lopez understood what she meant _ but says she's ``delighted'' she and J-Lo share a Bronx connection.
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(The Canadian Press)
RAY CHARLES - TRIBUTE
A bunch of big recording artists will be in Washington this week to celebrate the musical legacy of the late Ray Charles. The White House says Usher, Demi Lovato, Andra Day and The Band Perry will be taking part in the Charles celebration. The performers will be around Wednesday to tape ``Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House.'' The program is to be broadcast Friday on PBS stations nationwide. It's the 16th such program held under President Barack Obama. The day of the taping, first lady Michelle Obama has planned a daytime workshop with some of the invited artists for more than 130 middle, high school and college students from around the country. Ray Charles died in June, 2004.
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Simple Plan-New Album
Montreal pop-rockers Simple Plan don't mind rattling their fans a little bit, and their new album ``Taking One for the Team'' is sure to rile some listeners.
Their fifth studio release includes a pair of collaborations that stray pretty far from the band's angsty teenage roots.
``I Don't Wanna Go to Bed'' pairs them with the rapper Nelly, while ``Singing in the Rain'' is a reggae-infused pairing with R. City. (The Canadian Press)
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Kesha-Producer Clash
Pop star Kesha has appeared in a New York courtroom, as part of her long-running legal dispute with the music producer Dr. Luke.
The singer claims she's trying to regain control of her career after the producer drugged, sexually abused and psychologically tormented her.
Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, accuses Kesha of making up that story in an attempt to ruin his reputation and back out of her recording contract. (The Associated Press)
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(The Associated Press)