MUSIC NEWS: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015
PERCY SLEDGE REMEMBERED
Percy Sledge once said the sound of ``When A Man Loves A Woman'' was the same melody he sang when he was out in the fields. Sledge said in the 2013 documentary, ``Muscle Shoals,'' he also was shaking like a leaf when he came to the studio to record that. It hit number one in 1966. Michael Bolton had a number-one hit with a remake of ``When A Man Loves A Woman,'' and was of the rare artists Sledge would duet with on that song. Bolton calls Sledge ``an inspiration as an artist and one of the most gracious human beings.'' Darius Rucker says the world ``lost a legend.'' Sledge died of liver failure yesterday in Louisiana at the age of 74.
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GLENN GOULD-PRIZE
American composer Philip Glass says he had a mutual friend in common with late Canadian pianist Glenn Gould and always admired his music. He never got to meet him, but felt a connection with him yesterday as he was awarded the 100-thousand dollar Glenn Gould Prize. Glass, now 78, says Gould was such an inspiring person for his generation and an excellent musician. This year marked the 11th instalment of the biennial prize, which honours living laureates from a variety of creative disciplines for their body of work. Previous winners include Robert Lepage, Leonard Cohen, Yo-Yo Ma and Oscar Peterson. Actress-filmmaker Sarah Polley, singer Petula Clark and author Michael Ondaatje were among the jury members for this year's award.
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ARETHA FRANKLIN, DARLENE LOVE PERFORM AT WHITE HOUSE
Gospel greats are bringing ``some church to the White House.'' That's what President Barack Obama said last night.
He and first lady Michelle Obama welcomed top recording artists to the White House for a celebration of gospel music. Aretha Franklin, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris and Darlene Love were among the artists taking part. The event is the latest in the ``In Performance at the White House'' series. The gospel concert will air on P-B-S on June 26th.
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BILLY JOEL'S GIRLFRIEND IS EXPECTING
Billy Joel is going to be a dad again. His representative says Joel's girlfriend, Alexis Roderick, is pregnant with their first child. They've been together since 2009. The baby will be Joel's second child. He's the father of singer-songwriter Alexa Ray Joel from his previous marriage to Christie Brinkley.
Joel's representative says the couple are keeping any other details about the pregnancy under wraps until the baby arrives. Joel is 65 and Roderick is 33.
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NELLY LOSES GIG AFTER ARREST
Missouri State University is calling off Nelly's concert there next Thursday after he was arrested on suspicion of drug possession. Missouri State officials did not give a reason for the cancellation. Nelly was arrested Saturday when the Tennessee Highway Patrol say officers found drugs and handguns on Nelly's tour bus. His attorney says the facts will show the contraband was not Nelly's.
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JACK WHITE WILL DO SECRET ACOUSTIC SHOWS
If you've seen Jack White in your hometown, well, he's not coming back for a long time. White has announced he will do a short acoustic tour of the only five states where he has yet to play. He is not saying which states those are. In fact, White will not even announce the shows until the day of performance. The only amplification will be old-school ribbon microphones. Tickets will be three-dollars each and sales are limited to one ticket per person, sold at the door, cash only. White says he will take a break from live performances for a long period of time after the acoustic tour.
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PATTI SMITH'S NEW BOOK COMES OUT THIS FALL
Patti Smith will compare her life to stations on a subway in her new memoir. Smith's publisher describes the book ``M Train'' as Smith telling her story through 18 ``stations,'' or turning points in her life. It comes out October 6th. Smith's first memoir, ``Just Kids,'' described her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
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ELLIOTT SMITH DOCUMENTARY COMES OUT NEXT MONTH
The documentary about Elliott Smith will have a theatrical release beginning May 7. ``Heaven Adores You'' had screened at film festivals up to now. The film features unheard tracks and interviews with Smith's closest friends and collaborators. Smith died in 2003 at the age of 34.
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BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS ANNOUNCE MORE PERFORMERS
Sam Smith, Nick Jonas and Hozier have signed on to perform at the Billboard Music Awards. Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa have already been announced as performers. The Billboard Music Awards will air live on A-B-C from Las Vegas on May 17th.
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CHRIS CORNELL WEIGHS IN ON TEMPLE OF THE DOG DISPUTE
Chris Cornell says it ``makes no sense'' that the studio where Temple Of The Dog recorded is laying claim to the master tapes. Cornell says A-and-M Records paid for the recordings and the use of the London Bridge Studios in Seattle in 1990. A-and-M is suing Raj Parashar, demanding he turn over the tapes. Parashar's lawyer told The Seattle Times Parashar has the tapes and says they belong to him. Temple Of The Dog featured Cornell and a then-unknown Eddie Vedder on vocals.
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JON BON JOVI PLANS SECOND FACILITY TO FIGHT HUNGER
Jon Bon Jovi is opening up a one-stop facility to help families on the New Jersey shore get food and health care. The B.E.A.T. Center -- which stands for Bringing Everyone All Together -- will be in Toms River, New Jersey. It will allow people to get food stamps, health services, meals for at-risk children and seniors and job training in the food industry. The centre will also house the second location of the J-B-J Soul Kitchen, a restaurant that allows diners to pay through donation or by doing volunteer work.
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MCCARTNEY-SEAL HUNT
Paul McCartney is calling again for an end to Canada's East Coast commercial seal hunt, calling it a ``senseless slaughter'' in a statement released by Humane Society International.
The group plans to document the hunt on film as it has for years.
McCartney says videos demonstrate year after year that these seals are ``dying a horrible death for their fur.'' But Terry Audla, president of a group representing about 55-thousand Canadian Inuit, says McCartney should stick to what he knows. He says the rock star is ``perpetuating myths, disregarding science and traditions, and turning a blind eye to the needs of working people to earn a living and feed their families.''
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''THE VOICE``-TOP 10
One kid makes it and one kid doesn't on ``The Voice.'' Sawyer Fredricks is this season's youngest hopeful and he sails into the Top 10. But 16-year-old Mia Z doesn't. She had been a coaches' favourite. But Mia and Brian Johnson came up short last night in a three-way sing-off. Deanna Johnson from Team Adam sang last and got the most instant Twitter votes, meaning she'll be back to sing again next week.
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CHRIS HADFIELD
Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield's debut album is set for launch.
Warner Music Canada announced Tuesday it would release the still-untitled record this fall.
Hadfield recorded the guitar and vocal tracks with an acoustic guitar and computer while in space.
Robbie Lackritz then handled production for the album, which promises further instrumentation from ``special guests.''
The 55-year-old Hadfield was the first Canadian astronaut to command the International Space Station during a five-month stay that ended in May 2013.
He retired from the Canadian astronaut corps in July of that year.
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