Jazz bassist Christian McBride enjoys a good conversation.  So much so that he recorded an entire album of “conversations.” 

With more and more musicians jumping on the duets bandwagon, Christian McBride decided it was time to have a conversation with some of his closest friends and collaborators.  Soon, he lined up more than a dozen world-class artists, including jazz giant Hank Jones, to record “Conversations With Christian.”

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With no limit to his musical range, Christian McBride has performed with hundreds of jazz, pop and rock greats, as well as hip-hop groups and classical singers.  Interplay brings out the best in the 39-year-old bandleader and composer, as heard on this montage from his album, featuring, in order, keyboardist George Duke, guitarist Russell Malone, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and saxophonist Ron Blake.

Christian is also paired with pianists Eddie Palmieri, Chick Corea and the late Dr. Billy Taylor; vocalists Angelique Kidjo, Sting and Gina Gershon; violinist Regina Carter; and trumpeter Roy Hargrove on the jazz standard “Baubles, Bangles and Beads.”

McGraw Touts New Album as 'Best Ever'

On January 24, Tim McGraw’s final album for Curb Records will be released.  Tim calls Emotional Traffic his “best ever.”  A 2011 post on his website said, “It’s an album full of music of which I am very proud.  It’s extremely unfortunate that it wasn’t released earlier this year in conjunction with the Emotional Traffic tour, but all I want to do now is focus on the positive and look to the future.”  A Nashville judge ruled against Curb’s lawsuit, which claimed Tim breached their recording agreement.  Tim filed a counter-suit, charging Curb of holding “Emotional Traffic” hostage in an attempt to add more time to his contract with the label.

Etta James Dies

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Blues legend Etta James died of leukemia on January 20.   The 73-year-old singer also suffered from kidney disease and dementia.  Born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, she was discovered by musician, producer and bandleader Johnny Otis, who also died this week (January 17) at age 90.  Etta James was a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, whose many R&B hits included “The Wallflower,” “All I Could Do Was Cry” and her signature tune “At Last.”  Last month, Etta’s personal physician announced that she was terminally ill.  She would have celebrated her 74th birthday on January 25. 

Adele Holds On to Top Billboard 200

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This week, British pop star Adele hangs onto the Number One position on the Billboard 200 chart for the 16th week with 21.  She now ties a record held since 1998 by the Titanic soundtrack.  According to Billboard, 21 becomes only the 20th album in the 56-year history of the Billboard 200 to spend at least 16 weeks in the top spot.

Springsteen Working on New Album

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More details are emerging about the upcoming Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band album.  Titled Wrecking Ball, the set will be released on Columbia Records on March 6.  The group will support the collection with U.S. and European tours.  Manager Jon Landau released a statement that says, “Bruce has dug down as deep as he can to come up with this vision of modern life.  The lyrics tell a story you can’t hear anywhere else, and the music is his most innovative of recent years.  The writing is some of the best of his career and both veteran fans and those who are new to Bruce will find much to love on ‘Wrecking Ball.’”

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Exhibit to Feature Grateful Dead

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio plans to open a Grateful Dead exhibit on April 12.  “Grateful Dead: The Long, Strange Trip” will feature over 100 items, including five Jerry Garcia guitars and other instruments that belonged to the group’s members, original lyric sheets and artwork.  The display is scheduled to run through December 31.

New CD Honors Amnesty International

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On January 24, Fontana Distribution will release the four-CD set “Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.”  Artists who donated songs to the 73-track collection include Adele, Maroon 5, Sting, Ziggy Marley, the Dave Matthews Band, Sugarland, Miley Cyrus, and many others.  Seventy of the songs were recorded especially for the release.  Producer Jeff Ayeroff said, “This album is a powerful fusion of the music community’s respect for Amnesty’s life-affirming work and for Bob Dylan’s enduring brilliance.”  All of the artists, session musicians, arrangers, engineers, producers and recording studios worked pro-bono to support the human rights cause.

New Album Releases / January 24:

“100 Proof” by Kellie Pickler
“2012 Grammy Nominees” by various artists
“Believe” by Celtic Woman
“Human Again” by Ingrid Michaelson
“Bangarang” (EP) by Skrillex
“WOW Gospel 2012” by various artists
“NOW That’s What I Call Country Ballads” by various artists
“Soul 2” by Seal
“Comeblack” by The Scorpions
“Hard Knocks” by Joe Cocker
“Gaither Homecoming Celebration” by Bill & Gloria Gaither

Star Birthdays:

Singer Steve Perry celebrated his 63rd birthday on January 22.  From 1978 to 1987, he performed with the rock band Journey.  Three years before leaving the group, Perry recorded his first solo album, “Street Talk.”  Its four chart hits included the Top 5 single “Oh Sherrie.”  After a long break from the music business, he returned in 1994 with his second solo collection, “For the Love of Strange Medicine.”  In 1996, the members of Journey reunited to record “Trial By Fire.”  The album produced the Number One Adult Contemporary hit, “When You Love A Woman.”  In 1998, Perry announced that he was again leaving Journey to pursue solo projects.  He recorded two tracks for the soundtrack to the motion picture “Quest For Camelot.”  Also in 1998, Columbia Records issued Perry’s anthology, “Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased.”  In 2009, Sony Legacy released another greatest hits compilation, “The Very Best of Steve Perry.”  In a 2010 interview with Classic Rock Presents AOR, Perry said he had written about 50 new songs.  He added, “I can definitely smell a solo project on the horizon.  I will be recording some music.”  

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On January 24, singer Neil Diamond will celebrate his 71st birthday.  Neil began recording in 1961 and scored his first Top 10 single five years later with “Cherry, Cherry.”  In 1980, Neil starred in and composed the music for the motion picture “The Jazz Singer.”  In 1993, he paid tribute to legendary songwriter’s on the album, “Up On the Roof - Songs From the Brill Building.”  In 1996, Neil recorded “Tennessee Moon,” his first full album of new songs in four years.  It featured guest performances by violinist Mark O’Connor, late Country legends Chet Atkins and Waylon Jennings, and others.  In 2003, Columbia Records released Diamond’s five-CD box set, “Stages: Performances 1970-2002.”  2005’s “12 Songs” became his first Top 10 debut on the Billboard 200 chart.  In 2007, it was re-released as a double CD with a second disc of unreleased demo recordings and alternate takes, and two bonus tracks.  In 2009, Neil was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in recognition of his “exceptional artistic achievements as well as his philanthropic work, which has included many generous charitable donations over the years.”  Last year, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was also the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor.

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On January 25, singer and pianist Alicia Keys celebrates her 31st birthday.  Born in New York, she began playing piano at age seven and wrote her first song at 14.  That track, called “Butterflyz,” appeared on her 2001 debut album “Songs In A Minor.”  The album brought her five Grammy Awards and sold more than six million copies in the U.S.  Alicia was only 18 when she signed her first major label deal with Columbia Records.  She left the label due to creative differences and Clive Davis signed her to Arista Records.  Alicia was then signed to J Records, which Davis formed in 2000.  In 2004, Alicia debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 chart with “The Diary of Alicia Keys.”  The album sold eight million copies worldwide.  Her 2007 collection, “As I Am,” was produced the Number One hit “No One” and earned her two Grammy nominations.  Also in 2007, she appeared in two motion pictures, “Smokin’ Aces” (with Ben Affleck) and “The Nanny Diaries” (with Scarlett Johansson).  In 2008, Alicia starred in the film “The Secret Life of Bees.”  Her 2009 duet with Jay-Z, “Empire State of Mind,” spent five weeks at Number One.  In 2010, Alicia released her latest album, “The Element of Freedom,” which became her first to top the U.K. Albums chart.  Alicia married record producer Swizz Beatz in July 2010 and gave birth to their son Egypt in October.  After J Records closed its doors in 2011, it was announced that her future albums will be released by RCA Records.  

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Guitarist Eddie Van Halen will turn 57 on January 26.  In 1974, he formed the California-based rock band Van Halen.  The group rose to stardom in the 1980s with such hits as “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “When It’s Love” and the Number One single “Jump.”  Van Halen’s 1998 album, “Van Halen 3,” featured a new lead singer, former Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone.  Cherone was released from the band in 2000.  In 2001, Eddie was diagnosed with mouth cancer from which he has recovered.  Singer Sammy Hagar reunited with Van Halen in 2004 to perform a U.S. concert tour.  Eddie and his wife of 25 years, actress Valerie Bertinelli, divorced in 2007.  The couple has one son, 20-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen, who replaced Michael Anthony as Van Halen’s bass guitarist.  Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Hall of Fame in 2007.  That same year, the band brought back David Lee Roth as its lead singer.  Van Halen’s 2007-2008 reunion tour with Roth grossed 93-million-dollars, which set a record for the group.  In June 2009, Eddie Van Halen married his publicist Janie Liszewski.  Van Halen’s new album, “A Different Kind of Truth,” will be released on February 7.  It marks their first album with David Lee Roth since 1984.  The album’s first single, “Tattoo,” debuts on Billboard’s rock chart this week at Number 16.  Van Halen will kick off a North American tour on February 18.

On January 27, Country singer Tracy Lawrence will celebrate his 44th birthday.  In 1991, Tracy arrived in Nashville from his home state of Texas.  Less than one year later, he was signed to Atlantic Records.  The title track from his debut album, “Sticks and Stones,” went to Number One and was followed by several other chart hits.  Tracy’s second album, “Alibis,” produced four chart-topping singles.  In 1996, Atlantic Records issued Tracy’s first live set and the studio album, “Time Marches On.”  In 2004, he was signed to DreamWorks Records, which released “Strong.”  The album’s hits included “It’s All How You Look At It,” “Sawdust On Her Halo” and “Paint Me A Birmingham.”  2008’s “For the Love” was the first release on Tracy’s own label, Rocky Comfort Records.  “For The Love’s” first hit was “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.”  A second version of that song, featuring Country stars Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, became Tracy’s first Number One single in 10 years.  In 2009, he released his first Christian music album, “The Rock.”  

Pop singer Nick Carter turns 32 on January 28.  Nick began acting in commercials when he was 10.  Two years later, he landed a spot with the Backstreet Boys.  The pop group’s first album was released in 1997.  “Millennium” and “Black & Blue” followed in 1999 and 2000, respectively.  Carter’s 2002 debut solo album, “Now Or Never,” included five songs that he co-wrote.  The Backstreet Boys returned in 2005 with the album, “Never Gone.”  Their 2007 collection, “Unbreakable,” produced only two minor hits, “Inconsolable” and “Helpless When She Smiles.”  In 2010, the Backstreet Boys toured to support their latest album, “This Is Us.”  The group performed shows last year throughout Latin America and Vietnam, and also co-headlined a North American tour with New Kids On The Block.  Nick’s second solo album, “I’m Taking Off,” was released in 2011.  The Backstreet Boys are currently working on a new album, which is due out later this year.  

Singer and pianist Sarah McLachlan will celebrate her 44th birthday on January 28.  Since arriving on the pop music scene in 1989, Sarah has sold more than 15 million albums in the United States.  Her hits include “Angel,” “Adia,” “I Will Remember You,” and “Building A Mystery.”  In 1997, she launched the first Lilith Fair festival tour, a successful showcase for female musicians.  McLachlan was expected to record a new album in 2002, but those plans were delayed due to her mother’s death and the birth of Sarah’s first child.  Her 2003 album, “Afterglow,” earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.  In 2006, she recorded the holiday CD, “Wintersong,” which sold more than two million copies worldwide and brought her Grammy and Juno Award nominations.  Sarah gave birth to her second daughter in 2007.  In 2010, she organized the first Lilith Fair Tour since 1999.  Colbie Caillat, Sheryl Crow, The Courtyard Hounds, Miranda Lambert and Mary J. Blige were among the many artists who joined Sarah on the tour.  In 2002, she created the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach program for at-risk youths in Vancouver.  It operated out of a church basement until last year, when she opened the Sarah McLachlan School of Music.  Also in 2011, she released her latest album, “Laws of Illusion.”

Awards Presentations/Winners:

On January 24, actress Jennifer Lawrence and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak will announce nominations for the 84th Academy Awards.  Nominees in 10 of the Academy’s 24 categories will be revealed during an early morning broadcast from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.  The 2012 Oscars will be presented on February 26 in Los Angeles.

Look Who's Going On Tour!

Rock singer Emilie Autumn will begin a North American tour on January 25 in Kansas City, Missouri.  Her “Fight Like A Girl” trek will stop in 27 cities through February 26.  Dates in the United Kingdom and Europe are scheduled to take place in March and April.

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On January 27, Lady Antebellum will kick off the first half of its “Own the Night 2012 World Tour” in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Guests on the outing include Darius Rucker and husband-and-wife duo Thompson Square.  Sixty-five North American concerts are scheduled through June 30.  Lady A’s Charles Kelley said, “This is the tour we’ve always dreamed of putting together. We got to help design the stage and really collaborate on new production ideas.  I can’t wait for the next nine months!”

Country star George Strait begins an 11-city U.S. tour on January 27 in Lafayette, Louisiana.  Joining him on the tour is Martina McBride.  George will be supporting his 39th studio album, “Here For A Good Time.”  Martina’s latest collection, “Eleven,” features the hits “Teenage Daughters” and her current Top 10 ballad, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It.”  George said, “I love Martina.  She’s been on our tours before and she’s great.  I’m really looking forward to the tour.  Martina will definitely make it a special night.”

Legendary blues singer Etta James, whose influence spread to generations of pop, rock and rhythm-and-blues performers, died Friday, Jan. 20, in California from complications from leukemia.  She was 73 years old.  The award-winning singer was best known for her moving rendition of the blues standard, “At Last.”

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When Etta James sang Mack Gordon and Harry Warren’s “At Last,” the dozens of other versions by everyone from Nat “King” Cole to Beyonce seemed to pale in comparison.  It was Etta’s signature song that launched her acclaimed career that spanned more than 50 years.

Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California.  She began formal music lessons at age five and sang solos in a choir at her Baptist church.  Following a stint as a gospel singer on a local radio broadcast, she formed an all-girl vocal trio called The Creolettes.  She was only 16 when the group, under the direction of producer Johnny Otis, changed its name to The Peaches and signed with Modern Records.  Their first hit was Etta’s own composition, “The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry).”

“The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry)” was a Number One hit on the Rhythm and Blues charts in 1955.  Soon after, Etta James and her group The Peaches parted ways, allowing her solo career to flourish.

Etta signed with Chess Records in 1960 and began recording for its subsidiary labels Argo and Cadet.  Her debut album, “At Last”, yielded six Top 20 R&B singles, all of which crossed over onto the pop chart.

She continued her streak of hit singles and albums throughout the 1960s.  By 1968, when she released her best-selling pop tune, “Tell Mama,” her repertoire grew to include soul, rock, jazz, duets and string orchestrations.

Etta’s struggle with drug addiction began in the 1960s.  She was in and out of a psychiatric hospital for years but remained committed to her singing career.  She conquered her drug problem at age 50, after seeking treatment at a substance abuse center.

Etta James won multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Traditional Blues Album, “Blues To The Bone” in 2004.  She earned a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement, and her hit songs “At Last” and “The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry)” were both inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.  She was also the winner of more than 15 Blues Music Awards.

Other accolades included her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine named her one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Not many bands that started during the 1940's are still making music, but that is not the case for the Oak Ridge Boys. At the start they called themselves the Oak Ridge Quartet, named after the Tennessee city that was part of the massive effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II. Since then, the group has gone on to win numerous awards and record countless hits. Lead singer Joe Bonsall and tenor William Lee Golden spoke with us about the release of their newest CD It's Only Natural.

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Country music is famous for its unique sounding music and no band in country music is more recognizable to country music fans than the Oak Ridge Boys. The current foursome continues a tradition dating back more than 60 years with the release of their 31st album, "It's Only Natural".

"The Oak Ridge Boys are still here, still having fun, and still making new music," said Bonsall.  "Great things are going on."

The Oak Ridge Boys are celebrating the 30th anniversary of one of their biggest hits with the new album.

"[The new CD] has six songs that are songs we have had before that have been hits for the Oak Ridge Boys and then it has five brand new songs," William Lee Golden explained.  "We also re-recorded 'Elvira.'"

"It ['Elvira'] went to the top of the country charts and spilled over into pop and rock and roll and went to the top of those [charts]," Golden added.  "Everybody in America was singing "Oom-Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow' with Joe and the Oak Ridge Boys in 1981".  

Elvira earned the Oak Ridge Boys a 'Best Country Performance by a Group' Grammy award in 1982, and is just one of dozens of hits over the years. With all of their success and achievements it would be hard to pick a highlight, but Bonsall says, "I would have to say being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry recently certainly ranks up there among the highest of all the wonderful things we have had the opportunity to experience in our career."

How can a band manage to stay together for seven decades?  

"I think music has a healing power," Golden explained.  "I think when we are able to sing and work as much as we do and travel as much as we do and sing the songs as much as we do, that is the highlight of the day.  When we get to go on stage and sing together.  Music has a healing power and also has a rejuvenating power too."

The Oak Ridge Boys are currently on tour in support of their new album "It's Only Natural" and from the sound of things, they have no intention of slowing down.

New Single Features Beyonce And Jay-Z's Baby

Jay-Z and Beyonce’s newborn daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, has already set a Billboard chart record.  Jay-Z’s new single “Glory,” which is officially billed as “featuring B.I.C.,” includes the cries of Blue.  The track debuts on this week’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list at Number 74.  At less than one week old, Blue becomes the youngest person ever to appear on a Billboard chart.

MusiCares to Honor McCartney

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The MusiCares Foundation has announced Paul McCartney as its 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year.  The 14-time Grammy winner will be honored at a gala on February 10.  The 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year special event features a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by the gala dinner and all-star tribute concert.  Previous MusiCares Person of the Year honorees include Tony Bennett, Bono, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Barbra Streisand and Stevie Wonder, among others.

Adele Edges Toward Breaking Billboard Record

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Adele holds the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart for a 15th week with 21.  It’s the longest-running Number One album since 1998, when the soundtrack to “Titanic” held the summit for 16 weeks.  According to Nielsen SoundScan, sales of “21” now total 5.9 million copies.  Recent reports say Adele will make her return to performing at the February 21 Brit Awards.  She’s nominated in three Brit Award categories, including Best Female Solo Artist and Album of the Year.  Adele underwent vocal cord surgery in November 2011, which forced her to cancel her tour.  Adele is also nominated for six Grammy Awards.  RadarOnline.com reports that she’ll attend the Grammy ceremony in Los Angeles on February 12, but it’s still unknown if doctors will give her permission to perform.


Van Halen Gifts LA Schools with Guitars

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Guitarist Eddie Van Halen recently donated 75 guitars to Los Angeles public schools.  According to the Hollywood Reporter, he teamed with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to provide the instruments to schools that lack sufficient funding for their music education programs.  In a statement, Eddie said, “Music education and families are dealing with the economic times, and I wanted to help them.  If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that’s a wonderful thing.  Music has provided a good life for me and hopefully it can help make life better for others with this donation.”

Emmylou Harris Plans Nashville Anniversary Concert

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On January 21, Country singer Emmylou Harris will celebrate her 20th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry with a concert at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.  Harris was inducted into the Opry on January 25, 1992.  Her anniversary show will also feature appearances by Vince Gill, Shawn Colvin and Rodney Crowell, who is currently working with Harris on a duets album.  Grand Ole Opry vice president and general manager Pete Fisher said, “Emmylou is treasured not just by all of us at the Grand Ole Opry, but also by fans around the world.  She’s shared so many great musical moments with us over the past 20 years, singing with and introducing us to some of her favorite musical collaborators.  We’re excited to celebrate her Opry anniversary at the Ryman, a stage on which she’s displayed such incredible artistry through the years.”

Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:

On January 15, the Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012 will begin its sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Barth’s and Half Moon Cay.  Performers on the week-long cruise include David Sanborn, Kirk Whalum, Boney James, Rick Braun, Gerald Albright, and many other jazz stars.  In addition to nightly concerts, the cruise gives passengers the opportunity to interact with their favorite artists.  Daytime activities on the ship include cocktail parties hosted by the musicians, autograph and question-and-answer sessions, sporting events and contests.

Star Birthdays

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Nigerian pop singer Sade turns 52 on January 16.  Sade arrived on the music scene in 1985 with the album Diamond Life, which won her that year’s Best New Artist Grammy Award.  After two more successful collections, she took four years off from recording.  Sade returned to the studio in 1992 to record Love Deluxe, an album that produced the pop and rhythm-and-blues hit “No Ordinary Love.”  She performed a year-long tour in support of Love Deluxe, then once again disappeared from the music scene.  Sade had a child with Jamaican record producer Bob Morgan, but the couple later divorced.  When things settled in her personal life, she recorded Lovers Rock, which was released in late 2000.  In 2002, she earned the Best Pop Vocal Album Grammy for the collection.  Her long-awaited comeback album, Soldier Of Love, was released in 2010.  The album has sold more than two million copies worldwide.  Its title track won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.  

January 16 marks the birth date of the late rhythm-and-blues singer Aaliyah (born 1979).  The Brooklyn-born artist made her professional debut at age 11.  She attended the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts.  In 1994, Aaliyah recorded her debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number, which sold more than one million copies in the U.S.  Two multi-million-selling albums followed - One In A Million in 1996 and her 2001 self-titled CD.  Aaliyah’s first posthumous album, “I Care 4 U,” was released in December of 2002.  It contained six new tracks she was working on at the time of her death (8/25/01) and some previously released hits.  Aaliyah and six others died when her private plane crashed after taking off from the Bahamas, where they were filming a music video.  Investigators found that the plane was “severely overloaded.”  

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On January 17, rap-rock star Kid Rock (real name Robert James Ritchie) will celebrate his 41st birthday.  Kid Rock recorded his first album in 1990.  Eight years later, he achieved his big break with the album, Devil Without A Cause. His next two collections were The History of Rock and Cocky, which included his duet with Sheryl Crow, “Picture.”  In 2004, Kid Rock recorded a self-titled album that produced the autobiographical hit, “Single Father.”  In 2006, he released his first live album, Live Trucker.  Kid Rock married actress Pamela Anderson in July 2006.  The couple divorced five months later citing irreconcilable differences.  His 2007 album, Rock ‘N Roll Jesus, was the first Number One debut of his career.  The album sold three million copies in the U.S. and was the fourth biggest-selling album of 2008.  Its hit “All Summer Long” earned him a 2009 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Rock Song.  Kid Rock’s 2010 album, Born Free, includes collaborations with Martina McBride and T.I., Sheryl Crow and Bob Seger, and Zac Brown.  

Pop singer Susanna Hoffs will turn 55 on January 17.  From 1981-1989, she performed in the female pop-rock quartet the Bangles.  The group debuted on the charts in 1986 with the Number 2 hit “Manic Monday” and later scored two Number One singles, “Walk Like An Egyptian” and “Eternal Flame.”  Hoffs recorded her first solo album, When You’re A Boy in 1991.  Five years later, her self-titled collection was released.  In 1997, Hoffs recorded a new version of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition “The Look of Love” for the motion picture soundtrack to “Austin Powers.”  The Bangles reunited in 1999 and released the album Doll Revolution in 2003.  Three years later, Susanna collaborated with Matthew Sweet on the album Under the Covers, Volume 1.  The collection includes their versions of songs by the Beatles, Neil Young, the Beach Boys, the Who, the Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, and others.  In 2009, Hoffs and Sweet recorded the sequel, Under the Covers, Volume 2, which features their rendition of songs from the 1970s.  Last year, the Bangles toured to support their latest album, Sweetheart of the Sun.

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On January 19, singer Dolly Parton will celebrate her 66th birthday.  Parton’s success is not limited to the Country field.  Her crossover hits include “Here You Come Again,” “9 To 5” and her 1983 duet with Kenny Rogers, “Islands In The Stream.”  In 1993, Dolly collaborated with Country legends Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn on the album Honky Tonk Angels.  Six years later, Dolly recorded the bluegrass album, The Grass Is Blue.  Her second bluegrass collection, “Little Sparrow,” was released in 2001.  Its title track brought Dolly a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.  The third in her series of acoustic bluegrass albums, titled “Halos & Horns,” was released in 2002.  The following year, Shania Twain, Norah Jones, Melissa Etheridge, Alison Krauss, and others recorded tracks many of Dolly’s classic songs for the tribute album, Just Because I’m A Woman.  Also in 2003, Dolly recorded For God & Country, a collection of patriotic and inspirational songs.  On her 2005 release, “Those Were the Days,” Dolly covered some of her favorite pop and folk songs from the 1960s and ‘70s.  In 2006, she was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor for her contributions to the arts.  Dolly co-starred with Jane Fonda in the 1980 movie “9 To 5” and took its title song to Number One on both the Country and pop charts.  She formed Dolly Records in 2009 for the release of her album, “Backwoods Barbie.”  Also in 2009, Dolly was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  In April 2009, her production of “9 To 5: The Musical” opened on Broadway.  The show received a record-setting 15 Drama Desk Award nominations and four Tony Award nominations, but closed in September due to poor ticket sales.  Dolly’s latest album, Better Day, came out in 2011.  Also last year, she received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.  Dolly can now be seen in the film “Joyful Noise,” which also stars Queen Latifah.  

Singer Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers will turn 73 on January 19.  Some of the duo’s biggest hits include “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream” and “Cathy’s Clown.”  The Everly Brothers broke up in 1973, but reunited 10 years later.  In 1986, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  In 2001, the duo entered the Country Music Hall of Fame.  The Everly Brothers’ 1958 recording of “All I Have To Do Is Dream” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.  In 2005, Varese Sarabande Records released two Everly Brothers compilations, “Too Good To Be True” and “Give Me A Future.”

January 21 marks the birth date of several singers: Mac Davis, best known for his 1972 Number One single “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me,” will turn 69; Woodstock veteran Richie Havens, who recorded the 1971 Top 20 single “Here Comes The Sun,” turns 71; opera tenor Placido Domingo will also celebrate his 71st birthday; and Billy Ocean, whose popularity peaked in 1984 with the hit singles “Caribbean Queen,” “Loverboy” and “Suddenly,” turns 62. 

Awards Presentations/Winners:

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Pop singer Katy Perry was the big winner at the 2012 People’s Choice Awards, which were presented on January 11.  Perry was named Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Tour Headliner.  She also received the Favorite Song honor for “E.T.”, Favorite Music Video for “Last Friday Night” and one non-music award, Favorite TV Guest Star for her appearance in an episode of the comedy series “How I Met Your Mother.”  Other winners in the music categories included Demi Lovato, named Favorite Pop Artist; Bruno Mars, Favorite Male Artist; Rihanna, Favorite R&B Artist; Lady Gaga, Favorite Album for “Born This Way;” Eminem, Favorite Hip-Hop Artist; Taylor Swift, Favorite Country Artist; and Maroon 5, Favorite Band.

The 69th annual Golden Globe Awards were handed out on January 15 in Los Angeles.  Nominated for Best Original Score were Ludovic Bource for “The Artist,” Abel Korzeniowski for “W.E.,” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” Howard Shore for “Hugo” and John Williams for “War Horse.” (Bource won the award). Best Original Song nominees included Elton John and Bernie Taupin for “Hello Hello” from “Gnomeo & Juliet,” Chris Cornell for “The Keeper” from “Machine Gun Preacher,” Brian Byrne and Glenn Close for “Lay Your Head Down” from “Albert Nobbs,” Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas for “The Living Proof” from “The Help,” and Madonna, Julie Frost and Jimmy Harry for “Masterpiece” from “W.E.” (Madonna won the award) (See the complete list of winners here)

Look Who's Going on Tour!

On January 20, Country singer Jason Aldean will begin his “My Kinda Party” tour in Greenville, South Carolina.  The outing will feature special guest Luke Bryan and opening act Lauren Alaina, who placed second on last year’s “American Idol.”  Also on Aldean’s itinerary are appearances at many festivals, including “RodeoHouston,” “Country Thunder USA” and California’s “Stagecoach.”

Jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco celebrated his 40th birthday by doing what he does best, playing music.





On his latest album, DeFrancesco sounds better than ever as he swings through an update of the Ray Charles hit, “I Got A Woman.”  He turned 40 in April and recorded 40 two months later.

He was anything but a late-bloomer.  Under the guidance of his father, Hammond B-3 organist “Papa” John DeFrancesco, Joey began playing piano at age four.  Following in “Papa’s” footsteps, he switched to organ, and by age 10, he had become a hometown favorite in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The best was yet to come for young Joey, who was a finalist in the inaugural Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition.  He toured and recorded with Miles Davis, and, at 18, landed a solo recording contract with Columbia Records.

DeFrancesco marks his return to the studio with several cover songs and a string of originals, including three tunes dedicated to his family.

Two compositions: “Ashley Blue” and “Donny’s Song,” pay tribute to his children, while “Gloria,” featuring Joey on vocals, honors his wife.  Rounding out his trio is guitarist Rick Zunigar and drummer Ramon Banda.

So, at age 40, life is good.  What hasn’t changed after all these years is DeFrancesco’s love for performing.  He says whenever he takes a solo “there is something that happens spiritually; something that happens that’s beyond comprehension.”

Beyonce, Jay-Z Welcome Baby Girl

Pop and R&B star Beyonce Knowles gave birth to a baby girl Sunday in New York. Blue Ivy Carter "is the most beautiful girl in the world," the baby's aunt, Solange Knowles told US Weekly magazine, Sunday.  A Houston, Texas newspaper reported that the star, 30, gave birth after undergoing a Cesarean section.

Hollywood Tribute Honors Michael Jackson

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On January 26, Michael Jackson’s children, Prince, Paris and Blanket, will attend a ceremony at Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to honor their father’s legacy.  They’ll make hand and foot impressions in the cement with his sequined glove and shoes.  The following day (January 27), the Los Angeles debut of Cirque de Soleil’s “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” will take place at the Staples Center.

Youssou N'Dour to run for President of Senegal

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Senegalese artist Youssou N’Dour has announced that he’ll run in his country’s presidential election on February 26.  The Grammy-winner, 52, will face 85-year-old incumbent Abdoulaye Wade.  N’Dour told the Associated Press, “For a very long time, many Senegalese of different backgrounds have called for my candidacy for the presidency next February.  I’ve listened, I’ve heard and I am responding favorably to their request.  I am a candidate.  It’s a supreme patriotic duty, the best I can give of myself.  I am the alternative to the current leadership in place in the country.”

Adele Tops Billboard 200 Again

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British pop singer Adele returns to Number One on this week’s Billboard 200 chart with 21.  This marks her 14th non-consecutive week in the top spot.  According to Billboard, industry prognosticators predict the album will sell an additional 100,000 to 140,000 this week to keep its place at Number One for a 15th week.

Mariah Carey, Spike Lee among BET Honors Recipients

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On January 14, the 2012 BET Honors will be presented at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C.  This year’s recipients include singers Mariah Carey and Stevie Wonder, writer/poet Maya Angelou, filmmaker Spike Lee, America’s first black military pilots The Tuskegee Airmen, and inspirational coach Beverly Kearney.  Actress Gabrielle Union will host the event, which recognizes lifetime contributions and exceptional service to African-American culture.

'Billy Elliot' Musical Moves from Broadway to Washington D.C.

On January 8, “Billy Elliot: The Musical” will close on Broadway.  The show opened in late 2008, but tickets sales have slipped in recent months.  The touring production will continue.  It runs at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center through January 15.  In 2009, “Billy Elliot: The Musical” won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Parton, Latifah Team Up for New Movie

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Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah’s new film, Joyful Noise, opens in theaters nationwide on January 13.  The movie tells the story of two choir directors (Parton and Latifah) in a small Georgia town who lead their gospel group through the National Joyful Noise Competition despite overwhelming odds.  

New Album Releases January 10:

“Fallen Empires” by Snow Patrol,
“Live from the Kitchen” by Yo Gotti
“Come Sunday” by Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
“For the Good Times” by The Little Willies
Original Broadway Cast Recording to “Silence!”

Star Birthdays:

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On January 8, hip-hop singer, songwriter and producer R. Kelly celebrated his 45th birthday.  A native of Chicago, Illinois, he arrived on the music scene in the early 1990s with a string of hits that included “She’s Got That Vibe,” “Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ),” and “Bump and Grind.”  Following that success, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton and other established artists hired him to write and produce tracks for them.  R. Kelly’s self-titled third collection was released in 1995 and became his first Number One album.  Two years later, he recorded the smash hit “I Believe I Can Fly” for the “Space Jam” film soundtrack.  The single won three Grammy Awards.  R. Kelly’s next solo album, “TP-2.com,” was released in 2000.  His 2003 album, “Chocolate Factory,” produced the Number 2 hit, “Ignition.”  In 2004, Kelly earned a Grammy nomination for the title track to “Happy People/U Saved Me.”  That same year, he collaborated with Jay-Z on the album “Unfinished Business.”  Kelly’s 2007 album, “Double Up,” became his fifth to debut at Number One on the Billboard 200 chart.  It included the track “Rise Up,” his tribute to the victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings.  Kelly was arrested in 2002 on child pornography charges.  He was found not guilty at his trial, which took place in 2008.  Kelly’s 2009 “Untitled” album topped Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop chart.  In 2010, he released “Love Letter,” an album that was inspired by his soul music influences of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s.  Last year, Billboard named R. Kelly the Number One R&B artist of the past 25 years.  In 2012, he plans to release his new album “Black Panties” and his memoir, “Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me.”  

January 8 marks the birth date of Elvis Presley (born 1935).  “The King of Rock and Roll” landed his first Number One hit in 1956.  He went on to become the biggest-selling recording artist in history.  Presley’s career accomplishments also included acting in more than 30 films, winning a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1971, and his posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.  Presley died in 1977 at his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee.  He was 42.  The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issued an Elvis Presley commemorative postage stamp in 1993.  It was the first in the USPS’s Legends of American Music Series.  In October 1994, an early celebration was held in Memphis to mark the 60th anniversary of Presley’s birth.  Performances from the concert were released on the album, “It’s Now Or Never: The Tribute To Elvis.”  In 2003, RCA released “Elvis 2nd To None,” which included two bonus tracks - a remixed version of “Rubberneckin’” and a previously unreleased song Elvis recorded in 1964, “I’m A Roustabout.”  In 2004, Sirius Satellite Radio launched a 24/7 all-Elvis channel.  Broadcasts air from a specially designed studio at Graceland.  In 2006, Sony/BMG Strategic Marketing celebrated the 50th anniversary of Presley’s first RCA recording sessions with the release of the box set, “Elvis #1 Singles.”  The label also reissued his Number One single “Heartbreak Hotel.”  According to Forbes magazine, Presley was the top-earning deceased celebrity of 2008.  He slipped to Number 4 on Forbes list in 2009, but advanced to Number 2 in 2010.  He remained in second place in 2011.  Last year, RCA Records/Legacy Recordings issued the 30-CD box set, “The Complete Elvis Presley Masters.”  Included are all of his 711 original master recordings, plus more than 100 additional rare tracks.  On January 3, Sony Music/Legacy released a deluxe double-CD package that pairs Presley’s 1971 albums “Elvis Country” and “Love Letters From Elvis.”  The collection is the first of several coming out this year to mark the 35th anniversary of his death.  

British rock singer David Bowie will celebrate his 65th birthday on January 8.  Bowie began performing with various groups in the 1960s before establishing his solo recording career the following decade.  In 1975, he recorded the Number One single “Fame,” which featured backing vocals by John Lennon.  Bowie topped the charts again in 1983 with “Let’s Dance,” a track from his “Changes” album.  In 1988, he formed Tin Machine, a rock group that recorded two albums.  In 1993, “Black Tie White Noise” marked Bowie’s first solo collection in six years.  Bowie’s 26th and latest studio album, “Reality,” was released in 2003.  In 2006, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  Last year, Legacy Recordings issued a double-CD from Bowie’s 2003 “Reality Tour.”  

A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys will turn 34 on January 9.  The pop group debuted on the charts in 1997 with their self-titled album, which produced the hits “As Long As You Love Me,” “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),” “All I Have To Give” and “I’ll Never Break Your Heart.”  Their 1999 sophomore album, “Millennium,” sold more than 13 million copies and was followed by the 2000 release of “Black & Blue.”  In mid-2001, the Backstreet Boys postponed their “Black & Blue Tour” for several months while A.J. got treatment for alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety.  The group spent much of 2004 working on the album “Never Gone.”  A.J. sang lead vocals on the CD’s first single “Incomplete,” which peaked at Number Six on the Hot 100 chart and at Number Four on the Adult Contemporary list.  The Backstreet Boys’ 2007 album, “Unbreakable,” featured the singles “Inconsolable” and “Helpless When She Smiles.”  The group performed a world tour in 2010 to support its latest album, “This Is Us.”  That was followed by a co-headlining North American tour in 2011 with New Kids on the Block.  Their “NKOTBSB” tour continues this year in Europe.  Also in 2012, the Backstreet Boys plan to record a new album.  Last month, A.J. married model Rochelle DeAnna Karidis.  

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On January 9, Dave Matthews celebrates his 45th birthday.  The leader of the Dave Matthews Band was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.  In 1986, he moved to Charlottesville, Virginia where he immersed himself in the local music scene.  He formed the Dave Matthews Band in 1991.  The group’s hits include “Stay,” “The Space Between” and “Crush.”  Since 2000, Matthews has been on the Farm Aid board of directors with Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp.  In 2009, Pollstar named the Dave Matthews Band the Top Touring Act of the Decade.  The band had the third highest-grossing trek of 2010.  After 20 years of constant touring, they took most of 2011 off to spend time with their families.

January 10 marks the birth date of the late singer-songwriter Jim Croce (born 1943).  During his brief career, Croce recorded several hits, including “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” “I Got A Name” and the Number One singles “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” and “Time In A Bottle.”  In 1973, Croce died in a plane crash while traveling to a concert in Sherman, Texas.  He was 30 years old.  

On January 10, singer Pat Benatar will celebrate her 59th birthday.  One of rock music’s most popular female singers of the 1980s, Benatar is best known for the Top 10 songs, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Love Is A Battlefield” and “We Belong.”  After taking two years off from music to devote time to her family, she returned in 1991 with the blues-flavored album, “True Love.”  In 1993, Benatar recorded the rock collection, “Gravity’s Rainbow,” which was followed by her 1997 album, “Innamorata.”  In 1999, Capitol Records issued Benatar’s three-CD retrospective, “Synchronistic Wanderings: Recorded Anthology 1979-1999.”  Her latest studio album, “Go,” was released in 2003.  That same year, she and her husband, guitarist Neil Giraldo, moved to Maui.  Neil runs an all-natural nutritional supplement company called “On the Rocks Nutrition.”  In 2010, Harper Collins published Benatar’s biography, “Between a Heart and a Rock Place.”

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British rock singer Rod Stewart will turn 67 on January 10.  Stewart made his way into music by singing and playing harmonica while traveling throughout Europe.  During that time, he was discovered by blues legend Long John Baldry, who invited him to join his band.  Stewart later performed with the Jeff Beck Group and Small Faces (later renamed Faces), which he left in 1975 to concentrate on his already-established solo career.  Stewart’s biggest solo hits include “Maggie May,” “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright),” “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” and “Rhythm Of My Heart.”  His 1993 collection, “Unplugged...and Seated,” contains acoustic versions of many of those hits.  1998 marked the release of “When We Were the Boys,” his final album for Warner Brothers Records.  He was briefly signed to Atlantic Records, which issued his 2001 album, “Human.”  In 2002, Clive Davis signed Stewart to his J Records label.  Rod’s debut album for J was the standards collection, “It Had To Be You…The Great American Songbook.”  Since then, he has recorded the sequels “As Time Goes By…The Great American Songbook, Vol. 2, “Stardust…The Great American Songbook, Vol. 3,” “Thanks For The Memory…The Great American Songbook, Vol. 4” and  “Still the Same…Great Rock Classics of Our Time.”  Rod’s latest album, “Soulbook,” is a collection of 13 soul classics.  Last year, J Records issued “The Best of…the Great American Songbook,” a compilation of tracks from the five-album series.  Also in 2011, Rod’s wife, Penny Lancaster, gave birth to their second child together.  Rod is a 2012 inductee into the Rock and Hall of Fame with The Faces.  He entered the Hall for the first time in 1994 as a solo artist.

On January 11, R&B singer Mary J. Blige celebrates her 41st birthday.  The nine-time Grammy winner signed her first recording deal in 1989.  Her many hits include “Real Love,” “Not Gon’ Cry,” “Family Affair,” “Be Without You,” “Just Fine” and “I Am.”  In 2007, Geffen Records released “Growing Pains,” which climbed to Number One on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.  In 2010, Blige released “Stronger With Each Tear” on her own label, Matriarch Records.  She collaborated with Swiss Beatz, Ne-Yo, Jay-Z and others on her new collection, “My Life II…The Journey Continues.”  

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters will celebrate his 43rd birthday on January 14.  Grohl was born in Ohio and grew up in Springfield, Virginia, where he performed in various local bands during the 1980s.  From 1990 to 1994, Grohl was the drummer of the Seattle-based grunge band Nirvana.  In 1995, he formed the Foo Fighters, which signed with Capitol Records for the release of their self-titled debut album.  The group’s second album, “The Colour and the Shape,” was released in 1997.  In 2006, the Foo Fighters’ first live album was released.  “Skin and Bones” contains performances from the band’s 2006 acoustic tour.  That was followed by the 2007 studio set, “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.”  In 2008, Grohl announced to BBC Radio One that the Foo Fighters were going on hiatus.  He said, “We’ve never really taken a long break, I think it’s time.  After doing Wembley we shouldn't come back for ten years because we’ve played to everybody.”  The band included two new songs and several previously unreleased tracks on its 2009 “Greatest Hits” compilation.  Last year, the Foo Fighters released the album “Wasting Light,” which was recorded in Dave Grohl’s garage.  The set debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 chart.  

Awards Presentations/Winners:

The 2012 People’s Choice Awards, honoring fan favorites in film, television and music, will be presented on January 11 in Los Angeles.  Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Katy Perry lead the contenders in the music categories with five nominations each.  Following close behind are Adele with four nods and Taylor Swift with three.  The event will air live on CBS-TV.  (Complete list of nominees available at www.peopleschoice.com.)

Look Who's Going on Tour!

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Brad Paisley will kick off his “Virtual Realty World Tour 2012” on January 12 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Opening the shows are American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and the Country Music Association’s reigning New Artist of the Year, The Band Perry.  The first leg of the trek will take them to 20 U.S. cities before wrapping up on March 3 in Lexington, Kentucky.

On January 12, Country trio Rascal Flatts, special guest Sara Evans and opening act Hunter Hayes will begin their “Thaw Out 2012” tour in Charleston, West Virginia.  Dates run through February 18.  Rascal Flatts’ eighth album is scheduled to drop on April 3.

Kelly Clarkson kicks off her 32-city North American “Stronger Tour 2012” on January 13.  Her itinerary begins in Mashantucket, Connecticut and wraps up on April 10 in San Diego, California.  The outing will also feature special guest Matt Nathanson.  In other news, it’s just been announced that Kelly will be a mentor on the upcoming second season of “The Voice,” which premieres on February 5.  She’ll join Miranda Lambert on Blake Shelton’s ‘Team Blake.’

Miranda Lambert says her new album, “Four The Record,” “pushes the limits” and builds on her previous releases with “a whole new flair.”

The Country star kept a high profile throughout the past year by winning her first Grammy Award, taking home her second consecutive Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Award, and marrying fellow Country star Blake Shelton.  And, she’s poised to have another stellar year in 2012.

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Miranda’s new album, “Four The Record,” debuted at Number One.  She becomes the only artist in the Country Album chart’s history to enter in the top spot with each of her first four releases.  Last year, Miranda recorded a side project with singer-songwriter friends Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley as Pistol Annies.  The trio’s “Hell On Heels” album also opened at Number One on the Country list.

Since the 2005 release of her major label debut album “Kerosene,” Miranda has charted her own musical course.  Her fans have understood her personality from the beginning, but Miranda’s feisty attitude stood in the way of radio success early in her career.  She finally developed a relationship with Country radio with the release of her 2009 album, “Revolution,” which produced two Number One hits.

After spending some time at home for the holidays, Miranda is back at work to promote her new album.  “Four The Record” features many guests, including Steve Winwood, Josh Kelley, Patty Loveless and Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman.  Miranda also invited her husband to duet with her on this track, called “Better In The Long Run.”

Miranda and Blake will both kick off their 2012 concerts on January 12.  Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann will open shows on Miranda’s “On Fire” tour.  

Miranda wrote the album's second single “Over You” with her husband.  The poignant song pays tribute to Blake’s late brother Richie, who died in an automobile accident in 1990.