Search Results for: Stevie Wonder

British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello on Tuesday defended musicians who speak their minds in these “fairly dangerous times” and warned Americans to guard against “any attempts by people who swindle their way into office.” Addressing a music industry dinner in Beverly Hills, California, Costello also criticized the British political system, which he described as “privileged people handing wigs to one another making the laws of the land.” The 48-year-old musician, famed for such songs as “Oliver’s Army” and “Everyday I Write the Book,” was being honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, a music licensing group that also… Read more »

A published report says Billy Joel was drinking champagne shortly before his January car crash on his native Long Island. The East Hampton Star reports that Joel told police he had had “a glass of champagne” while having dinner with two friends at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor on January 25, although he now claims not to remember the conversation. At 10:30 p.m. ET that night, Joel crashed his $100,000 Mercedes-Benz into a tree in the town, after which he spent the night in a local hospital before being discharged the following morning. Alcohol was quickly ruled out as… Read more »

With nary a Hells Angels member or flying pool cue in sight, the Rolling Stones played their first free concert in 33 years on Thursday, as a celebrity crowd headed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton looked on. The event at the Staples Center was a considerably more sedate affair than their last free show, at the Altamont Speedway near San Francisco in 1969. Then, security was handled by the local Hells Angels chapter, who clubbed fans with pool cues while the band looked on helplessly. A teenager was stabbed to death as he appeared to point a gun at… Read more »

Motown Records veteran William “Mickey” Stevenson, one of label founder Berry Gordy Jr.’s top lieutenants at Hitsville USA, has launched his own diversified entertainment firm. Los Angeles-based Stevenson Intl. Entertainment Group will have interests in artist management, music publishing, recording, sampling and live-show production, a statement issued on Friday said. Among the developing acts represented by the firm’s B&W Management division are R&B singer Novel, whose debut album will be released by MCA Records later this year, and his unsigned 14-year-old sister Amber. They are two of soul icon Solomon Burke’s grandchildren. Stevenson’s Mikim Music division boasts a database that… Read more »

Justin Timberlake (news) says Michael Jackson (news) has been a big influence on his sound, but not the only one. Timberlake, the ‘N Sync star whose debut solo album, “Justified,” is due Tuesday, has been tagged with imitating Jackson because of a few wardrobe choices and big appearances with the King of Pop. “I’ve used a lot of different sounds than just Michael,” Timberlake told Newsday. “I think there’s some Eagles in the harmonies and a lot more Stevie Wonder. “I’m also a big fan of Donny Hathaway,” he added, referring to the 1970s musician. “I think it’s shocking to… Read more »

While Joey resurrects Broadway and Lance threatens to blast into space, Justin will have to be content with trying to change the face of pop music – again. Justin Timberlake’s debut solo record, Justified (November 12), is a broad, ambitious step from the clean, blissful pop of ‘NSYNC. Timberlake’s vocals still soar, but there’s a lot more funk in his step and a number of R&B artists influencing his sound, including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Aaliyah and Missy Elliott. “I wanted to do something new that was just completely me,” he said. “I had been so personally drained from… Read more »

Major record companies, seeking to quash a brewing revolt by pop stars over royalty payments, on Tuesday released a study backing its claim that the embattled industry has negotiated past contracts fairly. The release of the study, commissioned by the Recording Industry Association of America, came as lawyers for musicians told a California state Senate hearing in Sacramento that the record industry has used faulty accounting to cheat them out of royalties. To bolster its claim that the record business is on the up and up, the RIAA released a study by Michigan State University professor Steven Wildman showing that… Read more »

The post-September 11 music programs, America: A Tribute To Heroes, A&E In Concert: Sting In Tuscany…All This Time, and The Concert For New York City are among this year’s Emmy nominees, which were announced Thursday (July 18). Sting’s special picked up seven nominations, including individual performance, and six in technical categories. America: A Tribute To Heroes, which featured Sting, and Bruce Springsteen, U2, Billy Joel, Faith Hill, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Celine Dion, and others, earned six noms, including best program, directing, and writing in the variety, music or comedy special categories. Another post-September 11 tribute, The Concert… Read more »

Michael Jackson’s surprise attack on Sony Music as racist has grabbed headlines, but many in the music industry have turned a deaf ear – suspecting the pop star has been motivated by self-interest rather than a concern for civil rights. Jackson, under contract with Sony until 2004 and among the highest-paid pop stars of all time, appears to be trying to pressure Sony into breaking the deal so he can exit with his valuable trove of master recordings, industry sources said. They say Jackson’s assault was prompted mostly by anger at Sony for the poor showing of his latest album,… Read more »

When Dick Clark first pitched “American Bandstand” to ABC as a national series in the 1950s, network executives yawned. “I still have the letter, still have it framed in my office, which in effect said ‘Don’t call us, we’ll call you. Thank you, and it’s nice to see your dance party,’” Clark recalls. When he proposed a 50th anniversary special, Clark found out how little television had changed. Despite the show’s iconic place in pop culture, he had to argue the case of “American Bandstand” all over. An idea that was once ahead of its time was now hopelessly behind… Read more »