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Ron Townson, founding member of the Grammy winning pop group the 5th Dimension, died in his home in Las Vegas on August 2nd. Townson suffered renal failure after a four-year battle with kidney disease. He was sixty-eight. The St. Louis, Missouri native began singing at the age of six in school and church choirs, something he would do throughout his career. At Lincoln University in Jefferson City he directed university and church choirs. Throughout school Townson toured with the Wings Over Jordan Choir for eight years and served as conductor for two. In 1957 Townson left Missouri for Los Angeles,… Read more »

While West Coast Tool fans will be treated to King Crimson as show openers, those on the East Coast will be primed by the sonic antics of Fantômas. Though an itinerary is still being plotted, Fantômas, fronted by former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton, are tentatively scheduled to begin their three-week stint with Tool on September 22, according to an Ipecac Records spokesperson. The tour, supporting the band’s second album, The Director’s Cut (see “Patton Scores With Second Fantômas LP”), will be routed to hit major markets such as New York; Boston; Philadelphia; Portland, Maine; Washington, D.C.; Albany, New… Read more »

“She’s Kobe, and I’m Shaq,” Kurupt said of himself and his fiancée, Blaque’s Natina Reed, on the heels of the Lakers’ championship series win last month. The lovebirds can currently be caught trading verses, Crip-walking and courting each other in the video for Kurupt’s “It’s Over.” The L.A. by way of Philly rapper may be on to something – their duet helped him debut at #10 on the latest Billboard 200 albums chart with Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey. It was just a year ago that the longtime buddies fell in love. As to who made the first move, we’ll probably… Read more »

Mariah Carey has checked herself into a hospital for “extreme exhaustion,” her spokeswoman said Thursday. Cindi Berger would not say what Carey’s symptoms were or where she was, but said Carey’s busy schedule contributed to her illness and hospitalization Wednesday night. “She’s been working around the clock,” Berger told The Associated Press. In a separate statement, Berger said: “Carey has been hospitalized for extreme exhaustion after completing two movies, ‘Glitter’ and ‘Wise Girls,’ and simultaneously writing, recording and producing her album, the soundtrack ‘Glitter.”‘ Before going to the hospital, the Grammy-winning singer posted a message on her official Web site.… Read more »

Despite the fact that Michael Jackson’s two anniversary shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden are being billed partially as a Jackson 5 reunion show, it looks like it might not be a family affair after all. Susan Blond Inc.’s Kiwan Anderson, a spokesperson for the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, the Solo Years event, tells allstar that the original Jackson 5 will reunite without Jermaine Jackson. “I am sorry Jermaine has chosen not to participate in this event,” says World Events I.I.C. President David Guest, the show’s organizer. “This is an event for Michael Jackson. It is a salute… Read more »

Hollywood recording artists 3Gs and Lil J have been added to the Levi’s 1st Stage of the MTV TRL tour, a blockbuster package featuring Destiny’s Child, Nelly, Eve, Dream and 3LW. Both 3Gs and Lil J will appear on the Levi’s 1st Stage when the tour began on July 19 at the Meadows Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Kristi, Anapau and Amy – better known as 3Gs – will be giving audiences a preview of their highly anticipated Hollywood Records debut, due for release in early 2002. The trio’s first single, “One More Second Chance,” is going to radio at the… Read more »

U.S. album sales have declined in the first half of the year, despite the demise of song-swap service Napster, which the recording industry claimed would depress sales and hurt their bottom lines. According to New York-based SoundScan, which tracks music retail trends, sales of current albums – recordings released less than 18 months ago – have fallen about 8 percent year-to-date, while sales of all albums fell about 2.8 percent. Many music company officials shrug off the decline, blaming it on a lack of mega-hits and a slowdown in the economy. Many also predict the trend will improve in the… Read more »

The Dixie Chicks have been clucking loudly about their record deal. And it’s apparently ruffled some feathers at Sony. The music label has filed a federal lawsuit against the Grammy-winning pop-country trio, claiming the superstar gals are making “sham” claims about being underpaid in order to break their recording contract. The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New York, seeks to enforce Sony’s current contract with Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Seidel, saying they still owe the label up to four more albums. Sony’s lawsuit also seeks an injunction preventing the Chicks from recording with another label.… Read more »

Sean “Puffy” Combs won’t mind if critics say his latest album is raw, unpolished and without any real theme. That’s the way he planned it. After a year in which he successfully fought criminal charges and lost his high-profile girlfriend, the hip-hop mogul just wanted to put out something that would make people want to party. “That’s why everything is so carefree, everything is so positive,” he said of his new album, which is being released the same week he makes his acting debut (as a gangster) in the movie “Made.” “I lived in a murky pit – a negative,… Read more »

Janet Jackson is calling it her “All For You” tour, but the pop diva may have trouble convincing thousands of Canadian fans that it’s all for them. The day before she was due to open her world tour in Vancouver, British Columbia, Jackson and her managers decided to postpone Thursday night’s show until Monday, July 9, blaming the late arrival of stage equipment for the abrupt schedule change. As a result, Jackson’s tour will kick off Saturday, July 7, in Portland, Ore., and a planned July 10 stop in Edmonton, Alberta, will be canceled altogether, organizers said. “This production is… Read more »