Clarence Avant, โBlack Godfather' of entertainment, and benefactor of athletes and politicians, dies
Clarence Avant, the manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the "Black Godfather" of entertainment and beyond has died at 92.
Gloria Estefan, Jeff Lynne, Teddy Riley, Glen Ballard, Liz Rose heading to Songwriters Hall of Fame
Gloria Estefan, Jeff Lynne, Teddy Riley, Glen Ballard and Liz Rose are being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday, with Post Malone and musical theater lyricist Tim Rice also being honored.
New this week: Brooke Shields, 'Grease' prequel and NF album
This weekโs new entertainment releases include an album from Michigan rapper NF, a two-part documentary about Brooke Shields on Hulu, and Kathryn Hahn portraying a character inspired by writer Cheryl Strayed in the series โTiny Beautiful Things.โ.
Jon Batiste tops Grammys; Silk Sonic soars, Rodrigo crowned
Jon Batiste won album of the year honors for โWe Areโ at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, giving him five trophies on a night that saw the โ70s funk of Silk Sonic take record of the year and song of the year and newcomer Olivia Rodrigo take three awards.
'Hadestown' jumps ahead of pack to welcome Broadway patrons
โHadestown,โ the brooding musical about the underworld, has set its Broadway reopening date on Sept. 2, jumping ahead of such megahits as โHamiltonโ and โWickedโ to position itself as the first show to welcome audiences on Broadway since the pandemic.
Paul Simon sells song catalog to Sony Music Publishing
Sony Music Publishing announced Wednesday, March. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK โ Paul Simon is the latest icon to sell his rich catalog of songs. Sony Music Publishing announced Wednesday that it has acquired Simon's catalog, which includes six decades of music, from his time in Simon & Garfunkel to his solo career. AdโIโm pleased to have Sony Music Publishing be the custodian of my songs for the coming decades. Sony Music Publishing also represents catalogs by Motown, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Queen, Ashford & Simpson, Leonard Cohen and more.
Cuomo crisis recalls Northamโs; supporters say no comparison
FILE -This Monday March 15, 2021 file photo shows Virginia Gov. โ#Cuomo is pulling a Northam,โ tweeted veteran political analyst Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Like Cuomo, Northam initially faced nearly unanimous calls from his own party to resign after a scandal erupted over a racist photo in his medical school yearbook. โI donโt see any comparison," said state Sen. Richard Stuart, a Republican and personal friend of the Virginia governor. As for Northam, his senior political adviser Mark Bergman said: โHe will never be running for office again."
Oprahโs deft royal interview shows why sheโs still the queen
In this video grab issued Monday, March 8, 2021 by CBS This Morning, Oprah Winfrey discusses her interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. "Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special aired March 7. (CBS This Morning via AP)LOS ANGELES โ There were royal victims and villains in Harry and Meghanโs tell-all โ or tell enough โ interview with Oprah Winfrey. But there was only one immediate and clear winner: the American media queen. She also explained the palace bureaucracy that dictates aspects of royal lives, aside from the wishes of the queen, something that U.S. viewers may be unfamiliar with.
6 Dr. Seuss books won't be published for racist images
โCeasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprisesโ catalog represents and supports all communities and families," it said. Within hours of Tuesday's announcement, Dr. Seuss books filled more than half of the top 20 slots on Amazon.com's bestseller list. AdโResearch in recent years has revealed strong racial undertones in many books written/illustrated by Dr. Seuss,โ the school district said in a statement. In 2018, a Dr. Seuss museum in his hometown of Springfield removed a mural that included an Asian stereotype. Dr. Seuss Enterprises, however, said it is โcommitted to listening and learning and will continue to review our entire portfolio."
New this week: 'Coming 2 America,' Camilo and a dragon movie
(ABC/Paramount+/Amazon via AP)Hereโs a collection curated by The Associated Pressโ entertainment journalists of whatโs arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIESโ Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall are back in Queens as Prince Akeem and Semmi in โComing 2 America,โ the sequel to the 1988 film, which is now coming straight to your living room Friday on Amazon Prime Video. Set to becoming the King of Zamunda, Murphyโs character returns to the U.S. to find a son heโs never met. Adโ A more family friendly streaming option this week is the Walt Disney Co.โs computer animated โRaya and the Last Dragon,โ featuring the voices of โStar Warsโโ Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as a dragon. The big-voiced Grammy-winning singer self-produced โBaby, Iโm Hollywood!โ โ which is a mix of soul music, piano ballads and funk sounds.
Paris Hilton says she was abused as teen at Utah school
Paris Hilton wipes her eyes after speaking at a committee hearing at the Utah State Capitol, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Hilton has been speaking out about abuse she says she suffered at a boarding school in Utah in the 1990s and she testified in front of state lawmakers weighing new regulations for the industry. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)SALT LAKE CITY โ Paris Hilton testified about abuse she says she suffered years ago at a boarding school in Utah, as she lobbied Monday for a bill seeking to regulate the stateโs troubled teen industry. The socialite and reality TV star also spoke about the abuse in a documentary titled โThis is Parisโ that was released this fall. A statement on the school website says the previous owners sold the school in 2000.
The Weeknd vows to tone it down for his Super Bowl show
This photo provided by the NFL shows singer The Weekend speaking at the halftime press conference ahead of the Super Bowl 55 football game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (Perry Knotts/NFL via AP)The Weeknd may be known for his graphic music videos and performances featuring blood and violence, but the three-time Grammy winner says he will tone down his act during the Super Bowl halftime show. The pop star said he will โkeep it PGโ during his headliner slot on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium as the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Florida. The 2021 Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show will be different this year due to the pandemic and The Weeknd said he will use different parts of the stadium, the field and a โlittle bit" of the famously massive pirate ship. AdWhen asked for his favorite Super Bowl halftime show, The Weeknd cited Diana Ross' 1996 performance. The Weeknd, whose real name is, Abel Tesfaye, joins a list of celebrated musicians who have played during Super Bowl halftime shows, including Madonna, Beyoncรฉ, Coldplay, Katy Perry, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson and last yearโs duo of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.
Larry King, broadcasting giant for half-century, dies at 87
King died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his production company, Ora Media, tweeted. In its early years, โLarry King Liveโ was based in Washington, which gave the show an air of gravitas. โDo you know who I am?โโAlways loved Larry King and will miss him,โ Seinfeld tweeted Saturday. Originating from Washington on the Mutual network, โThe Larry King Showโ was eventually heard on more than 300 stations and made King a national phenomenon. โLarry King Liveโ debuted on June 1, 1985, and became CNNโs highest-rated program.
Rape charges denied by lawyer for '70s Show' actor Masterson
Attorney Tom Mesereau entered the plea for the 44-year-old actor, who was not in court, to three charges of rape by force or fear. Prosecutors allege that he raped a 23-year-old woman sometime in 2001, a 28-year-old woman in April of 2003, and a 23-year-old woman between October and December of 2003, all at his Hollywood Hills home. Defense lawyer Tom Mesereau entered the plea for Masterson, who was not present in court, to three charges of rape by force or fear in Los Angeles County Superior Court. All of the alleged rapes happened at his Hollywood Hills home. The alleged rapes happened at the height of Mastersonโs fame as he starred as Steven Hyde on Fox TV's retro sitcom โThat โ70s Showโ from 1998 to 2006 alongside Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Topher Grace.
Sidelined 'Mean Girls' musical won't reopen on Broadway
FILE - The cast of "Mean Girls" performs at the 72nd annual Tony Awards on June 10, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Michael Zorn/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK โ Producers of the Broadway musical โMean Girlsโ have decided not to restart when authorities allow theaters to reopen in New York City, the second and likely not last established show to be a casualty of COVID-19 on the Great White Way. โWe remain excited to bring this musical to the big screen, relaunch the tour and prepare for a London production,โ said โSaturday Night Liveโ and โMean Girlsโ producer Lorne Michaels in a statement. Broadway theaters abruptly closed on March 12, knocking out all shows, including 16 that were still scheduled to open. Late May is the earliest Broadway will reopen, according to the Broadway League.
Neil Young becomes latest artist to sell stake in his songs
FILE - In this May 25, 2019, file photo, Neil Young performs at the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival at Napa Valley Expo in Napa, Calif. Young has become the latest artist to strike gold with his song catalog. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK โ Neil Young has become the latest musician to strike gold with his song catalogue, selling a 50 percent stake in his music to a British investment company in a deal announced on Wednesday. Merck Mercuriadis, founder of Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, said that he bought his first Neil Young album when he was seven years old. โNeil Young, or at least his music, has been my friend . In the song, Young sang: โAin't singin' for Pepsi, ain't singin' for Coke.
Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch sold to billionaire
FILE - This Dec. 17, 2004, file photo shows the rear entrance to pop star Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch home in Santa Ynez, Calif. Jacksons Neverland Ranch has found a new owner in billionaire businessman Ron Burkle. Burkles spokesman said in an email Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, that Burkle bought the 2,700-acre property near Santa Barbara, California. LOS ANGELES โ Michael Jacksonโs Neverland Ranch in California has found a new owner in billionaire businessman Ron Burkle. The asking price of the property was $100 million in 2016 then dropped to $67 million a year later. Other features on the ranch are a โDisney-styleโ train station, a fire house and barn.
Appeals court sends 'Leaving Neverland' fight to arbitration
(AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)PASADENA, Calif. โ A federal appeals court ruled Monday that a lawsuit filed by the Michael Jackson estate over an HBO documentary about two of the late pop star's sex abuse accusers can go forward in private arbitration. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with two lower courts and ruled in favor of the Jackson estate in its decision on โLeaving Neverland." Unless there are further appeals, the case will go to a private arbitrator, which the Jackson estate argued was required by the 1992 contract at the center of the lawsuit. HBO has also more generally defended โLeaving Neverlandโ as a valid and important piece of documentary journalism. โLeaving Neverlandโ director Dan Reed has been filming the hearings in those cases for a follow-up documentary.
โDark Knight,โ โGreaseโ added to National Film Registry
This image released by the Library of Congress shows Heath Ledger, left, and Christian Bale in a scene from the 2008 film "The Dark Knight." The film was added to the National Film Registry. (Warner Bros.-Library of Congress via AP)LOS ANGELES โ This year's inductees into the National Film Registry include a record number of female directors and filmmakers of color as well as a new crop of movies ranging from a silent short film thriller, classic musicals and an acclaimed Batman film. The national library said this yearโs selections include a record nine films directed by women and filmmakers of color. Christopher Nolanโs 2008 Batman film โThe Dark Knightโ was a blockbuster and the top public vote-getter.
Taraji P. Henson tells New Jack Swing backstory in podcast
LOS ANGELES โ Taraji P. Henson remembered wearing her favorite outfit to a music festival where some of the biggest New Jack Swing tunes were being performed from Bell Biv Devoeโs โPoisonโ to Tony! Tone!โs โFeels Good.โAt the time, Henson had no clue about the backstory behind the music era, which made its mark in the โ80s and โ90s. I was enjoying the music,โ said Henson, who serves as a producer of the six-part series, which airs Tuesdays. The series examines the โrise and eventual fallโ of the New Jack Swing movement. โI didnโt think of her as an audio actress, but sheโs just great at it.โThrough the podcast, Henson wants the New Jack Swing story to be turned into a film.
The Weeknd picked to perform at Super Bowl LV halftime show
The NFL, Pepsi and Roc Nation announced Thursday, Nov. 12 that the three-time Grammy winner will perform at the 2021 Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES โ The Weeknd will bring his popular falsetto vocals to the 2021 Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show. โWe all grow up watching the worldโs biggest acts playing the Super Bowl and one can only dream of being in that position,โ the singer said in a statement. This is an extraordinary moment in time and the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show is going to be an extraordinary experience with an extraordinary performer.โRoc Nation and Emmy-nominated producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. โWe are thrilled to have The Weeknd join us in Tampa Bay on the Pepsi Halftime Stage,โ said Brian Rolapp, the NFLโs chief media and business officer.
In Brazil, a parrot puppeteerโs death stirs the nation
Puppeteer Tom Veiga suffered a stroke caused by an aneurysm at his home in Rio de Janeiro, at age 47. For more than two decades, his green-and-yellow bird was comic relief on the program โMais Voce,โ somewhere between sidekick and co-host to Ana Maria Braga. โItโs really like a mom who loses a son, a companion.โHer homage reflects in part why โMais Voceโ became so popular. Globo didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about whether it plans to find a new actor to bring Louro Josรฉ to life. โThank you for everything Louro Josรฉ, Tom Veiga,โ one Twitter user identifying as Lia Carioca said.
Paris Jackson mines her heartache for solo debut album
Paris Jackson poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Oct. 27, 2020, to promote her debut solo album "Wilted," releasing on Nov. 13. Her new single Let Down drops Friday, Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)NEW YORK โ It started in her bedroom with just a guitar, but Paris Jackson has turned coping with the heartache after a recent breakup into her debut solo album. โYou were my all/And now I fall to the ground,โ she sings on her new single โLet Down,โ which drops Friday. When asked what he might think of her music, Jackson demurs.
Halloween goes on at the White House with a few twists
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet trick-or-treaters on the South Lawn during a Halloween celebration at the White House, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)WASHINGTON โ With a bit of rejiggering, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump played host Sunday to hundreds of superheroes, unicorns, skeletons and even a miniature version of themselves as part of a Halloween celebration at the White House. In years past, the president and first lady personally handed out candy to the costume-clad kids. The same went for all White House personnel working the event, while any staff giving out candy also wore gloves. The South Portico of the White House was decorated with bright-colored leaves in various shades of autumn, chrysanthemums and pumpkins, while a military band set the mood by playing songs such as Michael Jacksonโs โThriller.โ
Lawsuit of Michael Jackson sexual abuse accuser dismissed
LOS ANGELES โ A judge has dismissed the lawsuit of one of two men who alleged that Michael Jackson abused them as boys in the HBO documentary โLeaving Neverland." Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark A. โWe are pleased that the court dismissed Mr. Safechuckโs case by ruling that he had no grounds to pursue such a lawsuit,โ Jackson estate attorneys Howard Weitzman and Jonathan Steinsapir said in a statement. A judge dismissed it in 2017, but an appeals court revived it early this year after California Gov. The similar lawsuit of Safechuck's fellow accuser and โLeaving Neverlandโ subject Wade Robson, which was also revived by the appeals court, remains alive.
Guitars played, partly made by Eddie Van Halen go to auction
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. โ Two guitars owned, played and partly designed by the late Eddie Van Halen will be going up for auction. Both guitars were hand-striped by Van Halen in the familiar style of most of his guitars dating back to the first Van Halen album in 1978. Each of the guitars is expected to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000. The guitar legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer died of cancer on Oct. 6 at age 65. โAs we were preparing for our annual โIcons & Idols: Rock and Rollโ auction lineup, we were stunned to hear the sad news of Eddie Van Halenโs passing last week,โ Julienโs Auctionโs president Darren Julien said in a statement.
Paris Hilton protest calls for closure of Utah school
Paris Hilton speaks before leading a protest Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, in Provo, Utah. Hilton was in Utah Friday to lead a protest outside a boarding school where she alleges she was abused physically and mentally by staff when she was a teenager. Hilton, now 39, went public with the allegations in a new documentary and wants a school that she says left her with nightmares and insomnia for years to be shut down. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Paris Hilton protest calls for closure of Utah school
Paris Hilton speaks before leading a protest Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, in Provo, Utah. Hilton was in Utah Friday to lead a protest outside a boarding school where she alleges she was abused physically and mentally by staff when she was a teenager. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)PROVO, Utah โ Paris Hilton has been speaking out about abuse she said she suffered at a boarding school in Utah, and on Friday she took her push nearly to the schoolโs front doors. When she was 17, Hilton was finally sent to what she describes as โthe worst of the worstโ: Provo Canyon School in Utah. Hilton and others at the protest vowed to push forward until all schools that mistreat youth are shut down.
Tony Award nominations to be announced Oct. 15
NEW YORK โ Nominations for this year's Tony Awards have been set for Oct. 15, pitting 18 eligible shows in competition for 26 competitive categories in a coronavirus-shortened season. James Monroe Iglehart will announce the nominations on the Tony Awards' YouTube Channel at noon ET. The Tony Awards Nominating Committee will meet Tuesday to vote on this yearโs nominations. That left the following productions eligible for 2020 Tony Award nominations:โFrankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune,โ โMoulin Rouge! Producers, citing health and city authorities, have three times extended the Broadway shutdown, currently until at least early January.
Outtakes: Stevie Nicks on Petty, Prince, Beyoncรฉ and Harry
FILE - Harry Styles, right, presents a trophy to Stevie Nicks at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York on March 29, 2019. I feel like I know Beyoncรฉ even though I really donโt know her at all. I hope youโre wrong.โ But heโs absolutely right.โ_________CALL ME MAYBESpeaking of friends Stevie Nicks have been in touch with โ donโt count the members of Fleetwood Mac. Iโm really, really good friends with Mick,โ she said. Thatโs really good too because that kind of keeps you in sort of that mindset also,โ she said.
How Eddie Van Halen transformed Michael Jackson's 'Beat It'
I went, โWhat do you want, you f-ing so-and-so!,โโ Van Halen told CNN in 2012, 30 years after he worked on the song. When Van Halen arrived at the studio in Los Angeles, Jones told him he could improvise. I said, โLook, I changed the middle section of your song,โโ Van Halen told CNN. After the record's release, Van Halen would remember shopping in a Tower Records while โBeat Itโ was playing on the sound system. "The solo comes on, and I hear these kids in front of me going, 'Listen to this guy trying to sound like Eddie Van Halen,'โ he said.
Guitar rock god Eddie Van Halen dies of cancer at 65
FILE - *Van Halen is seen in Los Angeles, Jan. 17, 1993. Members of Van Halen, from left, left, Michael Anthony, bass guitar, Sammy Hagar, lead singer, Alex Van Halen, drums, and Eddie Van Halen, lead guitar appear in Los Angeles on Jan. 17, 1993. Eddie Van Halen, who had battled cancer, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
Guitar rock legend Eddie Van Halen dies of cancer at 65
Members of Van Halen, from left, left, Michael Anthony, bass guitar, Sammy Hagar, lead singer, Alex Van Halen, drums, and Eddie Van Halen, lead guitar appear in Los Angeles on Jan. 17, 1993. Eddie Van Halen, who had battled cancer, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Added Lenny Kravitz: โHeaven will be electric tonight.โThe members of Van Halen โ the two Van Halen brothers, Eddie and Alex; vocalist David Lee Roth; and bassist Michael Anthony โ formed in 1974 in Pasadena, California. โWe showed up here with the equivalent of $50 and a piano,โ Eddie Van Halen told The Associated Press in 2015. Van Halen, sober since 2008, lost one-third of his tongue to a cancer that eventually drifted into his esophagus.
Guitar rock legend Eddie Van Halen dies of cancer at 65
Eddie Van Halen was something of a musical contradiction. The members of Van Halen โ the two Van Halen brothers, Eddie and Alex; vocalist David Lee Roth; and bassist Michael Anthony โ formed in 1974 in Pasadena, California. Van Halen received no compensation or credit for the work, even though he rearranged the section he played on. โWe showed up here with the equivalent of $50 and a piano,โ Eddie Van Halen told The Associated Press in 2015. Van Halen, sober since 2008, lost one-third of his tongue to a cancer that eventually drifted into his esophagus.
Black singer of regional Mexican music sparks buzz, emotion
Sarah Palafox, an African American woman who sings regional Mexican music, poses in Moreno Valley, Calif., in this undated photo. Palafox, an African American woman raised by a Mexican immigrant family, has generated excitement online with her versions of regional Mexican music. Other videos of her singing banda โ another form of regional music from Mexicoโs southwest coast โ also have been shared thousands of times. She would only say the music will be different and sheโs not listening to critics who tell her sheโs shouldnโt be singing regional Mexican music. โI was told you canโt wear braids, you canโt wear your Afro and go on stage and sing Mexican music,โ Palafox said.