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Jay-Z, Linkin Park Mash Up Grammys
JAY-Z and LINKIN PARK will take the stage together at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards for a "Numb/Encore" mash-up, off their hit collaborative album Collision Course. Added to the evening's presenters are ALICIA KEYS (nominated for five Grammys) and comedian DAVE CHAPPELLE; while ANOUSHKA SHANKAR, sitar protege and RAVI SHANKAR's daughter, and MICHAEL BUBLE will perform during the pre-Grammy telecast, hosted by guitarist STEVE VAI. The 48th Annual Grammy Awards air live on CBS from Los Angeles' Staples Center this Wednesday.
Rob Thomas Gets Back on the Road
ROB THOMAS is riding the success of his fall tour in support of Something to Be, his debut Number One and platinum solo effort, with another eighteen-date North American jaunt. The Something to Be Tour 2006 begins March 7th in Burlington, Vermont, and closes April 4th in Calgary, Alberta. But first, the MATCHBOX TWENTY frontman will head to Los Angeles this Wednesday for the Grammys, where he's up for two awards: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance ("Lonely No More") and Best Solo Rock Vocal ("This Is How A Heart Breaks").
New Fugees Songs for Download
Three new songs, including the track "Foxy," from the FUGEES forthcoming, as-yet-untitled album will be made available as exclusive downloads through Verizon Wireless' V Cast network, following the reunited trio's free street performance in Los Angeles (corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine) this Monday night.
Big Apple Goes Green
The sixth annual Jammys, an awards ceremony dedicated to the jam band scene, will kick off the inaugural Green Apple Music and Arts Festival on April 20th at New York City's The Theater at Madison Square Garden. From April 21st to 23rd, some forty-plus acts including BELA FLECK, GUSTER, TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS, the DRESDEN DOLLS and SCISSOR SISTERS, will converge in over twenty venues across the city for the first-ever GAMAF lineup. This year's Jammys will honor FRANK ZAPPA with a lifetime achievement award.
Legend and More Honored by AEC
JOHN LEGEND, CIARA and LUDACRIS will be on hand at the 4th Annual Artist Empowerment Coalition Luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Tuesday, February 7th. They are among those being honored by the arts advocacy group for giving back to the community. LYFE, HEZEKIAH WALKER and MARY MARY will perform at the event, also paying tribute to the late human rights activist -- and MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'s widow -- CORETTA SCOTT KING.
Marvin Gaye, Brian Jones Hit Screen
Sexual Healing, an indie biopic about the final years and musical comeback of MARVIN GAYE, will begin production this May in Germany and Hungary. Due to Motown Records rights issues, the film will deal with Gaye's life after leaving the Detroit label. JESSE L. MARTIN (NBC's Law and Order) will play the soul legend through his 1984 fatal shooting, spotlighting his drug problems, move to Europe and making of his biggest-selling album, Midnight Love . . . In other music movie news, Stoned, about the mysterious drowning death of founding ROLLING STONES member BRIAN JONES, hits theaters March 24th. Stoned's soundtrack, out March 14th, features music from JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, TRAFFIC, ROBERT JOHNSON, the BEES and the 22-20s.
Patti Smith Reads "Innocence"
PATTI SMITH will read from her first collection of poetry in a decade, Auguries of Innocence, and perform songs with PATTI SMITH GROUP guitarist LENNY KAYE Tuesday night at New York's Miller Theatre at Columbia University. On The following day, Smith will give a free poetry reading at the city's Great Hall at Cooper Union.
Soul Man McFadden Dies
GENE MCFADDEN, half of the R&B soul group MCFADDEN AND WHITEHEAD, passed away January 27th at his Philadelphia home from complications due to lung and liver cancer. He was fifty-six. McFadden and collaborator JOHN WHITEHEAD's self-titled 1979 debut included the hit "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," which reached Number One on the R&B charts and Number Thirteen on the pop charts. Whitehead died in 2004 after being fatally shot, a case that is still unsolved. McFadden is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons.
Beasties, Willie Auction for Charity
Autographed photos of the BEASTIE BOYS, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, NICK CAVE, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, GOOD CHARLOTTE'S JOEL MADDEN and the POLICE taken during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival will be auctioned through eBay beginning February 6th. Proceeds from the ten-day bidding event will go to Habitat for Humanity International's "Operation Home Delivery," helping rebuild New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina . . . WILLIE NELSON, KENNY CHESNEY, DOLLY PARTON, LORETTA LYNN, VINCE GILL and WYNONNA JUDD are among the country stars who designed guitars for Nashville's GuitarTown Project, a public arts expo featuring ten-feet tall sculptures of Gibson's LES PAUL and CHET ATKINS guitars, to be auctioned February 23rd in Nashville. BIG AND RICH will host the gala event. Proceeds will go towards the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the United Way of Nashville, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the District, dedicated to preserving Nashville's history.
Paul Wall Expecting Son
Houston rapper PAUL WALL and his wife of four months, Crystal, are expecting their first child, a boy, this May. Wall's major-label debut, The People's Champ, topped the pop chart in September.
Modest Mouse Back in Studio
MODEST MOUSE is back in the studio working on a follow-up to last year's platinum selling Good News For People Who Love Bad News. Mouse frontman ISAAC BROCK is working with estranged SMITHS guitarist JOHNNY MARR. The album is to be tentatively released later this year.
Jamie, Kelly Play for Clive
JAMIE FOXX, KELLY CLARKSON and BARRY MANILOW are among the artists performing at CLIVE DAVIS' annual pre-Grammy party at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, the night before the February 8th awards ceremony. Past performers for the event have included WHITNEY HOUSTON, ALICIA KEYS, LUTHER VANDROSS, STEVIE WONDER, the FOO FIGHTERS, USHER, KANYE WEST and ROD STEWART. Real Networks will be streaming the party live through their online music service, at rhapsody.com/grammys. The party will also be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio's Grammy Radio station (XM200) . . . In other Grammy pre-party news, KANYE WEST will perform at Monday night's Rolling Stone and Verizon Wireless party, honoring the 2006 nominees, at Los Angeles' Avalon Hollywood.