Feb 24, 2006 5:39 PM

From Busta to Blige

A 53-minute audio recording of the argument that led to the fatal shooting of BUSTA RHYMES' bodyguard Israel Ramirez on the Brooklyn, New York, set of the rapper's "Touch It (Remix)" video earlier this month has reportedly surfaced. According to the New York Daily News, the recording captures the voice of the still unknown gunman, who calls Rhymes a "bitch," and confirms that recently incarcerated G-UNIT member TONY YAYO was central to the altercation. Rhymes, who has yet to speak with the NYPD about the shooting, apparently tries to make peace between Yayo and the third party. The Daily News' source is currently shopping the audio recording to media outlets. Both the Brooklyn district attorney and the NYPD have issued statements asking the source to come forward with the much-needed evidence.

Bono to Nab Nobel?

BONO and BOB GELDOF are both up for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of their continuing efforts to cancel third world debt. The U2 frontman and the Live 8 organizer are among 191 nominees. Past recipients of the award include MOTHER TERESA, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING and U.S. president THEODORE ROOSEVELT. In other Bono news, the singer made an appearance during Carnival festivities in Salvador, Brazil, on Thursday, singing a duet of "Vertigo" with Brazilian pop singer IVETE SANGALO. FATBOY SLIM will also deejay from a float during the annual street celebration.

Apple Reaches Billionth Download

This week, Apple's iTunes online music store sold its billionth download since its launch in April of 2003. For downloading iTunes' billionth song -- Coldplay's "Speed of Sound" -- West Bloomfield, Michigan, resident Alex Ostrovsky will receive an iMac, ten iPods and a $10,000 iTunes gift card. Apple will also establish a music scholarship at New York's Julliard Music School in honor of the occasion.

Free Santana Show Nixed

A free CARLOS SANTANA concert to commemorate the centennial of San Francisco's 1906 earthquake has been postponed from its scheduled April 22nd date due to lack of funding. Mayor Gavin Newsom concluded that organizers could not raise the estimated $1.5 million additional cost for the event because sponsors wanted instead to focus on earthquake preparedness.

Marsalis, Costello Play L.A. Fest

New Orleans jazz musicians BRANFORD MARSALIS, ALLEN TOUSSAINT and the PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND join ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE IMPOSTERS, JAMIE CULLUM and OZOMATLI in the lineup for the 2006 Playboy Jazz Festival, June 17th and 18th at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl. BILL COSBY will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, which is now in its twenty-eighth year.

Ambulance and Umphrey's Hit Stores

AMBULANCE LTD will release the seven-song EP New English, featuring two new songs and a cover of PINK FLOYD's "Fearless," on March 14th . . . New York rockers GROUP SOUNDS will release their self-titled debut on March 9th . . . Oklahoma indie rockers STARLIGHT MINTS release their third album, Drowaton, on April 25th . . . UMPHREY'S McGEE will release their third studio effort, Safety in Numbers, on April 4th. The follow-up to 2004's Anchor Drops features guest musicians HUEY LEWIS and JOSHUA REDMAN . . . MEDESKI, MARTIN AND WOOD release Note Bleu: Best of the Blue Note Years 1998-2005, fifteen tracks culled from the jazz trio's five recording for Blue Note Records, on April 4th. A deluxe edition complete with additional rare recordings, videos, photos and live footage will also be released.

Country Music

CARRIE UNDERWOOD, BROOKS AND DUNN, LeANN RIMES, BRAD PAISLEY, TRACE ADKINS and MARTINA McBRIDE will take the stage for Nashville's 2006 CMA Music Festival, June 8th through 11th. Tickets are available, with half the event's proceeds to benefit participating artists' favorite charities . . . In other country news, Adkins, Paisley and McBride appear on the seventeen-song DVD collection, Grand Ole Opry at Carnegie Hall, filmed during November's Country Takes NYC concert in New York. The DVD, which also features performances from VINCE GILL, TRISHA YEARWOOD, RICKY SKAGGS, ALAN JACKSON, CHARLEY PRIDE and ALISON KRAUSS, hits stores April 11th and airs on the country music GAC network on March 12th.

Alice in Chains Tour, Post-Staley

ALICE IN CHAINS are reuniting this summer for their first full-scale tour since the unexpected drug overdose of frontman LAYNE STALEY in 2002. At present, the surviving members -- guitarist JERRY CANTRELL, bassist MIKE INEZ and drummer SEAN KINNEY -- are slated to play Austria's Nova Rock Festival on June 28th and the VH1 Decades Rock Live! concert honoring HEART on March 10th in Atlantic City, New Jersey. COMES WITH THE FALL frontman WILLIAM DuVALL, also a member of Cantrell's touring band, will sing in Staley's place at the Heart tribute performance.

Blige Brings R&B to ABC

While last Sunday's episode featured crooner MICHAEL BUBLE, MARY J. BLIGE is slated to perform on the February 26th season finale of ABC's Dancing With the Stars. The R&B diva will sing the songs "Be Without You" and "Family Affair." The final episode will determine the winner from among the three remaining couples, which feature 98 DEGREES member DREW LACHEY, pro-wrestler STACY KEIBLER and football star JERRY RICE.

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