Singer Dan Seals, 61, died of cancer on March 25. During the past two
years, he had received treatments for mantle cell lymphoma. His
longtime manager Tony Gottlieb said, "He was very positive. He
participated in several clinical trials to assist with research on this
type of lymphoma." Dan enjoyed a four-decade career in both Pop and
Country music. As a member of the 1970s band England Dan and John Ford
Coley, he recorded such hits as "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight,"
"Nights Are Forever Without You" and "Love Is The Answer." Later, Dan
pursued a solo career in Country music. His 11 Country Number Ones
included "Bop," "Love On Arrival," "One Friend" and his 1985 duet with
Marie Osmond, "Meet Me In Montana." Dan's older brother Jimmy was a
member of the 1970s group Seals & Crofts. Until he fell ill two
years ago, Dan and Jimmy were recording an album as Seals & Seals.
They had eight songs completed for the upcoming release.
New Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Include Run-DMC, Metallica
The
2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions will take place on April 4
in Cleveland, Ohio. The Class of '09 includes pioneering rap trio
Run-DMC, hard rock group Metallica, doo-wop group Little Anthony and
the Imperials, R&B singer Bobby Womack and guitarist Jeff Beck, who
was first inducted in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds. Entering in
the early influence category is rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson.
Spooner Oldham, D.J. Fontana and Bill Black will be inducted in the
sidemen category. Presenters will include rapper Eminem, Flea of the
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smokey Robinson and the Rolling Stones' Jimmy
Page and Ron Wood.
American Idol Features Motown Theme
Motown
was the theme of the March 25 American Idol sing-off. The Top 10
finalists performed their rendition of songs by Stevie Wonder, Marvin
Gaye, Martha & the Vandellas, Diana Ross & the Supremes, the
Temptations and Motown great Smokey Robinson, who served as the week's
mentor. Motown Records founder Berry Gordy was in the audience with
Smokey watching the contestants perform live. The following night,
28-year-old oil rig worker Michael Sarver was voted off the show.
He'll join the other Top 10 finalists on the upcoming "Idols Live"
concert tour.
Prince to Release Album Exclusively at Target Stores
On
March 31, Prince will release a 3-CD set exclusively at Target stores.
Included are the new Prince CDs LOtUSFLOW3R and MPLSoUND, plus Elixir, which introduces newcomer Bria Valente. The set will sell in
stores for under $12. It's also available for download on Prince's new
website www.lotusflow3r.com. To
access the site, fans must pay an annual $77 subscription fee. In
addition to the CD release, the web site offers advance ticket sales
for Prince's concerts, a t-shirt, photographs, videos and concert
footage.
Life of Soldier Inspires Concept Album
Atco/Rhino
Records will release American Soldier by metal band Queensryche on
March 31. The concept album was inspired by stories depicting the life
of a soldier and the consequences of war as told by veterans of World
War II through the Iraq war. The group's singer and songwriter, Geoff
Tate, conducted interviews with the soldiers. Some of their voices are
mixed into several songs, and a few soldiers were invited into the
studio to sing on a track with Queensryche. The band will support American Soldier with a U.S. tour, which begins on April 16 in
Seattle, Washington.
New Album Releases March 31
"R.O.O.T.S. (Route Of Overcoming The Struggle)" - Flo Rida
"Defying Gravity" - Keith Urban
"New Jack City II" - Bow Wow
"Free" - Gavin DeGraw
"Quiet Nights" - Diana Krall
"Back To Tennessee" - Billy Ray Cyrus
"It's America" - Rodney Atkins
"Live In Boston" - Chris Botti
"The Soundstage Sessions" - Stevie Nicks
"Piety Street" - John Scofield
"Slice O Life: Live Solo" - Bruce Cockburn
"Playlist: The Very Best of Clay Aiken" - Clay Aiken
"Seasons" - Marie Osmond
"GK" - Greg Karukas
Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits
On
April 4, a concert to benefit the David Lynch Foundation will take
place at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The foundation was
established to teach children the techniques of Transcendental
Meditation. "In today's world of fear and uncertainty, every child
should have one class period a day to dive within himself and
experience the field of silence - bliss - the enormous reservoir of
energy and intelligence that is deep within all of us. This is the way
to save the coming generation," David Lynch says. Paul McCartney, Ringo
Starr, Sheryl Crow, Moby, Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, and
others will perform at the "Change Begins Within" benefit concert.
The
Country Thunder Festival in Florence, Arizona will take place April
1-4. Headliners include Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry
and Blake Shelton. Also making appearances are Rodney Atkins, Tracy
Lawrence, Heidi Newfield, Jack Ingram, Little Big Town and Neal McCoy,
among others. A second Country Thunder Festival will take place in
Twin Lakes, Wisconsin in mid-July.
Awards Presentations/Winners
On
April 2, Patti LaBelle and songwriter/producer Kenny Gamble will
receive the Patriotism Award at the National Museum of Patriotism in
Atlanta, Georgia. They'll be honored for their symphonic work "I Am An
American," which they recorded last year with the Temple University
Symphony Orchestra and Choirs.
Look Who's Going On Tour!
On
March 31, Jennifer Hudson and Robin Thicke will begin a 24-city
co-headlining tour in Albany, New York. Hudson will support her
self-titled debut album, which includes the hits "Spotlight" and "If
This Isn't Love." Robin will be promoting his 2008 release, Something
Else. The tour wraps up on May 9 in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Seal
will kick off a 21-date North American tour on March 31. The outing
begins in Minneapolis, Minnesota and continues through May 6. In late
June, he'll perform five shows in the U.K. Seal worked with producer
David Foster on his latest album, Soul. The collection includes his
versions of 11 soul classics.
On April 1, Bruce Springsteen
& the E Street Band will begin a concert tour in San Jose,
California. After wrapping up North American dates on May 23, the band
will head to Europe for shows in the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden,
Norway, the U.K., Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Ireland,
France, Italy and Spain.
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