Recording sessions for Michael Jackson's upcoming hurricane relief charity single began October 25 and 26 in Los Angeles. Jackson's participation, however, was limited to satellite and phone hookups with the studio. His spokesperson, Raymone Bain, says Jackson plans to change the song's title. The original title was "From The Bottom of My Heart." Bain hasn't disclosed who will appear on the track with Jackson.
Pop star Celine Dion has announced that she'll soon add another child to her family. "I'm approaching 40-years-old, and I have to tend to that," she says. "This frozen embryo that is in New York is my child waiting to be brought to life." Dion told French magazine Tele 7 she plans to have her second child by in vitro fertilization when her contract with Caesars Palace in Las Vegas ends in 2007. Celine's first child with husband Rene Angelil was born in 2001.
Pop singer Ashlee Simpson sold 220,000 copies of her second album I Am Me its first week of release to debut at Number One on the Billboard 200 chart (week ending November 5). The album follows her 2004 debut Autobiography, which sold close to 400,000 copies its first week. Ashlee has U.S. concerts scheduled through the end of November to support her new CD. It's first single, "Boyfriend," is a current Top 20 hit.
Following release date changes in June and September, the new album by Santana will finally make its arrival on November 1. All That I Am features collaborations with Joss Stone, Los Lonely Boys, American Idol runner-up Bo Bice, Steven Tyler, Mary J. Blige, and others. The album's first single, "I'm Feeling You," reunites Carlos Santana with singer Michelle Branch. Their previous duet, "The Game of Love," from Santana's 2002 album Shaman, was a Top 5 hit.
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS
The new bluegrass family band Cherryholmes took home the top prize of Entertainer of the Year at the 16th annual International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards. Other winners included Rhonda Vincent, who received the IBMA's Female Vocalist of the Year award for the sixth time, and Larry Sparks, who was named Male Vocalist of the Year for the second year in a row. Sparks also took home the Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year honors for his 40th anniversary retrospective, "40." The Emerging Artist of the Year award went to The Grascals, whose track "Me and John Paul" brought songwriter Harley Allen this year's Song of the Year trophy. In addition, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder earned its seventh IBMA award for Instrumental Group of the Year and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver received its fifth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year honor. The 2005 IBMA Awards were presented in Nashville on October 27th.
The 2005 Latin Grammy Awards will be handed out on November 3 in Los Angeles. Spanish singer-songwriter Bebe leads the nominees for the 6th annual event. Her nominations include Album of the Year for Pafuera Telaranas, and Single of the Year and Song of the Year for "Malo." This year's other major contenders include Latin pop star Marc Anthony, Colombian singer Juanes, Mexican singer Aleks Syntek, Miami-born Latin pop singer JD Natasha and Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Obie Bermudez. Two days before the ceremony, Jose Jose will be honored by the Latin Recording Academy as its 2005 Person of the Year.
TOUR DATES AND INFORMATION
On October 30, Aerosmith will begin a 21-date North American tour in Uncasville, Connecticut. The band will be supporting its new release "Rockin' the Joint," which features highlights of a 2002 Las Vegas concert they played at the city's Hard Rock Hotel. Lenny Kravitz will open shows on the tour.
Bon Jovi will kick off a world tour to promote their new album Have A Nice Day. Concerts begin on November 2 in Des Moines, Iowa. The group's 47 North American concerts run through March 2006. Their European leg is scheduled to begin in May of 2006.
On November 4, Country duo Big & Rich, multi-million-selling newcomer Gretchen Wilson and Country rapper Cowboy Troy will begin their "American Revolution" tour in Woodlands, Texas. Big & Rich plan to donate proceeds from two shows on their schedule. One concert will raise money for Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. A second will benefit the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
